Just outside the plaza in an alleyway, Hokori got a hold of his desired fireworks. “Ya sure this is the good shit?” he asked the hooded seller.

“Oh, yes. Definitely!” He nodded with a wide smile. “Used during the Immortal Jasper War. They’re too good at blinding enemies, so I suggest you use it sparingly.”

“No problemo, fam. Besides—we’ll all be blind tomorrow during the nightly celebration.” Hokori gave the seller thirty thousand Geld and stashed the products within blood runes.

Just as he walked back to the plaza, a familiar face stood in front of him. The man’s eyes squinted in utter contempt.

Hokori was not fazed by it. “Whassamatter? Wanna kiss me, pretty boy? I thought ya loved me a whole lot,” he smirked.

The man sighed with his eyes closed. “Hokori… have you forgotten that I could just send you to justice immediately for the transaction you partook in?”

Hokori walked past him. “And dat ain’t gon’ work. If it do be like dat, I’ll break bars with the clap of my asscheeks.” He turned to the man again while pointing, “By the way… I’d legit French your tongue up if you were shorter and very androgynous. That’s my only taste in guys.” He chuckled while walking back inside.

Even when annoyed, the man sighed and followed him.

At the outlet mall, the man saw familiar faces on his own. It was Hokori’s comrades, conversing how much fun they all had. He bowed in front. “Been some time, has it not, Tokino? I’ve still remembered your visage. It is unparalleled, as it always was….”

Tokino’s eyes widened. “Feuer…! It truly has been a long time. You remember him, don’t you?” she presented her husband, embarrassing him. “Oh! I’d like you to meet Yukino. She’s my other sunshine.”

Feuer bowed again, closing his eyes while smiling, “Pleased to make your acquaintance, young lady….”

Yukino gasped and pointed upward. “Are you my Uncle, too?”

“I beg your pardon?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Yaaaay! I have another Uncle!” Yukino immediately hugged Feuer. He stood in utter surprise while. Tokino covered her mouth and giggled.

After Yukino let go, Feuer tried to tell her otherwise but was kicked in the ankle by Kenkō. Sighing, he reluctantly agreed with his new title. “Yaaaay!” She hugged him again in excitement. Somehow, the action armed Feuer’s heart.

Yukino’s older siblings stepped in and asked if she wanted to compete again at the space opera simulation. She agreed, but only if Feuer joined. Even when he knew next to nothing about playing games, he wanted to make her happy. However, Feuer felt a familiar chill behind his back.

Just as the three walked back to the fair, the caped boy from before rudely shoved Hokori and stood before Feuer. “Dear brother… my team had finally found samples of the infamous disease. I suggest you play with his heathen friends later on….” His eyes kept stern.

Feuer turned around, eyes widened. “Hagel…! Have I not told you to—”

An enraged Hokori stepped in. “Who the fuck invited you here, you little cunt!!” he pushed him. “My fam are ‘heathens,’ ya say? How ‘bout I call your dead bro an even bigger cunt, huh? You’d whine about that, wouldn’t ya?!” he pointed.

Now fifteen, Hagel Glatteis was considered a natural prodigy three years ago. He had emotional intelligence far beyond his age group, rivaling even the most experienced adults. His icy blue eyes and short, snowy white hair gave an impression of unmatched stoicism. Like Feuer, he wore a cape showing the Coelestian emblem.

Haruto stepped in to interfere and told Hokori to stop. The attempt unceremoniously failed when Hagel decided cruelty with his words. “I see you’re still quite the untamable beast. Surely then, your parents would have been utterly disappointed. Or are you to tell me that they are proud of your behavior?”

Hokori shoved Haruto away and moved in front. “You deadass right they are! The only thing they’re disappointed with is your frostbitten ass being here! Get out, cuntfuck. No, seriously. Just get the fuck out!!!” He pushed him again.

Kakunō held off his comrade in front. “Dude, stop. Stop! We can’t do this in public. If you wanna fight him, do it in the Fools’ Theatre!”

Hokori pushed forward with ease. “No way, José! I’m gonna have his skull as a bookstand right fucking—” A massive icicle pierced right through his head from his left socket.

“Uncle!” Yukino exclaimed and ran to his aid.

Hagel slowly walked toward his enemy. “Anger will always be very corrosive to the soul. But for you—all I feel are Hell’s flames. I longingly crave your suffering!”

