As the sun began to dip over the horizon, painting the vast desert in twilight hues, the five companions gathered around a small, crackling campfire. The air was filled with the savory scent of grilling crabmeat, a strange but welcome aroma in the barren landscape.
"U-ri, how was it?" Michio quipped, a playful smile on his face as he watched the elder taste the cooked meat.
U-ri took another thoughtful bite of the crabmeat, chewing slowly. "Tastes better with seasoning," he declared with a grin, a hint of playful disdain in his voice.
The five of them burst into laughter, the sound surprisingly joyful in the quiet desert.
U-ri looked at the four younger men, his expression turning serious. "I believe this is a vast desert. I've read somewhere that deserts are scorching hot during the day and bitterly cold at night. Most people travel under the cover of darkness and hide from the sun, sleeping during the day."
"Since it will be cold, then we should sleep close to each other," Yul suggested, his gaze sweeping over the group.
Abrafo, ever the provocateur, teased with a wide grin, "We'll sleep close here, and the two of you can also sleep close to each other over there." He gestured pointedly at Yul and Hajime.
Yul shot Abrafo a dry look. "This is not funny," he stated, his voice flat. He then handed Hajime a stick of perfectly grilled crab meat, a small gesture of care.
Hajime took a bite of the grilled crab meat, chewing thoughtfully before delivering his verdict. "Also, your jokes are stupid. Your jokes are as stupid as the chicken crossing the road... or the knock-knock joke."
The four men stared at Hajime, their expressions blank. Michio finally broke the silence. "I've never heard that kind of joke before."
Hajime smiled awkwardly, a faint flush rising to his cheeks. "Forget it... I just made it up while talking."
Abrafo, however, was undeterred. "I'm not joking," he insisted, his grin returning. "Why do you two suddenly feel that you are going to sleep separately? We don't mind you two hugging!"
"Kissing, or even…" Michio added, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
The three men smiled broadly, exchanging knowing glances as they watched Yul and Hajime, a silent amusement on their faces, offering food to each other, a subtle intimacy in their shared gestures.
Hajime met their gazes with a playful challenge. "We don't need to hug and kiss in front of you. We can do it when and where we like."
Yul took a bite of the crab meat, a faint smirk playing on his lips, and continued the joke. "After all, he is my wife."
The four men erupted in loud laughter, so boisterous that bits of crabmeat flew out of Abrafo's and Michio's mouths.
Abrafo, still laughing, clapped Yul on the shoulder. "Yul, you finally recognize him as your wife!"
Hajime meticulously wiped off the crabmeat that had splattered onto his face. He looked at the three roaring men, a chilling smile touching his lips. "You can laugh if you want. You won't be able to laugh tomorrow."
"Why?" Michio asked, still chuckling.
Hajime pointed a finger at the three, his smile unwavering. "Because the three of you are walking tomorrow morning."
U-ri, ever the appeaser, quickly interjected. "Hajime, I didn't laugh that hard. You wouldn't be so mean to an old man, would you?"
Hajime's silver eyes gleamed. "You think I don't know… you are the ringleader of the three of you."
Yul shook his head, a genuine smile softening his features. He watched the four of them, their playful argument a small, comforting sign that their individual paths were slowly intertwining, forging a nascent friendship around the crackling fire.
"I'll keep watch first," Yul offered, his voice calm. "You guys should rest."
"No one needs to keep watch," Hajime declared, his tone firm. "I will cast the spell." He swiftly removed the silver bangle from his wrist and, with a casual flick, threw it into the air. The bangle expanded, shimmering into a huge, translucent magic circle that enveloped and protected all five people.
U-ri looked at Abrafo, his expression thoughtful. "Abrafo, what do you hope to get out of this journey?"
Abrafo shrugged, taking a swig of water. "Experience and promotion." He then turned to U-ri. "How about you?"
"Knowledge," U-ri replied simply.
Abrafo looked towards Yul, his eyes serious. "I hope if I succeed in this mission, I will make my father proud." He then turned back to Yul. "And you?"
