Succumania

Feelings. 

Feelings—love, joy, pain, sadness. Each one is essential to a full life.

As we journey through our time on this planet, countless moments shape us. Every choice we make, every path we take, leads to new outcomes, different endings. Some bring happiness, others sorrow, but all are part of what makes us who we are.

Each emotion is attached to stories, events in our lives. But after everything is said and done, after a long and arduous journey… What is left?

Nostalgia? Relief? Or rather… A bittersweet feeling that takes some time to cease.

For him, I couldn't really know. It had only been a month since I had left.

That's right, I left on a short journey to find some answers. 

My name is Saki—or rather Seris, whichever I go in the spur of the moment.

I am a succubus. Or rather, an ephemeral dream taken form, what the different mages I've met would call a primordial one. 

After that little interlude where multiple universes were gathered here, I resumed my vacations, my journey. For his pain, I can no longer endure.

Even after saving the world two times now. Even after sacrificing himself countless times, even after saving me… He has yet to be filled.

A hollow existence, untouched by joy, denied the simple satisfaction of accomplishment. In saving everyone else, he forgot to care for the one person closest to him—himself.

A detective every day, losing himself in case after case, searching to resolve everything in his path. A truth seeker, lost in a meaningless work that couldn't even fill him with pride.

No, it was merely a job to him. Something that he could do to pass the time, to think about something else.

And I… I could only watch for so long. 

In saving everyone, he had lost the ability to seek pleasure… His only purpose to save lives.

As a succubus, this couldn't continue any longer. 

After all…

"How can I fuck him if he can't get hard!?"

Truly a mystery I needed to solve, and quickly…

Back in L.U.N.A.R…

Nina sat comfortably in her chair, doing her best to stifle a genuine laugh. In all her time observing this man, she had never seen him in such a pitiful state. No—more precisely, in such a small state.

"Come on… Can you bring me back to normal or not?" Luka sighed, his foot tapping rhythmically against the ground. 

Shrunken to a fraction of his usual size, he stood on Nina's desk, arms crossed, glaring up at her. Nina smirked, leaning forward, resting her chin on her hand as she examined him like a curious scientist observing a rare specimen.

"Oh, don't look at me like that," she said with a glare that announced nothing good. "I could bring you back to normal, sure. But where's the fun in that?"

Luka groaned, pinching the bridge of his tiny nose. "I've been through enough shit today so I swear if you—"

"What?" Nina interrupted, her voice teasing. "You'll hit me?" She poked his side with a single finger, making him stumble. "Face it, shota-boy, you're barely knee-high now. What exactly are you gonna do, huh?"

Luka shot her a glare so sharp it could've cut glass. "Nina."

She sighed dramatically, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll figure something out. Just… let me enjoy this moment a little longer."

Luka muttered something under his breath, but Nina had already turned her attention to the nearby console, fingers dancing over the controls. Whether she was actually working on a fix—or just stalling for more entertainment—was anyone's guess.

As Nina worked, Luka's eyes drifted around the room, scanning his surroundings. It was just as messy as ever—loose scraps of metal and wires littered the floor, books stacked haphazardly on the shelves, and… were those guns?

His gaze flickered to the workstation behind Nina, where something unusual caught his eye. Blueprints—schematics for what looked like armor. But not just any armor.

It was eerily similar to the one Desmond had worn.

A magically enhanced suit designed to amplify physical abilities, outfitted with an array of built-in gadgets. It was still in its prototype stages, but the concept was unmistakable.

"What's this?" Luka asked, nodding toward the schematics.

Nina barely glanced back. "Oh, that?" She shrugged. "Just a little pet project. You like it?"

"What is it for?" 

"For you, of course," Nina chuckled while looking at the screen to her right. "Seeing how I almost got you killed for telling Vinum where you were, I figured I should have something ready just in case."

His gaze rested on the schematics. "So… An armor to fight her?"

"Exactly," she nodded with a smile. "I collected the data of your last fight against her in the Dreamworld. With that, I can run some simulations to see if this will give you enough firepower."

Luka raised an eyebrow, tapping his fingers against his arm. "You really think this suit's going to be enough to take on that little white-haired monster?"

