For the first time since I transmigrated into this novel, I woke up feeling absolutely terrible.

Maybe it was because of last night's fight with Alice Draken. Or maybe it was something else entirely.

…No, let's be honest. It was definitely because of that fight.

Still, I guess I was in better shape than expected—considering I'd taken the full force of an attack from a named character and was still breathing.

"Oh, you're awake? I'm almost done preparing, so wash your face first."

Leona's voice drifted over, calm and casual, as if it was perfectly normal to whip up breakfast at dawn while cross-dressing like it was second nature.

I should've felt guilty about it. I really should have. But somewhere along the way, I'd grown completely addicted to this routine. The magic of a warm meal waiting for me every morning was something I couldn't give up anymore.

The side dishes were always balanced, the soup mild but full of flavor, easy on the stomach yet somehow refreshing enough to wake me up. Just sitting at the table, I felt the tension in my body start to unwind.

Honestly, I couldn't imagine going back to the days before this—when I skipped breakfast or just grabbed something bland.

"I'm really sorry for always being treated by you," I muttered, guilt slipping out anyway.

Leona shot me a look over his shoulder. "Are you seriously going to say the same thing every single day? Cut it out and go wash up before the food gets cold."

I gave a weak laugh, but didn't argue.

By the time I sat down properly, the soup was already set in front of me. I took a sip, and the warmth spread from my tongue down through my chest, easing the heaviness clinging to me from last night.

Somehow, it felt like more than just soup.

"Somehow, it feels like more than just soup," I murmured without thinking.

Leona arched an eyebrow as she slid into her seat across from me, tying her hair back with practiced ease. "Don't start getting poetic on me first thing in the morning. Eat."

I grinned faintly, spoon halfway to my mouth. "What? I'm just saying, you're wasted as a fighter. You could open a tavern and make a fortune."

Her lips curved into the tiniest smirk. "And leave you to starve? I don't think so."

I nearly choked on the soup. "…That sounds like you're saying I'm hopeless without you."

"I didn't say that." She leaned her chin into her hand, eyes narrowing playfully. "But if the shoe fits…"

"Unbelievable. I'm being slandered in my own apartment."

"It's not slander if it's true. And also it's not your whole apartment. It's mine too."

"True.haha."

I sighed, idly pushing a bit of rice around with my chopsticks. Even so, the corner of my mouth twitched despite myself. Leona always had that strange way of softening the air, even after a night like last night.

Out of nowhere, she looked up from her own breakfast.

"Ah, right. Ryen said he's throwing an after-party for the ranking matches."

I raised an eyebrow. "We have that every season. Do we really need another after-party?"

Leona shrugged, a little grin tugging at her lips.

"Well, apparently it's his treat this time. He wants to celebrate staying tied at the top rank."

"…Oh. Then that's a different story."

"Mm-hm. And he also said we should have a barbecue during the travel club trip this weekend."

That made me pause. Come to think of it, why had she even joined the travel club? I couldn't exactly call her out on it now, but… she must've had her reasons, right?

"But," I muttered, tapping my chopsticks against the edge of my bowl, "the seniors are going too. It's not just us. Can we even call that an after-party?"

Leona leaned back, giving me a look like I was overthinking it.

"Hey, it's just an excuse to hang out. Who cares what we call it? …This guy. Was Keira right when she called you stiff? Maybe I should try it too. Loser~"

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "Not you too. Keira's already enough of a headache with that."

Leona chuckled, her voice warm and playful. "Relax, I'm just teasing. You make it way too easy."

"Easy target, huh? Glad to know my suffering brings you joy."

She tilted her head, watching me with a mischievous spark in her eyes. "Joy? Maybe. Or maybe I just like seeing what you'll do when you're cornered."

I squinted at her. "…That sounds vaguely threatening."

"Does it?" she asked, all innocence. But the way she smirked over her teacup made me wonder if I was imagining things.

