Chapter 7: Quid Pro Quo
Nagi wearily rubbed his burning eyes and sighed as he walked. His encounter with Fu Hua—and, more aptly, Ana's scolding afterward—had left him mentally spent, afflicting him with a long, restless night in his bed. For all the physical wear and tear his body could shrug off with ease, there was little it could do for the exhaustion of the mind.
Regardless he trudged onwards, walking beside Wendy as they made their way to class together. The girl in question glanced at the young man, a hint of concern in her otherwise expressionless face.
"...You okay?" She asked. Nagi let out another sigh, as his head hung off to the side. A drop of sweat ran down Wendy's face as Nagi explained.
"Ana thinks I'm a delinquent now…" he whined, his head hanging low as he placed one foot in front of the other.
"You are a delinquent."
Nagi flinched at that, before turning to her with desperate eyes. "B-But I'm not!"
"You were caught breaking and entering," Wendy replied without missing a beat.
"N-Not with bad intentions!" Nagi exclaimed. The look of doubt Wendy gave him was all the response she needed. Nagi's head hung lower as Wendy shrugged.
"Mm," Wendy replied. "Maybe." The two fell quiet as they continued walking down the open path. The sunlight shined beautifully overhead, not a single cloud to be seen as a pair of birds flew overhead.
"It won't happen again…" Nagi muttered, breaking the silence at last.
"Mm," Wendy said again, nodding her head. They walked a few more feet in silence. "Your mistake was getting caught."
"Yeah, yeah…" Nagi replied wistfully. They continued a few feet more still, only for Nagi to pause. Wendy continued without a word. "...Wait, what?"
"Hm?"
"D-Don't just act like you didn't say anything weird!"
"...Ah, that," Wendy replied, nodding in understanding. Nagi gave her a strange look, but Wendy met his with a confident look of her own. "Do you want tips? I used to be good at it till Theresa caught me." She shrugged. "I don't mind showing you, though."
"...A-Are you sure I'm the delinquent?"
"Mhm." She replied before continuing. She stopped a second later, before looking over her shoulder at Nagi "After all, I only got caught once." With a rare smile, she continued on once again, as Nagi looked at her with his jaw slightly agape.
…What a strange girl, he thought to himself. He rushed off after her, and before long, the dynamic duo arrived at class. They were early once, much to his surprise, with only a few students having arrived before them. There weren't any familiar faces, save for one certain class monitor sitting in the front row. Just as he looked at her, so too did Fu Hua look towards him.
Her reaction was unsurprisingly minor, little more than a nod in his direction. Izanagi responded to her with a wave of his own before he and Wendy made their way to their seats. Nagi noticed a few odd looks sent in his direction. Short-lived, but each enough to make him want to crawl up into his own skin.
Arriving at his seat was like arriving at a safe haven. Feeling safe at last, Nagi decided to pass the time by watching the doorway, looking for faces he might recognize. Soon, students began to filter into the classroom.
There was quite a variety of students at Saint Freya. Though they all wore the Saint Freya uniform, it was easy to tell that the student base came from all over the world, with cultures and ethnicities of all kinds. Some of them even took to decorating their uniforms in little ways, with adornments, colors, and more. Even still, he felt isolated amongst the colorful school population; after all, he was the only boy in the school. Paired with his lack of uniform, he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Of course, even amongst this crowd, his eyes were drawn towards a few particular individuals. The first was Kiana Kaslana, the annoying girl who looked like Theresa. With her was the beautiful Japanese girl whose name he still didn't know, and the Russian girl, Bronya Zaychik, who had the awesome mecha-creature-thing.
He watched as the three of them took a seat, chatting away like old friends. A strange feeling settled in his heart.
Will I make friends like that?
It was an unexpected question, which rose from deep within his heart. He blinked, caught off guard by his own thoughts. It was… a fear he had never encountered before. And yet, here he was, hearing that single statement ring through his mind again and again. His eyes fell to his desk, focused on the reflective surface.
All he saw was his own face staring back at him.
"Nagi?"
He was pulled from his mind by Wendy's voice, staring at him curiously. "You alright?"
"...O-Oh. Um… just… a bit tired, is all," Nagi replied, his cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. Wendy said nothing more, but she continued to stare at him for a while longer. Awkward as it was… he felt a strange sense of comfort in her intense stare. "Um…"
"Mm?"
"...Thank you."
"...Mhm?"
She was obviously confused by his sudden thanks, but Nagi didn't feel the need to explain. Instead, he lifted his head up from his desk and gave her a faint smile. Though it didn't alleviate her confusion, Wendy replied to it with a faint nod and turned back to the front of the class.
I guess it's too early to be acting like that, huh? He gave a sheepish smile. Clearing his head of such thoughts, he turned his attention back to the doorway. With every student (to his knowledge) accounted for, Nagi now found himself waiting for Himeko to arrive. But as the door opened its final time, it was not the red-headed woman he expected who walked through.
To his complete shock, it was, in fact, a man. A tall man, pleasant and humble in appearance wearing clothes reminiscent of a liberal college professor. His hair was brown and messy, in a stylized kind of way. Well-worn but well-maintained spectacles adorned his face, covering a pair of brown eyes that carried wisdom beyond their years.
