Explosions are Awesome

Now, that was unexpected. Batu knew what guilds were all about. Although, he wasn't a big MMO gamer, he casually played some on and off when he was bored years ago.

He joined a guild back in the day with some middle school friends when he played Maplestory.

It was fun over the years, but as time went on, they went their own ways. Batu never really heard from them again. Man, those were the good old days.

"Really? What guild?" Batu asked.

"The Swords&Shields."

"Pfft-!" Batu nearly coughed out the food from his mouth. He quickly pounded his chest, then drank the food down with some booze.

Batu was taken back. That was the same guild that weird clerk was talking about when Batu bought his sword. Because of Ji-Soo, his first impression of the guild was that it was somewhat... strange.

"You- you didn't get scammed into joining them, did you?" Batu asked with slight concern.

"Nonsense, boy!" Chin patted him on the back in reassurance. "Those two beautiful recruiters told me how lovely and handsome I was.

When they heard that I was a warrior, they wanted me in right away! I told you warriors are the best class here!"

"And...? What happened next?" Batu wanted to know how Chin's wacky story unfolded.

"Well, them young gals brought me into their guild. Big lookin' buildin', I tell ya. Nice, too. They took me to a the guild manager named Hue; he was massive guy wearin' this giant hunk of metal.

My eyes couldn't believe that was armor! But anyway, we talked for a bit, and bada bing batta boom, I'm suddenly a member now."

"Right... that does not sound fishy at all," Batu deadpanned at him.

"What about you, boy? Are ya going to join the guild? I heard there's several others."

"Nah," he shook his head. "Who needs a guild when I have Louise by my side?"

"Bah! With explosions like that, she could take down an army if she wanted!" Chin laughed, chugging down another round of booze.

"She's probably the strongest out of all of us, right Louise?" Batu showed off a wide grin.

A small smile grew on Louise's face.

Those words hit her more than they should have.

When was the last time someone cared for her like this? She had been alone and no one at the academy wanted anything to do with her.

They laughed at her failures.

But, Batu never done anything like that. Sure, he was a massive idiot at times and always seemed to get her riled up. However, he never hated her.

Batu always smiled at her. He accepted her without question despite her flaws.

He was never annoyed when she bossed him around. Louise swiped another glance at Batu who was smiling and laughing with Chin. Then, her smile died down a bit.

Louise suddenly felt her heart ache. She couldn't understand why she felt this way. Why?

Shouldn't she feel happy?

Yet, all she could think of were the loneliness and humiliation back at the academy. It was a constant reminder. Why did she want to back to her world?, anyways?

Nobody would miss her.

Her eyes focused on Batu.

Would Batu abandon her if he deemed her useless and a failure? Would he still care about her then?

Louise the Zero; that's what she is. It was a title that would forever follow her.

"You alright, Louise?" Batu asked with concern.

"Yeah... I need to use the restroom for a minute," Louise stood up and walked out of the dining room.

"Did I say anything wrong?" Batu looked back at Chin with a bit of confusion.

"Maybe the gal got 'erself a blowout, am I right?" Chin elbowed Batu on his shoulders.

As soon as the door closed, Louise ran upstairs to their room. Lucia stared with half-lidded eyes as Louise suddenly went passed her.

Louise rushed her way into the dark room and slammed the door closed. She dropped onto the bed and sat against the wall.

Louise dropped head in between her knees.

Batu was wrong. She wasn't strong. Not at all. She was just some weak, little girl who couldn't even perform summoning rituals right.

What use would she even be? Louise would only drag him down in the future. So, why would he even want her around?

Louise wanted to vent out all her pent up emotions.

Only the silence gave her comfort in this strange world.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

"Louise?" Batu quietly opened the door and walked in. "You in there?"

No answer. However, Batu saw the pink ball of sadness over on the bed and went towards her. He then sat down beside Louise and gently tapped her shoulders.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked. "Was it something I said that hurt you?"

She shook her head.

"Are you not feeling well?"

She shook her head again.

Batu paused for a moment before he asked her another one.

"Are... are you thinking about home?"

Louise didn't answer this time. Batu bit down on his lips as she refused to answer him.

"Talk to me, Louise. I want to know what's got ya so upset," he said.

He gently pried her arms off from her knees. Then, he tilt Louise's head up by her chin. His heart lurched painfully in his chest when he saw her.

She was crying.

Louise suddenly gripped Batu's shirt and cried into his chest. Batu stood there frozen as Louise continued to pour all her sadness onto him.

Batu told himself that he was going to do his best to make her happy, yet Louise was crying in his arms.

He had failed. Not only to himself, but to her, as well.

She must have held all her pent up emotions up until now.

'Louise is right; I'm such a massive fuckin' idiot," he thought to himself.

Batu slowly wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. She was like a soft and frail animal that desperately needed attention.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "For everything."

Batu finally mustered up the courage to do so. He couldn't do it before, but he had to this time.

"I'm sorry for not noticing it earlier; for being an idiot; for dragging you into this mess; for ripping your way from home; for... for making you sad.

I promise to get you back home once everything is all over."

Then, there was silence. It was almost suffocating for him to bear. Did she hate him? Hate him for everything he did to her?

"...idiot," Louise's voice muffled through his shirt. "Idiot. Idiot! IDIOT!" She suddenly pounded his chest in anger.

Batu simply took the hits; if this was his punishment, then so be it.

Then, she finally stopped; her clenched fists loosened as they dropped back down.

"So, you're just going to abandon me after you use me?" Her voice croaked.

Batu's eyes widened in shock. That wasn't what he meant. He would never do that to someone like her. He thought... he thought he could bring her back.

"No, why would I ever do that to you?"

"Because I'm Louise the Zero; a failure at everything," her voice grew quiet.

"No, don't say that; that's not who you are," Batu said.

If she was a failure, then what was he? He was a loser and an otaku.

He had been kicked out of his parents' house, and only managed find someplace to stay when he finally got a dead end job. Even then, he still wasted his life away on anime and games.

"Yes, I am! I can't even do anything right!" She continued to cry.

"Louise, look at me," Batu lifted her chin up.

"You're not. Don't let anybody say that you are. Fuck those people. They don't have any idea what they're talking about.

You're not some Zero!

You're the only Louise that I know; a badass void mage who could kick some serious butt! If it weren't for you, Chin and I would have died several times back there against those demons."

"Really?" Louise muttered out.

Batu nodded firmly, "You can beat me senseless if I was lying fo you."

Louise quickly wiped her tears away as a smile finally made its way to her lips.

She really needed that.

"Besides, explosions are awesome!" Batu said with enthusiasm.

Louise couldn't help but laugh. It was a laugh that relieved her from all the stress that she felt up to this point.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Thanks, Batu."

Louise embraced him again.