The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy

The moment the final results were announced, the tension finally settled.

The audience cheered.

Some students looked impressed while others looked defeated.

But I barely paid attention.

Because the moment I looked to my sides—

Violet and Rose were staring at me.

Violet's smirk was still there, but there was something more mischievous behind her eyes.

Rose, on the other hand, was still quiet. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something—but the words never came.

For a moment, none of us spoke.

Then—

Clap, clap, clap!

Violet started applauding.

"Well, well, well," she hummed, tilting her head. "Look at us, Aestrea. Side by side again. Feels kinda nostalgic, doesn't it?"

"…Not really. I was the only one that won after all."

Her grin widened at my words.

"Oh? You're telling me you don't feel even a little sentimental?" She leaned in, lowering her voice slightly, to the point of even ignoring my comment.

"I mean, after what happened before… I figured we'd at least have a moment~"

I gave her a flat look.

"You mean the moment where you hugged me out of nowhere after I fought the Archdemon of Pride?"

She chuckled.

"Exactly~"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Do you want a hug then?"

She froze.

Well...

It seems that she didn't expect me to be so direct.

For the first time in a while, Violet seemed caught off guard.

Her smirk wavered—just for a split second—before she quickly regained her usual playful expression.

"Oh? Offering to hug me now, Aestrea?" She placed a hand dramatically over her chest. "I knew you'd come around eventually~"

"I was joking."

"Aww, what a shame." She pouted, then suddenly grinned again. "Unless… you're backing out now because you actually want to hug me?"

I stared at her blankly.

This woman...

She might be more annoying than Andrea or Marissa, from "The Walking Dead".

'Maybe...'

Ah...

Nevermind.

...She isn't there yet.

I sighed and turned my attention to Rose.

She let out a soft sigh, her gaze drifting toward the academy's courtyard. The breeze was gentle, and the sun was starting to set, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink.

And then—

I noticed something.

A giant clock stood tall on one of the academy's towers.

And the time—

"Wait a second… isn't the last event starting soon?" I muttered.

Rose blinked in surprise.

"…The Snowy Love?" she asked, turning toward me.

I nodded.

"I think so…" she murmured, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

My stomach dropped.

"Damn it…"

Without wasting another second, I shot up from my seat and sprinted toward the academy's central area—

The meetup spot for my previous date with Violet.

"Hey, don't miss me too much~!"

Violet's teasing voice rang from behind me.

I barely glanced back—

But when I did, I caught her smirk.

And I ignored it.

Step, step, step!

And instead, I just continued on my way, weaving between students, decorations, and staff preparing for the next event.

The cold winter air brushed against my skin, but I barely noticed.

As I got closer to the central area, I could hear the sound of excited chatter.

And when I finally reached the event space—

There were way more people than I expected.

Students were gathered in large groups, talking, laughing, and looking around at the beautifully decorated venue.

Snowflakes drifted gently from the sky, covering the ground in a soft, white layer.

The trees around us were decorated with small, glowing lights, giving everything a magical feel.

I slowed down, catching my breath.

"Made it," I muttered to myself.

At the front of the crowd, a large wooden stage had been set up. A man in a fancy winter coat stood there, holding a microphone.

He was clearly the announcer for this event.

And just as I arrived—

He started speaking.

"Welcome, welcome, dear students of the Royal Eternum Academy!" His voice boomed across the area, full of energy.

"Tonight, we celebrate one of our most beloved traditions—The Snowy Love Event!"

The crowd cheered.

I stayed quiet, watching.

"As many of you know, this event is all about bringing people together." The announcer continued, smiling warmly.

"It's a time to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery, participate in fun activities, and—who knows? Maybe even make some special memories with someone."

A few students chuckled at his words, while others whispered excitedly.

I glanced around.

Some students looked nervous. Others were excited. And then there were people like me—just standing here, waiting for whatever was coming next.

The announcer lifted a hand.

"This event will include several fun activities! Some of these include:

❄ The Ice Skating Challenge! Work together with your partner to complete an obstacle course on ice!

❄ The Cozy Igloo! A quiet, warm space where you and your partner can talk and relax.

❄ The Snow Hunt! Solve clues and find hidden treasures in the snow!

❄ The Frost Dance! A beautiful dance under the snowfall, where you and your partner will move together under the moonlight.

And many more!"

Another round of cheers filled the air.

I exhaled slowly.

