A few days later, Kazuo had an accident while tending to the farm. It was nothing too severe, but it left him with a sprained ankle, making it impossible for him to handle the farm’s shopping. Sensing an opportunity, Hiroshi suggested that Hayato and Emiko handle the shopping together. He hoped the shared task might help mend their strained relationship, a bond that seemed to be getting worse by the day.

The idea filled Hayato with dread. The thought of venturing out into public, where eyes could follow his every move, made his chest tighten with anxiety. Meanwhile, Emiko was visibly furious, feeling cornered into spending time with someone she had actively avoided. Yet, both were left with little choice. As they made their way through the bustling market, Emiko’s frustration simmered beneath the surface. She tossed items at Hayato with increasing force, as if hoping the weight of the goods would crush the tension between them. Her irritation grew with every step, and by the time they neared the end of their list, she couldn’t even bring herself to look at him. Her face was set in a hard line, not just angry, but disgusted.

The two began to avoid each other even more diligently, creating a chasm that grew wider with each passing day.

Later that evening, when Hayato and Hiroshi found themselves alone again, Hiroshi offered a quiet apology.

"I’m sorry. I thought it would help," Hiroshi said, his tone filled with regret.

"It’s okay," Hayato replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Even though things got worse, at least she’s not picking on me anymore… Maybe it’s time…

After a moment of silence, Hayato finally spoke up. "I need a favor."

That evening, Hiroshi approached Emiko, who was already irritated at being called to meet him.

"Why did you call me here? I have to get up early tomorrow," she snapped.

Hiroshi hesitated, then stepped aside, revealing Hayato standing behind him.

"It was Hayato who asked you to come," Hiroshi explained.

Emiko’s eyes narrowed, and she immediately turned to leave, but Hayato quickly moved to block her path. His posture was tense but resolute, a stark contrast to the timid boy she was used to seeing. His serious expression caught her off guard, making her hesitate for just a moment.

"I need you to listen to this," Hayato said, his voice firm.

"There’s nothing I want to hear from you," Emiko retorted, trying to regain her composure. She moved to brush past him again, and this time, Hayato stepped aside, letting her reach the door. But just as she was about to leave, Hayato spoke again, his voice laced with a quiet intensity.

"Are you sure? You called me a liar. I thought you’d want to know the truth. This time, I’m willing to tell you everything."

Emiko stopped, her hand resting on the door handle. She turned around slowly, her expression unreadable, then walked back and sat on a bale of hay, crossing her arms as she waited.

Hiroshi, equally surprised, stepped back, giving Hayato the space to speak. Hayato took a deep breath, steadying himself, and began to tell them everything. He recounted the deaths of his guildmates, his connection to them, the girl he had feelings for, his fears, and the terror that still haunted him. As he spoke, the weight of his words hung heavy in the air, filling the small barn with a palpable tension.

When he finished, Hiroshi looked shaken, his usual calm demeanor rattled. "That’s… a lot to take in."

Emiko, on the other hand, remained composed. "I see… In the end, you only thought about yourself."

Her tone was calm, devoid of anger or disgust, just a statement of fact. But it was this detachment that made her words cut even deeper.

Hayato’s frustration flared. "I could have died! There was nothing I could do!"

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"I’m not saying it was wrong. You made your choice… But have you ever stopped to think about what your ‘girlfriend’ must have gone through? The suffering, the pain, the regrets she had in her final moments? Considering the picture you received, her death was probably anything but peaceful," Emiko responded, her voice cold and unyielding.

"That’s enough, Emiko!" Hiroshi snapped, grabbing her arm to pull her away. "Do you want to make him suffer more?"

But Hayato was silent, her words striking him like a hammer. In his mind, all he could see was Nagareboshi, writhing in pain as she died—over and over, each death more excruciating than the last.

"As I said, there’s nothing wrong with what you did. I think if I didn’t love someone enough, I’d make the same decision and only think about myself," Emiko continued, her voice steady and certain.

The phrase "didn’t love someone enough" echoed in Hayato’s mind, the words twisting like a knife in his chest. He dropped his head, feeling the sting of those words.