At blinding speeds, he shot more icicles at different parts of Hokori’s body. Suddenly, Yukino stood in his way, “Leave Uncle alone! I’ll do anything for my family. Don’t make me hurt you, Big Bro!”

Unfortunately, Hagel’s blood boiled, and his eyes narrowed. “‘Big Bro’…?” He could not stand those words. He flash-stepped in front of her. “Of what do you know of that?!” He threw a backhand slap at Yukino, causing her mother to cry out her name in distress.

However, Yukino did not back down and returned the favor with interest. Due to her innate ability, Hagel felt a sting worse than a hornet’s. He got up back up, angrier than ever. Suddenly, he chuckled behind Yukino.

Hokori got up as well. “Ya shouldn’t have done dat… but I’m glad ya did.” With one step, he looked as if he teleported before Hagel. Hokori threw a right uppercut that hurled him into the distance.

The vicinity warped into rubble during Hagel’s travel midair, horrifying nearby pedestrians. They all ran away, which prompted Hokori to go at it even harder.

He saw Hagel propelling himself via a blizzard under his feet. Hokori always found his innate ability: Père Noël, as a very tacky naming scheme. As if poetry, Hagel showed his adoration for Christmas by the snowflakes of his navy blue suit-and-tie.

As they clashed fists, the battle between the two became faster. At that point, no one could interfere with them. The shockwaves leveled concrete flooring with ease.

Hokori dragged Hagel’s face to the ground, destroying many public benches and trees. The latter retaliated with a massive ice wall in front—but was merely punched into pieces by his opponent. Now desperate, he clad himself in ice to soften Hokori’s blows. The onslaught shattered his ribs.

Hokori ended the fight with a straight punch to the gut, causing Hagel to vomit copious amounts of blood as the ground he laid on caved in further.

After climbing back up, Hokori walked past his concerned family. “My day’s ruined, guys. Gonna meet up with an old friend of mine,” he put his hands inside his pockets.

Feuer walked down the chasm for Hagel’s aid. He witnessed his little brother frothing at the mouth as he convulsed. He healed him with a runic array—agonizing screams followed. Eventually, Hagel passed out.

Haruto went down as well. Upon realizing Feuer’s saddened eyes, he performed dogeza before him. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry for what my brother did. I couldn’t do anything to stop him….”

Feuer turned around. “You mustn’t be, young lad. I am to blame for this, too, since I called my brother here. What you saw was not their first brawl—for the last three years….”

Kenkō stepped in and healed Hagel quicker than Feuer could. Tokino was left amazed. Her skills paled in comparison to hers, who could create new limbs.

Later on, brigade mages took Hagel in. They gossiped about how Hokori kept injuring him more and more as their eyes met. Haruto heard them nearby. His face sulked, wiping a small tear as he walked out of the scene.

His family found him sitting on a broken bench, blankly staring at the sky. Tokino sat beside him. “It’s not your fault, honey… We don’t blame you for anything,” she held his hand.

A sobbing Yukino hugged her father tightly. She cried about how terrifying Hagel’s “heart” was, like walking into an actual fire while naked. “I hate it all, Papa! I don’t want Uncle to be unhappy! Today was supposed to be special! And yet his heart. His heart……” she sobbed harder. Tokino called her in and hugged her next.

Kakunō stood in front of Haruto and declared it was time for them to go home. Kenkō agreed as well—but worried about her comrade. The more she thought of him, the more she hyperventilated. She rambled about Hokori’s wellbeing. “I can fix this… I can fix this. I can fix this. I can fix this. I can fix this. I can fix this. I can—” Kakunō held her shoulder and demanded not to stress out.

He turned to Haruto again. “Go talk to Hokori. You’re brothers now, aren’t you? He’s at the north edge of the city. You’ll receive the long talk from him as I did.” He further told him that his family would follow him back to the estate.

With that, Haruto hugged his daughter and waved at them.

Taking a public airship, Haruto finally arrived at his destination. Behind a gate was a large encompassing green hill. It turned out to be Quds’ Lot. The largest cemetery in the capital. Haruto realized one thing as he climbed up. He knew many of the Vetus mages buried here, even though some never had any affiliation with Coelestis. Three gravestones even commemorated victims of “The Day Our City Bled” tragedy: David, Shin, and Penn.

