What It Takes to Protect

"Dang it, I got no roommate!" Rose whined, her voice childlike as she stomped her foot in frustration, making Claire flinch slightly. Rose pouted dramatically to Claire, who was walking beside her, trying not to draw attention to herself. "What am I supposed to do with a bunk bed if I'm all alone?"

Claire shifted uneasily, her hands clasped in front of her as she looked down, not quite knowing how to respond. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out at first. "I, uh... I guess that's... that's a bit... lonely," she murmured quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, too timid to offer anything more helpful. She wished she could help, but words always seemed to fail her.

Rose continued, oblivious to Claire's discomfort. "I was so excited when I got to my dorm, you know? I couldn't wait to see who my roommate was! But I opened the door, and—surprise! It was empty, totally vacant!" She sighed dramatically. "I waited forever for someone to show up, but no one came. I even asked the staff, and they told me I wouldn't have a roommate. They were really sorry about it, but still, I'm stuck with an empty bed!" Rose finished with a frustrated huff, throwing her hands up in exaggerated disbelief.

Claire felt a knot form in her stomach, still too shy to really engage. She rubbed her journal nervously, looking up at Rose for a moment before looking back at the floor. "Oh... um... I'm sorry about that," she mumbled, unsure of what else to say. She didn't want to sound dismissive, but she was already so lost in her own unease about Kazuki.

"Oh, come on..." Rose yelled, slamming her bag down onto the floor with a bit too much force. Claire winced, taking a small step back, avoiding any eye contact. She wanted to help, but she couldn't find the right words or actions.

As they walked down the hallways of the academy, Claire kept her head low, her eyes darting from one side of the hall to the other, observing the students passing by. Some were chatting excitedly, others were practicing duels, while some stayed quietly in groups. It was all so overwhelming to Claire, who just wanted to blend into the walls and avoid any unnecessary attention.

"Uh... geez, I mean, at least you didn't, um, end up with the... awkward roommate who, uh, saved you and then—uh—got caught in an explosion... b-because of you!" Claire finally blurted out, her voice small and barely audible even to herself. Her face immediately flushed as she realized how awkward her words sounded, and she rubbed the back of her neck nervously, trying to hide the redness creeping up her neck.

"Ooh, the black knight in shining armor who took an entire explosion just to save the damsel in distress..." Rose teased, her voice full of playful mischief as she nudged Claire's shoulder with a grin.

Claire's face turned a bright shade of red, her eyes widening in horror. "I—I'm not a damsel! It—it was an accident, I... I mean, I didn't mean for any of that to happen!" she stammered, her words coming out in a rush as she tried to explain herself, her hands trembling slightly. Her cheeks burned from embarrassment, and she looked away quickly, hoping Rose wouldn't notice how flustered she felt.

Rose continued to tease her, but Claire was too embarrassed to listen. With her cheeks burning, she blurted out, "A-and plus, weren't you the reason we were there in the first place? Y-you told me to go with Maomao!" Her voice wavered nervously, and the moment the words left her mouth, she froze, her eyes widening as she realized she might have said too much. She quickly clamped her mouth shut, glancing away in a flustered attempt to avoid Rose's inevitable reaction.

"Ehehe..." Rose giggled nervously, scratching her cheek and trying to act casual, but Claire could tell she was embarrassed too.

"Y-you even turned up late after you told us—" Claire began, only to be cut off by Rose's raised hand.

"Okay, okay, geez, I get it!" Rose interrupted, her face flushed with embarrassment as she waved her hands in front of her face, trying to end the teasing.

The two of them fell silent for a moment, and Claire found herself lost in thought, her mind wandering back to Kazuki. His presence still puzzled her, and she couldn't shake the image of his unreadable expression. What was he really like? She couldn't stop wondering about him.

"Ka... Zu... Ki..." Claire thought to herself, the name feeling so foreign on her lips. She shifted uneasily, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her backpack, and she wished she could stop thinking about him. "I don't even know him," she thought, her voice almost a whisper in her head. "But... I guess... I'll have to eventually."

