Tactical Embarrassment

Miyako's Perspective

I'm nursing my tea at the Golden Hearth, pretending to listen to Rina talk about the jewellery-making techniques she's observed in Crossroads. My mind keeps drifting to Andie. He's been gone for over an hour now, summoned by Madame Noel for some diplomatic discussion. I don't like it. I've had my fill of being separated from him.

"Their metalwork is actually quite fascinating," Rina continues, gesturing with delicate hands. "The cat-folk especially have techniques for—"

The inn's door bursts open with such force that several patrons jump. My head snaps toward the entrance, and there he is: Andie, breathing hard, eyes wide with urgency.

"We have trouble," he announces, striding directly to our table. "The Vulpyn scouts spotted a fight near our sanctuary, six males fighting with a group of four and a hooded figure."

My stomach drops. "Our classmates?"

"Must be," Andie nods grimly. "The group of six has to be the jocks. The four are probably the delinquents. And the hooded figure..." His expression darkens.

Within seconds, our entire group has gathered around our table. Hitomi's face is already set with determination, Airi's jaw clenches, and Hina's clipboard appears in her hands as if by magic.

"We need to go," I say immediately, already rising from my seat. "All of us. Right now."

"No." Andie's voice is firmer than I expect. "I'll go alone."

"That's not happening," I snap, my tea forgotten. "We just got our weapons. We've been training. We're coming with you."

"It's too dangerous," Andie says, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that nearly makes me step back. "The hooded figure, whoever they are, killed Akira. They killed Daiki, Kaito, and Shota. I can't risk losing any of you too."

"The subjugation and mesmerize skills were sealed," I counter, feeling my voice rise despite my best efforts to stay calm. "We've already faced this down once before."

"We don't know who the hooded figure is," Andie replies, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "The Twelve Aspects weren't entirely truthful with us, Miyako. What if there were thirteen originally, but one went renegade and twelve were left? What if the hooded figure can override the seals on those abilities?"

The thought sends a chill through me. I remember how the delinquents nearly used their mind-control powers on the girls before Kazuki's group stopped them.

"Those skills only work on the opposite gender," Andie continues, his words coming faster now. "I'm the only one who can safely challenge whoever this is, besides the nerds who aren't here, and the jocks who are already fighting. Every minute we argue is a minute they might be losing."

His words hang in the air. I can see the stubborn set of his shoulders, the determined gleam in his eyes. But all I can think about is watching him disappear again, the two days of hell we endured searching for him. The nights I couldn't sleep, the meals I couldn't eat, the constant, gnawing fear that he was gone forever.

"Miyako..." Andie's voice softens, but his resolve doesn't waver.

"Don't 'Miyako' me," I snap, hating the tremor in my voice. "No. I can't do it again, Andie. I can't lose you again."

I hate how my voice breaks on the last word, hate the tears that spring to my eyes. But I can't stop them. The memory of those two days is still too raw, too fresh.

"She's right," Hitomi steps forward. "We're stronger together. You're not going alone."

"And what if the hooded figure can control you all?" Andie challenges. "What if I have to fight not just them, but all of you too?"

"That's a hypothetical risk," Airi argues. "But if you go alone and something happens, that's a guaranteed loss."

"We don't have time for this!" Andie's frustration boils over. "Every second we argue, the jocks could be dying! I won't risk all of you for a 'what if' scenario. I just won't."

The silence that follows is tense, electric with unspoken emotions.

"He's right."

I turn in surprise. It's Miyuki who's spoken, her hair falling like a curtain as she steps forward. Mochi stands beside her, nodding solemnly.

"The risk is asymmetric," Miyuki continues, her analytical mind clearly parsing the problem. "If Andie goes alone, we risk one person. If we all go, we risk everyone."

"And we don't know the hooded figure's capabilities," Mochi adds softly. "What if they can counter our healing abilities? Or use them against us somehow?"

I want to argue, but the logic is sound, even if my heart rebels against it.

