Brad Beams' Card story – Fumbling Sympathy

[kozvme]

 

Billy: Waoh!!! Fantastic~~~☆
Incredible! How did you do that!? Do it again, Nico-paisen~!

Nico: Again...?

Faith: Aha, you've got it rough. Billy can be a real pain at times like thisー

Brad: What's all the fuss about?

Billy: Brad-paisen!? D- Don't tell me you got a complaint about lil' old me making a racket...?

Brad: No, I'm not here for that. Seeing you lot together is quite unusual, that's why I call out to you.

Billy: Makes sense, considering both Bestie and Nico-paisen are conmigo! Nico-paisen's teaching me how to hack right now.

Brad: How to hack?

Billy: If you have a pro so close, you gotta soak up as much as you can, am I right?

Faith: It's almost poetic how vague your wording is. Aren't you doing this as a hero, not an informant?

Billy: !? DJ, where did you...

Faith: From him.

Nico: *Munch, munch*...
You didn't exactly tell me to keep it a secret. He also gave me a lot of chocolate.

Billy: ¡Dios mío!

Faith: Were you hiding it because you felt embarrassed? But wouldn't it be more embarrassing to hide it?

Billy: Khoff... Stop it, DJ... do not push me further into the corner...

Brad: I see. That's a good mindset. Being close to somebody with such technical abilities is reassuring.

Billy: U, gh... Here comes Big bro to deal the final blow...

Faith: Aha, I can't believe you're joking right now. Aren't you glad that your efforts paid off? Cheer up.

ー The next day.



Nico: Sage, what do you want for dinner today?

Sage: Huuh? I'm not sure? We finished eating lunch not long ago, I don't really know~

Hm? ... Brad-san?

Brad: Oh, Sage, Nico.

Sage: T- Thank you for your hard work! ... Are you here to have lunch?

Brad: I had business with the Anti-Eclipse unit, and my next appointment is upstairs. I figured it would be better to eat lunch here.

Sage: I see...

Brad: Do you need anything?

Sage: !! Uhm... well... I- If you don't mind, could I speak with you for a moment?
I have something I would like to ask you, Brad-san, but I haven't found the right time...

Brad: It's not a problem. I hope you won't mind if I have lunch in the meantime.

Sage: ...!



Brad: What do you need to do to become a mentor, huh...

Sage: Yes. I want to continue down that path, and I want to be as prepared as possible.

Brad: ... I can't think of anything relevant to share with you as the mentor leader is the one responsible for selecting mentors.

Sage: I kind of saw that coming... which is why I'm at a loss on what to do...

Brad: It's relatively uncommon to come across someone who is so enthusiastic about training the younger generation in the first place.

Sage: After all, a hero's purpose is to keep the city safe...

Brad: Don't lose heart.
Mentoring and teaching may not be our main responsibilities, but they are nevertheless necessary. We are extremely fortunate to have a hero like you.
If there are enough people who are as enthusiastic as you, I might consider holding a mentor-training seminar.

Sage: !!

Brad: I can't make any promises, but I'll keep you posted.

Sage: I-! Thank you so much for going above and beyond for me...

Brad: This is very important. My position as the 13th gen supervisor makes me acutely aware of how important mentors are.

Nico: Sage even turned down the Anti-Eclipse unit for this.

Sage: N- Nico...!

Brad: The Anti-Eclipse unit approached you?

Sage: Yes... I am very sure I failed the exam, but they recently asked if I wanted to join...

Brad: I see. They must have regretted it after seeing how you mastered going into overflow.

Sage: I believe the circumstances are the biggest reason. I'm also wary of Eclipse's moves, after all.
I wanted to lend a hand in any way I could, but I couldn't bring myself to officially join...

Brad: I see.

Sage: It's quite odd since not long ago, I really wanted to join the unit...
Seeing Nico, Bianchi-san, and Jude-kun all pass the exam, I felt like I was the only one left behind...

Nico: Sage...

Sage: I don't feel that way anymore, that's why I'm talking about it right now.
It's more than anything I could've hoped for, but now I have a new objective.

Brad: ......



Brad: ー That is all. Submit the documents with the corrected errors by 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Keith: Huuuh? 9 a.m.... you want me to pull an all nighter!?

Brad: Not only were you a week late, but you also submitted documents full of mistakes... You don't have the right to say something like that. 

Keith: Urk...

Brad: Start working on it as soon as you get back. If you put it off, you'll never finishー

Keith: Aaaah~~~ fine, I got the message! I could have used the time I spent listening to you go on about it to fix the papers, though. See ya!

Brad: Wait. I've been meaning to ask you one more thing.

Keith: Haah??? Now what? Could you PLEASE give me a break!? I can't handle more than thisーー

Brad: This has nothing to do with work.
... When the Anti-Eclipse unit scouted Dino, did you, well... feel lonely?

Keith: ...... Haah?
And here I was worrying about what you'd say... Seriously, what the heck? What's with your question!?

Brad: It's just a question... Consider it small talk. So? Did you feel like you were being left behind at the time?

Keith: ...?
Sorry to disappoint, but I ain' that ambitious. I didn't think much of it... and so did you, right?

Brad: You're right. It's somewhat surprising that some people would feel lonely in such a circumstances.

Keith: ......
Wouldn't go so far as to say that, 'cause I know there are people like that.
I'm veeeeery ordinary, unlike you, an honor student everyone envies.

Brad: ......

Keith: For all I know, the majority is like that.

Brad: ... I seeー



Faith: Uwah, what the? What are you doing in such a place?

Keith: Oh, you're back? You came at the right time. Help me with work, Faith.

Faith: Hah? Of course I'm not going to. Ask someone else.

Keith: Wai... Oi! You could at least listen to me!
Gaah~~ His ruthless side is just like his brother's! 

Brad: ......

Keith: Aaah? C'mon, say something!

Brad: That was very helpful; thank you.

Keith: ... Huh?

Brad: Make sure to submit the documents by 9 a.m. tomorrow. Don't forget.

Keith: What's with that? What did he... want to know, anyway?