The scientist smirked. "I'm confident."

Luka exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I hope you're right… Unlike that imp, I don't know what she would do if I were to lose."

Nina's expression softened, her gaze thoughtful. "You'd probably die."

"Yeah…" Luka's voice dropped to a quieter, more serious tone.

Though it was true, it didn't change much. In a way, it was business as usual for him. He had faced death before, and yet, this time, something felt different. Perhaps it was the threat of her power or maybe just his own sense of being worn down, growing tired from everything.

"By the way…" Luka shifted the subject, his tone lighter. "Any news about Saki?"

Nina raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "You really miss her, huh?" 

Luka sighed. "I mean… She's been gone for a while."

"She's nowhere to be found," Nina replied, her voice shifting to a more serious tone. "The good news is, I don't think she's the one responsible for the succubi sticking around."

"How sure are you?" 

"If I were to be a cliché scientist in a movie, I would say around 90%. Unfortunately, I can't give you a number. It's just that the first few arrived before the multiversal crisis."

"Wait, before?!" Luka's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean some of them came here before the White Rabbit opened her portal?"

Nina nodded, her expression neutral but thoughtful. "Yes. It's likely they've been here for longer than we realize—before the multiversal event even started causing ripples."

Luka's mind raced as he processed the new information. If the succubi had arrived before the crisis, it raised a lot of unsettling questions. Why hadn't he noticed them sooner? What did this mean for the world they were living in now?

"Does this mean some of them are still out there, in the wild, and we have no idea?" Luka asked, his tone growing more serious.

Nina shrugged casually, tapping a few keys on her console. "Some of them were killed by the holy guards," she explained, her eyes flicking back to him. "That's how I know they arrived earlier than we thought. The reports indicated that none of them were connected to succubi from our world."

Luka furrowed his brow, digesting the information. "Holy guards? You're saying they've been actively hunting them down?"

"Yep. Apparently, they saw the succubi as a threat before anyone even realized how deep this was getting," Nina replied, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity. "It's possible there are way more than we originally thought and that this whole problem is unrelated to the multiversal crisis."

Luka leaned back, his mind spinning. If there was a larger game being played here, one that had started well before the multiversal disruption, the situation was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

"Unrelated, huh?" Luka muttered, eyes narrowing as he tried to piece things together. "That complicates things… a lot. So, if the succubi have their own agenda, and we don't even know what it is, we might be walking into something much bigger."

"At least for now," Nina closed the multiple pop-ups on her screens and turned to face him. "It doesn't seem like anything too problematic is happening. It's not a world-ending threat."

She then flashed him a warm smile and poked his forehead. "So relax a bit, would you?"

"How can I relax with so much shit going on? And with these monsters living in my house on top of that?"

Nina chuckled, tapping a few more keys. "You'll survive, Luka. You always do."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Surviving is one thing. But I swear, if one of them—" He cut himself off, looking around the room as if expecting the succubi to pop out of nowhere.

Nina's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You're more worried about them than you are about the actual threat, huh?"

Luka shot her a glare, but he couldn't help the small grin that tugged at his lips. "Wouldn't you be? I'm just waiting for them to jump out and start causing a mess."

"They don't bite," Nina said teasingly, tapping a few more buttons. "They just suck."

"Shut up…" 

She then picked up a newly created talisman and used it on Luka, making him revert to his normal size slowly. 

"By the way, if you could ask one of them to come visit me…" she said with her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Aye, aye…" Luka scratched his head. "I'll make sure to send you Vinum again if I see her."

"W-Wait not her! The one with the big ougaboungas please!" 

Luka raised an eyebrow, giving her an incredulous look. "I'm not sure if she's into girls, but whatever. You should ask her yourself…"

Nina waved her hand dismissively, her face turning a deeper shade of red. "I can't… It's embarrassing…"

"Fine, fine…" Luka waved his hand with a small smile. His body had now returned to its normal size and he began walking out of the room. "I'll see what I can do. For now, bye!"

"Bye!"

