Akira stood in silence. It had been ten days since he has started training with Shu. The rabbit had shown great potential and determination, he's been even more motivated after the bet they made, which he is not planning to lose, If he did, Hinata might kill him. Despite his narcissistic attitude, he has improved a lot, with being able to strengthen his body using mana. But he stills gets on Akira's nerves. That rabbit is acting far too familiar with Hinata, who already disliked him for it, and now...
"Here I come!"
Shu leaps out of the trees carrying a massive log which he throws at Akira, who simply pulls out his rapier, the blade was coated with lightning, and after a swing, fired lightning slash that blew the log apart.
"That was just a distraction!"
After throwing the log, Shu had maneuvered through the air, armed with his wooden mallet charges at Akira.
"Wind Wall!"
A gust of wind appears under Akira blowing him upwards just as Shu brought his mallet down and holds his hand towards Shu.
"Crystal Coffin."
In an instant Shu's body was trapped in ice aside from his head. As soon as he was frozen he quickly whimpers with tears on his eyes. "Not againnn."
Akira lands and tuns to face Shu. When Shu looks at Akira he immediately cheered up upon seeing a cut on Akira's cheek.
"H-Hey look! I managed to land a hit it's my win!"
After Shu pointed it out Akira quickly swiped his finger over it immediately healing the wound. "What hit?" He blatantly lied.
"HUH?! You just used your power of regeneration didn't you!?"
Akira eventually thawed him out and although he was shivering he can't help but remain overjoyed. "H-H-Hey, A-Akira, it's my win right?"
Akira kept averting his gaze trying to think of a way to explain this to Hinata.
Akira and Shu eventually reunited with the others. And unsurprisingly, Shu was taken a lot back by his family's new appearance and personalities. The group makes their way to the great tree.
Upon arriving, they see the humongous tree in all of it's glory, even it's leafless branches were bigger than most trees . In front of it was a stone slab in front with a heptagon carved on it and a circle in front of each angle. There was a symbol on each circle, looking through them Hinata notices that one of them looked like the mark on Oscar's ring.
Hinata immediately put the ring into one of the circles, once she did glowing words appeared on the slab.
Four proof of conquest.
The power of regeneration.
The guide of those who bonds by destiny.
To those who have everything, a new trial will be opened.
The group mulls over the list. They figured Oscar's ring was one of the proof of conquest meaning they would have finish three other labyrinths before going to this one.
As for the power regeneration, Akira tried placing his hand on the slab, but nothing happened. It had seemed it had meant a different type of power of regeneration. And finally, the guide of those who bonds by destiny was most likely how they bonded with the rabbits that guided them here.
Hinata lets put an annoyed sigh, she didn't think there were labyrinths like this she turns to the rabbits and starts yelling. "All right rabbits, our deal is done, and you're all on your own, see ya."
Before she can take a step Cam appears in front of her. "Boss Hinata, please let us come"
Hearing those word Hinata snapped "Nev-mpf!" Her mouth was instantly covered by Meld's hand who instinctively took measures to prevent her hurting the rabbitmen's feelings.
"What she means is that, stay here and get stronger, then maybe we'll consider taking you with us." Meld wouldn't mind taking the rabbits with them but with their current situation it was practically impossible to manage such a whole tribe.
As Cam declares that he and the others will get stronger. Hinata yanks Meld's hand off as Shu walks up to her "Uh...Hinata, d-do you think I can-"
"Like hell!" She loudly interrupted causing Shu to be shocked.
"B-But you didn't even know what I was gonna ask!"
"You were going to ask to join us right?"
"Uh...well...yeah." Shu admitted
"Why? Your family is fine now, so you don't need to leave them." Hinata pointed out. "Why do you even want to come with us?"
"W-well it's just that...well...I LOVE YOU!" Hinata and Meld stares at Shu with wide eyes.
