If you were to lose someone you loved…
What would you do?
Cry? Wail? Blame yourself?
For Krisna… even if he only got to spend a short time with her, that was more than enough.
Humans are creatures of constant change — their personalities, their goals, their very nature shift over time. That is simply what they are.
For years, he stayed by Mio's side, trapped within the confines of what they called friendship — terrified that confessing his feelings would shatter it.
Until that moment came…
Hearing Mio confess her feelings as death reached for her…
Shattered him beyond repair.
Regret? Of course. But the damage was done, and fate had already been carved in stone.
At Mio's funeral, Krisna could only mourn over the damp soil where the person he loved would lie forever.
Black clouds gathered overhead, releasing rain that slowly drenched their black clothes — one by one, the others opened umbrellas.
But Krisna alone accepted the rain fully.
When Mio's parents offered him an umbrella, he simply took heavy steps away from its shelter, letting the drops soak him.
The rain became a substitute for the tears he no longer had the strength to shed.
Time passed quickly; before he realized it, Krisna had already entered his second year of high school.
His life felt empty and silent, with no one by his side.
During those exhausting days, an ad for Blue Archive appeared on his phone.
Curiosity pushed him to install it — while waiting, he drifted into memories of Mio, memories buried deep within his heart.
The Blue Archive logo appeared on his screen, and opening it led him to a character who would become his source of motivation.
Takanashi Hoshino.
Her pink hair reminded him of Mio, who loved eating peaches — and her laziness was something Krisna found endearing.
For some reason, when he saw and heard Hoshino, memories of Mio flowed back.
Maybe because they both shared the name Takanashi.
Hoshino was one of the strongest students in Kivotos.
Someone strong usually carried a dark past.
One day, when Krisna looked up Hoshino's backstory, he discovered that their fates weren't so different — both had lost someone dear to them.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Two people who had once tried to kill each other were now sharing peace—
bread becoming the symbol of their fragile truce inside an old truck they used as shelter.
While Yuki was happily munching on her bread, Krisna absentmindedly stroked her hair.
She looked irritated, yet she still allowed him to do as he pleased.
Yuki's eyes accidentally met his… and in them, she saw nothing but loneliness.
Annoyed, she snapped,
"Hey… stop that!"
Krisna snapped back to reality, watching as Yuki finished her food and took a drink.
"Full already?"
Hearing that, Yuki's eyes widened.
"Y-yeah… th-thank you."
Her hand tightened around her spear.
"So, your name is Yuki, right?"
She nodded.
"Then let me ask you something. How did you find me?"
"There's no picture of me on the bounty."
Yuki turned her head away, clearly unwilling to answer.
Krisna pressed a switch on her spear—electricity crackled along the blade.
He pointed it toward her, smiling.
"You do know what happens when you refuse to answer, right~?"
The spearhead slowly drew closer.
Yuki tried to slip through a gap to escape.
But the moment the spear touched her, electricity surged through her entire body, making her muscles seize up—her escape attempt instantly failed.
Her consciousness flickered and vanished once again.
---
The sun hung high, with clouds drifting lazily beside it, witnessing the strange sight below.
Krisna had tied Yuki to an old chair he'd managed to repair, placing her directly under the scorching sunlight.
While working on something nearby, he kept an eye on her unconscious body.
A piercing beam of light struck Yuki right in the eyes as she woke, her head throbbing, her body bound.
Realizing her situation, she struggled to break free—
but instead of escaping, she looked more like a raccoon tangled in a trap.
Krisna couldn't hold back his laughter.
---
—
Oh my god…
You're not just a pervert now,
you're cruel too.
—
He wagged his finger.
"No, no, Lis. This isn't called cruelty… it's called punishment."
—
Fair enough…
Hey, forgetful one, your stats went up.
—
"Huh? Really?"
—
Yes, look.
—
Strength: 11
Stamina: 15
Vitality: 10
Intuition: 14
Perception: 11
Intelligence: 20
Luck: 12
Charisma: 16
"Hehh, it only increased a little…" he muttered, crossing his arms.
—
And you've evolved
from stupid
to slightly stupid…
I'm so proud.
—
He narrowed his eyes.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
—
By the way, when are you planning
to release that girl?
—
"Oh right!"
Krisna jumped up and ran toward Yuki, who was still trying to free herself.
He was almost there when—
"Hey! You! Let me go!!"
Holding two collars sized for humans, Krisna smiled and fastened one around her neck.
Despite her resistance, he eventually managed to secure it.
"Ugh, what is this?!"
"So that's your attitude after eating?"
Yuki's cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her face away.
After putting one collar on her, Krisna ran over and placed the matching collar on a worn-out pillow.
With a switch in his hand, he said—
"If you refuse to give me information…"
He pressed the button.
A violent explosion tore the pillow apart, scattering stuffing everywhere.
The sound echoed loudly, wind whipping Krisna's clothes.
In his mind:
Sh-shit… I forgot to cover my ears.
Both of their ears rang from the blast.
"And that's what happens when you don't answer."
Yuki ignored him, trembling from shock, her soul seemingly drifting out of her body.
Krisna walked over and gently tapped her cheek.
"Hey, hey."
"Huh?"
Her spirit returned.
He whispered into her ear,
"I'll repeat it—this is what happens when you refuse to answer."
"Kyah!!"
Her hair stood on end.
"Do you understand?" Krisna asked.
Yuki answered with a rapid nod.
"Who sent you?"
She looked away again.
Krisna's finger hovered over the switch.
"Fine! Fine! A girl wearing a helmet sent me!"
Krisna smirked inwardly.
So my guess was right.
"Why did you accept the job?"
"For money."
Krisna prepared to press the button again.
"There's something missing."
His eyes widened, looking like a demon before her.
"O-okay! It's also for… my sister!"
He sighed.
"Now we're talking. Hurry up and release me!"
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Alright."
Krisna began untying the ropes.
Once freed, Yuki felt light again—except for the collar still restraining her.
She pointed at it.
"This?"
Krisna frowned.
"Did I ever say I'd remove it?"
He sighed.
"Take me to your sister."
"W-what? Hold on, I can't!"
With just one gesture from him, Yuki backed away.
"And if you try to destroy it or kill me… that thing will explode in twenty seconds."
With great reluctance, Yuki gave in.
"Fine. Just wait a moment."
Krisna jogged toward the blast area.
Yuki sat on a broken microwave, watching patiently as he cleaned up the debris and hid his belongings.
After a while, Krisna finally finished.
He carried his spear and shield, along with a bag he'd picked up—who knew what was inside, but it looked full.
"Alright, let's go," he said.
"O-okay," Yuki replied.
To be continued…