89 Chapter 89
Ko moved first.
He stormed forward, fists clenched, face twisted into that familiar "I'm-so-done-with-your-shit" expression he reserved only for Aruno.
Aruno blinked, still exhausted, still half-slouched—
WHAM.
Ko's fist sank straight into Aruno's gut.
Aruno folded with a grunt, shoulders jerking forward.
Rin gasped. Serenia flinched. Yoru's eye twitched.
Ko leaned in close, teeth grit but eyes shaking with emotion. "You—absolute—asshole."
Aruno coughed once. "…Ko?"
Ko shoved his shoulder.
"You disappear. You blow half the district apart. You fight a god to the death. You risk your life for your her-" Ko jabbed a thumb back at Serenia, "—and then you stand here smiling like everything's fine?"
Aruno opened his mouth—
Ko smacked the back of his head.
"Idiot." Then Ko cracked a grin—one that betrayed all the fear he'd been holding.
"You couldn't make this easy, could you? Nooo, of course not. You had to level the city first."
Aruno finally let out a tired, breathy laugh. "You done?"
Ko grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a rough half-hug, half-headlock.
"No. I've got at least fifteen more insults saved up for when you can stand straight."
Aruno wheezed. "Let go, idiot—my ribs—"
Ko squeezed harder.
"Good. I hope it hurts. That's what you get for making us worry."
Behind him, Rin let out a shaky relieved breath.
Serenia smiled softly.
Aruno looked around at the flattened remains of the district — the dust still settling, the skyline missing, the ground cracked like dried clay.
"…Let's leave the city," he muttered. "There's nothing left here."
Ko snorted. "Yeah. Because someone turned it into a parking lot."
Aruno shot him a deadpan look.
Rin hit him lightly. "Ko."
"I mean seriously," Ko continued, pointing at a section of melted ground, "the earth is literally bowing. This is straight-up crater cosplay."
Yoru ignored the jokes. "Aruno… where are we heading?"
Aruno didn't turn around.
"There's a city not too far from here," he said. "Plaga."
Rin blinked. "Never heard of it."
Ko frowned. "When did you find a whole city without us noticing?"
Aruno's answer was short, clipped, completely unreadable.
"When I was gone."
Yoru studied him closely but didn't press further.
Serenia didn't ask anything at all — she just walked beside him, trusting him.
They left the ruins behind, following a long cracked road that bled into dense forest. Wind whispered through the branches. Night settled heavy and cold.
Hours passed.
Aruno and Serenia walked at the front — quiet, but close, the way only siblings who survived hell together could be.
Ko, Rin, and Yoru followed several paces behind.
Rin occasionally asked questions about the landscape. Ko complained about walking upslope. Yoru kept scanning the surroundings, as if expecting danger that wasn't there.
Aruno walked at the front beside Serenia, his expression unreadable as always. Ko, Rin, and Yoru followed a few steps behind, the wind carrying dust and the faint smell of scorched stone.
Rin's eyes drifted to Aruno's back.
…Did he hear me?
During the fight — during that terrifying, impossible moment where Aruno flattened an entire city — the words had slipped out of her before she could stop herself.
"Don't think I'm going to miss helping out the man I adore most in this world. Aruno, win!"
Her face warmed just remembering it.
Ugh… why did I shout that?
In front of everyone?
Did he notice? Did he react? Did he—
She sneaked a glance at him.
Nothing. Not a flinch. Not even a stray twitch of acknowledgment. He was just walking, arms brushing against his legs, gaze fixed on the distant horizon where Plaga lay hidden.
Of course he didn't react… he was in that mode. The Ghost. Focused. Cold. Untouchable.
But still… I said it. I actually said it out loud.
She hugged her arms, heart knocking lightly against her ribs.
If Ko or Yoru realize what I meant, I'll die. Serenia too… especially Serenia. She'd never shut up about it.
Rin bit her lip.
And Aruno… if he did hear it… what would he even think?
A soft breath escaped her.
…Please just forget it.
No— actually… don't forget. But also don't bring it up.
Ugh. I'm doomed.
Up ahead, Aruno slowed for a moment, eyes narrowing toward the distant forest that marked the path to Plaga.
Rin stiffened instantly.
…Did he hear my thoughts too?! No— no, calm down. He's not a mind-reader.
…Right?
She let out a tiny sigh of despair and kept walking, praying no one had noticed her spiraling.
Ko watched her from the corner of his eye. She wasn't normally this tense. Her shoulders were stiff, her cheeks a little red, and she kept fidgeting with her sleeve like she was trying to hide inside it.
He leaned in slightly, just enough so only she could hear. "Hey. You good? You look like you're about to explode."
Rin nearly tripped. "I'm fine. Just tired. The fight was a lot."
Ko smirked. "Nah. This isn't fight exhaustion. This is the kind of face someone makes when something's bugging them. Or someone."
Rin's eyes widened. "W-what does that mean…"
"You tell me." Ko kept his voice low, teasing but not loud enough for Aruno, Serenia, or Yoru to catch it. "You've been staring at Aruno's back like it's gonna disappear again. And you're all red. Did he say something to you?"
Rin shook her head quickly. "No. Nothing. You're imagining things."
Ko raised a brow. "Really. 'Cause you look like you're hiding something big."
Rin looked away, flustered but trying to keep her voice steady. "Drop it. I'm fine."
Ko let out a quiet chuckle. "Alright, alright. Just saying, if you ever wanna talk, I won't judge. Maybe." He nudged her shoulder lightly, then straightened up again like nothing happened.
The group stepped into Plaga, the neon of the city assaulting their eyes. Towering buildings lined the streets, each covered in flickering signs that cast sharp glows of pink, blue, and green across the wet asphalt. Despite its vibrant colors, the city reeked of danger. Every alley hinted at crime—muggings, fights, illicit deals. Plaga thrived on chaos, its beauty nothing more than a mask over its rot.
Aruno moved at the front, Serenia close at his side, Ko, Rin, and Yoru following behind. Every step was deliberate; he knew exactly where he was going.
It didn't take long before they found a massive house tucked between two skyscrapers. Its windows were reinforced, the walls scorched and pockmarked. Aruno's eyes narrowed—Liraya. She had claimed the place, and the traces of violence told the story. Fear had driven her to kill the previous owner, leaving the house hers.
Serenia's eyes widened. "That's… her place?" she asked, her voice edged with unease.
Aruno kept his gaze fixed. "She's alive. That's all that matters."
Ko shook his head, smirking. "Yeah… she didn't exactly make friends doing it like that."
Aruno ignored him, scanning the faint movements inside. Liraya was still there, surviving on her own. That alone was enough to ease the tight knot in his chest.