Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 705 158.3 - Coffee

As the stars began to dim and the night gave way to a lighter shade of blue, Irina and Astron finally decided to leave the springs. The glow of the mana-infused pools faded behind them as they retraced their steps along the forest trail, their conversation gradually shifting to lighter topics. Despite the serene atmosphere of the hike back, Irina's thoughts kept drifting toward the city and the next part of her carefully planned trip. 
By the time they reached Solren Heights, the city was alive with a soft, magical hum that permeated the air. The glowing mana vines that adorned the buildings cast a warm light, illuminating the streets as they headed toward the hotel Irina had booked in advance. The towering structure exuded luxury, its sleek, modern design blending seamlessly with the natural mana-rich environment. 
Astron followed her silently as they entered the grand lobby, its polished floors gleaming under the soft light of floating mana orbs. Irina checked them in with her usual confidence, and soon enough, they were led to their suite by a well-dressed concierge. 
The suite itself was as luxurious as expected—spacious, with large windows offering a breathtaking view of the city's glowing skyline. The decor was elegant yet modern, with mana-infused lighting that adjusted to their presence. But it was the centerpiece of the room that immediately caught Astron's attention: a single, massive kingsize bed. 
Astron's sharp purple eyes flicked to Irina, his eyebrows raised in silent question. It was the same look he'd given her on the train, as if to ask, Didn't you say you didn't check last time? What's your excuse now? 
Irina, who had been setting her bag down, noticed his gaze and turned toward him, her hazel eyes sparkling with a mix of defiance and nonchalance. "What?" she said, crossing her arms. 
Astron's expression didn't change, though the faintest twitch of his lips suggested he was trying not to smirk. He gestured subtly toward the bed, his raised eyebrow conveying everything he didn't say aloud. 
Irina huffed, tilting her head back slightly. "I just didn't check again," she said matter-of-factly, her tone entirely shameless. 
Astron stared at her for a long moment, clearly speechless at her blatant lack of effort to even pretend otherwise. Finally, he sighed softly and shook his head, muttering something under his breath as he set his own bag down. 
Irina smirked, clearly enjoying the small victory. "You're not going to complain, are you?" 
Astron glanced at her briefly, his calm demeanor fully intact. "What would be the point?" he replied, his voice even. "You'd just come up with another excuse." 
Irina chuckled, leaning against the edge of the bed with a triumphant air. "Exactly." 
Astron didn't respond, instead turning his attention to unpacking a few essentials. Irina, for her part, felt a small surge of satisfaction. She had no intention of admitting that she had checked this time—and decided not to change the booking. After all, it wasn't like Astron would do anything about it. 
The suite's soft lighting adjusted as they moved around, creating a warm, relaxing ambiance. Irina couldn't help but glance toward the bed again, a small smile tugging at her lips as she thought about how the night would unfold. Astron, as usual, remained unbothered—or at least, that's what he wanted her to believe. 
The soft glow of the mana-infused lights in the suite gradually dimmed as the night deepened, creating a serene, intimate ambiance. Irina and Astron lay on the large kingsize bed, the silence of the room broken only by the faint hum of the city outside the window. 
Irina, as before, shifted closer to Astron, wrapping her arms around him from behind. The warmth of his presence was comforting, and she rested her chin lightly against his shoulder, her hazel eyes half-closed. After a moment, she broke the quiet. 
"What did you think of today?" she asked softly, her tone curious. 
Astron's sharp purple eyes remained fixed on the ceiling, his voice as composed as ever. "Not bad." 
Irina frowned slightly, pulling back just enough to look at him. "Not bad? That's all?" 
"What else is there to say?" he replied, his tone calm, almost dismissive. 
Irina pouted, narrowing her eyes. "Maybe something else? Like how the springs were beautiful, or the food was amazing?" 
"The scenery was good," Astron said after a moment, his tone still neutral. 
"That's it?" Irina huffed, clearly dissatisfied. "You're masking it, aren't you? You're just not saying what you really feel." 
Astron glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable. "What makes you think that?" 
"Because I know you," she replied confidently, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And I know when you're holding back." 
Astron didn't respond, but the faintest twitch of his lips betrayed that he wasn't entirely unaffected by her persistence. 
Feeling emboldened, Irina leaned closer, letting her fingers trace lightly over his shoulder. "Come on, you can be honest with me," she teased, her voice soft and playful. When he didn't immediately reply, her hand drifted lower, brushing against his chest and the firm muscles of his abdomen. "What's the harm?" 
Astron's sharp purple eyes flicked toward her, his expression calm but edged with warning. "Irina." 
"What?" she said innocently, her fingers lingering on his abs as she smirked. "I'm just checking if you're still alive. You're so stoic all the time, I wasn't sure." 