Nagi had to admit, he was quite attractive. I wouldn't mind looking like that when I'm older… he thought with an envious tone. At the very least, be as tall.
His musings aside, he found himself looking at the older man with no small amount of intrigue. The last thing he had expected to see was another guy at Saint Freya, and a teacher at that. And just after he had affirmed himself as the only boy, too! Were there others, he wondered. I guess Otto is a guy, but… I thought he was the exception.
"Good morning, everyone," the man spoke, pulling Nagi from his musings. "We'll start with attendance. Annabelle?" His voice was mature yet friendly, the kind of voice you'd want to listen to for hours.
"Here!"
The professor continued down the list, reciting names in alphabetical order in a practiced manner. After a quick glance around the room, Nagi leaned over to Wendy as the attendance continued.
"Wendy," Nagi whispered, getting his companion's attention. Wendy glanced at him.
"Mm?"
"Who's he?" he asked, earning a confused look from Wendy. Confusion turned to realization as she leaned back towards him.
"Professor Nokianvirtanen."
"...Noki-what now?" Nagi replied, caught off guard by the lengthy family name. Wendy smirked at that. The expression was gone as quickly as it came as Wendy continued.
"You can just call him Professor Nokia. He doesn't mind."
"Professor Nokia… like the phone?" He asked, only to receive a shrug from Wendy in reply. Nagi shrugged in turn, deciding to think nothing of it as he prepared for his name to be called.
He felt a strange sense of trepidation at the thought. After all, the last time he waited for his name to be called hadn't turned out so well. He clasped his hands together and subtly began playing with his thumbs, his eyes shifting around the room nervously as he waited for Professor Nokia to call out his name.
"Hannah, here," the Professor said, noting the name down as his eyes glanced to the next name on his paper. "Then it's…" The man fell silent, however, as his eyes found the next name. Nagi gulped.
Of course something happens when my name comes up! The young man cried internally, resisting the urge to slam his head into the table. Is it the wrong class!? Wrong student!? Wrong school!? Professor Nokia looked up from his paper, scanning the room until his eyes fell upon Izanagi.
"...Izanagi Itsuki?" the Professor finally called. Nagi jumped at the sound of his name, nearly throwing his desk forward if it weren't built into the ground. Instead, he was left with bruised knees for his efforts.
"H-H-Here!" he cried as he threw his hand into the air, his voice nearly cracking in the process. His face turned bright red, his heart pounding, as everyone in the class turned to look at him. A few snickers caught his ear as Professor Nokia cleared his throat.
"I hadn't been informed you'd be joining us," the professor replied. "I'm Professor Nokianvirtanen, who teaches physics and history here at Saint Freya." He gave Nagi a friendly, disarming smile, a bastion of kindness in a sea of judgment. "You can retake your seat now."
"Oh, um— Y-Yes sir!" Nagi collapsed back into his seat, trying his best to hide his face from the dozens of stares aimed his way. From the side, Wendy awkwardly patted his back, sparing him only a glance before she turned back to the professor.
"Now then, everyone, let's begin."
It was at the end of the class period when Professor Nokia approached. Wendy passed him by as he made his way towards Nagi, only to stop and watch out of curiosity. Nagi failed to notice his approach, too absorbed in his own thoughts.
"Itsuki-kun?" Nokia called out to him, pulling Nagi from his mind. The young man flinched, looking up at Nokia in surprise.
"O-Oh, Mr. Nokia… um… d-did you need something?"
"Do you have another class? I was hoping to speak with you if you had a moment."
Outwardly, Nagi didn't say anything immediately.
Oh noooooooooo! Nagi screamed with all of his might, beads of sweat running down his face. D-Did he find out!? Did Fu Hua snitch!? Fu Hua was nowhere to be seen… but Nagi crossed that thought out. He trusted the Class Monitor.
"You haven't done anything wrong, Itsuki," Nokia explained, seeing the look on Nagi's face. "I just wanted to talk, if that's alright with you."
"Oh. Uh…" Nagi tilted his head. "Well… uh… sure, I can chat, sir."
"No need to call me sir," the professor replied. He turned to Wendy. "I'll have Itsuki back out with you in a moment. It shouldn't be long."
"Mm," Wendy replied with a nod, glancing at Nagi. Wendy gave a small wave, before picking up her bag and making her way out. With her gone, all that remained in the classroom were Nagi and Nokia, the latter of which gestured for Nagi to follow as he made his way down towards his desk.
"Pull up a chair," the professor said as he took his seat. Nagi nodded, grabbing a nearby chair and taking his own seat. He gave Nagi a warm smile as he leaned back in his chair.
"S-So…" Nagi started, shifting around nervously in his seat. "What did you wanna discuss…?"
"You're Sarah's son, right?" Nokia asked. Nagi's eyes widened in surprise, slowly nodding his head. "I had a feeling. How has she been?"
"S-She's… been fine… " Nagi replied, blinking as he tried to recollect himself. It wasn't as if he felt fear, but more… surprise. "Y-You know her?"
