“Hum, sorry Yuugo, for doing something like that all of a sudden…”
“N-no, I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry you had to do that in front of all those people.”
“Why would you apologize? You’re totally the victim here. You don’t have to lower your head.”
“B-but having a girl k-k-k-kiss… Uguoaaah!?”
“Big brother!? Wai, calm down!!”
They left the duel arena and went to the corner of the courtyard that Yuugo called home, but they spoke with a mood in the air that was hard to put into words.
It was to shut up Zenon and the students supporting him, but Melt still boldly kissed Yuugo in front of many people… And then, as Yuugo felt the remaining warmth and softness on his lips, he felt more shaken and perplexed than when he was reincarnated, and started flailing on the ground because he could not sit still.
Perhaps it was because of Yuugo’s reaction that showed more innocence than she had, but Melt’s face turned red as well. But she was still calmer than him, so she along with Phi turned to Yuugo to talk him down.
“I’m the one who decided to do that, so you don’t have to feel any guilt… Hum, or was being kissed by someone like me just bad?”
“Of course not! But that’s not something you should do on a whim or something like that. It should be when a boy and girl reach the stage of a relationship when they’re going out. I feel bad that a girl like you had to do that, and I feel like it’s pathetic that I couldn’t calm the ruckus caused by people hating me myself…”
“…Then it’s fine. I didn’t hate it either, and, like I said more than once, I was the one who did it. Anyway, let’s end that conversation here! I’m sure you have a lot of thoughts about it, but let’s stop it for now! Yup, that’s it!”
Melt’s boundless cheerfulness helped there.
As Yuugo felt troubled, but thankful to the girl that encouraged and cheered him, he still anguished over kissing Melt.
And Phi, perhaps unable to continue looking on at his restless older brother any longer, threw them a lifeline.
“Still, you really are great, big brother! That makes two victories! Two in a row! I was worried for a moment, but it really was an overwhelming victory… There’s no way you’d lose to someone who has to rely on numbers like that! You won’t lose even if you’re alone…”
“…That’s not true Phi. I wasn’t alone.”
“Eh…?”
Phi was looking out for his anguished older brother, and praised him for breaking through Rush’s tactic of relying on a numbers advantage, but Yuugo of all people denied it.
Phi was surprised, and at a loss for words, but as his older brother smacked dirt off his uniform, he looked directly at him and spoke.
“Listen, Phi. I did win what was basically an away game, and I broke through that tactic of using a numerical advantage, but I wasn’t fighting by myself. I had you and Melt, who believe in me, so you’re the one who gave me strength, right?
It was like that with the monster armor beasts too. You praised me for beating them, but Melt was fighting alongside me, and that’s why we managed to keep everyone safe. I’m never fighting alone, I’m always fighting with someone.”
“With… Someone…?”
“Exactly? You’re fighting alongside me. Along with your feelings of trust for me.
Conditions to be a hero – Fifth… Take your comrades’ hands, and fight together. Remember Phi, this will be on the test.”
Yuugo pat his brother’s head, and taught him about the mental attitude of a hero with a smile on his face.
Phi looked at him with a blank expression, but then spoke with a small smile.
“I haven’t been taught one through four yet, you know. What are they?”
“Well, now now. I’ll tell you as you understand what a hero is.”
“Eh…!? Just tell me! You’re so mean big brother…!”
The two brothers looked very friendly as they played around with each other.
Melt looked on with a smile on her face, and spoke to them.
“Come on! I’m curious too! Tell us those hero conditions, Yuugo! If you don’t, I’ll kiss you again!”
“You…!! Girls shouldn’t go around kissing so casually! The princess heroine said ‘modest, fair, and graceful’, right!?”
“Is that one of those hero conditions? Tell me about that too!”
“Me too! Or I’ll kiss you too, big brother!”
“Wha!? Don’t get carried away, you two! I’ll be mad at both of you!”
Said Yuugo loudly at his brother and his friend, who were drawing closer from each side, and he spread his arms to hide his embarrassment.
He pushed them away gently, and chased after them with the expression of a demon, as Phi and Melt laughed loudly.
The laughter did not stop echoing in the courtyard, even after the sun began to set, and the end of that day continued to be painted with a bright and vivid color.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
I became diabetic by reading this chapter
Many thanks!