“I’m stronger than I look! You have to trust me! We don’t have time!”
Luckily, Chrono saw the urgency in the situation and jumped, flailing into Tasuku’s waiting arms. The sudden weight knocked him off balance for a split second, but he was able to steady himself within a few moments. With Chrono clinging to his neck, Tasuku rose into the air again, towards the giant Armordragon keeping the Spectres at bay and away from the zombies clawing at his ankles.
“Jack, let’s go! Chrono-san, we’re gonna go to a shelter. I’ll have you ride Jack, alright? Please hold on tightly.”
Having had to dispose of several more hostile spirits on the way, Tasuku and Jack finally reached a relatively safe area where many citizens had already taken shelter. Landing just outside, Jack allowed Chrono off his back before retreating back into his card. The last thing they needed was citizens panicking at the sight of a giant dragon in addition to all the monsters ambling about.
“Here we are. This is a pretty safe place. There are lots of people here–and lots more who know how to fight. Don’t leave this area until it’s all over, okay?”
With that, Tasuku turned back towards the city, ready to head off again…
As he landed under the scoop of Tasuku’s arms, Chrono gasped out as he could physically feel the both of them plummet with their combined weight in tow. It was like tying a rock to a feather in hopes it would still float when dropped--utterly impossible; giving Chrono a new fear of vertigo as his stomach performed somersaults, he grit his teeth as he prepared for the worst possible outcome--
Aaughhh, I knew it! Tasuku, what were you thinkinggg--!
“Uh... h-hunh...?”
Luckily, that was all unnecessary, as Tasuku no sooner regained his leverage and began a higher ascent away from the straggling undead bodies in pursuit below. He wasn’t exactly sure how he managed to pull this off--magical bullshit, that was the only way!--but at least he could finally let out a sigh in relief...
That is, only until he remembered the detached hand of the one zombie he had tried to fend off on his own was still clamped to his ankle, Chrono screaming again and thrashing violently, almost killing the both of them....
Once the ride was over--and admittedly, upgrading to a dragon had been a much more pleasant experience--Chrono was simply grateful to be in one piece. He was disheveled, exhausted, and starving on top of all of that, but even as he simply nodded half-attentively to Tasuku’s instruction, something strange set him off in the moment he turned his back to him.
Why̢ a͡r̷é you goin͡g ̴of͜f ͟on͠ ýoùr ówn͞ ͏aga̷i҉n̕?!
We̴ ņee͢d ͘to stay ̴to̷ge͏t͘h͡ér̡!̷
He took a desperate step forward and grabbed his wrist, effectively pulling the other back. But upon seeing Tasuku’s baffled expression in turn, he immediately released him, donning his own similar reaction as he found his bewildered gaze falling to his feet in shame.
Why the hell had he nabbed his wrist like that?!
Clearly Tasuku had been in complete control of the situation, no less to be expected of someone who had experience as not only a protector, but a bonafide hero as well. All of those tall tale stories he had shared amongst the orphaned kids during their volunteer days weren’t anything to scoff at. He was the real deal.
So why...?
“You... You better be careful. ”
It was all he could say to cover for himself, too afraid to face Tasuku now that he had done something so foolishly impulsive. Just what was he going to think?
Aughhh, idiot, idiot! What was that all about?!