MEMORIES AND ABU HORMUZ
Volume 2 Chapter 17 - Lying and Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
“Heeeeey! Haruch! I heard! You killed Deathspot! You are amazing! I am aaaaaaat IRI! I supeeeer IRI!”
They were drinking in the Sherry Shops and Gori came to their table, she was noisy and boasting as usual. It was all because of Marco's fault for bragging about him. The news spread quickly, and now everyone knew that Haruhiro and his group were the ones who had killed Deathspot.
That doesn't matter to Haruhiro. He knows killing Deathspot is only a hundred percent luck, but death is death, and it is really better than being ridiculed by calling “The Goblin” Exterminators on and on.
“Vina very happy.” Vina pressed her face against the table with a sigh. “Vina really thought we were done..”.
“Y-ya.. I too,” Barto agreed, look sleepy. “Yesterday really nearly.”
Alice stared coldly at Haruhiro. “And someone almost got killed..”
“Uh... that's... well, you know..” Haruhiro stroked the back of his neck and let out a slight cough. “Yes. I regret my decision. I'm sorry.”
“Oh..” Alice's gaze fell to the floor, she blushed in embarrassment. “A-I'm just kidding. Not that I meant it was your fault or anything like that. Really..”
“Mmm...” said Vina with a thoughtful expression. “If Haru doesn't stay to distract Deathpots, maybe we'll all be wiped out.”
“Vina, should be the sentence ‘ swept out’,” Haruhiro, as usual, justifies.
“Ho... is that so?” ask Vina.
“And it is not Deathpots, but Deathspot..”.
“That all sounds the same to me,” Vina frowned.
“T-but!” Barto showed the butcher's sword which he hugged with his hand. “Everything is fine in the end, as they say..”.
“You're right, Barto,” Vina approves. “And you got your new sword!”
Alice nodded. “Your old giant sword is also completely broken.”
“Yes, you're right,” said Barto, staring with pleasure. “You think I should name it what? I tried to think of something, but thought of nothing.”.
Vina's proposal was “The Meat Splitter #1” which Alice shyly, but soon, refuted. Of course, Barto wants to name it with a cool and inspiring name. What is the definition of “keren” in his view? Something like, “Algojo Api Abadi” is what comes to Haruhiro's mind, but he refuses to propose the name. It looked bad even if he heard it himself. So. a name...
Marco is with Gori, recounting “Legenda of the Deathspot” Heroic Exterminator to the other Red MooN members who are gathering. The way Gori told it, like she was there at the time, and Haruhiro wasn't sure if it was fun or annoying.
Lusi had already said that he wanted to talk to Haya, so he went to the second floor with her. Haruhiro hopes that after this, Lusi can find a bit of calmness in him.
Haruhiro downed his beer again and frowned because of its sour taste. He was so happy that no one died yesterday. But even though he was relieved that everything had come out safely, he couldn't really be happy about it, deep down. Has he acted correctly? Is there a better way, can we make better decisions?
For now, he believes that he has chosen the best decision. If they were in the same situation once again, Haruhiro felt that maybe he would make the same decision. But is that really the best thing to do? Maybe there was something he could do before they were finally cornered with no way out. Something like preventing such a situation from happening to the group?
Self-criticism that tricked his mind had overshadowed the happiness he felt from all the survivors. But that's not a problem for anyone. Wh why? Why is he the only one who is not happy?
Because he is the leader.
Suddenly Haruhiro felt a hand pat him on the shoulder.
“Are you okay?” ask Lusi.
Susi was so close, it almost made Haruhiro jump in surprise.
“Ah..” Haruhiro paused for a moment before finally asking, “You're done talking to Haya?”
“Yes. Just now,” replied Lusi. “What's wrong?”
“U-uhh... Why are you asking like that?” Haruhiro.
“You look a little pale,” explained Lusi.
“Really? Em, n-no, I'm fine. It's nothing, really,” Haruhiro assured him.
Lucia smiled a little. “You're a bad liar, Haru.”
“Kurasa...” said Haruhiro, shifting his seat to the side gives room for Lusi.
Vina, Alice, and Barto were still arguing hotly about the name for the sword. To be honest, Haruhiro was eager to reveal his secret to Lusi about his doubts. And just a few days ago, he did. But not now. No more. He's more careful now than he was yesterday.
“Really, I'm fine,” said Haruhiro, this time with a smile. “It was a lie, but at the same time a truth.”
Lusi patted slowly on his shoulder once again. He took off his grip a little quickly, but for Haruhiro it was already precious enough. Maybe it was just a simple, sad gift, but he didn't criticize himself for feeling that way. It is okay to enjoy the things that should be enjoyed, because no one knows when this happy time will end. Maybe sooner, or later, no one knows.
“Oy! Haruhiro!”
Marco and Gori, holding hands, walked over to Haruhiro. “You all too! Come on over here! Kemuri from Daybreakers is here tonight and she wants to treat Deathspot exterminators to drink!”
“You will never get A SUPER-CHANCE like this again, Harucchi!” exclaim Gori. “SUPE-SUPE-OPPORTUNITY!”
“What is ‘supe-supe’?” Haruhiro complained, shrugging his shoulders. Then he blinked a few times as he heard the information. “Wait, do you mean Souma's Daybreaker?”
“Wahh...” Vina's eyes widen.
“It was amazing..” said Alice, trying to make herself look as small as possible.
Barto stood up and sat down again several times, unable to decide what was right. “A-a-what should we do..”.
“This is a rare opportunity,” said Lusi, cool and calm as usual. “We have to accept it.”
Haruhiro immediately nodded, himself also somewhat surprised. If he was the same Haruhiro as yesterday, he would probably have hesitated. Today, he was no longer the old Haruhiro. This made him curious about what kind of changes were happening in this store tomorrow for him. Not dying today meant he could see what he would turn out like the next day. And who knows, that might be a wonderful thing.
“Come go, everyone.”
