"It is imperative that you make the transmutation circle bigger! Like so! Consider the flow of its earthly energy as it flows through the circle in an eternal race to absolute power! Forget not the shapes that harness this world's elements. Nor should you forget the planes of this dimension's existence: life, matter, mind, energy—Stop! The seashells must be symmetrical! There must be balance in all things!"

After agreeing to be Gundham's "apprentice," you quickly realized that he was being completely serious in teaching you how to become a magic-user like himself. After gathering with everyone in the hotel restaurant after Usami's morning announcements, he would have an entire lesson plan set up for you. A whole day planned dedicated to elemental magic, transmutation, beast taming, alchemy, spells... Anything he could think of to get you to his astral level. He was dedicated and rigorous in his training to the point that you could hear him reprimanding you in your sleep.

At first, you eagerly went along with it because you wanted to collect Hope Fragments with him and potentially finish your first Hope Blossom. However, as training sessions went on, you realized you weren't actually becoming closer to him. He still refused to reveal anything personal about himself with you. He was always so busy instructing that you rarely got a chance to talk to him about anything substantial. It was not only unproductive, but it was also starting to get really really...

Annoying.

This morning, you miraculously convinced him to spice up transmutation training by building a sand castle in the center of a transmutation circle. Aside from him constantly barking reminders and recommendations, you were actually starting to have some fun. If only he could get away from his obsession with immersing you in his extensive training program...

"Gundham, did you bring the flag?" you asked as you finished the towers on top of the castle and solidified the columns. You were really proud of your castle, and by jove, you were going to top it off with a royal flag!

With a flourish, Gundham produced a tiny flag attached to a pick from his pocket. The flag was completely red and was fluttering in the breeze. "I collected this from the kitchen before we embarked on our morning quest to glory!"

"Ohhh, one of those little flag things restaurants put in burgers and sandwiches to keep them from falling over! Good thinking!" you praised.

Gundham held the little flag over to you. "Would you like to do the honors?"

Without a second thought, you grabbed the flag and tried to get the perfect angle to pop it on top. After a bit of workshopping with Gundham, you finally found the perfect spot and lightly flicked it on. The flag stayed upright and was perfectly centered! Taking a few steps back, you and Gundham surveyed your architectural masterpiece.

"Oh my gosh, it's... It's gotta be the cutest little castle I've ever built!" you squealed in delight. "It's got a moat, towers, a door, a drawbridge, windows, a courtyard... If I were a crab, I would totally live there!"

Gundham, with an expression of triumph, watched your excitement and nodded his head. "It was mostly your doing. You have... impressed your mentor. Even the Dark Devas of Destruction seem pleased with your craftsmanship."

On cue, their four little faces popped up out of his scarf and began squeaking in agreement.

In the midst of your excitement, hamster squeaks, and Gundham's pride, a strange, mechanical noise suddenly drew your attention away from the castle.

Click!

Looking over toward the sound, you saw your friend Mahiru with her camera pointed in your direction. She seemed really pleased with herself and the photo she apparently just took. Tromping over to you and Gundham through the sand, she gave both of you a friendly wave.

"Hey! You guys should see this! It was a really good shot!" she called out. Finally reaching you and Gundham, she pulled up the picture on the camera for both of you to see. "I know I didn't ask before taking the picture, but you two had such beautiful smiles! I just couldn't resist."

Sure enough, there was you prancing excitedly at the sight of your sandcastle. Gundham looked as bold as a peacock at your accomplishment, and the hamsters were all cheering and clapping with delight. Mahiru even managed to capture a bit of the castle in the picture, too! You wanted more than anything to print it out and put it in a picture frame.

"Sorry... If you don't want me having this, I can always erase it," Mahiru said with a hint of guilt. "I swear, I almost always ask first. I just got a bit overexcited."

You passed the camera back to her. "We're not mad! This is the best picture I've ever seen of myself! It's really, really well-taken."

Gundham bobbed his head. He was a bit more reserved now that Mahiru was here, but he was already doing a lot better around the other classmates than he was the first few days on the island. "Indeed, you have masterfully captured this moment in time and space. Truly, a moment that deserves to be immortalized!"

Upon hearing your praise, Mahiru's eyes lit up with joy. All of her guilt disappeared and her confidence came soaring back on phoenix wings. "Oh, that's such a relief! I'm so glad you like them! If you'd like, I can have copies made and give them to you."

"Yes! I would love to have some copies made! The walls of my room do look a little blank. Maybe by the time our field trip is over, I'll have it covered with beautiful pictures," you chirped. Dreaming about a room full of smiling faces and friends made you thankful for your new friends. You never once thought you would ever have enough friends to pull off such a feat, and you could feel your memories of icy loneliness melting away in the summer heat.

