“What’s with this sudden prince-and-loyal-dog scene?”
“And that calm, composed expression paired with those sparkling eyes? It’s just unfair!”
“So adorable…”
“Ahem.”
The teacher on the podium cleared her throat, cutting off the increasingly wild discussions.
“Ashton, where would you like to sit?”
Ashton turned, looking at the girl sitting next to Avira Nassy without saying a word.
Ashton: “…”
The girl: “…”
Ashton: “…”
The girl turned beet red under his gaze, fidgeting nervously and wringing her hands. He didn’t seem to be very good at speaking.
Avira turned her face, her sleepy gaze settling on the girl. “Um… he probably wants to sit in your spot…”
Ashton’s eyes lit up, and he turned to look at Nassy. His lips curved into a faint smile.
“Yes…”
His bright eyes shimmered, soft and moist like those of a fawn.
The girl blushed even harder, hastily gathering her things and giving up her seat to him.
Ashton gave a small nod as if that alone conveyed his thanks, and then he sat down. He didn’t seem to like talking much… but why did he want to talk to her?
Avira blinked in confusion, then returned to looking at her test paper.
Hmm… maybe it was just her imagination.
The class settled down again, though a few students continued whispering to each other.
Ashton leaned on the desk, but his gaze remained fixed on Nassy.
The sunlight fell gently on her short black hair, turning the tips into golden threads.
She seemed to be bathed in a soft, warm glow, like a white angel stepping out from a stained-glass painting.
So beautiful.
Just like the first time he saw her, when she had worn a white dress and extended her delicate hand to him.
Perhaps that was the first time Ashton had been utterly captivated by a girl.
Her young and beautiful face had bloomed with a smile as pure and flawless as a snow lotus, and it had felt as if she had wings made of white feathers unfurling behind her, each feather softly drifting down, dispelling the darkness piece by piece.
In that moment, she had gently swept away all the shadows lingering in his heart, bringing warmth and beauty, like a seashell floating on the ocean’s surface, bathed in the winter sun.
From the moment he had held her hand, he knew exactly what he wanted.
He wanted to hold on to her…
To protect her…
To have her.
Ashton’s silver-blue eyes glimmered with a solemn sincerity, as if…
As if they were meant to stay fixed on her alone.
—
It was lunchtime.
The path from the classroom to the gymnasium was a bit of a walk.
Avira’s presence caused many girls passing by to stop and stare, but what was even more shocking was the beautiful boy following close behind her.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tree leaves, casting golden highlights on his silver hair, making his skin appear even more pale and flawless. He quietly watched the figure in front of him, his lips curved in an unreadable half-smile, exuding a stunning and surreal beauty that felt almost forbidden.
Ashton followed Avira Nassy like a shadow, neither too close nor too far. To the onlookers, the two of them together seemed almost harmonious in an extraordinary way.
Both stunningly beautiful, both pure as snow.
Between them, there was an undeniable sense of a natural bond, something perfect and seamless.
Like a flawless painting, an exquisite sculpture, a complete work of art, or a perfect rose—anything more or less would spoil the harmony.
“Man…”
The person behind her suddenly called out softly.
His voice was so melodious, like a divine tune piercing the silence of the night.
“Hmm…?”
Avira lazily responded, still focused on the campus map in her hand as she continued walking.
“Man…”
“Yes…?”
“Man…”
“…”
Avira Nassy paused, finally unable to hold back her curiosity, and turned around to look at him. He was staring at her with innocent eyes, and she blinked in confusion. “What is it…?”
“Where… to…?”
Avira blinked again. “To the gymnasium. We’re going to rebuild the basketball club…”
“Bas… ket… ball?”
He tilted his head slightly, looking adorably confused, and the girls watching nearby squealed with delight.
“Yes.”
With that, she resumed walking.
The boy behind her kept pace, matching her step for step.
“I… want to… play basketball too…”
The light framed his profile, giving him an ethereal beauty.
Wherever Man goes, I will go…
I want to be with Man…
And protect Man.
“Do you even know how to play?”
Avira couldn’t help but yawn, rubbing her eyes, her lashes catching drops of moisture that sparkled brilliantly in the light.
Ashton gently shook his head, a soft smile appearing on his carefree face. “No… I don’t…”
“…”
The gymnasium was situated behind the right wing of the school building.
They had barely reached the entrance when they heard the sound of a heated argument coming from inside.
Just as Nassy approached the doors, a boy with a bruised face, looking like he had just come out of a brawl, was thrown out, landing on the ground.
Avira Nassy turned to glance at the fallen boy, her expression filled with confusion.
Were they practicing combat techniques or something?
“Watch out!”
Someone suddenly yelled, and an arrow shot through the air, gleaming with a deadly light as it streaked toward them like a falling star.
It was fast, cold, and unerring.
Everyone tangled up in the fight inside the gym froze instantly, still locked in their grappling stances, their eyes wide as they watched the scene at the door.
But the arrow stopped—
The crystal-clear shaft of the arrow shimmered briefly before vanishing at the sharp tip.
The silver-haired boy had caught it.
The arrowhead was only a centimeter away from Avira’s eye.
The gust from the arrow’s force lifted the strands of hair on her forehead, which fluttered and then fell back into place.
Everyone was stunned, staring in shock, too bewildered to react.
The entire gymnasium fell into an eerie, stunned silence.
