Another one, huh? I thought as I watch the night sky on the backyard of the house. The night sky’s radiant was bright and clear which I was entirely opposite of.

It was the night before Terrin leave Roq. After going on a shopping with Terrin and Merry, they slept early for their early departure tomorrow. And just like them, Fuyuki was in her bed, probably sleeping. I hadn’t seen Takana today.

I was thinking about the two leaving. Now three of them with Risa. If someone asked me what I thought of her, I would probably say that she was a good kid, although a bit cold sometimes.

As I was looking at the stars, I heard footsteps from the house. Everything was dim and I could only see a little bit because of the lighted lamp that was beside me.

“I thought you were Fuyuki.”

“…O-Oh, it’s just you, Takana…”

“Hey,” he waved his hand. “What are you doing here?”

“N-Nothing…How about you?”

“I was in the tavern,” he stretched his feet and arms. It kind of made me anxious. “Can you believe they treat me as a regular customer after giving us a special pass before?”

“I-I can’t believe it…” I wanted it to sound enthusiastic but I didn’t really know what happened.

I’m really bad with people.

After what I did, Takana stopped talking. He, instead, sat down maybe two meters away from me.

“So, how’s the move?”

“They’re leaving first thing tomorrow…”

“What!?” he shouted, which made me flinched. “Sorry. They’re fast. Did they already find a wagon and a driver?”

“Y-Yes, they did…”

“Supplies?”

“Already have…I was helping them but I don’t think I was much of a help…”

“You were.” He said firmly. “If Terrin said something bad to you, tell me and I’ll punch him straight in the face.”

“I-I don’t think that’s necessary…”

“I will do it, you know? Probably.”

I snickered. After what he said, it got quiet. I really wasn’t good on bringing topics up.

I hate this part of me.

“How do you feel about them leaving?”

“H-Huh?”

“If you were to ask me, I would say they’re selfish. Just saying they want to leave and thinking we’re coming along like some kind of baggage.”

“T-They did ask us…”

“Yeah, but have you seen his face when we turned him down? It was disappointment. He wanted us to come.”

“P-Probably…”

It got quiet, again. I hadn’t talk to Takana alone before and it was making me nervous.

“That being said, I don’t really care. Also, you didn’t answer my question earlier.”

“Oh… uhm, I feel…sad that they’re leaving. I-I really had a great time with them. If I was being honest, I wanted them to stay or for us to come with them…but I know I can’t have both of them…”

Helping them every day to get their things done was painful. Seeing them picked out the things they need for the trip made me unhappy. It was as if the every item they buy, it was the support for the bridge of our relationships.

“Sure, you can.” Takana said. He stood up and before he left, he said, “I’ll take care of the rest, Kihana. Go and sleep.”

…What did he mean by that?

As the cold and insensitive wind brushed in my face, I felt something dripping down on my cheeks.

I really hate this part of me.

*

That woman is really a pain in the ass.

I was going to talk to Fuyuki early this morning but guess what? She wasn’t there. I asked Kihana but she didn’t know either. She said that she went out.

Not what I expected but there’s only one place that woman will go today.

Terrin leaving didn’t really affect me in any way. Okay, I would be lying if I said in any way but more like, it didn’t affect me much. The person had to go and do something about his cousin. That I understood. Maybe.

That was why I was the only one who could do this.

I was in that same place on the south part of the town. The flowery field was alright but I wasn’t a flower-type kind of guy, so I didn’t really see why people liked them. In one of the tombstones that were in the field, there was a blonde woman who sat beside a certain tombstone. It was my friend, Hashi.

“Hey, what are you doing here? We’re going.” I said.

“T-Takana!? You surprised me!”

“Did you really have to shout, you idiot!? There are other people here! You’re disturbing them!”

“You’re shouting, too, you know.”

“That doesn’t count. I was scolding you.”

“Oh? I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Do you really think of me that low, huh?”

“Of course. You’re the Takana, after all.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

“Moron.”