She glanced at Rose for a moment, noticing that Rose was still smirking, but Claire couldn't bring herself to smile. She still couldn't quite process everything—her awkward roommate situation, Kazuki's cold demeanor, and the flood of emotions that were building up inside her. It was all just too much.

Claire continued to ponder, her mind wandering back to Kazuki and his stunning display of power. The image of him effortlessly taking down a group of men with a single, graceful whirlwind was burned into her mind. She couldn't help but be in awe of his strength, yet a strange feeling lingered. It was as if something about his skill, the way he moved, was... familiar. She thought about the man who had led the group and the strange mark on his shoulder. It had been subtle, but now that Claire took a moment to think about it, she realized she had seen something like it before—maybe even somewhere she shouldn't have noticed. 

Suddenly, a sharp pain hit Claire's head. She winced, clutching her forehead tightly as a headache surged, the intensity almost overwhelming. Her head throbbed as blurry memories flooded her mind—of a woman's face. It was so blurry, but Claire couldn't shake the feeling that she should recognize it. 

"Ah!" Claire gasped, feeling the pain intensify. 

She slammed her journal shut and pressed both hands to her forehead, breathing heavily as she tried to regain control. The dizziness faded slowly, and as her vision cleared, she tried to steady herself. Still trembling slightly, she grabbed her journal and bow and arrow, carefully climbing down the ladder from her bunk. When her feet finally touched the ground, she paused at the bottom of the ladder, gripping the railing tightly for support, trying to shake off the last remnants of the headache.

Taking a deep breath, Claire took one last glance at her thoughts before pushing the door open and stepping into the hallway. She moved quickly, her pace unsteady as she tried to ignore the lingering unease. She had to meet up with Rose, who had decided to leave her empty dorm behind and get out for a bit. Claire didn't mind the company, though she was still unsure of how to interact without making things awkward.

It was only 8:12 AM, and they had almost 50 minutes before they were required to be at the battleground for their next task. The opportunity to explore the academy was too good to pass up, and Claire's stomach growled loudly, reminding her that she hadn't eaten yet. She glanced over at Rose, who had practically skipped out of the dorm, eager to escape her lonely situation.

As they entered the cafeteria, Claire's senses were immediately overwhelmed by the delicious array of smells wafting through the air. Donburi, sushi, udon noodles, tempura, katsu—all the tantalizing aromas mixed together, making Claire's stomach growl even more.

"Whoa! Is that chocolate chip cookies?!" Rose suddenly exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement as the familiar scent filled the air. 

Without another word, Rose dashed to the cafeteria counter, her purse flailing as she fumbled to take out the currency. Claire's gaze followed her, her body still feeling tense, her movements slow and uncertain as she remained near the door, trying to keep to herself. Rose returned moments later, her mouth already full of cookies.

"Hmpp... L-luk Clair... Humphh... Chocoleit Cheep COOKIES!" Rose mumbled excitedly, her voice muffled from the cookies crammed in her mouth.

Claire blinked, her eyes widening at the sight of Rose, who was grinning with crumbs dotting her lips. She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or scold, before shaking her head with a small, awkward smile. "D-did you seriously just buy a whole box of cookies? A-and—uh—don't talk with your mouth full, okay? That's... kinda gross," she said, her voice trailing off slightly as she rubbed the back of her neck, trying not to sound too harsh.

Rose didn't seem to care. She continued munching happily, oblivious to the crumbs spilling from her lips, clearly too excited to mind. Claire watched her, both disgusted and oddly charmed. Despite her ridiculous appearance, Rose's enthusiasm was infectious.

"W-want summ? Izz... Gud..." Rose offered with a smile, though her words were muffled.

Claire hesitated, a bit put off by the messiness, but curiosity got the better of her. She gingerly picked up a cookie, using just two fingers, and took a cautious bite. To her surprise, the cookie was amazing. The sweetness melted in her mouth, and Claire couldn't help but widen her eyes in delight.

"See? I told ya it's good," Rose said, swallowing a mouthful and wiping a chocolate stain from her mouth.

Claire took another bite, her expression softening despite herself. "W-well, you could've, uh, spent your money on something more... substantial than a box of cookies," she mumbled, glancing away as if unsure of her words. Then, with a small, reluctant chuckle, she added, "B-but, uh, I can't really deny they're... pretty tasty." Her voice wavered slightly, but her awkwardness eased as she let herself enjoy the treat.