Moments later, Haruto reached the top. He saw Hokori sitting by a large tree, and beside him was a gravestone with the name “Leuchten Glatteis” engraved.

Haruto looked at where Hokori was, and it was nothing more than a view of the city. He decided to sit on the opposite side, seeing nothing but plains and forests. Hokori sighed with his eyes closed. “Remember when I joked about how you were like SAO’s main character?”

Haruto chuckled. “Yeah… It still annoys me….”

“Well, now you’re in luck. Cuz I was very wrong. You were more like my guy in so many ways…” he pointed at the gravestone. “…You even have the same sense of heroism. He was never naive. He just kept doin’ his own shit. Doin’ what he thought was right for the world, while I never gave a shit about capes or shining armor. Wanna know why?”

Haruto nodded, making a hum of confirmation.

Hokori sighed again. “Remember what we did yesterday? I probably orphaned hundreds of demon kids, yet I got messages from Narakan citizens congratulating our deeds.

“If we targeted humans from whatever city instead, the Original Guillotine would’ve come for us next. Ironic that human protesters went against our assigned adventurism. Ya see, boy—I didn’t think much about heroism at first. Then, I found out it was either wishful thinking—or a waste of time.”

“So you’re saying there’s something inherently wrong and cruel about this world? Is it all doomed?”

“No, not at all, boy…” he shook his head. “…I could care less if ya wanna be a ‘savior of the people’ out there. It ain’t impossible, but be realistic. When we were away—eight towns got ransacked by raiders. Could you’ve saved even half of ‘em?

“We’re mages—not heroes. We’re allowed to kill anyone by order, but I ain’t no revolutionary yearning for change. That’s a role for someone else. I’m just a guy that worships combat and regularly does orgies in a brothel. Never gave a fuck to be anything greater, and that’s okay….”

Haruto sighed with a smile as well. “You probably think I disagree with you. I don’t. I know I’m not a hero—but I feel like I can still change things for the better—even for a little bit. It will all matter in the end. I know it will.”

Hokori chuckled. “Took the words right off Leuchten’s mouth, boy….” He explained to Haruto that the Glatteis brothers, excluding Feuer, used to be part of his team.

Haruto sweated bullets when Hokori mentioned a name he knew all too well. Leuchten encountered the infamous Ted Manson at one point in his life. Memories of Rubio’s demise flashed before his eyes.

Hokori and Hegel’s relationship soured so much they vowed to despise each other forever. The Coelestian custom of exchanging blood over one’s cut palm never changed.

Later on, Hokori revealed why he ridiculed any Vetus mage chosen to be on his team to the point of quitting. “I didn’t want their humanity stripped away by a profession that legalized wanton murder, boy… When you think you’re pure of heart—the horrific shit outside will devour you until nothing’s left.

“On the other hand, piece of shit bastards are a dime a dozen. Even as the battle-crazed Peerless Champion, I never excused immoral, degenerate acts against the weak and vulnerable….” He smiled throughout his words.

Haruto clutched his chest and held back tears.

He walked away from the tree and looked up at Hokori.

He did the same, albeit looking down instead. “Wanna know why I kept you guys around instead of kicking you out?” he kept smiling, “I saw y’all as my second chance. And I gotta be honest with you, Haruto—I don’t see the world as you do.”

“How do you see it, then?” his eyes squinted.

Hokori looked up to the sky, noticing murder condors attacking a flock of V-crested grebes. “The world truly is beautiful and full of life! I love it all oh so much. And yet—no matter what angle I’m in—it’s all black and white.” He turned to Haruto. “Now, don’t look at me that way, boy. I don’t hate my life. In fact, I got an ultimate goal I’d like to share with y’all….”

Hokori raised his hand for a fistbump. Haruto walked closer in confusion.

“Let’s defeat monsters, walk rocky paths, run on oceans, climb mountains, fly to the sky, and eventually… touch the cosmos. You get it now, boy? Before we kick the bucket—let’s all live a damn good life!!!” His smile beamed like a classical hero, more than ready to take on the whole world.

Haruto once again saw his fallen brother within Hokori. He held his tears no longer and smiled back. “Okay…” he returned the fistbump wholeheartedly as a golden afternoon permeated the city.