Chapter-11 · EP-177
Episode 177: Hikaru Kujo – Then Let's Go Look for It Now
"Hey, is Mei-chan crying?"
Ichinose-san noticed Mei's tears and asked. Mei quickly looked away, and I hid her behind me as if to shield her.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't worry about it."
He had no tact.
I understood he was surprised by Mei's tears, but he didn't understand that Mei wanted him to leave her alone.
"Did Murasakimura bully you? Did those two say something mean? Like about being short…"
"That would be you."
"True…"
Ichinose-san sometimes teased Mei about being short and made her angry.
There was no way Murasakimura-san, who had been with us until just now, would say something like that.
Since he was being so persistent about Mei's tears, I quickly told him the result of the business he had come for.
"More importantly, I'm sorry you came all this way, but the special training that Murasakimura-san taught me is already over."
"So… how did it go? Did you manage to do it?"
I silently shook my head.
"I see…"
Ichinose-san said, looking a little sad.
Had he also had expectations of me? If so, it was pathetic that I couldn't meet those expectations.
"Well, it can't be helped."
Ichinose-san said, recovering his composure.
"No, probably, even if you try hard, you can't do it without a magic skill. Effort isn't a bad thing, but the direction is important. There's no point in working hard at something that's futile."
He probably said that to encourage me in his own way. But his choice of words struck a nerve with Mei.
"Futile?"
Mei glared at Ichinose-san with sharp eyes.
As if making an excuse to Mei, Ichinose-san continued.
"Because it's true, isn't it? No matter how hard you try, it's impossible, so it's futile. Besides, the young lady is a mage type to begin with, so training in swordsmanship is itself a waste."
"You bastard!"
Mei grabbed Ichinose-san by the collar.
"Don't you have any idea how Hikaru-sama feels! Hikaru-sama wants to make the time she spends at this academy into three years that will support her heart in the future! Yet… yet, why does Hikaru-sama have to suffer so much!"
Those words weren't directed at Ichinose-san; they were her feelings, poured out against an unchangeable fate.
"After graduation, Hikaru-sama has to marry a man she doesn't even like, whom her grandfather decided on arbitrarily! No matter how noble she is, an arranged marriage like that in this day and age is unthinkable! Since the day her engagement was decided, Hikaru-sama hasn't laughed with true joy!"
I hadn't realized that Mei cared for me so deeply. I had been so caught up in my own problems that I had made her sad as well.
Ichinose-san silently listened to Mei's heartfelt cry.
"Hikaru-sama begged His Grace the Duke to at least let her live as she wishes until she marries… until she turns eighteen. And she entered this academy because she admires Kazuma-sama and wants to be like him. Even if it's only for three years, she just wants to spend her days as a dungeon explorer, aiming to be like Kazuma-sama. Yet, why does God give Hikaru-sama such trials?"
Mei's eyes were again filled with tears.
What she was saying had nothing to do with Ichinose-san. So I should have stopped her. But… I couldn't stop her from voicing the feelings I had been suppressing. I couldn't hide my true feelings.
After confirming that Mei had poured out everything, Ichinose-san gently touched the hand she had on his collar, and then spoke.
"That certainly is unreasonable. I understand your frustration."
Mei slowly let go and looked down without a word.
Then Ichinose-san continued.
"But that doesn't mean you should waste your efforts. You still shouldn't be making futile efforts."
At those words, Mei glared at Ichinose-san again.
"There's no point in practicing magic without a magic skill, is there?"
"Then what should we do?!"
To the shouting Mei, Ichinose-san smirked.
"That's why I'm saying let's go look for a magic skill now!"
"Huh?"
Mei was speechless.
I also stared blankly at Shirou-san.
This man always said such outrageous things as if they were nothing.