The party caused the Transcendent Academy to be a place for people to gather. Although some guests had an inkling about the cause of the party but only a few could know the true cause.
“You seem to be enjoying your discussion with my friend.” Long Wu said to Tatsumi after their short conversation.
“I gained so much insight just by listening to him. How could I not be excited!?” Tatsumi said with a bit of excitement.
“Speaking of insight, there was a moment where I stalled and the progress slowed down. But after the end of the Star Battle, numerous insights filled my head and now, I can probably release Body Refining Technique X version 1.5 after a few days of adjustment.” Maito Dai said while remembering the sensation, his mind became clearer and he could glean more from his extensive research on the human body.
“Actually, it was thanks to this friend of mine that my strength soars to a new height.” Long Wu interjected since it was a suitable time to explain the relationship between him and Maito Dai.
“Is that so? Wow, thank you for helping my teacher!” Tatsumi grabbed Maito Dai’s hand and shook it. Tatsumi thought that it was due to Maito Dai’s relentless research and progress that his teacher could handle the threat he had faced during the Star Battle.
“No, you also helped the transcendents increase their strength. Thousands of them are singing praise to you even now, you know.” Tatsumi continued to say things that made Maito Dai slightly blush with the compliments.
“As a transcendent scientist, it is my duty to learn and research the human body. The Eight Inner Hidden Gates is my proudest discovery and I hope that the Transcendent Academy will treat this knowledge well.” Maito Dai said what was on his mind.
“Come here!” someone shouted loud enough for them to hear. Tatsumi, Long Wu, Maito Dai and the two shadow guards turned their heads to see that it came from the headmaster, whose long red hair swayed without wind.
“Ah, I became too excited and forgot that the headmaster is present. Come with me!” Tatsumi glanced at the five of them and guided them to the center of the place.
“Headmaster! What can I do for you?” Long Wu moved to the front and realized that the attention of the officers around him focused solely on Kushina.
“Ah, you’re here.” Kushina approached Long Wu with a friendly smile and a bit excited.
“You just need to explain to them about something, that’s all.” She said while looking Long Wu in the eyes.
Long Wu felt that something was wrong but he could not pinpoint exactly what. He only knew that the headmaster was favorable toward him.
‘So what will come out of this?’ Long Wu thought while letting the red-haired headmaster bring him to the center.
While that happened, Tatsumi was dragged to the side by Ame.
“Do you know that the headmaster is courting someone?” Ame asked after Tatsumi stabilized himself. He frowned when he heard what Ame had said but he felt that it was something that he should have already figured out.
“Wait a second! Do you mean that the headmaster is actually trying to show everyone that she is actively courting someone and that someone is…” Tatsumi did not finish his sentence since Kushina announced something out loud.
“Now, do you understand what happened?” Kushina pulled Long Wu’s hand and stopped the moment they became a center of attention.
“Wait! Are you actually trying to ask me out?” Long Wu realized what was going on the moment he saw the fervent expression on Kushina’s face.
‘But I only interacted with you a few times. How could this be possible?’ Long Wu was protesting in his thoughts but it was all for naught.
“So, is he the one?” One officer looked at Long Wu with a grim expression. Then it was followed by another, as almost every officer there looked at Long Wu like he had stolen something important.
“Of course! He is strong, which suits my taste, and also holds responsibility well as a part of the Cerulean Defense Force. That’s enough for me to be attracted to him, don’t you think?” Kushina smiled slyly as she held Long Wu’s arm closely.
Long Wu felt that this intimate action was a bit excessive but he held in. He needed to know if Kushina truly felt that way toward him to better assess himself for the foreseeable future.
“Are you really serious about this? About the two of us?” Long Wu asked with exasperation.
Kushina looked at him with a teasing but serious glare, “I'm never kidding in this matter. You know as well that I am either looking for a suitor or none at all.”
“But this is too sudden. Please, understand that I am prone to shock.” Long Wu explained his shocked expression. He was truly not prepared for being courted by someone.
‘Well, she is powerful and dignified too. But why choose me of all the people she had contact with?’ Long Wu asked himself this question.
He felt that he was just someone who survived for the sake of revenge. After all of that was peeled, he was nothing more than any other transcendents in existence. So he had assumed that he would live the rest of his life without a maiden.
“Why do you think I am doing all of this?” she said in a question, holding something that she often did not say out loud.
“Because…oh, I get it!” Long Wu raised his index finger because he finally knew the reason. Well, it was actually quite reasonable for Kushina to do that now of all times.
The others looked at Long Wu but could not quite pinpoint the reason. Long Wu then explained.
