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Last night was a messy blur. After I blew out the candles, the first thing Kira did was push my face into the cake. I’ve never had that happen to me before. It was fun at least.

I guess I should wake up. Vivian got me that mission, I should go find her so we can start planning.

I let out a deep rumble of a yawn and stretched my arms and legs out wide, my right hand landing on something soft.

Huh? What is this?

I gently squeeze it a few times, thinking to myself what it could be.

I don’t remember having a pillow this soft and bouncy? Wait, I don’t have a pillow this soft and bouncy?!

Nervously, I lean over to the side before painstakingly opening my eyes.

“KIRA?!” I panic and pull back my hand as I scramble back against the wall.

Kira lets out a quiet yawn before turning to me with a teasing smirk. “Someone’s feeling awfully touchy this morning. I didn’t think you had it in you to fondle a sleeping girl like that. You should save that kind of touch for Vivian.” She chuckles as she crawls towards me.

“V-Vivian?! Are you out of your mind Kira?!” I bolt upright to my feet, pressing my back flat against the wall as I glance around the room for an escape.

She pushes herself up off the bed and crouches with her arms playfully opening. “Oho, you don’t get to run now, Zero. I was just getting comfortable. It’s not fair that you only get to touch.”

My eyes widen in shock and panic. “T-touch? I didn’t touch you! Don’t lie! Get away!” I make for a dash past her and run out of my room, down the hallway and stairs before leaping out of the inn towards freedom.

“Hehe, guess I shouldn’t tease him too much, but seeing the look on his face each time is worth it.” She flops back down onto my bed and snuggles herself back to sleep.

I continuously keep turning my head behind me to check if I'm being followed.

Is she chasing me?! No, I need to stop looking back! I need to find Vivian!

***

Finally! I'm safe. Vivian better be home.

I knock on the door hesitantly at first. Not hearing any movement, I knock again, then again, then again.

“Oh stop with the knocking!” a gruff voice shouted from inside the house as they stomped toward the door.

“Who are you to — Oh, it’s just you.”

I give a small nervous smile and slowly step back a few feet. “Hey sir, yeah, it’s just me. I-is Vivian around? I-I just wanted to talk to her about something.”

He looks at me, one eyebrow raised up suspiciously. “You’re here to LOOK for my DAUGHTER? HA! You’re nothing but a bad influence on her. She’s an innocent girl, she doesn’t need YOU to —”

“Dad!” Vivian shouts out as she runs down the stairs and pushes her father away. “Don’t say that about him! He’s my best friend!”

“Hmph, you’re probably his only friend. He better not cause any trouble like he usually does.” He clicks his tongue as he walks off back inside and slams the door shut.

Vivian turns back toward me, giving me a shy, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry Zero. I should’ve come down faster. I didn’t know you were coming by this early.”

I smile and give her a pat on the shoulder. “It’s okay, I wasn’t even sure I planned myself coming over this early too. Kira was in my bed and — ” I sigh and ruffle my hair.

“Kira? In your bed?” She tilts her head to the side confused.

“It’s a long story, don’t worry about it. Come, let’s go. I have some ideas for us.”

I reach out to take her hands, our fingers intertwining as I pull her toward me.

Vivian blushes but allows me to pull her along. “Ideas? Ideas for what Zero?”

I turn my head back to her and happily grin. “For the mission! We’re leaving tonight!”

***

The day went by fast, we ran all around town looking for supplies, food, tents and more. We spent so much gold — Well Vivian did. I just mostly stood back and let her pay for everything. I plan to pay her back though when I start making money from doing more missions!

But it also gives me time to think. Do I really want to do this? I know I do, but Vivian is going out of her way, paying for everything, making sure I’m prepared, with nothing in return but just the sole fact that she wants to do it.

“No.”

She’s doing all this for me. I made her do all this, I have to show her that she didn’t believe in a nobody, that all her hard work she’s done is finally paying off. I don’t care what happens. I just want to prove it to her.

