End

As I open my eyes, all I can see is something red.

"Where am I?"

"You're awake. Oh thanks, are you okay? How do you feel?"

"Red?"

"Present!"

"What happens... wait! Let's go--"

"Don't worry, it's over."

"R-Really?"

"Yeah. That's why, just rest for a little bit, okay?"

"I see..."

"Did you enjoy my lap pillow?", she asked out of nowhere.

"Yeah, it's... soft.", I give her an honest reply.

"Hehe."

__________________________________________________

After that day, things don't back to what they used to be. Well, it's hard to make it happen.

Things went good as we wanted.

Thanks to Miss Altina and the others, we end the war between humans and Outsiders without losing another comrade.

"Hiro."

"Got it."

Using his amulet, Hiro revives Rick first.

"Hey, Hiroro takes this.", Ernesta handed him a paper.

"What's this?"

"Script, you need to explain to Ricky everything, or your friendship is screwed."

"Eh?"

"That's ten pages in total."

"How did you make all of this? Also, I don't think Rick will be happy to listen to this."

"Just give it a shot."

Hiro raises his arm and then thrust his scythe into Rick's chest.

After a few seconds, Rick opens his eyes.

The first word he says is...

"It's already morning? Man... I drink so much last night that I dream about Hiro killing me."

"Oh, that one is real. I actually kill you and just revive you now."

"I see... nice prank!"

"Who the hell will do that kind of prank?"

"Come on Hiro. Reviving me again means we're still friends."

"What are you talking about? You died in my hands and you still think of me as your friend?"

"Even if we kill each other, as long as we talk about it later, we will become friends again."

"Well... if it wasn't for my amulet, we probably won't be talking right now and become friends again."

"Pfft! Hahahahaha."

They laugh after that.

"So Hiro, what's is the thing that the queen left to you?", I asked.

"Oh, this?"

He shows me a knife.

"It has an amulet that can bring back humans or animals that turn into Outsiders. Not only that, my amulet will get stacked if I use it first before using this one."

"I see... so that Outsider's blood counts as lives too."

"Probably. Also, I don't have to kill just to stack my amulet, it only needs just a single drop of blood.", he added.

"So that's the answer to the mystery."

"So that means we can use it for Claire?", Crystal asked.

"Yeah."

Crystal looks delighted after hearing those words.

*Don't tell me...*

After that day, we use that amulet for those animals that become Outsiders and also revive Gavril and all the people who died back then.

Inside the freezing where we keep their bodies.

We use Crystal's amulet to deep freeze their bodies.

"As I expected. You guys really keep their bodies."

"Yeah."

After using the amulet and reviving them.

Gavril stands up and walks toward Hiro.

"Man, it's been a while since I have a proper sleep."

"Was sleeping for many days even proper?", Hiro said.

"Hahaha. Even though you killed me once, I can't hate you. I don't know what happen but I think you did a great job. All of you.", he said.

___________________________________________

After we revive Gavril and the others, we went to headquarters where Miss Alicia and Claire are.

"Are you ready?", Hiro said.

"Don't ask me while waving that knife in front of us you sadist!"

"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Claire, are you sure they're not our enemies?", Miss Alicia asked.

It looks like she still doesn't remember anything.

"I told you, that glasses owl is your son."

"Who the hell are you calling glasses owl?!"

"I see... then let's start."

"I forgot to ask how this work to the queen that's why I try this first on the animals and it works."

Hiro grabs Claire's hand and then carves her palm with his knife.

Claire didn't react when he did this.

He did the same thing to Miss Alicia.

"Nothing happens huh... urk!"

"Claire?"

"It hurts..."

"Miss Alicia..."

The two of them collapse.

"H-Hiro..."

"Don't worry, it's the side effect. This is a sign that it's working. We have to bring them to the bed and let them rest."

"Crystal, can you look for them?", I asked.

"M-Me?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

________________________________________________________________________________________

I was assigned to be the person who will guard both Claire and Hiro's mother.

I notice that their skin turns into normal human skin color.

Looking at Claire's face.

I know she's a pretty woman but she becomes prettier as she turns back into a human.

It's been almost twenty-four hours since they collapse.

"Hmmm..."

"Claire?"

She sits up and then looks at me.

"Where I am? What happen?", she asked.

"Well, both of you collapse when Hiro uses the amulet."

"I see...!"

She looks at her hands and gets surprised.

