To say that Livia got upset when she, Angie, and Clarice found me slumped against a wall in the hallway was an understatement. I got a real scolding from all three but Livia made me promise to take care of myself more under threat of cheek pinching. What fearsome friends I had!

Thankfully, both the doctors and Control later on confirmed that I had just been suffering from a combination of exhaustion and prolonged motion sickness. The medical staff in particular were surprised when they didn't find any physical injuries on me considering what I put myself through by moving around that fast in Black Getter. The pilot suit Control made me really worked as advertised.

Jenna had immediately secured our winnings with help from Daniel, Raymond, and Miauler–I finally remembered the catboy's name!–in case anyone cried foul from my win. My sister did give me an earful for risking a sure win when I made my wager with Jilk. Daniel and Raymond came away like bandits before officially apologizing for being part of vandalizing my room. At the reminder, I looked at both of them in the most serious expression I could muster and said–

"I will have my revenge. Prepare for your chairs to be tipped over at the most inconvenient of times. Who knows, you may even find your things in slightly different places from what you remember."

The laughter we shared pretty much reaffirmed our friendship. I still wasn't sure if Daniel was thinking straight with him trying to get with Jenna, but I would help him if he asked.

Speaking of my sister, she surprisingly made me come away with the lion's share of our combined winnings. She told me that I'd need it for when I talk to the Redgrave and Atlee families before laughing her way back to her dorm, with her catboy pushing a cart that had a small hill of platinum coins.

Earl Atlee was unavailable, but Angie helped me get an audience with her father when I explained the situation. So there I was, standing in what I believed was Duke Vince Rapha Regrave's audience chamber. I wasn't sure if it was his office as well since he was seated behind a very expensive looking table in the middle of the room. His son, and Angie's older brother, Gilbert Rapha Redgrave stood at his side. Both men looked pretty intense and were just staring at me. I was trying my best not to fidget from their gaze while a big pile of platinum coins just sat silently at my side.

"My daughter spoke highly of you as a good friend when she asked that I agree to an audience with you. I have also looked into your accomplishments and investigated the specifics of that duel you had with the prince and his friends." Duke Redgrave addressed me. I reminded myself to thank Angie for putting in a good word for me. "Tell me boy, why is it that you have come to me?"

Okay, just like how Control and I practiced. "I understand that, regardless of my actual intentions and goals, I still raised a hand against the heir to the throne as well as the sons of the other high lords. I am the son of a regional Baron and only hold my titles provisionally. As such, I have no actual political power. Therefore, I wish to implore house Redgrave–"

"To clean up the mess that you and my daughter made, yes?" I swallowed and nodded at the Duke's words.

"If at all possible, I wish to prevent myself from being put to the axe and my family's reputation to be spared." I finished my spiel with a bow. I didn't need to mention the tribute I brought since such a thing was already expected considering who I was asking a favor from.

"You stood by my daughter's side when no one else did. I shall return the favor in kind." Yes! I fought my face muscles from breaking out into a big grin. Have to stay professional!

I suddenly felt a cold sweat when Angie's dad gave me a particular kind of smile. "I shall also speak to Earl Atlee of the favor you did his daughter. It will make my work easier if the two of us deal with this issue together."

Angie! Your dad is so cool!

"I must ask." Angie's brother spoke up next. "My sister spoke of you as a friend, but the extent of how far you were willing to go for her and the Atlee daughter, most would not see it as merely the actions of a concerned friend. What are you really after, Leon Fou Bartfort?"

I thought about his words for a moment. He was right. I could have just arrived at the arena with Black Getter, beat up all five of those idiots, refused to elaborate on anything, and left. Jenna and I could then have just danced our way to the bookies. The thought of doing things that way made me scowl.

I didn't want to live my life with regrets anymore.

"I could have just fought in the duel and won, but that wouldn't have actually helped Angie and Clarice." I spoke, staring at the table as I recalled my feelings on the matter as a whole. "If both his highness and Jilk had sincerely talked with the two of them, been honest with their desires, and faced the consequences of their choices, then I would have stayed out of their business and let the couples work through it to whatever it ended up as."

"But the way they treated the women who genuinely loved them, who wanted to spend the rest of their lives with them, even though they couldn't return their feelings." I looked back up and met Gilbert's gaze before continuing. "I wasn't about to let them get away with that."

Angie's brother didn't betray anything he felt about my answer. Then Duke Redgrave asked a question that Control and I also considered as a possibility. "And if I had refused to support you?"

"Then I would have prostrated in front of the crown and the high lords and begged them to spare my family." As much as we could have wanted otherwise, there was no way I could get out of severe punishments if I didn't have a powerful house on my side. At most, I might have been able to save the Bartfort name. "If they wanted me to renounce my titles and name, then I'd do that too."

"You would cower before them? The very people who wronged you? Have you no pride?" The Duke asked with narrowed eyes.

I almost scoffed. When had pride gotten me anywhere good, in either of my lives? "My pride isn't worth my family's wellbeing."

Both men were quiet for several moments before Duke Redgrave finally nodded.

"You may leave."

I didn't need to be told twice, bowing to both men and swiftly leaving the room. Once I was in the hallway I gave a sigh of relief and raised my fist in triumph. It cost me a good chunk of my payout, but it was worth it. Plus, since the Duke said that he would be the one to talk to the Atlee house, I didn't even need to spend any more money as tribute for them.

Thanks for the bonus, Jenna!

…

"What is your impression of him?" Vince Rapha Redgrave asked his son after the young man left.

