Chapter 17 : "Unseen Feelings"

  The sun was setting in the distance, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. Birds returned to their nests, their calls echoing faintly through the warm evening air. It had been two days since their first fight with the monsters in the forest. And a whole month had passed since they were summoned to this unknown world.

  Everyone had grown stronger.

  They could now wield magic, something Shouta had only ever seen in anime and manga back on Earth. Now, it was real. This world was real. The people living here were real. And the enemies they had to face... they were terrifyingly real too. If they weren't careful, they could die. It wasn't a game. It never had been.

  But despite the dangers, the others grew more capable every day. Magic swirled in their hands like second nature. Swords danced in their grip. Spells roared from their lips. They had the power to protect themselves.

  But what about me? I'm weak. Weaker than all of them.

  Shouta clenched his trembling hands. Can I even protect what's important to me? The people I care about... will I just watch them be taken away?

  His chest tightened painfully at the thought.

  It was then that Wendel’s voice snapped him out of his spiral.

  “Today’s training ends here,” Wendel announced, his voice steady and commanding.

  The students, still panting from the day's drills, turned to him with eager eyes.

  "In one month," Wendel continued, "the Holy Magic Academy will open its doors. You will all be sent there. Only the best of the best are accepted. Children of nobles, of royal bloodlines — you will train alongside them."

  A murmur of excitement rippled through the students.

  "You will make friends, rivals. You will grow stronger together. One day, you will serve the Goddess’s will... Protect this world, And vanquish the evil that threatens it."

  With that, Wendel dismissed them.

  Laughter, chatter, and hope filled the air as students moved in groups, heading back to the Church dormitories. Some spoke excitedly about the academy. Others dreamed of adventures and glory. This world was still filled with wonder for them.

  But Shouta Izumi remained frozen in pce.

  Even after everyone left—even after Wendel disappeared into the Church—he stood alone in the open field. The golden light of the dying sun bathed him in warmth he barely felt.

  Slowly, he moved toward the nearest tree and sat down against its trunk, pulling his knees to his chest. He watched the sun sink lower, the world darkening around him. Inside him, a storm raged—doubt, fear, helplessness.

  What am I even doing here? Am I a hero?

  He couldn't even cast a proper spell. He couldn't even defend himself properly. If not for sheer luck... if not for the others... He would have died back in that forest.

  The sun dipped behind the horizon. The first stars began to blink into existence.

  And still, Shouta sat there, clutching emotions he couldn't even name, staring into the endless sky, wondering—

  Will I ever be strong enough?

  Just as Shouta was about to stand up, the air before him shimmered—like a mirage. Out of the golden light, a figure appeared.

  A woman with long, flowing violet hair and deep violet eyes stepped forward gracefully, as if she had always belonged to the evening.

  Startled, Shouta immediately grabbed the simple metal sword lying at his side, rising to his feet. His heart pounded in his chest.

  The woman only chuckled softly, shaking her head and waving her hand lightly.

  "Stop, stop," she said, her voice smooth and teasing. "I'm not here to harm you. I was just passing by... and happened to see a lonely little boy looking like a lost cat."

  Her mischievous smile disarmed him. Something about her presence made the air feel lighter, even comforting.

  Slowly, Shouta lowered his sword, though he remained wary. "...Do you want something?" he asked carefully.

  The woman tilted her head, pretending to think for a moment. Then she smiled again, eyes sparkling mischievously.

  "Nope. I want nothing," she said. "Just curious, that's all. Why are you sitting here like a cat abandoned by its master?"

  Shouta looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "…It’s nothing," he mumbled.

  "Oh-ho?" she teased, raising an eyebrow. "So there is something you can't tell me, huh?"

  Without waiting for permission, she plopped down onto the grass beside him. Patting the ground next to her, she said, "Come, sit. Let’s make a deal. You tell me your secret, and I'll tell you one of mine. What do you say?"

  Shouta hesitated. The stars were beginning to bloom across the darkening sky. A cool breeze rustled the grass.

  Something deep inside him—something small and aching—told him he could trust her.

  Slowly, he sat down.

  For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Only the sound of the wind and the distant chirping of night insects filled the air.

  Finally, Shouta found his voice.

  "I..." he began, his hands trembling slightly. "I'm weak. Everyone else—they're all getting stronger. Casting spells. Swinging swords. Becoming real heroes. But me... I can barely keep up. I want to protect myself. I want to protect the people important to me. But I'm scared... I'm scared I can't."

  The words spilt from him like a broken dam, raw and painful.

  The violet-haired woman listened quietly, her eyes gentle, her smile soft.

  When he finished, she leaned back on her hands and looked up at the stars.

  "That's all?" she said lightly, almost ughing. "You had me worried for a second there."

  Shouta blinked at her.

  She smiled, this time warmly, kindly.

  "Listen, kid," she said. "Some people are meant to walk a different path. Not everyone is supposed to follow the same road in life. Maybe you're not supposed to charge headfirst into battle like the others."

  She waved her hand vaguely at the sky, as if painting a future only she could see.

