「Fuwa ～a, why do we have do something like patrolling at a time like this?」
「Since it is work, please don’t complain, Squad leader. Even I don’t want to patrol so early in the morning」
「I think that you can’t be too merry just because there’s a festival」
「Although you’re saying that, why are you trying to go drink alcohol?」
「Ale is calling me」
「Don’t suddenly say idiotic things with a serious face」
「Haa………so, not being able to do anything other than look at the surrounding people drink alcohol will continue for another 3 days, huh…………」
「Even though you say that, Squad leader, aren’t you weak against alcohol?」
‘Moreover, it’s irritating that you get entangled in a quarrel after you drink’, towards the subordinate who added such a complaint, Cody replied.
「It’s not that I like drinking alcohol. I like getting drunk」
「Looks like it’s time for work」
「Good grief……….Can’t they drink in a more enjoyable manner」
「That’s not something that Squad leader can say」
「Shut up. Well, Robin-kun, let’s go control the situation with that frightening face of yours that makes everybody scared without any exceptions」
While speaking, they ran towards the direction of the sound. Turning around the corner of the alley, they pushed through the crowd of people to confirm what was happening. He ignored Robin aka Robinson who was muttering,’Can’t you change the way you say it…………’, behind him.
「Alright, please excuse me」
「Haah? Don’t push through-!?」
「Truly, it’s so smooth when Robin-kun is here」
「I’ll accept that as praise……….」
「How’s it? Have you sobered up a little?」
The man who was frantically inhaling air had no leeway to answer. Instead, the other man flared up at the boy.
「You bastard, what the hell are you doing!」
「Can’t you tell just by looking? It seems as though even you have no recollection of what you did, so how about you too pour cold water on yourself like this bastard? Well, if you weren’t sane from before itself, then it would have no meaning though」
「Spouting out shit as you please……..! I won’t show mercy even if you’re a kid!」
(Don’t tell me, he perceived my strength? Just by the intersection of our sight that didn’t even fully last for even an instant?)
(Even more than his strength being able to defeat a large man in one blow, the surprising matter is his observant eyes)
「Well, that was splendidly skillful. Onii-san was surprised」
That figure of him laughing,’Ha ha ha’, was extraordinarily shady. But maybe because the boy decided that he didn’t want to mix up matters with Cody, he slackened his vigilance. Thinking that it would be fine to ask him about the situation if it was like this, Cody continued to speak.
「I’m sorry, but could you please tell me what exactly happened? Even we just came running now, so we still haven’t grasped the situation」
「……….It was just that these drunkards were quarreling. And during that time, one of them was thrust towards me so I just dealt with him」
「I see. That was quite the artistic way of dealing with it. Joking aside」
Remembering the legs sprouting out from the water jug, his laughter was welling up. Later on, it might become a funny story when he was drinking. The boy tried to leave since there was nothing else left to speak.
「Ah, wait, wait! You aren’t injured, are you? Even if it’s a scratch, if germs enter it’ll be terrible」
「I just dealt with guys who couldn’t even help me warm-up. There’s no problem」
「Really? Don’t take it lightly. If you just move your body for a bit, then any pain might……….」
「Annoying. If you want to know about what happened, ask the rubbernecks. Or else, do you want to waste my time by questioning me?」
「Ah, you found out?」
His true feelings was that about 20% was for grasping the situation. The rest of it was because he was curious about the boy’s identity, he wanted to drag the conversation but it ended futilely. Glancing at Cody who had easily confessed, the boy left.
「Squad leader, what to do with those people?」
「Ah, right, let’s see. For now, we’ll wait for them to recover, and in the meantime……….」
While firing orders to Robinson, Cody was thinking about the black-haired boy. That discernment and the way he carried himself, and also that unflinching grit even with a person as strong as Cody in front of him, all these were abilities that couldn’t be learnt if he hadn’t experienced real combat. As he saw it, the boy was about 12 to 13 years old, but it was unknown as to where he had piled up such experiences.
(There are many points that I’m curious about, but to start with, let’s pay attention to the fighting tournament. It seems as though I’ll be able to see something interesting)
◇
(I panicked! I seriously panicked! Why is Cody here!?)
The man who was thrust away came falling in Harold’s direction. It wasn’t a big deal. It would have been fine to quickly avoid him and walk away. When he was about to do so, he realized that there was a small girl behind him. If Harold were to dodge, the girl might be squashed by the man.
(Sorry, I went too far, uncle who’s name I don’t know)
(I mean, wouldn’t it have become more easier later if he had remembered my face?)
「Good morning, Harold-kun. Where had you gone?」
「Previewing the venue」
It was true that along with taking a stroll, he had taken a glance at the venue. Looking at the unexpectedly big stage, honestly he was a bit nervous.
「It seems like you have enough motivation. I have something that I want to give you」
「……….What is this?」
Itsuki handed him something that was wrapped in paper. While feeling suspicious, he peeled the wrapping off. The thing that was there was a mask that covered from above the nose, like the one used in balls.
「Since you’re participating while changing your name, I thought how about even hiding your real face too」
「Like hell I’d want this!」
The stage at the venue was surrounded with a huge crowd with their enthusiastic gazes and cheers directed towards the participants. The pressure felt as though it could physically push. If one took even a step out of the room where the under-13 division’s participants were present, they would unsparingly be bathed in that pressure.
「And facing off, with his real name unknown, is Mr.Lord-kun!」
When his registered name was called, Harold climbed up the stage with heavy footsteps. Although this digressed, the only one who had used an alias from among all the participants was just Harold, so he stood out even more. Even if he didn’t want his background to be known, if he gathered attention due to it, then wouldn’t it have had an adverse affect.
While thinking about such things, Harold pushed down his embarrassment, and as though expelling all his emotions, his face became completely expressionless. Although that appearance seemed as though he was concentrating on the match, if one looked at the young boy from up close, they would feel as though they were looking at some fearful existence.
She completely knew. When he saw how Colette had widened her eyes due to surprise, Harold was convinced of it. It was the worst timing possible for a reunion since Erika was here. If there was a God, he wanted to curse at his nastiness.
(Ah, if I knew that it would be like this, it would have been better to have worn that mask given by Itsuki…….. It might have become unexpectedly popular. Isn’t it the strongest item since it can hide one’s identity while also get laughs?)
Harold, who had fallen into a crisis, for now, attempted to escape reality.
