SSS Class Infinite Regression: Ascension of the Mad Dragon Prince

"Does she like him?" Timothy asked.

"She does. Agustina's had a crush on him since the moment they met," Anastasia sighed. "I did too, once—but I moved on quickly. I don't think I could ever win his heart. Mirai completely occupies it."

"…?! Ah…" Timothy realized Louis was a natural heart-conqueror—and heart-breaker. "So Agustina is just stubbornly holding on?"

"Yeah, pretty much. She can do what she wants—I'm not stopping her," Anastasia chuckled. "But… Louis and Mirai feel like they were made for each other, you know? Their interactions are almost unfairly romantic and cute. But beyond that… there's something else."

"…Something else?" Timothy raised an eyebrow, walking beside Anastasia a few steps behind the group.

"Louis and Mirai's bond is deeper than normal. They've only known each other a year, but they talk like they've been through everything together. They rely on each other constantly and understand one another perfectly…" Anastasia said quietly. "Sometimes… it feels like they've known each other across different lifetimes."

"…What?" Timothy frowned. "That's weird…"

"I guess you're right—it does sound strange. It's just what I feel. Interpret it however you want," Anastasia said. "Anyway, let's catch up. And this time—be nicer."

"Eh, I don't think I'll be nicer," Timothy smirked. "But I'll be a little more respectful."

"Haha, I wonder how long Louis will tolerate you," Anastasia laughed.

The group soon reached the vibrant shopping district lined with restaurants.

"What do you all want to eat?" Louis asked.

"Anything's fine," Agustina said.

"I want something spicy!" Mirai declared.

"Hmm, I'm feeling seafood," Zorba said, scanning the signs curiously.

"Eh, doesn't sound bad. Me too, Zorba," Anastasia nodded. "What about you, lil' Tim?"

"Lil Tim?!" Timothy sputtered. "It's Timothy, thank you very much."

"Ah, stop being such an idiot," Anastasia sighed. "I'll call you whatever I want."

"…?!" Timothy felt genuinely shocked—no one seemed to respect him here.

Eventually they settled on a fancy noble restaurant called "A Taste of Magic"—a place Louis's mother used to visit with her family, always causing a stir… just like now. The staff went into a frenzy over the heroic prince's arrival and ushered them to the best terrace table with a sweeping city view and plush chairs.

They enjoyed a delicious meal featuring Frostbane's finest recipes, many from Yggdrasil, some even created by Benladra or her father, the Dragon King. Over food they bonded further as a team, even if chemistry between members varied. Louis and Mirai remained the glue holding everyone together.

By the time they finished, night had fallen over the capital. The group strolled through the renamed "Louis Plaza" near the small Spirit Forest. Mirai, Agustina, and Timothy enjoyed ice cream for dessert while the others skipped sweets. Louis had loved pastries as a child—almost all made by his mother—but after her illness and slumber, he had stopped eating them almost entirely… unless Mirai made them.

Everything had lost its sweetness after his mother was cursed—until Mirai cooked him pancakes, reawakening the taste he had missed for so long.

"It's a nice night, nice breeze," Mirai said, smiling as she savored her three-scoop cone. "Right?"

"It is…" Louis replied softly, closing his eyes to feel the cool air, mentally preparing for tomorrow.

Then something cold and sweet brushed near his face—Mirai's ice cream, already licked over.

"Want some?"

"…"

Louis stared at the cone for a moment. Everyone held their breath, expecting him to refuse. It made sense—Mirai had already eaten from it; surely the prince would find it unappealing.

But he didn't.

"Thank you."

He gently took her hand and licked the ice cream. His eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise at the refreshing strawberry creaminess, the bittersweet chocolate, and the rich cookie crunch of cookies-and-cream.

"It's good."

"Heheh, you can eat all you want."

"I will."

Louis began sharing the large cone with Mirai, taking turns as he smiled lightly at her side.

In that moment, everyone realized just how deeply he loved her.

"You should've just bought your own—you're eating it all now…!"

"Well, who said I could eat all I wanted? Now you have to take responsibility."

"Eh! No, I don't want to share anymore!"

"Give it here…"

They even started playfully tugging at it, making Mirai giggle adorably.

Timothy licked his own cone while frowning, feeling the sting of unfairness—he wasn't getting a cute girl.

"Ah, it really makes me jealous, damn it," he muttered, looking away.

"Haha," Anastasia chuckled. "Don't act like that. Why not be happy they're happy?"

"I suppose…" Timothy sighed, gazing at the moon. "Not long ago my life was boring as hell. Now it's… kind of boring again, but I have to work hard every day."

"Geez, all you do is complain, Tim. Relax for once and look forward," Anastasia sighed. "It'll be okay."

Timothy sighed again. "I hope…"

As they fell quiet, Zorba and Agustina kept debating the perfect ice cream flavor for Lord Louis.

"Pancake-flavored, maybe—he's shown he likes them."

"I think he'd prefer a mix of what he just had, Zorba…"

"Ugh, and what do you know?"

"Well, I have more observant eyes!"

Timothy rolled his eyes, ignoring the two Louis fanatics and simply gazing at the starry sky beside Anastasia.

After a few minutes he felt guilty.

"Sorry about that," he said quietly.

Anastasia took a moment to respond. "For what?"

Noticing her sidelong glance, Timothy met her eyes. "For complaining all the time. I guess I'm a bad friend. In the end… I only care about my own problems."

Anastasia laughed softly. "First time you've realized that?"

"H-Hey, I'm growing, okay?" Timothy sighed. "It takes time."

Anastasia smiled and bumped his shoulder with hers. "Apology accepted. I used to be lazy too. Did you know I was a maid at the castle? But I was so lazy I barely wanted to work."

"Oh, I had no idea," Timothy said. "What was it like?"

"Boring," Anastasia shrugged. "But now… I feel like I'm finally doing something important—even if it doesn't always seem that way. I'm getting stronger, and I'll join that academy and become even better. Hopefully one day, when danger comes again, I can fight and protect my country shoulder-to-shoulder with my mothers."

"Hm…" Timothy nodded. "Wait—you have two mothers?!"