Following Issei's loud question, everyone in the room except him looked at Sapphire asking for confirmation. Or in Serafall's case, with a small apologetic look directed towards the flying Kaleidostick.
"Yes. I deemed it unnecessary information at the time. However, I would bring it up when the situation calls for it," Sapphire replied with composure. "That said, please forgive me if it makes you feel like I lied to you. I have no intention to."
"That's not a problem, it's okay, it's okay," Issei assured the Kaleidostick. "Rather, it's not a different dimension mirroring this world like the Mirror World, right?! It's a genuine another world, right?! Do I have a counterpart there?! Does Miyu?! Does Serafall-san? It's so cool! You need to tell us stories later, Sapphire!"
"...You're not angry, Issei-sama?"
"Instead of angry, he seemed like he was excited by your confession, Sapphire-chan," Serafall cheerfully mentioned. It seemed like the current Red Dragon Emperor was a thrill seeker.
Oh, that was right, she almost forgot.
"Ise-kun. Now that you know there are supernatural beings in this world, let's move to the next explanation. Remember your red draconic left arm?" Issei nodded at Serafall's words. "That's a Sacred Gear. Boosted Gear is its name. It's one of the twelve Longinus, the Sacred Gear capable of slaying Gods. It also hosts the soul of the Heavenly Dragon, Ddraig. I believe it's your cue to come out, Ddraig-dono."
Just as Serafall finished talking, the back of Issei's palm glowed with emerald green color.
[Serafall Leviathan. I can't say it's nice to meet you but I thank you for your help last night.]
"Ah! It's Mysterious Voice-san!" Miyu exclaimed in surprise. "You can talk without changing Ise's hand into dragon arm?"
[Yes I can, and it's Ddraig, girlie.]
Miyu nodded at Ddraig's correction.
"You're welcome, Ddraig-san. I guess I can skip your power and capabilities since you'll talk to him directly, then?" Serafall asked the dragon who resided inside Issei.
[Yes, you can. Which would mean we are entering the discussion about that.]
"Yup. It's about that," Serafall confirmed the dragon's words.
Miyu frowned when she heard the two talked. "I don't like talking about that."
Sapphire who floated went back to Miyu's side and said, "That is really unexpected. I don't remember ever being programmed to do that."
Issei blinked. It seemed like everyone except him was talking about something that he should know, but he couldn't grasp what was it. What was 'that' that they were talking about? Apparently, it was something that was not programmed into Sapphire and Miyu didn't like talking about it. Think, Issei, think.
Everyone looked at him expecting his answer. "A-Ah, yeah. That."
"Ise. You don't even know what we're talking about, do you?" Miyu spoke out what was on everyone's mind.
"Well, I'm sorry my brain cannot catch something that isn't even thrown at me properly!" Issei retorted.
[We're talking about last night, Kid. You remember what happened perfectly, right?]
"Ooh! You mean about Installing the Class Card? Why didn't you say so from the start?!"
Everyone around him sighed.
"So, Install. Ruby-chan also didn't know anything about Install. How about you, Ddraig-dono? You're the one who said [Install] in the first place."
[I still don't know the full picture, but when the Class Card entered me, suddenly there is another soul inside the Sacred Gear not counting the Kid whom I brought there. The soul confirmed that he was the soul inside the Class Card, though he insisted that he was not a hero,] Ddraig explained.
"...So you mean Installing a Card is shoving the soul of a hero inside you?" Serafall asked in a low tone. The repercussion of such magic was frightening. Everyone fell silent at Serafall's paraphrase.
"Ah, there's something I noticed when I was in the Install state last night. I don't think Ddraig-san felt it directly like me unless he can read my mind. So, somehow I knew how to parry using two swords. I know how to fire an arrow, or sword, whatever, I knew at what angle and timing I should slash the enemy. I knew how to summon the swords from thin air. I don't think Ddraig-san capable of doing that, so it must be the Heroic Spirit inside me. If what Serafall-san saying is correct, then that time the Heroic Spirit of Class Card Archer was inside me, I gained all of his knowledge and skills... What do you think if I continued to Install?"
Now everyone fell silent again at that. If Issei continued to install, then the heroic spirit's knowledge and skill might be imprinted on Issei's soul. Humans could not host two souls at the same time unless one was confined inside a Sacred Gear. The Sacred Gear essentially functioned as a jail to the vast human soul the Sacred Gear bearer had.
Serafall's eyes widened upon realizing one fact. "No, no. Ise-kun. Your fear is understandable. But since you have Boosted Gear, I think it would function as a jail that can host another soul inside you other than Ddraig-dono. I cannot say the same for us, however, with Sapphire-chan confirming that the Kaleidosticks are not programmed to do that."
"I see..."
"No," Miyu declared boldly. "Ise. You will not Install again."
Everyone's attention shifted to Miyu.
"What do you mean by that, Miyu?!" Issei asked her in shock. He did not expect Miyu to object to him fighting the Class Card together with her.
At Issei's inquiry, Miyu looked down on her feet. "I... don't want to see you hurt again."
Serafall thought it was cute. The girl didn't want the boy to get hurt. It was like the romantic story she read! Too bad these two were still elementary schoolers. Oh oh, maybe her care was platonic? Was Miyu seeing Issei as a little brother figure? Serafall looked at Issei, waiting for his response.
When Issei opened his mouth, however, it was not to reciprocate Miyu's affection.
"That's ridiculous! If you say that then I have the rights to say I don't want to see you fighting the Heroic Spirit either! Do you think I like seeing you being attacked by the Heroic Spirit?! Hell no! Why do you think I scrambled my brain hard to guide you?! It's because I looked for a way to deal damage to them without you getting hurt! Every time those Heroic Spirits tried to jump at you, my heart skipped a beat in terror! I kept getting thoughts that maybe, every time you got hurt it was my fault! It was my fault that I couldn't read the situation and led you to get hurt!"
