The Protagonist Already Knows

Nodding my head, I imprinted the image of her performing the stretch in my head and quickly pulled out my smartwatch.

Seeing she was willing to help, I asked after a moment.

"How about these?"

Sitting on the bench beside me, Evangel glanced over my shoulder and scanned the list of stretches that Professor Sooyung had given me.

Her cheeks slowly returning to their usual pale, Evangel stood back up and began showing me each stretch one-by-one.

"For this one, you have to hold it for at least thirty seconds for it to work."

"Remember to take at least fifty-second breaks in between each stretch."

"Hold it exactly like this for that one."

"This stretch is redundant: you should just skip it."

As my right leg returned to normal, I also got back up and stood side-by-side with her, imitating her the best I could as she performed the stretches.

It kind of reminded me of yoga classes.

"We have to sit down for this one."

Nodding my head, I followed her off the path and onto a small patch of grass, hidden under the shade cast by multiple oak trees.

As the two of us sat side-by-side on the vivid-green grass, she continued.

"Try to touch your toes."

As much as I hated to admit it, there was something peaceful about the morning that I had missed: the tranquility, lack of noise, and colorful surroundings.

As we rested between stretches, I asked curiously.

"Do you always run in the morning?"

Nodding her head, Evangel drank some water before adding.

"Every morning."

"...does it actually help?"

"I think it does, and even if it doesn’t, at least it gets me focused for the day."

After pausing for a moment, Evangel asked.

"Are you going to start?"

Nodding my head, I continued with the stretch.

"I’ve been told...my movement and stamina are lacking."

As we finished the last stretch on the list, I stood up and said.

"Good luck on your match today."

Raising her hand, Evangel waved me off with that usual emotionless expression of hers.

Getting back to my room within a few minutes, I took a bit more time than usual when getting ready, putting product into my hair and carefully applying sunscreen.

After wearing my academy uniform, I headed downstairs and grabbed a plate of food, ignoring the odd stares I received as I walked around.

The rumors had intensified quite a bit after my spar with Zander, turning me from a drunkard into some sort of psychotic serial killer.

But, at the very least, no one tried to bother my peace anymore.

Since it was still relatively early, I found an empty table...only to have it ruined a few moments later.

"Had a good run?"

With a smirk almost as bright as the sun, Ren sat across from me like it was the most casual thing in the world.

"..yeah."

Seeing him act so carefree, I couldn’t help but remind him of the upcoming incident.

"Do you think we’ll make it to the finals this year?"

Pausing for a moment, Ren simply...bit into a massive bunch of scrambled eggs and gave me the thumbs up.

"..."

Why the hell was I working so hard, training with my sword every day and studying all night when the protagonist was some carefree kid!?

Sighing, I calmed down and reminded myself that the person in front of me had already faced unimaginable and horrifying ordeals in his first life, having persevered through the Dreg Realm for years alone and faced the Dreg God.

He deserved rest more than anybody else.

Leaning backward on his chair and stretching his hands, Ren glanced at me and asked suddenly.

"Do you dislike Carissa? You suddenly got up last time she came."

"...what?"

Pressing me further, Ren continued.

"You know her, and she knows you, right?"

"...barely."

"So then, do you dislike her?"

After pausing for a moment, I simply answered.

"Yes, she’s annoying."

Betrayal.

That was what I initially thought I felt when looking at her.

She hung out with Leon, the very person who created the rumors I had been ’drinking’ and skipping class.

However, Carissa knew very well what I was doing.

I knew it wasn’t her fault, though. She probably didn’t even know Leon was the one who perpetuated the rumors.

And it wasn’t even her responsibility to clear up the rumors. That was up to me.

Additionally, in the novel, Carissa and Leon had been close childhood friends, and I was someone she had just met less than a month ago.

So, I didn’t consider the feeling ’betrayal.’

More like...annoyance.

I knew I couldn’t blame her, but I still felt wronged.

"..."

"...?"

Confused, I looked across the table at Ren, who had suddenly shut his mouth with his eyes widened.

"What?"

"b-b"

Was he trying to convince me about Carissa or something?

"There’s no ’buts.’ She talks too much and li-"

Practically screaming at this point, Ren jumped across the table and raised his hands, completely covering my mouth.

"BEHIND YOU!"

"..."

Slowly turning around, I found a brown-haired figure halted dead in her tracks, standing right behind our table.

Her amber-brown pupils eerily still, Carissa met my eyes and simply said in a cold tone.

"Annoying?"

"...yes."

Not skipping a beat, I stood up and left Ren and Carissa behind, dumping the rest of my food on my tray and heading to class.

Perhaps, if I waited a second longer, I would have had a milk carton dumped on the hair I had so carefully prepared today...

...

...

...

*Ring~ring*

*Ring~ring*

As the bell rang, the two seats beside me were finally filled as Charlotte and Angel sat down.

Professor Sooyung didn’t immediately enter as the bell rang, so everyone continued talking.

At that moment, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

As I glanced to my right, meeting Charlotte’s gaze, she suddenly asked.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch your name last time."

Nodding my head, I deliberately avoided her gaze and looked forward.

"Ash."

However, not even a moment later, my entire body was yanked to the right.

Looking straight at me, Charlotte grinned widely and said, her light-blue eyes sparkling.

"Well...I choose you, Ash!"