The Return Of The Exiled Villain

”Huaagh...”

Gray let out a long yawn, stretching his arms above his head until his joints popped. A sleepy hum escaped his lips before he blinked twice, his messy hair falling into his eyes.

”Gray? You’re finally awake!”

A familiar voice reached his ears.

He turned to his right and found Lyra, looking at him with a faint smile on her delicate face.

”Where are we?” He blinked twice before asking her.

Lyra sighed and shook her head.

”What do you think, dumbass?” She tugged on his arm, forcing him to sit up.

”...Ah. Right. The hotel,” Gray yawned again, his voice half-slurred from sleep.

Just yesterday, Gray signed up with Lyra as a group for the two-week activity the academy was hosting.

They went to the main hall of the academy, where all students were teleported to a private island owned by the academy.

Each group was assigned to an inn room, and apparently, the academy didn’t care if men and women shared the room... or maybe it did, but Gray probably ended up with Lyra since their group was only the two of them.

”Come on, let’s go have breakfast!” Lyra said, clapping her hands excitedly.

”Alright, alright...” Gray muttered, standing up sluggishly.

But as he did so, he froze.

His eyes widened slightly as he finally looked at her properly.

Lyra blinked, confused.

”W-what?” she stammered, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. ”Do I look weird or something?”

She tugged lightly at her skirt, looking down.

She wore a light, sunny outfit, a white blouse tied at the waist, paired with a short sky-blue skirt that swayed when she moved. Her hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and a thin ribbon matched her skirt.

The morning sunlight made her look almost unreal.

”Not weird at all,” Gray shook his head slowly.

He leaned back on one arm and smiled faintly. ”You look so beautiful that I really want to kiss you right now.”

Lyra’s face went red instantly.

She smacked his shoulder, stuttering, ”S-stop teasing already! Get dressed or we’ll miss breakfast!”

”Yeah, yeah~,” Gray hummed, clearly amused. He grabbed a full black outfit, shirt, pants, and a loose jacket, and went into the bathroom to change.

When he came back out, still adjusting his sleeves, a small hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

”Let’s go!” Lyra said, dragging him toward the door before he could even say a word.

They walked through the inn’s hallway, following the smell of food until they reached the cafeteria.

”Oh my god!” Lyra gasped, her eyes sparkling.

”There’s so much food!”

It was a full buffet, with roasted meat, grilled seafood, pancakes, fresh fruit, and even chocolate fondue.

The best part?

All of it was free, courtesy of the academy.

”Guess this trip isn’t so bad after all,” Gray grinned.

Without wasting a second, the two piled their trays high and carried them outside.

They found a quiet spot on the terrace, where they could see the beach stretching out under the golden morning light.

”Mhm...”

Gray leaned back in his chair, taking a slow sip of his juice as he looked at her from across the table.

The sunlight hit Lyra’s hair just right, making it shine like golden threads.

A lazy smile curved on his lips.

”So, Sunny Lyra,” he drawled, tilting his head.

”What are our big plans for today?”

”Sunny... what?” Lyra blinked.

”You know, you’re practically glowing this morning,” Gray said casually, resting his chin on his hand.

”You’re like a walking sunflower.”

She blushed immediately, frowning as she smacked his arm again.

”You’re such an idiot!”

”Ouch. Abuse, first thing in the morning. I might start crying,” Gray laughed quietly, holding his arm dramatically.

”Then go ahead,” she muttered, but the corner of her lips twitched in a smile.

Then, with a small, proud grin, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small notebook with a pastel cover and cute stickers on it.

Gray raised an eyebrow.

”What’s that?”

”Our schedule,” she said firmly, flipping the notebook open and tapping the first page.

”You actually made a plan?”

”Of course I did!” she said, as if it were obvious.

”We’re here for two weeks, not a lazy vacation. There are activities, challenges, and even a ranking system! The top three groups at the end of the trip get academy points and rewards.”

”You... actually read the event notice?” Gray blinked slowly.

Lyra gave him a look.

”You didn’t?”

”I skimmed it. There were too many words,” he shrugged his shoulders.

”Unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath before returning to her notes.

”Anyway, today, there’s a forest exploration challenge after lunch. Each group needs to find three special crystals hidden in the forest and bring them back before sunset.”

”Sounds like fun. I hope there are monsters,” Gray casually added.

”You say that like you want trouble,” Lyra frowned a little.

”I do,” he said honestly. ”It keeps things interesting.”

She rolled her eyes, smiling faintly.

