"Yugo, sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Wait, President! They look like they're in the middle of something! Are you sure we should just barge in?"
Startled by the voices, everyone turned toward the entrance to find a pair of students standing there. It was Presia Rice, a girl known for her soft, gentle smile, and her junior, Hao Chi.
Presia, oblivious to the heavy atmosphere in the best possible way, strolled into Neries’s room without a second thought. As she began setting out the tableware she had brought with a rhythmic clatter, Yugo called out to the Cooking Club duo.
"Thank you. You really saved me."
"Good grief, you’re always so sudden," Hao grumbled. "Think about the person you’re asking for once."
"Hehe! Hao, you’re so dishonest," Presia teased. "You were working so hard to get everything ready for Yugo!"
"Pre—President! I wasn't working 'hard' or anything! Yugo! You, stop grinning!"
"Hahaha! Sorry, sorry. But thanks, man. I’m glad you lent us a hand, Hao."
"...It’s not like I deserve any thanks," Hao muttered, looking away. "We’re friends, so it’s only natural to help each other out."
As they watched the exchange between the "tsundere" Hao, the cheerfully oblivious Presia, and Yugo, Verda and Peewee realized that when Yugo had sent Ryuga to fetch Anhel, he had also sent word to these two.
Presia ladled the food she had brought into a deep bowl and offered it to Neries with a warm smile.
"Here you go."
"Oh, thank you..."
Neries accepted the bowl, staring blankly at Presia’s guileless expression. The moment the sweet aroma of white stew—thick with chunky vegetables and chicken—hit her nose, her stomach let out a long, pathetic growl.
"Ah...!"
"Hehe! You were hungry, weren't you? I brought plenty for seconds, so please, eat as much as you like."
Presia spoke gently to Neries, whose face had turned scarlet with embarrassment. Nodding shyly under the watchful eyes of her friends, Neries scooped up a carrot and popped it into her mouth. She savored it, chewing silently before swallowing. After a short pause, she whispered her verdict.
"...It’s delicious."
"I'm so glad! I brought bread, too, so help yourself! You two will eat as well, right? Come on, don't be shy!"
"O-Oh... thanks."
"In that case, we’ll take you up on that..."
Presia’s smile widened as she encouraged Verda and Peewee to have some stew. While the two joined Neries and found themselves moved by the impressive flavor, Yugo struck a familiar pose and began reciting a certain philosophy.
"My grandmother once said... illness starts with food. The character for 'eat' is written by combining the characters for 'person' and 'become good.' Well, I'm just quoting someone else, but I truly believe that’s one of the world's great truths..."
"...As usual, I have no idea what you’re talking about," Hao sighed. "But there’s no doubt that neglecting your meals leads to poor health."
At Hao’s words, Neries glanced at the empty bread wrappers scattered across her floor. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten a warm meal.
"It’s a wonderful thing, isn't it?" Presia asked softly. "Eating a meal together with everyone... it’s a lovely kind of magic that makes the food taste even better."
Neries flinched slightly at those words and looked toward Verda and Peewee. Seeing her friends nod back at her, she felt their genuine concern once more. As tears began to well in her eyes, Yugo spoke up.
"Listen, Neries. Earlier, you said you were mocked because you can't fight alone. But the truth is, everyone is the same. I can't do anything by myself either. I can't cook, I can't fix doors, and I can't even maintain my own armor."
"......"
"I know it's frustrating and painful to have people say those things about you. That’s why, if you said you wanted to leave Luminous Academy, I wouldn't think that was strange at all. But even so, I want to hear it from you. What do you want to do, Neries?"
"I..."
It was not a disgrace to be unable to do everything alone, nor was it a disgrace to want to run away from this pain.
Having made that clear, Yugo waited for her to voice her true heart. Watched over by her companions, her frayed spirit finally beginning to settle, Neries faced herself. Large tears began to roll down her cheeks as she looked at him.
"...It’s so frustrating! To be mocked by people who don't know anything, to not be able to say anything back, to end up hiding like this... It’s all so frustrating! It hurts, it hurts...!"
Neries sobbed like a child, her voice thick with the weight of her suppressed emotions. After a long moment, she raised her tear-streaked face and spoke her final conclusion.
"I don't want to run away like this! I want to prove those people who mocked me wrong! I don't want it to end while I'm still this miserable...!"
She forced the words out, her voice cracking but clear. Yugo nodded, a gentle smile crossing his face. He reached out his hand toward her.
"I might not be able to do much on my own, but there’s one thing I can do: lend a hand to someone who’s asking for help. If that’s how you feel, Neries, I’ll help you. As a friend."
"Thank you... so much...!"
Neries reached out and timidly took the offered hand. As Yugo firmly squeezed her hand in return, Neries looked at his smile and felt a small, certain sense of progress. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to smile.