Thirty-nine

Lucy, deeply moved by her daughter's display of compassion, couldn't help but smile warmly. Her heart swelled with a mix of emotions as she looked at Mia, the little girl who had endured so much cruelty and yearned for a way out. With tender sincerity, Lucy responded, "I don't mind at all. But would you like to come with us, my dear?"

Mia, her eyes shining with hope, eagerly nodded, her desire to escape the harsh realities she had faced overpowering any reservations. In a hushed voice, she confided, "Yes, I'll come with you. I don't want to stay here with them anyway. They're all so mean to me. I'd rather go with you and the pedofile, even if it means leaving this place behind."

Determined to make Mia's wish come true, Lucy and Eloise, her trusted companion, embarked on the necessary steps to make the adoption official. They approached the orphanage's Madam, a kind-hearted woman who understood the significance of finding a loving family for each child under her care. Sensing the genuine love radiating from Lucy and Eloise, the Madam diligently prepared the adoption documents for Lucy to sign, ensuring that the legalities were in order.

With the paperwork completed and the formalities fulfilled, the Madam addressed Mia with a mixture of joy and bittersweet sentiment. "Mia, from this day forward, I am delighted to introduce you to your new family. You will now be a part of Lucy's loving embrace, where you will find warmth, support, and a home."

Mia's response was simple yet resolute, her voice filled with a newfound hope. "Yes."

Lucy reached out, her touch gentle and reassuring, as she grasped Mia's small hand in hers. With heartfelt tenderness, she whispered, "Now, my dear, it's time to go home." In that moment, Mia felt a surge of relief, knowing that the days of loneliness and mistreatment were behind her and a brighter future awaited her in the embrace of her new family.

Maria's Point of View:

Naoka, Jade, Hiro, and I, fellow members of the council, gathered as the council meeting was about to commence. It was my responsibility as the council leader to address the group and prepare them for the discussions ahead. "Akira lost to Eloise, so technically, Akira is not supposed to be in the council anymore. But we'll deal with it when Eloise comes back," I informed them, setting the context for the meeting.

Jade, always curious, inquired about the main topic of the meeting. "What are we going to talk about today?" she asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Shifting my focus to the upcoming inter-school tournament, I responded, "The main topic of this meeting will be the upcoming tournament against other high schools. We need to decide how to choose who will participate in the tournament. We have a reputation to uphold, so we must make strategic decisions."

Hiro, ever the problem solver, chimed in with a suggestion. "I propose that before the tournament starts, we conduct a selection process. As council members, we should participate by default. After all, we are supposed to represent the best interests of the student body."

Yugo, always the voice of reason, interjected, reminding us of the team-oriented nature of the tournament. "Let's not forget that the inter-school tournament is primarily a team competition. We'll need to form three teams of four. Considering there are only ten council members, we'll need two more members, and we'll have to decide on the team compositions carefully."

I acknowledged Yugo's valid point, realizing that the success of our teams would depend on not only individual skills but also team dynamics. "You're not wrong, Yugo. We'll have to carefully consider the team compositions and ensure that we have a balance of strengths and skills. However, we still have some time to finalize the teams, so we can discuss it further in the next meeting."

Just as we were wrapping up the discussion, Shun, the fourth member of the council, raised a pertinent question. "By the way, who will take care of the new girl? She's arriving tomorrow, and we need to find someone to look after her. So, who wants to take on that responsibility?"

I watched as all council members, excluding Naoka, quickly disassociated themselves from the task. Naoka, left with no choice, voiced her objection. "What? But I didn't even get a chance to say anything."

Understanding that someone needed to step up and take responsibility, I made a decisive call. "The game is the game, Naoka. Now, it's your responsibility to take care of the new girl starting tomorrow. I trust you'll handle it well."

The Next Morning in the Yard - Naoka's Point of View:

I woke up with a sense of exhaustion already weighing me down. "It's tiring to have to get up, and on top of that, I have to deal with the new girl. Even better," I muttered to myself, dreading the day ahead. Nevertheless, I dragged myself out of bed and made my way to the yard.

As I entered the yard, my attention was immediately captivated by the sight of a young girl standing there. She seemed out of place, her appearance different from the rest of the students. I approached her, curious to learn more.

Observing her features, I noted, "(Wow, she's quite beautiful.) She's shorter than me, with light brown hair and bewitching green eyes. I think she's a half-elf." The girl, seemingly confident, addressed me. "Hello, it's you, Hakagame."

I nodded in acknowledgment, attempting to establish a more familiar tone. "Yes, but you can call me by my first name. And you are...?"

The girl introduced herself as Amber, her voice carrying a sense of curiosity. I greeted her politely, "Nice to meet you, Amber. Is today your first day at our school?"

Amber's Point of View:

As Naoka spoke to me, I observed her physical attributes, taking in her appearance. "(Naoka, so she's a bit taller than me. She has blue hair that's not well combed, and she also has brown eyes with dark circles. She looks tired.)" I couldn't help but notice the weariness in her eyes.

In response to Naoka's question, I confirmed, "Yes, today is my first day. I just transferred here."

" Your mother is an elf right ?" Asked Naoka.

" Yeah she was." I responded coldly.

Naoka's next question struck a sensitive chord, but I decided to be honest with her. "Why was she...?"

Before I could finish my sentence, I interrupted, conveying my complex feelings. "I don't really consider her my mother. She abandoned me." The words hung heavy in the air as I revealed a part of my past, a part that still stung.

Naoka absorbed the unexpected revelation, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Oh, I didn't expect that. I'm sorry to hear that. But don't worry, I'll show you around, and then you can go to class. Hopefully, you'll find our school welcoming."

Naoka took on the responsibility of guiding me through the various places in the school, showcasing the gym, training ground, and classrooms. As we reached the classroom, Alana, intercepted our progress, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. "Wait a moment..."