The Cyber Ascension Arc 3 | Volume 3 | Chapter 28 : The Jealous and First kiss |
"The Weight of Nightmares, The Fire of Jealousy"
Shounen Heat + Clean Webnovel Flow
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The Quiet Before Morning
Warm light seeped through the thin curtains, but Jin Yuan didn't feel any of it.
His arms were wrapped protectively around Emily, her soft breathing brushing against his collarbone as she slowly shifted awake in the sheets.
When her eyes fluttered open, she saw him staring at her—conflicted, shaken, tired.
Her cheeks turned a gentle shade of red.
"Y–Yuan…?" she whispered softly. "Are you okay? What happened…?"
Jin Yuan hesitated.
He didn't want to scare her.
He didn't want to admit how real it felt.
He didn't want to admit that, in his nightmare, she had disappeared.
Completely.
He took a slow breath, his voice low and strained.
"…It was just a nightmare," he said quietly. "The worst one."
Emily's expression softened.
She gently brushed her thumb across the back of his hand, soothing him the way only she could.
"A nightmare…?" she asked, giving him a warm smile. "You're safe now, Yuan. I'm here."
Her smile… always made him feel like the world wasn't collapsing for once.
---
Morning Assembly
The hall buzzed with morning chatter as students gathered, some stretching lazily, others arguing over nonsense. Jin Yuan and Emily walked in last; Emily still glanced at him every few seconds, worried.
Shioinkin stomped onto the platform.
"OKAY STUDENTS!!! LISTEN UP!"
Nashino yawned loudly, hands intertwined behind his head as he leaned back.
"Ehh? What is it this early, Sensei…?"
His voice was casually playful, as always.
Youchina stood beside him—calm, disciplined, unreadable.
"What is it, Sensei?" she asked with her usual gentle tone.
Then—
"OLD MAN! SPILL IT OUT ALREADY!"
Yuzurei burst forward, voice echoing across the hall.
Musukoni smacked the back of his head.
"Say SENSEI, you idiot!"
Yuzurei rubbed his head in pain.
Jin Yuan stood quietly, his face composed… though Emily bumped his elbow lightly.
"Yuan, smile a bit…" she whispered with a small pout.
He didn't smile.
But he appreciated the attempt.
Shioinkin cleared his throat.
"Youchina, Nashino — the two of you have a mission. A group of armed robbers were spotted near District 12. You're to intercept and hand them over to the city police. Understood?"
Youchina bowed slightly.
"Understood, Sensei."
Nashino gave a lazy salute.
"Yeah, yeah, okay Sensei…"
But Jin Yuan caught the brief flash in Nashino's eyes.
That spark he always got when a mission came.
---
Mission: "Too Easy"
District 12's back alleyways were empty, wind brushing against rusted metal signs.
Within minutes, Youchina and Nashino had the robbers cornered.
They moved like flowing blades — silent, precise, efficient.
The criminals were subdued before they even realized what happened.
Youchina tied the last one's wrists.
"That makes five. Police will have them in custody soon."
Nashino stretched his arms behind his head again.
"Yaa… That was so, so easy… Haaaah…"
He leaned forward — resting his forehead lightly on Youchina's shoulder.
She blinked.
"Yes… it was easy," she said softly.
Her voice carried a faint warmth she rarely let out.
They headed toward a vending machine nearby, metal whirring as Nashino grabbed a canned coffee—
—when a voice suddenly called out.
"Youchina?!"
A boy approached — tall, confident, dressed in a modern urban jacket.
His name slid off his tongue easily:
Lehen.
Youchina turned.
"Oh… Lehen?"
Her tone was neutral.
No excitement.
No joy.
Nothing.
But Nashino instantly stiffened.
Lehen looked at Nashino with narrowed eyes.
"…And who's this guy?"
Nashino's eyebrows twitched.
"Youchina," he said calmly, but with no playfulness at all. "…Who is this brat?"
Youchina noticed the change in his tone immediately.
"He's Lehen," she said gently. "My childhood friend."
Nashino's jaw tightened.
"Hmm."
Lehen folded his arms.
"And who is this guy then?" he asked again, glaring at Nashino.
Youchina sighed.
"He's Nashino."
Lehen scoffed.
"Oh, I see. He looks weak. You shouldn't stay around someone like him."
He said it intentionally—
Aimed to provoke.
And it worked.
