A few days passed by since the attack at the hospital and school was back on. Only this time, there was a special event going on. At lunch, Ayato almost choked on his rice.
"What?!"
"You don't know about it?"
Miyako asked him with a surprised look. She finished her box of orange juice and threw it into the nearest bin.
"No... I mean..."
The only reason he chose this school was because his sister recommended it. When Kiara was adamant about something, there was no changing her mind, so he had to come here.
It was the best choice for him since it was nearer to his house.
"So, they'll be doing tryouts for this Seven Star Tournament?"
"No, the student council president will pick the participants."
The Seven Star Tournament. It was a tournament where all seven schools would face each other in a series of events.
"Wait, why are they doing this so early? We just finished Golden Week."
Ayato pointed out. Retsuya coughed to gain everyone's attention. All of them looked at him.
"Well, the tournament arena was in Kyoto and owned by the Kyouya Family. It burned down in a recent fire. They had to rent out a space which was only free during this time of year."
Ayato sunk into his seat with a dead expression.
"I'm sorry..."
He apologised.
"Nah, I'm not mad, I was joking with you there. It is still your fault though."
'Why would the tournament arena be so close to the Kyouya Family's main house? I didn't see it. Actually, I wasn't in the right mind to do so.'
He thought to himself.
"Still,"
Emika said, chewing on her egg roll.
"We first years don't have a chance at all. There's no point in having us participate in the Seven Star Tournament. If anyone had a chance then..."
"It would be you, Ayato."
Saya finished Emika's sentence.
"Is that so?"
He answered nonchalantly.
It was true and Ayato knew it. Even now, stray eyes were glancing in his direction. The stares themselves weren't new but the intent behind them was.
Jealousy, pride, excitement, scorn, disbelief. All sorts of varying emotions were kept prisoner behind each pair of eyes.
"Of course, since you are the youngest World Magician in the world. You're 16 and you've reached far beyond the sky."
'I wish it was me.'
Ayato betted that was what a lot of people were thinking. As much as he wanted to curse at them, he didn't. Ayato hated his life. The majority of his life was filled with pain with only some being good memories. If he acted out against their thoughts, it would only make them think even worse.
"Speaking of World Magicians, have you heard?"
Miyako perked up.
"Ah, you mean that announcement on television last night, right?"
Ayato asked. She nodded with a sneaky smile on her face.
"Yup, about that Mage Killer. Apparently, they've been active in Nagasaki, Saga and Fukuoka in the span of a few days."
"I heard about that too. They've killed 5 Association magicians so far."
Saya said with a withdrawn tone.
Ayato had heard about this from Akane. Only the three World Magicians and a select few other magicians would know the fact that the so-called Mage Killer is an artificial World Magician.
It sickened the boy to the core. An artificial human made to go wild.
"Hey, so, I had an idea. If the Mage Killer ever comes to Honshū, we should hunt him. There'll probably be people thinking the same thing as us! If we can get to him first, then we'll get a reward of some sort!"
Miyako suggested with a happy expression. Emika's expression lit up.
"That's a great idea!"
They joined hands, matching ideals. Ayato narrowed his eyes.
"Don't do something so stupid."
He said.
Miyako smiled playfully. She leaned over the table with a patronising expression.
"You just don't want us to get all the credit, right?"
The two of them laughed.
"I'm not joking around!"
Ayato shouted.
His shout silenced the entire lunch hall. Miyako was at her last straw. She shouted at Ayato.
"What?! Do you think that it's not possible for us since we're not as strong as you?!"
Ayato gritted his teeth and stood up.
"That's not what I'm saying! It'd be impossible even for me!"
"Shut up, that's just you flattering yourself! You get all the attention and have all the power! Yet, why do you not look happy?! Almost as if you hate it! Poor Ayato Kyouya!"
Miyako caused Ayato to burst a vein. He clenched his fists to the point where they began to bleed.
"I do fucking hate it! Don't talk about me when you don't know a single thing! I'm saying this so that you don't get yourself killed! You're weak, that's the reality! Don't play games that'll get you killed!"
Ayato came back to his senses. Miyako was shivering. He reached his hand out.
"Ah, Miya, no, I didn't mean to—"
She slapped his hand. Miyako ran away with tears dripping down her face.
"You've done it now, asshole."
Emika slapped Ayato across the face. She glared at him.
"If you go anywhere near Miyako again, I'll kill you."
"What...?"
She also ran away, chasing after Miyako. Ayato was wondering how they formed a bond like that. Ayato had been around Miyako longer than Emika. He didn't understand. How could people be such good friends?
"You went too far, Ayato."
Saya criticized him. Ayato dropped into his seat with his hands on his head.
"Miyako hates being called weak more than anything. Just because you're stronger than her doesn't give you the right."
"Not you too..."
Ayato muttered.
How could people be such good friends? That's what Ayato always wondered.
"Saya, you're wrong."
Someone said. As Ayato looked up, Retsuya was addressing the girl sitting opposite him.
"What do you mean? Are you saying Ayato isn't at fault?"
"After what I've seen, no."
Unlike the other girls, Saya didn't flip out. She listened intently.
"Continue,"
"You may not believe it but Ayato has led a life in which no one should ever lead. One that if you ever heard about it, you would feel sorry for him instantly. Because of his life, he hasn't been able to make people who he can call friends. Emika, Miyako, you and I are his first true friends. Please, could you convince Miyako to forgive him?"
Retsuya planted his forehead on the table. He wanted Ayato to have friends as a friend of his. After seeing the mess at the Midnight Banquet, Retsuya wanted to be a true friend to Ayato.
'No one should ever go through what he went through. I'm going to dedicate myself to being the best friend I can to him.'
Saya hesitated when looking at Retsuya's lowered head. She wanted to accept, however, she had known Miyako longer than Ayato.
"I'm sorry, Retsuya, I can't. If I were to even try to convince her, then I feel like I would be betraying her. She's my best friend too. You must understand."
"That's a shame."
She stood up and bowed to Ayato.
"I'm sorry, Ayato. It looks like we won't be reading theses from now on. Goodbye."
Saya left. Ayato felt defeated. Even if he did, he felt bitter. He curled his arms around his head.
"What the fuck did I do wrong? I was trying to warn her. She was the one who started assuming and insulting me."
Retsuya slapped Ayato on the back.
"Don't say stuff like that. Stay strong. You still want to be friends with them, right?"
He smiled. Ayato nodded timidly.
"Alright, it may not work out instantly but I'll see what I can do."
Ayato's eyes lit up when looking at the bright figure of Retsuya. His smile was as bright as the sun and as reverent as the Buddha.
Ayato finally understood what a good friend... No, he finally understood what a best friend was like.