This was so satisfying to write.
Shizuku slowly opened her eyes, she felt...cold. she can see a wall that keeps moving up bit by bit, her cheeks are cold and squished on the ground, it also kept sliding, and finally she felt her right leg being held and pulled.
"Ah...what the..." As she groggily got up, she was able to see who was holding her leg, it was Hinata, who noticed her moving.
"Oh, you're awake." Hinata drops Shizuku's leg. "Now you can walk, right?"
Shizuku was confused, the last thing she remembered was fighting her reflection and then...crying. She managed to calmly deduce what had happened and turns to Hinata. "Did you bring me all the way here just by dragging me on the floor?"
"Yes."
"Oh...WHAT THE HELL?!"
After Hinata ignored Shizuku's complaints, the two of them sat down, leaning on the wall behind them.
Hinata had told Shizuku about the things the swordmaster did, in her own way. "You blubbered all over me till you passed out."
"...Did I say anything odd?" Shizuku asked, controlling her temper.
"You just kept saying that you were sorry over and over again."
"I see, you're probably wondering what that was all about."
"Not reall-"
"Well, I'll tell you." Shizuku hastily grabbed Hinata's arm, trying to stop her from leaving. And so Shizuku told Hinata everything that was said in her trial.
Her repressed desires.
Her disdain of Hinata herself.
And her feelings for Kaori.
Which Hinata replied to with. "Are you done yet?"
"Oh come on!" Shizuku exclaimed. "You seriously can't have a bigger reaction?"
"No." Hinata bluntly replied. "And why would I? Your crush on Kaori was obvious, except to her of course. You're not the only person that has beef with me, and the whole damsel in distress is just your fetish."
"Don't call it a fetish!"
Hinata rolls her eyes. "Whatever, the only thing that bothered me is the fact that you had a thing for Amanogawa."
"Yeah...that was kinda of a mistake, isn't it?" Shizuku seemed to have calmed down.
"Kinda? Try the biggest mistake of your life." Hinata corrected.
"Eh? Isn't that a bit too much?"
"No." Hinata seriously answered. "Like, if you still had those feeling, I would've taken back all those nice things I said to you."
'Can those really be considered nice?' Shizuku remembered more of Hinata insulting everyone rather than praising her.
Hinata then gets up. "Well, enough emotional backstory, come on."
"Wait, Nagumo." Shizuku grabs Hinata's hand and also gets up. "It might not mean much to you, but I really am sorry." She lets go and starts rubbing her other arm. "I should've tried to stop the others, but I didn't. If there's any favor you need from, please just ask, as long as it's within reason." Shizuku added that last part in a hurry.
She was genuinely feeling guilty, but she knew that it was dangerous to say that she would've done "anything" for Hinata.
Hinata had an amused smile on her face. "There's that intelligence I like, I'll take your offer, After all..." She turns to Shizuku. "Your favours are quite valuable."
Shizuku sighs while smiling, she knows that's the bes she can get. With nothing more to say they move forward.
"SHUT UPPPPP!"
Kouki shouted at the top if his lungs while firing multiple light slashes.
"Don't deny it." A dark themed Kouki calmly said. His black armor and weapons, made him look the exact opposite of a hero. "It's all her fault, she's the reason you're not having any fun right now, it's all because of Nagumo."
The fake Kouki easily blocked Kouki's slashes with dark slashes of his own.
"You were so happy when you came here, you got a be a real life hero and save the world with your friends." Fake Kouki sneered. "But look at how things are."
"I SAID SHUT UPPPP!" Kouki kept attacking in rage, which resulted in pretty much nothing.
"Hinata Nagumo, the worthless otaku has everyone's attention, she's the one that everyone relies on, she's the one with a harem, and she's the only one that can actually save the world."
"T-That doesn't matter!" Kouki tried denying.
"Oh, but it does." Fake Kouki continued his taunt. "Especially since it took Kaori away from you."
Kouki's eyes widened.
"Kaori, the sweetest and prettiest girl in class, someone who should've been your property now looks at you with disdain."
"N-No I don't think her as my-"
"Don't even try." Kouki was cut off. "Shizuku's words didn't reach you at all, you still desired to own Kaori, and it wasn't just that,Heavenstrum- Shatter." The fake Kouki fires a black stream of mana.
Kouki tried to defend with his armor, but he was easily aster away, the copy still continued taking. "Meld and everyone kept praising her, admiring her, and of course relying on her, you want all of that for yourself."
"N-No that's-"
"You thought it should've all belonged to you. You deserved all of it, because you're the hero. You wanted her fame, her strength!"
"No...THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Kouki roared an is now covered in a glowing aura. He had just activate hisLimit Break.
Kouki's reflection was amused watching him while activating his own Limit Break. "Despite all that, you still had something to cling on to."
"DIEEEEEE!" Kouki runs to his reflection, swinging his sword in full power...which was easily stopped.
"Shizuku."
Kouki looks at his reflection in fear and frustration and continued to attack blindly.
"When Kaori left you, you depended on Shizuku, you were so afraid that Hinata was gonna take her too."
"THAT'S NONSENSE, SHIZUKU WOULD NEVER LEAVE ME!" Kouki basically just admitted to thinking that he owned Shizuku.
"But don't you remember? How much Shizuku was grateful to Nagumo? How fast she defended her in Orcus? How happy she was when Nagumo praised her? How fast she accepted Nagumo's invitation?"
