Virtue of the Shield Hero

by Allen Blaster

According to Newton's Third Law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Unfortunately, Naofumi and co will find this to be especially true after returning from their Otherworld trip. Rest of Summary inside. The third installment is here. Multiple pairings. Covers Season Three Territory and beyond. Arc 10: Chapters Thirteen: Part One: Death Match

152. 87: Until Next Time

Chapter Eighty-Seven: Until Next Time

---

After a moment, the room was finally silent.

Not a single one of the Hero's allies had fallen. There were no casualties amongst the Gem Noblesse Commandos that'd participated either.

Only a handful of gem caretaker golems had been destroyed. Thankfully, none of their cores had been broken in the attacks, so they'd be able to be rebuilt by their comrades at a later time.

The remaining golems all trembled in their spots, looking around the area one more time for any stragglers. But when it became apparent that there weren't any left, they settled to the ground, and the transformations they'd undergone reversed.

Within moments, the golems returned to their normal, nondeadly, and roundish appearances.

The only ones who'd died in the room were the hundreds of reincarnators. Mounds of ash littered the floor of the assembly hall amidst destroyed desks, spilled drinks, and other debris. Some corpses and body parts poked out here and there to signify that their owners got away. But they were few and far between.

It'd take the caretakers some time before they finally had the area all cleaned up. But after that, it'd be as if the fight had never occurred in the first place. The world would move on as normal, with most of its people not knowing just how much their lives were about to improve because of this.

Seeing the gem golems become normal again, the scary aura around Kizuna finally vanished as well.

She turned around to face everyone, her face beaming with a genuine happy smile. "Whew! Glad that's all out of the way at last!

"Now, who wants to go fishing with me?!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..." Naofumi was frowning deeply. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to Kizuna.

He knew she'd warned them about some of the things she wanted to try before this. But she'd clearly stepped over the line in some aspects. He didn't think that this experience had changed her permanently, but it didn't seem right for her to try and act like her usual self after… all that'd happened.

Before he could think of anything to say, however, Glass walked up to her best friend and set her hands on Kizuna's shoulders. "Are you really doing okay, Kizuna?" She asked.

Kizuna looked surprised by the serious expression on her face. "O-Of course I am! Do you have to ask?!"

…

…

Glass's serious look didn't lessen. Concern crawled onto her features, making it hard for Kizuna to look her in the eyes.

"I know you said otherwise before we came in here, but I can tell you aren't alright right now.

"You were fine at the start. But you stopped being fine after you killed someone yourself.

"While I know you did all this for the greater good of our world, and that you convinced yourself that this was a necessary thing for you to do. I do not think even you could turn your back on the pacificism you cherished so much before without regretting that."

…

"..." Kizuna's eyes fell, and she looked at her hands. "To be honest, I'd rather I never have to kill someone ever again. I…

"I feel terrible that the rest of you have had to do that for me before. The blood, I can… still feel…"

Glass hugged her best friend close, and Kizuna returned the embrace as tears fell from her eyes.

Naofumi breathed out, though this time in relief. He knew what Kizuna was experiencing now. It was the same guilt he'd felt after killing people in the Capital, and the same guilt he'd felt when he was forced to kill Ost.

You could talk all you wanted about evil people needing to pay with their lives for their crimes against humanity. But regardless of how deserving someone was of it or not, it was still hard to kill with your own hands. Even soldiers, trained to kill the enemy, sometimes hesitated the first time in combat when the target at the other end of their scope was another person instead of a sheet of metal.

Killing people after that first time didn't become more easy. It just became more bearable.

As bad as it sounded, in most cases, it was easy to dismiss the guilt of seeing a person die when it wasn't by your hand.

It wasn't easy at all though when you were the one who killed that person. Whether purposefully or in self-defense. You'd have to be a true psychopath to not be affected.

No wonder things like hanging, the guillotine, or the electric chair had become common forms of execution for death row criminals in the past. It wasn't just for entertainment value. Having an object do the killing for you was probably much easier than being part of a firing squad or holding the executioner's axe to do the deed yourself.

Anyway, side tangent aside, the fact that Kizuna did feel guilty after it was all said and done was a good thing. It meant she hadn't turned into a psychotic megalomaniac killer, and that she would most likely not kill again in the future unless she had no other choice. Just like Naofumi and Raphtalia and the others with them.

"Okay. Not to take away from the seriousness of what we just did. But you've got to tone the flexing down, Kizuna." Naofumi finally spoke out. Drawing the attention of the two Heroes in front of him.

"W-What do you mean?" Kizuna asked confusedly, wiping away a couple of remaining tears from her face.

"Come on, when you destroyed that guy with one punch, when you told everyone how you meant it when they'd die there. Or the way you just pounded on that Harpoon Idiot until he ran away screaming from all the trauma you inflicted on him.

"Couldn't you have just told that &^%$ to tell whoever 'they' are that they had $%^$ around and were about to find out so that some of us could at least laugh?!"

…

"Eh…" Kizuna was confused at Naofumi's attitude for a moment, but then, after realizing how this was probably the way of coping he'd developed for himself, she couldn't help but chuckle as a small grin came onto her face.

"But Big Bro, that'd be too boring!" Kizuna rolled her eyes as Glass released her, still looking confused at the shift in the room's tone. "And besides, that saying is sooooo outdated.

"Using it would have made me sound lame!"

"Oi! Is that supposed to mean my ideas are lame?!" Naofumi yelled, looking offended.

"That one's certainly one of your lamest!" Kizuna stuck her tongue out at him.

Naofumi's chuckling turned into full-on laughter as he began to noogie the girl, causing her to screech and laugh in protest as she tried to escape his grasp.

Most of the others still looked a bit unnerved, even the other Cardinal Heroes. Yet, they were slowly starting to smile as well.

Strange, had they all become so desensitized to violence that they could laugh this off just like that?

Maybe this was a sign that all of them needed therapy.

Thoughts for later, they supposed.

…

"My brother had been right in the end it seems." Corrin sighed but smiled to himself. It appeared the Hunting Tools Hero and her ideals had changed a bit, just like he had.

The non-compromised delegates from various countries began to get ushered into the room by the golems and Corrin's honor guard of armored noblesses, still looking shocked at what they'd witnessed over one of Kyo's spy balls from another room.

"I trust that what you saw today was decisively clear and left no room for doubt." The Emperor addressed the startled-looking delegates.

"The Waves are not some kind of cyclic form of natural disasters like we were led to believe. Nor are any of the calamities and misfortunes accompanying them a coincidence. A group of people somewhere, somehow, is actively seeking our collective destruction.

"We do not know their motivations or reasoning for attacking us yet. But it doesn't matter. They have struck us and drawn first blood. That is reason enough to bear our arms and strike back in return.

"The Waves can not be controlled or exploited. Any foolish notions of profiting off them are shortsighted and will only lead to ruin.

"I know that not all of you share my ideology. I can see those among you who do, who will not need any further convincing, so I will not try to appeal to the sense of morality of the rest of you.

"We are all different people, from different cultures and backgrounds. But what unites us, no matter who we are, is our sense of self-preservation and self-interest.

"What you saw today was not a threat or an attempt of a hostile takeover of your lands through intimidation. If, by the end of this, you still wish to simply go back home and forget everything that happened, it will be your choice.

"However, if you do, the heroes will no longer provide you any support during the waves or any other affairs, be they internal or external."

This proclamation caused a stir among the crowd but Corrin swiftly cut the protests off by grabbing a lightning gem rifle from one of his commandos and firing it into the air.

Phoom!

The sound of a lighting crackle instantly silenced all the voices and Corrin handed the rifle back to his soldier before continuing to speak. Standing tall while holding his hands behind his back.

"If you do not wish to help us fight together against a common foe who seeks to exterminate our world and people, then you are no longer entitled to any help from us either.

"It would not be an act of holding your country's wellbeing hostage.

"You would be the ones proclaiming your desire for complete independence and self-sufficiency by saying no to joining the alliance that will be formed today.

"And if that is the case, then I can only hope that your suicidal overconfidence in your abilities is well placed instead of being a mere shadow cast by the size of your hubris. Otherwise, may the gods help you and your people. Because we won't."

The Emperor of Lapis turned away from the crowd of representatives and slowly and deliberately approached the Hunting Tools Hero. Naofumi gave the girl a small nod and stepped away.

Corrin looked Kizuna directly in the eyes and then crouched down on one knee while still maintaining eye contact. He bowed his head low in a show of respect.

He then reached out to grab Kizuna's hand and kissed it.

"Hunting Hero-sama. Henceforth, I, Corrin Diamondite, the sole sovereign of the Lapis Empire, swear my fealty to you and your cause. I speak for my country and its people. Everything that Lapis has to offer is yours to use as you see fit.

"Until we are free of the shadow cast by the waves and the masterminds responsible for them, me and all of my people will live and die by your command. That is my declaration and binding oath to you, the other heroes, and this world."

"W-What-"

"The Emperor, he's-"

The crowd stared agape at the sheer sight before them that shattered every form of etiquette, common sense, or any previously established social rules when it came to higher echelons of society on a global scale. Not even the slaughter that came before this caused a reaction like that.

But the shouting stopped short before it could escalate when the next person walked in front of Kizuna and kneeled before her.

"With the emergency power vested in me, I, Yomogi Ethnina, the commander-in-chief of Luvar's army and the temporary Arbiter of Luvar's Parliament, swear my fealty to you, Hunting Tool Hero-sama. Luvar and its people are at your beck and call, whenever you should require it."

Kizuna wordlessly offered her hand to Yomogi and the girl reverently kissed it as well.

"Though I may hold the title of the prime minister officially, in practice, I am afraid that my power is not nearly as absolute."

Label's Prime Minister slowly walked up and was the third person to kneel before Kizuna. "I, Miyamoto Masamune, am simply the spokesperson of the numerous old clans that form Label's ruling caste. But for what it's worth, my blade and the blades of my clan are yours to command as well, Hunting Tools Hero-sama. I will ensure that the other clan heads will quickly fall in line and obey you as well. Though I can't imagine having too much trouble convincing them after all that happened both today and before." The old samurai kissed Kizuna's hand as well.

"I, L'Arc Berg, the sole sovereign of the kingdom of Sickle, have already offered my oath a long time ago." The Scythe Hero was the last person to kneel before Kizuna. There was not even a drop of mischief in his eyes at that moment. "But I shall repeat it and renew it, for it remains the same as it always has and always will be since the day my father first gave it to you.

"Hunting Tools hero-sama, my sister in all but blood. Both I and Sickle are at your disposal. Together to the end and beyond."

Despite needing to keep up a calm facade, Kizuna had to struggle hard to not show the overwhelming emotion on her face when her brother kissed her hand.

"Those among you..." The girl finally spoke out, addressing the crowd. "Those who want to help me to save, to protect and preserve our world. Step forward.

"And those who do not, leave at once.

"I have no time to deal with cowards."

...

Not a single person turned to leave. Slowly, one by one, the various representatives began to step forward. Pledging their fealty and that of their nations to the Hunting Tools Hero as well.

Others raised their hands nervously, raising the same concerns as Label's elder, due to either not holding absolute power in their domains or simply being ambassadors that could only relay the message of what had transpired today. None of them had left, however.

The message was clear to all, even to the most dimwitted among them who only got to their positions through inheriting it or networking.

