523 Hero” (1/2)

Yukari and Mika walked to a quiet corner in school and sat down across each other.

”Wakaba-san is busy right now with her club activities, correct?”

”Yeah.”

”I feel like she intentionally misled me, yet she didn't tell me a single lie… she's truly amazing.” Yukari sighed.

”Chiaki has always been amazing,” Mika responded.

”The two of you are good friends. When things don't involve Seigo… Seiji, what type of relationship do you have with her?” Yukari inquired.

Mika didn't reply.

”It's fine if you don't want to tell me. You have no obligation to answer this question from me.” Yukari smiled. ”I'm just curious, and slightly envious as well. This is because I'd actually like to become friends with Wakaba-san.”

This was the truth. Yukari felt quite pressured having Chiaki Wakaba as her opponent. She felt it would be best if they could become allies.

”Chiaki is actually really appreciative of you as a person as well. If it wasn't for Seiji, the two of you could probably become excellent friends,” Mika stated softly. ”I even feel like I'm not really good enough to be one of Chiaki's best friends. Her best friend should be more like you.”

”That isn't right. You shouldn't say something like that.” Yukari looked directly at Mika. ”To be honest, I wouldn't have anything to do with or ever met Chiaki Wakaba if it wasn't for Seiji. She recognizes you as her good friend, which means that you're good enough for her. This has nothing to do with you thinking that you don't have the right to be her friend. Your words are not only debasing yourself, it's also rude towards her as well. Please don't say such a thing in front of her.”

Mika blinked upon hearing this.

”Thank you for your advice… You really remind me of Seiji like this.”

”Eh?”

”The content of what you just said, as well as the tone, caused me to think of Seiji… Chiaki said before that you're like a female version of him. I agree with her assessment.”

Yukari didn't know what to say.

”The way you put it sounds rather strange.” The purple-haired girl now had a rather subtle expression.

”You really are quite like him, in Chiaki's and my opinion.”

”Seiji and I do have some points in common, but calling me a female version of him… I think that's still not quite accurate.” Yukari folded her arms. ”Even without mentioning the differences between men and women, the two of us have some foundational differences.”

”Such as?” Mika looked at Yukari.

”I don't know how to say it clearly… should I say that he's more resolute than I am, or…” Yukari thought about it for a moment. ”…Simply speaking, he's stronger than I am.”

”Stronger?”

Something flashed in Mika's eyes when she heard this.

”He has this incredible strength to him, which is why he's a 'hero'. And as for me, I'm at most a 'princess', nothing more.” That was Yukari's conclusion.

”I… feel like I understand what you mean.”

”That's good, then.”

Several seconds of silence fell between them.

”Let's move on to the main topic.” Yukari now had a serious expression. ”Uehara-san, just what precisely do you think after hearing what Wakaba-san said last week?”

Later that night, Seiji invited Mika and the others into his apartment.

Chiaki started playing a video game together with Reo in the living room, while Seiji, Mika, and Kaede went to his study to have a discussion.

”Seiji, is your true goal actually to protect us?”

This was what Mika said after hearing his explanation.

Seiji blinked upon hearing this.

”I said it just now, my goal is…”