*kug!*

"Iya!"

Ai, who wore their middle school's gym wear was suddenly hit by a volleyball to her head and fell down.

"Sorry Abe-san, are you ok?"

"I-I'm fine. Thank you."

In front of her, was a short blue haired girl, wearing the same outfit showing her hand to Ai.

""""""She's so cuteeeee!"""""", the male classmates exclaimed.

"You're always really clumsy, Abe-san."

"Y-yeah...

...I am...."

______________________________________

"Haaaahh.", Akira sighed as he laid his head on the table.

"I hope you highnesses all gave it your best into answering this quiz. I will be giving your scores tomorrow. That is all.", Sir Knight said as he took his books and marched out the class.

'Shit...'

Akira felt tired as he laid his head down on his desk.

'I've been so busy this weekend that I forgot we were even supposed to have a quiz today.'

"Want to make a bet who gets the higher score?", asked Keima.

"...What's up? Never caught you as the kind of guy who'd ask someone to a bet."

Keima, who took out his PSP immediately after Sir Knight left, decided to converse with Akira.

"I don't, except with your expression I betting I'm probably gonna win.", Keima said with a deviant grin.

"If I wasn't so tired, I'd bang your head on your desk right now."

Akira told him with an incredulous expression.

Keima just snickered to his reply.

"Why are you so beat up anyways? Did you anger the demon?"

"Demon, what do you-"

'Oh...they're talking about Akio.'

Akira came to school with a few bandages on his body.

To other people, this might be a very fearful sight.

They would think that some criminal, villain or some vile creature, beat up a student of Savior University and left wounds to show it.

To Akira's past groupmates and some of his classmates though, this was not a surprising sight.

During the group battle, every single one who were teamed with Akira, were forced to test their strength against Akio.

There were five of them there, but all of them were beaten easily by Akio.

That is why Keima, just thought that Akira might have just trained with Akio, and that was what made those injuries of him.

The thing about Akio training with Akira, isn't just something the five of them know as well.

Ai and Koka had shared it with Megumi.

Eiko had talked about this with Mitsuko and Hana.

Akira already told Kami, Keima, Ken and Takumi about it as well.

"Ey, Akira! Seems like you angered your brother again, didn't you? You're all beat up. Something happened with you two?"

"Turns out he didn't like the thought about me beating him in a game. So he got all riled up.", Akira explained.

Keima's eyes slightly widen from this as he turned his head towards Akira who was chatting with Kami.

He decided to just ignore it though, and got back to playing with his PSP.

"You're the one who had been experiencing the most time bandaged despite you having a healing ability.", Takumi said as he approached Akira, still with that deadpan expression..

"Maybe you should focus on improving that, before you start improving your offensive ability.", he continued.

Takumi was the only one who saw Akira's new skill besides Ai who was with Akira.

He knew what Akira did to defeat the villain and gave him advice where to go to from there.

Akira still doesn't know whether Takumi told the others about his new skill yet, so he didn't know whether to talk about it with them or not.

He didn't want to brag, but didn't want to keep it from them either, so he was conflicted about what to say to them.

What's more, is that the SS tournament is about to start soon, and if he told them about it, they might be able to use that info against him.

'I don't really know a whole lot about the others' abilities, but I still don't plan to put this skill on the spotlight yet.'

Akira hasn't even thought about his healing ability also.

It might come in handy, but using it, renders his barriers and his claw unusable so he was at a loss.

"Umm..."

Koka stood from her seat and went up to Kami.

"Sorry!"

She bowed her head to him looking a little apologetic.

"Woah! What's up? You haven't done anything wrong to me. Why are you apologizing?"

"It's about last week...when you grabbed my shoulder."

Kami thought for a second, then remembered.

"Oh, if it's about that, don't worry. Akira here told us all about your situation so we get why you were trying your hardest to avoid us.", Kami explained.

"Still..."

Koka still felt guilty as she bowed to him.

"...How about you get Akira to treat me to ramen then?", Kami said with a devious smile

"WHAT!? Why me?"

"We all know why," Kami replied with a teasing expression.

"What?"

Koka just giggled at this scene.

"Welp. I'll leave you to your inamorato, so don't worry about it.", Kami said with a smile as he walked back to his seat.

"Inamorato...?"

Takumi decided to go back to his seat as well.

"A-Akira...sorry as well.", Koka apologized to Akira.

"Huh? What for?"

"...I used up your time this saturday, right? You look as if you're really tired... Were you able to study well this weekend? I-I think I shouldn't have...invited you right before the quiz."

'She's worrying about that?'

"Don't worry, it's not like you did anything wrong. I completely forgot about the quiz in the first place. So it was my fault."

'Besides, the one mostly at fault here is that jeezer.'

"I-I'm still sorry for taking up your time."

"Don't worry, I had lots of fun."

Akira showed her a gentle smile so as to calm her troubles down.

She blushed seeing this, and fidgeted.

"Y-y-yeah."

'At least she seemed to calm down now.'

"Although that last part was kinda..."

Koka's face filled with red as she heard him.

"Why did yo-"

"I-I-It's not what you think! I-I-I did it to thank you!"

"...thank me, huh?"

'Hugging me from behind wearing only a towel don't seem like what normal people would do to thank someone.'

"What are you guys talking about?"

Suddenly, from Akira's other side, came Megumi, who was smiling with an intimidating aura.

"What did you do to Akira, Kokachi?", Megumi asked with a smile.

"...Ah...it's nothing.", Koka answered, trying to avoid the topic.

Megumi then turned to Akira with that same smile.

"Akira, did you have a great congratulatory party with your uncle?", she asked.

"Well...sort of. It was kinda awkward."

"I think anyone would feel awkward if they saw two people clinging onto each other in the guy's house.", she emphasized.

Koka felt a little concerned upon hearing this.

"You were the one who clung to me-"

"What does she mean, Akira?", Koka asked with an slightly annoyed expression.

"Uh...well-"

"Akira, did Uncle Takehito congratulate you properly?", Megumi asked.

"T-that's-"

"...Akira, I think washing your chest first in the bath is a bit weird.", Koka stated as if competiting with Megumi.

"""""!!!!!"""""

Some of Akira's classmtes heard that and with a shocked expression looked at Koka and Akira.

"H-how did you know that?", Megumi asked Koka with a slightly annoyed expression.

"U-u-uh... w-well...I...", Koka felt really embarassed realizing what she just said.

"W-we talked about it. She saw an article about that stuff in the internet and asked me where I wash first in the bath.", Akira explained to Megumi with a wry smile.

