Beginning Anew

Hikaru and I descend the stairs as we enter into the guild's main hall once more, we approach the guild counter in search of the guild girls. Reaching the counter, I notice that the dark-haired one is engaged with another adventurer, while the blonde appears unoccupied. Attracting her attention with a simple greeting, I offer her a friendly smile as we engage in conversation.

"Yo, Goldie, how are you?" She notices me and adjusts her large round spectacles before addressing me with an attitude that is less than pleased. 

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me that. My name is Aiada." She speaks in a matter-of-fact manner, which surprisingly adds to her professional appearance. "Is there something you'd like my assistance with?"

"Ah, yeah, sorry. I didn't know your name so I went with something simple. I'm assuming there was a job posting for dealing with the bandits; I'm here to collect the reward for it." 'I hope a decent pay was associated with this job. I'm going to need the gold.'

"Yes, well, I am anything but simple. So don't call me that again." Aiada sounds and appears genuinely offended. However, she maintains a professional manner as she retrieves a green-backed ledger from under the counter. Browsing through the pages, she finds the request and addresses me once more.

"Here it is, there was a reward posted with the job, Guild Master Grey has already authorised your payment for it. A note of its completion was left on our task list, so everything is ready, and we have been waiting for you to come pick it up."

"Wait, that guild guy was able to make a note of the bandit job's completion, yet he failed to complete the proper paperwork and provide care to the people that were held in the dungeon earlier?" My emotions get slightly out of hand, but I calm down once I finish speaking.

"My apologies, but I can't speak of the behaviors of the guild's other staff, especially those who work separate shifts." Turning her back to us, Aiada crouches down and opens a cabinet containing what appears to be several, separately coloured coin pouches. Picking up one of them, she rips off an attached tag and places the pouch on the counter in front of me. "Twenty-three gold and twelve silvers for the bandit job."

"Woah! That's a bit much. I was expecting around seven gold for a bandit job. Why so much?" Kiru's outburst from my shoulder makes me angle my head away as I recoil in pain from her shouting next to my ear. I pick up the coin pouch and, after a quick peek, poke a finger inside to shift and jostle the contents.

"Those bandits had Alameria besieged for weeks. It started out at over fifteen gold because of the beasts accompanying them. And it continued to rise in reward the longer it took for someone to take them down, more than a dozen adventurers took the job; none of them ever came back." Content with the pouches' contents, I slip it into the same pocket containing my main coin pouch.

Aiada's tone is solemn as she appears to reflect on the adventurers who likely died going after the bandits before my return. Deciding not to press the issue, I bid the blonde guild girl and her dark-haired partner farewell, and with Hikaru walking by my side, we leave the guild hall together.

Amidst the darkness of the night sky, the bright yet contained flames within the streets torches, the bustle of everyone going about their lives, Hikaru and I stand outside the guild hall. Stepping further onto the street, the weight of everything over the last day fading away, replaced by a wave of calm and freedom that washes over me.

'Despite all the revelations and potential dangers lying ahead of me, I feel great.' As I stretch my arms outward, Kiru gets low, grabbing hold of my coat as tight as she can while I raise my arms, proceeding to flex them behind my back and push against my back with my thumbs in an attempt to crack it. 

My attempt only has minor success as I feel only a few faint pops. I follow up with an attempt to crack my neck, tilting harshly one direction after the other, only to be disappointed by the lack of any cracks. Kiru repositions herself on my shoulder, performing the same ritual I did, but with greater success as I hear all manner of pops and cracks echo from her beside my ear, followed by a taunting grin from a teasing Kiru.

"Is everything okay?" Hikaru asks with a perplexed expression. 'With everything that's happened, she's been taking everything surprisingly well. Not to mention her level of patience.' Within seconds, I recollect everything I've said and done with Hikaru in the Other World, then it comes to me.

"Yeah, despite everything, I'm doing great." I start with a turn of my head. Then after finishing my sentence, follow with a turn of my whole body as I begin to approach Hikaru. "If anything, there's something I've been needing to do." I stop just a couple of steps from Hikaru and tilt my body into a deep bow. "Thank you!"

"Huh, what, I, for what?" Hikaru's confusion intensifies, leading her to look in all manner of directions before fixing her gaze on me with a blushed face. Rising up, I gaze into her beautiful blue eyes and give her a big smile.

"For being you. Honestly, I've been waiting for you to chew me out or pester me about for everything that's happened. You getting stuck here, the last few days, leaving you here, alone despite my promise to stay by your side and protect you. Any other person would have gone crazy or AWOL at this point, but here you are."

"Oh, ah. What else could I really do? I don't know anything about this place aside from what you've shared with me." Hikaru responds, pressing her fingers together as if flexing them. She focuses her gaze on them, occasionally gazing up at me as she speaks. 

"Despite all that's happened, even your leaving, I've felt safer than I have in a long time... The people here are interesting and nice. I can see that they respect and admire you." Hikaru continues talking for the longest I've heard her, which I listen to earnestly, happy to let her continue until the sun rises.

