Chapter 12: Mending the Scars of Battle
Two days had passed since Meta escaped the time loop and returned to the GranEssex. Despite knowing that the Myovam was dead, he was incredibly worried about the possibility of the time loop restarting or worse, that he was still in the time loop somehow. The young soldier was constantly haunted by the sight of his dead allies. True, they weren't dead now, but different versions of them are. Who's to say that even he died on one time loop and just didn't remember it? Not wanting to worry or bother anyone with his worries, Meta locked himself in his room. This action would only make a certain someone even more worried about him. Kurabe was currently standing outside Meta's room, wondering how she should handle this.
"Hmmm... how exactly should I go about this? Perhaps I should at least try knocking first and see how he responds. Yes... then I could go from there..." She murmured to herself.
With this idea in mind, she knocked on the door.
"Meta, it's Kurabe. Do you mind if I come in to talk for a bit?" She said in the gentlest voice she could use.
No answer. Either he was asleep or ignoring her.
"Meta, if you don't answer me, I'll read your mind." She said in a stern yet still gentle tone.
Still nothing.
"I warned you, Meta."
Kurabe closed her eyes and focused on her student's mind. What she saw concerned greatly her. In Meta's mind, there was a tornado of thoughts and memories, making it impossible to decipher anything of meaning.
"I see, he's not ignoring me once purpose, he's just distracted by what's in his head. I'm sorry about this, Meta, but I'm coming in." She thought while forcing the door open.
Unsurprisingly, her student didn't even react to her presence. He only continued to lay on his bed dully and stare at the ceiling. The sight of this alone was enough to break her heart. That Myovam was lucky it was already dead, otherwise she would have done it herself. Kurabe walked over a created a bit of ice on her hand and touched Meta's head with it, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Sensei, what was that for!? And when did you get here?"
"I got here a few minutes ago and that was to knock you out of your thoughts. I called out to you, but you didn't respond, so I had to take matters into my own hands. Now, Meta, can we talk?" She asked, sitting next to him.
Meta looked unsure, but he knew Kurabe wouldn't leave him alone until this matter was settled.
"I suppose we can but, I don't even know where to begin."
"That's ok. Take your time." She said, holding his hand. "But let's start like this... does it have to do with what happened while you were with Reedy and the others on that mission?"
"Yes. Sensei, they died, and it was all my fault. The pained expressions on their faces. Seeing them fall in seconds. I can't get the visions out of my head. Every time I close my eyes, I'm haunted by everything involving that mission." Meta explained, his body trembling the more he talked.
"I understand. And I told you we'll work through it to lessen the pain, right? But we can't do that if you shut yourself in your room."
"Then what do you suggest I do? The images follow me wherever I go..."
"Have you tried to distract yourself?" She asked.
"Yes, but they keep showing up!"
Kurabe became quiet. She then gave a sigh. "Meta, is it really that intrusive? I have an idea for that, but it's a last resort..."
"What is it?" Her student asked, concerned by the thought of a last resort by his mentor. "If it's anything to do with erasing my memories, then no. I... I don't want to forget what happened; I just want to move on..."
"And why don't you want to forget?"
"Because I'm the only one who fully remembers those Task Force Z members. Even if they don't exist anymore, I'm proof that they did. It's irrational, I know, but I don't want them to be forgotten."
The warrior quietly stroked his head to help him calm down.
"No, I understand that, Meta. If that's the case, the other last resort I have might be more viable... however, it involves taking you to a psychiatrist to be examined and having you be on medication."
Immediately, he frowned at that, looking even more upset.
"I'd rather not have to deal with that, sensei. I don't need medication; I just need to move on from what happened! So please, just help me! I don't want a psychiatrist, I want you!"
Admittedly, Kurabe was slightly surprised by that sudden outburst, but then her gaze softened. No, that was a reasonable reaction for a young man who spent weeks away from her and underwent such a horrible experience on that planet.
"Then, how about we spend some time together today?"
"...I wouldn't be opposed to that." He replied, happy that he wouldn't be, in his mind, abandoned and left in the care of some psychiatrist.
She nodded. "Alright then, what would you like to do then, Meta?"
"...are there any planets with libraries nearby?" He asked, hoping that partaking in some non-physical activity he enjoyed would help.
Kurabe took a moment to think.
"I believe one of the biggest libraries in the galaxy is actually quite close to where we are right now. Would you like to go there?"
"Yes, I think I would."
The warrior gave a smile. "Then let's take a starship there. I'll be quicker than taking an entire battleship."
Meta silently nodded in understanding.
The trip would only take approximately thirty minutes to get to the library, though it felt much longer to Meta. To help pass the time, he decided to speak to Kurabe.
"Sensei, I have a question."
"What is it, Meta?" His mentor looked at him in concern.
"I apologize if this is insensitive, but have you lost comrades before? Stupid question, I'm aware."
"No, it's not a stupid question, Meta. However, to answer that, I have. Several of them."
"...How did you deal with it?"
"I decided that I would continue living for their sake."
Meta was silent after hearing that. He wanted to live for their sakes too, however...
"Is it strange that I'm mourning for people who are still alive? I saw them die, but they're still alive. I shouldn't be upset by what happened because it technically never did, yet I am."
"It's not strange to me. Their deaths were very real when they happened, weren't they? Then you have every right to be as upset as you are now."
"...It never gets easier, does it? Seeing those close to you die, I mean."
"No, but I hope it never gets easy. Feeling despair over someone's death means that the connections you had with them were real and that your heart is full of love. The moment you feel nothing about a close friend's death is the moment you lose that heart and become a monster. I've seen it happen to even the best of warriors. You have strong heart, Meta, and you need to make sure it stays strong."
He gave a nod. "I understand, sensei..."
"Use what happened to become stronger, Meta. Not just physically, but mentally. You've experienced firsthand an opponent that can't be beaten by strength alone. If you want to prevent this from happening again you need to expand your horizons. Thankfully, a library is a perfect place to start." She said, finishing her speech with a smile.
"Do you know what kind of books I should look up then, sensei?" He asked.
"How about we focus on choosing books that will make you feel better?"
"I'm not sure if I know what kind of book can do that, but it's worth a try." Meta smiled, glad that he was finally able to get these thoughts out. However, he had one more thought on his mind. "Sensei, you did destroy the magic symbol that caused the time loop, right?"
"Of course I did. That was one of the first things I did after I picked you up."
"So, there's no chance that I'm still stuck in a time loop, right?"
"The chances are less than zero."
"I see. I'm just worried that I'll wake up one morning and be back on Reedy's ship. I'm worrying over nothing, I realize, but I just can't help it..."