'shit shit shit shit! Why do you have to announce how I wash myself in the bath! How did she find that out anyways? I already finished bathing when she came in.'

"A-Akira! You should buy some flashier underwear next time!", Megumi said.

"""""!!!!!"""""

"She's joking!"

"Akira has a star shaped mole on his butt!"

"She's-....uh...lying...", Akira felt really embarassed denying her statement.

"Akira's lap is very comfortable to sit on!"

"Akira's hand is very soft!"

"Y-you guys!"

The two girls kept competing about the stuff they knew about Akira.

'D-dammit!'

Akira looked back behind him to see his classmates looking a bit 'concerned' about him.

""Akira is-""

"I need to go to the bathroom!"

Akira hurried out of the room as if avoiding the two girls.

______________________________________

'Those two... made me look like some sort of casanova.'

Akira was walking slowly towards the vending machine with his hands on his pockets.

'They're really cute though, so I'll let it pass.'

He then put a coin in the vending machine and bought a drink.

"Akira-sama!"

Suddenly, from the other direction, came Ai.

"Yo!", Akira said as he grabbed the drink out of the vending machine.

"Something up?", he asked.

"Ummmo...about the balm I gave you, did it help?", Ai asked with a worried expression.

"Uh, well... I think you misplaced it., Akira said with a wry smile.

"What you gave me was a circular lip balm.", he continued.

"...Uh!...

S-sorry! I didn't know that-"

Akira then walked up to her and patted her head.

"Don't worry about it. My injuries aren't that bad."

True, Akira had bandages here and there, but his injuries weren't really major.

He had slight bruises that he used his healing on, but still hasn't completely healed.

Most of them are just slight scratches or wounds that can be taken care of.

'X-tinct was really strong... way stronger than Akio. Although he didn't really plan on hurting me that much, he still left me with some wounds and bruises...but it isn't anything I can't handle.'

"I..I'm sorry if I'm useless.", Ai apologized.

"What do you mean? You're-"

"Akira Ishikawa, am I right?"

A tan guy with small eyes, brown kempt hair and a handsome face came wearing a bright smile to Akira's side.

Behind him is a pale guy with his hair separated on the sides and had thin eyes.

"I'm Hirama Ichiro, a first year student from the Savior course.", he said with a smile while he pointed he bowed to them with one of his right arm in front and his left on the back.

"Uh...yeah, what do you want?"

"Akira-sama, I think he wants to team up with you.", Ai informed Akira with a sad expression.

"About that, well I-", Akira was gonna reply to the guy when suddenly-

"No, I came here to ask you, cutie. Would you please be my partner for the SS tournament, Abe Ai-san?"

He suddenly approached Ai and held her hands.

"Ehhhhh...!?", Ai said from shock.

Akira felt a bit annoyed at this and asked him:

"Thought you were looking for me, you should have said what you were after from the start."

"I- uh..."

"When I first laid my eyes on you, my heart couldn't stop beating. I'm sure you're gonna be the best support one may ever ask for!", he said while kneeling down as if proposing.

"Of course our relationship doesn't have to stop there. We could be closer and the flowers of love might start budding. That is also my desire."

"L-love...!?"

Ai felt a bit flustered from Ichiro's proposal, while Akira just kept a sharp glare on him.

"Yeah, yeah."

Akira pulled Ichiro's hands off Ai then stepped in between them.

"If you don't plan on taking love girl as your support seriously, don't even bother."

He said with an annoyed expression.

"What do you mean? You aren't her lover, if I'm correct. You don't have the right to disturb the start of our romance. Or isn't that pink haired girl not enough for your satisfaction?", Ichiro asked him with a smile.

'Oh yeah, the Savior course watched our match, didn't they? Can't believe he mistook that pink girl as my girlfriend.'

"Listen, I-"

"Akira-sama."

Ai, who seems to be looking down with her eyes shadowed, making it hard to see her expression, called on Akira.

"I...want to decide for myself.", she said with a slightly sad tone.

'Why does she sound so...?'

"You don't understand Love girl. This guy, he's-"

"Akira-sama!"

She called out to him with an angry tone.

'I...never heard Ai sound so angry before.'

"I...I'm sorry..."

"I-I'm just gonna speak to him, please head back...on your own."

Akira felt a little guilty, but decided to leave it to Ai.

"...yeah."

______________________________________

"Today, you will all be watching the savior course students fight each other our in a group battle.", Mind whisperer announced to them.

"Oh yeah, for the SS tournament! Everyone's probably all fired up to showcase their skills to us.", Kami said with his hands behind his head.

"One of them approached me yesterday, my scope ability works wonders for projectile ability users.", said Takumi.

"Most of you have probably been approached by students from the savior course. This week, you'll be watching them show off their abilities so be observant."

"Ai ! You've been invited! I'm happy for you!", Megumi told her with a smile.

"We told you someone's gonna invite you to become their support eventually. You were just too paranoid.", Koka said with a smile.

"Y-yeah...", Ai replied to then with a wry smile.

Akira, was glancing towards Ai's from his seat at the corner of his eyes.

'So noone invited her yet except him, huh?'

Akira then turned towards his classroom.

'I heard from Kami that most of them have been invited by people from the savior course, even Tomo, who's gloomy all the time was invited.', Akira thought.

'...Love girl's probably feeling like that...huh?'

"Okay, everybody head to simulator 04. You will be watching the saviors from there."

Keima who was playing with his PSP stood up and took another PSP from his bag.

He then pointed it to Akira.

"What is it?"

"Let's play something. You forgot your PSP, right?"

"Aren't we gonna go watch the first year savior course's battle?", Akira asked as if hiding his worries.

"I bet you're just gonna check on their abilities once, then get bored in the middle."

"...Well, yeah...but..."

"Besides, I bet you've got something on your mind."

Akira stared at the PSP pointed to him then took it.

"Thanks.

______________________________________

"Ni hao, everyone."

A tall, muscular man, wearing a yellow traditional chinese suit, with a yin and yang symbol in front, and had a bald scalp with a long braided ponytail on the ends and sharp eyes announced to everyone as he held a mike on his hands.

He stood with a great posture, with his left arm placed on his back and his right hand holding the mike.

"I hope that you all have prepared yourself for this activity.", he continued.

They were back in the coliseum they once fought at, except it looked wider and bigger.

Akira who was holding a PSP, sat in the audience seats, with his classmates.

Other support classes are in the audience seats too, including class 1-1 up to 1-10.

"Who's that?", Akira asked Keima while pointing to the man speaking with a mike.

"That's Shijie, the martial artist hero. His ability is called 'Combo. Basically, the more hits he does, the quicker he'll hit. He's known to have taken down gangs of yakuza just by himself.", Keima explained.

