The day they left to Rivira started off like any other. After breakfast, everyone would go their separate ways. Once they all mentally recovered from Kojiro's Tsubame Gaeshi, things went to normal. Lyra was gleeful for her upcoming date, the Astraea Familia in general was patrolling the city, seemingly searching for something and Hestia and Astraea themselves went to their respective tasks. Meanwhile the Hestia Familia would employ Liliruca's services once more in order to reach Rivira and back. The floors beyond were avoided for a simple fact. None of them had resistance to poison. While antidotes could heal them in emergencies, everyone knew that the Large Tree Labyrinth had too many poisonous monsters to take lightly. Thus their goal was to reach the Under Resort and back, having planned two days in terms of being in the dungeon. One day to rest there and the other day to explore the place a bit more. Maybe even take a look at the next floor, even if they wouldn't push it.
Anyway, the interactions between the supporter and Haruhime, the one person she hasn't met yet before were... weird. Despite being stronger than the Pallum, no questions asked there, Haruhime acted submissive for lack of a better word. She claimed it was because Liliruca had far more experience than she did, but Bell assumed it was frankly just because the Pallum's personality bulldozed over Haruhime with ease. Liliruca certainly seemed to enjoy the respect she was receiving. Another thing that Bell noticed was that Liliruca was... treating him differently. Well, she did treat him as an utter idiot after the minotaur debacle, but for a while she didn't face him, always facing away. He thought it got better but now it was the opposite.
At every given opportunity, she would look at him. Even during dinner. She didn't even bother hiding it. The stares were kind of getting intense. Bell laughed awkwardly, looking back. He wondered what Hans fed this girl to make her like that. Sometimes he could swear her cheeks were blushing but he figured it was from the way she strained her face when flat out glaring at him as she dissected him with her eyes. Well, at least now she seemed to have calmed down a bit, returning a bit more to her more aloof personality as they walked back to their home, having rested in Rivira for the day and having left early in the morning. Their casual talk came to a stop when they, all of them, sensed something. Sweat ran down their skin as they looked at the Stardust Garden. Usually it was a shining glowing beacon of warmth, something Bell contributed to Hestia. Yet now it seemed oppressed. Infected even. Gulping, he carefully opened the door and peeked inside.
"We're home... ?"
It was even worse inside. It was like darkness itself was releasing its tendrils, desiring to devour everything. The only point of comparison Bell had was Nyx when she was especially emotionally distraught and that was not a good thing. The sheer panic he saw when Hestia stumbled from the corner did not help at all as she raised her hand towards them.
"Bell, leave before it's-"
A bitter laugh echoed in the house.
"Ah. Joyful youth. I remember when I still had hopes."
Carefully, the entire group peeked inside, only to see something quite horrifying. Lyra, without her sunglasses, lying on the couch with a half drunk bottle in hand. Her hair was a mess. She was half naked, causing Bell and Haruhime to blusu furiously. And her entire body language screamed 'let me die'. In the face of that, only Liliruca did the smart thing. With a forced laugh, she scratched the back of her head as she took wide steps backwards.
"Well then, it has been a good day, but Lili has to go home and make coffee for Hans! Good day!"
"Yes, leave the loser! I do not deserve companionship!" Lyra shouted at the escaping Pallum before letting out a whimper and throwing the bottle away. It was perfectly caught by Arash, who even caught the spilled fluids with one smooth arm motion. Meanwhile Alise and Astraea intensified their head patting. At the same time, Kaguya with an emotionless mask slowly reached for a flower vase. Her wrist was caught by an equally emotionless Ryuu.
"Kaguya, no."
"Just one good hit will do it!" Kaguya hissed before sighing and rubbing her temples.
"What happened?" Bell asked as they all entered the building, taking their seats, preferably far away from Lyra's sobbing state. Astraea sighed, gently putting Lyra's head onto her lap before frowning at them.
"Oh, nothing major. My familia is just meant to cover for them as she and her children go on a short vacation."
"Is that why Lyra looks like her pet died?" Solaris asked dryly, raising an eyebrow as she threw the bag of valis at Hestia, who involuntarily juggled it a few times before finally catching it properly. Alise laughed, strained as Lyra let out yet another whimper, burying her face in her goddess' thighs.
