"So it's them..."
The others could hear the faint sigh come from Takeshi's mouth.
Kotowari Squad looked towards their figurehead leader to see that his eyes were only on the screen in front of all of them.
On the screen were six images of six different people. The six people were next to each other in a specific manner with three at the top, all wearing the same white uniform. Below them were the other three who wore a purple uniform that was a bit similar to the first three.
They were images of Nasu Squad and Katori Squad.
"This match might be more difficult than I originally thought..."
"Oh? What exactly do you mean by that, foolish teammate?"
Takeshi answered the girl without taking his eyes away from the screen.
"Nasu Squad has the right to choose where we fight this time around. Besides that, she's knows what I am capable of since she has been helping me a lot recently. Toby is always and open book and you showed of quite a bit in our last match, Senpai. Taiyōko is the only person here that has no fighting data to her name. She is the only new part of formation."
"I see, so you are saying that we have a bit of a disadvantage since both Nasu Squad and Katori Squad honestly know what the three of us are capable of and therefore see us as a bigger target than each other. Hoshi-chan is the only thing they don't know about. Does this mean we cannot win?"
"No. We can still win. I am only saying that it causes us a bit of trouble."
He could only assume his answer was the right one since the older girl gave a laugh.
"Senpai, you and Toby excel at creating new things during a fight, so I have no doubt that the two of you can score some points."
"Oh, but adorable teammate, aren't you forgetting something?"
"Yeah, I know. You don't need to tell me."
Takeshi finally looked up from the screen to look towards the newest member of Kotowari Squad.
Her head was down and he could hear her mutter something along the lines of, "So it looks like I really can give her a kick to the chin..."
He tapped the screen to gain her attention.
"Huh? Ah! My apologizes! I was listening, I was only thinking of something else. I should stop that, shouldn't I?"
People of this nature were still in a zone where Takeshi felt uncertain, so he could only lift his scarf in response.
The action caused Suzume to respond instead.
"There is nothing to apologize for. When someone honestly feels like thrashing another, it is only natural that it would take up their thinking. I can't tell you just how many times I lost track of time just thinking of beating Narasaka to a pulp, getting some nice revenge on someone who wronged me, or thought of who to put in my next doujinshi."
"One of those sounds extremely dangerous! That last one is it, I know it! Hey, Suzume, please tell me that I'm never part of that last one!"
"Heh heh heh."
"I don't like that laugh!"
Times like these was when Mei was needed.
For now these crazy people needed to be dealt with and there was no one else around who could do that.
I guess I'm stuck with this job. Damn.
"Senpai, dog idiot, pay attention. We need to go over our positions now that Taiyōko is a part of our squad."
"Then start by stop using her last name. Hoshi, again, remember that we refer to each other by first names on this squad. I do it regardless because of where I came from, but we treat each other as equals on this squad, so there isn't a need for last names."
"Ah. Yes, Aw-... Toby-kun. I will try my best to remember."
"I should apologize for that, Hoshi. I'm sure we are thinking the same thing regarding the matter. We got so use to last names since we started school. But Toby is...not incorrect. We are equals here."
"You really had to get that jab in on me, huh..."
Both girls laughed this time.
Takeshi could feel the difference from before.
They were true equals now.
.
Yuki and Mei had been put on a pedestal when they had been known as Tsukiko Squad. Placed above the three of them so that they understood who was in charge and who held more authority to them.
The two older members had told them they were equal, but it never felt that way.
Even now, Mei was held in high regard, but she was no longer placed far above them. Placed where they could not reach.
Kotowari Squad was a squad of equality. No one member was above another and no one person was too far out of reach for the others.
If one of them was falling behind then the others would do what they could to bring them forward. They would not move ahead without each other and they would fall together now.
Reaching out a hand before had been a hinderance and something that would have been made fun of since it meant that one if them required the hand in the first place. Each one of them had only focused on how they could best gain a lead on the others and how great they could be viewed by Yuki and Mei.
That no longer mattered.
Reach out a hand was now something that should come naturally and be something that could only be viewed as precious. No longer did it matter who was forward or how they were viewed by others.
Being the one who had held that former thought process strictly and wholeheartedly, Takeshi knew just what it meant to have someone hold out a hand.