"That seems pretty awesome.", Kami told Keima with a smile.

The students have gathered as they start walking towards their planned positions.

"This is class 1-1, there are nine more classes after this.", Takumi commented.

'That's-'

Akira saw Ichiro and the guy with him in the field.

"KYAAAH! ICHIRO-SAMA!"

"He's so cool!"

"Ichiro-sama, partner with me!"

"I LOVE YOU, ICHIRO-SAMA!"

Akira was blocking his ears with an indifferent expression as he heard the audience's cheers.

"Why's he so popular? He's got good looks but that can't be just it.", Akira asked.

"He's a well-known professional model. I've seen him in lots of magazines. It's obvious he'll be quite popular.", Eiko, who was behind Akira, answered him.

"A model, huh?"

"He's really high in demand when it comes to female students. I've heard lots of them have confessed to him even during the entrance exams."

"That doesn't matter. His ability is what's important when it comes to teaming up in the SS tournament.", Akira replied to her.

"Well, he's not someone to be underestimated either."

"-who capture all their opponents' flags wins.", Shijie said as he finishes his explanation.

"After all his ability-"

"Begin!"

"...is-"

*BOOOOOOM*

Ichiro immediately jumped out at the speed of light as the he launched a shockwave with his palm to the air.

"-uncomparably strong.", she finished.

He immediately jumped out to the enemy team who were located behind a rock.

They immediately spawned weapons like blades and swords and other stuff on their hands.

Some even had small laser skills and some had muscle enhancement.

A variety of skills were showed by the heroes...but...

*BOOOOOOOOOOOM*

Ichiro immediately shot out a whole group of students and crashed them on the coliseum walls.

"Holy shit.", Akira couldn't help but be shocked by this event.

"Unlike us, Saviors don't really have a plan of action when it comes to defense. Most of their abilities are focused on offensive after all.", Keima explained.

"I heard even though he's a first year. He defeated three sixth years by himself during the tag competition.", Eiko told Akira.

'We had a hard time fighting two of those sixth years...and he defeated three of them?', Akira thought.

"They also announced him as one of the ten pointers after the tag competition."

"Announced? I never heard of that announcement."

"That's obvious. It's because you went home after intentionally letting yourself be tagged.", Eiko said as she whispered the last line.

'...He's a ten pointer, huh?

...however...

...

...

... I knew it!'

Akira glanced at Ai from the corner of his eye.

'He's got some other reason why he chose love girl.'

______________________________________

"Ah! Sorry!"

Akira, Kami and Takumi were sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch.

Close to their seat, a plain looking girl tripped on her seat and accidentally spilled juice.

"Quite the clumsy lad, ain't she my mates?", Kami said with a smug expression.

Akira just showed him an incredulous look.

"What's with you changing the way you talk. Gives me the creeps, man."

"Oh come on! I just wanna try to tell you guys a horror story with a pirate's voice. That would be kinda funny, right?", he said with a smile.

"Horror story? We've already got Tomo covering the ghosts for us. I don't think you'd ever make us afraid of anything."

"Oh, but it's true. Have you ever heard of Iino Hashiba's disappearance?", Kami said while trying to make a scary face.

"Who's that?"

"I've heard of that. She's the student who dropped out of the savior course immediately after the first few weeks, right?", Takumi explained.

"Huh?....Why'd she drop out? I don't know what the hell kind of entrance exam the savior students had, but there's no way it's easier than ours. It's hard enough trying to get in our school, why would she just let that chance slip up?", asked Akira.

"Well, we haven't heard that much about it...but from what I heard, she was the one who had the lowest grade out of her whole class... She was really clumsy as well... There were also rumors about a guy trying to comfort her, but he wasn't successful.", explained Kami.

"She started not coming to class a few weeks ago, and up until now, noone still knows where she went.", he continued.

"Sounds pretty spooky.", Akira commented while sipping his cola.

"Veeeeeerrrry spooky.", Kami replied while nodding his head, with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.

______________________________________

"Heya, babe!", the violet haired guy with a butterfly hairpin, named Eiji called on Akira.

Akira was about to leave with his bag held by his hand over his shoulder with Keima beside him wearing his shoulder bag.

Keima hearing this, lowered his head and pulled his glasses up.

"So there is a reason why you don't seem to be too fond of women."

Akira then put his fist up Keima's head and rubbed it.

"He's joking, you little shit."

"Ouch! Get your fist of my head!"

Akira then went up to Eiji, who had a large smile on his face as he waved at them.

*BAM*

Akira then punched his right arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Don't you ever call me babe again.", Akira said with an incredulous expression.

Eiji just scratched his head and showed a wry smile.

"So, what are you here for?", Akira asked him.

"Well. Since I still want you as my partner. I thought we should somehow bond together to know each other more. Basically, I'm asking you ou-"

Akira then turned his back and started walking out of the campus.

"HEY! Wait up!"

Eiji then ran after him.

Keima sighed and decided to follow suit.

Eiji walked beside Akira as Keima ran up and followed as well.

"Hey, hey. Come on! Listen to me!"

Akira kept walking straight without replying to him.

"Akira! Let's just hang out for a bit!"

He continued ignoring him while walking straight.

"I'll treat you to-"

"Oh hey, what's up?"

Akira suddenly replied to him.

"You're a schemer, aren't you?"

"You were acting all loony so I just thought I'd stop giving a shit."

"Hey! I heard you were like that. I tried to just match your vibe. You were supposed to be sort of a crazy, wild, angry looking joker who's actually smart and can think up of the perfect plan in just a short time."

Akira's eyes slightly widen upon hearing this.

"...What? Who told you that?"

"...Uh, well..."

Akira stopped his tracks and looked him dead in the eye.

"My auntie! It's my auntie, alright? She told me all about you."

"Your auntie...?"

'Who...?'

Akira then turned his eyes to his hair.

'Hmm...'

"Can't believe she thinks of me that way."

"What? Who is it?", butted in Keima.

"Well, since you're finally listening. Can we just hang out for a sec. My treat!"

"Yeah, sure. Where are we going?"

The two ignored Keima's question and continued to just keep conversing with each other.

"I'm bringing you to heaven.", he said with a big smile.

"Heaven?"

Eiji just winked at them.

'D-don't tell me...

...is he taking us to...'

______________________________________

"Meow!"

Suddenly, a cat was shown walking on top of Eiji, who was on the ground with a huge smirk on his face.

"Heaven, huh?"

Akira showed an incredulous expression as he saw the scene before his eyes.

'I thought we'd be in some kind of brothel or something...not...

