Kaito’s POV

The room Setsuya led me to appeared to be one that’d typically be reserved for group meetings.

There was only a single door that served as the entrance and exit to the room, opposite from which faced a window that opened to the back side of the inn. 

At the center of the room lay an elongated rectangular table, and around the edges were smaller circular tables alongside some chairs that could be interchanged when the situation demanded it. 

I stood and watched as he moved the rectangular table to one end of the room, replacing it with one of the circular ones and placing two seats on opposite ends.

After setting up the room to his liking, he motioned for me to sit down.

“Well… I guess I should get started by both apologizing and thanking you.”

“Excuse me– What?”

After objecting so strongly against my association to him and Yukiko, he now tries to show humility and gratitude? Just what kind of game was he playing at?

“For reasons I’d like to keep private for now, I haven’t been… impartial, regarding your situation, that is.”

“I’m sorry, this is just– What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Yukiko told me her side of your story. You’ve risked your life for her own on multiple occasions, yet I only greeted you with hostility due to your circumstances. I allowed my prejudice to blind myself from your qualities, and for that, I am deeply sorry.”

I had previously thought his more eloquent manner of speech veiled his personal intent and emotions, but now, I could genuinely feel his heartfelt apology through his words. 

However, it wasn’t necessarily the content of his words that surprised me, but rather how fast he had switched the way in which he viewed me. Even so, I felt inclined to respond in like.

“Uh– thank you for your understanding. If I may ask, what caused you to change your opinion of me so drastically?”

“Ah, that was in part due to Yukiko’s own ‘insisting.’ She’d talked my ear off this morning until I agreed to give you a chance.”

His attempt at adding humor to the conversation elicited a small chuckle from myself.

“Yet, I mainly felt myself moved by the zeal with which she was willing to vouch for you. Considering how ‘close’ you two seem to be, I’m sure she’s told you about our– no it’d be better to say her situation in childhood.”

In technicality, she hadn’t necessarily ‘told’ me about her social situation. In fact, due to having learned her history through that brief connection of our pasts, I couldn’t even be fully sure that she was aware of what I had seen. It seemed to be more of a mutual understanding that, right then and there in that moment, we had ‘exchanged’ fragments of our true selves.

I guess, in the end, that piece of understanding had made me closer to a friend than she had ever had before.

I hesitantly nodded in affirmation.

As if to confirm my thoughts, Setsuya now proceeded, “Against all odds, it felt as if you were her first true friend, even though the idea of befriending someone on such a level over a couple of days is preposterous to myself. That is what you have my thanks for.”

Before I could reply, he suddenly launched a question at me.

“I am curious though… Please answer truthfully. What is my sister to you?”

I hadn’t thought about our relationship in any way before. After what we had been through on the journey to Synoria Outlook, facades, truths, and all, it just felt natural that at some point, we had simply become companions in both travel and combat.

“I’d say… she’s a close friend… my closest friend, in fact. In all honesty, I, just like her, had nobody close to call my own in this world.”

“In this world,” those were the key words that shouldered the weight of the truth of my past. I had lost everyone close to me and had to move on into a brand new world, one in which I reset my connections and even my own identity.

People like Yukiko… people who I could keep going to fight for… I suddenly felt as if I owed her a great sense of gratitude.

Perhaps this sense of gratitude and self-understanding shone from my eyes, for Setsuya seemed satisfied with my answer.

“Now, I’m sorry to ask this as I’m sure you’ve recounted the tale multiple times before, but if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to hear your story from you yourself.”

For the third time, I repeated my story of Hanakawa, of the Finale Event and our town’s fall, of my match against their Herald, and of the fights that led us to Synoria Outlook.

I stopped subconsciously worrying about the details regarding divinity as well. Sure, it was clear that my status as Prelude was a very real thing, but even so, the supposed encounters and interactions I once believed I had were growing more hazy and uncertain. 

Besides, at this point, my revised version of my story had become second nature.

Setsuya’s reaction to each key point in the story also played out about the same as I expected. Shock at the truth of the barriers, astonishment at my bearing of a shard, anger at the mention of Nightfall, and so forth.

By the end of this ‘storytime,’ his attitude towards me changed so drastically that it was hard to acknowledge this was still the same person that had shunned me that very same morning. 

At last, he asked the question I had been nervously awaiting.

