It was time for the fitness training, Isagi thought.

They were required to do some lifting, running, and jumping to score their total ability scale. He thought to himself:

Did I do too much?

Isagi particularly didn't like to stand out too much, mainly because it was bothersome to have people's attention on him—unless it was the people he cared for and cherished.

Though he hated to admit it, he himself had found a loud bunch of people that he loved. But afraid he might lose it the moment he admitted it, he decided to let it be as if winds passing.

He didn't want them to be his weakness, his chains towards a future that could be bright—or perhaps dark—for him.

Running wasn't a problem. He scored quite well in it, earning a jealous whine from Igaguri.

"H-how are you so fast~"

"Ugh, if only I hadn't been tortured to clean the shrine every day, I would've been faster than you." He pointed his fingers at Isagi.

Isagi stared at the boy.

A monk?

"You certainly don't act like one, do you?"

Igaguri grunted.

"OF COURSE! I never wanted to become one anyway! It was all because of the old man—if he didn't force me, I had to become one!!"

"And look what it did to me! I lost my hair because of it, and people called me the Sun Reflector before because my head was too shiny..."

"Thank god I let it grow. Now it's much better."

"And then, did you know how—"

Isagi cut Igaguri's voice from his mind.

He talks too much, Isagi thought.

He did hear that monks are known for their composed and calm personality, with a polite way of speaking, but Igaguri certainly didn't fit any of those criteria. In fact, he was the complete opposite.

Watching the boy still talk relentlessly even though Isagi ignored him made Isagi quite annoyed.

He thought:

I prefer to hear Reo's nagging or Nagi's whines rather than hearing this bald monkey talk such nonsense!

After that thought, Isagi decided to move to the lifting site, leaving Igaguri yapping to empty air.

"Can you believe it?" Igaguri opened his eyes.

"Huh?"

"Where did he go?"

Isagi, who had just arrived there, was greeted by Kunigami.

"Hello! Did you come here to score for the weight scale?"

"Yes."

"I got a pretty high mark there since I'm used to working out, and y'know, I have sisters that love asking me to carry them."

"It pre—"

Isagi moved, stopping Kunigami from continuing his speech.

Kunigami's eyes showed a strike of embarrassment.

Talk about party poppers. Maybe he isn't the type to talk to people much... is what he thought.

Meanwhile, Isagi was devastated.

Why do people here talk too much? I can't believe how talkative they are. And compared to Reo, they are on a whole new different level.

I hope I don't suddenly meet someone that is too hyperactive and talkative...

Isagi did the weight scale and scored a high mark—a small margin of points over Kunigami's score.

"Wow! You're hella strong! What did you do?"

Isagi looked at Kunigami, then looked at the score.

"I have a panda."

"Huh? A panda?"

"Yes. And a princess."

"A... princess?"

"They love making me carry them even though they're heavy. That's why."

"I-I see..."

Kunigami's eyes were deadshot shocked.

He thought to himself, imagining Isagi—the small boy in front of him—carrying a whole panda and a princess.

He certainly got it harder than me. That's for sure, Kunigami thought.