Volume 1, Chapter 3 - "Never thought I'd see her again"

(1 month later)

It's been a month since orientation.

Class officially started.

Me and Dai were assigned the same class, no surprise in that.

In case you want to know, that guy, Shinji, has been giving me death glares whenever we're in the same area.

And to  make it all worse, he is also in the same classes as me.

Fujiwara, the girl that I saved from getting violated happened to be assigned the same class as well.

She's been making conversation with me any chance she gets which I'm totally not bothered by since the things she talks about are really interesting.

But every time she does, I feel peoples' gaze on me.

I swear, it's not like that guys.

Lastly, Sagiri.

Sagiri started school not too long ago.

It sounds like she fits in since all she talks about is the fun stuff she does at her school.

But enough about that. 

Our class was in the Training Arena where we students spar with each other and hone our skills.

I was training with Dai as he wanted to test a newly developed technique on me.

[PHOENIX FIRE, PHOENIX FLASH DRIVE!]

A fiery dash or charging technique that rams the opponent in the form of a phoenix.

Truly a highly capable attack.

[FIRST SINGULARITY, MYSTIC EYES OF THE FUTURE]

Using my Mystic Eyes of the Future, I dodged his attack easily but left a scrape on my cheek.

I didn't think that he'd be able to put a scratch on me.

"HAHA. Hell Yea!.  I told you so."

"Sigh. I guess you win this one. Now its my turn."

"Aww man. Yours hurts more."

What a crybaby.

I had also been developing and testing a new technique as well.

I won't spoil it too much.

It was a moment before our professor announced that there'd be a "voluntary match" between two students later on in the week.

I can imagine a lot of things going wrong in this, especially if it has anything to do with me and Shinji together.

Using the new technique on Dai, he immediately fell to the floor exhausted.

He needs some rest anyways.

I decided to spectate Fujiwara in her sparring match while he rested.

And I have to say, there really is a reason why she's the Student Council President.

Watching her fight is satisfying though all I can see is just a speed demon on the field.

Even if I use my Mystic Eyes, I can still see a blur.

I've got to develop my Mystic Eyes a little more.

I also saw some stars.

Probably has to do with her manifest.

 (4 hours later)

I arrived home to meet a blue haired Sagiri watching a film on the TV.

It was about the effects of a manifest when you overuse it.

The overuse of your manifest causes the user to go unconscious in order to regain the used up energy resulting in a minor coma.

"Hey I'm home."

"Ah welcome back Seiryu, just watching this documentary."

"Alright. I'm going to make your favorite dish that I promised a while ago."

"It was about time you did since I didn't have dinner and I'm hungry."

"Heh. Don't worry."

Onigiris.

Her favorite dish was Onigiris.

How to make them?

Step 1 - Make some steamed rice enough to make several Onigiri for each person, while the rice is cooking, you prep the filling for the insides of the onigiri.

Sagiri loves Shake.

Step 2 - After the rice is done, transfer to a baking sheet or most people would use a Sushi oke (also the rice has to be warm).

Step 3 - Wet and salt your hands as the rice will stick to your hands as well as flavoring the rice and preserving.

Not that it'll be saved for a later date in this case.

Step 4 - Give enough pressure to the rice ball when forming the onigiri to make sure that it will not fall apart and keep the filling in which is the Shake.

It's best not to squeeze too tight while doing so.

Step 5 - Lastly, we wrap the Nori before serving.

And there we go.

A perfectly delicious batch of onigiri.

Sagari was watching me make it and I saw her drooling as well.

After saying our thanks we began eating.

"Alright let's dig in"

"Thank you!"

The onigiris were perfectly made by my standards.

I'm sure that i'd make a pretty good profit if I were to open up an onigiri shop.

Dinner was pretty good.

Until..

"So when are you going to get a wife?"

"Pfffffffffffft"

I'm sorry, this would be the primary response for any guy who was in this situation.

I accidentally spit out some water at Sagiri.

So I quickly wiped her down.

Of all times, it had to be when I was drinking water.

I'm sorry Sagiri, I'll make it all up to you another time.

"Ahem. Please don't ask that question."

I was making a peculiar face while saying that.

I shouldn't have since Sagiri was really good at reading people, especially through their facial expressions.

"So you did find someone? Hah knew it."

That smug look she is giving me.

I can't get used to that.

I have to admit, I didn't like to be asked this question a lot since it was bothersome.

 (Later that night in Seiryu's dream)

"Konpeki wake up!"

"Huh?"

It was that memory again but a part of that memory that wasn't shown in the last nightmare a month ago.

The person who called out to me was my childhood friend.

The friend who was there at the time of the breach.

I had saved her from the demon.

I never thought that this part of my memory would show up.

I was covered in blood when she woke me up.

This was right after we were taken to safety by my mom.

She went back to help my dad.

"Is this blood?"

She didn't answer it but I knew it was.

Then she started to cry.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault that you got hurt badly *sniffles*."

I couldn't say anything to her.

I couldn't reassure her that it wasn't her fault.

Her parents rushed over to where we were.

We were in the medical facility.

