บท 35: Her Path
A whole week passed now since Mika and the others returned from their quest.
While Lily and Sylvia were attending classes normally without missing a lesson, Mika was absent from class as he still had not recovered completely.
However, after missing an entire week, today Mika was finally allowed to go to the lessons again.
"I know that you've missed a week and all, but aren't you a little bit too excited...?"
Yawning while lying in his bed was Gerard, Mika's roommate.
After he regained consciousness, Mika decided to recover in his room instead of Ophelia's chamber due to various reasons.
"Sorry for waking you up, but I just can't help it, hehe..." Mika said with a giggle in the end.
He finished changing into his uniform and after he packed his things, he went to the door.
"Well, whatever... I'm sleeping a bit more..." Gerard stated with half-open eyes.
"Yeah, see you later then!"
Thus, Mika left enthusiastically.
"?"
But when he exited the dorms, he saw a familiar silhouette standing outside as if the person was waiting for someone.
That person had blonde hair and red eyes matching her uniform.
"Lily?" Mika called her out.
She turned around and as soon as she saw his face, a beaming smile formed on her face.
"Good morning, Mika!" she greeted him energetically.
"Good morning..." he responded taken aback.
The last time they talked to each other, the mood was sour as Lily seemed like she tried to distance herself from him.
This was no surprise after Mika acted coldly towards her dream.
"I'm glad that you're fine now. I heard from Sylvia that you were heavily injured from the quest and therefore had to recover in a special place. We wanted to visit you, but Ms. Ross told us that no visitors were allowed..." she said dejectedly.
"S-special place? What- Ah, yeah, I see, I see... The special place. Yes, that's right..."
Mika was confused at first about the term special place, however, he quickly realized that it was Ophelia who planned this.
"Well, luckily you're completely healthy now!" Lily said with a wide smile.
It was the innocent and bright smile, which Lily was known for.
Seeing her like this, Mika smirked slightly as well.
"Yeah, that's true."
Side by side, the two walked together to the academy.
"By the way, why were you waiting for me so early in the morning?"
Lily's body twitched for a moment as she was taken by surprise by his sudden question.
"W-well..."
She blushed slightly.
"I wanted to talk to you as soon as possible..." she said barely audible while she shyly put her index finger together.
However, it was audible enough for Mika to hear.
"What did you want to talk about?" he asked cluelessly.
She took a deep breath before she sprinted ahead of him.
"It took me a long time to realize it, but I finally made up my mind!"
Looking determined, she pointed at Mika while showing off her confident smirk.
"I will get stronger, stronger than Ms. Ross, stronger than Sylvia, stronger than everybody in this academy and stronger than you!" she stated fiercely.
Mika smiled proudly.
"I will get into the Grand Order! And then..."
"And then I will definitely find that person! So sit back and watch me, Mika!"
She smiled wholeheartedly.
"I will watch you, but are you really sure? You're choosing a thorny path, you know? There are dozens of strong people outside. Do you really think that you can make it into the Grand Order? And what if you can't find the person you're looking for? Will you be disappointed? Will you regret everything?" Mika bombarded her with questions as he walked up to her.
His smile, however, did not waver.
Just like hers.
"No matter what you say to me, I won't get distracted anymore. I'm more determined than before!"
"Is that so?"
He passed by her.
"Yeah, and even if I won't find him, I won't regret anything. This is the path I chose."
She turned around, thus looking forward with Mika on her side.
"I'm excited to see what lies ahead for you." Mika remarked with genuine interest.
[I see. So that's why you will not reveal it yet.]
Back then, when he was still in Ophelia's chamber, she told him about the things he missed out on during the quest.
She mainly talked about the two girls' fight against the monster.
During their conversation, it was visible that even Ophelia was impressed by Lily's performance and her determination.
Following that, Mika wondered what Lily's ceiling would look like.
She had enormous potential.
It would be a waste to not develop it.
Therefore, as long as she had a clear goal, she would get stronger.
If Mika would reveal the truth about her dream, then she would have no motivation to get stronger anymore.
On one hand, he did not want to keep her in the dark, but on the other hand, the curiosity about her ceiling prevailed.
"Hehe, I will knock you out of your seat!" she giggled like a child.
Mika let her be cocky just once, after all, he did not want to ruin the mood again.
"My first goal will be to win the upcoming tournament!" she declared as she proudly put her hand on her chest.
"!"
Tournament.
Hearing that particular word, he stopped in his tracks.
Ophelia announced it during the first day in the academy.
Depending on one's performance, one can get promoted to a higher class.
"I completely forgot that..."
"Will you participate?" Lily asked with sparkling eyes.
"No, I guess not." he rejected her frankly.
[You will.]
"I have no intentions to participate." he repeated frankly with a wry smile.
[Don't worry. You will participate. If you want to or not.]
"But who knows? Maybe I will change my mind until then." he added frankly with a wry smile and a frown.
"Well, I hope you will change it then. It would be exciting to fight against you!"
"Yeah..." he sounded exhausted.
The two of them proceeded to talk about trivial things that happened during Mika's absence until another person joined them.
"Good to see you again, Mika. Are you fully recovered?"
It was Sylvia, who came from behind them.
"Morning, Sylvia. Yes, I'm healthy now."
"I see."
Sylvia felt like a huge burden fell off her shoulders.
During his stay in Ophelia's chamber, Sylvia was constantly worried about him.
However, she had an additional thought.
Back then, in the jungle, she did not think much about it, but when they got back to Loogam, she pondered about why she did not stay back instead of Mika.
Why did she not face Zantar with Ophelia and stalled time for Lily and Mika?
She was supposed to be a S rank, so why did she let someone weaker than her cover for her?
She felt guilty.
"S-Sylvia...?"
Mika appeared somewhat nervous.
"Hm?"
"I-is something perhaps on my face or why are you glaring at me so much...?"
She realized that she unconsciously stared at him while being in her thoughts.
"Sorry, I was thinking about something." she apologized as she massaged her forehead.
The three only walked together for a short time until they arrived at the academy.
"Well, I guess we will see each other during lunch then?"
For the first time, Mika was the one to ask if they wanted to eat together.
Without realizing it, deep down he recognized them as his friends.
"Sure!" Lily agreed happily.
Meanwhile, Sylvia nodded lightly.
Before the three parted ways in the hallway, Sylvia remembered something she wanted to say.
"Mika, wait. I forgot to tell you but there's somebody who wants to meet you."
"Hm? Who is it?"
"Well... You'll see for yourself if you go to your classroom, I guess..."
She sounded rather unsure and awkward.
"Okay, got it..." Mika responded in the same tone as hers.
Thus, he made his way to his classroom.
And after entering the portal, he landed in the class.
Just like expected, almost no one was there as it was still early.
He saw a few people with black uniforms, while he scanned through the rows.
"?!"
But his eyes widened in shock when he saw an irregularity.
On his seat sat a person, who definitely found himself in the wrong place.
"?"
Noticing Mika's presence, said person turned his neck.
The two black-haired boys' eyes met.
His sharp red eyes met Mika's yellow eyes.
When he stood up from the seat, his white uniform was on full display for everyone to see.
"W-w-what are you doing here...?!"
Mika was flabbergasted at the appearance of the student of the highest-ranking class.
"I waited for you." he said in a tone reminiscent of Sylvia's way of talking.
"Y-you waited for me...?"
Mika took a step back when the two stood face to face.
"Yes."
He reached his hand to Mika.
"I, Belian Ziva, want to request a sparring match against you."
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