She doesn’t seem to be that depress. There’s something really wrong with this woman.

I came here to tell her that we were going with Terrin. Why did I change my mind? No reason. I just didn’t want to come in the first place and I could do that, right? Now, I’m changing my mind. Yup, yup, it was definitely not because of someone else. Definitely not.

“Well, I still can’t come with you. Take Kihana with you. I think she’s only here because we’re here.”

“You stubborn airhead woman. What are these stupid things you’re doing? Nobody likes it especially me. It’s so dumb, it makes my head boil. Also, he’s dead. He’s never coming back.”

“I know what you’re trying to say. But this is my decision, Takana. Also, you’re rude.”

“Have you ever considered what Hashi would feel? You know him longer than I do but I understand him more than you.”

“Of course, I do. But if I leave him, he’ll be lonely, you know? Nobody wants to be lonely. And for the record, I know him better than a monkey does.”

What do I do? She’s not budging. Should I just carry her and ran away from here? No, Kihana would probably kill me. Hmm…wait that’s…

On Fuyuki’s hand, there was the badge that we gave to Hashi.

“Is that his badge?”

“Yup. I always bring it with me.”

“That’s it!” I had a brilliant idea. Considering Fuyuki was crazy, this would make sense to her. “Can I borrow that, Fuyuki?”

“I don’t like what you’re face is showing. No.”

“Just give it to me!” she reluctantly gave it to me.

I went beside the tombstone, put my arm on top of it like having my arm on one’s shoulder and said “Hey, Hashi. Would you mind transferring to this badge? Fuyuki wouldn’t listen to me even when I told her that you wanted her to go. You would do it!? Thanks pal!”

“Did you really think that would work, you monkey?” she said. She was clearly annoyed.

I failed!? Man, what should I do? They’re about to leave! Okay, I’ll just carry her. I’ll face the consequences later.

As I was about to prepare myself to kidnap, I mean, gently carry this airhead of a woman, she said “…But I wouldn’t mind him transferring there…”

What? It’s working!? Okay, time to do the best acting in history!

“You heard that, Hashi? Let’s do this!” I pressed the badge against the tombstone. “Roka rula sakimotto guwakasindo sabua!” I didn’t know what the hell I was saying but I gotta say that I was pretty good at it. Maybe I should audition as an actor.

“…Is it okay now?”

“Yeah, I think it is. I can feel him being in there.” I gave it back to her. “Well, we should hurry now. They’re about to leave.”

She stood in front of the tombstone. I knew she didn’t buy my act, so maybe she was her farewell.

Well, it’s not like she would not see him again. I don’t want to do this but I guess I have to.

After she prayed, she said “Let’s go. I don’t want Kihana to be lonely anymore.”

“Yeah, we better not keep her waiting.”

We ran through the flowery field and as we ran through it, I said “Listen. It may not be much, but I’ll return with you here when you want to. That’s my promise to you.”

“What? That’s creepy, you know, you starting something like that. What did you eat, huh!?

“If you don’t want it, just say so! Here I am putting effort to cheer you up…”

“But I do want it.” she said, it kind of made me happy. “Let’s visit here again when we finish whatever we have to finish.”

“Yeah, we will.”

*

When we got back to the house, Terrin and the others weren’t there. When we checked their room, we saw that all of their stuff was moved out.

“Hey, we got to move now!”

“Wait, I have to get my stuff! And Kihana’s, too.”

“Oh yeah, mine too! Why didn’t I think of this earlier! Meet in front of the gate after five minutes!”

After five minutes of getting clothes, weapons, gears and books, we made it back to the gate. Takana had a lot of stuff. He brought his armors and colossal claymore.

I was thinking he could bring my stuff for me.

“Wait, I don’t know where were going!” Takana said. That was to be expected, he was a monkey, after all.

“Leave it to me!” I sniffed loudly. “I can smell Merry! They’re at west!”

“How did you know!? Can you really smell Merry!?”

“No. Kihana told me this morning.”

“Then why did you have to sniff!?”

