The Conqueror of Darkness

Before the Departure

They decided to jog around as they raced their way to the school. Not that they were late, but simply as a form of warming up for today's activities. It's also fun to compete in something trivial like this sometimes.

Reina leads in the front, awfully chipper and energetic, while Sabrina puts up a measured pace in the middle, occassionally eyeing Tenma and Noa who were in the rear.

Tenma was purposefully slowing down because Noa suddenly had a limp. He knew why she had that, and felt rather guilty. Must be because what they did last night. He quietly decided to make it up by his actions.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"It's okay, don't worry about me." She assured.

"No can't do." Tenma shook his head. "I'll carry you."

He casually and gently lifted her off her feet, putting her in his arms. One arm under her legs and the other supporting her back. Noa yelped in surprise, but she had no time for further react since Tenma started to run faster than before, going past Sabrina and Reina both.

"We're going ahead, guys!"

Accepting that this is just the way he is, Noa opted to wrap her arms around his neck and took a quick glance at Sabrina. The brown-haired girl doesn't look too happy about that.

Well, with Tenma being Tenma, I guess I don't actually need any plan to make her react… Noa thought.

Meanwhile, Tenma just goes faster and faster, moving in a blur while keeping her safe in a bridal carry. This isn't jogging anymore.

"Aren't you going too fast?" She casually quipped.

"I'm just going fast enough for both of us!"

It didn't take long until they finally arrived at the school gate, The Entrance. Tenma puts her down just as gently as he lifted her up. She looked up at him, her cerulean eyes twinkling with both mischief and affection. There are already students staring at them…

"Thanks, Romeo. That was a short but fun ride." she winked, giving his cheek a quick caress.

"Who the hell is Romeo?" Tenma furrowed his eyebrows.

Noa simply giggled as response. She knew Tenma wasn't familiar with romance novels, but if he was curious enough, he'd try to find out about that.

"Nevermind. I'm just appreciating the gesture you just did." she smiled warmly. "That was so sweet."

"It's the least I can do to help you, after all I did." Tenma said, straightening his posture. "It was just my--"

"--Responsibility." Noa finished.

"You really know what I would say." 

"Of course I do. I also know much more than that."

She reached for his arm and gave it a fond squeeze. In return, he took her hand in his. Tenma always appreciates small physical contact here and there, and Noa is more than happy to provide some. In fact, she is very eager for physical contact in almost every way known.

"Oh, boy. Public display of affection this early in the morning, really guys?"

A familiar voice spoke. Both turned around to look at the source. A young man just slightly shorter than Tenma, with blue undercut hair and a slim yet athletic body, approached them with an amused grin.

"Good morning to you two lovebirds." He said, waving his hand.

"Good morning, Raiga." Tenma and Noa spoke in unison. "This is really a good morning."

Raiga Shun. Another childhood friend of Tenma, and he had actually known him for longer than Sabrina. In Agni Veritas Academy, he was one of the most known students around. Respected by men and loved by women. Well, that's at least what he thinks of himself.

"Wow, that greeting's synchronized." He said, slightly shook. "That's kinda creepy…?"

"I believe that's just standard greeting we'd agreed upon for you." Tenma muttered.

"Sounds a bit flat, though. The line delivery could use some work." Raiga commented, as he turned to look at Noa. "But nevermind that now! Noa-chan looks prettier and shinier than usual today. Fresher too! Like those models in a certain magazine, but even better! You're a bombshell!"

"Fufu, thanks for the compliment." Noa giggled.

Tenma briefly gave him a dirty look.

"Hey. Watch it with your flirting, buddy…" Tenma glared.

Raiga intentionally ignored the slightly miffed young man. Ever the jealous boyfriend.

"Well, what's your secret? Did you get extra hours of that beauty sleep last night?" He asked.

"No, if anything, I even got less sleep last night." She answered, glancing at Tenma impishly. "… I was kept up because I encountered a particularly vicious black bear."

"A what?! Black bear? Was it scary?" Raiga gaped.

"It looks very scary. It was quite ravenous, and it almost ate me alive."

"Wow, that's uh… one hell of a bear. How did you survive that?"

He really bought that story? Noa thought for a brief moment before deciding to play along.

"Well, I don't really know…" Noa shrugged. "Last thing I knew, it pounced at me… and when I came to, I was barely alive this morning… but I also felt more alive than ever."

"What the... are you alright, Noa-chan?"

"I'm perfectly fine. The black bear took care of me, really well." Noa smiled.

"... wait, what?"

He seemed very confused all of a sudden. Tenma cleared his throat, getting his attention. Raiga looked at Tenma, then at Noa, then back at Tenma, and finally at Noa again. They can almost hear the gear slowly moving in his head, his eyes gradually widened and...

"... oh." His mouth was open in realization, making a perfect 'O'. "Ohh I got it now..."

"Yes, Raiga. Oh. You just realized that?" Tenma nodded with an odd look of superiority. "The black bear is me, I was the one who--"

"Okay, alright. I've heard enough, buddy. You and your lovey-dovey girlfriend." Raiga held up his hand. "So that's why she looks so refreshed this morning, huh. How much did you stab her with your 'Yamato 2.0'?"

"Dude!" Tenma looks scandalized. "What the hell!"

"What? It's the truth, bro!"

"You could've been more subtle!"

"This is me being subtle!"

They started to bicker, while Noa is silently laughing in the background, amused at the chaos she helped made.

