Chapter VIII-A. Can We Make 100 Friends?
Outside of the castle, our Misfit samurai of the wind Goemon Garp was just collecting passive vegetable harvests by a big haul before heading back. Upon arrival, he abruptly passed through the doors with excitement as he asked about Picero's food preference between rice porridge or rice with vegetables. But was it a bad timing to get in?
Maybe, it seemed that Haruno and her friends were too busy gushing over Picero, whom they were invading personal space. He was obviously getting annoyed with shenanigans as Konatsu stacked ten matches on his eyelashes. Haruno was putting on flowers against his will, so was Azuki poking the pointy part of his hair. He then found himself in an ancient Greek god robe with a laurel crown on his hair as his cloudy companion took the shape of a unicorn. His new nickname being Endymion - after a Greek mythological youth of beauty spending life in eternal sleep, Dosanko desperately attempted to get onto him but missed her mark and smashed into a wall.
Goodness, do these girls know any consent for anything? Picero never wanted any of this nonsense. Goemon tried to calm the oncoming storm of rage from his teammate and prepared some tea for the unexpected guests.
"I see. So you were attacked by magical beasts." He understood after hearing the girls out, "Of course you'd hide out here."
"No, we owe you an apology." Apologized Haruno on behalf of her team.
"Yeah, once we arrived, he was so beautiful we kinda lost it." Added Azuki.
"Perhaps it was your hunter instincts." Assumed Goemon.
Well, Dosanko doesn't seem willing to apologize as she so desperately was looking for a lover, even attempting to seduce Picero, much to his irritation.
"But still... We were shocked to find such a cool castle in the forest." Commented Haruno.
Goemon concurred with her and stated that it was Picero's bloodline ability Bed (My Area), who explained it was a practical use of it alongside acknowledging that the earth and trees are all parts of the ground.
"Instead of a castle," He added, "maybe think of it like we're sitting on top of my bed. What are you so happy about? If the Prinzessin were here, she'd probably set you in place properly upon arrival."
"Wow... I didn't know you work with such high level of magic." Said Azuki, "Correct me if I'm wrong, Agares, but you're rank Alef (1), aren't you?"
"Well, since training with that hardcore waterlady..." Said Picero, "Anyway! How dare you come into my bed without permission?"
He wanted the four girls to leave after their tea, but Goemon allowed them to be at ease in the castle.
His reason seemed valid, however, stating that it would be unwise to simply throw them back out into the wild filled the magical beasts. The girls nodded in agreement, fear of the darkness outside, hunger and persistence to continue being competing in the Harvest Festival. Goemon hurriedly went to make more tea for them, his decision made Picero annoyed with what he found stupid as he questioned if his teammate was aware everyone's in the middle of the festival. But to lighten the mood, Azuki curiously asked if he and Goemon were good friends.
"What are your private lives like?!" Exclaimed Konatsu.
Reluctantly, Picero just decided to go along with the conversation.
"Are we friends? Not really." He said, "Like I said, he's just a stupid busybody."
The Relationship Between Picero Agares and Goemon Garp
Every morning before getting to Babylus, Goemon would always be at Picero's door. Picero didn't like the idea of getting out of sleep as he only cared about reaching the minimum required attendance for school. But Goemon didn't really listen to him and just took him off to school with a plate of onigiri as breakfast-on-the-go.
The sleepyhead didn't quite get the concept of why would his optimistic samurai classmate take care of him when he has no benefit from it. The latter objected in suit of his ambition to make a hundred friends. He selflessly hated the idea of leaving those left out alone, but even he admits to being a busybody that eventually they end up leaving him. He seems to have good intentions, but didn't really execute his ideas in a pathway where both people can be comfortable with. As nonsensical as it may sound, he still didn't want to give up on it. Picero simply told him to do his best without feeling motivated, but that certainly lifted Goemon's spirit before he excitedly runs to Babylus with Picero under his arm.
Ever since then, the samurai kept trying to look after his sleepy friend at every opportunity and dragged him around everywhere. Goemon was so persistent and Picero was so tired that the latter couldn't even bother, so he let his taller pal do what he wanted for a while, but he was very much agitated to the point where he didn't know if his evil cycle would be near or not. So the next time Goemon came to his place to check out somewhere, Picero declined his invitation. The former thought it would be fun for them to go fishing for oglepoles (Netherworld ver. of tadpoles). Even though he made himself clear, Goemone still insisted in bringing Picero out. That was the last straw and Picero shouted at Goemon to leave him alone. He just couldn't hold back his irritation for longer, leading to the windy swordsman going home looking sad. Perhaps yelling at him sooner would have worked in Picero's eyes since he'd always be carried around in his sleep.
Back to the Present
It could be assumed for the girls that the two boys weren't actually friends after hearing all of Picero's ranting. As Goemon came back, screams could be heard from outside, assumingly from more students getting attacked. Goemon put down the tray of tea before making a move, but Picero told him not to do it.
"Just give it a rest! This is the Harvest Festival!" He warned, "Those four are already a major handful. Now you're going to save even more? This doesn't benefit us at all!"
"But I know you understand, right, Agares?" Asked Goemon, not backing down to the warnings, "I'll be back. Don't worry."
Upon the question, something came back to Picero's mind that he didn't mention to the girls.
All alone one day, he couldn't seem to fall asleep all because of him yelling at Goemon back then. He assumed that he wouldn't ever come back after lashing out at him, but he seemed to be wrong. Goemon actually did turn up with a big stash of onigiri before they'd head off for school. Picero was colored shock that he still came back after the day before. Goemon was aware that Picero did indeed shout at him, but he kindly thought his sleepy friend might have been hungry. Despite being a swordsman, Goemon was completely oblivious as a person in Picero's eyes.
Just outside, Goemon managed to find a tree with a large monstrous Rafflesia that captured some students. He swiftly rescued the competitors before dealing with the entity in flashes of light. He returned to the castle apologizing to Picero, who doesn't shrug for a second. Haruno and her friends looked at the two happy to know they actually are good friends in their own funny ways. The orange-haired demon allowed his samurai friend to let in whoever it was he saved. He rescued more competitors than anticipated, but what was is that Picero was supposed to do with them? That's something for another time, so perhaps we should check out another interesting duo in the next segment? Until next time!