Elemental Zodiack

Chapter 15: The Sign of Leo

 It was the first defeat Yoso faced ever since coming back from Melyndor. His fight against Shiro of the Falling Snow, The Ice Zodiack was a fight that he will never be able to forget. A crushing defeat that had to make another change into Yoso's mindset. And ever since that defeat... Yoso didn't wake up.

 "Is he really going to be alright?" says Shouko to the others from the group while waiting in Yoso's house, on the couch this time around. No one entered the wonderful jacuzzi that they were used to while Yoso was still resting after his fight with Shiro.

"He is going to be just fine... How about we go into the jacuzzi to get rid of some of our uneasiness," says Kein while slowly stripping, leaving only his bath suit on.

"Shimada... How's the weather outside?" asks Laure

"Not again..." and as such, Kein flew through the window the 3rd time since Yoso fell asleep.

"He will be fine. His external wounds have already been healed by his outstanding regeneration capabilities. On the other hand, I am worried about his mental health after this crushing defeat."

"All we have to do is cheer him up upon his awakening!" exclaims Shizuo

"True..." says Saki Kurata

 As they were silently talking in a depressing atmosphere, they hear someone knocking at the door of Yoso's house. While Shouko and Shizuo might have thought that it was just Kein coming back after his trip outside, someone else came carrying him, getting permission to enter from Laure.

 He was the Ice Zodiack Shiro, carrying Kein in one hand, greeting them with a cheerful smile. After leading him to a comfortable place in the living room, the discussion between him, Mr Laure, Kein and Saki began, with Shouko and Shizuo watching quietly from the side.

"I've thought about your proposition, Mister Laure. If by this, I might honour Yoso's fight, I will hereby accept your conditions. But I don't know if that kid will be willing to accept it so easily." says Shiro

"I see... Well, it might be certainly true that Yoso might not agree with you stepping in as the Zodiack with Number 1, we can't postpone the problems with the Black Cross anymore..."

"So you accepted it... How comes?" asks Kein while staring at Shiro

"Well, I thought it might be a good idea to help the future generations a bit. I might have said it in the past as well, but your potential, as well as Yoso's, is something we have to make use of, and I'd like to be the one that starts making use of your talent to a good extent,"

"I see... Well, good luck with that," quietly answers Kein

"And so... I've come to the agreement with Mister Laure that you will become my second in command for this role. I hope I can see you grow from up close after all!" says Shiro

"Wait... What?"

"It's as he says, Shimada. You might be lazy when it comes to training, this being the main cause your talent had gone to waste, but your deductive and strategic skills are top-notch. You might be a great help to Shiro as his right hand," explains Laure

"I see... Well, it might be right..." mutters Kein

"From what I've come to understand of your agreement with Yoso, mister principal, he won't be allowed to partake in the mission against the Black Cross, am I right?" asks Saki

"You are right, Kurata. He won't be in the front lines, but we can't negate that he is making a big percentage of Dinsfurd's firepower at the moment. So he will stay at the operational headquarters, together with Shimada Kein. He is going to be our secret weapon, in case of something unprecedented," says Laure

"This might be the best approach we can take... He did indeed lose to Mister Shiro, but he is still a force to be aware of..."

"Oh, about that!" intervenes Shiro

 Everyone started looking at him.

"As the future Number 1, I want to appoint Yoso Edroch as the new Number 3 Zodiack!"

 An awkward silence fell on the group as of the moment of Shiro's announcement, yet to be followed up by a loud exclamation.

"What?!"