"And that's ok. However, I can guarantee that when you go to sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow morning, you will still be on the GranEssex."
Meta wanted to ask, "are you sure?" but he stopped himself. He had no reason to doubt her.
"Thank you, sensei."
"You're welcome, Meta. Now just know that the moment I land this ship, I'm going to hug you so much you won't be able to move."
"...Not in front of others please."
"I'll do it before we leave the ship then."
The student nodded in silence. In truth, he wouldn't mind some kind of positive interaction right now, even if it was embarrassing.
"One more thing, Meta."
The youth looked up in questioning.
"Don't be afraid to talk to me about anything. You know how much I worry about you and just want you to be happy."
"I understand, sensei."
He was happy to hear that. Even if he found her to be embarrassing at times, he was truly grateful for his mentor.
"Alright, we're about ready to land. Are you ready, Meta?"
"I am."
With a nod in response, the landing procedures for the ship began. Flashes of Reedy's crew and himself disembarking the VictoriousArc entered Meta's head and his breathing began somewhat frantic. He then felt Kurabe squeezing his hand, which had the desired effect of calming him down. Upon landing on the planet, Meta felt himself immediately being tightly hugged by his mentor. Without a single word, he returned the hug, which surprised Kurabe. She looked at him sadly, promising herself that she would make him feel better by the end of the day.
After a couple of minutes, they entered the library. Meta stared in amazement at the inside. It was massive and it looked beautiful
"It looks like it goes on forever." He said, stunned by the sight.
"While it doesn't go on forever, it does go on for a while and can be a bit overwhelming at first. Now, do you have any idea what kind of books you're in the mood for, Meta?"
"A book on magic." He quickly replied.
"Then follow me." She said, taking his hand.
While he was being dragged through the library, he began to notice that there were people staring at them. The reasons why, he didn't know exactly. Could it be because Kurabe's armor stood out? Or maybe it's because they didn't expect to be so suddenly in the presence of the Lady of Shadows? Either way, he wasn't sure he liked being stared at. Growing up fighting for survival, Meta learned the importance of keeping a low profile, so a situation like this was certainly different for him.
"Meta, is something wrong?" His mentor asked.
"We're being stared at, sensei. How did you not notice?"
Kurabe shrugged. "After a while, you learn to ignore it." She then smiled. "Besides, they're more admiring us than anything."
"Us? I can understand why they would be admiring you, sensei. But me? I haven't done anything worthy of recognition yet."
"What, being my lovely, adorable, and powerful student isn't worthy of recognition?"
"Is me being your student really a well-known fact? I'm not denying my abilities, but I find it hard to believe I'm anywhere near as famous as you."
"Didn't I tell you that you're the representative of my student body? That's why you're so famous. Not only that, but I'm sure news about you defeating the Myovam might have traveled."
"It's only been two days, though."
"News travels fast, especially when a certain four eyes is in charge of spreading information."
Meta blinked in surprise. Did Reedy really credit him that much with defeating the Myovam? However, he didn't have any more time to think, as Kurabe stopped in front of a shelf of books.
"Well, here we are."
Before the two was rows upon rows of books about different types of magic. It was even somewhat overwhelming. Not knowing where to start, the youth grabbed a book at random.
"Ah, a book about magic seals. Not a bad place to start, Meta."
Kurabe grabbed a few books from the section as well and then took him to a reading area where she then sat down on one of the couches. She then motioned to her student, who sat down next to her. Meta opened the book he grabbed and was immediately sucked into it...literally. His vision turned white and when it returned, he found himself in a strange land with magic symbols all over.
"Where am I?"
"We're in the book, Meta. This book has a seal that transports the consciousness of whoever looks at it into the book itself. Think of it as a way to have an interactive learning experience." Kurabe explained.
"And how long were you going to wait until you told me that?!" He shouted back.
She only gave a cheeky smile.
"Wait, then what about our bodies?"
"Perfectly fine. You don't need to worry about something happening to us, I put up a magic barrier before I entered the book myself. And if you're worried about the time, time flows differently here. One hour in the book is about one minute in the real world."
Meta gave a nod in understanding. "So how do we get out of here?"
"Look behind you."
Doing as told, the youth spun around and saw a portal. On the other side of the portal was his and Kurabe's bodies.
"Once you're ready to leave, just step through that portal."
He nodded in response. "So, this is a learning experience, right? What do I do?"
"You see all the symbols floating in the air? Walk up to one and touch it. You'll be shown a written description of what it is and a visual demonstration of what it does."
He quietly nodded in response. Then he walked over to one of the symbols and touched it. As told, words showed up in front of him.
"The Weight Seal. Place this seal on any object or person to increase its weight. Perfect for surprise attacks and training one's body. That could be useful."
Once he got done reading a hologram of a person appeared. The hologram threw what looked like an ordinary pebble up into the air and then activated the seal, causing the pebble to fall down and crash into the ground, creating a crater. After seeing this animation, he walked over to another seal and tapped on it.
"The Time Seal!?"
The very same seal that he was a victim to. He quickly read through its description, hoping to find something that could ease his fears.
"When the seal is destroyed, presumably all damage done to prior timeliness created by the seal are reset, essentially creating parallel universes. So, wait... the Task Force in those timelines are ok then, right? If all damage is reversed, then they never died. They're still alive..."
Tears came to Meta's eyes. While his inactions got them killed, his actions saved them and every other victim. Even if the description was wrong, the idea that the ones that died are now alive brought him immense relief.
"Meta, are you ok?" Kurabe asked, walking up to him.
"I'm more than ok, sensei. I think I found a bit of closure."
His mentor placed a hand on his back. "I'm glad. Do you wish to keep learning about seals?"
"I'm... honestly not sure."
"Well, if you want an expert's opinion, I'd recommend learning all that you can. A smart warrior is a strong warrior."
He gave a nod in response and touched yet another seal.
"The Gemini Seal. A seal that separates the positive and negative aspects of the seals applicant into two bodies. Alternatively, if said applicant had split personalities, each personality would get their own body. This one doesn't seem particularly useful to me, though Tiramisu might be interested in it."
Meta then turned around to Kurabe. "Sensei, what seals do you like to use?"
"Oh, I don't use seals, Meta."
"I see, but you probably know a bit about them. What seals do you think I would benefit from?" He then squinted at her. "Also, that's a lie, sensei."
She only gave a slight giggle. "You're getting better at that. As for seals. Well, I think the Weight Seal would be perfect for your training. As for in general, the Subspace Seal would be wonderful."
He nodded. "Anything else?"