Due to his ignorance and pride he had made enemies out of the people who had feared him and his lasers.
There was no longer a hand being held out to him.
That had changed.
Yuki had finally taken responsibility and changed their whole squad's structure. Even after leaving his squad, he had helped them while not providing a hand.
That change had not been because he extended his hand towards them for a second time, but it brought about something new.
A new experience.
There were now multiple people who extended their hands out towards him. Towards his teammates.
I won't let go of these hands. I don't ever want to risk going back to how I once was. That is how I can repay them. It isn't much, but it is all I can do at the moment.
Until he could stand on his own, those hands would be supporting him.
Some of those who were supporting him were in the very room he stood in, conversing with him as if he had not done something wrong before.
They would not forget what he had did, but he wished they never would.
They were treating him as an equal while knowing what he had done and what he had been like.
If they can still treat me like a friend even after that then I can only be grateful.
"So what is our formation now?"
.
Toby had been the one to ask.
He was considered a genius yet he had asked Takeshi regardless.
"Toby and I will remain the main attackers. We are admittedly pretty selfish, so we go for whatever points we come across. Whoever we see or whoever we want to fight. Senpai is kind enough to deal with that and supports us as a Sniper."
"I can't help but to take care of my adorably foolish teammates after all. But Takeshi, I have honestly been learning how to fire like a Gunner and slash and cut like an Attacker. Can you honestly call me a Sniper still?"
"Even if that is the case, will you stop supporting us?"
"You understand me so well. No, I will never stop supporting either one of you. Hoshi-chan that includes you now as well."
"A-ah! I see! Thank you very much, Mi... Um... Suzumebachi-senpai."
"Suzu or Suzume is fine enough."
The younger girl gave a bow to the smiling girl.
The original Kotowari Squad members had their positions clarified. That just left...
"Hoshi."
"Yes?"
"You are not new to Border. Technically speaking."
"That is right. I have been a C-Rank agent for some time. I became a B-Rank agent after the invasion and because of Fuji-nee. Oh, um, Mei-san. I do know how to use different Triggers though since I was placed in the Yagura Branch with my siblings and Akasora-sensei. They taught me how to shoot things without a gun and the proper way to wield a sword. I am classified as an All-Rounder because of it. But I am still not the best..."
"Thank you for that information. If Akasora-sensei helped to train you then I can at least assume you are near our level. Um, not that I am...particularly saying that in a prideful way."
"Takeshi, it is honestly fine to be prideful at times."
"I see... I should keep that in mind then."
He made a mental note while continuing their conversation.
At some point Toby had taken to the nearby armchair while Suzume made her way towards the sofa next to it.
This made it so that Takeshi and Hoshi were the only two standing near the screen for the discussion.
That's right. I should tell her that we move at our own pace.
"I have a question."
"Go ahead and ask it."
"Right. Every one of you likes to do things how you like. That was evident in the match I had watched against Tsukiko Squad and Shor Squad. So, um, my question is... Are you all perhaps shifting your pace so that I may be able to keep up?"
That's right. This girl is smart and observant.
It had always been that way during their class.
Hoshi was always the first person to notice a mistake or point something out when others took no note of it.
This was no different.
"If that is the case... Please refrain from doing so. I am thankful for your thoughtfulness, but I do not want any of you to hold yourselves back simply because I lack experience. Even if I am to be used as a decoy or fodder, please do not treat me as anything special."
"Heh heh heh. Silly girl."
Takeshi could see tony nod his head with that statement.
He understood why Suzume had said that as well.
.
"Hoshi, you aren't special."
Toby knew his words would sound harsh.
"But neither are we."
Yet he said them without any hesitation.
"At the same time, all of us are special."
He knew how she thought due to being her classmate and friend for awhile. These words were meant to reach her in a way Suzume's could not.
The dancing girl may have used a mature tone and spoken like she knew what she was saying, but she did not know Hoshi like he and Takeshi did.
That was why he was the one who answered her words after Suzume.
"Yeah, we move at our own pace. We treat each other as equals. Hell, we even go so far as to basically flip off anything that tries to go against us. But none of us are the type to insult someone like that. Hoshi, listen."
