A Favor

After short time they were standing in reptile’s room. Having in mind what has happened just several minutes ago was making them embarrassed as they messed up completely. Now, they could get rid of it by following what has been set out. Plan was enough easy and transparent that even amoeba would understand it.

Everyone seemed to be ready, this time fully prepared.

„How’s everybody?” Hotaru asked. „Ready?”

All nodded to confirm their readiness. They could take their positions.

„Maya-san, Hachi, whenever you’re ready.” she turned to them.

They went to the spot where they could see the boss and waves of monsters appearing behind it. They gave the sign to Hato.

„Okay, I’ll be going.”

„Mhm. We will wait few seconds, to be certain.” Hotaru responded to man.

He nodded and headed straight to The Ugly.

„I should go straight to the back, right?” Hiro asked to confirm.

„Yes. There is no real point for you to care about lizard. Take the waves on you. If there will be any issues, just shout. Keeping your healing skills in case of emergency.”

„Alrighty, then off we go.”

Hiro, as it has been set, went to the back of reptile to wait and Hotaru rushed to her target. With Hato keeping boss on him, Hachi targeting weak points and upper body with his skills, girl tried her best to help take it down. She knew she wasn’t that great comparing to guys, but she believed that if there was something she could do for advantage of team, she would do it. In this case, helping damaging boss and overseeing realization of the plan. If everything was going as planned. If something unexpected would happen. Also, to have a look on teammates’ actions.

Even if she said to them to let know everybody if something would happen, she couldn’t trust them in that. Except Hato, who seemed to be most reasonable among them all.

Starting from Maya, who didn’t talk much, or even at all, going through Hachi, who didn’t do much more than her, but it was more likely that he would actually say something, and ending on Hiro. It seemed like he was the voice of whole group, whether he wanted or not, but he wasn’t good at thinking, as he did confirm himself. Plus, he made very stupid mistakes that costed an attempt. Nevertheless, Hotaru was concerned about him too with that.

Ugly’s HP was dropping percent by percent, slowly going to the 90%. It was one of the first bosses to encounter, so he wasn’t that sturdy. With everything going as intended, it should be down in maximum of few minutes.

Hotaru noticed the heatlh bar at exact 90%.

“90%!”

It was to inform about upcoming monsters, so Hiro and Hachi could be ready.

Lizardmen started to appear. Man gathered group from one side, then ones from another. When all were focused on him, he waited for Hachi to use his AoE spell. It was taking him definitely long.

“Hachi! For God’s sake!” Hiro shouted.

Hachi was about to use his Meteor. It required to focus on a area, where it should land. Soon after, it landed right into the reptiles, wiping them out and causing no scratch on Hiro.

Everyone felt relieved. It was a sign that they will be able to do it. They only need to follow the plan.

Overgrown lizard was about to make his move. The only attack it was able to do – swinging its tail. It was easy to predict direction of this attack as Ugly’s movement was slow, so as soon as they could, Hotaru and Hato dodged it. By going outside of its attack range.

Despite that simple thing, everything went as it should. Hotaru was still having look on situation, but, weirdly, they really did communicate with each other. It was that easy.

Couldn’t they do that earlier? They could, yet, some actions requires a “push” to happen. Girl didn’t want to impose on group, but sometimes, it’s better to speak up your mind.

As predicted, The Ugly drew its last breath after 3 minutes of skirmish. It dematerialized itself and a chest appeared in its place.

“It worked.” Hotaru said to herself.

“Uhhh, bastards gave me some hard time.” Hiro said while stretching his arm.

“Are you okay, Hiro-san?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” meanwhile Hachi and Maya joined. “We got it, damn cursed lizard.”

“Finally it’s down...” Hachi muttered.

“Good job everyone!” Hotaru turned to all smiling, then she got flustered.

‘Why am I acting like I’m leader?!’

They noticed her jumpiness. Hiro started laughing out of nowhere. Everyone was confused by that.

“Dang it, we could do that earlier. But yeah, good job.” Hiro then turned to Hotaru. “You’re smart, girl. We owe you. I think it’ll be fair if you’ll choose anything from this chest. Are you okay with that, guys?”

Hato said nothing as he wasn’t interested in loot anyway, besides, he just came along to check what he wanted to. Hachi shrugged and said.

“Sure. I think it’s fair.”

Maya wasn’t objecting either.

“You sure?” she wasn’t sure if it was alright; they all nodded that it was, so she felt more secured. “Thanks a lot, guys!”

“Hato-san, what about you?” Hiro asked.

“I’m fine. I don’t need anything from it, as I mentioned.”

“Ahh, right, right! Well, let’s check, if it was worth!”

After gaining the loot, group decided to head back to Nagato. Hotaru was still admiring her new longsword. It was much better than one that she had bought recently.

“Someone was lucky.” Hato stated.

“I would never expect that it would drop a weapon that I use.” she admitted.

“Well, good for you then.”

Both of them didn’t notice when they were talking to each other so casually. Hato liked her. Even if he didn’t know her that well, he liked her. Besides having the traits he was looking for, she was likeable, smart. She seemed to be really okay person. He had in mind that it could work advantageously for her, but, only time could tell that.