"You could have abandoned me at any point, but you've done your best to stay by me when anyone else would have left me alone. But you're so adamant and determined about keeping your promise, and I... I can't help but think... that you're really cool." Despite the words I'm hearing from Hikaru, her expression is completely relaxed with only a slight blush in her cheeks.

My face, however, feels completely flushed as Hikaru pours her heart out to me. I shift my gaze to Kiru to confirm if she shares the same opinion, only for her to shrug at me and hold her hand out in a little bit gesture, while sticking out her tongue teasingly. I can't help but fumble my words in response to Hikaru as I return my gaze to her, taking in a deep breath before giving her my response.

"You know, I never would have guessed that underneath that shy, quiet girl was someone truly amazing. Even though you've only spent about a day in this world, you haven't freaked out once. Hell, you've even gone so far as to get on Treia's good side and get a job in her tavern." I gauge Hikaru's reactions as I share my own observations of her behavior.

"When I first landed here, I was so lost and confused that it took me weeks just to adjust to life here. Those weeks of adjustment grew into months, even after Kiru and I found each other. It is a struggle trying to figure out this world on your own." After a shrug during my explanation, I angle my arms towards Hikaru to emphasize my indication that I am about to refer to her.

"But here you are. Even with a little help from me, you're not just facing, but making your way through this world, ready to take on whatever it will throw at you." Hikaru is surprised at the honesty of my words, though I'm not sure if she realises that I'm speaking honestly.

"But, that's only because..." Hikaru interjects at my implication, pausing for a moment to recover from the praise and compliments I've been showering her with. "If it wasn't for you being here, I wouldn't have known what to do with myself. I mean, when I first arrived here, I was almost eaten by that... big cat."

"True, but that was on Takashi. Since that moment, you've taken on everything else in stride. I don't know what kind of life you've had or lived, but take it from one who's existed for millennia, you are a brave young woman." Kiru catches both of us off-guard with her interjection. And yet, I can't help but cross my arms and nod in agreement with her.

"She's right, you know. I'll bet that... given enough time and opportunity, you could become someone of serious importance in this world." Hikaru is visibly stunned by my statement; her surprised expression says she never expected anyone to say something like that about her.

"Are, are you really sure about that?" Hikaru asks us with a pleading gaze, appearing unsure of her own worth as she gazes down at her feet. I instinctively reach out and take her hand, determined to reassure her and get my point across.

"Hikaru, before you showed up at Muzukashii, I was so disconnected from Earth that I was willing to spend the rest of my life here in Other World. Then I saw you, and my perceptions changed, even before Vestra's spell." 'Vestra's spell. Is that what's attributing to Hikaru's adaptation to this world? Or perhaps my experience? No, even Kiru has noticed something about Hikaru.'

"There is something special about you Hikaru. I don't know, nor could I tell you what it is..." I let Hikaru's hand go and reposition mine with my palm facing upward for her to take. "But if you're willing to come with me, we can figure it out together." 

Hikaru's gaze shifts between my offered hand, and my face as she hesitates on what to say and do. After reaching out and retracting her hand a couple times in hesitation, Hikaru nods with determination and slowly reaches out to place her hand on mine.

*GROWL*

And with a single noise protruding from my stomach, the mood between us is ruined once again. 'DAMN IT, come on!' I stand there with a stunned expression on my face, frozen, my hand still outstretched, completely unsure of what to do next as Hikaru gazes at me with an equally stunned expression.

"Ehe, hehe, ahahaha!" Hikaru builds up to a hysterical laugh as I remain frozen in place. She leans in slightly, clutching her stomach as she laughs the hardest I've heard from her. Even the numerous passersby smile and make comments around us as they continue on their way.

"Okay, can we maybe forget that?" I speak in a weak and embarrassed tone while Hikaru continues laughing. Feeling uncomfortable about what just happened, I can't help but think, 'Hasn't this happened before?'

"Hahaha, I'm sorry, but... It's just like it was in my room." 'Ah, that's what I'm remembering.' "Only this time, it's your stomach ruining the moment. Hehehe, it's like we've swapped roles this time round." Hikaru calms down from her laughter enough for us to be able to converse again. 

However, my stomach urges me to find food to satisfy it soon with another softer growl. 'Alright, moment of truth. Hikaru's the one in charge, so...'

"Yep, that one was my fault. So, how about we settle one last thing, then grab some food before leaving Alameria." Hikaru agrees with me on finding food and gives me a go-ahead gesture to ask my question. "So, what shall our next move be? Find the nearest gate and get back to Muzukashii? Or would you like to come with me on a journey and learn more about this world?"

Hikaru appears to think on her options based on the choices I've offered her, closing her eyes, shifting her gaze from me to Kiru, her surroundings, and back to me in a continuous rotation. Eventually, her gaze fixates on me, and with a resolute expression, she gives me her answer.

"So, what was your plan again?"