Meld and Akira were driving down the mountain like madmen. After the news of the army the group quickly got into the vehicles as fast as they can with their two new companions with Tio tied to the top of the SUV, which was obviously Hinata's idea.
Once they finally reached town. "Ok, so firs- wait, where's Will?" Hinata asked looking around before spotting the boy running towards the mayor's office. "Son of a.."
Everyone went and followed him. Once there Will immediately rushed in and warned the mayor of the incoming army. Of course he was quickly dismissed as someone spouting nonsense, but when Aiko came in and supported him they all immediately believed it.
"What's important now is that we-"
"Hold on Will." Hinata spoke up, cutting him off."Don't go doing your own thing, I still have to get you back to Fuhren."
"W-What!? Hinata, are you saying you're willing abandon this town?" Will asked shocked.
"Uh yeah, this is just a tourist destination and, I don't remember owing these people anything so I don't really care." Hinata nonchalantly answered.
"Even so, I won't turn my back on the people here no matter what you say Hinata." Will stated.
"Awww you think I give a crap about your feelings." Hinata said in a mocking tone. "Listen, you want to help people, that's your business, but I have a job to do, to bring you back. Since you don't care about what I say, then it's ok for me to not care what you say and bring you back by force if I have to."
Will once again felt intimidated by Hinata, similar like when they were in the mountains, but this time instead of uplifting his spirits, she was gripping and threatening to break it.
While this was happening Yuka walked over to Meld. "Uh, Captain Meld do you think you can talk to her to convince her to help?" She asked with some desperation she was also hoping that Meld would stay to help.
Meld instead just smiled and said. "Shhh, don't worry, just watch."
"Hinata wait!" Aiko suddenly spoke up. "Can you help with the monsters?"
Hinata stares at Aiko for a moment. "Sensei, you know we're strong but it's sixty fucking thousand monsters, victory is not assured."
Aiko gulps but still talks. "I don't think we can evacuate everyone on time, so can you please help us?" She asked again.
"Wow, didn't expect that from you...Hatayama." Hinata said with some genuine shock. "To think on the first day we got here, you openly protested to the pope about us fighting. Now here you are asking me, one of your students to fight a whole army. Does that mean you're no longer my teacher?" Hinata asked with a sadistic smile.
"No." Aiko shakes her head. "No matter what happens you're always one of my students. And also...it's true that as a teacher, I should always put my students first, but that doesn't mean I want to abandon the people of this world that I've grown to know and care about. Nagumo, are you just gonna leave every people you don't care about?"
Hinata looks back at Aiko with a look that says. "Why not?"
"I do not want you to live such a lonely life."
"Tch, what are we? Chopped liv- Mpf!" Meld quickly covered Akira's mouth, as to not ruin the moment.
Unknown to everyone else is the room that the last sentence Aiko said carried more meaning to her and Hinata. Hinata takes a moment of silence before she started walking to the door. "Where are you going?" Aiko asked frantically.
Hinata turns back with a grin. "I need to prepare to kick some asses."
Aiko was filled with relief and gratitude and so, the countdown to the invasion begins.
Hinata stared out to the night sky, here she is sitting on the massive wall fitting for a castle. While everybody was evacuating the town she was here building the wall usingTransmute. All the women and children had been evacuated first now all they had to do was evacuate the rest and wait for army... in silence or it was supposed to be.
"Hey Nagumo."
Hinata turns back at the owner of the voice, Yuka Sonobe. "Can we talk?"
Hinata stands up. "About what?"
"I just wanted to thank you." Yuka nervously said.
"For what? I haven't done anything yet."
"No..." Yuka shakes her head. "I meant when we were in the labyrinth, you held the behemoth off while we all got to safety."
"You know I didn't do that for you right? If I didn't stop it, I would've been screwed too."
"Y-Yeah, but even so I-"
"Where is this coming from?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you suddenly talking to me? You never did it back in Japan."
"W-Well it's becau-"
"Because you thought I was dead? So you need to think I was dead for months, then turn up out of nowhere for you to talk to me?"