The more he listened, the more he slowed down, until he eventually froze in place while muttering words. "It...can't be...true."
"Still don't believe me?" Being part of the labyrinth, the copy was able to tell the was close. "Just watch." The reflection grabs Kouki's chin and turns to the a part of the wall that disappeared.
They then saw two people walking towards them, it was Hinata and Shizuku, but because they were facing each other and talking, they didn't notice Kouki.
"...nougat!" Hinata finished a joke.
"Hahahahahaha." She and Shizuku bursted into laugh. Kouki watches Shizuku smiling, it reminded him of Kaori's smile, while she was hanging out with Hinata.
"You're hilarious Nagumo." Shizuku complimented. "I really wished we hung out sooner."
Not being in the right state of mind, Kouki had misinterpreted what Shizuku said.
"I really wished I hung out with you rather than Kouki sooner."
And something inside of him snaps.
The two finally notice him. "Ugh, it's him." And Hinata was instantly annoyed. "Hey idiot, hurry up and- Huh?"
Before she knew it, Kouki charged right at her, and attacked her with his sword, which she easily blocked with her knife. "Again, seriously?"
"Kouki?" Shizuku was confused, she can't fathom why Kouki would attack Hinata...well maybe she can.
"I...I..."
"I don't give a shit what your issues are, just focus on your trial, we were in the middle of a conversation."
"We?"
"What is it now? I told you that we-"
"STOP WITH THE "we" SHE DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU!" He gets ready for another attack, but Hinata kicks him away.
She readies her gun and turns to Shizuku. "I told you he'd crack."
Anger rising up. "SHUT UP! IF YOU WERE GONE, THEN EVERYTHING WOULD'VE GONE MY WAYYYYYY!" His sword starts to glow. "Celestial Flash - Eightfold Wings!"
He fires a barrage of slashes, which Hinata easily dodge with little effort, while also pulling a still shocked Shizuku out of harm. "Hey moron, you almost cut up your friend here."
"YOU COWARD! RELEASE SHIZUKU!"
"Kouki! What is going on?! What are you doing?!" Shizuku frantically asked.
"Don't worry Shizuku." Kouki's voice was now at a lower volume, he had a creepy smile when he looked at Shizuku. "I'll rescue you, and everyone else that Nagumo brainwashed."
"What...?" Shizuku couldn't comprehend what he was saying.
"Welp, he clearly lost it." Hinata shrugged. "Yaegashi, go over there, you're still tired." She simply pushed Shizuku away back to the entrance.
"You might be a classmate Nagumo, but I cannot let you get way with messing with the minds of Shizuku, Kaori, Meld and othe- Are you even listening?!"
She definitely was not, she was looking at her arm, pretending there was a watch there, it was definitely better than looking at Kouki's face.
"Grr...Are you looking down at m- Gack!" Before he can finish, Hinata landed another kick into Kouki's stomach, a much more powerful one than the one from before.
Kouki gets kicked all the way to the tree. Hinata confidently walks at him. "Looking down at you? I don't want to look at you period."
Kouki thrust his sword forward, but Hinata had suddenly disappeared she had actually stepped aside, she kicked Kouki again, this time making him crash into the wall.
Even though Hinata landed two massive blows, Kouki still managed to get up. "I'm...not...done yet!" Truth be told, he was only able to survive due to hisLimit Break.
"Kouki, stop it, dammit!" Shizuku yelled. "She's gonna kill you for real if you keep going on like this!" She was hoping her friend would finally snap out of it.
But instead, Kouki gave the same disturbing smile from before. "Shizuku... thank you for always caring about me, even when your brainwashed."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't worry, you don't have to say anything else, once I free you and every-"
BANG
"Gah!" Kouki was cut off by a bullet piercing his shoulder.
"Nice way of getting distracted." Hinata taunted.
"DAMN YOU NAGUMOOOOO!" Kouki went berserk, and fired multiple slashes that Hinata easily avoided while laughing out loud.
"I've got to stop them." Shizuku was about to step in, but she suddenly got intercepted by dark slash. She turns and sees Kouki's reflection staring right at her. "What do you want?"
"Sorry, can't let you interfere."
Shizuku unsheathes her sword, she didn't have any hesitation fighting this Kouki.
Meanwhile, Hinata saw what was going on while she was evading Kouki's attacks. "Hey dumbass! Tell you're freaky twin to cut it out."
"I'm not worried about him, he won't severely hurt Shizuku. He just needs to rough her up a bit, and then she will teach her not to get brainwashed by-Gah!"
Kouki's left knee got pierced by another bullet. "Hearing you talk already made me annoyed, but now I'm ready to vomit."
Kouki charges at her in rage, powering through the pain, but it's too late.
"Guk!"
Kouki suddenly felt something cold and hard wrap around his neck. Turns out, while Hinata was dodging, she had secretly brought out two drones connected by a chain.
She had put them on standby and waited for Kouki's Limit Break to end. Now, those two drones are choking the life out of Kouki. Hinata had shot the sword out of Kouki's hand and with his diminished strength, he had no chance of destroying her improved chains.
"Na...gu...mo." Kouki's face was filled with pain and anger all at the same time, it was quite the sight.
"Save your breath, you'll need it. Hahaha!" Hinata laughed out maniacally.