With a swift use of his talisman, Luka found himself back in front of his house. The evening was settling in, the sun casting shades of red across the sky as it set. He stood there for a moment, his gaze locked onto the door. Morrigan was probably already home, and trouble with it. 

When suddenly, he saw a small imp run past him and pushing the door open, entering without a care in the world. 

"...Don't tell me—"

With an exhausted body and mind, he entered the house. There, he saw the same girl, Eva, in the kitchen, looking inside the fridge with starry eyes.

"Of course," Luka muttered, shaking his head as he stepped further into the house. He ran a hand through his hair, mentally preparing himself for whatever was about to come next.

Eva turned to face him, still holding the fridge door open. "Uh? You're that little imp… But all grown up!" she said in disbelief, taking a step back as she looked Luka up and down.

"What are you doing here, you scoundrel?"

Eva looked back at the fridge for a moment, before her eyes returned to him. "Well, I was just... you know, looking for something to eat," she said as she picked up a whole chicken from it. "You've got a nice place, you know that?"

"I didn't invite you, Eva. Or was that your way of saying you've moved in?"

Her grin only widened. "Moved in? You could say that! I'm just staying here until I figure things out!"

"So you're planning to squat here, fine. At least don't put much of a mess and I won't kick you out. Also," he picked up the chicken from her hands and put it back inside the fridge before slamming the door. "No eating anything besides snack between meal hours. I'll cook later this evening."

"Whoa… You're much nicer than I thought!" she said with a surprised look. "So, where are the snacks?"

"Up there," Luka pointed to a shelf above the fridge, where he kept some basic snacks—chips, crackers, and a few bags of candy. "Help yourself, but no more whole chickens, alright?"

Eva's eyes practically sparkled as she stared up at the shelf. "Ooh, snacks!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing over to grab a few bags of chips. "You've got the good stuff! You're not so bad after all, little imp!"

He shook his head, watching her happily rummage through the snacks like she owned the place.

At least she wasn't robbing any more restaurants. 

Eva grinned, pulling open a bag of chips and starting to munch on them. "It's a good thing I'm so charming, huh?"

Luka arched an eyebrow, his tone dry. "Charming, huh? That's one word for it…"

Eva's grin only grew wider as she popped a chip into her mouth. "I could always come to your bed tonight to show my appreciation. How about that?"

"No need, really…" Luka sighed. "You can go to the bar next neighborhood for all I care. Just don't hurt anyone or I'm killing you." 

Eva raised an eyebrow, her grin never faltering as she continued munching on her chips. "Killing me? Pfft, as if you could. But fine, I'll try not to cause too much trouble as long as you give me nice meals."

Luka shot her a deadpan look, already regretting his decision to let her stay. "Just... don't make me regret this," he muttered, turning to head toward the kitchen counter to gather ingredients for dinner. 

As he began making a plan for dinner, Eva leaved the kitchen to go back inside the living room. She sat on the couch, making Luka realize that Alma Elma and Morrigan weren't there. Though he doubted they would cause any more trouble, he was still a bit worried. 

He set a pot on the stove and began chopping vegetables, his mind trying to focus on the task ahead. Preparing the chicken and the other ingredients, everything seemed to come together for a hearty hot pot dinner that would slowly simmer over the next few hours.

"Oh? Cooking are we?"

A familiar voice stirred him from his focus, his head snapping back. 

"Kanami? When did you get here?" He quickly washed his hands in the sink, turning to face the black-haired girl who stood in the doorway.

"I thought I'd come by and say hello," Kanami replied with a calm smile. "Didn't think you had so many people over."

Luka sighed, wiping his hands off. "If only you knew half of it…"

"I know. Succubi, right? I'm sorry I couldn't be here when those portals appeared, by the way."

Luka shrugged, turning back to the pot. "Really, it's nothing. You can't be everywhere, right?"

Kanami's expression softened. "True. But I'm here now."

He gave her a grateful nod, appreciating the familiar calm presence she brought. "Well, since you're here, you might as well stick around for dinner. It's going to take a while, but it'll be worth it."

"Sounds good to me," Kanami said with a smile, moving to take a seat at the counter, observing Luka as he finished prepping the meal. "After all we'll need one before I beat you up."

