Inner Talk

'So, why're you here? (6)'

'You don't actually know, why? (17)'

'There is a reason behind it? Not because you recovered enough to get out? (6)'

'Ah, that one 21 thought the reason, was? (17)'

'Is it not? (6)'

'It isn't. Like how we divided into 3 for your convenience, it is the same reason. (17)'

'Sorry, me. I don't get it? (6)'

'Basically, whenever you came in need of me, 21 or Zero, we come out. (17)'

'Like when you was avoided by everyone, we came out to fill in your loneliness. When Ayame stayed in with you, you stopped needing us. So we disappeared. (17)'

'You guys won't be appearing in the future? (6)'

'Unless you started needing us more than you need the darkness. Anyway, I came here to be your psychologist. (17)'

'Something is wrong with me? (6)'

'Yep. Let's list the stress pent in out of your memories.'

Being treated as plagu... That one don't count anymore because that girl healed it.

The pain you've endured whilst fighting and destroying your own body.

Carrying the pressures of a leading person of the company that's challenging to be a pioneer.

Your weird goal called the cultural invasion.

Finally, and the most worst, your mindset of enduring everything alone.

"Since being a teacher gives me a death flag, I will only give you an advices. (17)'

'Oh, really. I thought you were more of an kuudere than tsundere? (6)'

'Shut up. In terms of me, it's just kuu or tsun. Anyway advices number one: Show your pain. (17)'

'There's no need to act like me. You have no abusive father who don't care about the expressions of other. You have a person that will actually worry for you. (17)'

17 kept a blank face while Kuro couldn't speech up anything. He couldn't think a word to return to 17... himself.

'Advices number two: You don't need to act like me or 21. (17)'

'You aren't me nor 21. We was just you. You haven't experienced losing parents nor you had a 'friend' who was confessed by your crush only to find out that friend was a sadist who would be happy to see your despairing face. (17)'

'Hold up. You haven't told that story to u- (6)'

'Anyway, you don't have to keep acting like me or 21. (17)'

'Wait, I have never intended of imitating me or me. (6)'

'Oh really? Then why do you keep winning in poker cards? Even to the point of cheating the game? (17)'

'That's... because I want to win. There's no reason required for wanting to win. (6)'

'I see. Then why did you master and advance the technique called: [Trap] to the point where it can not only be used at soccer, but also at real combat? Why did you make piano for you to play?(17)'

'It's because... (6)'

'Stop with your excuses. I apologize on behalf of 21 for influencing you but you should stop copying us. It is toxic in your life. (17)'

'We are not a person to be copied but a person to be careful of. We are the example of when you fail the game called; Life. (17)'

'Beh, stop acting cool. Going by your terms, I know you didn't fail Life. The Life failed you. (6)'

'Stop with your word play. Anyway I am done giving you advices. Let me go sleep already. (17)'

'...yeah. see you. (6)' Until the end, Kuro kept quiet as 17's advices were rotating inside his mind.

'See you. (17)'

'peko peko peko!'

'Damn it the noisy one woke up. (17)'

'Hm? Wait, what was that! (6)'

'It's nothing. (17)'

'Hey! hey!?!? (6)'

No matter how much Kuro shouted inwardly, no communication came from the other sides. Hm? 17's advices? What the **** is that?

He was more curious of the sudden rabbit cries he heard from inside him.

"Kuro I am back~"

-----

"What were we on, about?" Kuro who was focused on talking with 17 forgot about the real world.

"Did you forget it? You told me to get some fruits/vegetables and I got it."

"Ahh, yes. The breakfast."

***

When Kuro and Okayu came back to the camp, everyone already woke up, including Oujian.

'Won't his head start aching for sleeping that much?' Kuro thought inwardly but didn't say it out. After all, he have heard of a person who became too strong that cancer cells can't beat him.

He don't know about this world but mana must be able to do something about it.

It was only after the groups ate the food Kuro cooked that Kuro created a portal to teleports them out.

-----

"I never you asked it before, but where are we going?" As the groups walk through the forest, Shion asked in.

"Come to think of it, I've never said it to you before. We're going to Treasure Vantage." Kuro said while nodding.

"Treasure Vantage!? That is!?... where is that." Shion acted surprised but on further thinking, she noticed that she don't know what and where Treasure Vantage was.

"It's a cities in north from Reign Empire. Just a few more teleports, we should be reaching to the Great Naruto Bridges."

"Fuuhnn. What are we going to do there?"

"For now, the plan is just to send that weird uncle there to Treasure Vantage and go home but..." Kuro pointed Oujian.

"Ayame, Okayu, Shion, do you want to stay in that country for a day or more?" Taking back his fingers, Kuro asked everyone else.

"I want to! I want to!" Ayame bounced up and down.

"How about you two?" Kuro nodded on Ayame's bright response.

"I want to take a look a bit on magic there." Shion was slightly serious on this one.

"Then I will go around the town with Shion... is it okay?" Okayu said while also asking.

"Okayu~...!" It seems like Shion was joyful over Okayu's request. She accepted it without a blink.

"Then let's get into there, already. Kuro, I can try helping you with the teleportation magic. Can you send me the coordinate?" Shion asked while being excited.

"I appr-..." Kuro opened his mouth before cancelling the sentences he was about to say.

"Thank you." Kuro smiled as his hand connected with Shion's, his spatial energies sending the straight route from this places toward Treasure Vantages.

"It is quite far so I can't go with one teleportation magic." While saying so, an messy magic circle created an portal above it as Kuro passed through it without the confirmation of it's stableness.

At this moment, the 3 excluding Shion, looked at him with surprised gaze.

Oujian was surprised at the trust Kuro had to the girl while the other two was surprised at the sudden changes of attitude Kuro had.