Episode 38: Friends and love

Months had passed and The Team had gotten used to living in the capital. Despite not only having to go to school, but also having to help fight the invading Horde, their days had improved. The discriminatory treatment had decreased, but seeing The Team together was still a spectacle to the other students. When Taro would be dragged to train with fancy boy, Ari and Sidra would often follow along, and Nagye and Shizuka would head to the library. Such was the case now, in which they were walking down a hallway headed to train

fancy boy: so the sticks can turn hard or flexible if you pour mana on it? where did you even find such items?, it’s the first time I hear about them, and that's an impressive feat

Taro: we find in forest of Naro, tree monster

Ari: That thing was very hard, our best attacks didn’t make a dent, remember?

Sidra: yeah, and those same sticks were once vines that tried to slam us against the floor

priest guy: Sidra? is that you? long time no see!, what are you doing?, the priest classes are the other way

Sidra: And you would be…? oh, I remember now. you are mistaken however, I don’t go to those lectures, because I’m not a priestess

priest guy: impossible! You are the best priestess I know!, is this a joke? come with me, we’re in time for the next class

Sidra: I am not joking. if you’d excuse me, I have places to be

Ari and Taro: (wait, she’s not a priestess anymore?!)

priest guy glared at Taro, thinking he was to blame somehow, then fancy boy glared back, and priest guy just backed off and walked away

fancy boy: how dare that wimp lay his eyes that way on my best friend?, is he strong to have such gall? if so, I’d like to duel him

Taro: he just priest, never like me (when did he decide I was his best friend though?)

Sidra: I remember one time he tried talking to me, he was badmouthing Transported people, supposedly, they are “not even that strong to be real heroes”, and they also exposed his father when he charged extra at his inn

Taro: (so it wasn’t just against me, he was against all Transported, but for some reason, he wasn’t a jerk to Shizuka, of course he wasn’t… wait, his father has an inn? hmmm)

archer girl: prince! I can’t believe you still allow these vagrants to hang around you, I can’t tolerate it anymore!

fancy boy: I won't let you talk bad about my friend Taro and his Wives!, take your words back, uhh, I feel like I’ve seen you before, what was your name again?

Angea: its Angea!,, how could you forget? We've been in the same class since childhood! Aren't I more of a friend to you than them?

fancy boy: ohh yes, Angea! of course… but I have never seen you training, do you even?

Angea: I'm always training!, I’m the best archer in my class!

fancy boy: oh yeah?, well you have never trained with me, which means: you never train for real!, and neither are you a friend of mine!

Angea: I’ve trained for years to finally stand beside you, and this is how I am treated?, this must be because the vagrants contaminated your senses!

fancy boy: that’s it!, no one shall slander my best friend and his Wives, we must duel immediately!

Ari: (this guy keeps saying “Taro’s wives”. Do I really look like that?, ehehe...)

Sidra: We've been training together for a while now; aren’t we friends too?

fancy boy: I correct myself, my best friend Taro and his Wives, who are also my friends!

They all went to the arenas, where the usual target practice teacher was already stationed, knowing the third prince would be either training or dueling again. The duel started immediately, and while the two nobles battled passionately, The Team went to get their weapons from their lockers. Both Taro and Sidra’s sticks had grown tiny leaf sprouts, like if the dead stick was coming back alive

Taro: uhh, this, good or bad?

Sidra: Perhaps they like being fed mana all the time? How cute.

Ari: let’s hope they don’t grow into tree monsters

fancy boy: that was absolutely amazing! I see your seriousness; you are worthy of joining my heroic party!

Angea: I’ve.. been waiting for this moment for so long!, prince, I… have something to tell you!, but I would like it to be private, see me at the rooftop before the sun sets, I’ll be waiting

fancy boy: I give my word that I will be there, friend!

Angea: As for you vagrants, I still don't trust you!

fancy boy: do not slander my friends just because you just became my friend!

Angea: m-my apologies, well then, I must run!

teacher: young lord, you too must prepare, you wouldn’t want to meet her sweaty and unkept

fancy boy: that's right, I have been studying manners, I must be presentable!. it pains me, but we will continue our training tomorrow, until then friends!

Taro: (are nobles always this weird?)

after fancy boy left the scene, the teacher approached Taro and the girls, for some reason he was trying to contain himself from sniffling

teacher: I must express my gratitude towards you all. the young lord has always had trouble making friends, and now, he has so many, and the lady is probably gonna confess her love to him. This would not be possible without you; I sincerely thank you. despite my status, I had to let you all know, one never knows when it will be the last chance to say something from the bottom of one’s heart, that is all, I’ll see you tomorrow

The teacher left, but his words lingered in the Team’s mind. shortly after, Shizuka and Nagye appeared, holding hands

Sidra: most adorable ohohoho

Shizuka: I know right? ohohoho. we have to walk like this so the rumors don't get crazy

Nagye: wh-where’s the crazy guy?

Ari: he has some romantic matters to attend to, some annoying girl wants to see him on the rooftop. Now that I think about it, they are kinda built for each other, they’re a little… yeah

Shizuka: a confession?, I want to see!

Sidra: denied, grant them privacy

Shizuka: aww too bad, hmm, but isn’t it kind of a waste? she should have waited for the tournament festival that's coming soon, it would make it more romantic hehe

Nagye: t-true, I’ve read romance books that have that. oh! s-speaking of books, I finally found what I was looking for, its uhh– never mind

Shizuka: shh it’ll be a surprise hehe. I also found what I was looking for, books on the Transported

Taro: oh? what find?

Shizuka: Apparently the Transported sometimes appear after huge earthquakes, they can become very powerful, especially if they lost their memories, there’s a lot of them that have become heroes, but sometimes they take the path of evil and they become a huge problem. oh, you know what else appears after earthquakes?, The Horde, don't you think it's all connected?

Taro: -my last memory of before being transported is me being trapped at my job during a huge earthquake, which means…-

Shizuka: -the earthquakes are connected between worlds? -

Ari: Can you guys at least translate what you’re saying? I feel left out when you do that

Shizuka: if you say “-I love you-”, I will hehehe

Ari: huh? What does that mean? What are you trying to make me say?

Shizuka: oh don’t worry about it, it's nothing bad hehehe, right Taro, don't you wanna hear her say that too?

Taro: w-why, ask me that? (can’t deny I’m interested though)

Nagye: -I lo-ob yu- d-did I say it right?

Shizuka: ooh!, say that again!, but this time add my name at the end ehe ehehe

Sidra: you sound suspiciously excited, you little imp

Nagye: -i lob yu uhh… Taro- (I said it! I really said it!!)

Shizuka: huh?, Taro how could you?! you stole it from me!

Sidra: -I lob yu Shizuka, Taro, Ari, Nagye-, one has to speak from the bottom of their heart before it’s too late, ohohoho

Ari: what did she say? Wait, how do you say it again?

Taro: (this is too much for me, I’m gonna overload!)