"Yes...?"
Good. She was listening.
"What you just said, about us holding back for you, well, it makes me want to go and beat the crap out of something."
"I am sorry."
"Nice going, you mutt."
"Heh heh. You should be careful how you howl, idiotic dog."
"I'll bite the both of you! How's that sound!?"
The intention had not been for the girl to apologize.
Toby knew he had messed up and could only scratch his head.
.
Werewolf: "Hey, anyone know how to properly say you feel like crap when someone misunderstands something?"
Haru: "What did you say?"
Colors: "He said he felt like beating the crap out of something. To a nice girl at that."
Green River: "Ouch. How did she react?"
Colors: "She apologized."
Werewolf: "I'm bad with words, okay!? You all know that already! But the only other choice was to let either Suzume or Takeshi answer!"
Bamboo Sniper: "That would also not end well."
Viper: "Kotowari-kun needs a few more lessons before he can answer a nice girl."
Haru: "We have some real nice haters here, don't we?"
Bamboo Sniper: "I have heard how you 18 year olds interact with each other. You have no room to talk."
Haru: "That's fair."
Deep Prince: "Haru-chan, at least try to deny it..."
Werewolf: "Hey, I still need an answer! I feel bad since Hoshi is way more nice than most of the girls I know! And she's a friend!"
Lyrical Luscinia: "First you need to calm down."
Werewolf: "I'm calm now."
Everyone: "Try to be less obvious!"
"Toby-kun, is everything okay?"
"You took to my name kind of quickly, didn't you?"
"I am trying my best."
"I'm glad."
Honest Sister: "Heh heh heh. This will be fun~!"
Toby glared towards the smiling girl.
There was true intent in Hoshi's words and apology. It showed that she was the type of girl Toby was unaccustomed to dealing with.
Let's see... Suzume, Ai, Kōchō, Mei... Yeah, even after being in the same class as her for awhile now, I seriously don't know how to really interact with nice girls who aren't crazy to some extent.
"Um, Toby-kun?"
Saying sorry was the wrong choice here.
"I guess I should rephrase what I just said, shouldn't I?"
What would be the best way to tell her what he meant?
Suzume was always great with words while Takeshi tried not to use them too much. They were bad examples when it came to situations like this.
Hoshi seemed to take things at face value, so that appeared to be the best way of talking to her.
"Hoshi, I didn't really mean that I want to beat something up with what I said. What I really meant to say was..."
He thought for another moment to confirm his own words.
"It was kind of dumb to say something like that."
"..."
Honest Sister: "Ouch. I honestly felt that one."
Green River: "What did he say?"
Colors: "He called her dumb."
Deer Prince: "I think I need to work on his language skills before his fighting skills."
Werewolf: "I hate the Japanese language! I didn't mean it like that at all!"
Lyrical Luscinia: "Okay, okay. We know he is impulsive, so we have no choice but to forgive him."
He chose to ignore those words because of who had put them.
Lyrical Luscinia: "Let's try again. First, calm down."
Werewolf: "I'm calm now."
Everyone: "Stoooooooop!"
Honest Sister: "Heh heh heh. This is honestly great. Kōchō-chan is even helping the dog out when it comes to a possible rival."
Lyrical Luscinia: "..."
There was immediate worry when the girl responded with an ellipsis.
Toby wanted to desperately answer back to her, but he had to focus on the girl currently in front of him.
Just before he could say anything, another message come through.
White Fox: "Toby, you better not be going after my sister. Even if it's you, I'll still beat you down."
Black Wolf: "Toby, I like you, you're a good boy, so don't make me smack you for going after Hoshi. Okay?"
TetsuG: "Is it just me or is 'Idiot dog-boy' catching up to 'That Gunner' on the Border network?"
Umi: "It is! I just checked and it is! Everything is so congested because of it! 'Stupid fox' is currently in third place, by the way."
Toby had to resist the urge to check the Border network for any rumors about him and the two girls currently being nice to him.
"I didn't mean it as if to say you are dumb! I just meant that what you said was dumb!"
"..."
Colors: "Just stop."
Letting his frustration out through a howl, Toby looked Hoshi directly in the eye.
