Once Sato saw the pot was almost empty, he put it directly in the sink. Killa's appetite was nothing to mess around with.
Coming back to the table, the two girls exchanged quiet glances, neither of them speaking to the other.
I guess now that we are done eating, there isn't much to do.
…
Silence fell over the table. The three of them sat still, with only Killa raising her head occasionally to check if Sato was alright.
This is awkward. Why isn't Sato saying anything either? …He seems deep in thought. I guess Butterfly's elimination still bothers him.
Killa thought as she rested her elbow on the table and propped her chin in her palm.
In that case…
"Sa—"
"I was wondering."
Sato cut Killa short, speaking directly. Both girls turned to listen to him.
"Is there a way for an exis to fight alongside their hero?"
Quiet. His question left them both speechless.
"...If an exis wants to help their hero, the most they can do is transfer mana directly to them in order for them to mend their wounds."
Irina recited as she was reading from a rulebook, her tone flat and devoid of emotion.
"I mean, to fight alongside you. Not just watch from the sideline."
"I know what you meant! Don't make me repeat myself." She gave him a sharp glare.
"..."
Turning his head to face Killa, Sato observed that she looked restless, as if she was holding something back.
"Killa?"
"YES!" She flinched, startled.
"Do you know something?"
"I mean… huh…"
She stumbled over her words for a moment before giving up with a sigh.
"There are ways."
"Really? Tell me."
Sato planted both hands on the table and sprang up, but Irina immediately grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him back onto the chair.
"Don't." Irina said, short and direct.
"Why?"
Sato was confused. Why would Irina hide something like this from him when all he wanted to do was help?
"Because you will most likely do something stupid and die. And if you die, I will get eliminated soon after."
"I wouldn't do something stupid!"
"Besides, you need time to train in order to fight against a hero. So even if you decide to do it, it will be for nothing."
She pretended to ignore Sato's protest, continuing her argument.
"The thing is…"
Killa started speaking, seeing that Irina had given up trying to talk sense into him.
"There are rules established in this competition. Some of them you may already know, like the one forbidding heroes from killing innocent people. That is our main rule. But there is also an agreement that all heroes make before the competition."
"An agreement?"
"Yes. It's pretty simple, really. It's basically a pact not to target each other's exis."
"As long as an exis is present during a fight between heroes, they will be considered an innocent person; thus, if any hero decides to kill them, that hero will be considered to have broken the main rule of the competition."
Irina pronounces the whole agreement.
"Yes yes, exactly that, and then punished."
"Aha…"
Sato understood the rule, but he still didn't see how this prevented him from fighting alongside them.
"The problem is, since this is an agreement and not a rule set in stone, there are heroes who refused it. Usually, those are the first ones targeted by the heroes who agreed. But that's not the main issue for you—"
"The problem is that if an exis suddenly decides to attack a hero, they are exempt from the agreement," Irina interrupted, cutting Killa off. "They are no longer seen as an innocent person, but as a combatant. If you attack someone like that, they have every right to kill you on the spot."
"I see…"
"So get the idea of butting into our fights out of your head."
"Were there cases where other exis tried to do this?"
"Of course. There are many stupid people in other worlds as well."
Irina waved her hand dismissively, signaling Sato to abandon the foolish thought.
"And was there really nobody who made it?"
Irina sighed long and hard, tired of explaining why he should just give up.
"From all the records of past competitions, everyone who tried to intervene in a battle died. If you don't believe me, you can ask Green Head over there too."
"Did you just call me Green Head?" Killa asked, confused.
"It's not that I don't believe you… I just find it hard to accept. It's frustrating to think that I can't do anything."
Both ignored Killa, continuing their chat as if she wasn't there.
"This is the reality."
"Hey! You just called me Green Head, didn't you?" Killa yelled at Irina, slamming her hand on the table.
"And what if I did?"
So, after all this time, I am not going to be able to change at all? After this competition is over, everything will go back to normal… the same life I had.
Sato's thoughts spiraled while the two girls argued in the background.
I can't accept it!
"I CAN'T ACCEPT IT!!!"
Sato yelled, turning his head sharply toward the girls.
The sight that met him froze the air in the room.
Irina and Killa were at each other's throats. Irina had a purple flame floating ominously above her palm. Killa had manifested her massive sniper rifle, the barrel pointed directly at Irina's face from across the table.
Disturbed by Sato's sudden outburst, both girls froze. Slowly, they lowered their weapons. The flame dissipated rapidly into smoke, while the large sniper rifle dissolved into mana particles a moment later.
"I don't want my life to amount to only this. Now that I am part of the competition, I want to do more."
"And what would that be?" Irina asked him monotonously, unimpressed.
"That… I don't know." Sato's voice became quieter with every word, realizing he had no plan.
I already know that I don't stand a chance against a hero, but still…
"See? You can't—"
"How about a weapon?"
Killa cut Irina off, leaning forward.
"A weapon?"
"Yes. Without a weapon, you can't do anything in a fight. So, it's a good start."
"It would be perfect!" Sato's eyes lit up.
"Are you planning to teach him how to materialize a weapon?" Irina gave Killa a sharp, dangerous look.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"If he dies, yes. And above all that… what are you getting out of this?"
Irina narrowed her eyes, suspicious of Killa's motives.
"Have you ever heard of a thing called 'being kind'?"
Irina scoffed, rolling her eyes hard. She stood up and walked into the living room, throwing herself onto the couch.
"Do whatever you want."
After Sato finished tidying up the table, he and Killa headed toward his bedroom to begin.
"Sato, do you really think Megumi will be alright on her own?" Killa asked, her voice unusually soft.
"I am pretty sure she will be alright."
They arrived at the doorway. Sato pushed the door open, expecting the same gloom he had left earlier.
Instead, the room was bathed in light.
The curtains, which had been tightly closed were now pulled wide open, letting the warm morning sun flood the space.
Sato paused, watching dust motes dance in the light.
"No… forget what I just said."
He shook his head, a small, relieved smile rising on his face.
"She definitely will be fine."
Back at her apartment, Megumi leaned against the window, gazing sadly into the distance.
Suddenly, a speck of color caught her eye.
Flying slowly towards the window, a single butterfly hovered right in front of her. It flapped its wings gently, staying perfectly still in the air, as if waiting for her.
Megumi's eyes widened slightly.
She slowly lifted her hand, extending a finger.
Trusting her, the butterfly descended and landed softly on her skin. It didn't fly away. It simply rested there, pulsing with a faint, familiar warmth.
Watching the delicate creature, a subtle, bittersweet smile rose on Megumi's face.