Taoreta's POV

  "Right. So, Taoreta's supernatural counterpart. It's actually ironic now that I think about it." Mato mentioned with his eyes closed.

  "What do you mean?" I tilted my head.

  "I mean that it's reted to Kibishi," Mato expined.

  "How so?" Yosei stroked her long, yellow hair.

  "Well, she's the supernatural of the angel!" Mato said cheerfully.

  "...?!" Yosei, Kuma, and Kujira became stunned by that news.

  An angel?

  Yosei then stood up. "Eehhh??!!! I guessed it, right?!"

  "What's with that reaction there..." Kujira whispered with a hint of a blush.

  "That's true destiny! Destiny, I tell you!" Kuma seemed to be crying with tears of joy.

  "U-um. So anyway—"

  "Tao! Aren't you a happy gal! You're matching with your best friend!" Kuma grabbed my hands as she interrupted Mato. Mato was now sweating intensely as he scratched the back of his head.

  "Um, hello?" Mato whispered.

  "Ahem! You girls can—"

  "How is that possible?! A match made in heaven?! Are the stars in line for the two of you?! Honestly, I'm jealous!" Yosei admitted with a huge blush appearing while she lowered her brows mid-way and finally made a puffy face.

  Oh. And she interrupted The Founder as well, but... who cared about that?

  Yup.

  I could be petty if you messed with my best friend. I imagined that Kishi was the same way as well.

  "Even I wish to have such an ability! Ooh! That's great news!" Kuma pumped both fists into the air.

  "...." The Founder and Mato looked dumbfounded.

  They seem to be in shock that the girls are super excited about my supernatural.

  "Um... what's so great about being an angel?" I questioned them. Yosei, Kuma, and Kujira raised their brows and then smiled at me.

  "Haven't you heard about angel blessings? You're really lucky to have such a type of supernatural, Tao." Kuma raised her index finger and wagged it with a wink.

  "Sure, there are bad angels, but based on Mato's expression, you're the light type! The ones that give holy blessings!" Yosei closed her eyes and puffed her chest.

  "Indeed. Having such a blessing can go a long way. Especially in these dark times!" Kujira sounded excited. I had never seen her smile that widely before. This supernatural must be something.

  "Hold on, now. Kujira, even I'm shocked that you're not thinking logically as usual." The Founder sliced through the conversation like a butter knife.

  "Huh?" Kujira turned to The Founder with narrow eyes. She looked both angry and disgusted by his comment.

  "As much as it pains me to say this, but... The Founder's right. While the data says that Tao's ability is a light type, she does have many traits of a neutral or even an evil angel." Mato closed his eyes. He then folded his arms with a serious look. "Listen, as the adults here, we must remind you that—"

  "Yeah, yeah. Anyways! Congratutions, Tao!" Yosei started cpping while beaming away.

  "Congratutions!" Kuma and Kujira joined in.

  Not to mention, The Founder and Mato deeply sighed and shook their heads. This was followed by them saying: "I give up..."

  It seemed like they would let the girls get it out of their system before moving on to another topic.

  Huh.

  Looking at the girls then, it seemed like they didn't care about the small stuff.

  For example, The Founder and Mato had made some good points. I wasn't a "good" person per se. Like Kishi, I was kinda selfish if it came to him or the world.

  If anything, I would rather watch the world burn.

  "W-wait a moment. I'm confused here." I raised both of my hands up.

  "What is there to be confused about?" Kuma tilted her head, admittedly, in a cute way.

  Her beauty was something else. As a fellow woman, I was gd yet a bit jealous of that. But I shouldn't have thought that way and it wasn't the time for such silliness. I really needed to get my priorities straight, Taoreta. What would Kishi think if I ended up jealous about someone's outer beauty?

  He would be cautious, that's what.

  Ah! Shoot, that wasn't what I wanted to think about.

  "Tao?" Kuma called out to me.

  "A-ah! Sorry, I guess I spaced out..." I admitted.

  "...Is this the thing now? You, Yosei, and Kibi are doing this and I'm curious if this is the thing right now."

  "No no. I don't do this so often."

  At least, I hoped not...

  "Anyway, about what I mean from before." I changed the subject.

  "Ah, okay then." Kuma nodded in agreement.

  "So what The Founder and Mato mentioned from before. About me having these traits of all types of angels. Logically speaking, what they say can be true. After all, you guys have all the traits of certain supernaturals. It's not too far-fetched to say the same with me. And besides..."

  Besides, I didn't want to be the exception when Kishi got treated as some kind of threat.

