Chapter 11: Eri's Perspective

[Eri's POV]

"Hey, Noya. How have you been? Must have been shocking to have that kind of weak mana."

Noya tried his best to smile.

"Yeah, it sucks."

"So, since you can't work as a hero anymore, what are you planning to do now?"

"No idea really. I might be planning to do nothing at all."

Some annoying company came by as soon as they found Noya to be coming back school. All of them hardly knew him but they were drawn to him like moths once results of his mana were revealed.

While I can't say that they beared any malice towards him but it really annoyed me to see them act like that.

"Liar..."

He is putting up that fake smile to please thier egos.

All of them, they just want to feed their superiority in the presence of someone who doesn't have any mana at all. I don't like this. Why does it have to be like this?

Why does Noya has to smile just to please them?

Not only that! Noya also lied to Rika and me claiming he was moving out of the country and stuff.

I would never buy that. He is just a big liar.

"As if an idiot like him can earn so much money in such a short period. He is just buffing."

The Noya I knew never lied like this... he was really bad at lying.

What caused him to change? Well I know. Even, I didn't want to accept it, I probably knew the answer.

Both of us were old long friends so I knew.

We had the same dreams.

We wanted to be heroes and save the world!

Those were some amazing childish memories when we shouted that chant uncaring of the world. It still sometimes makes me blush in embarrasment just thinking about it.

But before we knew it, we grew up.

And while my dream remained alive, his dream was crushed.

I can't claim that I understand his pain. It must be suffocating for him to deal with all of this ... but why does he have to change just because of it?

"I know I am being a bit selfish here, but I liked the old Noya more."

Before I knew it I was whispering to myself inflating my cheeks without my knowledge. It was a bad habit of mine.

"Eri, are you fine?" Natsu asked pushing me out of my daze.

"Ah, yeah yeah. I am fine."

There were several classmates surrounding me as we chat about trivial things. But I was hardly into the conversation today.

In the end, I was just using their company to escape from the reality and sooth the conflict that arouse in my heart.

It pains me to accept it, but those classmates with superiority complex were at least doing a better job than me. At least they were giving him condolences even if they were fake.

When it came to me however, I was unable to do even something as simple as that.

But I couldn't help it.

Whenever I stand in front of him, I always find myself at a loss for words.

I wanted him to smile again. But I was afraid that my words would hurt more than heal. I didn't want to come off as another bad person with some superiority complex, who was only using him as a stepping stone.

Honestly, it was scary just thinking that he holds a grudge against me. After all, we had a shared dream but now only I could fulfill it and he couldn't live it at all.

"Well, at least he doesn't seem to be angry," I twisted my lips as I recalled what happened in the morning.

"Eri, are you sick. Your face is kinda red."

"!! Yeah, I mean No. I am fine. It's nothing."

Oh dear me. I almost got caught glancing towards him.

But it still pains me. I kinda feel sorry for him.

Is there really nothing I can do for him?

Today was a good chance.

We are practically neighbours but there was no telling when I might meet him next time. I have a gut feeling telling me that if I have to make a move it has to be today itself.

If I can't do something today, I feel like I am going to regret it later on.

What's more? Today is a half day at school. Time was already slipping by my grasp.

There was hardly an hour left and even now I was unsure of what I wanted to say.

"Hey, Rika. I have something to talk to you about in private. Can we?"

"Okay, I am fine with it," she replied with a knowing smile. It was kind of scary. How much does she know?

There was only one person I could rely on at this decisive hour.

Rika might not seem like it on the surface but she was suprisingly reliable.

We walked close to the stairs where no one was passing by.

This time no matter how embarrasing it was, I didn't hold anything back. I told her everything.

About how I felt.

About Noya change.

About my wish and desire to converse.

And lastly about this pressing hour.

"Hmm, you really love him don't you?" Rika smirked.

"N-no!!" I cried. There she was at it again. She was teasing me again, "How did you came to that conclusion? I just wanted to help a friend."

"Hmm, though you are right, I think. Even I think Noya had changed a bit and he suprisingly became smarter than before."

"Is that so?"

Rika nodded.

"You know I thought it was kinda cool, how he managed to deal with those guys without loosing cool despite them clearly looking down on him."

Was it like that?

"Hasn't he become more timid than before instead?"

Rika seems to be admiring him for that. But when it came to me, I couldn't help but hate Noya for tolerating them.

I felt my blood boiling. Like I so wanted to slap those guys back to their senses and also slap Noya too for acting unreasonable.

Rika folded her hands behind her head.

"Well all being said. In the end I can't really help you with your conversation with him. It must be something that comes from within you rather than a written speech. You don't want Noya to think that your words aren't sincere now can you?"

"Is that so?"

That's kinda sad. I really thought that Rika would be able to help me in some way. What should I do?

"But I can probably buy you the time you need to come up with something. So better cook something up fast...," she winked.

"Oh!"

Rika was reliable after all.