THIS!'

Akira, Keima and Eiji were inside a cafe...filled with cats.

"Meow."

"Meow."

'I mean they're hella cute and all, but my dick expected something else.'

"Aren't they just so cute? They're the sweetest little creatures to have ever walked the planet!", Eiji explained as he held a cat up.

"Yeah, they are...but this isn't what I had in mind."

"What was in your mind then?"

Akira felt a little bashful and told him:

"It's nothing, forget it."

Keima was seated in front of Akira, playing his PSP as well.

"So, aren't you planning to tell us the real reason you invited this moron out? Or are you gonna wait a little longer?", Keima asked.

"I don't think you'd just randomly invite me out here in the first place. I'd understand if you want to deepen our connection for the tournament...but you don't seem like the type of guy who'd do that."

"Hey! I use my brain too! I'm not just a nitwit!"

"Are you sure?"

"Oh come on!"

Akira showed an incredulous expression at this... Then changed it to a serious one.

"Just tell me what you're actually on about."

Eiji, then put the cat down, and sat in front of Akira and Keima.

"I need to win the tournament. I really really trust you. So please. I'm gonna do my best for the last day's battle. Watch me closely and actually consider having me as a partner.", he requested him with a serious expression.

Akira saw his eyes and felt his conviction.

He then sighed and laid his head down.

"You know, I've been actually trying to avoid the talks about partnering for the tournament and stuff. I didn't expect you to not catch that."

Eiji and Keima then stared at him as if he said something weird.

"Why?", Keima asked at Akira feeling a bit confused.

"Yeah, why? You can't join the tournament without a partner, you know?", Eiji asked with a confused expression.

"Well...you see.", Akira scratched his head as if feeling a little reluctant about answering them.

"The truth is...I..."

He was slightly hesitating, as if he didn't want to tell them.

"I...wasn't really...

Uh..planning to join the tournament."

Both of their eyes widen as they heard him.

""WHAT?""

"Is your mind actually starting to deteriorate into a primate's?"

"Why in the name of all things cute are you planning to not join the tournament?"

"The prize is a large sum of money. Nothing could compare to that, you moron."

"I don't get what's running in that strange mind of yours, Akichi."

Keima and Eiji started insulting and lecturing Akira after hearing his statement.

"Well...you see. We are still from the support course, and I'm betting they're probably not gonna let a support take the spotlight since that'd embarass the savior.

...They're probably gonna give us supports some sort of restriction or handicap so as to not get in the savior's way to shine...

And don't you ever call me Akichi again.", Akira explained.

"Well, that's probably reasonable since a support is supposed to just aid the savior. If the support decides to jump in the frontlines immediately, that'll completely destroy their chances of winning.", Eiji replied.

"And besides...

Someone out there's planning to kill me."

["I don't know what your father said to you, or what happened that forced you to do that to my father, but..."]

["I'm the one who's gonna kill you!"]

Akira reminisced Kazuki's words that shook him that day.

"If I join the tournament. He'll probably rampage against me again.", he continued.

Eiji just showed a serious expression, put his hands up in front of him and placed his elbows on the table.

He then lowered his head on his right hand and used it to pull up his hair.

"I got an awesome hairpin, don't I?", Eiji asked with his head still lowered.

"Uh...yeah. It really brings out the feminity in you."

"Yeah, stop it with the jokes...

This hairpin doesn't really belong to me, you know?"

He then pulled out his cellphone from his bag.

"Look."

He unlocked his cellphone, pressed a few things and showed it to Akira.

"She's cute, isn't she?"

A cute, dark skinned, short haired girl, wearing a butterfly hairpin showed up in the screen.

She was wearing a simple brown dress as the wind blew her hair to the side.

She also had a gentle smile on her face.

"She's cute."

"Thanks, but she's taken."

"I'm not trying to-"

"She's sick. Very. Very. Sick."

He then showed a sad expression on his face as he told him.

"I know that most of the people who are planning to fight out there in the tournament are just trying out their lots and see if they might hit the jackpot 1 billion yen...but unlike most of them...I really, really need the money.", he continued.

"I might not be the best savior student you could ever partner with but..."

He then stared at Akira with those serious eyes and told him:

"I'm the one actually fighting for someone."

Akira was shaken, he felt Eiji strong conviction hit through him.

'I thought he was just a loony, carefree idiot. I didn't expect he'd be fighting for someone's sake.'

"So...even if you reject me, I'll keep-"

"Sure. Let's partner up."

Eiji's eyes, after hearing those words, lit up and slightly widened as he heard Akira's answer.

"Y-you serious? ...but you haven't even-"

"There's a reason why you chose me, right? I still don't know what your ability is...but if you picked me from all other people out there, there must be a reason why.", Akira answered with a straight face.

"Well, my ability sort of makes me a bit defenseless. And with your ability to manipulate shields, you're one of the best people around that I could ask for help with.", he explained.

"...but that's not what I really want to say now..."

He then showed him a serious expression again, lowered his head with his hands on the side at the table as if he's bowing, then told Akira:

"Thank you... so much..."

Akira felt a little embarassed seeing him sort of prostrating and decided to ask him something else:

"If you're really thankful, how about you just answer some of my questions."

Akira then turned his expression to a serious one.

Keima, who played his PSP again during the earlier scene suddenly stopped.

"Sure. What's it about?"

He then turned his expression to an annoyed one and asked him:

"What do you know about Hirama Ichiro?"

______________________________________

Ai walked to her average sized bed, and lied down on it while still wearing her uniform.

She then took a gothic lolita doll on the top of her desk and hugged it, while she slowly fell asleep.

______________________________________

I have always been weak.

"So let's pick who'll be running for the 100 meter race. Anyone?"

Ai was inside a normal looking middle school as she raised her hand.

"Anyone else besides Abe-san?"

"Ai, you know you're too clumsy to be in that event.", her short blue haired female classmate told her with a gentle smile.

"You've already disappointed us the first two years, might as well give it up, Abe-san."

"Abe-san, you could be our class mascot."

"You should think about how tough the 100 meter race is gonna be, Abe-san."

"Someone, anyone? Come on. Are you guys seriously planning to make Abe-san run in the race?"

______________________________________

It never changed no matter how much I grew.

"What? Why am I partnered up with Ai?"

A girl who had short brown hair fixed up to a ponytail, wearing her gym uniform, was standing beside Ai holding a racket.

They were inside what seems to be their school's tennis court as they stood opposite to two other girls who wore the same uniform and had tennis rackets as well.

"Ummm...I-"

"Why me? Why does it have to be doubles anyways? Can't we just play singles so little miss cutiepie here wouldn't bring anyone down with her."