"Hmm... well there is one I suppose. It's a one-time use seal called the Numb Seal. It makes your entire body numb for a short period of time. You won't be able to feel pain, but once it wears off, you'll feel all the pain you received at once. It's useful in desperate situations. My master and myself have had to use it before some nasty battles."
He nodded in interest. "And when I say one-time use, I mean you can only apply it to your body once in your life. After you use it, your body will reject the seal. It's quite literally a last-ditch effort type of seal."
"Oooh. Ok. Anything else?"
Kurabe blinked. "You took that better than I thought you would. You must be in a really good mood now. As for other seals, the Lightning Seal. You can use it to seal lightning and use it for something later like recharging your mana."
Meta nodded.
"Well, we should probably look at the other books you picked out, sensei." He said, excited at the idea of learning as much as he could. That and the fact he would be doing it with Kurabe made him happy.
The warrior smiled at this. "It really does seem like he's feeling better already... I'm so glad..."
For the next few hours, Meta learned more about magic than he ever believed possible. It was mostly thanks to Kurabe's guidance that he was able to wrap his brain around it.
"Well, Meta, what would you like to do now?"
The youth took a moment to think.
"...I'm not really sure..." He uttered.
His mentor then gave a smile. "Would you like to cuddle?"
"Sensei!" He yelled before remembering he was in a library. "Can you please not say stuff like that in public?" He quickly whispered, his entire face turning a deep red.
"Then you should start thinking of something to do." She hummed.
However, the youth could somehow tell that she was just joking...at least about saying she would talk about it in public.
"Is there a town square nearby? I feel like I should confront anything that could make me remember while I can."
"Oh, the town square is not too far from here."
He then nodded. "Ok, then show me the way."
With that exchange, they exited the library together.
Once they arrived at the location, memories again flashed in his mind. Despite knowing the damage was undone, the deaths still hurt him. But he had to deal with it. He then remembered the death of the Myovam. If there's one memory he doesn't mind remembering, it was the relief he felt watching the Myovam finally die. His mentor seemed to notice this thought process and got an idea upon seeing something in the square.
"You know, Meta, some cultures believe tossing a coin into a fountain can make a wish or dream come true. Want to give it a try?" Kurabe asked, holding two coins for the both of them.
The youth hesitated for a moment, but then took the coin in his hand.
"So, do I just toss it into the fountain then?"
"You do that and then make your wish, ok?"
He nodded. The question was, what would he even wish for? Definitely not power. He wanted to become strong on his own terms and through his own efforts. Would he wish for no more death? No. As much as he hated it, death was a natural part of life and he had to accept that. Besides, if he was going to prevent death, it would be by his hands, not some magic fountain.
Kurabe seemed to notice this and looked slightly concerned.
"You can wish for anything, Meta. Love, courage, strength, it's up to you."
"I know that, sensei."
However, he then thought of a wish. He tossed the coin into the water.
"I wish that I could become stronger. Strong enough to protect everyone I care about!" He thought.
Shortly after that, Kurabe tossed her own coin in.
"What did you wish for, sensei?"
"That's a secret, Meta. They say the wish won't come true if you talk about it. Though I'll give you a hint as to what it was about."
"...it's about cuddling with me, wasn't it?" He mumbled.
"No. Now I'm not sure if I should give you a hint after all. And don't mumble." She said with a pout.
"I'm sorry, sensei." Her pout then turned to a smile.
"Well, if you mean that then I guess I can tell you. The hint is, you, Meta. Now it's up to you to figure out what my wish was."
Meta took a moment to think. Honestly, he had a vague idea what it was, but he didn't want it to not come true, so he didn't say anything.
"Besides, why would I wish to snuggle with you when I can already do that whenever I want?" She asked with a completely straight face.
Almost immediately, his face turned a dark red and he pulled his hat over his face in embarrassment. Kurabe giggled at this but stopped when she noticed Meta looking at her with eyes filled with determination.
"Sensei, I have a question. In your opinion, what does it mean to be strong? I have my own opinion, but I want to hear yours."
She nodded in response. "To me, being strong means that you can handle whatever comes your way. Not just physically fighting, but mentally as well."
"I see. Thank you, sensei."
"What about you Meta? What is the reason behind your strength?"
Meta fell quiet, thinking of the best way to phrase his answer. "I want to be strong to prove myself and to protect what matters to me. I must become stronger to prevent any more tragedies."
Kurabe smiled and hugged him, catching him off guard. "You'll become strong, Meta, I guarantee it."
He gave a small smile in response. "Thank you, sensei."
"Now with that settled, I have a suggestion for something for us to do. Besides having the largest library, this planet is known for having the largest shopping center. You might find something interesting."
While Meta wasn't that interested in shopping, his mentor's words piqued his curiosity.
"Is that true? What would I find interesting there?"
"We won't know unless we look now, won't we?" She said with a sly grin.
He nodded in understanding. "Ok, then let's go."
Kurabe smiled, but for some reason that smile carried an ominous feeling for Meta.
Upon entering the shopping center, Meta's eyes widened at the interior and the size of the place. It was even larger than the library, which was already the size of a small battleship and there were so many stores he didn't know where to go.
"Well, Meta, where would like to start? I know there's weapon shop's somewhere in the middle."
"If possible, could we stop at the weapons shop first? I think I'm interested in that."
"I know, that's why I brought it up." Kurabe said with another giggle.
Meta just covered his eyes again. "Then please lead the way."
His mentor replied with a smile as she took his hand and began walking.
As they walked to the store, Meta couldn't help but notice that everyone was giving them looks again. Not looks of contempt, but of curiosity and maybe admiration. He still wasn't sure if he liked the attention or not, but he would just have to deal with it. Kurabe, meanwhile, paid zero attention to anyone that wasn't her student. He might have been feeling better but that doesn't mean that she'll stop looking after him today.
Soon, they reached the store.
"Alright, we made it. I sure do wish it didn't take twenty minutes to get here, though."
Unlike the library, they had been approached by a few people during their walk. Meta looked up at the store, noting that it was surprisingly big for being inside a shopping center. The store also had all kinds of weapons on display. Spears, axes, hammers, maces, gauntlets, but what really caught his attention was the number of swords. Different styles and sizes all around him. While he preferred fighting with a broadsword, he was incredibly interested in all these other types.
"Are you looking for something, sir?"
Meta jumped a bit upon hearing that, and turned around to see presumably one of the store owners.
"I'm just browsing. Thank you." He quickly said, hoping he didn't come off as rude.
A nod in response.
"Alright, let me know if you need anything."
She then walked away. Meta resumed looking at the swords and couldn't help but notice the prices. Even just one sword from here would put a massive dent in his wallet. While he didn't care much for money, he understood the importance of saving it for things he would need like food or clothing. Noticing the somewhat dejected look in his eyes, Kurabe walked up to him.
