Mina's POV:
What's gotten into Hotaru-san?
Ever since he went to help the harvesters in the fields, he's been oddly quiet.
I hope they didn't work him TOO hard!
He's a good kid, I think. Just a bit sheltered. Which may be for his own good…
Am I making excuses for my actions?
Maybe. I could be completely at fault, for hiding so much from him. It's just that Noriko-san gave off a completely different vibe than him: like someone who was practically born to fight, and become a hero.
Unlike Hotaru-san…
Who wishes to become a warrior, but seems to lack the true spirit of one.
Is that a mean thing to say?
I just don't want him to get hurt, or killed, by trying to act tougher than he really is.
However, if there was a choice between death and being forced to live a life like mine, I wonder if maybe it would be more merciful to go with the former...
But either way, he'll have to learn soon—