[WN] Dragon Chain Ori : Volume 5 Chapter 24 [Re-Translation]

This is a re-translation.

Volume 5 Chapter 24

 

Irisdina and the others, who had been running around the city searching for Nozomu and Mars, gathered at the academy's main gate after sunset. Everyone was out of breath, and their faces showed signs of impatience.

 

"How was it? Did you find them!?"

 

"No, they weren't in the north district..."

 

"Craftsmen's district was a no-go too..."

 

"They weren't in the commoner's district either..."

 

Irisdina asked Feo and the others who had returned, but the results were not good. Only Tima, who went to the commercial district, and Shina, who went to the outskirts, remained. When Irisdina first started looking for Nozomu and the others, she immediately headed to the boys' dormitory. However, she was only met with surprised looks from the dormitory students, and Nozomu, the one she was looking for, wasn't there. After that, she ran around the city searching, but still couldn't find any trace of the two.

 

"Mars is probably somewhere in the commercial district, but Nozomu is... Ugh! Where is he...?"

 

Irisdina bit her lip, trying to maintain her composure, as Nozomu couldn't be found. If only she had asked him sooner... Such regret enveloped Irisdina's heart.

 

"Ai! I found Mars!"

 

However, her best friend's voice reached her ears. Irisdina looked in the direction of the voice and saw Tima and Mars running towards them.

 

"............"

 

"............"

 

Mars and Irisdina's group faced each other in silence. Their gazes towards Mars were uniformly stern. Mars, who had been holding his breath under their stares, made up his mind and bowed deeply before them.

 

"Everyone, I'm sorry! I put you all in danger because of me!"

 

Words of apology from Mars. Irisdina and the others received Mars's words with stern expressions.

 

"I won't say anything convenient like 'forgive me'! Hit me as much as you want!"

 

"............"

 

For a moment, silence flowed between Mars and Irisdina's group. Mars remained with his head bowed, waiting for their words. Eventually, Irisdina slowly opened her mouth.

 

"...Mars-kun, you know who you need to apologize to the most, don't you?"

 

"...Yeah, I know. When I see Nozomu, I don't care how much he hits me. I'll accept any words he throws at me! So, please. Let me help look for Nozomu too!"

 

"...Alright. Everyone, is that okay?"

 

Mars, still bowing, pleaded to be allowed to help search for Nozomu. Accepting his apology, everyone nodded in unison at Irisdina's words.

 

"...Thank you."

 

Mars was simply grateful to them for accepting him again after what he had done.

 

"Everyone, you've all gathered."

 

At that moment, Shina's voice echoed in front of the main gate. Behind her, Anri-sensei, who shouldn't have been with her, was also visible.

 

"Shina-kun! And Anri-sensei!?"

 

Irisdina and the others were surprised by Anri's appearance, but Shina continued speaking regardless.

 

"I found him."

 

"Really!?"

 

Irisdina's voice rose in excitement at Shina's words. She looked around frantically, but Nozomu was nowhere to be seen.

 

"...Nozomu doesn't seem to be here, though?"

 

"After we talked, he went into the forest."

 

"What did you say!?"

 

Irisdina's voice rose again, this time in a shout, at Shina's repeated words. Perhaps overwhelmed by emotion, she instinctively grabbed Shina.

 

"Why did you let him go!? He was injured, right!?"

 

"Irisdina-san! Calm down!"

 

Anri, surprised by Irisdina grabbing Shina, stepped between them, but Irisdina, heated, pressed her too.

 

"Anri-sensei! Why didn't you stop him either!?"

 

"Both I and Sensei certainly tried to stop him! But he said he absolutely had to go there. Well, after hearing his story, I certainly understood his feelings for wanting to go to that place."

 

Shina recalled Nozomu's demeanor when he made his request to her.

 

I want to calm my mind again where Master is sleeping. I'll be waiting in the cabin where I guided you all before, so please bring everyone there tomorrow.

 

Although anxiety and fear flickered in the depths of his eyes, Nozomu still looked back at them directly. Shina and Anri could sense his will to move forward, even while still being pulled back by the lingering worries in his heart. Moreover, the place he specified was a memorable one where he had talked with his master. For him to solidify his resolve now, there was indeed no more suitable place.

 

"Nozomu-kun is... at his master's place right now."

 

"Master?"

