22 - A Hug

"Hah... Well, now what...?" Van mumbled to himself as he leaned under a bridge.

"At this rate, I'll become an overnight sensation. Saved the city from that comically large dragon, then a damsel in distress, what next, fighting a horde of assassins sent my way—" Just as he mused that, two kunai-shaped knives clanged against his helmet from seemingly nowhere.

'Of-FUCKING-course. Hey Max, haven't seen you in a while. Oh, THIS NEWSPAPER HERE WITH MY FACE AT THE FRONT PAGE AS THE MOST WANTED GUY!?!? AHH, JUST IGNORE IT!! GOT A LITTLE LOST ON MY WAY!!' Van screamed internally as he dodged more incoming kunai with narrow escapes.

'Damn it, too tight a space! I can't see anything...! I need to get outside to the moonlight..'

Van noted the moonlit exit from under the bridge—the only path clear of the barrage of kunai.

'Yes... That way's clear! Now I can—'

-------FLASHBACK--------

"Remember..."

"-Meatshield..." The sisters chimed in.

"If you're being..."

"-Overwhelmed by attacks, and you see a way out in your panic..."

"-That's a feint. That is usually where the deadliest trap awaits you because when you are in panic..."

"-You can't really see anything. Your sight, at that point, is controlled by your enemy, so.."

"-Stay on your guard."

--------------------------------

"Right...! The way outside is most likely a feint, so I shouldn't go there...!" Van muttered to himself, yet he straightened his posture and calmly walked that way anyway.

'But that was relevant back when such attacks could actually hurt me... Why did I even panic...? Did I forget my +999 STR/RES/VIG Stats..? Those kunai need to be shot by someone like Magus or the Goddess, or Alicia for them to actually damage me...' He thought as the kunai simply bounced off his armor while he casually strolled outside.

"Alright...! I'll—" Van started, but his words were abruptly cut off as a massive boulder crashed down upon him, completely engulfing him.

Two shadowy figures approached the scene.

"That wasn't..."

"-Van Hellix..."

"Yes. Van actually..."

"-Learned from our lessons and..."

"-Never repeated his mistakes..." The shadowy sisters finished each other's sentences with practiced ease.

"We need to..."

"-Report this intruder to Master, and—"

Their discussion was suddenly interrupted by a voice emanating from within the debris.

"Ah... So nostalgic hearing you two talk like that," the voice said, momentarily catching the sisters off guard. Moments later, the boulder exploded outward, its fragments hurtling in all directions except toward the sisters. Van then stepped out from the remains of his stony prison, casually dusting himself off.

"I did learn from your lessons. I saw that panicky way out just like you told me and noticed it before I actually fell for it, but there was just no point in applying your lesson right now. You couldn't have hurt me if you tried, so there's that." He said as he turned to the two, only to see them vanish from sight.

"Aaaaaaand they're gone. Of course," Van groaned in exasperation.

"The one—well, two—friendly and familiar faces I come across, and you just run off!? Come on...!!!" Van exclaimed as he turned around, only to find himself alone.

"Come on...! You know, I've been feeling quite lonely these past few days, and I could REALLY use a hug from my TWO favorite instructors...!" he said, spreading his arms wide.

'Hah, always wanted to act like an overpowered Chuck Norris in front of assassin ninjas that came to kill me.' He chuckled to himself, his voice carrying a hint of genuine loneliness.

'Well... Whatever. I better keep moving.' He thought as he lowered his gaze, and then gradually lowering his arms, 'Maybe I'll see them again? It's not like they will actually go out of their way to hug me right now just because I asked—' he thought, closing his eyes and keeping his arms wide open.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as he felt two slender, feminine figures press tightly against his body from both sides out of nowhere.

'...'

'What...?' Van stood frozen, thunderstruck, as the two nuzzled their faces against his armor.

'Am I being... Hugged, right now...? F-for real...?' he thought, too stunned to speak.

"Dumbass Van, you can..." one of the sisters began, her voice still cold and mechanical, yet now there was an unexpected softness that Van had never noticed before.

"-Never know if we could hurt you for real. It doesn't matter how..."

"-Strong you become... There's always someone who can..."

"-Hurt you... So, please..."

"-Be careful for us."

"-Be careful for us." The sisters echoed each other, reinforcing their concern in unison.

As the two sisters softly voiced their concerns, Van felt an unfamiliar wetness fill his eyes, and soon a tear streamed down his cheek.

'Eh...?' He thought to himself, puzzled by his own reaction.

'Why does this make me feel... so happy?'

"C-can... I... uh..." Van stammered, his voice catching with emotion as his arms remained extended in the air.

"You may..."

"-Place your hands on our bodies..."

"-As well," they said softly, their embrace still tight around him.

Van gasped softly, overwhelmed by the moment as he slowly lowered his hands onto the two, gently resting them there.

'H-haaah... H-haaah.... Have I ever... felt something close to this... in the past 20 years...?'

He sniffled, trying to keep his voice as quiet as possible, aware that their heightened senses would catch every subtle sound.

'D-damn it... I wish... I hadn't worn my armor right now...' he thought, his eyes filling with tears, regretting that the armor prevented him from feeling the full warmth of their touch.