Chapter 73: Iris and an Agreement for a Cooperative Match.
After the small argument she had with Luna, Yume looked back at Iris.
"Why were you alone with Noah?"
Iris answered honestly.
"I wanted to give him something."
The imaginary Yumes returned.
One collapsed onto the table.
’A gift!’
Another raised both hands.
’A confession!’
A third began writing a list.
’Iris Valentine to execution.’
The main Yume shook her head in desperation.
’It could be something academic.’
The tiny Yume spoke again.
’They were in an empty building.’
All of them started running in circles and Yume squeezed Noah’s arm a little tighter.
"What was it you wanted to give him?"
Iris took out the crystal brooch.
"This."
Yume recognized it as an object similar to the key and gem that had awakened her powers, so her expression changed.
"Is she a magical girl?"
"Yes."
Luna looked at Iris.
"So you already took it."
Iris nodded.
"I also transformed."
Luna showed no surprise and asked another question.
"What powers do you have?"
"From what I tested, I can create crystals."
"I see."
Luna began to analyze her with greater attention and Iris felt like she was being evaluated, which she didn’t like.
Yume remained focused on another topic, questioning Noah.
"So, you were looking for her because of this?"
"Yes..."
Noah replied.
"And you couldn’t tell me?"
"I didn’t have the chance to let you know."
"You could’ve sent me a message."
"I didn’t think of it, so I’m sorry."
Yume looked away and seemed a little calmer, but one of the imaginary Yumes kept pointing at Iris.
’That explains the brooch, but it doesn’t explain why they were playing together.’
Another nodded.
’Or how much time they spent alone during lunch.’
Yume decided to save those questions for later, while Luna turned to Noah again.
"You should’ve called us before meeting with her."
"I already explained why I didn’t."
At that answer, Luna asked a pointed question.
"Because you wanted to keep us from scaring her?"
Noah looked at Yume and Luna. Neither seemed to accept that explanation, but Iris intervened.
"He was right."
The two looked at her, and Iris felt the weight of their attention.
"What do you mean?"
Yume asked.
"If Noah had shown up with you two, I probably would’ve left."
Yume frowned.
"Why?"
"There’s too much pressure when you’re together."
"We don’t pressure anyone."
Luna said as she looked at Yume, who returned the look.
Iris observed Noah’s arm, which Yume was still holding, and then saw Luna’s cold expression.
"You’re doing it right now."
Yume slowly released Noah’s arm and Luna kept the same posture.
"We’re just asking questions."
Luna said.
"Questions with implied threats."
Iris replied.
"I didn’t threaten you."
"Not directly."
Noah intervened before the situation got worse.
"Everyone’s tired."
The three girls looked at him, so Noah corrected himself.
"I mean... we’re all tired."
Yume crossed her arms.
"I was just worried."
Luna nodded.
"Me too."
Iris stayed silent and looked at Noah, thinking that she couldn’t deny understanding part of both girls’ reactions.
’If I were dating him...’
The thought appeared without permission, so Iris felt her cheeks beginning to heat up.
’If my boyfriend disappeared with another girl and then alarms started going off, I’d be worried too.’
She observed Yume.
’Probably asking questions.’
Then she looked at Luna.
’And I wouldn’t like seeing him alone with someone who’s clearly interested in him either.’
Iris stopped.
’Wait a second, is Luna interested in Noah?’
She remembered Yume’s words and how Luna had demanded to know where Noah was.
’It seems obvious.’
That made the situation even more complicated and Iris decided to change the subject.
"I don’t need to be here anymore."
She turned toward the exit, but Noah reacted.
"Wait!"
Iris stopped.
"What?"
"We need to talk about the training you have to do with us."
"I already told you no."
"I haven’t even explained what we do."
"I don’t care, I won’t work in your group."
Yume stopped thinking about her jealousy and asked.
"Why?"
"I don’t like group activities."
"This isn’t a class activity."
Noah said.
"It’s worse."
"It could be dangerous to train alone."
"I’ll learn."
Luna spoke in a serious tone.
"Without experience, you could get hurt."
"Then I’ll be careful."
"You don’t know how much power you have."
"I’ll measure it over time."
"Magic abilities don’t always respond predictably."
"I’ll look for patterns."
Luna didn’t seem convinced.
"That won’t be enough."
Iris crossed her arms.