“I see… So, now that you’ve gotten this far, how do you intend to spend your life in World Zero?”

I didn’t really know the answer to that question myself. So far, I had been facing challenges and developments as they presented themselves to me.

At first, moving forwards in World Zero was a matter of survival, then connection, but what was my end goal? 

“I’m… not too sure myself. I want to find bonds that I can call my own again… and– I need to track down that corrupted that started all this… I can’t let my family’s stories end like that. I’m not strong enough now, far from it, in fact. But even so, one day, for even just a fleeting moment, I need to be able to give their legacies the resolution they deserve.”

“So that’s how you’re aiming to move forward…”

I couldn’t quite discern the tone of his voice– whether he was disappointed, satisfied, or both. 

“I won’t dedicate my life to vengeance. If I did, I’d have nothing left to return to after leaving that path.”

Such a lesson was commonly emphasized in many of the heroic legends I had been told during my childhood. Surprisingly, the tale of Hayato never cautioned this, not once exploring his backstory and why he fought as he did.

“First and foremost, my greatest motivation is to rebuild some semblance of the life I once had–”

“Is that so? In that case, I have an offer for you.”

“Huh?”

“I want you to join the Snow Guild.”

Out of everything I had expected him to say, that most certainly was not one of them. I nearly jumped out of my chair in shock, but quickly regained my composure.

“Sorry– say that again..?”

“Don’t mistake my generosity for being solely for your sake. You’re the first friend my sister has made, meaning your presence in the Snow Guild’s ranks would surely help regain her social development. However, in your regard, you’d likely be able to find the bonds you’re looking for as well. And on top of that, your pursuit of strength would become far easier with the experience and equipment we provide.”

Sure, his method of persuasion seemed more fit for a job hiring, but in the end, he still drove a convincing argument. Aside from a hint of coldness in his proposal, I had no reason to decline, did I?

“You’re persuasive, I’ll give you that… Okay then, I’ll accept your offer.”

He reached over the table with his palm open and I returned a handshake in kind.

“So, how do I start?”

“Wait 2 years.”

Alright then, I could do tha–

“WHAT?!”

“Ah, I forgot you wouldn’t know being new to Orientalis, but our three guilds cycle our entrance exams such that only one occurs per year. The Snow Guild’s last exam took place a bit over a year ago, so the next one is scheduled to be in just under 2 years.”

“So that wasn’t a direct invitation, but an advertisement of the guild’s availability…”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m telling you this because quite frankly, I’ve taken a small liking to you. However, I never make exceptions to the guild’s rules, especially regarding entry to our ranks. Even Yukiko had to enter just as any other person would.”

“At least I’ve got some time to prepare then… What does the exam involve?”

“Don’t fret about it for now. I’m sure you’ll hear more about it in detail as the date approaches. Besides, with the capabilities you’ve demonstrated, I’m sure you’ll pass without a hitch.”

- 2 Days Later

“You’ve only been at it for less than two days– you sure you wanna go ahead with this?”

“How else am I supposed to grow if I don’t challenge myself once in a while? Anyways, I’d say I’ve made some pretty decent progress for the short time I’ve been learning.”

***

For the past two days, Seika had been devoting her time towards training myself and Yukiko. 

With me, she focused on enhancing my hand-to-hand skills, since combining that area of expertise with my versatility with weapons would allow for an unbearably unpredictable yet overpowering style in battle.

As for Yukiko, she seemed to have developed an interest in wielding daggers since our respective fights on the first night. The sudden change in her drive was odd at first, but it was nonetheless refreshing to see her bounce back with such a determined zeal. 

From the start of her training, Setsuya strongly objected to Yukiko learning the dagger but never disclosed his reason. I assumed it was likely connected to that other part of his past he held in secrecy regarding his hatred for marked individuals.

On the day of my private meeting with Setsuya, Yukiko, alongside Seika, had apparently gone to visit the cemetery dedicated to the lives lost during the first attack. It was upon her return that her resolution visibly shifted.

Her vow was one I could understand– One made to grow stronger and stand tall as the people’s hero they believed her to be.

“So long as I stand on the front lines, I won’t allow anyone behind me to die.”

Those were the words she said just after thanking me for helping her recover her sense of purpose. I felt as if I had grown to understand her just a little bit more.

That same day, she made me promise to spar with her once her skills had sufficiently developed.

***

Now, it was time for me to fulfill that promise.