Kyoto PV: Hikari

The training extended longer than expected, so I ran to the headquarters after quickly changing to the school uniform. I saw Suzuki-san in the hallway, and a quick glance at the clock confirmed I was still on time.

However, it was getting dark already, and for a moment I imagined the president would feel like he had waited enough. Maybe he would just send me home. Maybe I wasn’t going to find him there.

But he was there, standing behind his desk, looking outside the window.

“It is raining,” he said as I walked in.

“Yes, it is…”

“Sit down, please,” he said. He walked to his desk and sat, too.

“It’s pretty late, the training went on a little longer and…”

“If your opponent is attacking you steadily, should you look for an opening or defend until they get tired?”

“I don’t… I mean, defending seems safer…” I replied.

He just looked at me for a couple of seconds.

“Do you know why I asked you to come here?”

“I suppose, but I wouldn’t like to get it wrong…”

“You may have heard I will leave soon. Although Freyja is pleased with what we have done here and what Elysium has achieved, I should continue expanding the organization. We cannot allow ourselves to be as unprepared as we were… with what happened after golden week. Because of this, I am going to need to designate a new president of Headquarters.”

“Does this mean I should give you my opinion on who you should designate?”

“Not exactly. This is more of an evaluation.”

It took me a moment to understand what he meant, and even like that I felt like I was assuming too much. But those words had to mean he was thinking of me as her successor, right?

“I… I’m honored, but… I wouldn’t want to be president, I just want to help out.”

He smirked. Was I wrong then?

“I thought you would say something like that, so I am prepared.” He picked up a card, then turned his chair away from me. “If a sword changes its owner, does its blood wash away?”

“It doesn’t,” I said.

“Knowing that my successor will have you by their side leaves me at ease.”

“I will always be by your side, too.”

“That may prove to be impossible, because…”

But he didn’t finish. He turned his chair again and looked at me.

“I may not possess the ability to see the future, but if my hypothesis is correct, the real dangers are still to be encountered,“ he said.

“Rest assured I will continue doing what I do best.”

“I am glad I could make such formidable allies here.”

Even when the whole world is your enemy, you will be okay if you have some allies. That was the first thing I said to him. That was almost a year ago.

The president stood up.

“Shall your strength be recognized by Freyja,” he said, and gestured me to leave.

“It has been an honor, working with you,” I said, bowing.

When I got out of the building, I looked up, to the sky.

That may prove to be impossible. His words echoed in my mind. The night had come, and with it, goodbye.