 

Irisdina and the others tilted their heads at Anri's words. It was Shina who answered their question.

 

"She's the one who taught him katana techniques. The place he went to seems to have been his master's house."

 

"...Was?"

 

"...Yes, it seems his master has already passed away..."

 

Shina recounted to Irisdina and the others what she had discussed with Nozomu about him and his master in the outskirts. The circumstances that led to his meeting his master and how he came to learn katana techniques. The days of training, swinging his katana every single day. And the last words his master left for him, having realized her own death.

 

"Nozomu-kun's master apparently left these last words: 'It's alright to run away. But don't turn your eyes away from the fact that you ran. Even if you run, if you don't forget it, you can move forward someday'..."

 

"............"

 

From those words alone, anyone could understand how deep the bond between the two was. In contrast, Irisdina and the others hadn't even been told that Nozomu had a master. Irisdina felt a hollow sensation in her chest. Had they not been trusted by Nozomu that much...? Such thoughts raised their heads, and she was assailed by the feeling that the time they had spent with him was gradually losing its color. Shina glanced at Irisdina, who had lowered her eyes, but continued speaking regardless.

 

"...And one more thing. He didn't tell me the true nature of his power, but his power might be more dangerous than I thought."

 

"...What do you mean?"

 

Everyone present narrowed their eyes and listened to Shina's words.

 

"He said that his power has another will. And that will think of the people in this city as nothing more than prey."

 

What flashed through Irisdina's mind was the overwhelming power Nozomu displayed in his battle against Rugato. The torrent of power he unleashed easily swept away even Rugato's magic power, which had enveloped the mansion, and overwhelmed even an S-rank formidable opponent. With that much power, calmly thinking about it, there was a high possibility that some kind of price would be involved.

 

"...!!"

 

Irisdina unconsciously bit her lip tightly. There were clues, yet...

 

Hearing this story, it made sense that Nozomu had been acting strangely recently. Why hadn't she asked him sooner...? Only regret gnawed at Irisdina's chest.

 

"I think he's probably been agonizing over that power. And he couldn't talk to anyone, just kept it bottled up inside himself."

 

"...Does that mean we weren't good enough?"

 

"Somia..."

 

Somia, who was beside Irisdina, muttered with a tearful face. That's not it, Somia. It's because I didn't try to ask him... Thinking so, Irisdina tried to comfort her sister, who looked on the verge of tears, but her mouth, contrary to her thoughts, wouldn't utter the words.

 

"That's not it. Rather, I think it's the opposite. He couldn't talk about it because you were important to him. I understand because I was like that before too; the more you bottle up your worries, the harder it becomes to talk about them. Your heart just hardens, and there are times when you just can't move forward."

 

However, Shina comforted Somia in Irisdina's stead. She went to Somia's side, knelt down, and gently stroked Somia's head with her hand, comforting her. The pain in her chest grew stronger. The back of her eyelids grew hot, and tears welled up.

 

"!!"

 

Irisdina bit her lip desperately, trying to hold back her tears. Shina briefly glanced at her from the corner of her eye.

 

"Nozomu-kun is waiting in the cabin deep in the forest. We know the location, so we'll guide you tomorrow."

 

"A cabin in the forest?"

 

Mimuru and Tom looked puzzled at Shina's words, but then, as if realizing something, they gasped and spoke up.

 

"Hey, Shina. That cabin..."

 

"That's right, Mimuru. The cabin where we took shelter before. He also asked us to guide you there."

 

"...Shelter?"

 

Mars and the others couldn't understand Shina's group's conversation. Furthermore, the unsettling word "shelter" made their expressions even sterner.

 

"We'll talk about that when we head to the cabin tomorrow. It's a place where he trained in katana techniques with his master, and it's a memorable place for him. Nozomu-kun also said he wants to think a bit more, so let's leave him alone for today."

 

"...But."

 

Shina suggested they meet Nozomu after some time. However, Irisdina's voice interrupted her words.

 

"No, Nozomu is still injured... For now, we should at least let him rest somewhere proper..."

 

"But that goes for everyone. Aside from Nozomu-kun, who knows the place well, it's not a good idea to enter the unfamiliar night forest in an exhausted state."

 

Irisdina's words, tinged with impatience. Her words were immediately denied by Shina, but she, who desperately wanted to see Nozomu, was urged by the swirling impatience in her chest to head towards the forest.