“It’s more fun that way, right?”

He looked like he was fed up at me. “Anyway, let’s just go!”

We ran through the town. We passed building that we had been looking as we go hunting. I saw people who I’d never talked to, smelled the amazing aroma of foods, the loud shouts and grunts of people working in their hardest and the rough textile that we were walking to.

It was the town of Roq and as the both of us ran through it, we made a promise to each other that we would return. We would return and visit Hashi.

Don’t break your promise Takana or else, I’ll curse you by making you look at black cats ten thousand times!

Of course, I knew what Takana did was all an act. But this way, I would believe Hashi would be us if I just kept his badge with me. People in my world believed that the dead didn't go away but instead, were with us, we just couldn't see them. Also, I didn't want to be alone and I wanted more memories with them especially Kihana and Merry.

We made it to the west part of the town. Many wagons entered the small gate and since we didn’t know which one they were in, we had to go look at every wagon.

“Wouldn’t it be faster if we just look for Kihana?” I said.

“That’s what I was doing!”

“Oh, I think I saw her over there! She’s near the gate.” It was quite far but I was able to see it.

“Wow. You can see that far?”

“Yeah, I’ve lived with cats, you know.”

“Do cats have ultra vision or something?”

“Yes! And they could also shoot fire in their mouths!”

“Oh, that’s amazing! Not! What did you think I was, a stupid kid?”

“No, you’re a monkey. Don’t compare yourself to kids. It makes me sick.”

“You know I just help you get something over and this is how you repay me!? “

I laughed. “More running, less talking. At this rate, you’re the one who has to stay here!”

We could see Kihana and we called her out.

“W-What are you doing here? I mean, it’s great you’re here but why do you have your belongings and mine?” it seemed she piece it together as we breathe. It was exhausting to run since we hadn’t monsters for about a week now. “Wait, there’s no time. They already left.”

“No! I’ll run to them! I want to see Merry again! And Terrin, too! Also that little girl!”

“Okay. They went this way. They weren’t fast, so you could probably catch up to them. And look for a red Norji!”

“All right, gotcha!”

I ran. I ran with all I had. I wasn’t going to waste the efforts and tears of my friends.

Where are they?

I was getting tired. I ran for some time now but still wasn’t able to find them.

As I was running and looking everywhere, I accidentally tripped. I painfully fall flat in a huge bush. And on the other side of the huge bush, there was a red Norji. I didn’t know what it was doing but it probably was taking a leak or something. Hopefully, I didn’t step or land on anything it removed in its body.

“Hey, who’s there!?” a man shouted.

“I’m sorry! But I’m looking for a boy and a girl about this height who has brown and blue hair.”

“Hey, what’s the commotion all about?”

“Terrin!” I leapt at him. I was so happy to see him that I just leapt at him. Meh, he wouldn’t mind it, anyway. That was just how he was.

“Fuyuuuuuuki!” although at first he sounded happy, he was surprised since I gave him a huuuugeeee hug.

“Where’s Merry!?”

“She’s over there and you’re drooling, Fuyuki.

I didn’t care. All I wanted was to hug Merry and rub my skin to her skin.

“Meeeeerrrrryyyyy!!”

Merry was surprised. Hehe, that was how I liked my cat.

“I miss youuuuu!” I rubbed my face to her cheeks.

“I miss you, too, Fuyuki. I knew you wouldn’t leave us.” she smiled.

That smile…I can watch that for hours!

“Oh right! You have to turn around! The others are waiting for us!”

“I already told our driver to. It’s great to have you here, Fuyuki.”

“Yup! I’m home!”

“Welcome home, Fuyuki.” Merry said.

When we made it back to the town, I was so happy to see all of us going on an adventure.

"Just so you know, I didn't want to go. The girls forced me." Takana said.

"Don't be shy, Takana. Take all the credit. You were the one who convinced me to come with them, after all."

"Fuyuki, you traitor!"

I wish happy moments like this would just keep on continuing.

Let's go on an adventure, again, Hashi.