Either you would join the alliance, or you would be left stranded to die at the hands of the mysterious all-powerful enemy that had been unveiled today before everyone.

In the face of an actual credible threat with a face, even an obscured one, the questions of morality, greed, personal vendettas, and everything else fell to the wayside. When it came to survival, there were no more arguments to be had.

Even the ones among them who still believed that they could take on the waves and the people in charge of them on their own... still faltered under the idea of potentially earning the wrath of the coalition that was already formed between Lapis, Label, Sickle and Luvar. Which was a far more credible and real threat that could not be simply dismissed.

Kizuna, though her smile still looked pained, rested her hand on Corrin's shoulder and addressed the assembly after the various questions died down. "You have my word. I will not stop fighting until this world is freed from the Waves and whoever is standing behind them.

"I'll avenge your family, as well as the families of all those who were targeted by 'them'. I swear it upon my title as the Hunting Tools Hero."

"Us too." Hoshi walked forward as well. Heading the three other Cardinal Heroes. "We will use all of our talents and abilities to suppress the Waves the world over. We will also join Kizuna's fight against 'them'.

"We won't run and cower like before. We will save this world and ensure the Waves will never threaten it again, no matter what."

The eyes of all the delegates there, even the less reputable ones, began to fill with hope.

Kizuna nodded to herself. Daitan simply smirked behind Hoshi's shoulder.

When had the Monochrome Hero gotten the confidence to step up like this? At this rate, Hoshi was going to become the head of their group of Three alongside Kizuna and-

Actually, you know what, Daitan didn't mind that one bit. He knew he wasn't meant to lead anyway. He'd rather leave that to those who were better at it so he could focus on what he was good at.

Getting stronger and beating up bad guys with a big stick.

Something he'd be much better at now, thanks to his newfound strength.

"Don't forget about me." Akane frowned beside him. "I'm going to get a lot stronger too."

"Of course." Daitan grinned at her. "It'd be too boring if I didn't have a rival now, wouldn't it?!"

Akane opened her mouth to respond, only to have to turn away as her cheeks blazed a fierce red once again.

Seriously, what the hell was up with this guy!?

"Now, with all that out of the way! I was serious when I said this earlier!" Kizuna pulled a fishing hat out of her weapon, resting it on her head.

"CELEBRATORY FISHING TRIP ON ME!"

…

Wow.

She really was cut from the same cloth as L'Arc.

Except fishing trips were her way of celebrating a victory.

Heh, oh well. Naofumi was all for it.

---

Okay, was a celebration as important to stay behind for now compared to the events from earlier?

No, not really, in all honesty.

Did that mean that Naofumi and the others didn't stay to enjoy it?

Hell no! This was like a breath of fresh air after everything they'd gone through! They were going back the next day anyway, so they deserved this chance to unwind!

"Wheeeee! Axie-Poo, I'm flying!" Maya giggled happily as her hero ran around in the sand, carrying his fiance above him with one hand.

Everyone on the beach was dressed in swimming trunks or a bikini, including Naofumi.

"Ahahaha! This is too great! I love how strong I am now!" Aksel laughed as well. "And you were so amazing earlier! My future wife will be a force to be feared, just like me!"

As the raccoon woman continued to giggle happily, sunlight fell upon the engagement rings the couple were now sporting.

Those two hadn't been able to wait till they got back to their world before Aksel proposed. Not that the Shield Hero minded.

It just gave Naofumi a peek at what he and Raphtalia would be doing soon enough.

"Wheeeeeeeee!"

"Filo! Not so high!"

Speaking of his wife friend, Raphtalia and their daughter were up in the sky. The half-tanuki was wearing a black bikini that gave Naofumi a nosebleed at the sight of her. And Filo didn't have a swimsuit, but was currently in her humming fairy form, flying with her Mommy on her back.

She'd pleaded and pleaded until Mommy caved. However, Mommy didn't seem to like the prospect of being so high up.

"Filooooooooooo!"

Naofumi laughed while resting on a towel on the sandy beach. When he was done laughing, he felt something drip onto his hand and licked the white creamy substance off of it. And then he licked the trail of it from the bottom of the cone he was holding to the top.

Yep, he couldn't believe it at first. But this beach had an ice cream machine on it. And the ice cream was surprisingly good!

Like, he didn't know if it was just because it'd been so long since he last had something this sweet or not, but it tasted exactly like vanilla ice cream from his world! And Yomogi claimed that Kyo had made the machine too!

The summer villa behind the beach, which doubled as Yomogi's current home, since Kyo's mansion had been destroyed, was pretty awesome too. It had air conditioning, sliding glass doors, a large freezer that made even Kizuna jealous of how much it could store inside, as well as a host of other modern marvels that made the place comfy to live in.

"Amazing, all this technology runs on Gem Power!" Romina screamed inside the home. "This is truly fantastic! I need to recreate all this as soon as possible!"

Heh, yep, Kizuna's blacksmith friend had joined the fun as well. And several others were inside the home as well. The other Cardinal Heroes, as well as Corrin and Hinoka, alongside other friends Kizuna was close with, but who Naofumi didn't know that well yet.

Not that he minded, since Romina was absolutely right in her assessment.

Kyo had done some good things in this world. It was unfortunate that he'd died. Maybe he could have eventually made a computer or even a phone that could handle gaming.

Hell, Naofumi could probably have asked him to make this world's first gacha game, and the two of them could have taken the world's market by storm by giving millions of people gacha addiction, and then they could have developed even more gacha games to further milk every one of their money, and…

Sigh, oh well. He'd just have to satisfy himself with ice cream at the moment. Not like Kyo seemed like the type to be interested in games in the first place. What with the life he'd lived and all that.

Though he had made a few game references himself whenever they fought. So maybe he did have some interest and played around a bit but just hadn't written about it in his journal?

Oh well.

"Urgh! Why does the brown function on this machine always malfunction whenever I want it?!" Yomogi asked angrily while glaring at the rectangular box before her.

"Just give it a good old-fashioned kick." Kizuna walked up, smiling happily. "It always worked for the machines in my world. Watch."

"Kizuna, wait-" Naofumi started to bolt up. But Kizuna had already brought her foot back.

Wham!

Surprisingly, her foot didn't even dent the bottom of it.

Even more surprisingly, the handle that'd dispense chocolate ice cream began working again for Yomogi. The girl smiled with bright-eyed happiness on her features. "Thanks! You're amazing, Kizuna!"

"Fufufu! I sure am." Kizuna crossed her arms, laughing as she soaked in the praise.

"Sure, when you're not acting like a child, that is," Naofumi grumbled while lying back on his towel.

"AND WHO ARE YOU TO CALL ME A KID?!" Just like that, Kizuna appeared towering over Naofumi's head. Glaring down at him.

"Me? I'm Naofumi Iwatani. And I know a child when I see one." Naofumi smirked.

It was already really apparent because of the dress she wore, but Kizuna's blue two-piece showcased just how small her chest was. Naofumi's assumption when he first met her had been correct.

Even Ren's new girlfriend had assets bigger than this girl.

"That's so mean!" Kizuna shrieked.

"Would you prefer I call you a lolibaba instead then?" Naofumi asked, bringing his ice cream to his face.

Mmmm. Tasty.

A dark aura surrounded the young Hero, but within seconds, it disappeared as she grinned widely. "Oh, it's so on!"

She disappeared, only to reappear a moment later to sit down next to Naofumi with two large cones of vanilla and chocolate ice cream in her hands. "The first one to finish gets to order the other around for a whole day!"

"What the- I never agreed to anything like that!" Naofumi yelled as he sat up indignantly. It didn't stop Kizuna from shoving the larger of the two ice cream cones into his hand though.

"You have to eat your original one as well! Anddddddd go!" Kizuna began licking and sucking at hers like a vacuum.

"Urghhh! You'll regret challenging me!" Naofumi began going to town on both of his cones too.

The shield at his side switched to one with an equip effect that drastically increased his cold tolerance. Without feeling the cold, Naofumi began to chomp and suck his ice cream down at an astonishing rate.

Within moments, his original cone was already done and he was hard at work on the one Kizuna had given him.

"What- that's cheating!" Kizuna pouted when she realized what Naofumi had done.

"Hope you're ready, lolibaba! I'll work you like a slave after I win!" Naofumi paused for only a second to grin.

"We'll see about that, big bro! I'll have you fishing alongside me all day by the time I'm finished!" Kizuna switched to a weapon form that gave her a higher cold tolerance as well.

The two kept going with gusto.

…

Nearby, Dou-Lon and Glass sat at the edge of a dock. They were dressed in their normal clothes, unlike the others, and had fishing poles in their hands. They were currently observing Kizuna and Naofumi as well as the rest of their friends on the beach.

"Is there a reason why we're doing this instead of improving on my form, Glass?" The hakuko man asked curiously.

Glass chuckled as she shook her head. "I figured Kizuna would want to fish as soon as she had the chance. Though, it appears I might have been mistaken this time."

"Hmmm… no, I think she'll be over here soon enough." Dou-Lon pointed out. "I'm guessing that she plans on winning to force Naofumi to fish alongside her."

The two were still going through their ice cream cones. Naofumi looked like he was taking the lead. But then as he bit down on the cone Kizuna had given him.

"Huh- What the- WHY IS THE INSIDE MADE OF STONE?!" He yelled in the distance.

"Ahahaha! Remember, you have to eat all of it before I do!" Kizuna laughed diabolically beside him.

No one made fun of her lack of boobs and got away with it.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THAT'S CHEATING!"

Glass and Dou-Lon both began to laugh. Naofumi's high defense stat prevented his teeth from actually taking any damage from biting the rock. But that didn't exactly translate to him being able to eat it.

Kizuna was truly a cunning girl. They'd have two extras fishing with them soon enough.

"Still, I'm surprised. I would have thought you'd want me to practice the steps of Zero Stance Rondo more? Or maybe even Flame Stance Rondo or the others you've taught me and Raphtalia?" Dou-Lon asked curiously.

"And not take advantage of today's chance to sit back and relax?" Glass shrugged easily. "Remember, overtraining can hurt you far more than taking a day off now and then."

"I mean… yeah, I get it. I just want to make sure I'm in top shape when I return to my world." Dou-Lon chuckled to himself. "I know there'll be a crazy rose-haired swordswoman waiting back home for me to show off what I've learned. I'd like to make sure I can at least go toe to toe with her before I go."

"Hmmm…" Glass pondered to herself. As she did so, she pulled back on her line, pulling a fish the same size as her out of the water. It flew through the air at her with its teeth bared.

Glass's fans cut the head and tail of the fish clean off. Leaving the body to flounder in its death throes on the wood beside her. Unlike her best friend, she had never perfected the art of cleaning a fish midair. So she simply picked it up with one hand and tossed it into a comically large bucket behind them while she used one of her fans to throw the fish head and tail back into the water.

"The thing is, I do not believe I have anything left to teach you, Dou-Lon." Glass finally spoke.

Dou-Lon, who'd struggled with pulling his fish in at that point, looked at her in surprise. "Nothing to teach me? What do you mean?!"

Glass chuckled. She reached a hand over and helped the tiger man to reel in his large fish. Though, thankfully, it was a large salmon and not a large piranha-like monster like what she'd caught. "I mean I have nothing left to teach you. I feel like I have taught you everything you need to know to perfect your own use of the Zero Stance Rondo style of combat. As well as the other stances that I've taught you and Raphtalia."

