Reincarnated as the Only Male in an All-Girls Magic Academy!
Chapter 42: Second Affinity?

Chapter 42: Second Affinity?

Ren’s grip on Lia didn’t loosen right away.

She didn’t squirm either.

They were still standing on the stairs, his arm securely wrapped around her waist, her soft body pressed against his chest like she belonged there.

His eyes met hers... and stayed there. No one said anything. No one moved. Just the intense sound of two hearts refusing to calm down.

Ren wasn’t even breathing hard from the effort of catching her. He wasn’t thinking about the weight of her or the steps or the dorms behind them. His entire attention was pinned on her.

Her eyes, slightly widened at first, didn’t dart away. Instead, they held his.

The air between them tightened like an invisible string pulled taut. Electricity buzzed. Her pupils dilated just a little.

Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she didn’t. Her body hadn’t moved from his touch. She wasn’t pulling back.

That’s when Ren knew.

She’s not just flustered. She’s receptive.

Every micro-expression told him something; her soft inhale, the slow, unguarded way she blinked, the tilt of her head, how her breathing quickened just a touch.

All the signs were there. Not from experience since he didn’t have that. But instincts and biology? They didn’t lie.

’She likes me.’

And so, very slowly, very deliberately, Ren began to lean forward. His face edged closer to hers, just enough that her breath warmed his skin. Their noses were almost touching now. He was just about to close the distance—

"GASP."

The sharp sound echoed like a thunderclap.

They both jerked their heads toward the source.

Standing at the corner of the dorm hallway, just a few meters away, was a girl with short purple hair and big, bright eyes.

Her mouth was wide open. Her lunch tray clattered slightly in her grip. Her face was frozen between shock, confusion, and maybe even awe.

But before the poor girl could even process what she had seen, Ren and Lia had already exploded into motion.

They practically teleported away from each other.

One moment they were locked together in a moment hot enough to boil water.

The next?

Ren was walking forward with hands in his pockets like nothing happened.

Lia was beside him, head down, fists clenched at her sides, cheeks crimson.

They carried this out in less than a second, using their enhanced physiques.

The girl blinked rapidly, spinning around as they passed. But Ren and Lia didn’t even glance at her. They acted like she didn’t exist.

The girl stood there, blinking, wondering if she’d imagined the whole thing.

"Poor girl," Ren muttered casually to Lia, a small smirk on his lips. "She’ll be questioning her sanity for the next week."

Lia burst into laughter, trying and failing to suppress it behind her hand. "You’re awful."

"Regret nothing," Ren said, feigning pride. "Though I do feel personally attacked by fate. That was gonna be a ten out of ten moment."

She laughed even harder, but her face was still pink. Her fingers brushed against his as they walked, and Ren noted that she didn’t pull away this time either.

There was something oddly perfect about how natural this all felt, despite the crazy circumstances.

Despite neither of them having dated anyone before, the rhythm of their interactions just worked.

Ren could tell by her glances, her laughs, the way she stood a little closer than usual, that Lia was warming to him fast.

Not just as a roommate. Not just as a comrade. But something more.

He just had to keep that fire going.

’Soon,’ he thought, glancing at her again as they entered the dorm. ’Maybe soon... we’ll even shower together.’

Not like a pervert.

Like partners.

Battle-bound.

Emotionally synced.

Very naked.

...Okay, a little like a pervert.

Later that evening, after showering and inhaling enough food to feed a small village, Ren sprawled across his bed with a bloated tummy.

Lia was curled up on the opposite bed reading some magazine about fashionably brutal battle gear. It was a first, not seeing her meditating or engaging in any form of training.

He pulled out the book he’d picked up earlier at the market. A dull green book with gold runes etched into the spine.

[Identifying Loom Affinities – Thread Color, Sensory Feedback, and Practical Matching]

The title alone screamed "nerd bait."

Perfect.

The book simply was a guide on how to identify one’s affinity based off of the color, hue and sensory feedback of the threads one could sense in the Loom.

The problem? There were thousands of known thread types, and the differences between some were so tiny that even experienced weavers got them mixed up.

Some threads had identical colors but different textures. Others gave off subtle sensations—like warmth, static, tingling, even sounds—that were the only real way to tell them apart.

Most casual weavers never went past the basics. But Ren wasn’t casual.

