The Return Of The Exiled Villain-Chapter 176: A Date With Lyra (I)

Chapter 176: A Date With Lyra (I)
"Lyra, I was just looking for you!" Gray’s voice softened as a light smile spread across his face.
He stepped closer and gently brushed his index finger along her cheek.
"Ahh..."
Lyra’s breath hitched as a faint flush crept up her cheeks before she could stop it.
’...What’s wrong with him? Why did he suddenly get touchy again?’ Lyra was a little confused, but was extremely happy nonetheless.
"Let’s go on a date today," Gray added casually.
Her eyes widened.
’...He’s even asking me to go on a date? Is he sick...? Lyra frowned slightly, then reached up and placed both hands on his forehead, feeling his skin carefully.
’Normal temperature...’
"...What was that for?" Gray asked, genuinely confused, blinking at her.
"Ah, nothing at all!" Lyra replied quickly, breaking into a bright smile.
She slipped her arm through his without hesitation, fingers tightening just a little as if afraid he might disappear.
Then she turned, tugging him along.
"Let’s go on a date, then!"
Without any hesitation, they left the academy and headed towards the main street of the city.
There, stone-paved streets stretched forward, warmed by the soft morning sun.
Merchants were setting up wooden stalls, hanging colorful fabrics, polishing metal goods, and arranging baskets filled with bread, fruits, and dried meat.
The air smelled of fresh dough, herbs, and faint incense drifting from nearby temples.
Lyra slowed her steps slightly, her arm still linked with Gray’s.
"...So, where are we going?" she asked curiously, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
Gray looked around, genuinely taking everything in.
"Anywhere... I actually didn’t go on many dates before," he replied honestly.
’...It’s not exactly a lie since it was the other Gray who went on them... ahem.’
She looked at him more carefully now, noticing how relaxed his shoulders were, how his gaze wandered instead of piercing through everything.
"...Really?" she asked softly.
He nodded lightly.
"Well, yeah... I’ve spent much of my time training after all." He shrugged lightly.
Lyra’s grip on his arm tightened just a little.
"Then, we’ll have a proper date now!" she exclaimed with a small smile.
She tugged him gently toward the marketplace.
The first stop was a bakery.
A small stone shop with fogged windows and the comforting heat of an oven spilling into the street. Inside, rows of round bread, honey pastries, and sugar-dusted buns filled the shelves.
Lyra leaned closer to the counter, eyes sparkling.
"Two honey twists, please."
Gray watched as the baker wrapped them in parchment. When Lyra handed him one, their fingers brushed.
"Careful," she teased.
"They’re still warm."
He took a bite.
The crust cracked softly, sweetness spreading across his tongue.
"...This is quite good!" he exclaimed with surprise appearing on his face.
"You sound like you’ve never eaten sweets before." Lyra laughed quietly.
"Well... I wasn’t exactly attracted to them."
They walked again, sharing the pastries, occasionally bumping shoulders while laughing at each other.
They passed a street performer, an old man playing a lute, his melody light and clumsy but sincere. Lyra stopped to listen, swaying slightly with the rhythm.
Gray watched her instead.
Her hair caught the sunlight, and her smile was really unguarded.
Without thinking, he reached into his pocket and dropped a gold coin into the man’s case.
Lyra turned to him, a little surprised.
"You didn’t have to do that..."
Gray glanced at her, then back at the performer.
"True," he nodded calmly.
He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice just enough.
"But he just let me enjoy the most beautiful sight in the world."
Lyra blinked.
"...Huh?"
Gray’s eyes shifted back to her, a faint, lazy smile tugging at his lips.
"You."
Her face heated up instantly.
"G–Gray...!" she protested, flustered, turning her head away while trying, and failing, to hide her smile.
Gray chuckled lightly at her reaction, but just before he could tease her more, Lyra suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Ooh, wait!" she exclaimed, eyes lighting up as she spotted a small stall to the side. "Look at those!"
Before Gray could reply, she was already tugging him along.
The stall was modest, filled with simple jewelry laid out on worn cloth, like wooden bracelets, cheap metal rings, strings of colored glass beads.
Lyra leaned in, clearly fascinated.
"These are cute..." she murmured, lifting one bracelet after another.
Gray watched her for a moment, then reached out and picked up a thin bracelet woven from dark thread, small metal charms stitched into it.
He stepped closer and held it up against her wrist.
"It suits you," he commented lightly.
Lyra blinked, surprised.
"Gray, that’s..."
"I know," he cut in calmly.
He fastened it around her wrist with careful fingers, deliberately slow.
"That’s why."
Lyra stared at the bracelet for a second.
Then her cheeks flushed.
"...Thank you," she replied softly, fingers brushing over the charms as if afraid they might disappear.
Gray smirked faintly before pushing a gold coin over the table and winking at the old lady, who smiled warmly at their interaction.