"...You're quite skittish, aren't you?" Nokia said, a comment which struck like a critical blow. Nagi was soon sulking as Nokia leaned forward apologetically. "No, that's not an insult. But I would have expected you to take more after Sarah, being her son."
"Yeah, I'm… not exactly her spitting image…" Nagi replied, scratching his cheek. "Adopted son and all that…"
"Of course. There's no shame in that," Nokia replied, before glancing at his hair. "Though I will admit, I'd almost mistake you for a Kaslana if not for your eyes."
"Y-Yeah, got a bit of that when I first got here…" Nagi replied. "...S-So… how do you know my mom, exactly…?" Nokia smiled.
"She was one of my students."
"...Eh?" Nagi blinked. "Eh!?"
"At Cal-Tech. I worked with her on her dissertation," Nokia explained. "I even considered her a friend."
"...Considered? Past tense? Wait, shouldn't I call you Doctor Nokia then…?"
"I don't mind. As for your first question, I still consider her one. But…" Nokia sighed. "An incident ended up driving us apart." He shook his head, his expression solemn. "Don't think I hold anything against you. If anything, it relieves me to see you seem to be doing well."
"Oh, um… t-thank you. Ehe…" Nagi glanced away. "Mom wasn't… particularly thrilled about me coming here, but… she didn't say no, either." Nokia nodded.
"I can't say that surprises me. Sarah has a rocky history with Schicksal, but… I believe it was a good decision. Regardless of Schicksal's reputation, Saint Freya is a good school. You'll be safe here." Nokia adjusted his glasses. "Speaking of, how is it treating you? Are you adjusting well? I imagine it's a big change to life in the US."
"...Ehe. I haven't been here very long… today's my third day. It's… been weird. I used to be homeschooled by my moms, so…"
"Of course, I understand. Have you made any friends yet?"
"I talked with some of my dorm mates, but… not really beyond that…" If anything, I've made more enemies than friends… Nagi thought, thinking of the Kaslana girl. Funny timing for him to bring this up…
"I see. You'll meet some in due time," Nokia replied. "So… what made you decide to come to Schicksal?"
Nagi tensed up. "I… won't go into detail, if that's okay." Nokia nodded understandingly. "I just… There was someone who meant a lot to me. I want… to make them proud."
"...I understand. But is that the only reason?"
Caught off guard by his question, Nagi looked up at Nokia. The older man's face had taken on a serious expression as he removed his glasses and set them to the side. "I do not intend to make light of your ideals. It is respectable to want to honor the name of someone you care for." Nokia locked his eyes with Izanagi's, his intensity giving hesitation to the younger boy. "But… The path Schicksal leads to is one of pain, loss, and tragedy. It is the nature of heroes to fight and sacrifice for the greater good. As such… it requires a strong conviction to be able to fight these battles. Ideals you find worth fighting for."
Nagi shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I'm… not sure I get your point…" Nokia nodded.
"Let me put it like this. If you were to fall in battle one day… will it be for your own beliefs that you lay there dying for, or the beliefs of someone you wished to honor?" Nokia's eyes were gentle, yet the expression on his face was deadly serious. "And if it is the latter, and not the former… are you certain you would not curse that person's name?"
"I-I…" Nagi found himself lost for words. He was hardly prepared for such a heavy conversation, much less an even heavier question. His lips opened as he tried to find the answer to Nokia's question. However…
"You don't need an answer. Not yet," Nokia replied, as if having noticed Nagi's dilemma. "This isn't meant to be a test, Itsuki, just something for you to think about starting now. But you will need to find your answer, someday. Not for me, but for yourself. Do you understand?" Nagi slowly nodded his head. "...My apologies. I hadn't intended for this conversation to take such a heavy turn. I'll let you go now."
"M-Mm… thank you…" Nagi stood to his feet. "Um… S-Sorry…" Nokia raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"Not… having a better answer…"
Nokia smiled. "Itsuki. You'll find your answer. You've already taken the first step towards your answer… Don't forget that." The professor stood to his feet and stopped at Nagi's side, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "You'll be alright. Next time, I'll have something more casual to talk about. For now, go clear your head."
"Y-Yes, sir."
"No need for that, Itsuki. Just call me Nokia."
Soon after, Nagi departed from the classroom, closing the door behind him and letting out a heavy sigh. He was sure that the professor meant well, but it didn't change how Nagi felt. He shook his head, starting off at a brisk pace as Nokia's words hung heavy over his mind.
The rest of the day went by uneventfully. More classes, more classwork, yet blissfully far less social interaction throughout the day. Nonetheless, Professor Nokia's words remained tucked in the back of Nagi's mind well into the evening even after returning to his dorm. Wendy remained in her room as usual, and he could hear the sound of clattering dishes as Ana moved about the kitchen.
Not even his usual stress relief of sketching served to distract him. With a sigh, he sat up in his bed and rested his cheek on his hand. His eyes wandered around the room in search of a new vice to distract himself.