"I believe Andie-kun is correct," Amakata-sensei says, her voice cutting through the tension. "As your teacher, I cannot in good conscience endorse putting all of you at risk when we don't understand the nature of the threat."

Her endorsement seems to settle the matter. One by one, I can see the fight drain out of the others. Even Hitomi's shoulders slump slightly in defeat.

But I can't let go so easily. "Three hours," I say, my voice steadier than I expect. "If you're not back in three hours, we're coming after you."

Andie shakes his head. "That's not realistic, Miyako. It would have taken us nearly eight hours to reach Crossroads if not for the issues that happened along the way. In three hours, I might not even have reached the sanctuary."

"Miyako-san," Amakata-sensei interjects gently, "perhaps there's a compromise. If the Vulpyn scouts are watching the area, they might be able to inform us when the situation is resolved."

I meet Andie's eyes across the circle of our classmates. His gaze is steady, determined. I know that look. He's going, with or without our blessing.

"Fine," I relent, though the word feels like ash in my mouth. "But the second, the second those scouts report anything, I want to know."

Andie nods, relief visible in the slight relaxation of his shoulders.

"We should split up," Hina suggests, efficient as always. "Some of us should go to the dungeon to find Kazuki's group. They might be able to help. Others should stay here as backup."

A flurry of activity follows as everyone decides where they'll be most useful. Hitomi, Airi, Hina, Mei, and Asuka volunteer to head to the dungeon. Yui decides to gather herbs for potions, with Nana volunteering to guard her. Aoi declares she'll stay in Crossroads to prepare healing potions.

The rest of us, myself, Miyuki, Mochi, Haruka, Rina, Ayumi, Nao, Riko, Amakata-sensei, Kurenai, Ayaka, Miku, Emi, and Yuna, will remain at the Golden Hearth, ready to mobilise if needed.

As Andie prepares to leave, Aoi approaches him with several vials of swirling blue liquid.

"Healing potions," she explains, pressing them into his hands. "They're not as strong as I'd like, but they should help in a pinch."

"Thank you," Andie says sincerely, tucking them into his pouch.

I step forward next, my fingers closing around the silver chain at my neck. It's something I've worn since junior high, a charm in the shape of half a heart, one piece of a whole. I'd kept it close all these years, dreaming of the day I might give the other half to Andie if we ever ended up together. Now, it feels right to give it to him here, in this strange world where we finally found each other.

I pull it over my head and hold it out to him. "For luck," I say, trying to keep my voice from trembling. "I've had these two halves since junior high. I always thought I'd give you one if... well, if we ever got together. I'm keeping the other half with me."

Andie looks surprised but takes it gently. As he slips it over his head, I step closer and rise on my toes to press a kiss to his lips, brief but fervent.

"Don't you dare die, Andie," I whisper fiercely, gripping his uniform. "I'll never forgive you if you do."

A flicker of something, fear, determination, tenderness, crosses his face. Then he pulls me into a tight embrace.

"I'll be back," he promises against my hair. "I'll come back to you."

I want to believe him. I want to believe it so badly my chest aches with it. But I remember Akira's body, remember a hooded figure that took Andie once before.

"Don't make a girl a promise," I say, echoing words from some game we once played together, "if you know you can't keep it."

His hands tighten on my shoulders for a moment before he releases me. Without another word, he turns and strides toward the door, his hand resting on the dagger he always used at his hip, determination in every line of his body.

I watch him go, my heart in my throat. The last time he walked away from me, he disappeared for two days. My mind knows this is different, he's choosing to go, not being taken. But my heart can't tell the difference. It just knows he's leaving again, walking into danger again.

The door of the Golden Hearth closes behind him with a sound like finality. Around me, the others begin organising, preparing, making plans. Their voices wash over me in a meaningless blur.

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All I can think is: come back to me. Whatever happens, whatever you face, just come back to me.

Andie's Perspective

I hit the ground running the moment I clear Crossroads' gates. My legs pump steadily beneath me, powered by my Calisthenics skill, one of those underwhelming divine selections that's turned out surprisingly useful.

