episode_0107

When we arrived at the training ground holding hands with Shine, there were already many people inside.

“Have you become close with anyone?”

“No.”

“Really…? It’s been over a week.”

Shine shook her head and did not answer me.

I knew Shine wasn’t very social, but I didn’t know it was this bad.

The moment Shine and I entered the training grounds, no one greeted her.

I thought it would be the same for me too.

I sighed and waved my hand first.

The man who had been sitting far away and watching me turned his head away, seemingly embarrassed by my greeting.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Well.”

The reaction is worse than expected.

As I waved my hand and looked around, all the eyes that had been watching us disappeared in an instant.

“I guess everyone doesn’t want to say hello.”

“That’s weird…”

It was really weird.

After a while, as I was sitting and spending time with Shine, the training began.

The person who taught the trainees was unexpectedly Victor.

“Victor?”

“Until yesterday, I was a different person.”

Victor, who looked the same as usual, with a slightly frowning expression, looked around and opened his mouth.

“Everyone gather together.”

Shine stood up from her seat at Victor’s words and walked towards him.

I too followed behind Shine.

“Everyone will be wondering. Because the instructor in charge has changed.”

Victor looked around at the trainees and spoke.

At Victor’s words, a timid-looking woman raised her hand and asked Victor a question.

“Excuse me… Where did the instructor who was there before go?”

“Allen is on long-term leave starting today. He probably won’t be back until after his next exam.”

“So, are you saying that Victor is teaching us?”

“As you can see. That’s right.”

I gently grabbed Shine’s hand and asked her a question.

“Hey. Shine. What’s that person’s name?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Yeah. I didn’t ask. And I don’t remember. ”

Shine’s condition was a mess.

I stroked her head with a worried expression.

If it was always like this, how did I get along with other people?

“You little brats. No unauthorized chatter.”

As Shine and I were joking around, Victor’s sharp voice rang out.

I was slightly amazed at Victor’s appearance, which was completely different from usual.

As I stared blankly with my mouth open, he coughed in vain and looked away.

“Victor, you came because you were worried about me.”

As I muttered softly, Shine nodded.

“I think so.”

“Is Victor actually a kind person?”

Victor’s ramblings continued.

I spent time asking questions and answering them.

As his legs started to hurt from standing, Victor checked the time and shouted at everyone.

“Let’s start with a simple sparring match. Lightly, without using any abilities. Got it?”

yes!

My ears were numb from the trainees’ loud voices.

I urgently covered my ears.

Since we received our trainee numbers in the order we entered, Shine and I were the last ones to arrive.

Numbers 19 and 20.

I sat down with my small number tag tied to my chest and watched people.

The first match featured a woman who asked Victor a question.

It was impressive to see him say everything he wanted to say with a timid-looking face.

Her opponent didn’t know her name either.

Numbers 1 and 2 faced each other and bowed their heads to greet each other.

The duel began as Victor watched.

Just like when we had seen Shine training before, the two exchanged light hand and foot movements.

My hands and feet are tangled up in a mess.

Fists and toes skim across the skin.

It felt like watching a well-coordinated stunt performance.

I wiggled my butt at the sight.

Will I really be able to do well?

Since I rarely fought people without using my abilities, I naturally started to get worried.

“Are you just starting out without learning anything?”

“Yeah. It was like that when I came in too.”

I sat there blankly, watching the people sparring.

I could learn a lot just by watching.

How to move, how to react.

I don’t know if he could move his hands and feet that freely, but it looked pretty doable.

The light sparring ended shortly.

As soon as the 17th and 18th duels were over, Shine and I walked forward.

“Are Shine and I fighting?”

“Yeah.”

I walked in front of Victor and checked the gazes of the people around me.

They began to chatter among themselves in small voices as Shine began to walk forward.

For some reason, I felt bad.

I glared at the people who were muttering with a frown.

Was it because he felt my gaze?

The man who had been talking to people in a low voice lowered his head in fright.

The reaction was so strange.

As I was looking at them with a puzzled look on my face, completely terrified, Victor spoke to me.

“20 times.”

“Huh?”

“Wake up.”

Victor’s hard voice felt unfamiliar.

As I opened my eyes wide and looked up at him, he grabbed my head and held it down.

“Focus on the sparring.”

“Yes.”

I nodded and approached Shine.

A place where people stand facing each other.

Our eyes met and we looked at each other and smiled.

“Please take care of me, Shine.”

“Yeah.”

I took a slow breath.

Arms and legs move without any problems.

It was a bit hesitant to reach out to Shine, but from what I’d seen of other people doing it, it seemed like they wouldn’t allow direct hits.

If so, you can do it.

“Start!”

As soon as Victor finished speaking, Shine started to rush in.

Dododo- Small footsteps began to be heard, and faint vibrations were transmitted to the tips of the feet.

