"Arata, are you here?" The voice of Pres. Mayumi called out to me.
"Yes. I'm here." I smiled as I peeked out from the corner. "Can I help you?"
"I'm here to ask you about something." She said and I smiled.
"I'm coming." I answered.
It's been a month since my birthday, Spiro has become an official member of the Akatsuki family. Mom and Dad insisted on adopting him and keeping him with them at home but I didn't allow them keep him home. Spiro is now at the school, Will and the others are taking turns watching him. I've been busy helping the others.
Mani, Artz, Rum, Ryl and Dino have been training the newly enrolled Braves at school. And, about three days ago or so, four more Crests came to this world. Topaz, Troz, and Chalcedony, Dony, Garnet, Arnie, and Olivine, Oliver.
Oliver apparently wants to subdue Pierrot the most as he and Pierrot came from the same class. Each of them share the same characteristics as the mineral they were classed after.
With them here that makes nine Crests, the ones missing are only three more according to Dino. I wonder what's missing? I can't quite remember what I'm waiting for.
"Argent, you okay?" Angie asked me and I simply smiled.
"I'm fine. I'm just worried, it's been a while since there was any disturbances. I'm wondering what's happening." I told her.
"Yeah. It's been a bit odd." Will answered as he patted my head. "Be good, we'll be going out for patrol, stay here and behave."
"I will." I answered.
In the dining hall Hinako called me over, she was sitting with a group of people I wasn't familiar with. Could they be new students?
"Hinako, how have you been?" I smiled as we joined her.
"I've been fine..." She said and gazed down a bit embarrassed.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Oh, if it isn't Arata." Mao said as he smiled.
"Mao, hey there." I smiled.
"Hmmm? This is a strange group." Touya who was with him said.
"Hinako just called me over." I answered and recalled. "Hinako, what was it you were saying?"
"Arata... these girls have something to ask you. " She said.
I turn my attention to the seven girls, one had brown hair cut in a short bob, her eyes were black like coal, another with long pink hair had eyes that were bright red like rubies, another with curly brown hair had eyes with golden brown hue. Another girl had blue eyes with green hair, another with black hair with purple eyes, another silver hair with purple eyes and the last one had golden hair with emerald eyes.
"Um... my name is Himawari, umm... I have a question about Alistar-senpai!" The brown haired girl said.
"I'm Reina, I have a question about Zhen." The pink haired girl said.
"I'm Shinono, um... I have something to ask about... Alexis-senpai." The curly haired girl said.
"I'm Lotte, I have a question about Reinhardt." The green haired girl stated.
"M...My name is Kaye... Um, I have a question... about Ethan..." The purple haired girl said.
"I'm Lalina, I have a question about Andrew-senpai." The silver haired girl said.
"And I'm Felalona, I have question about Liam." The golden haired girl said.
"What about them?" I asked.
"Are they dating anyone?" Lalina asked.
"Hmmm... I don't think they are." I answered as I tried to recall. I then remember something Reinhardt told me once. "I think they said they wouldn't date anyone for a while..."
"Um... can you tell us why?" Kaye asked.
"Hmmm... why they wouldn't date anyone?" I pondered for a while.
"I can answer that for you." Hiro said as he sat with us.
"Really?" I asked. "Can you answer?"
"They told me this a while back. 'We have something to focus on at the moment' was what they told me." Hiro stated. "Why do you girls wanna know?"
"Actually... these girls approached me because they have feelings them." Hinako said.
----
"You girls like Reinhardt and the others?" Arata asked.
"Yes... we really like them." Lotte answered.
"Can you tell us what their type is? We heard that you told Hinako what William liked, can you tell us what they like?" Reina asked.
"Hmmm... if I recall properly..." Arata tried to recall.
At that moment, Mayumi, Moyu, Mao, Touya, Yuuki Hayato and Hiro were present at the table with them.
"From Liam, he said he liked someone he could pamper and protect. For Alistar, some he could cuddle with and be natural with. For Alexis, someone who was like a ray of sunshine..." Arata enumerated. "For Reinhardt... someone smaller than him with a bright smile, for Zhen, he likes someone who can be childish and mature at the same time, soneone he could fill with his adoration. Andrew said he liked someone who could be his strength in his weakest times and Ethan said he wanted someone to remind him constantly that he has someone waiting for him."
At that one moment, Mayumi, Touya, Mao, Hayato, Yuuki, Hiro and Moyu shared the same thought.
'The one they like the most is Arata.' Was what flashed in their heads.
"What about now? Do they like someone?" Shinono asked.
"Hmm... I don't know if Will or any of the Swords do..." Arata thought for a bit.
"Have what?" Reinhardt's arm hugged Arata from behind.
"Oh, Rein, I thought you were on patrol." Arata greeted.
"We were, but we all got hungry and came back." Reinhardt nodded to the others who came to join them at the table.
"Welcome back." Arata greeted them with a smile.
"I'm back." Ethan patted his head.
"Were you good while we were away?" Andrew asked him and he nodded.
"We were talking about your preferences and types." Arata stated and their eyes fell on the eight girls.
"Umm..." The girls were speechless.
Hinako introduced them to Will and the team and Mao and the others received glares from Will and the rest of the Swords.
"Um... do you have anyone you like?" Felalona asked them.
"Someone we like?" The eight looked at each other and smiled. "We do."
When they answered that even Arata was taken by surprise. How come he never about the fact that Will and the others liking someone. But before he could ask, Reina asked.
"Can we ask what kind of person they are?" Reina asked.
"Hmm... let's see... the person I like is... reckless." Will said.
"Headstrong and stubborn to a fault." Liam added.
"Always running off before we can stop them." Alistar added.
"Ready to risk their own safety for others." Alexis added.
"Without thinking about what may happen to them." Reinhardt added.
"And ready to risk their life for someone they just met." Zhen added.
"Someone who was the light of salvation for us." Andrew stated.
"And someone who pulled us out from the darkness we were trapped in and brought us into the light." Ethan finished.
"The person we like, is someone like a butterfly with glass wings. Someone close to us but we can never seem to touch." They stated. "Someone who gave us hope."
At that moment, Arata couldn't help but be grateful for whoever it was. He didn't know that the one they were referring to was him. That he was their light of hope and the one who offered them his hand when they were in the darkness. The one who became their torch that burned away the darkness for them.