"It's dark"
Something is pulling on my leg, something... small?
"Hey, what's wrong?"
The small object was pointing at something. I shifted my eyes towards where she was pointing. There was light. I stared at the light for a few seconds then realized that something was appearing. It was the shape of a human, a guy to be exact.
The more and more I stare, the more the figure comes to life. I soon realize it was not just any guy. It was our leader.
"D- Dave?"
The figure opened its mouth and started speaking. I tried to listen, but I couldn't hear anything.
"Dave, I can't hear you can you say that again?"
The figure smiled and turned it's back against me.
"Wait, where are you going?"
He started walking towards the light. I soon realized that David was not alone. Beside him was Sayu, Mitch and Evem.
Is this my punishment?
Is this what I get for not doing anything?
Are they leaving me behind because I'm weak? Because I couldn't do anything?
"Don't leave me alone!"
"please..."
The pain, it's back again. The lingering pain in my heart that won't leave me alone. I think I'm going to cry again. The pain in my heart started growing and growing to the point where every moment was painful.
"huh?"
The tears aren't coming. What's wrong with me? Am I not sad right now? Why am I not crying?
The pain grew every second. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
"Save me"
I muttered out those words unconsciously. I started gasping for air until I was about to faint. My heart was about to break. One more word and I think I'll definitely break.
I started walking towards the light to follow my friends. But something held my hand.
Something, warm...?
It was the small object from earlier, It started holding my hand and looking at me.
Suddenly, a noise. A loud and painful noise struck my ears. It was coming from the object. The noise was familiar. It sounded like a child crying.
"Are you, crying?"
The noise started growing louder and louder. It was painful, but I realized I was the one causing it. I kneeled down and started hugging the object.
"It's gonna be okay, I'm here. I won't leave you alone"
The noise disappeared. It was replaced by a sweet melody.
The pain was gradually disappearing every second. This melody was the one that kept me from breaking. I don't want this melody to stop.
I looked down at the object to realize that it had fallen asleep. I placed my hand over its head and started patting it. I slowly began to lose consciousness and my vision had started blurring.
I blinked, but when I opened my eyes I could no longer see the darkness. I was now looking at a wooden ceiling.
I got up and saw that the windows were opened. A girl was standing there staring at the sky, singing a familiar melody.
I gazed upon her and for some reason, tears started falling
"Huh? Why am I crying"
The girl turned around and smiled at me.
"Good morning"
I wiped away my tears and stopped crying. The girl in front of me was the same girl who had saved me yesterday. I guess that thing earlier was a dream.
"Good morning"
I realize I still don't actually know her name. I'll ask her for it later when I find the right time.
"Dinner is ready, I'll see you downstairs~"
Can this girl be any nicer? I feel like I'm taking advantage of her. How am I supposed to repay her for being this kind to me? I feel guilty.
"ah- ok..."
I got up from my bed and started heading downstairs. I see her waiting there on the table. I guess she's waiting for me.
It's like we're a couple or someth-
Nevermind.
I don't have the right to think like that.
I shook my head then proceeded to head towards the dinner table. Sitting on the table was the leftovers from yesterday's dinner.
It looked delicious, but my tongue can't seem to taste anything right now. It's possible that I might have lost my sense of taste due to the extreme stress lately.
"Let's eat"
She said while smiling.
I took a bite and still, I could not taste anything. I put on a fake smile and acted as if I enjoyed the meal.
"So I was wondering"
She asked me in a calm voice
"What are your plans for today?"
Speaking of which the officials might have noticed that our leader has been gone for a while. I'm sure they are over at the guild house right now. I might as well take my stuff before they take down the guild house.
"I might head over to the guild house today"
I turned my head and wore a slightly pained expression.
"I see"
It's gonna be hard for me to face the officials waiting there later on.
"If that's the case can I come with you?"
"Eh?"
No please stop, you have already done more than enough. I'm just going to be overrun by guilt if you keep
helping me non-stop.
"Don't get me wrong I have something to do near Larchroad anyways"
Oh, I see. I'm getting ahead of myself thinking she was gonna help me forever.
"I understand, lets go together."
After a few hours, we left the house together and started heading towards her horse. We started riding towards
Larchroad. I gave her directions to the guild house
Soon enough, we arrived and I saw officials from fort sterling standing infront of the guild. I casually approached
the officials and started talking to them.
"You are from this guild?"
"ah- yes."
He gave me a suspicious look but decided to continue asking.
"Where's your leader?"
My body slightly trembled. I hesitated to answer, but I started speaking anyways.
"They-"
As I was about to explain everything, the girl9 I was with tugged on my sleeve.
"Let me take over for you"
Are you kidding me? Are you my mother? Are you just going to do everything for me? I feel pathetic! Let me do something too. I wanted to decline but I nodded anyways
I'm an idiot.
I could see the girl talking to the officials. They talked for a few minutes and soon enough, the officials understood what had happened. The officials headed towards me and started asking me questions.
"I'm sorry for your loss, I'm going to ask you a few questions now"
I nodded and decided to just go with it.
"Do you want to keep the guild house?"
"..."
