The hunting continued as decided, it wasn't much fun but there was still comfort in knowing that there were people to fight alongside with.
Hugo hummed a tune for his amusement during their boring little escapades. The tune seemed to accompany their lackluster adventures perfectly. Like the sheet music made for a specific movie.
"Sigh, can we stop fighting now?" Hyena yawned tiredly and clawed a monster that was gradually approaching.
Ruki levitated in the air playing with a small fireball in her hands.
"Theta really is too boring. No wonder big bro left Allegro entirely."
Even Hugo, albeit begrudgingly had to agree with this. Even Hyena who was trying to focus on his work turned to look at them and nodded.
"Mhmm. The USA is the best place for death-seeking Skydancers like us. Criminals who roam unbridled, monsters stronger than you could ever imagine and more! In comparison, Allegro is still tame since strong a lot of strong Skydancers live in the country."
His words gave Hugo another goal he wanted to accomplish.
'Once I've settled things in Allegro, I'd love to visit the US.'
"Hugo, stop daydreaming and let's move on to the next hunting ground!" Ruki called out to him while she and Hyena slowly moved further away from where he stood.
"Coming!"
He unhurriedly jumped to his feet and strolled over to where Ruki and Hyena waited.
*Sigh*
"I guess we can go home now." Hyena sighed tiredly, regretting the fact that he agreed to come with them.
'I was the one that did all the work here!' His inner voice only dared protest lowly when standing in front of people who could wipe him out at a moment's notice.
Ruki glanced at him from the side and nodded absentmindedly.
'Hugo Smithson and Ruki Oda. I hope they realize that I'm not a fool, that girl, Ruki... she... still doesn't trust me to be by Hugo's side.'
Their walk home was one of total silence. Not a single sound made, and not one word uttered.
Clank!
The sound of metal hitting the ground came to their attention.
"What was that?!"
In the blink of an eye, the three of them already got into fighting stances.
They stood in their positions for seconds and finally eased up after confirming there was no danger. Nobody was stupid enough to completely let down their guard's in such a strange situation.
'What was that just now?'
Their journey back was filled with even more unease, and no one could relax until they reached Hugo's front door.
"Whew, we made it back!"
Hyena exclaimed, wiping the sweat off of his forehead.
"I guess this is good night then." Ruki looked around cautiously, hoping to spot something.
Hugo could only sigh in defeat watching the two of them do all the work for him.
"Whatever, If you spot something just call me. I'm going to bed."
His lazy side didn't want to stay outside anymore and instinctually drove him towards his bed.
Hyena was about to call out to him when Ruki held his hand saying, "It's just how he is, let him be."
"Let him be?"
Ruki shook her head a little before proceeding to explain.
"If anything, Hugo does not care about the noise we heard that much. The only thing that's in his head right now is what I told him before."
Hyena understood but yet didn't understand. Ruki saw this and continued explaining.
"You see, he is someone who spends time brooding over the littlest matter, and in this case, the matter is not little at all. So, he wishes to spend more time thinking about his life and aspirations."
"Just because of what you said?"
"Just because of what I said."
He stared at her with sparkles in his eyes.
"Are you psychic?"
"I am, you know that."
"No, what I mean is, are you reading his mind?"
Ruki didn't think twice about her answer and answered with a big fat "no".
"I've known him since years ago, I don't need to read his mind to understand how his brain works at times."
After that, any questions he tried to ask her went ignored, as she was already flying towards her house unexhausted but underwhelmed.
. . .
When Hugo entered his room night's rays were gradually ending.
This was the first time he had stayed up late for such a pointless thing. This uneventful night shot up the rankings for his most pointless escapades yet.
But, aside from that. There was still some stuff he had to do.
"What is my goal exactly?"
He collapsed onto the bed and thought of what Ruki said earlier... he tried to remember what exactly his goal was.
He was remembering.
It wasn't the incident with the officer when he was five nor was it the time his family died. It was even before that.
It was when the world revealed itself.
. . .
Fifteen Years Ago.
This was the year Manuel and Rai's son became two years old.
Hugo was smarter than most kids his age were, by six months he was forming entire sentences and by 4 months was jumping buildings.
However, his parent's rarely let him leave his room. By the time he was 12 months old, he could eat entire chickens and animals. By the time he was a year old, he "awakened" for the first time.
Many hailed him a genius and even more cursed him as a demon.
But only his parents knew the truth about their child's birth.
When he first left the womb, his power was unleashed onto the world like a raging tidal wave and harmed several nurses and doctors. Unfortunately, his power instilled great strain onto his body. If not for this curse maybe Hugo would have been like any other boy his age.
'Hehe, finally they're letting me leave the room. Even if it's only to get some snacks, I still get to leave the room!'
Young Hugo exclaimed as he looked towards the room from the arms of his caretaker.
'Heeheee!'
He stuck his tongue out at the room and laughed in his mind.