Chapter 9 Happiness

Ren's POV

One Hour Later

We had returned to Tengoku.

"Here it is", Takaya-Hakase said after he led us to a room. "This will be your bedroom for the next three years."

"Really", I asked in shock.

"Ren and I get this whole room to ourselves", Nora asked in shock.

"You do", Mr Takaya replied.

Then, I bowed my head down to him before grabbing the back of Nora's head and doing the same.

"You have no idea how much this means to Nora and I, Mr Takaya", I stated.

"Please", Mr Takaya started. "Call me Takaya-Hakase."

"Takaya-Ha what", Nora asked in confusion.

"It's just what everybody calls me", Mr Takaya replied.

"Alright then", I started. "Takaya-Hakase. Thank you so much for allowing Nora and I to attend here."

"Speaking of which", Nora started changing the subject. "Why did you let us in?"

"What do you mean", Takaya-Hakase asked in confusion.

"Its just that most people try to get rid of 'street rats'", Nora replied.

"Is that what they call you", Takaya-Hakase asked.

Nora and I just nodded sadly in reply.

"Well", Takaya-Hakase started. "Anybody who calls you that is wrong, because you two are not 'street rats.' You two are children, and you deserve the right to be taught here just like any other child."

Hearing this caused Nora and I to look at Takaya-Hakase in shock.

"Well", he started. "I'll let you two settle in."

With that, Takaya-Hakase was about to leave, but he stopped right as he got to the door, and turned to look at Nora and I.

"Good luck you two", he said. "I have no doubt that you will succeed here."

With that, Takaya-Hakase left, and after he did...Nora started crying!

"Nora", I started as I walked up to her in concern. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know", Nora replied. "I'm not sad. In fact...I'm happy. I don't know why I'm crying."

After Nora said this, I smiled.

Then...I cupped her face in my hands wiped away her tears.

"Sometimes...you cry when you're happy too."

...

And so, Nora and I spent the next three years at Tengoku.

It wasn't easy, as Nora and I were often bullied by the other kids for being 'street rats.'

Luckily, we had Takaya-Hakase. He encouraged us to not let what the other children said discourage us, but instead use it to motivate us to do our best and prove to them that we belonged there just as much as they did.

Then, our time at the school was coming to an end.

While Nora and I originally decided to attend Tengoku to simply better our life, our time there made us realize that we wanted to become a hunter and huntress so that we could help people. So that we could prevent tragedies like the one that befell my village from happening ever again.

And so...we applied to Beacon Academy.