It was midnight when Asahi slowly opened his eyes, finding himself still in bed. As he moved his hand, he felt something clinging to him. Pushing away the blanket, he discovered a girl sleeping beside him. The girl's eyes fluttered open, and she greeted him with a faint smile.

"Good morning, Asahi~" she murmured softly.

The girl possessed an irresistibly cute face that could charm anyone who laid eyes on her. Her long, silky black hair cascaded down, complementing her adorable appearance.

"It's still midnight, though," Asahi replied, slightly puzzled.

The girl beside him was Gushiken Imai, his childhood friend and the third young miss of the Gushiken Clan, one of the Memino Kingdom's 8 Great Clans.

"Anyway, why are you here? And you're sleeping in my bed too." Asahi asked. There's a faint blush on his face.

"I heard that Asahi would leave tommorow, so I wanna be by your side for the remaining time." Imai replied with a cute voice.

Meanwhile, Asahi's thoughts swirled in his mind. He couldn't help but find Imai incredibly cute, and it dawned on him that she might have feelings for him.

(Wow, she's so adorable! I wish I had a girlfriend like her. Wait, does she like me? That would explain why she crawled into my bed late at night.)

(Actually, it's not just a coincidence. I've liked her since we first met. How could I have been so dense before I regained my memories from my previous life? It must mean we love each other!)

Lost in his thoughts, Asahi unintentionally wore a somewhat creepy smile as he stared at Imai.

"W-What's wrong, Asahi?" Imai asked, her expression slightly confused.

However, Asahi mustered the courage, took Imai's hand, and spoke with determination.

"Imai, I like you! Will you go out with me?"

Asahi was drowned in excitement, leading him to confess without really thinking of possible consequences.

It was a spur of the moment decision.

Imai's face turned red and a shocked expression appeared on her face.

(Oh, her expression is just too cute~) Asahi thought.

Suddenly, a sharp sting coursed through his cheek as Imai slapped him.

"Asahi! Y-You stupid, stupid, stupid! Stupid Asahi!" Imai shrieked in her adorable voice. She swiftly got out of bed and fled from the room.

"What...?" Asahi was dumbfounded by her reaction. He had believed that he was finally getting a girlfriend. He had even fantasized about having a harem and thought she would be his first member. Reality, however, proved to be cruel.

*Sighing deeply, Asahi lay back down on the bed, his face filled with regret.

"That was a sad turn of events, but I won't give up, Imai. I've liked you even before I regained my memories from my previous life. I was just too clueless back then."

Asahi slowly rose from the bed, stretching his body before gazing out of the window.

"Well, for now, I guess I should test-drive my Dimorphos," Asahi mused as he left his room.

•••

Meanwhile, Imai ran through the corridor, her face beet red, confusing the people she passed.

(Asahi is so foolish! How could he catch me off guard like that!? Or... maybe I'm the foolish one. He must be hurt after being rejected like that.)

Tears welled up in Imai's eyes as sadness overtook her. She let out a sigh, her expression filled with sorrow.

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"What's the matter, Imai? Did something happen?"

Suddenly, a distinguished man in his forties appeared before Imai. He exuded an aura of a seasoned swordsman who had weathered countless battles.

It was Kiryuin Shigure, the head of the Kiryuin Clan and Asahi's adoptive father.

"Oh, it's nothing, Uncle," Imai replied, mustering a strained smile.

"I was just about to leave. Asahi mentioned that you all would be heading to the Aerstrand Kingdom together, so I thought I'd stay in the guest room to avoid causing any inconvenience."

"I see. Did Asahi wake up? Ana, one of the maids, told me he fell asleep in the afternoon," Shigure inquired, his words reflecting the information shared with him.

"Yes, he just woke up. I didn't want to disturb him, so I left," Imai explained, her cute face adorned with a bittersweet smile.

"I understand. Thank you for spending time with my son. You've been a wonderful friend to him since you first met, and you're truly important to him. I hope your bond continues to grow," Shigure expressed his gratitude while gently patting Imai's head. He felt relieved knowing that Asahi had a friend like her.

"I should be going now. Take care not to trip while running, alright?"

The 8 Great Clans are in close relationship with one another, so visiting other clans isn't a problem. In fact, they will even treat visitors with care, and the same goes for Imai.