"...We drew lots, it just had to be this way.", the enemy replied.

"I-I'm sorry...you had to...pair up with me..."

"Shut up! If I fail, this is all because of you!"

And the people around always made me remember that.

______________________________________

"Uh. Sorry, I'd like someone else to carry this, Abe-san. You might just slip and drop it.", the old teacher said while carrying a stack of papers.

Ai was inside the classroom, when she approached the teacher's desk and offered to help him carry it.

"Any of you boys wanna help me?"

"I'll help you, sir!"

The blue haired girl answered as she took the papers on his hand.

"Careful, don't wanna drop them."

The teacher said as he walked out.

I wanted to be helpful.

To be useful.

To shine like the others.

______________________________________

"What? Join our club? Come on, Abe-san. Do you even know how to swim?"

"I-I don't know, but I wanna learn how to!"

"You might as well give up. We don't want anyone drowning here now do we?"

I hated it.

______________________________________

"Sasaki-san and Kawai-san, am I right?", a cute black haired tied up as a bun girl asked Megumi, who was sitting in the cafeteria with Koka and Ai.

Behind her was a brown long haired girl with short twin tails and meduim length caramel haired girl.

"Yes, that's us. Is something wrong?", Koka asked.

"Wanna team up for the SS tournament?"

"Are you guys from the savior course?", Megumi asked.

"That's right! We saw you girls in the tag competition and the group battles. We thought you're pretty awesome. Wanna team-"

"...but what about Aichi?", asked Koka.

"...Ummm...sorry. We don't really match up with her ability, especially since it's easily countered.", she said as her voice slowly went quieter on the last line.

Koka and Megumi went silent as Ai looked down.

I tried doing my best, but I always end up as 'just the mascot'.

______________________________________

"A-another invite?", asked Ai.

Ai was lying in her average sized bed hugging a gothic lolita doll wearing blue long sleeve pjs while chatting with Megumi on the phone.

She seemed to have a sad look as she spoke to her.

"Yeah, but it's just a guy with obvious ulterior motives so I turned him down.", answered Megumi.

"K-kokachi got another invite too, you guys are pretty popular."

"You'll probably get invited as well, don't worry Ai!"

"Yeah...I probably...will..."

Just the clumsy, useless girl.

______________________________________

"You're so popular, Aichi."

"Kokachi, I'm really sorry that you had to do this for me..."

'I'm really really sorry.'

Koka and Ai were chatting near a tree where lots of boys confess to Ai.

"It's okay, Ai. You're my best friend, I don't want you to just be snatched away and hurt by some boy."

'I wish... I wasn't this useless.'

Just the frail and weak...me.

______________________________________

"T-training?"

"Yes, training. Don't you want us to have a connection once were on the battlefield?", Ichiro asked Ai.

"Y-yes! I'll do it."

Ai said looking a bit confident.

"Then let's meet at the simulator area everyday after class, okay?"

"Y-yes..."

Ai was speaking with Ichiro, who invited her to training.

Class was just about to start when he walked inside the classroom to speak to Ai.

"Wow, seems like you've been NTRed by one of your women, huh Akira? So sad.", Kami joked with Akira.

Kami and Takumi were sitting near the windows beside Akira and Keima when they saw this scene play out with Ichiro and Ai.

Akira just showed an angry expression at Ichiro, as he left the classroom.

'That guy...'

______________________________________

"Bye!"

"You sure you're gonna be ok, Aichi?"

"Ai, be careful!"

"Yeah..."

Ai then walked towards the simulator training area C.

______________________________________

"Yo!", Akira called up to the black divided haired guy who was with Ichiro when they called out to Ai.

He was sitting with his plain looking friends.

A guy with short black hair and glasses, and a fat guy with a shaved head was with him.

All in all, they looked way different than Ichiro.

"Mind if we talk for a bit?"

Akira said, asking the divided hair guy.

'I'm gonna beat you the fuck up if you don't come. I know about the sketchy shit you guys have been doing.', Akira thought.

The guy looked a bit shaken and trembled on his seat.

"Are you gonna come with me or not?"

______________________________________

"Stretching?"

"Yeah, what about we pair stretch together, Ai-san?"

"S-sorry! Ummm... I can stretch myself."

"...Well, I understand."

Ai and Ichiro were inside what seems to be a dark forest simulated by the simulator.

Ai and Ichiro were wearing gray tracksuits, although Ichiro's tracksuit was unbuttoned.

"Is something the matter, Ai-san?"

Ai was feeling a bit bashful hearing him call her first name directly but left it be.

"I-It's nothing, Hirama-san.", she said as she struggled stretching her arms.

Ichiro then walked up to her and grabbed her arm.

"Hiih!"

"Ai-san. I've heard about your friends having been invited by 3 saviors already. I know you must be feeling quite disappointed of yourself.", Ichiro said with what seems to be a worrying expression.

"I'm here for you, ok? If you wanna talk about it, it's fine. To me...

...you aren't useless.", Ichiro said with a gentle smile.

'He...he knows...that I'm...'

"I...", Ai had slight tears in her eyes after hearing his statement.

"I'm..."

"It's ok, Ai-san."

Ichiro pulled out a hankerchief from his pocket and offered it to Ai.

"You can cry."

'I... I want to hug someone... I want to feel...'

Ai then looked at Ichiro who seems to be looking after her so much.

Ichiro then opened his arms as if welcoming Ai.

"Come on, come over here.", Ichiro beckoned with his arms open wide.

"I-"

Suddenly, the silhouette of a black haired young man, flashed on Ai's mind patting her head.

"S-sorry!", Ai told him as she stood up.

"I-Is something wrong, Ai-san?"

"I... don't really want to...umm... hug someone I just met.", Ai said while trying to be tactful.

Ichiro's smile twitched a bit, but he replied to her:

"It's okay then. Let's get to training then."

"Mmm!"

______________________________________

"Koka, help us with the decorations.", a plain looking girl standing on a chair said as she put up streamers on the classroom's ceiling.

They were back in the classroom Ai attended during high school.

"Oh, sure!", Koka said as she went to her.

"C-can I help?"

"Abe-san, please avoid the decorations, you might trip and mess them.", the plain looking girl said as she held up the streamers.

"Hey! You guys need to learn to trust Aichi!"

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry, Abe-san."

"Ummm...I..."

"If you weren't so clumsy we wouldn't even be having this conversation."

"Hey!"

I want to be better.

______________________________________

"Hand to hand combat training?", Megumi asked Ai before their first class starts.