"N-NO! I just wanted to thank you for saving our lives!"
"Hm, so this is what gratitude feels like..." Hinata's face contorts to disgust "I don't like it. Go back to ignoring me, all of you liked doing that anyway."
"..." Feeling as if she couldn't say anything else, Yuka made her way down the wall with a saddened look.
Hinata was going to continue continue her watch until...
"That wasn't very nice."
Hinata turned her head and now saw Meld walking towards her. "Are you sure you want to be remembered by your classmates that way?" He asked.
"What are you talking about? I was the "otaku" in class, this is how they always remember me." Hinata said before sitting back down, and Meld sat next to her. "So how's the sword?"
"Well it doesn't smell anymore, but the memory still lingers." Meld said, still somewhat disturbed by what Hinata shoved his sword into. "But anyway, Hinata, I think it's time for another…chat."
"Hinata you don't have to answer if you want to, but I can't help but wonder. Why did you decide to help? Don't even try using lady Aiko as an excuse cause I know you didn't care about what she said."
Hinata looks down with frown hesitating to answer before finally opening her mouth. "Look...don't say anything to anyone but...I...owe her one." Meld remains quiet as she continued. "And I don't mean she's my teacher and I owe her for everything I learned sort of thing, it's more like I did something to her."
"So you did something to her and now you feel bad for it?" Hinata nods her head. "Which means you do all of this out of guilt,?" She nods again. "And yet, you persecuted Yuka for her actions because it was also out of guilt? Isn't that a bit hypocritical?"
"Hey, at least I talked to Aiko!" Hinata replied quite defensively. "And I always knew what I did was wrong but I still chose to do it because I had t-" Hinata quickly covered her mouth she was about to let something slip quite unusual for her...
Why does she keep opening up to this guy?
"Look...I don't care what my classmates want to say to me, I never cared for them before anyway, and besides I think it's better if they don't get too chummy with us." Meld stared at Hinata he can't say he doesn't agree with her. The other students are already dealing with hard times dragging them into what they're are in would be... unsavory.
"A-Anyway it's my turn, if I had still rejected Aiko's request and left what would you have done?"
Meld knew Hinata was trying to change the subject and decided to abide and answer her question. "I would've tried to defend the town myself."
Hinata tilted here head. "Really? What about the labyrinths?"
"If I had survived the battle, I would've simply challenged the labyrinths myself"
"You're kidding right? Reisen almost killed all four of us. Even with Gravity magic, who knows what would've happened and you're strong, but not 60000 monster army strong"
"Bite me."
That response shut Hinata up. "The whole reason I'm going through the labyrinth is so that I can protect this world in the absence of you and your classmates. If I had abandoned this town for that quest, the quest itself would've been redundant. The ends would not justifythe means"
Hinata was still silent. After he explained it to her it's hard to object which is rare for her. Meld stares at Hinata, he was originally supposed to be their teacher so of course he would have to pay attention to her and the other students. He would need to know their strengths and weaknesses as well as personality to figure who would work best with who.
After all this time of observing Hinata his findings would result in one word...concerning. This deduction wasn't just decided by the obvious fact the girl had faced a horrible experience that was worse than falling to the bottom of a labyrinth or by the fact she was willing to commit suicide without a second thought.
Throughout the journey, Hinata has always expressed her lack of care towards what people thought her, him included, but Meld sensed something more than that. It's almost as if Hinata knows what people think of her and actually accepts it, as if that's just how things are. Hinata had always portrayed herself as a heartless person, who kills or abandons other people without any hesitation...
Or at least that's what ordinary people would see but Meld has been by her side and knows she had reasons for every single one of those actions. Hinata would never be called a hero for eternity, but she doesn't have to be and she certainly isn't some evil villain who needs to be put to rest. She is just a girl, who has her own life, destination and motivation and that is something everybody should respect.
"Hinata you need to know tha-"
"There you are!"
