Transmigrating as an Extra, But the Heroine Has Regressed?!
Chapter 87: Close enough to touch.

Chapter 87: Close enough to touch.

"This place is beautiful," she whispered.

Kael nodded, watching her. "It is."

(This place wasn’t mentioned in the novel), Kael thought.

Their final stop was a quiet park tucked away at the edge of the city, far from the noisy shops and enchanted distractions.

The two of them found a spot on the open green lawn, just beside a fountain where enchanted fish swam lazily through the air, their glowing fins casting faint, shimmering trails behind them like falling stars.

Children nearby squealed with joy as they leapt and waved at the floating fish, trying to catch one but always missing by just a few inches.

The laughter was soft in the distance, blending with the quiet gurgle of the fountain and the soft chirping of birds settling into the trees.

Kael and Cecelia sat on the trimmed grass, close but not touching, with the golden evening light spilling across their faces. The sunset was stunning—a soft wash of orange, pink, and violet that seemed painted just for them.

The clouds were gentle strokes on the canvas of the sky, and the wind had cooled into something peaceful and tender.

Cecelia leaned back with a deep sigh, her arms stretched behind her to support her weight, her head tilted up toward the sky.

"Today was... unexpectedly fun," she said, her voice soft, almost dreamy.

Kael smiled faintly, his eyes still watching the horizon. "Yeah," he murmured.

She turned slightly, eyes catching his expression. "It’s all thanks to you. You’re sweet."

Her words weren’t overly flirty. She didn’t even say them with a teasing tone. It was simple and honest.

That made it worse for Kael.

"U-ummm... yeah..." he stuttered, turning a deep shade of red, the tips of his ears visibly burning. He looked away, pretending to focus on a particularly daring fish hovering above the fountain, but he had no idea what it was doing.

He couldn’t think.

A gentle silence settled between them, not the kind that felt uncomfortable or forced, but one that felt natural—peaceful.

It was the kind of quiet that happens when two people don’t feel the need to speak just to fill the air.

No tension. No awkwardness. Just presence.

They sat together like that for a while, letting time slow down around them. The sky above had begun to shift, changing from warm orange to soft purple, as if someone were painting it with calm, careful brushstrokes.

The sun dipped lower behind the distant hills, its golden light stretching long across the grass before slowly fading away.

Around them, the enchanted fish floating above the fountain glowed more brightly in the deepening dusk.

Their scales shimmered like tiny stars, drifting lazily through the air. A few children nearby were still trying to catch them, giggling every time the fish dodged their grasp with playful spins.

The soft hum of cicadas filled the air, their chorus blending into the background like nature’s lullaby. Here and there, fireflies began to appear, blinking in and out like little pulses of magic.

Cecelia shifted slightly on the grass, moving just a bit closer to Kael. She tilted her head to the side, her hair brushing against her shoulder. Her voice, when she spoke, was barely louder than the breeze.

"You’ve been different lately," she said. "Quieter than usual. Like there’s something always on your mind... like you’re carrying something heavy."

"Are you alright... Kael?"

Kael didn’t answer right away. He stayed quiet, eyes still on the sky—but not really looking at it.

The words hung in the air between them, gentle but sharp, like a soft finger pressing against an old bruise.

After a moment, he finally turned his head and looked at her.

Really looked at her.

Not just a passing glance, but the kind of gaze that paused time. He noticed the soft curve of her lips, the small rise and fall of her breath, and the gentle light in her eyes that seemed to reflect the stars just beginning to form above.

For a brief second, everything else was forgotten—the city, the academy, the worry, the secrets.

In his eyes there was only her. The way she made the world quieter, calmer, lighter—like all the storms in his mind were forced to slow down when she was near.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the words didn’t come out. What could he even say? That she was right? That he was different? That every moment he spent here—every moment that felt too real—only reminded him more that this world might not belong to him?

Instead, he swallowed the lump in his throat and gave a small, tired smile.

"...Maybe," he said softly.

Cecelia didn’t press. She just held his gaze, her expression was unreadable but kind, like she was waiting—not for an answer, but for him to feel safe enough to give one soft kiss when he was ready.

The quiet returned, but it wasn’t empty. It was filled with unsaid thoughts, quiet feelings, and the unspoken comfort of simply having someone beside you who understood—even if they didn’t fully know why.

Around them, the night crept in slowly, covering the sky in velvet. A single star blinked into view above them.

And still, they sat there, side by side, both watching and thinking. Together in silence. But not alone.

Cecelia’s hand brushed against his, and their fingers hesitated before touching.

His heart thumped hard.

Her face was closer now, and so was his. He could smell her like the smell of a flower, faint like cherry blossoms, and the warmth of her breath.

They both leaned in. Their faces were inches apart.

Kael’s eyes flicked to her lips. Just a little closer.

But—

Suddenly, his heart dropped.

(This isn’t real.)

(I’m not from this world and neither this world is real)

Cecelia approached him, closing her eyes for a kiss.

(What am I doing? Making memories? Falling in love? For what? None of this belongs to me...)

And then the darker thought:

(But then if this world isn’t real... Why do I have to survive in it?

A cold chill swept through him—not from the wind, but from inside. Something deep, something unsettling. His mind pulled him back from the warmth, from Cecelia, from everything that felt good.

He blinked and pulled back slightly.

And made an excuse.