A week later, the sun was still bright. Breakfast came delectable as ever, but none tasted much. Yukino kept nipping her financiers little by little, slower than the last. Even so, her mother helped most softly. “It’s okay, honey…” she put her hand down. “You can eat anytime later.”

The ‘line’ drawn was not eating at all. Yukino’s eyes frowned, bursting with sorrowful thanks. A heart, broken and beyond, she wanted to give a thousand hugs. “Don’t do it first, Mama. You and Papa need it more than I.” She continued warming the comfort every second.

Tokino smiled and patted her head, accepting with no doubt. Still, the lips lowered for the debilitating mental state. Her daughter had a new hobby: all day in bed, even in summer. Luckily, her sister came in the nick of time and smiled too.

“Let’s go, Yukichi,” Kenkō slowly opened the main door. “Time for our therapy again.” She held her hand, skipping halfway through their ride outside. Laughter was always the best medicine, she declared. Yukino nodded loudly.

Tokino waved as the car flew to the sky. She had a busy day, too, casting runes for a clean table. But as she stacked the plates inside, she banged some on the table. Anger had worsened, panting for a minute. It did not end with the heavy steps from behind.

Hearing the clanging of metal, she had enough. “That solves nothing, brother…!” she turned, eyes narrowed. “Your ‘strength’ only shows your fear. Please. I’m tired of crying.” She stood tall, disappointed to her peak.

Kakunō stored his halberd and gauntlet last. Scars now covered the cheeks, forehead, and across an eye. “So am I, Sis. It’s why I prevail out there. A ghost of the Peerless Champion.” Outside, he never took transit ever since. His flying carpet was more convenient for his new ‘home.’

Her fists clenched, grunting. However, she inhaled deeply once more and exited next. There was always one member who never handled the heartache. She had never questioned either way. It was justifiable merely through the face.

Haruto skipped stones near the lake by a bench. He had his rage, and it even equaled his wife’s. The flat rock jumped twenty meters high every time. He picked up another now twice his head, unlike the last. He cocked his hand back, but another stopped it from behind. Tokino shook her head, wanting no more rage. She was not exempt.

She smiled again, seeing her husband drop the frustration. “This isn’t a good alternative from being a shut-in, honey,” she massaged his shoulders beside him. “You need your pills. Now.” She went so far as to not say please until then.

Out of nowhere, Haruto’s heart had warmed. He held her head and made the first move. After their eyes closed for a minute, he had her rest on his side. “Would it hurt to say I’m glad you’re always here?”

She giggled, cuddling closer. “No… Never. Besides, I need to take mine, too.” Sadly, the moment had not even lasted another tick. She was not exempt from the sulking face. “It’ll get worse than yours, honey. Please remember that.” From a runic circle, she grabbed her on-the-fly dispenser.

He sighed and hunched over the bench, looking above. Despite the blinding shine, clouds moved in droves.

The Celestial Summit commenced with only one family member present. Hokori had sat straight for an hour. However, the king only had words about the uncertain future. “And I’d love to give good news,” he stood, turning to Feuer. “But I shan’t prolong unsolvable questions. This man here is the loneliest from now on. Let us give peace.”

Harald dismissed all, encouraging them to see the funeral. Even Aria showed none of her odd quirks, drying her eyes. The Kizoku twins had an endless gloom, yet he held their shoulders. “It’s not my place to know your pain. But if I must, how about a yearlong vacation?”

They gasped and shook in denial together. “N-No, your majesty! We’d never insist even if we grieve. Hey, stop copying me!” They looked at each other, bickering toward outside.

The king chuckled, eyes closed. Sometimes, I wonder if they’re aware. He turned to the last one inside. “Terribly sorry if you find Hagel’s resting place disgraceful. We relocated his brother, too, if it makes you feel better.”

Hokori slowly stood and stretched, yawning. He saw dust flying around the room. The scorching rays remained in his head. “Couldn’t care less where that cuntfuck lies, my guy.” He walked past him, opening the double doors. “As long as Leuchten’s where he really belongs, I’m good.”