"Peace," Yul stated, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames. "I hope this mission will bring lasting peace to the people of Tanzang."
Michio sighed, running a hand over his shaven head. "I don't even know why I agreed to this mission in the first place. I didn't expect to get anything out of it."
All four men looked at Hajime, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
Hajime offered a small, wistful smile. "I hope to find my true love."
Abrafo chuckled, unable to resist. "There are so many people in Tanzang. Don't tell me that there is no one in Tanzang who meets your conditions."
"No Tanzanie wants to love me from the heart," Hajime replied, his voice flat, a hint of bitterness in his tone.
U-ri's expression turned serious. "Hajime, you are marrying Yul. According to King Jawara, even the great General Kazan cannot refuse this marriage. Refusing the decree of loyalty is death."
"That's why when we finish this mission, you can tell your king that I'm dead," Hajime replied, his voice chillingly devoid of emotion. He looked at the four men, his silver eyes cold. "He told General Kazan that when Yul returns with the dragon tail, he will let one of his princesses marry Yul as a token of appreciation for Yul's sacrifice. Yul will become a prince. General Kazan will have his grandson, and for me... I will live together with my true love. Everyone gets what they want."
Abrafo shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "You have really thought about it. Why are you rushing to read only the last chapter?"
"All I have is time, which you guys don't have," Hajime said, his voice taking on an eerie detachment. "Whether the earth is sucked into that black hole or not, I can't die anyway."
The four men's mouths fell open in shock.
"How?" U-ri finally managed to ask, his voice a disbelieving whisper.
"I'll fly out with my eagle," Hajime replied casually, as if discussing the weather.
"Can you just watch innocent people die without feeling guilty?" Michio asked, his voice strained, clearly troubled by Hajime's indifference.
"Their deaths have nothing to do with me," Hajime stated, his tone unwavering.
"Hajime, you can't think like that," U-ri insisted, his voice gentle but firm.
"Why not?" Hajime countered, a challenging glint in his eyes.
"Because we're human," U-ri explained, his voice filled with quiet conviction. "We have to show compassion for other people."
Hajime sneered faintly, a flicker of old pain crossing his face. "When I needed sympathy, those people didn't give me anything." He got up, walked to his bag, and lay down sullenly, turning his back on them.
U-ri looked at Hajime, then at the other men sitting beside him, a deep sigh escaping him. "Hajime," he murmured, his voice soft, "I hope from the bottom of my heart that you will find your true love during this journey."
Hajime, feigning sleep, kept his eyes closed and listened to the distant conversation of the four people. His thoughts drifted, unwelcomed, to his mother. He remembered how much she hated him, how she'd always side with anyone else before even looking at him. She wished him a tragic end with every beat of her heart, and he could feel it, a chilling certainty.
Hajime saw himself as a very simple person. If someone were to love him even a little, he would love that person ten times over, without complaint or regret. He just yearned for someone who would truly love him. He felt the sting of tears in the corners of his eyes.
Yul quietly lay down next to Hajime. He saw that Hajime had indeed fallen asleep, his face peaceful in the dim firelight. After learning about Hajime's tormented history, Yul felt a profound sense of pity for him, mixed with a growing protectiveness. He reached out and gently pulled Hajime's blanket higher, covering his body against the desert chill.
"I hope you find your true love and get rid of that curse," Yul whispered, his voice barely audible, a genuine wish for the complex man beside him.
Hajime, in his sleep, instinctively grabbed Yul's hand, his grip surprisingly tight. "Kenji-san... please don't leave me," he murmured, the words laden with a deep, old fear.
Yul, touched, carefully put his left arm under Hajime's head and gently hugged him closer. Not long after, Yul, too, fell asleep, holding the mysterious mage.
When Yul held Hajime in his arms, Hajime had already woken up from the endless nightmare, though Yul didn't know it. He stared at Yul for a moment, a complex mixture of emotions swirling within him.
"I hope I can find my true love too," Hajime murmured to himself, his voice a soft, private wish. "Someone who will love me from the bottom of their heart. I hope we can all get what we want at the end of this journey." Hajime closed his eyes, drifting into a restless slumber.
