23 days after the last attack.

"Yo! How far did you reach?"

"Ah! Yukio bro, look! I'm almost halfway through in hard difficulty!"

Returning from school, Marvin would always sit down and play video games in his room for some time before anything else. He would get especially hyped when a new game was out.

Similarly, today wasn't anything different.

Within a few hours of his return, Yukio would also return and occasionally play along. Their both similarly childlike nature got them pretty close. Well, closer than the other two.

"Cool, is that so? At this rate, I might not catch up to you." He put his weight on his knees and looked at the screen.

"What do you say? Wanna two-play?"

"Hehe, not today! I need to go train. Just thought I'd stop by and see how far you've progressed." And he headed towards the door.

"Tch! Why is Sis still instructing you guys?!" Marvin complained. "If you ask me, you guys are basically already at her level, so why bother? When will my training resume like it used to?!"

"Now, now, don't be like that. Well, I think Diavolo and Shin have already reached her stage, but as for me, I've still got ways to go."

Marvin didn't reply and seemed to have a dissatisfied expression.

Yukio sighed. "I might even be wrong, but I think Hannah is waiting you out for her own sake."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Hannah isn't just coaching us, but she is also training herself while at it. Especially recently, she has been paying really close attention to how we grow. I'm pretty sure she too has realized we've reached her level. My guess is that since this is the first time she has met students like us, she is taking the chance to learn from us as well."

"......"

"My point is that… you look up to her, right? An elegant and dignified elder sister who is top among her peers. A leading figure in the student body and as heir to the Rose family, she's giving her best to live up to the title. You feel honored, don't you?"

Marvin blushed slightly. "I… guess so…" And looked down.

Yukio giggled. "She's aware of that too! For your sake, and for her image as an elder sister, she'd feel ashamed if her students pass her so quickly right before the brother who looks at her so highly. As such, she's trying to improve herself as fast as she can. She's trying her best to conceal it from us, that while teaching, she's also competing with us. All so that when you return to your regular training sessions, she can stand tall as a proper elder sister, worthy to be respected!"

"That's… impossible. I'm just a kid from a branch family. My dad is just a poor drunkard who left me here to relieve himself of a burden. Who knows where he is now? He's probably dead in some wasted corner." He gripped the gamepad tightly. "Compared to her, I'm just trash. I'm not worth someone she needs to work so hard for. Ever since the beginning, she's always been a light in my eyes!"

"Even if you've lived with her for so long, you still don't know what Hannah is like?"

"Eh?"

"Even if you're her cousin from a rundown branch family, in her eyes, you're already a little brother to her. As a lone child, she couldn't be happier! And to think this little brother actually loves and respects her, what choice does she have but to live up to his expectations?! Even if one day we end up surpassing her, she doesn't wish to go down without a fight. She wants to stay as that shining light in your eyes!"

"No...that's…"

"That's why… wait a little bit longer okay? When she becomes confident enough, she'll be more than ready to train you again!" Yukio smiled and grabbed the doorknob. "Well then, I'll take my leave."

But as soon as he was about to twist it, Marvin spoke out, "You're hiding something from me, right?"

Yukio stopped. "... Sorry?"

"Ah, sorry. That came out of nowhere." He scratched his head. "I was hesitating to bring this up but... if it's Yukio bro, I guess I can say something.

It's about… that. You guys are clearly not our employees, but Sis lied to the public about it. Why?

People are trying to attack us, the Rose, so it's our matter. A political issue. So then, why were the issues disclosed to outsiders like you, but not me?

I get that you guys were attacked as well, so you kind of had a right to know, but so did I! Why was it kept away from me?

I initially thought that… it was because I was treated as an outsider. A freeloader from a homeless and worthless man. Compared to you talented people, I was just as worthless as him! But if what you said is true, and that Sis really does think of me as family, then…

Gramps aside, I thought maybe Sis would've given me hints at the very least. But she totally evaded the topic!"

Marvin displayed a frustrated expression as he said that. He was actually envious of how the trio was treated. Back then, even he wasn't given such importance in such a short time! He who carried the blood of the Rose, but was still somehow an outsider. But these three, were not mere outsiders, they weren't even from the same country!

Marvin gritted his teeth as he waited for the answer. If Yukio said something like 'Because you're her little brother and she doesn't want you to shoulder such a burden,' he wasn't going to accept it! As a Rose himself, he was more likely to be attacked than these three! So he had an even greater right to know! These three just happened to be attacked alongside him, and nothing more!

"Actually…" Yukio looked troubled. What should he say? As he scratched his cheek, he thought of the right words to say.

"This is a bit of a problem," he thought. He looked at Marvin and saw that he was staring at him quite attentively. There didn't seem to be any way of escaping the situation; he would see right through him. There was no choice but to tell him the truth.

"Sorry, I can't tell you." But of course he couldn't expose Suzume's secret. That was just as important. "Because it's something that we don't have the permission to decide.

I won't lie to you, but this is all I can say. The facade of us being your guards is not the only thing that was wrongly informed. The attacks have nothing to do with the Rose.

