Chapter 72

Nikami POV

After that incident, the headmaster was, understandably, cautious about my security. He already had three strikes, and fortunately that last one was my fault, so he didn't have much to do. However, the knights with me couldn't even stop me, so he needed to get a better one to guard me.

He made all of the knights in the academy gather in front of me and Raijin, from students to legendary knights, we had to pick one for me. Raijin didn't really need one, since, well, he insisted that he didn't want one. For me however, I thought of this as a good opportunity.

Saboten, the emotional knight.

I picked her.

Because I planned to avoid Yasachu as much as possible, and if somehow she interacts with me despite all of that, which I predict will happen, I would have a distraction. The game would choose a Main Capture Target over a Secret Capture Target, so if they talk, I could just get away from them.

The headmaster was confused about what I chose, and I asked him if he questioned me, and of course he backed off. I had to rest for a few weeks before going back to school, to my dismay. It's been a month now, I'm getting used to avoiding that girl, but I still… Can't get used to Saboten emotional sensitivity…

She's practically the opposite of me.

"Report." I spoke towards her, writing down the things I have done for the past days.

"Of course, Shiromoru-sama. Today we learned about support magic, we were paired up and each had our turn to use our magic to support our teammate's attacks." She spoke to me, holding the hilt of her sword as she did so.

"And?"

"And as you instructed, whenever there is a group activity I must always be paired up by Crowned Prince Raijin, which I have." She quickly answered my question.

"Very good, what about Shukona and that small girl?" I asked, glancing towards her.

"They were paired together, Amatarini-sama supported Yasachu with flying colors, meanwhile Yasachu wasn't as great as Amatarini-sama, but was okay overall." She flashed a bright smile, hearing me praise her made her happy.

"Thank you." I rolled my eyes for a while before I went back to my writing.

Saboten's ears twitched, and she froze for a moment before she spoke,

"Shiromoru-sama, I think Yasachu is here." She looked over at the direction of the door, then glanced back towards me.

"I see, then please lock the door." I commanded her.

She stared towards me, frowning as she nodded. Her ears were down low as she went over at the door and locked it. She turned towards me with an expression filled with pity, tears were starting to form.

"Shiromoru-sama… With all due respect, why are you avoiding Yasachu? I know you aren't mad at her, as much as you seem to be... You care about her, you ask about her a lot…" She asked, rubbing the hilt of her sword out of nervousness.

"I don't care about her. I simply want to know what she is doing." I dismissed her claims.

"That's not true at all! You're very hard to read, I know that, but I also know that you care about her…" Tears started to fall down her face as she stared over me with a brave face.

"Yes, I know for a fact you care about her. You just keep on dismissing her… For a reason I don't know, maybe she did something wrong? You did something wrong? Or you just don't want to because she's a commoner…? I know you don't intend to hurt her. I have o-only been with you for a month but… I-I can tell you're very kind! You're cold, not cruel… That is with all due respect… Please, talk to her. You haven't spoken at all." She whimpered, her determined face was shining through all of her tears.

"Shut up." I glared towards her, dropping my pen as I did so.

Damn it. This girl came eerily close.

How did she get all of that?

Most people would be scared of her in a situation like this, yet this knight puts on a brave face like that. The only people that would understand her are Raijin and Shukona, and that's because they have been together for the longest time. Why is she so sure?

Is it because she's emotional and thus she's also sensitive to other people's emotions? I'm sure I have kept a poker face this entire time yet she…

"Forgive me…" She backed down, her ears and tail falling down in sadness.

I stood up, closed my book and opened the window.

"We're getting out of here. Carry me towards a garden or a courtyard, the closest one." I glanced over at the sobbing Saboten. At this point, I have gotten used to her extreme expressions. From smiling brightly because I complimented her and to crying over such small things.

"Yes, Shiromoru-sama." She sniffled, walking over towards me and carrying me in a princess carry. She stood on the window frame and inhaled.