After witnessing Mirabella’s monstrous ice attack during the leaderboard ceremony, he knew he needed an affinity focused on destruction.

His kusarigama was a weapon built for flexibility and range, but he had no way to match its deadly potential with his current weaving arsenal. Control alone wasn’t enough.

’I need power. Not just tricks. Raw force. But not something too rare...’

That was the problem. If he picked something like Chaos or Destruction, he’d be completely on his own.

No guides. No weave techniques. No scrolls or ancient manuals. Those affinities were so rare only elite families passed them down.

Even if he somehow awakened one, he wouldn’t be able to do much with it.

He needed something that struck a balance. Powerful, but common enough to study.

So after reading through the book, he began a mental list.

Top 4 Affinity Candidates:

1. Fire Affinity

Pros: Extremely destructive. Great synergy with kusarigama’s arcing swings. Widely studied—thousands of techniques available. Could double as propulsion or area denial.

Cons: Lack of Precision. Countered by Too Many Elements like ice and water. Risk of relying on brute force instead of strategy.

2. Gravity Affinity

Pros: Battlefield Control: Can pull enemies in, push them away, or slam them into the ground.

Perfect Kusarigama Synergy: Helps yank weapons or opponents into the spinning chain’s path.

High-End Potential: Advanced gravity weavers can even create black hole-like zones.

Cons: Very Rare and Complex: Not many public weaves available. Most need to be self-created or discovered.

Energy Drain: High stamina cost per second of use.

Dangerous in Group Combat: Easy to accidentally trap allies in AoE pulls or pressure zones.

3. Wind Affinity

Pros: Excellent Mobility: Enhances movement speed, air dashes, and evasive steps. Great for an agile fighter like Ren.

Synergy with Kusarigama: Wind-enhanced swings can increase chain range and speed, allowing surprise attacks.

Well-Documented: Many weaving techniques and battle threads are available in academies and libraries.

Area Control: Can manipulate battlefield airflow, deflect weaker projectiles, and even glide mid-air.

Cons: Low Raw Damage: Doesn’t hit as hard as other elements like Fire or Lightning.

Requires Finesse: To be effective, it demands precise control. Sloppy weaving = wasted energy.

Commonly Chosen: High number of users means less individuality in early stages.

4. Metal Affinity

Pros: Weapon Reinforcement: Lets Ren strengthen his kusarigama mid-fight, making it sharper, heavier, or more flexible.

Highly Compatible with Physical Combat: Especially deadly at close and mid-range.

Cons: Heavy Threadwork: Metal threads are harder to move and manipulate quickly.

Limited Elemental Versatility: Can’t be used for flashy effects like explosions or illusions.

Requires Advanced Control for Customization: Making flexible, dynamic weapons takes time to master.

5. Illusion Affinity

Pros: Deception King: Can create clones, hide movements, or alter the battlefield’s appearance.

Confuses Even Skilled Fighters: Especially deadly when paired with his analytical mindset.

Layered Combat Style: Can force enemies to react to false threats while the real strike comes from another angle.

Cons: Almost Zero Physical Damage: Illusions don’t harm unless followed by a real attack.

Weaving is Mentally Demanding: Takes intense focus and precise thread manipulation.

Needs Setups: Most illusions require time or positioning to be effective—not ideal in chaotic fights.

He closed his eyes.

Then, like an engine switching modes, his brain kicked into analysis.

"Okay. Let’s think logically... Systematically."

His voice was barely above a whisper, but his thoughts were loud, clean, and fast.

"My current affinity is Space. It’s versatile—great for controlling positioning and slowing enemies. But what it lacks is destructive power.

"When Lia exploded forward with her rune, when Mirabella froze half the arena... I couldn’t match that level of raw force.

"That kind of power matters. Especially when opponents start outclassing me in reach, in speed... or even experience."

He opened his eyes, letting them drift toward the long, coiled shape of his kusarigama leaning in the corner.

"My weapon is weird—two ends. A spiked club for blunt strikes. A curved scythe for slashes and precision cuts. But both ends need leverage. Timing. Positioning.

"My chain is my real advantage... because it turns spacing into control. What if I could take that concept... and reinforce it? Literally."

He paused, then smirked.

He seemed to be getting closer to his choice.

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