The moment felt oddly comforting, and for the first time since her headache and the strange feelings about Kazuki, Claire felt a sense of normalcy. It wasn't much, but it was enough to take her mind off everything else. She smiled, just a little.

Rose took a few excited steps back, beaming at Claire, only to suddenly collide with a passing plate of food and the group of women behind her. In an instant, her precious box of cookies went flying, spilling its contents onto the cafeteria floor. Rose froze, her eyes widening in heartbreak as she reached out her hand in terror before slamming it onto her chest, her expression one of utter loss, as if she had just lost something far more important than a box of cookies.

Claire's heart sank as she rushed toward her friend, witnessing the aftermath of the collision. The mess had caused a small commotion, and the other students were looking on with varying degrees of amusement and irritation. Rose's face flushed with embarrassment as she turned around, only to see the spilled food all over the women she had accidentally bumped into. Horror filled her eyes when she realized the gravity of the situation. The three upperclass students looked furious, their faces twisting in disdain.

"What's the deal, pissant?" one of the students spat, her tone harsh, sending a wave of dread through Rose.

Rose's face paled, and she instinctively shrank back, her eyes wide in fear, as if the insult had physically struck her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stood there, her hands trembling slightly. She lowered her gaze, clearly mortified, before slowly walking back to Claire's side. Claire noticed that the three students were upperclassmen—much older than the two of them—carrying themselves with an air of superiority that sent a chill down Claire's spine.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Rose muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she bowed her head repeatedly, her voice shaking.

Claire stood beside her, her posture straightening as she took in the situation. The three senior students were visibly frustrated, the food on their faces clearly a point of contention, and Rose was practically cowering. Claire's chest tightened with anger, her jaw clenching as the seniors continued their verbal assault.

"Do you think your sorry is enough for this?" one of the seniors sneered, her tone dripping with contempt.

"Heh, you juniors are reckless just because you got into this academy. What a disappointment..." the second senior added with a mocking smile, her words cold and biting.

The third senior cracked her knuckles, looking ominously at Rose, her lips curling into a smirk. "We should teach her a lesson in manners. After all, we're seniors..."

Claire's fists clenched at her sides as she stood between Rose and the three seniors, her body trembling slightly—not from fear, but from a rising tide of fury. She could see the fear in Rose's eyes, the way her friend was shrinking under the seniors' cruel words. Claire felt her protective instincts surge to the forefront. She had to act now—she couldn't let them push Rose around.

*I won't let that happen again...*

Claire's thoughts rang through her mind with clarity, and she stepped forward, her resolve hardening. Her hand stretched out in front of her, blocking Rose from the seniors' path. She straightened up, her eyes narrowing with determination.

"Hey, hold on a minute. It was an accident, got it?" Claire's voice was firm and unwavering, her hand raised defensively as her gaze flickered to the box of cookies now scattered across the floor. She wasn't going to let them make her friend feel any worse.

The senior who had spoken first scowled, her expression hardening into a look of disbelief. "Excuse me? Do you know who you're speaking to?" she snapped, her tone dripping with disdain as she looked down at Claire, clearly unimpressed.

Claire's breath quickened, but she stood her ground. Her posture remained resolute, her gaze unwavering despite the seniors' imposing presence. Her heart raced, her palms slightly clammy with the pressure of the moment, but she wasn't going to let Rose face this alone.

The three senior women reached for their respective weapons—the oldest, the leader, holding a magic staff; the second, a curved blade; and the third, a naginata. Their eyes burned with anger and disdain as they glared at Claire and Rose. Claire, heart racing but her hands shaking slightly, drew her bow, her fingers trembling as they grasped the tail of the arrows from her quiver. Her stance was awkward at first, the tension making her movements stiff, but as she steadied herself, the bow—a symbol of her protective instinct—became her anchor. She had to fight.

