PHASE 34 - I HATE THOSE INSENSITIVE FOURTH-WALL-BREAKING JOKES

After the funeral, Rikkun and I went to the hospital where Heushac is confined. The other members of the Aether Crusade are busy looking for clues that would lead to Helena’s purpose and whereabouts. We are going to work with them later after we talked to our physically and mentally wounded friend.

When we opened the door to his hospital room, Heushac is already sitting on his bed, acting tough as if he hadn’t sustained any damage. He’s even trying to remove all the dextrose tubes attached on his veins, but his fingers are too weak to pull it out.

“Ouch!” Heushac cried as he made his third attempt to severe the apparatus from his arm.

“What the heck are you doing? You’re supposed to be resting for three days until your internal organs have fully healed.” Rikkun scolded.

“I have to find my sister… She still has to pay for what she has done to Kristoff…”

“Stay down. We don’t have enough firepower to do that. I seriously think that I can’t win even though I have the power of a God Core and the .” Rikkun said. “None of us can defeat her.”

“I can defeat her.” Heushac gritted. “I have fought strong foes. Diadem Solstice. Goddess Hel. Void Wolf. Aeternos. I even survived that battle royale on my own. I haven’t been defeated in my life. My big sis still has to fight me.”

“Duh, you fought her last time, and you lost,” Rikkun said with a bored glare.

“Well, she still has to fight me twice.”

Rikkun scratched his head with a troubled look. He must have been annoyed due to his best friend’s stubbornness. I just made a comforting smile at him.

“So…” Heushac continued to talk as he held his aching left lung. “What do you think? Why is Helena like that?”

“Why are you asking me? You’re his baby brother. You should ask yourself.” Rikkun said.

“Her right eye stayed the same. But her left eye is like something I always see when she’s determined to do something.” Heushac said as he bowed.

“U-Ummm… Rikkun... “ It’s my turn to join the conversation. “Aren’t those eyes are the same with mine when you saved me from Shirayuki?”

Rikkun nodded. “That’s right. If only one eye has the sigil of the triangle, then it means that Helena is still in the process of being cursed. We might be able to bring her back easily if she remembers something… or someone she loves.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Heushac cheered. “So all I gotta do is to defeat her to remind her of me! I told you I need to fight her asap!”

“He never learns.” Rikkun slowly shook his head. “Tiara, hold him. I’m going to inject a sedative.”

<>

It was already nightfall when we finally went back to Dradecim. Rikkun is here to escort me back to my condo unit. Walking side by side in the sidewalk, our atmosphere is awkward. Actually, we’re both hungry from working and investigating Helena’s whereabouts. So we decided to take out the biggest burger in the nearest fast food chain.

We continued to walk after that in the streetlights-filled street. There’s not a car passing nearby, and it’s eerily quiet. Maybe it’s just natural because we’re still mourning over our friend’s death.

Suddenly, Rikkun broke the silence.

“Tiara…”

“W-What is it, Rikkun?”

“I don’t like what you said earlier at the funeral.”

“I-I’m sorry, come again?”

“You said that you’re going to bring Kristoff back. You’re thinking about singing the , are you?”

“Y-Yes…” I nervously laughed. “I think I still have to do it, even if we failed to collect twelve God Cores.”

Rikkun aggressively grabbed my shoulders, but his hands are gentle enough for me to not get hurt. “Don’t you dare think like that!” He shouted, waking my heart up. Now it’s throbbing nonstop!

“...Rikkun!?”

“We will get twelve God Cores, I promise you! You will never disappear! I’ll make it happen! So please, don’t think like that!”

“But I-”

“The worst thing about death is not what it does to you, but what it does to everybody else that loves you. Those who died only suffered an instant pain, but for those who were left behind, it will be everlasting. I died seven million times just to witness that it has completely broken you. You’ve also seen how Naomi cried at the funeral. You know that when Amy… when your Necchan disappeared, she left us all empty. So stop taking your life lightly!”

My heart skipped a beat. Rikkun truly cares for me, with all his life and soul. I couldn’t do anything but to be surprised.

“Tiara… promise me, don’t cast the if we lack a God Core… I’m begging you…” Rikkun’s passionate emerald eyes twinkled as it locked unto mine.

Tears fell down from my eyes.

“...Y-Yes. I promise.” I said with a smile after I wiped my tears. “I will only sing the after we collected twelve God Cores.”

Rikkun lent out his pinky finger. “Pinky swear?”

“Mmm!” I happily nodded. “Pinky swear!”

After we shook fingers and hands, we continued to walk down the road jollily, now with a slightly happier atmosphere than a few minutes ago.

But Rikkun immediately ruined my mood.

“Sigh. I thought you’re going to exchange your life with the life of that playboy. There’s no need for the main character to sacrifice herself for a jerk-ass side character. Kristoff’s revival can wait.”

“Stop doing that insensitive breaking-the-fourth-wall jokes, Rikkun.”

“I… I’m sorry...” Rikkun forced a smile.

<>

When we reached my condo unit, I immediately opened our delicious dinner. Key is out-of-house and in charge of watching over Heushac in the hospital so she won’t be coming here this evening. I guess it’s just me and Rikkun now.

With this delicious double quarter-pounder patty burger in front of me, I consider this night date with Rikkun.

Should I confess? I think now is not the time. We still have a lot of problems to think about. The Twelve God Cores, and Cursed Helena’s whereabouts and purpose for stealing the God Cores.

Rikkun is preoccupied on looking at the calendar, so I realized that it is really not the best time and place to confess. It’s because I saw a target date to declare war.

“Today is February 12, right?” Rikkun said, with cold sweat running down on his neck. I can see that he’s forcing himself to smile.

“Yep.”

“Now this is a troublesome part of the year. I just wish that a typhoon will come after two days.”

“Hmmm?” I tilted my head like a curious pup.

Today is February 12. Plus two days… Is February 14.

I didn’t know Rikkun hates Valentines so much.