Fubuki stood in the cockpit of Avalon over Ichi. She knelt at his side with an icepack, tending to the bump on his head as he leaned back against the bottom of Avalon's cockpit chair.

Ichi gradually realized he was wearing pants. And awake. And Fubuki was here. And that 'here' was the cockpit of Avalon. He caught himself about to say something embarrassing in his waking stupor, and instead talked about the next most convenient topic.

"Thanks for the pants, Fubuki."

She was close. The ice on his forehead felt cool. Wait, what was he doing before this? The answer eluded Ichi. Fubuki had a concerned look on her face. Instead of offering pleasantries, she made a strange decision to confront Ichi on the topic she wanted to know about the most.

"Why keep someone around like Renya?"

Ichi groaned at Fubuki's question, the words rolled off his tongue with surprising ease. As each word came out, Ichi wondered where they were coming from himself.

"Haven't you ever thought what it's all for? There's no passion without putting in effort first. I thought it was different, I was wrong. I could have flown away from the village after that long night and called all of this a stupid dream. I stayed. I'm waiting to see what's next. Renya's someone who I feel like I can never beat, no matter how much stupid druid power I have. Maybe, if I keep trying, things, I'll pull out a come from behind win. Don't you think that sounds fun?"

Ichi regretted what he said immediately but he was too lazy to correct himself. That, and it felt too late. He wasn't sure which parts were true or not, but that would have to be his best effort, for now. He was tired from waking up.

Fubuki's stunned face perplexed Ichi. It didn't show at all on Ichi's face. If he didn't know better, he might think Fubuki admired his words. That's a nice joke.

"Master... that statement is strange. Perhaps you hit your head a little too hard? It almost sounded like you said something worthy of respect."

Ichi waved his hand at Fubuki's words as if he was shooing them away in the air. He droned on.

"Compared to Renya anyone would be an idiot. I wonder if an alien landed on earth if they would get along with her? She didn't seem too confident in herself one bad morning, and I lent her some words of comfort, and then she made me a home. That's nice of her. I see myself winning against her in my imagination, but I can't see it happening in reality. Don't you think it would be thrilling if I could overcome her ability?

Fubuki frowned at Ichi's words, pushing the icepack closer to his head as he winced.

"Like, say, throwing yourself against a brick wall?"

"Or, mountain climbing. I wouldn't have met you if I didn't stick with Renya. Would I have been better off? I'll answer that when I feel like answering the question, but right now I'm not interested in finding out why. I want to see the what."

Fubuki stayed silent after Ichi's words. She had thought him an idiot, and Ichi thought the same as her, but now Fubuki was getting different ideas. Fubuki's agile robot maid mind worked overtime to analyze everything she knew about her Master and generate an alternative perspective of the reality she was presented with.

Fubuki really didn't need to, but Fubuki has rules to follow.

She remembered Ichi ordered her to stay away from Rikya and Renya, at the time Fubuki interpreted that as him coddling his own enemies. They didn't appear friendly with him by any means, they spent no nearly no time together, barely talked, and when they did it concerned surface matters. Rikya was left to Ichi's treasure trove of magical tomes and even befriended the strangest maid Wavr, who could even match Fubuki in combat.

There was once where Wavr even fought Fubuki to keep Rikya safe.

Fubuki had no idea that Wavr only decided to follow Rikya around because she was cute. Or that Wavr was following Rikya's order to keep all maids from approaching her when she fought Fubuki. Fubuki's mind skipped into overdrive despite her ignorance

From the start, Fubuki made a critical mistake a long time ago. Fubuki thought Ichi was offering Rikya and Renya stay in Avalon, and that since they didn't interact much, that they must be powerful enemies.

Why else would a boy Ichi's age separate himself from two attractive young girls? Fubuki couldn't explain that at all.

Fubuki's misunderstanding multiped from there. Renya's strange behavior and both of their distance from Ichi suddenly became entirely understood in her mind. Renya and Rikya were still Ichi's targets, but he kept them close to give him satisfaction of triumphing over lesser beings at their own game. Why else would a druid with his overflowing ability tolerate enemies with such high potential?

Fubuki was the one who first reported to Ichi herself, asking what was to be done about Rikya and Renya. Fubuki misunderstood everything from the start. She failed to imagine that Ichi could consider himself a lesser being than Renya, that Ichi, a druid, could be worth less when compared with Renya.

She interpreted Ichi's words as if he was playing a game with Renya. It was as if he was an overwhelming chess master of unbelievable potential using a pawn to win the board in a single move.

Steam poured from Fubuki's ears. She felt extreme guilt. Was it the right decision to knock him out? Perhaps the night before where he went on a solo rampage against the bakeneko was but a game to him! Fubuki couldn't believe herself. She stared at the cold steel below her, avoiding her Master's clouded glare. Fubuki felt like she failed.

Her pride had to be restored, somehow. She opened her mouth to admit her wrongdoing, holding the words on her tongue. Fubuki didn't want her Master to think she was incompetent. Fubuki decided that she would regret it if she didn't say anything now. She didn't even question if now was a terrible time to hold a serious conversation with Ichi.

"Master. I must admit, last night, I thought it was a poor decision to raid the bakeneko by yourself. I see now, it was all a game to you."

Ichi couldn't disagree, he did view it as a bit of a game. Though guilt had begun to set in as Fubuki called his slaughter a 'game'. Isn't he a horrible person? Fubuki continued.

"As well with Renya, and even Rikya. You hold the two of them in the palm of your hand so easily, and yet I doubted you. I thought you were naive. I see now, you seek to challenge yourself."

Fubuki smiled. Ichi felt the need to correct her rise within him. He was definitely naive!

"Doubting my actions is only sane I suppose. How about this: give me a chance to take care if both of them myself. You're always watching, anyways, so what's the harm if you let me give it a shot? This may look like a stupid situation to you, and I know this sounds stupid, but I already knew that. What's the point of having all this magic if using it is beyond me?"

The way Ichi said it lead Fubuki to think he was anything but naive. It only cemented Fubuki's misunderstanding. She resolved to leave Renya to him. It was silly of Fubuki to think of disciplining Renya. Of course, Master would forgive her for having a little fun with her, she was sure.

As long as Fubuki didn't violate the two conflicting orders Ichi gave her. The first, train Renya. Ichi gave her that order on their first meeting. The second, stay away from Renya. Fubuki obeyed and only saw Renya when it was necessary.

There was necessity here, she was sure if she explained herself to Ichi he would understand.

However, he didn't need to burdened with such small matters now.