Rose stood frozen behind her, wide-eyed, her body rigid with fear. Claire could feel the tremble in her own limbs, but it was the sight of Rose's fear that fueled her determination. She had to protect her friend. Claire's bow, her Tearful Embrace, felt more alive in her hands as her fingers tightened around the string, the weapon both a comfort and a reminder of what was at stake. Claire wasn't sure how long she could maintain her focus, but she couldn't let Rose down.

The other students, sensing the tension, gathered around, their curious gazes filled with excitement, while the staff remained, strangely passive. Tables and chairs were shoved aside, and the entire cafeteria seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the confrontation to unfold.

"All I know is that you're using your positions as seniors to look down on us," Claire's voice was small at first, as if unsure of her own words, but then she firmed her resolve. She was shaking, but her grip on the bow tightened. "I don't care who you are. You don't get to threaten her"

"Well, I've got to give it to you, kid—you've got heart," the oldest senior sneered, clearly amused. "But this is the real world. Those don't work here."

"I don't know if you've noticed, but we're the seniors," the second senior added with an arrogant emphasis, puffing her chest out as if their status made them invincible.

"Heh, you're just juniors," the third senior sneered, her voice dripping with superiority. "Neither you nor she has any authority over us."

Claire flinched, her nerves threatening to undo her composure, but she didn't look away. She took a deep breath and reached into her quiver, pulling out three arrows. Her fingers fumbled briefly as she notched them into her bow. It wasn't graceful, but it was enough. She pulled back the string, the weight of the arrows in her grip strangely reassuring despite her shaking hands. Her yellow eyes locked onto the seniors, her body stiff with tension, but a quiet, unshakable resolve burned within her.

"So you want violence?" Claire said, her voice quivering just slightly, yet with an edge that betrayed her shyness. A timid yet determined smile touched her lips. "Fine. If it's violence you want, then violence it is."

The leader of the seniors narrowed her eyes, her sneer sharpening into something almost predatory. "You really don't understand how the real world works, do you?" she said, her voice low and cutting, each word laced with venom as she took a deliberate breath, readying her next move.

Claire, feeling Rose's eyes on her, glanced back for a split second. Rose, frozen in place, seemed to understand. Without a word, she stepped back, the unspoken trust between them clear. Claire would take care of this. It was time to act.

The senior leader opened her eyes, her contempt growing as she raised her staff. Claire could see it—a flash of light magic gathering at the tip. The other two seniors prepared to charge, their weapons drawn. Claire's heart raced as she tightened her grip on her bow, ready to defend herself and Rose.

Without hesitation, Claire released the arrows. The seniors were quick—one with the naginata and the other with the curved blade—each deflected an arrow, sending them ricocheting off to nearby tables and narrowly missing students in the process. The leader, seeing her chance, cast a blast of light magic directly at Claire.

"Light magic?" Rose thought in terror, her voice barely a whisper as she watched from behind Claire.

Claire's heart pounded in her chest as the magic surged toward her, but her instincts kicked in. She dove to the side, then quickly grabbed a nearby cafeteria table, flipping it with a swift motion. It landed between her and the incoming blast, blocking the white explosion of light. The force sent Claire stumbling backward, the table crashing into her. For a brief moment, everything blurred, and she struggled to keep her footing.

That was close... Claire thought, breathless, but before she could fully recover, the two seniors closed in. The senior with the curved blade slashed low, aiming for her legs. Claire's heart leapt into her throat, and with a burst of adrenaline, she leaped upward, narrowly missing the blade.

Before she could even land, the second senior with the naginata swung from the side, aiming for her torso. Claire twisted her body in midair, her bow held tightly against her chest as she contorted to dodge the strike. She could feel the sharp edge of the blade whistle past her as she dropped to the ground with a thud.

This... this is real. I can do this. Claire's breath came in short gasps, her thoughts a blur of instinct and fear, but somehow, she knew she couldn't stop now. She had to keep fighting, for Rose, for herself. Her hands trembled, but her determination was stronger than ever.

As the battle unfolded, Rose watched in terror from a distance, her eyes blurring and hands shaking vigorously. The crowds of students and staff watched in anticipation to see how the battle would conclude.