"I prefer to do it alone."
Noah thought of a way to convince her, but talking about safety wasn’t working and explaining the responsibility of protecting the city didn’t seem to interest her either.
Iris didn’t trust the group and hated working with other people, but then she remembered the Crystal Kingdom game.
"Do you always play alone?"
Iris looked at him.
"What?"
"In Crystal Kingdom."
"It depends."
"But the matches are five versus five."
"That doesn’t mean I trust my team."
"Without them you can’t win."
"I win a lot of times even when they’re bad."
"But you still queue for cooperative matches."
Iris frowned.
"Where are you going with this?"
Noah pointed at Yume and Luna.
"Think of the training like cooperative matches."
Iris remained silent while Yume tilted her head and Luna also seemed to analyze the phrase.
Noah continued.
"Yume has a lot of damage, but she needs help controlling her positioning and the power of her attacks."
"It hurts that you think that about your girlfriend."
Yume complained.
"No matter how much it hurts, what he said is true."
Luna replied, and Yume looked at her with annoyance.
Noah pointed at Luna.
"Luna works best in defense and control."
"Correct."
Luna said with some pride.
"And you can modify the terrain, block routes, and analyze movements."
Iris didn’t respond.
"Each of us has a role."
Noah continued.
"You don’t have to think of it as a social gathering, but as a cooperative match where we need to learn each member’s abilities."
Iris looked at Yume, then at Luna, and finally at Noah.
"Who’s in charge?"
Noah hesitated.
"We can decide that during training."
"That will cause problems."
Luna spoke.
"We can evaluate our capabilities first."
Iris observed her.
"Would you accept following instructions?"
"Only if they’re correct."
"And if you don’t agree?"
"I’ll say so without issue."
Yume raised a hand.
"I can follow instructions too."
Luna and Iris looked at her, so Yume frowned.
"What?"
Noah avoided smiling and Iris thought about the proposal for several seconds until she decided.
"One time."
Noah opened his eyes a little wider.
"What?"
"I’ll try one training session."
Yume smiled.
"Then we’re already three magical girls."
"I only said I’ll try it."
"That’s still a yes."
"It’s not permanent, so I’ll leave if I’m not convinced."
Luna spoke calmly.
"One session will be enough to evaluate your initial control."
Iris nodded.
"After that I’ll decide."
Noah felt a vibration in his pocket, so he took out his phone and saw that the Golden Clover app had opened by itself.
Several words appeared on the screen.
[IRIS VALENTINE RECRUITMENT MISSION.]
[FIRST STAGE COMPLETED.]
Noah let out a breath when he saw that, since he had completed the first part of the mission.
The goddess still hadn’t indicated what would come next, but at least Iris had agreed to train with them.
He put away his phone and Yume grabbed his arm again.
"We’ll head back together."
Luna positioned herself on the other side.
"First we need to check if you have any injuries."
"Don’t worry, I’m not hurt."
"Even if you say so, we have to check."
Iris observed both sides of Noah.
Yume was clinging to him and Luna was walking way too close.
’There’s definitely too much tension in the air.’
Iris began to walk away, but Noah called her.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"Aren’t you coming with us?"
"No, thanks."
"We can talk about the training."
"Better send me a message."
"Do you have my number?"
Iris stopped, since she didn’t, so Noah took out his phone.
"We can exchange contacts."
Yume looked at him, as did Luna, so Iris felt the pressure from both again.
’This was a bad idea.’
Still, she took out her phone.
"Only to coordinate."
"Of course."
Noah replied.
Yume watched them exchange numbers, which caused the imaginary Yumes to gather again.
One raised a sign.
’New threat confirmed.’
Another started writing.
’Now she has his number.’
A third pointed at Luna.
’And we still have the previous problem.’
The main Yume put both hands on her head.
’Why does everything get more complicated every day!?’
Meanwhile, Luna took out her own phone and Iris received a contact request, so she looked at it and was surprised.
"What’s this for?"
"Team coordination."
Luna replied, and seeing that, Yume did the same.
"Me too."
Iris looked at the two requests and then at Noah, who smiled with some awkwardness.
Iris accepted both.
’It’ll just be like a cooperative match.’
She put away her phone.
’Just one match.’
However, seeing Noah safe and knowing that he had trusted her during the attack, Iris already suspected that leaving after the first training session wouldn’t be so simple.