They didn’t go far before Lyra stopped again.
This time, it wasn’t out of excitement, but... from pure hesitation.
"...Gray," she called out softly, tugging his sleeve and pointing ahead.
At the corner of the square stood a small tea and stew house, its wooden sign creaking gently in the breeze.
The place was modest, built of dark oak beams and pale stone, with open windows letting warmth and the smell of herbs spill into the street.
A few round tables were set outside, occupied by townsfolk, an old couple sharing bread, two guards laughing over bowls of stew, a mother feeding her child.
Gray didn’t know what was so special about this place, but smiled at Lyra nonetheless.
"You want to go in?" he asked.
Lyra nodded, then immediately shook her head.
"I mean, only if you want to," she added quickly. "It’s just... I used to come here when I was younger. With my mother. The stew’s good."
’...She came to Gloria City before?’ Gray noted inwardly.
Gray looked at her for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Sounds perfect."
Her shoulders relaxed instantly.
They took a table near the window, the wood worn smooth by countless hands before theirs. A young server approached, bowing politely.
"Two bowls of lamb stew?" Lyra asked, already familiar.
"And bread," Gray added.
"Whatever’s fresh."
The server nodded and hurried away.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Lyra rested her chin in her hands, watching the steam rise from the kitchen window. Gray leaned back slightly, arms relaxed, observing the people around them.
"...You’re really different today," Lyra muttered quietly.
"Oh?" Gray glanced at her.
"In a good way, I hope."
She smiled faintly.
"In a much better way, I think. Usually, it feels like you’re always about to disappear. But now... You seem back to how you were before, and even started teasing me again!"
Gray didn’t answer immediately, looking at her for a while.
’...The other Gray didn’t even bother to try to be like me, huh? Fucking bastard... that piece of shit should die already!’
"...I was just a little worried about a few things those days, but I’ve already solved those problems. Naturally, my mood returned to normal."
At his words, her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the table.
"I’m glad."
The stew arrived soon after, letting out a thick and fragrant odor, filled with tender meat and vegetables soaked in rich broth.
Gray took a spoonful, paused, then nodded approvingly.
"You weren’t lying! This is really good."
"See? I have good taste." Lyra laughed softly.
"In food, at least," Gray teased.
"Hey!" She gasped.
He chuckled, and for a moment Lyra just... stared at him.
"You’re laughing more today."
"...I just said that my mood is slowly getting back to normal," Gray sighed, pointing his spoon at her.
"I know... but it just feels... nice, I guess." She chirped happily.
They ate slowly and started talking about small things, like their classes, the teachers they didn’t like, or even the rumours around the academy.
Except that the moment Gray made a slight comment about another woman other than Lyra, she would get a little mad.
For example...
"...I heard one of the senior instructors brought a new assistant," Gray stated casually. "Apparently, she’s quite..."
Lyra’s spoon stopped mid-air as her eyes narrowed just a little.
"Oh? Is she."
"...What?" Gray blinked.
"Nothing," Lyra replied quickly, resuming her meal with a bit more force than necessary.
Gray stared at her for a second, then smirked faintly, deciding it was wiser not to push that topic any further.
A moment later, Lyra seemed to remember something and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"By the way, did you hear about Raven?" she said, trying, and failing, to look casual.
"What did he do this time?" Gray raised an eyebrow.
"He asked a girl to be his girlfriend."
"...That doesn’t sound unusual."
"No, because he’s done it
four times
," she added, grinning now.
Gray paused.
"Four?"
"Same girl. Four different times. Four different rejections." She nodded enthusiastically.
Gray stared at her.
"...Is he stupid?"
"Pftt!!!" Lyra burst out laughing, nearly spilling her stew.
"That’s exactly what I said!"
She wiped her mouth and continued, clearly enjoying herself.
"But here’s the funny part, some girls actually thought it was sweet. They said he was ’loyal’ and kept comforting him after each rejection."
Gray leaned back in his chair, clicking his tongue.
"...That was probably his plan from the start."
Lyra froze.
Slowly, she turned to look at him.
"...Huh?"
Gray shrugged. "Think about it. Public rejection, repeated heartbreak, sympathetic girls gathering around him..."
Lyra suddenly shot to her feet before slamming both of her hands on the table, causing a loud bang noise to echo through the tea house.
"How shameless is he?!"
The entire tea house went silent.
Dozens of eyes turned toward her.
Lyra realized what she had done and stiffened.
"...Ah."
Her face turned bright red.
"S-sorry! Sorry!" she said quickly, bowing her head a little to the surrounding tables.
She sat back down just as fast, shrinking into her seat. Gray stared at her for a second and immediately started laughing.
"Pwaahahhaha!"
Lyra pouted as her cheeks reddened even more.
"D-don’t laugh..."