I had fallen unconscious again and that was the last time I saw her.

[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP]

Ah, an all too familiar sound to wake up to.

 (The day after)

Our professor got the attention of the class by an announcement he had to make.

"Alright everyone listen up. I've got something to announce. As you know, you heard me talking about a student from the Nation of the Republic Powers."

He signaled someone to enter the class.

A girl.

But not just any girl.

A girl my age who had blonde hair and blue eyes.

Someone who I thought I'd never see again.

This girl's name.

Ina Watson.

"Hello everyone! My name is Ina Watson! Nice to meet you all!"

I could hear everyone murmur something like "Wow she's a cutie!" or "Welp, competitions are gonna be even more difficult" or something like that.

"Alright students, now that we've all become acquainted with each other, she is going to be a part of our division. Ina, you may choose any seat."

"Hmhm."

She's always like this.

When she was little, whenever she went somewhere new, she looked around the room to pick out the people she wanted to hang out with.

She would choose me of course if I was there.

However I'm not sure if that's the case since there was a high possibility she forgot about–

"Him!"

She told the professor she wanted to sit next to the person who she was pointing at.

The seat next to me was unoccupied since the student who was previously sitting there came down with a sickness and hasn't been here for a while.

She sat down next to me in that unoccupied seat.

Yet again, I felt a lot of eyes gazing on me.

I was sitting in the middle of the room.

Some time later, when we were studying the types of demon spawns, a paper was thrown at me from the right.

Ina threw it at me knowing that I would pick it up.

The note said,"Meet me at the back of the academy after hours"

I had to play along with it.

 (After hours)

I went to the spot where we would meet up.

I told Dai that I had something to do so I wasn't going to walk home with him.

"Hello!"

"Ack!"

Shit.

She caught me by surprise.

She was good at this stuff back then.

I should've known.

Goddammit.

Oh well.

Time to play dumb.

"Uh hey. You're that new transfer student right? The one from my class?"

"Yep!"

"So uh, what business does a new student have with me?"

"I want to ask you a question."

She's not going to ask me, right?

"Your name, is it Konpeki Seiryu? Sorry, you just look like someone I know from this place."

Welp, she knows.

Of course she would remember me.

I was there for her when she needed it.

I guess it's time I stopped playing dumb.

"Yep, that's me. It's been a while. Old friend."

"I'm sorry Konpeki! I'm sorry for leaving you!"

She started tearing up.

I think she's had some unspoken trauma ever since that day 7 years ago.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to see you one last time before I left! *sniffles sniffles*"

She broke down.

I couldn't believe it.

The usual cheerful Ina Watson that I knew of breaking down after something that happened years ago.

Of course, I would probably beat myself over it if I had to live with the guild that I left my best friend alone without telling them where'd I go.

"Don't worry Ina. I don't blame you. It was my fault that day. You shouldn't beat yourself up about it."

I hugged her to calm her down.

I had to ask the important question while she was in this state.

"Where did you go? And why are you here?"

After hearing my question, she immediately regained her cheerfulness. 

Man, I don't get her sometimes.

"Ah yeah! About that. After the breach 7 years ago, my parents were transferred to the Nation of Republic Powers. But after some time, the nation was caught in a great turmoil as there were rumors of corruption spreading, so they transferred my studies here hoping that I would reunite with you."

"That's a lot of information to talk about. But I did hear about the situation there."

"Yes. So that's why I'm here!"

"Speaking of you being here, do you have a place to stay?"

Yeah.

Thought so.

She gave me an embarrassed look and avoided eye contact as soon as that question surfaced.

"Sigh. What'll I do with you? Alright, since it's been a while, why don't you come over to my place."

"Really! Yes Please!"

 (Later that evening)

"AH! Sagiri! How long has it been! You're so CUTE!"

I forgot, Ina and Sagiri were always together whenever Ina was over to play back then.

Although I doubt she remembers.

"Uhhh, who're you?"

"It's Ina, remember? I used to play with you."

Sagiri was thinking hard about this, but she could tell from Ina's expression that she wasn't lying.

Then Ina revealed a picture with the three of us.

"OH! So you were her this entire time?"

"Yep!"

"Now I remember!"

I'm glad that the reunion turned out great so I decided to make some onigiris.

 (Somewhere deep into the city) - "Man's" POV

*Huff Huff Huff Huff Huff*

Did I lose her?

I turned back and saw no one there.

Sigh.

I thought I was a goner.

Heheh.

"Where do you think your going?"

That voice. 

That girls voice.

She's still close!

I have to get away!

Huh?

I can't move.

What is this?

"HEL–hmmmmmmph!"

"No no no. I can't let you do that. Especially since your my meal for the night."

Am I going to die?

No it can't happen right?

Shit.

If only I didn't get into that argument with Clara.

I'm sorry!

Please Forgive ME!

"Now then. I wonder how your tasty your blood is?"

NOOOOOOOOOOO–

 Konpeki Seiryu's POV

I woke in the middle of the night in a cold sweat.

I was in fear when I woke up.

I'm not sure why but I think something bad happened.