As Mahiru backed up the photos she took to her hard drive, she had a bittersweet expression on her face. Despite all of the happy memories flashing on her camera's screen, there seemed to be something missing.

You sat on the ground next to her. "What's the matter, Mahiru?"

She heaved a sigh and placed her camera back into her backpack as if it were made of glass. "Oh..., it's nothing. I was hoping to capture pictures of everyone's smiling faces today. Sadly, there's one person I may never be able to get a decent photo of," she answered. Rather than letting you guess who that person might be, she clicked over to a series of... interesting pictures.

In the images that flashed across the screen, you saw Peko Pekoyama smirking and sneering threateningly at the screen, her red eyes flaring like ignited charcoal. She was waving her bamboo sword in one, posing in another, and even holding a stuffed animal in one of the last ones. Despite it all, she always had a menacing expression on her face as if she were about to commit a murder or enforce justice.

"You see what I mean?" Mahiru asked hopelessly.

Gundham peered over the red-head's shoulder and inspected the pictures. "Why is the samurai warrior performing such strange stunts in these photos? I have never once witnessed her performing any of these mysterious acts in public! These photos are unnatural!"

Mahiru, looking a bit offended by his accusation, raced to defend her work. "I told her that it might be easier for her to smile if she showed off her interests. Unfortunately, those interests are limited to sword fighting, protecting Fuyuhiko, and cute animals."

Gundham perked up. "The weapon also enjoys the company of demon beasts??"

As if only just now realizing Gundham was standing there, Mahiru perked up. "Oh, yeah! I totally forgot about you, Mr. Ultimate Breeder! I bet if anyone can get Peko to smile for a photo, it's you and your hamsters!"

Gundham took a step away from her and glared like a lioness defending her cubs. "How dare you refer to my Four Dark Devas of Destruction as merely hamsters! They are more powerful than any divine or hellish beast in any celestial realm! You're lucky they're taking their afternoon nappies, or they would certainly have smited you into the earth with holy lightning!"

The reporter placed her hands on her hips and took on her signature accusatory pose. "How about you stop playing around with your little fantasies and lend me a hand. You're a boy, so you should be eager to help me and Peko with this small task. This is very important."

A satisfied smirk crossed Mahiru's face when she saw Gundham flinch back and retreat into his scarf. He looked to you as if you might defend him from your bossy friend, but you were too focused on the task at hand. You really wanted to see that picture.

"Gundham, we simply have to help Peko! If we help her and Mahiru, we might get some Hope Fragments!" you chirped as you skipped over to Mahiru.

Fidgeting helplessly, Gundham relented and followed you. He couldn't argue with your logic since he did want to complete the teacher's assignments and leave the island. Following a proud Mahiru, you and Gundham made it to the beach where Peko was training with her bamboo sword.

In a flurry of slashing movements, you saw a series of lined up coconuts split in half and spew tropical juice all over the sand. Not pausing for a beat, the whirlwind redirected its attention to some makeshift dummies made from piles of straw from the island's ranch. Brandishing her blade and whipping it in aerodynamic swings, Peko shredded the dummies and sent the straw blowing freely in the ocean breeze. The swordswoman's gleaming red eyes darted around looking for her next target, and they locked onto Mahiru. The red gaze seared into the photographer's skin as those eyes analyzed the fifteen different potential ways to dice a human being from twenty feet away.

Peko sheathed her blade and stood at ease. In her calm, mechanical voice she explained, "I told you not to come back. Your mission is pointless."

"Not this time!" Mahiru countered. She gestured to Gundham as he woke up his Dark Devas from their naps. "After consulting with you and some friends, I have found the perfect strategy to get you to smile!"

The four hamsters crawled out of their cozy hiding places in Gundham's scarf pockets and yawned. Cham-P, the golden hamster, crawled out first and twitched their nose in Peko's direction. Soon enough, Maga-Z, San-D, and Jum-P joined in Cham-P's curiosity.

Gasping slightly and rushing over, Peko thrust her face as close to the Devas' faces as she could and fixed them in place with her red eyes.

"S-So... cute~!" she growled in the back of her throat as she lurched her grabbing hands forward to touch the increasingly-concerned hamsters.

"Halt!! You must not simply grab the Devas!" Gundham squawked as he lunged away from Peko's hands. "You will scare them! Fear in my Devas manifests in the form of biting! Many have lost their fingers to my demon beasts!"

Stopping in her tracks, Peko's smirk faded. "I... did the scary face again..."

