Naturally, things went from bad to worse for Egos after that.
Following a grueling interrogation, he desperately claimed that he hadn't abandoned Fee out of a petty vendetta against Yugo. His pleas fell on deaf ears. Regardless of his intent, the result was the same, and Uno promptly placed him under suspension.
It was an undeniable fact that Fee had been injured because Egos "forgot" to file the necessary report. To make matters worse, his negligence had endangered the exchange student Yui as well. Lamy, who had previously held him in such high regard, was now the loudest voice in the chorus of condemnation.
"My reputation is in tatters because of you!" she shrieked, hysterically raining blows down on his back. The stinging pain was nothing compared to the agony of his shattering ego.
More specifically, he was terrified of how he was being perceived. If even Lamy despised him this much, what did the rest of the student body think? Trembling with dread, he returned to the relief station, only to find the atmosphere even colder than he had feared.
Snickers and mockery followed him like a shadow, and gazes heavy with disappointment pierced him from every side. In the eyes of his peers, Egos was now the lowest form of scum—a man who had endangered two children for a personal grudge. Not a soul remained who looked up to him as the Hero Candidate they had admired just hours before.
His failure to defeat the Magic Armor Beast while fighting alongside Cyan's party only fueled the fire. Because Yugo had dispatched that same beast single-handedly, Marcos’s earlier accusation—that Egos had targeted Fee because he knew he couldn't beat Yugo—now felt like the absolute truth.
His refusal to offer a sincere apology and his clumsy attempt to frame another student had only sealed his fate. Intentional or not, his reaction had struck everyone present as utterly inexcusable. The mask of the pristine, brilliant honor student—a facade maintained by his Protagonist Charisma—had shattered beyond repair. No one stepped forward to treat his broken nose; instead, they simply laughed at his misery.
"Damn it! How did it turn out like this? It wasn't supposed to be like this!"
Cyan, the man who should have been his partner, offered no support. Instead, he kept his distance, radiating an aura that practically screamed at Egos to stay away. Egos fumed, certain that everything was ruined because the plan had gone awry, but he remained blind to the truth: it was his own choices, not a failed plan, that had brought him to ruin.
As Egos began to treat his own wounds while muttering to himself, Setsuna and the other Warrior Shrine Maidens observed him from a distance, discussing their impressions.
"See? There is quite a difference between hearsay and reality," Setsuna noted.
"Indeed," Sakura replied. "I am ashamed of myself for accepting rumors at face value and forming such a misguided impression."
Egos, whom Lamy had recommended as a paragon of virtue, had proven to be a coward who would use children to strike at those he disliked. In contrast, Yugo—the man they had been told was trash—had contributed immensely to resolving the crisis and showed a deep, protective kindness toward his brother.
Above all, the contrast in their social standing was now undeniable. While Egos sat alone, clutching his knees, Yugo was surrounded by friends. He had comrades who would restrain his rage to keep him from losing himself, and allies who devoted every effort to his brother’s recovery. The gap between them was a chasm.
Witnessing the isolation of Egos made it clear that those who once followed him never truly trusted him. Sakura, watching Yugo’s friends defend his honor and share in his grief, felt her opinion of the two men flip entirely.
"One should always confirm the truth with their own eyes and ears. Even if I never spoke to him directly, I feel I owe Yugo-san an apology," Sakura admitted.
"Renjou-san and his sister placed their trust in him after such a short time," Raiha added. "He really isn't a bad person at all."
"Fufu! After seeing everything that happened today, my interest in him has only grown. I can't wait to speak with him," Setsuna said, her eyes gleaming.
"He's currently preoccupied with his brother’s condition, though. I doubt he has any time for us," Raiha cautioned. "It would be poor form to bother him now. We should give him some space."
Setsuna’s fascination with Yugo had reached a peak. He had soloed a Magic Armor Beast That Underwent a Mysterious Evolution and thoroughly dispelled his reputation as a "scumbag" through his actions. When Raiha suggested waiting, Setsuna gave a small nod of agreement.
"I agree. I don't intend to force a conversation on him tomorrow or the day after. As you say, his brother should be his first priority. While things settle down, I plan to look into the people around him."
"The people around him? You mean his friends?"
"That, and one other thing. I need to know if he has a girlfriend or a fiancee. That is the most vital information of all."
"Wh-What?! A girlfriend or fiancee is the most important thing?" Sakura sputtered. "Setsuna! Surely you aren't thinking what I think you are!"
"Is there a problem? There's no rule against falling in love, is there?" Setsuna replied smoothly.
She hummed a tune as she began to walk away from the relief station. Raiha, noticing Sakura’s frantic state, decided to ask the question directly.
"Are you serious? You actually want a romantic relationship with Yugo?"
"Naturally. He’s been disowned by his family, so there are no complicated ties to deal with. His strength and character make him a prime catch, don't you think? I believe he’d make an excellent partner—someone who could understand my own ambitions."
"I see your point, but it's still a bit intimidating," Raiha sighed. "Yugo-san is already surrounded by attractive women. If you get involved, there’s bound to be a confrontation."
"True. If he does have a lover, I suspect it would be that pink-haired girl. Still, this is the perfect time to investigate. I have to make the most of every moment."
Setsuna wore a playful smile.
Yugo had resolved the immediate crisis and was now focused on his brother’s recovery, unaware that in exactly one week, a new storm would come howling into his life.