I've Decided on You

From the perspective of Elise who became Eric

As expected, or should I say, typical for Akira, he ranked first in the Tutorial Dragon battle.

This gives us a chance to compete in a swap match.

"What's a swap match?"

"It's where you challenge one pair from the Dragon class. If you win, you officially get promoted to the Dragon class," I explained simply, as Akira seemed not to understand.

"Do the people in the Dragon class live in fear of being challenged?"

"Yes, they should be arriving any minute."

Five students burst into the classroom, all wearing Dragon class badges.

"So you're Akira, huh?" one of them grasps Akira's hands.

"Please, not me, just not me. If I lose my scholarship, my parents will make me come back home."

"I'm begging you too! If I don't graduate, I'll be ridiculed back in my hometown!"

They were pleading, bowing their heads to Akira and me, ditching their pride.

Among them were members who had relentlessly mocked me in the girls' dorm.

"We're friends, right? Right?"

"I even took you out to play."

The way they suddenly changed their tune was nauseating.

"Hey, Akira..." I began but he stopped me.

"Unfortunately, I've already decided whom to challenge. It doesn’t matter what you guys say."

Everyone sighed in disbelief.

I wondered whom Akira was planning to challenge. This could be a chance for revenge.

Though it might seem mean, I began considering choosing someone from among those who had bullied me.

Who among the members could Akira easily defeat by a wide margin?

I started to weigh their annoyance against their skills, scrutinizing each pair one by one.

"Akira, the opponent I think would be good for you is..."

"No, Elise, let me choose," Akira insisted stubbornly.

"Alright then."

This was Akira's right to decide, earned by him.

I had only helped with support magic.

I let Akira make the choice.

"Have you guys decided who to challenge?" the teacher in charge of the swap match approached Akira.

"Yes, please let me fight against Eric Morris."

"Eric Morris!? Isn’t he the top student?"

"I have a very important reason I need to face him."

What? His unexpected choice left me truly shocked.

But perhaps it was a good opportunity.

I too had been thinking that someday, I would have to settle things with Elise.