Chapter 5: Cowardly Kokoru
Chapter 5: Cowardly Kokoru
Ding dong, ding dong.
A chime signaled the end of the school day. Now we could all kick back and enjoy our gaming time!
But today, I had somewhere to be. Not in real life, but in the game world.
“What should we do, Ren? Should we just go straight there?”
“Yeah, let’s head on over.”
Akira and I had the same destination.
Where, you might ask? It was the meeting to explain the details of the next public event: the competitive guild mission!
Only two people from each guild could be present, so Akira and I had stepped up as representatives.
“Cool, see you guys later. We’ll hold down the fort,” said Yano.
“Leave it to us. Good luck out there,” added Maeda.
“Thanks. I think they’re just going to give us the rundown, though. We’ll take it nice and easy.”
With that, Akira and I left the classroom. We exited the building, walked off campus, and made our way to Telluna’s palace grounds.
This mission was meant to be a mandate from the royal family.
Looks like we’re supposed to gather in the palace chapel.
“Oh boy. I’m curious about what kind of mission they’re gonna give us,” I said as we traversed the courtyard.
“I wonder. Personally, I’d love to search through uncharted lands for treasure. It takes you to so many cool places!”
“Yep. There you go again with your sightseeing obsession.”
“You know it. So, Ren—”
POW!
Huh? That was a pretty violent sound!
“Stop it, bawk! That hurts!”
There was a group of several NPCs clustered in one corner of the courtyard. Although they stood on two legs, they weren’t humans; each of them had wings and distinctly avian features.
They must be Birdmen.
Birdmen were a race of beastmen. Their species had plenty of variation, with some of them resembling hawks, some gulls, and some even peacocks.
The one who had made that pitiful cry a minute ago was a chicken-like Birdman. He was short and stout with a round body. If you squinted, he resembled a caricature of a little old man that you might see in anime or video games.
And his name? From his display, it seemed to be Kokoru.
Everything from his body shape to his silly face made it seem like he was made to be a mascot character. At the moment, he was surrounded by other Birdmen, cowering and grimacing.
“Say what?! You’re the one who ran into me!”
“I-I said I was sorry for that, bawk!”
“Shaddap! Nobody said you could talk!”
POW!
The hawk in the group kicked him.
“Bawk?!”
“Ugh! We got summoned all the way up to a city in the clouds, and we had to bring stupid, cowardly Kokoru here with us.”
“Right? There should’ve been better options. With this oaf as a hero candidate, he’ll sully the name of Birdmen everywhere,” scoffed the peacock.
“I bet your daddy bribed somebody. Must be nice bein’ the son of a merchant.”
“I wouldn't know, bawk. It’s not like I came here because I wanted to.”
“What?! Do you know what an honor it is to have the chance to become a hero?!”
“Th-That doesn’t change anything, bawk!”
It looked like Kokoru was about to get kicked again. I couldn’t bear to watch anymore, so I ran in and stood between them.
“Okay, that’s enough. I don’t know what your beef is, but this is just cruel.”
“The hell you just say, kid?!” The hawk glared daggers at me. It was actually pretty darn intimidating. Very much the look of a bird of prey.
“Cease,” said the peacock, who’d been watching from the sidelines. “Look, he’s a guild master.”
“Oh, uh, yeah. Picking a fight with him wouldn’t be a good idea right now.”
“That’s right. He could be of assistance to us.”
“Assistance? What are you getting at?” I asked, feeling totally lost.
“Worry not; you’ll understand soon enough. Anyway, excuse us. We’ll be off now.”
The hawk and the peacock walked off, leaving us—and Kokoru—behind.
“Are you okay? You’re Kokoru, right?” Akira helped the tottering Birdman up.
“Thank you, bawk.”
“What happened back there?”
“They’re just mad that I actually showed up here, bawk.”
“But that wasn’t nice! That was outright bullying! How rude!”
Woof. She’s pretty pissed.
“Well, yeah, it wasn’t exactly pleasant to watch,” I muttered.
“Right?!”
“I can understand why they’re mad, bawk. It’s all my fault. Why was I even chosen as a hero candidate? Bawk, maybe my dad really did have something to do with this.”
“They mentioned that before. What’s up with the whole ‘hero candidate’ thing?”
“That’s—well, I think you’ll find out in a bit, bawk. Don’t worry about me. Just get going, bawk.”