We're doing this to protect a friend. So I'd really appreciate it if you don't pry too much into it. Please, it's my request," Yukio solemnly explained.

"Eh? Rose wasn't being attacked?!" That was a shock for Marvin. He didn't expect to hear such a thing.

Rose was a really powerful faction within the country of Dimelia. Coupling with the challenge that his uncle made with the President, it was well possible that there would be people wanting to end them. Yukio and the rest were simply dragged into it by an unlucky twist of fate. But to think such a high profile attack wasn't even aimed at the Rose… what's going on?!

Then Marvin thought back to what Yukio had said. "Protect a friend?" And remembered the girl who recently started to hang out with them.

"That girl, Suzume Shiro… so it's her!" he concluded. But why was someone like her being chased like that? Was she that important? Or was she hated or something? But more importantly, "Why does Sis want to help out someone like her? I've never even seen her before!"

Stolen novel; please report.

Then he recalled that Suzume was particularly more attentive towards Diavolo. It was during his recovery celebration. So… it was because of Diavolo?

He also started to understand bit by bit. Among them, Diavolo was most damaged. According to what he heard, he shouldn't even be alive after that. The face of everyone when he was hospitalized; Marvin was stunned. It was natural for Shin and Yukio to be troubled and anxious, but he was a little surprised to see Hannah equally as worried.

So it really was because of Diavolo. Even after that incident, they continued to associate themselves with her. It was definitely because of Diavolo! That was it! Hannah viewed the three as treasured friends, so there was no other reason to help someone unknown unless it wasn't a favor to a friend!

Marvin felt sour. His sister's generosity was being taken advantage of.

Among the three friends, Marvin was most impressed by Diavolo, but at the same time, ever since the match he had with him, he liked Diavolo the least. He may have been able to survive being critically injured or what not, but if something like that were to ever happen to Hannah, he would never forgive him!

"I got it," Marvin said, pouting. "Thanks… for letting me know…"

Yukio smiled. "Thank you as well… for understanding." And left the room.

-------------------------

Coming out of the mansion, Yukio made his way to the dojo where Shin and Diavolo had probably already started their training.

"Hey, it's still too early for you to use Material Natura at this stage!" Yukio heard a strict voice as soon as he reached the door.

Yukio slid the door open. "I'm not gonna use it! I was just curious, that's why I tried it!" He saw Diavolo complaining to Hannah.

On the far side in a corner, was Shin engrossed in improving his Material Natura usage. He seemed to be building up charge in a certain region of his body and redirected it to another part through his body. Was he practicing efficiency?

"Sorry I'm late!" Yukio apologized.

"Ah, Yukio!" Hannah exclaimed. "No, it's fine. We just started too. What do you plan on doing today?"

"Hmm, I don't know… Maybe the usual?"

"Come on, Yu! Let's do something different!" Shin roared.

"Oh no, I see where this is going…" Diavolo sighed.

"Another match! Diav and me against you!"

"Ehehe…" Yukio awkwardly laughed. "I wonder if it was a good idea to win those matches back then…"

Ever since Yukio's victories, Shin had been pestering him nonstop for rematches. Little did he know that a calculative fighter like Yukio simply got more used to Shin's movements the more he battled him.

It was not just by battling, but ever since he was just an onlooker in the past, he had been paying close attention to both of his friends. A first-hand face-off was the only experience lacking in him to get a good grasp of how they fought.

"Yukio, give up. You can't reason with him like this and you know it." Diavolo shrugged.

"I guess so…" he said as he trailed off. But then he got an idea. "Ah, I know! How about we use our weapons this time?"

Hearing this, Hannah's eyes lit up. Yes, not Diavolo's and Shin's, but Hannah's. Yukio actually made a suggestion for the type of battle… what a rare occurrence!

In contrast, Diavolo and Shin didn't seem to be too enthusiastic.

"Ah, sorry. My weapon seems to feed on Raze more, so I'm refraining from using it for now."

"My weapon...I still can't control it." Shin had a disappointed look.

"Now, now, don't get disheartened suddenly, Shin!" Hannah tried consoling him. "It's a rare occasion, having Yukio make battle suggestions. So why don't we at least let him use his weapon? We haven't really seen him use it and I'm also curious as to how he could use 'that'."

"Agreed. I'm curious about Yukio's weapon too. I've tried thinking about how you can use it, but other than a few very specific movements, I don't think it can actually be used to 'attack'. But then again, thinking back, you wanted to be a defensive fighter, right? I guess it works somehow. Either way, I wanna witness it myself."

Yukio nodded. "Got it! Then I'll use mine!" And he reached into his pocket and took out two pieces of clothing.

They were armbands. The kind that are worn for exercising or sporty events.

Yukio slid them onto his forearms and as soon as he poured in some Natura, they hardened into something like concrete or metal, or somewhere in between. The bands seemed to be made out of an odd metamaterial that appeared to be like clothing normally, but changed hardness depending on the energy injected into them.