I took a step back and raised both hands to prepare for Shine who was running towards me slowly.

As I was preparing by taking a simple fighting stance, Shine suddenly disappeared.

“Ah.”

As the short words flowed from his mouth, his body tilted slightly.

What happened?

The figure of the disappeared Shine appeared in an instant.

As white hair flew in all directions, blurring my vision, Shine’s arms and legs dug into the space between my shoulders and legs.

The body rises.

In the time that passed so slowly, Shine’s gaze, which I met in the air, was directed at me.

thud-!

A small shock was transmitted to my back.

It didn’t hurt because the soft mat was laid out, but all the air I had been holding in my body escaped.

“Huh.”

A short moan came out naturally from her mouth.

Shine, who had knocked me down, immediately took the next move.

She climbed onto my waist, holding my arm in place, and smiled brightly as she looked down at me.

“I won.”

The match ended up being so meaningless.

Without even being able to react, I let out an awkward laugh as I was subdued by Shine.

My arms were tightly fastened, making it difficult to move them.

I tried to pull it out by twisting my arms this way and that, but I couldn’t move because of Shine’s strong pressure from above.

“When did you learn this?”

“When Jeff got hurt.”

“Winner #19.”

I let out a small sigh at Victor’s voice.

19 was Shine’s number.

I tried to get up by shaking the hand that was holding me back from Shine.

But Shine wouldn’t let go of my hand.

Why is that? The sparring is already over.

“Hey, Shine. Shouldn’t you come down now?”

“Yeah.”

But she only answered like that. She didn’t even think about getting down from above me.

Shine’s white hair, which falls over her face, tickles her face.

“Why are you getting closer?”

Shine’s face was getting closer and closer.

I felt a strange sensation as I slowly raised my head, and twisted my body with a bewildered expression.

“Just kidding.”

Shine smiled slightly at my reaction and sat up.

The hand that had been holding me tightly released and I immediately got up.

My heart was pounding strangely.

I clutched my chest and sat down to catch my breath.

“Everyone is fine. Except for one person.”

I knew who Victor meant.

I naturally raised my head.

“Yeah. It’s you. Number 20.”

“It’s natural since I came in today.”

I was rather proud.

She put her hands on her waist and exposed her chest to him.

“You are my responsibility from today.”

At Victor’s declaration, everyone’s eyes flew to me.

Their gaze was not favorable.

Doubt, envy, jealousy. And jealousy.

A lot of emotions start to rush in at once.

As I flinched in embarrassment and took a step back, Shine blocked all eyes as if guarding me.

The moment Shine’s cold gaze turned to the sky, all the gazes that had been looking at me disappeared as if washed away.

“Hey… that’s too…”

“No complaints will be accepted.”

The woman who was about to raise her hand and argue with Victor’s firm story crumpled her face.

I looked at him and stuck out my tongue.

nyah.

Victor was on my side.

It’s natural because we’re on the same team.

I thought like that and proudly extended my body that had been hunched over.

There was no need to be discouraged.

Considering my position, I was a huge rookie who came down on a super parachute.

This kind of gaze was somewhat familiar.

Suddenly, the image of the fat Dr. Heblum came to my mind.

I wonder if that pig doctor is eating well.

Although he didn’t have a good personality, he was a person who was able to receive a lot of help, so he will probably be remembered for a long time.

“Just do some self-training for a moment.”

Victor said that, then turned around and started walking away.

I saw him heading towards a small door at the very end of the training grounds, so it seemed like he was trying to get in there.

I looked behind Victor and could see the sign pointing to where he was headed.

Break room.

“20. Follow me.”

I was standing there blankly, but when Victor called my name, I nodded and ran towards him.

Shine, who was standing next to me, also naturally followed me.

Victor entered the break room, let out a big sigh and sank into his chair.

I was worried about his tired-looking face, so I went closer and put my hand on his thigh to comfort him.

“Are you very tired?”

Victor didn’t answer.

“Don’t touch that.”

Shine, who had been standing quietly behind me, grabbed my hand that was on Victor’s thigh and pulled it towards her.

“Victor. Are you worried about me and came all the way here?”

I asked Victor, who had a tired expression on his face.

“It was Amy’s request.”

“Amy?”

“Yeah. I’m saying that I didn’t come because I was worried about you.”

I looked at Victor in silence.

It was clear that what Amy had asked was probably true.

But two people on equal terms could have refused each other’s requests.

A man in such a high position as Victor was always short of time.

You could tell just by looking at Amy.

Victor gave up his time and took on the role of instructor.

This was done while sending the original instructor on vacation.

It could not have been anything other than a massive abuse of power.

It was natural for the trainees to be dissatisfied.

It was clear that this would have a negative impact on his reputation.

That means Victor took on the role of instructor for me, even while enduring all those circumstances.

“Both of you. Pass the next test without fail.”

I nodded to Victor’s words.