“Because this is the farewell party for not only the two renowned figures, Tatsumi and Ame but also for those who followed them, I am included. The headmaster knew that it would be a long time for us, at least to come back, so she might as well get a shot at it.”
Then everyone remembered that was indeed the case.
“So she decided to be more proactive and this is the result. Tell me that I am right.” Long Wu finished his sentence and threw the matter back to Kushina.
“You guessed it right. Should I do something for that?”
“No need!” Long Wu cut before Kushina said something that could cause embarrassment to him.
“Ah!” Many officers saw this and felt that they were being given something so sour that their expressions warped into one of great reluctance.
Tatsumi also saw that and decided to clap his hands to congratulate them.
‘To think that this could happen before leaving, should I ask Teacher about how he feels?’ Tatsumi thought to himself.
Ame, on the other hand, contemplated the event to herself. She pursed her lips as she felt that she should do something if she did not want to lose someone important.
“In other words, do you admit that he is the one you take a liking to?” Yamaguchi spoke and asked for confirmation from everyone.
Long Wu’s eyes darted between Kushina and the crowd around him. He had never gotten into a romantic relationship in his life so he did not know what to do. Even if he could react quickly to the attack from his enemies, he still could not find a suitable way to handle this.
But one thing he did not forget was the words of someone who had departed this living world and his guide.
‘If in any case you find someone who could share your joy and sadness, that is when you know that you have found the other half of your life. Just like me and her, you will not get it now but you will eventually get it. At least that was what I believe.’
“Yes.” Kushina got closer to Long Wu, standing by his side and smiled at Yamaguchi.
Long Wu also found out that the students who he had previously met in another hall came to his current place and were surprised to hear that their headmaster was courting someone.
“I…don’t know how to properly react to that.” Long Wu started his words with his honest thoughts. He continued, “But I can see that you are serious about me. So tell me, why are you attracted to me?”
Long Wu asked since he knew that the reason she had given was not entirely the truth. It was at most a truthful statement, at best. He also looked at her squarely in the eyes and also looked at her facial expression. He wanted to know more about her and her decision.
“Fine. Since it is you who asked, I can tell you.” Kushina slowly said. She knew she had to tell him how she felt, and now was the moment when she could put things for him to know.
“Did you remember when you got back to the academy before?” Kushina started.
Long Wu tried to remember and he could recall things from that moment.
“You helped me with something I struggled with for most of my life.” Kushina closed her eyes as if remembering and savoring it in memory. She continued, “You indirectly helped me regain my better self.”
“Wait, do you mean that moment when you were contemplating about the nature of the undead element?” Long Wu remembered that he walked around the academy for a refresher and discovered the red-haired headmaster was dangerously circulating her transcendent energy, at least from his perspective.
“I remember that I am giving you the alternative energy circulation pathway to help with your condition. Was the condition that bad?” Long Wu said with concern. He did not expect that his intervention would be the vital turning point in someone’s life.
“You gave the alternative method without needing anything else. I know that the method was your personal research into transcendent energy from the extensive explanation and the details. Furthermore, you trusted me with that.” Kushina said this with a conflicted expression.
“That was because I trusted that you would wield the knowledge for the good of people. Although it is not in my usual practice to do that but someone urged me to do that before, so I might as well entrust some of my knowledge to someone who truly needed that. It is my way of thanking the world and spreading my knowledge.” Long Wu said without even a shred of regret about doing that.
He looked a bit proud when he told her that. For him, it was not kindness but an investment in her as a person and in her character.
“That’s so cool!” The students who inevitably came closer could hear and react.
“I wish to become like that too!”
“Giving someone your years of research is not something I can do. He is a great person to do that!”
As for the officers, they shared the same sentiment as the students. They could not give someone their knowledge of a transcendent-related topic easily. The fact that Long Wu had done exactly that made them inferior both in attitude and magnanimity.
Tatsumi clapped his hands harder and this time, the others followed. Even Ame also followed like it was giving the two her blessing.
‘I can finally see that brat finally hook up a nice girl.’ A voice appeared in Tatsumi’s mind and even Kudungga and Goto did not react.
‘As expected, it’s you who has taught my teacher some things.’ Tatsumi said in his mind.
‘Yes. It has been a long time, but it is a fulfilling time. I guess this is a good result.’ The voice said before it retreated, covered by the voices of familiar figures.
‘That man has it rough, being connected to the Snatcher.’ Kudungga commented.
‘He was involved too deeply to get out. The moment he realized, it was too far too late. That was why he entrusted the future of the transcendent into Long Wu.’ Goto added.
“Do you know that giving someone their precious research about transcendent-related can only be done when that person is close?” Kushina said once more after the applause.
“I don’t know such a thing!” Long Wu denied that he had the knowledge. To him, if it meant that he could help the worthy person, he would do it without hesitation.
