[1 Nov *676, some 5th year classroom somewhere in the Country of Koisan, Miku's POV]
A few hours later, the Principal finally walked into the classroom with sleep-deprivation written all over his face. "I'm sorry for the delay. Now, all of you, please follow me." We were led to the school's western training forest, which is approximately 30 km in size, to begin the exam. Drawing lots, we split into groups of four. Many complained that my team had the unfair advantage of having all the top students. The Principal who was already not in the best mood, was quite unhappy to hear the complaints. "If you want to pass this exam, teamwork is key. However, if you believe that you must rely on someone else to win your battles, that means you are the weakest link of your team. And for that you are undeserving of passing." They said nothing more.
The Principal explained how our mission was to locate and protect a small figurine of the Sacred Beasts hidden in the forest. Throughout the forest were a class of Senior Secondary School students whose objective was to destroy all figurines in our possession. "This test will be 12 hours long. Every single one of your opponents are three or more years older than all of you, which means three plus years of training and experience are under their belts. If you or any of your teammates are too injured to continue, all you have to do is say 'yield' and senior medic students will help transport you back here, however this will also result in disqualification for your entire group. Good luck."
My team of four consisted of Female Classmate B and Male Classmates B and C. With all of four of us being confident in our various skills, it wasn't as difficult as it could have been. With it being our first time against opponents much older than us, there was a bit of anxiousness. However, to be honest, other than finding a figurine, we didn't have much trouble. We had one encounter with two Secondary School Student around the age of 14, which resulted in them being completely KO'ed after only three hours had passed. Unsure of what to do since the Principal never gave instructions for that situation, we carried them back to the gates. Bringing us to our current situation.
"Oh my God of Kuma! None of you even have any serious injuries!" At that moment, another group is carried out of the forest by 2 upperclassmen. "Sir, these students here have yielded." The Principal looks the group of unconscious students then back at us. His face seems a bit disappointed. "It seems that you all are well above the usual standards of your age. You all even managed to beat two of the Secondary School's top students, only sustaining light bruising and scrapes." He scratches his black-haired head and sighs. "You all have passed today. It is a pity that skipping grades is now forbidden by the Council; in my day, you all would already have graduated secondary school and moved on to basic CODE-training." Taking care of our classmates on the side, Naoki-sensei has a great grin on her face as to say that she expected it from our team. It kinda rubs me the wrong way.
As we left the forest, the other three talk about how the other group was completely beat up and how easy the exam was. It made me very annoyed. One of the boys mentioned how we should all celebrate on how we are exempt from the Initiation Trials and how we will be able to move on to Secondary Chibushi Training. The other two nod their heads in excitement and look to me for approval. "Truthfully, I would rather just head home for the day." The mood is instantly killed.
When I get back, the boat is gone and replaced with a note saying, 'We brought your trunk of things to the INN. We have the usual deal for you at Grandma Mari's and we don't know when we'll be back.' I fold the note back up and put it in my pocket. 'Wow, I didn't expect them to take a mission so quickly.' I backtrack to the city and the head up to the 9th district. I pass a lot of old, but charming looking houses that have been probably standing here since the Awajima Island was first populated. 'It kinda reminds me of my hometown...' Most people who live here are lower-class non-Blesseds. I reach my destination after a five minute stroll from the dock. Harbor INN is one of the two eyesores of the 9th district and also my second home. With its customers usually being rowdy drunken sailors who mostly traveled from the Main Continent to this island, its style was rough, and manly. I sigh before walking. 'I hope they comeback soon.'