"You know the steps, and more importantly, you have learned to feel the rhythm." Glass pressed the tip of one of her fans to Dou-Lon's chest, over his heart. She then looked out to the sea again. "All you need now is time and experience to help you hone your skills further. Something you will be able to do on your own without my help."

"... Oh…" Dou-Lon threw his catch into the bucket behind him.

The two rebaited their lines and cast them out again. There was silence between them for a minute.

…

…

"I… I thought it'd take longer for you to teach me everything you knew." Dou-Lon eventually spoke up.

"Indeed, some students take months or even years to learn any of the dance styles of combat. But you have done so in a short amount of time." Glass gave him a real smile. "You have quite the talent for it. Though I have no doubt your intense training regiment and prior battle experience played a part as well."

"Heh, heh… I just wanted to make sure I'd be able to spar on even footing with Eclair when I got back." Dou-Lon's eyes clouded over somewhat as he looked down at the water. "She told me to learn the combat styles of this world and show them to her when I returned… I do want to beat her, but I also didn't want to disappoint her…"

"Hmmm… clarify for me, this is the woman with the stick stuck up her butt, correct?" Glass asked with a playful smirk.

Dou-Lon nodded with a chuckle. Glass then looked at the sea again for a moment.

…

"Seeing how you fight now, I think you will not disappoint her in the slightest." She said after thinking it over to herself.

"You… you think so?" Dou-Lon asked in shock.

The spirit woman nodded. She smiled as she looked over at the beach to see Naofumi noogieing her best friend's head after his resounding defeat. The short girl was laughing while the taller young man was trying in vain to look pissed, but also couldn't help but laugh at Kizuna's antics.

"Whether you see it yourself or not, you have grown much stronger during your time with us Dou-Lon. You were already a capable warrior when I saw you in battle against the Spirit Tortoise, you just had some flaws in your overly aggressive combat style that needed to be beaten out of you.

"I think now that you have harnessed the rhythm of your body, you will no longer have trouble going toe to toe with this Eclair woman. Just make sure you do not slack in your training." Glass began reeling another fish in. "I might have nothing left to teach you, but that does not mean you can not further hone your skills in your world together with the woman who caught your heart."

"Of course, I shall endeavor to- wait, I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH THAT MUSCLEBRAIN!" Dou-Lon screamed.

"Not in love with who?" At that moment, Naofumi walked up, a grumpy look on his face while Kizuna skipped happily next to him.

Dou-Lon's guess turned out to be accurate. Kizuna had made Naofumi her fishing slave for the whole day.

"N-Nothing!" Dou-Lon stood up. "I'm going to do another kata! See you all- URK!"

The tiger man was stopped by Naofumi grabbing his ear. "I swear, if you don't relax, I'm going to throw you into the water headfirst!"

"Ack! Please, anything but that, Sir Naofumi- I mean, just Naofumi- I mean-"

Dou-Lon continued to stumble over his words while Naofumi groaned.

A day to celebrate at the beach, and here they were, fishing.

…

Well, that was Kizuna's definition of celebrating.

At least that ice cream had tasted good. Too bad he still felt the crunch of stone from his trying to eat the cone.

What? He hadn't wanted to lose. Though he could now verify that even with his high defense, he was unable to eat stone.

What a bummer.

---

"Kao."

Kaoru was perched on a palm tree that was overlooking the beach. He was watching everything going on from his perch. From the Shield Hero and Hunting Tools Hero fishing alongside the Fans Hero and a Tiger Man on the docks, to the Bow Hero standing at the corner of the beach, the Projectiles Hero building up the courage to approach him in her white bikini swimsuit.

The owl might have only been a week old, but there was a look in Kaoru's eyes that most new skikigamis didn't have.

A look that belied intelligence, of a soul having already begun to inhabit the familiar.

Yet the soul could remember little of his past life. It knew that it did have a past life thanks to being told about it by someone and that the figures on the beach and in the villa behind it felt somewhat familiar to him. But besides that, the only things that came to his mind were just vague imprints and shadows of the past.

The only thing he seemed to be sure of was that he should have been dead. Yet he was not.

…

"Rafu!" Raph-Chan bounded onto the leaning palm tree and sat down next to Kaoru. Somehow, the action didn't surprise the owl in the slightest. He turned his owly head to look at his fellow shikigami.

"Kao? (Greetings. Do you require something of me?)"

"Rafu! (Yea! Have you started remembering anything yet?)"

…

Kaoru tilted his head to the side, looking thoughtful. "Kao. (No, nothing. Or at least nothing concrete. Who are you anyway? You showed up when I was born and told me that my name was 'Kyo Ethnina', but everyone seems to refer to me as 'Kaoru'.)"

"Rafu… (Aww man... I guess it would be too much of a stretch to expect your memories to return so quickly. Oh well. As for who I am, I'm the amazing Raph-Chan! The daughter of the Shield and Katana heroes! Teehee!)" Rifana answered while winking cutely and forming a little peace sign with the claws on her right paw.

…

The two shikigamis continued to speak in Kaos and Rafus to one another. But while anyone watching might have thought it to be cute, the two familiars were, in reality, having a conversation between the two souls inhabiting them.

"(I see.)" The owl nodded. "(But what about my name being 'Kyo'? From what I gathered by paying attention to the conversations around me, it is the name of some bad person that the heroes had to put down recently. Am I related to him somehow?)"

"(Uhhhh... that's a complicated question.)" Raph-Chan pouted while kicking at the air with her hind legs. "(Let's see, hmm… wait, I know!)"

Raph-chan perked up and bounced in place on the palm tree, making it sway a little. She then began to wildly gesticulate with her paws.

"(Okay, imagine this. You've got a nice big fancy vase. Maybe it's a gift from someone you care about or some kind of family relic. So you cherish it a lot. But then! One day, it suddenly falls over and breaks! Wahhh! Such misfortune! So unlucky! And since the vase is so important, you don't have it in your heart to just throw the pieces away.)

"(So, you try to put it back together with some glue and a bit of elbow grease. You're not a master repairman though and you don't have any reference of the vase to use to put it back together, besides your hazy memory of what it looked like.)

"(Still, you do your best and do it anyway. But when you're done, it's pretty clear that the vase doesn't look anything like it used to anymore. Sure, it's made from the same stuff as the original vase, well aside from the glue binding the pieces together, I mean. But still, can you 'really' say that it's the same vase instead of something new?)" Raph-Chan leaned over the owl, putting her paws over the top of its head.

"(Uh... I'm not sure I understand where you are going with this metaphor.)" Kaoru blinked once while gently pushing the other shikigami away with one of its taloned feet.

"(Meta-what? Err, right, sorry, sorry, my bad. I should have probably started from the other end. Okay, this might sound like a bit of a doozy, but just hear me out, okay?)" Raph-chan nodded to herself and put her paws together.

"(Soooo, basically, you are a bunch of soul fragments that belonged to Kyo Ethnina that I managed to collect and put together inside of a Shikigami.)"

...

"(Oh. That makes sense.)" The owl blinked once again and nodded.

"(Wait, really?!)" Raph-Chan's eyes bulged out comically in surprise. "(That actually makes sense to you?!)"

"(Yes. Shikigamis are rather complex multi-purpose constructs. I've done a fair bit of research into them. Not quite to the extent that Ethnobalt had, but still, using a shikigami to trap a soul in it is a somewhat strange but feasible feat. Providing that the soul was whole of course. Wait-)" The owl did a double take. "(What do you mean by 'put together'? How can you put a shattered soul back together!?)"

"(Fufufufu!)" Raph-Chan crossed her arms over her chest and looked up smugly. "(Ancient weasel people 'ma-gick'!)"

...

"(Okay, I admit, Shield Sis kind of did the brunt of the work. I just repeated her instructions mostly.)" The raccoon rubbed the back of her head awkwardly.

"(Shield Sis?)" Kaoru cocked his head to the side.

"(Oh! The Shield Spirit, I mean! The Legendary Shield Spirit. That thing over there on my dad's arm. Really nice girl, doesn't really talk a lot like Auntie Ost does.)" Raph Chan pointed down at the beach. "(Anyway, it looks like you did remember something after all!)"

"(What are you… oh, I guess, I did.)" Kaoru settled back down on his perch. "(Strange, I couldn't recall that a moment ago.)"

"(What else can you remember now?)" Rifana asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"(I...)" The owl blinked and then narrowed its eyes. "(I don't know anymore. A lot of researching? But for what purpose? And the Boat Hero was there too? I think he was... helping me? No, no, wait, we were helping each other for sure. We were looking for ...something? I think?)"

"(For someone, actually.)"

A friendly boyish voice spoke up, making the two shikigami's look to the side and spot a penguin scooching up the palm tree's trunk.

"(Upsy daisy!)" Chris finished climbing and sat down next to Rifana. "(Hey Raph-chan. Hey Kaoru. You were looking for one of my moms to be specific. She was kidnapped at the time.)

"(Sorry for butting in by the way, but I noticed that Raph-Chan was fumbling hard with her explanations.)"

"(I wasn't fumbling!)" Raph-Chan bristled cutely. "(I was just... easing him into it, that's all!)" The tanuki then pouted cutely before crossing her forearms on her chest.

"(Of course. Of course.)" Chris nodded in a placatory way. "(However, didn't the Shield and the Book specifically ask us not to press on the matter and be patient?)"

"(Boo! That's dumb. Why wait, if he might remember things sooner?)" Raph-Chan countered. "(We'd be able to act sooner as well! And besides, my prodding did make him remember a little bit!)"

"(Um... excuse me, but can you provide some context of what you're talking about?)" The owl carefully tried to dip its toes into the conversation again.

"(If I am Kyo, as you say, then how am I alive? Wasn't his soul destroyed by the Katana hero?)" Kaoru asked.

"(Well... yea. It was. Sorta.)" Raph-Chan readily answered. "(But I had a part of your soul already from long ago, your right arm to be exact. I grabbed it when Sword Uncle cut it off you with his Blessed Series.)

"(Your arm was all wobbly~ wobbly~ after that, like putty or jelly. It was honestly a bit gross, and I wanted to throw it away at first, but Shield-Sis told me to to hold on to it instead.)"

"(...why though?)" The owl asked, sounding a bit mortified.

"(Ummm... I think Shield-Sis originally wanted to use it to track you, in case you decided to hide somewhere, but that didn't end up coming into play, since Yomogi just told us where you were.)" Raph-Chan replied with a shrug.

"(That's... surprisingly cunning. I can't imagine anyone being able to do anything to stop someone from tracking them by using something as outrageous as a shard of their own soul.)

"(It must be why that particular wound hurt so much and...)" The owl was nodding in understanding, before frowning as those memories quickly ebbed away again.

"(I also gathered some of your other soul pieces when you were killed before they disappeared.)" Rifana continued. "(The Book tried reaaaaaally hard to hold what was left of you in place when your soul shattered, so I'd be able to collect it. I still wasn't able to get all of it in the end, but I got most of it, I think.)