Akira tilted her head to the side.
“Anyway, later. Thanks again, bawk!” After waving goodbye, Kokoru took off.
“Wait, you’re leaving already?” I blurted.
“Hey, Kokoru! If you have any more problems, just come find us!”
He continued to run with awkward, hobbling steps, probably as a result of his odd body shape.
Once he was gone, Akira turned to me. “I wonder if Kokoru will be okay...”
“Even NPCs have trouble with interpersonal relationships, huh? That’s cutting-edge tech for you. Sometimes, the realness hurts.”
“If we see him again, we should try to help him out somehow.”
“For sure. Let’s do it.”
Soon, we arrived at the chapel where the mission briefing would be held.
“Attention, all guild representatives! Once you’ve received your materials, find a seat and wait.”
The NPC addressing us handed us booklets and ushered us inside.
“Wow, stained glass! It’s so pretty!”
Akira happily snapped screenshots behind me as I hunted for some good seats.
Ooh, this area looks pretty empty.
Empty except for one person, that is.
“Greetings. Long time no see, as they say.”
Oh god, there he is! It’s the crazy, perverted, iron-masked nudist!
In the chapel, there were rows of pews arranged in front of long tables. He was sitting smack-dab in the middle of the centermost pew like he belonged there.
Naturally, nobody had sat anywhere near him. Who would want to? If the chapel were a field of crops, he would be the hole in the very center of a crop circle.
Come to think of it, he’s a guild master too, right?
Considering he was here for the meeting, then yeah, he most likely was.
“Uh, heya,” I replied, prompting some murmurs around us.
The whispers of “Wow, these guys know each other?” were incredible.
Ugh, so embarrassing! I wanna go home!
“What’s the matter, friends? These seats aren’t taken. Come, sit beside me.” He patted the vacant spots at his side.
Uhh... I really don’t want to!
Behind me, Akira discreetly shook her head.
“Ren! Akira! What are you doing?!”
“You idiots, get over here right now!”
The ones who had jumped in to save us from this travesty were Yukino and Homura. They grabbed our hands, yanking us to a faraway bench.
Thank God, I’m saved!
“You two had better watch out, or they’ll think you’re friends with that guy!” Yukino warned us.
“Yeah. You should know better than to go near that... thing!”
I was suddenly reminded of the time I’d gone to visit Homura in her classroom. Yep, she had definitely been ignoring him on purpose.
“W-Well, it’s not like we don’t know each other. He’s actually Akabane’s older brother, so—”
“Oh, the one from the tournament.” Homura whistled. “Really brave of her to come to this school with a brother like that around.”
“Yeah. She must have had a really good reason.”
Actually, yeah, she did.
That just went to show how badly she wanted to get along with Akira. A laudable act, indeed.
Meanwhile, the Akira she was trying so hard to befriend had given her a stupid pink mask as a present.
“All right, Ren, I can’t wait anymore. What’s in the pamphlet?” Akira asked me.
“Oh, let’s see. ‘Regarding the Competitive Guild Mission: Raising a Hero.’”
“Raising a Hero’?” she said. “Must be connected to what Kokoru and the others were saying about being hero candidates.”
“Ooh, they did say that!”
At that moment, a drop-dead gorgeous, silver-haired NPC appeared.
“Everyone, thank you for gathering here today.”
It was Princess Lieliz herself!
The whole crowd of guild reps oohed and aahed. Princess Lieliz was a cute and super-popular NPC, but she usually stayed within forbidden areas of the palace, so there weren’t many chances to see her. This was a rare opportunity.
Many people here had probably never seen her in person before.
“Wow, it’s Princess Lieliz! And there’s Anita, too.”
The female knight, Anita, had helped us during the hidden quest not long ago. She was a beauty as well. The two of them together was a radiant sight.
Behind the benches we were sitting at, there was an altar. When she reached the altar, Princess Lieliz grinned. She must have heard Akira talking because it looked like she was smiling at us.
“Teehee. This chance to meet you Legrand magnificoes has my heart fain and heap’d in joy.”
“Uhh...”
I don’t understand! Our resident translator isn’t here!
“Uh, I guess she’s happy to see us?” Akira guessed.
Lieliz hadn’t changed at all; she was still throwing out weird words whenever she felt like it. The combination of her eccentricity and incredible cuteness gave her a special kind of magnetism. There were a lot of girls like that out in the real world.