Claire landed gracefully, her feet hitting the floor with barely a sound after evading the dual attacks. Her hands pressed firmly onto the ground, transitioning into a controlled handstand. With a powerful push, she launched herself into a flip, grabbing several arrows from her quiver and nocking them to her bowstring before her feet even touched the ground. She aimed the arrows at the two seniors, who had charged at her with their blades, leaving them frozen in shock. Their leader, standing at a distance, scowled.

"Well... uh, that was, um, close," Claire said, her voice slightly wobbly, but her eyes sharp and focused as she held the bow, pointing the arrows at the seniors. She awkwardly cleared her throat, trying to sound more confident. "Is... that all you got?"

The crowd of students and staff fell silent, their eyes flicking between the fierce standoff and Claire, who, despite her obvious nervousness, stood strong. Some were awed by her skill, while others were unsure how to react. The seniors, particularly the leader, stood seething with disdain, her anger palpable as she glared at Claire.

Rose, still standing behind Claire, couldn't help but feel a surge of awe and admiration. Her friend, the same Claire who had always been shy and reserved, was standing tall now—ready to defend her no matter what. It was hard for Rose to believe this was the same girl who had blushed and stumbled over her words just moments ago.

"Ugh," the leader sneered, her grip tightening on her staff. "This is getting ridiculous."

The leading female student gritted her teeth, enraged with fury. She conjured balls of fire and hurled them in Claire's direction. Realizing this, Claire shot her arrows at the first barrage of fireballs behind the two seniors she was threatening before leaping onto the cafeteria tables. The other two seniors charged toward her, eager to launch a coordinated attack.

Claire glanced at the incoming balls of fire, predicting where they would hit. She evaded them by flipping and leaping, dodging the hurling fireballs from the enraged senior. She even countered some with her arrows, hitting the fireballs mid-air while upside down from her flip. Some were blocked as Claire stomped onto tables, launching them into the air to block the fireballs. Simultaneously, she flipped away from the two seniors with their blades, who struck at her. They then showed her their Stellar Skills: the one with the naginata, who she now noticed had long brown hair and eyes, extended her blade forward five times. Claire stepped back while on top of the table to dodge. The one with the curved blade, who had orange long pigtails, delivered two slashes in a cross pattern. Although both Stellar Skills were completely unknown to her, they awed her despite the danger they posed.

Claire then took two arrows from her quiver, stretched them on her bow, flipped back to gain distance, and landed on another table. She released the arrows, disarming the two seniors by hitting their weapons. They stood in utter shock, with nothing to do. The leading senior, who Claire finally noticed had short red hair and eyes, became more enraged, her fury matching the red in her hair. She conjured a large ball of fire, glaring at Claire with an angry glance.

"Burn..." the senior spoke in utter anger, her eyes filled with disdain for Claire, who stood above the table with her bow in hand.

Claire stood firm, unfazed even as the students and staff, as well as Rose, slowly took several steps back in fear of the large fireball. Even the two seniors knew how dangerous the attack was and rushed away in the opposite direction, clearing the red-haired senior's line of fire towards Claire. Unfazed, Claire grabbed an arrow from her quiver, a serious look on her face as she lowered her body slightly, stretching the arrow on her bow, preparing a precise shot at the senior casting her spell.

"Show me what you got," Claire spoke with an unshakable confidence, but the slight stammer in her voice betrayed her nerves.

"Haaaaa!" the red-haired senior yelled, sending a ball of fire flying toward her.

"Claire! Get out of there!" Rose yelled, her voice full of panic from behind.

Claire stood her ground, giving a brief glance toward Rose, offering a nervous but determined smile before looking back at her opponent. She grasped her bow with more assurance, but the familiar awkwardness she felt in tense situations was there too, especially now in front of so many eyes. Still, her grip on her bow felt reassuring.

She adjusted her stance, her fingers steadying as they wrapped around the bowstring, and she set her arrow with practiced precision. The bow—Tearful Embrace—seemed to calm her nerves, like it had a gentle presence of its own.

"Here goes..." Claire muttered under her breath, her usual hesitance bubbling under her cool facade. Her arrow flew, glowing white as it pierced the fireball. The attack dissipated almost instantly, and Claire let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

She stood up straight, glancing at the two seniors who had stepped back in fear, then at the furious red-haired senior. Claire's heart pounded in her chest, but she couldn't help but flash a small, awkward smile. "Well, uh, is that all you've got?" she asked, trying to sound confident, though her voice still wavered slightly.

