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Ryu's POV
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"A pseudo member?" (Ryu)

"That's what I said. You'll act like you're a part of our squad, and we'll keep constant watch over you." (Captain)

"Doesn't sound like a good deal to me." (Ryu)

"Well, it's the only one you're going to get, so tough luck." (Captain)

And with those words, the Captain and the rest of the squad left the room, leaving me alone.

A pseudo-member. A fake member of the group. All to just keep watch over me.

This is annoying. All I want right now is to go back to the forest. My life was calmer there.

But it doesn't seem like they'll listen to me if I say I want to go back. Right now, I have no other option than to just go along with them.

A squad... Its been a while since I've fought alongside someone.

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Airi's POV
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"Hey, Captain? Are you sure about this? Is this something we can decide on our own?" (Airi)

"Usually, no, but, as our mission, we were told to find the son of the No-Name Outlaws and, if possible, protect him from the life of a criminal. I believe that this is the way to do that, so I don't think the nobles can refute me." (Captain)

I don't reply to him, I simply nod my head and walk on in silence.

Ryu is definitely not happy about this, I could tell by the venom that was laced in his words.

He was forced into something he didn't want to do, with people he doesn't like or trust. No wonder he felt so negatively about it.

Well, all I cam do now is trust in the Captain and his decisions.

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

"Put more of a kick into your attack! Don't leave them room to recover!" (Captain)

"Shut up!" (Ryu)

Shouting at the Captain, Ryu swings his sword from his waist, attempting to slice the Captain's chest, but is stopped by the impact of another sword.

"You're too easy to read! Go faster or be more secretive!" (Captain)

"I said, Shut up!" (Ryu)

Ryu's swings start getting faster, his sword almost a blur as he tries to get a hit on the Captain, his attempts only appearing futile.

His breathing ragged, Ryu steps back from the Captain, exhausted.

"Come on now, is that all you've got? I thought an outlaw would do better than this." (Captain)

Without uttering a word, Ryu grits his teeth and dashes towards him again, releasing a flurry of attacks which are all blocked by the Captain's sword.

"Yes, yes! More power!" (Captain)

Watching from the side, I can see Ryu becoming more and more irritated by the Captain's constant bickering.

Its been about 3 weeks since Ryu was forced into joining the squad, although, the first week was spent trying to gain his trust.

To say he settled in well would be a lie. He's extremely unfriendly to all of us, and refuses to do anything other than the bare minimum as a team.

This is the first time that he had accepted doing something as a squad, but it just seems that he wanted to try and release his anger onto the Captain.

I can't blame him though, he was forced into this position.

Finishing his flurry, Ryu's final attack was blocked and pushed away, followed up by an upper strike to his chin, sending him to the ground.

"You're lucky these were wooden swords, you'd have died in a battlefield just then." (Captain)

"Whatever, I'm leaving." (Ryu)

We all watch as Ryu walks up the stairs on the far side of the sparring room and disappear through the door way.

"Man, he gets on my nerves." (Astrid)

"He's quite... Annoying, if I had to say." (Etsu)

"He's obnoxious." (Kana)

"Hey now, you have to realise his situation. He just got forced into something he was so obviously deterred from, give him some sympathy." (Captain)

"And who was the one who forced him, Captain?" (Astrid)

The Captain looks down, not replying.

"If I recall, the words were, 'Its the only one you're going to get, so tough luck.'" (Astrid)

"W-Well, let's not sweat the small details." (Captain)

"Speaking of details, have we got some for our new job?" (Etsu)

"Ah, we do, actually." (Captain)

Everybody's ears perk up at the sound of a new job.

"Oh? A new job? What is it~?" (Astrid)

"We'll discuss it soon, but not before we have the entire squad together." (Captain)

"Sure." (Kana)

And with that, we begin to leave the sparring room one by one, having our own personal lives to attend to.

For me, I need to go and talk to Ryu. He still hasn't gotten a new sword after I broke his last one, since he can't leave the barracks.

Knocking on the door to his room, I call out to him.

"Ryu? Hey, Ryu? Can I come in?" (Airi)

"Why?" (Ryu)

"I have something to give you." (Airi)

A few seconds pass before I hear a click of the door lock, and I see the door slowly inch open.

"What is it?" (Ryu)

"I bought a new sword, since, you know, I cut your last one in half." (Airi)

"Oh? Bragging now, are we?" (Ryu)

"Not in the slightest." (Airi)

"Whatever." (Ryu)

...

"So? You going to give it to me or what?" (Ryu)

"Oh, right." (Airi)

I quickly hand Ryu the short sword through the small gap he made when opening the door.

"... Thanks." (Ryu)

And with that, he closed the door again, and I hear the click of the door lock as I turn to leave.

I think back to what Captain said when Ryu left the sparring room.

"'Realise his situation', huh." (Airi)

I begin walking towards my room, deep in thought.

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Author Notes
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Its another chapter! This one was a pain for me to write, especially because I do not have a single plan for this story.

For this chapter, I knew I wanted a time skip, no matter how long or short, but I just couldn't make it happen until this draft. I must have rewritten the first 300 words maybe 3 or 4 times before it became this.

But anyway, I'm hoping that I'll be able to make a routine for writing this, because most of these chapters were written at around 2am, with me pressuring myself into finally writing.