The weight of Miyako's half-heart charm bounces against my chest with each stride. The look in her eyes when she gave it to me... I've never seen her so afraid. Not even when she found me after the Twelve Aspects returned me.

No time to dwell on that now. I need to reach the conflict zone as fast as possible.

I channel my focus into maintaining my pace, pushing my body to its limits. As I reach the edge of the forest, a familiar notification pings in my peripheral vision:

[SKILL LEVEL UP: Calisthenics - Level 6 → Level 7]
Enhanced Effect: Running speed bonus increased to +50%
Passive Improvement: Cardiovascular capacity increased by 30%

Well, that's convenient timing. I immediately feel the difference, my strides lengthening, my breathing becoming easier despite the punishing pace.

Then another notification follows:

[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Still Running Away After All These Years]
Description: Some things never change; at least now you're faster at it!
Reward: +5% to all evasion-based abilities

"Very funny," I mutter between breaths. "I'm not running away. I'm running toward."

The system, predictably, doesn't respond. It never does when I talk back to it, which is probably for the best. The last thing I need is some divine commentary track for my life.

The forest blurs around me as I follow the path we took to Crossroads. Four hours of running stretches ahead, even with my enhanced speed, the distance is substantial. Sweat plasters my shirt to my back within the first hour, but I don't slow down. Can't slow down. Not when I keep thinking about what might be happening at the sanctuary.

Who is the hooded figure? The scouts said they saw the jocks fighting against the delinquents and someone in a hood. But that doesn't make sense. The delinquents wouldn't work with a mysterious figure... unless they're being controlled somehow?

And what about Shinji? I haven't seen or heard from him since that night when I saw him with the delinquents. Is he dead? Did the delinquents turned on him and bully him so badly that they got him killed? It wouldn't surprise me, Kenji and his crew were relentless with their torment. Maybe the hooded figure is connected to Shinji demise somehow, an instigator to our dead classmates' end in this world?

My mind spins through possibilities as my feet pound the earth. The sun arcs overhead, marking the passage of time. I pause only briefly to gulp water from streams, never stopping for more than a minute.

After what feels like an eternity of running, I reach an area that should still be a half-day's journey from the sanctuary. But something's wrong. There are monsters here, goblins, orcs, and kobolds, much closer to the path than they should be. These types usually stay deeper in the forest.

I draw Rurielle's dagger as three goblins emerge from the underbrush, their beady eyes fixing on me with malicious intent.

"I don't have time for this," I growl, feeling the enchanted umbranium blade hum with power in my hand.

The first goblin charges, and I sidestep, slashing in a fluid motion that catches it across the chest. My Perfect Balance keeps me steady as I pivot to face the second goblin, ducking under its crude spear and driving my dagger into its throat.

The third goblin hesitates, then turns to flee. I chase it down with my enhanced speed, catching it in three strides and dispatching it with a quick thrust.

I don't wait to confirm the kills. I'm already moving again, dagger at the ready.

More monsters appear over the next hour, a small pack of kobolds, a lone orc that I dispatch with Iaijutsu Strike. It's almost as if something has driven them from their usual territories, pushing them closer to the paths.

Or someone.

After dispatching a particularly aggressive orc, I notice something on the forest floor that makes my blood run cold: a dark stain on the leaves. Blood. Fresh enough to still be wet.

I crouch down, examining it carefully. It's human blood, no doubt about it. And there's more of it, forming a trail leading deeper into the forest, in the direction of the sanctuary.

My stomach knots with dread. Whoever left this trail was bleeding heavily. One of the jocks? One of the delinquents?

Without hesitation, I follow the blood trail, my pace increasing despite the hours of running already behind me. The trail leads off the main path, winding through denser parts of the forest. In some places, it's just drops; in others, smears against tree trunks or rocks, as if someone leaned there for support.

My mind conjures increasingly grim scenarios. What if I'm too late? What if the hooded figure has already killed everyone? What if—

No. I can't think like that. I force the thoughts away, focusing only on the blood trail and the path ahead.

