After a while
everyone finally arrived at the base.
Tejas crossed his arms and spoke first.
"So…"
"Now that our team officially has four members"
KS immediately interrupted him.
"Wait a minute."
"We're only three people here."
Tejas nodded casually.
"Yeah, I know."
"The fourth member isn't here."
KS looked confused.
"…Then where is he?"
Mizuki stepped forward and answered calmly:
Actually fourth worrier is she and
"She's the Air Warrior."
"And she's been fighting monsters for a long time already."
KS sighed slightly.
"…That still doesn't answer my question."
"Where is she?"
Tejas answer while scratching his head.
"She lives in another country."
KS stared at him blankly for a few seconds.
Then spoke with visible irritation:
"…Then what was the point of calling this meeting?"
Tejas immediately replied:
"Who said this meeting was about introducing her?"
A small pause followed.
"It's about deciding who becomes the leader."
Mizuki blinked slightly.
"Oh…"
"That's what this is about."
Then she asked:
"But how are we supposed to decide the leader?"
Tejas shrugged.
"…Voting, I guess."
Inside his mind, KS spoke to Dragoon immediately.
"I'm actually going to lose my mind."
Dragoon sounded confused.
"Why?"
KS answered mentally:
" Iam surrounded by idiotsand they don't understand that for voting…"
"…all the people are supposed to be present."
Dragoon paused for a second.
"…Oh."
"Yeah you are right ks ."
KS sighed deeply before looking toward Tejas again.
"So how exactly are we voting when the fourth warrior isn't even here?"
Tejas waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry about her."
"She never participates in these things anyway."
Mizuki nodded slightly.
"She always says"
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"I'm a bird of the open sky."
"Don't put me in cage ."
Tejas placed a small box on the table.
"Alright."
"Write the name of the person you want as leader."
"Then put the paper inside the box."
"That's all."
KS took a deep breath.
"At least some of your brain cells are functioning today."
Tejas immediately looked offended.
"Oi.
You want to die or something. "
Ks smile say
"No I don't want to die."
After a few minutes
the voting finally ended.
Tejas opened the papers dramatically.
"ALRIGHT"
KS instantly frowned.
"Can you lower your voice?"
Tejas scratched the back of his head.
"…Sorry."
Then he looked at the papers again.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"The leader is…"
"…KS."
KS stayed silent for a moment.
Then slowly looked toward both of them.
"…You both voted for me?"
Tejas and Mizuki answered at the exact same time.
"Yeah."
KS looked genuinely confused now.
"Why the hell would both of you choose me?"
Mizuki answered first.
"Because we trust you."
"I think you'll become a great leader."
Then Tejas spoke calmly:
"At the end of the day
I have to admit that …"
"You're balanced."
"You have both power and brains."
KS stared at both of them quietly.
Then sighed.
"You guys
…Fine."
"I'll become the leader."
A small silence followed.
Then KS casually added:
"Meeting dismissed."
Tejas immediately laughed.
"bro you really started your leader job with dismiss of meeting."
Ks smile and sau
"Yeah, I know"
The three of them started walking home together afterward.
When they walking a sudden attack come from tree direct towards ks
Mizuki use his trident and blocked the attack
Tejas shoot fire balk toward tree and take down one monsters
Tejas say out of irritatetion
"These monsters are such a trash"
And many abnormal monsters start to come out of forest
Tejas say with excitement
"now its time for fun"
Mizuki ask calmly
"so what is plan leader "
Ks think for second and answer
"... So Iam going to distract all monsters qnd you both going to take them down "
Tejas say
"That sounds great "
Ks smile and say
"Now it's time to make it work Mizuki take position in left and Tejas in right "
Ks summoned his sword and attack on one monster and take it down after seeing that other monsters gathered to try to attack on ks
Together
Ks shouted
"Ok both of you use your special attack "
Tejas charge his attack
And say
"Flaming bird :fire charge "
Mizuki say calmly
"Power of see :tsunami "
And all monsters get trapped in water and get knocked out with flame charge
Tejas say
"Well done team"
And give high five to ks
After some time
Tejas separated from them and went his own way.
Now only KS and Mizuki remained.
Walking quietly under the evening sky.
After a few moments
KS suddenly spoke from behind her.
"…Mizuki."
"Is something wrong?"
Mizuki stopped walking.
Then slowly turned toward him with a smile.
"No."
"Nothing's wrong."
KS looked at her carefully for a few seconds.
"…Then why are you avoiding me whole day?"
Mizuki hesitated slightly.
"I'm not avoiding you
Thay is your misunderstanding."
KS stayed silent for a moment.
Then softly answered:
"…Never mind
I guess I assume things ."
A few more seconds passed quietly.
Then KS suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right…"
"Tomorrow is my mom's birthday."
Mizuki looked slightly surprised.
KS continued quietly:
"So…"
"If you don't mind…"
"…maybe we could celebrate it together."
Mizuki thought silently for a few seconds.
Then smiled softly.
"…Sure."
"We can celebrate after school."
KS smiled slightly.
"Don't come directly after school this time."
"Go home and rest first."
"Then come."
Inside his mind, Dragoon immediately spoke.
"Bro…"
"You're slowly becoming like me."
KS ignored him completely.
Mizuki suddenly smiled in a strangely creepy way.
"Goodbye, KS."
Then she quietly walked away.
Ks also walk away also.
The next day after school
KS finally returned home.
But the moment he entered the mansion
he surprised .
The entire house was decorated with colorful lights and decorations.
The dining table was already prepared.
A birthday cake rested quietly at the center.
For a brief moment
the empty mansion finally felt alive again.
Then one of the workers walked toward him respectfully.