"Well, she was looking forward to that date and it isn't like the captain can be absent from a trip that includes the entire familia." She cleared her throat as she scratched the back of her head. "Lyra was weirdly understanding, even if her face was a mask and her internal screams were reaaaaaly audible."
"She then switched to external screams once we got back. Then she got the alcohol. And now she is like... this." Ryuu sighed before glancing at the others who gulped at the sight. "It's quite pitiful, isn't it?"
Bell bit his lip. He honestly didn't expect Lyra out of all people could end up like this. Love really was scary. He hoped he wouldn't end up like that. Then again, if he imagined Aiz ever rejecting him to his face... ah. It was really horrible. Because of his new found empathy, he patted Lyra's shoulder carefully.
"Uhm... Lyra?"
"Love is a frail lie that loses to the harsh reality."
She didn't turn her face around. Instead her dead voice was muffled as she responded to Bell, who helplessly looked around.
"Err."
"The promises of men are worth nothing. Only by having no expectations can you be happy."
Suddenly a loud clap caused everyone to jump a bit. Everyone turned to Arash who frowned deeply before pointing at Lyra.
"Alright, I have had enough!" He raised his other fist. "Lyra, love is not dead yet! If Finn isn't with you, you just have to be with Finn!"
Lyra immediately snapped her head up, her scar tissue twitching a bit as if they tried to open wide with hope. Then she lowered her head again with a sigh.
"I can't just leave the city."
"You can!" Kaguya shouted a bit too fast, forced smile as she squeezed Lyra's shoulder hard enough to cause the level five to wince. "By the heavens, yes, you can!"
"We can hold the fort on our own! Go getcha man!" Alise exclaimed, raising her thumb encouragingly.
"You wouldn't be able to focus anyway," Ryuu added dryly, shaking her head in exasperation.
"You can go with Hestia and the others to Melen and the beach!"
At Astraea's pleased words as she clapped her hands together in delight, the entire Hestia Familia blinked and turned to her.
"Wait what?" Hestia asked, raising an eyebrow. In response Astraea tilted her head a bit.
"You guys seem like you could use a vacation as well."
"Don't we need to file a bunch of paperwork for permission?" Solaris asked skeptically. Arash smiled slightly as he pointed at himself.
"I can handle it for you. Besides, I still have some leftover rewards the guild owes me."
"...Owe you for what?" Bell asked quietly, causing the archer to shrug nonchalantly.
"The usual oddjob here and there. Anyway, you are a small Familia so I believe you should easily get that permission."
The Hestia Familia shared a look. In the end, they all shrugged at each other. Well, if he offered, why not? Bell was worried about Lyra going on her own anyway, level five or not. And relaxing at the beach, from what he understood, sounded good. Speaking of her, she seemed to smile as she fixed her hair. But then it fell, just like her shoulders.
"They left two days ago. If we go now, I'm just going to miss them."
"Not if I help you out!" Arash said with a bright smile, raising his thumb. "I'll get you there in a couple minutes!"
Suffice to say, everyone but Kojiro seemed rather skeptical at that claim. Lyra nodded a few times before a small growl escaped her. Adjusting her shirt, she rubbed her hands together.
"...I feel like I'll regret it, but damn it, I wanna see Finn!"
"Good, let's go outside! You'll get there in no time with Arash Airlines!"
Kojiro choked at the words. Bell felt dread crawl up his spine. He was not the same as he saw the Hestia Familia and Lyra shudder.
"...Arash what now?" Solaris asked quietly. Arash just smiled wider, pointing at the backyard.
/
"Look at that, I am regretting it!" Lyra snapped her head towards the Starfall with a snarl. "Arash, walk me through this again!"
Bell had no idea how they got to this point. They were sitting on the slab of stone that sat around in the backyard. Their bodies were completely secured with a bunch of ropes to the rock. Their heads were protected with what Bell assumed was steel like helmets, but he wasn't quite sure. The biggest thing that stood out however was how Arash was preparing two giant sticks, for lack of a better word, secured into the ground as he began to wrap some sort of string between those two things. Without missing a beat, Arash laughed lightly.
"Easy. You hold onto this piece of stone I've been preparing for just this occasion. I even added seat belts!" Wiping his forehead, he put his hands on his shoulders and nodded proudly at himself. "Then after doing all the math, I shoot you guys!"