 

"...Wait, Irisdina."

 

However, it was surprisingly Mars who stopped Irisdina. Shina's words, "everyone is exhausted," halted his impatient heart.

 

"If he says he wants us to wait... let's wait. He said he'd talk properly, right?"

 

"Yes, he did."

 

Shina nodded in response to Mars's questioning to confirm.

 

"Then, that's enough for me... I think he'll be fine even in the night forest."

 

Mars's words, squeezed out, lacked the somewhat arrogant aura he had previously carried.

 

"Oh? You're quite subdued. I thought you'd try to go into the forest alone, as if saying 'it has nothing to do with me'."

 

"...It can't be helped if you say 'what are you talking about now'."

 

Mars replied weakly to Shina's sharp sarcasm. He wore a self-deprecating smile at himself for trying to move impatiently again.

 

"Irisdina-san, is that alright with you?"

 

"............"

 

The desire to see Nozomu clashed with the desire not to put everyone in danger within Irisdina. Somia, who was beside her sister, gently squeezed her hand, which was biting her lip. Feeling the irreplaceable warmth of her beloved sister's skin through her hand, Irisdina slowly nodded to Shina's question.

 

"Then, let's head there after school tomorrow. The meeting place will be the usual outskirts."

 

As everyone dispersed at Shina's words, Mars called out to her as she was about to leave.

 

"Shina, about... today, I'm sorry..."

 

Mars bowed deeply, apologizing for his foolish act. Shina, seeing him sincerely bowing his head, didn't feel like blaming Mars any further. She herself had put her comrades in danger due to her own mistakes when she fought the black beast.

 

"...Alright. I accept your apology. Next, you should say it in front of him."

 

"Yeah. I know."

 

Shina simply stated one more person Mars should apologize to. Mars accepted those words straightforwardly.

 

***

 

Returning to their mansion, Irisdina and Somia quickly finished their meal and went back to their rooms, collapsing onto their beds as if crumbling. The accumulated fatigue from the special comprehensive training, the battle with the corpse dragon, and then running around Arcazam searching for Nozomu and Mars after their falling out, had reached its peak. Her limbs felt heavy as lead, and a pervasive languor enveloped her entire body, immediately inviting her to sleep. However, contrary to her desire to sleep, her mind refused, resulting in a cycle of brief sleep followed by waking.

 

What was he doing now...? Every image that came to her mind was of him, making her worry. His figure in her mind had his back to her, and she couldn't discern what expression he was making. This only further fueled her impatience.

 

When they first met in the infirmary, he willingly helped treat the injured female student. Thinking back, perhaps it was because of that incident in the infirmary that even after she learned he was the rumored person, she didn't directly associate him with the rumored image. The next time she met him was in the central park after school. It was her second encounter, when she saw him happily talking with Somia on her way to pick her up. Somia had been talking excitedly about making a new friend recently. But Irisdina never imagined that person would be him. He, too, seemed unaware that Somia's older sister was Irisdina, and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw her. Seeing his reaction, she felt a little mischievous and teased him a bit...

 

In a noble society where those who hide their murky desires behind a smiling mask run rampant, her younger sister, who had been there since childhood, had grown fond of him. That's why Irisdina didn't feel any caution towards Nozomu.

 

And then, the incident that occurred on Somia's birthday. In that incident, caused by a secret pact between the Francilt family and the Wajiart family in the past, he saved Irisdina and her sister. And afterward, he even properly gave Somia a birthday present. Even after saving their lives, Nozomu didn't act condescendingly and didn't change his attitude towards the two. For Irisdina and the others, who had seen adults change their attitudes as soon as they gained an advantage, it was perhaps inevitable that they would be instantly drawn to Nozomu, who remained a friend without changing. After that, Irisdina invited him on a date, calling it a thank-you. She had received countless invitations from men, but it was her first time inviting someone herself. And she had never felt so excited.

 

His palm was warmer than she expected, and just seeing Nozomu flustered was enjoyable, making her so elated that her feet naturally moved forward even in places she hadn't been to much. They stopped at a candy shop along the way, and she got to eat the first candy he ever made. At the fortune-teller's shop, he engaged in a comedic verbal battle with Zonne, whom he had just met. It was fun to see his flustered face, so she even told him to call her by her nickname. And before she knew it, she was peeking at his profile as he walked beside her.