For a moment, the easy rhythm of breakfast slowed. There was something in her look I couldn't quite place—like she was holding onto a thought she wouldn't say out loud.

"…So," I started carefully, "travel club, huh? You never struck me as the outdoorsy type."

Leona's grin didn't falter, but her eyes flicked away just for a second too long.

"Who knows? Maybe I joined for the same reason as you."

"…Which is?"

She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand, smiling like a cat who'd found something interesting.

"Guess."

I stared at her, chopsticks frozen halfway to my mouth.

The silence stretched, playful on the surface but carrying a weight I couldn't quite shake.

Then, just as casually, she went back to eating. "Anyway, don't think too hard about it. It's supposed to be fun."

…Yeah. Fun. Somehow, I wasn't convinced.

Still, I didn't say anything and forced down another spoonful of soup, though it suddenly felt heavier than before.

Leona didn't look at me as she picked through the side dishes, humming softly under her breath like nothing had happened.

But I couldn't get her words out of my head. "Maybe I joined for the same reason as you."

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"…Leon," I said slowly, setting my chopsticks down. "You're not—"

She looked up, eyes sharp and expectant, like she already knew what I was about to ask.

The words died in my throat.

"…Never mind."

A small smirk tugged at her lips. "Coward."

I scowled. "It's called tact. You should try it sometime."

"Oh, please. You're dying of curiosity, aren't you?" She leaned forward again, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You really want to know why I joined the travel club. Why I keep tagging along. Why I—"

She stopped.

For the first time, she hesitated, her words catching before she could finish them. Her fingers fidgeted with the rim of her teacup, subtle but noticeable.

That… was new.

"Why you what?" I pressed before I could stop myself.

Her smirk returned instantly, like a curtain dropping over whatever crack had just shown. "Why I like free food, obviously. You think I'd pass up Ryen paying for a whole barbecue?"

I exhaled through my nose. "…Right. Of course. That's all it is."

"Exactly." She lifted her teacup like a toast, grinning. "To free food."

I clinked my spoon against the edge of my bowl in mock agreement. But the unease in my chest didn't fade.

Because for just a moment, I could've sworn she was about to say something else entirely.

And knowing Leona… that thought scared me more than last night's fight with Alice ever did.

"Anyway, let's get going. We'll be late if we delay for too long."

"We can't be late for Professor Lena homeroom class."

"Whatever~"

Today, too, seemed like it would be a peaceful day.

Leona finished the last sip of her tea and stood, collecting the dishes with her usual brisk efficiency. I tried to help, but she swatted my hand away like always.

"Don't even think about it. You'll just make more work for me."

I raised a brow. "What kind of logic is that? Helping makes more work?"

"Yes," she said firmly, stacking the bowls with precise movements. "Because then I have to fix your half-hearted attempt at helping. Sit."

I sighed and did as told. "So, I'm hopeless in the kitchen, hopeless with housework, hopeless without breakfast… what am I good for, exactly?"

Leona glanced over her shoulder, her smirk curling like a blade's edge. "Entertainment."

"…That sounds worse than being useless."

She chuckled, setting the dishes down in the washbasin with a clink. "Then work harder to prove me wrong."

Her words should've stung, but instead, they felt… grounding, in a strange way. Like she was telling me I could actually be more if I tried.

Still, that didn't mean I'd let her win this little back-and-forth.

"Entertainment, huh? If I'm your personal jester, does that make you the king?"

Leona turned, drying her hands on a towel, and for once, she didn't deflect. Instead, she tilted her head with a faint grin.

"Something like that."

The way she said it—too casually, too easily—made something tighten in my chest.

Before I could say anything else, she brushed past me, grabbing her bag. "Come on. We'll miss the opening announcements if you keep staring into space."

I blinked, realizing my spoon was still in my hand, halfway to my mouth. "…Right. Coming."

Today was going to be a peaceful day....and few minutes later I found how wrong I was.

I shouldn't hope for peace in this forsaken novel.

... Never.