The late afternoon sun was casting a warm, golden glow across the academy grounds. Students were finishing up their classes, many heading to the dorms, while others lingered outside to enjoy the calm before evening set in. The breeze was soft, and the air smelled fresh with the scent of grass and earth.

Laura had just finished her own class and was taking a walk through the academy's outer grounds. She enjoyed the peace here, the quiet moments of solitude between lessons, the time to collect her thoughts. Her boots clicked gently against the stone pathway as she strolled along, the distant chatter of her classmates fading into the background.

As she passed by a large oak tree near the edge of the courtyard, something caught her eye.

There, on the soft grass beneath the tree's thick branches, was Fie. She was stretched out in the shade, her silver hair spilling around her head like a halo. Fie was in one of her usual nap positions—her arms tucked under her head like a pillow, one knee pulled up toward her chest, looking completely at ease.

A fond smile tugged at Laura's lips.

She had seen Fie sleep countless times, whether it was during training breaks or after a long day. The smaller girl was always so quick to take a nap whenever she could, like it was something she genuinely needed, as if the world could wait just a little bit longer while she recharged. It was a habit that Laura had come to find endearing, even if it sometimes caught her off guard.

Laura paused for a moment, simply watching her. Fie looked completely content, oblivious to the world around her. The tranquility in the scene made Laura's heart soften. It was nice, she thought, that Fie could let herself rest like this in such a carefree way.

But before Laura could turn away, she heard footsteps behind her—approaching the napping girl.

Millium, the newest addition to Class VII, was skipping across the grass, a big grin on her face. She was full of energy, always cheerful and bright.

Without a word, Millium reached Fie and, with surprising speed, plopped down on the grass beside her, stretching out next to the napping girl.

Laura raised an eyebrow, a little amused. She hadn't expected Millium to join Fie like this.

And then, just as quickly as Millium had sat down, Fie's sleepy hand moved, not to swipe away the disturbance, but to casually sling her arm over Millium's waist.

Laura's eyes widened slightly, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. Fie, still half asleep, pulled Millium in closer as if the smaller girl were a plush toy. Millium let out a startled "Huh?" but, to Laura's surprise, she didn't pull away. Instead, she relaxed into the embrace with a playful chuckle of her own.

"Fie, you big sleepyhead," Millium muttered, her voice light and full of amusement.

Fie, still half out of it, just let out a soft mumble and snuggled closer, her face turning slightly to bury it against Millium's shoulder. Millium blinked but then let out a soft laugh, clearly entertained by Fie's unconscious need for cuddling.

Laura took a few slow steps closer, careful not to disturb them. She didn't want to intrude, but the sight was too curious to resist. She had to admit, there was something heartwarming about the scene. Fie was always so independent, always so cool and collected. But now, she was like a sleepy kitten with Millium as her impromptu cuddle buddy.

Fie let out a quiet, contented sigh, and Millium, still wide-eyed but not at all bothered, shifted slightly to get more comfortable. The two of them seemed to fall into an easy rhythm, completely unaware of Laura's presence just a few feet away.

Laura couldn't resist the urge to smile softly. She leaned against the tree, her arms crossed over her chest, watching the two of them. It was a peaceful moment, one that showed a different side of Fie—vulnerable, affectionate, and free of any of the usual cool detachment she wore so often.

It was also a little amusing how both of them had managed to fall asleep in such a way that now they were just tangled up, Millium resting her head against Fie's shoulder, and Fie's arm loosely draped around her.

"I guess they make a good pair," Laura muttered under her breath, her smile growing. It was unusual, but in its own way, it felt right.

She was about to turn and leave them to their nap when Millium's voice broke the silence.

"Hey, Laura," she called out, raising her head from where it rested on Fie's shoulder. "You gonna keep staring at us, or are you gonna join the nap too?"

Laura blinked, caught off guard by the playful tone. She looked back at Millium, who was giving her an expectant grin.

"I—no, I'm fine," Laura replied with a chuckle, shaking her head.

Millium only giggled, and Fie, still lost in her dream world, let out a soft snore in response. Laura smiled and took a few steps back.

"I'll leave you to it," she said, before turning away and walking toward the dorms.