~~~
Two weeks have passed since they left on their mission and things have slowly become 'normal' again. At the INN, I've been doing my best to not bring attention to myself. However, there was one fight I could not prevent. As previously mentioned, most of Harbor INN's clientele were rowdy drunks. And because so, at the time most people would be sleeping, the noise of 20 men brawling over who knows what would constantly sound from down stairs. After three days of no sleep, I finally asked permission from Randy, the inn's keeper, if I could just 'teach them a quick lesson.' Since I couldn't use my Blessing to injure them, I just scared them enough to never want to drink (during quite hours) ever again. On the weekends, I worked at Come-for-Food for a few hours in exchange for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This was the usual deal I would do when the crew is away on a job. According to Grandma Mari, their leaving was actually very timely. With me as an extra worker, Mai had extra time to train with her friend who quickly healed over the course of few days. As for school, things were much different from usual. After the mock exam, half of my classmates (who were mostly meatheads that only think that they are lacking strength and not brains) decided to take a leave of absence to do some intense training before the Initiation Trials. Though I liked how quite the classroom was, it felt quite odd at break when the usual rambling was replaced by quite murmurs; most of which were about the biggest elephant in the room over these passed two weeks, the absence of the Taitsuke Ryoko.
[Come-for-Food]
It's the weekend at lunchtime and as usual, the restaurant is busy. Miku buses the tables, takes orders and brings out food, then repeats. 'How tiring.' The bell dangling on the door rings and Captain Ken, Akemi, and Issa walk through the door. Miku stops briefly only to give a small surprised, "Ah." The three seat themselves at a booth to not disturb his work. The door rings again and a woman with red pupils and a long white ponytail walks into the door with a bead of sweat dripping down her chin. Spoons and forks drop throughout the restaurant. "Yua-sama!" Grandma Mari rushes out from the kitchen. "Yua-chan! You're back! Oh how long has it been? 6 years maybe? My goodness you look so grown up now!"
Yua hugs Grandma Mari then notices Miku pouring waters for the three sitting in the booth. She walks up to him staring intensely, "Are you little Mai-chan? You're so pretty! ..Wait, no.. Mai has olive-green eyes.. hmm.. That must mean you are Miku!" She pats his head endearingly. Miku swipes her hand off, taken aback at how friendly she is and confused in how she knew his name. The three crew-members let out a small laugh at the situation, not commenting anything else.
"Yua-chan! Order anything you want! It will be on the house today!" Grandma Mari returns to the kitchen with a giddy trot.
"Thank's 'baa-chan!" Yua sits in the booth with the crew. Customers flock to her in excitement. "Yua-sama! Where have you been? I heard you came back briefly 3 years ago, but left just as quickly as you came! Yua..."
'Why is she sitting with them? It seems she's an important figure if they are calling her -sama,' Miku ponders. He places dishes of hot food on empty tables then heads over to them take their orders.
"Are you ready to order?"
Before the crew could respond, Yua starts to berate him, "My goodness! Even after they were gone for 2 weeks, you still act so cold-blooded! Shouldn't you be having a more endearing reunion?!"
'My goodness? That's an odd phrase.' She gives him another intense stare. Intimidated, he gives in and turns to the crew. "Welcome back. May I take your or-" Miku feels a chop to the head that was so fast that even he had no time to react. "OW!"
"Miku, my boy, you are so not cute." She takes Ken's water and downs it. "'Baa-chan! I actually have to get going now! I have all my luggage sitting out in the front and I need to bring it back home before some rotten pirates steal it!" The bell on the door rings and just like that, she's gone.
'How tiring.'
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Side Bickering]
[Yua]: Hi! Yua speaking! As you can probably tell by now, Miku can be a bit cold-hearted at times. But, once you get to know him, you'll see his intentions aren't all that bad! By the way, the next chapter will be in my perspective, so be prepared!
[Taitsuke]: (still locked in chase on the floor beneath the basement.) Did anyone forget that I'm still locked up? I'm the MC aren't I?
[Taiyo]: Taitsuke, don't be so childish. I haven't had an actual appearance since the first chapter.
[Yua]: My goodness, way to kill the mood, you two! And don't get me started on this! I haven't even had an appearance since the prelude!
[T&T]: ...touche...