---
Jealousy Ignites
Nashino's fist clenched instantly.
"What did you say…?"
His voice dropped low—dangerous.
Before anything escalated, Youchina grabbed his hand, squeezing it.
"Nashino, don't—"
Lehen smirked.
"Ohhh, he's getting angry. I'm sooo scared."
Mocking.
Provoking.
Testing him.
Nashino snapped.
His punch connected before anyone could blink.
CRACK!
Lehen collapsed instantly — unconscious.
Nashino stood over him, eyes blazing.
"You brat."
His voice trembled with anger.
Youchina rushed forward.
"Nashino! Control yourself! Please!"
Nashino growled under his breath.
"I'll kick him out of the way—!"
"He's already unconscious!!" she said
But Nashino wasn't listening.
Anger swirled in him — jealousy… frustration… fear of losing her.
Youchina had no choice.
She stepped directly in front of him—
—and cupped his face gently with both hands.
"Nashino. Listen to me."
He froze.
Her face was mere inches from his.
Her breath brushed against his lips.
His heartbeat thundered.
Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek softly.
Nashino's entire body went still.
Youchina whispered, her voice barely audible—
"He's just jealous of us… okay? I only love you, Nashino. Only you."
His eyes widened.
He swallowed hard.
"…Yeah… I… I knew…"
Youchina smiled faintly, thumb brushing his cheek.
Behind them, Lehen lay unconscious.
---
Later — Walking Home
After giving their report, the two walked through the quiet evening streets.
Lights reflected off the puddles, and the air smelled faintly of rain.
Both had just finished bathing and were still slightly flushed from the warmth.
Nashino rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"That kiss earlier was… um… It was good… I guess…"
His voice cracked slightly.
Youchina's cheeks reddened.
"I knew it would be," she said softly.
Their hands brushed.
Neither moved away.
A Quiet Street, Two Beating Hearts
The evening breeze carried the gentle scent of early rain as Nashino and Youchina walked side by side. The city lights reflected off the wet pavement, painting shimmering silver trails beneath their footsteps.
They didn't speak for a while.
Their earlier moment still lingered between them — raw, real, fragile, and warm.
Nashino shoved his hands into his pockets, his ears slightly red.
"You know…" he muttered. "You surprised me back there."
Youchina blinked, tilting her head.
"About what?"
Nashino cleared his throat.
"T-The cheek kiss, obviously!"
Youchina smiled faintly, her eyes softening.
"You weren't calming down. It was the only way to stop you."
Nashino's face darkened with a tiny pout.
"So you did it just to stop me?"
She stopped walking.
He stopped too.
"No," she said quietly. "I did it because… I meant it."
Her voice carried a tremble of honesty she rarely allowed herself to show.
Nashino stared at her, heart thumping.
"Youchina…"
She stepped closer, her shoulder brushing his.
"You're important to me," she admitted. "When you get hurt… or upset… it scares me."
Nashino's breath hitched.
He scratched the back of his head, trying to mask how fast his heartbeat was racing.
"…Then you should just stay by my side," he said, brushing her hand lightly. "That way you won't have to worry so much."
Youchina's cheeks warmed.
"I already do," she whispered.
The air between them tightened—
not in tension—
but in connection.
---
Meanwhile… Back At the Academy
Emily was pacing in Jin Yuan's room.
Not panicking.
Not crying.
Just… thinking.
Jin Yuan leaned against the window quietly, watching the faint glow of neon signs outside. His expression was calm, but his eyes were distant—still shadowed by the nightmare he refused to explain.
Emily finally stopped pacing.
"Yuan," she said, walking up to him. "Whatever you saw… you don't have to hide it."
He didn't turn around.
"It was just a dream."
"A dream that shook you enough to wake up holding me like I'd disappear," she replied gently.
Jin Yuan's hand twitched.
He didn't want her to see how scared he'd been.
He didn't want her to know how real it felt.
In the nightmare…
he had lost her.
Not to death.
Not to an enemy.
But to a void — a collapsing world he couldn't prevent.
Emily touched his back gently.
"You can tell me," she whispered.
Jin Yuan finally turned his head slightly, meeting her eyes.
"…Later," he murmured. "I promise."
Emily didn't push him.
She simply nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Then I'll wait," she said softly. "Just… don't carry everything alone."
A tiny smile flickered across Jin Yuan's lips.
He didn't show it fully.
But Emily noticed.
She always did.