The two of them sees the other pair of theirteam looking... mad? This is probably the first time Hinata is sorta glad to see these two.
"I can't believe you snuck here Meld!" Shu exclaimed while stomping his feet.
"Huh, snuck? What are you.."
"Sitting here alone with Hinata looking at the beautiful night sky. Are you sure you're not after her yourself?"
"Are you serious?! I would never have romantic interest to someone as young as her, I'm over twice her age for goodness sake!" Meld replied clearly offended.
"And for you're information I came here here to look out for the enemy!"
"You do remember I'm about 300 years old right? And even my heart still beats for her. When it comes to love age doesn't matter one bit." Akira countered.
As the three men kept arguing a new voice was heard.
"My, what a rowdy bunch." They all turn to see Tio walking towards them. "May I have a moment of your time?"
After a short moment of silence. "Ok boys, break it up. Here's what we do for the battle" Hinata said suddenly starting a group discussion. Tio initially gasped in surprise but hen that shock turned into...pleasure?
"Oh, are you ignoring me?" Tio said with way too much excitement and started to make a disturbingly pleasure filled face.
Meanwhile with the group they have now gotten together in a huddle. They were already disturbed by the dragon's... personality back on the mountain and now it's even worse up close.
"So what do we do with him?"
"Maybe if we ignore him he'll go away?"
"Where's a cop when you need one?"
"Now now as...odd as he is we need his help to defend the town."
Once the whisper fest was over the group turns to Tio and Meld steps up. "Uhh, Sir Tio might I ask what is it that you want?"
"Well it is quite simple sir Meld." Tio suddenly points at Hinata. "I wish to follow you on journey or more precise to follow herrrr." Tio purred ,disturbing everyone again which made Hinata pulled her gun out and shot him in the face with a rubber bullet.
Yes, Hinata created rubber bullet on Meld's behest, in the case they do not need to kill someone.
With smoke coming out of the place of impact Tio started smiling again."Ahhhh, such ruthlessness." He moaned , he then crawled to Hinata. "Oh please let me come, I'll do anything you want, I'll call you master, my whole being will belong to you, and I'll prove my usefulness in this battle." He begged while drooling on the floor.
As Hinata is disturbed by the unfitting fact of a grown man with such a big body being a masochist. She was about shut this idiot up when suddenly she sensed something. She pushes Tio's face away. "Ok, cut the comic relief they're here."
Everyone sees to where Hinata was pointing and braced themselves.
"Nagumo!"
They all look back to Aiko with many armed men which is odd considering they were supposed to be evacuated. The man in front spoke up and said this town is how they make a living even if they survive the won't be ale to keep living if the town is destroyed. Hinata canunderstand and respect that, but it's still a pain she was hoping to do this with zero witnesses, the more people that see them the more people can talk about them and then it'll get to the church. Fortunately, she had a plan fo this…
"Get lost, before I kill you myself!" Hinata loudly ordered. "And if you people decide to be a couple of dicks and mouth off about what you saw tonight, you're in for another calamity!"
While the scared villagers were being comforted by Aiko, Hinata's party faces the incoming army. From her Treasure Trove Hinata brings out a massive mini gun and Shu prepares his hammer in it's launcher mode.
And so it begins...
The group already had a small strategy meeting beforehand it was time to implement the first step, thinning their numbers. Hinata unleashes a barrage of bullets with her gattling gun with Shu blowing up monsters left and right. Meld and Akira were casting their most wide ranged spells. With the massive amount of monsters they didn't really needed to aim much. Even Tio took out a bunch out, apparently in his humanoid form Tio is still able to unleash the same powerful flames that nearly scorched them all back on the mountains. He was also trying really hard eager to prove his worth to Hinata who just rolled her eyes.
With their initial they managed to take out thousands of the monsters which might have not helped much. Either way it was time to go to the second step. Hinata stores back her gattling gun that ran out of ammo and brings out her motorcycle she, Meld, and Shu gets on and drives off the wallto the horde of was casting a massive spell.
"Asura."