"That doesn't suit your ability at all.", Koka told Ai.

"I-it's ok. Hirama-san said he knows what he's doing. He said he'll make sure I'm fighting with him in the SS tournament.", Ai explained.

"...but hand to hand combat? Your ability is a projectile and hitting them with a strong blow on their head would cancel your ability. Aren't you basically doing the wrong training?", Megumi asked with a worried expression.

"What if that guy just wanted to feel you up, Aichi? Close combat isn't really-"

"I'm doing my best!", Ai said with an angry expression with closed eyes and arms on the side with her fists clenched.

The students looked at Ai with widened eyes.

"Both of you, are so strong! I want to be strong as well!"

Ai, then opened her eyes and looked at them.

"So... don't try to stop me..."

She then ran away with slight tears on her eyes.

"Ai...chi...", Koka who felt a little guilty reached her hand to her, but she ran away too quickly.

"Ai...", Megumi could just spout her name.

'That fucker.', Akira thought to himself.

______________________________________

"W-what should I do?"

Koka, Ai and a few other girls just finished wearing their maid uniforms when she asked the others what she had to do.

"Koka, you cook us something. Ria, serve the customers, you too, Yumi.", the blue short haired girl ordered her fellow classmates around.

"W-what about me?", Ai asked again.

"Just stand outside the class and be our poster girl."

"Hey! Don't just make Aichi do that!"

I want to be...

______________________________________

"So what are you doing in my office?", Kana asked Akira.

"I just need your permission for something."

Kana looked at Akira with a serious expression and told him:

"I'm listening."

____________________________________

"Your closest friends doubted you?", Ichiro asked.

"W-well, not really, but..."

They were once again stretching in a dark forest.

"Isn't obvious that they doubted your strength? I can't believe you befriended people like that.", Ichiro, who had an annoyed expression, but kept his gentleness told Ai.

'He's getting angry for my sake...'

"Don't worry, no matter how many people leave you behind.

I'll always be here with you, Ai-san."

The silhouette of a black haired man flashed in her mind again.

"Is something wrong, Ai-san?"

"I-it's nothing."

______________________________________

Akira opened his briefcase and showed it to the guy who had his hair diveded.

"So, do we have a deal?"

They were behind the campus near the trees as they stood in front of each other alone.

He then looked to Akira seemingly a bit hesitant.

Akira then put his other fist up and showed it to him with an intimidating smile.

"Do. We. Have. A. Deal?"

The guy trembled a little as he saw Akira's pose and expression, and after a while...

Finally nodded.

"Well, then. Seems like I've got myself involved with another troublemaker.", he said with an annoyed smile.

______________________________________

Ai was on a bench looking a little sad.

She was in the school's courtyard sitting there peacefully.

There was no one else in that place but her, since it was supposed to be their first period after all.

'I don't want to skip class...but...'

Ai remembered Megumi and Koka's worried eyes as she left.

'I don't want them to see me right now... not after what happened.'

Suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder.

"You okay?"

She felt a little relieved and calmer feeling and hearing a guy's hand and voice.

She felt as if he wanted to tell him everything, as if he wanted to rely on him now...

...but...

"I'm here for you, Ai-san."

It wasn't the person she was eagerly looking for.

"H-hirama-san. Classes have started already, right? Aren't you supposed to-"

"Ai-san. I know what you're feeling."

Hirama-san showed a gentle, but serious expression to her as he whispered to her ear.

"You're pained by how everyone thinks of you, right? I want to tell you...

That unlike them, I believe you're really amazing, Ai-san.", he told her with a gentle smile.

Ai was a bit flustered at his statement but just averted her eyes from him.

'I...wanted to tell him... about this... but...'

"H-hirama-san. Can I-"

Hirama then took off his blazer and put it on Ai.

"I see, you want to feel the warmth of another person, right? Don't worry. I'm here for you.", he said with a dazzling smile.

Ai then lowered her head, then turned towards Ichiro.

"A-am I really just a weakling... H-hirama-san?", she asked with a sad expression.

Ichiro tilted his head, thought for a bit and finally spoke.

"Want to go to the simulators?", Hirama asked with a gentle smile.

Ai held the blazer given to her, looked down and told him:

"...s-sure."

Ai didn't notice though, that while she looked down, Ichiro had an evil grin on his face.

______________________________________

"Abe-san?", Sir Knight called out to her name to check the attendance but no one answered.

"Is Abe-san absent?"

"Umm...sir, she might just be late. We're not sure....", Megumi said with a worried tone.

"Okay, then lets just continue with the other's for now...okay?"

'Ai....where did you go to? You do know we aren't mad at you, right?'

Koka had a worried expression and seemed to be fidgeting her fingers.

"Ishikawa-san? Is Ishikawa-san absent too?"

Keima looked up to Sir Knight and grinned.

"Yes, he's definitely absent, sir."

"I was sure I didn't see him skipping class, not at all sir.", Kami also answered while snickering.

"Okay, then. Next'"

Megumi who was worried before, suddenly turned her expression into a gentle smile.

'I don't have to worry after all.'

Koka seemed a bit annoyed by something but didn't look nervous anymore.

______________________________________

"Like this."

"L-like this?"

Ai and Ichiro stood next to each other while they held up their right fists in front and their left fist beside their waist.

"You're starting to get the hang of it.", Ichiro said as he went to his bag in a tree nearby, his blazer was placed on top of it.

Ai then sat on the ground.

They were inside the dark forest again simulated by the simulator.

They both were sweating from training hard even though they were just wearing their uniforms.

There also wasn't an air conditioner there so it was really hot.

"Ai-san, here's a towel for you."

Ichiro walked up to her and tried to rub the towel on Ai's face.

"N-no. I'm fine."

"Come on. If you refuse my kindness, I'd be really mad."

Ai felt a little bit guilty, but tried to take the towel from him.

"T-thank you, Hirama san...but I want to do it myself."

Ichiro looked a little sad and decided to give her the towel.

"You're still thinking that you're useless, aren't you?"

"..."

Ai showed as a expression as she told him:

"I...I'm just really weak and clumsy. I don't even know why someone like me is in this school in the first place.", Ai explained.

"Don't say that! You're really amazing, Ai-san."

"I'm not...I'm just-"

Ichiro suddenly put his hands on Ai's shoulders.

"You're beautiful, cute and dashing. Unlike other girls, you sparkle a lot more than them. To others, you might just be a simple nobody, but to me...

You're my world, Ai.", he said with a serious expression as he looked at Ai.

"H-hirama-san...!"

"Ai, would you please...

Make love to me?"

Ai's eyes suddenly widen as she heard this.

