The Heroes from Earth

<Kashima Kobato POV>

The D-Rank Hero, Kashima Kobato, was walking along a luxurious corridor paved with carpets.

The castle have an impression of being the same as those in your favorite fantasy movies.

The first thought that would come to mind would be that it resembles a Medieval European style.

I feel a bit disgusted about my lack of vocabulary.

Nonetheless, this is one of the scenery that I admired.

[]

If it werent for this situation though, I might have been glad.

I raise my head.

My field of view changes from the feet to the back of the human heads.

Leading the group is the goddess along with my following classmates from 2-C.

Its like were on a tour trip.

[Theres one thing you all have to do before I hand over a unique item.]

The goddess said so.

I closed my eyes.

I clasped my hands together as if like Im praying for something.

(Im scared)

That moment when that third wolf has suddenly burned up.

At that time, my heart was seized with fear.

After the measurement, I was shrinking in the corner of that room.

Theres more than 10 other classmates along with me who were shaking in despair.

I understood what was happening with that magic circle.

There were those dreadful words that were flying about.

Kirihara Takuto, Oyamada Shougo, and even that Yasu Tomohiro had changed too.

Also those classmates who speak of abuse and mockery.

Even that goddess.

Im scared of them.

[F**k you, sh*tty goddess!]

(Mimori-kun)

Tears cant help but flow out of my eyes.

(Im sorry Im sorry I cant do anything)

There was once a day where I had found a cat lying down near the school gate.

It seem to be terribly weak.

Everybody ignored that cat.

It was only two boys who passed by at that time that has took interest in it.

They took pictures of the amusing cat with their smartphone.

[If we post this image on and get a lot of reactions on Insta, Ill help that cat! Heck, if it spread all over the place, maybe Ill be talked about on TV!]

INSTA is a social network who focuses on images.

In the end, those students did not return.

I was left standing alone on the spot.

(W-what should I do?)

First of all, I should search for information on my smartphone with the keywords cat and dying.

My fingers were shaking.

It has always been like this.

If I dont rely on something, I cant make a move myself.

I cant decide what to do by myself.

[Uwwaaahhh!?]

I ended up finding an image of a cats corpse.

The fingers that had been operation my smartphone froze.

I closed my eyes tightly.

(Its impossible to continue searching, I dont want to do that anymore)

[Kashima?]

A voice called out to me.

Its a boys voice.

[Ah Mimori-kun]

Its a boy from the same class, Mimori Touka.

We have never spoken before.

Hes a boy who doesnt stand out that much.

Or rather, he have so little presence.

I feel some familiarity with him though.

Why is that?

Its because he doesnt have that scary impression like from the group of Kirihara Takuto.

[Wait, that cat]

[Ah, yeah]

I explained the circumstances.

And then Mimori-kun replied with I understand..

[Eh?]

[Lets take it to the vet.]

[Ah.]

Veterinarian.

Thats right.

Why havent I thought of going there first?

[Did you hurt yourself somewhere?]

Mimori-kun gently held the cat in his arms.

[Calm down, will you?]

(For Mimori-kun to make a face like that)

And so, we went to a veterinarian.

Apparently, it seems that the cats leg was injured.

The cats also weak because its lacking from sufficient nutrition.

The vet told us that itd be fined if the cat would be treated.

The relieved me left the veterinary hospital with Mimori-kun.

[Mimori-kun T- thank you]

[Its fine. I actually like cats.]

[Ah, about the money]

The payment have been paid by Mimori-kun.

I had only been watching the cat.

It seems that he had paid them at that time.

I had hurriedly took out my wallet at that time.

But Mimori-kun just smiled.

[Its fine about the money. In the first place, I was the one who suggested that we bring it to the vet.]

[But]

[Its fine already. Im actually the type to expend money on things that matter.]

I cant come up with the words to reply back.

Its always been like this.

Just easily accepting of the other partys words.

Always been adjusting to the other party.

Thats how I avoid even the slightest sign of a quarrel.

Inaction.

(I have to find a topic with a topic, even I should be able to say something)

I made a clumsy smile.

Im quite good at escaping at things with a smile.

[Say, Mimori-kun d-do you like animals?]