"Oh yeah? If this is you being subtle, I can't imagine you being direct." Tenma argued.

"Dude, no!" Raiga was getting defensive. "If I was going more directly, I'd say your di--"

"What are you jokers doing here messing around?"

They stopped talking immediately. Sabrina has caught up with them with Reina in tow, and now giving both of them disapproving look. Tenma felt it was directed to him more than Raiga, though.

"Good morning Sa-chan, Reina-chan!"

Raiga greeted both of them, but only Reina replied by waving back at him. Sabrina didn't look amused at all and practically ignored him, preferring to address the issue at hand instead.

"You could've gone to the second floor instead of wasting time fooling around." She chided. "Tenma and Noa, what kind of stunt are you guys trying to pull? Suddenly running off like that."

"Ah well, it's uh, I was just, um--"

"My legs feel a bit hurt so Tenma volunteered to carry me." Noa answered the question easily and calmly, over Tenma's stumbling words. "He was just being a gentleman so who I am to refuse?"

"I could've healed these legs of yours easily if you just said so." Sabrina frowned.

"Ahaha, that's true, but it's no fun!" Noa laughed. "To gain something nice, sometimes you just have to let some problems happen."

"Your logic runs on having fun, huh?" Sabrina sighed. "I can't really understand you…"

"You can do it too, you know. Try to smile more…"

"I can smile just fine, thank you."

"Evidently not enough! You need to have fun once in a while. How about you take some breaks after the Field Exam?" Noa suggested. "We can go to the Student Council President together and ask for permission. I can back you up."

"No… I have too much work just to be abandoned." Sabrina insisted. "So while that does sound appealing, no thank you."

"Well, if you don't have much free time, we can just go shopping for school supplies!"

"Yes! And we can paint our nails and try on clothes and talk about cute boys, like tall, dark, and handsome over there!" Sabrina said, seemingly enthusiastic as she jabbed her thumb at Tenma's direction. "… not." Her enthusiasm disappeared instantly.

"Me?" Tenma points at himself.

"Quiet, Tenma. I was being sarcastic."

"I am also quite handsome and brave." Raiga piped in, flexing his muscles.

"Quiet, Raiga. No one asked you."

"Aww."

"Anyway, we're wasting the precious time we could've used to prepare for the Field Exam. I'm done with you guys." Sabrina said, nudging Reina gently. "I'm going to go on ahead with Reina. You jokers can do whatever you want if you don't care about your grades. Come on, Reina."

"Okay, Sabrina-neechan."

Reina just obediently followed her like a chick to a mother hen. They didn't waste time and left quickly for the Elevator.

"Dude, Sabrina sure can be a bit of a joykiller at times…" Raiga groused.

"Yes… I wish she would just relax a little and let us have a good time." Noa added.

"Heh, well, that's Sabrina for you." Tenma smirked. "That's just her being herself. You can't just ask her to abandon her works like that. You need special nudges and pushes to move her."

"And I suppose you know how to soften her up?" Noa inquired, raising her eyebrows.

"I'd like to think so. I mean, we've known each other for more than a decade now." He shrugged.

"Uh-huh. You knew her outside and inside, huh?"

"Not as much as I'd like. But I knew most of her habits and how she thinks." Tenma said, closing his eyes as if reminiscing some fond memories. "Anyway, you don't have to worry about Sabrina. I have my plans… when I'm done with her, she will be willing to go shopping with you, I'm certain of that."

After his little chat with Sabrina before, he has some general ideas of what he can do to make her open up. And hopefully he can get her to have some fun, and bring her actual happiness in life. He really means it. Surely going through dull and boring works everyday won't be good for her in the long run.

"That sounds awfully ominous, bro." Raiga commented. "Sabrina's a good girl, don't you go and corrupt her…"

"Corrupt? What the hell are you talking about?" Tenma raised his eyebrows. "I just want her to stop being fully engrossed in her works every single day. That's why I want to take her out so she can relax and have fun. Make her happy instead of being frustrated all the time, you see?"

It's Raiga's turn to raise his eyebrows. He looks at Noa questioningly.

"Noa-chan, you don't have any problem with that?"

"None whatsoever." Noa smiled. "It's actually my idea, but he has his own initiatives it seems."

"I see. Well Tenma, you're really lucky you're with her." Raiga nodded sagely. "Noa-chan is just built different. You've got no idea how very lucky you are, bro. Take good care of her, okay?"

"You don't have to tell me that." Tenma nodded seriously. "But what do you mean by built dif-"

"Aaaaaaand it's almost time for the mission briefing!" Raiga looked at his watch and shouted in a forceful manner, clearly doesn't want to discuss the topic any further. "Man, I got all girls on my team for the Field Exam, including the 1st Rank. I really CANNOT disappoint them as a man! Surely, I can impress them with no male rival in sight! IT'S MY DAY TO SHINE!"

"Good luck dude." Tenma said, trying his best to sound encouraging.

"And to you as well! Alright, gotta go! See you two around!"

He ran to the Elevator like his life depends on it and disappeared from their sight like a bolt of lightning. Everyone who watched this spectacle can only give him a stunned look.

"You have very 'interesting' friends, Tenma…" Noa concluded.

"Welcome to my life." Tenma chuckled.

"You silly, I've already let myself in." she grinned. "Well then, shall we go too?"

"Yeah, let's go."

And so they went.