So… just like Violet had mentioned, a bunch of activities designed for two people.

…Great.

"And now," the announcer said, raising his voice slightly. "It's time for the moment you've all been waiting for—the Choosing Machine!"

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

I frowned slightly.

…The what?

I looked ahead, and suddenly—

A large, glowing structure appeared on the stage.

It was a tall, crystal-like machine, shimmering with soft blue light. The inside was empty, like a doorway leading into nothingness.

The announcer grinned.

"This is where all of our registered participants will enter!" He gestured toward the glowing structure.

"Once inside, the machine will randomly pair you with another participant. Then, you'll be teleported to a different location where your Snowy Love journey will begin!"

…Random pairing?

Hah.

I hope I get an easy-going girl.

I glanced around at the students who had signed up. Some looked excited, others nervous. A few were already whispering about who they hoped to be paired with.

There were a few professors around, awaiting to enter the machine.

I sighed.

There was no point in overthinking it now.

The announcer clapped his hands.

"Alright! Registered participants, please step forward and prepare to enter the Choosing Machine!"

A group of students immediately moved toward the stage, and I followed.

As I walked, I felt the cold air against my skin.

My breath came out in small puffs of white.

One by one, students entered the glowing machine.

The moment they stepped inside—

They disappeared.

I narrowed my eyes.

A teleportation system.

Nothing too unusual.

More students entered, vanishing into the blue light.

Then—

It was my turn.

I stepped forward, feeling the slight hum of magic in the air.

The light surrounded me.

And in the next second—

I was gone.

Fwoooooooooop!

The world around me shifted.

For a split second, everything felt weightless.

And then—

I landed somewhere else.

The air was crisp and cold. Snow crunched softly under my boots. The sound of distant bells echoed through the space.

I blinked.

'Where… am I?'

I looked around.

This wasn't the academy's central area anymore.

It was a different space, still covered in snow, but smaller and more enclosed. The trees were closer together, forming a natural barrier.

There were fewer tables, and the students who had been teleported here were much closer to each other.

I barely had time to process the change when I heard movement beside me.

I turned my head.

And—

My breath caught slightly.

"...Tee-hee~"

Fuck no.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"...Come on, I ain't that bad~"

A soft, teasing breath brushed against Aestrea's ear.

Her voice was smooth, light, and full of amusement.

"...What are you doing here?"

"What do you think?" she replied quickly.

Before he could say anything else, he felt her hands on his shoulders—light at first, but pressing down just enough to make him notice.

And then—

Plop!

Something soft pressed against his back.

No—two soft things.

His shoulders tensed slightly.

"Hey~, are you embarrassed?"

Her voice was almost a purr, warm and teasing as she leaned closer.

She blew softly against his ear again.

Aestrea exhaled slowly.

"...Is the Headmistress even allowed to participate in events like this?" he muttered.

"Why not?"

Eleonora smiled sweetly, her fingers squeezing his shoulders a little more.

"Besides, I was just too excited!" she continued, her tone playful but affectionate.

"You finally decided to consider my proposal!"

Aestrea froze.

"...What?"

"You never did that before!" Eleonora said, ignoring his reaction. "You always straight up rejected me. But this time~"

Aestrea's frown deepened.

"...Why do you sound like I've been refusing to be your boyfriend or something?"

Eleonora grinned.

"Oh? Do you perhaps have interests in mil—"

"—Yup, but only in milfs though," Aestrea cut in without hesitation.

"I don't have any interest in gilfs."

Silence.

Eleonora's smile twitched.

For a moment, she just stood there, her fingers still on his shoulders.

Then—

Her grip tightened.

Aestrea felt the pressure increase slightly, as if she was expecting him to react.

But he didn't.

Instead—

He just let out a small sigh.

"...Tsk."

Eleonora clicked her tongue before suddenly pulling him up.

"Enough of that!" she said, brightening up again almost instantly.

She grabbed his wrist, her grip firm but warm.

"Let's do our first event!"

"...What?"

"Ice skating!" she announced cheerfully.

And then—

Snap!

She snapped her fingers.

Immediately, Aestrea felt a strange weight settle over his body.

"...And of course," Eleonora added with a smirk, "none of us can use mana."

Aestrea glanced at her.

"Sure," he said simply.

Eleonora blinked.

She tilted her head slightly, as if surprised by his easy agreement.

But then—

Her expression softened into a genuine smile.

"...Good," she said softly, squeezing his hand just a little before tugging him forward.

