Chapter 22: Jiangli: My Friendly Heart

Chapter 22: Jiangli: My Friendly Heart

At the entrance of the campus, Jiangli finished his morning exercises and was drinking a sports beverage. The sweat trickled down from his Adam's apple, and the faint scent of tobacco filled the air, enough to deter even Kurogane Ikki from staring.

"Feeling tired, Stella? Come on!"

He cast a supportive glance toward the Princess who was nearing her limit. Stella was struggling up the slope, nearly out of breath, but she managed to reach Kurogane Ikki's side. She looked as if she might collapse at any moment.

Stella tightly held her long, fiery red ponytail, her body clad in a matching vermillion gym uniform that accentuated her mature and beautiful figure. Her ample bosom swayed as she moved, leaving observers unsure of where to direct their attention.

"Here, Stella, a sports beverage." Kurogane Ikki handed his insulated cup to her, sporting the same friendly smile he had worn three days ago in front of Jiangli.

"Thank you, Ikki." Stella took the cup while panting heavily. She looked inside and then blushed slightly.

"Using Ikki's cup... I just drank... an indirect kiss..."

"Uh, sorry, Stella. Did you want to use my cup?" Kurogane Ikki scratched his head, displaying his talent for male lead-level denseness and wearing a humble expression on his face.

"Never mind!" Stella waved her hand vigorously, her face turning even redder.

"On the contrary..." As she said this, her voice barely rose above a mosquito's buzz, making it difficult for anyone with keen ears to catch.

Kurogane Ikki looked perplexed, completely oblivious to Stella's thoughts. However, this was to be expected; they had known each other for only three or four days, and no matter how narcissistic he was, he wouldn't assume a princess had fallen for him in such a short time.

Jiangli, on the other hand, held a different view. He had seen that spring-like expression in many women before. In his opinion, this Princess was completely captivated by Kurogane Ikki from the moment they met.

According to Kurogane Ikki, the situation arose due to the reforms implemented by Shinguuji Kurono that year. The academy had changed its selection system from a level-based one to an actual combat assessment, and further established a co-ed dormitory system where students of the opposite gender shared a room. The goal was to foster camaraderie and competitiveness between closely-matched Blazers, encouraging them to actively learn and grow.

However, this change brought about an unintended consequence. Stella was an A-Rank Knight, unmatched by any other student in the academy's 60-year history. The new student roster didn't include anyone on par with her strength. Similarly, Kurogane Ikki, a weakest F-Rank Knight with remarkably low Magic Power, was far below the academy's standards.

Shinguuji Kurono's solution? To pair the weakest, least magically endowed students who couldn't find strength within themselves. Thus, Stella Vermillion and Kurogane Ikki were assigned to share a room. To Kurogane Ikki's credit, he didn't shy away from the challenge and accepted the situation with a modest smile.

However, this decision was far from trivial. Stella was not only an A-Rank Knight but also the Princess of the Vermillion Empire, a small country in Northern Europe. Though the empire's influence and strength paled in comparison to other countries, Stella's position was significant. Yet, she was now rooming with a male student, which could easily escalate into a diplomatic issue.

Coincidentally, just three days ago, Kurogane Ikki had entered the room and caught a glimpse of Stella changing her clothes, including her underwear. As expected, Director got wind of this incident, and the two were challenged to a duel. After a heated battle in the training grounds, Kurogane Ikki emerged victorious, and Stella ultimately surrendered to him, submitting in an undeniably obedient manner.

Stella's blushing appearance as she anticipated an indirect kiss from Kurogane Ikki was rather telling. Jiangli was well-versed in reading these situations. Even though only a few days had passed since their first meeting, he was confident in assessing Stella's feelings.

However, Kurogane Ikki remained oblivious. They had only known each other for a short time, and he couldn't possibly fathom that a country's princess would be smitten by him in just a matter of days.

On a different note, Jiangli couldn't allow himself to be drawn into their emotional entanglements. He must remain focused on his own goals and interactions, especially avoiding any involvement with Princess Stella.

As the conversation continued, Kurogane Ikki's eyes were drawn to a notice on the bulletin board at the entrance.

"Today marks the first day of school..."

Jiangli noticed Kurogane Ikki's enthusiasm and the excitement on his face.

"You seem pretty excited," Jiangli commented.

"Of course! This year is different from the last. This time, I have the chance to participate in actual combat training and show Director what I'm capable of!" Kurogane Ikki's face briefly darkened, but he quickly returned to his usual optimistic self, brimming with anticipation.

"Plus, my Little Sister will also be attending today."

"Your Little Sister?"

Stella was puzzled by the sudden mention.

"Oh, right. Ikki, does your Little Sister have a unique setting where she's not actually related by blood?" Stella inquired.

"Huh? No, she's my biological sibling, same mother." Kurogane Ikki seemed somewhat clueless.

"That's good to know." Stella breathed a sigh of relief.

Having watched many anime series, she was aware of the trope where the Little Sister was not biologically related to the protagonist, leading to various romantic developments between them. She had become cautious, but the confirmation that they were blood-related siblings put her mind at ease.

Jiangli, meanwhile, was inwardly amused by Stella's concern. He had already been through numerous anime scenarios and understood her perspective.

"On another note, which class are you guys in?" Jiangli turned to his two companions.

"First year, Class 1."

"I repeated a year, so I'm also in first year, Class 1."

Stella listened intently, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"How fortunate! I'm also in first year, Class 1."

However, upon hearing Jiangli's words, Stella's expression immediately soured.