The girl looked away from the stare, but he spoke regardless of that.
"Hoshi! We don't hold back for anyone on this squad. It would be insulting to each other if we did that. We know what we've been through and know that holding back for each other is just a way of saying we don't trust each other!"
So...
"We won't use you as something less than a fight just because you don't have as much experience as us! We also won't hold ourselves back for you just because you don't have our experience! You're our equal and another member of our squad, so don't go saying anything like that again, you got that!?"
He had finally said it.
Honest Sister: "Heh heh. He finally got it right, everyone~"
.
Hoshi looked towards her friend with wide and open eyes.
The first two times it had sounded as if he was berating her, saying that she knew nothing about what she was saying or what was being said to her. But this time was different.
Everything Toby had said to her had gotten through clearly.
She was the same age as both Takeshi and Toby, but that meant nothing. She was not as skilled or experienced as them, but that meant nothing. She had not gone through what they had, but that meant nothing.
When facing these three people, she had to look them directly in the eye without looking down on them or them looking down at her. What she had to say on a matter was as important as what they had to say on the same matter. No one person was above another on this squad.
She was on the same level as them.
It was an idea that seemed very much like a fantasy when she tonight more about it.
The Taiyōko family had always seen things as a form of hierarchy.
The father was above the mother.
The mother was above the children.
The oldest was next, followed by the next child and so on.
Hoshi was placed at the very bottom since her birth had been the last. It meant that what she said was always last to be considered when her siblings or parents also had something to say. It had been apparent that staying quiet on important matter was always the best case.
It may have been the reason her oldest brother had left them while also being tossed out.
It was a far cry from what she was being told here. Told that a hierarchy would never be made when it came to them. Such a notion even seemed frowned upon by them.
It was much more freeing than anything she had been involved with before.
Perhaps it was due to her upbringing and inexperience but she could feel tears start to try and force their way out.
No! Hoshi, you must hold that kind of thing back!
She now knew.
They may not judge me for shedding tears, but that is why I must not cry. Blaming things on my lack of experience is no longer something that is allowed. Gaining experience and using that to assist this squad is what I need to focus on instead of what I cannot do for them.
She tried to hold them back. Hold back the tears of happiness and relief that came to her.
A sense of liberation filled her body as the tension left her shoulders.
They had not even gone to battle with each other yet, but Kotowari Squad had managed to release everything she had held back because of her family.
Because of that...
"..."
She could not hold it back.
"What an honestly strong girl."
A pair of warm arms wrapped around her an a pair of cushions lightly pressed against her face.
.
As if dancing, Suzume had taken light steps while twirling to reach the crying girl in as little steps as possible.
Once reaching her, she wrapped her arms around the girl so that neither she nor her teammates could see the tears coming from the crying girl.
These are not the tears that we should be seeing. For Hoshi, these tears are most likely the type that she never have come out.
If any one of them had seen the girl crying and her tears being spilled it would have been regrettable for them all.
The crying girl herself would have felt as if nothing had changed with her. As if everything going on was just another way of people treating her like a princess - like she needed to be taken care of.
Kotowari Squad would have to remember the times they only brought fear or disaster to people they cared about. The sight of the tears would have likely brought them back to when they were far too reliant on their former captain.
Suzume knew this would happen if the girl's tears were to be seen by them.
They were all inside of Kotowari Squad's operating room, yet even that seemed like it would have been too much for everyone there.
She held the crying girl as the tears touched her clothes instead of hitting the floor or the girl's hands.
Her Rhythm is honestly loosening up.
The entire time Suzume had seen the girl it seemed as if she was forcing herself to stay upright and give no sign of defection in her stance.
Everything had now loosened up.
This was the girl at her most vulnerable. Everything was released here and it was now Suzume's job to make sure that she felt safe releasing everything.
"This is fine. We will not judge you, but we will make sure you stay true to yourself. You will never have to feel afraid when speaking to us and you never will have to think that you honestly need to hold anything back. We will always be there for you, so we ask that you also be there for us."
This was far too familiar.
The words were not ones spoken to her before, but Suzume knew exactly the words that needed to be spoken.
There had been someone who had expressed those words to her without having to say them.
But now...
