Several hours later, Yugo and the rest of the Luminous Academy group finally reached the village at the base of Mount Yumyum.
They had departed the academy just after midday. While the sun hadn't quite set, it was getting too late to begin their ascent into the mountains. The plan was to overnight in the village, verify their cargo, and divide into teams to determine who would head to which mountain hut. Everything was proceeding according to schedule.
Since the tiny village lacked large lodging facilities like hotels or inns, the students were split into small groups and assigned to various guest houses. As the academy's most despised student, Yugo was paired with Melt, though they were naturally given separate rooms.
By nightfall, Yugo found himself in a cramped single room. He spent the evening massaging the shoulders of the elderly woman who ran the guest house, chatting as he worked. The wrinkled matron had taken a shine to the polite young man, and their conversation was lively.
"My, you're such a good lad! To be so kind to an old woman like me... you really are a sweetheart!"
"It’s the least I can do for a bed and a meal. Besides, I’ve always been a bit of a grandma’s boy."
Memories of his childhood—the nostalgic, golden days of the past—flickered through his mind. He remembered how his grandparents would buy him hero transformation toys every year and how he’d proudly show off his poses for them. A wave of loneliness washed over him.
He wondered how his family was doing back in his old world. His parents, his grandparents... they were surely mourning him. Though he’d died saving someone, he felt a twinge of guilt for leaving the people he loved behind.
The door to the guest house creaked open, and Melt peered inside. "Yoo-hoo! You busy, Yugo? Want to go for a walk and chat?"
"Oh, Melt. Sorry, right now—"
Yugo started to decline, intending to finish the massage, but the old woman cut him off by standing up. With a wide, cheerful grin, she thanked him and urged him to go.
"That’s enough for now, dear. Go on out with that girl and have some fun. I’ll go get the bath ready while you're gone."
"Is that so? Well, I’ll take you up on the offer then. Let's go, Melt."
"Yeah!"
Melt beamed and headed out first. As Yugo swapped his shoes to follow her, the old woman nodded knowingly and called out to him.
"Ah, youth is a beautiful thing! Good luck, now!"
"Huh? Uh, thanks...?"
Yugo offered a strained smile, suspecting a misunderstanding, and stepped out into the night. He joined up with Melt, and they began walking through the quiet village, the night air crisp against their skin.
"Man... it’s a beautiful night, isn't it?"
"It definitely is. The best part is sleeping under a roof and finally getting a real bath!"
"Ahaha, that's right! You've been camping out or just taking quick showers, haven't you? Thinking about it that way, we really did get lucky!"
"Yeah. Even putting that aside, I’m just glad I get to talk with you like this, Melt."
"Eh...!?"
Melt blinked in surprise at his sudden remark. Under the glow of the beautiful moon, in such a quiet, romantic setting, she started to read into his words. But those romantic notions were instantly pulverized.
"Talking with a friend at night like this feels just like a school trip! Youth Switch, On! I’m actually getting pretty hyped up!"
"Oh... so that’s what you meant..."
Hearing Yugo's words—which carried no deep meaning and expressed only his pure joy at spending time with a friend—Melt let out a wry smile.
That’s so him, she thought. They’d shared a kiss, yet here they were alone and he was acting completely oblivious. She bit back a complaint about his lack of awareness, but then he turned to her with a serious look.
"Hey, tell me more about yourself, Melt. Your family, your dreams for the future... stuff like that."
"Huh? About me? Why the sudden interest?"
"What do you mean 'why'? You want to know about your friends, right? Honestly, I wish I could tell you more about myself, too, but with the whole amnesia thing... it’s a bit one-sided. I just... I’d really like to know you better."
Melt’s smile mirrored his as he spoke with a hint of bashfulness. She couldn't tell exactly where she stood with him, but his desire to bridge the gap between them made her heart flutter. She gave a firm nod.
"Okay! What do you want to know? But fair warning—no asking about my weight or measurements. Your affection level isn’t nearly high enough for those yet!"
"Haha, I wouldn't dream of asking something so personal. Let’s see... how about we start with what your life was like before you enrolled at Luminous Academy?"