And with that—

She dragged him toward the ice skating field.

It didn't take much time for them to reach the place, and after they got the ice-skating shoes, they were ready to enter the field.

The ice skating field stretched out before them, shimmering under the soft glow of the winter lights.

It was vast—wide enough to fit dozens of people at once, but right now, it was just the two of them.

Aestrea exhaled slowly, watching as small puffs of white left his lips in the cold air.

Eleonora, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Alright, let's go!" she said, stepping forward—

SLIP—!

"Whoa—!"

Aestrea barely had time to react before she stumbled forward.

Her arms flailed, her feet sliding helplessly across the ice.

She looked like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time.

Aestrea sighed.

"...You don't know how to ice skate, do you?"

Eleonora pouted.

"I thought it would be easy!" she muttered.

Aestrea shook his head, stepping beside her with smooth, controlled movements.

"...Here."

He offered his hand.

Eleonora stared at it for a moment before taking it, her fingers wrapping around his.

It was warm.

Aestrea adjusted his grip slightly.

"Follow my movements," he instructed, his voice calm.

"Keep your balance by bending your knees a little. Don't lock them, or you'll fall."

Eleonora nodded.

She took a slow step forward.

Her skate touched the ice—

And immediately slid forward too fast.

"Ack—!"

Aestrea steadied her, his other hand coming up to grip her waist.

Her body tensed slightly.

"...Relax," he murmured.

Eleonora glanced at him.

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't say anything.

Instead, she just nodded again.

Aestrea took the lead, pulling her along gently.

At first, she was stiff—her movements awkward, her fingers gripping his hand a little too tightly.

But as they skated further, she started to ease into it.

"Good," Aestrea said, his tone softer now.

"Just keep your weight centered. Let your legs glide instead of forcing them."

Eleonora huffed.

"Easier said than done," she grumbled.

He smirked slightly.

"You're doing better than before."

Eleonora shot him a side glance.

"You're just saying that."

Aestrea shrugged.

"If you were bad, I would have already let go of your hand."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"...You wouldn't."

"I would."

She gasped dramatically.

"You monster."

Aestrea chuckled.

Eleonora's personality was a bit far off from normal; she even seemed more childish and everything.

However, Aestrea knew that she only acted like this with him.

Well...

She was trying to act like a young girl to... seduce him.

It wasn't the first time, really.

Actually, she had tried multiple kinds of "personalities".

The Big Sister type.

The Mature Mommy type.

And many more.

Honestly, Aestrea didn't mind at all, if anything he found it quite interesting.

As long as she didn't imitate the crazy girlfriend type, he would be fine.

And then...

They reached the final stretch of the skating field.

Aestrea slowed down, expecting her to follow his pace.

But then—

"Wait, what's that—?!"

Eleonora suddenly pointed at something ahead.

Aestrea turned just in time to see—

A ramp.

A high ramp.

It was meant for tricks and jumps—definitely not for beginners.

And yet—

Eleonora was already going straight toward it.

"Eleonora—!"

Aestrea's eyes widened.

She wasn't even moving that fast, but her balance was still off.

And just before the ramp—

She panicked.

Her legs tensed.

Instead of stopping—

She jumped.

WHOOSH!

She was sent flying.

Aestrea's heart stopped.

'Idiot!'

Before he even realized it—

His body moved on its own.

He pushed forward, increasing his speed just enough—

His eyes locked onto her falling figure.

The wind whipped past his ears.

Time seemed to slow.

And then—

THUD!

Aestrea caught her.

His arms wrapped around her waist, his body absorbing the impact as they crashed into the snow.

THUMP—!

The cold spread through his back, but he barely noticed.

Because at that moment—

Eleonora landed right on top of him.

Her chest pressed firmly against his.

Her left leg slipped between both of his.

Her hands slammed into the snow on either side of his head—pinning him down.

It was—

A position far too intimate.

For a second—

Neither of them moved.

The only sound was the soft crunch of snow beneath them.

Then—

Eleonora's breath hitched.

Aestrea felt it.

Warm.

Shaky.

Her face was close.

Too close.

Her lips parted slightly.

Her light blue eyes, shimmering with something unreadable—stared down at him.

Aestrea's heartbeat drummed in his ears.

He swallowed.

"…You okay?"

Eleonora didn't answer.

She just—

Kept looking at him.

And at that moment—

The cold didn't feel so cold anymore.