Jake fluttered slightly, caught off guard by the sudden closeness and the genuine praise.
"O-oh…? Thank…?"
As she stood that close, he caught a faint scent from her... clean, cool, and refreshing, like a gentle ocean breeze.
Aria's blue eyes remained locked on him, still serious… yet there was a clear spark of curiosity behind them.
"What sword style are you using?" she asked without hesitation. "The way you shifted your weight and controlled the tempo… it didn't look like any common school I've seen."
She took a small step closer, her tone calm but filled with genuine interest.
"Did you learn it from someone, or did you develop it yourself? And earlier, when you forced that opening… was that intentional, or instinct?"
Her questions kept coming, one after another, like she had been holding them back the entire time.
Jake felt a bit nervous for some reason.
