2.03: Like blue waters.

"HARURO CREATED YOUR TEAM?!" Franco and Tedashii asked.

"SHUT!" They went mute again. "He didn't create it…but I am a captain, thanks to him. So for me, that lesson that regardless of how good your team is…always show respect for your fellow captains."

"Wow, for someone who JUST came from gas-lighting them a few minutes ago… that's wise to say," Franco whispered.

"It's normal. At the end of the day, we are all the same: fighting to keep the city safe."

Tedashii smiled at his comment. "This went better than I expected. Guess I'm less worried about the next stop."

***

"YOUNG RED ONE OF THE ELITE!! IT IS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU!!"

They both regretted visiting the Blue Moons, who owned a whole castle as their hideout. "I understand our HQ is basic…but this is just overboard," Franco said.

"I agree."

"SO WHAT BRINGS YOU TWO TO OUR SANCTUARY?! DO YOU CARE TO ENDULGE IN COMBAT?!"

"Why are you so loud?! We are right next to you!" Tedashii complained.

"YOU SHAN'T ORDER ME IN MY OWN HOME, THAT IS-"

"That's enough, Charlotte."

"!!!"

She shrieked to Yuki's voice. "I told you, no yelling in the presence of guests…let alone another captain."

"I…I'm sorry…"

"*Sigh, it's alright. Tell the others we will have a mandatory training in a few minutes."

"…roger!" She saluted him and walked away from them.

"Sorry for that; she tends to do that all the time. Welcome to the Blue Moons."

"…" Tedashii did not understand why she was so submissive to him. "That's not a good way to talk to your captain, young man!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! I'M THE SAME AGE AS YOU!!"

"Hey! That's not a good way to speak to OUR captain, YOUNGIN!" Franco said.

"SHUT UP!!!!!!" Yuki took a breather. "Yeah, you're right. She should watch her tone next time." They did not understand why he was not reluctant to change his behavior. "That's because I am the captain of our guild."

"No wonder…I asked why she got set as a second-year class instead of ours." Franco stated. "Why are you listed as the vice-captain?"

"She begged me to be the captain due to her chivalry and love for royalty."

"… that's a dumb reason." Tedashii bloated.

"Not really, she is formidable. The only issue is her attacks are too predictable."

"Oh, her Excalibur?"

"Exactly. Everyone knows about it, and because she is so stuck up on being a knight…she only uses her Armament instead of her prowess."

Tedashii looked at her as she stared out of the corridor. "Rodgers, that's not a clan name, is it?"

"No, she is the daughter of the one-star Lieutenant, Melvis Rodgers."

"I see, so that's why she doesn't use her designated prowess?" Franco asked.

"Yeah, she watched him use it to end their clan. So being the last two had a toll on her."

"…" Tedashii frowned and walked toward her.

"H-Hey, Tedashii! You can't enter that room; it's for angels only!" Yuki tried warning him.

He kept glancing at the open door and attempted to enter with his right hand.

ZAP!!

It instantly repelled him and left a stinging sensation. "You idiot! No demons can enter the fountain room…why do you think I warned you?"

But Tedashii did not respond and turned back to the doorway. "ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?!"

"Whoa…" Franco watched as his left hand went by with ease.

"…huh.." Yuki dropped his strain and stood in shock.

"CHARLOTTE!"

She turned back in tears as Tedashii only had half his body through. "Give me your hand!"

"What?" She was confused. "What are you attempting to-"

"Just give me your hand."

She stared at him, trying to reach any further, and without further questioning, held onto it.

PULL!!

HIT!!

"HEY!"

Yuki and the other Blue Moon members surrounded Tedashii as he head-butted her. "Will you just quit it?!"

"…" She held her head while frowning.

"You're the captain; there is a reason why they all put so much trust in you! Don't let that bastard of a father determine how you should succeed…your prowess is yours; no one else can change that."

"I watched all my close friends and family fall to that filthy prowess! Why the hell would I-"

"BECAUSE THAT'S THE LAST THING YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THEM!" She stopped weeping. "I don't know what resentment you felt from that day…I can understand that, too; my grandfather died the day before we got apprehended. I always tell myself that things would have been different if I had never left the house that day. But every day I wake up, I turn to his goggles and put them on to keep his presence close."

Tedashii helped her up. "I don't care what your father did; hell, I think that SHOULD give you a reason to utilize it! Mark my words: If I have to come here every weekend to fight you to use, I will do so!"

She wiped her tears and smiled at him. "Fine! You got yourself a challenge, Red one!"

The guild and Franco smiled as they turned to the exit. "Wait! What is your name?" Charlotte asked with eagerness.

"I'm Tedashii Katsuno, and I will become a Last Hero!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------

*Cropaq; Oriane's Temple (February/23/2020) *

---

Yuro finished packing his belongings to return to Legon City.

"Honey! Make sure you have everything you need. I've got you some tacos in case you get hungry on the way," Mitsu said.

"Thanks, Mom. I will pack it with you." He took his bag and walked to the front door. "Well, this might be my last day as a guild member…sucks that this didn't last." He kept thinking back at the impossible task of their quota.

BEEP!!

"Huh?" His guild badge blinked for the first time.

"Hey guys, it's Tedashii speaking. Team meeting at the headquarters once you return!"