Author note: seems some of you don't like me adding other To Be Hero X characters. Well it is what it is all I can tell you is its still a black clover fic, still the focus of the story and you won't see them making an impact until later on, just laying some groundwork here before knights exams. Trust the process and let me cook.
Anyways enjoy the chapter.
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Kenji stretched as he yawned in his new room at the inn in Sosshi Village. The morning light filtered through the small window, casting long shadows across the simple wooden floor. Getting dressed, he began to grab his things and headed for the door.
Now outside his room, he looked to his left toward the room beside his and thought, I still sense her in there. Must still be asleep, and headed down to the street to get some breakfast.
Leaving the building, the bright morning light momentarily blinded him before his eyes adjusted. The streets of the village were packed with people—carts transporting goods, vendors cooking food, and kids running around. He smiled before continuing forward.
Walking toward a restaurant, he entered and was greeted by a young girl at the entrance.
"Welcome sir!!" she said cheerfully.
Nodding in response, he asked, "Morning. Any chance you guys can make some food to go?"
She smiled and nodded. "Of course! What can I get for you?"
"Whatever the special is here sounds good," he replied. Then, pausing, he added, "Actually, can you make that two orders?"
She nodded and asked him to have a seat while they prepared the food.
Grabbing a coffee while he waited for about 10 minutes before the food came out, and taking a bag from the same girl who greeted him paid and thanked her before leaving to head back to the inn.
On the way back, he overheard the locals talking to each other:
"Did you hear? Apparently the hunters have been seeing more and more mana beasts approaching from the forests."
"Oh no, really! That's terrible. Did they contact the Magic Knights for help?"
"I think I heard that some knights will be here within a couple of days to investigate."
"Oh, thank god. That's a relief—I'm sure they'll handle it."
Hearing this, Kenji continued walking and thought, I wonder if I'll recognize the knights coming, and entered the inn.
Walking up the stairs, he approached Yuwei's room and knocked twice.
"You awake in there?" he called softly through the door. "I brought breakfast."
There was a moment of silence before he heard shuffling from inside, followed by footsteps approaching the door.
"Just a minute," came her muffled voice.
A few moments later, the door opened to reveal Yuwei looking considerably better than she had the night before. Her white hair was slightly disheveled from sleep, but her golden eyes were alert and focused. She had managed to clean herself up and looked much more composed.
Seeing a boy with black hair and brown eyes at the front door, she will frown and ask "who are you?" taking a step back cautiously.
Kenji, hearing this, was confused for a moment then suddenly exclaimed as if remembering something, "Ah, that's right."
Snap.
Before Yuwei eyes, the boy's appearance changed to that of the well-dressed, white-haired boy from yesterday. Her eyes widened in shock.
Seeing her reaction, Kenji laughed. "I forgot about that. You must have been more out of it than I thought yesterday if you didn't recognize me, aha."
Yuwei, hearing this, looked confused and asked, "Why did you look like that just now?"
Kenji snapped again, returning to his casual appearance, and responded, "It's just a side effect from my powers. Don't really know why it happens, but it's cool and I like it, aha."
Yuwei just half-heartedly nodded and said, "Okay, I guess you do you," and stepped aside to let him in.
Walking in, he held up the bag in his hand and said, "I brought breakfast. You hungry?"
Yuwei nodded, saying, "Thanks."
They began eating their food in relative silence—neither awkward nor uncomfortable—enjoying eggs with bread. After a while, Yuwei looked up and said, "Thank you, by the way."
Kenji looked up from his food and let out a questioning, "Hmm?"
Yuwei continued, "For saving me yesterday. I'm grateful. I thought that was the end for me."
Kenji smiled and said, "No problem. Though you could have thanked me earlier instead of acting all cold yesterday," saying the last part jokingly with a laugh.
Yuwei looked at him with a straight face, not responding.
Kenji sweat a little at her stare and said, "It was a joke. Relax. Jeez, you should loosen up a little."
Yuwei sighed in response.
He then said, "So what's with that cold demeanor you always have? You some kind of noble or something?"
She looked away slightly in response, causing Kenji to do a double take. "Wait, you're really a noble? Haha, makes sense with your magic reserves and the way you dress, but I definitely wouldn't have guessed that."
She tilted her head and asked, "Why would you think that?"
