One More Day

                                                ₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨ TWO WEEKS LATER ୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚︎

In the sky, the sun shone bright and mighty. The weather was neither too cool nor too warm, the clouds giving space for the clear blue sky to be admired.

Through the window, a beautiful garden could be seen. One with the most colorful flowers, their shapes and sizes varying, their beauty hidden from outsiders due the tall wood fence.

Within the cottage, Yuushin ate a fruit as he admired the blue sky and enjoyed the afternoon’s breeze. He couldn’t recall the last time he felt so…at peace. Beside him Vel drank her tea in silence, yet even though there were no words being exchanged between them, her presence was more than welcome.

It was soothing, relaxing even.

And although Yuushin would prefer for them to be alone to talk over a few things, he did not mind his friends in the room. Especially by seeing how much Lyr had recovered, thanks to Johnny’s healing and some potions Heidi and Kez helped pay for. That said, Yuushin did feel sorry for the former priest…

You should’ve said no, man.

“A-are you sure I’m the best suited for this? Certainly there are others you could ask—”

“No! You are perfect—trust me. I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking anyone else,” Heidi rushed to say, unblinking.

“You heard the woman, Lyrelith! No reason to feel shy about it now.” Kez let out a boastful and joyful laugh, slapping her hands on her leg.

Cheeks still flushed, fidgeting with his hands and white ears, Lyr pulled his tail away—the last thing that was covering his chest and body.

After a very earnest and passionate request from Heidi, Lyr agreed to help with some of her new designs. At first, Yuushin thought nothing of it. But when Heidi brought the chest—the one she refused to let Johnny and Yuushin even touch—he grew worried.

And he was right to be so.

“Ooh, brother…wolf man sure is regretting now.”

Johnny whispered to him the moment Heidi pulled out the “custom designs”. And all Yuushin could do was nod in agreement. In solidarity.

Yuushin did assure Lyr there was no need for him to wear it, yet the theryan was adamant in paying Heidi back.

“It is but a small favor! It will be my pleasure to do so, worry not.”

Yet judging from Lyr’s reaction, perhaps he was regretting just a little. After all, Heidi’s design was…

Somewhat a bit revealing.

“Do-does the measures appear all right to you, miss?” The theryan asked, his voice lacking some strength.

The top leather piece had a small opening at the back, and a not at all small diamond-shaped neckline at the front. And although the pants were on the tighter side, they did have a “lower fit”, so to speak, fully displaying Lyr’s navel.

“It’s perfect,” the red-haired woman replied with no hesitation whatsoever, the quill moving furiously as she took notes.

“…”

Kez mumbled something, neither blinking nor moving.

“Y-you are planning to sell the-these kinds of…I mean, this new style to other theryans, you say?” Lyr’s blue eyes were staring at the ceiling, his white fur swinging left and right at a nervous pace.

“Yeah, sure, they can pay for it if they want to…” the woman replied in a dazed tone, fumbling in her pockets before letting out a small curse. “…how I miss my phone’s camera…”

“Alright! You bullied wolf man enough—hey bro, you can change back already, y’know?” Johnny stepped in, throwing Heidi a disapproving look before turning to Lyr.

“Oh, really? Did you get everything you needed, then?”

Heidi replied by raising both thumbs, a bright grin on her face. Lyr immediately went back to covering himself with his tail, relief filling his eyes as his body relaxed.

“If you'll excuse me, then, I shall be right back.”

As soon as he left the room, Kez leaned closer to Heidi, speaking next to the woman’s ear. “How much would cost you to make more of those?”

The red-haired woman froze, her gaze shifting to Kez. “Just enough to cover the materials.”

Whatever silent conversation happened between them, it ended with both shaking hands, nodding their heads in a silent agreement.

Yuushin didn’t even want to ask.

Johnny finally sat on the seat in front of him, letting out a long sigh. “Man…! Is still insane out there. Can’t even go through my grocery list in peace—those streets are more packed than the metro at rush hour, dude.”