Two massive black cubes appear on the battlefield engulfing the monsters near it. During their experimentation with Gravity magic Meld and Akira realized they were able to create what is known as black holes by inverting gravity. With Akira's black hole disappearing it leaves to massive cube shaped hollow ground leaving only one path for the monsters to go limiting their movements.
Back in Ur, Hinata's classmates watch from the rooftops with nothing but shocked and amazement. When they found out that they were stronger than the average people of this world that fact had gave them confidence maybe even arrogance. But now here they are, not doing anything as Hinata and her allies are taking on the army on their own and holding their own against it. Yuka couldn't help but think back to seeing Hinata's back as she faces great danger ahead. Just like last time.
The trio on the motorcycle closes in on the monsters as they do they noticed a lot of the monsters are petrified after seeing Akira's spell. They realized that not all the monsters are under control like Tio, rather only the leaders are, which makes them the priority.
Meld launches off the motorcycle, crashing to the ground with his sword while casting Godwind, unleashing a compressed storm instantly that blew the surrounding monsters. Shu jumps to the right and makes a similar crash like Meld, and going nuts with his hammer. Hinata drives to the left running over multiple monsters before storing her motorcycle back. Brandishing her guns, she started firing bullets left and right.
And so, Hinata, Meld ,and Shu kept mowing down monsters while Akira and Tio were still at the wall, taking care of monsters that slip past the other three. Hinata knew they need all the fighting power they needed so remodeled the drones she used to scout back at the mountain to fire lasers and gives minimal support to Meld. During all this, Hinata couldn't but smile a bit. mostly because this was reminding her of all the times she played those warriors games back in Japan.
At the scene of this, normal people would be terrified of fighting this many monsters, good thing they weren't normal. Fortunately they actually didn't have to slay every single monster, after killing the supposed alpha, Meld and Hinata could just use their Intimidation skill, scaring the weaker ones away.
Eventually, the number of monster dies down to even less than half. During the slaughter, Hinata manages to spot a black robed man on a big wolf on one of the hills. Hinata knew the man was gonna run from her after being spotted so before he could she takes out her sick as hell railgun and blasts the wolf he was riding just as it leaped. The man falls to the ground although he wasn't hit directly the impact and shock was still enough to knock him out .
Hinata quickly run over to the man and takes off his hood. She had a pitiful face upon seeing who it was and said. "I fucking knew it." She knew the guy was gonna be unconscious for a while so she decided to go back to the fight. With the caster down it became much easier to scare the monsters away.
The remaining fight lasted till morning. By the time the sun had risen Hinata, Meld ,and Shu were already heading back to Ur with the culprit being dragged by their feet by Hinata much to Meld's distress after finding out who it was, Shimizu, the missing student.
Aiko knew how Meld had felt upon also seeing the culprit, Shimizu her own student. Aiko took 3 whole minutes to accept the fact one of her own student had tried to destroy a town full of innocent people before proceeding to try and wake Shimizu up. The boy in question woke up in a panic which was immediately followed Aiko calming her down with her usual pleasant smile.
The smile did not last long as Aiko went straight to the point. She grabs Shimizu's hand with a sad look. "I just can't figure out why one of my students would do this... Shimizu why did you do this?" she asked.
Shimizu yanks his hand away. "I just wanted to prove my worth." That answer confused everyone as they wonder what this whole mess would prove. Aiko wastes no time asking the how of his intentions which he responded to with. "Who said I meant you?" The somewhat calm atmosphere ends as Shimizu suddenly grabs Aiko, turns around, pulls out something out his robe which his points to Aiko's neck.
"I wanted to prove myself to the demons now everybody back off!" He demanded.
"Sh-Shimizu why...?" Aiko cried.
"I made a deal with the demons." The dark mage put out a devilish smile. "If I killed the goddess of fertility, I was gonna be praised as their hero, since you could've been more annoying the hero himself. The demons knew my worth."
