Sunset Confession
3 days later in afternoon to evening arrived quietly in Axel. Sunlight slipped through the mansion windows, warming the wooden floors and the quiet hallways. Outside, adventurers were already filling the streets, their voices drifting toward the house like distant waves. Inside the dining room, however, chaos was brewing. At the table sat Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness. Kazuma hadn't come down yet. But that wasn't the reason they were staring out the window. Megumin's crimson eyes narrowed suspiciously. "…He's still out there." Aqua leaned closer to the window. "Yep. He's still there has always." Darkness folded her arms.
"What an incredible sight." Outside in the garden, Ruko was walking slowly beside the girl from the dream guild. The two of them were talking quietly.
Laughing. Actually laughing. Megumin turned to the others. "I have never seen him act like this before." Aqua nodded seriously. "Usually he walks around like some cool mysterious protagonist." Darkness frowned slightly. "But right now…"
All three looked back outside. Ruko scratched the back of his head awkwardly while the girl laughed at something he said. "…He looks nervous," Megumin finished. Aqua gasped dramatically. "Ruko? Nervous?!" Darkness leaned closer to the glass. "This is valuable sight and I'm getting a feeling from this." The three girls continued spying shamelessly. Outside, Ruko had no idea. He walked slowly beside the girl through the streets of Axel, hands in his pockets. "So," he said. "You really tracked me down." The girl nodded. "It wasn't that hard." Ruko raised an eyebrow. "Not that hard you say?" She smiled. "You're kind of famous." Ruko blinked. "…I am?" "Everyone talks about the guy who defeated two Devil King's generals." Ruko slowed his steps slightly and glanced at the girl beside him. "…You know my name already do you," he said. She nodded. "Yeah. It's hard not to when half the adventurers in Axel keep talking about you."
Ruko scratched the back of his head. "That's… kind of embarrassing actually." The girl giggled softly. He then pointed at her. "But you never told me your name." She blinked. "…Oh." For a moment she looked a little shy. Then she straightened up slightly and placed a hand on her chest like she was doing a proper introduction. "My name is Luna." Ruko tilted his head. "Luna, huh." She nodded. "I work at the dream guild sometimes… helping manage requests." Ruko snapped his fingers. "That explains it." Luna looked curious. "Explains what?" "Why you seemed so calm that night. Most people would panic if an adventurer started talking to them randomly." She laughed. "Well… I deal with adventurers every day." Ruko chuckled. "Fair point." He then bow a little a hand on his chest dramatically. "Well then, Miss Luna." "My name is Ruko." She rolled her eyes playfully. "I know." Ruko grinned. "Still felt cool saying it." Luna smiled warmly. "…Yeah."Ruko rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah. Right. Back when you said I'm famous of defeating to devil king's general it was actually three." They continued walking through the busy market streets. Merchants shouted. Adventurers argued. But the two of them walked quietly through the noise.
After a moment, the girl spoke again. "I wanted to see you again." Ruko glanced at her. "Why?" She looked away slightly. "…Because you were kind." Ruko stopped walking. That answer clearly caught him off guard. "K-Kind since when?" She nodded. "Back at the dream guild." "You talked to me like I was a normal person." Ruko scratched his cheek. "Well… yeah I guess I did." She smiled softly. "Most adventurers don't since they take me for a joke." The two stood there for a moment. Then she tugged gently on his sleeve. "Come with me." Ruko look at her tilted his head. "Where?" "You'll see." They walked out of the main streets and toward a grassy hill outside the town walls. The sun was already lowering in the sky. Orange light stretched across the horizon. When they reached the top of the hill, the entire town of Axel spread out below them. The sunset painted everything gold.
Ruko whistled softly. "…Nice spot and certainly a nice view." The girl sat down in the grass. Ruko sat beside her. For a while, neither of them spoke. They simply watched the sun slowly sink toward the horizon. When she look at him her mind is looking at a handsome figure but something missing. Finally, she spoke quietly. "Ruko." He glanced at her. "Yeah?" Her fingers nervously twisted the edge of her sleeve. "I… like you." Ruko froze. His brain completely shut down. "…Huh?" She turned red but continued. "You're funny." "You're strong." "And you always look confident…" Her voice grew softer. "…but sometimes you look lonely." Ruko stared at the sunset. For once, he didn't have a clever response. "…Yeah I guess I I'm." He sighed quietly. "That happens sometimes though everyday, every night and it will never change." The wind brushed across the hill. The sun dipped lower. The girl suddenly leaned closer. Then—She kissed him. Ruko's brain officially stopped working. Down below, hiding behind a rock formation near the hill—Three extremely suspicious figures watched the scene unfold. Megumin gasped. "She actually did it!" Aqua covered her mouth. "No way!" Darkness looked completely fascinated. "What an aggressive romantic strategy…"
Back on the hill, the kiss lasted only a few seconds. When they separated, the girl's face was completely red. Ruko looked equally stunned. "…Well." He rubbed the back of his neck. "That happened so suddenly." She laughed nervously. "Sorry…" "Don't apologize." Then Ruko leaned in and give her a passionate kiss that lasted for a minute in term she does not pull back not eventhe slightest. After separated Ruko smiled slightly. "Just warn me next time so my brain can prepare." The girl is embarrassed but slightly giggled. The sun finally dipped below the horizon. The sky turned deep purple. For a moment, everything felt peaceful. But none of them knew—Inside the town, guards were already investigating several mysterious relic thefts. And one name was beginning to appear in their reports. Kazuma. And soon—Ruko's name would appear beside it.