Vel put the teacup on the center table, her black wings folded at her back. “Considering the amount of damage we caused at Khunir, this is no surprise. We are fortunate to be able to relax, at a time like this.”

Yuushin stared at the half-eaten fruit in his hand, completely unaware of what the blue thing was called.

That night…

It really feels like ages ago, huh?

Not long after Vel killed Arch Bishop Decimus, they went back to meet the rest of the group. Neither Vel nor Lyr was in any condition to use magic to get them out of the city, so Kez did her best to take them away from the chaos.

Most of Veritux’s personnel and knights were gathered at the headquarters, yet the party still had to sneak past a lot of Khunir’s guards—especially considering how fast the city went into high alert, searching for the perpetrators.

After they escaped, they laid low in the woods for a couple of days before making their way to a cottage Heidi acquired through one of Veritux’s aid programs. Since there was no way for Veritux to know about Heidi or Johnny’s involvement in the attack, it was the perfect place for them to stay.

Yet the news never subsided.

[KHUNAR ARCH BISHOP DECIMUS BRUTALLY MURDERED BY A CHILD OF CHAOS]
[TWELVE RAYS EMERGENCY MEETING: WHO WILL BE THE NEW APPOINTED RAY?]
[AFTER THE TENTH RAY WENT COLD, HOW WILL VERITUX RESPOND TO THE TERRORIST ATTACK? INVESTIGATIONS STILL CLOSED TO PUBLIC AFTER TEN DAYS]

Every day, there was a new headliner printed in the newspapers, even in the small town they were in. For the past two weeks, Yuushin had been taking the time to relax. Enjoy the world he had decided to call home, appreciate the time with his friends, watch the blue sky and pretty flowers each day.

Because soon enough, he was going to get busy again.

Arch Bishop Decimus was the Tenth of the Twelve Rays…

Eleven more to go, then.

For Retsugo Yuushin was certain that Veritux would not forget what he did. And if he wanted to protect Vel, Kez, and Lyr—if he wanted to make sure Heidi and Johnny would continue to enjoy their peace like this—he had to be ready for them.

He had to get stronger.

“What are your thoughts on it, Retsugo Yuushin?”

Vel’s voice brought him back, yet her question confused him all the same.

“What do you mean?”

She pointed at the blue fruit in his hands, the faintest smile hinting at her lips. “The black cantaloupe. Do you like it?”

He frowned. That was a black cantaloupe?

But it’s blue…

“Ah, well, it’s good! Not too sweet, but it really reminds me of some fruits back in my world.”

She nodded once, some satisfaction crossing her gaze. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Yuushin scratched the back of his head, his heart racing for a moment, his face growing a bit warmer. “I-if you are fine with it, could you help me with my sword training later? We can also go out in the town and buy more…fruits.”

Those lilac eyes pierced his own, their intensity making his heart race even more, beat even stronger. And when she replied with a warm smile, Yuushin could swear his heart would melt altogether.

“I would love to.”

A smile grew on his face, even though Yuushin tried to control it. And as he shifted his gaze, he saw Johnny staring in their direction—doing an OK sign of approval.

‘Nice score, bro’, the man mouthed, not letting out a single sound.

Yuushin went back to eating the black cantaloupe, his face burning.

Lyr finally got back, the sight of him wearing normal clothes instead of his priest’s robes still odd to Yuushin. Still, the theryan did look more relaxed and comfortable in those clothes. And before Heidi and Kez could convince him to model again, Johnny stood up.

“Yo, Lyr, mind helping me with more cleric stuff? Gotta keep my game sharp, right?”

“Oh! Yes! It would be my pleasure!” Despite Yuushin’s worries, Lyr seemed excited about the request.

And just like that, another peaceful day went by. One Yuushin wanted to treasure and take advantage of.

It really feels nice, doesn’t it?

Having a family.

A peacefulness, Yuushin hoped, he would be able to preserve.

A home Yuushin wished to protect, no matter what.