"W-Woah!"

I immediately grab a mirror and handed it to her.

"I will call the others. Just stay here got it?"

"O-Okay."

________________________________________________________________________________________

*Where am I?*

As I open my eyes, the first thing I saw is the beautiful face of someone that I think I knew.

"Barbara?"

"...yeah, it's me."

She crying while looking close up at my face.

"Why are you crying? Where am I?"

"I... I miss you..."

*That's right, I remember now. I lose my memories of when that Outsider turned me into their kind. How long has it been?*

"You have grown up so beautiful."

"T-Thank you!"

*Wait, that's right!*

"Where's Hiro?!", I asked.

"He's not here."

"I see..."

"Don't worry, once you recover, we will go to him, okay?"

"Thanks."

________________________________________________________________________________________

"Haaa..."

*What now?*

I already went back to being a human but still...

Alicia will probably to go Hiro's while I don't know where I'm going now.

"I have no place to go."

"Then... why not go to our place?", a voice of someone came out of nowhere.

I was so surprised that I couldn't scream.

It's Crystal.

"W-Woah! You scare me... What do you mean to go to your place?"

"Well... if you don't know, our team is composed of orphans that have nowhere to do so... you can stay with us if you want..."

"R-Really?"

*Why the hell do I feel happy after hearing this?!*

"T-Then... if you insist. I'll be in your care..."

________________________________________________________________________________________

"We're here."

Barbara said as we reach the place where Hiro is.

"This is..."

"Yeah, remember? When Sir Night and you live here."

"Yeah..."

I can't do anything but cry.

I remember all my memories of Night and the day when he was killed in front of me.

"I... I couldn't save him back then... both him and Hiro. How... how can I face my son right now?"

"It's not your fault. It's never been. If anyone else, it's that Outsider's fault for ruining all of our life. But the past is in the past, let's just remember it but don't let it ruin our present and future. That's why, Miss Alicia, let's go."

As we enter the house, I look around.

There's no change almost everything is still here.

Even the books of Night are still properly arranged.

"Welcome."

I heard a voice coming from the door.

I turn around and saw a young man that looks like Night.

"I'm Hiro Sage, the son of Night Sage. I'm taking care of this house for eighteen years. It seems like the wife of the owner is back. I know this is a selfish request but... will you let me stay here with you?"

"...Yes!"

________________________________________________________________________________________

After doing all of the things we need to do, we celebrate at our headquarters for this.

The A-2 and Red's squad is here drinking with us.

"To all success and upcoming one, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Not all of us are drinking alcohol.

There's Ernesta who's chewing fried chicken and Hiro who's drinking juice only.

"Oh my, I never thought we will able to celebrate like this.", Red said who's standing beside me.

"Yeah."

She turns around and walks away.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm kinda drunk already..."

Her face is all red already.

"Just how much did you drink?"

I help her to walk towards her room.

After we enter inside, I immediately bring her to her bed.

She sits on the bed instead of laying down.

"Rest already."

"Hey."

Red pull my uniform.

"Do you need something?", I asked.

"When... when you're going to answer my question?"

"What question..."

*That's right...*

"Hey... was I not enough? Do you hate me perhaps? Answer me."

Without thinking anything, I move my face close to her and then...

"W-What..."

"You should brush first before sleeping."

"D-Did you just kiss me?"

"Was that not enough answer?"

"I want more..."

"J-Just sleep already!"

________________________________________________________________________________________

"So loud."

Even though this is a celebration, I still hate the loud noise.

Laughing, yelling...

"I want to go home already."

I walk away from them and start strolling around.

"Hm?"

I saw someone on the balcony drinking alone.

"It can't be..."

I walk toward that person and my guess is right.

"Oi brat, drinking alone? Such a novel."

"Relaine?"

"Yeah, that's me."

It's Ernesta. I can't believe what I'm seeing right now.

The happy-go-lucky person is being alone.

"What are you doing here drinking alone? Is there a problem?", I asked.

"Not really."

"Then what are you doing here?"

She pointed her finger from afar, following those with my eyes, I saw a cat sleeping above the branch of the tree.

"A cat huh..."

"Yeah, I was calling it for a long time and still not waking up."

"I see... that's why."

"Hey."

"What is it?"

Her face turns serious in a blink of an eye.

"Do you want to go out with me?"

"...what the hell are you talking about?!"

"I mean... I like you so..."

"Really?"

