"What heroine did you say?" Avendial asked, clearly confused upon hearing a term that was unfamiliar to him, even though he had come from the future.
It was possible that someone might knew about it but had chosen to hide that knowledge from the outside world.
"It was 'Sovereign Heroine,'" Aria replied, her body trembling as she recalled the moment she first saw that title.
It felt as though something had gripped her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
This sensation was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
Whenever she saw the title of Amrita, she would usually feel a slight irritation, but it was manageable.
However, seeing that title over the woman's head was an entirely different ordeal; it felt as if she were dying.
This was the first time Aria had ever experienced such a powerful reaction, simply from looking at someone's title.
Avendial stood there, observing Aria as she gazed downward, hands clasped anxiously.
Although he felt she was not lying, he found himself questioning whether there was more to these titles of heroine and villainess than he had previously understood.
In his past life, he had possessed knowledge about heroines and villainesses that no one else did.
Guided by the information Aria disclosed at the last moment of her life, he had always categorized individuals based on their backstories, which had helped him navigate his own challenges—Using heroines as meat shields and villainesses as traitors.
Now, hearing about a specific type of heroine was confusing.
Yet, rather than dwell on that, Avendial focused on Aecilia's state.
Even more surprising was the fact that Aecilia possessed a title of heroine.
This revelation piqued his curiosity.
In his previous life, he had heard reputations surrounding her—she never came across as likable or particularly favored, often being avoided by others.
Perhaps it stemmed from being born into the Sertsul family, known for its ignoble legacy, but he couldn't fathom her possessing the qualities typically associated with a heroine.
Yet, upon reflection, he realized that Amrita had a similar situation.
Her parents had separated, leaving only Amrita and her brother to navigate the aftermath.
If she also carried the title of heroine, it forced Avendial to reassess his perspective; he had previously believed that heroines were always fortunate.
Yet, he couldn't deny the possibility that some other variable contributed to Amrita's misfortunes.
Both Amrita and Aecilia, even though they held the title of heroines, did not possess the fortune he expected them to have.
'What could this title be?' He turned his gaze toward the window, moving closer to it as he sought to calm his mind.
As he pondered these many thoughts, he gazed at the calm sky, slowly opening his eyes to reveal the deep blue of his pupils, resembling a starry night.
He exhaled, calming himself, and turned his attention to Aria.
He recognized that dwelling on possibilities would only lead to wasted time.
Shifting his focus to her, he maintained a neutral expression and inquired gently, as he noticed the anxiety in her eyes caused by resurfacing memories, "You seem anxious. Are you alright?"
"Um... y-yes," Aecilia responded, looking slightly overwhelmed by thoughts that were less than favorable.
However, upon hearing his voice and seeing him standing near the window, his silver hair illuminated by the moonlight, her worries began to melt away.
There was something calming about his presence.
"I see. It's already 1:20 AM. Would you like to sleep?" Avendial asked, choosing to steer the conversation away from the uncomfortable memories.
Rather than suggesting he would take her home—which he knew was a sensitive subject given her earlier admission that she lacked a conventional home—he opted to focus on the present.
He reminded himself to take things slowly and steadily, allowing his mind to settle amidst the swirling thoughts and emotions crowding his mind through all the unnecessary information at this moment.
"Sleep?" Aria felt confused inquiring as she kept looking towards him.
---
'Waaaahhhh! N-no, no!'
Aria lay on the bed, her mind a whirlwind of confusion as she found herself beside Professor Aven, who was hugging her from behind.
She stammered, "P-professor..."
"I will be leaving the academy in two days, Aria," Avendial said, his eyes closed, fully aware of what she was about to express.
As he tightened his grip slightly, he offered her mind a distraction, allowing her to gradually acclimate to his touch.
It was a slow process—starting with that first kiss, followed by gentle consoling touches, and then hugs that had deepened over time.
Now, here they were, lying together for an extended period, slowly molding her thoughts to accept him as a part of her life.
'!?'
".....I see," Aria murmured. Instead of pulling away, she remained nestled against him, feeling an inexplicable discomfort at his words.
Deep down, she didn't want him to go, yet it felt undeniable that she was not the person he was seeking; she was far from her future self.
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, she tried to ignore his gentle caress and eventually succumbed to sleep, only to inquire in a sleepy voice as she felt something hard poking against her butt, "Professor, can you take your phone out of your pocket, it's pressing against me?"
"...Do you think a phone would be this long?"