"Okay, Uncle. Please convey my wishes for Asahi to have a safe journey," Imai said, her voice filled with joy.

"Of course," Shigure replied, offering a warm smile, and continued his walk toward Asahi's room.

Relieved, Imai let out a sigh and continued on her way.

(Alright, I'll answer Asahi properly the next time we meet.)

Imai vowed, unaware that Asahi was headed to the Aerstrand Kingdom to attend the birthday party of his soon-to-be fiancée.

•••

As Asahi walked down the corridor, he spotted Shigure up ahead. A joyful expression brightened his face as he approached his father, remembering that he had been eager to see him.

"Good evening, Father. This might seem sudden, but may I make a request?" Asahi immediately switched into his honor student persona upon encountering his father.

(Whew, I was tense earlier because of my reincarnation to put on a facade when talking to the maids, I'm not going to make the same mistake this time.) Asahi thought, while thinking about how he acted like a nervous wimp in front of the maids earlier.

"Ah, I was actually looking for you too. I was about to ask if you were ready for tomorrow's departure. By the way, what's your request?" Shigure responded, a smile gracing his face as he regarded Asahi.

"Father, I wish to depart for the Aerstrand Kingdom ahead of time. I'm prepared to leave now and prefer to travel on foot. I believe it will be a good exercise. Could you also inform me of our intended route?" Asahi explained, maintaining a composed demeanor.

"Oh, I see. If that's what you desire, then so be it. We were planning to attend a party at Duke Engelbert's residence. Their territory borders the Aerstrand Kingdom, much like our clan's. Hence, the journey should be relatively short," Shigure answered.

The Engelbert House was one of the three Great Noble Houses in the Aerstrand Kingdom.

Shigure's attention then shifted to the earring adorning Asahi's ear. "Hmm? Asahi, what's that earring you're wearing?"

"Oh this, Father? I realized my physical and magical potential were somewhat lacking, so I explored other avenues and discovered that I possess a knack for creating things," Asahi replied confidently. With a dim glow, the earring transformed into a pitch-black katana with intricate red designs.

"Ah, that's quite intriguing, Asahi. With this ability, you can contribute not only to our Kiryuin Clan but also to the growth of the Memino Kingdom!" Shigure exclaimed with delight, patting Asahi's head affectionately.

"Thank you, Father. That's precisely what I had in mind. Once I create a few more, I'll gladly share them with you," Asahi stated, his smile composed and assured.

"You're always so diligent. Just remember to enjoy yourself and do what you truly desire. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters," Shigure advised, his expression filled with parental affection.

(Thank goodness Father believed me. Fortunately, the Dimorphos has other different modes aside from its armor form. And it wasn't entirely a lie either. It's just hard to believe that I somehow regained the power to create things out of thin air, a power I possessed in a past life, from who-knows-when.) Asahi sighed inwardly, relieved that his father had bought his explanation.

Shigure's agreement to allow Asahi to travel to another country in the middle of the night stemmed from the fact that the Memino Kingdom was a unified and harmonious land. Internal conflicts were nonexistent, and its people led fulfilling lives. With a crime rate below 0.5%, the only dangers lay in encounters with monsters.

Magic also thrived in this world, and most individuals possessed knowledge of body enhancement magic. While traveling to another kingdom would take some time, the Kiryuin Clan and the Engelbert House were neighboring territories within their own kingdom's borders. By utilizing their magically enhanced bodies, the journey would be a mere matter of days.

"See you then, father. And oh, I'm already prepared, so I'm ready to go."

"Alright, run away if you encounter danger, okay? Oh, and by the way, Imai wants to convey a message for you. She told me that you should have a safe trip." Shigure said with a smile.

Upon hearing that, Asahi also smiled. A very faint blush appeared in his face.

"If that's the case, please tell her my thanks, father. I'll be going now." Asahi said, and ran forward.

As Asahi sprinted forward, his thoughts filled with relief.

(So Imai doesn't hate me. Thank goodness)

Asahi thought, while seeing an image of Imai smiling happily at him in his mind.

Shigure was standing at the corridor, as he watch Asahi's back getting further, a faint smile appeared on his face. He then muttered

(Kids sure grow up so fast. Well, I should get going. I'll check what Hatsuki is doing. Maybe she's already asleep?)

Then, Shigure continued walking into the corridor.