”You’re hopeless.”

”And what about after that?” Gray asked, poking at his food with a fork.

”Well...” Lyra turned the page, showing a cute doodle of the beach and a small umbrella.

”Dinner at the inn, then maybe a walk on the beach before the bonfire party starts. The academy said it’s a welcome event for everyone.”

”You really planned everything down to the walk, huh?”

”Someone has to be responsible. If I left it to you, we’d just end up sleeping all day or fighting someone for fun,” Lyra nodded proudly. ”

Gray smirked, leaning slightly closer.

”I wouldn’t mind that. Especially the fighting part.”

”Exactly my point.” She closed her notebook with a snap.

”That’s why I’m in charge.”

Gray rested his cheek on his hand, watching her with an amused smile.

”Bossy this early in the morning, huh? Fine, I’ll listen to you. But only because you look cute when you try to act serious.”

”Gray!” she hissed, face turning red again.

”You’re impossible!”

He chuckled softly, picking up a piece of toast. ”Maybe. But admit it, you’d miss me if I wasn’t around to annoy you.”

Lyra opened her mouth to argue, but the words caught in her throat. For a second, she just stared at him, then sighed and smiled faintly.

”Yeah,” she said quietly.

”Maybe I would.”

Gray blinked once, caught off guard by her honest tone, but before he could respond, Lyra stood up abruptly, grabbing her bag.

”Alright! Breakfast done. Let’s meet at the beach entrance after we get ready. The challenge starts in an hour!”

Gray watched her hurry off with that same bright energy, then calmly finished the last few bites of his breakfast.

When he looked up, Lyra’s plate was already spotless.

”...Damn,” he muttered, blinking.

She’d devoured everything in five minutes flat.

Not even a single crumb was left behind.

Shaking his head with a quiet chuckle, he stood up and stretched.

After ten slow minutes of walking through the warm morning air, he arrived back at their room at the inn and quietly turned the key in the lock.

Click.

The door opened with a soft creak.

”H-huh?!”

Lyra froze the moment she saw him.

She was standing by the bed, midway through changing into a different bra, her top still hanging off one shoulder. Her breasts were fully exposed, soft and pale under the morning light that filtered through the window.

Her hands flew up too late to cover herself.

Gray blinked once.

Then twice.

And instead of turning away, he tilted his head slightly, a small grin creeping across his lips.

”Oh my...” he drawled slowly, shamelessly letting his gaze linger.

”Y-you—!!” Lyra stammered, face going completely red.

”You were hiding your breast size?” Gray said calmly, still leaning on the doorframe. ”They’re much bigger than they seem under your clothes.”

”G-GRAY!!” she shouted, throwing the nearest pillow at his face.

He caught it easily, laughing under his breath.

”Get out!!” she shrieked, turning her back to him while frantically pulling on her top. Her ears were bright red all the way to the tips.

”Alright, alright,” Gray said, still amused as he stepped back out and closed the door behind him.

Outside, he leaned against the wall with a low chuckle.

”Not a bad morning view.”

From inside, her muffled voice came out loud and sharp.

”I HEARD THAT!!”

A few minutes later, the door creaked open again.

Lyra stepped out, her face still bright red, hair a little messy from rushing to get dressed. She looked at Gray with narrowed eyes and clenched fists.

”Not. A. Single. Word,” she warned, voice trembling somewhere between fury and embarrassment.

Gray raised his hands in mock surrender, his lips twitching.

”I didn’t say anything.”

”You were thinking something!” she shot back instantly.

”Well...” he drawled, pretending to think, ”I was just wondering how you managed to hide all that under your uniform for so long.”

”GRAY!!”

Before he could dodge, she stomped forward and smacked his arm hard.

”Ow—okay, okay, I’ll stop!” he said, laughing as he rubbed the spot.

”You better,” she huffed, puffing her cheeks before turning away.

But Gray couldn’t help himself.

”You know, Lyra...” he said, his tone light and teasing. ”If you keep blushing like that every time I compliment you, people might start thinking you actually like me.”

Lyra froze mid-step.

Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes narrowing.

”Keep talking, and you’ll be swimming with the fish before breakfast settles.”

”At least I’d die with a good memory.” Gray chuckled under his breath, walking beside her.

”Idiot,” she muttered, but the corner of her mouth curved up despite herself.

As they walked toward the beach path, her blush still hadn’t faded.

And Gray, well, he looked far too pleased with himself for someone who had almost been killed five minutes ago.