"Oh… it's about time I get ready to meet with Teach," The young man realized as his eyes met the clock. He hopped to his feet and gathered together what things he might need.
"Er, do I need to bring anything…? No, she probably would have said… But… ugh, it's fine!" Rather than allowing himself to overthink, the young man grabbed his shoes and stepped out of his door. As he made his way out, he spotted Ana in the kitchen only to notice the look of distress on her face. Concerned, he called out to her.
"Um… everything alright?"
"Eh!? Um…" Ana, caught off guard by Nagi's voice, froze in place. "Y-Yes, I'm fine! Don't worry about me!"
Nagi remained unconvinced.
"D-Don't look at me like that!" Ana exclaimed, her cheeks turning bright red before she covered her face with her palms.
Nagi said nothing as he made his way into the kitchen, surveying the scene. It wasn't a complete disaster, but… it wasn't pretty, either. Poorly cut vegetables, a multitude of used dishes that certainly didn't need to be used, and ingredients scattered around the counters. The telltale signs of inexperienced frustration.
"Don't cook often?" He asked.
"M-More like never…" Ana replied bitterly. "I know. It's unsalvageable…"
"Eh? It's hardly that bad. What were you trying to make?"
"L-Lentil stew…"
"Which explains all the veggies," Nagi replied, placing a hand on his chin. After a moment, he gave a short nod as his lips curled into a smile. "Alright, let's fix dinner then." Nagi went to work, moving about the kitchen and gathering the scattered ingredients. "I'll organize everything for you, but you'll still be doing the cooking, alright?"
"O-Oh, um… okay… n-no, that's fine! Thank you…" Caught off guard, Ana shook her head before giving a determined nod. She stepped out of his way as he went about his work, turning a disorderly kitchen into a neat space in quick time. "There. So, what's your struggle?"
"W-Well…" Ana shifted uncomfortably, only to let out a sigh. "...I'm sorry, you don't have to do this—"
"Bap! Ah-ah-ah, none of that!" Nagi interjected, raising a scolding finger at the vanilla-haired girl. "Now, again, what's the issue? How can I help?"
"I…" Ana sighed. "I did alright cutting the vegetables, but I couldn't get them the shape I wanted… then when I tried to cook them, they kept being way too tough and I had to toss them…"
"Undercooked, then. Usually, you don't wanna toss your ingredients until you know they're actually bad, ya know?"
"Y-You mean… I just got impatient?"
"Eh, it happens. Especially if you've never cooked before. Well, all our vegetables are here and cut, so let's try this again, 'kay?"
"R-Right…" Ana slowly nodded her head. "I'll follow your lead…"
"No problem! Now, whenever you're ready…"
With the prep out of the way, the actual cooking was barely a task. Simply add the vegetables and saute them for a few minutes, and soon after let it all simmer. As Ana set the lid back on the pot, she let out a long sigh of relief as Nagi clapped his hands together.
"See? S'all good. It can be frustrating if you set your expectations too high, but you did fine with a bit of guidance! Just wait for the timer to finish and dinner will be all set."
"E-Even still…"
"Even still, the soup is cooking, that's right!"
"T-That's not what I meant!"
"But it is a fact, isn't it?" Ana pursed her lips into a pout as Nagi shot a grin at her. "You know, I don't mind showing you the ropes. I used to do a lot of cooking back home, cuz my parents were always out for business." Ana stared at him for a moment, her silence catching him off guard.
"I… would like that," she replied at last. "I've always wanted to learn, but… I never was given the chance. So… thank you!" She bowed her head with great enthusiasm, nearly head-butting Izanagi in the process—only avoided due to their height difference. "I've spent so long preparing to be a Valkyrie, that…" She stood up straight, a bashful expression on her face.
"...You never learned to be a civilian?" Nagi asked, finishing her sentence for her. Ana flinched but slowly nodded her head. "I see…" He raised a hand to his chin, thoughtfully stroking it much to her confusion. "Well… we're kind of alike in that regard. In a few ways, even!"
"Huh?"
"You don't know how to be a civilian. I don't know how to be a Valkyrie, or… whatever the male-adjacent word is," he explained. Not that I'm all that good at the civilian part either, he thought, though he kept those particular words to himself. "So—" He paused as a movement caught the corner of his eye. Ana seemed to have noticed as well as the two of them turned towards the hall.
"Ah… hi," greeted Wendy, awkwardly emerging from the corner. "...I wasn't eavesdropping."
She was totally eavesdropping, Nagi thought. A glance at Ana told him she was thinking the same.
"Um… I was hungry, so…"
"Oh!" Ana clapped her hands together. "Dinner is finishing up, t-there was just… some complications…"
"Mm," Wendy replied with a nod. "I don't mind." She stepped over into the kitchen, looking between Nagi and Ana. "...Sorry. You can continue. I didn't mean to ruin the mood…"
"No no, you did no such thing!" Ana exclaimed. She let out a sigh, before turning back to Nagi. "You were saying…?" Nagi remained quiet, however. Wendy's eyes turned downcast as the girl slowly prepared to walk away, only for his hand to reach out and grab her by the back of her shirt. Wendy's eyes widened as she gave Nagi a weird look. "Izanagi…?" Ana questioned, only to be met with his smile.