"(But let me tell you, that was nothing compared to actually putting you back together again and removing the Demon Dragon corruption from the pieces. It was so yucky! Like gross purple goo sticking to everything and burning your hands. Auntie Ost had to work all night to clean all the pieces. And when she did, they all ended up mismatched and wrong and-)"

"(What Raph-Chan is trying to say is;)" Chris put a flipper over the excited little girl's mouth. "(It's going to take a long time for what you have left to heal up properly.)"

"(I see. I take it that is also the reason why I find it hard to remember anything about my past life?)" Kaoru pressed on.

"(Yeah. It was a pretty traumatizing experience you went through.)" Chris continued to answer. "(Your memories should gradually recover overtime though as your soul heals.)"

"(I understand. But I still don't understand, why?)" Kaoru's head hung in front of him. "(Why go through so much trouble? I get the feeling that my soul was killed for a reason.)

"(Like... I didn't deserve to be saved.)"

...

"(Maybe not. Honestly, if it was up to me, I would have left you to rot.)" Raph-Chan frowned. "(But Shield-Sis is a big softie and said that you deserved a second chance.)"

"(... Hmph. You say that, yet somehow, it feels like I was given one long ago already. I can only infer that I squandered it though.)" Kaoru responded skeptically.

"(Perhaps, but it was not a real one.)" Chris spoke up again.

"(What do you mean?)" Kaoru responded with narrowed eyes.

"(Because that particular second chance involved a 'condition'. 'They' would have destroyed your soul had you treated your new lease on life as you wished.)" Chris added in a serious tone.

…

"(Who is 'they'?)" The owl asked hesitantly as it felt a strange sensation of coldness spreading over his body.

"(GODWORLD.)" Raph-Chan blurted out.

The owl nearly fell off the palm tree as it recoiled as if physically struck. Kaoru barely managed to remain upright by wildly flapping his wings to stabilize himself.

"(Told ya that prodding him would work.)" Raph-chan looked at Chris smugly while the penguin addressed Kaoru again.

"(Judging by your reaction just now, did you remember something else?)"

The owl familiar's eyes were glazed over as it passed one of its wings over his heart. "(Just that I should have imploded right now. That was one of the keywords. You shouldn't have spoken it out loud. They have the means to track its vocal usage. The last time it happened, they came down personally on the same day to deal with the individual who said it.)"

"(It's fine. We're not communicating verbally right now. It's a different kind of connection. One that is below their notice according to the Hunting Tools Spirit. They didn't hear us, so don't worry.)" The penguin reassured the startled-looking owl.

…

After a moment, Kaoru's head hung lower. "(So I never really had the chance to live in either of my lives?)"

"(No.)" Chris continued. "(Your soul had a contract tied to it that would have killed you had you ever directly disobeyed them.)"

"(But now, since your soul was destroyed, that contract is gone. It disappeared the moment my mother's sword cut your head off. Your soul death voided your contract to 'them'.)" Raph-Chan spoke again. "(And because of that, you don't have to obey 'them' any longer.)

"(You're allowed to be who you want to be. You have a true second chance at life now. A chance to help out the friends you cared about in this world.)" The penguin finished.

…

"(But again… why save me?)" Kaoru pressed. "(Don't tell me it was simply out of pity. I don't know what it is exactly, but I can tell you're not explaining everything!)"

Raph-Chan and Chris exchanged a look and nodded together. "(You are correct. There is another reason.)" Chris was the one to speak again. "(Now that the soul contract you had is gone, you should be able to give us answers to some important questions that you weren't able to write in your journal. When your memory fully recovers at least.)

"(For all the talk Kizuna gave to our enemies in Lapis, the wielders of the Cardinal and Vassal Weapons know almost nothing about who they're facing. The Weapon Spirits only know that their enemy lives in a place they call GODWORLD. That they are the ones causing the Waves between our worlds, and that the same individuals from GODWORLD have been in charge of the Waves for millennia. And yet, beyond that, they have never learned the names of these individuals. or why they seem so intent on capturing or destroying our worlds.)

"(We aren't able to tell our parents about GODWORLD either right now. If they learned about who 'they' are and if it happened while 'they' were watching when that happened, then we wouldn't be strong enough to face 'them' in a fair fight. Especially the Shield Hero and his companions. Their world still needs more time to gather the other Heroes as well as level up and make use of the power-up methods they have. And even then, it'd be better to reveal what we do know when we know that 'they' are unable to observe, so we can come up with a strategy on how to fight 'them'.)

"(Having said all that, you worked with 'them'. You have information on our enemy that no one else is capable of sharing. You could be the key to 'their' defeat. And now that your contract to 'them' is voided, we are hoping that once your memory recovers, you'll be able to share what you know with everyone in a place they can't see us so we can fight back against GODWORLD and end their threat to our worlds once and for all.)"

…

"(Though, having said that, the Shield really did choose to save you so you could have a genuine chance to become someone good. We didn't need to revive you to get the information that you possess.)" Rifana continued. "(Auntie Ost could have just eaten you to try getting it that way instead. But she didn't want to, despite everything that you'd put her through.)"

"(We can't promise that everything will work out. There are some parts of your soul that I was unable to save. So you could be missing some key memories regarding 'them'. Or you could be missing the parts of you that came about thanks to Kizuna's interference. The parts that allowed you to grow into a good person.)

"(But either way, what I was able to save should return eventually as your soul heals. And I believe that you'll make better choices moving forward because of it.)" Raph-Chan said.

"(Better choices, huh…)" Kyo chuckled dryly to himself before speaking pessimistically. "(For some reason, I feel like such a thing doesn't exist. Especially for someone like me.)

"(Better, worse… what does it matter when the choices come from a horrible person? Even with all your effort, I could still become a monster again.)"

"(... Perhaps so. But whatever you might think, and whatever preconceptions I held towards you before, your friends didn't think that you were a horrible person... and in the end, she didn't believe you were a horrible person either.)" Raph-Chan's tail pointed to a figure laughing on the beach.

L'Arc and Therese had come out of the villa and approached her, sharing a laugh at something they'd said to each other.

Yomogi…

Kaoru stared at the person who was his mother. He couldn't recall a single memory of her. Not a thing from his past life.

Yet… looking at her…

He felt a gnawing feeling of guilt in his chest. A deep sadness filled his eyes.

"(Is… is it truly possible for me to change?)" Kyo's question came from his beak.

"(Again, that is up to you. All of us did all we could to give you a fair chance. In a way, even if you somehow recover all memories of your past lives, you could say that your amnesia right now allows you the opportunity to grow without your past constricting you.)

"(You will be allowed to choose for yourself, instead of being ruled by the choices of those around you.)" Raph-Chan faced ahead again.

"(You will have to be the one who chooses to do the right thing this time, though. You can't expect me or anyone else to hold your hand for you.)" Chris added.

"(That isn't how life works. But from all the times I listened to you talking to Ethnobalt before, I think, deep down, you already understand that.)"

…

Raph-Chan bounded down below, with Chris waddling down behind her. Raphtalia and Filo had just landed nearby, and Raph-Chan wanted to snuggle up with her best friend. Meanwhile, Chris had spotted one of his mommies walking off from the dock and wanted to check up on her.

Kaoru, however, remained on the leaning palm tree's trunk. Staring down at everything… or rather, staring down at only Yomogi.

"(Hm… hmhmhmhm. A fair chance… does such a thing even exist in real life?)" Even with what he was feeling, he couldn't help but feel pessimistic.

He could not remember anything about Yomogi despite the guilt. Not the mansion he'd built for them. Or the ice cream machine he'd made as a reward for her.

He couldn't even remember the glasses he was wearing, which she'd given him as a birthday present. Or...

No, there was that one thing. One muddy memory that he could recall thanks to these glasses.

He couldn't forget. Even after the soul-shattering experience he'd gone through.

It'd likely been the last thing on his mind before he was killed by Raphtalia.

---

"I look stupid."

Yomogi's smile brightened further. "No way! I think they make you look really cool and smart!"

Kyo couldn't help but chuckle. "You'd be the first to think that."

"Huh?" Yomogi tilted her head to the side like a confused puppy.

"Don't worry, it's nothing." He looked at himself again. A small smile formed on his face below his two shining blue eyes.

---

Kaoru slowly raised his wings, taking his glasses off to look at them.

His eyes reflected off the lenses. Looking just like the eyes he'd seen in that mirror in his memory.

… and the look of happiness that'd been on Yomogi's face when he accepted them…

…

Kaoru hugged his glasses to himself.

For what felt like the first time in all of his life, the owl trembled as genuine tears of guilt and regret fell down the sides of his face. He was finally allowed to feel the full pain his past lives had carried on their shoulders but had been unable to express.

"Kao… Kao… Kao…!"

Kyo was still unsure why he was there, about why someone like him had ever been given a second chance…

Yet he felt… no, he knew that Yomogi's happiness was very important to him. That he had to do everything he could to make things right for her.

He would never be able to live with himself if he became the reason why she couldn't smile. She and the others deserved far more than just that.

…

Perhaps… even if he was a bad person… maybe a second chance was all that he needed to become someone good.

Perhaps he'd use it. Perhaps he wouldn't. Only time would tell what Kaoru would do after today.

But perhaps it'd prove that the Vassal Book had ultimately been right in the end to choose him as its wielder.

The same spirit, who had hidden itself nearby, observing its former wielder with a feeling of hope and waiting for the day when he would be worthy of being a hero again.

---

Naofumi was still frowning in his spot at the dock when Chris approached him, holding a piece of paper with one of his flippers.

"What? Did Kizuna get lost on her way to the bathroom or something?" The Shield Hero remarked, still looking peeved about his loss in their speed-fishing competition from earlier.

He'd even made himself a lure that had an enchantment that attracted fish to it like his skill Hate Reaction. He knew he gave Kizuna a similar lure too, but he thought his lure would at least make things fair.

"Pen." Chris pushed the note into the Shield Hero's hand, beckoning for him to read it.

Naofumi rolled his eyes, not sure what to expect since he'd been watching the others fish. Only, he found the note had two sentences on it, written in Japanese.

I'm at the cliffs. Can we chat away from the others, please?

…

After a moment, when Naofumi excused himself under the pretense of needing to use the restroom as well, he followed Chris away from the docks and up the beach to a series of cliffs overlooking the area.

It was honestly an amazing view. He could see Luvar's mountain range in the distance, as well as deep into the forest that sprung up behind Kyo's summer home. And besides that, there was the sea itself.

The Waves crashed against the rocks down below like a persistent, gentle melody that drowned out all the noise coming from the party. Strangely enough, there was a group of monsters Naofumi had never seen before amongst the crags of the cliff. But they weren't hostile.

Instead, they faced the lowering sun of the evening sky. Releasing bubbles from their mandibles that stayed floating in the air over the ocean. It… was honestly really freaking beautiful. The sight almost made the Shield Hero pause to stare at the scene in wonder.

…

Eventually, though, he managed to continue to the top. And it didn't take long before Naofumi found his little sister sitting alone on a large boulder. Looking down at the floating bubbles over the ocean before her.

Naofumi took a seat beside her. Staring at the sight as well.

He had an odd recollection of a similar scenario from before. When he'd sat next to her on the dock at her house shortly after she ran away to brood. Back when she'd learned about her adopted father's death.

That felt like a long time ago. The atmosphere felt similar here, yet different, somehow.

…

Only a little bit after he'd sat down, Kizuna opened her mouth and spoke.

"Naofumi, am I a monster?"