She hugged herself and looked away from the hamsters in shame. "I always scare those I want to get close to... My young master is the only one who feels truly comfortable around me. Even he seems wary of me..."

You scrunched up your face reflexively at her statement. You found a contradiction. "What do you mean Fuyuhiko is wary of you? He's the Ultimate Yakuza! He shouldn't be scared of anybody or anything! Much less, his childhood friend."

Peko hummed in response. "You are very astute. He changed when we arrived at this island."

"Changed?" asked Mahiru with concern lacing her voice.

"He told me... not to treat him as my master anymore. We are nothing but normal high school students now. I have been... removed from my position as his tool. My young master no longer wants or needs my presence...," she murmured. "Perhaps, that is why I cannot smile. All of my attempts, no matter how earnest, end in that terrifying smirk you just witnessed!"

Gundham, having calmed down his hamsters, returned his attention to Peko. "This may be a misunderstanding between mortals! Do not make assumptions based on your own perceived self-worth!"

You nodded. "I agree with that. I don't think Fuyuhiko meant that you should stop being partners. I think... he meant that he wants to be your friend while on this island. Like how normal high schoolers can be friends without worrying about upholding appearances or representing a family's intimidating image."

"That's right. Strong boys like Fuyuhiko should be able to protect themselves. You don't need to be his weapon," said Mahiru. "If anything, you should stop kidding yourself about your feelings and give it to him straight."

Peko flinched. "I... I don't have feelings."

Looking thoughtful, Gundham took a step toward Peko and offered Cham-P to her. The other three hamsters watched from a distance. "This is the most docile of my companions. I recall you expressed a desire to hold one of my demon beasts. For one time only, I will allow you to interact with my Four Dark Devas of Destruction and prove your worth! Step forward with your hands extended. Drink from the fountain of infinite knowledge that is nature!" he declared.

Even though Peko didn't fully understand why he was changing the topic back to hamsters, she didn't hesitate to step forward and accept the golden lump into her hands. Cham-P's nose sniffed her scent and he began scampering up Peko's arm. Once he finished his climb, Cham-P contentedly plopped down onto Peko's shoulder and comfortably nuzzled into her cheek. Peko was speechless.

"It's... It's so...," she stuttered.

"Would you like to hold them all at once?" Gundham asked as he took hold of his other three companions.

Eyes lighting up like fireflies in the night, Peko accepted his offer. "Yes! I would love to!"

Maga-Z with his chipped ear climbed Peko's pigtails like a rope ladder and proudly perched himself atop her head. San-D chose to stay in Peko's hand, and she giggled with glee at Peko's happiness. Jum-P lazily slumped over and let Peko cradle him against her chest as he slept peacefully. Carefully balancing the hamsters, Peko sighed with contentment, and she felt something warm bubble in her chest. It was comforting. It was even... familiar. She couldn't help but think about...

Click!

Jolting out of her thoughts, Peko looked over at Mahiru in bewilderment. "N-No! Why did you take another picture?! You know it will just–!"

Mahiru walked over to her with a bright smile gracing her face. "Why don't you look before you freak out?" She pointed the camera's screen toward Peko so she could review the picture.

"Is... that really me...?" Peko asked with wide eyes. If her hands weren't full of hamsters, she would have taken the camera and studied it with disbelief.

"I... actually smiled...?" Peko breathed. "But... how? All I did was take the hamsters and think about my young master..."

At her own words, she finally realized why she could smile in the picture: Fuyuhiko. Much like her, he loved animals. When they were younger, they decided to go on a trip together to the zoo. He always insisted on feeding the giraffes, riding the camels, and petting the soft animals at the petting area. The soft hamsters reminded her of his smiling face as he stroked baby chicks and floppy-eared bunnies. At the end of the day, Peko recalled he held her hand.

"Let's do this again soon, Peko!" his voice echoed in her mind.

Gently, Peko gave the Devas back to Gundham, and he welcomed them back. Understanding what her friends had been trying to tell her about expressing her feelings, she turned to face everyone. "Thank you, my friends... I understand now. I only locked away my happiness for my young master... But in reality, he is my happiness."

She smiled again, and it felt good this time. Not forced. Mahiru beamed excitedly and snapped more pictures. Peko wasn't ashamed.

"I must find my young mas–Um... Fuyuhiko. He needs to know about my revelation.

As everyone left the beach and headed toward the hotel for dinner, you glanced over at Gundham who seemed completely calm walking with Mahiru and Peko. When he caught you staring, he glanced quizzically down at you. "What is it, my apprentice?"

"Oh, nothing much. I was just... really proud of you."