Shino SSR: If We Stood Together

[nyaitsu]

Thanks to royalquintet for proofreading and lots of other help!!

Story Title: If We Stood Together
Unlock with: SSR [A Loud Yell From The Retainer] Shino



Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3


Chapter 1

[Field]

Rutile: Shino, it went that way!

Shino: Got it. “Matztzah Sudipas!”

Akira: Nice teamwork!

Figaro: Yup, looks like everyone’s in top form.

Akira: (So this is joint training between the Eastern and Southern Wizards. I was a little worried when they said they’d be catching monsters, but...)

(Everyone’s so lively, it actually looks a bit fun. Even the monsters aren’t so scary—thankfully the ones they found are small.)

Figaro: All right, maybe they’ve earned a short rest. Take a break, everyone!

Akira: Shino, great work out there. I made lemon water. Care for some?

Shino: I was craving something cold. Thank you, Sage.

Mitile: Augh, I got it wrong again!

Shino: ... What’s the racket?

Akira: The Southern Wizards are getting pretty excited. Why don’t we take a look?

Rutile: Now then, next question. Who can tell me Mr. Faust’s favorite food?

Mitile: Hmm, what was it....

Akira: Rutile, great work earlier. It sounds like you’re all having fun over here. What are you up to?

Rutile: Sir Sage, thank you for your hard work. We're doing a quiz with info about our friends from the other countries!

Akira: A quiz?

Rutile: That’s right. I’ve been having conversations with wizards from other countries to get to know them better.

And by exchanging information with Mr. Leno and Mitile, I'm all up to date even on people I don’t speak to directly!

Shino: Oh right, Mitile asked me a bunch of questions before. So this is why.

Rutile: If you learn by playing a game, it’s easier to remember, don’t you think?

Mitile: Mr. Faust’s favorite food.... Is it pancakes?

Lennox: No. Master Faust’s favorite food is actually... galettes, right?

Rutile: Mr. Leno is correct!

Mitile: Hmph. I’ll get the next one, just you watch.

Wait, Shino is friends with Heathcliff, right? Can you tell us about Heathcliff?

Shino: Sounds good. If it’s about Heath, leave it to me.

Akira: (Shino looks pretty happy.)

Shino: Heath is the son of the Blanchette family, a noble family of the East. He’s not a guy you could just randomly cross paths with.

But he’s not a stuck up kind of noble, and he’s open-minded with everyone he meets.

Mitile: That sounds kinda cool!

Shino: Yeah, Heath’s cool. Both as a noble’s son and a Sage’s Wizard, he works harder than anyone.

And he never shows off all that effort he’s made, just acts like it’s only natural to work hard. It’s really amazing.

Akira: Shino....

Shino: But Heath doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, even though he definitely could. He’s shy like that. So I decided that I’d stand by his side, and protect him.

So someday, I’ll boast to the entire world. I’ll tell them that Heath is the greatest wizard.

Rutile & Mitile & Lennox: Oohhh...!

Figaro: Heeey— I hate to interrupt the excitement over there, but it’s time to get back to our training.




Chapter 2

Heathcliff: “Repsev Aivulp Sunos!”

Akira: (Everyone's still doing great after the break.)

Shino: Hey, Heath! Behind you!

Heathcliff: Eh-?

Shino: ... ghh!

Heathcliff: Shino!

Akira: Shino, are you okay?!

Shino: ... No problem. See, I captured it.

Take cover, Sage. Heath, there’s more coming. Stay sharp.

Heathcliff: G-got it.


[Outside the Manor]

Figaro: Thanks everyone, you all worked hard. Take the rest of the day off.

Heathcliff: Shino, thank you for today.

Shino: What do you mean?

Heathcliff: For protecting me? Were you injured?

Shino: That was nothing. I have a lot of energy left over. I’m going to the forest to train more.

Heathcliff: ... All right. Don’t overdo it.

Akira: (Shino’s still going after all that practice. I hope he's not pushing himself too hard...)

Faust: ... Sage, can I have a moment?