The sanctuary has to be close now. And whatever I find there, I'll face it. I have to.

For Miyako. For all of them.

The exterior of our cave home looks unchanged as I approach, the enchanted stone entrance still seamlessly blending with the surrounding rock face, the clearing before it undisturbed. But the blood trail tells a different story. It stops several metres away from the large boulder that marks the hidden entrance.

And there, slumped against the boulder, are the jocks.

My heart lurches at the sight. There are six of them, Ryota, Kenta, Shohei, Masato, Tatsuya, and Naoki, and every one of them looks like they've been through a meat grinder. Their bodies are covered in cuts, bruises, and what appear to be burn marks. Their breathing is shallow, barely perceptible.

"Hey!" I call, rushing toward them. "Ryota! Kenta!"

None of them respond. I kneel beside Ryota, who appears to be in the worst condition, and check his pulse. It's there, but weak and erratic. He needs help, they all do.

I fumble in my pouch for the healing potions Aoi gave me. Six vials. Six jocks. At least that's convenient.

I uncork the first potion and carefully lift Ryota's head, pouring the blue liquid into his mouth. His throat works reflexively, swallowing the potion. Immediately, a faint blue glow spreads beneath his skin, concentrating around his worst injuries. I watch as the gashes on his arms begin to close, the bruising on his face fading slightly.

I move quickly to the others, administering a potion to each of them. By the time I reach the last jock, Naoki, Ryota is already stirring, his eyes fluttering open.

"What... Andie?" His voice is hoarse, confused. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving your gym-obsessed asses, apparently," I reply, relief making my tone sharper than intended. "What happened? Where are the delinquents?"

Ryota struggles to sit up, wincing with the effort. The others are coming around too, their injuries visibly improving thanks to the potions, though they're still far from healed.

"You're crying," Kenta observes, his voice weak but teasing. "Didn't know you cared so much, Ryuu."

I touch my face in surprise, he's right. There are tears tracking down my cheeks. I hadn't even noticed.

"Like hell I'm crying over some muscle-heads who have muscles for brains," I retort, hastily wiping my face. "It's just sweat. I ran all the way from Crossroads."

Masato attempts a laugh that turns into a cough. "Still the same Andie. Is it a good day for gym?"

"If by 'gym' you mean 'getting your asses kicked,' then apparently yes," I say, looking them over with growing concern. Even with the potions, they're in bad shape. "Seriously, what happened? The scouts said they saw you fighting with the delinquents and someone in a hood."

The humour fades from their faces. Ryota and Kenta exchange a grim look.

"It was Shinji," Tatsuya says, his voice hollow. "The hooded figure. It was Shinji."

"Shinji?" I repeat, stunned. "Shinji Kato? The quiet kid the delinquents were always bullying?"

Ryota nods, grimacing as he shifts position. "We've been tailing the delinquents ever since they broke from the main camp. Figured someone should keep an eye on them, make sure they didn't cause more trouble."

"We met up with the nerds, Kazuki and his group, before they left for town," Shohei adds. "They suggested that if there was a fight we couldn't win, we should bring the delinquents to your sanctuary. Said you'd probably be able to handle it."

I absorb this, my mind racing. "But what happened? Where are the delinquents now?"

A heavy silence falls over the group. Naoki is the one who finally breaks it.

"They're dead," he says quietly. "All of them. Kenji, Ryo, Taro, Hiroshi... Shinji killed them."

"What?" The word comes out as a whisper. "Shinji killed them? How?"

"He betrayed them," Masato explains, his usual boisterous tone subdued. "We were about to confront the delinquents when Shinji just... changed. He threw back his hood and started—" He breaks off, swallowing hard.

"He took his time," Kenta continues, his face ashen. "Made it last. Savoured it. We just stood there, watching. It was like we were frozen. Couldn't move, couldn't speak."

