(Narration)
The classroom buzzed with energy.
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"…Team 5."
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Haru repeated it softly.
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"…So it's us three…"
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He looked around.
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"…But where is Yamado?"
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Shimi didn't even look up.
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"…Skipping."
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Haru blinked.
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"…What?"
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She sighed.
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"…He's lazy."
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A pause.
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"Only shows up when Adryn Sensei drags him in."
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Haru scratched his head.
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"…That's… kinda bad…"
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Shimi shrugged.
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"…He's strong."
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"…So no one complains."
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The ID
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"Oi, Haru."
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Adryn walked in.
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And tossed something toward him.
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"Catch."
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Haru caught it.
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"…What's this?"
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"…Your ID."
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Haru looked at it.
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White card.
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Official.
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Marked.
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A symbol of the Exorcists.
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"…Rank…?"
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Before he could process—
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"SHOW US!"
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The class rushed toward him.
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"…Wait—!"
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Too late.
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Someone grabbed the card.
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Looked.
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Froze.
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"…No way…"
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"…What is it?"
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"…Say it!"
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The student turned slowly.
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"…S Rank."
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Silence.
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Then—
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"…S RANK?!"
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Chaos.
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"That's the highest!"
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"No newcomer gets that!"
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"This has to be a mistake!"
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Voices clashed.
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Haru stood there.
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"…What… does that even mean…?"
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A student turned to him.
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"…It means…"
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"You're at the top."
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"…From day one."
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Haru's eyes widened.
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"…That's not right…"
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Protests grew louder.
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"This is unfair!"
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"We worked for years!"
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"How is he above us?!"
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Then—
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"Enough."
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Adryn's voice.
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Calm.
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But absolute.
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Silence fell instantly.
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"…You all know why."
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A pause.
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"…Crimson Devil."
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No one spoke after that.
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The weight of those words—
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Was enough.
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A student muttered—
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"…Even A+ was the highest here…"
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"…Yeah…"
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"Shimi…"
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"…and Yamado…"
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"…were the top."
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All eyes returned to Haru.
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Different now.
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Respect.
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Tension.
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Curiosity.
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The Interruption
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"WHAT'S WITH ALL THE NOISE?!"
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The door slammed open.
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A boy walked in.
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Messy.
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Irritated.
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Eyes sharp.
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"…Yamado…"
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Shimi muttered.
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He looked around.
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"…What happened?"
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A student smirked.
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"…New guy."
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A pause.
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"…S Rank."
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Silence.
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Yamado's expression froze.
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"…What?"
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"…Him."
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They pointed at Haru.
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"…S Rank."
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A second of silence—
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Then—
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"…Tch."
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Metal trembled.
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A steel pipe lifted from the corner.
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Flew—
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Straight at Haru.
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"…!"
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Before it could hit—
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Adryn caught it.
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With one hand.
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Effortless.
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"…Relax."
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Yamado glared.
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"…Why?"
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A pause.
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"…Why is he S Rank?"
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Adryn looked at him.
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"…Because…"
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"He's holding the Crimson Devil."
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Silence.
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Everything stopped.
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"…Crimson…?"
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Yamado's eyes widened slightly.
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Then—
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He looked at Haru.
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Properly.
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From head to toe.
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"…This guy…?"
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A pause.
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"…How the hell…"
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"…did you manage that…?"
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His tone changed.
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No anger.
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Only disbelief.
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Team Formation
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Adryn stepped forward.
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"…Listen carefully."
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A pause.
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"Haru."
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"Shimi."
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"Yamado."
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"…You're Team 5."
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Silence.
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All eyes on Yamado.
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Everyone knew—
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He hated teams.
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"…No way he agrees…"
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"…He'll reject it…"
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Yamado clicked his tongue.
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Then—
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"…Fine."
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Silence.
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"…WHAT?!"
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The class exploded again.
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"You agreed?!"
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"You hate teamwork!"
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Yamado ignored them.
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"…S Rank…"
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He glanced at Haru.
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"…And Crimson Devil…"
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A pause.
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"…This might not be boring."
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After Class
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The bell rang.
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Students left.
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Adryn called them.
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"…You three. Stay."
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They gathered.
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Adryn's expression changed.
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Serious now.
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"…Listen carefully."
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A pause.
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"Haru's condition…"
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"…is unstable."
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Silence.
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"…Do not force him…"
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"…to use his Terrain."
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Shimi nodded.
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"…Understood."
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Yamado stayed quiet.
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"…Yeah."
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But his eyes—
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Were thinking.
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The Next Day
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For the first time—
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In a long time—
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Yamado came to class.
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Early.
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Students noticed immediately.
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"…He's here…?"
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"…That's rare…"
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Haru was sitting quietly.
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Then—
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A guy next to him got shoved.
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"…Move."
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"…Hey—!"
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Too late.
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Yamado took the seat.
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Right next to Haru.
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Haru blinked.
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"…Uh…"
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Yamado leaned back.
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Then looked at him.
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"…Yamado Kahanru."
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A pause.
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"…Your teammate."
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Haru nodded.
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"…Haru."
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Yamado smirked slightly.
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"…I know."
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A pause.
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Then—
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"…Let's have fun."
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Silence.
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Haru froze slightly.
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"…Fun…?"
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Shimi, watching from the side—
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Was stunned.
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"…He said that…?"
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Unbelievable.
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This was the same guy—
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Who refused missions.
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Even with Adryn.
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But now—
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He was interested.
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Because of Haru.
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Because of his rank.
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Because of—
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The Crimson Devil.
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Beginning of Team 5
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Three students.
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Different worlds.
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One team.
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And their first mission—
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Was waiting.