Asahi mumbles and groans as he lies in bed staring upwards at the ceiling. The world spins around him as his head pounds.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me this is how bad it can get?” He looks around as the room lays silent

… “Hello?”

Outside the inn the snow lays thick. Hiro trudges through it laughing.

“I’ve never seen it this thick before!” he lifts snow in the air and watches it fall to the white floor.

Zero speaks with a worried woman as she vents about the amount of snow in the village. She gives Hiro glances as she doesn’t take in any of the information being thrown her way. She watches as he runs around with the kids throwing snow at one another.

“Sorry I shouldn’t talk this much?” The woman’s awkward voice snaps Zero out of it,

“N-no sorry you needed help with the snow, right?” The woman’s eyes widen as she smiles.

“That would be a great help!”.

Hiro laughs along with the kids as they throw snow at one another. He lobs a chunk of snow without looking and freezes as he hears the smack of metal. He slowly looks over as Zero stands with a brick of snow sliding down her armour.

The kids all run scared as Hiro tries to creep away.

“I don’t think trying to sneak away works if I’m literally staring at you…”. Zero trusts out a shovel towards Hiro, “Here”

Hiro lifts it off the ground with a raised eyebrow in confusion, “What’s this for?”

Zero begins shovelling through the snow in front of the inn. Hiro gets the idea as he begins shovelling in front of a nearby shop.

Time passes as they shovel through the small village revealing the stone path below. Occasionally the kids nearby would help or distract Hiro from helping. Asahi looks out the inn windows confused with a scrunched-up face before swinging the curtains close and going back to sleep.

Sun rise becomes sun set as Hiro and Zero just about finish the job. Hiro wipes the cold sweat from his forehead. Zero throws the last of the snow off to the side of the path and with a sigh slams the shovel against a nearby pile.

Hiro and Zero look around satisfied with their work. They lock eyes before quickly averting out of embarrassment.

The woman who issued the request cheers the two from a nearby window. She hangs out of the second floor holding a large cake, “You guys deserve a reward!”

Hiro’s eyes sparkle as he rushes towards the house. Zero follows slowly behind.

Hiro digs in as the woman smiles widely. Zero stands by the door silently, “You don’t want any?”

She coughs awkwardly, “I-I’m ok”

“Oh come on shewo gech shome of zish!” He shouts at her with a mouth full as the woman chuckles.

Zero stays silent as Hiro creeps up beside her. He holds the plate up to her face.

“You know you want to!” He smiles deviously as he shakes the plate right in front of her

She looks away trying to resist as Hiro lifts it even closer to her.

Zero squeals ever so slightly before grabbing the plate from Hiro, “F-fine I’ll eat it!”

She lifts her helmet to reveal her mouth as Hiro stares intently. He watches as she wolfs down the cake. His eyes squint as he concentrates on her. His cheeks flush with red as he watches the same lips he got so close to the night before. The woman smiles at him with a knowing look.

Zero politely places the plate down and slowly bows to the woman thanking her for the food.

“You can’t act all knightly after wolfing that down!” Hiro laughs as he shouts her way.

The woman waves after them as they leave. “If you’re ever in a bakery ask for Alicia’s special!”

Hiro turns and sticks his thumb up with a smile, “Sure!”

“We should be leaving soon…” Zero doesn’t look Hiro’s way as she softly speaks.

He smiles and nods as he pats his stomach full of food. “You’re right… off to the next village!”

Asahi holds his head as he wobbles into the carriage. Hiro smiles as he waves to the kids of the village. Zero steps in with a sigh as they begin to head off,

“Not too fast!” Asahi lies across two seats as he shouts in desperation. He gives Hiro a death stare as he is about to close his eyes, “And please be quiet”

Asahi nods off leaving Hiro and Zero alone sitting by one another as the orange glow of the sunset beams off the two of them.

It stays awkwardly quiet for too long before Hiro has to break it,

“A-about la-“ Zero instantly coughs to stop him talking

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” She stares outwards towards the sun as it sets behind mountains in the distance.

Hiro climbs over the seats and places his head directly by hers as he stares out in amazement. His eyes sparkle as his mouth widens. Zero can’t help but squirm but as she lays her eyes on his joy she sighs and watches the sunset beside him.

Asahi’s eye squints open ever so slightly as he looks over at the two. The hell are those two talking about?

The carriage travels a fair distance in the space of a month. They pass by large rivers, Creatures fighting in the woods and all types of villages and people. Hiro is amazed by anything and everything since this time he can really take it all in. As the journey progresses and the weather grows colder the three grow closer. Zero never does forget what happened in the inn with Hiro as she always keeps an eye on him whether he is throwing snow at Asahi, making a snow angel or diving headfirst into a pile of frozen leaves.

Asahi enjoys the calm moments as he finally gets to feel like he’s really wanted and apart of the group. He doesn’t really want it to end.

Hiro yawns as he leans his head against the window. Asahi looks serious as he sits in the front of the carriage with the driver and the horses. Zero is too inside her own head to notice the large city slowly growing closer.

