"Hugo, what is the meaning of this?! Why would one of the Warrior Shrine Maidens from Yamato come up to talk to you?"
"I—I have no idea. She said she was curious about me, but I don't know why or in what way..."
"She seemed to take quite a shine to you, though. Even after you turned her down, she didn't look like she’d given up. She’s clearly very interested."
"...Meeting alone? With that Shrine Maiden? Are you actually planning to go on a date!?"
"No, it’s not like that! Look, she’s an exchange student from Yamato... it would have been a diplomatic disaster to just blow her off, right?"
"Muuu...! That might be true, but I’m still not happy about it!!"
"Please, just accept it! I’m begging you!"
Hugo cried out as if pleading for his life, trapped between a barrage of questions from his friends and Melt’s intense jealousy.
While that was happening, Ryuga approached Yui, who had been hiding in Hugo’s shadow. He spoke softly to his trembling sister.
"Yui, is something wrong?"
"Brother... those men from before... the duo called Cyan and Egos... I think it would be best if you didn't trust them."
Ryuga narrowed his eyes. He understood his sister’s ability to see the souls of others better than anyone. He gave a small nod and pressed further.
"Were their souls that terrifying? Enough for you to be this wary?"
"...I can't put it into words well, but their souls looked so warped. It was strange. It felt as unnatural as... pouring raw sewage into a priceless masterpiece of a tea bowl. I’ve never felt anything like it before..."
Hearing Yui’s description, Ryuga looked toward the path Cyan and Egos had taken as they followed after Setsuna.
Warped... Ryuga couldn't help but agree with his sister’s assessment from the bottom of his heart. Based on what he had seen during the trial where they demonstrated their skills and their interactions just now, he didn't think those two had personalities worth praising.
They might possess excellent command abilities and personal strength, but if asked which side was trash—Hugo or them—Ryuga would have chosen the latter without a second thought.
That wasn't the only strange thing. From what he had heard, the students called Hero Candidates were transfers from the High School Division... yet they seemed to harbor an excessive hatred for Hugo.
It was one thing to be cautious based on Hugo's past reputation, but the way they persistently attacked him made it seem as if they held a deep, personal grudge. Where on earth had Hugo earned such resentment from them?
Regarding Egos, he knew there was bad blood from a previous conflict, but he couldn't understand why the other Hero Candidates hated him so much.
And above all, the most inexplicable part was that so many students and teachers trusted and idolized these individuals. He couldn't find any logic in it. His sister’s word, "warped," fit the entire situation all too perfectly.
What was wrong with this academy? Ryuga was bewildered by the sheer abnormality of it all—until Hugo called out to him in a panic.
"Ryuga! We’re partners, right?! You’re supposed to reach out and save me in my moment of peril! I’m being driven into a corner here! Save me! Help! He~lp!"
It seemed Hugo had reached his limit with the interrogation from his friends. Ryuga intended to reply to his partner's plea with his usual measured tone, but...
"Hugo, I’m sorry, but I’m in the middle of a thought. Don't ask me—"
"I can't hear your answer! You’re going to save me, right? Right!?"
Hugo formed his right hand into the shape of a gun, speaking over Ryuga to crush his rebuttal.
Despite the fact that he was the one begging for help, Hugo’s attitude was remarkably pushy. Ryuga snorted and let out a laugh. With a resigned sigh, he stepped in to aid his partner.
"Are you sane, Setsuna?! Of all people, to show interest in a man like that!!"
"Oh? Is there a problem? I don't think I’m doing anything you need to worry about."
Meanwhile, after Hugo had declined her invitation for a private talk, Setsuna was being subjected to a scolding from Sakura. Sakura was quite heated, but Setsuna handled her with practiced ease.
"Miss Neera warned us, did she not?! She said that Hugo Clay is a delinquent who causes nothing but trouble—a man who paws at women without a second thought! If you go on a tryst with such a man, you’ll be pushed down in the blink of an eye and lose your virtue right then and there! Awa-wa-wa...!"
"You certainly have a vivid imagination, Sakura. It’s fine. I’ve done my research. Besides, there’s no fool alive who would lightly lay a hand on an exchange student from another country."
"The faculty warned us precisely because he is a man for whom such a possibility is high! Setsuna, please, stay away from him! At the very least, if it were one of the samurai Miss Neera recommended, I could feel at ease. If you look, there must be mountains of more gentlemanly men! What they call... a ge, ge... wait?"
"...A gentleman, right?"
"Yes, exactly! You should look for a gentleman instead!"
Having heard the rumors, Sakura clearly despised the idea of her best friend associating with a man with such a poor reputation. However, Setsuna replied with a lingering smile.
"It’s alright, Sakura. Apparently, this is a case of 'seeing is believing.' Just now, he prioritized his promise to his friends and brother over my invitation. It seems the records were right about his personality changing drastically after his memory loss. We should probably consider the old reputation a thing of the past."
"Even so, I’m worried! If by some chance something happened to you...!"
"There’s no end to it if you worry like that. We’ve come to another country as exchange students; it’s more fun to act boldly. I’m not particularly interested in the Hero Candidates the teachers keep recommending anyway. And besides..."
"...And besides?" Sakura prompted, tilting her head.
Setsuna turned back toward her friend and smiled.
"...I think he and I share the same hobbies."