Ray started to sigh heavily. His gaze was drawn to the beautiful stranger outside the window, who sat on a bench, watching the trees bloom. A light wind blew, and petals rose, dancing around the girl. Ray's heart pounded, and he began to blush. Suddenly, Akito interrupted the whole atmosphere.
"Ray, are you okay? Is everything alright? You're red. Who's that girl? Do you know her?"
Ray sharply turned to Akito, his face growing even redder. He pressed his back against the window, retreating from Akito's interrogation, and Andy began to laugh.
"What's wrong with you? Did you fall in love?! Look at you, all serious, you hate aristocrats, and now you're in love with one of them, looking at her as if you've never seen a girl before!"
Andy continued to tease Ray. The smile on Kai's face faded, and he placed a hand on Andy's shoulder and squeezed it tightly.
"Andy, I'm telling you, love is not something to laugh at. You'll fall in love someday, and you'll understand. Ray, how are you?"
Ray was clearly surprised by Kai's words and support, although he still felt a dislike for him.
"I'm fine, what do you want?"
"You see, I've been in relationships before, and I understand what you're feeling, maybe not exactly the same as you, but similar. If you've really fallen in love with her, ask me, I'll help you."
Ray was even more surprised by Kai's kindness. In his childhood, all aristocrats looked down on Ray, and if they wanted to build a friendship, it was only for a future political alliance. Ray felt that Kai was different.
"Thank you... I didn't think you'd understand... And... I'm sorry for my arrogant and aloof attitude towards you earlier."
"Well, I'm like that too when I haven't slept or I'm hungry."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
While Kai and Ray found common ground, Akito and Andy watched them.
"These two are strange... They talk as if in another language."
"I agree with you, Andy, but they've become friends, that's good."
A few minutes passed, and Kai and Ray actively maintained their conversation. Kai shared his knowledge about relationships, and Ray almost wrote down every word. The girl outside the window stood up from the bench and began to walk away.
"Ray, run after her!"
"Why!?"
"Slowpoke! If you miss her, you'll regret it your whole life."
Ray darted out of the library with such speed that Shollar, who was sleeping with his head immersed in a book, woke up, or perhaps he woke up from the shouting. Kai ran after Ray, and Akito and Andy ran after Kai. It looked like a strange chase, but no matter how fast anyone was, Ray felt as if boiling water had been poured on him; his heart pounded and was filled with strange, incomprehensible emotions, but he kept running, faster and faster. The world around him disappeared, and a glow appeared. Ray finally ran out into the park. He was breathing heavily, and when he stopped, he almost fell.
"Wait!"
The white-haired girl, clearly surprised, turned in the direction from which she heard the sound. Her clear, blue eyes widened when she saw Ray, red, panting, with messy hair and an academy uniform that looked like it had been crumpled several times. She began to giggle, then laugh; her laughter was clear and melodious. It was clear she wasn't mocking Ray but simply laughing innocently.
Ray blushed even more.
'This is your chance, don't miss it.'
With these thoughts, he approached the girl, remembering all of Kai's advice. A good dialogue had already formed in his head. The stranger looked at him, her eyes captivating him. He opened his mouth...
"Well, this... I... There... Well... You see..."
The girl laughed again. Kai burst in, sweating, all red, with a disheveled uniform; some buttons on his uniform were unbuttoned. Strangely, he looked much more handsome than Ray; he even sweated beautifully. It definitely felt like some kind of setup. He slicked his hair back and approached the fair-haired girl, who looked at him with genuinely wide eyes.
"Good day, what's your name?"
She smiled warmly. Ray felt his heart skip another beat. Kai became nervous.
'Ray, don't die there.'
"My name is Eliza, and what's yours?"
"It doesn't matter what my name is. What matters is his name." Kai pointed at Ray and winked at him.
"He, by the way, wants to get to know you, why don't you two talk together?"
Eliza turned to Ray and approached him. "Is that true?"
Blushing, Ray nodded, his heart seemingly about to leap from his chest.
"So, your name is Ray?"
"Th-that's right, and you're Eliza. You have a beautiful name, and you yourself are... well... such..."
Kai's face, at this moment, expressed shock and irritation.
'Idiot! Such!? Like what!? He should have said her name is as beautiful as she is! God... This is hopeless...'
Eliza blinked a few times and blushed slightly, a gentle smile playing on her face.
"Thank you, I don't always hear compliments about my name; everyone always comments on my appearance."
Ray's heart stopped at the sight.
Kai was in absolute shock that Ray could at least somewhat appeal to Eliza, though he was, of course, happy for his friend.
"W-well, you really do have a beautiful and unique name, Eliza."
"You too, Ray, you have a very nice name."
Suddenly, Kai remembered something, or rather someone: Akito and Andy. Leaving Ray and Eliza alone, he ran towards the duo so they wouldn't ruin the atmosphere for the two "lovebirds." Just before the exit, he met them. Akito had a bouquet in his hands, and Andy was just standing nearby.
"So, is everything all set there? Can we bring them out now?"
"Akito... What the hell is that? No, Ray just started talking to her."
"Then why did we pick flowers in the garden?"
"Are you completely out of your minds?! What if you had been caught, huh!?"
Andy sighed and walked over to Kai.
"We asked the florist who was there, and she kindly agreed to get us some flowers."
"You know... Eliza... your eyes are really captivating... From the first moment I saw them, I liked them..."
Their conversation continued, they complimented each other, and eventually, both were blushing and starting to fall in love. Kai watched them, rooting for Ray, keeping Andy and Akito in sight so the two fools wouldn't mess things up. Waiting for the right moment, he signaled the two to give Ray the bouquet so he could present it to Eliza.