CHAPTER 3

It has been three days after Shihoru got hurt. Everyone has agreed to take several days off until they are ready to go hunting again. Moguzo have volunteered to do the breakfast. Manato and Yume change the bandage on Shihoru's stomach. She eventually has regain conscious a day ago but still cannot afford to eat anything in her condition. Although she never talks about the incident, everyone understand her situation and will not ask anything about it until Shihoru was ready. This must be hard for her.

Haruhiro backs to his room to check his friends. The boy have been in his bed all this time. "Ranta, are you awake? Let's come down for breakfast". Haruhiro waited but didn't get any reply. He never sees his friend in this state. Sure, Ranta got depressed sometimes, but he will never refuse foods. In fact, foods are his best way to release his stress. But now, Ranta just lied in the bed silently.

Haruhiro can't let his friend be like this forever. "Well.. You can eat later, but just let me treat your wound, okay?"

Thud.

The red head actually come off from the double decker and sits on Haruhiro's bed. That's a good sign. Haruhiro can see the bag in his tired eyes, he's probably crying all night. He slowly put some bandages here and there. The cuts are still noticeable with some dried blood on it. Gosh, this is terrible; he should let us treat this earlier.

"Actually, I can call Manato to heal you-"

"Don't.." Ranta said so sudden with a trembled voice that takes his friend by surprise.

"He must have worn out from using his power and energy on Shihoru. I don't want to be a burden to him. I've already give enough trouble to everyone". Then he begins to cough because his throat feels dry and sore like sandpaper. Haruhiro quickly give him a glass of drink.

"How's Shihoru?"

"She's getting better. Ahh, she's doing fine actually. The wound is deep when you first brought her but it's not a life threatened"

Hearing that makes Ranta feels reassured. But he needs to see her with his own eyes, to confirm that she's really okay.

"Can I.. see her?"

Well, that's something difficult to be answered. He, Manato and Moguzo can still deal with situation, but for Yume, Shihoru is like a sister to her. If she saw Ranta meets Shihoru, who knows what will happen. "I.. don't think now is the right time..". Ranta looks into his feet.

"Then, can I see everyone?"

"Are you sure? Let's grab something to eat first. You need to eat to regain your energy"

Haruhiro was glad Ranta finally wants to eat. But since he doesn't have appetite, he only managed to eat a bite of bread and some milk.

Haruhiro have managed to call everyone including Yume. Ranta closed his eyes and tries to remember the tragedy.

*Flashback*

His body can't move. One second the goblins still there. Then one second they are gone. And he was panicked.

"Marque. . ."

No way..

"No Shihoru! Run! "

The girl continue her chanting "..Emu.."

This is not true. Damn you goblin. Tch.. I'm not supposed to agree with her. I'm supposed to be the one who protect her!

Yes. I've make a promise!

"SHIHORU!"

He run as fast as he could,

"AHHHHHHHH!" she sreamed.

...but he was too late.

Shihoru is there. Lying on the ground, unconscious. I called her name, again and again.

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*End of Flashback*

Everyone gathered in the living room. They didn't say a word.

Ranta stood up and bows his head. "I'm sorry".

"No, the one you are supposed to apologise is not us, but Shihoru!" Yume shouted. She is in the edge of crying. But she's still holding back making her body shivers.

"What had happen Ranta?" asked Manato.

Ranta awkwardly cleared his throat and begins to speak. "We faced three goblins.. I tried to defeat them alone. But Shihoru comes and wants to help me". Everyone listen carefully and tries to imagine the situation while Ranta tells the rest of the story. "I told her to go..but" Ranta takes a deep breathe. His body feels tired all of a sudden. "She keep on insist and I finally let her join the fight".

"How did she get injured?" asked Moguzo.

"The first attack didn't enough to defeat them. I see what's coming, but my body.. can't.. "

"You have promised.."

Ranta looks at Yume.

"You have promised, Ranta. Why didn't you protect her?!"

"I.."

Manato stepped in, "Ranta have do his best, isn't that right, Ranta?"

".. I'm sorry"

SLAPP!

Yume can't hold her tears, she can't hold the anger. "BAKA! I hate you! You are so useless.. Why Shihoru must team up with a person like you? Boys are supposed to protect the girls, right? But what have you done? Just wait and let the monsters attack her?" Tears filled up in her eyes.

Ranta feels really horrible at that moment. He has made the girl cried.

Ranta tries to put up with what Yume have said, until he heard..

"Why do I ever met you?"

