Nobody knew what to do. The four humans and the cat stood in silence, shock scribbled on their faces. All they could do is watch as the shadows disappeared into the forest, not a single one stopping to look back at the mess they made. Everybody's brains refused to function as they could only leave their jaws agape. Joy was gone, and they couldn't do a thing to change that.
Hitsu was the first to break himself from his shock. He shook his head in denial and rushed to the window. His sudden movement was enough to convert Nox's shock into a flood of emotions. As Hitsu stared out of the broken window with his brain working overtime Nox's panic took over. The girl grabbed Hitsu shoulder hoping desperately this was just a bad dream. As much as she hoped she couldn't deny the reality of the situation.
"Hitsu!" Nox blurted out, "What's going on? What just happened?"
"The shadows," Hitsu responded, "I think they panicked and took Joy instead of your mom." It was clear Hitsu was struggling to grasp the situation as much as everybody else.
"You think?" Nox said loudly, "They just ate her!"
"No, they didn't," Hitsu said as he tore himself away from the window and Nox's grasp. "Shadows have huge mouths," he explained, "they're just storing her there. I bet they're bringing her to whoever is ordering them."
"Are you even sure someone is ordering them?" Nox's father asked, the panic clear in his voice.
"Yeah," Hitsu said solemnly, "shadows aren't smart enough for an attack like that."
"What do we do?" Nox's mother asked as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"You guys stay here and stay safe," Hitsu said as he made his way back to the window. Hitsu held his hand out in front of him. With a pink flash, a neon rectangle the same size as the broken window appeared before him. With a light push, the rectangle floated forward through the window frame causing the remaining glass shards in the window frame to be pushed outside.
"I doubt they will come back," Hitsu said before he leaped through the space the window used to be. Hitsu landed on his feet before turning to continue his conversation. "I'm gonna hunt them down and get Joy back." Hitsu then whistled and moments later Juno leaped onto the window frame and then out onto Hitsu's shoulder. Without a minute to waste Hitsu turned to the forest and began his chase.
"Hitsu!" Nox shouted after him, "Wait!"
Nox quickly ran to her room before returning moments later with her phone in hand. She followed suit and climbed out of the window before running after the hero.
"Nox!" her father shouted as he attempted to climb out of his bed. He was silently stopped by his wife's arm being placed on his chest.
"Let her go," Nox's mother said softly, "she needs help... A hero's help."
"Mika." The only thing Akihito could say was his wife's name. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"I've wanted to help Nox for so long, but I've never been able to," Mika said with a sad smile, "maybe he can." That was she said before her head fell back to the pillow behind her. Akihito gently placed his hand on his wife's head before he lowered his head.
"Please hurry," He quietly begged his daughter knowing she couldn't hear him. The grim clock's ticking louder than ever.
...
"Hitsu!" Nox shouted, "Wait up!"
She ran up the hill as fast as she could. At the top waited Hitsu and Juno, the former stood at the edge of the dark forest with his back turned to her. Nox reached the top of the hill but was addressed before she could say a word.
"If you won't be able to dance just go back home," Hitsu said coldly.
Nox was stunned. She hadn't know Hitsu for long but this attitude felt out of place for the hero.
"O-Of course I'll be able to dance," Nox snapped back, "why would you say that?"
"Okay then," Hitsu said, "dance."
"Wh-what?" Nox said surprised, "right now?"
"Right now," Hitsu confirmed, "dance."
Nox found herself frozen in place. She wanted to move, she wanted to dance, to prove that she could. Despite her efforts, Nox couldn't move a muscle, she was stuck in place like a statue. Her body and brain lay disconnected.
"Come on," Hitsu said with his back still turned, "I'm not even looking."
Nox tried once more to dance, just to move, but the only thing she could do was drop her head in shame.
"I...I...I..." she stuttered not willing to admit defeat.
As Nox looked down at the ground in shame she heard Hitsu finally turn to face her.
"Why can't you dance," Hitsu asked bluntly.