Luka didn't say anything, just focusing on the task at hand. He knew what she meant by that, though he wasn't ready. 

"I heard you had a hard time against a lot of people recently," she said with a knowing look as if scolding a child. "Have you been lacking in training?"

Luka froze for a moment, his knife pausing mid-chop. He let out a quiet sigh, but didn't take his eyes off the chopping board.

"I've been… very busy. Not much time for that," he said, trying to brush it off.

However, even without turning his head, he felt the icy glare of her friend piercing his back. Like needles piercing his chest.

"Really now? How convenient…"

He turned to look at her, an almost sheepish expression on his face. "I know, I know. I've just had a lot going on lately. I'll get back to it soon enough."

"I heard you got beat up by a white-haired kid," she said coldly.

"How do you know—?"

"Nina."

"Damn you!" Luka bit his lips in frustration, his fists clenching around the knife.

Don't count on me to talk about you to Alma Elma you idiot!

"Yeah, well... it happens," Luka muttered, trying to regain some control over the situation. "I didn't exactly see it coming."

Kanami didn't respond immediately, letting the silence stretch between them. Her gaze was sharp, but still... there was something almost empathetic about it.

"You've been slacking off," she finally said, her voice quieter now but no less serious. "It's not like you."

"Ah? Really now?" Luka smiled sardonically. "When did you know me to be exact?"

Luka froze for a moment, his smile faltering as Kanami's voice turned cold.

"That's… low."

He winced, realizing he had gone too far. He knew she was only pushing him because she cared, but there was a sharp edge to her words that hit deeper than he expected. Luka sighed, his posture slumping slightly.

"Yeah, I know. I'm just—" he stopped himself, trying to gather his thoughts. "It's been a lot. A mess I didn't expect, and honestly, I don't even know where to start sorting it out."

"Well, how about I get you back in shape?" she said with a smirk. "It's been a while since we've sparred."

Luka raised an eyebrow, looking at Kanami as she spoke, the smirk never leaving her face. His mind immediately flashed to the last time they sparred—he'd barely come out of it without a few bruises. Despite everything else that had happened, he knew that Kanami wouldn't hold back.

He hesitated, the thought of getting back to training feeling like a mountain to climb, but the challenge in her eyes was hard to ignore.

"I'm not really in the mood for that," he muttered, his voice lacking its usual fire.

Kanami's smirk faltered, and she let out an exaggerated sigh. "Honestly, Luka, you're even more of a mess than the last time I saw you."

Luka let out a dry laugh, trying to lighten the mood, but it only made him feel more weighed down. "Try dealing with these idiots around here for a day and see how you feel."

"You… might be right."

Luka glanced up at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Besides, Vinum won't be back from America anytime soon. I've got time to relax... at least until then."

"Let's hope so."

The evening drifted into silence, with Luka and Kanami sharing a quiet moment as the pot on the stove bubbled. It was a familiar, almost comforting routine. And for the rest of the evening, things were relatively uneventful. Kanami stayed around, enjoying dinner with Luka, alongside Eva who ate with some imps that stayed around. 

Eventually, Kanami stood up, stretching. "Well, I've overstayed my welcome. I'll head out for now."

Luka nodded, already on autopilot as he cleaned the kitchen. "Take care," he said, not looking up from the dishes. "Say hi to your guy for me. Also, tell me if you find any of the idiots outside."

Kanami gave a small nod, her expression softening for just a moment, before she turned to leave. The door clicked shut behind her, and Luka stood there, alone in the now-silent house.

For a moment, the quiet felt almost oppressive. The soft hum of the fridge, the distant sounds from the living room, and the faint tick of the clock were the only things left. Luka stood in the kitchen, drying the last dish absently, his mind drifting.

He was tired, really tired. Being beaten up by a little imp too strong for its own good and treated as a mere toy was a blow not only to his pride, but to his mental health as well. 

Even during the multiversal crisis, the only he had done was entrusting his hope to someone else. 

In the end, what did he do that deserved anything?

"Shit," he clicked his tongue. "I must be really worn out for thinking like that." 

