Chapter 235: Sightseeing

’Ah, I’m feeling my legs being a little sore...!’

The soreness wasn’t painful.in the slightest, just annoying at best. As always, just enough to remind him of yesterday.

And unfortunately, yesterday was something he was trying very hard not to think about.

After that whole... interaction they had, both of them had eventually gone their separate ways and taken showers.

Neither had said much afterward.

Blake had gone to bed. Myles had done the same, just staring at him.

’Wah, I’m so sleepy!’

He scratched his cheek as he entered the kitchen.

Myles was already there, standing by the counter, apparently having prepared something to eat.

The moment Blake walked in, Myles picked up a sandwich and held it out to him.

"Here."

"Thanks..."

He took it.

The atmosphere was definitely a little weird. They were acting normal for the most part, and it’s not like they were avoiding each other.

And yet Blake felt like there was an invisible wall between them that hadn’t been there before.

He took a bite of the sandwich.

’Why am I so nervous?’

He glanced toward Myles, who was drinking water while looking at his phone.

Blake immediately looked away.

’I couldn’t even sleep facing him. How can I even look him in the eyes after what happened yesterday?’

He took another bite, his thoughts becoming increasingly unhelpful. More than anything, although Blake didn’t want to acknowledge it, he was feeling a little unsure.

Insecure, even. He knew Myles wasn’t the type to judge him. But knowing something logically didn’t stop his brain from producing ridiculous questions.

’I hope he doesn’t think my body is like... unappealing or something.’

Blake’s chewing slowed.

’Or that I was terrible at... whatever I was trying to do.’

He was so distracted that he didn’t notice Myles approaching.

A cold glass suddenly touched his forehead, making him jolt.

"Ah!"

Myles held the glass there for another second before pulling it away.

"You’re thinking too much."

Blake blinked, looking at the glass. It was freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Haha... thanks."

He took it from Myles and slowly drank. The cold sweetness helped, at least.

Myles watched him for a moment before speaking.

"Tomorrow, you will take the plane for Drindia."

Blake nodded.

"Right."

He lowered the glass.

"Where will I stay?"

"All the guests are responsible for their own housing. For you, we chose a hotel near it."

Myles pulled out his phone.

He turned the screen toward Blake.

Hidden M. Hotel.

Blake leaned closer.

It was a four stars hotel.

"We also rented a limousine. Go out of the hotel at 7pm."

"Okay..."

Myles handed him the relevant information.

Blake looked through it.

There were the hotel details, check-in information, flight information, and the documents he would need for the trip.

Myles had apparently organized everything already.

"Ah, let’s see how I’ll do with that, really..."

"You’ll manage."

"I hope. I’m not super practical in this kind of stuff."

Blake finished his sandwich and stood.

"I’ll get dressed."

He took a few steps before stopping.

"Oh, right."

He turned around.

"How will I reach the airport?"

"Estelle will drive you there."

"Alright then..."

He disappeared into his room.

A little while later, Blake emerged dressed for the day.

He grabbed his things, checked the documents one more time, and followed Myles outside.

They actually had somewhere else to go first before their own little tricky mission... university tour.

Alria National University.

The two of them had been accepted, and now there was only a little over a month before their university life officially began.

Today was one of the last available tours.

Blake had originally been interested in going earlier, but between everything happening with AL-TECH, missions, and his family, his schedule had become ridiculous.

So this was their chance.

And this time, they weren’t taking a bus, but the train.

Blake sat beside the window.

Myles sat next to him.

The train moved steadily through the city, carrying them farther toward Alria.

Blake rested his head against the window.

"Seriously, I don’t know how I’ll manage to stay awake!"

Myles looked at him.

"You’re tired?"

"Walking around for more than an hour is basically a challenge with the amount of things I have to think about."

Myles looked back toward the window.

Blake sighed.

Business was a major he had already been interested in during his previous life. So at least, he was looking forward to it.

Getting used to an entirely different schedule was definitely going to be a little tough, but since Myles will also be there, he also wasn’t worrying too much.

Blake looked outside again.

The moving background showcased rows of trees, their leaves beginning to shift into autumn colors.

Some were still green, refusing to give up their summer appearance.

Blake’s eyes widened.

"Woah."

Myles turned toward him.

"It’s already autumn..."

