Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death

Vacation time. The bully trio and a few boys and girls surround me, so lively and innocent that it made me envious.

“Lian! I’m looking forward to it!”

“I get to be together with Lian for three whole days!”

“Staying overnight with Lian… I can’t wait! I can’t wait!”

“…Right,” I say, forcing out a smile. It took incredible effort to make it not look stiff.

The classroom is already up in a fuss. In the face of an upcoming dangerous situation that could impact the safety of the world, I can’t find it in myself to feel at ease as if this were just an ordinary school trip. I’m not even sure how to describe how I feel.

I guess gloomy is the best way to put it.

…How’s Alfred doing?

He’s just a kid after all, so he should be pretty pumped for the school trip. As my friends chatter about the sweets and clothes they’ll pack, I glance sideways at the seat by the window.

Alfred’s seat.

There were also a few male and female students nearby him, making the surrounding fun and noisy.

Those golden locks that seem to trap the light of the sun are conspicuous even among so many students.

Oh. Is the crowd around him as large as mine?

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He’s just cruising along so smoothly. Truly the future hero.

The future hero peers out the window, his face sporting an annoyed expression.

Hm. I knew it. As I thought.

He’s probably thinking that he has to skip his part-time job and not see the church for three days.

Yeah. That must be it.

But there’ll be disaster if he doesn’t go. The fate of the world is resting on his shoulders.

The sleepy clear-blue eyes that once stared out the window suddenly aim at me.

Gaaah! Our eyes met!

I desperately try to hold down the cold sweat threatening to soak my back. So scary. I can’t read the emotions in his gaze. Not to mention, he’s staring.

For the time being, I’ll just bring out my usual cheeky smile. The trick is to raise the chin just a bit. I manage to do it in pressing times.

A well-shaped golden brow arches. He’s still looking at me. I can’t look away. If I do, it’ll be my loss.

What do I say? Ha! Yeah, there should be a classroom scene like this where Lian has a line of dialogue. Dangerous, so dangerous! I was distracted by his eyes and almost forgot this.

“Hehehe. Isn’t that good, Alfred?” I say. “A trip that you don’t have to spend money for. Of course you’re coming, right?”

Say that you’ll go. You will. If you don’t, I won’t forgive you. I mean, it’ll be troublesome. Mainly for me. Though if you do go, it’ll be troublesome for me, too. But if you don’t, it’ll still be troublesome. This contradiction is very tiring.

All the while, Alfred’s unreadable blue eyes continue to stare at me.

“…You want me to come?”

Woah!

He asked me?!

Eh?! H-hold on, there’s such a development?

S-since so much time has passed I can not remember the details. So I don’t know.

That’s why I’m saying, I’m bad at dealing with Alfred! Make things simpler for me!

“Yea-I mean no, I mean you! Don’t you want to go?”

Blue eyes slightly narrow. Looks like he’s thinking hard about something. What are you thinking of? Stop being so expressionless. It’s really scary.

Still staring at me, Alred sighs. “…Understood. It can’t be helped. I’ll come on this trip too.”

“R-right…”

So he’s going. Thank goodness.

I mean, he did say it can’t be helped. What can’t be helped?

Well, as long as he feels like coming on the trip, then it’s all good.

As I feel relieved, Alfred breaks into a laugh. What is he laughing at?

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“W-what is it?” I ask.

“Nothing much,” Alfred replies.

Nothing much apart from what? Argh, this bastard! Giving me such a troublesome answer!

For now, I decide to plaster the cheeky smile I always put on my face whenever I feel in trouble. Let’s try to retire now. I’m exhausted. Having to adlib conversations is really tiring.

But as soon as they see Alfred, the trio of bullies grumble.

“Lian! That guy’s been impertinent recently!”

“Yeah, pretty audacious! And yet, he’s still poor!”

“Yeah, still poor!”

Well, he certainly has been standing out these days.

That’s why Alfred has a bad reputation among the rich but unpopular male students.

“Now, now. We’re moving to a different classroom next,” I say. “We can’t be late. Shall we go, everyone?”

“Y-yes!”

And so I rise from my desk. The faces of the crowd around me glow red.

Thank goodness. Thank goodness that we have to move rooms for the next class. It gives me a good excuse to end the conversation.

Within my heart, I secretly wipe the sweat off my brow.