  So if I ended up being evil then so be it. I just didn't want to be the only one with benefits out of the two of us. Kishi and I, I mean.

  "Ah, well, it's simple! I trust you! Which goes for Kibi so I don't have a doubt in my mind that you're a good person!" Kuma grinned at me childishly.

  "Yup!" Yosei nodded.

  "I hate to admit it, but Kuma is right on this one." Kujira joked with her right eye closed.

  "Hey!" Kuma pouted.

  "Well, that's our answer. You can rex now, Tao. We have enough trust that you'll be good in the end of all of this." Yosei reassured me.

  I thought about it for a moment.

  A good person, huh?

  Although part of me did doubt Kujira's words, another part didn't. Maybe... maybe I could be a good person.

  I didn't believe in myself right then, but I was sure that I would when the time came.

  With a silent nod, I smiled at the girls.

  "Thank you..." I spoke softly but loud enough for them to hear.

  "No problem!" Yosei, Kuma, and Kujira spoke at the same time.

  Before I could open my mouth once again, I heard The Founder cough so loudly that it was almost as if he had caught a strong cold or something along those lines.

  "Alright! That's enough of this foolishness. We NEED to get to the MOST important part of the meeting." The Founder stared daggers at the supernaturals, including me. It seemed like he didn't take kindly to the fact that we hadn't let the meeting finish as normal.

  "Good grief. You young people—"

  "Okay, okay. Let's calm down there, Founder. We have enough problems, as it is. Plus, you have to think in their shoes. Their friend is in bed for who knows how long. Talking among themselves is something they did to distract themselves from that deadly situation." Mato expined.

  "Hmph." The Founder simply looked away and closed his eyes. "What a waste of my time..." he muttered.

  "Anyway, this is the st section of the meeting so please take it seriously, okay?" Mato suggested while scratching the back of his neck. He then folded his arms with a serious look.

  "If you don't then your survival and many people will be slim to none." Mato's voice deepened a bit.

  The room went silent.

  Mato looked to his left and then to the right. He was waiting to make sure that everyone was in the same mindset when he revealed the final part of the meeting.

  After carefully observing everyone, he smiled and nodded.

  "Thank you." Mato thanked all of us.

  He then lowered his brows as he began his expnation.

  "So, let's get right to it. Just so you girls know, you'll be heading towards the second part of the first yer tonight."

  "The second part already?" I whispered and pced my hand under my chin.

  The second part already?

  Well, I knew that Kuma and Yosei had explored a bit during the day, so that expined some things. But there were a few things on my mind.

  "Doesn't that cause more problems? For example, do we have the full analysis of the first yer? Is it safe to move on without exploring the first part some more? Will that being be there waiting for us?" I asked in curiosity.

  "Those are excellent questions. And to keep it short, you'll be going with the soldiers that are behind you." Mato pointed at Emily and the group of soldiers standing on the walls.

  Wait what?

  "Wait, wait, wait. Isn't that... dangerous?" I sweated intensely.

  "What do you mean?" The Founder lowered his brows.

  "I mean, the soldiers are pretty much going to the danger zone. Logic demands an expnation for that. Not that I'm underestimating them. But still, it's not far-fetched to say that you'll be sending them to the war zone." I expined.

  "Uh-huh..." The Founder responded.

  "And... that's, uh... that's kinda bad since... you'll die if you're not prepared." I tried to eborate further while sweating some more.

  "And...?" The Founder raised his right palm.

  "And...? Founder, you could lose many people with families that are on the sidelines. I don't really recommend—"

  "Taoreta. The Supernatural of the angel. While I appreciate your concern... what does that have to do with the pn?" The Founder asked such a weird question.

  "H-huh? Of course it does. Why else would I suggest—?"

  "That's enough. No more of such nonsense. Mato, please resume your speech." The Founder said coldly to me.

  "What? But that doesn't—"

  "Enough!" The Founder shouted at me.

  That made me shut my mouth. Not out of fear for him. But the idea of this leading to something else was scary on its own. More importantly, Kishi might be involved in this.

  "You guys just talk and talk and talk! Not only that, but you're not listening to ONE thing I have to say. For that, you can forget about not being in the mission, I'll kick both you and Kishi out if you aren't quiet!"

  "A-ah!"

  There it was. My worst fear.

  What should I do? I had loads of questions, but if I said anything then Kishi would be in danger!

  But even still, this didn't give The Founder the excuse to—wait.

  If the soldiers in here were part of the exploration for the first part of the yer, then didn't that mean that David and Riley were part of it?!