"Shimizu, ple-"
At that moment, Aiko leaned in closer, Shimizu grabbed her, turned her around and held a needle up to her throat. "BACK OFF, THE POISON IN THIS NEEDLE IS ENOUGH TO KILL HER IN SECONDS!"
Everybody follows Shimizu's demands and steps back slowly, except for Hinata, who barely showed any reaction.
"HEY, YOU BITCH!" This time his shout was directed at Hinata specifically "GIVE ME ALL OF YOUR WEAPONS NOW!"
Hinata remained stone faced seeing her classmate.
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT I HAD AN ARMY OF 60000 AND I STILL LOST TO YOU? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS?!" He asked in genuine disbelief "IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU... NOW HURRY UP"
Hinata can understand his personal grudge on her. It was only pure luck that her group happened to be here during his attack. Though, that fact was not enough to make Hinata have a shred of guilt to that loser.
"HEY, I'M NOT JOKING, HURRY UP!"
"So let me get this straight. My choices are, my teacher dies here and now, or I lose all my weapons then my teacher dies later, after you bring her to the demons, wow what a variety." Hinata replied with sarcasm.
"YOU THINK I'M FUCKING JOKING?!"
"I think you're about to be screwed for the second time."
Hinata pulls out her gun and aims it at him when Meld suddenly spoke up. "Shimizu, consider the situation before you, you're not thinking straight."
"Shut up... SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UPPPPPP" in a moment of insanity Shimizu was ready to kill Aiko then and there and Hinata was ready to pull the trigger when suddenly...
"Watch out!" Shu dashes pass Hinata crashing onto Shimizu and Aiko knocking Aiko but for Shimizu before he fell a beam of light goes through his chest and the beam also managed to hit the side of Shu's stomach. Akira rushes to Shu as Meld goes to Aiko's side and sees the the graze on her cheek he realized that Shimizu had done it while Shu charged at him, Hinata turns a see a hyveria flying away with a man on top of it she aims her gun and pulls the trigger only managing to strike the man's shoulder. She grits her teeth as she rushes over to her allies and pulls out two of the vials containing ambrosia holy water that they obtained back at Orcus.
"Meld!" Hinata throws a vial to Meld who catches it and goes to Shu. She immediately opens the vial and starts pouring the water at the wound. Meanwhile, Meld tried pouring the water through Aiko's mouth only for her to start coughing.
'She can't swallow.' he dreadfully thought not because he was afraid she was gonna die, he knows what he has to do and sighs. "Sorry about this."
He drinks the water but doesn't swallow and brings Aiko's lips to his own then start transferring the water into her. As he did Aiko regained her consciousness and realizes what was happening and blushes like a tomato. Both adults turns their flustered faces away. The two adults then see Hinata and Akira as Hinata is pouring the holy water on Shu. They and the other students were all grinning.
The two teachers start fumbling saying things like "it's not like that" and other stuff. Hinata just rolls her eyes in amusement as she is done healing Shu's wound.
"Alright, Shu just drink the rest and it'll the inner wounds in your body"
"N-No."
"Huh?"
"Do...it...like Meld did " Shu requested while making kissy faces.
Hinata and Akira gives deadpan look as she closes the vial. "Have fun with internally bleeding."
"Gah seriously?!" Shu reluctantly drinks the holy water while pouting. When the gag starts to end Aiko's mind snapped back to reality. She turns around and find Shimizu on the ground bleeding. With great concern she rushes to him she immediately asked her other students to heal him but with one look they can tell this was out of their abilities.
When all hope seemed lost it hit her. "Nagumo! Can you give me some of that medicine?"
Hinata sighs. "You do remember what he did right?"
"I know... but I made a vow that no matter what happens I would always stick with my students so please" Aiko begged again.
Hinata scratches her head then turns her attention to her dying classmate. "Shimizu...answer me this...are you still a bitch?"
Shimizu quickly grew frantic "N-No, I'm not, please save me, I-I swear I'll do anything you want me to do." The boy was begging for his life but oddly enough he was smiling. As if he was guaranteed to be saved.