"You said yesterday you were gonna drill my head with the basics over the weekend, right?" Nagi asked Ana. Ana nodded slowly. "Well, let's double that! Ana, Wendy. We all only barely know each other, and… frankly speaking, we're all kind of bad at socializing. So why don't we spend half the weekend doing that, too?"
"Doing what?" Wendy asked. Nagi flinched and gave her an awkward grin.
"S-Socializing… getting to know each other. That kinda thing?"
"Ah…" Wendy looked up as if contemplating his words. Ana, meanwhile, nodded slowly.
"I teach you Valkyrie basics, you teach me civilian basics… Mm, that sounds fun!" Ana exclaimed.
"I don't mind," Wendy said in agreement. Nagi smiled.
"Then it's settled! We can sort out the details later, though, because—" Nagi pulled out his phone and checked the time as he spoke. His grin vanished in an instant. "...Because oh my god I'm going to be late!"
"Eh?" Ana gasped as Nagi suddenly rushed out of the kitchen towards the door. Wendy side-stepped out of his way with a curious look, but Ana's hand shot forward, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck. "And where exactly do you think you're going!?"
"T-To meet with someone!"
"Are you going to break and enter again!?"
"What!? T-That was a one-time thing!"
"Then who are you meeting!?"
"The Class Monitor!"
"Oh." Ana released Nagi as the young man stumbled forward. She crossed her arms as Nagi turned to her with a pleading look. "W-Well… if it's Miss Hua, it should be fine…" She sighed.
"Fine. But I won't let you hear the end of it if you're lying!"
"I'm not! Alright, I have to go bye—!" Nagi sprinted off once again as Ana and Wendy watched him go.
"...Can I eat now?"
"There's still 15 minutes left!"
Nagi arrived at the training hall as a panting mess, stopping just before the door to catch his breath. "She's… not… here…" He said between groans. He took a few more breaths, before pushing himself to his feet. "Phew… M-Maybe she's inside?" His lips tightened. After a second of silence, he reached for the door to test if it was locked.
Only to receive a sharp pain on the top of his head for his efforts. "Ow!?"
"Itsuki."
Nagi flinched as the cold voice of Fu Hua scolded him from behind. He spun on his foot with a confused expression. Fu Hua towered over him with her eyebrow twitching, one hand held up while her other held a suitcase.
"W-What!?"
"Were you seriously about to attempt to break in again?"
"E-Eh!? No! I was testing if the door was locked!"
"...I see. My apologies then. I apologize for my tardiness; here I am telling you to arrive on time, only to arrive late myself…"
"You were la— I mean… t-that's totally fine!" Nagi quickly averted his gaze so that his eyes would not reveal his deception. Fu Hua raised an eyebrow, yet said nothing of it. "S-So… if it's locked, what's the plan…?"
"The plan is to unlock it," Fu Hua replied, revealing a keycard from her pocket. She inserted it into the slot as the door let out a small affirmative noise, opening wide for the two of them.
"Eh? Are we—"
"I informed the Principal of our plans and received full consent. I also have permission to use the simulation hall after hours, so there will be no trouble as long as you remain with me."
"Huh… Teach is pretty decked out with favors, huh?"
"...You're still calling me Teach?"
"You said to call you whatever, so… ah, unless you want me to say ma'am— Ow!?"
"Hmph." Without another word, Fu Hua made her way inside as Nagi rubbed his injured head. They arrived back in the training hall where they had first met. Before they entered, Fu Hua entered some settings into the pad that Nagi couldn't see from behind. Regardless, Fu Hua made her way inside as Nagi followed behind her.
"So what's in the suitcase?" Nagi asked, closing the door behind him.
"As you may recall, for most Valkyries—and Knights, such as yourself—entering the simulation hall without a battlesuit is against the school rules," Fu Hua explained. "As such, I have acquired a battlesuit for you."
"Eh? But the one being made for me isn't done yet, I thought?" Fu Hua shook her head.
"C-Rank Valkyries, male or female, do not receive custom battlesuits. Even if they could afford it, the benefits of one compared to a standard battlesuit are simply not worth the cost, be it in funds or materials. What you are receiving is a uniform, and certainly not a custom one."
"Eh!?" Nagi's face drooped. "Oh…"
"...If you show results and achieve a high enough rank, however, a higher quality battlesuit will be in order," Fu Hua continued. "Simply prove yourself, and you'll find yourself with better equipment."
"Right…Wait, but," Nagi said, tilting his head. "Do you guys have male battlesuits on hand…?" Fu Hua adjusted her glasses, producing a menacing appearance as the light reflected off the lens. Nagi's face paled as Fu Hua handed him the suitcase.
"None befitting your rank," she replied. "Luckily for you, you should have no problem fitting into this one."
"...You're joking, right?"
"The locker is down the hall to the left."
The shame Nagi felt at this moment was likely to haunt him forever. He couldn't even take his eyes off the ground to look at Fu Hua. The form-fitting bodysuit was tight in all the wrong places… yet that shame barely compared to the realization that the battlesuit fit too well.
