|True.|

Ludier’s shadow pointed out, and the black-haired boy agreed, seeing the strength of the resistance that Grazio put up against his revelation.

”Alright, anyway – let’s get back to the need to defend oneself, alright? Because we can agree on that at least?”

Zoemi asked out loud and the red-haired capture target closed his mouth and nodded although just a moment before he looked as if he was prepared to throw hands in defense of his belief.

”So the notion of defense coms easier for the earth and water magicians and not so much for light, wind, darkness, and fire ones. That is especially true for fire magicians for whom it’s customary to stay as far away from the enemy as possible and destroy their targets with the overwhelming firepower of their long-range, highly explosive spells. You know, fire is naturally destructive and anyone, even the fire magicians themselves, rarely associate it with protection in a ‘protect your body with it’ sense.”

Zoemi breathed out and continued as if it was nothing.

”Yes, it’s more of a -destroy them before they destroy you – kind of thing, a preemptive strike so to speak.”

Grazio nodded his head grumpily and agreed, even though he didn’t seem all that happy to do so.

”Then what is there to it? What does it have to do with our training…?”

The red-haired boy muttered, looking to the side while the aura surrounding him became more fluffy than before signaling that he began to relax.

”Oh, only that, that for you to properly activate the shield-type spell I had to make you give your best to protect yourself. And I really meant your very best, basically your all.”

Zoemi explained and smirked with amusement at the slightly confused expression that Grazio made.

”You see, initially, I thought that I would have to make some serious and hard-to-explain threats against your family. Or maybe even threaten to kill you and even make a convincing attempt of going with that plan just to accomplish that…. but instead, you freaked out so cutely with just me suggesting that you will lose your innocence…! Pffffft…! Ahaha! Oh, Grazio, you are so cute, you pure boy!”

”!!!!”

Unable to contain himself any longer, Zoemi burst with a peal of hearty laughter, making Grazio’s face burn from embarrassment, he was so moved that he even recalled his robe-like fire armor.

”And wh-what’s so wrong with that?! I’m keeping myself for my future partner!”

|Whoa, Ludier, he sounds similar to you, don’t you think?|

The red-haired boy turned away and crossed his arms defensively while making a pouty expression and grumbling – which in turn made Zoemi stop cackling like mad and looked at him with a serious gaze while calling out to the unique shadow of the ice magician.

”Wh-what now?”

Grazio crossed his arms protectively and grumbled grumpily because of Zoemi’s reaction.

No…? I only said about staying faithful to your chosen partner. The method of finding the one – or many – depends on the individual and I do not judge.

|Ho-ho!|

Ludier’s unique shadow shrugged the question off before going back to laying low, making Zoemi gaps internally.

Still, the red-haired boy in front of him required an answer – or a follow-up.

”You are keeping yourself pure, you say… does that mean you haven’t even kissed anyone yet?”

After a little bit more hesitation, the black-haired boy asked in surprise.

After all, there could be a lot of things he could say about Grazio, he had a lot of female friends back at the Aspaekony Academy.

Like… A lot, a lot – far more than male ones.

Of which at least half had wanted to take the relationship a step further – or a few steps – some even being rather obvious about it too.

As for the males…

|…huh…?|

…actually, after a bit more thinking, Zoemi could not recall ever seeing Grazio interact with other boys outside of the official tasks and classes.

Not even during the training…

Did he even have any male friends, to begin with…?

”O-of course I didn’t kiss anyone! Like I said! I’m keeping myself from my future partner!”

Grazio furrowed his brows and straight-up turned his back on Zoemi who was on the verge of making a certain discovery…

”Shesh, man -isn’t that bad though? It sure does sound bad! What if you will be terrible at kissing and your future lover will lose think you aren’t serious – or worse – not worth their time?”

Zoemi asked in a worried voice, half-serious, and half still making fun of the red-haired boy as the element of his petty revenge.

He had to use a tremendous amount of his strong will to not shake from laughter while making a mental note to apologize to Ehmi the next time he sees her.

After all, teasing Grazio turned out to be just as fun as the crimson-haired girl had been suggesting all along.

”I-I don’t think that will be a problem! There will be nothing wrong with us, my future partner and I, I mean, to learn about each other and love at our own peace!”

|Awwwwwwww…! That’s so sweet…! Oh man, I messed up so much by not playing through his route…! His just as pure and cute as Reo!|

Grazio declared with a serious expression while raising his head proudly, making Zoemi falter as he barely held himself back from awwing at the heartwarming take on love and relationship.

…? You are playing him alright right now, I can tell you this…

Still, the black-haired boy’s good humor was lost on the unique shadow lurking within his brain.

Yet, instead of shushing Ludier’s shadow as he would do almost always, Zoemi circled the grumpy Grazio and leaned to the side to look up at his face.

”What are you doing? why are you approaching me like that…?”

Grazio asked as instead of stopping at a respectable distance, the black-haired boy was coming closer and closer, and when the red-haired boy realized it and wanted to back off, it was already too late.

”GHAAH?!”

*thump*

Grazio was tackled to the ground with Zoemi sitting on top of him with a very sinister grin and an even more sinister look in his sparkling black eyes.