“Is that… A stray like us? What is he doing?”
Yuugo pointed to a student that was not in Shian and Ego’s party, and was taking the test alone.
He seemed to be refusing to give up, and looking for chances to shine, but was completely shut out by the numbers and coordination of the others.
Ryuuga asked Yuugo about him as they saw him struggle, and Yuugo responded while watching him.
“He’s like us, but a little different. It’s not like the hero prospects are hostile to him, he’s just not in their circle. That’s all it takes for this chance to turn to nothing. But this really is strange.”
Yuugo’s eyes never left the lone fighter.
Ryuuga looked at Yuugo as if asking what he meant, and after he noticed that, Yuugo went silent for a bit and answered.
“You just got here, so you don’t know… A while back, students in this school were involved in a pretty ugly war. They kept dueling each other with materials on the line. There were ones taking everything from weaker students, and members of the technical department saw it as a chance to rip off students who wanted to be stronger.
That’s why duels are forbidden now… But some people lost something more important, that they can’t take back.”
Said Yuugo as he thought about Isaac and Neid, and the many people who were harmed in the magic sword incident.
He thought about the ones who lost their life and future for the sake of glory, and the atmosphere that enveloped the school not too long ago as students fiercely fought each other to try to join the hero prospects’ parties.
“I was surprised when I heard people were fighting like that because they thought they could join their parties if they got stronger. They were all in a frenzy. But now that I see a situation like this where they’re clearly getting preferential treatment… It makes sense. After all, if you’re not their friend, you don’t get chances.”
“…The strong, the capable, get better treatment and are given chances… Don’t you think that’s fair and effective, Yuugo?”
“Maybe, but aren’t magic knights like heroes who protect weaker people from lots of threats? Then is it okay if they’re just strong? Are outstanding magic knights just people who are strong? I don’t think so… There’s no point in just being strong, you can’t forget kindness… That’s the first hero condition. And…”
“And?”
Yuugo told Ryuuga that some things were more important than power for people striving to become magic knights, and gave his personal pride as an example.
And he continued while still watching the student struggling on his own.
“Heroes don’t fight for what’s fair or justice. They fight for world peace and people’s freedom. This situation where the hero prospects and their friends are given preferential treatment robs a lot of people of their freedom. I don’t think that’s right.
Isn’t school a place where many people gather, personalities clash, and everyone grows in the process? If there are only people the hero prospects and teachers like, and people they don’t, what’s the point of school?”
Yuugo’s face looked sad, but there was not a drop of hesitation to him.
Ryuuga looked on as Yuugo stated what he felt and believed, and smiled.
Yuugo was that straightforward. He failed to notice the hero prospects colluding with a teacher, and abandoned his advantage to fight fairly.
But… This honesty felt good to see. At the very least, it felt good to not feel negative emotions coming from him, as they did from the jealous and resentful eyes of other students who looked at him as someone who was treated as being special, for being both an exchange student and the strongest swordsman.
“…Yuugo. I understand very well why Phi and Epee like you. You’re always honest. Looking at you feels bright and fresh.”
“Haha, thanks. But saying this when my stage has been taken away just feels like the distant howling of a pathetic guy.”
“I’m the same. I’m very different from those hero prospects who will get closer to the combat miko, and might make themselves known in another country.”
“Yeah. But even if you don’t get close to the combat miko, you did make a friend in another country.”
“…True. That’s enough… No, the best outcome.”
Ryuuga smiled and put out his right hand.
Yuugo also smiled, and they exchanged a firm handshake.
They might not be able to leave the test with a good result, but that did not matter.
They were happy about creating an international bond of friendship, so they had no regrets even if the combat miko did not acknowledge them.
◇ ◇ ◇
“No no! That’s no good, my hero! It’s not like I didn’t want this development, but not like that!”
As the hero prospects did their best in the test to get close to the combat miko, and Yuugo and Ryuuga ignored it in favor of their newfound friendship, Lost shook their head under the black hood and complained about their hero.
Lost continued while looking at Yuugo in the distance, despite knowing he could not hear.
“You really are the best! You formed a friendship with Ryuuga this fast! A heated friendship between men! Now that’s youth! The best story! But… We can’t have that trash take the combat miko. You’re going to have to be involved in this story going forward. So…”
Lost was agitated, and snapped their fingers.
That moment, the gigantes that had been moving in regular patterns suddenly stopped, and dropped its head.
After a few seconds, it raised its head again.
The eyes that were closed opened, and Lost spoke with a red light in their eyes, and a mouth crooked with amusement.
“…The mastermind behind the scenes will give you some assistance.”
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I guess two negatives really do make a positive