"Nagumo, stop!" Shizuku called out. "Please don't kill him!" She begged.
But instead of answering her plea. "You idiot, focus on your fight!"
Because Shizuku had tried to save Kouki, she let herself wide open. "Gotcha." The fake drives his fist to Shizuku's stomach, knocking her out.
He turns to Hinata. "Now, for you." He fires a slash and she dodges it, but in truth, he wasn't aiming at her at all, he was aiming for her drones, which were destroyed, freeing Kouki.
The fake rushes to the real, Hinata can see him whispering something to Kouki's ears, and then extended his hand, which Kouki accepted.
Hinata watches as the fake started to disappear into particles going into Kouki. "Now let's kill her and take what's rightfully ours."
"Shut up! I'm just using you to kill her, after that, you're next."
"Way to take denial to another level, dick!" Hinata yelled. Soon, the fake Kouki disappeared completely, leaving his dark sword behind, and the real Kouki picks it up.
Hinata got a front row seat to his transformation, part of his hair started to turn black. And so did one of his eyeball, he was covered in a dark aura.
He was creepily smiling at Hinata. "Nagumo, please die for- Would you stop looking at your arm!"
Hinata looks up. "You fused? That's fine, two of you were a pain to look at anyway."
"That's it, Overload!" The skill he just used was the derivative skill of Limit Break, which increases his stats fivefold, along with fusing with his reflection, he was the same kind of monster as Hinata, or at least...that's what he thought.
Kouki disappeared instantly, appearing behind Hinata and he was very eager to stab her. But she pulled the same trick as he swung his sword.
"Back at you." Kouki couldn't even turn around, before Hinata pulled the trigger on her missile launcher, the missile went straight ahead, carrying Kouki until he reached the wall and it exploded.
Hinata put her launcher away, keeping a straight face as Kouki walked out of the smoke, completely unscathed. "That's not gonna work."
Kouki begins his next attack, firing Celestial Flash, and because of the sword Hinata gave him, he also fired multiple wind blades and shockwaves.
All of which Hinata dodged. If she were to gauge his strength, she would have to say he was on the same level as Noint, but he's still weaker, because for one...
"DAMMIT! STAY STILL!"
Noint wouldn't get frustrated like that. And secondly...
"You lost your marbles for this level of power? Pathetic." Hinata flatly insulted.
"SHUT UP!"
Noint wouldn't have gotten easily provoked like that. His lack of emotion was accompanied by a cool, calculative mind.
What Hinata sees is nothing but a whiny little brat. She pulled out a bunch of smoke bombs, the whole room covered by smoke.
"Did you forget, who tuned out your gear?" Hinata's voice rang through the cloud of smoke.
"SHOW YOURSELF DAMMIT!"
"I know all of it's weak points." Right after she said that, Kouki noticed a jolt of electricity coming behind him. Hinata held a small box, which was a taxer she made. She activates Lightning Field through it and hits the exposed back of Kouki's neck.
"Gaaaaahhhhh!" He screams in pain, electricity frying his entire body. He violently swings his sword, using the wind blades to clear the smoke.
"DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMITTTTTTTTTT!"
Before they can continue the obvious one sided fight, two sections of the wall opened up, they saw all of their allies.
"Hinata?"
On her left was Meld and Kaori, and on her right was everyone else. "Hey guys, looks like you finished your trials."
"O-Of course, but... what's going on here, Hinata?" Meld asked.
"Well basically, this guy got possessed by his reflection and now he's trying to kill me." Hinata casually informed.
"WHAT?!" Everyone gasped, some more angry that the others.
"Oh, and Yaegashi tried to talk some sense into him and that's what happened to her." She pointed her thumb back at the unconscious Shizuku.
"SHIZUKU!" Kaori cried and she immediately ran towards her best friend's side. After she started healing her, she angrily looks at Kouki. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?!"
Kouki gave an eerie. "Don't worry Kaori, Shizuku will be fine, everyone will be, once I free you all from Nagumo's brainwashing."
"Brainwashing?! Seriously?! How many times do I have to tell you? I like Hin-"
"THAT HAS TO BE THE REASON!" His outburst cut Kaori off. "THERE'S NO WAY YOU ALL WOULD ADMIRE HER IF NOT FOR THAT!"
They can all now see that Kouki had gone mad, he was absolutely sure that he was right no matter what.
"Really?" Hinata smirked. "Then tell us, why is that the only possibility?"
"ISN'T IT OBVIOUS? YOU'RE NOTHING BUT AN ANTISOCIAL, LAZY OTAKU, YOU KILL PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY REMORSE, YOU WOULDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT ABANDONING PEOPLE, BUT EVERYONE STILL LIKES YOU, WHEN IT SHOULD BE ME! I'M THE HERO! NOT YOU!"
Kouki's allies were stunned as he had vented out his anger, Hinata was still smiling, she actually found his honesty to be quite refreshing.
And he wasn't done yet...
"WHY IS THAT? WHY DOES SOMEONE LIKE YOU GET TO BE SO STRONG? WHY DOES EVERYONE ADMIRE A MURDERER LIKE YOU? WHY DO THEY LIKE A HEARTLESS BASTARD LIKE YOU?!"
And that was the cherry on top.
All of Hinata's harem and Kaori gave the "hero" a death glare, even Seiji had a dark expression. Suzu and Ryutaro couldn't believe that Kouki had just when there.