"You know, Meta, I'll buy you any one sword you desire."
He looked surprised. "Huh? Really? Are you sure about that, sensei?"
"Of course I'm sure. Think of it as a reward for all your hard work."
The youth nodded in response. Then was the more difficult part: which one should he choose? Every blade he saw was appealing to him in some way. All of them were of excellent craftsmanship and very deserving of the high prices. Then his vision locked onto one sword in particular. A ninjato with a purple sheath and a black blade. Ninjato were typically used by members of the Bio clan among other ninja clans. He hadn't had much experience wielding one, but this blade had completely captivated him.
Kurabe seemed to notice this and gave him a smile. "Have you found something you're interested in, Meta?"
"I believe so. I would like that ninjato, please. If you don't mind."
His mentor nodded and took the sword to the register.
"Ah, the Lady of Shadows! It's been quite a while since you last visited. I trust you found everything satisfactory?" The cashier asked.
"Yes, I have, thank you. Though this time, it's my student who has found everything satisfactory, I'm sure." She said with a smile.
The clerk looked towards Meta.
"Ah, the famous Prince of Shadows. We've heard many rumors about him. Tell you what, Ms. Kurabe, I'll give you a one-time discount." The clerk offered.
"What's the catch?" She immediately asked.
"Always quick on the draw, aren't you? It's simple. I want a picture with young Meta holding the ninjato for advertisement purposes."
The youth blinked in confusion. While he did hear the offer for a discount, he was more confused about something else.
"...prince?" He asked, trying to process why he would be given such a title.
"It's what news reports have been calling you. Since you are my prized student, that makes you the Prince of the School of Shadows, just like how I am the Lady of Shadows. Newscasters give people titles all the time Meta." Kurabe explained.
"But... but do I really deserve such a title?" He uttered, slightly embarrassed.
"Of course you do! You're already handsome enough to look like a prince!" She exclaimed pinching one of his cheeks, only to have her hand be quickly grabbed in annoyance.
"Sensei, I'm not handsome! I'm training to be a fierce knight!"
"Meta, we've had this conversation before. You can be handsome and incredibly deadly." She then smiled. "Or would you rather that I call you "cute"?"
"...Handsome is fine." He mumbled.
Before the comedy routine could continue the clerk spoke up. "So do we have a deal?"
"That's up to Meta. I won't force him." She then turned to her student. "What do you think, Meta? What would you like to do?"
Meta felt conflicted. He did not enjoy attracting attention to himself, but if he could help Kurabe save some of her money it would be worth it. Taking a deep breath, the youth turned to the clerk.
"Apparently, I'm already becoming famous. So, I may as well get used to it. I'll help advertise for you."
"Splendid! Now shall we go take the photo?"
"Wait, how much is the discount? You never specified." Kurabe spoke up.
"Oh, you'll like it. It's 80% off. I guarantee the business we'll get from this advertisement will more than make up for it." The clerk clarified while getting the camera ready. "Now strike a pose, Meta! Doesn't matter what kind. Just do what comes naturally."
The youth stared, unsure of what kind of pose he should make.
"Meta, what do you usually do when you shoot lightning into the sky?" Kurabe asked, noticing how unsure her student looked.
"I point upwards. Of course the answer was so obvious."
His mentor gave a smile. "Then do that."
Meta nodded and pointed his new blade upwards. As he held it, he felt happy with his choice. Despite it being a type of blade he wasn't used to, it felt completely natural in his firm grasp.
"Alright, hold that pose please."
He immediately did and waited for the store owner to be finished.
"...and we're done. Now we just to complete the transaction and you two can get going."
The warrior nodded. "I appreciate it, and I'm sure Meta does as well."
She then noticeably looked at him, as if waiting for a response.
"Thank you..." He responded shyly.
"Oh no, thank you for allowing us to use your image to help our store!" The casher replied. "Anyway, that'll be a thousand credits."
Kurabe nodded in understanding before handing over the money.
After leaving the store, the two stood once again in the shopping center.
"Now, Meta, would you like to go look in a different store, or would you like to go eat something? I'm sure you're quite hungry by now."
Now that she mentioned it, he was starting to get hungry.
"I think it's time for a meal. But you pick the restaurant sensei. We've been doing everything I've wanted to do, it's only fair if you get to decide something."
His mentor grinned. "I'll pick whatever restaurant you want to go to."
Meta stared at her. "Ok, I pick where you want to go."
His mentor pouted. "'Then I want what you want."
Meta sighed. "Fine, I'll pick something."
He then began to look around at the various restaurants in the shopping center. They seemed to serve all kinds of various food. Honestly, it was so much that he just didn't know where to go. As much as he wanted to ask his mentor, she would more than likely just say that it's his own choice. Maybe he should try a different tactic.
"Sensei, what do you like to eat?"
"Food."
So much for that. How else should he go about this?
"I'm not really sure what I'm in the mood for..." he thought to himself.
He looked at his sensei, a carefree smile on her face like normal. Maybe he should try that. Meta looked at the nearest restaurant, which was serving burgers.
"Let's go here, sensei."
"Very well then." She said, grabbing his hand and dragging him.
"Sensei, I can walk on my own." He protested.
"I know."
After ordering and obtaining their food, the mentor and student sat at a table comfortably.
"So, Meta, are you having fun today?" Kurabe suddenly asked.
"I believe I am. I haven't felt this relaxed in a while. Perhaps I needed a break after what happened."
She smiled in response. "That makes me happy to hear."
"What about you, sensei?" Her student then asked.
"You already know that I'm always happy to spend time with you, Meta."
"...thank you, sensei." He replied.
"You're welcome, Meta. Now you should take your time and think about where you'd like to go next."
"No. This time I'm asking you to decide where we go next. It's only fair."
That and he truly didn't know what else he wanted to do.
His mentor, thankfully, understood this and began to think.
"Hm... how about the jewelry store... or the bookstore...?"
Truthfully, Meta was more interested in the bookstore, but he wasn't going to make Kurabe choose that.
"Well, I guess we'll go to the bookstore next." Kurabe said, clapping her hands together.
He could've sworn he saw her wink.
"She read my mind again, didn't she?" He thought to himself as he kept eating on his burger.
After a few minutes of eating, he spoke up once more.
"Sensei, is it ok for me to be happy?"
His mentor blinked for a moment, but then gave a slight chuckle. "Of course it is. I understand that after a traumatizing experience you don't know how to feel. I've experienced the same feelings when I saw past comrades die in front me. But yes, you deserve to be happy and don't let yourself believe otherwise."