But no matter how exhausted he was, there were things to do. Things he couldn't put off. The succubi living here... they needed somewhere to stay. And after that? Maybe, just maybe, he could start figuring out how to fix this whole mess.

Luka let out a long breath, feeling the weight of it all. His body felt heavy, his mind foggy, but he couldn't afford to stop now. He walked to his room, slipping inside and collapsing onto the bed with a tired sigh.

For tonight, at least, sleep would have to be enough.

Luka lay there, the soft rustling of the sheets the only sound in the room as he stared up at the ceiling. His mind was still buzzing with all the things he had to do, all the questions that remained unanswered. What was his next move? Could he handle all this, or was he just faking it?

He shut his eyes, willing the thoughts to stop, but it was like trying to stop the tide with a handful of sand.

The weight of responsibility pressed down on him, and as much as he hated to admit it, he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up the act.

He was never a hero. He only pretended to be one to help others.

He thought about the fight with the imp. It had been humiliating, sure, but what bothered him more was how it felt like a reminder of everything else he couldn't control. He had tried to be strong, tried to be the one who could always keep his head above water. But more and more, it seemed like he was sinking.

No matter how many cases he resolved, or how many people he helped, there was no ending it.

"Maybe... I do need a break," he whispered to the empty room.

But even as he said it, he knew better. He couldn't stop. There was too much at stake.

The last time he tried to stop, he almost lost everything.

His thoughts drifted, and before long, the exhaustion caught up with him. He turned onto his side, pulling the covers around him, and finally gave in to sleep. It was a comfortable sleep, filled with fragmented dreams that soothed his mind. Shadows, whispers, familiar faces, and then…

A soft feeling. The scent of flowers, one that might make him lightheaded if he hadn't been asleep. Like a comforting embrace, relaxing his every nerve, telling him everything was okay. 

He tried to focus on it, but it soon disappeared, slipping just beyond his grasp. 

The scent of flowers lingered, and with it, the feeling that something may have been there. 

He woke up, the sunlight filtering through the shutters, his mind still groggy but much clearer. Gone was the down attitude of yesterday, renewed was his will to continue. 

As he opened his eyes, he instinctively closed his arms on nothing. As if he had been holding something—or someone, right next to him. Luka froze for a moment, the remnants of the dream still clouding his senses. The feeling of holding someone, that comforting presence beside him—it lingered, almost tangible. But as he blinked in the daylight, reality came crashing back. There was no one there.

A sigh escaped his lips, a quiet exhale of resignation. It was just a dream, nothing more. Yet the softness of it stayed with him, making the morning feel a little less harsh.

He wondered, why was it that he felt that way? 

As he looked around, he noticed a small piece of paper on the bedside table. The edges were slightly curled, and the handwriting was unfamiliar.

He reached over, picking up the piece of paper. Then, he unfolded it to reveal the words written in neat, elegant script:

"In a week, you shall fight me again on the harbor."

Luka's eyes lingered on the words, his fingers tightening slightly around the paper as he read it again. 

His pulse quickened, a mix of confusion and tension building in his chest. There was only one person who could have written this message.

Like someone who could've slipped unnoticed, giving a fresh scent of flower—

"HOLY SHIT!" his eyes widened in terror at the thought. "SHE'S ALREADY BACK?!"

Luka's heart raced, the words on the paper sending a chill down his spine. He stood frozen for a moment, his mind reeling. No way… His thoughts scrambled as the sudden realization hit him.

It couldn't be. She was supposed to be gone, far away. But the scent, the feeling, everything clicked into place now. The dream, the soft presence beside him, the message that echoed with that same familiarity...

"I thought she would take more time to come back," Luka muttered bitterly, his breath quickening. Furthermore, she even snicked inside his room just to show him how easily she could've killed him. 

And the presence beside him on the bed, the one that soothed his dreams…

"That bastard," he pressed the paper tightly in his hand, folding it in half. "She wants me in tip-top shape for the fight… She's playing with me!"

Without hesitating, he reached for his phone and dialed the only number that could save him. The phone buzzed for a few seconds until someone picked it up.

"Kanami, I need your help," he said urgently, without even waiting for her answer.

There was a short silence between them, until…

"Alright, training time it is!"