"Hoshi, you are now our equal, but you are still honestly our friend. I honestly don't know you like Toby or Takeshi do, so if you can't confide in me, at least try to tell them something."
She raised her head to look at her two other teammates.
Takeshi had lowered his scarf and Toby nodded his head.
She was not speaking false words. Everything she said were also not just her own words. The two boys she called teammates felt the same way and showed their agreement with her.
Yuki-san had been our goal. Something to honestly reach for when we thought no one else was there. We messed up a lot because of our foolish thoughts and because of his carelessness, but...
But...
We know what to do now.
"Are you sure you don't want to be with them right now? From what I got in the chat, Toby seems to be messing things up with Hoshi."
Mei looked over from where she sat.
The Yagura Branch had been finished and now held the people who would be working there. A room on the second floor was where Director Akasora would have his office. Where she sat was the general room with a table in the middle and two sofas on either side of it.
While she sat on one of the sofas, Yuki sat on the other. He had been leaning back on it with his phone just above his head.
"If you aren't careful, that phone is going to land on your face."
"Will you worry for me if that happens?"
"I will always worry for you. You just tend to always bring that out in me."
"Is that a confession?"
"I have nothing to confess to you. But if I did, I would do it in a much better setting. Certainly not in this branch office. Too many prying eyes."
She could hear Yuki lightly laugh.
Papers were spread out on the table, yet she was not focusing on any of them.
After she had been told about Rampage Dress and how Yuki had needed to help her afterwards, she had been doing a lot less when it came to work of any kind. Yuki made sure of that.
There was no running the risk of her calculations going out of control again.
The papers spread out were things pertaining to the newly formed Yagura Branch, the members of it, and the squad that was up for consideration to join the branch. Each one was of importance, yet she had not touched a single one of them.
Yuki had taken care of them all and was now relaxing with her.
"Back to what you had asked... There is no reason for me to be there with them. I am just their Operator. Those four can handle the planning themselves and do not need me there to do it. They are grown up."
"We want to see it that way, don't we...?"
She would not ask what he meant by that.
"I had gotten too attached to them. That is why I left in the first place. Even so, I still see them as the children that need help, like when we first met them. I know that's wrong of me to think, but it is just what happens when someone like me starts taking care of others."
"...I feel the same. From a factual standpoint, I know they have grown up and no longer need us as much as they had before. They have grown into their own by this point. Yet... I feel as if I cannot let go of how they use to be. How they viewed us before they grew up."
And it was thanks to him.
When they had changed names, she felt as if she had been freed of any emotional restraints. As if she could let everything out whenever she wanted.
But she still held them back.
I was free to do as I wanted and I wanted to hold them back. I let how I felt slip out from time to time, but that was all. But Rampage Dress...
That had been the name given to her when her calculations had gone rampant, putting her in a state where everything was blocked out and the only things visible were those calculations. Everything seemed like an attack and everything seemed like it meant nothing.
Even with that name attaching itself onto her, never letting go, Yuki had stuck with her. Continued to provide support to her.
The last time it had appeared, when she had fought in the simulated battlefield, he had brought her a mirror. Only the reflection for her face had shown itself, but he had told her what that had really meant.
And now...
I want to let everything out myself. I will say what I feel for those four. Holding anything back would be a waste that could bring me back to those calculations. That is something I don't want.
Just as she did not need her calculations, her squad did not truly need her anymore. Not as support or as a reminder of anything. What they needed her for was something much simpler and much more kind.
"I will only go back right now if they ask me to go. That way I know they will need me as a friend instead of just a reminder."
"I see."
From the other sofa, Yuki sat up straight.
"In that case... Would you mind staying with me for a bit longer?"
She would not ask why.
"I enjoy your company a lot."
Toby and Takeshi watched as Suzume moved back after awhile. A smile could be seen on her face as she did so, words coming out a moment later.
"Do you honestly feel better?"
They turned to the girl who had been crying before and was now rubbing her eyes.
None of them had expected the conversation to reach such a point. Their meeting up had simply been to talk about their next match and yet it had reached a strange point.
"Yes... Um, I apologize for that. I did not intend for something like that to happen."
They all chose to ignore the unneeded apology.
"How about we move back to why we are here?"