Hiro’s eyes widen once again as a giant rock hangs over a city. His eyes slowly work their way up the rock until his eyes sparkle even more. A smaller village sits atop the rock. He slams his face against the glass as he breathes heavily in shock.

“Woah!” He can’t believe anything like that could even exist.

As the carriage slowly comes to a stop the door swings open as Hiro runs out. The rock stands far above him as he lifts his head straight up to see it. Asahi looks down at a large map as he sighs,

“This is it… The entertainment capital of the Yoshida territory” He looks down towards the city below as lights beam upwards against the bottom of the rock. He tries to hide the excitement in his face as Zero stares at him clearly not buying the façade.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Hiro jumps up and down like a child as he turns to Asahi and shakes him back and forth, “Are you seeing this!”

“You mean the giant rock only a blind man could miss? No I didn’t see it” His voice oozes with sarcasm as he looks back down at the map

“Zero, Zero, Zero, Zero!” Hiro turns his attention to the unimpressed suit of armour as she stands with her arms crossed.

“What…”

He points at the rock as his hand shakes, “C-can we please go to the top!?”

Zero looks over at Asahi who looks like he’s about to blow from holding in his need to see the entertainment available. Zero groans as she plants her helmet into her hand in annoyance.

“We’ll have to look for this woman anyway so… fine”

As Hiro goes to run off Asahi grabs him by the collar. “Nope… we’re staying together”

“Then let’s get to the top!” He looks desperately at the two.

Zero begins walking towards the lower level underneath the rock, “We should search here before it gets dark.”

Asahi nods in agreement although he’s hiding the fact he’s desperate to go down first.

Hiro slouches over as he follows the two towards the bustling underground.

The three come face to face with the entertainment capital. Signs around the entrance pen it as “The Underbelly” Hiro stares at the sign flipping through his book with a scrunched face of confusion.

“What does this say?” He keeps flipping through as Zero drags him along

Asahi eyes every single bar they walk by until a group of women barely clothed tempt him at the door of a shady looking tavern. Zero walks through the street dragging both a confused Hiro and a drooling Asahi.

How are we supposed to find her with these two idiots… Zero groans as men and women eye up her armour.

“That’s some serious gear you have there lady. A man and a woman stop Zero in her tracks as they stand in her way. She tries to ignore them, but they don’t let her, “Woah I was only giving you a compliment”

The woman walks around her and her eyes sparkle as Asahi looks her way, “And you have some serious cuties back here too”

Asahi immediately stands tall as he gets out of Zero’s clutches, “Well I’ve been told I’m a cutie before… but not by someone quite as sexy as you…”

The woman blushes as the man gets angry, “Hey You little asshole don’t hit on my girl!”

Asahi holds her hand as he gives him a sly grin, “Woah, I was only giving her a compliment”

Zero sighs as she shakes her head. She pulls Hiro past the man as he’s distracted by Asahi. Hiro’s eyes sparkle at the chaos surrounding them as he’s dragged through the streets. Lights, music and dancing surround him as he tries to take it all in.

Asahi watches as the two leave before the man gets in his face screaming at him. With one swipe at his throat, he takes him out. Asahi looks down at the pathetic man with disgust before skipping after Zero and Hiro.

The place surrounding them is unlike anything any of them had seen. A place of temptation with women, gambling, stores and alcohol at every corner.

A the three of them sit within a room Hiro’s face is planted against the window looking out at towards all the exciting new things. He flips through the book while looking at all the sign around him.

Asahi yawns as he lies on one of the two beds. Zero leans against the wall thinking of what their next move should be. Finding a woman here is like finding a needle in a haystack…

“Hey Zero, shouldn’t we be out there searching for her?” Asahi clearly just wants an excuse to get out towards the bars.

“I agree with Asahi!” Hiro can’t even hide the fact he just wants to see everything.

Zero grows frustrated at the two as she walks towards the door, “Sleep and we’ll search tomorrow”. She slams the door behind her leaving the room silent.

Hiro and Asahi slowly look at one another knowingly. Just from the look they give one another they both understand exactly what is about to happen. Hiro grabs hold of the wooden handle on the window and swings it open. The bouncing sound of the streets blasts into their faces as they both stare out in awe.

Asahi instantly spots a nearby bar. He drools over the thought of the alcohol in the entertainment district.

Hiro on the other hand can’t decide where to go as his eyes dart to every single source of light around. No one could even tell there was a looming shadow of a giant rock overhanging the place.

Asahi grabs Hiro by the collar just as he tries to leave. He pulls him close and glare at him, “You aren’t going to get yourself into anything stupid, are you?”

Hiro shakes his head earnestly, yet it doesn’t convince a worried Asahi.

“How about you come with me? Zero can’t get mad if she never finds out right?” He is clearly proud of himself as he holds Hiro tight in his grasp

Asahi drags Hiro along like a puppy as he runs towards the bar with the group of skimpily clothed women. The woman all stare at Asahi seductively but he completely blanks them as he sees his true love. Beer.

Asahi guzzles down jug after jug as the locals cheer him on. With every gulp he grows less and less aware of Hiro’s whereabouts as he quietly slips towards the door. With one last trepid look towards Asahi Hiro sprints down the street laughing and twirling around.

