Grand Return System

Chapter 135: A Smile That Shouldn’t Matter

A Smile That Shouldn’t Matter

"...Senior Sister."

A hush fell between them when Rias drew near, lips almost touching Selena’s skin as words slipped out like secrets. Sound faded around them, only that soft murmur threading through the stillness.

"...Don’t you think Respected Maya is interested in our Teacher?"

Selena’s eyes flickered.

Just slightly.

Almost too weak to notice, yet there it was.

"...No way."

Out of nowhere, the reply showed up fast - just without much strength behind it.

A sound escaped before thought could catch up.

As if her words came from duty, not conviction.

A small silence slipped in between.

Something paused inside her, a breath held without knowing it.

A gap in her certainty.

Rias caught it instantly.

Of course she did.

Her eyes narrowed just a little, lips curving into something slow... deliberate.

A knowing smile.

The kind that didn’t push—just waited.

"...You sure?"

She didn’t press harder.

Didn’t need to.

Selena didn’t reply.

Her silence said more than words could.

Her gaze had already shifted back to Maya.

And this time—

She didn’t look casually.

She observed.

Carefully.

—

Selena wasn’t someone who understood these things well.

Feelings.

Subtle hints.

The quiet language between eyes and smiles.

Those invisible threads people seemed to notice so easily... always slipped past her.

She wasn’t built for that.

Or at least—that’s what she told herself.

But she wasn’t blind.

Not completely.

And right now—

She was watching.

Really watching.

Maya stood among the others, her posture as composed as ever, speaking lightly, effortlessly.

Everything looked normal.

Perfect, even.

But something felt... off.

Not wrong.

Just... different.

Selena’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Focused.

It was in the details.

The small things.

The things people usually ignored.

Maya’s eyes.

There was a softness inside them.

A warmth that didn’t belong in casual conversation.

It lingered.

Faint, but unmistakable.

Like the afterglow of a thought she didn’t want to let go of.

Like she was looking at people—

But seeing someone else.

Her lips curved slightly.

Not the polite smile she wore around others.

Not the calm, measured expression of a senior maintaining distance.

This one was... lighter.

Unrestrained.

Unaware.

Real.

Selena felt something in her chest tighten.

And then—

Maya lifted her hand.

Covered her mouth.

And let out a soft laugh.

It was quiet.

Gentle.

Almost... shy.

Not the composed chuckle of someone in control.

But something softer.

Something that slipped out before she could stop it.

Selena froze.

Her breath stilled.

That expression—

It didn’t belong to a calm senior.

It didn’t belong to someone composed and distant.

It wasn’t practiced.

It wasn’t controlled.

It was raw.

Unfiltered.

It looked—

Like a girl.

A girl lost in her own thoughts.

A girl holding onto something warm.

A girl thinking about someone.

Selena’s heart skipped.

Once.

Sharp enough that she noticed it.

She looks like...

The thought formed slowly.

Reluctantly.

Her fingers tightened unconsciously at her side.

A quiet tension settling into her posture.

"...someone in love."

Rias blinked.

The words landed softer than expected—

But heavier.

Then slowly turned to her.

Her expression shifted, just a little.

Curious now.

Selena didn’t look away.

Her eyes stayed fixed ahead.

But there was something new in them.

Something steadier.

More certain.

Her voice was low.

"I think so too."

-----------

Time passed.

No one knew how long.

But Maya finally came back to herself.

She straightened slightly, regaining that familiar calm elegance, though the faint smile still lingered on her lips.

"Yes," she said gently, looking at them, "your performance today was not bad."

Her voice carried approval—but also something deeper.

"You didn’t disappoint your Teacher’s nurturing."

She paused, then her smile deepened slightly.

"If you had lost today..."

Her tone turned playful.

"...your Teacher might have been the one fainting from anger."

Rias almost laughed immediately.

Maya continued, clearly amused now.

"You might not know this, but your Guardian Elder Shera has been waiting for this day for ten years."

Her eyes shimmered faintly.

"And yet... in the end, he didn’t get his chance."

A soft chuckle escaped her.

"Instead... he was the one who fell."

—

Rias couldn’t hold it anymore.

"Pfft—"

She covered her mouth, shoulders shaking.

Selena also lowered her head slightly, her lips tightening as she held back a smile.

They had seen it.

That moment.

Shera collapsing, face twisted, pride shattered.

It was... unforgettable.

—

"Oh, right..."

Maya suddenly remembered something.

Her gaze shifted to Rias.

Sharp now. Curious.

"You’ve only been in the academy for a month, correct?"

Rias nodded slightly.

Maya continued,

"If I remember correctly, your opponent was at nine-star Onyx Realm."

Her eyes narrowed just a little.

"How did you defeat him?"

—

The moment the question landed—

The surrounding noise dimmed.

Nearby students turned their heads.

Eyes gathered.

Even those pretending not to listen... listened.

Nine-star Onyx Realm.

That wasn’t weak.

That was already near the peak for this level of competition.

Rias adjusted her red robe lightly, fingers brushing over the gold sash at her waist.

She smiled.

Soft.

Confident.

"Respected Maya..."

Her voice was light, almost playful.

"Don’t underestimate me."

A small pause.

Then—

"I’m at one-star Astral Realm."

—

Silence.

Then—

"Oh... one-star Astral Realm."

Maya repeated it softly.

Then—

Her expression froze.

"...One-star Astral Realm?"

The calm in her eyes cracked.

Just a little.

Enough.

—

The air shifted.

Shock spread like a ripple.

"What?"

"In one month?"

"That’s impossible..."

Voices rose in disbelief.

Even those who tried to stay composed failed.

One month.

Astral Realm.

That wasn’t talent anymore.

That was... something else.

—

Sana stood still.

Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parting.

She looked at Rias.

Then at Selena.

Then back again.

"...How?"

Her voice came out softer than she expected.

"I’ve been here for three months..."

Her fingers curled slightly.

"...and I’m only at three-star Onyx Realm."

At first—

She had been proud.

Confident.

Even when compared to others.

But now—

That feeling collapsed quietly.

It wasn’t jealousy.

It was something heavier.

Why...?

Why was the gap so big?

—

Rias didn’t answer.

She only smiled.

That same gentle, quiet smile.

As if the question didn’t matter.

Or maybe—

As if the answer wasn’t something she could casually say.

—

Selena stepped forward slightly.

Her voice calm.

Steady.

"Although my junior sister entered later..."

She paused for a brief second.

"...our Teacher was worried she wouldn’t keep up."

Her eyes lifted.

"And gave her a precious bone from a King Realm beast."

—

"Hiss—"

The sound spread instantly.

Sharp.

Collective.

Like everyone had just inhaled at the same time.

The atmosphere—

Changed completely.