[Ah, I like them.]

Mimori-kuns eyes look like they are looking at somewhere quite far in the distant sky.

[Theyre better than humans.]

[eh?]

(Mimori kun?)

Mimori-kun looks quite surprised.

His smile looks like hes troubled by something.

[Ahhh no no, just now thats not really the case! You know, animals dont have to worry how theyre different around others, unlike how humans think. Besides, I really like my parents right now.]

Thats quite a vague excuse.

I feel like hes just making it up.

If I remember it right, there seems to be some kind of culture where boys at a certain age would dare to say that they hate humanity just in order to make it so that they appeared to be unique from other people.

The thing is that they have a different sense of character from the others, that they would think (or make others think) that they were cooler than them.

Thats what is written on the internet. ( I often rely on the internet. Even if Im unskillful at talking, I should still reply kindly.)

However, Mimori-kun looks like hes really trying to steer away in a hurry.

Its like he really failed at hiding something.

I have been having that feeling.

[Umm a- anyway you know youre quite kind, Kashima.]

[Eh? Uhmmm T- thats not true at all its you, Mimori-kun thats a- anyway s- see you tomorrow at school]

[Ah? Ah. Be careful on your way home, Kashima.]

Since then, I havent talked to Mimori Touka.

I didnt have the courage to speak.

To talk with the boys in our school.

That hurdle was too high for a shy person like Kashima Kobato.

On the other hand, there was only that one time when I talked Mimori-kun.

But I had ignored it.

After all, I didnt have any courage.

Since then, I have always felt a little guilty towards Mimori Touka.

Incidentally, the cat at that time had now been a member of the Kashima family.

v

(For my classmates to be like that)

This class is scary.

When Oyamada kicked Yasus seat on the bus, I was quite frightened.

I must not make eye contact with Oyamada Shogou.

If I do, I may die from heart attack.

Im a coward.

Theres also that third wolf

(Does a hero have to fight such a thing? Thats impossible, absolutely)

The goddess-sama is also scary.

I cant say it exactly, but theres something I dont like about her.

On the other hand, Sogou Ayaka was quite amazing.

She fought against the goddess even in that kind of situation.

Ayaka is different from me.

Even the Takao sisters.

I cant behave that way.

Kirihara Takuto, Oyamada Shogou and Yasu Tomohiro are different.

Everyone in this class is better than me.

I look down at my feet.

(A cowardly D-Rank Hero I wonder if I will be discarded too.)

[Kobato?]

[Ah]

I raise my face.

[What are you staring blankly at? Are you also anxious?]

[Ikusaba-san.]

A smiling female student talked to me while shes walking backwards.

[Asagi.]

[Eh?]

[Me actually I dont like being called being called by my surname, so I often said it back in our classroom. If you knew and yet still persist on calling me like that, 70 % of this class may ostracize you, you know?]

[I Im sorry.]

Ikusaba Asagi.

Her measurement should have been B-Rank

Oyamada Shougos A-Rank appraisal result outshined Asagis B-Rank result and thus was washed away, but her Rank is still higher than most of the class.

The top of this class consists of Kirihara Takutos group.

However, if its just limited to the females group, it can be said that Asagis group have the largest power.

It would be bad if Ikusaba Asagi looks at you with a bad light.

Everybody, every girls understand that.

So, I dont go against it.

Id even flatter her just to be taken in.

They must see me as a harmless bystander.

I chose to be in a neutral position.

I usually try to be as invisible as the air as long as possible.

Even in breaks, I would just read webnovels secretly.

[Oh, right~? Is it okay if I confirm something, Poppo?]

Asagi often calls me Poppo.

Is it because of that song Hatopoppo.

(T/N: dunno about the reference here actually. Poppo could be referred to as choo-choo as in the sound of train. Poppo can then be said as a nickname for her because she always the one who follows. Hatopoppo A hat for train drivers? Hato could also mean pigeon, which can also be read as Kobato, which is her name.)

[Uh, yeah what is it?]

Asagi moved to my side and put her hand around my waist.

I wont let it go my airiness.

[Its just what I think would happen, but probably this class would collapse sooner or later.]

(eh?)

[Collapse?]