After meeting Valerie, my mornings began at 5 AM, dedicated to refining my own Grade 6 art. While the early start was grueling, the rigorous training was essential. Not only did I need to surpass Ren, but I also had to prepare for my ultimate showdown with Lucifer at the end-of-year tournament.

Besides working on my Grade 6 art, I focused on mastering the Grade 5 art provided by the Academy. Diversifying my skill set was crucial; I couldn't rely solely on one technique.

Time flowed smoothly at the Academy following the field trip. The next significant event on the horizon was the mid-term exams. They didn't impact our ranks, so I wasn't overly concerned.

'Though it would be fun to thrash Ren there,' I thought. But with us both at the same mana rank, it wouldn't be easy.

I wasn't ready yet.

Weeks slipped by until it was suddenly February 14th.

Valentine's Day.

Interestingly, this world also celebrated a day of love on the same date, though the origins differed. Here, February 14th commemorated the day Emperor Julius proposed to his wife and subsequently declared a worldwide day of love. The coincidence of dates with Valentine's Day from my previous world was amusing.

As I stood before the mirror, I couldn't help but wonder about her. Though I'd been in this world for half a year, days like these brought back memories of my past life.

In the old world, I was an IT employee with a promising future. I had a great family and a wonderful girlfriend. Life was good. I didn't have to struggle for a future over a decade away. That was my main issue here.

'This novel is a tragedy, marred with the horrible childhoods of the main cast and their tragic futures,' I thought.

None of the main cast had a stable, happy childhood, which made them all slightly dysfunctional. Even Rachel, who always acted like a saint, harbored secrets and a side of her she never revealed to anyone.

I wiped the water dripping down my face from the shower after training, observing my reflection. My blue eyes and black hair stared back at me. Valerie hadn't skipped training, not even on Valentine's Day. In this world, my looks were better than my previous self, but so were everyone else's. Still, I was above average here.

My jaw tightened, and my grip on the marble washbasin unknowingly followed suit as thoughts of her resurfaced.

'To think it was the same day I planned to buy a ring to propose to her,' I mused, a pang of sorrow gripping my heart.

Having love ripped apart by forces beyond my control was a cruel twist of fate. I felt helpless, utterly helpless.

Even if I found a way back to my previous world, it would take at least a decade. Would she still wait for me? What if time flowed differently there?

There were too many uncertainties. Logically, it made sense to move on. That was the rational conclusion.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

But humans were beings of emotion more than logic.

ChatGPT

This day did little more than remind me of her and all the Valentine's Days we had spent together over the years. I exhaled deeply, pushing back the surfacing memories as I stepped out of the bathroom and dressed in my Academy uniform.

As I opened the door to leave my dorm, I nearly collided with Rachel. "Oh Art, nice surprise!" she said with a bright smile.

The Ophelia Dorm only housed the eight Class 1-A students, so it was common to run into my friends here. "Good morning, Rach," I greeted her, returning the smile. Her golden hair was adorned with a ribbon, a touch of youthful charm that somehow suited her perfectly.

"Were you training?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. I nodded, and her mouth formed an 'O' of surprise.

"You are quite serious about training, huh," Rachel said, her own lips curling into a grin. "Do you really want to be the strongest?"

I paused, choosing my words carefully. "Yes, I do."

Her sapphire-like eyes lingered on me thoughtfully as we reached the hyperloop station.

As we entered the hyperloop, I couldn't help but muse, 'A hyperloop is really overkill, isn't it?' The sleek, futuristic tube whisked us away in moments. Rachel and I chatted throughout the short journey, our conversation uninterrupted by others. Most students were too intimidated by her status to approach her, a barrier that seemed to keep them at a distance.

Class A students weren't known for being particularly open, and this didn't help others get closer to them. Luke was an exception, thanks to the bond we'd formed during the field trip.

As we exited the hyperloop, Rachel fiddled with her spatial ring, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "Arthur," she called.

"What's up?" I asked, turning to see her shoulders hunched slightly.

"Well... you know today is Valentine's Day, right?" she stammered.

"Yes," I replied, tilting my head slightly in curiosity.

"I wanted to give you these chocolates to thank you for being my friend!" she blurted out, her face flushing as she activated her spatial ring. She handed me a box of chocolates, unbranded yet elegant in appearance.

"Thank you," I said, though I couldn't help but wonder where she had gotten them from.

"I-I made them myself, so they may not be that good, but I hope you enjoy!" she said quickly before dashing off.

"Ah, Rach!" I called after her, but she ignored me, her pace quickening.

I chuckled, 'Did she forget we need to go to the same classroom in the end?' Feeling the envious stares burning into my back, I tapped the chocolate box with my spatial ring and stored them before making my way to class.

'Rachel must have gone inside the class before me,' I thought as I reached the classroom. As I stepped inside, I noticed Rachel avoiding eye contact, her cheeks tinged pink. Lucifer greeted me with a teasing smile, while Jin maintained his usual blank expression.

"You're smiling quite a lot. Did something good happen?" Lucifer asked, clearly aware of the chocolates Rachel had given me, considering he was her childhood friend and had likely received some too.

Before I could respond, a melodious voice called out, causing me to turn with a slight annoyance. "Why are you smiling?"

Cecilia stood there, holding an intricately embroidered box of chocolates. "Here," she said, placing the box on my desk. "This is for you."

Thankfully, she refrained from saying anything outlandish in public. However, just as I began to relax, another box of chocolates appeared on my table.

"Art," Seraphina said, her crystalline blue eyes fixed on mine. "You're my friend... so chocolate."

Her cheeks had a faint blush, and her words seemed unusually stilted. 'Did she forget how to speak properly?' I wondered, noting the awkward tension in the air.

"I thought there was too much ice in your veins to give chocolates to a boy, Sera," Cecilia said with a smirk.

Sera simply glanced at Cecilia before sighing and walking to the back of the class, leaving Cecilia visibly more annoyed.

Rachel, glad to have avoided the exchange, gave me a quick glance. When our eyes met, she almost lowered her gaze by instinct but then forced herself to maintain eye contact, a smile spreading across her lips.

That's right. I had made friends in this world now. Friends who cared for me, like Rachel and Seraphina, despite their secrets. Even if Ren and Cecilia were still a bit standoffish, the genuine concern from Rachel, Seraphina, Luke, Rose, Ian and Lucifer was what truly mattered.

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a frantic shout. "Oh god, someone help me!"