"Hmm? I thought you would understand. I acknowledge that kid's potential and I find him suitable for that place. I've seen all of his battles with the other Zodiacks so there isn't any other place for him other than 3rd since I'll be leaving that spot empty from now," explains Shiro

"Wait, Shiro! He is just a kid-"

"You won't tell me that he can't be a Zodiack just because he is a kid, right? Mister Laure..." interrupts Shiro

"That is..." Laure was at a loss for words

"It's like Kein Shimada's case. Yoso is talented enough to become a Zodiack, moreover, he has trained up to a good level and has already defeated most of the Zodiacks. I would say he is even more suited for being a Zodiack than Keiny over there,"

"...Keiny?" says Kein while watching dumbfounded

"I've already talked it out with most of the other Zodiacks. More than half of them agreed of I to become the next first seat after former number one's betrayal will become public. The fact that I defeated Yoso that humiliated them was a big plus to all of this. Also, the others didn't deny, they were just cases like Stinger's, where they were like: 'I don't care what you do...' and left me be," explained Shiro

"So, it is clarified and everyone will acknowledge you as the new number 1 after the announcement that the former betrayed the kingdom in Authorania's favour," says Saki

"Yep! This is how it is! I have high hopes for both of you, Keiny and... Yoso," says Shiro while turning his gaze to the door that had opened a few minutes ago.

"Yoso!" everyone exclaimed as of seeing someone come out from the dead.

"I'm sorry for making you all worry about me, I'm fine now," says Yoso, then he quickly turns his gaze towards Shiro, while approaching him.

"I'm glad to see you are alright, Yoso," says Shiro facing Yoso from a close distance.

 Looking at him for a few seconds, Yoso's stiff expression turned into a smile, followed by a bow in front of Shiro.

"Thank you for the fight, mister Shiro! Because of you, I've come to understand that I have yet a long way to go!" shouts Yoso while bowing.

 Everyone was watching dumbfounded, probably because they thought that Yoso will arrogantly try to challenge Shiro again, or will change after one utter defeat.

"You have a lot of talent, and trained hard up until this point. For a sixteen years old boy to defeat almost all the zodiacks in a matter of days is something unprecedented, however, you still have to find your own way to put that talent and training at work, not just relying on pure powers, because... this is the sole reason I defeated you," says Shiro

"Yes! I will definitely work harder to find myself a fighting style of my own!" says Yoso

"Good! That's what I wanted to hear!" says Shiro just before turning his gaze to Kein, with a smug smile on his face, as of telling him that he was right.

"He is different than me, huh? I see... You probably were right, Shiro..." thinks Kein while staring at Yoso that was still bowing in front of Shiro.

"You can raise your head now, Yoso. I feel like I shouldn't explain to you the current situation, right?" asks Shiro

"No need for that! I heard it all... And I also realized that you knew I was there all along, but after seeing that you won't point that out, I knew that you wanted me to listen carefully!" says Yoso

"If he knew that Shiro realized he was listening, then he knew that I realized it too... Sincerely, it's pretty sad for someone of mister principal's calibre to not have realized this though..." thinks Kein

"Alright, then, I'm happy to work with you, number 3 Zodiack with the sign of Leo: Yoso Edroch!" says Shiro as of declaring Yoso the new Zodiack under the sign of the former number one's.

"Yes sir! I'm glad to be working with you!" says Yoso after extending his right hand to Shiro, which he shook as of finishing a contract.

"Good job, kid!" exclaims Shizuo

"Yeah, you've been here for less than a week and are already the number 3 Zodiack of Dinsfurd!" says Shouko

"Thank you so much!" 

 Then Yoso turns to face Laure, that gently put his hands on Yoso's shoulders saying:

"At first, I had mixed feelings about you, but as I got to learn more about you, I've come to realize that you are more than a valuable asset to this kingdom... You are Yoso Edroch... The Sign of Leo, and my son. I am sorry for opposing you fighting Authorania... As of now, you are free to do whatever you want!" says Laure while looking into Yoso's eyes

"You don't have to be so worried, Mister Laure! I won't do anything reckless anymore! I will act on Mister Shiro's and Mister Kein's command, so I won't be putting myself in unnecessary danger anymore. I am sorry that I made you worry until now!" says Yoso

"So emotional... And with this, I think this discussion can come to an end. From tomorrow on onwards, the new council of the zodiacks will assemble, so get ready!" says Shiro while changing glances back and forth from Yoso to Kein.

"Yes sir!"