Harald cracked a smile, eyes closed and following. Hard to believe you feel nothing, old friend. You voted yes without question.

Hours in, children of the Kizoku Village stopped playing with their wheels. All had gasped, seeing an army of airships landing. Parents ran and held them close away from the site. However, all had kneeled within seconds. The king led the way, two coffins amongst the brigade mages.

Hokori volunteered to carry one of the caskets by the shoulder. Many smiled as he passed all, yet he returned none. Now their faces had deep concern written all over. Still, one child got herself a wad of two hundred Geld. Compensation was never a problem for him.

The child thanked aloud as they went further away. But she frowned when gone. Luckily, her father could explain even in sadness. “The papers didn’t lie, sorry to say. Our peerless boy had his heart shatter in two again. No one else could survive a third time.”

A year after Hokori’s last visit, the cemetery returned to life. Maintained with no vines creeping on the graves, many walked mesmerized. Since his darkest days, the three mausoleums got two more. He sat down in the grass at the other end.

Feuer went to the left, drawing blood on his brother’s plaque. He placed the bouquet around the stone. Natural velvet roses would have crashed the economy had he bought more. Standing tall, the king stepped in for his share with both hands.

Harald turned, eyes stern. “I needn’t say much, I’ve always said. Even now, I wish not to. When I said to give peace, we shall never interfere. But forever till the end, mother always said. No questions from me.” He led the way once more. Feuer and Hagel’s comrades insisted the former stay longer.

Hokori stood and followed the rest. Well said, my guy. However, the wind grew cold despite the sun. He stopped in his tracks when his brother finished his prayers.

“Do you think Hagel deserved everything thrust upon him?” Feuer saw a few brown leaves fly by him. Many more had moved above. Both noticed, even when they did not want to.

A golden light shined that afternoon. Even then, both wanted none of it. Hokori continued walking. “He sure did.”

Now alone, the archmage still stood by his heartache. No one could bring him back, he knew. Yet perhaps prayers should have worked. He wished for it badly, then the slow waterfall of loneliness.

Absolutely right, brother. But you were the one who taught us to smile.

Back in Coelestis, Hokori offered his partners a long break. The Fly Away Now brothel had seen better days since the epidemic. At least signs of recovery were on the way. Suddenly, they all hugged him in tears. They would never want him looking this way.

Lana’s memory jogged. “Oh, wait! Before we go, here.” She handed him a pair of clear shades with a ribbon. “Kakunō got the idea from his guilty pleasure show. He hasn’t talked much now, though. Take care!”

The door closed behind his private room. He instantly knew what the device was, pressing a button. Unexpectedly, he chuckled. “Link Start, I guess.” Before the simulation, he turned the lights off. Anything dim became his best friend ever since.

In bed, his eyes closed fast. Instead of a video game, he stood within memories of a better time. His parents waved him for breakfast, and two brothers went downstairs.

“Good morning, Big Bro!” one waved fast. “Wanna slay another seadrake with Cool Sis again? It’s gonna be so awesome!”

The other sighed, arms crossed. “By the Gods, dear brother. To think he has even changed your tone these days. But be as it may.” He turned, looking disappointed.

His eyes squinted, annoyed. “Hey, you’re smirking! You actually want me to change, dontcha!?” He flailed his arms like a propeller. Hagel had stopped his charge by the forehead.

Hokori sat on the table from afar, smiling. Even in the virtual world, The Every Hub worked. For now, he could excuse his tearjerker to commence. His pride and joy had many beforehand, after all. Earpods on, he played Leuchten’s favorite in his darkest times. The slow melody accented the golden rays outside.

You gave me a shoulder when I needed it~

You showed me love when I wasn’t feeling it~

You helped me fight when I was giving in~

You made me laugh when I was losing it~

Reality had struck him hard in the simulation. Neither of them even reacted to his bawls, face covered. Then, another one, louder as the sun dimmed.