The other guild reps were shaken by her peculiar vocabulary. I figured those who were seeing her the first time were the most disturbed.
“You’re confusing the students, Your Highness! Do this right!”
“Peace, Anita! I know what I’m doing.”
In the midst of the confusion, the masked nudist was the first to speak.
“But wait, I say! I shall explain! ‘Magnificoes’ are illustrious persons, made famous in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice! She means to praise us as distinguished students of Legrand Academy! That is all!”
A gentleman and a scholar.
Seriously, though, he was a really smart guy. Wasn’t he supposed to be a CEO or something? All in all, this man was 50% idiot, 50% genius, and 100% pervert. What an enigma.
“My, and what is that you’re wearing? Such unique clothing. Have you considered joining a nudist colony?”
Whoa, princess! Don’t you think that’s a step too far?! This is bad; I’m starting to think maybe I’m the weird one here.
Crazier still was the fact that she hadn’t even flinched when she’d noticed him. Noble ladies really knew how to keep a straight face.
Anita, on the other hand, was cringing so hard that her face had warped into a grimace.
“But wait, I say. I am honored to receive your praise.” He stood and bowed elegantly.
The way he struck his poses so swiftly made him even weirder.
Maybe these two would actually make a good pair?
My stomach hurt just watching them. There was so much to call out that it was hard to know where to begin.
“Your Highness, please! We should get to the actual—”
“Oh, you’re right. Ahem! Now, I will explain to you all the details of the impending mission.”
Nice job, Anita. We’re finally at the main event.
“Some days ago, the country Mishuria on the continent of Mishr requested to exchange personnel with Telluna. In short, they want their promising youths trained in the unique environment only Telluna can provide. As Mishuria has lost countless personnel to the war with Karanaught and to rampant wild monster appearances in recent years, it is imperative that their budding heroes are properly raised and educated. In accordance with our long friendship, we cannot refuse Mishuria’s request. As such, the royal family has decided to extend a hand to these youths.”
Hmm, how interesting. So basically, the deal is this: an allied country is in trouble, and they need their people trained as soon as possible. Telluna gives them the okay and is ready to welcome them with open arms. That’s pretty easy to follow.
“Naturally, Legrand Academy of Magic is our most prestigious learning institution. That is why we have gathered you all here today. We ask that each guild selects a hero candidate from Mishuria and trains them through whatever methods you see fit. I believe that each of you will be able to grow through this experience as well.”
I see! So the competitive guild mission involves raising a hero.
“Huh, how intriguing,” Homura mused. “So it’s a race to raise your NPC? Sounds fun.”
“Sounds kinda annoying. I would’ve preferred a full-on PvP tourney where every area allowed PKing,” her sister grumbled.
“You already eat, sleep, and breathe PvP. Does it have to be part of the guild mission, too?”
“Heh. If you wanna master something, you might as well dedicate yourself to it.”
Princess Lieliz continued, “In one month’s time, we will hold a competition between the hero candidates. Each guild will be ranked based on the result. We’ll give you details on the competition at a later date. As you might expect, the highest-ranked guilds will be given ample rewards, so look forward to that.”
Ugh, I have a bad feeling about this. She’s not gonna dish out more Princess’ Skull Rings, is she?
Princess’ Skull Ring (O)
Type: Accessory
Level: 1
Effect: Multiplies experience gain by three. However, stat boosts upon level-up will be divided by three.
This was the one I was thinking of.
I’d tested it out a bit, but the results had been pretty dismal. The usual pattern of keeping the item on until just before the level-up, then switching it off to keep the stats hadn’t worked at all.
The moment you equipped it, the darn thing set your next level’s stat gains to one-third. I had been so crushed by the revelation that I’d intentionally died, taken the loss of EXP, and gone down a level so I could get my stats back on track.
Since I had equipped it at level 41, my level 42 stat boosts had already been lowered. In order to revoke that, I’d had to go all the way back down to 40 instead of just going back to 41.
How many times did I die just to reduce my EXP? Think of all the time I wasted! I’ll never wear that thing again!
Honestly, I had no idea what to do with this weird item. At least, not yet.
“On that note, it is time for the guilds to choose their hero candidates. I will have them file in now, so take this opportunity to get a good look at their stats and growth rates. Come on in, everyone!”
On Princess Lieliz’s signal, the Mishurian NPCs came in one after another.
I get it, I get it!