Her hands shook just a little as she lowered her bow, but she wasn't about to back down. Even in the face of intimidation, Claire found herself ready to protect her friend—awkwardness and all.

"Whoa..." Rose said in awe of Claire's abilities, standing at a distance, her eyes wide with admiration.

Claire stepped down from the table, retrieving the arrows she had used to disarm the two seniors and returning them to her quiver. She smiled, a little awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck as she tried to hide her nervousness despite her earlier confidence. The students around them murmured about the recent battle—some filled with awe, others with confusion, disdain, or indifference. Among them was Kazuki, leaning against the wall near the exit, sipping a can of soda, minding his own business. Claire noticed him and felt an immediate rush of embarrassment. She quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks warming slightly, then cleared her throat awkwardly as she refocused on the red-haired senior glaring at her.

The red-haired senior's grip tightened on her magic staff, her face contorted with rage as she prepared to cast another spell. Claire, sensing the threat, instinctively reached for an arrow, but before she could act, the school speaker suddenly crackled to life, interrupting the fight with a burst of static and a high-pitched tone. The piercing sound caught everyone's attention, causing some students to cover their ears while they turned toward the barely visible speaker on the wall, waiting for the announcement.

"Freshmen, you are to go to the academy battlegrounds within 10 minutes, just before 9 AM. Failure to do so will result in immediate expulsion. There will be no considerations for any student whatsoever. I repeat, to any students still not present in the academy battlegrounds, you are to go there before 9 AM..." Ann's voice echoed through the academy speakers, sending a chill down Claire's spine.

The announcement caused the red-haired senior to freeze, her arm dropping as her fellow seniors sheathed their weapons. Claire blinked, processing the sudden shift in the situation, her thoughts racing.

"Hmph... You got lucky this time," the red-haired senior spat, her voice still seething with anger.

Claire tilted her head slightly, blinking in confusion. "Huh? So... you're just, uh, letting us go now?" Her voice came out a little more uncertain than she meant, her brow furrowing at the strange turn of events.

"Just go. You wouldn't want to face her wrath, would you?" the senior responded, her voice now subdued, likely in fear of Ann.

"Right, okay..." Claire muttered, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. Her expression was a mix of confusion and suspicion, but she quickly shook it off. "We should... uh, go then."

She stared at the senior for a few seconds, unsure of what had just happened, before the announcement came to the forefront of her mind once more. With no time to waste, Claire turned to Rose, who had been visibly shaken by the announcement, her fear evident in the way she was standing. Claire suddenly grabbed Rose's arm, her movements a bit too fast, causing Rose to jump in surprise.

"Uh, hey!" Rose squeaked, startled by the sudden grab.

"No time, sorry! We gotta go!" Claire said quickly, still not quite managing to hide the awkwardness in her tone. She tugged Rose toward the cafeteria exit, her mind racing as the students around them began to scatter toward the battlegrounds. Some ran in fear, while others walked with more casual confidence. Ann's voice cut out with a brief static sound, and Claire quickened her pace, hoping they wouldn't be late.

They left the sight of the three seniors, who regrouped after being defeated by Claire, a freshman. While rushing towards the academy battlegrounds as instructed, Claire caught a brief glimpse of Kazuki. He walked slowly forward, seemingly heading to the same destination. He returned her glance with a blank gaze as she reached beside him, making brief eye contact before she rushed forward, leaving him behind, still walking forward with an emotionless expression.

The seniors back at the cafeteria, however, discussed their next move. Their battle with Claire was sure to spread across the academy, and the red-haired senior stood in the middle of the three of them, seething with anger.

"So what are we going to do?" asked the brown-haired senior.

"Yeah, are we really just gonna let this slide?" continued the senior with orange pigtails.

The red-haired leading senior twitched her eyebrows, blinking twice before glancing at both girls beside her. Then, she looked forward again with a menacing smile.

"Oh, we'll show that bitch who she's messing with..." the red-haired senior said. "By the end of it, that bitch will wish she never crossed us..."