The Typical Dungeon Trip (or not?)

"Ummm…" I stuttered. "W-w-what did you just say?!"

"Oh, come on!" Akane continued to beam her smile at me. "You heard me! You have the wonderful honor of being my guide to the dungeon today!"

"H-h-h-hold on! We haven't been to the dungeon, just the two of us, for the past three years… W-w-we both agreed we didn't need to go there together anymore… S-s-so, what's brought this on?!"

"Oh, Haru, tsk, tsk, tsk." Akane began to shake a finger at me. "Sure, we've known each other for a long time, but even a girl like me has to keep some secrets! But for your information, I want to test something out, and there's no better time for it than right now!"

Akane continued smiling, and I couldn't help but think how adorable she was. I had a feeling she was up to something, but I decided to play along with the charade.

Maybe this change of pace might even help me figure out something from all these scattered thoughts lately…

"Alright, alright, fine. I'll be your guide for today if that'll make you happy."

"Awww, thanks, Haru… umm, I mean… 'Mr. Kurotaka'!" Akane then stood up from her desk and saluted me.

Hmm, she seemed a little too excited for an ordinary trip to the dungeon… It would be best to stay completely on my guard for today…

I got up from my chair and walked into the backroom to get my equipment. After I closed the door to the room, I approached Akane at the entrance. "Akane, I'll play along with your act, but if I lose my patience, don't say I didn't warn you. Are you ready?"

"Hehehehe," Akane chuckled innocently. "I've wanted to say this, sooo… 'It'd be of no problem to me at all, and yes, I can head out.'" She then exited the shop, exuding a certain air of elegance.

Wait a moment… That phrasing and that tone…Did Akane just mock… Maya?

I doubted Akane would play that type of game, so I ignored the concern on my mind and headed out to catch up with her. Thoughts of Maya stuck in my head, though, as Akane and I walked away from the shop.

Because we had no customers for the day, the morning sun still shone brightly on the road to the dungeon, not a single cloud dotting the sky. It was truly spectacular to see Kolm in its splendid beauty. I felt compelled to gaze at the green and yellow fields stretching into the distance and smell the lovely scent of the flowers by the side of the road.

This gorgeous backdrop brought back the memories of that day with Maya. I still remembered how she enhanced the surroundings to utter perfection and how her refined demeanor suited impeccably with the tranquility of the scene. Although I was currently with Akane, I felt as if she disappeared, and Maya was actually here with me instead.

As if trying to erase this divine image in my head, I noticed another scent coming not from the flowers, but from the girl walking next to me. It was clear Akane put on some sweet perfume, something she rarely had on, if at all, for the years we've worked together.

I couldn't help but glance at my right to her, taking in a picture of her more carefully. Her bright yellow hair flowing down just past her shoulders… the new blue and white priestly robe and pants she donned… the staff that had the features of a long mace attached to her back…

Wait, that mace-like staff? I hadn't seen that staff in a long time, so why is she carrying that now? With that weapon, Akane resembled a little bit of Maya… actually, a lot like Maya. Did I genuinely desire Maya to be here instead of Akane right now?

Akane was about to turn her head to my direction, so I quickly averted her stare and focused my course back on the road. It was barely audible, but I swore I heard a giggle from Akane at that moment.

Neither Akane nor I spoke a single word for the rest of the walk to the dungeon entrance, but I stole a few more glances at Akane before we arrived. And each time I looked her way, I saw such a tender smile from her. I kept drawing comparisons to that walk with Maya: quiet the whole way, but the vibe was not as jovial as it was right now with Akane.

Yet, why was I feeling more uneasy with Akane, who I'd known almost my whole life, right now, but I felt more at ease with Maya even though there was more tension with her? There was definitely something off here, but what?

Realizing I was unable to find the solution, I stepped in front of Helmut's Cave and recited the activation chant to reset the dungeon. "Ready to get this done, then?"

"Yup, I'm all set! Thank you so much, and I look forward to your guidance and protection!" Akane chuckled again as she walked into the cave.

Had I not been noticing it before, but was Akane always this playful? I knew she could be this way at times. Still, for some reason today, she was downright adorable, maybe even irresistible… But, Maya had more of that alluring appeal bordering on fatal attraction… Ughhhh…

I shook my head, trying to regain some composure, and followed Akane into the darkness.

We both cast Illume, shining light onto the path we were to follow inside. We intimately knew the layout of the dungeon, so there were no surprises. We easily defeated scores of gremlins and lynxes on our way to the griffon.

Yet, I was surprised at how much more aggressive Akane was in her offense. Because she was a priest, she usually stayed on the defensive and away at a distance, as I would slay the beasts with my arrows in her stead. But she defeated at least half of the creatures, more than on previous trips we had been on together.

I even tried to call Akane back a few times out of concern for her safety, but she ignored me. It was refreshing she didn't incur any bruises or scratches. Still, I couldn't help thinking, what was with this familiar feeling? I knew I did this before, but why is this so similar to that time with Maya?

We entered the griffon's chamber and took up hiding positions in the back, waiting for the griffon to approach. When I saw the beast crawl out of the shadows, I noticed nothing out of the ordinary. It seemed the aura the griffon had when Maya and I fought it was missing this time around.

