The aroma of breakfast drifted through the first floor of the Weltstein Mansion. The scent of soup, the fragrant warmth of baked bread. It should have been just another ordinary morning. Kazuma Azuma sat at his usual window seat, still weighed down by last night's events. The handkerchief remained in his pocket. He'd missed the chance to return it again. Ruri Filtia sat across the table with her training notebook open. Megumin Seifert sipped her soup while studying an incantation chart for explosion magic. Darkness picked at her bread with her armor maintenance tools set aside. Aqua was launching into an unsolicited report about how "a hundred new believers appeared in my dreams last night." Then Luna, the guild receptionist, walked in. Not her usual counter-service expression. She looked troubled. "[serious]Kazuma, I'm sorry to come so early, but I have urgent news" "[sarcastic]You've got that look that screams nothing good before breakfast" "[serious]This morning, Yuga Licht submitted official documents to the guild. He's filed an application to have Ruri Filtia registered as an unauthorized deserter from the Axis Church's training facility and as a protected ward" The table fell silent. Ruri's hand froze mid-page turn in her training notebook. "[serious]The guild needs to consider our relationship with the Axis Church, so... we need you to decide, Kazuma. Either hand Ruri over to Yuga, or apply yourself as her official guardian" "[serious]I'm applying as her guardian" He didn't hesitate for even a second. Luna opened her mouth apologetically. "[serious]Um..." "[serious]Let me read the application requirements. Adventurer rank of intermediate or higher. Proof of permanent residence. Financial proof of monthly income of at least one hundred thousand eris" Kazuma pulled out his guild card. The rank card issued by the Axel Adventurer's Guild—stamped with "intermediate." He looked at the card. He looked at Luna. He looked at the card again. "[serious]...Intermediate or higher" "[gentle]Yes. Before we can accept the documents, we need to confirm your rank first..." "[sarcastic]So basically, you won't even take the documents" "[gentle]...I'm very sorry" That's when Aqua stood up. Her golden hair swayed. Her eyes gleamed. "[angry]Wait just a minute! I'm a goddess! There's no way a goddess can't be a guardian! I, Aqua, the great water goddess who commands all the water in this world—" She slammed the counter with force. Luna tumbled from her chair. "[scared]Eek!?" "[serious]Show me your rank card" "[angry]Goddesses don't have rank cards!" "[sarcastic]Then you can't produce one" Aqua's lips trembled as she started to protest, when Megumin set down her soup cup and raised her hand. "[serious]Then I shall. As an explosion magic user, I submit my recent subjugation records as proof of intermediate-rank equivalent achievements" She rummaged through her robe and spread a piece of parchment across the counter with a flourish. It read: "Explosion magic activation radius: estimated forty-two meters. Destruction area: approximately five thousand five hundred thirty square meters. Toad subjugations: ninety-three specimens (single cast)." Luna lifted her face from the floor, read it, and froze. "[serious]...This isn't a guardian application document for Ruri, is it" "[serious]It's unrelated, but hehe" In the chaos, only Kazuma said nothing. He just stood there, gripping his rank card. --- Afternoon came. After leaving the guild, Megumin walked alone through the alleyways searching for a place to practice explosion magic. With her deep crimson long hair, purple ribbon, and red magic eyes—dressed exactly like an explosion magic user—she walked along in good spirits. Quiet footsteps approached from behind. "[gentle]Megumin, do you have a moment" Silver hair, silver-rimmed glasses. Refined features. A gentle smile. Yuga Licht appeared from around the corner of the alley. "[sarcastic]...What do you want" "[gentle]There's something I've been wondering about" Yuga fell into step beside her, matching her pace. "[gentle]Don't you think Kazuma might be using Ruri—since she's a novice priest under the church's protection—to boost the party's trust rating and his own adventurer rank" "[angry]...That's not—" She stopped mid-sentence. "[gentle]Haven't you been prioritizing quests that raise Kazuma's rank while Ruri's been here" With