Vivian turns to me and pokes me in the rib. “Did you say something Zero? I didn’t quite hear it.”

I’m an idiot, I spoke my thoughts out loud again. How does she always somehow hear it.

“No I didn’t say anything, I think you heard something else.”

She gives me a curious look before prancing forward away from me, whispering under her breath. “Liar.”

Hm? Did she say something too? Am I hearing things as well now?

“Hey Viv —”

“I’m gonna head home first and prepare some stuff, I’ll come by the inn later tonight, better be ready by then.”

Before I could give a response, she’s already gone. Just like that.

Did I do something wrong again? I don’t get girls. One moment she’s happy, the next she’s cold.

I sigh and walk back to the inn defeatedly.

As I arrive back at the inn, I’m greeted by a familiar sight. Kira and Mabel, sitting by the table, enjoying themselves in conversation before Kira stands up and walks over to me.

“Hey Heroboy, there you are. I’ve been wondering where you’ve been since you left me this morning all to my lonesome.” She pulls me into her and kisses my cheek. “It’s time for me to go.”

I freeze.

“Go? You’re leaving already? B-but there’s so much stuff left I want to do with you. I’ll even let you hold me tonight, just stay please. I don’t want — “

Mabel looks at me worriedly, unsure if she should comfort me but decides to stay sitting down by the table.

Kira softens her face before lowering herself to my level. “Zero… I really wish I could stay. I do. But I’m an adventurer, an explorer, you know me. It’s not like me to have to stay in one place for too long. People need my help, whether I want to or not. It’s what I signed up for.”

Tears start flowing down from my eyes as I hastily wipe them away. “I-I know b-but I don’t want to not see you again.”

“What do you mean by not see me again? I’ll come back silly.”

“No you won’t! Y-you said yesterday that you’d promise to take me and Vivian out on a monster hunt trip when you come back. B-but then I noticed you kept looking at me with that look that means you were saying goodbye. It's the same look you gave me when you left 6 years ago.”

She pulls me back into her and wraps her arms around me in a tight hug. “I won’t lie to you this time. I promise. Here, why don’t we do this.” 

She takes off one of her rings, rings she received from the guild for her exceptional work and slides it into one of my fingers.

“I’ll give you this ring. It’s really important to me, it's the first one I’ve ever received as an adventurer and it makes me who I am today.”

Slowly, she pulls out her dagger and cuts a lock of my hair, before tying it up with a small string of rope and places it around her neck. “I’ll take this, to show everyone that there’s someone waiting for me and to remind myself to never forget you, and when we meet again, whether it be tomorrow or in the future. We’ll return it to each other, as promises kept. Okay?”

I nod hesitantly. 

"Come, don't you wanna say goodbye to everyone before they leave? I'm sure they'll miss you too." 

Kira takes me by the hand as we both walk together to the guild hall, Mabel following close behind. Once we arrive, her party members all walk out and gather around me, each saying their farewells. Promising to eventually see me again and bring me more stories to share.

As the night went on, it started to get late and time was slowly ticking away. I hold onto Mabel’s hand as Kira and party members — No. Kira and her friends waved farewell to Mabel and I and walk off into the distance. Just as she was about to bypass the village gate, she turns back to me and shouts out.

“Zero! You better tell Vivian how you truly feel! She’s not as dense as you, but she won’t know how you feel until you tell her! If you don’t tell her, then you won’t have another chance if she moves on from you and finds another boy!” She bellows out a laugh and grins teasingly, before waving one final time and running off into the darkness.

Mabel chuckles softly and kneels down to help me wipe my tears as I start to cry. “She’s still the same old girl she’s always been. Don’t cry Zero. Even if she’s gone, we both know she won’t forget us. If she does, well, this old hag would have no choice but to give her a firm reminder!”

She lifts my face up toward her and smiles warmly. “You two may not be my children, but I love you both just as much as any mother would love her own.”

I wrap my arms around Mabel, quietly sobbing into her shoulders as she hoists me up and carries me back. 

Back to our home.