It Made Me Meet My Senpai

"Bang!"

As if symbolizing his current mood, the red-and-black magical bullet sent a target flying with more force than any shot before it, smashing it into the wall and reducing it to pieces.

"Phew..."

Roman exhaled and withdrew the fingertip that had been releasing magic, as if he no longer wanted to continue shooting.

However, Roman still did not turn around to look at Mashu.

There was only one reason.

If Mashu saw his expression now, Roman had no confidence that he could hide what he truly felt.

That was what he said, but Roman had not hidden his thoughts at all. He voiced his answer.

"...To be honest, I don't know."

That was Roman's truest feeling at the moment.

At that instant, Roman recalled Roman's words.

"Chaldea has long since stopped being the cruel facility you imagine it to be. So, at least while you're here, I hope you can lower your guard."

Roman had genuinely hoped for that, hadn't he?

But Roman still could not bring himself to trust Chaldea.

It was not merely because he detested beings known as "Magus." It was also connected to Roman's past.

Because of that, Roman truly did not want to cooperate with Chaldea's operations.

But...

"If the operation fails, humanity will have no future."

Holding Fou in her arms, Mashu looked at Roman's back and spoke softly.

"Senpai, do you think that would be all right?"

That question was precisely what left Roman at a loss.

Would it be all right?

How could it possibly be all right?

Setting aside the lofty goal of saving humanity, Roman could never stand by and watch Mashu and Roman die.

Not to mention that Roman himself did not want to die either.

It was not because he was afraid.

Roman had already come to understand death clearly fourteen years ago, and he had long since cast aside his fear of it.

However, he did not want this life, which had survived through a miracle, to wither away so easily.

And if Singularity Point F was not repaired, not only Mashu and Roman but Roman himself would also be unable to escape death.

On one hand, Roman's inner resistance made him unwilling to cooperate with Chaldea's operation.

On the other hand, for Mashu, Roman, and himself, Roman could not simply watch the Human Order foundation fail.

Those two conflicting feelings left Roman unsure of what choice to make.

What exactly should he do?

At this point, Roman could not help feeling troubled.

For now, Roman stopped thinking about his own problem and instead asked Mashu.

"What about you, Mashu?" Roman asked. "Do you want to take part in the first operation?"

Mashu seemed not to have expected Roman to suddenly turn the question on her, and she froze slightly.

However, before long, Mashu gave her answer.

"If possible, I don't want to give up the chance to take part in the first operation."

That was Mashu's answer.

Roman had only one thought in response.

"That's so like you."

That was the only comment Roman could make.

All things considered, Roman had probably spent about two years with Mashu.

Roman considered himself fairly familiar with Mashu's personality.

Turning around, Roman looked at Mashu.

Her pink, shoulder-length hair hung down smoothly, each strand distinct enough to be seen clearly.

Her bangs covered one eye perfectly, and she wore a pair of rimless glasses.

She wore a white uniform with a short skirt. Her healthy-looking thighs were wrapped in stockings, and she wore boots.

As for her figure, it was both slender and graceful. Considering her age, her development was undoubtedly rather full.

This girl often wore a delicate, sorrowful expression filled with seriousness and an ethereal quality.

At first glance, she seemed like a cold girl with an unusual aura.

In truth, Mashu was not cold. She was simply poor at expressing her emotions.

Like Roman, she had little life experience, but she possessed extensive knowledge.

Normally, Mashu was quiet and reserved. When speaking with others, she also tended to say only what was necessary, as if she were restraining herself. This gave people the impression that she was difficult to approach.

In reality, Mashu was merely a kind and innocent girl with a strong curiosity. She would take the initiative to greet others, converse with them, ask for their opinions, and work earnestly and diligently. She was full of curiosity about the outside world and wished to explore a broader one.

Naturally, an ordinary girl would not like fighting.

That was why Roman knew very well that Mashu did not want to take part in the operation because she enjoyed fighting.

On the contrary, Mashu was actually very afraid of battle.

It was only because she had no choice but to fight that Mashu wanted to work hard to overcome the difficulty.

The same was true of this first operation.

When faced with a battle she had no choice but to undertake, Mashu usually had only one option.

That was to work hard and overcome it.

This was something only Roman knew.

That was precisely why Roman had to ask.

"Do you really think this is all right, Mashu?"

Roman asked the question involuntarily.

The innocent and kind girl before him had a past as unbearable to look back on as Roman's own.

In fact, Mashu's fate had been even more cruel than Roman's.

At least Roman had already been saved.

Mashu had not.

That was why Roman had to ask that question.

"Don't you hate Chaldea?"

Mashu's eyes widened slightly at the question.

Then Mashu smiled.

It was a very faint, very light, yet exceedingly beautiful smile.

"Yes, I don't hate Chaldea."

Mashu smiled as she gave that answer.

"Because it allowed me to meet you, Senpai."

The gratitude and warmth carried by those heartfelt words touched Roman's heart.

Roman could not possibly fail to understand what those words meant.

They made Roman recall the scene of the first time he had met Mashu.

Mashu seemed to recall that time as well, and her expression grew gentler and gentler.

Seeing that expression, Roman understood.

He had no second choice.

"You win."

Roman smiled as well.

The troubles in his heart vanished without a trace.

Compared with his resistance toward Chaldea and Magus, Roman was even less willing to see the smile disappear from the girl before him.

That was Roman's truest feeling at that moment.

Compared with that, the resistance in his heart was no longer important.

Therefore, only one choice remained.

No matter what, he could not let this girl fight alone.

That was what Roman had to do.

And so...

"Let's work hard together, Mashu!"

"Yes, Senpai!"

In the training room, the young man and girl made powerful declarations to each other. One relaxed, while the other wore a delighted expression.

"Fou!"

Lying in Mashu's arms, Fou seemed to sense the bond and warmth between the two of them and voiced his agreement as well.

On that day, Roman made the decision to fight.

To reclaim humanity's future, he embarked on a long journey.