Gilbert Rapha Redgrave hummed as he walked to the pile of wealth the boy laid at their feet in tribute. "He puts too little stock in himself. He should have put the power of his Armor forward as a bargaining chip as well."

"He'll have time to learn." Vice said in agreement.

"But his actions have been honorable and he did not completely humiliate the prince." Gilbert added as he turned back to his father. Vice scoffed and waved his hand in dismissal.

"No, the boy did that all his own." It was no secret between the two men that the Duke did not think highly of the crown prince. He had inherited what Vince considered as the worst aspects of his parents. The boy had a loyal circle of friends, but little else.

"Shall we secure the Bartfort boy's allegiance then? He has yet to find a wife. We can bind him to our house through a daughter of our allies." Gilbert suggested. Vice nodded as he had also already considered it, with how much his dear Angie complimented the boy to no end. He had not seen his daughter so happy ever since she entered the Academy.

"No. Once Bernard finds out what he did for Clarice, we would need something more to convince young Leon to throw his lot with our family." He concluded. Indeed, once Earl Atlee heard the news, Vice had little doubt what he would offer Leon Fou Bartfort.

Vince could not let his house be found lacking in comparison.

…

Classes had finally concluded for the start of summer break and I felt fantastic! I had basically achieved everything I could have possibly wanted, barring finding a bride. Both Daniel and Raymond already went home, but not before Daniel finally got Jenna to break and allow him to send her letters over the summer. The madman was actually doing it. Incredible.

Control and I talked about our transportation and, to my surprise, they actually suggested that the Nagare be sent to pick up Jenna, Hicks, and myself at the harbor.

You are victorious. There is no reason for you to not return home victoriously as well.

I can't believe that Control told me to flex on everyone. It was amazing!

Jenna was pretty excited about being seen going home in a pretty impressive looking ship. Hicks was a bit apprehensive, but couldn't deny his curiosity of what the ship would be like from the inside.

"It looks so nice!" Livia said as she beheld my ship. She, Angie, and Clarice came along to see me off. Hicks quickly boarded the ship when he saw who I was with while Jenna made sure as many people as possible saw her go inside the Nagare.

Angie slowly took in the size and look of my ship. "So this is the other Lost Item. Then is your Armor also inside it?"

"Yep. Black Getter is in the hangar. I'm actually planning on spending most of the break training with it. I haven't been able to practice at all since I got to the Academy so I want to make up for lost time." I explained my plans.

Just a pretty laid back summer break with my family, Black Getter, and Control.

Clarice made a thoughtful sound and tilted her head. "So you don't have any other plans aside from playing with your toy?"

"It would have cost you no effort to not phrase it like that, Clarice." I flatly told her, making the older girl grin and the other two giggle. "I mean, I'll probably be roped into helping the family with a bunch of stuff too. It'll be nice to see everyone again."

"What about you three? Planning anything interesting?" I turned the question around to my friends.

"Livia will be staying with me over the summer break." Angie answered for both her and Livia as she proceeded to hug the other girl from behind. I raised an eyebrow at the action.

"Angie insisted, though I'm not sure how much of a companion I can be." Livia squeaked as she was hugged tighter by her friend. I see, so the main antagonist ended up as the hidden Yuri Route. Interesting.

I then turned to our senior. "How about you Clarice?"

"Oh, I'll be heading home as well." She started before stepping forward and leaning towards me. She placed a finger on my chest and made circles as she continued. "I need to talk to my father about a few important things regarding my future, seeing as I'll be graduating soon."

"Huh, neat. I guess we'll all see each other once school starts up again then." I answered stiffly, my heart going faster than it did when I piloted Black Getter. We said our farewells and I boarded the Nagare, feeling nostalgic about the whole thing. Control had the ship leave the harbor and made for the Bartfort lands.

My time in the Academy so far was definitely not what I expected it to be. I just wanted to be a background character, just stay out of everyone's way as the main story progressed. Before I knew it, I met new friends, made a few enemies, even ended up somehow getting the main protagonist and main antagonist become best friends. I had once told Control that I was probably not a background character anymore. They scoffed, actually scoffed, and told me that I was never a background character in the first place.

You are the protagonist of Leon Fou Bartfort's story. Olivia is the protagonist of her story. Angelica Rapha Redgrave and Clarice Fia Atlee are the protagonists of theirs.

I still couldn't say that I fully understood the deeper meaning behind those words. However, as I watched Jenna and Nicks argue about which of their meals were better while Miauler stood passively eating his fish sandwich, I could definitely say that I didn't regret any of it at all.

A couple of weeks passed and I was back at the floating island where the Saotome Research Lab was and was desperately trying not to crash as I flew around the environment in Black Getter.

Leon, your father wishes for you to return to the family estate. It seems that several representatives from the capital have arrived. It may be about the fallout from the duel.

I had Black Getter land when Control finished talking. They had left a simple drone with my parents so they could use it to contact me whenever I went to my island. It was pretty convenient. Although, when my mother found out that Control had records of several recipes that she had never heard of, she proceeded to use the drone as a talking cookbook while she experimented with new dishes almost daily. I mean, they were great, but it was still pretty funny.

"Okay, should we take the Nagare?"

I believe this would be a good time for you to practice long-distance open air flight. It should not take too long for you to reach your home from here using Black Getter F. I can always deploy the Nagare in case of an emergency.

I nodded in agreement and took a breath before making Black Getter lift off. The displays lit up with a waypoint marker for me to follow back home. Hopefully the representatives from the capital wouldn't take too much time so I could get back to training.

They'd just tell me that I was off the hook, go along their merry way, and I could be back on my island the next day. Easy.