Hinata's face quickly contorts to anger. "OH HELLLLL NO! Listen here, you dumbass rabbit, I do not love you, ok!? Akira's already bad enough"
"B-But that's just now, just like Akira, I want to change your feelings about me"
"Well I don't, and I don't have any reason to take you with me and-" Hinata was stopped as she turned to Akira who was tugging on her clothes looking quite dejected.
"Hinata...let's take him with us"
That took Hinata for a loop. Since we've met Shu, Akira had been annoyed by the rabbit about as much as she has and…
Wait ,the reluctance in his voice, and that face his making...
He looked guilty!
"What the hell did you do?" Hinata asked in a threatening voice. On that day a single voice can be heard throughout the entire forest.
"YOU MADE A BET LIKE THAT WITHOUT TELLING ME!"
A full hour after the reveal of the bet, and Hinata had finally calmed down after being held down by Meld , the only one who can match her strength, but only after a half hour of beating up Akira, the only one that can survive her strength.
Hinata is now laying her head down on Meld's knees with a towel over her eyes as he sits and leans on a tree. Akira on the other hand sitting on his knees wearing a sign that says, "I made a dumbass bet", the wounds that were inflicted by Hinata had already healed.
As for the rabbits, all of them except for Shu had hidden themselves behind trees while they shiver with fear upon watching Hinata's outrage, as for Shu himself he was very disturbed by what the just saw, but he stood his ground because he still wanted to go with them no matter what.
Hinata takes the towel off of her face and the first thing she sees is Meld's face smiling full of relief. As she gets up. "Alright, guess we're gonna have to deal with it."
Meld flinched in suprise. "Wait, you're really gonna let him come?" She seemed so against the idea that Meld never thought they were gonna get another party member.
"Yeah...Akira is part of our "group" so we have to deal with his mistake. I'm also not a wuss, who runs away because I lost a bet." Meld smiled again at her explanation not because of the reluctance but because of how she admitted the three of them were a team.
Hinata walks over to Shu who stops shivering and stands up straight. "Now Shu listen up, I've decided to honor Akira's bet with you." Shu beams at her words. "But your bet only says you join our group, it doesn't say we can't kick you out or anything." Shu gulps and begins to get nervous. "But, that would be a bitch move, so I'll refrain from doing that unless you become too troublesome got it?"
Shu immediately salutes. "Y-Yes! I-I'll definitely make you proud, and one day, I'll win your heart!"
Hinata looks at the rabbit with an annoyed expression while Akira started growling. "Listen you idiot, I do not love you, you also already know that my target is to go back home to my original world, I have no plans of helping you live there, and there's a chance you won't see your family again." She harshly stated.
Shu was unnerved. "I know...but the future isn't set in stone. I won't give up until I win your heart, even if I have to move to another world, and I've already talked about it with my family."
After that Hinata relented. "Fine...whatever."
Meld looked at the rabbit from afar he noticed how Akira and Shu were so similar, Hinata had rejected them so harshly they still act determined , it was admirable but Hinata's can't be taken that easily, he could almost feel Hinata's annoyance frankly he was a bit annoyed too , he remembers the time the labyrinth where Akira tried to constantly try to suck Hinata's blood as if he would let him do that to his...dau-
Wait.
'What was I about to say?' Meld gave himself a light slap, hoping that he didn't say that out loud to Hinata of all people. He can only imagine how awkward and embarrassing it would've been.
After their farewells, with the help of Hinata's vehicle they managed to reach their next destination, a town called Brooke in no time. They decided, it was better to stop at the city first before trying to find Reisen's labyrinth.
They needed to stock up on supplies, and they can gain the money by selling monster the parts that Hinata and Meld had collected when they were making their ways down the labyrinth.
Before they reached the town, they decided to get off the SUV, and put it back in Hinata's Treasure Trove. To blend in, Meld had unequipped his armor and Hinata had pulled up her socks to hide her legs, Shu...had a collar around his neck, a slave collar to be precise, he didn't like it,but it was actually safer this way. If people see a free rabbit boy running around, kidnappers and slave traders would come at him non stop.