"Sir."
"As your brother instructed, we finished decorating the house and preparing dinner."
KS looked around quietly.
"…I see."
Then he smiled faintly.
"Thank you for your hard work."
The man bowed slightly.
"There's nothing else needed, sir."
KS nodded.
"You can all leave now."
After a while
all the workers quietly left the mansion.
And silence returned once again.
KS looked around the decorated house.
"…Wow."
"It actually looks amazing."
Inside his mind, Dragoon answered calmly:
"Your mother deserves this.she was amazing humanity"
A small pause followed.
"But you don't. You are terriblehuman"
KS immediately frowned.
"You ancient lizard…"
"Shut up."
Dragoon laughed softly.
"Remember this moment carefully."
"One day when I stop talking…"
"…you'll miss my voice."
KS smiled faintly.
But didn't answer.
And go to room and change clothes and get fresh.
A while later
the doorbell rang.
KS walked toward the entrance casually.
But the moment he opened the door
he froze completely.
Mizuki stood there quietly.
Wearing a beautiful dress.
Under the evening lights
she almost looked unreal.
For a brief second
it felt like time itself had stopped.
"…Hi, KS."
A small silence .
KS didn't answer.
Still staring.
Mizuki tilted her head slightly.
"…Can I come in?"
KS instantly snapped back to reality.
"Y-Yeah."
"Sorry."
"I zoned out for a second."
Mizuki walked inside slowly.
Then looked around the mansion.
"…Wow."
"It looks completely different from before."
KS smiled softly.
"…I know."
Then he gestured toward the sofa.
"Sit wherever you want."
Mizuki sat down carefully.
Then looked toward him with slight embarrassment.
"…Maybe I overdressed a little."
KS immediately shook his head.
"No."
"You look perfect."
Inside his mind, Dragoon instantly reacted:
"Brother…"
"You're staring at her like a starving hyena looking at food."
KS mentally yelled back:
"SHUT UP."
Trying to act normal again, KS spoke quickly:
"So…"
"Should we cut the cake first?"
Mizuki looked around slightly.
"…No one else is coming?"
KS quietly shook his head.
"My brother is busy with work."
"And Tejas had something important to do."
"So it's we end up alone ."
"…I see."
Inside his mind, Dragoon suddenly asked:
"So what's your plan exactly?"
KS hesitated for a moment before answering mentally.
"…I'm going to give her Mom's ring."
Dragoon immediately understood.
"…So you're confessing."
KS quietly answered:
"…Yeah."
Meanwhile
Mizuki stared silently at KS.
But her thoughts were somewhere else entirely.
The blood-covered tissues.
The painkillers.
The medicine wrappers.
The sleeping pills.
Inside her mind, she quietly spoke to Aqualith:
"If you won't tell me anything…"
"…then I'll find out myself."
Aqualith sighed deeply.
"You never listen to me so"
"…Good luck."
KS took a deep breath.
Then smiled softly.
"Alright."
"Let's cut the cake."
Mizuki nodded.
"…Yeah."
KS slowly cut the birthday cake while Mizuki quietly sang the birthday song beside him.
Afterward
KS took the first slice.
And gently placed it before his mother's photograph.
Silence filled the room for a few seconds.
A quiet respectful silence.
Then KS handed another slice to Mizuki.
After sitting down again
After a moment later .
KS quietly took a deep breath.
Inside his mind
Dragoon immediately spoke.
"Come on."
"You can do this."
KS nervously reached into his pocket.
"…Mizuki."
"I want to tell you something."
Mizuki looked toward him curiously.
"What is it?"
KS suddenly forgot every prepared sentence inside his head.
"…I…"
"How do I even say this…"
Ks face turned into red .
"…Are you okay?"
KS nervously laughed.
"Yeah…"
"I think so."
Dragoon sounded completely done with him.
"Bro."
"Please stop embarrassing yourself."
Finally
KS slowly took the ring out of his pocket.
Then looked directly into her eyes.
"As you know…"
"My life has always is full of troubles."
A small pause followed.
"But…"
"When I'm with you…"
"…everything feels lighter."
KS tightened his grip on the ring slightly.
"I want someone like you who give me meaning of life ."
Then quietly
he asked:
"…Do you want to become part of my life?"
Mizuki froze completely.
Her face turned red instantly.
Inside her mind
she whispered:
"…I didn't expect this."
Even Aqualith sounded surprised.
"…Neither did I."
But after a few moments
Mizuki's expression slowly became serious.
"…Before I answer…"
"I need you to tell me the truth first."
KS stayed silent.
Mizuki looked directly into his eyes.
"When you disappeared from school…"
"…you weren't resting, were you?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"The painkillers."
"The sleeping pills."
"The medicine wrappers."
"I saw the blood-covered tissues."
Silence.
KS smiled sadly.
"…I guess I can't lie to you anymore."
Then quietly added:
"But promise me…"
You will not tell anyone."
Mizuki nodded immediately.
"I promise."
KS slowly lowered his eyes.
Then finally spoke the truth.
"My body…"
"…is being destroyed by Dragoon's power."
A painful silence followed.
"I don't have much time left."
Mizuki's eyes widened.
But KS still smiled softly.
"…Still."
"I'm glad my final days can be spent with"
Before he could finish
Mizuki suddenly hugged him tightly.
And started crying.
"You idiot, Kshitij…"
"How could you hide something big like this from me?"
KS smiled weakly.
"…Sorry."
Then slowly
he held her hand gently.
And placed the ring onto her finger.
Mizuki looked at the ring silently through tears.
Then quietly whispered:
"…Until your final moment…"
"…I just want to stay with you."
Chapter end.