Blocked Path
Ruko and the party regrouped after searching for Aqua, the tension in the air thick and uneasy. Kazuma crossed his arms, thinking. "If Aqua went anywhere… she'd probably go to that new priestess—Serena." Ruko's eyes narrowed immediately. "Wait—" But Kazuma already started walking. "I'll check there first." "…Oi." Ruko tried again, but Kazuma ignored him completely and went ahead on his own. "Idiot..." The remaining three stood there. Darkness sighed, arms folded under her chest. "He didn't listen to you at all." Megumin nodded. "He rarely does when he thinks he's right." Ruko clicked his tongue. "…Tch." Kazuma disappearing like that didn't sit well with him. A few minutes later—They reached the location where Serena was supposed to be. But—No one. No crowd. No priestess. Kazuma scratched his head. "…She's not here?" Ruko stared at him. Silence. Heavy silence. Darkness spoke first. "…You didn't listen to Ruko at all." That hit. Kazuma froze awkwardly. "…Ah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "…Right."
Ruko didn't say anything. He just turned away slightly. Kazuma cleared his throat. "…Then second option." He pointed. "The mansion." Ruko didn't wait. He moved first. By the time the others caught up—Ruko had already entered the mansion. The place was quiet. Too quiet. He walked through the rooms one by one. Living room. Kitchen. Hallways. Nothing. "…Aqua?" No response. Then—Something caught his eye. A letter. Placed on the table. Ruko froze. His hand slowly reached out. Picked it up. BOOM. Lightning flashed outside the window. His eyes widened. "…No way…" Footsteps rushed in. Kazuma and the girls entered—Only to see Ruko standing there. Frozen. Face filled with something they hadn't seen in a long time. Fear. "Ruko?" Kazuma called. "What is it?" Ruko didn't answer. He just handed him the letter. Another flash of lightning lit the room. Kazuma read it. His expression changed instantly. "…You've got to be kidding me—!" "Read it!" Megumin shouted. Kazuma took a breath and read aloud. "Aqua has left town… to defeat the Devil King alone… and return to heaven." Silence.
"…That idiot…" Megumin muttered. "…She's going to get herself killed," Darkness added. Ruko stood still. Not moving. Not reacting. Kazuma looked at him. "…Oi." No response. "Ruko." Still nothing. "…Snap out of it." THUD. Ruko's fist slammed straight into Kazuma's face. "…Huh?!" Kazuma stumbled back, shocked. And then—Ruko let out a small scream. High-pitched. "…—?!" The girls blinked. "…Did he just—?" Megumin whispered. "…He has a girly side?" Darkness added, surprised. Kazuma held his face. "…What the hell was that for?!" Ruko rubbed his head. "…Sorry… I was spacing out." He paused. "…Almost had a bad flashback." Kazuma frowned. "…What kind of flashback—" "…Sylvia." Kazuma froze. "…Don't." Ruko nodded slowly. "…Yeah." Without another word—Kazuma grabbed him. They both crouched slightly. And hugged. "…That was close…" Kazuma muttered. "…Too close…" Ruko replied. Both of them shivered. Megumin stared. "…Useless." Darkness nodded. "…Completely useless." "WE ARE NOT USELESS!" both of them shouted at the same time.
Megumin snapped. "Get off your high ass horse and act serious!" Silence. Ruko blinked. "…You just said 'ass'." Megumin froze. "…What?" Ruko gave her a thumbs-up. "…I'm proud of your growth." SMACK. Kazuma hit Ruko's head. "That's enough." Kazuma's expression turned serious. "…We're going after Aqua." Ruko stepped forward. "Alright I'm coming too." "…No." Ruko paused. "…What?" Kazuma shook his head. "You can't." Ruko paused for a moment of hearing it right. "…Say that again." Kazuma looked away slightly. "…Your reputation is already bad." "If you go… it'll get worse." "Like… death sentence worse." Silence. Ruko grabbed Kazuma's shirt. "…What does that have to do with me?" His voice was low. "I've been doing what's right and wrong ever since I got here." "And somehow I'm always the one in the wrong." "…Or both." Kazuma looked at him. He understood. But— "…That's not how this world works." Ruko's grip tightened. "You can't just do whatever you want, die, and come back like it's nothing." That hit. Ruko's eyes sharpened. "…You do." Kazuma froze.
"…What?" "You die all the time." "And Aqua brings you back everytime as it counts." "…You don't even know what happens after that." Silence.
The air turned heavy. "Say that again—" "Make me." They stepped closer. Forehead to forehead. Tension rising. "Enough." Darkness stepped between them. Her voice firm. "…Kazuma is right." Ruko looked at her. "…You too?" Megumin crossed her arms. "…This is our responsibility." Ruko stepped back slowly. "…So it's fine?" "You just… decide that?" They didn't answer. "…It's my responsibility too." Silence. "…We don't want you to die," Darkness said quietly. That made it worse. Ruko clenched his teeth. "…Tch." "Do whatever you want... since I don't care a slightest." He turned. Walked away. "Ruko—" Megumin called. "Leave him be," Kazuma said. "…He needs to cool off." They turned to leave. To search for Aqua. Meanwhile—Ruko walked upstairs. Step by step. Then—He stopped. Turned. Opened the window. Jumped. Backflip. Landing clean. Then—He ran. Fast. Cleared a high jump over the mansion wall. Didn't look back.
"…Why would she run off like that…" His voice low. Then—His thoughts clicked. "Serena…" A new priestess. Gaining influence. Swaying people. Taking attention. "…And Aqua…" "…Got pushed out of feeling unappreciated." Ruko's eyes sharpened. "…That's it." He changed direction. "I'm going to her." He moved through the streets quickly. Avoiding crowds. Avoiding attention. "…Free spells… free heals…" "…No one questions it?" His expression hardened. "…And she's too suspicious by coming over to Axel." He finally reached the area. Serena stood there. Still surrounded. Still glowing. Still smiling. Ruko stepped forward.
"…Let's see what you really are—" WHAM. A fist slammed into him from the side. Ruko's vision went black instantly. His body dropped. Darkness stood there. Her arm lowered slowly. "…Sorry." She looked down at him. "…I won't let you go this time, Ruko." And just like that—Everything went dark.