gh his heart. A small fire lit up in his chest. It was a faint and ephemeral light, but it was trying hard to dispel the darkness that had enveloped Nozomu's heart.

"You gave me the opportunity to understand what is important to me... I am very grateful to you. So this time I want to be your strength."

"Shīna..."

(I want to be your strength)

Her words popped in Nozomu's heart. The small fire that was lit in Nozomu's heart instantly burned in response to Shīna's words. And the heat radiated through his body causing blood to spring up throughout his body.

Next to Shīna, Anri-sensei had the same smile as usual.

Shīna said she wanted to help him and Anri kept smiling as usual.

The warmth and kindness of the two of them made Nozomu's heart, which had shrunk in fear, regain its vitality in a blink of an eye.

"I am...."

Previously, Nozomu told Shino that he had killed a dragon and become a dragonslayer, and was pointed out that he had been running away all this time. Nozomu, who had been running away, was forced to face reality. But after that, Shino's facial expression showed a smile of relief.

(........Welcome back. You have worked hard.)

The words that Shino spoke. She didn't change even after she knew that Nozomu was a dragonslayer.

Because Shino was such a woman, Nozomu was able to reveal everything and accept the past that Shino confessed. The girls in front of him now had the same face as Shino back then.

Then, Nozomu once again asked himself what he really wanted now.

Irisdina. Contrary to her dignified atmosphere at school, she has a mischievous side, such as imposing sanctions on the geezer who did sexual harassment through fortune-telling. And also followed her sister's date anxiously.

Somia. A bright and honest girl who is always smiling. However, not only that, she is a girl who has the power to behave brightly even though she is going through hard times.

Mars. He has a violent temper and a big physique. That's why everyone is afraid of him. However, he always obeys his sister willingly.

Tima. She's a little frail and usually timid, but for the sake of her friends, Tima will become serious and tries to protect her friends even if her opponent is superior.

The faces of his friends who were by his side and the memories he made with them flashed through his mind. It had only been a few months since he had met them, but they had become important people he didn't want to lose.

(I wish I could laugh with them again...)

“I.. I want to tell everyone..”

When he said those words himself, his desire was clearly formed in Nozomu's heart.

(What do I want to do from now on? What should I do to do that?)

All he needed to do was tell his friends what he really felt. If he did not expose himself, his true intentions would not be transmitted to the other party. Sometimes, the truth may be ugly from a human point of view. And that might be disgusting. That is why it triggers fear and as a result, may be rejected.

But there was someone who wanted to help. Even if there will be others who didn't like his true self, that someone will still be there for him. Just like his master at that time.

He thought it was okay. There is fear. There is also anxiety. However, it seemed that he could move forward with just that one step.

"... Shīna, Anri-sensei. May I ask for a little?favor?"

Just like Shīna and Mimuru, he wanted to face Irisdina and the others and laugh together once more.

(For that purpose, let's tell them myself, just like Shishō)

With that in mind, Nozomu decided to step forward again.