Taking Him Under His Wing (A Plea for Support)

"What is it, Miyake? If you're here to thank me, don't bother." Watanabe Hayabara looked at Akito Miyake, who had stopped him in his tracks, and let a teasing smile curl his lips. His tone was casual.

"Let's talk on the rooftop, Watanabe Hayabara." Akito ignored his teasing and calmly said his piece, then turned and headed for the stairs.

Watanabe raised an eyebrow, a playful smile appearing on his face, and followed him with a light step.

The evening breeze swept across the rooftop, carrying a slight chill. The two leaned side by side against the railing, gazing toward the park in the distance.

"Go on, Miyake." Watanabe was the first to break the silence. He kept his eyes on the distant greenery and spoke in a relaxed tone.

Akito took a deep breath. Gazing at the leaves swaying in the wind, he slowly began, "I didn't really have any friends in elementary or middle school. I had a pretty strong ability to observe and focus, so I took up kyudo in middle school and entered a few competitions. But my grades were nothing special, and I often got into arguments with people over trivial things, so I didn't have many friends." He paused, a hint of self-mockery in his voice. "I wasn't interested in those so-called fair-weather friends, but sometimes I still felt lonely."

The breeze ruffled his fringe, revealing eyes tinged with loneliness. He turned toward Watanabe. The coolness in his gaze had given way to a frankness he hadn't shown before. "Actually, I realized a long time ago that you're different from everyone else. You cleared my name, but you probably didn't do it just to be nice, right?"

Watanabe turned to meet his searching gaze, his smile deepening. "Oh? Then what do you think I did it for?"

"I don't think I have any outstanding abilities that would make me worth your attention, Watanabe. I want to hear the truth." Akito gazed at the sun slowly sinking in the distance. His tone was calm; the curiosity in his eyes had given way to openness.

"Really? But what if I told you I arranged all of it, including having students from Class C provoke and attack you?" Watanabe suddenly wiped the smile from his face. He looked at Akito with a teasing air, his gaze fixed on him as he waited to see how he would react to the truth.

But Akito didn't react strongly. He was only momentarily taken aback before turning to look at Watanabe. "You arranged everything? I don't really mind." He paused, looking back toward the distant greenery. "I didn't lose anything. Class C paid the price instead, and I don't see how your actions harmed me. If anything, they helped me see people for who they really are—who's sincere and who's pretending. In that respect, I really do admire you, Watanabe."

"That's an unusual way of thinking, Miyake, but it does make things easier for me." Watanabe hadn't expected that reaction. He was momentarily stunned, then laughed.

"Is that so?" Akito's voice was faint, and a self-mocking smile tugged at his lips. "Maybe I'm just used to being in situations like this. Rather than dwelling on why something happened, it's better to see whether the outcome benefits me."

"That's a very sophisticated way to think about it. You should consider an incident only after making sure you haven't suffered any losses." Watanabe looked at Akito's calm profile, his tone tinged with approval.

Akito silently nodded, lightly tracing the grooves in the rooftop railing with his fingertips as he agreed.

"Have you thought about what you want to do in the future, Akito Miyake?" Watanabe changed the subject and asked about Akito's uncertain plans for the future, his tone far more casual than before.

"I'd like to become a professional archer." Akito answered without hesitation, a trace of longing in his eyes. It was a dream he'd kept hidden in his heart for a long time.

"Have you looked into the costs of becoming a professional archer?" Watanabe turned to look at him, his tone serious. "If your family isn't well-off, you'll need to think it over. Before you have a steady income, maintaining your bow and paying for training can be expensive. Here's a little tip: after you graduate from this school, you can exchange your remaining personal points for yen." He sounded as if he were making idle conversation, but every word hit the mark.

"Uh..." Akito froze at that. After a short silence, he looked down at his hands and answered in a somewhat hoarse voice, "Then I'll have to earn more personal points. I won't earn any points if I stay in Class D, will I? Even though I haven't been spending recklessly, I really don't have many points left." His voice carried a hint of helplessness. The case had given him a clearer understanding of Class D's situation.

Watanabe looked at his slightly awkward expression, a meaningful smile curling his lips. "That depends on what you choose. There are plenty of chances to earn points at this school. It's up to you whether you take them."

"If I follow you, Watanabe, I'll get plenty of personal points, right?" Akito raised his head and fixed his gaze on Watanabe. There was a hint of testing in his tone, but even more, a yearning for the future.

"Points aren't easy to earn, Miyake." Watanabe lightly waggled a finger, his tone teasing. "I arranged everything, framed you, then saved you. You should have some idea of how I operate by now." He gave a sardonic smile and fixed his sharp gaze on Akito, clearly waiting for his decision.

Akito took a deep breath, his clenched fist trembling slightly. He murmured, "For the sake of my dream, I don't mind doing a few things." It sounded as if he were trying to convince himself, yet also declaring his resolve to Watanabe.

"The right choice, Akito Miyake." Watanabe suddenly burst out laughing, his laughter echoing across the empty rooftop. Then he pulled out his phone and tapped the screen a few times, transferring 200,000 personal points to Akito.

Akito almost immediately pulled out his own phone. The moment the screen lit up, he glanced at the notification, his pupils contracting slightly as he stared in surprise. A few seconds later, he collected himself and bowed solemnly to Watanabe. "Thank you very much."

"I hope you'll prove worthy of those points, Miyake." Watanabe put away his phone, his tone turning serious, his gaze appraising.

"I understand." Akito lifted his head, his gaze as firm as steel. His earlier hesitation and awkwardness had vanished, replaced by a resolve to burn his bridges and move forward.

[Only someone like him wouldn't be afraid of being betrayed. Chase your dream, Miyake.]