90 - The Brave and the Younger Brothers Fireworks

The night after I came back from the heavenly realm.

I was having fireworks at the beach with my club members.

"A niue!　Look at this!"

Mikhail holds a firework in each hand and twirls it around.

"Oh. Don't swing it around, it's dangerous!"

"I know, I know!"

My brother-in-law runs down the beach.

Sakura and Elise were crouching down and playing with sparklers.

"............"

Gaius is sitting on a plastic sheet in a daze.

"What's the matter, little brother? Let's go and see if we can get some fireworks."

"Yeah. ......"

I hand him the fireworks and magically light them.

A brightly colored spark shoots from the tip of the firework.

"Oh ...... that, little brother. Did I do something wrong again?"

Gaius rolls his eyes.

"How did you know?"

"When you're in a daze, you're usually thinking about me, right?"

"Well, yes, but... I just don't like the way you say it.

"Why not?"

"I saw a maiden in love ......, it's nothing!　Stupid brother!"

I don't know, but I got angry again.

"So, what did I do?"

"...... I don't know, brother. Didn't you do something yesterday?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

Last night.

Raphael used a sacred weapon to kill all of mankind in an instant.

Fortunately, it was nighttime and most of the people were probably unaware of what had happened.

"Elise and the others who were with me fell down. They were ...... dead. The next moment they came back to life."

Gaius says in a somber tone.

"That was an attack by someone, wasn't it? And you saved him. Am I wrong?"

"You, the angelic weapon of Raphael didn't work, did it?"

"Angels ...... I see. It was an angel's trick. I guess it helped that I had my protective wards up for 24 hours, just like my brother, huh?

Gaius bites his lower lip in frustration.

"...... I couldn't do anything. The lives of my friends were taken away from me, and they were taken away from me for no good reason."

Tears spill from the eyes of Pota ...... and his brother.

The fireworks go out.

I put my hand on Gaius' shoulder and hold him close.

The beach is dark.

There are rippling waves and Michael's happy voice in the distance.

My brother is still, just laying there, letting me do the work.

I pat his head.

"You've grown, Gaius."

"You mean the ...... defensive warding?"

"No, no, no. No, no, no. You've learned to take care of your friends.

"What ......?"

Gaius rolls his blue eyes and I say.

"You care about Elise and the others enough to feel sorry that you couldn't protect them, don't you?"

"It's ...... yeah."

"That's all right. That's what you've been missing."

Before the camp, all Gaius could think about was catching up with himself and me.

But now he was truly sorry that he had not been able to protect Elise and his friends.

"The heart that cares about someone and wants to protect them. That's what you've learned."

"A ...... heart that wants to protect?　What's so important about that?"

Yeah. It means nothing if you only improve your strength and skills for your own sake.

If you train selfishly, you will become strong up to a certain point.

But a sword with nothing on it is much weaker than a sword with your heart on it.

"You got your answer in this camp, didn't you?　How to use the power you have acquired."

"............"

Gaius looks up.

"Eri, look, look!　Ten fireworks!"

"Wow!　No, Mika!　It's dangerous!"

"It's okay, right?　An angel wouldn't get burned by something like this, would she?"

Gaius closes his eyes to see his friends laughing innocently in the distance.

"I didn't see anything. I didn't care about anything but surpassing you. But I was wrong."

The younger brother nods with a determined look on his face.

"I want to be able to protect. I want to be able to protect them. I want to make sure that no one's life is ever taken from them again.

Gaius replies, "Straight up, Gaius.

"I want to be more and stronger."

"Yeah ...... that's the right answer. You're getting stronger again, I'm proud of you.

I pat him on the head.

Gaius smiled happily.

"But you know what, brother? Mica and the others aren't the only lives you want to protect.

"What do you mean?"

Gaius says, looking embarrassed.

"I want to be able to protect you someday, too, brother."

I was surprised because it was the first time he said such a thing to me.

I've always been in a position to stand at the forefront and protect others.

I thought that it was my destiny, given only to the brave, to protect everyone's life.

I'm getting carried away, aren't I?

"No. ......"

I smile and embrace Gaius.

"I'll be waiting. Someday you'll surpass me and become more powerful than anyone else. You'll help me when I'm in trouble.

Gaius rolls his eyes, but smiles and puts his hands around my body.

"I can't imagine you ever being in a pinch, though."

"I don't think so. I'm counting on you, my dear brother."

"...... idiot. Don't say that. You're such an idiot."

He was blushing and looking down at ...... his cheeks, and then...

Jee ......""""

I locked eyes with my friends.

"Oh, ...... well, ...... this is not that ......!"

Gaius turns red and says.

""""That's not fair!""""

Elise and the others came to hug me in unison.

"Gaiasu!　It's not fair!　You're making out with Aniue all the time!"

"Bek!　I'm not flirting with you!　Don't say weird things, you idiot Mika!"

Sakura smirks.

"Julius-han. I think you make out with your brother more often than with girls."

"No, I didn't!　Never!"

"Really?　Anyway, Gaius, you've been holding on to your brother this whole time. You're a real guy, aren't you?"

My brother turns red and shoves me away.

"Gaius, you and your brother are good friends!"

"I can smell something forbidden when you're close to someone."

"Don't say weird things!"

Gaius gets angry and chases after Elise and the others.

His friends run away from his brother, laughing.

"............"

I deploy fire magic in the palm of my hand.

I throw it lightly, and a large firework blooms in the night sky.

"Wow, beautiful!"

"That's Julius!　You're a master of your craft!"

We stopped and my friends looked up at the fireworks.

I crouched down and ...... laughed.

"Anyue?　What's wrong?"

Mikhail sits down next to me.

"No, I'm not ...... that emotional. Watching fireworks with friends like this is ...... something nice, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about, like it's the end of the world, brother?"

Gaius laughs and walks up to me.

"Summer has just begun, hasn't it?"

"That's right!　I haven't had enough fun yet!　Aniue, let's do lots of fun things together, shall we?　Hey!"

I look over at my two brothers and smile.

"Yeah, that's right. Our summer is ...... just getting started!"