“Your determination to help people who truly need a bit of guidance is why I am captivated. You don’t know but the thing you gave me is the solution to my problem. That is why…”
Long Wu could only nod. He felt a bit of exasperation but overall it was a good experience.
“Alright. I will simply say that from now on, the two of us will be in a relationship. How about that?” Long Wu said after gathering his thoughts and courage.
“Thank you!” Kushina was happy to hear that.
Then the party continued, with the officers saying that Long Wu should seize the opportunity and do his best, while Tatsumi returned to the students’ side to explain what was going on in detail.
Ame was lost in thought but her gaze was still fixed on Tatsumi.
‘He looks like he is enjoying the transcendent-related thing. Perhaps this is what he is truly capable of. On the other hand, I am faring slightly worse, but it is still manageable. But why do I feel like I want to get more from him? Wanting something more, is it bad?’ she thought as she stood still.
“What are you thinking?” Tatsumi had finally given some lasting instructions to the students and came to Ame, realizing that she was spacing out. He even waved his hand in front of her but she did not respond. That was why he asked.
“Uhm, sorry.” Ame said softly.
“If you have something to say, just say it.” Tatsumi had known her for a long time since the Star Battle commenced, so he knew what she thought was important.
“I was just thinking about the thing between the headmaster and your teacher. That made me think about the two of us.” Ame replied while looking straight into Tatsumi’s eyes.
Tatsumi knew that this matter was serious enough but he felt that something more was withheld from Ame. His intuition felt that something was heavily related to it so he needed to be careful.
“What about it?” Tatsumi wondered and tried to get more information.
“Well…I feel like we are getting close. Do you not mind?” Ame was hesitating and Tatsumi could see that.
“At first, I thought that your presence would bring variables to my peaceful life.” Tatsumi knew that he needed to explain his honest thoughts because it would be really important. He continued, “But you helped me in various ways I cannot imagine. Maybe it was part of the duty you were given, or maybe it was conditional kindness but whatever the case, you helped me.
“So I slowly treat you better. Slowly but surely, I started to see you as more than just a person who filled the count of the population; instead, I see you as someone with her own life, her own drive. It changes how I perceive you and I might be presumptuous but you also saw me as more than just an important person to the civilization. For that, I truly thank you.”
Tatsumi let out a large amount of what he thought and decided to go with it. He had to fish out honesty from Ame by being honest himself.
Ame was surprised to hear such things from Tatsumi.
“Why are you changing your impression of me, when I just may use you? After all, I was initially just a stranger to you.”
“Well, your feelings are changing too. What, are you going to deny it?” Tatsumi finally found an issue and decided to dive into the unknown hole.
Ame looked at Tatsumi with her serious look before she said something.
“No, I cannot deny that. After all, you cared more for the people you could reach. You are also willing to teach others what you know. That is why I…”
Tatsumi’s eyes widened. He was truly surprised to hear that. After all, he already had someone in his heart. Someone that he would cherish and care far more than his family.
To hear that another person had not only an interest but also liked him was like a hammer that pounded on his chest. His head was swarmed with the thought that he was not worthy of that.
‘I…don’t know how to tread this!’ Tatsumi thought that despite reading the manga which had a romance subplot. It could only be used as a reference and not an absolute way of getting someone, after all.
‘Well, we know this for some time.’ Kudungga commented.
‘You need to man up and take responsibility. In my time, polygamy was common, heck, even they had multiple wives!’ Goto shared his opinion.
‘But that was then. This time, it is an unspoken rule that you can only have one girlfriend or wife. How can I choose between the two!?’ Tatsumi protested in his mind.
‘How about taking them both? You should be honest with yourself and take responsibility. As long as you can even at least maintain the relationship, I believe that you can handle it well. I believe in you.’ Kudungga suggested.
“I understand.” Tatsumi said after regulating his thoughts. He continued, “But I will need some time to think. Can you give me that?”
Ame nodded in understanding. To suddenly receive a confession was a big thing in one’s life so she decided to let Tatsumi have his time to sort things out.
“For now, let’s enjoy the party.” Tatsumi fixed his expression and smiled at Ame and grabbed her hand. This time, he would be the one who led her to the entire venue.
The officers enjoyed the party since Yamaguchi handled it well. The teachers were also captivated by the dishes available, while the students enjoyed the drinks that were rare for them.
Everyone started to connect or strengthen that connection at the party. Then Tatsumi and Ame became the center of attention since it was them who would leave.
Everyone felt reluctant to let go of the two talented, budding transcendents but they knew that it was inevitable so they sent them off with a smile.
The party was successful and everyone got to enjoy their time there.