Chapter 2: Fucking huge emotions

"This ends now—!"

A single slash.

The sacred sword, wreathed in blazing flames, descended with overwhelming force—cleaving the monstrous beast in two.

『Guh… Im… possible…!』

The creature let out a final, guttural scream before exploding into a shower of sparks, like a firework of pure malice.

This demon—a terror that had devoured countless innocent lives—was finally reduced to ash, its wicked existence extinguished.

Born from the twisted experiments of an evil organization, this magic-wielding monstrosity had been one of their strongest. But against all of us fighting together? It never stood a chance.

"...Phew."

I exhaled in relief, sheathing my sword. Around me, my usual teammates began to relax—some flopping onto the ground, others leaning against rubble, a few sitting close together. Each had their own way of unwinding.

As I watched them, I pulled out my phone to send a message to someone.

My name is Rekka.

A descendant of the legendary hero who once saved the world from the Demon King—the Fire bloodline.

Though the hero’s lineage had branched out across the world, the Fire family was considered the lowest among them. And since we kept our heritage hidden, most people had no idea.

I’d lived an ordinary life—until Koori Ice, the blue-haired girl now blushing beside me, changed everything.

It all started on my first day of school, when I recklessly charged at a monster trying to kidnap students—before I even had my fire powers. My brand-new uniform was shredded in seconds, and I’d have been done for if Koori hadn’t shown up.

Later, I joined the "Citizen Heroes Club"—a volunteer group that, on paper, did community service. In reality? We worked with a government-sanctioned covert ops team to hunt down evil organizations.

I’d stumbled into this battle completely by accident. (My friend Apollo—aka "Pokky"—once joked, "Your recruitment standards are way too loose for a secret team.")

But now? I was fully committed to protecting this city.

"Rekka-samaaa~! Did you see my glorious performance? ♡"

"Whoa—H-Hikari, hold on—!"

The golden-haired girl tackling me from behind was Hikari Grind, the second member to join our team. The heiress to a mega-corporation, she’d been raised with elite training—making her one of the top light mages in the academy.

But despite the admiration she received, she’d always been lonely. Here, though? She finally found real connections.

Though she might be a little too comfortable around me…

"Hey! Cut it out!"

"T-Too close…!"

The green-haired twins trying to pry Hikari off me were Kazeko and Fuuna Wind—the former bold, the latter timid.

Three years ago, they’d been kidnapped and brainwashed by the enemy, forced to serve as elite operatives. The one who defied orders to save them?

"Honestly… Must you all be so rowdy after a battle?"

"Ahaha, Rai-senpai, you’re totally sneaking glances because you wanna join in~"

"Wha—!? I-Ice! Silence!"

The tall, purple-haired girl flustering at Koori’s tease was Rai Electro, our senior and the club’s backbone. She’d led the charge to rescue the Wind sisters, even when the higher-ups demanded their elimination.

(Oh, and she’s also the student council president. Overachiever much?)

"Nyahaha~! Popular as always, Senpai!"

"Otonashi, quit joking and help—"

"Wait, so you’re saying I should hug you too!? Fineee~ ♡"

"NO, THAT’S NOT—!"

The girl now glomping me—Otonashi Noise, our sound-mage kouhai—had originally been a ninja working behind the scenes. After getting exiled from her organization, she’d joined us.

Somehow, despite all the chaos… we’d become a real team.

But Seriously, the Physical Contact Is Getting Out of Hand

That said… their idea of "team bonding" is way too hands-on.

Before I knew it, Rai-senpai and Koori had joined the cuddle pile.

What kind of ritual is this!?

"Ehehe~ Rekka-kun ♪" (Koori, nuzzling closer)
"Oh my, even Ice-san?" (Hikari, feigning shock)
"Why does this keep growing!?" (Kazeko, flustered)
"Uwee… Rai-senpai too…" (Fuuna, overwhelmed)
"Ahem! T-Team solidarity! This is unity!" (Rai, sweating bullets)
"Your tsundere act’s weak, Senpai. Scooch over." (Otonashi, elbowing in)

I was surrounded.

No matter where I turned, softness pressed against me.

I’m just a normal high school guy, okay? If this keeps up, I might start misinterpreting things—and the fallout from that would be brutal.

(Though Pokky did say, "If you can’t take it anymore, just go for it." Maybe if they’re teasing me because they think I’m a coward… I should shock them with a bold move one of these days.)