With fabricated status plates, and making an excuse of Akira losing his, they got into the city with no problems. As soon as they enter the city, they make way to the adventurers guild, they had already decided beforehand to join the adventurers guild to help provide money for themselves.
They were welcomed by the receptionist, Catherine. They offer her the materials from the monsters they killed for cash. Catherine seemed to a bit suspicious of how they acquired such materials, but fortunately she doesn't pry.
After signing up to the adventurers guild Catherine gave them a map which they used to navigate to the inn where they had a mild...argument.
The inn they're staying in only has rooms for 2 or 3. With a group of four the obvious choice would be to order 2 two persons room. However...Akira and Shu both insisted they get a room for two with Hinata respectively. It's no surprise that Hinata and Meld objects to either of those ideas, but for different reasons.
Meld could not accept of Hinata, a young girl sharing a room with another man and advices they order 1 two person room, where Hinata will stay alone, while he will stay with the other two in a three person room.
However, Hinata also rejected Meld's to their budget, Hinata suggests just that they just order 2 two person rooms, with her sharing a room with Meld instead of the two annoyances.
Meld strongly rejected that idea while his face was blushing with the brightest shade of pink. After a long argument, that annoyed pretty much everybody in the inn, they decided to leave it to chance with drawing sticks that ended with Meld picking the shortest one.
After getting to there rooms, they immediately started to get ready to go back to Reisen gorge Hinata stayed in the inn to make something for Shu while the boys decided to shop for supplies.
Meld opens the doors while his other hand was carrying a massive bag filled with food he got thanks to the money they received from Catherine, and of course he already has experience in purchasing supplies for a good price.
He walks in and sees Hinata sitting on a chair holding a long metal rod and also sees a massive metal cylinder on the table. Hinata stops what she was about to do and looks at Meld as he greeted her. "Hey, look what I got."
Meld places the bag on the ground. "Those monsters parts are still filling our stomachs just in a different way." He joked.
Hinata remains silent as she goes back to her building but not before Meld starts speaking again. "Hey Hinata, now that we're alone..." Meld trails off while Hinata looks at him before continuing. "Do you think we can have another talk, like the one we had before we met Akira?"
Hinata raises her eyebrow in confusion "Wait, you want to make it more than a one time thing?" She asked as she places the rod down and stands up putting her hands on her hips.
"Well...yeah."
Hinata wasn't amused or interested in his intention so she replied. "Just talk with Akira or Shu, I mean Akira is over 300 years old I'm sure he has tons of issues to talk about, though most of them would probably include the loneliness and solitude."
Meld shakes his head. "No, Hinata, I want to know more about you as a person, you've just been that amazing to me." Meld had to admit it when he first saw Hinata he saw her just like everyone else an outcast, someone who distances herself from others. Meld thought it was a matter of time he pulled her into the circle that is her class in order improve their teamwork.
But now...
He himself stepped out of the circle he wants to join her, he wants to be next to her and he wants to watch how her life will turn out to be. He wants to see where she would take him.
Seeing he wouldn't give this up, Hinata gives in. "Alright, but this time just one question ok?"
Meld was relieved and immediately went on with his answer. "Alright well...This might be too personal, but I must ask, why do you always wear that jacket of yours?"
Hinata was a bit shocked that Meld thought it was a big deal. "Because I like it. There, done."
Meld sighs. "I meant why do you like it so much that you wear it all the time?"
Hinata started to get annoyed. "Alright fine, I guess you can say it's some kind proof for myself you better sit down it's kind of a long story"
Meld follows her advice and takes a seat on the bed. "It wasn't really any special day, I was just walking home from school one day, I saw it on display because it was on sale, it was cool so I wanted to buy it. At that moment the normal thing would be for kids to ask their parents to buy it for them but...I don't think, I'm what people consider normal."
There was a moment of silence
"That thought never crossed my mind. The first thing I thought of, was to get the money myself, I decided to do chores for a bunch of adults I know, my teachers and a bunch of workers from my dad's company but I never asked my dad."