“Ooh, so this is like a draft meeting. That’s awesome! I’m loving it!”
“Hehe, yeah! Look at all the choices!”
Akira and I weren’t the only ones getting hyped; the other guild masters all had fire in their eyes. The whole chapel was heating up.
Now, who should we draft as our hero?!
“I should mention that if multiple guilds choose the same candidate, the decision will be made by lottery. First, however, we do have one special exception.”
Oho, and what might that be?
“Having contributed greatly to the royal family’s safety, the guild Hell’s Crafters has been granted the right to select their candidate before the other guilds.”
“Huh? Seriously?!” I couldn’t believe it.
“Wow, awesome! Go us!”
Princess Lieliz smiled and nodded our way.
“Y’know what, that makes a lot of sense. I thought it was weird that we only got the Princess’ Skull Ring as a reward.”
“So getting first pick here is like our real reward, right?”
“Yeah! Wow, this could be huge.”
I was especially happy that we wouldn’t have to compete with other guilds over our draft pick. Those who knew a thing or two about pro baseball would understand just how big this could be!
The hero candidates lined up along the wall of the chapel. Apparently this still wasn't all of them, as more and more continued to enter. There couldn’t have been fewer than fifty guilds here, so there must have been at least that many candidates to match.
Starting on one end, I took a good look at the NPCs. There were humans, elves, beastmen, and even lizardmen. They certainly weren't lacking in variety.
Mishuria must be a diverse country.
As for Telluna, it was pretty much all humans.
“Wow, we’ve got so many choices!”
“Hmm... There’s a wide variety of both levels and species.”
For every weakling between levels 1 and 3, there was a powerhouse somewhere between 30 and 40.
“I guess it’d be more beneficial for us to choose someone at a high starting level, right?”
“For sure. Especially since we have a limited time to raise them.”
Yukino butted in, “There’s also stat growth rates, current skills, each species’ innate characteristics...”
“And no matter what anyone else says, appearance is definitely a big deal,” Akira said.
Homura chuckled. “Haha. Yeah, that's important.”
“I bet you’d prefer a girl, right, Ren? What kinds of girls do you like? If I were in this lineup, would you pick me?”
“Huh? Uhh... I don’t like hypotheticals!”
“Oh, trying to worm your way out of it, I see.” Akira grinned, poking my cheek.
“Cut it out! C’mon, we gotta make a serious choice.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Yukino grinned at our little exchange. “Ahaha. You two are so close.”
Homura, on the other hand, rolled her eyes. “What an eyesore. Man, I wish I had a boyfriend.”
“Give it up, sis. With the way you act, it’s not gonna happen.”
“What?! I don’t wanna hear that from you of all people! You haven’t had a single boyfriend in your life!”
“I don’t really want one. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about dating.”
I ignored their squabble and instead focused on grabbing an outstanding candidate.
Along with their names and levels, the hero candidates had their stat-growth graphs and skill lists available for viewing. No sign of which class they were, though. Some had high starting levels, some had high stat growths, and some had super-long skill lists.
As for appearances, eh, I didn’t actually care that much. I’d even be okay with a guy. I was the only male member of our guild anyway, which made me feel kinda lonesome.
Hmm. Looks like the ones with higher starting levels tend to have much lower stat-growth rates.
I found that for most, it was more awe-inspiring—more dramatic, even—to have high stat growths, even if it involved a lower starting level.
Occasionally, there was the rare gem with a high level, high stat growths, and a good skill list. They were the blessed ones, pretty much.
So far, the one who stood out the most was...
Selphie Muse
Level 62 Elf
[Profile]
An elf from Mishuria and the eldest daughter in her family. She has a talent for powerful magic, but she is more of a pacifist and prefers not to fight.
[Growth Rates]
STR 2, VIT 3, DEX 4, AGI 4, INT 8, MND 7, CHR 5
* Learns myriad magic spells, both offensive and defensive. She also comes equipped with skills that increase magical aptitude.
Overall, she was balanced as such:
Base Level: ★★★★★
Growth Rates: ★★★☆☆
Starting Skills: ★★★★★
Even without our help, she was already way stronger than anyone in our guild. A battle-ready force.
Plus, she was the stereotypical blonde elf babe. I figured most other guildies would be clamoring for her.
The next one who caught my eye was...