  "The world is huge. Much, much bigger than this tiny Church, this little patch of forest. There are paths out there that only you can walk. Paths that no one else can even see yet."

  She turned her violet eyes on him, and for a moment, Shouta thought he saw a glimmer of something ancient, something infinitely vast.

  "So don’t be in a rush to become like everyone else," she said. "Find your way. Your strength."

  Shouta stared at her, words caught in his throat.

  For the first time in a long while, the heavy weight in his chest seemed a little lighter.

  He nodded, almost without realising it.

  "...Thank you," he whispered.

  The woman grinned and stood up, brushing grass from her elegant robe.

  "And now for my secret," she said, winking. "I'm way older than I look."

  As the mysterious woman stood up, her long violet hair fluttering in the wind, she began to fade into the air itself, like an illusion vanishing under the twilight.

  Feeling a sudden rush of emotion, Shouta called out, "Wait! How… how can I find my path?"

  The woman paused, her form shimmering like mist under the st light of the sun. She smiled, a soft, knowing smile, and said, "Somewhere out there… beyond these walls, beyond everything you know… your path is waiting. You just have to keep walking until you find it."

  Her words stirred something deep in Shouta's heart. Before he could stop himself, he shouted again, voice trembling, "Then… then can you take me out of here? Out of the church?"

  The woman tilted her head, amused. Her violet eyes gleamed with a mischievous light. "It isn't impossible," she said lightly. "But after getting out of here... what will you do, little hero?"

  Without hesitation, without even thinking, Shouta answered, "I'll search for my path."

  The woman’s expression shifted — a little softer, almost proud. But reality struck him a second ter. Shouta realised it wouldn't be something he could find in a night or a day. To find his path... he would have to live out there, in the vast unknown world, away from his cssmates, alone. It would be terrifying. It would be real.

  The woman stepped closer, her voice low, meant only for him. "Good. Then remember this," she whispered. "When you're ready—when you've truly decided—just call for me. And I'll take you out."

  And with those final, mysterious words, she disappeared into the fading light, leaving Shouta alone under the endless, star-scattered sky.

  After sitting under the stars for a long time, Shouta finally stood up. His steps were heavy but firm as he made his way back toward the dormitory.

  As he walked through the quiet corridor, he spotted someone coming from the opposite side — Mirei Hoshino. She noticed him too and walked toward him without hesitation.

  When they came close, Mirei tilted her head slightly and asked, "Shouta-kun, what were you doing at the training ground?"

  Shouta gave a small, vague smile and replied, "Nothing."

  Then he asked her, "Where were you coming from?"

  Mirei answered simply, "Miss Aiko called me about something."

  Shouta nodded with a quiet "Hmm." After a small pause, he asked, a little awkwardly, "Hey... Mirei. Do you want to talk with me for a bit?"

  Maybe because he sounded a little different tonight — or maybe because the loneliness in his voice resonated with her — Mirei nodded. Together, they walked to the stairway that connected the boys' and girls' dormitory halls. There, they sat side by side, looking at the training grounds stretched out under the deep night sky. Above them, the moon, much bigger than Earth's, shone brightly, surrounded by countless sparkling stars.

  For a while, silence stretched between them.

  Then Shouta spoke, his voice low but steady, "Thank you... for saving me and Haruka in the forest. If you hadn't been there, I don't know what would've happened."

  Mirei smiled faintly and shook her head, "It's fine. We're all in this together. We have to watch out for each other."

  Shouta stared at the sky for a long moment before saying, "...You're strong. Dependable. Kind. Everything I'm not. Everything I want to be."

  Mirei blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. As she listened, her heart tightened a little.

  Strong...? Dependable...? Kind...? She thought to herself, a bitter feeling rising inside. How can I be any of those things... when I couldn’t even stay with Alicia when she needed me the most...?

  But she didn’t say it out loud. She just sat there quietly, letting Shouta speak.

  After a little while, Shouta stood up. Without turning to face her, he said, "Mirei... Until I become strong enough... Can you protect Haruka for me? Look out for her... in my pce?"

  Mirei, still processing everything, nodded without thinking. She watched as Shouta walked away, disappearing into the corridor’s shadows.

  Left alone under the vast sky, Mirei hugged her knees to her chest. She lifted her eyes to the brilliant stars above and whispered in her heart:

  Alicia... wherever you are... Please be safe. Please wait for me. I’ll find you.

  After leaving Mirei behind at the stairway, Shouta slowly climbed the steps to the second floor where his room was. The corridor was dimly lit, and the night outside painted long shadows across the floor.

  As he turned the corner toward his room, he saw a small figure standing hesitantly in front of his door. It was Haruka.

  She was reaching her hand toward the door, about to knock — But at the st second, she pulled it back, fiddling with her fingers nervously, unsure whether she should disturb him or not.

  Seeing her like that, Shouta called out, "Haruka? What are you doing here?"

  Haruka jumped slightly, startled. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as she stammered, "I-I... I came to check up on you... Because... you didn’t come for dinner... and Miss Aiko asked me to make sure you were okay..."