And as for Meld...
"What was that?" Meld stepped up. "What did you say?" His voice was a bit shaken.
Kouki smiled at the man. "You don't have to worry either Meld, after she's gone, things will be back to the way supposed to be." Kouki remembered how much Meld's assumed death had decreased the morale of the kingdom.
"When everyone thought you were dead and were feeling down, I wanted to fill in the hole you left, I know did a good job, because you kept encouraging me." Meld's words helped or rather distracted him from his failures. "Once she's gone, you can give me all the praises I deserve. Yes, that is what a mentor should do for his student."
He points blades at Hinata. "SO YOU SEE NAGUMO? MELD'S ALWAYS BEEN ON MY SI- GUK." Kouki was cut off again, when a large hand grabbed his neck.
It was Meld, Kouki gasped when he saw Meld's face, the look alone would be able to freeze in fear. But with the pressure he was sending out, Kouki couldn't move a muscle.
"I said...What the fuck did you say?" His voice sounded almost as grand as Tio's when he was in dragon form.
Meld uses his other hand to also grab Kouki's neck, everyone thought he was gonna strangle him. But no, instead they saw Meld pulled his arms away from each other, and now he was holding two Kouki's, one in each hand.
"He pulled them a part?"
"He must've pulled the reflection out by using Spirit Magic."
Meld simply threw the black armored Kouki down and raised his foot, crushing the copy's skull completely. The fake vanished as everyone gasped at the sight of Meld showing such brutality, while Hinata just raised an eyebrow.
"No! My power's disappearing! I haven't gotten what I-"
"OH, SHUT UP ALREADY!" Meld slams Kouki's body to the ground shattering it.
Kouki has now lost all that bravado and arrogance from before, only feeling fear after seeing Meld's face.
Meld clenches his fist. "You...DAMM FOOL!" Meld brings it down and punches Kouki's face.
"WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?"
He gave another punch.
"LIKE HELL YOU DESERVE ANY PRAISE!"
And another.
This kept going, Meld kept talking while punching Kouki repeatedly.
"YOU WERE MY WORST STUDENT! *BAM* YOU USED A WIDE RANGED SPELL IN A ENCLOSED SPACE! *BAM* YOU CHARGED AT THE BEHEMOTH, WHEN I TOLD YOU NOT TO! *BAM* AND NOW YOU DO THIS!"
Meld's punches should've already killed Kouki, but it didn't. Meld was still able to hold back, even though he was filled with rage. Also, he had enchanted his fist with Restoration Magic, which means that Kouki's injuries would be instantly gone, and he would never pass out, so he would feel every single blow.
Hinata's harem, who were previously filled with murderous intent, now watches in amusement, even if they are a bit shocked. Suzu and Ryutaro felt the same thing when they found out about Tio's anger. Shizuku, who had woken up also witness this scene in shock.
"Is everyone holding incredible rage or something?" Suzu wondered.
Tio chuckled. "It seems your friend has achieved something we couldn't do ourselves, he pushed Meld over the edge."
They continue to watch the satisfying beat down.
"I GAVE YOU THOSE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT *BAM* TO HELP YOU ACCEPT AND LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES! *BAM* NOT SO THAT YOU CAN BE A SELF RIGHTEOUS ASS! *BAM* WHO WOULD GET ANGRY OVER SOMETHING SO PETTY! *BAM* SOME HERO YOU ARE! *BAM* BLAMING ALL YOUR PROBLEMS AND INSECURITY ON AN AMAZING GIRL *BAM* WHO YOU COULD NEVER HOPE TO MATCH!"
His anger wasn't just at Kouki, it was also at himself. His old habit of being too kind had struck again. He inadvertently caused Kouki to continue thinking that he was on the right track.
Hinata finally decided to walk over and grabbed Meld's shoulder.
"AND ANOTHE- Huh?"
"Meld, that's enough."
Shizuku, Suzu, and Ryutaro sighs in relief, they know that Kouki deserved it, but it was still hard watching him getting beat-
"It's my turn." Hinata joyfully kicks Kouki to the wall for the second time.
She and walks over to the boy, who looks at Hinata, now with tearful eyes instead of spite. "Nagumo...please...give me back wha-"
*BAM*
Hinata presses her feet onto Kouki's face. "Ew, is he crying?"
"Bastard wants to play victim till the end." Meld gives his own stomp on the boy, they were all stunned as the beat down has become a kick down.
After a couple of kicks, Kaori ran over. "Guys, wait." She gently ushered Meld and Hinata away and looked at Kouki, who in turn looked at her with some relief.
"Kao-"
*BAM*
"YOU WANTED TO OWN ME?!" Kaori landed her shoe right on the boy's face and then continued kicking. "You. Sexist. Little. Turd!"
"Kaori?!" Her three friends shouted. It seems that during Hinata and Meld's fun, Kaori had asked Shizuku of the things Kouki said about her, and she did not like it one bit.
"Should we join them?"
"Do you really need to ask? Look, Akira is already going to them."
And so, Hinata's harem joined the fun.
They finally stopped after each of them got around 50 kicks each, and Kouki was finally able to pass out in bliss.
But after they did.
"Are you sure we should keep him alive?" Meld asked, fully ready to end the boy's life with no hesitation. "He did try to kill you after all."
