Beginning of ARC 4
A distance away from the party venue...
Len, Nero and Rinto are assisting each other with repairs on the forge's destroyed gate whilst Miku and Neru help and babysit the SP progenies nearby.
Lenka is back at the party venue preparing the meals to be warm when they all return whilst Mikuo and Rin are nearby at the riverside and the irrigation hoses arranging the kiddie pools and the hoses neatly to their proper places.
Piko and Olivia help the others gather and pack up the things they used to get rid of the neon orange goo from the boys, their outfits and the forge. They are returning the huge basin, all the dirty and used towels, all of the group's toiletries and the rest of the cleaning materials that they used to the Hatsugamine residences' laundry rooms. On the way there, they spent their brief alone time together warmheartedly.
"Hmm… Piko, I'm a bit curious about something." Olivia says as the trivia just came into her mind. She removes her hat and allow the breeze to ventilate through her hair.
"Yes, Olivia?" Piko replies as he shifts her more comfortably in his arms to face each other.
He walks carrying her in his embrace whilst dragging the items that they are bringing with his USB limb coiled on a 4-wheel trolley cart's handle.
"Why do you like to drink tears so much?" She asks out of the blue whilst she tosses her hat into the trolley alongside the other used cloth to be deposited in the laundry room.
"Hm… well…" Piko tries to respond but has none to say about his past actions. He suddenly sweats for the effort of trying to state an explanation that he stops walking.
"I wonder why..." He utters in silence whilst the girl in his arms grows rather concerned and full of questions.
Then she blurts out, "Piko, are you a tears-vampire?" Olivia says abruptly in hypothesis.
His eyes widen and look at her. "No, I most definitely am not." He says in disapproval but grins at her childlike curiosity.
"Well, may I ask you some more questions then?" She politely requests.
"Sure. Go ask." He responds, eager to state replies.
"When you drank and sip my tears, what do they taste like?" Olivia asks him with an amiable smile.
"Well…" He utters as flashbacks come back in his mind.
Back in Winterdomain realm, he did so to prevent her from crying.
"They were sweet, so sweet that I couldn't resist but attempt to do so when you almost cried again. They were enticingly aromatic, refreshing, thirst-quenching, and…" Piko formulates reports in accordance to his observations and experience.
"To be honest with you Olivia, the first time I brushed my lips on your tears is simply to just halt your sadness." He admits sincerely.
"Really, just that?" Olivia asks again innocently.
"And also… I thought it was seductive to do so." Piko blushes and confesses another reason which induces Olivia to smile delightfully at the joyous thought.
When he sees this, he instantly snatches a kiss on her irresistibly striking reaction which transferred the blush on his face to her.
"Gotcha!" He regards comically.
"Now let me ask you a question." He blurts out this time.
"Alright!" She says whilst blushing adorably.
Piko looks left and right before he does so. Temporarily leaving the trolley behind, he leaps at great altitude and hover to a tall tree's sturdy branch. He stands there before he continues.
Olivia blinks then tightens her grip in his embrace. She glances down at the height they are in and takes a deep breath to calm down. She feels his arms securing his grasp which relaxed her. In silence, she looks into his eyes which are watching her closely. She peers deep into his gaze and then he grins.
"Good answer!" He says suddenly whilst blushing intensely.
He leaps back down, takes the trolley with his USB limb and then resumes walking towards Hatsugamine residences.
"Huh? I haven't even heard you ask anything." Olivia says in confusion. She then tries to make him tell her what he just asked but all she gets for responses are even more chuckles, grins, hugs and stolen kisses.
"Aww, come on! Please repeat the question. I absolutely missed it from your thoughts." Olivia pleads but Piko couldn't help but remain satisfied with the unconscious answer.
"Piko, are you teasing me!?" She says, crossing her arms and feeling slightly exasperated.
"Nope. I really did asked a question and got my answer." He says with a wink as they arrive in the residences' posterior vicinities.
They enter the Hatsune residence and then Piko arranges the items orderly on the laundry counters without releasing Olivia in his arms.
He finishes the task extending and manipulating only his USB limb like an extra pair of hands.
After a while, he notices Olivia darting him a teary-eyed look to compel him to inform her what he just asked her but he refuses to be moved by the obvious strategy.
In reprisal, he snatches another smooch and grins even more charmingly whilst blushing that made her unbearably intrigued.
9_ _9 . . . . #
Finally unable to stand it, "Fine then! I'll figure it out by myself if you won't tell me." She says and then she somehow stays calm in his arms and looks as if she's in deep concentration.
Piko observes her. Within a quick blink of an eye, she gleams then the light vanishes.
"Phew! Using that abyss skill really does drain anyone. May we go back to the clearing and get something to eat? I need to restore some MP. You did everything that we needed to do here without letting me help anyway." Instantly, she requests it with the prettiest set of blushing cheeks.