He used his fork to take a bite of eggs, then pointed it at her. "Well, after your little speech yesterday, of course I would think that. Looked like you hate the upper class or something."
She nodded at that and responded with a serious tone, "Well, I'm not a noble anymore, and I don't hate them. I just think the common realm is severely mistreated and something needs to be done about it."
Kenji tilted his head and asked, "And you're the one who's gonna do something about it?"
She nodded her head, saying, "Yes."
Pondering her answer and letting silence stretch for a bit, he suddenly recalled something. "Wait, you said you're not a noble anymore. Does that mean you aren't anymore?"
She responded, "That's right."
Kenji, getting a curious glint in his eyes, said, "Ohhh, sounds like there's a good story there. Spill—what happened? Did you run away? Get disowned? Gotta be something juicy."
A flash of pain crossed her features before she quickly composed herself and said, "Tell me about yourself. I don't really know anything about you," changing the topic.
Nodding, Kenji said, "Fair, I guess we aren't close enough for you to go spilling all your secrets, aha." He continued, "Well, there's not much to tell. I was found outside of a small village called Hage and taken in by Father Orsi. Grew up in the church after that with my younger siblings. We got by well enough, never really struggled or anything. Spent most of my time training with my younger brothers or helping fight off bandits and mana beasts. Left home almost a week ago after turning fifteen and getting my grimoire, and then found some weird girl preaching in the middle of the first village I traveled to, ended up saving her, and now here we are."
She processed this for a bit, then said, "Well, that weird girl, as you called her, didn't ask for your help."
Kenji laughed, causing her to crack a smile as well, starting to get more comfortable with him.
She then asked, "So tell me about your siblings."
Kenji got a fond look and said, "Well, the oldest two besides me—how to put it—are a couple of idiots with the only thing on their minds being getting stronger and becoming the Wizard King."
This caused Yuwei to laugh for the first time, not expecting that description.
"Their names are Asta and Yuno. Asta is probably the loudest person you'll ever meet, but he's special. Even though he was born without mana, he never gives up and trains every day for his dream."
"Yuno, on the other hand, is the complete opposite—always acting cool and aloof, even though inside he's just a softie." Pausing, he chuckled and said, "But he's the same as Asta in some regard. Even though he's a prodigy, he still trains every day toward his goals."
Yuwei smiled at that, and he continued, "Nash and Recca are the next youngest, four years younger than me. Recca is a sweet girl, always trying to help out wherever she can, always worrying about us three older brothers. Nash is a good kid, but always tries to act a bit older than he is around me, Asta, and Yuno. Then finally, the two youngest—five and four years old—they're so cute, always following us around and pouting about going to lessons. They love it when I show them my magic, thinking it's the coolest thing in the world."
Yuwei smiled and said, "You're a lot more genuine when talking about them."
He laughed and said, "Well, they are family."
Seeing a flash of pain cross Yuwei face at the word "family," he abruptly changed the topic. "So what are your plans now?"
She responded, "Well, I'm not sure. I know I have to get stronger if I want to keep spreading my message. I'm not naive enough to think I won't make more enemies from what I'm doing."
Kenji nodded and said, "Well, you're not wrong about that. Hearing your speech yesterday, I'm surprised you haven't killed a few stuck-up nobles from rage already," and laughed.
She laughed and said "Anyway, my plan now is to go train for a bit to get stronger."
Kenji responded, "That's a good idea. I can help if you want. We could go to the Grand Magic Zone together—safer that way."
She pondered it for a while and said, "I wouldn't be opposed to that. It would certainly be practical, but are you sure you want to do that?"
Kenji nodded and said with a smile, "Yeah, besides, you're the first friend I've made outside the village, so it sounds like fun."
Yuwei paused at the word "friend" and then smiled.
Kenji then said "oh ya that reminds me, you haven't even told me your name yet, cant go not knowing your name now can I?"
She will reason saying "my name is Yuwei Liu"
"Well nice to meat you again Yuwei" and smile.
Kenji then said, "Oh yeah, that guy from yesterday is still unconscious in my room. You want me to grab him so you can get some answers?"
She nodded and said, "That would be great, thanks."
Kenji stood up and said, "Gimme a sec," before leaving to grab the man, now tied up on his floor. He brought him back to the room, tossing him in and saying, "I won't pry into your business. Come find me in the village when you're done," and left, closing the door behind him.