"Yeah, it's fine." Hinata shrugged. "You don't actually think he has the balls to try something like this without someone enabling him, right?"
To be completely fair, the same thing did kinda happen with Tio. The only difference is that Tio was beings controlled against his will, while Kouki genuinely wanted to kill Hinata out of jealousy, which makes the boy even more pathetic.
"True, he does lack conviction...and a spine." They all shared a laugh at Kaori's remark.
"Hinata, I cannot apologize enough for convincing you to bring this waste of space." Meld bowed to the girl.
"It's cool." Hinata shrugged. "Besides, now he has to do anything I tell him to, and he gets absolutely nothing out of it."
"But what can this retard can possibly do for you?" Kaori asked, kinda hoping the retard could hear her.
"You never know, I could use a fall guy, a scapegoat, or maybe even a human knife rack?" Hinata puts on her evil smile while holding her knife.
"Now that you mentioned it, I could use a new training dummy, or a human target, or maybe a punching bag" Meld grinned while cracking his knuckles.
"I wonder if we can get him a job as a crash test dummy, he'd be perfect for it." Kaori said in a very kind voice.
As the three of them continue to discuss on how to make Kouki suffer, a certain swordmaster looked in horror. 'Kouki...look what you diddddddd!'
Shizuku internally panicked, Kaori maybe, but she never expected that Meld would adopt Hinata's sadistic nature. She feels both sympathy and anger at the unconscious boy she is currently looking at with Ryutaro and Suzu.
"Well, at least they didn't kill him." Suzu said in relief.
"Kouki, what the hell man?" Ryutaro can't help but feel disappointed at his best friend.
Right now, these three were the only ones that are willing to call Kouki a friend, should anyone else had witnessed what happened, they would've most likely ditched him the same way Kaori and Seiji did.
Even though what he did was definitely unforgivable, these three still care for him, because their bond was that deep. Even if Shizuku didn't like him the way he wanted to, she still thought of him as family, as in a little brother that she needs to be way more stern with. Suzu and Ryutaro can only feel bad for their friend.
"Since he failed the trial, he probably won't get the ancient magic again."
"Yeah, but hey, he's still alive, which means he can try again."
As soon as Hinata heard that, she shouted to the the trio. "I'm taking back the upgrades and artifacts I gave him."
They all looked at each other before Shizuku said. "Maybe, after a couple years."
""Yeah."" Suzu and Ryutaro simultaneously agreed.
"Anyway, Sakagami, get ready to carry that waste of space, come on." Hinata called them to go through the path that opened up when Meld killed the other Kouki. But before she could..
"Wait a moment Master." Tio stopped her. "There is something I must confess."
After his trial, he had decided that he wants to finally confront his fears. "Master, I had intended to use you as a pawn for my revenge on god."
"Kay." Hinata instantly answered.
"Eh? You're not surprised?"
"Uhm, Tio." Meld joined in. "It was kinda obvious."
"It was?" This was not how he expected this conversation to go.
"Well, when we first met you, you said that you were looking for my classmates."
"But then you left that quest to join us, which meant that you were actually looking for strength."
"You also didn't seem that surprised when we told you about Ehit, like you already knew."
"We connected the strings together and deduced the truth."
"Wait, how come you two are so in sync?" Shu spoke up, Meld and Hinata had finished each other's explanation, like they rehearsed it.
Tio looks down in embarrassment. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but Master, you should've been able to tell I wasn't being completely truthful, right? Why did you accept me when I asked?"
"Well Tio, you might've not been completely honest, but I knew you meant no harm. And considering all the times you've helped us out, you've more than made up for it. And well..." Hinata scratched her cheek, looking a bit flustered. She thinks back to what her trial.
"Yup, you need to be nicer to the guys."
'Here goes nothing.' She internally sighed. "I just thought...it'd be cool to travel with a dragon, even if you were a pervert."
"Master..." Tio was shocked, hearing Hinata say something like that. And he wasn't the only one. Everyone was taken by surprise, hearing Hinata say something so...complementing.
"Hinata?"
"It's not a big deal, it's just that, my trial made me figure that since you've put up with me for so long, I should show some gratitude." She admitted bashfully.
Seeing her act like this, made all of harem feel their heart flutter.
Shu tries coming closer. "Aww Hinat-"
"NO HUGS!" Hinata screams before firing the ceiling with her gun. It seems that Hinata will always be Hinata, even with her showing her soft side.
"Now. Does anyone have anything else they want to get off their chest?"
"...I do." Shizuku raised her hand. She then walks over to Kaori. "Kaori, can I talk to you in private for a while?"
"Uh, sure Shizuku." Although confused, Kaori gladly followed Shizuku as she went into one of the three pathways that they all entered from. Some were as confused as Kaori, but others knew what it meant, like Hinata.
"I...also would like to confide in you all." Akira spoke up. Everyone sat down and listened carefully to what Akira went through with his trial.
"So you're real name is Alear Galdea Vesperitio Avatarl? That's...wordy." Hinata commented.
"Is that all you got to say to my past?"
Meld and Hinata had their suspicions, they too wondered why Akira's uncle didn't just drain Akira's mana to kill him. Since they didn't want Akira to bring up his past, and there weren't any other vampires, they just left it as an unanswered mystery.
"Could it be...god?"
Everyone looked at Tio.
"I believe god would be able to make your uncle feel like that, even with your astounding power."
