Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

When Aria finished her presentation, she glanced at Adrian, her eyes meeting his for a fleeting moment. A fast smile played on her lips before she turned back to the judges.

'She really was talking about me! Right?!'

Adrian felt a rush of emotions—pride, admiration, and a deep, undeniable affection for Aria. His resolve to confess to her rose even higher.

Meanwhile, the judges tasted her dish, their expressions lighting up with delight. They praised her creativity, the balance of flavors, and the unique magical infusion that elevated the tart to something truly exceptional.

Finally, the event ended and the winner was announced.

"The winner of the Gourmet Duel is... Aria Starlight!" the head judge announced, his voice ringing out across the arena.

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Adrian couldn't contain his excitement and clapped enthusiastically, his eyes fixed on Aria as she accepted her trophy with a graceful bow.

He didn't care whether others saw him or not. He was just happy, for her.

After the event, Adrian made his way to the students' waiting area, eager to congratulate Aria in person. He leaned against the wall, his thoughts racing with everything he wanted to say. When he finally saw her approaching, his heart skipped a beat.

"Aria!" he called out, his voice filled with genuine excitement. "Congratulations on winning the event. You were really amazing out there."

Aria's face lit up with a smile as she reached him. "Thank you, Adrian. I'm glad you think so."

"Isn't it because I had a great teacher?" she added, her tone playful.

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "No, it's because you're the best and only student I ever had."

Aria feigned confusion, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, I wasn't talking about you."

Adrian knew she was teasing him and couldn't help but chuckle again. "Right, of course."

After a brief, comfortable silence, Adrian asked, "Have you had breakfast yet? Let's go to the cafeteria."

Aria nodded, her expression softening. "No, I haven't. But, let's go somewhere else."

"Oh, ok." Adrian nodded and led the way.

The two of them walked side by side, the bustling activity of the tournament temporarily fading into the background. They made their way to a garden behind the dorm.

Adrian quickly retrieved a small table and chairs from his storage ring, setting them up in a cozy corner of the garden. He laid out a simple but elegant spread for breakfast, complete with plates, utensils, and a selection of fruits and pastries.

As he arranged everything, Aria watched him with a soft smile, appreciating his thoughtful gesture. "You are always prepared, aren't you?" she remarked, her tone light.

Adrian chuckled mysteriously. "Well, you never know when you might need something."

Once everything was set, Aria spoke up, her voice gentle yet filled with anticipation. "Adrian, close your eyes for a moment."

Adrian complied, his heart racing with curiosity. He trusted Aria completely, but he couldn't help wondering what surprise she had in store for him.

"Okay, you can open them now," Aria said after a few moments.

Adrian slowly opened his eyes and gasped in surprise. There, sitting elegantly on a small plate in front of him, was the Celestial Blossom Tart that Aria had prepared for the Gourmet Duel. Its delicate crust shimmered softly in the winter light, adorned with enchanting blossoms that seemed to glow with their own inner light.

"Aria..." Adrian breathed, at a loss for words. He couldn't believe she had kept a piece of her winning dish just for him.

"I wanted you to taste it," Aria said softly, her eyes warm with affection. "I thought you might like it. I cooked it for... after all..."

Adrian picked up a fork and delicately cut into the tart. The crust was perfectly crisp, and as he took a bite, a burst of flavors danced on his tongue—sweetness tinged with a hint of celestial magic, just as Aria had described.

"It's incredible," Adrian managed to say, his voice filled with awe. "You put so much care into this."

Aria smiled warmly. "I'm glad you think so. It was inspired by someone s-special to me."

Adrian looked up at her, realizing once again that she had been talking about him during her presentation. His heart swelled with warmth and happiness he couldn't describe. "Thank you, Aria. This means a lot to me."

They continued to enjoy their breakfast together in the tranquil garden, the winter air around them kept at bay by the academy's protective barrier. The atmosphere between them was comfortable and filled with unspoken understanding, their bond deepening with each passing moment.

As they finished eating, Adrian felt a sense of contentment settle over him. He knew that whatever challenges lay ahead in the future, as long as Aria was with him, he would face them without any fear or hesitation. Their connection was stronger than ever, and Adrian's resolve to confess his feelings to her burned brighter than before.

He gulped, his heart starting to beat uncontrollably.

"Aria," Adrian began, his voice steady yet filled with emotion, "there's something I've been meaning to tell you..."

Before he could say more, Aria placed a gentle finger on his lips, silencing him with a soft smile.

"Did you forget yesterday's promise so soon?" Aria teased gently, her eyes twinkling with not-so-hidden affection.

Adrian blinked, momentarily taken aback before realization dawned on him. "Oh, right... Three events," he said, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "I guess I got ahead of myself. Sorry about that."

He really couldn't control himself for a moment there.

Aria chuckled softly, removing her finger. "I will agree to that date if you agree me to help you with 'that thing' you are planning to do."

"..." Adrian's eyes widened slightly as he realized what she meant by 'that'.

Adrian looked at Aria with a mix of gratitude and hesitation in his eyes. "Aria... I really appreciate your offer, but this is something I have to do myself... It's important to me."

'I need to do it myself... Or else I won't be satisfied... Or things might change...'

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