Meld took note of the fact that her father owned a company, after all Hinata barely talks about her family, he doesn't want to preach that far. He also noted how she never talked about her mother.
"They would always tell me, I did a good job and actually give me more than what we promised on. It was easy to get the money I needed, then I bought the jacket and brought it home, my dad asked where and how I got it after that he hugged me and told me I was amazing. At the time, I didn't understand why they were so proud of me of buying a jacket, until I got older."
Meld lets out a chuckle "I see, you did all that when you were 7 years old."
"Yeah, it was proof I managed to do something by myself but...the jacket was actually too big for me, so I needed to wait a couple years and when I was big enough, I wore it as soon as I can after school. I had it tied around my waist everyday, including when I got summoned here."
Meld just stared at the girl with happiness the girl in front of him just gets more and more amazing to him. But.. something was off other than the fact that she she never talked about her mother he could pick up something from when she talked about her father a small hint of distaste.
Meld stopped his thinking as he heard Hinata talk "Ok, my turn" Meld braced himself. "What do you think of my classmates?"
Meld widen his eyes his shock that was surprisingly a quite normal question he begins to remember back to the short time he spent with the heroes from the other world, especially the ones that stuck out the most. "Well... Kouki has the heart of a hero but he's a bit too eager like when we fought the behemoth and he refused to secure a path instead, Kaori is very kind hearted, as is her brother, Seiji I remember them quite being fond of you."
Their presence near her wasn't exactly unwanted or hated by Hinata. But when you're a girl like her that hangs with two of the popular students in class, other students aren't exactly happy with that. But she never once blamed Kaori or Seiji for that since it technically wasn't their fault.
She can still remember wanting to cut her ears off while hearing Kouki and other students saying things like...
"Kaori and Seiji are so nice to hang out with her." and "She needs to stop taking advantage of them."
They said those things, all while angrily glaring at her. Her attitude and status as an otaku didn't exactly help but even with all that she never cared, after all, she faced worse.
".. And then there's Shizuku."
Oh right, he's still talking.
"She is by far the most mature out of the other kids and like most of them she is only doing this to go home and I don't blame them , not in the least. And I can remember seeing all of them training and working hard, I must say I am proud of how far they had especially since they had no battle experience befo-"
"What about the one that shot me?"
Meld grew a sense of dread as he stares at Hinata. "Huh?"
"You said you were proud of them, but what about the one that tried to kill me at the labyrinth?"
Oh crap, he forgot.
"How about this, how do you think the others would feel if I killed that bastard right in front of them?"
What should he say?
"Amanogawa would probably try to to be a hero and attempt to stop me, but I can just kill him too."
Killing for petty revenge would be frowned upon but this is attempted murder for crying out loud.
"I can kill Sakagami and Yaegashi and anyone else who decides to help him."
He would never want to kill any of the heroes, but...that wouldn't be fair for Hinata, he can't just tell her to get over someone trying to murder her.
"The Shirasakis would be freaked out of their minds, but I wouldn't care enough that it would stop me."
Think! Think! Think!
Justify Hinata's revenge or try to talk her out if it.
"Ok that's enough fretting dude." Meld broke off his panic to look at Hinata who had a serene smile on her face. "Oops, that was 2 questions, forget about the second question." Hinata gets up and walks over to the door. "Welp, I need to go to the bathroom, see ya later." She places a hand on the handle. "Oh, and don't worry, I already said that I wouldn't get revenge like that, so don't think about it."
And with that she's gone.
Meld falls backwards onto the bed letting out a huge sigh only that girl can make his heart race faster than when he fought the behemoth.
Meld let out a small laugh he wasn't mad or scared that Hinata asked him those questions, Afterall...
He should be asking himself that.
Meanwhile, in a clothing store,
"Oh my, what lovely boys you are..."
Akira and Shu stands there...disturbed by the massive, flamboyant man in front of them, who was looking at them with flirtatious eyes...
They just wanted to buy some clothes.