The material was light, comparable to a second skin layered over his body. He could feel the power the battlesuit provided, utilizing his energy to give him greater strength, agility, and even mental acuity. If it weren't for the intense shame that came with it, he would actually be feeling pretty great.
Tight, dark blue shorts that didn't even reach his knees, a similarly colored leotard underneath, alongside long black boots and gloves to pair with it. Topped off with a scarf and a coat, Nagi had fully adorned the standard battlesuit of the average female Valkyrie. His only hope was that no one other than Fu Hua would ever bear witness to the outfit he wore that day.
"How does it feel?"
"..."
"Itsuki?"
"Please… please… never tell anyone about this…"
Fu Hua let out a sigh. "Itsuki, this is your officially assigned battlesuit. The fact of the matter is that you will have to wear this suit whenever you depart for a mission or train. You had best swallow your shame before then, as a battlesuit will do you far more good than civilian clothes."
"Can I at least wear something over it!?"
"As long as you are prepared for whatever clothes you wear to be reduced to shreds in a single attack."
"Grk… are there really no other options…?"
"Rank up. It is as simple as that." Nagi let out a dejected sigh, barely able to keep himself standing. Fu Hua, meanwhile, cleared her throat. "Whenever you're ready, we'll begin."
"Yeah… oh. So… what exactly are we doing, anyway?"
"That's what we're here to figure out. Though I have evaluated your combat prowess, it is only a partial assessment. For starters…" Fu Hua stepped forward and kneeled in front of Nagi. The young man looked at her, confused… only for his crimson blush to turn two shades deeper as Fu Hua reached forward and touched his midriff.
"W-W-W-What are you doing!?" He exclaimed, backstepping away from the Class Monitor. She gave him a concerned look, only for a faint blush to grow on her cheeks as she cleared her throat.
"...I wished to check on your injury from yesterday."
"Injury…?" Nagi's eyes widened as he recalled the all-too-painful kick she had delivered to his gut. He stared at her, taking note of the awkward expression and the embarrassed blush on her face. After a moment… Nagi smiled warmly as a strange sense of happiness flowed from his heart. So she's not just stern and cold all the time… hehe, that blush is kinda cute— Nagi smacked his cheeks and cleared his throat.
"I'm fine! I'm tougher than I look, you know!"
Fu Hua sighed. "Playing tough for the sake of pride will avail you nothing, Itsuki."
"No, I'm serious! Here, look." The young man grabbed the hem of his leotard and pulled it to the side, revealing his unmarred stomach. However… The reaction he received was not awe from Fu Hua at his remarkable resilience, but instead…
A blush? Fu Hua's eyes widened before the Class Monitor immediately covered her eyes with her hand. "Itsuki, I understand your intent… but please refrain from exposing yourself in such a manner."
"Exposing…" Nagi tested the word on his lips. "Exposing? What do you mean, exposing…" Nagi turned his eyes down to his stomach. Slow realization turned to absolute mortification as his face turned such a bright shade of red that a tomato seemed dull by comparison. The short shorts and the thin leotard, combined with pulling it taut to reveal his stomach, produced a sight that was far more provocative than Nagi could ever intentionally accomplish.
"G-Gyaaah!?" The young man all but screamed, immediately setting the leotard back in place as steam blew from his ears. "I'msosorrythatwasn'tmyintention—!" Nagi stammered out, his high-pitched words slurring together as he crouched down into a fetal position.
"...You are a piece of work, Izanagi Itsuki," Fu Hua replied, her voice exasperated. "And I certainly have my work cut out for me." She shook her head, before offering her hand to Nagi. "Stand up, I'm not angry. Just be more aware."
"Yes, Hua…"
"...Hua?" Before Nagi could reply, Fu Hua shook her head. "Nevermind. But… I'm surprised. A kick like that would leave most out for days after. Yet not only are you well and mobile, there's not even a bruise… Are your ribs fine?"
"Mhm." Nagi took a deep breath and cleared away what was left of his blush. It was time to focus. "Here… you wanted to know what I'm capable of, so I'll just tell you. Remember how you talked about my… 'self-destructive' fighting style?"
"Of course." Fu Hua's brows furrowed as she faintly recalled some of Nagi's words from the day before.
"That's because I can regenerate."
"...What do you mean?"
"I mean, even if you had broken every bone in my body, I'd be up and about anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Depending on a few factors…"
"...To what extent?"
Nagi gave the class monitor a sheepish grin. "W-Well… does a bullet to the brain count for much?" Fu Hua's eyes widened. "On the mission Rita evaluated me. I… screwed up, and got my head blown off. That's… not exaggeration, either." He massaged his arm, trying to distract himself from the unpleasant memory. He expected disbelief on Fu Hua's face when he looked up.
What he found instead was sympathy… and, though it was difficult to tell, perhaps a sense of empathy?
"I see… which would explain the lack of bruises, and, additionally, your ability to regather your stamina quickly?"
"Eh? Did I mention that before…?"
