I wrote the letter and sent it home. Everything I wanted to say was in it. I couldn’t think of anything else to put in there. Once I was done, I felt like a weight had lifted from my shoulders.
“They’ll probably just burn it,” I muttered.
I walked the streets of Luqvist, cringing a little to imagine it. I thought of my father and his ballooned sense of pride. I could see his face, red with rage, as he tore up my letter and threw it in the fireplace. I was well aware that what I’d written could easily bring about such a reaction, but I’d sent the letter anyway.
I thought that I had grown used to the sights and sounds of Luqvist but realized now that it had changed since my fight against Mina.
“Was it always so lively?” I mused.
I had spent so much time walking around with my eyes on the ground, avoiding crowded places, that I’d never really noticed it. The city was bright, energetic, and brimming with life. It was like the scenery had changed from black and white to color. I’d changed so much that the whole world seemed to have changed around me. I almost couldn’t believe it.
“I feel like I can barely keep up with how much everything is changing,” I said to myself.
“Hey, Nack. What’s up? You look lost in your own thoughts.”
“What?”
The voice came from behind me. I turned to find Kyo standing there with some fruit in hand. He took a bite out of one, then threw me another as he walked over. I panicked to make sure I didn’t drop it, then tilted my head, confused.
“What’s with the fruit, Kyo?” I asked.
“I got them from the place I work at. Figured I’d give you one.”
“Thank you.”
I took a bite and walked side by side with Kyo. My mouth filled with a pleasant sweetness and acidity.
“How’s things recently?” asked Kyo.
“Huh?”
“I’m asking if anything’s changed since your battle.”
Changes, huh . . .
“I’ve noticed way more people looking at me,” I said.
It didn’t matter if it was in the streets or at school—wherever I went, I felt somebody’s eyes on me. Kyo simply nodded.
“Well, yeah, that’s kind of unavoidable. Even now it’s like you’re the center of attention.”
That’s because we’re walking together, Kyo.
To any ordinary passerby, the sight of a human and a beastkin together was totally unusual.
“Yeah, but I’m not so cold-hearted that I’ll cut things off with you just because you’re drawing all of his attention,” I joked.
Kyo grinned and roughly patted me on the head.
“Look at you,” he said, “all grown-up and making jokes all of a sudden!”
“Hey! Knock it off!”
His “pats” were more like slaps, realistically, but in their own way they were proof of Kyo’s warmth. It reminded me of how Usato used to do pretty much the same thing.
“I wonder what Usato is up to?” I said, looking up at the sky while I neatened my hair.
He was my savior, so to speak, and he’d left Luqvist three days ago. I knew that he was headed for Samariarl, but I wondered how far along he was.
“Aw, what’s the matter? All lonely and lost now that Usato’s gone?”
“No! Not in the slightest,” I said, turning away from Kyo’s teasing grin.
Kyo was a kind and friendly guy, but he was very fond of goofing around and teasing too.
I don’t have any human friends, so just having someone to talk to makes me unbelievably happy . . . Ugh, just thinking about how few friends I had makes me so sad.
“I’ve been thinking that I’ll leave pretty soon,” I said.
“Already?”
“Yeah. To be honest—and it might just be me—I don’t feel comfortable here anymore.”
There was all the attention I was getting, for one thing, but it also felt like people’s impression of me had changed. It was like all my classmates and teachers weren’t sure how to approach me. At yesterday’s practical magic lesson, everyone was so afraid of pairing up with me that it only left me feeling hurt. I understood how Usato must have felt about me being so scared of him. Because of all of that, I’d been preparing so that I could leave Luqvist within the week.
“That said, all I really needed to do before leaving was inform my family.”
And so, I’d written a letter, the contents of which were inflammatory, as far as my family would be concerned. Kyo, however, already knew I intended to leave, so he followed my gaze to the sky and let out a sigh.
“We sure are going to be lone—” he started before quickly going silent.
“Were you just about to say lonely?”
“Heck no! I’m just going to miss having a convenient way to waste some time, that’s all.”
I laughed.
“That’s the same thing!” I said.
“What?! It’s not the same at all!”
Seeing Kyo like that—desperately scrambling for excuses—made me happy. I really felt fulfilled.
“The way you make fun of people, it’s just like Usato,” said Kyo.
“Seriously?!”
“You’re happy?! That wasn’t a compliment, you know!”
I guess I’d gotten overly excited because he said we were alike. Kyo let out a frustrated sigh and scratched his head.
“Then again, the way you can flip a downer mood on its head and clear the air . . . you really have been influenced by Usato.”
“Well, we’re teacher and student, after all.”
“Just don’t get too influenced, okay? However you choose to live your life, you’ll never be him. You have to be you.”
“Don’t worry about that,” I replied with a shy chuckle. “I don’t want to be Usato, I just want to be able to stand alongside him as an equal. That’s why I want to leave Luqvist and undertake true rescue team training.”
“Hmph. Well, at least you get it,” said Kyo.
I suddenly realized that I’d been worrying Kyo without even knowing. I felt a little bad about it as I ate the last of my fruit.
“So, when are you leaving?” he asked.
“If possible, within the week,” I replied.
“A bit quick, no?”
“I just figure it’s best to strike while the iron is hot. I’ve made up my mind, so it’s time to go. That’s why I’m going to visit the headmistress today and tell her that I’m leaving.”
Kyo couldn’t believe it at first, but he turned to me with a grin.
“Then come over tonight, okay? Me and sis will help you celebrate your new journey.”
The moment he spoke the words, I lost all of mine. My heart filled with a feeling I simply couldn’t put into words. I’d never, ever had anyone to celebrate my achievements with and Kyo’s act of kindness made me happier than I’d ever been.
“I’ll be there! I can’t wait!” I said.
“That’s the spirit. Get your hopes nice and high. Though uh . . . Kiriha is going to be doing all the cooking.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at Kyo’s bashful confession.
“Alright, well, I better be getting home,” said Kyo. “So, I guess it’s so long for now.”
“I guess so.”
It was still midday and I’m sure he had things to do. I also had the headmistress to talk to.
“You’re heading off to see the headmistress, I assume?” asked Kyo.
“Yep. I mean, it might take a little while . . .”
“Well, we don’t mind if you show up late, okay? Good luck, Nack.”
Kyo waved goodbye and walked down an alleyway with his fruit. I’d put on a brave front for him, but actually, I was really nervous about meeting with the headmistress. She was the most powerful person in the whole city.
“But I won’t get anywhere if I don’t take a step forward,” I murmured.
That’s what the old me did—he just accepted the situation and did nothing about it. But thanks to my five days of training with Usato, I could stand on my own two feet and walk my own path.
“Alright, let’s do this,” I said, cheering myself on.
I was nervous about meeting the headmistress. I was worried about what she would say, but I would take it all on the chin and keep on moving. If the students at school knew that I was leaving, I bet they wouldn’t even believe it. After all, Luqvist was the best place in the entire world for learning magic. And if I’d been really serious about studying and learning my healing magic when I first got here, perhaps I’d never have even considered the idea of leaving.
But it wasn’t magic that I wanted to learn anymore.
If I was going to become even half the man that Usato was, then I needed to go to Llinger Kingdom.
“I need to join the rescue team.”