You're the Boyfriend I Love Most in the World
The evening that arrived after I'd finished all my lectures.
Elysia noona and I decided to treat ourselves to a meal out for the first time in ages, using the(?) platinum coin we'd gotten from senior Viper that morning.
And so, we ended up at the High-Class Restaurant.
It was a place so exorbitantly priced that even nobles rarely set foot inside... but one platinum coin solved everything.
"Come on, let's go in!"
Elysia noona grabbed my hand with a bright smile and pulled me inside the restaurant.
The moment we entered, a beautiful chandelier welcomed us from the entrance.
We waited in line with the people who'd arrived before us, and soon a waiter came to guide us.
"This way, please. We'll seat you by the window."
The spot the waiter led us to was truly magnificent.
Through the window stretched the night view of the Academy. A band playing classical music, delicious aromas wafting from afar.
Even if I'd still been part of the Knoxveil family, these were luxuries I could scarcely have enjoyed—and now they unfolded right before my eyes.
"What do you wanna eat? If we're short on cash, noona'll cover it."
"In that case..."
The moment I opened the menu to order.
My jaw dropped involuntarily.
A standard course meal was 4,000 gold. Upgrades or add-ons cost extra. Ordering just the high-end course for two would pretty much wipe out the platinum coin from senior Viper.
But Elysia noona ordered from the waiter without a care in the world.
"Two high-end course meals to start. Add one Volcano Heart Steak. Oh, and one Galaxy Blueberry Pie, please."
The dishes she'd just ordered came to over 13,000 gold.
Way past the value of that platinum coin. I was thinking maybe we should stick to just the courses when Elysia noona took my hand and gazed at me intently.
"Kyle. Anything else you want?"
"...How could I order more? Everything extra comes out of your pocket."
She let out a soft chuckle at my words.
"Kyle. What are we to each other right now?"
"...Lovers?"
"Right. You're the boyfriend I love most in the world. You think the Saintess of the Atradain Ducal House can't treat her precious boyfriend to this?"
I'd forgotten, since I'd never seen her splurge before.
That Elysia noona was from the Atradain Ducal House.
That she had more money than almost anyone at the Academy.
"I don't think I could ever put a price on you. If ten thousand platinum coins could buy you, I'd hand them over without hesitation."
"...Elysia noona."
My heart pounded at her words.
I was thrilled by the realization that she loved me this much.
It made my chest flutter beyond words.
"Noona's so capable, so marry me someday, okay? ❤"
"...There isn't any other woman I could even think of marrying besides you. I like you so much, no one else even crosses my mind."
"Pffft... That makes me so happy."
Elysia noona beamed and stroked my cheek.
"Same goes for me, though. I can't live without you now, Kyle."
"...You're kinda ruining the touching moment with that phrasing."
"Ahaha, am I?"
She burst into laughter again.
The more I looked at her, the more she felt like spring itself to me.
Always warm and gentle, wrapping me up tight. I loved that about her.
So much that "like" didn't even begin to cover it.
"...Noona."
"Yeah?"
"Is it too soon to say I love you?"
She smiled sweetly at my question, then laced her fingers through mine.
"Not at all. In fact, it's what I wanna hear most from you."
"...Then I'll say it from now on. I love you so much... 'Like' doesn't cut it anymore."
Her fair cheeks flushed red at my words.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Was that my heartbeat? Hers?
Or... both?
I didn't know for sure, but I hoped it was both.
"...I love you too, Kyle ❤"
Elysia noona confessed, cheeks burning, hands cupping her face. She seemed pretty embarrassed, hiding like that.
"Kinda unexpected. I figured you'd tease me with 'I love you too~' and a grin."
"Because you love me that much... I love you just as much."
She trailed off, then continued.
"...It's only natural I'd get butterflies from words like that."
My saintess girlfriend was just too lovable, unbearably so.
For a split second, I wanted to kiss her right then... but with all these eyes around in public, I held back.
But then.
"Kyle."
"Yeah?"
Mm.
Elysia noona stood, leaned down, and pressed her lips to mine.
It wasn't just a peck.
She sucked on my lower lip repeatedly, then slipped her tongue through the gap, entwining it tenderly with mine.
"Smmph... ❤ Chu, chuu... ❤"
The kiss lasted until I was gasping for air.
Only when I was on the verge of suffocating did she pull away. A satisfied smile played on her lips as she panted.
"Hehe... ❤ Your lips are the sweetest, Kyle."
"There are people everywhere... it's embarrassing..."
"So what? Most folks here are from the Academy—they all know we're together."
She was right; glancing around, I saw mostly familiar faces.
High-ranking saintesses from the Church. Academy noble faculty.
And...
One of the Academy's Five Stars, excluding Elysia noona herself.
Aside from a couple tables, everyone was someone I'd seen around campus at least once.
"Guess we're pretty famous, huh? I can feel all these stares."
"Bothered by the attention?"
"...Kinda overwhelming."
"Then just a sec~"
Elysia noona smiled warmly, then shifted her gaze to the other tables.
At the same moment, immense Holy Power flooded the restaurant.
The pressure was intense—maybe that's why the stares on us started fading, one by one.
All but one.
"..."
From afar, a blue-haired man kept staring us down.
I knew that face all too well.
One of the Academy's Five Stars alongside noona.
The Sword Saint known as the Star-Severer.
Jerban Lightbringer.
"Noona... why's that guy still staring?"
"Don't mind him. He's the type who follows me around even after I rejected his confession."
I couldn't just ignore it.
The murderous glare fixed on our table—on me specifically. If it didn't stop, I'd probably choke on my food.
"Hmm..."
Elysia noona, watching my reaction closely, finally stood up.
With each step, her Holy Power echoed through the floor. By the time she reached Jerban's table, her hair had turned pure white from her Authority.
"Hey."
"...What."
"What is my line."
Elysia noona scowled as she demanded.
"If you've got something to say, say it to me. Why are you glaring killing intent at my boyfriend so he can't even eat?"
How many people could speak to the Sword Saint that roughly?
Probably not even the Academy Director. He'd be cleaved in half on the spot.
"...Why him and not me?"
"What?"
"Why's a weakling like that your boyfriend instead of me—someone superior in skill and looks?"
"Because I like him, so we're dating."
"What's so great about that pathetic little shit...!!"
It sounded like a kid throwing a jealousy tantrum.
Apparently, it wasn't just saintesses who were off-kilter—the Five Stars were no different. What was wrong with grown adults acting like that...?
"Jerban."
Suddenly, the entire restaurant shook like there was an earthquake.
The air grew scorching from her surging Holy Power. In this powder-keg moment that could erupt into a fight any second, Elysia noona intoned her divine word.
Watch your mouth. One more wrong word, and I'll tear you to shreds.
She was seriously pissed that Jerban had insulted me.
"...You think I can't cut you down?"
You could try. But...
Shing.
Elysia noona summoned a massive sword from thin air as she continued.
...you'll die first.