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Kamiya thought of Arisugawa Saori like a Goddess.
Actually, at first he thought of her like a mother first before a Goddess. She’s always been a bit different from the rest of them. It was a miracle that they’re friends. To Kamiya Shun, Arisugawa Saori is someone who belongs in the realm of light.
It was easier to befriend Manami and Mita. They were just like him, outcasts in this elite city named Minato. People who didn’t belong in the spotlight of the beautiful lights of Minato City. Shunned by the eyes of the public, looked upon as if they were the trash of society.
But Arisugawa Saori was different. She’s the role model of an honor student. She belonged in a place where all the honest and hardworking people live. Perhaps, a teacher would fit her… No, maybe a lawyer? She could even run as the prime minister, Shun thought.
But there she is, right in the middle of three misfits of society, holding them together like a trainer of three wild, untamable animals.
Kamiya laughed at the image.
Before they met her, Kamiya thought that destroying things was his only way to live. In the slums of Minato, he had to bare his fangs, climb on the apex of the chain, so he wouldn’t get destroyed. So he could protect the people he cared for. And to do that, he had to crush the others.
People fear him. People annoy him. And it all went downhill from there. Trails of blood build up on his steps. His hands were always stained red. One by one, the people who annoy him were destroyed by his hands. That was the only way he knew to survive.
It didn’t change after he started the Minato Tribe either. Even though he thought that he had found his calling through XB, his tendency to destroy people didn’t change. He couldn’t control his strength. He couldn’t control his emotions. By the time he realized it, they were already on the ground, defeated, broken.
That is, until he met Arisugawa Saori. Slowly but surely, she made him realize that he doesn’t have to destroy people. That by destroying others, he’s only going to destroy himself. And he’ll only paint himself in a muddy, suffocating burden that people name sin.
“Can’t you see that the only thing you’re destroying is yourself?!”
When she stopped him then, he thought of her as foolish.
“What are you saying, Arisugawa? This guy is an enemy.”
“No, he’s a fellow XB enjoyer!”
Her words from that time echoed in his mind. Her eyes, reflecting the colors of the setting sun, were full of conviction. And that sharp look of hers bestowed the truth. Her small hands that stopped his fist from making more victims on that day… were warm.
And then it dawned on him.
He didn’t have to destroy to survive.
Just play.
It’s enough.
It’s more fun that way anyway.
“Heh.” Kamiya Shun let out a chuckle as he slumped on his favorite kotatsu. A coffee was placed in front of him, obstructing his view, but when he rolled his face to the side, Saori was there. She seems to be briefing the members of the team on their next match. A job he’s let her take over since she was so much better at doing it than he was anyway.
Always the one to lead them to victory… their playmaker… their goddess of victory.
Stray thoughts entered his mind. When he closed his eyes, he saw Saori, draped in a gown of flowing white tunic. A contrast to her usual black set of sports jacket and shorts. Her form was ethereal. The fabric of her clothes wrapped her magnificent form with the soft grace of flowing linen.
She’ll look pretty in that. Then again, Arisugawa looks pretty in anything.
Then his imagination carried him to see her leading the charge. Complete with a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. She would look so fierce and menacing to the enemies, while also sparking inspiration to her surrounding allies.
Kamiya’s lips begin to quiver.
A helmet of gold would be nice. Though, maybe it’ll look funny on her.
A smile formed on his lips.
What if she screams “THIS IS MINATO TRIBEEEEEEE!!!!” as she leads the charge?
He held onto his stomach, trying to hold his laughter.
Oh, they should yell something back in return. What would be nice? Hmm…
“Bomber…” He muttered to himself. Oh, that sounds so silly that he couldn’t help but let an audible chuckle.
Then Saori noticed that Kamiya wasn’t listening to her. So she walked towards him with her hands on her hips and then hunched over as she smiled at him.
“What are you grinning about?” She asked him.
“Hmm… I’m thinking that you’ll make a good leader, Arisugawa.” Kamiya curled his lips, almost like a cat’s mouth, as he lifted his face from the desk and rested it on his hand.
“Hm? What are you talking about? Minato Tribe’s leader has always been you, Kamiya.” She chuckled. He could see that she was flattered by it. She’s so easy to read.
But the one guiding us towards the light has always been you.
“Eeh~ But you’re our playmaker, Arisugawa. Without you, all of us would be lost.” Kamiya returned. She looked surprised but quickly regained her composure and turned her back on him.
“You’re just teasing me, aren’t you?” She pouted. He could easily imagine her face blushing right now.
Cute.
His face softened as he picked up a few strands of her hair and played with them using his fingers. The golden strands were so silky and smooth.
“Sorry, sorry.” He chuckled, brought those few strands to his lips, and kissed her hair. She didn’t realize it, though. And he didn’t intend to make her realize.
Because to him, she’s his Goddess. He was unworthy of her. She deserved someone better. She deserved someone she could rely on and make her happy. She deserved someone who would love her genuinely and be devoted to her.
But he’s also quite the greedy man.
So he hoped that she would never find someone better than him.
Ahh, as he thought. He’s truly such a bad person.