"W-what do you-"

He suddenly closed his face near Ai and told her

"If you make love to me, you'll make me reallllllly realllly happy, Ai... I'm sure you'd be really...

...useful."

"I..."

Ai felt a bit hesitant when suddenly...

Ichiro pushed her down gently.

"H-hirama-san, wait...no...I-"

"Do you want to disappoint me, Ai?"

["You've already disappointed us the first two years, might as well give it up, Abe-san."]

"I..."

"We don't have to give up okay, I'm sure with your strength we'll win the tournament."

["You might as well give up. We don't want anyone drowning here now do we?"]

"Hirama...san..."

"Win or lose, we're in this together."

["Shut up! If I fail, this is all because of you!"]

"So, just let me be happy, okay Ai?"

"..."

["Love girl."]

Suddenly, Akira's smiling face flashed on her mind.

Hirama was on top of Ai and was about to reach her breast with an evil grin.

"NO-", Ai suddenly showed fear in her eyes and planned to push him away.

"Heh. Jackpot.", he whispered.

When suddenly...

"Huh!"

*BAM*

A shield was thrown at him.

He immediately formed an x with his arms and blocked against it, but was pushed by the force.

"Oh, what's this? The model, Ichiro Hirama-san trying to rape a girl in the middle of classes. What a scandal."

Akira told him with mocking, curled down eyes.

He had his briefcase put up on his shoulder and his blazer unbuttoned with his left hand on his pocket and his head turned up while looking down on Ichiro.

In his blazer's pocket was a pen with what seems to be a small circular black glass on it.

Ai's eyes shined as she saw Akira come in, but felt a little shaken.

"What are you talking about, Ishikawa-san? Ai's my lover now. And as her lover, it's normal to-"

"Manipulating an emotionally unstable girl isn't what I think you should call a healthy relationship.", Akira said as he pulled out his left hand and looked at his nails.

"What are you talking about, Ishikawa-san? I approached her like how a normal guy should approach a female lover. I treated her with utmost care.", he answered him with a twitching smirk as if he's desperately holding back his emotions.

"Oh, what's this, I'm sorry I didn't hear you... It's weird it's as if my finger's possessed. Oh wait...what's going on? My middle fingers slowly standing on it's own."

Akira said as he slowly pulled up his middle finger then showed it to Ichiro.

"I-ishikawa-san.", Ichiro said while slightly trembling of what seems to.be anger.

His smirk was twitching and it seems like he was about to have a mental breakdown.

"Oh by the way. Ai's mine. I've used her so many times before you.", Akira said as he approached Ai and patted her head.

"A-A-Akira-s-sama?"

"She even sniffed it and told me how big it is, right Ai?"

"W-w-what-"

["Akira-sama... you're back is so big."]

"...oh, but that was-", Ai suddenly remembered what she told Akira in the tag competition.

Ai suddenly blushed as if confirming Akira's words and looked a bit flustered.

"See, I told you, Hirama Ichiro-san, she's-"

"Shut the fuck up."

Suddenly, Hirama Ichiro's face turned from his gentle expression, to a haughty annoyed expression.

"So this bitch is just used goods, huh? Man, I even worked so hard for her.", he said while rolling his eyes.

"So, you finally decided to reveal your real personality, huh? Hirama Ichiro-san.", Akira said with a big smile.

"Wipe the ugly fucking smile on your face, you disgusting creep."

Ichiro then walked up to his bag and took his blazer.

"Wonder how your fans would react when they find out how shitty your attitude is."

Ichiro then tugged on Akira's collar.

"If you don't wanna fucking die. Keep your mouth shut."

Akira's smile twitched as well as he kept his eyes on Ichiro.

"Don't worry, I don't have to tell them."

Akira then pulled Ichiro's hand aggresively away from his collar.

He then pointed to his pen.

There seemed to be a lens on it.

"They're watching this scene right here, right now."

Ichiro's eyes widen as he noticed.

He then curled his eyes of anger and charged at Akira.

"YOU!"

He planned to strike his shockwave ability to him when...

Akira immediately created a shield in the middle of it.

*BAAAMM*

"GAAAAAHHH!"

The force suddenly repelled from Akira's shield and forced Ichiro away crashing on a tree.

"HOW THE HELL DID YOU-"

"I've seen you fight, Ichiro san. Remember we watched your group battles, right? I noticed how your shockwave works everytime."

He said while he slowly walked closer to him.

"The center of the force is where it's all shot out, if I block that point...

The force will strike you back instead."

Ichiro had slightly widened his eyes, but he immediately fixed himself and....

"I'm still not done yet!"

He shot a strong shockwave to the ground, and made Akira and Ai lose balance.

"COME HERE, YOU-"

He jumped out and used his shockwave to push himself immediately closer to the shaken Akira.

"LOVE GIRL!"

Ai, hearing Akira's call, immediately showed a confident expression and made a heart shaped sign with her hands.

"LOVE BEAM!", Ai said as she struck the charging Ichiro.

He blushed as he stopped his hands from trying to launch a shockwave to Akira and turned at Ai.

"GOODNIGHT, YOU BASTARD!"

*BAAAAAAAMMMM*

Akira immediately smashed his shield on him and threw him to the ground

"AUUUUGGHHHHHH!"

He then

...fell unconscious.

"Whew, that was some exercise.", Akira said as he clicked on the pen and sat down.

"You had a long day, didn't you, love girl? You better head back to class. This fucker might wake up again."

Akira, who turned his eyes towards Ai, suddenly saw her crying.

"He-hey... Come on, don't be like that."

'Shit, I had a girl cry on my chest before but I still don't know how to approach them in situations like this.'

"A-Akira-sama *sniff* I-I'm sorry. *sniff* I'm so useless. I shouted at you, and now... you even saved me... *sniff*."

"...love girl."

Akira approached Ai and looked at her crying face while crouching.

"You're not useless, Ai. Can you stop with the drama? This shouldn't have happened in the first place."

"...but I'm weak! I even made you save me! I...I hate it. I wish I didn't-"

*flick*

"Iya!"

Akira suddenly flicked Ai's forehead as she cried.

"W-what was that for?"

"If you didn't exist. What would have happened to the people you saved, huh?"

"...Akira...sama..."

Suddenly, Ai remembered the events that happened that day.

______________________________________

"Put your hands up!"

Ai, who was wearing a maid outfit, held a pen and a list on her hand was sat outside her class waiting for customers.

Her other classmates were also wearing maid outfits and were serving the customers.

Their class chose to make a maid cafe during their school festival, and lots of different kinds of people, like alumni, parents and others were busy playing around and visiting all the class's activities.

