A Place I Can't Return To
"......What did you just say?"
Lumi's voice was small, but the tremor in it was unmistakable. Ain froze for a moment. It was the kind of thing he never would have said out loud if he'd been in his right mind. He'd sworn to himself just minutes ago to live quietly, and here he was, muttering "pretty" at someone else's face.
'......My bad.'
His mind raced. Should he pretend he hadn't heard anything and just walk away? Or play it off as a joke? But Lumi's expression was off. Surprise? No. Anger? Not that either. If he had to put a name to it—
It was the look of someone who'd heard something utterly unbelievable. Like it was the first time in her life she'd ever heard such words.
Ain hesitated, then finally averted his eyes a fraction and shrugged.
"......Ah, yeah. Just."
"Just what?"
The response came quicker than expected. Lumi clamped her mouth shut, as if surprised at her own retort. It had probably been ages since she'd talked back to anyone like that.
Ain let out a breath that was almost a sigh.
"Just...... saying what I saw. Sorry if it bothered you."
He turned away after finishing. He could feel her gaze on his back, but he didn't have the confidence to keep the conversation going. He quickened his pace, blending into the crowd exiting the great hall.
'I said I'd live quietly, like five minutes ago.'
He berated himself as he walked the corridor. His head was a mess. He'd just resolved to keep a low profile, and his body had already betrayed him in the opposite direction. He knew intellectually that this world's standards were reversed, but ignoring the sights right in front of him was harder than he'd thought.
The way back to the dormitory was complicated. He still hadn't gotten a good grasp on the academy layout, so he took a couple wrong turns. Even so, eye-catching scenes popped up everywhere.
A bulletin board on one corridor wall was plastered with notices: 'Mana Measurement Test Schedule,' 'Freshman Swordsmanship Practical Assignments,' 'Basic Magic Circle Lecture Notice.' This was a school that really taught magic and swordsmanship.
Crossing the central courtyard, a group that looked like upperclassmen passed by. One glanced at Ain and whispered to her friend.
"That's the freshman from earlier. They say he's pretty handsome."
"Not as much as the rumors, though? Kinda plain up close."
"Hey, quiet down."
Plain, huh. Ain chuckled inwardly. In this world, that still put him in the handsome category—just the rumors had overhyped it. By his own standards, he was average at best. The gap was oddly amusing.
The moment he reached his dorm room, he flung himself onto the bed. The springs creaked. He lay there staring at the ceiling for a while.
Possession. Another world. Akanage.
Those three words spun in his head. Time to sort out what he knew.
First, he'd fallen asleep in his old world and woken up here. Cause unknown. Method unknown.
Second, this seemed to be the world of a novel called Akanage. A friend had recommended it, but he'd only known the title—zero content.
Third, this world's beauty standards were the exact opposite of his. People who looked normal or pretty to him were called 'ugly' here, while those he saw as ugly got labeled 'handsome' or 'beautiful.'
Fourth, this body ranked as 'handsome' here. Meaning, barely passable by his standards.
'......Got it.'
Putting it all together actually calmed him a bit. Sure, unknowns everywhere, but no immediate danger. He was a Royal Academy freshman with a bed and food secured.
Nothing wrong with filling his belly first before overthinking. No good answers came from a hungry brain anyway.
But hunger was real. Ain sat up and rummaged through the admission packet for the cafeteria map. Dinner time was approaching.
The cafeteria was bigger than expected. Long tables stretched in rows, with a serving counter along one wall. Plenty of freshmen were already seated and eating.
Ain grabbed his tray and scanned for an empty spot. Corner was best. But as he moved to sit—
His eyes stopped.
In the far corner by the window—no, farthest from it. Lumi sat there. Alone. Groups chattered at nearby tables, but hers was surrounded by an empty circle. Like an invisible wall.
Her long silver hair, shimmering with blue aura, draped over the table, nearly brushing her soup bowl. The shoulders hidden by her dark robe looked fragile even seated. She ate slowly, spoon moving in tiny motions.
She seemed oblivious to the surrounding buzz—or maybe just too accustomed to it.
A few tables away, Rize and her crew were gathered. One nodded toward Lumi and snickered. Another chimed in, voice low but deliberately audible.
"Look at that thing, eating alone again."
"Duh. Who'd wanna sit with her?"
Did Lumi hear? Probably. The distance wasn't far. But her spoon never paused. She just kept putting food in her mouth, mechanically, silently.
Ain watched for a moment. No urge to intervene. Getting involved would just complicate things, and he hated complications. He decided to eat quietly.
Then Lumi glanced up slightly. Their eyes met.
Ain didn't fluster. He just gave a small nod—greeting-ish. Then dropped his gaze to his plate.
Lumi stared blankly for a few seconds before resuming her meal.
Sensitive one. Ain thought, scooping some soup. It was pretty good. At least to his taste. He'd figured medieval fantasy food would suck, but maybe the magic civilization had decent cooking tech. Warm food settling in cleared his head a little more.
Finishing dinner and stepping out, night had fallen. The day's chaos had eaten up the hours.
Too early for bed, so Ain headed to the library he'd spotted earlier.
It was way bigger than expected. Towering shelves packed multi-floor, magic lamps casting soft glows here and there. The air carried faint dampness and old paper scent. Standing still, it almost felt like the dust and knowledge layered on those spines were breathing.
Hardly anyone around. First day—everyone probably resting in dorms.
Ain started with history and common knowledge shelves. Chronicles of the Asteria Kingdom. Fundamentals of Mana. Races and Cultures of the Continent. He skimmed a few.
He hunted for anything on beauty standards—nothing. Like explaining why the sun rises in the east. It was just an unspoken given.
To this world's people, the 'reversed aesthetics' was as natural as a law of physics.
Other info stuck better. Asteria Kingdom dominated the continent's center. Mana affinity meant status; nobles bred for better aptitude. Commoners rarely entered the academy, but it happened.
Magic split into spell magic and blood oath magic. Swordsmanship infused mana into blades as basics.
The shape of this place was clarifying. A world where class, bloodline, power, and talent ruled all. Not so different from Earth. Just the yardstick flipped.
'......Study break's good here.'
Ain closed a book and stretched. Then—
A book slipped from the other side of the shelf. Someone fumbling it out.
Ain glanced absently. And spotted a familiar robe hem.
Lumi. Under the magic lamp, her silver hair gleamed bluish. Thick magic tome in hand, lavender eyes widened slightly toward him.
Flustered, but with a hint of resolve.
Silence hung. She stepped closer, fingers gripping the cover tight.
She hesitated, then spoke.
"......Sorry about earlier. For asking something weird all of a sudden."
Unexpected. Ain shook his head.
"Nah, that was on me."
"......That thing you said."
Lumi paused. Her hand, peeking from the robe, trembled faintly. She inhaled, eyes locking straight on his through the strands of hair. No running.
"Was it...... just empty words?"