Chapter 161, Unknown Emotion

Zhen's question left a rather deep impression on me. It's been a week since then but I still haven't gotten it out of my mind.

"You okay, Alistar?" Alexis asks.

"I'm fine." I answered.

"You were pretty out of it in class, Arata was worried." Reinhardt said.

"Sorry. It's just... I can't get what Zhen said." I answered. "About what it means to love someone."

"Well, I can't say I haven't been thinking about it as well." Alexis answered. "Love."

"Whenever I recall what he said, I also start to wonder. Why is it that whenever I'm not able to do something for him, when I can't help him, I feel a pang in my chest?" I asked.

"I can sort of understand it." Reinhardt said. "Maybe we should ask someone about it?"

"Who exactly?" I asked and he sighed.

"Van! Licht! Zander!" Alexis called out to them who were walking down the hall.

With Van, Licht and Zander, we went to the garden to talk. I guess they would know best about this. Reinhardt explained everything to them and after that, they simply stayed quiet. It took a while before Licht answered.

"In my opinion, there's all sorts of love." He answered. "The feelings you have for Arata, they're indeed love but also another feeling."

"Another feeling?" Alexis asked.

"The Swords of the Sacred Flower are naturally drawn to the Fluer. When you first saw Arata, you felt attracted to him and couldn't let him be, correct?" Van asked and I try to think back. Back to when I first met Arata.

Back when I first met Arata, he was small, he seemed week and fragile before my eyes. Like a buttergly with glass wings, beautiful but fragile. But what was it that drew me in, made me think that I couldn't take my own eyes off of him.

"A Sword will naturally be drawn to its Fleur. That may be why you guys feel that way." Licht answered. "Also, it may be the power of the previous Swords inside you."

"Their power?" Liam who joined in asked.

"As you know, the power of the previous Braves are often culminated in their Crest. When someone inherits that Crest, they also inherit that person's power and will." Zander stated. "And so, I believe that the uneasy feeling you have inside you is the regret of the previous Braves.

"Their regret?" Will asked. "Explain."

"I think I've told you about the past life of the previous Fleurs right?" Van asked and we nodded. "Well, it's highly likely that certain emotions like the regrets of the previous Swords for being unable to protect their Fleur was passed down along with their Crest."

"So, that's what's making us feel this way?" Zhen asked.

"I think so." Licht answered.

For some reason I'm not convinced, not satisfied with their answer. I look up and stare into Licht's eyes but he averts his gaze and it lands on a flower.

"You can believe me if you want, but the only one who really knows the answer to your emotions are you yourselves." He says.

-----

"Hehehe. I can't believe that fool was so eaisly scareed into doing what we wanted." A man laughed as he held a crystal in his hand. "All I was doibg was playing some game and he easily did as I told him. But... whatever, I have what I needed."

"Boss, the Empire started raiding the base at their place." A man reported.

"Don't mind. We stall have ones in the Pricipality, Kingdom and Republic." He answered.

"That just it, the others have also been raided. At this rate they'll definitely track down everything." He answered and the man kicked him.

"Idiots! Get everything ready! We're leaving before they get here!" He shouted and kicked the man aside.

As he was doing so, a certain entity was watching him. Pierrot smiled at the thought of having a new toy at his disposal.

"Hehehe, a new pawn for my game, just wait, Le Fleur, I'll have that power for myself." He grinned.

Elsewhere, Karin was adding the finishing touches to her plot. She planned to launch an attack on the school without the knowledge of Sirius or Pierrot.

"Ahahaha! I'll definitely get him with this!!" She laughed hysterically.

Sirius on the other hand was busy dealing with the aftermath of their recent battle. Many of them have been killed, their numbers have greatly decreased and as such they need to reproduce more clones. While he was focused on such a things, many of his subordinates were busy cloning themselves.

"Tch. I can't believe we suffered such a loss." He muttered. "I'll get you for this, Le Fleur."

-----

"Hey Arata, what are you doing?" Mao called out to Arata.

"Nothing. I'm just enjoying some tea." He answered and nodding him to an open seat. He then notice the black haired girl behind him. "Who is this?"

Arata has never seen this girl on campus before, and thought whether she was a freshman or a transfer student? He judged by her expression she seems to know him and judging by Mao's action, he must need something.

"Arata... this girl is Hinako Asuna, she's a big fan of William... we were hoping you could introduce them." Mao said and suddenly a blizzard blew from behind Arata.

"What does that mean, M-A-O-kun?" Pres. Mayumi asked as she smiled coldly.

"Well... you see, she..." Mao couldn't even finish.

"Actually! I really like Akatsuki-senpai, I really do! That's why... I was hoping... maybe I could talk to him!" Hinako says suddenly.

"Well, it's kinda hard to say. Will is kinda difficult." Hiro said.

"I don't mind! I want to be close to him! Even if I can't talk to him right nowI want to at least be someone worth noticing to him!" She says.

'What were you thinking?!' Hiro asked Mao in signs.

'I had no choice, her family and mine have been close friends!' Mao answered him. 'I could only follow orders!'

"Please! What are Akatsuki-senpai's preferences when it comes to women?!" Hinako aksed Arata.

"Well... if I recall..." Arata thought for a minute before recalling. "Will like cute small type, he said he preffered those that are easy to pamper and those that like to cling."

"Anything else?" She asked.

"I think he said he preferrred those with round eyes, he said he preferred golden hair and I think he said he likes it long." Arata answered.

"Small? Round eyes? Long golden hair? Clingy but strong? Pampered but capable?" Mayumi stated and in that moment, aside from Arata and Hinako everyone has come to one conclusion.

'Arata suited Will's preferrence to a T.' Was what flashed through their heads.

Meanwhile, the young girl was very excited and she was willing to learn eveything she could to get William's attention. Arata who had no choice told her everything he knew about Will's preference.