"Even if you can use those things to defend, don't you think the area it covers is way too narrow? You know, it's basically just your arms. That too, only a part of it. The rest of your body is just as defenseless as it was before," said Shin.

"Yukio, are you absolutely sure you don't want to use the boots we got you?" asked Hannah.

Yukio nodded and smiled.

"I think it's fine. If it's Yukio, he'd probably find a way. We can't underestimate him anymore," said Diavolo with conviction.

"Ehehe!" Yukio scratched his head. "I think you're overestimating me actually. The only reason I won is because I've been observing you two for years. If it was anybody else of your level, I'd more than likely lose."

"But did you really have to take such an odd equipment? If you had taken a sword, we'd all be matching!" said Shin, thinking about a missed potential future.

"That's just stupid, Shin. Everyone has their own fighting styles. Telling Yukio to get what we have is just…" lectured Diavolo.

"I know, I know! Jus' sayin', man." Shin shrugged.

Might sound odd, but Yukio actually got these bands from the games store. Till now, it was always thought to be a precious belonging to some ancestor of the store grandma, but it acted strangely after Yukio got excited and touched it.

Apparently, they are weapons that her ancestor bore for protection. Other than that, he seemed to wear them during games as well. Turns out, this 'ancestor' was quite fond of playing around.

The grandma didn't seem to have any emotional attachments to these, so she just gave them away as a bonus since Yukio was friends with Marvin, her regular customer.

"Oh, but did she tell you which generation it's from?" Shin casually asked.

"Oh, it's first."

"..................." Shin and Hannah froze.

Diavolo simply nodded cross-armed.

"...... WHAAAAT?!"

"Eh?! Ah?!" Yukio was startled until he understood the reason for their reaction. "Oh! I know what you mean. But please calm down…" He smiled awkwardly.

"Yukio! Explain yourself!" Hannah demanded.

"I couldn't help it! We didn't know what first gen weapons even were back then! All we were told was not to use it and I was curious!"

Yukio was someone more curious than afraid of the unknown. One could even say he values knowledge above all.

"You know what? I'm done. I'm done with you people. Do whatever you want. Get cursed, bleed, or knock yourselves unconscious. I don't care." Hannah turned around and walked towards the wall.

"Well, then. Let's get started," Diavolo continued without a care. He wasn't really fazed because he no longer underestimated Yukio like before. Shin on the other hand…

"Aww, man! Why am I the only one with a lousy third generation?!" Shin nagged but as soon as he felt a sharp chill run up behind him, he quickly dismissed what he said and prepared a stance. "Nevermind, let's do this…"

In this manner, the boys sparred one another, not just today, but almost every day. The more the number of times Yukio fought the two, the better he got at fending off their attacks. It got tricker and trickier for the two to defeat him, but they too tried their best to find counters.

One of the questions that popped up was what the armbands would turn into once it activated. Or more importantly, just what sort of 'beast' first generation weapons held in general.

There were still no signs of any 'curses' taking effect, but since the weapons themselves had responded to the users, there wasn't really any need to worry.

For solo training, Yukio simply improved how much Natura he could control in a go. Additionally, he trained his Material Natura in ways which would be nimble but effective in fights. For example, he tried expanding his fluid types from water to more or less viscous fluids; and also fluids that included impurities.

Although he had done such a thing before, i.e. the use of coffee in the first monthly exam, they were still limited to very simple commands like straight movement. But not anymore. He was learning to be more and more versatile.

There was also a time when he tried moving an object solely based on the fluid within it, but he failed miserably. That area of practice was still far beyond him at the moment.

Curiously, he also tried testing out some techniques he saw in the video games he played with Marvin. He tried to cleverly alter and integrate those moves into his own attacks.

Speaking of Marvin, his respect for Yukio had been growing day by day. The times when he witnessed him take on the two of his friends and even beat them really sparked a huge impression into him. Basically, Yukio became his favorite among the trio.

Although Yukio kept trying to convince him that it was simply because he was used to their moves specifically, nobody was buying that. And even if that was the case, it was good enough that he was able to take into consideration both of their moves so quickly in every single fight.

Actually thinking during a fight takes up too much time and doesn't really leave room for split second decisions. Although by now many of them had become muscle memory, it was still really amazing that he could keep track of their habits all the time.

Not just that, but when Yukio realized Diavolo and Shin were also trying out counters for his techniques, he started to think further ahead and find counter-counters. A genius tactical fighter! Although limited to two people.

"Phew! I never thought a day would come when I would work up such a sweat while fighting Yu!" Shin exhaled at the end of another day's bout.

"Honestly," Diavolo added, "I think I like this Yukio more. I don't think he needs us to protect him any longer." And smiled.

"No way! You guys are still way stronger than me!" Yukio denied as he sat down and unequipped the armbands.

« "Should I force it?" »

« "Don't! It's his decision if he wishes to hold back!" »

"Eh?" Yukio froze for a moment when he heard the faint voices.

"What's the matter, Yu?"

"No… nothing. It's fine," he replied and kept the armbands in his bag again.