Compatibility Test

"Can I ask why?"

He didn't use his previous answer, which he thought was in his head. Instead, he asked her why she invited him to become her partner. "While I don't want to say this, we hardly give a good impression to each other. I even thought that you might hate me."

"I-I don't hate you!" Julis quickly answered with a flustered expression. "And... I-I know that you're not a bad guy as I have thought before, and because of that, I want you to become my partner in the Festa."

"Thank you, but that's not the real reason why you want to invite me to become your partner, right? Tell me the truth, and I will make a decision after hearing all of that."

Sorry, he was a bad guy, but it didn't matter since he knew that this girl came to him because she needed his strength. In other words, she wanted to use him, yet he was also going to use her, so it was all good, right?

Julis hesitated before she looked at him straight. This time, she didn't show timidity. Instead, what was shown to her eyes was determination, showing the significance of her wish.

"It's going to be a long story."

"I don't mind listening, but don't you mind skipping the class?"

"...you really act like you own this school." Julis was speechless at someone who openly invited her to skip the class.

"Or, is the princess too afraid to become a delinquent?" He asked with a teasing smile.

"Hmph! Of course not." She acted haughty, but she laughed at his teasing.

"That's good. If the teacher asked me why I skipped the class, then I could put all the blame on you." He sighed in relief.

"...." Julis.

"So, when did you start your story? My ears are ready."

"...you know, what? You are so much different when you are at battle." Julis was speechless since she didn't expect that he was the type who loved to joke around.

"Isn't it normal we don't know each other, after all? Before, I thought that you were just a stuck-up and haughty princess."

"....." Julis.

"But now, I see that you have a cute side on you."

"Sh-Shut up!" Julis couldn't handle it anymore since she was so embarrassed! Still, she wondered whether she activated her flame ability subconsciously since she felt that her body was hot. "No-Now, will you listen to me?"

"Sure."

Then, after calming down, Julis started her story. She told him how she had been a tomboy during her childhood.

"I can see that."

"..do you want to listen to my story?"

He could see veins bulging on her forehead, which made him smile. "Please continue."

"..."

Julis had to say this smile was kind of unfair since it was like kryptonite, draining all of her power as if she wanted to hide something, which made her embarrassed; she quickly continued with her story.

She told him how she often sneaked out of the palace.

"It's too stifling, I guess. My family has royal blood but not a direct line of descent. When the monarchy was established, there were very few bloodlines left, and our family was chosen for the throne." Her needle never paused as she went on. "But one day, I went farther than usual, and I got lost. I wandered for some time and eventually ended up in a bad part of town. Liesetalnia is a relatively safe country, but you can imagine what might happen to an affluent-looking child drifting herself in a place like that."

"You don't have a guard?"

"No, I sneaked out after all."

"How was your strength back then?"

"I was weak. My ability was just enough to make a little flame like a lighter. Not very useful. And even if I was a little stronger, I still would have been helpless since I never fought before. A mean bunch spotted me and herded me into an alley. I couldn't do anything—I was just crying. Then, just in time, they came and saved me. Can you imagine how I felt? Those girls were heroes to me." Her eyes shone in excitement, showing admiration toward her heroes.

"After I made my way back to the place, I found out that they lived in an orphanage in the slums. And I would keep sneaking out of the palace to follow them around. They saw me as a nuisance at first, but I was so stubborn that somehow we ended up becoming friends." Now her voice was shaded with fond reminisce.

"Did those girls know you were princes?"

"No, I hid it from them at that time, but the nuns must have known."

"What about your family?"

"Everyone around me tried like mad to stop me, but by that time, my father and mother had already passed away, and I didn't care what the others said."

"Now that you mention it, the king of your country is your brother, right?"

"That's right." As expected of you, she had this expression on her face. After she got to know him, she tried to get all the information about him, and she knew that this guy wasn't just strong, and more importantly, he was good at business. Frankly, he was the perfect husband candidate for her.

'What are you thinking, Julis!?'

She shook her head furiously with a reddened face.

"What's wrong?" He asked in confusion.

"No, no! Anyway, I was surprised when I found out their orphanage was built by a charitable foundation that my mother started. So I couldn't help but feel a connection." With that, her hands suddenly clenched hard, showing her frustration. "But that charity no longer exists. There are more orphans every year, and it's only getting harder to keep the orphanage running. That's why I came here. This time, I have to save them—I have to protect them. It's sad, but the thing that those children need the most right now is money."

"Then, you came to me and invited me as your partner."

"That's right." Julis's expression was quite awkward, but she bit the bullet. "I know that it might sound rude, but I need to win, and with you, I believe that we can win the Festa, so be my partner on the Festa, Inugamigyoubu."

"I see..." Tamazuki nodded. "I don't hate the fact that you are being frank, and I know that you need me because you want to save those children." Her reason might be selfish since she only wanted to save the children in her country, but it was okay since he was the same as her, considering he only cared about a youkai and thought of a human as nothing but a slave.

"Then..."

"But while I know that you need me, I can't make my decision so easily since I don't know much about you. Your power is okay, but whether Kirin, Claudia, or others can also be a good partner for me."

"....."

Julis couldn't say anything since she knew that he was right. He didn't need to partner up with her since he could partner up with someone else who he was more familiar with. However, if that happened, then who could help her with her wish?

"Then... then, what do you need to accept me as your partner?"

However, how could she give up so easily?

He didn't say anything and just stared at her eyes. Her eyes showed stubbornness as if telling him that she could do anything, which tempted him to say the words which he had thought previously.

"The most important thing about being a partner is compatibility. Do you think that we have good compatibility?" He didn't answer her but asked her a question.

"If we don't try, then how do we know that we don't have compatibility?" Julis refuted.

"That's true." Tamazuki nodded. "We might have a good compatibility if we try." Yet, strangely enough, his words seemed to mention something else. "Frankly, I don't have any requirements for my partner. What I want in a partner is he or she can work hard enough since my goal isn't just a champion, but complete domination." His eyes were burning with determination.

"Then, you have found the right person since that person is in front of you."

Hearing his confident words, she knew that he didn't have a doubt about his championship, but he wanted more than that, so he hoped that his partner wouldn't be a burden for him, and she was confident to become his partner.

"...you sure are so confident."

Julis rolled her eyes. "Compared to you, my confidence is nothing." When she thought about how this guy dared to challenge everyone on the Asterisk and wanted to have complete dominance on the Festa, she felt her confidence was nothing. Moreover, he dared to challenge all the students on the Jie Long and came out as champion without receiving a single injury.

"You want to win, and I want to win. Then isn't our compatibility good?"

"That's not enough."

"Then, what should I do to make you my partner?" Julis looked at him helplessly.

"Let's test our compatibility?"

"How?" She was confused.

How could one test their compatibility?

Fight?

If so, while she wasn't sure whether she could win, she was going to do her best to convince him that she was worthy to be his partner!

Yet...

"Let's go on a date."

"..."

Julis blinked her eyes, unable to comprehend his words, until she let out a surprised and shy voice.

"Eh~!"

---

By the way, if you want to support me or see 35 advanced chapters here:

https://www.patreón.com/akikan40