Episode 15: The Belated Self-Introduction
Kaori, approaching Kazuma, wondered how to ask about the situation, but since it wasn’t like they were doing anything wrong, she asked normally.
“Hey, Satsuki-kun. Did something happen with Seto-san? It feels like you two are kind of awkward.”
“Eh, well… haha. Actually, you see, because I was hospitalized for three months, I don’t know my classmates. So, I think she’s probably confused too…”
“Ah, right, right. I see. I get it. As I thought, it was Megumi’s misunderstanding.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. I’m going to talk to Megumi for a bit, so wait here.”
“Ah, okay.”
Kaori, realizing it was indeed Megumi’s misunderstanding, headed towards Megumi, who was talking with Kyoko. Kazuma, who was left behind, felt bad for making them worry.
(Ah, so that’s why those two separated. They’re probably misunderstanding various things. It’s my fault, I feel bad.)
In Kazuma’s line of sight, Megumi and Kyoko seemed to be talking about something, but he couldn’t tell what it was about. Well, Kazuma decided it wasn’t worth straining his ears to listen.
“Um, Kyoko-chan. I won’t ask what happened with Satsuki-kun, but we’re in combat training right now, so I want you to get along.”
“Um, yes?”
Kyoko couldn’t understand what Megumi was saying. Certainly, Kyoko wasn’t close with Kazuma. However, it wasn’t like they were on bad terms either. So, Kyoko didn’t quite understand what Megumi was saying.
Megumi felt something was off about Kyoko’s reaction. Then, Kaori tapped Megumi’s shoulder, and Megumi turned her face towards Kaori, who was behind her.
“Megumi. Let me talk for a bit.”
“Eh, Kaori-chan, you will?”
“Yep. Hey, Seto-san. Since this is a good opportunity, how about you introduce yourself to Satsuki-kun?”
“Eh!? What do you mean?”
It wasn’t Kyoko, but Megumi who was surprised by Kaori’s remark. Kyoko understood what Kaori was saying, so Kaori explained to Megumi.
“You see, Megumi. Satsuki-kun has been hospitalized ever since he enrolled, so he hasn’t gotten to know his classmates yet. That’s why he couldn’t even talk to Seto-san without it being awkward.”
“Ah, so that’s what it was!”
“Yep. So, what you were saying, Megumi, was wrong.”
“Ah, ehehe~”
Until just a moment ago, Megumi had misunderstood that Kazuma and Kyoko were in some kind of confession-related situation. Kaori told her that was a mistake, and she laughed sheepishly.
“Good grief… Next time, make sure you listen properly before jumping to conclusions, okay?”
“Yeah, I got it!”
“So, Seto-san. Continuing from what I said earlier, since this is a good opportunity, shall we do introductions? If you’re embarrassed, we’ll do it with you.”
“Eh, um… is that okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine. It’s better than the team’s atmosphere staying bad forever.”
“Ah, thank you very much.”
Kyoko thanked Kaori, who said so with a cheerful smile. Just as Kaori said, if the team remained awkward indefinitely, they wouldn’t be able to coordinate well. Of course, Kazuma and Kyoko were in the Support Course, so they didn’t need to fight, but this probably wasn’t the time to say that.
And so, the four of them suddenly decided to do self-introductions. Kazuma was confused at first, but after hearing Kaori’s explanation, he understood and began his self-introduction first.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Satsuki Kazuma! As you all know, I’m the one who unfortunately got into a traffic accident on the first day of the entrance ceremony and came to school three months late! It’s nice to meet you all!”
At the heavy self-deprecating joke right from the start, Kaori and Kyoko both gave a wry smile. However, it seemed to have hit Megumi’s funny bone, as she was clutching her stomach and laughing.
“Ahahahaha! That’s hilarious~!”
Since one out of the three found it funny, Kazuma considered it acceptable. After that, Kyoko began her self-introduction. Of course, unlike Kazuma, hers was a safe and ordinary introduction, not trying to get laughs.
“I’m Seto Kyoko from the Support Course. My hobby is reading, and I like mysteries. It’s nice to meet you.”
As Kyoko politely bowed her head, Kaori and Megumi applauded, and following their lead, Kazuma also clapped a little late. When Kyoko’s self-introduction ended, Kaori and then Megumi finished their self-introductions in that order. With this, Kazuma was finally able to break the ice with classmates other than Akatsuki and his group.
