“How have you been doing, Mary? I think some things might be tough, but…”
“I’m all right. You’re right, but… It’s all because of me. I won’t run away, and I’ll get over it with my father.”
“…I see, that’s nice to hear. But contact us right away if something happens. We’ll help!”
“Thanks. I thought about this before too, but you’re nicer than you look.”
After what happened recently, people from the Friends of the Night Society were looked at with cold eyes.
Some were arrested by guards, and while it was their own fault, the circumstances that involved them were very harsh.
Yuugo was concerned, thinking that might apply to her as well, but when he asked… Mary answered with a smile.
She faced her weakness and failings, after she continued running away from her mother’s death and made it other people’s problem, and grew a lot.
This time, she was facing that pain correctly… Thought Yuugo as he saw her smile and heard her serious answer. He was truly happy that she was moving on with her father.
There was no reason to worry anymore, he thought, and he expressed his wishes to help as a friend if needed, as Sakura approached with a drink in hand.
“Mister Yuugo, we caused you a great deal of trouble. And it was your help that allowed Miss Mary to move on with her father.”
“It wasn’t just me, everyone helped. That includes you, Sakura.”
“Perhaps. But… You helped me quite a lot, so please allow me to thank you.”
Sakura bowed deeply, but her expression was that of someone whose shoulders had been relieved of a weight.
She looked at Yuugo, and spoke with a clear voice.
“If possible, I would like to continue learning by your side. Would you allow me to join your group?”
“Of course!! If you’re okay with me, welcome aboard, Sakura!”
“Thank you for having me!”
After a firm handshake, Sakura smiled, and Yuugo smiled back.
He was happy to welcome a new friend, and Marcos spoke while eating the pie on his fork.
“First Ryuuga and Setsuna, now Sakura. The hero prospects are going to go insane if they hear about it.”
“C-come to think of it, that’s most of the exchange students from Yamato…”
Yuugo looked a little flustered, thinking about how three out of five exchange students were now a part of his group.
Yui did not count due to being an elementary school student, which left only Raiha… He winced a little as he thought about how this was sure to invite resentment from the hero prospects, but then reminded himself that he was only making friends, not doing anything bad at all.
“I believe that is simply a byproduct of Mister Yuugo’s charm. Wouldn’t you agree, Mister Marcos?”
“…Hmph.”
Marcos turned away, neither agreeing or denying it.
Yuugo smiled awkwardly at his not very honest rival’s reaction, but with Ehn’s intervention, the situation turned to a troublesome direction…
“Oh~? You got another lady, Yuugo~? Someone’s popular~! You little~!”
“Hey!? Don’t say anything weird, Ehn! It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”
Yuugo corrected Ehn, as she poked his midsection with her elbow and teased him.
Sakura also jumped in to avoid any misunderstandings, but…
“Fueh!? T-t-t-that is correct! That is not what is going on here. Got another lady…!? I feel no yearning towards Mister Yuugo, or anything of the sort…
“…Hn? Hnn…?”
Sakura’s face turned bright red, as she fidgeted and denied it.
But she was typically very straightforward, and her very easy to understand reaction meant her denial carried little weight.
“…Sakura? What kind of reaction is that? I told you all sorts of things, right? Right?”
“Do not misconstrue, Setsuna. I have no intention of stealing anyone. But… Mister Yuugo has no girlfriend, so would it truly be stealing?”
“…Yuugo? What’s the meaning of this? Explain.”
“That’s right. Were you flirting with a princess of Yamato while we worked on a new weapon? I see…!”
“N-no! I didn’t do anything…! M-Marcos! Say something…”
As the three girls drew closer due to Sakura’s all too easy to understand reaction, they brought with them incredible pressure.
The flustered Yuugo asked his friend for help, but Marcos had already evacuated this danger zone, and was chatting with Mary and the others in the kitchen.
“Can I have some more pie? It’s almost gone, right?”
“Marcos! Come back! Come baaack!!”
Yuugo yelled, much like an older brother being abandoned by a bee mechanical life form.
These yells soon turned into fear of the girls releasing this pressure.
◇ ◇ ◇
“By the way, I don’t see Yuugo’s partner or the girl that’s both short and big.”
Mary watched the girls close in on Yuugo, and threw that question to Marcos.
She placed her hands in front of her chest and drew half circles when she said the word big, and Marcos responded after a short sigh.
“Ryuuga is bringing his sister, so he will be a little late. As for the lady Utsusemi… She said she would come with him, but…”
Marcos’ expression turned a little grave as he looked at the clock.
Some time had passed since the party started, but neither Ryuuga or Raiha were anywhere to be seen.
They were supposed to be there at that point… Thought Marcos, as he quietly vocalized his worry.
“Did something happen…?”
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“Yuugo yelled, much like an older brother being abandoned by a bee mechanical life form” seems to be a reference to So Yaguruma (矢車 想) from Kamen Rider Kabuto