One middle aged man, who wore a red beanie, sunglasses, a brown leather jacket and dark brown pants, who had a stubble on his face, pointed a pistol towards the servers.

A man was already shot by him, who tried to resist and was unconscious.

"I WANT YOU GIRLS TO BRING ME TO THE BACK WITH YOUR ASSES BENT OVER, GOT THAT!?"

"S-sir,"

*BANG*

He shot the wall near them.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID I SAY?"

Ai's classmates trembled as this man lusted for their bodies.

Ai was outside so he didn't feel the threat on her but still...

'N-NO, everyone! Kokachi! I can't. I need to... save them!'

Ai's hand that was holding the pen suddenly glowed pink as her other hand glowed pink and showed pink energy nerves and struck out a large heart beam.

'W-what just...'

"T-that pen.", suddenly, the man turned his pistol towards Ai and blushed as he looks at her pen.

"Why...am I suddenly feeling so in love with it...?"

Ai's eyes suddenly widened.

'...I-I need to use this!'

"I-if you don't want me to destroy this pen, put down your gun!"

______________________________________

"Th-that's-"

"If you weren't there what would have happened to them?"

Ai showed a sad expression and turned towards Akira.

"T-they forgotten about it. Even if I wanted to help them right after, their memories had to be erased since they saw my power..", Ai explained.

"I-I tried my best to be stronger then so they could see me in a new light...but..."

"So is it just about your reputation?"

"N-no! It's just... unlike them, I can't really shine in the spotlight. I'm nothing special. Although I saved them, someone else might have done something besides me. I-I'm sure if Kokachi used her power then I-... I probably would've been usele-.", Ai said.

"Love girl..."

"A-Akira-sama! I'm weak. I'm clumsy. I even shouted at you for stepping up for me! I-I just thought everyone was underestimating me, but I see now! I'm just nothing but a usele-"

"Love girl, you know I always believed in you right?"

"...Akira-sama?..."

"Remember the time we first grouped together?"

"Y-yeah..."

["Love girl, use your ability on me."

"W-what?"

"I'm gonna charge at you, if you don't use your ability... You're dead."

"Hiiih!", Ai moaned with a scared tone.

Akira suddenly charged at Ai, which irritated Koka... but when he's about to reach her...

Ai who closed her eyes and turned towards the side suddenly put up her arms to protect herself, with her palms pointed towards Akira's direction.

Small glowing pink hearts suddenly shot out of her palms and splashed at Akira.]

"I'm not really a fan of hitting girls, but when we were in there...

...I felt like you were actually a threat."

Ai slightly widened her eyes on this.

Akira then patted her head.

"You probably didn't notice it too, but when you were all down on the ground. I healed all of my groupmates, including you, because I knew we needed you."

'I...was actually slightly awake by then...', she thought while still blushing.

"And lastly, remember the tag competition?"

Ai's eyes widened and turned her head to Akira's face.

"I-I was really useless back then! You had to carry me-"

"I wouldn't have done that if I thought you were useless.", said Akira.

"That time, the others didn't even come to our rescue, because they wanted to compete in the tag competition as well... You even shot out love beams to keep the enemy away.", Akira said with his eyes lowered.

"I think carefully about my actions even though I'm an idiot-

"YOU'RE NOT AN IDIOT!", Ai suddenly screamed.

"You, you're amazing, Akira-sama! I heard all about it and watched the things that you did! You made the cold-hearted Nakamura-san open up his heart, saved me and Kokachi from being hurt by criminals and saved us all from a villain! You did everything without expecting anything in return! Unlike you, I'm nothing. And there's nothing that can prove that wro-"

"There is."

"There's nothing!"

"Love girl!"

"You just don't understand, Akira-sa-"

Suddenly, Akira hugged Ai tightly. This made her blush so hard.

She then...put her arms around him and hugged him back.

"I...I'm just..."

"The sole proof that you're not useless is the guy hugging you right now."

Akira, then slightly pulled away making Ai show a somehow sad expression as if she wanted to hug him more.

"Love girl, you saved my life."

"T-that's not it! You called my name and I wouldn't have done it if you hadn't-"

"This is not the only time you saved my life, remember?"

Ai's eyes widened as she suddenly realized what Akira was saying.

"During the tag competition, when I fought the villain, you were there. And at the very end I almost died."

["This the end!"

Akira screamed as he charged at him while pulling up his gauntleted hand.

He didn't notice though, that a fifth arm was suddenly made by the villain.

The fifth arm was made so thin and pointy, and was aimed at Akira's forehead as he was jumping to strike at him.

'SHIT!'

"LOVE BEAM!"

Suddenly, a pink beam of hearts struck the villain.

The shadow arm that was pointed towards Akira, suddenly loosened and pointed to the ground.]

"If you weren't there. I would have died."

Ai felt a little calmer, but decided to still rebuke his statement.

"I-it was my fault we were caught in that situation the first place! If you hadn't carried me-"

"Do you think I would just run away and let the guy be killed by the villain?", asked Akira.

"I would have charged in there whether I carried you or not."

"A-Akira-sama..."

"I was so embarrassed back then, I couldn't say it since it's not really my thing, but right now, I feel like I just need to tell you..."

Akira then showed a gentle smile to Ai.

"Thank you, Ai Abe-san, you're my hero."

Ai's eyes widened as she heard his statement.

At that time, I finally realized how I was wrong.

"It doesn't matter how many times you tell me you're useless. It doesn't matter what others say about you, to me, you're amazing."

Useless? No. If it weren't for me...

"...Akira-sama..."

"That's why don't ever say you shouldn't have existed, alright? If you didn't, I wouldn't be able to hug the cutie who saved right now."

...that amazing person wouldn't be here right now.

"Akira-sama!"

Ai suddenly hugged Akira back, but now with a grinning expression although she had slight tears on her eyes.

"Thank-"

"Nope, that's not the right reply."

Thanks to him.

Ai giggled a little and told him:

"You're welcome, Akira-sama."

I finally got the courage to put my two feet in the ground without fear.

And with her cheeks flushed, and her eyes full of confidence, she turned towards Akira's face.

I love him...

"I love you!"

...so...so...much.

Akira's eyes widened as he heard this.

Ai just showed him a large smile, as she slowly, slowly, got embarassed.

"T-t-t-t-t-that was...ummm! I... I'm going back to class!"

Ai ran away from Akira and left the simulator.

Akira, who had a flustered face, just sat there, shocked.

"Holy fucking shit."

End of Chapter 14

______________________________________

Btw, Ai's savior partner to be was already introduced. (She's a girl)