"But, what would Ehit want with Akira?"
"Or maybe..."Alva" was behind it?"
Everyone wracked their brains, trying to figure out what Ehit was up to. Not to mention, trying to solve the mystery of Akira's past. Until they heard Seiji's voice.
"It doesn't matter." They all turn to the apostle. "Whatever it is, it doesn't matter, because don't forget what Shu said, no matter what happens, we'll crush it together."
Agreeing with Seiji, they didn't discuss the subject anymore, to them, it was now just another problem in their life.
Soon after, Shizuku and Kaori walked back in, both of them were blushing, and holding hands. Everyone then realized what transpired, except for...
"Hey, why are you guys blushing? Ow!"
Suzu smacked Ryutaro's stomach. "I'll explain it to you later."
With nothing else to discuss, the party enters the new pathway, like the others, it was just a long corridor, with no traps or monsters.
They eventually ended up at a dead end with a wall that had a crest embedded that started glowing. Hinata closes her eyes and reached out to it.
The group then found themselves in a beautiful place. It was another big spacious, but what was different was the fact there was a lake in it, there were miniature islands like the one they were on, connected by stepping stones. And at the center of the room was undoubtedly a palace, decorated with murals and flowers made of ice.
They all marvel at the sight of such a beautiful place.
"Unfrozen water in a room made of ice." Hinata takes off her necklace. "Yup, temperature's normal, looks like this is where Vander Schnee lived."
"Then that means..." Suzu started making tears of joy. "We did I- mpmh." Suzu's was covered by Shizuku, who pointed at Hinata, who gazed at Suzu.
Suzu gasped, and decide to just stay quiet, not wanting her feelings to be shot down again.
They hop to the island that had the palace and finds a magic circle, it didn't do anything so Hinata figured it was probably the shortcut out.
They opened the palace doors, which had the crest from before, it was most likely Schnee's symbol. As they enter, Hinata, Meld, and Akira felt a sense of nostalgia.
"It feels like the house in Orcus, doesn't it?"
"Yes, but it seems that this house focused more on decorations than functionality." Meld said, seeing the ice chandelier above them.
"Orcus's journal said that those two didn't exactly get along. Just like two other people we know." She looked at Akira and Seiji.
They explored the palace, and just mostly found a bunch of bedrooms, until a door larger and thicker than the others. They go inside and find the magic circle.
They all excitedly enter it, and as the circle glowed, they all could feel the knowledge of-
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
"Huh? GAAAAAAHHHH!"
"UWAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Everyone jumps in shock as Hinata, Meld, and Akira reached their heads and screamed in pain.
"G-Guys?!"
"Seiji, hurry!"
"R-Right!" Before Seiji can even try to do anything, all three of faints to the ground.
Everybody still standing were in complete silence, seeing the three strongest members just fainting out of nowhere.
"Hgh..." Hinata drowsily opening her eyes, she realizes she was in a bed, and immideatly git up, thinking back to Haltina's illusion.
Once she got a good look a round, she sighs relief, realizing that she was in one of the room of Schnee's palace. She gets up and walks out the door, where she was greeted by everyone in the living room.
"Hinata?" Shu and everyone else ran towards her. At the same time, Meld and Akira also walked put of their respective rooms.
It seems after they passed out, the others carried them to bedrooms while also putting Kouki, who was still unconscious in one.
"Do you guys know why you just clonked out like that?"
"Concept magic." Hinata easily guessed. "The three of us are the only ones that has learnt every ancient magic." Concept magic was powerful, after they received the new ancient magic, metamorphosis, they finally understood the basis for concept magic.
"So, does that mean you guys have the power to get us home?"
"No, it didn't teach us how to use, just the idea."
"Idea?"
"It's like this, do you all understand how Metamorphosis Magic works?" Hinata asked.
"Uhm...it let's you turn monsters into your familiars, like how those demons controlled theirs." Shizuku tried explaining.
"You can also use it on animals and turn them into monster, by powering them up with mana." Kaori added.
"That's the gist of it, but the real use is to control organic matters." Hinata pointed out. However, the word "organic" was a foreign for those from Tortus, shown from the confusion on their faces.
Hinata decided to clear it for them. "Organic means living things like animals and plants." Her party nods their heads in understanding. "But it could be more than that, Metamorphosis also let's you alter things like paper made from wood or food consisting of meat, or maybe even...humans."
Hinata showed them by focusing on using this new power. Slowly, her white like snow hair starts becoming purple.
Everyone gave a chorus oooh's and ahh's.
"Cool."
"So this is Master's original hair color."
"Well the one she dyed, anyway."
Her harem was finally able to marvel at Hinata's old look. But they also ended up ignoring Meld, who had turned his hair back to it's original color.
"Will they even notice?" Meld wondered, considering his party haven't taken their eyes off Hinata.
"It's ok, Meld, we noticed." Kaori assured, along with everybody else. It was nice seeing Meld with the same hair he had when they first met him.
After they were done admiring, Hinata got back to topic. "It looks like that this is the magic that turned Akira and the others to goblins back in Haltina. It's also similar to how you transform, Tio."
The dragon was fascinated. "Interesting, so this magic can be the foundation to my race's abilities."
"Ok, back to Concept Magic , Metamorphosis Magic is similar to Creation Magic, one's for organic, and the other one's for inorganic."