 

Irisdina tightly clutched the palm she had been staring at. On the night of her date with Nozomu, just clutching this hand made her heart pound and her soul feel warm. But now, only pain coursed through her chest. At that moment, she heard the sound of her room door opening with a creak. Irisdina sat up and looked towards the door, where Somia stood in her pajamas, looking anxious.

 

"...Sister."

 

"Somia?"

 

"............"

 

Somia stood rooted in front of the door for a moment, but then she quickly trotted towards her sister on the bed and threw herself into her arms. Irisdina hurriedly embraced Somia. She was about to ask what was wrong but noticed her sister's shoulders trembling.

 

"...It's alright, Somia, it's alright."

 

Seeing her sister's state, Irisdina gently stroked her back. She held her gently, as if handling delicate glasswork, trying to alleviate her sister's anxiety as much as possible. Somia buried her face in her sister's chest for a while. Eventually, her trembling subsided, and she pulled away from her sister's body, lifting her face. However, her face was still stiff, as if her anxiety hadn't completely dissipated.

 

"Sister, about Nozomu-san..."

 

As expected, Somia was asking about Nozomu. Somia, who was just as anxious as Irisdina about reconciling with Nozomu, must have come to her sister's room to seek a little reassurance. Irisdina was also anxious. Nevertheless, she gently stroked her sister's head with a smile, trying to reassure Somia as much as possible.

 

"...It's alright. According to Shina-kun, Nozomu seems to be waiting for us..."

 

Irisdina spoke to Somia with a smile, suppressing her inner anxiety. While trying to reassure Somia, she was also telling herself the same thing.

 

"...But what if Nozomu-san disappears...?"

 

"............"

 

For Somia, Nozomu was also an important presence. He was a close friend with whom she played, and a benefactor who saved her soul. The impressionable eleven-year-old girl had come to view this older boy who saved her as an older brother. A girl who feared losing her family more than anything. For her, the anxiety that Nozomu might disappear was so great that even her blood-related sister couldn't completely dispel it. There was no turning back. That feeling grew within Irisdina's heart.

 

"If Nozomu disappears...?"

 

The morning training where they honed their skills together in the outskirts. They would never cross swords in that place again. Lunch they ate with Nozomu and the others. The food wasn't that different, yet it tasted many times better than usual. And walking through the city together. Those moments when she smiled from the bottom of her heart. All of it would disappear. The moment she imagined such a future, a shiver ran down her spine, and she felt a sensation in her chest as if her heart had been torn out, leaving a gaping hole.

 

(No... I don't want that...)

 

She didn't want that. She didn't want Nozomu to disappear. She didn't want him not to be by her side.

 

The anxiety that Nozomu might disappear had nested in her chest. However, a will to reject such a future also welled up. The feeling that there was no turning back ignited her will to reject a future filled with loss, giving her the vitality to stand up again. Somia's anxious face in front of her. Irisdina thought that she herself might be making such a face, but the warmth of Somia's skin in her arms ignited her heart, which was about to freeze with anxiety, and wiped away the darkness that had nested within.

 

"...Somia, indeed, we have no turning back. But we have another chance."

 

"...Sister."

 

The desire not to lose him burned away the anxiety that had nested in Irisdina's heart. This was the crucial moment. The battle between the fear of losing and the will to reject it ended in the victory of the will to break through this situation. With the sole desire not to lose the warmth she felt in her hands, Irisdina rapidly spoke her thoughts.

 

"It's not decided yet that he's going to disappear. My hand can still reach him. So... so let's go see Nozomu again!"

 

She told her precious Somia, and more than anyone, herself. This time, this time, she would accept it properly. With that resolve in her heart, Irisdina swore before her beloved sister.

 

***

 

In the forest, where not even moonlight penetrated. A giant body, the size of a house, lay fallen on the ground. A dead body, devoid of blood and emitting a putrid smell. Its scales, which had once shone with a jewel-like luster, were cruelly gouged out, and its head was severed from its neck, lying on the ground. A dragon that harbored the contradiction of being alive while dead. Bound by the desires of hunger and thirst, it was now truly freed from its suffering. Originally, it would no longer move, and would simply become nourishment for beasts and insects.