He gave a smile. "Thank you, sensei."
"I was wondering where you two went off to." A familiar voice said from behind them, making both mentor and student jump.
Turning around, the two puffs saw none other than Mercury standing there.
"Mercury? What are you do in here?" Kurabe asked.
"Looking for you."
"Why? I told you where would be, didn't I?"
Mercury stared at her blankly.
"...I forgot, didn't I?" The warrior asked timidly, getting a nod in response. She then immediately shrugged. "Ah, well. You're here now, so why don't you join us? Unless I'm needed for something."
"No, you're not needed, I was just curious as to why you left so suddenly. But sure, I'll stick around." The Limet responded in her usual calm manner. In truth, she also wanted to check up on Meta, but she didn't say it.
"Why didn't you try calling sensei, Mercury?" The youth asked.
"I tried to. She left her phone in her room. You must have really been in a rush to bring Meta here, huh?" She asked with a grin.
Kurabe's cheek blushes appeared to become more pronounced.
"Y... yes..."
"I figured as much. You two can finish your meal. I'll call the ship and let them know to stop worrying."
"Alright, please do, Mercury." She replied.
"Why would they be freaking out? It hasn't been that long." Meta asked.
"Well, certain members of Task Force Zetta have taken a few days off for vacation, Reedy included. So, a lot of missions they would normally take have been sent to us. When Kurabe left so suddenly, they were worried she took a dangerous mission without telling us. Again." Mercury explained, her tone indicating that this exact scenario has happened before.
Meta had a feeling they took off due to the incident with the Myovam. However, he was also not really surprised the fact that his mentor had done something like taking a dangerous mission without telling anyone.
"Wait, why wasn't I told about these missions, sensei?"
"Because I put you on mandatory break for a few days. Though at this rate, I'm sure you won't need the break for much longer." She then gave a slight grin. "Though it was quite amusing to see how shocked the general looked when he heard Reedy asking for a few days off during the meeting yesterday."
Meta couldn't blame the general for having that reaction. Reedy struck him as the type to never miss work even if his legs were chopped off. Well... ignoring the fact, he could regrow his legs anyway.
"Have you ever needed a mandatory break, sensei?"
Kurabe sat and thought about it. "Besides getting sick, there was one time I needed it. It was after I witnessed a team of acquaintances die in battle. My sensei told me to take a day off to process what happened. Other than events like birthdays, I don't normally take days off."
He nodded. "So, it's ok to take off if it's because of my mental health?"
"Yes. Both Mercury and I have done that before."
"So, I'm not weak for needing to rest?" He asked nervously.
"Of course not. Even the strongest warriors need breaks. Too much stress can destroy a person. I've seen it happen to many proud soldiers."
Honestly, hearing that made him feel extremely happy.
"So please let me know if you need a break." His mentor added.
"I will, sensei." He responded.
"Good. Now keep eating before your food gets cold."
The two continued to eat in comfortable silence until Kurabe suddenly spoke up once more.
"Mercury, you've talked to four-eyes today, right? How's he?"
"Locked in his room with Raita. She's not letting him out of her sight. So yeah, he's doing fine."
"I see." She replied in an almost indifferent manner.
"That's good to hear..." Meta said.
"Yeah, I was slightly worried when I heard he called off for a couple of days and had to contact him..." The woman nodded.
"Please, I knew he'd be fine. Besides, not hearing from him sounds like a blessing."
While what she said could be interpreted as uncaring, Meta knew that she actually was relived. Somewhat anyway.
Soon the meal was done. Meta paid for it despite Kurabe insisting that she did. The youth explained that since she paid for his sword that he would pay for their meal, and it was only fair.
"Alright, Meta, so we decided that we want to go to the bookstore now, correct? Follow me."
The youth nodded and stayed close to her.
"Hey, Mercury, what books do you like?" He asked.
The woman laughed a bit nervously. "I'll admit... I like a bit of trashy romance..."
"Anything else?" He didn't visually show it, but he was slightly surprised by that.
"Oh. I also like books on biology and geography."
"Ok, but do you like any other kinds of fictional books?"
"I enjoy science fiction, like stories about robots. Those have always clicked with me even as a kid. Couldn't tell you why."
He then tilted his head. "Do you have any recommendations for me?"
"For you? There's one book I think you'd enjoy. It's called Armored Fighters. Pretty basic title, I'll admit, but it's a story of a young man training to be the best armor fighter, people who fight in martial arts tournaments using robots."
"Anything else?"
"Well, there's one called the Dragon, Phoenix and Tiger. A story of three kingdoms uniting to face a single threat. However, forces at work try to turn the kingdoms against each other. Also, they have robots."
He nodded. "Sensei, what kind of books do you like to read?"
"I enjoy every genre really. If something catches my attention, I'll read it. Fiction, non-fiction, as long as I find it enjoyable it doesn't matter. But if I have to pick a favorite type of, it'll be stories about families."
"Well, I think that's a bit obvious, considering how much you talk about family..." He uttered.
"Of course. Family is important. Like you, I grew up alone with no family so of course once I gained one, I became interested in the topic of what it means to be a family."
"Do you have any recommendations for books I could read?"
"Well, there's one story I think you would enjoy. It's called the Magic Knight. A story of a boy being summoned to another world to fight evil, forming bonds with his traveling companions and essentially become a family."
He nodded in understanding. "Ok, thank you."
Shortly after that conversation, they arrived. The bookstore was much smaller than the previous places they've been to, but still pretty sizeable.
"Anything you want I'll buy, Meta." Kurabe stated.
Her student shook his head. "Sensei, that's not necessary."
"I insist."
"So do I."
"Now, Meta..."
"I'll pay for the damn books." Mercury said cutting them off.
Kurabe blinked. "...Mercury, are you sure about that-"
"Yes, I'm sure about it! Now drop it!"
"But Mercury-" Meta tried to say.
"I'm paying, end of discussion. Now get shopping already."
Both mentor and student silently nodded.
The group decided to split up and meet back up in thirty minutes. Meta was currently looking at the science fiction section. "What would be interesting to read...?" He thought as he looked at the various spines and covers.
"What's this? The Crusader of the Night?"
That sounded interesting. The back of the book explained that it was the story of an orphan, using all of skills and equipment to make a world where no one has to become an orphan like he was. Something about the premise struck a chord within Meta.
"I suppose I can give this a chance."
He then looked around at the shelves.
"Are there any others...? No, I shouldn't get anything else. Mercury's paying for it, anyway..." He thought.
"I can't read minds, but I know what you're thinking, Meta. Quit it and get what you want." Mercury said from down the aisle.
