Game's Extra

Aiden arrived at the academy gym early, dressed in his workout clothes, and began his warm-up routine. The gym was quiet at this hour, the soft hum of equipment the only sound in the spacious room. He rolled his shoulders, stretched his legs, and started light exercises while waiting for Ava.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Ava stepped inside. She wore a tank top and athletic pants, her hair tied in a neat ponytail. A faint blush dusted her cheeks as she entered, and her movements were unusually shy. "Morning," she greeted softly.

"Morning. Let's start with your warm-up," Aiden said, nodding toward the mats.

Ava quickly got to work, following the stretches and exercises Aiden had previously shown her. But every so often, her eyes wandered to Aiden. Her thoughts were scattered, replaying his words from the game of Ascendants: "You might be really beautiful in real life." She couldn't shake the memory, and it was throwing her off balance.

Aiden, meanwhile, focused on his own routine, though he couldn't help but notice Ava's occasional glances. It made him slightly uncomfortable, but he brushed it off, assuming she was just lost in thought.

After Ava finished her warm-up, they moved on to the strength training regimen Aiden had prepared for her. He demonstrated each exercise, correcting her form as needed. Ava followed his instructions but struggled to focus. Her mind kept drifting, her cheeks heating up every time she stole a glance at him.

"Alright, that's enough for now," Aiden said after a set. "Take a break."

Ava sank onto the bench, catching her breath. As she rested, she kept stealing more glances at Aiden, her thoughts a whirlwind. Does he really think I'm pretty? Was he just being polite? She couldn't concentrate on anything else.

Once Ava had recovered, Aiden clapped his hands together. "Okay, let's get to sparring now."

Ava nodded and got into her stance, but her focus was still off. Aiden began throwing light punches and testing her defenses, but it didn't take long for him to notice her hesitation and lack of precision. He stopped mid-swing and stepped back.

"Alright, what's going on?" Aiden asked, crossing his arms. "You're not focused. If you can't concentrate, let's just pick this up tomorrow."

Ava flopped onto the mat, breathing heavily. For a moment, she was silent, then she spoke. "Are you... LukewarmWater?"

Aiden's brow furrowed. "How did you figure that out?" he asked, surprised.

Ava sat up and wiped her face with a towel. "I'm FieryLady," she confessed, her cheeks turning pink. "And you can hide your face, but not your fighting style. I recognized it right away."

Aiden groaned and facepalmed. "I should've known. Ugh, so much for anonymity."

Ava fidgeted with her towel, her blush deepening. After a brief silence, she mustered the courage to ask, "Do you... really think I'm pretty?"

Aiden blinked, caught off guard by the question. He answered nonchalantly, "Yeah, you're pretty."

Ava's eyes widened, and she shot to her feet. "I'll see you later!" she said quickly, bolting toward the exit. As she ran out of the gym, Aiden caught a glimpse of her smiling and blushing furiously.

He sighed and shook his head. "What was that reaction? I thought she'd be used to being called pretty."

Shrugging it off, he returned to his workout. After another intense session, he decided to head home, take a shower, and catch up on some rest.

The next morning, Aiden arrived at class feeling refreshed. His friends greeted him cheerfully as he took his seat. "Good morning, Aiden!" Felix, Tomas, and Olivia said in unison. Elena offered him a polite nod, her usual reserved smile in place.

"Good morning, guys," Aiden replied.

Before he could settle in, a familiar voice caught everyone's attention. "Good morning, Aiden," Ava said as she entered the classroom.

The entire group froze, staring in shock. Ava rarely greeted anyone directly, let alone with such a friendly tone.

"Good morning to you too, Ava," Aiden replied casually.

Elena's smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered, her expression neutral. Internally, however, a strange feeling gnawed at her. When did those two become close? she wondered.

Her curiosity didn't go unanswered for long. Felix leaned over and whispered, "Three days ago, they had a one-on-one match. Aiden won, and ever since, they've been spending time together in the gym."

Elena's chest tightened slightly at the explanation, though she hid it well. She placed a hand over her heart, feeling a faint twinge she couldn't quite identify. As her gaze shifted to Ava, she noticed the redhead smiling warmly at her.

Elena returned the smile politely, but her thoughts lingered on what Felix had said. I see... they've grown close.

The morning classes began, but Elena couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her chest.