Kibishi's POV

  One week ter...

  Cafeteria

  After a week of training, I came to a conclusion.

  ... I didn't have any fighting experience, and I felt slow to react to certain things.

  Not only that, but the range of the knife was too short, and I could barely hold on to it when someone always spped it off my wrist.

  I also learned that I couldn't get close to my opponent to even attack them in the first pce. If I failed THAT much with professional soldiers without any powers, I could imagine monsters with both speed and strength.

  Right then, I was enjoying my dinner with the rest of the supernaturals.

  And yes, they indeed kicked my ass. All of the girls, including Tao, had beaten me before I could even break a sweat.

  "How the hell are you all so friggin' strong?" I muttered and then took a sip of some hot tea.

  "That's rude! You can't tell a girl that, man!" Kuma made a puffy face and folded her arms.

  "You'll never get a girlfriend if you say stuff like that, Kibishi." Yosei smiled sweetly at me.

  "That's fine. I doubted any girl would want me anyway." I bluntly admitted in honesty, then held up my cup.

  Kuma, Kujira, and Yosei said, "Uh..." in unison and then deeply sighed.

  "You don't know that for certain. I'm sure someone would like you as a boyfriend." Kuma then looked at Tao. "Don't you think so, Tao?"

  "Hmm? Well, I guessed so?" Tao looked at Kuma with a gentle smile.

  "Right?! Someone who's... I don't know... close to him as well?" Yosei slid into the conversation. Both figuratively and literally as well.

  "Mmm... yeah, I suppose." Tao nodded at Yosei with a bright smile.

  "Heh. And I'm sure we all know who that is, right?" Kujira chirped in.

  "..." Tao looked at her feet for some reason. Wait, was she nervous about something?

  Well, it couldn't be helped—this game of who liked whom had gone on long enough.

  "That's enough. I didn't want you guys to push your ideals onto Tao like it was some kind of game." I closed my eyes when I spoke to the girls.

  "Come on, man. We were just pying!" I heard Kuma's voice.

  I opened my eyes with my brows narrowed.

  "Can't you see you're all making her uncomfortable? Let's end this conversation here." I took another sip of my tea.

  I pced my cup down as I suddenly felt sad for some reason.

  "Besides... why would anyone like me? I couldn't even keep up with any of you." I whispered.

  Yeah. It was pointless to think about those things right then. Even if I had feelings for anyone, I doubted I could make them happy.

  I gnced at Tao for a moment and then back at my cup.

  I gripped it tightly.

  This was stupid. We should have been getting ready for the meeting, not talking about who would like who!

  .............

  "..... Who do you like, huh?" I narrowed my eyes and felt tears welling. But I mentally sucked it up and wiped my eyes.

  Stupid. Why were you getting upset about such a silly thing? That could come after all of this was finished. Love could wait.

  Yeah. It could... it could...

  "Are you okay, Kishi?" I heard Tao's voice, which held a hint of concern yet sadness.

  "I'm fine." I nodded.

  Though not even I could fool myself for long. I knew I was a bit sad from this conversation we were having.

  "Well... you don't have to think too much about it." Tao gave me a warm smile as I looked up.

  "Y-yeah, we were just kidding." Yosei raised both of her hands.

  "We didn't mean to hurt you in any way," Kuma added while resting her arms on the table.

  "I know that," I replied.

  "Then—"

  "Excuse me," we all heard a voice that cut off Kujira's.

  We all looked in the direction of the voice and saw Mato with two more scientists behind him. One male and one female. The male had your typical haircut with pale skin, while the female had straight hair.

  "Oh, hey, Mato. What brings you here?" Yosei stood up.

  "Good evening. I know we all must be there in the next five minutes or so. But I decided to start the meeting pretty early." Mato smiled at us nervously.

  "Ah, I see." I stood up.

  "Then, will the rest of you follow me?" Mato turned around and started to walk away. The other scientists joined him.

  Well, at least then I could focus on something else.

  The girls and I started to follow him as well. I wondered what was so important that they would have to start the meeting so early.

  And from the look of things, Mato seemed a bit worried despite his smiling at us. I wondered what was wrong?