He gave a slight sigh. "Alright then, what's this one? The Supernatural Samurai? I'd question why a book about the paranormal is in the science fiction section, but I suppose there's stranger occurrences in real life."
He then saw another book that caught his eye.
"The Burning Meteor? A story of two beings fused into one fighting off an alien threat while copying the enemy's abilities to use against them. I wonder if this was inspired by us Star Warriors?"
He took the book and added it to his collection.
"Well, I think that's it then..."
Meta walked over to where Mercury was. He was slightly glad that Kurabe wasn't there, for he had something he wanted to discuss with the silver vice captain.
"Hey, Mercury, I have a question."
The woman looked down at him in questioning. "What is it, Meta?"
He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"As a Limet and Reedy's sister, do you blame me for getting him and the others killed?" He asked with determination. He needed to bury this topic and the last thing he needed to do, was ask how Mercury felt about it.
She blinked in confusion. "Why would I blame you? They're still alive, aren't they?"
"But what if they weren't?"
"That's irrelevant, Meta. They are still alive, just like you are right now. There's nothing for you to regret or for me to blame." She replied honestly.
The youth became silent for a moment. "...thank you, Mercury."
"Besides even if they did die, I still wouldn't blame you, Meta. It's a sad truth that all life ends at some point. I would be heartbroken, but I wouldn't blame you. Also, your actions saved their lives, so quit with the self-loathing, alright?"
"I'll try, but no promises..." He sighed.
He then felt Mercury flick his forehead. "Wrong answer. Promise me, Meta."
He stared at her for a moment. "Ok, Mercury, I promise."
"Good." She then flicked him again. "What was that for?"
"For asking a dumb question. Now come, let's go find Kurabe."
He quickly nodded and followed after her.
"So did you know about my rising popularity?" Meta asked, trying to make small talk.
"I'm pretty sure you're the only one who wasn't aware of it." The Limet replied with a laugh.
"Oh..." he uttered, his face turning a bit red.
"You should look up the news more often. You've been in the headlines for a while now."
He looked up at her and blinked. "You mean... as in before the Myovam incident?"
"Yup. Defeating an ice giant. Defeating a powerful group of space pirates. Not to mention a lot of the other missions you've been on. You defeating the Myovam is just icing on the cake."
"I didn't know I was that famous..."
"I wouldn't blame you. It took Kurabe decades to learn that she had a fanbase."
Considering how easy it was for her to ignore being watched, that wasn't a surprise.
"What about you, Mercury?" He then asked.
"Me? Yeah, I suppose I'm a bit famous. It's a bit embarrassing, though, and not all the attention is positive."
He knew exactly what she meant by that. "But you still get positive attention, right?"
"Yeah, which is the embarrassing part. I'm thankful for it though. Even if certain fans are a bit... hardcore, I guess..."
Meta only looked at her in confusion. "...what do you mean?"
"I get a lot of love letters. Some more flattering than others."
"Well, isn't that kind of a good thing? You're really pretty and it's good for people to acknowledge that."
"It's still embarrassing. Plus, I'm not exactly interested in dating at the moment." She answered, instinctively putting her hand over her core.
As if realizing what that meant, Meta stopped walking.
"...I'm really sorry, Mercury. That was very insensitive for me."
"Don't apologize, Meta. You didn't mean any harm by it. I'll be fine, trust me." Mercury said with a genuine smile.
The youth smiled himself, glad that Mercury had been smiling a lot more recently.
"Ok then. Now we should probably go look for sensei."
"Yeah, who knows where she might be?" A familiar voiced said from behind.
"Ah! Sensei!" He shouted, turning around. "How long were you behind us for?"
"I just got here."
The vice captain nodded. "Well, did you pick out any books, Kurabe?"
"A few. Mainly recipe books. I've been meaning to expand my culinary skills for a while."
"Really? What kind of recipes? Any interesting novels?"
"The recipes are a secret. I'd rather surprise you all later at dinner. As for novels, I just picked up a romance novel that Mercury recommended me."
The youth blinked in slight surprise. "Sensei, I didn't know you were interested in romance..." Meta commented.
"Somewhat." She replied in a tone that didn't invite any more conversation.
"...why "somewhat"?" Her student then asked, both curious and partially wanting to finally have something to tease his mentor about.
"Because I haven't met anyone whose gotten my attention. Romantically speaking."
After that blunt reply, Mercury knelt down and whispered to Meta. "In other words, it's so she can imagine herself in her ideal romantic relationship."
The youth quietly laughed at that.
"I heard that."
"I know." She then stood up, crossing her arms confidently. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Want me to tell stories about when you were drunk?"
"Do you want me to pay for your books?"
"You're the one who offered remember? I wouldn't mind paying." She replied with a cocky grin.
"I was already planning on doing it."
"Great! Here you go." Kurabe said as she placed the books in Mercury's arms.
The woman then turned to Meta. "Well, I'll pay for your books as well then, Meta."
"Okay..." Meta replied, unsure of what just happened.
After Mercury bought the books, the group walked out of the store together.
"Well, Meta, where would you like to go next?" Kurabe asked, waiting in anticipation for a response.
"I have no idea." He answered truthfully.
He had done everything he had wanted to do, so he didn't really care about what happened next. He was just happy to have his current companions with him.
"You two can decide on what we do."
His mentor nodded. "Alright then, where would you like to go, Mercury?"
"Well, there's that clothing and jewelry store we like." She mentioned, looking at Meta.
"We can go if you want. I don't mind." He replied.
"Alright then, we'll go there. Besides, we can get Meta something a bit more casual than his uniform if he wants." Kurabe said.
Her student rolled his eyes, already knowing that she'd buy him something anyway.
"Oh, don't think like that, Meta! Come on!" His mentor uttered, grabbing his hand, and dragging him off in the direction of the stores.
Mercury couldn't help but laugh at the scene that just unfolded.
While Kurabe and Mercury were in the two stores, Meta quietly waited on a bench.
"I said I wouldn't mind but, I didn't think they'd take this long." He thought as he stared at some floating clouds in the sky.
"Metaaaaa! Come over here!" He heard his mentor's voice.
Meta lazily got up and walked over.
"Well, at least she looks happy." He thought. He then noticed that she was in the clothing store.
"Sensei, what is it?"
She then became silent as she looked back at him and at a set of clothing.
"Mercury, what do you think is more fitting for him...?" She murmured.
"All of them, honestly. Though if I had to choose one, the set on the left."
"Oh yes, I think that does fit the most."
Meta gave a slightly annoyed sigh.
"Don't complain, you don't even know what it is!"
"I'm allowed to complain about anything that involves me." He thought.
