/Komachi's perspective/
"Ah... my head hurts."
I wash my face and comb my hair.
It seems that I'll be going into the dungeon this afternoon.
"What's that? Isn't it too selfish?" I thought.
However, when I saw Amachi-senpai's face, which was a little down, I honestly felt a little complex.
"Um... yeah," I said, holding my head. I remember talking badly about Amachi-senpai behind his back with Ayaka-senpai yesterday.
"Well, it's the truth, so..." I should have only said the truth.
Ayaka-senpai also seemed a little down.
"What should we do?" Those two seemed particularly awkward around each other.
I hesitated to talk to Amachi-senpai like before.
"Why did I avoid him?" I was also tired of Senpai's inability to read the room.
He's too focused on his own things and nobody can catch up to where he is.
"He's such a selfish idiot. But more than that, saying things that make light of life... that's not right. Even if it's a lie, it's not funny. I've never heard anything funny from him... but..."
But I don't really dislike him.
I let out a big sigh.
"Oh, Homura-san. It's you. You let out a big sigh," said Maria-senpai.
"Oh, Maria-senpai. Hello," I replied.
After exchanging that kind of greeting, I slipped past her.
"In the end, Homura-san, are you going to leave the party?" she asked from behind.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, is it okay if you leave the party like this?"
I turned around and looked at her beautiful face.
"Why would you say that?"
"Well, that's just the feeling I got," she said.
I furrowed my brow. It felt like her usual mean-spirited atmosphere was hanging around her.
"Is this another one of your provocations?"
"Yes, that's right. Well, what will you do?" she asked.
"...There's no way I'm leaving the party!"
When Maria-senpai gave a small smile and said, "Is that so? Well then, good day to you. I hope you get some good rest today. Your face looks tired," she made a parting shot and turned her back on me.
She was just coming to provoke me like always.
"Maria-senpai, what's so great about that person?" I asked.
"Who do you mean?" she replied.
"Amachi-senpai. Please don't play dumb."
"Oh, Amachi-san? What's so great about him? He's cool. He's a bit clumsy, but that's also a good thing."
"What? Where?"
They say love is blind, but I think this person's eyes are clouded. She's completely oblivious.
"Maria-senpai, you seem like a high and mighty lady. I don't understand what attracted you to such a weirdo."
There are handsome guys all over the place. I think he's talented, but I don't understand why she's so fixated on him.
"Homura-san, it's because you don't know Amachi-san."
"What?"
I know him. He's acting suspicious like Tom, doing shady things behind the scenes. I don't know anything more than that. But maybe he's hiding something.
"Amachi-san... he's a bit clumsy, but he's the only star for me," Maria-senpai said.
"That's not an answer."
"He's my guiding light. He's my beacon of hope. He's a fleeting glimmer that illuminates the darkness. And the faint light he emits will someday become the hope of many people. I have a feeling about that. I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of that light and I am but a bug lured by it."
She smiled thinly as if recalling something.
It's too metaphorical and makes no sense. And "beacon of hope" is too much.
I didn't understand half of what she was saying.
"..."
I couldn't say anything in response.
"Are you also one of those who have been touched by his light?"
"I don't really understand."
"You understand perfectly well," Maria-senpai said quietly, smiling with her eyes closed.
"Homura-san, if you're too relaxed, Amachi-san won't pay attention to you anymore. You'll quickly fall behind his speed. Right now, he's stopping and matching our pace. But from now on, Amachi-san won't wait for you. He won't stop. He's staring off into the distance. I want to support him in his precarious state, correct his mistaken thoughts, and stay by his side. What will you do?"
"......"
"Silence is golden. It's not like telling me will change anything. It's better if you tell him yourself."
I don't know what this person is trying to tell me.
Without being told, I have already decided to follow that weirdo. It's because he saved me that day, and I made up my mind to do so again when I met him.
.
.
.
I asked Maria to take care of Komachi and headed towards Chiaki. I'll do something about her situation. It's a shame, but I may not be able to force her to stay if we're not compatible. I walked towards her small back, and she seemed to notice my presence.
"What do you want?"
Chiaki sharpened her voice.
"Is it okay if I sit next to you?"
"Hmm."
