Their exchange reached his ears again as they intended and they went as
far as to start snickering; even though he couldn't resort to physical means,
he still gave a reply within his mind.
—And you're as spirited as always, though only when Kirito isn't around,
Raios-kun.
Since the month before last, they have stopped with the direct provocations
whenever Eugeo and Kirito were together for some reason. In exchange,
the scorn Eugeo received when alone increased accordingly, but it didn't
seem to be because they found Eugeo easy to deal with, but because they
were spooked by Kirito.
Apparently, something occurred between Kirito and them around the end
of their novice trainee period, but his partner would only claim that it was
merely "a slight quarrel" when he asked and of course, he couldn't ask
Raios directly either. What seemed related though, was how Raios and
Humbert had strangely pale faces on when they saw Kirito give an unusual
potted blue flower to Solterina-senpai after the graduation ceremony last
month, but he had absolutely no idea about the significance behind it.
Anyway, he could get by without being hassled by them when together with
Kirito, which was something he had no qualms with. However, he couldn't
very well hide in the shadow of his partner forever, having become an elite
swordsman-in-training now