"Asshole." Hinata aims her gun.
"No wai-"
BANG BANG
Aiko was frozen all she can do was stare at Hinata's smoking gun. She looks down to the ground with her trembling arms holding her up. Her students share similar look of disbelief.
"Why…?" she let out.
"He had it."
"Had what?!" Aiko asked again this time a bit louder.
"He had the face of a liar."
"No, you heard what he said." This time Aiko didn't stutter at all as Yuka goes over to her side. "Even if he was, there was a chance he can change if we brought him back to Japan or even the castle."
"Hope and cry all you want. I know what I saw and I already made my choice. You want to believe your students? That's your problem, but don't push any of that crap on to me." Hinata starts walking away. "Back in town you said you didn't want me to live a lonely life, but let's face it, something like that is perfect for me." Hinata gives one more look at Aiko. "Also, if you decided get in my way, I'll put a bullet through your head next Sensei."
The other students could only stand there feeling many emotions at once sadness, fear, or maybe they're still trying to grab the concept before them. Akira and Shu followed Hinata without saying much.
Thinking he can't say anything in the moment, Meld gets up and leaves, but not before bowing and giving an apology to everyone there.
Hinata leans on her four wheeler everyone was getting to take off and resume their job with their temporary companion Will. On the way here nobody really said anything especially Hinata who just keeps having an emotionless face.
"Will, you ready to leave?" She asked out of the blue as everyone is already inside.
"Huh? Oh yeah, but... shouldn't you talk with Aiko first?" he asked
"Talk about what? How I shot a classmate right in front of her? I shouldn't be around her while she thinks things through." Will looked at Hinata with a bit of concern at how she answered that. Personally speaking, he can't say he was upset about Shimizu dying. After all, he's the one who ordered to kill everyone in his party. But of course, he could tell Aiko cared about him a lot so...
"Hey Hinata, I gotta ask you som-"
"Nagumo, wait!"
"Sonobe?" Upon hearing her calling Meld steps out of the SUV and he along with Hinata sees Yuka and all the others students.
"What do you want?" Hinata asked annoyed, right now all she wants to do is go back to Fuhren.
"Before you leave, there's something I need to say and I'm saying it for all of us, if I don't say it, we'll regret it."
"... What did you want to say?"
"Nagumo, thank you for saving us."
"..."
"And I'm not just talking about what happened here, but also because of what you did back at the labyrinth. I know that we can't call each other friends or even allies, and maybe we're only doing this out of guilt because of the way we treated you back in Japan... But so what?"
Hinata and Meld widened their eyes.
"I do feel guilty for what I did, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't do anything. It means I should try to make up for it. You are the reason all of us are still standing here so...We won't waste this life you gave us." Yuka then turns to Meld. "And Captain Meld, we won't waste all that training you gave us. We might not have spent much time together, but we're glad to see that you ok too. We still don't know how to feel about Shimizu but we'll get stronger and someday maybe we'll be able help you."
Meld's initial shock is switched with a sincere smile. "Thank you Yuka, all of you take care of yourselves ok?"
"Right!" They all replied.
Meanwhile Hinata turns around "Sonobe...you're a tough tramp."
Everybody was confused on wether or not that was an insult as she continued. "If you keep thinking like that you'll survive in this world. Meld, let's go." With everything said and done Yuka and the others watch their saviors drive off.
In the car, Akira is driving with Hinata looking out the window with Meld between the two.
It was this time Will spoke up. "Hey Hinata, there's something i've been meaning to ask ... back then, why did you do that?"
Hinata raised her eyebrow. "You already know why."
"No, I mean... he would have died wether you shot him or not so why?"
"Tch...I wish you were still bawling instead of being smart"
"Wait what?" Shu asked confused seeming to be the only one who doesn't have a clue.
Akira decided to explain "Shu, let me ask you this what happened before you charged in to save them?"
"Huh? She was being held by Shimi- Huh?!"