"I can dance!" Nox proclaimed, "I danced the other day for my mom."
"Only because your mom was there," Hitsu refuted.
"I danced to get the shopper's attention!" Nox shouted.
"Only because they weren't paying attention and your dad was there," Hitsu denied
"I danced to save you from the shadow!" Nox yelled.
"Only because everyone was distracted," Hitsu said coldly
"I danced to make the spear..." Nox tried to scream, but her voice came out as nothing more than a defeated whimper.
Hitsu walked forward until he was in arms reach of Nox, his face filled with anger.
"Only because you didn't want to die," he said without remorse.
With that, Nox had nothing else to argue, she was done.
"You're too scared to dance in front of me," Hitsu said, "you'll just get me killed. Is that what you want?"
"...No," Nox said weakly.
"Then tell me, why can't you dance?" Hitsu asked.
The two stood in silence as Juno watched on. The only sound to be heard being the wind, the leaves, and Nox's tears hitting the ground below.
"Dancing is everything to me," Nox started. Hitsu didn't say a word, he simply listened. "My family never had much, but I had dancing. I love dancing, down to my very core."
"Then why can't you do it?" Hitsu inquired.
"I'm scared," Nox said through tears, "I'm scared of other people. Dancing is everything to me. What do I do if someone doesn't like my dancing? What if they tear me down? What if they take dancing from me? I need my dancing. I can't lose it. So tell me, how do I do it?"
Nox's head shot up and her tear-filled eyes met Hitsu's.
"How do I keep them from taking everything from me!?" she shouted.
"You can't," Hitsu responded immediately.
As Nox heard the words she feared the most she felt like a dagger had pierced her chest. She found herself falling forward and her head landed against Hitsu's chest. She angrily pounded her fist against the hero as she let out all her frustrations.
"Then what! What do I do!"
"Accept it,"
Nox froze along with her tears as she clutched onto Hitsu's shirt.
"The world is full of the people you fear," Hitsu continued, "it doesn't matter how talented you are, how passionate you are, how great you are, there are people who only exist to tear you down."
Hitsu's words caused memories to flash before Nox's eyes. Back when Hitsu fought the first five shadows all the shoppers made fun of him. Even as their only hop they ridiculed and mocked the name of a hero.
"Strong people will stop these tormentors, the strongest people will let them continue."
Nox's tears fell once again, these were the words she never knew she needed to hear.
"So Nox," Hitsu said over Nox's sobs, "Which one do you want to be?"
"I-I-I-," Nox stutered, "I want to be the strongest, so I can protect my family!"
"Even your sister?" Hitsu asked.
"No," Nox said, "It's her fault. It's her fault she got taken, her fault that everything is wrong, her fault my mom's gonna die." Nox's crying only intensified with every word she said.
Hitsu opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by Nox.
"At least... That's what I would have said before.
"Before?" Hitsu said confused.
"Before I met you," Nox said with a smile growing on her face. "Before you were here to help. Before you could help me realize what I knew all along. Before you helped remind me who I am. So I want to thank you. Because you helped me find myself again."
As tears fell down Nox's face and curved around her smile she felt an arm wrap around her shoulders. Suprised, Nox looked up to see Hitsu with a smile, the most genuine smile she had ever seen.
"Well if this is the real you... Then it's nice to meet you Nox."
Nox couldn't help but laugh. She laughed and wrapped her arms around the hero and hugged him tight. In a time like this, she somehow was able to find happiness.
After several more moments, the two broke apart. After Nox wiped the tears from her face she looked up to see Hitsu wiping his own eyes.
"Are you crying?" she asked
"Nope, never," Hitsu answered as he turned away.
Nox giggled before she spoke once again. "I'm ready, I can dance," she said confidently.
"Well then," Hitsu said with his back still turned. With a flash, Juno grew to her giant size. Hitsu jumped onto her back and held his hand out to Nox.
"Let's go save your sister."
...
End of Episode 14