Meld joined in the explanation. "Then there is Gravity Magic, which let's you control the planet's energy, such as it's magnetic fields."
"Spatial Magic lets you control the boundaries of the world, creating new dimensions."
"Restoration Magic can restore an object to a previous state, essentially controlling it's time."
"Spirit Magic can control the incorporeal elements of the world."
"Evolution Magic can help you to rewrite the "information" of any power that you choose to evolve."
"Each of the Ancient Magic controls an abstract concept of the world, combine all of it and then you get-"
"Concept Magic."
"Ok seriously, how are you two doing this? Did you practice or something?" Shu questioned their synchronicity again.
"Anyway, even with all that, there's still the thing that Haltina said, about it being powered unbelievable powerful will. Me, Meld, and Akira are gonna try to use it in the magic circle room, no interruptions, got it?"
Everyone nods, and with that the three concept magic users goes to the large, thick door.
"So what are you guys gonna do?" Suzu asked her friends, they were in the living room, waiting for Hinata and the other two. "If Hinata does make a way home, I mean. I'm already sure that I want to talk to Eri again.
"I already said that I wanted to punch Eri, so I'll join you." Ryutaro said, not realizing he made Suzu blush.
"I'll help you with that." Shizuku answered.
"Me too."
"Me three."
Kaori and Seiji added.
"Really, Even you Seiji?"
"Just because I'm in love with Hinata doesn't mean I forgot about you guys. I don't mind spending some time apart from Hinata." Seiji promised.
"Suzu, you're our friend, of course we'll help." Kaori assured.
After Kaori said that, Suzu's mind drifted to another friend. "So guys, what are we gonna do about Kouki?" She didn't liked bringing up that touchy subject, but it needed to be addressed.
""He's dead to us, end of story."" The twins replied instantly.
'They really hate him now.' The other three thought in unison.
Ryutaro then gave his answer. "The only one who can change him is Kouki himself. We'll help however we can."
"Yeah." Shizuku tyrns to her now girlfriend. "Kaori, I'm sorry, I know you hate him, but I just can't..." It's not like they were nice to Hinata, so ditching Kouki for what he did, could be considered hypocrisy.
"It's ok Shizuku." Kaori interrupted. "If you still want to hang out with him it's
fine." After all, Hinata hadn't admonished her for wanting to hang out with the rest of the class.
"We don't control who you guys want to hang out with. Who do you think we are, Kouki?"
""Hahahahahaha."" The twins laughed at that joke.
"You already have inside jokes?"
Meanwhile, Shu and Tio were having their own conversation.
"Hm, I should probably say my goodbyes to my family before I go to Hinata's world. What about you Tio?" Shu asked the dragonman.
"I would like to do the same, but my home is quite far, it's on an island past the northern mountains. If I take too long, Master might get angry, which would means she's gonna punish me." Tio shivered in excitement. "It will also be the chance to tell my family about the girl I want to marry."
"...Uh huh." Shu just nods while fearing about the reaction of Tio's family to his new "interest". "You don't have to worry, Meld is probably gonna make Hinata say goodbye to Moku first, before leaving, so you'll have the time."
"So this is where you guys are." A new voice suddenly joins them, it was Kouki.
Four pairs of eyes fire a spiteful gaze at the boy, frightening him. Even the smiles of his friends didn't help.
Kouki scans the room, past the glares, and Shizuku can tell what he's looking for. "Hinata's with Meld and Akira, she's trying out Concept Magic."
"I see...I wanted to apologi-"
"She doesn't care about your worthless apology!" Shu cut him off, making him flinch. Everyone knew where this was coming from, especially Kaori.
"Are you sure your head's back to normal? Or do you still think I'm brainwashed and want to "own" me?" Kaori's cold eyes, made him avert his gaze.
"N-No, I wasn't thinking straight."
"Did you ever think straight?" Kaori was almost as good as Hinata.
"Sit down, we should probably tell you what happened." Shizuku invited and the boy meekly accepted.
They told him of what happened after when he was kicked unconscious. How he was the only one who failed, which Kaori heavily emphasized. And of course, her current relationship status.
"Kouki, I don't like you that way." Shizuku holds up the hand that holding Kaori's hand. "I love Kaori."
Kaori had a smug smile on her face. "And I definitely like Hinata more than you." She stated with no sympathy.
Kouki remained quiet, his face was drained of colour, and the negative emotions from before came swirling back.
The three people, who still calls themselves his friends look at him with sympathy, which he mistook for pity. "You're all friends with her, that murderer?"
"Kouki..." Kaori warned.
"If only I was the one that fell in Orc-"
"He's still crazy!" Shu shouted.
"Huh?" Kouki didn't have time to react as Shu tackled him to the ground, followed by Tio, Seiji, and Kaori piling up on him.
Just as they were about to make the boy unconscious again, they were all stopped when a strong wind, followed by dense wave of mana in the room.
"This mana, it's definitely theirs."
"What happened?"
They all rushed to the room, powering through the waves of mana. They enter the room and they see all three of them sitting down in the circle, channeling their magic onto a divinity stone and some ores in the center of the circle.
"I guess they were fine."
"Then we should leave, we cannot distract them."
They tried to quietly leave, but Kouki looks at Hinata, and he starts to-
"Nope."
"Ow, my ear!"
Shizuku pulls Kouki by the ear, and was about to leave, when suddenly, there was a flash of light.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, a thin white screen made of mist appeared floating in front of them like a projection of sorts. An image starts appearing on it.
