Still, is this guy big, or what? Haruhiro thought. When you’re tall and thin, it’s a real asset. Even if your face is pretty normal, you still look relatively cool.

“Unlike before, you actually did your job as tank,” Haruhiro said. “I’m gonna demand more and more of you from here on, so expect that.”

“I’ll do it,” said Kuzaku. “Whatever I have to. So I don’t die—actually, so I don’t let anyone else die, either.”

“I’m counting on you.” Haruhiro poked Kuzaku in the ribs.

Maybe I ought to make a rule against romance within the party, he thought for a moment. If people within the group hook up or have a break up, that could cause a lot of trouble, so it might be a good idea.

With a glance to the ustrel’s remains, he looked up into the narrow slit of sky visible from inside the canyon-like Wonder Hole.

Here, in this Wonder Hole, we’re going to get stronger, Haruhiro resolved. We’ll build up a ton of experience, gain more and more strength, and—this one would get me laughed at, so I won’t ever say it out loud—but someday, we’ll get to the point we can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Soma.

I swear we will.