only that said, Yuga bowed gently and turned down the alley. Megumin stood frozen, watching his retreating figure. (…Have I been prioritizing them…?) It wasn't that she had no comeback. It was just—she found herself lost in thought. And she hated that about herself a little. --- On the stone steps in front of the blacksmith's shop, Darkness was maintaining her equipment. Her golden hair was tied back, and she polished methodically in silence. Yuga approached. "[serious]As a knight, may I ask you something" "[surprised]...What is it" "[serious]Wasn't Ruri attacked by the Giant Toad because the party's defenses were thin? She didn't have proper protection suited to her abilities at that moment. That's what I believe" Darkness's hands stopped. "[sad]...My shield... wasn't enough" Self-reproach spread across her face. She lowered her eyes, gripping the gauntlets she'd been polishing with both hands. Yuga continued quietly but deliberately. "[serious]Because you're all weak, Ruri faces danger. If I were by her side—" "[gentle]...That is... humiliation..." Darkness's expression began to shift gradually. From self-reproach—to something almost blissful. "[gentle]Because we're weak... we get protected... that position..." Yuga's expression became subtle. He took a small step back. "[gentle]Ah, perhaps we should discuss something else—" "[gentle]But that very humiliation is..." Yuga stepped back again. In the end, Yuga left without finishing his thought. Darkness remained on the stone steps, cradling her gauntlets, her expression blissful. --- Evening came. As Kazuma walked down the hallway, he noticed Ruri's door was slightly ajar. Through the gap, he saw Ruri's back—packing things into her rucksack. Silver bob-cut hair. Training notebook. A small charm. She folded each item carefully and placed it inside. "[serious]What are you doing" When he spoke, Ruri turned around. She wasn't crying. Her eyes weren't red. She just had a straightforward gaze. "[gentle]I don't want to cause you trouble, Kazuma" Her voice was quiet. "[gentle]There's the rank issue, and everyone's been arguing because of me. I'm going back with Yuga" "[serious]Why are you deciding this on your own" "[gentle]But it's the truth" Kazuma opened his mouth. He searched for words. Nothing came. He couldn't find the words to stop her. He couldn't say "stay here" with the kind of conviction it needed. Something inside him hadn't solidified yet. That's why he couldn't say it. An awkward silence spread through the hallway. Ruri gave a small, soft laugh. "[whispers]Your hands are cold, Kazuma" It was the same thing she'd said the night he fell in the shallow river. But this time, she didn't reach out her hand. Ruri turned her gaze back to her rucksack and continued packing. The door closed quietly. Kazuma stood alone in the hallway. He couldn't even respond. --- Night fell. Kazuma passed by Ruri's room again. He didn't know why. He just couldn't help himself. Something white peeked out from under the door. A folded handkerchief. He picked it up. It had been carefully washed. Even ironed. The pale blue embroidery on the edge was meticulously neat. So like Ruri. Not angry, not demanding—just quietly returning it. Kazuma crumpled the handkerchief in his hand. He leaned against the hallway wall and couldn't move. Scenes began spinning through his mind. Her voice, soft and hesitant before the campfire at night. Her face, caked in mud in the shallow river, asking "Are you alright?" Her embarrassed smile in the hall at midnight, saying "Ehehe, I did it again" after failing an incantation. Just then, humming drifted down the hallway. It was Aqua. She walked cheerfully, spotted Kazuma leaning against the wall, and stopped. "[surprised]What are you doing? Getting married to the wall or something" "[sarcastic]Shut up" Aqua said "You're weird" and resumed her humming, disappearing down the hallway. Silence returned. Kazuma stared at the handkerchief. (If she's gone—this might actually be bad.) The moment he thought it, something heavy settled in the center of his chest. It was nothing like annoyance or awkwardness. It was something else entirely. He didn't yet know what to call it. But he understood clearly that it was a feeling he'd never experienced before. The hallway was silent. Only the pale blue embroidery of the handkerchief glowed faintly in the dim light.