"Takeshi, you are honestly suppose to give a bit of time once she has finished crying. Otherwise you seem insensitive."
"I see... I will take note of that."
"It is quite alright, Suzume-senpai. Takeshi-kun, we can continue our discussion now. I believe you were speaking of where I would be placed as a new member."
"Right."
As a new member of Kotowari Squad and a fresh B-Rank agent, Hoshi did not have much data on her. That meant they would need to figure out what she could do with them during their next match.
It had been a bit foolish to recruit her so early on after her promotion, but there was nothing to be done about that now.
Finding a place for her was what they were to focus on at the moment.
"To reiterate; Toby and I will be the main attackers for this next match. Senpai will be supporting us as a Sniper this time around. That means Hoshi will be doing one of two things." He lifted two fingers before putting one down. "The first is making sure that Suzume-senpai is safe. Be ready to defend her or distract the opponents should they get too close to her."
"And the second? For you to bring that up first must mean what I honestly think it does."
"Yes. The second would be supporting either Toby or myself. If I had to say... That one is the more difficult of the two. Toby's reflexes and natural ability to move is rather hard to keep up with while my Laser Shooter is not something I can let up on for others. That means you would need to be extremely vigilant if you were to support either one of us."
As the two main attackers for their squad there was no chance for them to slow themselves down for the sake of someone who could not keep up.
"But what if she is used a surprise attacker, Take? Would that not also work as a third option? Working with only two options can usually lead to a person honestly feeling trapped."
"If this were the lower tier, then that would be an option as well. But this is different. Both Nasu Squad and Katori Squad will not be fooled if we tried something like that. In all honesty, it is also because you have not practiced with that kind of thing, Hoshi."
"That is true. While we do have some people like that at the Yagura Branch, I myself have never dabbled in such a thing. I would not be able to launch a surprise attack even if I wanted to do so."
That brought them back to their two options.
Supporting Suzume would have been the best choice for someone as new as she was. Even if she was to be taken out, there was still experience to gain from that. As either a watcher or a side fighter, she would gain something from it.
Supporting either Toby or Takeshi meant that she was liable to get in their way or slow them down. The experience she could gain from that would be great if she managed to hold her own. But in that same respect, she could also miss out in a lot of experience should she be taken out quickly.
The choice was obvious.
"I...would like to support the two main attackers."
.
That's what I thought she would say.
Takeshi fixed his scarf as he thought to himself.
It was clear that the girl was trying her best, so he would not go against her if she had made up her mind.
There is still time before the match, so...
He let out a small sigh while hiding his smile.
"Very well. If you have made up your mind, we will work with that."
The expression Hoshi made in response was a fresh one of surprise and excitement.
Takeshi knew that he was not the only one to feel this way as both Toby and Suzume smiled toward the two of them as well.
"To tell you the truth... I am...rather fond of the idea that the three of us will be fighting together... Since we are classmates and all..."
There was a quiet pause as he fixed his scarf again, this time looking away to hide his blush.
He soon realized his mistake.
"!?"
The reaction from his teammates towards his words soon came after with Toby tackling him to the ground and Hoshi holding both of her cheeks.
.
Honest Sister: "Heh heh heh~! Take that everyone else! My teammates are honestly the most adorable and you cannot tell me otherwise! For everyone bashing on Take, you can just go jump in sewage water!"
Twin-Snipe: "Oh! Suzu-chan is fired up now!"
Eri: "If you don't mind me asking... Why do you say that? Did something happen?"
Honest Sister: "I'm not telling. It is something only for our squad to know about. Sorry~"
Wisteria: "This means I am allowed to know."
Honest Sister: "Of course! I'll send you over what honestly happened!"
.
There was a chance that Mei would inform Yuki about what had just happened, but that was also fine. Hearing something like that from the boy would have made anyone who knew him want to be there.
Without hesitating for a moment, she lifted her phone to take pictures of the two boys on the ground while the younger girl smiled with a small blush next to her.
"Takeshiiiiiiiiii! You really do see us as friends! Don't worry, bud, I'll always be by your side! You can count on me to have your back!"
