She was right. In a lot of ways, and especially when it came to Holly, Travis was stupid. He was a mess. He was broken. And, above all else, at this moment, he was pathetic.Â
But heâd changed, too. Through all the trials, tribulations, tragedy, and triumphs of his life, through all the times in Santa Destroy and in Hive City⊠Travis had changed. And now, it was time to prove it.Â
All of a sudden, through sheer force of will, the otaku assassin stood tall. At arms-length, he held the woman whoâd blessed his sweet dreams, and haunted his dark nightmares. He furiously wiped away his tears, snot, and other bodily fluids on his jacket sleeve. He forced his heavy breathing to take a more dignified pace.Â
I mean, his eyes were still puffy, his cheeks were still red, and his nose still ran. But hey, nobodyâs perfect.
âIâm a lot of things, Holly,â Travis began, his voice calm like the ocean beside them. ââSorryâ being just one of them. Iâm the man who overcame everything to make it to the top, twice-over. Iâm the man who put an end to something that treated fucked-up people like us as disposable tools. Iâm the man whoâs been slapped in the face by reality more times than I can count, whoâs lost more to his own mistakes than anyone should, but keeps on keeping on, regardless.âÂ
âIâm the Crownless King. Iâm the No More Hero. Iâm⊠just an otaku, trying to test his luck.âÂ
âIâm Travis Touchdown, and Iâm finally ready to face you.â
  Once he finished his (admittedly heroic and dashing) monologue, Holly lifted a hand to gently caress his face. Made it to the top - so he had reached number one. Of course he had. The smile on her face went beyond her normal one, this smile reached her eyes. So heâd not only learned his lesson, suffered after her death, and kept her in his memory for four years, but heâd used that pain to overcome what she could only assume were difficult trials. To become the number one rank was no easy feat, but heâd done it twice, it seems.
  He looked like a fool, still snotting and sniffling, but... she had to admit, there was an undeniable charisma about him.Â
  âHow very inspiring. It seems like you earned your place, and that my death was important, regardless of the hand who dealt it.â She let her hand fall, fingers curling ever so slightly at her sides. Holly wanted to take his hands again. Sheâd enjoyed their brief embrace, bodily fluids and all. It was ever so rare for someone to hold her for any reason other than popularity or lust. Hm. Had she grown so desperate that she wanted to be close to him of all people?
  âI finally know your name after all thatâs happened, but...â A short pause as she stood tall, straightening out after unconsciously leaning toward him. âI donât know if I can bring myself to say it. Iâve thought of you only as the assassin ranked below me and as a man who has yet to mature. Yet you stand before me as a man, and as the top ranked assassin, no less.â She hesitated a moment, head tilting slightly to the side as she examined him. Everything about this, this coming back to life, this new city, this man sheâd fallen for herself in her final moments, it all left Holly feeling rather like she had no control. And oh, how she disliked not having control.
  And so she took a deep breath before whispering a word there was no way heâd hear. Travis. It felt odd to say, but not wrong. âTravis Touchdown. Travis. You are the man who defeated me in combat, and the man who was unable to kill me, despite the assassin way.â Holly took a step closer to him, finally giving in to her urge to take his hands in her own. âYou didnât kill me, but you used my death to push yourself forward. You honored me in that, and so I forgive you.âÂ
  âYou stupid, pathetic man.â A reminder of her confession as she looked into his eyes and smiled.