They all watch in anticipation. What they was a small young girl with long black hair, in a pretty dress. And she was standing in front of what seems to a grave, surrounded more graves. What's more, is that Hinata's classmates can tell where the girl is.
"Is that...a Japanese cemetery?" The writing on the stone grave was definitely japanese.
"Japanese...isn't that the language of the country you guys are from?" Shu asked, he and Tio are completely lost.
"Yeah, but who's that girl?" Seiji takes a closer look. "She looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on it."
"Hinata." All of their eyes, including the three that was using concept magic snapped their eyes open when they heard a new voice coming from the projection. The projection now showed an older middle aged man walking to the girl.
And as soon as Hinata saw him. "What?!" Her concentration was broken, the waves of mana disappeared and so did the projection. Everyone fell back when the collected mana dispersed.
As they all got back up. "What...was that?" Hinata asked, seemingly scared.
"Hinata, was that..." Meld trailed off, he had a suspicion of what they just saw.
While everyone was confused, Shizuku kept thinking back to the man they saw. "Where have I seen that man before?"
"Do you know him? Perhaps he was one of your teachers?"
Shizuku shakes her head "No. That's not it. And who was that girl?"
"Wait, he called her, Hinata right?" All eyes were on the synergist, who was visibly nervous.
"Uh...well..."
"Hold on a moment." Meld spoke up dragging Hinata away. "We'll be right back." He then sets up a sound proof barrier for them to speak.
He then kneels down and grab Hinata by her shoulder. "Hinata, I think that was your memories."
Hinata looks down in discomfort, she had figured it out too, when she heard that man's voice, but the thing she was confused about was...
"Why...? Why did something like that appeared?" Her voice was full of fear.
"It's probably because of the Concept Magic." Meld figured.
"Huh?"
"Hinata, Concept Magic is powered by unbelievable will, the magic we tried to make was used by your will to go home, I think it was trying show uswhyyou wanted to go home, what drives you, what made you so determined." Meld theorized.
"My past...but hold on, how come it only showed my memories?"
"Because the will Akira and I have is the will to help you go home, you are our reason." Meld stated.
Hinata irked at this revelation, after that they exited the barrier and explained the situation.
"So, that girl...was you, Hinata?!"
Everyone's jaws dropped, that the cute little girl they saw turned into Hinata.
"The man we saw, was that your father, Master?"
"Oh...so that's my future my father in law."
Hinata remained quiet and kept looking to the floor.
"So, you guys can't use Concept Magic without having your memories read? Well then there's no problem then."
Hinata looks up. "Huh?"
"Its ok Hinata." Kaori grabbed Hinata's hands. "If you don't want to tell us your past, that's fine."
"Eh, you sure?"
"Of course." Shu spoke up. "I do want to learn more about you, but not if it's a breach of your privacy."
"You can tell us when your ready." Seiji joined in.
"As curious we may be, we will respect your wish of secrecy." So did Tio.
"Hinata, I can just cover my eyes and ears." And finally Akira.
After hearing all that, a rare feeling appeared inside of Hinata. Jist as everyone was gonna leave. "Wait!"
Everyone turns around.
"...You guys can watch if you want."
"EH?" Everyone gasped.
"You sure, Hinata?" Meld asked.
"Yeah." Hinata nods. "I know all of your dark past and stuff, like slaughtered family." She refers to Shu and Tio. "300 years of confinement." To Akira. " And literal death." To Seiji.
Hinata was sounding like carefree self again. "It's only fair you guys know mine. After all...we're friends."
Her harem felt the earth had stopped, they knew Hinata wanted to be nicer to them, but to think that she would finally refer to them as friends, it made them...
"Just friends?"
"Don't push it." She pointed her finger as a warning. "Yes friends, plus three acquaintances and...a DIPSHIT!" Everybody knew who she was referring to. And that dipshit nervously gulped.
"I'll also explain some stuff so you guys don't jump into any conclusions, like a certain DUMBASS!" The certain dumbass gulped again.
"But Hinata, are you sure you want to share it with us?" One of the acquaintances asked.
"It's fine. I've always said to myself that I don't care what people think of me, unlike a certain INSECURE BITCH!" That insecure bitch gulped for the third time.
"So, let's start with this bombshell, my last name isn't really Nagumo, it's Matsushita."
'SHE DROPPED IT SO CASUALLY!' Everyone but Meld thought in shock.
"Wait, Matsushita? That's it!" Shizuku exclaimed. "That's who that man was, Takaya Matsushita, the current CEO of Matsushita industries, they're a famous brand known all over the world."
Shizuku started to recall everything she knew. "They started making their name as a construction company, that kept growing, and now they're also a brand name selling nearly every kind of product. But they were involved in a scandal a couple years ago. It was related to the CEO's...missing daughter." They all stared at her right now.
Hinata simply smiled. "Akira wasn't the only one hiding his name, as for the rest, you'll have to watch the movie." She goes back to the circle with Akira and Meld. "Now, lets start."
I read the novel, but I don't think they ever properly explained why Hajime's memories just played out of nowhere, and the explanation I gave was just speculation. Anyway, hope you're all excited for the next chapter, because it's gonna explain Hinata's origin, why she changed her name, what did she do to Aiko, and how did she lose her legs.