"Sensei, stop reading my mind, please." He said, stopping the inevitable sentence she was about to say.
She then gave a pout and began to squish his cheeks in irritation. "Don't tell me what to do! I am your teacher!"
"I was asking politely, sensei." He struggled to say through his stretched cheeks.
As if realizing this, she stopped squishing his cheeks and gave a slight huff as she took the set, presumably to go buy it.
"Believe it or not, she was looking through both of these stores to find something for you." Mercury said.
"I definitely believe it." He replied dryly, but then spoke once more, loud enough for Kurabe to hear. "But I do appreciate it."
He noticed her give a slight twitch, as if she had heard the response.
"Yeah, sorry we took so long, though." The woman added. "I know this was supposed to be a day for you to relax, but I feel a bit bad for leaving you on that bench."
"It's fine. The bench was surprisingly comfortable."
"Yeah, but were you fine with being by yourself? I'm sure you haven't been having the best thoughts lately, so..."
"Of course I'm fine. Besides it's not like you two were far away. If something happened, I know sensei would come to me immediately. I just watched the clouds to distract myself."
The woman gave a smile. "Would you like to know what Kurabe bought for you?"
"I'm sure she'd rather show me herself. Though, I am admittedly curious."
"Well, you'll have to wait until we return to the GranEssex to see it." Kurabe said as she returned.
"Well, I'm sure you both are quite tired after today, so why don't you both start making your way back to the starship? I'll join you after I pick up some ingredients for dinner tonight."
"I can accompany you, sensei." Meta said before involuntarily yawning. "...Or maybe not."
She smiled as she patted his head. "Go back with Mercury and get some rest. I want to make sure you're awake when I make you dinner tonight."
The youth nodded, not wanting to leave Kurabe alone but couldn't argue with her either.
"Let's go, Meta." Mercury said while grabbing his hand.
Slightly embarrassed, he only followed her back to the starship in comfortable silence.
Either Meta fell asleep on the trip back to the starship or the GranEssex, as when he opened his eyes, he was back in his room on the GranEssex.
"I guess I was more tired than I thought." He said while his eyes adjusted to the light in his room.
"Good morning, sleepyhead." He heard a familiar voice.
"Mercury? Were you watching over me?"
"Yup. I was worried what would happen if you woke up and you were alone, so I thought I'd stay here with you. It's also because Kurabe wanted me to wait in here with you while she made dinner."
"I see. Well, thank you." He said awkwardly.
"What's wrong, Meta?" She asked in concern.
"Nothing. I'm just not used to having people watch me sleep. I swear, you and sensei always assume something is wrong. Not that I particularly mind, I guess."
"Well, we're just worried about you, you know?"
"I know and I appreciate it."
For a moment, she smiled, but then her expression became serious as she took his hand.
"Meta, you probably already know this, but if you're having any problems or worries, feel free to come talk to me about them. I know I probably can't do much about your problems, but I will at least try to make you feel better."
Meta smiled, but there was something sad about it. "Thank you, Mercury. It's just hard sometimes. Reaching out for help, I mean. I don't want to be a burden on anyone."
"I understand that all too well, Meta." She replied with a somewhat melancholic sigh.
The youth saw the somewhat sad expression on her face. It, combined with the way she spoke, gave him even more determination to become stronger, so that she wouldn't feel sad again.
"Alright, you two, enough of that. It's time for dinner." They heard a voice from the doorway, and it was, of course, Kurabe.
"Ah, sensei! Did shopping go well?"
"It did. I got everything I needed to make dinner tonight. Now, come on. I'm sure you're starving by now."
He nodded as he hopped off his bed and quickly followed her to her room.
On the extremely short trip to Kurabe's room, Meta spoke up.
"So, sensei, what are we having? Is it something from that cookbook you got earlier?"
"That's right, but you'll just have to wait and see." She said while opening her door.
The youth sighed, knowing better than to pry about it and took a seat at the table.
"Did anything eventful happen? Or were too absorbed by shopping to notice like usual?" Mercury asked.
"There was a two for one sale if you consider that as eventful."
"Oh? At which store?" The woman asked.
"The grocery store." She responded flatly.
"Yes, but which one?"
"I told you, the grocery store."
"Kurabe, seriously."
"What? That's the name of the store."
Mercury blinked. "The grocery store is literally named the grocery store?"
"Yes, that's what I was saying." Her superior pouted.
"That's a dumb name."
"I know, right?!"
"Sensei, I'm hungry..."
"Don't worry, hungry, you'll get your food soon. Also, if you want to go by that name, it's fine, but I much prefer your original name."
"SENSEIIIII!" He shouted, clearly angered by that.
"Yes?" She responded, clearly not bothered by the outburst.
"...Please stop with those jokes." He said after calming down.
"I will once you stop giving such cute reactions, Meta."
Looking extremely annoyed and even angry by this, Meta hopped down from his chair and left the room. He didn't get far and was quickly dragged back inside.
"Meta, I apologize for teasing you, but you shouldn't leave like that. At least not until you eat."
Meta however still looked upset, causing Kurabe to feel incredibly guilty.
"Look, I'm sorry. I just can't help but tease you. But if it really bothers you, I'll stop for a while. Ok?"
"Then learn to stop teasing people..." he mumbled with a pout.
Kurabe's first instinct was to say, "Then learn to stop getting so upset." but she quickly stopped herself and simply hugged Meta.
"I'll try."
After what her student experenced two days ago, there was no doubt that the last thing she wanted to do was upset him.
"...You promise?" He asked weakly.
"I promise." She replied, hugging him tighter.
"Then I forgive you. Now can we please eat?"
She quickly stopped hugging him. "Oh yes, I'm sure you're excited to see what I made. Now, this is a new recipe, so let me know what you think of it, so I know whether or not to make it again."
"I'll probably like it, but ok. So, what is it?"
"It's called a gyro. It's an ancient meal from a long-lost civilization. Normally it's made with beef, but I decided to use chicken instead."
"It looks good at least." He said, taking a moment to take in the aroma.
"Well then, dig in."
At her urging, Meta took a bite and immediately he felt a surge of flavor. It was enough to completely get rid of his annoyed mood.
"Well, what do you think?" She asked.
"It's delicious! What's in it, sensei?"
"Well, chicken, of course, since I made it with that instead of the usual beef."
"I know that much, but what else is in it?"
"Lettuce, onions, a few tomatoes. And the most important part, the Greek yogurt. That ingredient is pretty hard to come by."
"Well, it's really good, sensei." He said before taking another bite.
Kurabe smiled, glad that his mood was better again. "What about you, Mercury? Do you like it?"