Myles stared at him. Slowly, one eyebrow rose.

"Time really moves fast, what to do huh..."

Myles took his phone out.

"Yes."

The train eventually reached their stop.

They stepped out and walked toward the university.

Alria was a midsized city, and the university reflected that.

It also wasn’t enormous.

It wasn’t one of those sprawling campuses where students needed buses just to reach another building.

But it wasn’t tiny either.

There were several academic buildings, a central administration building, a library, student facilities, laboratories, lecture halls, sports areas, and a collection of smaller buildings spread across the campus.

There were enough students to make the place feel lively without making it overwhelmingly crowded.

Blake looked around.

"It’s... pretty nice, also considering why you picked it."

"I wouldn’t choose anything below average.

Blake laughed, patting his shoulder.

"Of course, you wouldn’t choose anything above average, either..."

They joined the tour group.

The guide introduced herself and began explaining the university’s history, departments, facilities, and student services.

Blake listened, at least at first.

They walked through the main building.

"This building contains several lecture halls and administrative offices," the guide explained. "Students from different departments will frequently come here, particularly during their first year."

Blake looked up at the ceiling.

’Okay.’

They continued.

The next stop was the library.

Blake’s eyes widened slightly.

"That’s actually pretty good."

Myles looked around.

"There are enough seats."

"That’s your standard? You said you weren’t settling for anything below average!"

Blake laughed.

The guide continued explaining the library’s opening hours, study areas, computer access, and various resources available to students.

He paid more attention this time.

Business students would have access to several specialized databases and study resources.

There was also a career center.

That caught his attention.

He listened closely as the guide explained internship support, career counseling, student organizations, and connections with local companies.

’I wonder how the cafeteria will look, if it even has one... considering everything, it should.’

Blake’s interest began returning.

This was actually useful.

For a few minutes, he forgot about the upcoming mission entirely.

Then his attention drifted again.

His legs were beginning to complain.

’We’ve been walking for forty minutes.’

He glanced at Mylesz who was still perfectly fine.

’Not fair.’

They moved toward another building.

"This is where many of the engineering and technology departments are located."

Myles looked more interested immediately.

Blake noticed.

"Oh, there we go."

Myles glanced at him.

"What?"

"You’re actually interested now."

"This is my department."

"Yeah well, it’s not like you chose it out of preference..."

Blake grinned.

"So we’re going to be in completely different buildings most of the time."

"Probably."

Blake thought about that, then smiled.

"That’s kind of exciting. We’ll actually have things to tell each other."

Myles didn’t immediately respond.

Blake continued walking.

"I mean, you’ll have your weird engineering stuff. That you’re already well versed in, anyway..."

They reached one of the university’s student common areas.

There were tables scattered around, students talking in groups, vending machines along one wall, and a notice board covered in flyers.

Blake stopped, looking around.

Clubs, events, student organizations, sports, scademic groups, volunteer opportunities...

His eyes moved across everything.

"So this is what university is actually going to look like."

Blake smiled faintly.

For all the strange things happening in his life, this part was ordinary.

Almost painfully ordinary. And maybe that was what made him like it.

’I would be looking forward to it more, if it weren’t for the possible disastrous future ahead of us."

Blake’s smiled faded.

Then looked down at his feet.

"...I might need to train my legs first."

He sighed dramatically.

"I’ve already discovered the true enemy of university... stairs."

Myles stroke his hair.

Blake laughed.

For the rest of the tour, he complained periodically about walking, while Myles quietly listened and occasionally told him that he was being dramatic.

By the time they finally reached the end of the tour, Blake was tired.

But he was smiling.

The campus wasn’t extraordinary.

It wasn’t some gigantic institution filled with endless buildings.

It was simply a midsized university in a midsized city.

And somehow, that made it feel more real.

More attainable.

Blake looked toward the main entrance as they prepared to leave.

In a little over a month, he would actually be coming here.

Not for a mission.

Not undercover.

Not because someone had ordered him to.

As a student.

He smiled.

"Guess this is really happening."

Myles stood beside him.

"Yes."

Blake looked at him.

"Then I guess we’ll both have to survive it."

"We will."

Blake laughed softly.

"Good."

And together, they left the university grounds, with the beautiful leaves drifting across the pavement behind them.