"A-Anyway! Enemy’s down, so let’s head home. It’s late, and I’m starving."

"Then I shall prepare tonight’s feast!" (Hikari, summoning her butler with a snap)
"Oh no you don’t! Let’s go, Fuuna!" (Kazeko, grabbing her sister)
"W-Wait for us~!" (Koori, tripping over her own feet)
"Ice! Don’t run—you’ll fall!" (Rai, chasing after her)
"While the Senpais are distracted… I’ll ninja my way to your place first!" (Otonashi, vanishing into the shadows)

Watching them scatter—Hikari with her luxury car, the Wind sisters riding magical gusts, Koori and Rai sprinting, Otonashi leaping across rooftops—I marveled at how uniquely chaotic my team was.

Finally alone, I pulled out my phone under a streetlamp. I’d been too busy getting hugged to finish my message earlier.

"...Maybe I should just call."

I debated bragging about today’s victory or inviting him over for dinner as the name "Pokky" flashed on-screen.

It’s a silly nickname—like a sugary snack.

Apollo Key. My friend since first year. My best friend, though I’m not sure he’d say the same.

We’ve only known each other for a year, but to me, time doesn’t matter.

Backstory Dump (But Make It Emotional)

Growing up as the "failure" of the Fire lineage—mocked by other hero descendants, hopeless at magic, constantly compared to my talented older brother—I learned to hate people.

No one was kind.

Everyone sneered at the "useless runt" who couldn’t even cast basic spells.

I became bitter. Closed off.

I hated that version of myself.

So I came to this city, to Magic Academy, to change.

But old habits die hard.

I clashed with Koori at first. My fire powers took forever to awaken. And my social skills? Nonexistent.

Then I met Apollo.

How We Became Besties (No Dramatics)

No grand meet-cute. We were just the leftover pair in gym class.

Awkward small talk revealed we were dead last in magic rankings.

We failed together:

Built a "cloak of invisibility" that lasted three seconds.

Face-planted in a three-legged race, spraining both our ankles.

Got lost "exploring" the city after school like idiots.

Somehow, through all that…

He became my first real friend.

The light in my gloomy life.

My sun.

Now he calls me "Rekky," I call him "Pokky," and I’ve never been happier.

I fight to protect this peace.

To protect Pokky—the symbol of that peace—and the world where he can keep smiling.

Lately, with the team growing and enemies getting stronger, I haven’t had much time to talk to him. But my real high school life only feels complete when he’s part of it.

So… yeah.

The enemy’s quiet for now. I should invite him over.

Honestly, being the only guy surrounded by girls is exhausting. Having him around would help.

…And I just miss hanging out.

Tomorrow’s a day off, and Pokky’s always free. I want him to stay over.

Bonus: If I use him as an excuse to cancel the girls’ sleepover plans? Perfect.

I could use a break from the "war against my own hormones" they’ve been waging on me. Plus, I’ve been itching for a Mario Kart rematch.

"Alright, calling him—"

I tapped the screen and held the phone to my ear.

It connected after just one ring.

"Hello? Pokky?"

I spoke like always—
But then, instantly, a voice answered.

Not from the phone.

From behind me.

"……Huh?"

I turned.

I’d called Pokky. My best friend—a guy.

But the voice that echoed back—cold, detached—was unmistakably a girl’s.

"Who… are you?"

A few meters away, under the pale moonlight, stood a black-haired girl I’d never seen before.

She looked younger than even Otonashi, our team’s youngest member.

And in her hand?

My best friend’s phone.

She didn’t answer. Just stared at me with unreadable, piercing eyes.

"Why do you have Pokky’s—"

Silence.

"ANSWER ME!"

A chill shot down my spine. My chest tightened.

My pounding heart screamed one thing:

"This girl is dangerous."

I’ve faced hostility before—Koori’s rivalry, the brainwashed Wind sisters’ murderous intent.

But this pressure?

It was neither.

Her unfamiliar uniform.

Pokky’s phone in her grip.

And those strange red eyes, impossible to read, fueling my dread.

"...Rekka Fire."

"!?"

She knew my name.

Said it like it was nothing.

That night—after parting with my team, after a whim-driven call to my best friend—

I stood alone, face-to-face with a girl who shouldn’t exist.