 

But a moving shadow was beside the corpse. A mysterious figure with a deep hood covering his head. When he touched the corpse dragon's body with his hand, its body was enveloped in a white light. When that light, conspicuous in the dark, covered the corpse dragon's body, the dragon's body suddenly swelled. A thumping sound, like a heartbeat, echoed, and the corpse twitched and convulsed. As the white light enveloped its back, the lost wings on its back began to regenerate. The severed neck floated in the air and settled back into its rightful place. Eventually, the heartbeat stopped, and the convulsions subsided, and the corpse dragon's closed eyes opened, and the corpse dragon, which should have been motionless, rose to its feet.

 

The hooded figure and the corpse dragon faced each other. The hooded figure's expression could not be discerned. However, the corpse dragon also showed no signs of attacking. Was it because the person in front of it had resurrected it, or was there another reason? At the very least, although there was no light of life in the dragon's eyes, for some reason, its demeanor no longer showed the ferocity it had before.

 

"............"

 

"............"

 

The hooded figure's mouth moved. The corpse dragon simply stared at the figure, but eventually, it spread its regenerated wings and soared into the sky, flying away. The hooded figure, left alone, simply watched the corpse dragon's retreating figure as it flew away.

 

***

 

The fallen sun rose again, and by the time it reached mid-sky, Nozomu was alone, swinging his katana in front of Shino's cabin. In front of the cabin, his master's katana and memorial tablet were placed. Nozomu continued to practice his swings, feeling as if Shino was watching over him. His entire body still felt fatigued, and his limbs were heavy as lead, but Nozomu's heart was filled with vitality.

 

"Hah!"

 

The swung katana cut through the air, and the wind brushed Nozomu's cheek. The scent of trees and earth filled the air. The sound of the wind cutting through the air with each swing of the katana was pleasant to Nozomu's ears, as if his heart, clouded by hesitation and fear, was being cleansed.

 

Several months had passed since he fought his master here and accepted her feelings. Only that much time had passed, yet Nozomu felt he had come a long way around. Even though he vowed not to turn his eyes away from the fact that he had run away, he couldn't take another step forward from there.

 

There was always an anxiety somewhere in his heart about a power that was clearly different from others. It had always nested in Nozomu's heart.

 

What if they find out I'm a Dragon Slayer...? What if my power goes out of control...?

 

Such anxieties further enlarged when Ken confronted him with the truth, and by himself, who wielded his power in anger after learning that truth.

 

The anxiety that grew day by day and the resulting friction with Irisdina and the others. The gap that formed between Nozomu, who couldn't confide his secret, and them, who couldn't press him. It grew even wider due to the two parties never meeting, further widening the rift between them. And this time, during the battle with the corpse dragon, it tore and broke. Normally, Nozomu, who hesitated to use his power at such a crucial moment, and Mars, who went out of control alone, would no longer be able to be friends with them.

 

"But Shina and the others overcame it, didn't they...?"

 

What came back to Nozomu's mind was the sight of Shina and the others, who had a falling out in this very place, just like Nozomu and his friends now. Shina, who went out of control, consumed by hatred for the black beast that stole her hometown, and Mimuru, who lost her composure after her lover was injured. It was a critical situation at the time, potentially fatal. However, they finally clashed with their true feelings, understood each other, and overcame that crisis. Nozomu was secretly envious of them and found them dazzling.

 

"What if I had used this power back then...?"

 

Yesterday, when Nozomu was swinging his katana in despair in the outskirts, Shina's words to him came back to his mind. She had said that if Nozomu had used his Dragon Slayer power when he fought the black beast, she wouldn't have been able to reconcile with Mimuru and the others.

 

I'm grateful. Thanks to you, I was able to face Mimuru and the spirits again.

 

Shina expressed her gratitude to Nozomu, even knowing that he hadn't used his full power. And Anri, who was beside her, watched over Nozomu with her usual expression.

 

I want to be your strength.

 

It's alright, Nozomu-kun~.

 

And he felt the warmth of their hands. Their words and the warmth of their hands moved Nozomu's heart, which had shrunk from the guilt of not being able to use his power, and gave him the courage to move forward again.

 

"Sei!"

 

A sharp sword stroke carved a line in the air. A sword dance full of vitality, completely different from when he swung it in the outskirts yesterday. There were people by his side. That joy allowed Nozomu to take powerful steps. All his muscles showed perfect coordination. The katana swung down as if to cut down all obstacles. His eyes now, while containing anxiety, showed an even stronger will to move forward again.

