Stories in the Quiet Part 3
Ten minutes later… Ruko slowly opened his eyes, staring up at the ceiling—or rather, the sky. "…Yeah… that punch was personal." He groaned, still lying half-embedded where he had crashed earlier. His body ached, especially his back and jaw. Aqua's punch had sent him flying like a ragdoll, and for a moment he genuinely thought his soul had left his body. "…Strong punch for a woman…" He pushed himself up slightly, wincing, then paused. "…Nah. I'm going back to sleep." With zero shame, Ruko turned and started dragging himself toward his usual corner spot upstairs—the quiet place where he could just exist without dealing with chaos. But then—THUD! SWING—WHOOSH! "…?" Ruko stopped. Another loud sound echoed from outside. CLANG! "…Nope. Not my problem." He kept walking. THUD! CLANG! WHOOSH! A vein popped slightly on his forehead. "…Alright, that's getting annoying." Ruko turned sharply and walked outside, irritation building with every step. "Who the hell is making all that noise—"
He stopped. Darkness stood in the yard, sword raised high… in front of a wooden training dummy. She swung. MISS. The blade cut through air, nowhere near the target. Ruko blinked. "…What... the actual... fu—" She swung again. MISS. Silence. Ruko stood there with a completely blank expression, staring at her like he had just witnessed something illegal. "…This is… impressive in the worst way." Darkness didn't even notice him. She raised her sword again, focused, determined. MISS. Ruko sighed. "Oi." She froze, turning slightly. "Oh—Ruko? You've been there this whole time?" "…Yeah. And I just watching a tragedy." She smiled calmly. "If you're referring to my lack of accuracy… I assure you, I'm used to it." Ruko stared at her. "…Hmph, you said that like it's something to be proud of." Darkness straightened, placing her sword against her shoulder. "To endure failure… is part of my path." "…You just missed a stationary object." "…That too."
Ruko rubbed his face. "…Alright. New question. Why are you even an adventurer?" She opened her mouth— "Wait," Ruko interrupted, raising a hand. "Actually, don't answer yet." He stepped forward, cracking his knuckles slightly. "You're gonna show me instead." Darkness tilted her head. "…Show you?" "Yeah," Ruko said lazily. "Attack me." She blinked. "…That seems unnecessary." "If you don't," he added casually, "I'm gonna keep insulting you until you do. Or worse" She gulped in embarrassment "…That doesn't sound threatening." "Divorceness." "…!" She stiffened. "…Do not call me that." Ruko smirked slightly. "Then swing." Silence. Then—Darkness charged. Her sword came down with force—WHOOSH. Ruko didn't move. It missed him by a wide margin. "…Wow." Ruko clap. He stepped forward and punch her side lightly. She feel the pain slightly a little pleasant till Ruko tickle her side. She flinched and start laughing. Ruko kept tickling her to talk but she won't communicate. Then— "Slap!" He slap her breast and till she— "Ah!" Ruko stand up and give distance. "Again." She get back to her composure. She attacked. MISS. Ruko sidestepped, completely relaxed. "Again."
She attacked again—faster this time.
MISS. "…Are you aiming for me or the air behind me?" Ruko muttered. Darkness clenched her teeth. "I am serious!" "I can see that," Ruko replied. "That's the problem." She rushed again. This time, her blade came closer—just barely grazing his sleeve. Ruko's eyes flickered slightly. "…Oh?" He stepped back. "…That was almost decent." Darkness paused, breathing slightly heavier. Ruko came to her kick her right leg. Appeared from behind and— "Spank!" "Hmm!" He stepped back to look at her by crossed his arms. "Alright. Talk while you swing." "…Talk?" "Yeah. Why are you doing this? Why are you here for?" She hesitated. Then attacked again. "Because… I chose this path." MISS. Ruko tapped her shoulder. Start to slap her breast left and right by making them bounce. "Ahh! Ruko you riled beast give me more." "Vague." Ruko narrowed his eyes. "Why did you even become an adventurer?" Darkness flushed slightly but didn't look away. "Because… I enjoy it. The pain, the danger… being treated harshly by monsters or villains… it makes me feel alive. That kind of shame… that's the adventure I seek."