The silent screams everyone but Kojiro, and weirdly enough Haruhime, let out were deafening. Scary! Too scary! Bell thought that Arash was a sensible person, like Ryoma, but he turned out to be part of the maniacs that made up Kojiro's friend circle!
"That's why this thing has been lying around all the time?!" Kaguya shouted, her voice filled with disbelief. Ryuu forced out a laugh, shaking her head slowly.
"A-Arash, why are you acting as if you are going to shoot them?"
With an offended huff, Arash frowned at them as he began to drag the rock to the makeshift giant bow.
"Acting? Don't be stupid. I am completely serious."
"I don't believe you!" Lyra looked around frantically. "This is all a joke right?! A bunch of people are going to pop up and laugh with us for falling for this prank, right?! This is all going to be on the posting board at Babel, isn't it?!"
"Believe it or not, I want to support your love!" Arash shouted with determination as he began to stretch, looking at the sky as if mulling over something.
"By shooting her?! And us?!" Hestia screamed, tugging at the ropes that were too tight on her.
"Sometimes one has to take on the role of Cupid!"
"Who is Cupid?!" Bell asked loudly. That sounded like a god. Only a god could be so whimsical. Yet why was Arash acting like this? Did he drink Soma? Was he drunk? Why was Kojiro laughing as if this was the funniest thing in the world?! It was then that Arash began to pull back the stone, stretching the sticks and string.
"Remember, do not let go or loosen the ropes!"
"Are ya even listening to us?!" Solaris shouted, looking down at the ropes and contemplating how much fire she had to use to get free while not burning everyone else. Shaking her head furiously she forced a laugh. "Y'know, maybe I do wanna stay at home!"
"No take backs! I gave you plenty of chances to back off!"
"That was before we knew you would shoot us like an arrow!" Lyra shouted back, an iron grip on the ropes as everyone else, realizing there was no way out, yet desperately trying to scream against fate itself.
"I am an archer, you should've expected this!" Arash shouted, his feet digging into the ground step by step.
"Expected you being bonkers?!" Hestia screamed.
"Treat it as a character building exercise!"
"I am just fine with my character actually!" Bell shouted, causing Arash to shake his head.
"Nonsense, there can always be more development!"
"Man, that sure looks like fun."
"Don't encourage him, Alise!" Kaguya and Ryuu shouted at the same time, punching their captain and interrupting her laugh. Then they helplessly watched on, as it was too late to stop Arash as the giant bow was already drawn.
"Haruhime, say something!" Hestia shouted, shaking the Renard. Everyone turned to her, wondering why she was so quiet. What they saw shocked them to the core. Enlightenment. Acceptance. An entirely calm face. She giggled lightly before patting her goddess on the shoulder.
"You get used to it."
"Ahahaha, I always did want to find out how this felt!" Kojiro even leaned forward as he pulled the helmet down. Hestia threw her arms up in indignation.
"Why is half my familia insane?!"
"Now pull down those helmets! And remember, don't bite your tongue and under no circumstances loosen the ropes or do anything that could divert your path, got it?"
Solaris bit her lip. Then she let out a frustrated scream before pulling down her own helmet.
"Alright, fine! Ready!"
"You too, Solaris?!"
"The Crozzo didn't raise no pussy!"
Bell whimpered before shaking his head and pulling down his own helmet, trying to ignore the look of betrayal he received from Hestia. They were already in this. And he would be lying if he wasn't at least a little bit excited in getting shot like an arrow. He'd be flying then. Or the closest thing to flying. Yes, if he thought of it like that, he might actually get through this with his sanity intact.
"Finn better give me a big ol' kiss for my dedication here!" Lyra roared, fueling herself with determination. In the end, only one passenger was still stuck in despair.
"This is insane!"
"Ready?"
"No!"
"Good!"
Arash exhaled. Hestia grabbed onto her rope for dear life, tears streaming out of her face.
"I swear if I get sent back to heaven because of this I will-"
"Aaaaand...Fire!"
The world lurched and everyone screamed at once as gravity itself fought against them and lost. Air cut against his ears. Bell carefully opened his eyes and witnessed the world itself. How small it was, even as it moved past him at incredibly high speeds. He might have actually enjoyed it if he wasn't busy screaming his own head off, as the ropes dug into his flesh.