"Heh heh heh~"
"On my. Takeshi-kun, I look forward to working with you. Yes! I will makes sure to support you however I can so that you do not lose faith in me! Thank you for this opportunity!"
"G-get off of me, you idiot dog! A-a-and Hoshi, don't thank me, just help me! Senpai, please stop taking pictures! See? See!? Idiot dog-boy, Suzume-senpai is going to use us for her doujinshi again because of you!"
The complaints of the Shooter were drowned out by the laughing of the Sniper and the cooing and rubbing if the Attacker. Even their newest member was of no help as she went on about how she would help their squad in any way she could.
Why am I stuck with them!? Nasu-san, you never told me what to do with strange people like this!
Viper: "I get the feeling that I am being judged for something out of my control."
They won't even let me respond to that!
Takeshi continued to try and get out of the tight grip of his teammate as tears of his own started to form from the new experience.
Wisteria: "Kotowari Squad, remember not to tease Takeshi too much. He is still relatively new to the whole 'emotion' thing."
It was far too late.
Takeshi felt like crying for a completely different reason than Hoshi. His face had gone from its usual pale color to a bright red as Toby continued rubbing his face against his chest and Suzume continued taking pictures.
This was also a new feeling that he had not felt before when they had been known as Tsukiko Squad. Unlike the ones he had felt with his fellow Shooters, this one was something that overwhelmed him.
Until...
"Sob..."
He could not take it anymore and let everything out himself.
"Eh...? Eh!? T-Take!? A-a-are you crying!?"
"He's a complete uke! Toby, Toby, good job exposing him like that! Good boy! Remind me to honestly give you a treat later on for this! Perfect! Our dog-boy shows just how much of a dog he really is and our Laser Shooter proves that he's honestly a uke! This next doujinshi is too to sell so well now!"
.
Demon Child: "Focus on the censoring later then! We need that stuff in as soon as possible!"
Artist: "Suzume-chan, did you get Awdry-kun drunk or something? I've seen some people get all touchy-feely like that when they are drunk."
Honest Sister: "Of course not! I would honestly never give them alcohol! (On purpose)"
Everyone: "That '()' is scary!"
Archer: "Is no one going to stop her? If that is the case, I shall prepare my bow."
Megane: "Um, your actual one or a toy one?"
Archer: "I shall leave that up to your imagination, Megane."
UMA: "Humu humu~ 三3三 But aren't Toby and Takeshi her teammates? She should be fine if that is the case."
Honest Sister: "Yūma, you are honestly too good for Kirin."
.
Due to the kindness of Hoshi, Toby had been removed from the ground and Suzume seemed busy with whatever had been started on the Border network chat.
That left Takeshi to slowly climb his way back up to a standing position.
The tears were still threatening to spill from his eyes, but he ignored them in favor of regaining feeling to his legs.
This meeting is not going so well now... Um, where should I even start back up?
The redness on his face was also starting to leave and the quivering of his lip was subsiding. This new feeling he had categorized as "embarrassment" and wished to never feel that way again.
That feeling is cursed! Why people have that kind of thing built into them is beyond me! I seriously thought I was going to melt or something!
"Hey Take..."
"Wh-what...?"
Takeshi looked up to see Toby scratching the back of his and Hoshi looking down while fidgeting with her fingers, ignoring the wiggling girl behind the two of them.
"Sorry about that. We were just happy that you said something like that. You have never said anything so cool like that before and the two of us weren't sure how to react. (You're like our bro after all.)"
There was no way he could understand the last part given that it had been said in English, but he chose to think it was nothing bad. Even the way the Attacker had said made it seem as if he was going back to how he had first been, talking in a strange way.
Deciding that there was no other choice for him, Takeshi let out a sigh before rubbing his eyes and fixing his scarf. His oversized clothes had also gotten a bit messed up, making him seem much smaller than he actually was.
"Can we just...get back to our discussion? About our next match. I forgive you two... Well, at least Hoshi. You, idiotic dog-boy, need to pay up for...that."
The trio looked over to the wiggling girl to see that her wiggling had suddenly turned into a strange dance number with her phone continually going off.
They were afraid of what they would see if they entered the chat now.
With their minds on the same thing, they all turned back to each other and nodded.
"Right. Let's just ignore her for now."