After thinking for a while, I turned to Lucy.
"We should set up shelter before nightfall."
"I agree," she replied, her tone calm, but her eyes were already scanning the surroundings, clearly planning ahead.
From that moment until late afternoon, we searched together for a suitable area. I chose a spot deep in the forest, surrounded by thick trees, secluded and easy to conceal if necessary.
While clearing the ground to set up camp, I took out the spatial bracelet Naki lent me. As I activated it and retrieved a few essential items: a tarp, some ropes, and a small pot, Lucy froze briefly.
"Is that... a spatial bracelet?" she tilted her head, eyes widening slightly.
I nodded. "I borrowed it from a friend. It doesn't break the rules. The teacher only limited what we could bring, not how."
Lucy looked at me for another moment, then gave a small smile.
"I didn't expect you to be so well-prepared. Good job."
Just a simple compliment, yet it made my heart flutter like someone had gently touched it.
By the time the sun dipped behind the trees, our temporary camp was complete. In front of me, a small fire crackled softly, spreading warmth into the creeping evening chill.
Lucy stirred the porridge I was cooking while I quietly scooted closer to her.
She didn't move away. Didn't say a word.
She simply sat beside me, letting the firelight cast golden glows over her side-tied blonde hair, creating a strangely peaceful moment amidst a dangerous forest.
The silence between us wasn't awkward. On the contrary, it made my heart feel calm.
Maybe… just being near her like this, without saying anything, was already something special.
As the porridge neared readiness, its warm aroma mingled with the gentle fire and occasional crackle of burning wood. Lucy silently scooped a spoonful, tasted it, then nodded in approval.
"Not bad," she said, though the slight curve of her lips hinted at a hidden smile.
I chuckled. "Under these conditions, that's already high praise."
Then she gently scooped a bowl and offered it to me.
"Here. Eat up and keep your strength."
I took it but deliberately let my fingers brush against hers. Lucy froze for a split second, so fast it might've gone unnoticed, before quickly pulling her hand back, eyes darting away, cheeks flushed under the firelight.
"Be careful. It's hot," she muttered, barely audible.
I laughed to myself and brought the spoon to my lips.
"It is hot… but not as warm as eating something Lucy made."
"Don't tease me," she muttered, glancing sideways—not annoyed, but clearly flustered.
A soft breeze rustled the trees, making the fire flicker.
In the cold darkness of the forest, her presence beside me was like a second fire, far warmer.
I had only taken a few bites when a breeze swept through, carrying a faint sound. From the shadows of the forest, a familiar figure appeared, brown hair swaying in the wind, and those bright sparkling eyes I recognized.
"Sachi?"
"Hey, you two~!" she greeted cheerfully, waving as she gently landed with a floating wind orb beneath her feet. "Thanks to those two wind spheres you gave me with the coordinates, I could lock onto your location."
I blinked in surprise.
"What took you so long? Did something happen on the way?"
"Yup. I ran into a few classmates and beat them. They got teleported back to class. And I wasn't planning to barge in on your little forest date either~"
Sachi playfully cupped her cheek and tilted her head with a mischievous smile, clearly enjoying the sight of me and Lucy sitting so close by the fire.
Lucy flinched slightly and scooted just a bit away, saying nothing. Her cheeks turned pink like the fire's glow, and she quickly looked down, ladling more porridge to avoid eye contact.
"You two look really cozy~" Sachi giggled, then leaned in like whispering. "Sitting that close… were you about to kiss?"
"Sachi!" I laughed while Lucy turned away, muttering under her breath, almost inaudible: "…Annoying."
"So cute~" Sachi winked. "Anyway, give me some porridge too. Flying through the woods made my hands freeze."
I shook my head and laughed, then got up to serve her a bowl. Deep inside, I felt a strange sense of warmth. Perhaps, in the middle of this survival trial, these little moments were what kept us grounded.
After finishing our meal, we returned to the large tent Lucy and I set up earlier. Each of us picked our own sleeping spot. Before lying down, I quietly placed a few magic traps around the area. If anyone approached, I'd know right away.
Midnight.
A faint shift in the air woke me. I quietly slipped out of the tent, instincts tingling. As I stepped outside, I spotted someone under the moonlight—Dan.
He looked at me and smirked condescendingly.
"This time, I'll beat you to a pulp."
I sighed.
"Sorry, but how about we save this for another time? I really don't want to wake the girls. So…"
I snapped my fingers.
Instantly, a dense Wind magic circle lit up beneath Dan's feet. I had hidden it earlier, compressed tightly—even Dan couldn't react fast enough.
"Wha—"
Before he could finish, a burst of wind launched him skyward, vanishing into the treetops.
I figured Dan had just wandered close by accident while scouting. He probably wouldn't find this place again anytime soon.
As I turned back, I saw Lucy standing at the tent entrance, arms crossed, expression unamused. She was wearing light pink sleepwear, her hair down, face still slightly drowsy.
"If someone gets close, you should've woken us. What if something happened?"
I stepped closer, gently patted her head, and smiled.
"Sorry, sorry. Next time, I promise I'll wake you."
Lucy pouted but said nothing more. I took her hand, and we walked back into the tent together.
Before lying down, I held her hand tightly, gathering all my courage.
"Um… Lucy, I usually need to hug a pillow to fall asleep… but I couldn't bring mine since it's too big. So… w-would you mind… sleeping close to me tonight?"
I didn't know how red my face was at that moment, but I looked her in the eyes anyway.
Lucy's eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed deeper than I'd ever seen. She lowered her head and nodded slightly, stammering:
"L-let's… just say it's a way of repaying you… for risking injury to save me from Ruka's trap…"
I smiled with joy.
We lay down together. I gently pulled the blanket over us, then slowly reached over and wrapped my arm around her.
She didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned in closer, resting her head on my chest. Her body was small and soft, carrying a light, sweet scent like morning flowers. She let out a soft breath, her warm breath tickling my neck and making my heart pound.
Our cheeks brushed, and I could feel her face burning—just like mine.
Tonight might be hard to fall asleep…
But that's okay. Because this moment—her warmth in my arms—was proof enough that Lucy liked me too.