CHAPTER 13: TEAM UP

I slid the hamburger back into the lunchbox and took a quiet breath.

No hesitation. No backing out.

I picked up my tray and stood.

Across the table, Ariana stiffened slightly, like a small animal sensing movement nearby.

As I crossed the short distance between us, she lowered her head further, shoulders tense.

When I sat down at the table directly in front of her, she flinched.

Her hands gripped the edges of her lunch tray tightly.

...Not the best start.

I set down my food gently, making sure not to startle her further.

"Ariana Solmere, right?" I asked.

Her body twitched; she nodded very slightly.

No words. Not unusual — she rarely spoke at all.

She stared at the table. Her bangs hid her expression completely.

"...I’m Lucien Ashborne," I continued.

Wrong introduction.

Everyone in this academy already knew who I was — and not in a good way.

Her fingers tightened again, knuckles turning pale.

It was painfully clear what she was thinking:

Why is someone like him talking to me?

And honestly... I didn’t blame her.

"Don’t worry," I added, keeping my voice low and steady. "I’m not here to cause trouble."

Her shoulders relaxed by a fraction.

A tiny one.

For a few seconds, silence sat between us like a third person.

But it wasn’t uncomfortable — just... fragile.

No point dragging things out.

"Have you joined any group?" I asked plainly.

"H-Huh...?" She raised her head a little, eyes still hidden. The question had caught her off guard.

"For the practical assessment," I clarified. "Do you have a team?"

She shook her head, a tiny motion. "N-No..."

"Me neither," I replied, lightly tapping the lunch box. "So, why don’t we form a group together?"

Her back straightened slightly. She stared at me like she wasn’t sure what language I’d spoken.

"...I-I... c-can’t..." she murmured. "I... would just be a h-hindrance..."

Her gaze dropped to her lap, fingers twisting nervously. Her self-esteem was almost painful to witness.

"Useless?" I chuckled lightly. "You’re talking to the most useless guy here. Haven’t you heard? The trash noble who got kicked out of his house, suspended for a week, lost all cadet privileges?"

A blatant sacrifice of my pride.

Dear System, please appreciate the effort.

"No one wants me in their group," I continued. "And you’re alone too. Isn’t it normal for two loners to stick together?"

She looked up again, startled by how confidently I said that. As if I were proposing a partnership for conquering the world.

"I... I don’t know if I’d be any help..." she murmured.

"You accepted my offer," I corrected gently. "That’s already more help than most people give me."

Her lips parted slightly, as if she didn’t know how to respond to that. Then she gave a tiny nod.

"O-Okay..."

I smiled and extended my hand.

"Then it’s settled. From today onward, we’re teammates."

Her movements were awkward and hesitant, but she reached out and shook my hand — a light, trembling grip, like a small bird testing trust.

At that exact moment—

[ You have befriended the future villainess]

[ Reward: 1000 Points]

[ Hint: Increasing her favorability will grant additional rewards]

’Yes. More points incoming.’

I quickly dismissed the window and focused back on Ariana.

Her eyes were drifting toward my lunch box. Not once or twice — repeatedly. Her curiosity was obvious.

She must have never seen anything resembling a hamburger in this world.

"What are you eating?" I asked.

She flinched. "J-Just... um... boiled potato mash... and... a slice of beast meat..."

I made a sympathetic face. "Sounds... plain."

I opened my box and took one of the two hamburgers. The warmth, the smell — everything was just right.

I extended it out toward her.

"Try this. I think you’ll like it."

She stared at the unfamiliar food suspiciously, as if it might explode.

Slowly — very slowly — she reached out.

Her delicate fingers brushed the edge of the bun like it was a fragile treasure.

Then she finally looked up.

Her bangs shifted, revealing a pair of violet eyes — clear, bright, but dimmed by years of discouragement. Even so, they were striking. A kind of beauty she clearly had no idea she possessed.

She took a tiny bite.

Her eyes widened — just a little — barely noticeable unless you were watching closely. She took another bite, faster this time. Then another. The way she ate it... she didn’t say a word, but her expression alone told the story.

A small change — subtle, timid — but unmistakably a hint of delight.

━━━ Ariana’s perspective ━━━

Warm... soft...

It’s different.

The bread didn’t crumble dry like she was used to — it melted gently with each bite. The meat held spice and richness she’d never tasted before, flavors dancing on her tongue instead of sitting lifelessly. For someone who had only experienced food as sustenance, this was startling.

Her chest tightened — unfamiliar yet comforting.

Is this... what delicious tastes like?

For the first time, a simple meal wasn’t something she needed to finish.

It was something she wished wouldn’t end.

━━━ Back to Lucien ━━━

"...It’s good," she whispered.

Quiet. But completely sincere.

Maybe it was her first honest compliment.

Maybe it was the first genuine approval I’d received here too.

I smiled faintly as I took a bite of my own burger. "Glad to hear it."

"Here, try this too," I said softly, adding a drizzle of sauce to the next bite she took.

Her eyes blinked once — a flicker of surprise — before she nodded and continued eating, now savoring each mouthful with care.

And for the first time since stepping into this academy...

lunch didn’t feel lonely.

As I packed up my lunch box, I noticed Ariana fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve, a quiet struggle on her face. Finally, she gathered enough courage.

"U-Um..."

Her voice trembled like she expected to be scolded.

I paused. "What’s wrong?"

She hesitated a moment before speaking again.

"Th-Those... um... what do you c-call them?"

I followed her gaze and realized what she was talking about and chuckled, "Those are called hamburgers"

Her eyes flicked toward my lunchbox before darting away.

"W-Where did you get them...?"

Ah. The hamburger had struck deep.

"These?" I tapped the lid lightly.

"I made them myself."

Her head rose a bit, surprise breaking through her usual gloom.

"You... y-you can cook?"

I gave a confident shrug.

"Cook? No, no. I create masterpieces."

Ariana stared at me blankly, unsure whether to be impressed or concerned.

She swallowed once, then murmured—

"W-Would you... maybe... bring one t-tomorrow too? I-I can p-pay for—"

I cut her off bluntly.

"No."

Her eyes widened, all the excitement draining instantly. Shoulders slumped, bangs drooping lower. She looked like I’d just kicked a puppy.

"I-I’m s-sorry... I didn’t mean to—"

Before she could bolt out of embarrassment, I continued:

"Because I don’t eat the same thing two days in a row."

I lifted my chin a little.

"Tomorrow, I’ll make something even better."

She blinked slowly.

"...R-Really?"

"Really."

Her face, half-covered by bangs, brightened just enough to notice.

"T-Thank you. B-But I can’t accept it for free... P-Please tell me how much—"

"What?" I exaggerated my offense just a little.

"You think I’d charge a friend?"

Her mouth opened silently.

"Friends don’t pay each other for lunch," I added, looking away casually.

"...F-Friend..."

She whispered the word like she wasn’t sure she deserved it.

Then, she looked up — just enough for her violet eyes to show through her bangs. Soft. Hopeful.

"...Then... I’ll w-wait for t-tomorrow."

Her voice was still small. But this time, it carried excitement.

She stood and hurried off — and for the first time, her steps didn’t feel like she was trying to escape the world.

I watched her leave and let out a small breath.