"I'm staying behind as well," Genji spoke up in a serious tone after a period of silence.
"I understand your concern, Seiji, but you're clearly capable of telling us to leave, yet you're making us choose for ourselves. That means that you're actually expecting something."
Seiji fell silent.
"You're worried about our safety and want us to leave, but you're not completely sure if this is the best choice for us." Genji looked directly at him.
"That's because danger is also an opportunity for growth … You don't want to take away this opportunity one-sidedly, and you're hoping that we'll stay behind, which is why you're making us choose.
No matter if that's what you really think or not, my choice will be the same, and my reason will be the same as yours: I want to fight! "
"Genji …" Seiji was unable to say anything to her.
"It's my honor to fight alongside you, Second Knight." Tomohisa smiled.
"It's my honor as well, First Knight." Genji responded with a smile.
"I … want to stay behind as well!" The third person to speak up was Mika. "I want to fight as well … Although it seems quite dangerous, I believe that as long as I'm together with Seiji, I'll be fine."
"Mika … My power is limited," Seiji told her.
The twintailed girl looked at him and wanted to say something, but decided against it.
"I believe in you … and I don't want to leave you," she said with a resolute expression.
She believed that he was far stronger than he appeared to be.
Even if his power was truly limited, she wouldn't regret it. That was because her only wish was to be together with him.
"We've gained another ally. Welcome to the battle, Sixth Knight," Tomohisa said.
"Please take care of me, Juumonji-san," Mika responded.
"I want to stay behind as well." The fourth person to speak was Hoshi. "Although I'm quite weak myself, I can borrow Lilith's power … Besides, I don't know what will happen to Lilith if I leave."
"You have that elf to rely on, and you're also worried that something might happen to her if you leave, which is why you want to stay behind, right?" Seiji looked at his junior.
"Yes." Hoshi nodded.
"Good luck." Seiji withdrew his gaze and didn't say anything else.
"Team Leader … are you angry?" Hoshi felt that something was off.
"Why should I be angry? A certain someone has the protection of a mysterious elven girl and doesn't need my care. This is a good thing, "Seiji said calmly.
Hoshi: "…"
The handsome young man felt that something was off, but he didn't know what was going on, so he looked confused.
"Welcome to the battle as well, Fourth Knight … By the way, your maid attire has been custom-made. It's about time you put it on." Tomohisa pushed up his spectacles, which flashed.
"Eh … eh!?" Hoshi suddenly recalled something like this.
"I suddenly heard something interesting." Something flashed in Genji's eyes. "Amami-san is going to wear maid attire? When? Please let me watch and film! "
Just imagining how cute Hoshi Amami would look in a maid's attire caused her to become restless as an ero artist.
"I want to see Hoshi in maid attire as well …" Mayuzumi also spoke up.
"Me too." Kazuko adjusted her spectacles as well.
"I want to see it as well," even Feng Wu said.
Mika had long since said that she wanted to see it. Kaori was interested as well, but was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
"What's a maid attire?" Shinobu asked her older sister Kagura.
"It's a female servant's attire." Mai wasn't currently in the living room, so Shika Kagura could only explain it verbally.
"It's quite popular, Fourth Knight. Why don't we have a photography session!" Tomohisa suggested.
"No …" Hoshi wanted to refuse.
* Cough cough! * Seiji coughed to stop the meeting from going off track.
Everyone fell silent once again.
"Since my idiot older brother wants to stay behind, then I'm going to stay behind as well," Feng Wu spoke up and looked towards Tomohisa. "I need to keep an eye on him."
"Thank you for your kind intentions, my younger sister. However, as your older brother, I request that you leave and go to a safe place far away! "
"That's just an excuse, idiot. I want to stay by Seiji's side. Actually, you can do whatever you want."
"Wah!" Tomohisa made a sound as if he had been hit by an arrow.
Seiji understood the relationship between these two siblings. He knew that they wouldn't take Feng Wu's words seriously, and he also knew that there was no room for him to persuade them otherwise.
After this meeting, these two siblings would probably continue talking or arguing. Only they could decide what the result would be.
"As for me, even if I leave this city, it's highly likely … no, I'll still be affected by the Realm of Cherry Blossoms," Kazuko told him. "Since Seiji wants to stay behind, then I can only stay behind as well."
"Sorry …"
"No need to apologize. Not having a choice means not having a choice at all. It saves me the trouble of overthinking things." The brown-haired girl shrugged.
There was no need to make a choice. There was no need to overthink things.
Although her reasoning was different, Kaori felt the same way as well.
"I'll stay behind as well …" She looked at Seiji Mukai and said, "As a Spirit-branded Retainer, I shouldn't leave when my contractor is in danger."
Fighting by their contractor's side was what a Spirit-branded Retainer should do!
Just like Kagura. She glanced over at Shika Kagura. It was evident that he tacitly agreed to stay behind.
"Thank you, Kaori … but please think about it some more." Seiji expressed his gratitude and also tried to persuade her.
"There's no need to think about it. I've already made my choice," Kaori told him in a serious tone.
Seiji had a helpless expression.
"I did want to think about it some more, but since everyone else has chosen to stay behind, I'll stay behind as well." Mayuzumi smiled.
Seiji was speechless as he looked towards the manga author.
"Fighting together with your companions to protect the city is just like the plot of a manga. As a manga author, you can't miss out on this opportunity … This is an excellent source of inspiration!" Mayuzumi continued speaking in a serious tone.
"Risking your life to obtain inspiration can't be called excellent, Peach-sensei." Seiji sighed.
"It's precisely because you're risking your life that it's excellent," Mayuzumi responded. "Perhaps you'll receive some amazing inspiration."
"You're willing to sacrifice your life for the sake of creating a manga. You're truly amazing! Peach-sensei!! "Tomohisa spoke in a fervent tone.
"Please don't call me that, Juumonji-san. I'm not risking my life either. I'm simply taking a risk. "
"You actually called taking a risk 'just'! Your greatness has deeply moved this humble one!! Please allow this humble one to offer the highest … "
* Smack! * Feng Wu magically brought out a large paper fan and hit Tomohisa with it.
"You're too noisy, idiot."
Seiji glanced at everyone after he saw that Tomohisa was being suppressed.
Nobody chose to leave … His hopes were dashed, but his faint anticipation was satisfied. He didn't know if he was happy or sad.
Genji was correct. Seiji was conflicted. He wanted his companions to leave, but he also wanted them to stay. The former was more intense, while the latter was more subtle.
He valued their safety, but he also wanted them to swiftly grow stronger. This conflict caused him to do something inappropriate.
Just as Tomohisa said, the appropriate thing to do was for the team leader to make the decision, and everyone else to follow. Or, just as Genji believed, everyone should make a team decision and leave together or stay behind.
However, appropriate didn't necessarily mean good … at any rate, his companions had already made their choices.
"I'm truly grateful for everyone's intentions … but as I said just now, if I stay behind, I'll ask for your consideration.
"Please consider it carefully, seriously, and carefully in the next few days."
Seiji had a serious expression as he slowly lowered his head.
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