Shunya stood at the edge of the training field, holding a wooden staff in both hands.
He wasn't fighting anyone. He was simply... breathing.
"Haa... Okay. Inhale, exhale... Slow and steady."
It had been a few days since his support money kicked in (thank you, Vikoria), and he had bought decent clothes and his own toothbrush. Progress!
The cultivation manual he received from the government center was titled:
'Breathing Basics: The Lazy Man's Path to Power'.
Very on-brand for him.
Meanwhile, from a short distance away, Naomi watched with crossed arms. Her eyes narrowed.
"Tch... He's still trying to copy the breathing technique from that trash manual?" she muttered, shaking her head. "At this rate, even a baby boar could cultivate faster."
Jean Keyar, sipping his weird glowing tea next to her, raised an eyebrow. "You've been watching him for half an hour, Naomi."
"I was just making sure he doesn't hurt himself," she replied quickly, face turning away.
"Hmm." Jean smirked. "Totally not because you brought him a lunch box, right?"
Naomi immediately kicked a pebble at his shin.
Meanwhile, Vikoria arrived at the other end of the field. She had a basket in one hand and a notebook in the other.
She noticed Naomi's presence immediately.
Their eyes met for one second.
Then Naomi looked away.
Vikoria walked toward Shunya with soft steps, her long purple hair tied up this time. She didn't say anything at first—just sat on a rock nearby and opened her notebook.
Shunya noticed her and smiled.
"Hey, Vikoria! I think I got the second breathing rhythm right! Want to see me fail it in style?"
She chuckled softly. "Sure."
Naomi stared again.
"Why's she smiling like that?"
"Because he treats her like a human being," Jean said flatly.
Naomi looked at him like he just betrayed an empire.
"I mean— what? You're reading too much into it. He's just dumb."
Jean sipped his tea. "Dumb and kind. The deadliest combo for a tsundere."
Naomi turned away. Her ponytail swished like a blade.
Back at the training zone, Shunya tried again. He shifted his stance, focused on his core, and —
[System Notice: Breathing Technique (Basic Form) increased by +1 proficiency!]
"Wait, seriously? I got a level-up from breathing??"
Vikoria nodded. "Breathing is the first step to spirit sense. That's how we cultivate without breaking our bodies."
"Feels weird getting praised by my lungs," he muttered.
He collapsed onto the grass, tired but happy.
Vikoria hesitated... then placed a handkerchief under his head.
"There. Rest. You're doing good."
Shunya blinked. "Oh. Uh... Thanks, Vikoria. You're always... kind."
She looked away.
"You are welcome."
Naomi had seen enough.
She marched straight up to them, holding a bento box she had tried to make all morning.
"Here. You missed breakfast. Eat."
Shunya looked at the box in surprise. "Wait, Naomi made this for me?"
"I had leftovers," she said quickly. "Don't get full of yourself."
Vikoria blinked, then smiled quietly.
Shunya looked at both of them.
His brain short-circuited.
"I, uh, wow... Okay. Two lunches? Is this... is this a boss fight?"
Naomi rolled her eyes and sat beside him, arms crossed.
Vikoria sat on his other side, notebook closed.
Shunya sat between them, completely unaware that two different types of tension were growing around him.