Night of Comfort, Morning of Doubt
Ruko slipped through the alley, finally out of sight from the crowd, the hero, and the whispers that followed him everywhere. He exhaled. "…Finally. Out of that conflict with that nigga ass Kyouya." He glanced back once, then forward again, hands in his pockets. "…The way I touched Rin and those girls in a sexaul way…" he muttered to himself. "…and used Drain Touch at that…" He clicked his tongue. "…Even if I can't take their mana or level for myself… but it's still useful." His eyes sharpened slightly. "…At least it keeps enemies from getting too strong… stops them from overwhelming me much…" A pause. "…Still… useless for my own growth." He shrugged it off. Then turned the corner—And bumped straight into someone. Soft. Warm. "…Ah—" He froze. "…Luna?" She looked up at him, just as surprised. "…Ruko?" For a second, neither moved. Then she smiled gently. "What are you doing here?" Ruko scratched his head. "…Walking." "…You?" "I was heading back to the inn," she said. "Since I walk this route is faster." She looked at him carefully. "…You're in trouble again, aren't you?"
Ruko didn't answer immediately. "…Maybe." She stepped a little closer. "…Do you want to take a walk with me?" Ruko blinked. "…Wow wow... wouldn't that be weird?" "…If people see us going into an inn together…" He looked away slightly. "…They'll say I forced you into something… you know…" Luna's face turned red. "N-No! It's not like that!" She stepped closer again—Pressing against him slightly. "…I just… want to talk." She hugged him. "…So let's go." Ruko paused. Then sighed. "…Fine you win." "Ok! Come on then we will be there in the evening." She grab Ruko by the hand through the alley way. The sky darkened slowly as they reached the inn. Ruko didn't enter through the front. Instead—He climbed. Roof to ledge. Ledge to window. Silent. He slipped inside. "…You really came," Luna said softly. Ruko turned—And froze. She stood there. In light clothing. Too light. He swallowed. "…Come here," she said gently. "…Sit." Ruko can't overcome of what he was seeing, so he walked over slowly and sat beside the bed. Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then— "…Is it true?" Ruko blinked. "…What?" "…That you've been causing trouble around Axel…" Her voice was quiet. Careful. Ruko looked down. "…Yeah." No hesitation. "…I have." He leaned back slightly. "…I don't even know why…" "…It's like…" He struggled for words. "…I don't know if I'm doing the right thing… or just messing everything up by stupid anger…" His voice got quieter. "…Every time I act… it just gets worse…" "…People look at me like I'm something else…" He clenched his hand. "…I don't get it." "…Is it justice…?" "…Or am I just wrong…?" He kept talking. Didn't even realize how much he was letting out. Until—Warmth. From behind. Luna hugged him tightly. "It's not your fault," she whispered. Ruko froze. "…What?" "It's not you." "…It's them." She squeezed him tighter. "…People push others into becoming something they weren't meant to be…" "…But I know you." "…You're not a bad person." Ruko's eyes widened slightly. "…Luna…" "I'll always be here for you." "…So don't fall into despair." Silence.
Then—She leaned closer. Right next to his ear. "…So stay with me tonight." "...And release inner self wild!" Ruko froze completely. His heart skipped. "…What?" His thoughts stopped. His body reacted before his mind could catch up. Under his pants unleash the sacred wolf who's been hidden and ready for hunt. Luna hesitated for a moment— "I-It's so b-big?" Then nodded softly. "…Just… be gentle." The night passed quietly. No chaos. No fighting. No eyes watching him. Just silence of pleasure. And warmth. Morning came slowly. Soft light slipped through the window. Ruko opened his eyes. "…Huh…" He stretched slightly. For the first time in a while—He felt… light. "…It feels good…" No pressure. No tension. No noise. He turned his head. Luna was beside him. Covered by the sheet. Quiet. Still. Ruko smiled faintly and moved closer. "…Hey…" "…You okay?" She didn't answer. Instead—She shifted away slightly. "…It shouldn't be like this…" Ruko blinked. "…What?" She looked down. "…This wasn't supposed to happen…" "…Hey Luna! What are you talking about?"
She turned away. "…I need to be alone." Her voice was different now. "…Leave." Ruko frowned. "…Luna—" "Please." "…Just go." Silence. Ruko stared at her. Confused. "…Alright… I'll go." He stood up slowly. Got dressed. Walked to the window. Then—Paused. "…You sure you're okay?" She didn't look at him. "…Just go." Ruko sighed and stepped out. As he dropped from the window—He heard it. A whisper. "…He's going to kill me… if I don't do something…" Ruko jump after rooftop after rooftop, then landed on the ground. Light. Silent. But his expression changed. "…What…?" He looked back up. But said nothing. "…Whatever…" He shook his head. "…I'll think about it later." Then—A grin spread across his face. "…Wait…" "…I actually—" He jumped. Excited. "…Hahaa! I beat Kazuma!" "…No way I beat Kazuma to the punch of losing my virginity—!" He laughed. "…And it actually felt—" He stopped himself. "…Yeah… alright I should stop or someone will here my craziness in the morning."
He pulled his hood over his head and walked out into the street. Halfway through—A presence appeared. Ruko stopped. "…You again…" Kyouya stood in front of him. Serious. "…I came for a rematch." Ruko stared at him. Then—Bowed. "…My bad." Silence. Kyouya blinked. "…What?" "…I shouldn't have touched your teammates like that." "…I you see... I was draining their mana and knocked them out." He looked up. "…That's on me." The girls behind Kyouya stared. Confused. "…You're… apologizing?" "…Yeah, is it wrong not to?" Ruko shrugged. "…That's it." Kyouya frowned. "…That's not enough." "…You'll apologize properly." "…And pay us for a week." Ruko turned. "…Nah I'm good." "…What?" "I said no." He walked past them. "…You wanted revenge, right?" "…Then take it on beating me to death." "…I don't care in the slightest." Silence. Kyouya stood there. Confused. "…That's not how this works—" He turned— "…Wait—where did he go?" Ruko was already gone.
He walked out of Axel. Then headed back to the mansion. When he opened the door—Everyone was there. Waiting. Angry. "…You're late." "…Where were you?!" "…We told you to buy things didn't we!" Ruko blinked. "…Oh… fuck!" Too late. They all started shouting at once. Complaints. Insults. Questions. Nonstop. For a full hour. Ruko stood there in his cat–like expression. Taking it. "…Yeah… yeah…" "…I get it…" But his mind—Was somewhere else. "…He's going to kill me…" That whisper echoed again. Faint. But there. Ruko leaned against the wall silently looking out the window. "…What did you get yourself into…?" The noise of the group continued. Loud. Chaotic. Normal. But for Ruko—Something had already shifted. And he didn't even realize it yet.