"Pen…" Chris waddled up and rested his head on his mommy's leg.

Kizuna's hand reached up and petted the shikigami on the head. But besides that, she remained perfectly still, staring down at the sea without looking back at the Shield Hero.

Naofumi didn't turn to look at her either. He seemed to have been ready for this to come up. Though he could admit he was surprised that Kizuna brought it up so soon.

Then again, since they were leaving tomorrow, she probably didn't think they'd have another chance like this. So what better time than the present to get this all out in the air?

"If you are, then so are the rest of us. We all agreed on it and did the deed together." Naofumi answered.

"...that doesn't make me feel any better. I don't want my friends to be monsters too." Kizuna responded quietly.

Naofumi shrugged in his place. "Even so, we're certainly nothing like those pieces of $%^& that we butchered earlier today. You can say what you want about what we did, but it comes nowhere close to the suffering they've inflicted on so many others in this world."

"I… I know that." Kizuna hesitated, frowning to herself as she considered her next words. "And yet, I can't help but wonder if there were other individuals like Kyo among them."

"... ah." Naofumi didn't say more. He had his own opinion on the matter, but he figured it'd be better for Kizuna to continue speaking.

"I… I know that they were actively working against our world. That their only purpose in being born was to cause problems for us and to destroy everything they could.

"Some of them… Orokana, Miyaji, and others that I fought against… they had no good in their souls. I could tell. They thoroughly enjoyed the power they held over other people. They didn't have an ounce of regret for their actions, even in the face of permanent death.

"They deserved what they got and a lot more… But… was that the case for all of them? For every last person that was present there?

"What if there were other individuals like Kyo among them that I glossed over? People who may have not been necessarily good now, but who could have become good, if they'd only been given the time and the opportunities to do so.

"I can't help but think that if I'd taken things slower, then we wouldn't have had to kill all of them. Maybe we could have found several other allies amongst them and, well…

"In the end, I just treated that gathering as an outlet for revenge and retribution over everything else."

"I disagree." Naofumi interrupted. "You were only doing the rational thing to defend your world.

"You saved the world and made a lot of good friends along the way once already in the past. And it was because of all the scum today in that room that all of your hard work from back then was ruined. It was because of them that many good people died. People like Kenshiro."

"Maybe so, but that doesn't change the fact that I did what I did to take my anger out on them instead of saving my world!" Kizuna loudly rebuffed. "I didn't have to be the one to kill that guy after I proved to the remaining leaders of our world who weren't in kahoots with 'them' that these people could steal hero weapons! I could have just had Glass or L'Arc or even Chris do it for me, since they've had plenty of experience with killing others!"

"Pen." Chris leaned more into Kizuna's touch, but the girl suddenly looked guilty at what she'd said to her son, and she pulled her hand away from him and hugged it to her chest.

"I didn't have to participate in the fighting. I didn't have to do more than speak when you all could have handled them without me. But I decided to be there anyway. I decided to be the one who embraced what Kyo had been before to make sure that anyone who escaped and survived would be too afraid to ever try to harm my world or my friends ever again."

Kizuna sniffled. She raised her hand to wipe away the tears falling from her eyes. "I could have done something different. But I decided to throw everything I loved and valued away. And I just…

"I can't help but feel that, in the end, I did all that grandstanding for petty and selfish reasons.

"Instead of acting for the greater good, I acted out of some need for pointless validation."

…

Naofumi's eyes slowly widened, recalling words he'd heard a destroyed King tell his daughter long ago.

"It was only when I was left in that dark cell... after being informed that you had died… that my dear wife was walking into a trap... only then did I realize what I'd done.

"That my hatred had cost me everything. My country. My family.

"I sold it all for... pointless validation. And that knowledge destroyed me. Because without my hate…

"I had nothing left…"

…

…

Naofumi looked at Kizuna again. This time, he looked at her.

He pictured the two Heroes side by side, comparing them in his mind. And even though everything didn't quite align, the circumstances they went through certainly did.

It wasn't an argument that Aultcray saved the world in his prime. The Claw King Tai-Lon had been a huge threat, one which Aultcray managed to put down with his own hands. And yet, he hadn't acted out of a desire to save the world, but rather out of a lust for retribution on the hakuko race because of them being responsible for the loss of every member of his family, the last straw being the blind sister he lost during said war.

The Staff Hero protected the world. But he'd also used those events as an outlet for his hate and revenge. An outlet that was never enough to satisfy his deepest, darkest desires. In the end, it nearly had cost him everything.

It was only thanks to the Heroes' intervention that Aultcray hadn't lost his family. That he was finally walking a better path.

The two Hero's situations were different from one another. But they were similar enough to the point that the resemblance of their scenarios was almost mind-boggling.

Naofumi frowned again, but this time, he gripped Kizuna's hand with his.

Whether he managed to say what she needed to hear or not, whether there was anything he could possibly say that'd help her to feel better, he refused to let her fall into the same pits that Aultcray had. The older man had been living with the weight of his mistakes for most of his life.

Kizuna did not deserve to live with that kind of regret in her soul.

"I'm not going to say if what you did was right or not, Kizuna. I don't think that's what you want to hear from me anyway." Naofumi opened his mouth, and let his words flow from him.

"So instead, let me tell you a bit about my life up till now."

Kizuna didn't turn her head away from the bubbles floating over the sea. But she listened as Naofumi told her about some of his past experiences since being summoned. Some which he'd already told her about before, but some which he hadn't yet revealed.

He talked about how he still thought back to when he'd first gone on the run. How he'd thought it was better to escape instead of facing his fear of being falsely accused. How he'd resorted to buying himself a slave, Raphtalia, to help him out, since he wouldn't have been able to rely on anyone else.

He talked about how he'd risked going back to Melromarc's Capital, just for pointless validation because he'd been the Hero that saved a village from a Wave. Only for that to backfire, and for Naofumi to think that he'd almost lost the one person he'd valued more than anyone else in his entire life, even his own younger brother, Jun.

The Shield Hero talked about how he'd tried to stand against his foes multiple times by himself. Whether in that Sacred Duel with Motoyasu or that fake duel against Bitch in the Capital. How shouldering it all on his shoulders had backfired against him time and time again.

He'd made mistakes that he'd never not regret. The main one was when he lashed out against Raphtalia and everyone else who loved him over a bunch of petty things. He also recalled his first battle against the Spirit Tortoise, and how close he'd been to just throwing his life away because he couldn't take the pain he was going through thanks to his actions anymore.

He knew now thinking back on it that while it'd been uncalled for, it'd been a good thing for him to get those things off his chest in the end. It'd allowed them all to finally address the snowballing issues he had and work past together with everyone. Even though he could have gone about it in a better way.

Then there was, of course, Ost's death. An event that still weighed heavily on Naofumi's mind and left him with no desire to attack others ever again.

He still couldn't help but wonder at times if there could have been a way to spare the Tortoise Lady. Or to have someone besides him be the one to end her suffering at least. Even if such thoughts were selfish.

Sometimes, at night, he could still see her face in his dreams. Encouraging him on his path as a Hero, just like she had when she'd been a member of his party. And while at times he woke up feeling guilt all over again, sometimes, he woke up feeling calm and at peace. Knowing that is what she'd say to him if she was still alive.

…

…

When he was finally done speaking, Naofumi took a deep breath, as well as a moment to pause and put all his thoughts into a coherent statement.

It was a lot to go over. The others were probably wondering what was taking him so long to go to the bathroom, but what mattered to him was getting this right for the girl he saw as the younger sister he'd never had.

Did it make him wish Jun had been a girl instead? No, not really. But he could only imagine how much his life would have improved if his parents had a daughter to focus on and possibly even spoil instead of throwing all their expectations on Naofumi and then his younger brother in taking care of their parents when they grew up and entered society.

"Ultimately, at the end of it all, I can't say if what I did in any of those scenarios was right or wrong," Naofumi concluded. "Some actions felt more right than others, while others felt more wrong. But you know, that's just me.

"While some people might claim it was stupid for me to risk going back and do my grandstand act in front of the King at his party, it was because of that I went through that Duel with Motoyasu. And then subsequently learned the depth of Raphtalia's feelings for me."

"And while I still feel guilty about hurting Raphtalia and the other members of my family with my words, and while there are some things I'd definitely take back to those like Melty and Filo who never deserved being told such cruel things, I can't deny that some good did come out of it. And that I've learned how to become a better person because of it."

...

"Say, Kizuna, I know you were just a kid when you got summoned here, but did you hear about the 'trolley problem' in your original world?" Naofumi finally turned his head to look at the girl.

Sometime during his speech, Kizuna had finally turned from the ocean to focus on Naofumi. And at his question, a pondering look came onto her face. "Um, my big sister once told me about something called 'The Train Paradox' that came up in her college course. I'm not sure if it's the same thing or not though. It was a while ago too, so I don't remember what it was about."

"Alright, in basic terms, the trolley problem is this:" Naofumi began to explain.

"You're standing next to a lever by a track. Up ahead, the track splits into two paths, and there are people tied down on both paths.

"If you don't press the lever, the trolley will go to the right, killing a lot of people. If you do press the lever, the trolley will go to the left, only killing a few people."

"So you can either just stand there and do nothing and condemn a large group of people to their deaths... Or you can pull the lever and indirectly murder a few people to save that larger group."

…

…

Kizuna frowned. "That does sound similar to what my Big Sis told me… but isn't that kind of dumb?

"Couldn't you just, you know, leave the lever and try to save the people on both sides of the track, before the trolley comes and kills them?"

Naofumi shrugged, grinning as he did so. "Who knows? The trolley problem can be molded into many different scenarios in all honesty. It doesn't just have to be used as a choice between saving two different groups of people.

"The scenario could be whether you'd choose to save someone over your life savings. Or if you'd let a cure for cancer be run over instead of a device that could terraform other planets so they'd support human life. Is it really the only option to use a lever to save something as valuable as those things?"

Kizuna chuckled at what Naofumi put forward. But the Shield Hero squeezed her hand, drawing her attention again. "Ultimately, the trolley problem isn't used to determine what the right choice is in a given scenario.

"It's set up the way it is to make us think. What do we think is the right thing to do at that moment? To do nothing and hope that it keeps your conscience clear, or to push that lever, knowing that your actions could result in harm, yet you do so because you believe it's the best choice you can make for some collective greater good."

…

"... what is the right answer?" When Kizuna spoke, her voice finally belied the desperation hidden within it. To know what path was the right one for her to take going ahead.

Imagine her surprise when Naofumi shrugged again. "I already told you, there is no right answer."

"... … what?" Kizuna asked.

"Isn't that why your Big Sis called it the Train Paradox?" Naofumi lifted an eyebrow at her. "No matter what you choose, something bad or something you'll regret is still going to happen.

"But you know, the point of that thought experiment isn't to find out what the right answer is. Rather, the point of it is to find out the right answer that you personally choose to follow for yourself."

…

That explanation only seemed to bum Kizuna out even more. "Doesn't this just mean that there is no such thing as objective goodness and morality then?"

"Not at all." Naofumi refuted it, looking out over the sea again. "That's only true if you choose to believe it to be the case.

"You know all those experiences I brought up earlier? All of them were the result of me simply choosing to do what I 'felt' was right at the time, based on what I knew.