  Shouta looked at her — the way she was nervously pying with the hem of her sleeve, the way her voice trembled — and he felt the heaviness in his heart lighten just a little.

  He gave a small, rare smile and said, "Do you want to take a walk? Some fresh air might be nice."

  Haruka blinked, surprised, but then nodded shyly.

  Without saying much more, they left the building together and walked toward the small garden near the boys' dormitory. The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of flowers. Their steps were slow, unhurried, and for a while, neither of them spoke — Just walking side by side under the quiet, starlit sky.

  The two walked quietly through the garden, their footsteps soft against the stone path. Above them, the stars glimmered in a velvet sky, the moon much rger and closer than it had ever looked on Earth.

  After a long silence, Shouta spoke first, his voice quiet. "It still feels unreal, doesn’t it? One day, we were just... normal students. And now we’re here... in a world we don't even understand."

  Haruka nodded, hugging herself lightly against the chill. "I think about it too," she said softly. "What our parents must be doing now... They must be looking for us, right? Even though... we’re so far away they could never reach."

  Shouta tightened his hands into fists, the ache in his chest growing sharper. "I wonder if they’re okay," he said. "I wonder if they think we’re okay."

  Haruka smiled sadly. "They probably believe in us," she whispered. "They have to. Otherwise... it would hurt too much."

  The two shared a moment of silence, lost in their own thoughts, the only sound the gentle rustling of the garden trees.

  Finally, Haruka spoke again, her voice a little brighter, trying to lift the weight between them. "Besides... you’re doing well, Shouta-kun. In training, you're improving so much. Even the knights said so!"

  Shouta shook his head. "I'm not good enough yet. I’m still so far behind everyone."

  "You’re wrong," Haruka said firmly, surprising him with her sudden strength. "You’re doing more than enough. You're trying, every single day. That’s more important than anything."

  Shouta stopped walking.

  Haruka took a few steps ahead before realising he wasn’t beside her anymore. She turned to face him, confused. But what she saw froze her — the serious, almost desperate look in his eyes.

  "...Haruka," Shouta said quietly, almost as if he was afraid the words would shatter if he said them too loudly. "Can you... Wait for me?"

  Haruka blinked, her heart thudding painfully against her chest.

  "When I’m strong enough... I’ll keep the promise I made." He looked straight into her eyes, his voice trembling slightly. "So... until then... Can you wait for me?"

  For a moment, Haruka could only stare, her breath caught in her throat. But then, slowly, she smiled — a small, gentle smile that reached her eyes.

  "I was always waiting," she said softly. "It’s not hard for me to wait a little longer. I’ll be right here, watching you... Standing with you... no matter what."

  Shouta felt something burning at the back of his throat, a feeling he hadn't known in a long time — Hope.

  He nodded, the weight on his shoulders feeling lighter than ever.

  Before he realised it, their slow walk had brought them in front of the entrance to the girls’ dormitory. There, under the soft glow of a ntern, he turned to Haruka one st time.

  "I’ll get stronger," he promised. "I’ll make sure... I can protect you."

  Haruka only smiled again, saying nothing — But her eyes said it all.

  With a newfound determination burning in his chest, Shouta turned and ran — ran back across the quiet gardens, up the steps, through the halls, Until he burst into his room, breathless.

  He had no more doubts now. He had something to fight for. Someone who believed in him.

  And he swore — He would never let her down.

  But what Shouta and Haruka didn’t know — Was someone watching?

  Hidden in the shadowy hallway near the boys’ dormitory, leaning against the cold wall, Makabe Jin sat, knees drawn up, arms resting loosely on them.

  He had been there long before they arrived — lost in his thoughts, Trying to escape the heavy loneliness gnawing at him.

  And then, He had heard it all. Every word.

  Their voices drifted across the quiet night air, soft but unmistakable — Talking about strength, about promises, about standing together.

  Something inside Makabe cracked.

  Like a fragile gss cup slipping from trembling fingers — The thing he was clinging to, Hope, pride, whatever it was — Shattered.

  He clutched at his chest, His fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt, Trying to hold together the painful, hollow ache blooming inside.

  Why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel like he was the one being left behind?

  He sat there, unmoving, for what felt like forever — The quiet world pressed down on him.

  Then —

  "Makabe-kun?" A girl's voice called out gently.

  It was Kasumi Ayane, one of the girls from their css. She stood a few meters away, her head tilted in confusion, Seeing him sitting there alone in the dark.

  Makabe’s body stiffened at the sound of her voice. Without a word, without even gncing at her, He scrambled to his feet — And ran.

  He ran down the corridor, His footsteps echoed sharply against the stone, Vanishing into the deeper darkness of the dormitory halls.

  Kasumi watched him go, Her eyes were wide with confusion and worry.

  She hesitated, standing alone in the quiet, But when no answer came, She simply sighed softly, turned back toward the girls’ dormitory — And disappeared inside.

  The night swallowed everything once more. Only the cold wind remained, Whispering through the empty halls.