Humanity Salvation Academy Episode 1: 'The Boy Who Calls the Storm' IV

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IV.

The two stood at the top of the hill. The hill was covered in grass, and although not as high as the terrace earlier, one could overlook the entire academy from there.

Houomaru sat down comfortably on the grass. Kyuse stood beside him. A refreshing breeze was blowing.

Beep, beep, beep, beep,
One, two, three, four!

The sound of a whistle could be heard from afar. In time with it, students could be seen performing group drills. Houomaru whispered softly.

"...There are all sorts of students here, aren't there?"

Kyuse was stretching, arms spread wide, looking as if he were enjoying the breeze.

"Hmm. Yeah, I suppose so."

"Even though everyone wears uniforms of similar colors, each person has a different face. Even if they wear the same uniform, each person has a different heart..."

Houomaru let his gaze wander even further into the distance.

"Hey... Kyuse-kun."
"Hmm... what is it?"
"Why..."

Houomaru's hair was swaying quietly in the wind.

"Why am I the head of the disciplinary committee?"
"Hmm... that is..."

Kyuse stopped stretching and looked at Houomaru. Then, he shifted his gaze to the distance, just as Houomaru had.

"Academy Regulation Chapter 1, Article 2: 'Students of Humanity Salvation Academy shall be assigned a role by the academy befitting their existence.' ...In other words, you became that way because you were meant to be. That's all there is to it."

Houomaru narrowed his eyes.

"I know that academy regulation. It's in my memory, too. But... I still don't quite understand."

"Hmph..."

Kyuse ran his hand through his hair, looking somewhat troubled.

In short, let's call it the rank of the soul. Anyway... that's just how it is.

Hmm...

You will understand eventually, whether you like it or not. In time, you will realize the authority you possess as the head of the disciplinary committee...

Authority...?

Yes, authority.

Kyuse paused for a moment, then continued as if delivering a solemn oracle.

Authority is power. It is the power of the chosen, meant to fulfill heavy responsibilities. Immense authority, great executive power, the power to do what must be done. That is what authority is.

Authority... power...

Houomaru looked at his own palm.
He clenched it, opened it, and clenched it again.

You'll understand eventually. Even if you can't now, you will, eventually.

Hey. Can I ask you a few more things?

I don't mind.

Phew...

Houomaru let out a deep sigh. Then, he frowned seriously and said.

You know... where exactly were we before we enrolled?

Hmm...

Kyuse raised an eyebrow and looked at Houomaru.

And what happens to us after we graduate? Where are we going to go?

...

Kyuse fell silent. He stepped forward in front of Houomaru. With his back still turned to Houomaru, he placed his hands on his hips and looked down. For a moment, his shoulders seemed to tremble, but it was laughter; Kyuse raised his face and said in a dry voice, 'Hahaha'.

'Why do people enroll, and why do they graduate? Where do people come from, and where do they go? Hahaha! A truly philosophical question, Houomaru!'

Kyusei laughed for a while, then fell silent again. Houomaru stared at his back, waiting for an answer. Kyusei said quietly.

'...I don't know.'

His voice sounded somewhat sad.

'I don't know anything. What are we? Why are we at Humanity Salvation Academy? What even is Humanity Salvation Academy in the first place... I don't know anything at all.'

A heavy silence hung in the air. Before they knew it, the wind had grown stronger. Many clouds passed over the two of them, casting shadows as they gradually increased in thickness.

'You don't know anything, huh?'

Houomaru sighed. Then, without changing his expression, he began to flutter his palm in front of his face. He kept fluttering it as if to confirm something.

'...I am a second-year student.'

'That's right.'

'And it is now the middle of the third term... which means the time I have left is a little over a year.'

'Yeah, that's how it works.'

'...I see. So that's how it is.'

Houomaru stopped moving his hand. Kyusei said nothing more. The sky had darkened before they knew it and was being covered in a heavy color.

'...Aren't you guys afraid?'

Kyusei let out a scoff.

'Most of the students probably try not to think about it.'

Houomaru sighed.

'...It's like they're idiots. It's just like they're idiots.'

The two fell silent. The wind grew even stronger.
The clouds began to dye the entire academy in an ominous color.

"Hey, Kyuse-kun."

"...What is it?"

Hoomaru slowly thrust his hand forward.

"I've decided."

"Hmm..."

Kyuse furrowed his brows. The voice he heard from behind sounded somehow like a different person from the Hoomaru he had known until now.

"If that is the case, then I"

As he said this, Hoomaru clenched his outstretched hand tightly, as if grabbing hold of something.

"If that is the case, then I..."

His eyes opened wide with intensity, as if staring at something.

"If that is the case, then I"

Hoomaru was shouting!

"If that is the case, then I!"

"...?"

He had a strange premonition. It was an unpleasant feeling. Along with that premonition, Kyuse turned around. And then...

"Hoomaru, you...!"

The sound of distant thunder rumbled. Thick clouds hung low in the sky, and in the distance, lightning flashed, flicker, flicker, flicker. Kyuse looked at Hoomaru.

"You, already..."

Around Hoomaru, many, many people were standing.
As if tearing through the pitch-black sky... students in white high-collared uniforms were standing.

Hoomaru's scarlet hair flickered like a bonfire. As if worshipping it, the white-clad students stood silently around him.

It was just like a pack of white wolves.

"You, you already have the authority..."

Hououmaru smiled at the groaning Kyusei. "Hey, Kyusei-kun." It was a smile as cold as white porcelain.

"Shall we go meet the student council president now?"

The wind raged, and thunder roared.

【Continued in v】

"Humanity Salvation Academy"is scheduled to be updatedat 7:30 PM from Monday to Friday (tentative)