"Yeah, some of those experiences didn't pan out the way I would have wanted. And I was definitely an idiot in many cases. Ultimately, I think that if I'd just done nothing and accepted what came my way, I wouldn't have experienced any of the positive changes in my life that I'm experiencing right now.

"I wouldn't be able to be as close with great people like you as I am with my own family.

"Come to think of it, that's probably the difference between the Blessed Series and the Cursed Series. Purpose. Purpose beyond your own selfish needs. That is why I didn't see you pull yours out today even with the way you were acting.

"You weren't acting out of hate and despair, like you think. Rather, you were acting with purpose for the sake of others.

"Inaction results in nothing. But choosing to act is what results in everything else.

"All of my actions are why I'm here with you today." Naofumi looked down at Kizuna's face and gave her a genuine smile. "Now, try to tell me if that is such a bad thing."

Kizuna looked down and chuckled slightly, and Chris cheered happily next to his Mommy at seeing her smile again. "Eh, I'd say you're tolerable, at the very least." Kizuna began rubbing the top of her son's head again, making the most wholesome smile appear on the penguin's face.

…

The girl's expression turned to one carrying a serious thought. But it was quickly followed by a look of exhaustion. "I... don't think that I feel any better about what I did, to be honest.

"I don't want to imply that you're wrong, but well… I need some more time to think about all this. Still..."

The girl looked up and smiled tenderly at the Shield Hero.

"Thanks. Really."

Naofumi gave Kizuna a small smile as he stood up. "Take as long as you need. Even if I'm leaving tomorrow, you don't have to decide by then. It took me months of continuously getting beaten up by life to draw my own conclusions regarding all of this." The Shield Hero held his hand out to Hunting Tools Hero again. "Whatever you decide your answer is, all I can suggest is that you act on it with all of your heart when you find it. You got it?"

…

Kizuna's smile widened a little more as she took her older brother's hand and stood up as well. "I got it."

"Alright, in that case, let's hurry back before the others think I fell in the toilet or something," Naofumi suggested.

"Nah, have you seen the toilets in Kyo's house? They're as amazing as the ones from Japan. All we'll have to do is show them what it's like to use one of them and they'll stay in the bathroom for an hour themselves!"

The two Heroes ran back towards the beach to rejoin their friends. Laughing happily as they left the beautiful scene they'd sat in and observed behind.

---

Itsuki stood at the edge of the beach. Staring out at everyone having a fun time.

The sun was close to setting. Meaning that the party would soon come to an end.

L'Arc and Therese had moved away from Yomogi, who had moved to sit in a folding chair on the porch of her home. The duo themselves were sitting next to their friends on the dock and fishing alongside them.

L'Arc hooked a really large fish within seconds and not only brought it out of the water but also sliced and cleaned it in the air just like Kizuna.

The girl looked awed at her older brother showing off the fishing skills he'd honed since her disappearance. It was almost as impressive as Kizuna's own.

But then, after reeling in an even larger fish, and as L'Arc stood up and prepared to show off once again, the fish's mouth opened wide and fell on top of him, biting down over his body with a loud Clang!

L'Arc immediately began flailing around in terror, begging the others to get it off him.

Kizuna, Naofumi, Therese, and the others there were left crying at the scene…

Crying in laughter, that is.

The scene was almost enough to make Itsuki smile…

…

"Hey, Itsuki. Is now really the time to be standing around by yourself?"

The Bow Hero turned his head. Ethnobalt had floated over to him on his floating platform. Strange, Itsuki hadn't even noticed him there earlier. "This is a time to relax and enjoy time among friends. You are returning to your world tomorrow, after all."

"I… well…" Itsuki struggled to find the words to say.

"Oh, actually, now that I'm talking to you, there's something I've been meaning to ask you about." Ethnobalt continued, keeping Itsuki from having to say anything else.

"It was brought up before, but now that we've dealt with Kyo and since you're going back to your world tomorrow, this is my last chance to ask for a while. Have you given any more thought to me making a shikigami for you and Rishia? They're really fun and playful creatures to have around." The Boat Hero suggested with an easy smile.

…

…

Itsuki stared at him, his expression hard to read. He didn't open his mouth to respond.

"... I can't say I know what you went through during your fight with Kyo." Ethnobalt continued, his voice suddenly becoming more serious as a bit of the worry he had for the Bow Hero leaked into it. "But I can guess that you still haven't fully recovered, since you weren't able to join the battle today.

"I don't want to press, but I do believe that a shikigami child could help you to feel a lot better. Much like how Chris and Raph-Chan help Kizuna and Naofumi out when they feel down." The Boat Hero continued. "And in case you think it'd inconvenience me in any way, I do not mind doing it at all. Especially for those I call my friends. The good that could come out of it far outweighs any reason I could use to not do the ritual for you and Rishia as soon as possible."

…

Itsuki finally opened his mouth to answer, but as he did so, his eyes moved to find Aksel and Maya on the beach talking to Rishia. Raphtalia and Filo were also there with Raph-Chan resting on her mother's shoulders.

The green-haired girl was beaming as she conversed with all of them. It seemed like they were giving her encouragement about something.

Aksel and Rishia looked especially radiant, just like Raphtalia. With Aksel's new Axe stuck to his back, and Rishia having her ethereal knives hanging from her sides. They not only looked stronger, but more confident too. Both their Hero Service Crests had vanished.

Itsuki… hadn't known for sure if he'd been seeing things or not during that final battle. But he knew now. The two had become Heroes after his defeat. They'd helped Naofumi beat Kyo while he'd been unconscious and unable to do anything.

The Bow Hero had hurt them, yet Naofumi had fixed his mistakes. Again. Naofumi had healed his friends of their curses, again. And they'd found the strength to fight on without him.

Again.

To defeat Kyo, to spare him, while he… he…

"Itsuki? Is something wrong? Did I upset you?" Ethnobalt asked in worry, as he saw the Bow Hero's face go through a myriad of emotions.

"No, it's… it's fine." Itsuki choked back a sob as tears gathered in his eyes. No, he'd already told himself that he'd cried enough. He should have been happy for his friends…

And yet… it was as if he'd finally realized something. Something very important that he should have realized a long, long time ago.

"I… I'm going to hold off on that shikigami request for now." Itsuki finally answered the rabbit man.

"A-Are you sure?" Ethnobalt asked, looking even more worried. "I really meant it when I said it wouldn't inconvenience me to perform the ritual, especially since you and Rishia have helped me out so much since coming here and since it could really help you out a lot and-"

"Maybe next time." Itsuki lied, but he said it with a fake smile.

Helped him? When had Itsuki managed to do that? If anything, Rishia was the one who'd stayed by Ethnobalt's side. Whether by assisting him with translation work, or teaching him how to grasp onto the basics of life force.

Compared to her, Itsuki had done nothing. He'd accomplished nothing. Ethnobalt should have been asking Rishia instead of him. She was the one who deserved a shikigami instead of him.

Ethnobalt's worry for the Bow Hero only grew, making him frown. But then, since he promised not to press, he simply bowed his head in return. "Alright. I'll make sure to ask again the next time we meet."

He turned around to fly back towards the house but paused to look back at Itsuki. He couldn't just leave it as that. "Seriously, I have you to thank for helping me realize that I shouldn't stay weak, Itsuki Kawasumi.

"I wouldn't have had the desire to continue trying to get stronger, nor would I have had the courage to step foot in Kyo's mansion, had it not been for the encouragement you gave me before.

"Rishia and the others have helped me out, but you were the first of the Otherworlders that I met. That I got to speak with before anyone else. Who helped me realize that even though I was weak, it was no excuse for me to stay weak.

"I will look forward to seeing you again when I visit your world in the future.

"I hope that time will come sooner than later."

…

Itsuki said nothing, and could only wave as the rabbitman faced ahead and floated back towards the house. Looking deeply troubled about something.

Seriously, was that what Ethnobalt was thanking him for? Rishia could have easily done all that. Naofumi could have easily done all that.

Itsuki looked down at the sand of the beach while clenching his fists.

Why was he there? Why had he even come to the Otherworld? He wanted to help, to show that he could be useful too. But in the end, he was only a burden for Naofumi and the others from start to finish. Almost costing them their lives and jeopardizing everyone's heroic actions.

…

… Why had he allowed Rishia to take him out of their room? He knew nothing good would come from it. Did he honestly think something good would happen? Did he think he'd be able to pull off some last-minute good deed that'd make up for all of his mistakes?

He saw the three Otherworld Cardinal Heroes come out of Kyo's summer home. The group was talking and laughing as they sat together on the porch by Yomogi. And Itsuki felt another punch to his gut.

He hadn't even been the reason those three had shaped up. After his defeat, they'd managed to help out against Kyo too. Using Kizuna as their inspiration and guide.

If he could have just… just…

Why was he so selfish? Why couldn't he just accept things and let it be?

…

To accept that he was a fraud and a failure.

…

…

…

…

…

…

"Itsuki!"

The Bow Hero was brought back to the present. Rishia was now standing in front of him.

Aksel and Maya were grinning in the background, giving Itsuki a thumbs-up and a wink before they ran off into the water together to have some fun. Raphtalia and Filo were chatting happily with Yomogi and the other Cardinal Heroes on the porch of her home. And Naofumi and the others were still laughing about L'Arc's fishy predicament.

In short, it was just Itsuki and Rishia standing on the beach right now.

"Y-Yes, Rishia?" Itsuki stumbled over his words.

The girl looked even happier now than she had all week. Spending time with Itsuki in their room. Eating meals together. Resting his head in her lap. Reading Hoshi's manga to him. Talking about various things from her life while he'd remained silent. She was able to spend so much time with him.

"I… I just wanted to say… …" Rishia breathed in deeply.

For some reason, she looked strangely confident when she opened her eyes again. "I'm ready, now."

"..." Itsuki's eyes slowly widened. He somehow knew what Rishia was going to say next before her eyes focused on his.

"Itsuki Kawasumi… I love you." Rishia confessed.

…

There was no dramatic build-up. No talk of what they'd gone through before. No mention of the past or anything.

Just a clearcut, heartfelt confession of her true feelings for the Bow Hero.

The Bow Hero's body trembled as she spoke again. "I love you, Itsuki. I want to stand by your side, just like Raphtalia does with Naofumi. Just like how Wyndia loves Ren with all her heart.

"I want to stand beside you, through thick and thin. I want to be there for you whenever you need it. I want to help you be the Hero you want to be. So you'll never have to rely on your Cursed Series to save us ever again.

"I want to pay you back the same kindness you've shown me since the day you saved my life and my family from that wicked nobleman.

"I love you, Itsuki Kawasumi. Please, allow me to stand by your side forever." Rishia asked, with all the sincerity in her heart.

…

Itsuki could see it… he could see her sincerity. Her words were enough to bring tears to his eyes.

She really, truly loved him.

And he… he loved her too. He did.

…

But after she'd spoken, after she'd confessed her whole heart to him… he turned her down with a sad smile and a shake of his head. Turning himself away from her as he did so.

"No… I'm sorry but… no.

"I can't do this anymore."

…

"H-Huh?" At first, Rishia looked stunned. But then, as Itsuki began to walk away, she raced forward and caught hold of his arm.

Not forcefully, but gently enough to make him pause. "I-Itsuki?! Do what anymore!? What did you mean by that?!"