"No, but I've witnessed it multiple times now." Fu Hua placed a hand on her chin. "An ability like that would normally be more than enough to place a Valkyrie in B-rank, if not higher… is your fighting skill really so terrible?"
"Ow, my pride…"
"Expect to have none left by the end of tonight."
"Ruthless!?" Fu Hua smiled faintly, a sight that left a chill down Nagi's spine. His head hung, dejected, as Fu Hua continued.
"Regeneration, then… I will take this into account for your training."
"That's a terrifying sentence…"
"Next… those orbs you wield. You surprised me a few times with their uses, but what is the full extent of their uses?" Fu Hua paused for a moment. "I will admit, though your technical skill was miserable, your sense of strategy was better than I expected. Do you have experience in combat?"
"Um… minimal." Nagi looked away with a shy expression. "I, um… have spent a lot of time thinking about strategies." More like figuring out ways to look cool… He thought. "It was really just… using ideas I've thought of before."
"I see… that is not a bad habit, prideful delusions aside," Fu Hua replied. "Though I would spend more time focusing on practical techniques rather than stylistic ones."
She saw right through it! Nagi exclaimed in the back of his mind. Fu Hua continued.
"I am more impressed with how quickly you were able to adapt to setbacks. Regardless of your overall skill level, it would be foolish of me to not compliment that, at least." Nagi's eyes lit up at the unexpected praise, but Fu Hua was quick to shut that down with a stern look. "Do not get swallowed up in minor praise: it will hinder your ability to grow." She crossed her arms. "Now, your orbs. How do they work? What are their strengths, their limits?"
"Mm. Well… it's not quite right to call them orbs."
"What do you mean?"
"It's… mana. Like, magic." Nagi puffed up his chest with a prideful smile. "Because you see, I am actually a wizard!"
The look on Fu Hua's face spoke volumes. Nagi deflated like a popped balloon as the class monitor let out a sigh. "Your delusions are far worse than I expected. It is Honkai energy, not mana. Please do not tell me you've told this to everyone you've met…"
"B-But it's not—" Nagi's complaints were shut down in an instant by the look Fu Hua gave him. Crocodile tears ran down his face as Fu Hua impatiently tapped her foot. "Can I at least call it mana for simplicity…?"
"Very well."
It's the little victories… Nagi thought to himself. "Well… the orbs aren't really a technique or anything. It's more like…" He paused and raised a finger to his lips. "Think of me like a generator that's always producing energy without needing fuel. I'm constantly producing more and more to the point it's excessive, that even touching something can transfer energy from me to it." Nagi held out his hand to Fu Hua. "I'll show you."
Curious, Fu Hua complied, letting him take her hand in his. Merely moments after making contact, her eyes widened.
"See?" He smiled. "I can even restore your stamina, too." Fu Hua nodded.
"A surprisingly pleasant sensation… Then taking what you've said so far, these orbs are the excess energy released from your body."
"Eh? Yeah, that's right…" Nagi replied, wide-eyed. To demonstrate, he held up his hand, aimed toward a wall, and conjured an orb. "Release!" The orb released from his palm and dispersed harmlessly against the wall. "I'm surprised you pieced that together…"
"It isn't exactly a stretch, Itsuki," Fu Hua replied. "And this mana has more properties than simply being released in excess… if I were to make an educated guess, you can manipulate the properties of this mana to create other effects, such as the speed, size, and luminosity of the orbs." She paused, looking to Nagi for affirmation. The young man nodded in amazement, and Fu Hua continued. "Furthermore, considering the unexpected physical ability you demonstrated, compared with the knowledge that this mana boosts your stamina, it also allows you to enhance your physical ability."
"...J-Just go ahead and guess everything else, while you're at it—" Nagi muttered. It was awe, not bitterness, that filled his voice, yet Fu Hua paid it no mind nonetheless.
"The only thing I am unsure of is the source of your regeneration. While presumably it is also tied to your mana, I fail to see how it heals you… unless…" Fu Hua stared at Nagi for a moment. "Have you ever undergone surgery, Itsuki?"
"Eh? Nope. Even if I did, it's not like the cuts would stay open for it."
"You're absolutely certain? Not a single point in time, even a memory you may have forgotten?"
"W-Well, if you say it like that… Maybe? I don't really know…" Fu Hua closed her eyes, falling into a state of deep thought. Nagi blinked, caught off guard by the intensity of the question. "Teach…?"
"Never mind me. I'm getting ahead of myself. First things first, do you know the properties of your regeneration?"
Nagi shrugged. "It is tied to mana, but… when you put it like that, I don't really know the exact details…" Fu Hua nodded.
"Very well… we'll have to look into this. A few more questions, then. Without the effects of your mana, how is your physical ability? If you were to have it suddenly stripped from you, how hindered would you be?"
"...Ehe?"
"...Good grief." Fu Hua did not bother to hide her frustration. "Is there anything else of note you need to mention? Furthermore, do you have a complete understanding of your powers?"
"Not really… ah." Nagi paused. "Um… there is… one important thing. Probably the most important thing…"
"The drawback." Nagi flinched and nodded his head. "Go on."