  Like a gss cracking into a million pieces when you drop it, my mind went bnk at that realization.

  Had David and Riley ranked up so quickly that they could come with us?! So soon?! It had been only a week!

  All of my willpower wanted to scream at The Founder and the other adults for doing so. But in actuality, I would rather have taken out my bde and aimed it at The Founder for such foolishness.

  But.

  I knew better than that. If I did such an action, it would put everyone I knew into danger.

  I had to think about this rationally.

  Think before you speak, Taoreta. You cannot let Kishi down and start to dislike humanity once more. Make a change for yourself and stand up WHILE being smart about it.

  I exhaled.

  Good.

  My mind was calm and it returned to reality.

  Good. I'm calm. Now then, to the problem at hand.

  "So I'm guessing that the soldiers in here have some special training to at least handle the Creatures and Forbiddens, correct?" I asked The Founder as calmly as I could.

  "It wouldn't be wise to send out cows if they're not ready to be remanufactured into beef." The Founder used the weirdest example to expin his case.

  Yeah, I don't think Kishi and I will ever see eye to eye with this guy.

  I mentally noted to myself with my eyes closed. But with another sigh, I nodded to The Founder's "example" and looked at Mato.

  "And I assume that the Supernaturals will split into groups to protect the soldiers, right?"

  "You're correct, Taoreta. I wouldn't approve of this otherwise..." Mato admitted with a small smile.

  Well, at least Mato had thought about it.

  Plus, he didn't seem to be the type to just send people out there without any good reason. Better than The Founder, that was for sure.

  "You, Kuma, and Kujira will be the ones to help guide the soldiers into the first part of the yer." Yosei spoke up while starting to stand up.

  "Just the three of us? What about you, Yosei?" I blinked.

  "I'll be soloing the second part of the first yer for now until you three get there." Yosei answered with a smile at the end.

  "Isn't that kinda dangerous?" I questioned Yosei's action.

  I mean, I knew she was strong based on what the others had told me, but still, it seemed kinda reckless.

  "Sounding like Kibi, are we?" Kuma teased.

  "... Not the intention..." I whispered softly, while I felt my cheeks burning a bit.

  "Teasing aside, I'm kinda with Tao here. Seems a bit dangerous if you ask me. How about I come with you, Yosei?" Kujira suggested.

  Ah. Kujira is using nicknames again.

  "Nah, not a good idea. You'll slow me down if I'm being frank with you." Yosei bluntly stated with a straight face.

  "You didn't have to say it that way..." Kujira whispered with her arms folded. Her brows lowered as her eyes twitched a bit.

  Ah. Kujira got hit by bluntness. It seemed that it gave her a heavy wound...

  "Besides, you're better off with the newcomers and the soldiers. You'll be more better used than being there for my safety." Yosei slowly sat down and fixed her skirt. "I'm not harshing you by the way. Just being truthful here."

  "Yeah, I get it." Kujira answered quickly which made Yosei feel a little bad.

  "I'm sorry for sounding a bit rude. That wasn't my intention at all..." Yosei bowed to Kujira.

  "It's fine, it's fine..." Kujira waved her hands at Yosei and huffed in the end.

  "It doesn't seem like you're fine..." Kuma answered with a straight face.

  "I said I am!" Kujira shouted at Kuma.

  "Sure, sure," Kuma simply nodded with her eyes closed and a bright smile.

  It seemed like Kuma was used to Kujira's personality by now that the yelling didn't faze her. I could see why they were best friends now. It warmed my heart a little.

  "And another thing to keep in mind. They WANTED to help so please think about their feelings as well." Mato added before turning off the projection.

  Well.... if he put it that way, I guessed that made sense and why David and Riley were here now.

  "And that's about it. I have more to say, but we'll save that for another time." Mato closed his eyes.

  He then cpped his hands together.

  "Alright! I think we all should get ready to move out! Please get your stuff ready, everyone! We're moving out in five minutes!"

  We all nodded in agreement to Mato's statement.

  The Founder slowly stood up.

  "Alright then, the meeting is over. Honestly, it took too long than it was expected..."

  The Founder slowly walked away as the other adults followed. To be honest, Mato seemed like more of a leader than The Founder.

  But anyway, with the meeting finally over, it was time to prepare to head out.

  Before that though, I wanted to visit Kishi and see how he was doing. I was sure the girls alongside David and Riley wanted to see him, too.

  That both made me happy... and a bit sad that I wouldn't have some alone time with him. Oh well, either way, Kishi's health came first before my personal needs.

  Wait for me, Kishi.