Mickott Corpul
Level 58 Beastman (Werewolf)
[Profile]
A female warrior who hails from a village on the Mishurian frontier. Until now, she has not strayed far from home. Despite her young age, she can compete with even the strongest of her fellow villagers.
[Growth Rates]
STR 6, VIT 6, DEX 7, AGI 7, INT 2, MND 2, CHR 6
* Has many combat skills in her possession, including Taunt. She also has Innate Talent, a skill that decreases the required amount of EXP needed to level up.
Much like the elf, her specs were essentially:
Base Level: ★★★★★
Growth Rates: ★★★☆☆
Starting Skills: ★★★★★
Probably more of an overpowered front-liner, I thought. She’s even easier to level up than most of the others I’ve seen.
Were these two the strongest? They were both gorgeous, too, so they’d easily be popular picks. I found myself wishing the male NPCs would try a bit harder.
Oh, here’s a decent one.
Alfred Breaze
Level 1 Human
[Profile]
A son of Mishurian royalty. His family’s territory was conquered by a rival country, however, so his status as royalty is in name only. He worked to become a hero candidate in order to revive his bloodline.
[Growth Rates]
STR 7, VIT 7, DEX 7, AGI 7, INT 7, MND 7, CHR 7
* Has the skill Late Bloomer. This skill increases the amount of EXP required to level up, but adds a bonus to growth rates.
As for this guy...
Base Level: ★☆☆☆☆
Growth Rates: ★★★★★
Starting Skills: ★★★☆☆
Once his level caught up, he would probably be the strongest one. He was a fresh-faced, attractive guy. Older girls would probably love him.
“Selphie and Mickott look strong. Alfred might be the strongest once we raise him,” Akira remarked.
“Yeah, sounds about right,” I agreed.
Anyone looking at them would probably think the same.
We had first dibs, so we could just choose any of the three and come out on top without a problem.
But still...
What’s the fun in getting overpowered results when they’ve been handed to you on a silver platter?
“Mmm... Any others?”
I looked at the stats of the NPCs who had just entered.
Peater Jet
Level 55 Birdman (Peafowl)
[Profile]
A magic knight who is well known among Mishurian Birdmen. Daring, yet composed, he is a warrior with ample experience. Like other peafowls, he is capable of flight.
[Growth Rates]
STR 5, VIT 4, DEX 6, AGI 5, INT 4, MND 4, CHR 5
* Possesses several fighting skills and offensive magic spells.
Ooh, he’s not bad. Uh, wait. I remember this guy! He’s one of those Birdmen who were with Kokoru back in the courtyard. In that case...
“Oh! There’s Kokoru!” Akira shouted, pointing.
The chicken Birdman we’d met was here, too!
I see. So this is what they were talking about! All right, let’s have a look at Kokoru’s stats.
Kokoru Sanders
Level 1 Birdman (Chicken)
[Profile]
The son of a merchant who set up shop in Mishuria’s royal capital. As a chicken subspecies of Birdman, he is both unable to fly and weak in battle. Like many of his kind, he has opted to take up trade. Kokoru is skilled as a merchant but poor when it comes to combat. He is known for his timidity.
[Growth Rates]
STR 1, VIT 3, DEX 1, AGI 1, INT 1, MND 1, CHR 1
* Inherent Skills
Apprenticeship: Can be directed to run a guild shop.
Subcontractor: Can work in the atelier according to players’ orders.
Cowardice: In battle, all stats are reduced.
Yooooo! What the hell is the deal with that last one?!
Apprenticeship and Subcontractor were great and all, but this guy was clearly not suited for battle.
Yep, this one’s obvious.
Base Level: ★☆☆☆☆
Growth Rates: ★☆☆☆☆
Starting Skills: ★☆☆☆☆
Too bad, Kokoru. You’re probably the weakest one here. Even your profile says you suck at fighting.
All of the other Birdmen were level 30 or higher with acceptable growth rates. Plus, they could fly.
His stats, growth rates, and curse-tier skill were pretty rough.
“W-Wow. Kokoru’s stats are pretty bad,” Akira said awkwardly.
I nodded. “Yeah. In a way, it’s kind of incredible.”
And that made it all the more meaningful!
Again, I ask! Where’s the fun in using overpowered characters to achieve your goals?!
“Heheh... Hahaha... Mrmhehe!”
When she noticed my suppressed laughter, Akira jumped in surprise. “What’s wrong? Does your stomach hurt?”
