“Why don’t you check the leaderboard?” Toru suggested, trying to buy himself some time and make a case for his worth. “I think even someone like me could be of use.”
Hitomi tilted her head slightly, her attention diverted to a holographic display that had materialized in front of her. The leaderboard was a critical piece of information in the trials, showing the rankings of all participants in real time. Her gaze lingered on the display, scanning the names and ranks as she processed the information.
“Indeed, you’re currently 6th rank,” she said, her tone neutral but thoughtful. “Then again, it’s too early to judge how much use I could get from teaming up with you.”
Toru seized the opportunity to press his advantage. “Well, look at it this way—you’re a Satow, and I'm a trapper!”
Hitomi’s interest seemed piqued, though her expression remained unreadable. “A…trapper?” she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice as she slightly cocked her head to the side.
“Yeah, a trapper,” Toru explained, his voice growing more confident. “That means I’m skilled with both guns and traps, a sort of hunter, really.”
Hitomi’s response was a brief “Ah,” as if she were piecing together the information. Toru wasn’t particularly surprised by her reaction. It was ironic, but not unusual for members of prestigious families to be somewhat unfamiliar with technical jargon or specific roles outside their immediate specialties. They were often renowned for their exceptional abilities in a particular field, but their knowledge beyond that was often lacking.
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In contrast, Toru’s background as a generalist had given him a solid understanding of technology and problem-solving. Hitomi, despite not having the same level of potential as her twin sister Midori, still possessed an impressive amount of psychic energy. Her specialty in anemokinesis was a form of elemental control that diverged from the more scientific approaches used by many others.
The different strengths of Toru and Hitomi made them complementary partners. Where she excelled in psychic prowess, Toru’s expertise in technical skills and trap-setting could effectively support and enhance their combined efforts.
“What do you say?” Toru pressed, trying to appeal to her sense of practicality. “It’d be really bad if Jin and Angelo decided to team up and you had to face them alone.”
Hitomi’s gaze shifted as she considered his suggestion. “That’s not going to happen,” she said, a touch of finality in her voice. She seemed to have made up her mind about something, though Toru wasn’t sure what.
Then, with a deliberate movement, Hitomi lowered the shotgun from Toru’s face. “But I see value in teaming up with you,” she conceded.
Toru exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Excellent! Shall we finalize the contract then?” he asked, eager to solidify their alliance.
Hitomi blinked in surprise at his enthusiasm. “Mm?” she responded, clearly not grasping the concept of a formal agreement in the context of their situation.
Toru couldn’t help but think to himself, "She really is clueless…” He refrained from asking if it was her first time participating in the peacekeeper selection exam. It was also his first encounter with someone possessing an elemental cognition proficiency, specifically wind manipulation, since elemental control was usually handled through scientific means. He was curious about how she managed her abilities, but he fought the urge to probe further. For now, it was more important to focus on the immediate goal—forming a partnership that could potentially lead to both their success in the trials.