Itsuki didn't turn to look back at her. His face was hidden by shadow. "I can't… hold you and everyone else back anymore, Rishia.

"I don't have it in me to keep on faking things any longer."

"Hold me back? Since when have you ever held me back?!" Rishia shouted in confusion.

Itsuki could hear the pain and disbelief in her voice. She really, truly did care for him. She'd meant every word she said before and he knew it.

"Itsuki, is this part of the throwback from your Cursed Series?! I don't understand! I know you hurt me again but I'm fine now! All of us are fine!"

"Don't worry about it, it's not your-" Itsuki tried to say.

"I want to help you, Itsuki! You're my best friend!" Rishia screamed in desperation.

"I want to help you, Itsuki. You're my best friend." Jaylee's voice resounded in the Bow Hero's ears.

Itsuki jerked his arm away immediately, shocking Rishia again. The action had made his face visible to her, and Rishia instantly recognized the look of trauma covering his features.

It'd been the same face she had when Itsuki first found her in that cage inside the nobleman's mansion. When she'd been torn from her parents and she'd thought she'd never see the light of day ever again. That she'd live the rest of her life as some sick nobleman's sex slave or something worse. That she'd never see her mom and dad ever again.

Now though, it was like their positions had been reversed.

Itsuki was the one sitting inside of that cage instead of her. And she was the one extending her hand to try and lead him out of it. But unlike her, Itsuki was not extending his hand out this time.

"Itsuki, please…" Rishia said in a gentle voice, letting go of the Bow Hero's arm, yet holding her hand out to him. "Tell me what you're going through.

"I want to help you."

…

The Bow Hero, however, did not hear her words.

His mind had been dragged back to the past again. To the day when he had failed for the first time.

---

"Itsuki, is everything ok?"

A young boy sniffled where he sat huddling his body against a wall.

His best friend, a young girl his age who had wavy black hair with two long braids running down her back, was sitting next to him. Her bright green eyes stared into his.

The boy sniffled loudly. "Leave me alone Jaylee."

"Itsuki, show it to me." The girl demanded.

…

…

After a moment, the boy pulled his arms from himself. They were covered in scrapes and dark bruises.

"Heal." With the simple command, the girl hovered her hands over his injuries.

The bruises and cuts disappeared before their eyes, as well as the pain.

Jaylee's healing ability was amazing as always. Itsuki was certain one of his arms had a small fracture too, but even that had been healed. Jaylee merely grimaced like always whenever she used the ability, and though she looked tired afterward, she still looked as strong as ever.

"Why… why do you keep on healing me?" Itsuki asked after the girl recovered. Not only was his pain gone, but a large chunk of his sadness was gone too.

"What do you mean?" Jaylee responded in turn.

"Those bullies will just come back to hurt me again." Itsuki hugged himself with his arms again. Tears began to fall from his eyes. "Just like every other time."

"But you're my best friend, Itsuki. And what kind of best friend would I be if I didn't use my powers to heal you?" Jaylee asked, settling herself beside him before slinging an arm over his shoulders.

…

…

"Jaylee…" The boy sniffled again. He rested his head on her shoulder. One of her hair braids nestled itself against his face.

She'd been taller than him for as long as he could remember. Part of him hoped that'd change when they were older.

But he was too sad and frightened to care about something as insignificant as that. Especially right now, when her hair braids felt so soft to him. "Please don't go." He pleaded in a heartfelt whisper.

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere, Itsuki." His best friend hugged him close. Smiling that sincere smile of hers like always.

"I'm never going to leave my best friend behind."

…

In moments like this, he always believed that she was the strong one of the two of them. That, even though she was bullied for standing up for someone like him, she could handle it, unlike him.

She would always be there for him. And, one day, he'd be there for her too. He'd train his Aim Accuracy ability until it was strong enough to protect her, just like she did for him.

They'd never be separated. They'd go through the rest of their lives together.

…

…

Reality was not that kind.

---

"Suicide, huh?"

"Appears so. Poor girl. A gift like hers could have blessed many lives."

The young Itsuki sat in a chair inside of a police station. His hands were still red with blood. His eyes stared blankly ahead of him. His mind trying to process what had happened mere hours before.

One of the officers in the room, a man with light orange eyes and blonde hair, turned towards Itsuki. His normally mischievous face looked at the young kid with nothing but empathy. "Kid… I'm really sorry to ask this, but are you sure you didn't see the moment the suicide happened?

"If there is anything you can recall. Even just the slightest detail-"

"Just drop it, Masayoshi." The other officer, an older-looking fellow who was balding on the knape, sighed to himself. "You and I both read up on the girl's Healing ability.

"How it would have been an automatic rank A, if not for its cost in using it on others."

Officer Masayoshi frowned at his colleague's words. "You can't just say that-"

"I can. Just look at the poor kid." The older man looked up then. There wasn't so much a look of pity as there was of acceptance on his face. "I've seen that look on his face on too many others in my time."

Itsuki kept staring at the floor in front of him, not paying attention to the two's conversation.

"There's no doubt. The young girl we found in that parking garage committed suicide by cutting her own throat. And this boy was a witness to it."

The older officer narrowed his eyes as he looked up from the report that he was writing. "Unless you want to make this kid's day even worse, then that's what is going in the report. Case closed. Now let's just get on with our lives."

"I'll be heading out now. If you'll excuse me." The older man finished writing the report and left the office.

Other policemen and detectives continued working at their desks in the background.

…

As the remaining police officer stood in his spot, the young Itsuki was finally finishing what he'd been thinking about in his mind.

He'd never known… but Jaylee's Healing Factor was even stronger than he'd thought. She wasn't just capable of healing the injuries of others, but also their diseases, their mental illnesses; any ailment that was afflicting someone, she was able to heal it with her ability.

That's why he'd always felt less sad after she healed him.

That's why he always felt lighter after one of their interactions.

She'd been taking away his mental anguish. Giving him room to feel happiness and other emotions. She'd been doing so for months, years…

Yet… the cost of using her ability was that she took upon herself the pain of the injuries she healed. She experienced the toll a disease took on someone's body with her own. She took on herself the mental anguish and suffering of those she helped out.

There had been others in the school she'd helped out to. But none more so than Itsuki. Day in and day out, like the best friend that she had been, healing him whenever he needed it, so he could be more confident and social around his peers in school.

She'd been so strong… he'd been able to tell that using her ability had been hurting her. He'd tried to tell her at times that she didn't need to always help him. Especially since it made her the target of the bullies at school too.

Yet she said that she was strong enough. That she wanted to help him.

He gave in and let her help him. Again, and again, and again…

"... I'm sorry, kid." Officer Masayoshi finally rested a hand on the little kid's shoulder before him.

Itsuki didn't speak. He knew he was the one responsible for her death. He knew before they met that she had no intentions of dying young.

She'd taken on all of his pain, adding it to her own, building it up until… until… … …

She'd killed herself.

And it was all his fault for not stopping her from helping him.

…

As the young police officer finally left the room, the young boy put his head in his hands.

Itsuki sobbed for the first of many times over the loss of his best friend. Realizing that it was because she'd helped him that she'd perished.

Never... never again...

---

In the present, Itsuki pulled himself away from Rishia.

Just like that young boy, he was crying, but unlike his young self, he was unable to hide his tears.

He was unable to hide his pain. To repress those memories.

He could do nothing to help anyone, least of all, himself. Nothing whatsoever…

…

Yet there was one thing he could do. To ensure that his friends would remain safe from his continued mistakes.

"I can't… I'm sorry, but I can't.

"I don't want to hurt you again, just please, leave me before I-"

"Itsuki!" Rishia grabbed the Bow Hero by the shoulders and turned him around forcefully. "I already said I don't care that you hurt me! If that's what this is all about, if you're that worried that you'll mess up again, then I DON'T CARE!

"I'm not leaving your side because you pulled out your Cursed Series again! You've helped me out so much! I wouldn't be the person I am today if not for you, Itsuki!"

Itsuki was forced to see the pain on her face. The desperation in her beautiful features.

How could he have been the one capable of helping her out? When he'd been the one holding her back from her true potential.

Just like her.

"Please, just talk to me Itsuki! I promise, whatever it is you're going through, I won't run away! I'm here for you, always!"

Just like Jaylee, Rishia was selflessly putting her own needs aside to help him.

She wanted to help him, and it hurt.

"Just tell me what's making you like this and I swear that I will do everything in my power to-"

"You've become so strong… Rishia." Itsuki finally spoke quietly.

He hadn't meant to interrupt her, but Rishia stopped speaking regardless.

Maybe because of his words, or maybe because Itsuki had finally started smiling.

Itsuki raised a hand to cup her cheek. He looked so… happy, for her.

"I'm so proud… you've overcome so much, Rishia. Your fears, your troubled past, your weaknesses… you've truly become strong. Strong enough to stand alongside the Heroes of our world."

"I-Itsuki?" Rishia tried to find the words, but she couldn't.

"I'm… so sorry." Itsuki then said, his smile falling as more tears fell from his eyes. "I can't… I can't allow someone as great as you to fall for my sake.

"I can't allow you to give your life up to help me like she did." He continued. "I could never live with myself if that ever happened."

"Itsuki, n-no, I don't understand! What do you-"

Itsuki cut her off though by pressing his lips to hers.

…

For a moment in time, she just stood there. Looking absolutely shocked, yet soaking in the love Itsuki had for her. She enjoyed the feeling on her lips as they shared a real kiss for the first time.

But all too soon, the Bow Hero pulled back, looking even sadder than ever before. While Rishia hadn't realized it, he'd taken that moment to kick not only her but Aksel and Maya out of his party as well.

The two who'd been playing in the water looked up in surprise at that moment, their attention grabbed by the notification that appeared on their HUDs.

Maya, in particular, was shocked as the Hero Service Crest that bound her to Itsuki glowed a bright purple before vanishing off her chest. Her contract with her Hero had just been terminated by Itsuki.

"I'm sorry, but I won't allow those I care about to bear the consequences of my mistakes anymore." Itsuki turned around, the bow at his side glowing. "I'll become someone strong enough to stand beside you all one day, so that I never make such mistakes ever again, Rishia.

"But until then... farewell."

"Wait, Itsuki-" Rishia tried to reach out to him again.

"Transport Bow!"

Itsuki was enveloped by his skill. Disappearing from in front of the Projectiles Hero in a flash of light that forced her to cover her eyes.

…

…

No… no way…

Rishia was stunned. This couldn't be happening. Not after… not after everything they'd gone through together.

Not after everything they'd talked about… everything they'd shared…!

"Rishia, is everything alright? What happened? Why did Itsuki terminate my slave contract?!" Maya frantically ran up at that moment. Aksel followed right behind her.

"I thought you said you were going to confess to him? Did things not work out?" The Axe Hero asked next.

"F… Fue…" Rishia stuttered, her old self nearing the verge of coming out and-

Wait! The communication ofuda!

Rishia grabbed the right one off her belt! That's right, this must have been one of those things Itsuki found hard to talk about in person!

She still didn't know entirely what he was going through, but if she could get him to open up over ofuda before they left tomorrow, then maybe-

Communication Ofuda (expired)

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No… … when had it run out of energy…?

What kind of cruel twist was this?!...

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"Rishia?" Maya asked at last.