"Try again." She get back her senses and swung again. "I wanted to protect people—" MISS. "Then hit something first, or none at all" Ruko cut in. She frowned, swinging harder. "My role is to endure—to stand as a shield—" MISS. Ruko sighed. "So you're a punching bag." Ruko tilted his head. "So all of this… you just ran away from your noble life?" Darkness let out a breath. "Of course I did. That life is suffocating—rules, expectations, no freedom. Out here, I can fight, take hits, protect others… even if I'm just acting as Kazuma's shield. At least it's real." Ruko stepped closer, voice sharper. "So you throw yourself out there just for that guy?" Darkness hesitated, then nodded firmly. "Yes… I love Kazuma. He saved me. If throwing myself into danger keeps me by his side, then I'll do it. Even if it's reckless… I won't stop." She lunged again—faster. This time, her blade came dangerously close. Ruko leaned back just in time. "…Okay. That one would've scratched me." Darkness blinked. "…Really?" "…Yeah."
Ruko narrowed his eyes slightly. "…Strange." She attacked again. "I fight because I believe in my duty!" MISS. Ruko swept her leg lightly. She dropped to one knee. "…Then why can't you land a single hit?" Silence. Darkness gripped her sword. "…Because… I am not meant to strike." Ruko raised an eyebrow. "…Explain." She looked down slightly. "My strength lies in defense… not offense." "…That's just a nice way of saying you can't aim." "…It is not that simple." Ruko studied her for a moment. "…No. It's exactly that simple." She stood again, frustrated now. "I am serious!" "Then prove it." She charged again—faster than before. Ruko dodged, but—A faint scratch appeared on his sleeve again. He paused. "…Twice now." Darkness stopped too. "…I almost hit you." "…Yeah? You almost did." Ruko crossed his arms, watching her carefully. "Yet you act all kind around kids… helping at the orphanage and all that." Darkness blinked. "That's different." Ruko smirked slightly. "Is it? Or is that the real you… and all this other stuff is just something weird going on in your head?" She turned red instantly. "D-Don't say it like that!"
Ruko looked at her carefully now. "…So you can get close." He smirked slightly. "…You just don't." She froze. "…What?" "You're holding back," Ruko said simply. "…I am not." "You are." She tightened her grip. "I would never—" "You're scared of hitting someone," Ruko cut in. Silence. Darkness didn't respond. Ruko sighed. "…You're strong. Your stats are probably insane." He tapped her shoulder again. Then slide kick her knees till she drop at the ground. She groaned and saw ruko at top of her since she about to say something— "Spank" "Ahh~hmm~" A little moan slip from her lips has he look at her with a face of someone being serious. "But you don't commit." She looked away. "…I…" Ruko looked at her, a bit annoyed. "Then why are you still staying here? At this rate, we're all gonna end up broke in the future." Darkness paused, then answered honestly. "Kazuma always complains about our money problems… and he's right. We barely make anything. Most of it goes to fixing damage—usually from Megumin's explosions… and the quests we take don't even pay well. Sometimes we even have to live in a haunted mansion… or sleep in stables…"
Ruko stayed quiet for a second, then slowly lowered his fist. "...Yeah, I get it." Darkness closed her eyes, bracing herself—Flick. "Ah—!" Ruko flicked her forehead instead. "That's enough," he said calmly. "You did alright. You're just getting way too carried away with your… weird tendencies." Darkness held her forehead, slightly embarrassed. Ruko turned around, starting to walk away. "Training's over." She looked up. "…What do you mean?" "You chose your role," he said lazily. "Shield, tank, whatever." He glanced back. "But don't expect results you're not willing to go for." Silence hung in the air. Darkness clenched her sword. "…Then tell me—what should I do?" Ruko shrugged. "Swing like you actually want to hit something." Ruko started walking till he ear something fast. Then—BOOM. Without warning, Darkness' fist slammed straight into his back. "—!" A loud crack echoed as Ruko's body bent unnaturally before he was launched straight out of the yard, flying across the air.
"I-I'M SORRY—!" Darkness shouted, panicking. "I didn't mean to hit that hard—!" She took a step forward, about to go after him—Then— "HEY STOP PULLING MY HAIR!" "YOU STARTED IT, AQUA!" Darkness froze. "…Those two again…" She hesitated, then looked between the direction Ruko flew and the noise inside. "…He'll be fine." And just like that, she ran back inside to stop the chaos. Outside the yard. Ruko lay twisted on the ground, his body bent in a way that definitely wasn't normal. "…Yeah… I'm dead…" He coughed, then slowly raised his hand. Using earth magic, the ground beneath him lifted slightly, adjusting under his body. "Move… properly…" The earth shifted, pushing against his legs and spine.
Crack… crack… "…AGH—!" Pain shot through his entire body as he forced his spine back into place. He dropped flat again, breathing heavily. "…These girls… are actually trying to kill me…" Ruko stared at the sky, feeling the leftover adrenaline fade. "…And this is when I'm just joking… or maybe not…" A small pause. "…At this rate… I'm seriously gonna die one day…" His eyes slowly closed. And just like that—He passed out cold.