"You're pushing it," Astron said, his voice low and steady, though the faintest hint of tension crept into his tone. 
Irina's smirk widened as she leaned in closer. "Am I? Or are you just not used to someone getting under your skin?" 
Astron sighed softly, his calm demeanor somehow both unshaken and slightly exasperated. "If you're trying to provoke me, it's not going to work." 
"Oh, I'm not trying," Irina said, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "I'm succeeding." 
For a moment, there was silence between them, the charged atmosphere filling the space like a quiet storm. Finally, Astron shook his head. 
Irina, noticing Astron's subtle exasperation, let out a soft "Hmph." She shifted closer, resting her chin lightly on his shoulder, her hazel eyes glinting with mischief. "Look at me for a second," she said softly. 
Astron turned his head slightly, his sharp purple eyes narrowing. "What is it?" 
"Just look," she insisted, her tone light but insistent. 
Astron sighed softly, finally turning his face toward her, his gaze steady and questioning. Before he could say anything further, Irina leaned in and pressed a swift, fleeting kiss to his lips—a barely-there touch, so quick it was over before he could even react. 
She pulled back immediately, her cheeks faintly flushed, but she masked it with a smirk. "Good night," she murmured, turning her head away and burying her face against the bed behind his back, her arms wrapping around him once more. 
Astron froze for a brief moment, his sharp purple eyes blinking as he processed what had just happened. His usual calm demeanor faltered slightly, replaced by a rare flicker of something unreadable. 
"..." 
Irina stayed quiet, though the faintest hint of a giggle escaped her, muffled by the bed. She tightened her hold around him, her warmth pressing against his back. Astron's lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something but chose not to. Instead, he let out a quiet sigh, his composure returning. 
"Good night, Irina," he said finally, his tone calm but carrying a faint edge of something softer. 
Irina didn't reply, but the small triumphant grin on her face said more than enough. 
******* 
The soft morning light filtered through the large windows of their luxurious suite, signaling the start of a new day. Irina stirred awake, stretching lazily before noticing the empty side of the bed. Her brows furrowed slightly as she sat up, her fiery red hair slightly tousled. 
Where did he go? 
Moments later, the door to the suite clicked open, and Astron entered, his sharp purple eyes glancing toward her briefly before heading to his bag. He looked calm as usual, though his slightly damp shirt hinted at recent activity. 
"You're up early," Irina remarked, narrowing her hazel eyes. "Where were you?" 
Astron set his bag down and began pulling out fresh clothes. "Used the gym a little," he replied simply. 
"The gym?" Irina repeated, raising an eyebrow. "At this hour?" 
Astron glanced at her as if to say, You know me better than that. "It's quieter in the morning," he added. "Fewer distractions." 
Irina crossed her arms, taking note of this habit. She already knew Astron was an early riser, but the fact that he actively sought out the gym first thing in the morning reinforced her understanding of his disciplined nature. "Hmph. Overachiever." 
Astron didn't respond to the teasing, simply gathering his things and heading to the bathroom. "Your turn to make the tea," he said over his shoulder, his tone as even as ever. 
Irina blinked, caught off guard by the casual assignment. "What? Me?" 
"You heard me," Astron replied, shutting the bathroom door behind him. 
Irina muttered under her breath, "Bossy," as she slid out of bed and shuffled toward the kitchenette. She found the tea leaves and set to work, her movements deliberate but clumsy. It wasn't as though she couldn't cook or prepare simple things—she was just used to leaving the finer details to others. 
By the time Astron emerged from the bathroom, fresh and composed as always, Irina had managed to brew two cups of tea. She placed them on the small table in the living area with a triumphant air. "There," she declared. "Tea, ready and waiting." 
Astron sat across from her, lifting the cup to his lips with his usual calm. He took a sip, his sharp eyes flicking to hers over the rim of the cup. A faint curl tugged at his lips. "It's... drinkable." 
"Drinkable?" Irina shot back, glaring at him. "That's all you have to say?" 
Astron set the cup down, his expression neutral but his tone lightly teasing. "For your first attempt, it's not bad. But it's not good either." 
Irina bristled, her cheeks flushing faintly. "I'll have you know I'm perfectly capable of making excellent tea. Just you wait—I'll get better at this." 
Astron raised an eyebrow. "I'll hold you to that." 
Irina huffed, crossing her arms. "You'd better. And next time, you're getting nothing but perfection." 
"We'll see," Astron replied, taking another sip with maddening calmness. 
The lighthearted exchange set the tone for the morning, the two of them settling into a comfortable rhythm as they prepared for the next leg of their journey. Though Irina was determined to outdo herself, she couldn't help but enjoy the casual banter—another small moment that made their time together feel uniquely their own. Nôv(el)B\\jnn