As soon as they got to main gate, group split up, but Hato wanted to talk to girl about something.

“Ayane-san, do you have a minute?”

“I do.”

“It’s about a thing I mentioned earlier. Can we head towards the Guild first?”

“Sure.”

She started to wonder what could he possibly wanted from her. She was a newbie, she didn’t have much anything, while he was way above her. Some weird things were coming to her mind, but she knew they were ridiculous, so she wasn’t thinking much about them.

“What, so far, do you think of this place?” he asked her out of nowhere.

“You mean Nagato or?”

“In general.”

“Uhhh... I haven’t been much outside of town, but, in general, I started to like it, the world I mean. I was negative at first, but slowly I’m changing my mind.”

“It’s a different experience, isn’t it?”

“It is.” she admitted. “It is nice.”

They got to the Guild, to the place where Hotaru was asking him about the skills.

‘Why are we here? He couldn’t talk with my about that meanwhile going?’ it was suspicious for her; the unsettledness was growing inside her.

“I’m sorry, it may look weird for you.” he started. “I just wanted to talk in private, if it’s alright for you.”

“It’s fine.”

“Right. I actually have a favor to ask you.”

‘A favor?’

“What favor?”

‘Today won’t be good... I’ll have to call everyone first, which may take some time. It’ll be better to ask her for tomorrow.’

“Are you busy tomorrow evening?”

“... I don’t think so.”

“Is it okay for you to meet up tomorrow at, 6 pm, in the same place?”

She was already too suspicious of him. It was a game, but, things were a bit different right now, so she had to be more cautious.

“May I ask you of the reason? I don’t want to be rude-”

He sighed. “I could tell you the exact reason, but I do believe that it’ll be better to not do that. You’ll know everything tomorrow anyway. And I can already promise that nothing will happen to you, if you’re concerned about that.”

‘I’m too easy to read, huh?’ Hotaru thought.

“I know how it sounds like and I’m not surprised of your reaction. I’d be more surprised if you’d actually not give any concern. Besides, you can always report me if actually something will happen.”

“That is not very reassuring, you know?”

“Sorry.” he laughed lightly.

After a few seconds of silence she responded. “Let’s say it’s ok.”

Thus, Hato could move forward with his objective to its final step.

“That’s great.” he then added. “May I ask you something as well?”

“What is it?”

“Is Ayane your real name?”

“Why would it be?”

“Some people are using their own names to name their character.”

“I’m not one of them.”

“I see...”

Something was telling her, that it was kind of suggestion to something.

“You know, I don’t think it’s alright to give you my real name.”

“You don’t have to.” so she was right with her suspicion. “It’s just my bias to call people by their own name, don’t mind it.”

Name is a name. She could even lie to him and he wouldn’t have know about that. She couldn’t deny that it was weird to hear someone calling her using a name she had chosen. It was different from hearing it from people on voice chat. Here, you were interacting with people as in real life. Some people could get used to it, Hotaru believed that she could as well, but...

She knew it wasn’t hers. She didn’t like her family name. Normally she would introduce herself by it, but, while she was online, nobody knew her, she could use her given name as well. People are calling themselves by their given names when they are close, especially man and woman, but, on the other hand, Ayane is a given name too.

Only one person, except her family, was calling her by her given name. As much as she didn’t like her family name, she didn’t mind her given one. Besides, they wouldn’t find her that easily knowing only her given name.

She did like Hato, he seemed to be nice person for her. So, she decided to actually do it.

“Bias?”

“It’s just my thing. I’d rather call people by their own name, but if they don’t want to, it’s fine.”

“Hotaru.” she said right after him.

It was so sudden that he didn’t catch that at first.

“Come again?”

“It’s Hotaru.” she turned her head to the right.

“Ah, so you changed your mind?”

She didn’t respond as an answer was obvious.

“It meant firefly, if I’m correct?”

“Yeah.”

‘Firefly - something that’s glowing in the darkness, lighting the way-’

“And yours?”

That was obvious that she would ask the same question as his. He laughed slightly under his nose.

“Hato.”

“Really?” she turned her head; she didn’t expect that.

“Yeah.”

“Ahh, that’s why...” she understood that it was another suggestion.

“Mhm.” he muttered. ‘She’s much smarter than she looks.’

In that case, he wanted to give her another clue.

“Hotaru-san, may I ask you about something else?”

“Don’t you interrogate me too much?”

“Maybe.” he responded. “It’s not something personal. Have you had a look on a world’s lore?”

“A lore? No, I haven’t.”

“Check it out, it’s interesting.”

“I won’t promise anything.”

She has heard something about the lore, but never really had any interest in it.

“Right, I’ll have to go now as I have things to do.”

“Sure, see you tomorrow then.”

“See you.”

He then headed to unknown direction. Hotaru stood there for a second to sort out what has happened.

‘That was weird.’

Course of the conversation was a bit odd, but she decided to not think much about it.

‘We will see what tomorrow will bring.’

From Author: I. Am. Sorry.

I screwed up completely the schedule and the only excuse I have is that I haven't been doing well lately (private problems). And I'll do my best to get back on track. 

(人´∀`)