“Um, well then, looking forward to working with you from now on, Seto-san.”
“U-uh, yeah. Likewise, looking forward to it, Satsuki-kun.”
Although they were still a bit awkward, unlike before, they had gotten to know each other enough to be able to hold a conversation. Kazuma expressed his gratitude to Kaori and Megumi.
“Thanks, both of you. Thanks to you two, I was able to break the ice with a classmate. Thank you so much.”
“It’s not really something you need to thank us for. We just gave you an opportunity. Besides, I think you would have naturally become friends with her eventually, Satsuki-kun.”
“Yep, yep. Just as Kaori-chan said. Satsuki-kun, you’re not a bad person, so if you talk to them, everyone will understand.”
“Haha, hearing that gives me confidence. But I’m really grateful. Thank you.”
The two of them said they hadn’t done anything special, but Kazuma still felt that it was thanks to them that he could break the ice with his classmate Kyoko, and he dutifully bowed his head. When he went that far, even the two of them had no choice but to humbly accept Kazuma’s gratitude.
The four of them, having finished their introductions, started walking to look for allies for the time being. Kaori walked at the front, behind her were Kazuma and Kyoko, and Megumi was at the very back. Kaori was a Gifted with Body Enhancement, so she took the lead so she could respond if they encountered enemies. And Megumi was a Gifted with Wind Manipulation. She could create tornadoes or unleash things like Kamaitachi, so she guarded the rear.
(It’s certainly safe, Seto-san. But could you let go of my clothes?)
They were being protected by two combat-type Gifted, but scary things were still scary. Kyoko was clutching Kazuma’s clothes, looking around restlessly, and was quite wary. Certainly, there were Gifted like Megumi who could attack from a distance, but there was probably no need to be that cautious.
This was a class, and at the same time, their opponents were classmates. Unless they were an extraordinary genius, there wouldn’t be any students who could perform long-range attacks from a distance beyond visual range. That said, there was also the possibility of someone suddenly jumping out from behind cover, so there was no need to let their guard down.
“Stop.”
Kaori, who was walking at the front, signaled the three behind her. Because Kaori suddenly stopped, Megumi, raising her guard, readied herself to activate her Gift at any moment. Between those two, Kazuma had stopped as told and was spacing out. Kyoko, trembling, gripped the clothes of the seemingly relaxed Kazuma even tighter.
“U-um, a-are they enemies?”
“Be quiet. I’m checking now.”
Kyoko, wanting to know if they were enemies, asked Kaori at the front, but Kaori hadn’t yet confirmed if they were enemies or not. So Kaori peeked out slightly from behind the building’s shadow to check.
“Tch… Two enemies. They haven’t noticed us yet, so let’s take a detour.”
What she could see from the building’s shadow was a pair of enemies. In terms of combat strength, they were evenly matched, but Kaori had two Support Course students with her, meaning two people she had to protect. She could try to aim for them while they were off guard, but the risk if she failed was high. After considering the risks and returns, Kaori decided to avoid them.
“Who were the enemies?”
Megumi questioned Kaori’s passive remark, so she asked who the enemies were.
“Inoue and Tamura.”
“Uwaah~ Then, it seems like taking a detour is a good idea.”
“Um, can I ask one thing?”
Kazuma, who had been listening to their conversation, saw Megumi’s displeased reaction upon hearing the enemies’ names, became curious and decided to ask a question.
“Sure, what is it?”
“Um, Inoue and Tamura, was it? Are those two troublesome guys?”
From Kazuma’s perspective, he thought Kaori and Megumi were stronger, so it was unavoidably strange to him that the two of them would avoid Inoue and Tamura.
To Kazuma’s question, Kaori and Megumi looked at each other, wondering what to do. Telling him here would be fine, but if they did, they would also have to tell Kyoko.
Judging from Kyoko’s state, the two of them thought that if they told her about those two, there was a possibility she would become scared and unable to move, so after thinking it over, they decided not to tell them.
“Sorry, Satsuki-kun. We can’t tell you right now.”
“First, we need to get away from here.”
“Ah, I see. Understood. Then, just as you two say, let’s get away from here.”
Seeing their reactions, Kazuma somehow guessed. Inoue and Tamura probably weren’t strong, but their personalities were troublesome. So, Kazuma obediently followed what they said and decided to take a detour.