“Oh no. Not in the slightest. This is great! I’ve found you, my shining star!”
“Uh, Ren, you don’t mean...”
“Redefinition! Awakening! Giant-killing! Do you not see how Kokoru has all of this drama and romance hidden within his very soul?!”
“Ack! There it is! I can see the twinkle in your eyes, you weirdo!”
“Remember what you said, Akira? Next time we see him, we ought to help him out.”
“Um, right.”
“Well, we can see him now! Is this not the perfect time to help him out?!”
Akira couldn’t even begin to protest. On the contrary, a wide grin played on her lips. “Hahaha, I get it. I’m not against it.”
“Ooh, really?!”
“I know you won’t budge. As dumb as your ideas can be, that’s what makes you you.”
“That’s my best friend for you! You get me!”
“Yeah, yeah. I already gave up a long time ago.”
“Say what? You tryna slander me?!”
“Nope, you’re just imagining it. Anyway, let’s do this!”
“Yeah! Let’s make it official!”
“Okay!”
Thus, we unanimously made our draft pick!
Around that time, Princess Lieliz resumed speaking. “Attention, everyone! Please, take your seats! We will now proceed to the selection and lottery phase. First up, Hell’s Crafters—are you ready to provide the name of your desired hero candidate?”
“Yes, ma’am!” Akira and I rose as we answered simultaneously.
I could hear the nervous mutterings of guild masters all around us.
“Please, anyone but her!”
“Leave that guy for us!”
Relax, everybody. I doubt anyone’s eyeing this little dude.
Without hesitation, we announced, “We want Kokoru Sanders!”
“WHAAAAAAT?!”
The venue erupted in cries of shock and disdain.
“What are they thinking?!”
“Look, that’s the idiot who threw away all his money back at the PvP tournament!”
“Whoa. Now poor Akira’s stuck with that drumstick!”
Even Princess Lieliz was visibly annoyed by our decision. You’re just going to waste my goodwill?! was written all over her face.
“Hey, you two should really reconsider! I know how you are, but this is insanity!” cried Yukino.
“Seriously,” said Homura. “Your guild is tiny, so you’re already at a disadvantage when it comes to staff and resources. There’s no reason to make it even harder for yourselves!”
Yukino then turned to Akira. “At times like this, you have to keep Ren under control. You never know what he’s going to drag you into.”
“Not quite, Yukino. This time, I’m with him one hundred percent!”
Ooh! I see a fire in Akira’s eyes! Must be because she saw Kokoru getting bullied. She seriously hated that. I mean, it got under my skin too.
I was always struck by how kind Akira was.
Guess I’m falling for her all over again. Caught off-guard by the thought, I blinked. Huh? Wait, what am I thinking? Ah, whatever. Gotta keep going!
“But wait, I say. To all of you who choose to complain, this matter does not concern you. This man has committed no crime. Furthermore, do you not realize how rude your yawping is to their hero candidate? You could hurt his dignity. Though he is an NPC, he is still a person.”
His words silenced the other guildies.
It definitely wasn’t because they were humbled, though. They just didn’t want to interact with the masked nudist. He seemed like he was trying to say something meaningful, but he had way too many problems of his own for it to make an impact.
“You’re the one who looks like a criminal, bawk. I don’t wanna hear that from you, bawk.”
Nice one, Kokoru! You’re the only man brave enough to even speak to this guy!
“Hmph. Public indecency is not a crime in this world. Thus, I am not a criminal.”
I sure wish it was!
Once things had settled down a bit, Princess Lieliz brought the conversation back on track. “Well then, erm, Hell’s Crafters have chosen Kokoru Sanders as their hero candidate! Kokoru, you are free to join them.”
Urged on by the princess, Kokoru trudged over to us. His stomach was as round as a barrel, so the way he waddled as he went was kinda funny.
“Bawk. We met earlier, right?”
“Yep. I’m Ren! Nice to officially meetcha, Kokoru!”
“I’m Akira!”
“S-Sorry, bawk. You just picked me because of all that stuff back there, right?”
“No need to apologize! We genuinely wanted you, buddy.”
“Yeah, yeah! Welcome to the group! Might as well have some fun while we’re doing this, right?”
“Bawk... Th-Thanks, bawk.”
Ignoring our happy meet and greet, the draft meeting continued.
“Now, on to the next group!”
This draft couldn’t have gone better! I’m totally satisfied!