Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six: I’ll Remember You Forever, Knox Cross

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

"O-okay, we've wasted most of the game session… existing in fear… b-but let's finish as much of the session as we can. I-if that's okay, Ms. Tetsusen."

I should have walked away from the game club, but everyone encouraged me to stay.

"Carry on," Christina said.

"Okay, Knox. You were… um. You were in the middle of…" JT said, but she kept glancing at Christina. Then she fidgeted with her stupid book.

"Y-you, ugh—"

"I was making out with the waiter boy, JT, and I had just started chewing away at his neck," I said.

Christina slowly leaned forward, looking me in the face with her big blue eyes.

"W-what?"

"You heard me, Christina. Now, don’t bother me; I’m getting into character," I said. Then, with one arm, I guided her back to her seat. "If I remember right, it’s my roll."

The girls stared at Christina, except Jenie. Then JT rolled the die and sighed.

"Seventeen."

Damn, I actually wanted to roll low so I could show the blue-eyed jerk how low I could be.

"Is… that it? You losers just sit in a circle and play pretend?" Christina said.

So, that’s how I sounded when I first came in here with Nakamura… What a freaking jerk I was.

Jenie cleared her throat.

"The game requires one to expend substantial cognitive effort, which may be unpleasant or dull for some of your members. Might I suggest a visual aid to stimulate the mental processes responsible for creativity?"

This clown.

"While that would be… interesting, Jenie, we don't have funding for any technology like that," Nakamura said.

I guess I could ask Christina if we could—

"There is no need for expenditures. All that is required is for us to interlock hands."

"Excuse me?" Christina said.

Then Jenie stood up and started moving toward me.

"I think it best if I make a direct connection."

"You're fucking crazy if you think that I'm going to let you hold Antwon's hand, or anyone else at that."

Jenie stopped.

"How will we complete the circle, Ms. Tetsusen?"

Christina looked around.

"Nakamura, you hold his other hand."

Wow. Not only do I not get to choose who I want to be with, but I can't even decide who holds my hand… best wish ever, right?

"Very well, Ms. Tetsusen. May I hold your hand instead?"

Christina grinned.

"Sure, pull up a fucking chair, and don't get too upset if I break it."

I'm… actually okay with that.

Jenie lifted a chair and placed it between Christina and JT. She held out her hand for Christina, and I did the same for Nakamura.

Now, isn't this nice? We're all holding hands like a bunch of losers.

"To obtain atonement, we must meditate," Jenie said.

…

"This is worse than playing pretend," Christina said.

"Christina, can you just play along? The club is almost over anyway," I said.

One by one, everyone closed their eyes.

I closed mine and…

Nothing.

Oh, boy. This is so freaking boring. I understand what Jenie wanted us to do and all, but we could've had Kanna draw more pictures… though, I don't know if she'd be up for it right now.

How long does she expect me to do this shit…

"Okay, I'm done with this shit."

I opened my eyes.

But I wasn't… in the classroom…

No.

I was on top of a man with reddish-pink skin who was breathing heavily… I was breathing heavily, too.

Short hair framed the little stubs on both sides of his head, each one sanded down.

"I-I don't understand, lad. Why are you making me feel this way?" he said.

Feel what way?

Something started to poke me, and I pushed myself onto my knees.

"What was that?" I shouted. "Are you—" My body grew hot. "A-are you?" I grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him to the ground.

"This is the best fucking tavern, with the best fucking beer, and live services!"

"Aye, sister!"

I love his red eyes… I can't resist them.

I touched his cheek, then ran my fingers through his hair. I pulled his head toward me, then smelled his neck.

His fingers dragged against my leather armor.

He moaned.

"W-we can't. People are watching us," he whimpered.

My mouth watered.

I prepared to taste my prey.

Then…

The sensation faded.

Game Master: The goddess of lust has released you. You must perform two charitable actions to fully negate her gaze.

I slowly stood up.

My body ached.

The waiter boy covered himself with his hands, so I took off my cloak and draped it over him.

"T-thank you, lad."

"Yeah, I'm so sorry. I-I didn't mean anything by it; the slap, the kiss, any of it."

The waiter tried to stand but struggled because of his condition, so I held out a hand. He took it, clutching my cloak closed with the other. Once he was up, he hunched over.

"You didn't mean any of it?" he asked.

I mean, his lips were soft… what the hell am I thinking?

"I-I'll take that table now."

"S-sure."

He led me to a table in the middle of the room, then limped away. The women around me kept staring. A few of them licked their lips.

One raised a mug. "Thanks for the show, boy. I just wish it went further."

Damn. If this isn't Kokiri, the women here are the same.

The waiter boy returned with a pint of… something.

"But I didn't order—"

"It's okay; the barmaid said it's on the house," he said. He stood there for longer than he needed to.

"Thanks. Um, can I help you?"

He placed the tray behind his back and did a strange wiggle.

"Y-you were my first," he said.

First what? Oh, he means kiss.