Akane seemed to understand the present danger, so she took a more cautious approach and allowed me to set the pacing and strategy of the fight. I became the primary aggressor and shot two arrows into the griffon's neck. Akane dashed up to the beast and quickly slammed her staff right into each of the wounded spots. The attacks had been so swift, the griffon dropped immediately to the ground, all signs of life vanishing.

Akane shouted joyously in victory and held up her right hand. "Come on, Haru! Give me some!"

Deciding to take the bait and play along with her, I returned the high five. "Alright, alright, shall we go on to the minotaur now?"

���Yes, let's!"

As Akane walked ahead of me, I kept thinking, Akane's really something. Had I really been this blind the whole time, or was she exerting herself more today? Is this part of the test she mentioned back at the shop?

Putting away my hesitation aside, I continued further into the dungeon with Akane. We continued to dispatch more gremlins and lynxes, but there was never any real danger up to this point. Akane seemed to really enjoy herself today, and I found this change of pace from the visits of the past few days quite refreshing.

When we reached the door to the minotaur's chamber, Akane asked, "H-h-hey, Haru… you mind if we try a different strategy than what we're used to? I had something in mind…"

Another part of this self-induced trial of hers? "Hold on… I'm supposed to be the guide here, remember? Shouldn't you be following my lead?"

"Y-y-yeah, I know, but… I had a new idea I wanted to test out…"

I thought so… "Okay, fine. We'll do it your way. What's the plan?"

"Just hide behind the rock to the left, and I'll hide behind the one on the right. And then you just watch me. That's it!" Akane then gave me a wink.

I was floored at the simplicity of her proposal. "That's it? I'm supposed to just watch you?"

"Don't worry!" Akane waved her hand haphazardly. "I'll give you the signal to attack, hehe."

"Fine, fine," I relented. "I'll play along again. Let's just get going."

"Ahem… 'That is fine then.'" Akane chuckled again under the hand she placed over her mouth.

Why did I feel like I kept revisiting that particular day with Maya all over again? And there it was, inserting Maya over Akane in my thoughts once more…

After Akane and I entered the chamber, we took our positions behind a couple of rocks at the back. Shortly after that, the minotaur approached the center of the room. It was nowhere near the size when Maya and I fought it, so I felt grateful this was not going to be a repeat from before.

The minotaur didn't give off a roar this time. Actually, it seemed more docile, as if it were dreaming. Akane didn't wait long and just launched herself from the rock.

Although I was very aware this was a part of her plan, I still couldn't help but shout a reminder. "Be careful, Akane!"

I was unsure if she heard me, so I peeked up from the rock and saw Akane try to distract the minotaur and force the beast to look her way towards the back of the chamber.

"Haru! Use Multi-Cannon on its head now!"

"Got it!" I readied my bow, and four arrows flew into the distance.

Akane did a great job keeping the minotaur busy, as each arrow quickly stabbed into the creature's temple. Akane then jumped up into the air and executed an overhead swing with her staff. "Take this!!!"

I saw a blinding white glow on Akane's staff, as she landed a devastating blow. The minotaur's head flattened into its neck, and the creature crumpled to the ground. It was a complete victory, no way for the minotaur to get up from such a hit. Comfort seemed into my body, knowing that neither of us was noticeably hurt during this entire ordeal.

I looked in Akane's direction, her head raised, and her face smiling in relief. She then took a deep breath, pointed her staff down, and turned her head towards the ground.

Some sort of flash then shot through my head, so I lifted my left arm and rubbed my eyes. After I cleared my vision, it wasn't Akane in front of me, but Maya. And I saw the pain and torture shallowing her whole, my knees then buckling from the shock of seeing Maya in such a state again.

At this moment, Maya could be suffering all alone, Rellik's voice running rampant inside her head. I can't keep ignoring what she must be going through and just live like this ignoring all of what has happened…

Even though she never outright asked for my help, I want… no, I need to be there for her. I know no one has or will reach out to her… so I'll be the one for her. The fate of Maya… no, of the entire world, is at stake. I have to learn this town and search for her, shouldn't I?

My thoughts spiraling out of control, I was on the verge of collapsing when I finally heard Akane shouting, "… Haru!… Haru!... Ha…!"

"Huh? Is that you… Maya?"

"M-M-Maya? No, it's me, Akane… Haru, are you alright? Maybe you should rest a bit over here?"

Akane directed me to a rock near the minotaur's corpse. Hold on… this is the same one I sat on when Maya confessed to me… My mind was spinning, unsure what was happening now and what was a memory of the past.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but I suddenly felt Akane pull my right hand back and clasp it into both of hers. I sensed her sitting down on the rock next to me, the same one I directed Maya to before.

Although Akane was here with me now, all I sensed instead was Maya…

I started to turn my head towards Akane, but she said in a gentle voice, "Please don't look back." I complied with her wish and faced towards the entrance of the chamber again.

After what seemed like an eternity to me, Akane then spoke up, still in her soft and warm tone, but with a touch of concern. "Haru, we've known each other for so long. It's so obvious to me that something is deeply troubling you… So Haru… will you tell me what happened with Maya?"