"Oh, wind spirits, help me run like the wind, !" She casted, the end of her feet blowing out air to propel us away from the building.

She moved her body to guide where to go, we were flying above ground because of her, and I looked around to see where we would land.

My long hair followed me up from behind as I looked over in front of me, a tree was coming closer to us by the second.

"What are you doing? Stop the cast." I spoke to her calmly, staring over at the tree.

"I-I'm sorry! I forgot how to!" She exclaimed nervously, still carrying me.

"You what?" I spoke in confusion, how can someone just forget to uncast a spell? Either way, I sighed then raised my hand in front of me to try and make ice before we would crash down into the tree, but thankfully, Saboten was stopped by vines.

I looked down at the person who casted that spell, the flutters of a familiar curly haired individual filled my view.

"What are you two doing?" Shukona asked, blinking in confusion as she slowly brought both of us down, putting her hands on her hips and raising an eyebrow.

"I asked her to bring me here, yet she somehow forgot one of the fundamental principles of magic. Which is to uncast." I glanced over at her with a small glare, she flinched and started to cry.

"Fo-forgive me… I wasn't allowed to use magic in my knight training… So I could only understand magic from books and this school…" She lowered her head, apologizing for her incompetence.

"What? Quite a strange trainer you have. Though, you are quite air headed to know how to cast a spell, but not how to uncast it, despite it already being a month at school! Try harder! You're supposed to guard Nika, are you not? At this point, she's more capable than you are! Do you have any shame?!" Shukona spoke in a strict tone, as I simply stared at the two. Saboten continued to cry.

Shukona is still as strict as ever… Though, Shukona rarely acts like this towards someone, especially a noble. But since Saboten asked her to treat her like a knight, she obliged.

They're actually closer than they seem.

Then Saboten suddenly just froze, clenched the hilt of her sword and sprinted towards the side of me, with just a blink, she was gone.

As soon as her body came to view, a sound of wood hitting the ground could be heard. I looked down to what seemed to be a sliced wooden ball. She was standing at the side of me, having a determined look as her hand was kept on the hilt of the sword. As if she never moved her sword at all.

"..." I was surprised at her feat, I couldn't even see it was coming, yet she, despite being away from me, cut it at the right time.

"Wh-what was that?!" Shukona glanced over at where it came from, a nervous smile came from the ball thrower.

"Cro-crowned prince Raijin! I apologize for cutting your wooden ball! I didn't know it was yours and I instinctively slashed whatever came to Shiromoru-sama!" Saboten looked physically shaken, her hand was still on the hilt of her sword.

"Hah?! What are ya even talking about?! That was completely my fault! If you weren't here, I would have hit-" Before she could even finish my sentence, I walked towards her and grabbed her by the ear.

"OW OW OW OW OW!!" She screamed out in pain as she looked down at me, glaring.

"Shut up. You nearly hit me, bear the consequences of your actions." I pulled once again, but she only whined softly in response.

"But, Nikaaa-"

"I said, shut up." I pulled harder.

"OW?! FUCKING HELL- PLEASE HAVE MERCY-"

"Stop yelling will you?" Shukona sighed, folding her hands as she rolled her eyes. She has been the third wheel for the month, but luckily she has the knight to suffer with her, so it isn't that bad.

"It's like a puppy fight! That's cute!" Saboten exclaimed, her tears quickly ran dry and were replaced by a bright smile.

"Moron." I gave a small grin, smiling as I finally let go of Raijin, scoffing as I did so.

Not much has happened this past month, though Shukona practically became our couple counselor despite her not knowing much about dating. She has great advice, either in complicated or stupid situations.

Being away from Yasachu deeply improved my mental health. Frankly, I have started to understand and express some emotions now. That may not seem like a lot, but in the context of my character, it's certainly a win.

Raijin hasn't battled anyone in pure rage for the past week, so that's great too.

It's a slow life, but a life nonetheless. I feel bad for ignoring Yasachu a lot but… It must be done.