 

"...Ah."

 

Nozomu had been swinging his katana smoothly. However, the sword stroke he swung wavered slightly. Perhaps the accumulated fatigue in his entire body couldn't be deceived.

 

What are you doing!? I don't remember teaching you such a dull sword!

 

Suddenly, Shino's voice echoed in Nozomu's head. Her angry voice, which never ceased during training in this place. Of course, she, who had become mute, couldn't have said it, and there was only her katana and memorial tablet at the end of Nozomu's gaze.

 

"...I know, Master. I'll do it properly, so please spare me the punishment..."

 

He knew she was no longer there, but Nozomu spoke as if talking to the memorial tablet.

 

Then hurry up! Next time, it won't be my mouth, but my katana that flies!

 

What appeared in Nozomu's eyes was the figure of his master, for some reason happily taking out her katana and compressing her ki to the extreme.

 

"...Master. Please don't suddenly try to kill your disciple..."

 

Recalling the nostalgic scene that was once his daily life, Nozomu's face softened. And then, he also recalled the unreasonable punishments that always befell him afterward, and before he knew it, a sense of melancholy drifted behind him.

 

***

 

He had been swinging his katana for a while, but Nozomu still felt the accumulated fatigue. He stopped swinging his katana and stood still, beginning to meditate. What came to mind was the time in this place when Shino confessed her past of being betrayed by her sister and running away. Shino, who had cut Nozomu with Phantom Void - Return - and then unleashed a torrent of even more intense slashes, still had a tearful expression. She was sad that her feelings were not conveyed and that Nozomu was trying to give up on living.

 

"It took... quite a while. To realize..."

 

Shino, who had realized her remaining lifespan. She had thrown away all of her remaining, precious time, far more valuable than gold, to convey her feelings to Nozomu. If it were not conveyed, she would have wasted that precious time.

 

When she stood in front of Nozomu, she had already made up her mind, but behind that, there must have been anxiety about whether her past, which she had run away from, would truly be accepted. Otherwise, she wouldn't have pleaded with such a tearful face for her feelings to be accepted. Everyone feels anxious about revealing a past or secret they wish to keep hidden. Yet, she moved forward. Even with worries and anxieties, to convey her feelings.

 

"I probably wouldn't have realized it if Anri-sensei hadn't asked..."

 

It was precisely because she slowly and carefully asked Nozomu about Shino that Nozomu was able to remember why he was able to accept Shino's feelings. This time, unlike then, he was the one confessing. There was still anxiety. There was still fear. Nevertheless, the warmth and words of the two remaining in his hands pushed Nozomu forward.

 

"I can't stop forever..."

 

The anxiety she carried at that time. When she confessed that she had been betrayed by her precious family and lover, her heart must have been disturbed by the thought of losing precious people again. But she moved forward. To convey her last words to Nozomu. And above all, because she wanted him to accept her true self.

 

"Then, I have to move forward too..."

 

And then, the time would come for Nozomu to move forward. Considering the battle with the corpse dragon, if he wanted to continue his friendship with Irisdina and the others, he couldn't keep hiding his power.

 

"Iris and the others know I have power, but they don't know what kind of power it is..."

 

Irisdina and the others knew Nozomu had power, but they didn't know it was the power of a Dragon Slayer. What kind of answer would they give when they learned the true nature of his power...?

 

"Maybe... I might be rejected. ...But even if I'm worried... I have to move forward, right, Master?..."

 

Shino, who risked her life to teach him not to turn away from the fact that he ran away. And the sight of Shina and the others, who clashed with their true feelings and understood each other, came to his mind.

 

"Just talking... might not be enough..."

 

Simply telling them that he was a Dragon Slayer might not be enough. He didn't know if they would understand its true nature just by talking. The root of his fear lay in what lurked deep within that power.

 

"...Can I even unleash it in the first place?"

 

Yesterday's scene came back to Nozomu's mind. Faced with his comrades in danger, he tried to release his ability suppression as if to shake off his anguish, but the chains binding him didn't budge.

 

"But, once more... this time..."

 

As Nozomu meditated again, the bushes behind him rustled.

 

"...They came."

 

No need to turn around. He felt their presence behind him. Even though it had only been a day since they last met, it felt as if a very long time had passed. Nozomu slowly turned around. There stood his academy comrades... no, the people who were about to become his true friends.

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