I said nothing and just looked away. Even if I kept the house, what am I supposed to do with it? Aren't you an official? Shouldn't you be able to guess by now? Just take the house and leave me alone already.
"Let me rephrase that, do you have enough funds to keep the guild house running?
I shake my head signaling a negative response.
"I understand, I'll allow you to collect your belongings for now. By tomorrow midnight, this place will no longer be yours."
"o- okay"
I gave out a quiet response.
I don't want to think about it. I don't want to be reminded. Let me forget about it already.
I clenched my fist hard enough to make my hand bleed. I looked down as if to hide my angry yet painful expression. I walked away and entered the guild house. The girl also followed me in.
I started looking for things that belonged to me. I ignored all the other things and only focused on my things. I looked and looked until there was nothing left that belonged to me.
"That's about it"
I started walking towards the exit when I was suddenly stopped by the girl.
"What is it?"
"What about that?"
She pointed towards the guild chest. It was supposedly filled with a mix of all our items. I tried to avoid that chest because I did not want to see their stuff.
"It's fine, I have more than enough already"
I tried to walk away, but she started holding my wrist.
"What's wrong?"
I tried pulling away, but she didn't let go.
"Let me go already"
"I think it's better if you check that chest first. It would be bad if you had left something important."
Look, I appreciate you looking out for me but I feel uncomfortable opening that chest.
"But-"
She held my wrist even tighter and started staring at me.
"Okay, okay. Fine, I'll check it."
I head over towards the chest and opened it. I closed my eyes and started reaching inside. What I grabbed was paper...?
When I reached inside what I found was not armor, not swords, neither were they potions or money. Nothing was in it except for this one piece of paper.
I have never opened this chest before I just assumed it was a shared chest because everyone opened it now and then.
I grabbed the paper and took it out of the chest.
"What could this be?"
I turned the paper around and finally found what it actually was.
It was a group picture of me, David, Sayu, Mitch, Evem, and K.
The pain struck my heart again. I was once again reminded of the deaths of my comrades. I was once again, reminded of the cause of their deaths. I was the cause of their deaths. I'm a murderer.
Tears started flowing and a wave of painful anger filled my heart. I tried to rip out the paper but I couldn't do it.
"Why-"
I bit my lip and the tears came out bursting forth
"Why did you leave me alone?"
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME ALONE? OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WOULD STAY BY MY SIDE!"
Sudden flashbacks ran through my mind. Flashbacks when we were all smiling. Teasing each other, fighting,
and even crying together. These memories are what made me me. Without you guys, what other purpose do I have?
I'm Pathetic
I cry a lot
I rely on other people to fix my mistakes
Whenever I do something wrong, I blame it on other people
I stay neutral, I don't choose for myself
How am I supposed to live without you guys now?
"tell me please."
Tears would not stop falling from my eyes.
"why am I still alive?"
"why didn't god kill me when all of my friends were killed"
"why did you leave me all alone to suffer by myself"
"why-"
"WHY?"
I held the picture close to my heart and started crying more and more.
All of a sudden, warmth came from beside me. The girl sat next to me. And started patting my head while smiling
"It's okay, I understand the pain. Just let it all out"
The warmth that I had received lessened the pain but made me cry more.
She opened her arms as if to welcome me so I took every chance I could to feel the warmth. She embraced me
with open arms and I accepted it.
I closed my eyes then everything around me disappeared. Only me and this girl were left in this world.
Me, this girl, and another person?
Who is this? I don't remember meeting anyone like this before.
"Your running out of time"
Running out of time? For what? I dont remember there being a deadline for anything
"Diane"
Diane? Where have I heard this name before?
"Diane"
Am I forgetting something important again?
"Diane"
Think you stupid brain, where have I heard this name before?
Then it came to me. David's last request. The request for me to take care of a person named Diane.
How could I forget? Did I spend the last two days forgetting about Dave's request? How forgetful can I be?
A new mission came to light.
A new objective to follow.
To take care of Diane
I opened my eyes to see the girls face in front of me. I was currently sleeping on her lap. Was I asleep the whole time?
"Had a good rest?"
the girl smiled and I finally managed to smile back.
On that day, I swore to never cry in front of anyone again. Especially this girl.
I got up to realize it was night time. I spent the whole afternoon sleeping and crying. How embarrassing can I get?
"Hey, uh"
I called out to the girl. And she replied with a small tilt of her head.
"hmm?"
"Can I ask for your name?"
She looked surprised. Was I asking for her name that shocking? The surprised face soon turned back into her normal smile.
"I thought you would never ask"
True, it did take me 2 days to ask for her name when I have already slept in her house.
"It's Kyouga, you can call me Kyou"
What a cool name.
"Kyou huh, thank you very much for helping me stand back on my own feet. I really appreciate everything you've
done for me."
She looked away while blushing. Every day I get reminded of how pretty she is.
She looked back at me and started smiling again. But this time, it was kind of different. It had some form of genuinity to it. I feel like blushing.
"So what now?"
"Now, I have a new objective. To fulfill the last request of my leader."
I grabbed her hand and started running towards the exit of the guild house
Goodbye JDx2 I will miss you.
And with that, I started heading towards a new location.
David's home.