.. something that he can't longer bear..

"Why do you even exist?!"

Yume had to run outside because she can't bear with this feelings while muttering, "Baka Ranta.. baka.." Sobs..sobs..

Ranta eyes wide open. His chest ached as her words stab at his heart. 'Urghh.'. He's in a shock state. He can't think anymore. He can't take it anymore.

He can't breath. . . Why he can't breathe? 'Somebody…'

Manato saw this and rushed to Ranta's side. "Calm down Ranta, take a slow breathe". Everyone begin to panic. "Manato, what's happen to him?"

"He got a panic attack. We just need to calm him down. Don't worry"

"Ranta, this is Manato, can you hear me?"

M-manato.. urghh damn my head feels heavy..

'I hate you'

'Useless'

'Why you even exist'

Why I even exist… was his last thought before he passes out.

That night when everyone is sleeping, Ranta is awake and can't stop thinking about Yume. He slowly and quietly walks out from the bedroom to the living room. He just sat there to relax himself when he hear someone called his name.

"Ranta?"

"S-shihoru..? W-what are you doing here... Are you alright?" Ranta thought he was in a dream. Shihoru was injured. She not supposed to walking around.. Alone..

There's a faint voice from the kitchen, "Shihoru, where are you?"

"Shiho- .. " Yume doesn't expect to see the boy in the middle of the night. She was about to say his name, but it doesn't feels right. It was like a poison to her tongue.

"Come, Shihoru"

"Wait!" Ranta and Shihoru say at the same time, which startled the three of them.

Shihoru speaks first. "Yume, please don't hate Ranta. I'm the one who fault. I was acting reckless"

"But he didn't protect you-"

"He did!"

Ranta wasn't able to say anything. He just stands there hopelessly. He is the one to blame. He doesn't have to defence himself. But why Shihoru..

Shihoru walks to Yume and hold her hands. She keeps telling Yume the truth and assured her that Ranta is there and protected her. But the goblins outnumbered them and without a doubt, stronger. Ranta was about to sacrifice himself when she told her to believe her.

"At that time, I feel really happy"

"Shihoru is… happy?"

"Yes, because Ranta-kun believe in me. He believes that I can be some kind of help, while most people never do. Even I got hurts, I'm glad because I can help him at that time"

Shihoru faces Ranta and say "Thank you for believing me"

"Tsk, you are very cool back then, Shihoru" Ranta managed to cracked a laugh. He walks to Shihoru. " I.. I'm sorry for not protecting you. And thank you too, for helping me". They are both smiling.

Yume was about to take her leave, when a hand gripped her wrist. When she thought it was Shihoru, it was Ranta who actually stopped her.

"Let go-"

"Yume. I'm sorry." Ranta said in serious tone. He is facing down as he pleads to Yume.

"I apologize to you. For not keeping my promise, for not protecting Shihoru.." he continued "..for making you cry, for being annoying all this time, and.. for being alive-"

Yume eyes went wide. This is..

"R-Ranta stop it"

"I am weak, useless, selfish, and not deserve to exist in your life, but there's one thing that I'm sure.. Yume is special to me. I-"

"R-ranta.. what are you.."

"I think I like you, Yume"

"Stop it, this is not funny! Fine, I will forgive you, alright? You don't have to force yourself to say all this"

"Yume" He stands right in front of her.

"…"

"I'm in love with you" His eyes finally meet her.

Shihoru who was there closed her eyes and takes her leave with a smile. Everyone is still sleeping soundly in their room.

"Yume, this is not a joke. And I really sorry for everything I've done to you. From the beginning we know each other. I never regret to meet you. "

Yume doesn't know how to deal with this kind of situation.

"Sorry, I.. Like someone else"

Ranta eyes went wide for a second. "..is that so..? I see.."

Yume doesn't have enough courage to look into Ranta's eyes. "But I don't mad at you anymore, okay. Just please be more careful next time"

He just nodded. Yume told him to sleep and goes back to her room.

'So.. she already have someone she likes. Haha. Of course she is. And who ever want to like me, huh. I am.. Such a pathetic!'

He closed his palm into fist and punches the wall making a thud sound. 'Kusso!'

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Yume sits beside the window to stare at the red moon to help her think, but it doesn't help much, as the red moon reminds her of the red hair boy.

"I'm in love with you, Yume"

She shakes her head and tries to forget about the embarrassing moment.

'Ahhh~ Ranta you such an idiot!'

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***To be continued***