The city of Magina had settled back into its usual rhythm after the Shadow Hydra's attack. The streets bustled with life during the day, but at night, a quiet melancholy hung over the Devil's Shadows guild. JC's brief appearance lingered in their minds, filling them with equal parts hope and frustration.
---
Lissy on the Rooftop
A few days later, under the blanket of night, Lissy found herself on the rooftop of the guildhall again. The stars above sparkled faintly, but their light offered her no comfort. She clutched JC's old mission log tightly to her chest, her emotions boiling over.
Her tears threatened to fall as she whispered to herself, "Why did you come back, just to leave us again?"
She felt the weight of the years pressing down on her—the fear, the anger, the longing. It was too much. She was ready to break.
---
A Cold but Familiar Presence
Suddenly, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind. Her breath hitched, and she froze. The embrace was firm yet gentle, familiar yet different.
"Lissy," a smooth, colder voice said softly, "You always did let your emotions get the better of you."
Her heart stopped. She knew that voice. Slowly, she turned her head, and there he was. JC.
---
Changed but the Same
JC looked different. His once neatly kept hair was now long and flowing, streaked with faint silver highlights. A jagged scar ran down his left eye, which remained closed, giving him a more rugged and battle-worn appearance. But when he smiled—his same stupid, lopsided grin—it was as if no time had passed at all.
"You… you're really here," Lissy stammered, her voice cracking. Her hands trembled as she reached up to touch his face, as if he might vanish again at any moment.
JC chuckled softly, the sound colder than she remembered but still carrying a hint of the warmth she knew. "I'm here," he said, his voice steady. "I couldn't stay away forever."
---
Emotions Overflow
Lissy's emotions erupted all at once. She shoved him away, tears streaming down her face. "You left us!" she shouted, her voice raw. "For three years, JC! Three years, we didn't know if you were alive or dead! And then you show up out of nowhere, save the city, and disappear again like nothing ever happened!"
JC's smile faded, replaced by a somber expression. He stepped closer, his hands in his pockets. "I know I hurt you," he admitted. "I hurt all of you. But I had to leave, Lissy. There were things I needed to do—things I couldn't drag you into."
"Why?" she demanded, her fists clenched. "Why couldn't you trust us? We're a team, JC! We're supposed to face everything together!"
JC looked down for a moment, his single open eye filled with guilt and something deeper—something he wasn't ready to explain.
---
A Gentle Moment
"I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight that made Lissy pause. "But I'm here now, at least for a little while."
He stepped forward again, wrapping his arms around her once more. This time, Lissy didn't resist. She collapsed into his chest, sobbing as years of pain and longing poured out of her.
JC rested his chin on her head, his voice quiet but steady. "You've gotten so much stronger, Lissy. I've been watching. You and the others... you don't need me anymore."
"That's not true," she whispered through her tears. "We'll always need you."
---
A Flicker of the Past
For a while, they stood there in silence under the night sky, the weight of their emotions hanging between them.
Finally, JC pulled back slightly, his smile returning. "You've grown up, but you're still the same stubborn Lissy I remember."
"And you're still the same idiot," she replied, wiping her tears.
JC chuckled, the sound warmer this time. "Maybe. But I'm your idiot."
---
A Lingering Shadow
As the night deepened, JC stepped away, his gaze distant. "I can't stay long," he said. "There's still work I need to finish. But I promise, Lissy—I'll come back. For real, this time."
Lissy wanted to argue, to beg him to stay, but something in his expression stopped her. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "You better."
JC turned, his coat billowing in the breeze as he walked toward the edge of the rooftop. Before he leaped into the shadows, he glanced back with that same stupid smile.
"Take care of them for me, Lissy."
And then he was gone, leaving her alone once more—but this time, with a spark of hope.