"I like it in the same way that I like all of your food." She bluntly replied.
Kurabe playfully pouted before turning to her student. "Well, Meta, have you had a good day?"
"I did, sensei. Thank you." He said with a smile. However, he then became tense. "Can I ask you something, sensei?"
"What is it?"
"Well, this is a bit embarrassing to admit but, I've been having nightmares ever since that day. So, I was wondering if..."
"You could sleep with me?"
"...If you don't mind..."
Kurabe was silent for a moment before she gave a quiet giggle. "Of course you can."
"Thank you, sensei." He responded, a tad embarrassed.
"Fine, you don't need to twist my arm. I'll stay in here too." Mercury said, unprompted.
"Huh!? Mercury!? But why!?" The youth asked, surprised at that response.
"Why? You said you've been having nightmares. What other reason do I need?"
"I know, but... don't you feel embarrassed...?"
"Not really. I trust you to not to do anything you shouldn't."
The youth became silent for a moment before giving a nod. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." She said with a smile. "Well, I'll go get dressed for the night then. Meta, close your eyes."
"Um... ok?" The youth did as told.
"Alright, open them."
He did and what he saw was Mercury now in a nightgown. "That... looks... really nice on you..." He uttered shyly.
"Thanks. Now you should probably get dressed for bed as well. After you're done eating anyway."
"...but I usually just go to sleep in my uniform."
"Suit yourself." Mercury said.
However, Kurabe was having none of it.
"Wear this when you go to sleep, Meta." She said while handing him a sleeping cap.
"...sensei, is this what you got me at the clothing store?"
"One of them, yes. I got you another set of clothes, but we can worry about that tomorrow."
The youth nodded. "Alright, I'll look forward to it."
He then returned to eating.
"Is it strange that I sleep in my uniform?" He asked after finishing another bite.
"Well, it's fine if you're out in the field and have to, but I'm sure you'll be a lot more comfortable if you sleep without it." Mercury said.
"It's also because you shouldn't let it get wrinkled." His mentor added.
"But I see that you always wear your armor when you sleep, sensei."
"Not always, just the times you've slept with me. Sometimes I'm too tired to bother with removing it. Outside my visor, of course."
He took another bite. "So, are you going to be wearing it tonight?"
"No. And you won't be wearing your uniform either. I got us matching caps for a reason." She said, holding a similar cap to the one he received.
"...so that includes the kinda useless veil you wear?"
"...What was that, Meta?" She asked with a forced smile.
"Please, forget I said anything."
The forced smile returned to being a relaxed one and the danger coming from Kurabe ceased. It baffled Meta that Kurabe could ignore so much but be set off by the smallest of things. Then again, he knew how seriously she took her equipment and clothing. In an attempt to make the atmosphere more comfortable, he decided to ask another question.
"So why is it important to not have wrinkles on my uniform if it's just going to get dirty during missions anyway?"
"It's easier to clean off your uniform than to get wrinkles out and clean your uniform of dirt."
"I get that, but ultimately I'll need to clean my uniform after every mission. So, what's the harm of a few wrinkles?"
"You have to remember, Meta. We aren't just soldiers. We're members of an elite organization, thus we need to look the part. As silly as it may sound, our image is important."
He stared at her for a moment before nodding in understanding. Just then he yawned, much to his own surprise.
"Why am I so exhausted? I haven't done anything strenuous today."
"You're emotionally exhausted, Meta."
Well, he couldn't deny that, if he was being honest. He then rubbed his eyes.
"So, I guess since I'm done with dinner, I should go to sleep in a bit..." He uttered as he headed towards Kurabe's bed, beginning to slowly remove his uniform as he did so.
Once he got into bed, he put on the sleeping cap, surprised by how comfy it was. In fact, he felt like he could fall asleep at that very moment. In fact, he practically did so before he could say anything else.
"Well, look at that. Already asleep." Mercury said.
"I knew that cap would look cute on him." added Kurabe.
"It does." The woman smiled as she began to clear the table.
"Well, let's hurry up, Mercury. I want to get to bed as fast as possible. I don't want Meta to have another nightmare. He doesn't deserve any of them."
"Alright then, help me out. It'll get done more quickly if we work together."
"That's my line. I already have my half of the table clean."
She quickly looked up, shocked. "How did you? Did you use magic?"
Kurabe grinned. "No, I'm just simply a master of cleaning."
Mercury gave a slight laugh. "Alright, I should be done in a bit." She then gathered up the rest of the utensils and plates. "How about you start getting ready yourself, Kurabe?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, now get to sleep. The sleepy prince is waiting for his mother."
Admittedly, Kurabe was a bit surprised for a moment by those words, but then she let out a slight chuckle.
"Alright then." She then looked at Mercury. "Do I really come off as a mother?"
"Is that a rhetorical question or an actual one?"
"An actual one!" She replied with a pout.
"Don't you tell people to not ask questions with obvious answers?"
She only continued to pout.
"Fine. Yes, you come off as a mother. You've acted like one the minute you brought him to the ship all those years ago."
"A mother..." She uttered, taking a moment to process the word before giving a grin. "Well, of course! I'm the best mother in the galaxy! And even if he doesn't view me as his mother, I shall continue to be there for him!" She stated in her usual confidence.
Mercury giggled. "Yeah, don't really think you need to worry about that, sis."
Kurabe smiled at that as she removed her pauldrons. "Glad to see that you agree with me."
However, her happiness was short-lived as she began to struggle to remove the sabatons.
"Let me do it." Mercury said while sighing.
"I can do it!" She pouted in a childish manner.
"I know you can, but it'd be faster if I did it. Or do you want Meta to have a nightmare?"
She continued to pout, but then sat on the bed, as if giving in to the request.
"Alright, they're off. Good night, sis."
Kurabe then put the nightcap on her head.
"Good night, Mercury."
The woman left to finish cleaning the table and Kurabe crawled up next to Meta, making he wasn't having a nightmare. Upon confirmation that he wasn't, she smiled and wrapped him up in a hug.
"Good night, my little knight."
Although her student remained silent, the small smile on his face was the only thing she needed for confirmation that he heard her words. Soon, she too fell asleep, keeping Meta in her caring embrace. Shortly after that, Mercury also joined them, carefully laying down on the open side next to Meta as to not wake him up.
"What a bunch of dorks..." She said, commenting on the position they were in. Then, she gave a smile. "Still, they're my family. Good night, you two."
Although she didn't get a response, she knew that they were aware, as they gave a slight sigh. The three slept soundly for the rest of the night, with not a single nightmare to be had.
A much-needed breather chapter after the previous one.
Hope you enjoyed it!