spot

Many moons ago, when I still dominated my line of work as the Devil of the Eastern Night, I once had an industrious coworker. He was known far and wide for his incisive way with words.

We've barely gotten started, and I've already got a bad feeling about this.

If you're gonna tell me your buddy joined the Higashinese military for some reason and couldn't fit in, well, I'm gonna be disappointed.

(Laughs)

*sigh*.

I can see right through your phony stories, but at least your heart's in the right place.

If you end up being some great hero, I'll probably lose faith in the collective sanity of mankind.

But if everybody comes to see <i>me</i> as a hero, I think I'll probably assume the species is just stupid.

At the end of the day, my family raised me on an ideal that I just can't fit.

That's why the comic ends with me getting a medal. It's the best my lousy imagination can conjure up anyway.

Even if I kept it going, once Bornu became a hero, I wouldn't know how to keep his heroics up. I can't plan it out, especially when it's an idea born out of a contradiction to begin with.

I think... I don't get it anymore... kinda...

It's okay. It'll make sense after you grow up.

But did I do something bad? Is that why you had to talk about stuff you don't want to talk about?

No way.

Huh?

Actually, it's all thanks to you, Popukar...

(Scratches head)

(Looks around)

(Clears throat awkwardly)

Spot, are you sick?

He's certainly not sick.

But Spot looks like he's not feeling well...

Words he hasn't spoken in his entire life are brewing in his mind right now. They're words so corny—

—Are you sure about that, Midnight?

—No, words of admiration. They are embarrassing to say to someone for the first time, you see.

Even I, cunning though I am, found myself terribly flustered when I hosted my first customer.

I'm right, aren't I, Spot?

What do you say to a little one-on-one sparring tomorrow?

Haha, it'd be my pleasure.

Okay, let me finish what I was about to say—

—It's all thanks to Popukar that I realized...

(Quietly) ...It might just be easier to tell the people I trust most about my ridiculous 'heroics' than keeping them a secret.

I see. So Spot is saying we're the ones he trusts the most.

Spot, if you want to sock him, I'm willing to look the other way.

Orchid—

Whatever.

Him spelling it out is as stomach-churning as ever, but seeing as he's not wrong... Whatever.

That's more like it.

Alright, I propose a toast to Spot for the story he told us today. Na zdrowie!

Cheers!

Alright, enough about my fake hero story—

But you <i>are</i> a hero!

Huh?

You blocked Instructor Dobermann for me and protected everyone. You're why we're having this party now. You're a hero!

I'm going to hold a medal ceremony for you!

What?!

We're all gonna be at the ceremony. Me, Orchid, Catapult, Midnight...

Hmm... That's not enough!

Let me think—Um, Bubble!

Say, Popukar?

And Shamare, Suzuran...

Orchid, Catapult, help me out here. I've got a feeling we have a tough fight on our hands.

What about me, then?

I'm thinking of telling the kitchen you're the one who talked her into this idea.

You're welcome to go back to the dorm and mourn your paycheck, though.

Who is it?

It's me. I have something for you.

Here. A 'hero certificate' from Popukar.

A what?

Didn't we spend hours talking Popukar out of the silly ceremony idea?

That we did, but she had a new idea when she got back to her room. No one could stop her this time.

In any case, here's her hand-drawn hero certificate. For you.

And you should know she asked all of us to sign it.

And you did?

Naturally.

Yours is the only signature we need now. As soon as you sign it, your appointment as Team A6's hero will be unanimous.

Spot doesn't answer him.

He holds in his hands the 'hero certificate.' On it are the most congratulatory of words that Popukar could muster, adorned with a bunch of childish-looking art and decorative borders.

Spot reads the citation text once. Then, he finds his four teammates' signatures at the bottom of the awfully heavy-feeling sheet of paper.

It warms his heart.

What's wrong? Do you need me to lend you an exquisite fountain pen to add the appropriate gravitas to your outstanding signature?

No thanks.

Spot doesn't sign the certificate. Instead, he takes out an elegant photo frame and puts the 'hero certificate' inside.

Then, he puts the frame on the most conspicuous part of his nightstand.

Now that won't do, Spot. Popukar will make a huge fuss if you don't sign it.

You aren't worried about Popukar. You're just worried Orchid will come complaining if Popukar makes a fuss about it.

Excellent insight!

I don't need your accolades. I'm not signing this.

This is who I am, this is the life for me. I'm no hero.

What? Not gonna say anything?

I'm simply overwhelmed that I finally managed to melt that ice-cold heart of yours with my earnest feelings—

Midnight, I've had a sudden change of heart. Maybe it's not so hard to be a hero.

Oh?

The next time I go on a mission with you, I'll make sure there's a bad-tempered girl there for you to flirt with.

You'll get your ass whooped so bad, you'll end up in Medical for weeks. Then, I'll really be A6's hero.

The two share a laugh.