"Exactly." Meld said. "The demon was aiming for Aiko, but because of you, it only hit Shimizu and you." Now it made sense, knowing Aiko she would've blame herself even if it wasn't in the slightest.
If he had died just like that, Aiko would've broken down from all the guilt. But that guilt was instead replaced by sadness and maybe even fear. One can argue which one of those was better or worse but what they do know is that Aiko can get up from the latter.
"Oh I see, so you did it for Aik-"
"Don't romanticize it." Hinata cut Shu off with the cold response "Shimizu was a psycho and his blood is on my hands...that has nothing to do with Aiko."
Meld starts to contemplate while looking at the teen, he started to ask himself... questions.
Was he mad or disturbed at what Hinata did?
No, Like Aiko, he also wanted to save Shimizu, but after what he did and what happened to him he knew Shimizu was someone that couldn't be saved.
Was he disappointed or angry at Shimizu for what he tried to do?
Maybe a little, but he also knew this would never have happened if he hadn't come here. He also knew the boy had personal issues that the demons took advantage of.
But even so, seeing the faces of the other students, he knows that he can't back down now. If anything, this proves he needs to get these kids home faster than ever so that none of them die anymore.
Especially this one...
"You should really stop talking like that." Meld extends his hand and gently places it on Hinata's head. "You are much kinder than you think."
Hinata slightly blushes as she knocks Meld's hand away while everybody in the car smiled. "Oh yeah, I forgot to say something." Hinata turns to Shu. "Hey Shu, thanks for doing what you did I owe you one"
Shu was dumbstruck hearing it, never in a million years did he think that she would thank him. He almost didn't recognize Hinata but given this opportunity he instantly let out his request. "I-If that's the case then can w-we do it toni-"
""Rejected."" Everybody but Will cut him off.
"Gah, but I thought you owed me?!"
"I would rather crash this vehicle right now than let you get your way." Akira warned.
"I owe you something within reason, ugh we'll discuss this later."
"Aww."
Will couldn't help but enjoy the current atmosphere it has really helped him moved on fro-
"MMMMMMMaaasstteerr…"
Will jolts in shock hearing the eerie voice and sees Tio crawling out of the trunk area of the SUV soon everyone notice him and screams in Unison. Akira quickly stabilized his driving while Hinata landed multiple shots with her rubber bullets.
"You stowawayed?!"
"I thought it was odd that, I didn't see you before we left."
"Regardless, get the fuck out!" Hinata demanded.
"I refuse, wherever you go, I have this uncontrollable urge to follow. I believe you are the cause therefore you should take responsibility."
"You tried to kill me and I owe you? Like hell!"
"If you try to leave me behind I will simply follow you, in my dragon form if I have to."
Meld pulls Hinata closer and starts whispering. "If you ask me, it might be less troublesome to just let him come."
"Or we can just kill him." Hinata suggested while pulling out her knife.
"That's too harsh and you know it. Besides, he might be a great ally."
"Meld." Hinata simply gestured to Tio, who was still drooling while on the floor of the SUV.
"Look, his...interest aside, he might be of use to us. Do not forget that he held his own against all four of us and we barely made it through Reisen."
Hinata sighs , she hates it when Meld uses logic against her.
And so they continue forward with one more...baggage.
Omake
Meld: Hinata, I couldn't help but noticed your odd reaction when Tio transform, it was quite peculiar.
Hinata: You know, funny story, I actually thought Tio was a girl before he transformed.
Meld: Really, why?
Hinata: Well I mean...you already know how my world had a bunch of fantasy and isekai stories right?
Meld: Yes.
Hinata: Well in those stories, it was common trope where the big scary dragon that the protagonist beat, transforms to a cute girl that joins the protagonist's harem.
Meld: Really?
Hinata: Yeah, that and there's also a trope where the fully armored knight with a deep voice was actually also a woman.
Meld: So would you have reacted the same way if I wore a helmet?
Hinata: I would've thought the palace was another stereotypical workplace where men naturally get higher positions of authority than women.
Meld: So deep! There are plenty of female knights too you know!