Akira: Ah, Faust. What is it?

Faust: Would you mind keeping an eye on Shino?

The kid hurt his leg a bit when he covered for Heath.

But he played it off, probably because he doesn't want Heath to worry.

Akira: Wait, Shino was hurt...? I’ll go right after him!

Faust: I leave it to you.


[Forest]

Shino: Shit. It’s nothing....

Akira: (Here he is! Glad I found him so fast.)

Shino: ...!

[Falling over and shuffling SFX]

Akira: Shino!?

Are you okay? Hold onto me.

Shino: Sage? Why are you here.

Akira: I came looking for you. ... You’re actually injured, aren’t you?

Shino: This is no big deal.

Akira: Pushing yourself will only make it worse. I wish you’d said something....

Shino: If I admitted I got hurt back there, Heath would’ve blamed himself because I shielded him. Since he’s so nice.

Akira: But that’s....

Shino: And anyway, it’s my fault for being weak. I just need to get stronger.

Akira: ... It’s not anyone’s fault.

If he knew you were quietly enduring pain.... If he knew you were pushing yourself so hard, I think Heathcliff would be so sad.

Shino: ...

Lennox: There you are.

Akira: Lennox? Did you come looking for us?

Lennox: Yeah. Shino was injured, right? We’ll have Dr. Figaro treat him.

Shino: No way. If we go to Figaro, Heath might find out I got hurt.

Lennox: ... So that’s it.

Shino: Huh? Hey, what the—!?

Akira: (He lifted Shino onto his back!?)





Chapter 3

Shino: Hey, put me down.

Lennox: Your leg is hurt. Cooperate and hold on.

Shino: This is nothing....

Akira: (I was pretty shocked, but Lennox saved the day with a piggyback ride.)

Shino: ... Your eyeline is up so high. I’m looking down on everything I usually look up at.

Lennox: Yeah?

Shino: Yeah. The view’s great up here.

Akira: (At least Shino seems to be enjoying himself. Thank goodness.)

Lennox, thank you for carrying Shino.

Lennox: No, I’m just big. I’m glad to be useful to people at times like this.

That goes for you too, Shino. Tell me whenever you need help. I'd feel bad if you overdid it.

Shino: I'm not overdoing anything.

Akira: Me too—it hurts to watch you suffer through an injury, Shino.

Lennox: Sir Sage and I aren’t the only ones who feel that way. I think Heathcliff would, too.

Shino: ...

Lennox: ... I’m envious of you, Shino.

Shino: Of me?

Lennox: Mm. I also have someone important to me, but unlike you and Heath, it seems like it’ll take some time for us to build a close, trusting relationship.

But today, when I heard you speak... I thought, he and I should start by being friends.

Shino: So you have a guy like that, too. Someone I know?

Lennox: ... Yeah, you know him.

Shino: So if you aren't friends yet, is he always shy like Heath? Or does he hate people, like Faust?

Lennox: That might be so.... But he’s a wonderful person, with a kind and compassionate heart.

I was always trying to catch up to him. But maybe I should’ve supported him by his side, like you do, Shino.

Shino: Sometimes, it's better to be beside rather than behind someone. If I stand at Heath’s side and praise him every day, will he have more faith in himself?

Lennox: Yeah, I think so. This person’s the same in that respect.

Shino: I get the feeling Heath and your important guy are similar. Hey, tell me more about him.

Lennox: Haha, I’m cornered. Didn’t think I’d be the one getting questioned.

Akira: I want to hear more, too! Share with us, Lennox.

Lennox: I don’t mind telling you, but it’ll be dinnertime soon. Let’s hurry to Dr. Figaro.

Lennox & Akira: ... Ah.

Lennox: ... Should I have just healed him with magic...?

A few days later.

Faust: Stay alert, the monster went that way!

Heathcliff: Shino!

Shino: !!

Heathcliff: Shino, are you all right? Take my hand!

Shino: ... Thanks.

Heathcliff: Are you hurt?

Shino: No, I’m fine. Let’s fight together, Heath.