“Mother you never said there could be so much light in one place!” He looks upwards to the bottom face of the rock as the light from below dances across the surface. Even in this moment of wonder there is still a hint of sadness behind his eyes as he thinks of his mother, father and Kyoko.

After walking around the streets aimlessly Hiro stands himself staring upwards at a sign that reads, “Girls, Girls and more Girls”. He can’t find the word in his book as he stares confused. A drawing of a women hangs high above the sign as he slants his eyes trying to make out what it actually is.

A woman grabs hold of his arm and presses her chest against him. Another woman quickly follows suit as Hiro looks a perfect target. Hiro quickly averts his eyes from their chests as his cheeks burn bright red.

“Oh, are you nervous…?” Her voice seems perfectly trained in the art of seduction as she grows closer to his ear. Hiro’s eyes dart to anything other than the two women trying to push themselves into his eyeline.

“D-Do you know a woman with brown hair?” His voice shakes and crack under the pressure of the two women as he stares directly upwards.

The two women giggle as they guide him towards the doors, “Of course we do honey”

Hiro’s eyes widen as he is pulled into the dark building by the two women, “R-Really?”

Zero stands outside their door as she contemplates whether to just let them out or not. She almost opens the door multiple times before backing out and standing her ground. As the corridor grows silent and the mumbling of the commotion outside can faintly be heard she puts her helmet to the door to listen on the two.

They are being awfully quiet in there…

She grows suspicious as not a sound comes from inside. There was no way Hiro could stay that quiet for that long.

She slowly opens the door, “Hiro?”

Her suspicion is proven right as she just stares into the completely empty room. The window taps against the wall as the wind breezes in. Zero tightens her grip on the door handle in anger as she growls.

Zero storms through the streets her anger darkening even the lightest of corners. She eve scares some people as she stomps across the entertainment capital searching for the two. She curses them both under her breath as she makes her way around.

She searches all over until she gets a whiff of a familiar smell. Alcohol. She storms towards the bar as she grumbles Asahi’s name. As she swings the door open she sees the sight she knew she would.

Asahi dances on top of a table swinging his jug of beer around signing. He throws coins from his bag laughing vowing to buy everyone’s drinks for the whole night. He’s so drunk he doesn’t even realise the armoured woman standing directly behind him with anger practically oozing out of her.

She grabs his collar as he finally realises.

“Oh zero!” His smile only pisses her off more. Asahi laughs as he dinks his drink against her helmet with a cheer.

He goes to swig his drink once more before Zero slaps it out of his hand. “Where’s Hiro?” Her voice practically completely sobers him up as it pierces through his skull.

“He’s right th-“ his eyes widen as he stares at the empty space Hiro was once standing. His face grows completely blank as he just continues looking hoping he just pops up.

Asahi shrinks as Zero’s gaze grows closer to him. She grabs him by the hair and pulls him out the bar. Asahi shouts his goodbyes to his fellow drinkers while wincing.

Zero stands in the middle of the sea of people in the streets. It only grows busier as time ticks on. With practically no space to walk Zero begins to breath heavier. She tightens her grip on Asahi’s long black hair as he scrunches up his face in pain.

“Z-Zero I get it c-can you please stop pulling!” Asahi’s voice is but a squeak as she tightens her grip even further.

She whips him around so he is face to face with her, “If we don’t find him by the time comes up I will personally cut every single strand of hair on your head.”

Asahi swallows nervously as he shivers terrified of her as she lets go. She whips her head around looking for him. Where the hell are you Hiro?”

Hiro sits completely surrounded by women as he awkwardly twiddles his thumbs. They press up against him as he sweats buckets.

“W-W-W-Woman with brown hair p-p-pleas” His voice trembles as he tries to keep even an ounce of composure.

“Oh don’t fret she’s coming… and so will you” She places her finger on his lips as he looks at her confused.

“Where am I going?”, All the woman laugh as he sits confused and nervous.

“Or maybe we could have some fun with you instead?” he completely stiffens up as she presses her lips against his cheek. As the women slowly get further and further a knock on the booth door interrupts them.

“I’m here!” A woman’s voice from the other side disappoints the girls as thy all climb over Hiro to leave.

He breaths a sigh of relief as he tries to calm his breathing down. His face has never been so red as leftover lipstick paints his neck and his cheeks. Hs relief is stopped by the sound of a women sitting beside him. Her voice far more soothing as she places her hand on his face.

She slowly turns his face to look directly at her before completely freezing with a gasp.

Hiro opens his eyes confused before they widen in complete shock. A mix of horror and anger flushes across his face as he stares forward.

The woman can’t even move her hand from his face as she freezes in shock. As the two lock eyes the feelings of shock and horror match one another.

“H-Hiro…?”

“You’re Kyoko’s mother….”

Kyoko’s mother sits across from Hiro with a face like she’d seen the worst possible sight imaginable. The sight of her past leaves her completely frozen in fear.

The same hands that once made Kyoko cry were now placed upon his face making anger sour through his very soul.

Hiro for the first time since his mother had seen a survivor of the awful destruction of his village.