Arc 5, Chapter 31: Don't Lose Heart

*Trigger Warning: Self-Harm*

"I, don't know…" her breathy voice had gotten so frail and weak… "I knew adventuring was dangerous, but this is all, I don't know," she whimpered.

"I, I want to run away," she sniffled and gasped for air, only to cry more as she clutched onto Asobi tighter. "I don't wanna lose them, I don't want to see that, I can't, I can't…

We're, we're in this gorgeous city so far away, let's explore it… I don't want to see us in some gory, blood-soaked mess again, I've had enough of fighting things so much bigger than us… I can't…"

Asobi's hand made circles on the redhead's back. Hotaru's tail was shuddering, stuck in place—her body convulsed alongside her shaky breaths.

"Hehehe~"

Hotaru caught the faint giggle; she sniffled and moved her head away, to see the elf with a soft smile. She panted, "W-what?" her thoughts were all unsteady and muddled together in worry.