"I uh… call it Mana Burn…" Nagi glanced at the gloves covering his wrists, staring at them with silent contemplation. Well… if anyone should know, it'd probably be her… Fu Hua watched as Nagi slowly took off his right glove. It was a slow, tedious process, and Nagi found himself doubting himself each time he tried. Fu Hua was patient, however, letting Nagi move at his own pace. Eventually… he removed the glove in its entirety. Fu Hua's eyes went wide as she saw what lay beneath.
Root-like scars traveled up the length of Nagi's wrist, halfway up his lower arm. They were vaguely reminiscent of burn wounds, yet the scars were too precise and erratic to be damage born of flames, at least in the traditional sense. What fully caught Fu Hua's attention were the faint pulses of pink that ran through the lines every other second, like energy traveling through a power line.
If she didn't know any better, she'd have called it Honkai corruption.
However, Honkai corruption proved more rigid and symmetrical in its appearance. Furthermore, the corruption would have spread throughout his body. Given his reaction, Nagi had clearly grown accustomed to the wound. After a moment of consideration, Fu Hua slowly reached forward. Nagi flinched at the movement, pulling his hand back.
"...May I touch it?" Fu Hua asked, her voice soft.
"Oh, um…" Nagi fell quiet. But eventually… "Y-Yeah. Sorry, it's…"
"A long story," Fu Hua finished for him. Nagi looked up at her and slowly nodded. He held out his wrist for her to take. Fu Hua's hand gently brushed across the scars, yet even then Nagi winced. "Does it hurt?"
"N-No, but…" He sighed. "Phantom pain, I guess…"
"Can you still feel here?"
"Mm. But… that's what I call Mana Burn. If I… over-expend mana, I burn like that. And as you can see… that damage doesn't regenerate. The more I use my mana, the more I overheat, but…"
"...Expending pure mana is highly inefficient, then. Thus your insistence on fighting recklessly, to end fights quickly."
"Jeez, am I just an open book to you or something…?"
"More or less," Fu Hua replied with a smile. "Does your regeneration trigger this… mana burn?"
"I've never been hurt enough to find out…" Fu Hua nodded.
"...I can see why you've been placed in C-rank, then."
"Ouch…"
"It is not an insult. Your abilities are strong, and likely will only grow stronger with time. However, as it is currently, you are more of a threat to yourself than any enemy; that makes you a liability on the field."
Nagi's eyes turned downcast. She was right, he knew it in his heart. But that didn't make it any less painful. If anything, it just felt like a twist of the knife. Was that the reason Rita had placed him in C-Rank? Because in any other position, he was a burden? It wouldn't surprise him. That's always been the case, after all. A living burden on everyone around him.
"Izanagi." He heard Fu Hua call his name, only for it to be followed by a disciplinary chop.
"O-Ow…"
"I have promised to tutor you. I have recognized the potential you have. The path will be difficult, that much is certain… but you know this already. Do not let a reaffirmation of the truth you already knew stop you from walking the path you choose." She placed a hand on his head and gave him a gentle smile. "It is better to try and fail than never to try at all."
"...Yeah. Yeah, you're right!" Nagi nodded, shaking away his doubts as best he could. "Sorry. I shouldn't be looking so pathetic in front of—" Another chop cut him off. "Why!?"
"Do not degrade yourself. That is one of many lessons I will beat into your head from now on, Itsuki."
"Y-Yes, Teach…"
"Very well. I've come to enough of an understanding for the time being. We'll prioritize your physical ability while researching a more efficient method to utilize your mana. In the meantime, you will only use your mana as necessary during training; no more orbs or physical enhancement."
"Eh!? But…"
"You may use them in real missions, of course, you're too accustomed to them to not. But these techniques are too dangerous to continue utilizing them the way you are," Fu Hua explained.
"I already have a few ideas that will, if nothing else, set us down the right path. As a Martial Artist, I can teach you how to fight with only your body… though we will have to build up your muscle mass for that to be effective." Fu Hua looked Izanagi in the eyes. "I will have no talk of giving up, nor will I allow you to degrade yourself as you were before. We will make a proper Knight out of you yet, Izanagi Itsuki."
"...Yes, ma'am!"
Chop!
"I said do not call me ma'am!"
"I'm sorry!" Fu Hua let out a sigh, before stepping away. Izanagi watched her go, confused as to her intent. Noticing this, Fu Hua began to explain.
"You have given me a vocal understanding of your abilities, but what you know is not necessarily all there is to learn. Or did you think I had you equip a battlesuit only to exchange words?"
Nagi's face paled. "E-Eh? But… you saw how I did before, I'll get—"
"You chose an opponent far beyond your skill level. I have a better idea in mind, and I will have no complaints… lest you prefer to return to your dorm for the night?"
"...N-No. I'll do it."
"Good. Prepare yourself. We'll start with an Archangel-class, the lowest level of Honkai beast. Let me know when you are ready, and I will begin the simulation."
"Alright! Then… let's do this, Teach!"
Fu Hua smiled, as once more a sense of nostalgia washed over her. Perhaps, she thought, this would not be so much of a chore after all.