“I’m sorry Yuugo… It’s because I talked that Shiroi…”
“Don’t worry about it. It couldn’t be helped in that situation, and it’s also our fault for being too focused on looking around the village and not leaving anyone to keep watch.”
After the ruckus was over, Yuugo was moved to a room by himself, being more or less confined there, and Precia visited him.
He encouraged Precia, who felt frustrated because her wrong decisions led to the worst outcome, and ate the vegetable soup she brought.
Because of Shian and Egos’ instructions, he was not allowed to leave the room for the time being.
There were members of the cooking club taking turns keeping watch, so they seemed quite wary of him.
…Or they were harassing the one they saw as scum and hated, and removing the obstacle that was in the way of them getting close to the girls they liked, but… Yuugo was not concerned with Shian and Egos or how people treated him.
What he had to do was save Shiroi.
Marcos said the culprit should be making a move soon, so Yuugo trusted him, and was ready to move at any time.
He had to do his best to save not just Shiroi, but the captured villagers as well… As he fired himself up like this, Hao came in, looking at them with a face like he was on the verge of death.
“Hum…”
Yuugo and Precia looked at him, and he faced down and mumbled.
Eventually, he spoke to Yuugo with a quiet tone.
“…Sorry. It was all my fault. The president didn’t do anything wrong…”
“Hao…”
Hao’s head hung lower, as he apologized to someone he did not like.
Yuugo looked at him silently, and Hao repeated his apology as his voice trembled.
“I didn’t mean to do this. I was just worried about the president… I wanted her to tell me what she was hiding. But because I was so emotional, those two heard us, and I created a situation where the president had to tell them what she was trying to keep secret. And…”
“…You don’t believe those two? According to them, I’m scum that kept a child hidden to try to get myself a bigger reward.”
“…I felt that wasn’t right, when I saw Shiroi being taken away. If you tricked him into being taken to your room, he wouldn’t be resisting that much. He’d be happy about being saved. And there’s no way the president would help you do that.
I get that you had a reason for doing that, but I still didn’t go against those two. When your brother was glaring at me, I realized I did something terrible. I’m really sorry…”
He realized that his lack of focus invited a terrible situation.
It also started because he invited Shian and Egos to act as bodyguards.
Despite asking them to protect Precia, they ignored her and went around doing what they wanted, and this was what he got for trusting them.
The president he looked up to was hurt, children cried, and he created a situation he could not fix.
Even after understanding all that, he failed to go against those two, and even received a reward from them. He seethed over how pathetic he felt, but as he looked at the money he was given, Yuugo spoke to him.
“You don’t need to feel responsible for everything. I was talking to the president, and we carry blame too. I should’ve talked to you sooner.”
“…Why would you talk to someone who disliked you that much? I should’ve trusted you guys a little more.”
“Then we’re even… Let’s leave it at that. There’s no point in dwelling in the past, we need to think about how we’re going to help Shiroi.”
“…Are you serious? You’re still thinking about…”
Hao was surprised, because Yuugo was not worried about what the hero prospects thought, and thought about saving Shiroi.
Yuugo smiled a little, and responded as though it was obvious.
“I made a promise, so I have to keep it. A hero doesn’t betray the expectations of children.”
◇ ◇ ◇
“Isn’t Yuugo a good boy?”
“Yes… He really is completely different…”
Hao said to Precia in the inn’s kitchen, while washing the utensils and cookware used to make Yuugo’s food.
Hao felt bad, and thankful because Yuugo was thoughtful of him instead of blaming him, and let out a big sigh after finishing washing the utensils.
“Sorry president. If I had a cooler head this wouldn’t have…”
“Don’t worry, I should’ve talked to you properly. Yuugo was right, we’re all to blame.”
“But it was because I pressed and questioned you like that… Ah!?”
Hao clenched his fist and smacked it on the counter out of frustration.
He hit spoons he just washed, and they flew in front of him until they hit the floor.
“I-I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”
He said with his face turning pale.
“It’s okay~! You blame yourself too much. Relax~!”
It was one thing after the other. Hao truly felt anything he did would go wrong.
Hao sighed, picking up the spoons, but when he raised his head…
“…Eh?”
He opened his eyes widely at what he saw.
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