SIDE STORY 1 (Part 1)

“I like you, Rienn.”

Though she didn’t say it, Dian felt like his heart was going to burst.

“Ah…….”

Rienn turned to face him, surprised. Her face, showing astonishment as if she hadn’t expected it at all, quickly turned into confusion. Despair crept into his chest as he saw that expression.

“Of course, I like you too, Dian.”

“Uh…”

“But, are you talking about feelings beyond friendship?”

“Yeah. If it’s okay, I want to officially date you.”

“Oh… Um…”

Rienn fidgeted, not knowing what to do. Among the Academy’s many gardens, the Violet Hydrangea Garden was their favorite. Surrounded by the beautiful flowers and foliage, Rienn pursed her lips. Dian watched her lips nervously. He knew instinctively that the answer would be something he didn’t want to hear.

“I’m sorry, Dian. I haven’t thought about that side of things…”

“It’s okay.”

He pretended to be casual and forced a smile.

“Thanks for being honest with me. It’s really okay, don’t worry about it.”

But deep despair filled his heart, and he feared the changes ahead. Since he had confessed and been rejected, things couldn’t go back to the comfortable friendship they had before.

‘I want to turn back time.’

With this futile thought, Dian regretted his confession.

“Ah.”

When he opened his eyes, all he saw was the darkness. And a view of the dormitory bedroom in darkness.

Was it a dream?

Expressionless, Dian raised his hand and rubbed his forehead.

Although he rarely dreamed, he had been plagued by nightmares recently. The content of the dreams was always similar. He would confess nervously, feeling like his heart was about to burst, and then Rienn would carefully reject him.

“…….”

Even though he knew it was a dream, he felt a sensation in his chest akin to pain. His heart sank darkly as if he had been rejected for real.

No, reality would be incomparable to this.

Dian was anxious at the thought of something he feared becoming real.

He wondered if his frequent nightmares were a symptom of his anxiety or a premonition.

Graduation from the academy was just around the corner.

With graduation exams looming ahead and the festivities that would follow, there was an excited atmosphere among the students in their final semester. However, Dian couldn’t enjoy such an atmosphere, and impatience was growing within him.

After graduation, Rienn and everyone else would go back to their respective places. Just like before entering the academy, they would occasionally visit each other’s places and spend time together, but most of the time, they would be far apart. He didn’t want that void of time. So Dian had a plan to confess before graduation. To Rienn, whom he had secretly admired for a long time.

In fact, for much longer, even before entering the academy three years ago, he had tried to confess but failed repeatedly. The confession lingered in his mouth but never came out. If he were to receive a positive response… It would be great, but he wasn’t sure it would happen. On the contrary, if he were rejected, he would lose a lot. The most important and precious thing to him.

So, to his own chagrin, he had put it off for more than three years. But now, with graduation approaching, he could no longer delay it.

Still, there was no certainty.

After class, the two naturally headed to the library. On the late autumn street tinged with red leaves, Rienn looked up at the entrance to the library on the hill with tired eyes.

“I want to go to the training ground…….”

She would rather spend more time at the training ground than at the library, but with her graduation exams coming up, she had no choice.

“Do you want to train for an hour and then study?”

“Oh…….”

Rienn’s eyes sparkled for a moment, then she lowered her head, looking disheartened.

“No, I need to study……. I’m in danger now because I haven’t studied too much.”

“Hang in there a little longer. After the exams, we can train all day.”

“Okay.”

She smiled broadly for a moment, and then her expression quickly dimmed. Dian thought her various expressions and transparent emotions were charming. As he waited for her to say something, Rienn spoke in a low voice.

“Dian.”

“Yeah?”

“If by any chance I can’t graduate and have to stay for another year… would you come to see me often?”

“Ah.”

He swallowed his laughter inwardly. Rienn, usually bold and courageous, only showed signs of weakness when faced with important exams. Especially this time, with graduation at stake.

“I promise, don’t worry.”

Actually, he hadn’t mentioned it yet, since the test hadn’t even been taken, but he was thinking of staying at the academy with her if she failed the exams. If she had to repeat a year, he would stay with her. While their peers graduated, if Rienn and he were the only ones left, spending another beautiful season at the academy, he would have more time to confess.

“Do you promise? I’ll be so lonely if I have to go through another year without you.”

“……I promise.”

I’ll always be by your side.

Dian thought about her comment about it being lonely. He knew she didn’t mean it, but his heart was beating like a drum. Though he felt like there was hope, he restrained himself from having unwarranted expectations.

“Still, let’s do our best for now. Let’s go study!”

“Yeah.”

With determination in her eyes, Rienn moved her feet, and he quietly followed suit.

Good.

Dian found this time comforting and enjoyable. They were alone in a spacious library filled with books, and the scent of books wafted through the air. Rienn focused intently with a determined expression while she absorbed her academic knowledge, aware of his presence.

Being in the same room together like this, doing their own thing, was both familiar and precious. The sound of her small hand writing on paper tickled his ears.

After studying quietly for a while, Rienn’s pen slowed down, and she began to doze off. With half-closed eyes, she leaned forward, then jerked awake, repeating the motion.

What should I do?

Dian chuckled awkwardly. Rienn shook her head once, then put her pen down altogether. With eyes full of sleepiness, she murmured softly.

“Dian, wake me up in 10 minutes, no, 20 minutes.”

“Okay.”

He replied in a low voice. Rienn slumped back against the desk and fell asleep. Silently, Dian pulled his pocket watch from his chest pocket, checked the time, and looked out the window. He glanced at the forest below, then back at his book, then at Rienn beside him.

“…….”

Turning towards her, he saw her sound asleep, her face buried in the desk.

A small, round face with a few stray strands of golden hair. Her slightly closed eyes, her rosy cheeks, and her slightly parted ruby lips.

Even though he tried not to look, his gaze kept wandering back. The rhythmic sound of Rienn’s deep sleep filled the room, spreading softly.

He alternated his gaze between the books, the window, the clock, and Rienn’s face. His previously sharp focus blurred as he looked around, and then he sighed softly.

Leaning forward on her desk, Rienn’s top had risen, revealing her slender, pure white back.

The soft flesh and delicate spine caught his eye, and he had the urge to touch it. He wanted to stroke her smooth back, to reach through her top and caress her bare skin. How soft and warm it would feel.

Familiar desires led to familiar fantasies. He imagined lifting Rienn onto the desk by the window, removing her blouse and skirt entirely to see what was hidden by her clothes. The exposed neck, arms, and back continued the milky complexion, while the secretive areas seemed to possess a deeper hue, areas he had never seen and could only guess at.

If he could remove Rienn’s underwear, spread her legs wide to observe it, and then…… touch and caress her inner flesh with his hands…

“!”

Dian stopped his thoughts in disbelief.

He stopped himself, bewildered by his own thoughts as he gazed upon the sleeping Rienn.

What was I thinking?

It was all in his head, nothing had happened, but he chastised himself and regained composure. Reluctantly tearing his gaze away, he lowered his voice and removed his outer garments. Quietly draping them over Rienn’s back, his attire enveloped her completely.

……I wonder if it’s okay to look at her face.

His heart raced at the thought of seeing her face, innocent in slumber. With only a short time left to wake her, Dian finally fixed his gaze on the pretty face.