She moved her chin a little, as if to allow me to sit.
"Yesterday, my perspective was narrow. I'm sorry. I apologize."
"Hmm."
She responded in a cold tone. She must have been really unhappy.
"I'm weak."
"Maybe."
"Yeah. That's right. I'm useless alone."
I scratched my cheek and laughed wryly.
"That's right. You're a useless guy. Your way of thinking is the worst. You can't get along with Amachi-kun. Our values don't match. I don't understand you."
Defeated, Chiaki bit her lip and lowered her head.
"Values, huh. Well, maybe."
Judging from her words and attitude, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before she left my party.
"..."
"If I keep going like this, I'll probably lose soon. No, there's a high probability of dying."
Sighing heavily, Chiaki stood up.
"Are you talking about that again? I don't know what you're going to lose to. Whatever. Alright, alright, I got it. Do whatever you want and die. I hate your way of thinking. I don't like your values. Goodbye."
"Hold on. The conversation isn't over yet."
"What? Are you going to die soon?"
"I can't deal with a negative person who wants to die all the time. It's okay to be trapped in meaningless values. Fine, fine. You're so cool. You're so cool."
Chiaki clenched her fists until they turned white.
"I'm going to change the end of this world. That's something I can do, something I want to do."
"What? Don't talk to me."
You don't even try to take action.
"I don't have anywhere else to go except for this school."
I spoke to her small back.
Moridori-san was with me, but if I graduate from this school, I'll be separated from her too.
"I thought that people ultimately live alone."
That's how my life was. That's how everyone else lived. I never had any doubts about it. But maybe there's no one who lives alone.
"The world is in crisis. Maybe the worst outcome won't happen, but there are undoubtedly beings that need to be overcome. I will definitely do something about it. That's why I exist in this world. I need to become stronger to save this world, and to do so, I need strong allies."
"Is this just your delusion? Stop talking to me."
"I am weak."
"Here we go again. Don't talk to me."
What Maria told me, my weakness. Let me ask her for help. However, this is something that truly risks my life. It is selfish of me. If she refuses, that's fine. She has the freedom to do so. But I don't want to let her go here. So, this is a gamble.
"I want you to help me. For me and for this world. It's selfish, so if you don't want to, you can refuse... Will you fight with me, risking our lives? I'll definitely protect you. But I'm weak, so will you walk with me?"
I bowed deeply.
"Huh?"
"I have my limits alone. That's predictable. I'm just a small fry. It might still be manageable now. Or rather, it's not going well at all... Ayaka, Chiaki. I need you. To live."
"Oh, I see."
Chiaki stopped and turned her back to walk alone.
.
.
.
I decided to tell only what I wanted to Chiaki and leave the rest up to her. It's been a struggle with training. I reflected on myself for not being able to completely get rid of the game mentality. Even if I try to push myself beyond my limits as long as I have time, it would still be meaningless.
I was feeling frustrated. My greatest concern in the Megashuva story is the strongest enemy. The strongest enemy in Megashuva is the remaining three knights. The Strife of Discord, Manic Strife. The more I train my party members, the more difficult this becomes. If I neglect the training of my party members, then the areas of Ryo Finis and Kakuha Aus become the most troublesome and unbeatable. Although it's a concern that they appear simultaneously in this world, to achieve Kazane and the heroine's happy ending...
"No matter which way I look at it, I'm screwed..."
As I looked up at the sky by myself, I grinned.
"Senpai."
"Yeah, Komachi?"
She took a step forward, almost to my chest, and looked up at me with upturned eyes.
"It's getting weird. I'm not leaving the party! Even if Maria-senpai says something, I haven't said anything! That's what it is!"
"Okay..."
"Senpai! You're not cool at all, not even a little bit, not even as much as a water flea, so don't get the wrong idea!"
"What the heck, all of a sudden? And you're being mean too..."
"That's right! Don't think it's okay to die! You idiot! And don't get fooled by some weird girl... Alright?"
"Huh? Ah, okay."
She suddenly returned to her usual self.
"Alright! Yeah!"
Komachi had a look of relief on her face.
"Hey, aren't you hungry? We're training this afternoon, right? You have to eat properly!"
Back to her usual self, Komachi pulled on my sleeve.