Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Kurisu

  It was now time for lunch break.

  Yukari went to go meet with Seigo.

  The moment she saw the handsome boy smile and greet her, all the complex emotions within her seemed to dissipate. She felt as if she had come to a sudden realization.

  'I really do love him…' She reaffirmed her own feelings.

  She then felt that all her previous considerations and confusion had been unnecessary. She then extrapolated that perhaps Chiaki's true intentions were to make her feel distant from Seigo, which made her feel that she had been tricked.

  While all these thoughts flashed through her mind, Yukari smiled and greeted him back normally.

  The two of them then went to a quiet corner in the school and sat down to eat together.

  "What would you like to discuss with me?"

  "It's like this. I'm intending to establish a Spiritual Ability user team, and I would like to invite you to join me."

  "A Spiritual Ability user team?" Yukari blinked her eyes in surprise.

  "Yes. I have a personal goal that I want to try aiming for, and you would need to battle. There's a certain degree of risk involved…"

  Seiji had a serious expression as he explained the situation.

  Yukari silently listened to his explanation as something flashed in her eyes.

  "So, you're basically saying that if I decide to join you, I'll have to battle under your command. And in exchange, you'll do your best to ensure my safety and help me to become stronger, is this correct?"

  "That's right."

  "Battling… will I need to kill others?" Yukari looked directly at him.

  Seiji fell silent for a moment.

  "Yes, it's possible. I can only say that it will depend on the situation," Seiji responded calmly.

  "What kind of situations?"

  "Such as protecting yourself and your companions… it might be necessary to take such a drastic measure. Or, if there's an enemy who wants to kill you, you must have the resolve to kill your enemy as well in order not to come to any harm."

  "So, you're saying that I should treat my own and my companions' safety as the number one priority?"

  "Yes, that's the most important thing."

  Several seconds of silence fell between them.

  "Do you have any other questions for me?" Seiji asked.

  "Yes." Yukari looked directly at him. "Seigo… Seiji, have you ever killed anyone before?"

  "I have," Seiji answered honestly.

  Yukari discovered that she didn't particularly feel anything about his response at all.

  There was no feeling of disgust or repulsion, nor were her feelings for him shaken. It was as if she was hearing something perfectly normal.

  "Do you regret killing?" She continued asking.

  "I don't."

  "How come?"

  "Because the situation at that time was just like what I just mentioned… I had to resolve myself for the sake of me and my companions." Something flashed in Seiji's eyes.

  They fell silent yet again.

  "This team of mine isn't one that has the intention of going around and killing others. It's just that it's impossible to guarantee killing others will be avoidable," Seiji told her seriously.

  "I hope that every member of my team can place themselves and their companions as the top priority. I don't wish to see anyone come to unnecessary harm for caring about the enemy. Even if you don't join my team, Yukari, I hope that you can remember… if you ever meet a Spiritual Ability user that intends to harm you, there's no need to hold back or worry about any consequences. Just use your full power to defeat the enemy and protect yourself."

  Seiji's reminder contained deep concern for her.

  The purple-haired girl now understood.

  She was now certain that all her previous worries had been completely for nothing!

  Who cared if he had killed someone in the past… Seigo Harano… Seiji Haruta was simply Seiji Haruta. This small fact didn't change anything.

  Chiaki who was constantly by his side must have seen him quite clearly for what he was like. She made her decision without any unnecessary quandaries.

  As for herself… although she was somewhat misguided by Chiaki, the foundational reason was still because she hadn't seen Seiji clearly for who he was. That was why she had been so lost.

  Yukari was frustrated, and even embarrassed with herself.

  He was her hero and yet she actually suspected his character.

  "That's all I wish to say. I hope that you can consider joining me and give me your answer by Saturday." Seiji smiled. "Although I hope that you'll join me, even if you refuse, that won't change anything about our relationship. You can still ask me for my help with anything that you encounter."

  "That… would be too shameless of me," Yukari said in a soft voice.

  "Eh?"

  "You're willing to help me and risk your life to save me, yet I'm unwilling to help you? Wouldn't that be quite shameless of me?"

  Seiji didn't know how to respond to this.

  "I won't allow myself to be someone like that, which is why I agree to join you… no, I want to join you!" Yukari stated seriously. "Please allow me to join your team, Seiji."

  "You don't have to tell me your answer so quickly… You should consider things properly first—"

  "Even if I consider things, my response will still be the same." The purple-haired girl now had a resolute expression. "I wish to truly become your companion and become stronger so that I can fight for you!"

  A hero saving a princess… that was how the classical tale went, but stories didn't need to always be this way.

  A princess could help the hero and even protect the hero as well, right?

  "Yukari…" Seiji was quite moved by her heartfelt intentions. "Thank you," he said with great sincerity.

  Chiaki pouted and acted disinterested upon learning that Yukari Asamiya had been willing to join Seiji's team.

  "Why do you have such an expression?"

  "I'm a little bored at how quickly and easily a certain 'Princess' came to her decision. Don't mind me."

  Seiji was left speechless.

  Something flashed in Mika's eyes when she heard the same thing from Seiji. She seemed to be thinking about something.

  Next, Seiji intended to invite Hoshi to his team.

  Seiji called Hoshi and invited him to meet up after classes were over. Hoshi was incredibly delighted to receive an invitation to meet up from his senpai.

  As for whether or not he would succeed in inviting Hoshi to his team, it was basically a predictable… no, a foregone conclusion.

  "I'll be more than happy to!"

  Hoshi's passionate response upon hearing this on the school rooftop was just like as if he was agreeing to go out with someone after a love confession.

  Hoshi replied after only hearing one sentence. He didn't even have to think for even one second.

  Although Seiji expected this outcome, it was still rather… Seiji's cheeks twitched slightly.

  "Thank you for believing in me so much, but shouldn't you at least give me a chance to finish telling you what it's about?"

  "There's no need. No matter what Senpai is fighting for, or whom you're fighting, I'll be more than happy to help you and be by your side, Senpai!" Hoshi's eyes were sparkling as he clenched his fist.

  This was almost just like a scene from a hot-blooded shonen manga—one which certain female audiences would greatly enjoy reading.

  "Thank you… but just for clarity, I feel that I should still explain things to you."

  Seiji began explaining the situation to Hoshi.

  Hoshi silently finished listening to what Seiji had to say.

  "I'll be more than happy to join you!" Hoshi responded yet again. This time, Hoshi had more resolution as well.

  "Won't you consider things for a little longer? This isn't something similar to joining the dating sim creation team."

  "There's no need. As I said earlier, I'd like to be by Senpai's side…"

  "Stop! I understand now. Please, there's no need to repeat such words."

  Listening to Hoshi speak about him like this one time was whatever, but twice was slightly unbearable.

  "Welcome to the team, Hoshi," Seiji spoke sincerely as he looked at Hoshi.

  Hoshi also looked directly at him and revealed a dazzling smile.

  Meanwhile, Mika was meeting with Yukari.

  "I would like to know what you think about Seigo… Asamiya-san."

  "Ah, excellent. I also want to know what you think about him as well, Uehara-san." The purple-haired girl smiled at the double pigtailed girl. "Let's have a good discussion."