Hajime wasn't sure if what followed was a continuation of his dream or a terrifying surge of reality, because sometimes it felt like a dream, but other times it felt so real, the sensations vivid and agonizing.
As Hajime walked alone in a dark alley, he was suddenly pushed so hard that his back slammed into a metal trash can. A moment later, he saw another trash can flying towards him. He instinctively blocked it with his arm, the impact jarring him. Three men and a woman, their faces grim, began documenting the incident with a cell phone, while the three men started mercilessly beating Hajime.
June, his face contorted with rage, kicked Hajime hard in the left abdomen. He yelled angrily, "Fag… do you really think I really asked you out?"
Shi laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "June...you are so handsome, this guy wants to ask you out." He then delivered two brutal kicks to Hajime's left ribs.
Akako, her voice sharp and demanding, called out, "Shi, move aside, I can't get a good recording of this fag's face."
In Hajime's memory, even amidst the pain, he knew they were wrong. Tonight, he hadn't gone out to "hook up" with anyone. He just wanted someone to talk with, a friendly face. Hajime knew he was gay, but what he was looking for tonight wasn't love; he was looking for friendship, a simple connection.
Hajime could barely see out of his left eye, which was blinded by hot, stinging blood. He heard two more people arrive, talking to June, Shi, and Akako. Before he knew it, the trio, now emboldened, started attacking him again from all directions, a flurry of fists and kicks. After being beaten by three men for what felt like an eternity, perhaps ten minutes, Hajime could no longer feel his body. In the dark, grimy alley, he finally collapsed onto the cold ground, lying motionless in a rapidly growing pool of his own blood. All Hajime could manage were faint, choked grunting sounds.
When blood started pouring from Hajime's head onto the ground, the five attackers panicked. Their cruel laughter turned to terrified whispers, and they fled, leaving Hajime lying broken in the back alley. Hajime heard their frantic footsteps receding, disappearing into the night.
Hajime stared up at a starless night sky when suddenly he saw snowflakes falling on him. He smiled faintly, a morbid amusement, because he still remembered that it was midsummer.
"So, am I dying?" Hajime giggled, the sound choked by a cough, a bitter taste in his mouth.
Hajime thought that the person who had taken him out tonight was someone he could trust, but he was devastatingly wrong. Sometimes, he wished someone would just end his life for him, truly. So, his wish, it seemed, was finally coming true.
The light in his eyes began to dim, the night sky also became darker, his vision slowly disappeared and became blurred, until there was nothing but pervasive darkness. He wondered how he became like this, so broken, so utterly defeated. He knew now that what people say is true: when you are dying, your life literally flashes before your eyes. Hajime closed his eyes, and his life flashed before him, not as vibrant memories, but like a series of black and white photos from a projector, each one a stark image of pain, suffering, and humiliation.
In the distance, Hajime heard Kenji's voice, faint but persistent. "Hajime-kun…Hajime-kun…".
Hajime felt his head gently lifted. He couldn't see the man, his vision too dim. He muttered to himself, "Kenji-san..." He desperately wanted to see Kenji's face, maybe this was the last time he would ever get to see it, but then his breathing suddenly became rapid, faster and faster, until he gasped for air, a sharp, ragged sound.
Hajime gasped, his body jolting, and he sat up abruptly, panting. He turned around, disoriented, and found that the people around him were still sleeping soundly under the bangle's protection. He lay back down slowly, a profound weariness settling over him. He murmured, "When will this nightmare end...?" He lay with his hands behind his head, looking up at the dark night sky. Then, a loud, distinct clanging sound echoed from a distance, and he suddenly sat up again, fully alert.
The sound of jingling soon woke up the other four. The men looked at each other, their faces etched with curiosity.
"It sounds like shrine bells," Michio said, his voice hushed.
U-ri looked at Michio, a hopeful smile breaking through his earlier fatigue. "That means we're very close to civilization."
"Sleep well tonight," Yul announced, his voice filled with renewed determination. "And we leave early tomorrow morning."