"Hey, stranger, the waiter will be right with you; just take a seat," the barmaid called from across the room.

"Um, you were my first, too."

First dude.

He smiled.

"The barmaid said that we could, um, become overnight companions if you're willing to pay. Not that I'm like that, but I felt something when we, um."

Yeah, I felt it too. It was poking me pretty hard.

"Hey, Waiter boy!" someone called out.

"Who the hell is calling him? Can't you see… Oh, shit. Waiter boy, see to the ronin before someone loses their life."

A ronin? Shit, that's what I wanted to be in the first damn place.

The woman who'd called him stood by the door.

I want to tip the poor guy, but what do I use as money? Freaking JT didn't teach me anything.

I picked my mug up and made my way to the woman by the door.

How hard can this be? I'll just walk over to her, introduce myself, and ask a few questions.

She nodded, and the waiter walked away, giving me a smile as he did.

Ugh, does this make me… I mean, in the game, at least. Whatever.

I took a small sip of the strongest, foulest brew I'd ever tasted, then set the mug on the ronin's table.

Who drinks this shit! I'd rather drink horse piss.

"Hey—"

"Go away, boy. I won't spare my coin or time for your company."

…

What a lovely jerk.

"I get it; you're an asshole."

She glared at me, then took her hat off and set it on the table.

"You've got a sharp mouth, boy. Do you think it's as sharp as my blade?"

She touched the hilt of her sword.

I tensed up.

"Hey, I almost forgot," the waiter said, setting my cloak on the table. "Thanks, but I never got your name, sir."

I guess I'm "sir" now.

"My name's Knox."

"What's your last name?"

…

I didn't write one on the character card…

"Um, Cross."

"Well, I'm going to remember you forever, Knox Cross. I'll be back with your food, ma'am."

He was gone again, and the ronin woman had let go of her sword.

"Well, shit me. I had you pegged for a tavern tail, or at the least one of its patriots, but never a Bloomwarden. Well, I guess that ain't fair now, is it? You can still be a patriot. Maybe you were just trying to get your bloom," she said, then laughed.

I didn't understand any of that freaking nerd talk. I know what a patriot is… Bloomwarden is my class. Get my bloom? Freaking loser.

"Whatever, I don't even know what you are talking about, so there."

"Oh, come now. I see the way that Thornkin looked at you. I guess you liked the shaved-horns look. Many do. But did you know them folk can feel it when they gotta shave it off?"

…

"Then why do they do it?"

"Why don't you ask him after you get your bloom."

"What the hell does that mean?"

The waiter brought food and a drink to the table.

"Thank you kindly. I won't keep him too long. I think he's been waiting for you, too."

Jerk. Oh!

"I want to give you a tip, but I don't know…"

I started patting myself down, looking for anything I could give him.

"You've got a pocket there by your thigh."

It's a pouch on a freaking string… pocket my ass.

I reached into the pouch, pulled out two gold pieces, and held them out to the waiter.

"Here you go. I'm sorry for everything."

"For everything?" he asked.

I sighed.

"Well, the kiss was surprisingly nice, and stop shaving your horns, okay?"

He slowly accepted the gold pieces.

Then he hugged me.

Then he kissed me on the lips.

That… wasn't an invitation!

"I'll stop for you, Knox Cross."

He scampered off.

"Wow. Excuse me. I didn't know it was that serious of a thing," the ronin said.

"I didn't ask for the kiss—"

"You didn't deny it either, and two whole gold pieces for a copper worth of mead. That must be what they call love. So, you gonna put a ribbon around it?"

I lifted the pint and started chugging it.

"Well, now. Don't drown yourself. The poor boy would be heartbroken."

I slammed the mug on the table once it was empty.

Waiter boy! Bring me my gold back, damn it!

"You okay there, mister warden? You seem to be leaking from your eyes."

"I'm—"

The waiter set another pint in front of me, then wiped my tears.

"This one is sweeter, Knox," he said, then he walked away.

I sighed.

The ronin giggled.

"Screw it."

I sipped the mead, and it was way better than the other stuff.

"What's your name?"

"Ronin."

…

This piece of… okay, just—

"What's the name your mother gave you, smart-ass?"

"I wonder which would win between your tongue and my blade, warden. The name is Shadow Song."

"Well, Shadow, why—"

"Shadow Song."

…

"Sure, what brings you to this town?"

"I'm a ronin. I took the road oath."

Like I'm supposed to know what the hell that is.

"Sure. What is this road thingy?"

She sighed.

Someone burst through the tavern's doors.

"Raiders! Someone, please help," she cried out.

"Call the oathbound," Shadow Song said.

"They're out on a hunt. Been that way for two weeks now," the woman said.

The barmaid walked over to the ronin's table and set another mead on it.

"I know I ain't got the right to ask this of you, but please defend us. I know it's asking a lot since this—"

Without a word, she stood up and put on her cloak and hat.

"Well, I'm here. I may as well."