Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 635

Chapter 635 139.5 - Prepare

"Senior."

"Junior," Maya greeted back with a soft smile as she reached the table. She slid her coat off smoothly and draped it over the back of her chair before sitting across from Astron, their usual quiet understanding filling the space between them.

Astron's eyes flicked over her for a brief second before he spoke again, his tone calm, as usual. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

Maya shook her head lightly, a knowing look passing between them. "Not really," she admitted. "I had a morning shake, but nothing more substantial." Her lips curved slightly as she continued, "I thought we might eat together, and it seems I was right."

Astron nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I was waiting for you."

Maya settled into her seat more comfortably, appreciating the way their interactions always seemed to flow effortlessly. There was never any need for grand gestures or drawn-out conversations. It was the simplicity of their companionship that often brought her the most comfort—especially now, knowing that soon enough, they would part ways again.

She glanced at the menu on the table, but her attention was still partly on him, noting the way he seemed more relaxed than usual. Perhaps it was the calm of the morning, or maybe it was the small reprieve they were sharing before the inevitable departure. Whatever it was, Maya found herself savoring the moment, just as she had promised herself she would.

"Any recommendations?" she asked, raising an eyebrow slightly as she looked at the menu. Though she frequented Ardmont, she had never been to this particular café before. It had a cozy charm to it and judging by the inviting aromas wafting through the air, it seemed the food would live up to its ambiance.

Maya glanced up from the menu to see Astron staring at her with a blank expression, his head tilted ever so slightly, as if to say, Shouldn't you know this? Isn't this the city where you grew up? freewebnøvel.coɱ

She blinked, taken aback for a split second, and then a soft laugh escaped her, a sound that was as much an attempt to cover her amusement as it was at her own slight oversight. "Right, right," she said with a small grin, shaking her head. "I should be the one making the recommendations, shouldn't I?"

Astron didn't say anything, but the faintest hint of a curve tugged at the corner of his lips, his violet eyes holding that quiet, knowing look she had come to recognize. Of course, he didn't need to say a word to get his point across—it was all there, in the way he looked at her, in the subtle shift of his posture.

She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure, and focused back on the menu. "Alright, let's see…" she murmured, scanning the local delicacies that filled the page.

The café offered a variety of dishes typical of Ardmont's eastern region—a mix of hearty breakfast platters with fresh ingredients, artisan breads, and a selection of pastries infused with local spices. Her eyes wandered over a few familiar items until they landed on something she hadn't had in a while: a traditional breakfast spread with smoked fish, eggs, freshly baked bread, and a side of seasoned vegetables.

"This looks good," she said, mostly to herself but loud enough for Astron to hear. "Smoked fish and fresh bread. It's simple, but I think it's exactly what I need this morning."

She glanced up again, meeting Astron's gaze. "What about you? Or are you just going to copy my choice since I know this city better than you?" she teased, the playfulness returning to her voice now that she had settled back into the rhythm of their banter.

Astron gave a small shrug, his expression neutral but with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Maybe I will," he said, his tone calm, as always. "You seem to know what you're doing."

Maya chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment."

She placed her menu down and leaned back slightly in her chair, feeling the comfort of the moment settle in around them. The smell of coffee and freshly baked goods filled the air, and outside, the city of Ardmont was beginning to stir more as the day fully set in.

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Their order arrived promptly, the aroma of freshly baked bread and smoked fish filling the space between them as the server placed the plates in front of them. Maya took a moment to appreciate the simplicity of the meal—something familiar, and comforting. She picked up her fork, cutting into the soft bread, and glanced across the table at Astron, who had already begun to eat with his usual calm, methodical demeanor.

For a while, they ate in comfortable silence, the sounds of the café and the distant hum of the city outside providing a soothing backdrop. Maya let herself savor the moment, the taste of the food and the warmth of the quiet morning settling around them.

But eventually, the question she had been holding back surfaced in her mind, and she couldn't ignore it any longer.

She set her fork down gently, looking across the table at Astron, her expression soft but serious. "So…" she began, her voice casual, though there was an unmistakable note of curiosity beneath it. "Now that everything is taken care of, what's next for you? What are you planning to do?"