"When it was over, when all the delinquents were dead, we finally snapped out of it," Ryota says. "We tried to run, but Shinji caught up to us. Beat us to within an inch of our lives. If you hadn't found us when you did..."

The implication hangs heavy in the air. If I'd arrived even an hour later, I might have found six more corpses.

"We need to stop him," Tatsuya declares, struggling to his feet. "Together. All of us."

The other jocks nod in grim agreement, each attempting to stand despite their injuries.

"No," I say firmly. "You're all too injured. You'd just get in the way."

"We can still fight," Kenta insists, though he sways dangerously as he speaks.

"Look at yourselves," I counter. "You can barely stand. In combat, you'd distract each other, slow everyone down. You need to get to Crossroads, get proper healing."

"You think we're going to slow you down?" Ryota challenges, a hint of his usual competitiveness returning despite his weakened state. "Or are you just worried we'll show you up?"

"Yeah, right," I snort. "You guys couldn't show me up in a mirror maze right now."

"We could still help," Shohei argues. "Six of us, one of you. The math works out."

"The math works out to six injured guys who'd get killed in the first five minutes," I retort. "Look, I get it. Your pride is hurt. You want revenge. But this isn't about pride or vengeance. It's about stopping Shinji before he hurts anyone else."

"And you think you can take him alone?" Masato asks sceptically.

I meet his gaze steadily. "I have to try. And I stand a better chance without having to worry about you guys getting in the way."

Naoki frowns. "We're not that injured."

"You literally couldn't stand up without my healing potions five minutes ago," I point out. "Face it, you're in no condition to fight."

"We still have our job classes, our skills," Tatsuya argues. "Ryota's a Warrior, I'm a Trapper/Skinner, Kenta's a Fisher—"

"And I'm supposed to be impressed by your ability to catch fish right now?" I interrupt. "Look, I appreciate the offer, I really do. But the best thing you can do is get to Crossroads and warn the others. Tell them what happened, tell them about Shinji."

The jocks exchange looks, clearly torn between their desire to help and the undeniable logic of my argument.

"Crossroads is that way," I say, pointing. "About eight hours at a normal pace, though it'll probably take you longer in your condition. I only made it here in four hours because of my Calisthenics skill. Ask for the Golden Hearth inn when you arrive. Miyako and the others are waiting there."

Ryota sighs heavily, then nods. "Fine. But you better not die, Ryuu. I still haven't convinced you to join us for proper gym sessions."

"Yeah, that's definitely my primary motivation for staying alive," I deadpan. "The prospect of watching you guys flex in front of mirrors."

Kenta manages a weak laugh. "Always with the attitude."

"Someone has to balance out all the protein powder in your brains," I reply.

One by one, the jocks gather themselves, supporting each other as they prepare to make the journey to Crossroads. Before they leave, Ryota turns back to me.

"Seriously, Andie," he says, all humour gone from his voice. "Be careful. Shinji... he's not the same person we knew. There's something wrong with him. Something more than just going crazy or turning evil."

"I know," I say quietly. "I've seen what Shinji did to Akira. Also, the aftermath of what he did to Daiki, Kaito, and Shota."

"Then you know what you're up against," Ryota nods grimly. "Good luck. We'll send help as soon as we can."

With that, the jocks begin their slow, painful journey toward Crossroads, supporting each other, limping but determined.

I watch them go, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Relief that they're alive. Fear about what awaits me in the sanctuary. Grim determination to end this, one way or another.

Once they've disappeared from view, I settle myself on a rock near the sanctuary entrance. I need a moment to prepare, to gather my thoughts and strength.

I check my inventory, confirming that my katana and gunblade are still there, ready to be summoned if needed. My hand drops to Rurielle's dagger at my hip, drawing comfort from its familiar weight. The enchanted umbranium blade has served me well since she gave it to me.

Miyako's half-heart charm rests against my chest, a tangible reminder of what I'm fighting for, who I'm fighting for.

"Alright, Shinji," I murmur, rising to my feet and facing the sanctuary entrance. "Let's finish this."