"Kurihara"
Callum appear from one of the bushes finding Serina walking in a certain direction, away from the battle that is happening behind them.
"..."
"...Kurihara?"
Readjusting his hold on Aerina, Callum pat Serina's arm with one of his hand, while his forearm supported Aerina's back.
"Mav--Callum..."
"Yes?"
"...I....don't know what to do anymore"
____________
"..."
"..."
Serina turned to look at him and waited for something to come out of his mouth.
"..."
But nothing did.
"..."
She continues to stare at him.
Something about a hooded figure with a shadow cast over his face seems to bring out certain thoughts in her head.
"..I wonder..what it's like, not having your face seen?"
"?"
Serina took a step forward and in a quick movement, she has already has his face in her grasp.
"Is it...fun? Having people to guess what it's like....underneath?"
"?"
"No one can tell what you look like, and no one can tell what expression you're making"
The thought seems amusing, keeping people guessing what you're thinking with your face.
"Hehehe, is it fun?"
"...." Callum didn't reply as he became worried of the state Serina is in, looking at him with her eyes that seem empty peering into his.
Eyes that is lacking the usual light, just dim and eerie.
"Is it fun?"
___________
(What's happening?)
Kyle went off the rail or something in his eyes as he began to lash out at those around him, even seeing people as dangerous.
Shin's arrival makes the situation worse and he runs for it throwing the responsibility to him right then and there.
Now Serina is asking him about his hood and how fun he is having with people.
(Actually, now that I think about it Aerina hasn't woken up yet)
He felt as if everything was falling apart faster than he could take care of.
"...."
"Tell me...." said Serina leaning forward so close that he could see her eyes.
"....It's not fun...having people guess what I'm thinking"
"?" Serina leaned back, her head tilted to the side in wonder.
"...I....wear this hood because....of how scared I am of my own face"
He held Aerina close to him, the action increased the distance between her and Serina even by a minor difference.
"...I hate it when I see my own face...that's why I wear a hood to cover it"
"....", Serina tilted her head back to a normal position and nodded.
"I see"
"..."
"I do try to express my feelings with my gestures and the way I speak, but it seems like I was doing too much...."
He slowly moves away to a tree, gently settling her comfortably and looks back at Serina.
"....I think it best if no one ever sees my face because...it would hurt them if they ever see it, I can't control what I look like and it scares me how much they would think what I might be thinking"
"...."
Serina watches as Callum walks towards her.
"If you really want to see what I look like...then go ahead, take it off"
"....."
Serina's hands move toward his hood again and this time, her finger; index, and thumb grab the cloth of the hood and move.
__________
Serina wasn't like this, before the Academy and right before she pulls Callum's hood.
It's strange how a single person can change due to...another person.
A brave young girl ready to face her enemy, using her sword to strike them down and cheery.
XD
Then came a person who made her day change since then.
Why use a sword? I'm a sword user we would look too similar, here use a bow
What? Why?
I just told you the reason, listen
Hey, when can I use my sword again?
When I tell you. Look it's back again, shoot it!
Hmph, fine
See?! You're better at the bow than a sword
Oh, you're right
.....
Hey, Serina, why are you so tall?
? Well, my dad's tall that's why, why?
Nothing, I couldn't see that monster behind you because you were blocking the way after all
Oh, sorry about that
The dissatisfied look from Kyle made it clear how he felt, and so Serina would distance herself from Kyle whenever he fought, how convenient she thought 'A bow is perfect for this instead of being next to him'
Just stay back and shoot, alright?
Got it
Thanks, Serina, I knew I could count on you
No problem~!
Listen to me Serina, if you teach me swordsmanship imagine how far we could go
Yeah, sure
Serina, listen to this, I can grow even stronger with a strong sword!
Oh, cool
And your sword is perfect for it
Eh? But..it's from my dad
I will just borrow it, don't worry
Oh...uh...
Please, my sword sucks, yours is awesome
..Okay...
Teach swordsmanship, teach how to use her sword's skills, help snipe monsters from the back
Serina listen to this....
Serina don't do that.....
Serina why are you doing this....
Let's go Serina.....
Don't come near me Serina!
Kyle? Why?
Serina looks at her wounds, all caused by Kyle as she heals herself.
(Maybe he's just mad because he lost the fight with Morima and Zhang, yeah definitely)
She remembered how much he got angry whenever he lost in their practice match until they switched weapons after he claimed to gain more power if he got a good weapon.
Something she looks forward to upon hearing that and thus she let him borrow her weapon.
Get away from me!
Boom
She flew in the air again, this time her arm was cut with a deep gash.
"It's fine, he's just mad, very mad, that's all," she told herself.
Then again she was injured, this time more severe than usual.
She has to drag herself from the lower floors out of the dungeon, but then collapse.
"So, you two had a fight huh?"
"Yes, sadly....I couldn't figure out why"
It is because he wants to be strong
"...Actually, I have an idea"
"Alright, can I ask what is it?"
"...Maybe he's under pressure right now?"
"....That might be..."
True, it's true
Serina thinks about it for a moment before nodding to herself.
Yes, but what he needs right now is my help
...
Why is Kyle trying to attack me?
Serina was almost hit by a sword swing just now if not for Callum intervening.
Why Kyle?
Aren't I am your friend?
Why did you do this?
Don't..do this to me...
_________
"...Kurihara," said Callum quietly.
"?" Serina blinked surprised by the voice coming out of the hood.
"I won't stop you, so go for it, okay?"
"...."
(His voice...is so...gentle....so..caring....)
"Really?"
"Yes"
"... even..after..what....I did?"
"You did what?"
"...I...I don't....know"
(What did I do? What did do to him? Wait...did I do something to him?)
Hey, watch it!
Ah, sorry
(It was just a bump though)
Be careful next time
Yes, yes
Understand? Kyle asks sternly looking at her with a stern gaze
Yes...
Good, let's go
Coming~
Stop that, it's annoying
...Fine
"So--"
"No, it's okay, I don't mind"
"....."
"...Let me help"
Callum put his hands over hers, gently unlike Kyle whenever he pulls her to somewhere else with him.
"...Just grab and push back softly like this"
"...." Serina watch his face, not the hood that is slowly being pushed back.
"?"
"...I..." Serina began.
"Yes?"
"I...don't want to"
"Oh, okay"
"....Really?"
"Yeah, no problem, I'll wait"
"....."
"Or I might reveal it to you someday"
"....."
"....."
"Thanks, Callum" Serina smiled, and in that moment she felt it a genuine one straight from deep deep within her heart.