The Magical Beast Girl Won't Leave Me Alone!

Liohime Kitagami was in a bit of a bitter situation.

Ever since the end of the Paradisus Legion mission, he constantly found himself yearning to be with Jolene just to simply enjoy her company and learn more about her like their first series of interactions, but he couldn't, now that she was gone.

"Now, there's absolutely nothing that I can do," he said with a downwards saddened gaze. "I wasn't able to save her in time."

"You….think that it's your fault that she's dead, don't you?"

"I…"

Liohime fell into silence for a few seconds and the continued:

"I should have fought harder. I should have endured the pain even more and rushed to her side quicker. I should have realized that she was struggling alone much faster. I should have done something, but…my own weakness did not allow me to do so. So yeah, no matter what people say, that's on me. I wasn't able to save her when I could have."

Shihon, disturbed by that statement, wanted to instantly reject that notion, but she held back her tongue and waited. At this point in time, it was probably best to just hear him out completely, and let him throw his burdens onto her as his true feelings were exposed.

"Still," he continued, "Jolene told me to keep living after sacrificing herself for all of us to complete the mission, so no matter what, I have to keep pushing forward for her sake while enjoying the rewards that she helped to provide us with. I'll make sure to never let anyone close to me die ever again. That goes for you too, Shihon. I promise."

He clenched his trembling fist and bit his lower lip in frustration, but his entire body froze as he felt a soft hand stroke his hair gently.

"Shi…hon?"

Side-eyeing the Magical Beast Girl who gave an innocent smirk, he raised his right eyebrow.

"You really are amazing, Master."

"H-Huh? What do you…?"

"Even after losing someone, your will is so strong, and your desire to keep going is incredible. I think…that Jolene would be really fucking proud."

"-hk."

Liohime's eyes wavered, and he could feel the area around his eyes start to itch slightly as his breathing quickened.

"I know you all too well, Master," Shihon continued. "You haven't done it in front of me since we met, but you're definitely going to cry now, aren't you?"

She leaned in and gave him a consoling kiss on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "It's okay. You can cry."

"I….can't," he whispered back, covering his face. "Real men can't be pathetic like this, and I've cried too much already."

"You dumbass. I think that a real man isn't afraid to express his feelings to the woman who truly loves him."

On hearing that, Liohime looked at her with a tense face.

"I will never think less of you just because you are understandably hurt and need to cry, you know. I love you, so no matter what pathetic form you take, you're still precious to me, no matter what."

The young man swallowed hard and sighed.

"As usual, I don't know what I'd do without you Shihon."

Liohime weakly smiled before continuing:

"Let me at least turn away from you. I hate showing how pathetic I truly can be, especially to the woman that I like."

Shihon merely blinked, and then nodded, getting up from the bench and strutting over to his back, after which she turned in the opposite direction.

"I'd love all aspects of you, but I'll allow it. Go ahead, Master."

"Heh, thanks."

Silence abounded and lingered as Shihon could not view his face at all.

Liohime pursed his lips, and then he felt a horrific sensation as the memories of his past interactions with Jolene came flooding back to him as if they were a deluge of water that was released from a dam.

His first joint mission with her.

The friendly outings that never seemed to end, as well as the unforgettable theatre experience.

Seeing her unforgettable reaction after dying his hair and using yellow contact lenses when losing a bet with her, before deciding to keep it for the rest of his life.

The phone call with her late at night.

The sexually active relationship that bloomed with her, remembering her sensual touch and innocent smile that came after sex.

The talk with her and Matsuo Yamamoto in his car.

The friendly formal relationship that followed, not without its close calls.

The beginning of the Paradisus Legion mission.

The second layer of said mission, where they promised each other that they would get the chance to talk more when everything was all over, and they exchanged farewell letters.

Saving her in the black fog of the Dungeon District.

Witnessing her in the Heart.

Experiencing her final moments, and her last goodbye.

Everything hurt him, more than any injury could cause.

Soon enough, the light sniffles turned into wheezes and coughs, and tears dripped, and then trickled down mercilessly.

Why…..why did you have to go out like that, Jolene!? Why the fuck am I so damn incompetent!?

Liohime Kitagami had fully broken down, and wailed softly as he gripped his chest in pain while his entire body trembled in agony.

I'm sorry….I'm so sorry….I'm…

He then felt two arms wrap around his neck from behind in a gentle manner, and although he was in an uncontrollable state, he peered downward to notice the familiar arms of Shihon that cradled him.

He fell into silence, but then he wiped his tears and spoke out with a powerful declaration:

"I will never forget you, Jolene. Thank you for being part of my life."

He clutched onto Shihon's arms with a soft gesture, assuring her that he was alright, and then he continued:

"I'll keep living. I'll keep fighting. No matter what."

With that, Liohime Kitagami would adhere to Jolene's final words, and from the bottom of his heart, he would persevere in the trials that would soon come.