Chapter 16, Trail of Pains

"Hey, Storm, I've been meaning to ask you something." Dia said as we were walking past the path that was overgrown by plants.

"Go ahead." I answered.

"Are you okay?" She said and I turned my head. "You are angry at yourself that you aren't able to help anyone."

"What of it?" I asked as we continued to walk.

"But you were actually thankful that Haruki was knocked out of the game, because ever since he joined you've lost your job of being a shoulder to lean on by everyone." She said and I stopped and turned my head at her. I stared at her with a measured look. "I'm the same. I'm angry that I couldn't be of help to him too but a part of me was thankful, that he was knocked out even if it's temporary. I was given the name Queen of the Gems but a gem can shatter easily, unlike Haruki, who shines and sparkles without anyone. Unbreakable and unstoppable, like there aren't any walls infront of him."

I carefully watched her with a measured look and asked with a measured voice. "What are you implying?"

"Haruki, he is our day and our night." She said as she met her eyes with mine. "He shines a light that guides and protects but also shadows others."

"I guess you're right." I sighed, Dia is one of the few people who can see under my mask. "Haruki is so bright and it's a light neither of us can ever measure up."

"I wouldn't say that." Suddenly Haruki appeared in front of us.

"Haruki?!" We exclaimed as our faces burned with what could only be shame.

"You two are strong." He smiled. "Before I joined, you were so bright, everyone from the guild. I looked up to both of you a lot since before which js why I move forward."

"Don't joke around!" Dia grabbed his collar. "I've never seen you feel lost or in the dark, not once!"

"That's because I know what I have to protect." He smiled. "The people by my side are my treasure and I'll never let it slip between my finger again. It's that resolve that causes me to move forward."

"Haruki..." I tapped Dia's hand to get her to let him go.

"I hide it well don't I?" He asked.

"Hide what?" I asked.

"My fears, insecurities and weaknesses." He said as he turned his back and held his hand to the sky. "I've always been weak, to be honest, there were times that I thought I might fall apart."

As the area was slowly filled by golden orbs and the lights illuminated the darkened path. In front of us, Haruki's memories were shown. The problems that were slowly consuming him and the pains he felt but hid for our sakes.

"Haruki... you've been suffering on your own all this time, haven't you?" I asked and he smiled.

"It's pretty easy right?" He asked. "To forget what it means to be truly strong."

"What do you mean?" Dia asked.

"A true strong person is someone who has courage, the power to convey his thoughts." He said. "All I ever did was hide mine. But, look where that got me."

"Haruki, how are you able to bare all these problems?" She asked.

"Because I know what it's like to lose your treasure." He answered. "That's why I never want to lose it again."

For a second, we stood there as we tried to process his words. Then, the full impact of his words hit us, the reason he shines so brightly is because he has something he can't lose like us, but the reason he shines far brighter than any of us is because he has known what it's like to lose that something and hw never wants to feel it again.

In an instant, everything became clear, how he could fight, how he smiles, he can be so bright, it's all because he has already fallen once and has picked himself back up. Surely, Haruki can truly change us. He is not a star but a sun that shines upon us who have fallen. He stretches his hands out to us repeatedly even if we fall. Because, he too, knkws what's it like to be in the darkness.

"Haruki." We both looked at him.

"When ever you feel uncertain and weak, remember, I was far weaker than you when I first started. You two are my Heroes." He smiled before disappearing.

"I guess, we need to move on." Dia said. "Haruki offered his hand to us, let's move forward."

"Yeah." I answered.

Suddenly, I was on the ground, what was that? I got up and saw that we were in a barrier, Dia shook her head, meaning even she couldn't break it.

----

A voiced echoed in the air about a trial so I held Rue's hand as we walked down the dimly lit paths, worried we might get seperated. As we walked forward, I noticed her hands grow colder.

"Rue?" I turned to her.

"Hey Flora, do you think Haruki loves us?" She asked and I stopped. "We had just gotten together with him when he lost his memories. I wonder if he cherished our time together as well."

"Haruki isn't that kind of person." I answered her. "But maybe the thought had crossed my mind once."

As we were wlaking forward we heard a voice so familiar and bright we ran after it. We found him there, Haruki, with the other fiancees. He held their hands and smiled so happily.

"Haruki!" We both exclaimed and he turned his head with a confused expression.

"Who are you?" He asked and suddenly my chest felt tight.

"Let's go, Haruki." Aria said as she pulled his hand and left us alone.

Rue was crying her eyes out, she has been haunted by this for a while now. The idea that Haruki doesn't love us the same way he loves the others but I know, it's not true.

"It's alright, it isn't real." I told her. "This must be the trial."

"E-even so, it reflects something that has been haunting us for so long!" She said as she cried her eyes out.

The fear, the fear of Haruki not loving us at all. That he wouldn't love us the same we loved the others.

"That's not true! It's only just now. One day, he'll love us like the others." I insisted as I held her close.

"And if he doesn't?" She asked and I hesitated. "What if he only takes us as his brude because he is sorry for us?"

"T-that's-" I was more hesitant to answer now.

"That's not true." I heard a voice say. "I love all of you."

"Haruki?" We asked hesitantly.

"I love all of you, ut doesn't matter how long we've been together. What's important is how you feel." He said as he appeared and embraced us. "Remember this, love isn't something you can force, love is something you have to care for, nurture and make bloom."

"If so-" He stopped Rue.

"The love we have for each other hasn't had time to grow yet. But, these feelings are not an illusion." He said as he held our hands. "I love each of you, cery, very, much."

His words made our fears disappear in an instant. He is right, we have only been together for a short time, which is why, even if the feelings aren't equal just yet, we can just give it time and care to make it bloom. Because, one day, they'll catch up.

"My precious flowers, I love both of you." He kissed our foreheads and the pain in our chests disappeared as if it was only air.

When I had come to, Rue was shaking me, saying we couldn't leave for some reason. I turned my head and saw that a barrier was erected. Most likely, we're trapped like this until the others have passed their Trials.

Even so, I feel relieved, this Trail, has shown us taht we still have time, even if it takes a while, our feelings will be mutual. They're already there, we just have to make them bloom. The same way we tend to flowers and plants, nurture them, love them and give them time.