Game

Aria blinked twice before looking at him with complete confusion. "...What?" She stared at Asher for a few seconds, trying to understand what he had just said. "What kind of reason is that?" she asked. "Shouldn't you be unhappy about not being at the Master Rank?"

Asher simply smiled and shook his head. "Normally? Probably." He took another bite of his breakfast before casually adding, "But today... I'm very grateful that I'm still not there."

Aria looked at Asher for a few moments before deciding not to ask anything further. Knowing him, it was probably just another one of his strange reasons to be happy, and she had long since given up trying to understand every thought that went through his mind.

Instead, she quietly observed him and instinctively checked his emotions.

There was happiness.

Not the faint, restrained happiness he usually carried, but something much clearer and more genuine.

Her expression became slightly puzzled.