3. The Loner and the Broken girl

Time went by. The sun dimmed as night rose but even it, stayed not, in its place. Unshackled it was. Running through the speed of light.

It was around this time, a soft hum entered his ears. However, the tone underlying the voice was bland. Giving the listener an impression of how much of a torment, hearing the broken tune was. However, uncompromising was the singer and so Hikigaya silently heaved a sigh.

He wanted to lay down for a while longer. The world was distant and so were its people. Thrown in an unknown world, still, what plagued his mind now was the women who acted hero before him. For Hachiman she was nothing but a poser, acting selfishly on her whims.

Not everyone craves the satisfying joy of life.

There are things people lose and truly do people lose.

The smiles distorting his paths, filled with sadness, some selling their wives to a brothel while others robbing homes. After all, it was medieval times, the only place safe where the god's entourage reside.

Still, these thoughts were irrelevant to his current situation and he might have to stop thinking lest he loses it again. There is nothing happy about life in Orario, just misery and more suffering dimming his vision even more.

"...hmm" Again, the tune began raving his ears however this time the individual stood before him. Silently, she watched until it felt as if she remembered something and went behind the shelf.

The girl was as alien as anyone from this world however, she was the individual he owes something to and that fact hounded him. 'I am now indebted to this bitch'. Before his thoughts took a darker turn, she returned.

In her hands were a freshly baked loaf and a bowl of hot fresh soup. She pushed it to him and before he could reject it, his stomach revolted making Hikigaya accept it in the end.

He was sure nothing could move him in this world. People drowning in blood, fighting every beast defying common sense just for survival, he closed himself his heart and every being. Never would he show any emotion however, the loaf of bread was enough to remind him of what he had lost...

Although no emotions marred his face, tears still trickled from his eyes without end. Softly he whimpered but then just like without any reason the girl before him, held his broken self together again.

With trembling voice, Hachiman asked, "...why"

"Why...are..yo...u acknowledging..me?" he spoke in a soft whisper.

This time the girl looked him in the eye, with soft blonde hair and a perfectly beautiful face as if she belonged to one of zaimokuza's third-rate light novels. However, The serious expression in her face, tensed him to find the answer. still, he waited,

"... I was the same"

"..."

"...same"

"..."

"..." seeing this to be her answer, Hikigaya stopped. She might have her own reason and he wasn't insensitive enough to poke and so he tried to move away. The skinship even at his state was too much however the strength of the girl before stopped him from doing so.

"Umm...can you give me some distance?" spoke Hikigaya meekly surprising the teen before him. But again she complied leaving him with one less headache.

Now, with food in his stomach, he finally regained some reasoning and asked her the burning question,

"Who are you?"

"I...am Ais. Ais Wallestine"

"Hikigaya Hachiman" The kindness from Ais forced him to talk to her cordially. After all, she was the first to acknowledge him.

"Do you wish to take me as a slave?" The first thing which popped in his mind. After all, humans were a popular resource in this world. Most die in dungeons or outside where beasts lurk on every corner. The city while being safe can also lock someone out of the region.

'Without strength I am nothing. Living in the streets would end in death' and so with nothing to lose and expecting not much of the proposition, he asked. Although, the reason was more to find out why she actually saved him and not leave him to his death.

Again, the prospect of leaving is always to his mind and so he stood awaiting another rejection.

"...yes."

"I will ta-" Ais words took him back. Still, as Hikigaya owes her his life, he decided to live for her sake and descended to upgrade his status from street beggar to slave.

His eyes, dim as before. But still, his resolve was made. Even if he was used as a toy to her whims it still would be better than awaiting deaths from robbers. Surprisingly he was clean making him know what was wanted from him.

"...If that is your wish mistress" Silently he unrobed himself before her. The goddess's magic made sure his constitution would never degrade, making him have strong almost unbelievable muscles and a toned body.

Making Ais face beet red. However, as if in some kind of acceptance instead of rejection she complied in the same action. But the interaction between them was just soft kisses marking the other as if licking the other's pain. Both were too broken to find pleasure in carnal desires and so in the end he became a pillow letting her bask in his warmth and cry to sleep.

"..father"

"..."

Hikigaya Hachiman accepted her as she had done to him.