"First and foremost, I wish to express my gratitude. Had the two of you not stepped in, the situation would have spiraled into utter chaos. On behalf of the faculty, I thank you for defeating that rampaging monster—and at the same time, I apologize for our failure. Thank you, and I am truly sorry."
"Please, Professor Castle, don't do that. You weren't the one who summoned the Gigantes, and Professor Neila was the one in charge of the field. There's no reason for you to be bowing your head to us, sir."
"I feel the same as Yugo. Please, raise your head, Professor Castle."
"Forgive me. I’m afraid I’ve placed a great deal of trouble on your shoulders in more ways than one."
Following the forced cancellation of the exam after the Gigantes' rampage, Hugo Clay and Ryuga Renjou had been summoned to Professor Castle’s private office to discuss the situation.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries from the incident. The students who had been knocked out by the beast's Howling had safely regained consciousness and seemed to have recovered their composure. Even Melt appeared unaffected by the roar, much to Yugo's relief.
Suspecting that the incident was no accident but a deliberate act, Yugo had questioned Uno about the possibility of foul play. However, the professor had no concrete answers to provide. While Castle also believed human intervention had caused the Gigantes to go berserk, it remained a mystery who had infiltrated the academy, how they had bypassed security, and what their ultimate goal had been.
Whether the target had been the exchange students or a mass slaughter of the examinees, the way the Gigantes had been manipulated was bizarre. This lack of a clear motive was the primary reason the investigation was currently stalling.
"Regarding this matter... the academy has issued instructions to keep everything confidential. We will coordinate with the Security Force to conduct a top-secret investigation. For now, I must ask you to keep what happened today locked within your own hearts."
"Got it, sir! My lips are sealed!"
"I am sorry... please forgive us for essentially erasing your heroic deeds from the record."
"What are you talking about? We didn't fight that thing because we wanted a pat on the back. We fought because we couldn't just stand by and watch. We did it to protect everyone. Right, Ryuga?"
"Precisely. As long as everyone is safe, that is all that matters. The fact that the incident can be kept secret is proof that the damage was kept to a minimum. If anything, that is a reason to be glad."
"I see... You two trust each other so deeply that I find it hard to believe you only met this morning. Your hearts are already in sync. In that case, there should be no issues."
Uno murmured those words with a hint of a smile, appearing genuinely pleased by their response. He looked up, meeting their eyes with a firm expression.
"Hugo Clay, Ryuga Renjou... as of today, I am assigning the two of you to form a team."
"A team? Ryuga and me? What kind of team, exactly?"
"A team in every sense. You two share excellent chemistry, and your skills are perfectly matched. Together, you will undoubtedly push each other to new heights. Besides, there isn't another student in this academy besides you who could possibly keep up with Renjou. It is only a natural conclusion."
"I see, Yugo and I... I have no objections. In fact, I'm quite happy about the arrangement."
"I'm happy too, but... are you sure about this, sir? If someone like me and an elite exchange student like Ryuga pair up, I feel like people are going to start complaining again..."
"I have already obtained permission from Professor Neila, who would have been the first to complain. She permitted the two of you to coordinate during the exam, so she is unlikely to say anything more than necessary now."
Though Yugo harbored a slight lingering unease, hearing that Uno had already laid the groundwork for the partnership put him at ease. Ryuga seemed equally satisfied, and under Uno's supervision, the two new teammates exchanged a firm handshake.
"Well then, we're a team from today on. I'm counting on you, partner!"
"Haha, I look forward to working with you too."
"Good. As for Renjou's dormitory, I've decided on a shared room with Clay. I want you to deepen your mutual understanding through your daily lives together."
"Understood! I was thinking that room was a bit too big for just one person anyway, so it works out perfectly, sir!"
"Thank you, Clay. I know things are difficult for you, especially with your memory loss, but I'm counting on you to look after him."
"Memory loss? Yugo, is that true?"
"Ah... I'll explain the details once I show you to the room. It’s nothing major, so don't let it worry you."
Yugo offered a wry smile as he responded, realizing he hadn't yet mentioned his "condition" to Ryuga.
With the conversation concluded, they left the office and began heading toward the Fifth Dormitory. Halfway there, Ryuga suddenly came to a halt.
"Ryuga? Something wrong?"
"Yugo... you're a good person. We've only just met, but both Yui and I trust you completely. And you're about to share the truth of your own circumstances, your memory loss, with me, aren't you? So, before that... I have something I want you to hear as well."
Ryuga spoke with a sudden, heavy gravity. Yugo met his gaze with a steady, straightforward look of his own. Ryuga stared back, his expression resolute.
"I want to tell you about the real reason I came to this academy as an exchange student, and why Yui lost her sight. It’s a long story, but I'd like you to listen."