The green-haired girl collapsed to her knees. Her arms crossed in front of her as she buried her face into her hands. "Fue, FUEHHHHHHH!"

The cry she let out was not her normal whimper. No, this one was filled with pain and sadness. Thick fat tears escaped past her hands to fall onto the sand below her as her body shook.

"Oh… oh no." Maya's eyes teared up as well, only partially realizing what'd happened.

She got down on her knees and hugged the girl while Aksel stood in front of them. Still trying to figure out what was going on.

Raphtalia was racing towards them from the porch too alongside Yomogi, Daitan, Akane, and Hoshi. All of them looked concerned after being the only ones to notice Itsuki portal away.

"I'm… I'm so sorry. I truly thought that Itsuki felt the same way about you." Maya apologized to her friend. "I didn't mean to subject you to this kind of heartbreak.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Little did she know that Rishia knew that Itsuki did love her… and that her cries right now weren't because her feelings had been rejected.

Though even she did not understand why Itsuki had pushed her away.

…

It would be a long time before the Projectiles Hero would finally understand why Itsuki Kawasumi did what he had that day on the beach.

---

The next day came.

Naofumi hadn't learned the details of the predicament between Itsuki and Rishia. And Raphtalia hadn't either.

Rishia couldn't speak as she was crying so much. And Aksel and Maya were both at a loss for what'd happened.

Naofumi had as of yet to ask Itsuki what'd happened. Mainly because the Bow Hero had been withdrawn when the Shield Hero saw him at Kizuna's home again after they got back that night. And he'd disappeared as soon as Naofumi walked through the front doors in front of everyone else.

The Bow Hero's copies of Hoshi's manga had been left on a nightstand in Rishia's room. Where the green-haired girl had continued to cry in Aksel and Maya's company late into the night.

The others managed to rest that night. Joining Kizuna and her friends the next morning for a Wave near Mikikage.

All of their tasks in staying in this world had been fulfilled. Today, they were returning home.

Kizuna and the others managed to hunt down and defeat the Wave Boss in record time. And now, Fitoria stood at the entrance of a Wave Crack on the ground, ready to escort the Cardinal Heroes back to their world.

"Do you have to go already?" Kizuna asked as Naofumi began to approach the bird queen.

The others continued ahead. Itsuki raced through the portal first. Rishia, Maya, and Aksel quickly followed behind him, having already said their goodbyes to the people they'd become acquainted with.

Aksel and Maya had briefly paused to thank that one soldier who'd helped them grind monsters after first arriving at Sickle before following Rishia. Though the man had looked confused at the fact that the two even remembered who he was.

Only Raphtalia, Raph-Chan, Dou-Lon, and Filo paused beside Naofumi to look back as Kizuna approached by herself.

Naofumi looked at the girl who'd become like his younger sister. Despite how strong she looked, her body was trembling, and unshed tears remained in the corners of her eyes despite saying goodbye to them before the Wave started.

"Hey, what's with the sad face now?" The Shield Hero asked teasingly. "Are you going to miss me that much after I'm gone or something?"

"O-Of course?! Why wouldn't I, you jerk?!" Kizuna yelled at him. "The least you could do is cry for me too, you know!"

"Heh. I have no reason to cry." Naofumi smiled, catching Kizuna off guard.

"Eh, what do you mean? I'm probably not going to see you again, you know, since I'm a Cardinal Hero." Kizuna said sadly.

"Somehow, I doubt that." Naofumi walked up and rested a hand on the petite girl's shoulder. "After all, Raphtalia might have permission from her weapon to fight for our world first. But if you guys have an emergency and she ends up being called back here, I'll have to follow her too."

"B-But your weapon-"

"Won't be enough to stop me from helping out if my wife-friend is needed here," Naofumi promised, his smirk growing even bigger as he said his next words. "And even if she wasn't called here, I'm willing to bargain the entirety of my attack stat away to help you out again."

…

…

"Sniff. As if we wouldn't be able to handle our world by ourselves now, you big meanie!" Kizuna smirked as she held back tears of her own.

"Yeah, if anything, I find it more likely that we'll meet again once Ethnobalt finds more texts on the Waves. Or after we find some of those texts ourselves." Naofumi's smirk turned into a smile. "After all, we're planning on saving both our worlds from 'them' now.

"I think with something as important as that, we should be able to convince our weapons to allow at least one Cardinal Hero to visit each other in the future for information exchanges since it might qualify as something that could be world-ending if we don't do it."

...

"..." Kizuna looked up into the Shield Hero's sincere eyes, and those unshed tears of hers finally began to fall down the sides of her cheeks as she jumped and wrapped her arms around Naofumi's neck.

"Please… stay safe, Onii-chan." Kizuna pleaded.

"... of course, you too, Imouto." Naofumi wrapped his arms around her in a meaningful hug.

...

"Sniff. Filo's going to miss Fishing Auntie." Filo teared up as Naofumi set his fellow Hero down.

"Fishing Auntie's going to miss Filo too." Kizuna smiled through her tears as she and Filo embraced. "But please, feel free to call me Fishing Big Sis instead if you ever feel like it."

"Hmmm… no, Fishing Auntie is still Fishing Auntie to Filo," Filo said nonchalantly.

"COME ON! WILL ANYONE EVER CALL ME BIG SIS?!" Kizuna screamed.

"Rafu!" Raph-Chan jumped onto her shoulder, nuzzling up against Kizuna's cheek and causing her to laugh.

"I think Raph-Chan called you Big Sis just now." Naofumi grinned.

"Rafu!" Raph-Chan agreed.

"Awwwww, you're not so bad after all, are you?! COME HERE LITTLE SIS!" Kizuna began cuddling with the shikigami.

PET PET PET PET PET PET PET!

"RAFU!" Raph-Chan screamed in bliss.

"PEN!" Chris, walking alongside his other mommy as she and the others approached, had a look of betrayal on his face.

Naofumi walked up to the little penguin though and rubbed him on the head. "Make sure to keep Kizuna safe while I'm gone, ok little guy? I'll be counting on you."

"Pen!" Chris stood to his full height and saluted with a flipper to his chest.

Naofumi nodded to him and looked at Glass. His smile vanished, but his face remained serious as he held his hand out to her.

The spirit woman's face was also serious as she grasped his hand. Giving him a nod of respect. "I thank you again for everything you have done for us, Hero Naofumi. I hope that I will one day be able to repay you for the kindnesses you have wrought on me and my friends."

"Likewise." Naofumi bowed his head to her as he let go of her hand. But then, he remembered something, and took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket, before handing it to the Fan Hero. "Make sure to put that to good use. It took me a while to finally get it right.

"Kyo's notes helped me out a bit with polishing it up. But that should allow you guys to make it yourselves in this world, without needing to gather herbs from my world."

…

While Glass unfolded the paper and stared at its contents in surprise, the Shield Hero turned to face the man standing next to her. One who had a permanent scowl etched onto his face.

Naofumi couldn't stop the sinister smirk that spread over his features. "You'll behave while I'm gone as well, right, young master?"

…

L'Arc's scowl turned into a sinister smirk as well. He clutched Naofumi's hand with all the force he could muster. "Of course, I hope you'll be ready to cry in envy over the accessories that I'll craft while you're gone, Kiddo.

"I'll win Therese's heart back before you know it."

You could not have seen more negative energy brimming in the air than there was between the two male Heroes at that moment.

"Cut it out, already, you two," Therese commented dryly beside the King. "You're not fooling anyone with your theatrics."

"Yeah, even a blind person can see that you two respect each other a lot." Raphtalia rolled her eyes as well.

"It's a guy thing, Therese! Guys aren't supposed to act nice to other guys they look up to!" L'Arc let go of Naofumi's hand to pout at her. "Everyone knows that!"

"... but I act nicely to other males that I respect?" Dou-Lon asked while tilting his head to the side in confusion.

As L'Arc sputtered to try and form a response, Therese bowed to Naofumi. "Regardless, I look forward to seeing what you'll make for me next time, Naofumi."

Naofumi gave the gem girl a toothy grin. "I'll make sure it's something that'll make boy here crumple in defeat."

Therese sighed along with Raphtalia as L'Arc started screaming into his arm. The Scythe Hero had so much jealousy coming off of him that it was a surprise he hadn't unlocked the curse of Envy yet.

Perhaps he hadn't been pushed to the point of true despair then?

Naofumi started concocting all sorts of evil plans in his head to make that happen, but before he could voice any of his ideas aloud, a threatening aura behind him made his face pale. And he nearly shrieked in terror as it appeared right next to him.

"Thanks again for all the help, Therese. I'll make sure to tell Wyndia you're doing well after we get back." Raphtalia said to the gem girl with a happy smile.

"Sure thing! Send my regards to her and Ren!" Therese waved happily.

"Ack! R-Raphtalia! Y-You know I wasn't a-a-actually planning to d-do anything nefarious r-right now, r-r-r-right?" Naofumi trembled in terror.

Raphtalia flashed her boyfriend a smile that did nothing to hide the emotions she was masking behind it. "Of course, you wouldn't plan on doing anything bad Naofumi. Especially not right now, when we're parting from our dear friends here for who knows how long.

"Right?" She asked sweetly.

…

Yeah, it would be a very bad idea for Naofumi to piss Raphtalia off right now, or in the future. Especially since she was so much stronger now.

"Ehehehe. Daddy's in trouble." Filo began giggling as she walked next to Mommy.

"At least that much hasn't changed." Dou-Lon chuckled as he walked on Naofumi's left side. "I'll need to do my best to help my bloodkin improve back in our world!"

Naofumi groaned and turned back towards the Wave Crack. Though, he did wrap an arm over Raphtalia's shoulders as he did so. This action made the half-tanuki girl rest her head against him and a genuine smile spread across her face as their family moved towards the Wave Crack together.

Filo ran ahead of her parents, cheering happily as she hugged Fitoria. And Raph-Chan bounded onto Dou-Lon's shoulders, making him pet her tail.

"Goodbye! We'll definitely see each other again, Naofumi!" Kizuna and the others waved in a line at them.

"Goodbye! And sorry about trying to hit on your wife-friend that one time!" Daitan shouted from Kizuna's left, making Akane and Hoshi facepalm.

The couple paused only briefly before the Wave Crack as everyone else walked in. Turning their heads back to look at their new friends and family from the Otherworld.

Naofumi smiled genuinely, glad that Kizuna hadn't said that she'd miss them.

Because he meant it when he said that they were going to see each other again.

He'd make sure of it.

The Shield and Katana Heroes raised their hands, waving goodbye to everyone.

And then, they walked through the Wave Crack together.

Back to their world.

Back to their lives.

---

...

...

"Oh crap, I forgot to give Naofumi his recording crystal back!" Kizuna suddenly cried out and attempted to charge after the group that had just vanished.

But Ethnobalt easily caught her by the waist and lifted her a bit, making the girl's feet dangle rapidly beneath her.

"It's fine. I'll drop it off by his place later." The Boat Hero reassured her.

"But-" Kizuna tried to protest.

"Time to go home." The rabbitman insisted, having easily seen through her ploy.

He turned around while still carrying Kizuna in front of himself in his outstretched arms like she was a cat.

"Noooooo~ I don't wanna! I wanna explore Naofumi's world!" The Hunting Tools Hero whined.

Everyone laughed and went home as the Wave Cracks closed behind them.