Hiroshi, still holding Emiko’s arm, sighed heavily. "Let’s go. Don’t dwell on this too much, Hayato. Get some rest—you’ll feel better in the morning."

As they left, Emiko shrugged off Hiroshi’s grip, muttering, "I don’t need you to pull me."

Hayato returned to his room, sitting on the edge of his bed, deep in thought. When he finally fell asleep, his dreams took him back to a memory he had long suppressed—a conversation with Nagareboshi.

"When you joined the guild, everything changed," Nagareboshi had said, her voice soft and wistful. "No, it wasn’t a bad thing. We grew quickly and became the center of attention in the game. Even though I didn’t like you at first, I think we resolved that. In the end, you were the best thing that happened to us, but I hope you take responsibility for it."

"For what?" Hayato had asked, genuinely confused.

"For stealing my heart. What else could it be?" Nagareboshi had replied, a sweet smile lighting up her face.

When Hayato woke up, the memory didn’t fill him with fear. Emiko’s words from the night before replayed in his mind, but instead of guilt, he felt something else—anger. Anger at himself, at the situation, at the world that had taken so much from him.

Hayato descended the stairs to the kitchen, where Keiko greeted him with a warm smile. "Good morning, Hayato. I need you and Emiko to go into town to buy some things for me."

"Sure," Hayato replied without hesitation, his voice steady.

Emiko, already seated at the table, also responded with a quick, "No problem."

For the first time, neither of them hesitated, and there was no tension between them. Keiko and Hiroshi exchanged surprised glances, unsure of what had changed.

Later that day, Hayato and Emiko went into town to run the errands. Emiko was surprisingly polite, handing things to Hayato to carry while taking on some of the load herself. On the way back home, Hayato accidentally dropped one of the bags. Emiko stopped, turned around, and carefully placed the bag back into his hands. Hayato was taken aback by the gesture but said nothing.

As they continued walking, Hayato quickened his pace to reach the gate first, holding it open for Emiko. As she passed, she offered a soft "Thank you."

"Thanks," Hayato responded shortly after, acknowledging her help earlier. They both understood he was also thanking her for the harsh truth she had spoken the night before. Emiko gave him a faint smile before walking into the house.

Later that evening, Hayato found himself in a conversation with Hiroshi.

"You’ve made up your mind… but you know you’re always welcome here, especially now," Hiroshi said, his tone gentle.

"I won’t leave right away. I’ll stay until your grandfather is fully recovered. It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me," Hayato replied.

"Alright. But are you sure you’ll be okay?" Hiroshi asked, concern evident in his voice.

Hayato nodded firmly. "I will be. This won’t be a problem anymore."

Hiroshi still looked worried, but he respected Hayato’s decision.

Three months later, Kazuo had fully recovered and was back to his regular duties on the farm. Hayato had waited until Kazuo could comfortably handle the workload before preparing to leave. With his bags packed, he stood in the living room, surrounded by the family that had taken him in.

"Thank you for taking care of me all this time," Hayato said, bowing his head in gratitude.

"Are you sure you need to leave now? You can stay a little longer if you want," Keiko said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Kazuo added, "You’re part of the family now. Come back anytime."

Hiroshi stood in front of Hayato, extending his hand for a handshake. But instead of taking it, Hiroshi pulled him into a hug. Hayato, not used to such gestures, stiffened slightly but didn’t resist.

"Take care of yourself," Hiroshi said, his voice thick with emotion.

Hayato then turned to Emiko, nodding his thanks. Emiko nodded back, and with that, Hayato left the farmhouse, ready to return to his life.

On the way back home, Hayato noticed that much of the landscape was the same as when he had left. However, one new building caught his attention—a tall structure in the shape of a "T." For some reason, it filled him with a sense of unease, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

When he finally arrived home, he found everything covered in dust. He did a quick clean-up before sitting down in his scorpion-shaped chair, staring blankly at the computer screen.

What do I want? Hayato wondered, his thoughts drifting back to Nagareboshi and the possible suffering she had endured. I want them to pay! If I could, I’d kill every last one of those bastards… I’ll find them.

As his thoughts turned dark, the image of TAKASH1 and the Tempest guild flashed through his mind.

I’m going back into the game, Hayato decided, his resolve hardening.