Everyone fell silent again at Issei's rant, Miyu widening her eyes in surprise at Issei's admission.
That was certainly not what Serafall predicted. Her intuition was right, these two were interesting. Now if she could introduce them to her little So-tan then it would be much more fun!
"...That is why I got angry at you, Ise. You never think about yourself. For once, think about yourself. If not for your sake, then for mine. I... I don't want to lose another person because of me."
Without waiting for the response, Miyu stormed out of the room, leaving a shocked Issei and silent Sapphire with Serafall smiling in sadness.
"I can sort understand what both of you feel, you know? So I won't say to do something to you. Just remember that I am your ally. Whenever you need help, I will have time for you. Do you have any other question about the supernatural?"
Issei shook his head. "Maybe later. I... have a lot to think."
Serafall just smiled. "Don't mope around. I'm sure she didn't mean to just walk away. Don't be afraid to confront her when you have gathered your thought. I'm sure you two can overcome this."
"Thank you so much, Serafall-san. You too, Ddraig-san. We'll talk later, okay?"
[Sure, Kid.]
"Be careful on your way baaack!" Serafall waved her hand as Issei approached the door, followed by Sapphire floating behind him. Maybe she should've pointed out that not all of her employee knew about the supernatural? Nah, Issei was a smart kid, he probably would realize it.
Miyu took another step away from the building where she and Issei were taken by Serafall. Truthfully she didn't know where she was going. It was not like she knew the ins and outs of the city already, she had only lived here for several days. But she didn't care for where she was going. All she wanted was to get away from Issei as soon as possible. At least, for now.
That stupid Issei. It wasn't like they were that close. They were friends, even siblings in the eye of the law. But to hurt himself trying to help her, again and again, while disregarding himself. She hated it. She didn't want Issei to end up sacrificing himself like her big brother. She didn't want to lose him like how she lost her big brother.
Miyu sighed to herself. Why did she even saying that line to Issei? She... wasn't ready to divulge her past yet. And now after she said that she was sure Issei would pester her about it. Stupid, Miyu. Stupid.
Her steps took her to a desolate park. She looked at the clock displayed in the park, indicating that it was approaching nine in the morning. No wonder the park was empty. She took a seat at the park to rest her sore legs. Now, what should she do? She didn't want to come home and be pestered by Mother on why she didn't attend school, so she should wait until it was 2 p.m., the time the school ends.
"Oh, what do I see here? A little girl? Shouldn't you be in school?"
Miyu snapped her head and saw an elderly woman walking towards her. She didn't exactly know this person, so she didn't let her guard down despite the person being elderly. Who knew if she had any bad intention towards her? Her experience in her world didn't help the matter.
"Calm down, girl. I'm just curious because I see a girl in a desolate park like this. Usually, it's the elderly like me that appreciate the calm nature that this park provides compared to the usual hustle bustle of the city." The elderly woman took a seat beside her. "So skipping school is the norm now, huh? Back in my day, our parents would scold us over a missed class. But now missing a full day is okay? What a generation."
Miyu was very sure the wrinkled woman beside her was trying to get a rise out of her, as proved by the playful grin she sported on her face.
"It's not a habit, old lady," Miyu replied shortly, a little annoyed by the random stranger that judged her harshly without knowing the circumstances.
"Then maybe you need an ear to listen to your problem?"
Miyu looked at the grinning woman. She couldn't believe that she fell for that.
"Don't be like that, little girl. Back when I was younger, I was quite the big shot psychiatrist. A little girl like you is no match for me."
Ah, a prideful one to boot. Miyu wanted to get out of here quick.
"No reason for me to do it."
"Didn't you hear? I was quite the big shot!"
And now she forced her to speak out. She was bad news.
"Sigh," the old lady sighed. "Sorry, little girl. I am bored because my grandson didn't want to play with me anymore. He's about your age. Kids these days grow up so fast, huh?"
Who wanted to hear your problem, old lady? She was still having her own problem!
Miyu then realized she was practically emulating Issei's tendency to point out the obvious. That put her mood back to sour, which was reflected in her expression.
"Are you having a fight with your friend, little girl?"
She hadn't given up yet? Miyu nodded. "Something like that."
"Then, are you angry with your friend, or are you angry with yourself?"
It was obvious to Miyu. "Of course I'm angry at..." she trailed off. It was true that she was angry at Issei. She was angry because Issei without hesitation implied that if it was to help her then he didn't mind getting hurt. She didn't like that, hence why she was angry at him.
However, she... after the old lady pointed it out, she also felt angry at herself. Why did she storm out of Serafall's office like that? It was not necessary. Issei didn't know of her circumstances, if she spelled it out like that and stormed off then Issei won't understand what she meant. It was a lapse of judgment on her part and she felt angry at herself for doing that.
"Have you come to a conclusion?" The old lady which she still didn't know the name winked at her.
With a heavy heart, Miyu had to acknowledge that the old lady's words got through her fluctuating heart and strike at the matter. Maybe her boast about being a big shot psychiatrist was not a lie?
Reluctantly, Miyu nodded at the old lady's words.
"Thank you, old lady."
After thanking her, Miyu retraced her steps and went back to Serafall's office. Issei may or may not be there, but she was sure Serafall wouldn't mind that she borrow the office to talk to Issei. Sapphire was with Issei, and she said yesterday that she and her sister can communicate. She needed Serafall's help to reconnect with Issei.