"Really, really."

"Doubt..."

"Why are you doubting my love!"

"After all... unlike the others... you don't give me a nickname."

That's right, Ernesta never gives me one, unlike other people.

"That's all your problem?"

"It's a big problem for me!"

"You're different."

"Huh?"

"I mean, you're special... The reason why I don't give you a nickname is that I love you and your name..."

*OI!OI!OI!OI!OI!*

My body feels hot.

My heart is beating so fast.

"I mean... how can I ruin the name of my love..."

"I got it! I got it! I love you too! Let's go out already!"

________________________________________________________________________________________

"Where are we going?", I asked as Vinna pull my hands to the rooftop of the headquarters.

She keeps running and suddenly stops.

"Look."

Pointing her finger toward the sky.

To the sky that fills with stars.

"It's pretty right?", she said.

"Yeah."

"Hey Hiro, about what you said that day... before we meet the queen..."

"What is it?"

"You tell me that I'm... b-beautiful... or was it pretty?"

"You still remember that?"

"Of course! After all... that makes me happy."

My heart is pounding so fast.

*Calm down Hiro, she only appreciates those words you said to her.*

"Hiro... I..."

________________________________________________________________________________________

"So, what is it?"

"Hey, Vinna..."

"Woah, it looks serious matter."

"Vinna... I think you like Hiro..."

________________________________________________________________________________________

"It's been a month."

Commander gives us one month's vacation, as a reward.

We both went home, all of us.

I still have contacts from my team even though we're far away from each other.

I'm living with my mother right now.

As for Barbara? For some reason, she went to Darius's place.

Do they have a thing for each other? I wish they could tell me, after all, she's a big sister to me.

Lulu has been legally adopted by Commander Elizabeth and Captain Red. She sometimes went to Rosangle Orphanage to play with Rein and the other orphans there.

Ernesta... probably always the same but with this vacation, she probably has more time of spending time with Relaine.

Claire becomes an official member of Captain Red's team.

The rest is peacefully spending time at their places.

"Hiro, are you going now?", my mom asked.

"Yeah."

"Hiro!"

"Oh, your girlfriend is here."

"M-Mother!"

"Hehe."

"Let's go now."

______________________________________________________

"Ummm... why are we still here anyway?", Ernesta asked.

"Hm?"

"I mean... there are no Outsiders on this planet anyway. What's the point?"

"Aren't I explain to you that last night?", Commander said.

"R-Really?"

"You already spend a month to Relaine, give it a rest already and focus on work."

"Relaine is more important..."

"What the hell are you saying you lazy cat!"

"Relaine!"

"Urk... those immoral acts will kill me!", Rick said.

"Does flirting look like that in the eyes of single people?"

"I'm kinda jealous because you two have time for each other, unlike my darling who's being busy every day."

"Who's a fault is it? Who's not doing their job properly and letting the others do it?"

Relaine gives Captain Red a death glance.

"Chill... I'm sorry."

"Shut up already. The reason we are still here is not because of the Outsiders, but those things that they left."

"Which is..."

"The amulets. Some people are trying to collect those and sell them on the black market. Giving those amulets to the wrong people will give us the same problem as what Outsiders did. Our mission is to retrieve those amulets and arrest those people who are trying to sell them or buy them."

"So we become police now huh..."

"Yeah."

"That's why we're back again to the job!", Captain said.

"You sound happy when you're being lazy at work."

"Geh!"

"Hey!"

A voice coming from the door.

"Steve."

It's the Commander of A-2 and the rest of its members.

"We got bad news from Miss Altina.", he said as he give a folder to Commander.

"What is it?"

"They already spotted those group who's stealing amulet weapons and selling them. Wait, this is probably good news."

"I see... This is our first job after a month."

"Yeah, our enemies' number is so large that's why we have to unite."

"Let's go and kill those filthy humans and destroy this world... ouch!", Ernesta said and got smacked by Relaine.

"What the hell are you saying, you stupid villain."

"Hiro."

"Hm?"

Vinna call me.

"Let's go.", she said as she extended her hands to me.

I grab her hand.

"We already save the planet from the Outsiders, we can save it again even against other humans. We can turn back and look to the past but don't stop walking towards the path we want. That's why let's do our best!", A voice coming from someone who I know is not in the room.

"Miss Altina... you're here."

"Hehe. Let's have some tea after this."

_______________________________________________________________________________________

END.