Chapter 19

"Mmmn..." I groaned a bit as I sat up, getting up and walking over to the door. I opened the door and saw that it was Toru, sporting a new hood that was a dark gray color. "Kirin... You're not taking care of yourself like we discussed..." she said to me as I sighed, telling her "I...lied...I...I didn't..." as I felt her hug me.

"Kirin... I know it's hard for all of us to have a close friend pass on...But right now... I need my Kirin...My friend..."

Toru told me as I was speechless at this, I didn't know what to truly say to her... I felt...like I didn't deserve to hug her back, I had given up for four weeks mourning one person... Toru looked at me and let go of the hug, holding his hand for a bit telling him "We're all going to a raid next thing in the morning... I hope you can make it..." as Toru let go of his hand and left back towards Kamdet City.

I looked at my hand that she held as my memories flash blood on it as I kept looking at my hand in sorrow. "I don't know If I should head back..." I thought to myself as I turned to look at the recording crystal. "But then again... I wouldn't be doing what Rina wanted me to do..." I thought as I opened my menu and drank some potions, healing my health back up to 301.

I opened my inventory and equipped my battle armor as I looked at my hands, I held my hand onto the door handle and looked back at the crystal once more, smiling a bit saying "I'm off Rina.." as I closed the door behind me. I walked over to Kamdet City as I arrived at the restaurant, walking into the restaurant and seeing the Tavern Owner. "Holy shit! Kirin?!" The tavern owner said to me as I chuckled a bit replying "Hey, It's been a while huh" as he smiled and chuckled as well. "What can I get you man?" he said to me as I looked and said "Can you get me ragout rabbit stew?" as he nodded. I sat down in a seat as I waited for my order, I then took some time to self-reflect.

I began thinking to myself "All players are different... Some will kill for fun... some will kill for a reason... I am one of those players with Kuradeel's death on my hands... I just hope it doesn't get out of hand.." as I opened my eyes and heard footsteps coming my way. "Here you go, one B Rank Ragout Rabbit stew" the tavern owner said as I nodded saying "Thanks man, here" as I handed him a pouch full of COL.

"Appreciate it Kirin"

The Tavern owner said as I then asked "Hey, I never got your name" as he walked away saying "It's Izah" as he went behind the counter to clean his utensils. I thought to myself "Izah huh..." as I ate my ragout rabbit stew, getting a regeneration buff for the day.

I left the Restaurant as I heard the same wind chime sound and checked my messages, seeing that one was from Toru. "Come to Darkwood Forest, Izah already told me you were at his restaurant" as I walked towards Darkwood Forest. I unsheathed my sword walking into Darkwood Forest as I walked on a dirt pathway.

"Kirin, Over here!"

A voice shouted as I stopped and looked around, eventually seeing Toru waving her arm and shouting my name. I then headed over towards Toru as she smiled. I began to slow down as I was standing in-front of Toru.

I could see the red around her eyes as if she was trying not to cry, I asked her "Are you okay Toru? I know-" as she then quickly threw herself to me and hugged me, wrapping her arms over my shoulder and around my neck. I blushed as my eyes widened a bit, she then said to me "I never thought I'd see you again... Out here fighting with us...With me..." as she slowly broke down into tears and cried into my shoulder.

I dropped my sword and hesitated to embrace her hug. My eyes also began to tear up again as I saw a yellow glowing figure off in the distance nearby, seeing that it was Rina as she smiled before fading off. "W-was that...Rina...?" I thought as I slowly embraced her and muttered to Toru "I...I'm really sorry...".

Toru and I then formed a party not long after, walking towards a cave as the silence filled the air. We kept walking as I noticed Toru was more silent and reserved to herself than normal, I then broke the silence saying to her "Do...Do you feel guilty about Rina..?" as she looked at me. She then looked down a bit as she said "Yeah...I didn't think she would go..." as I patted her back saying "I don't think you meant it for real Toru" as I was trying to cheer her up.

"Maybe your right Kirin-kun.." as her accent slipped out but she didn't bother to try and hide it. "Kun..?" I thought as I asked her "What does kun mean Toru?" as she looked at me and replied "Kun is a semi-formal way to guys my age Kirin-kun" as I looked at her confusedly.

"H-How old are you?"

I asked Toru as she replied "I'm 19, I just got out of School not too long ago" as I was shocked at this "I-I-I'm 19 too!!" I said excitedly as her face turned into excitement. We both improved our mood as we were excited to hear that we were the same age. We reached the cave that we were looking for as we looked at the entrance. I pulled out my sword as she popped her knuckles and said "You ready Kirin-kun?" as I nodded. "First come first serve!" she shouted running in first as I ran in behind her shouting "HEY NO FAIR!!".