Her blush appears way more attractive and differently redder than her usual ones.
The expression makes the silveret blush in return and all of a sudden, he figures out that he has been caught red-handed.
"No way!" Gaping, he exclaims in shock and almost losing his balance. No amount of exerted effort can make him poker-face now.
Unexpectedly...
Rin pops out of nowhere!
Ü
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Both Piko and Olivia scream in surprise.
"Let me guess! You asked her if it's ok for you to WWW or XXX or YYY or ZZZ?" Rin suddenly pops out from the nearby counter holding her smartphone, taking footage of them.
Mikuo quickly grabs her covering her mouth and then jumps back in their hiding place, escaping.
Blinking, Piko whilst still carrying Olivia dashes into the room's curve and cuts their path.
"What the!? You were stalking us?" Piko queries in a nearly annoyed tone.
"Actually, I was just accompanying Rin. She's the one stalking you." Mikuo corrects him so then Rin nudges him hard on the waist.
"Rin, why were you doing that?" Olivia asks her before Piko did, who is beginning to lose his temper.
Hissing, "Tell us the truth or else!" he warns them whilst 12 of his blades in tiny orbs appear and start to glisten.
"Ok ok! We're just taking pictures of the two of you being cute as you usually are." Rin says in a hurry whilst smiling awkwardly.
"BUT WHY!?" Piko angrily demands an explanation.
"Because the others didn't have enough guts to do it, Rin took the advantage to make a bit of profit from their dare challenge." Mikuo bluntly answers and then he receives another hard nudge. This time, it is on the stomach.
"Well stop it! We're not your TV celebrities wherein you paparazzi can just freely capture footage of. Turn those smartphones off if you still want them to remain useful!" He threatens them furiously with all 12 blades glinting eerily.
Rin and Mikuo quickly switch off their gadgetries.
"Can we at least know what he asked you, Olivia?" Rin boldly queries.
"I am sorry Rin but it is kind of personal." Olivia answers her honestly. She feels a smooch on the back of the head as she notices the two fearfully flinch.
"Umm Rin, I think you should just leave it. We'll be going now." Mikuo says as he flinches and almost had a panic attack when Piko darted them an 'extremely spooky' death-glare.
Speedily, he grabs Rin and throws her over his shoulder and quickly scramble out of the laundry room.
*BUMP!*
"OUCHIES!" Rin yelps after she hits her head when Mikuo hastily makes a turn to a corner.
"And FYI since you're so curious, I just asked her if she trusts me." He calls out when they ran off.
"By the way Piko, why did you ask me that all of a sudden?" He hears the girl in his arms ask.
Conversing in their minds... 'Let's talk somewhere else private and telepathically.' He says.
When they exit the room, he looks left and right and in all directions of the house to make sure if anyone is there hiding.
He dashes upstairs in a flash, picks a room and then locks the door. He gently sits on the bed with her still in his arms.
Conversing in their minds... 'I think this place is safe. Um… You see Olivia, I… Uhm… Uh…'
x_ _X
Carefully, Piko tries to tell her his message but couldn't, even if it is in the depths of their minds.
Replying in their minds... 'What is it Piko?' She asks looking at him in search of clues.
He is blushing profusely and seems to be vastly with unease for some reason.
Thinking that he may be ill instead, she takes the blanket that is neatly folded at the side of the bed, wraps it on both of them and then nestles beside him in an embrace.
After taking a deep breath, Piko lets her sit by herself on the bed and then he stands then kneels down before her whilst taking her hand. Then he looks up staring in her eyes intently.
In their minds... 'I haven't been able to cordially ask you this so I believe I might as well say it in a way that I can, just to make sure before anything else.' Piko tells her, gazing eye to eye.
'Yes?' Olivia utters, both blinking and curious.
'Olivia, will you do me the honor of becoming 'mine' ?' Piko says with a heart that wouldn't stop beating wildly and almost fainting.
Blinking again, 'We are 'official', right Piko honey?' she replies with a query.
'Yes I believe so. That is, if you already considered it that way. We've known each other for more than a year and a half now after all. But in case you haven't, then allow me to ask again to formalize it once more.
Olivia, I really love you and I'm most honestly in love with you.
Will you become my girlfriend?' Piko says solemnly with the most serious gaze in his eyes.
Olivia leaps and dive-hugs him on the fluffy carpet. 'Of course I will for I love you and I'm also in love with you too!' Olivia says happily.
He catches her and then returns the embrace.
Facing each other again, he asks her one more time.
Winking, 'Will you be mine then?' he says sweetly and to a certain extent, aggressively.
'Well...' She utters slowly but sure enough, she nods looking eye to eye whilst blushing prominently.
After she nods, Piko rises and dispatches 14 tiny orbs outside the room and by the windows to be on guard to make sure that no one is there watching them.
Then soon he gently lifts her up and joins in the covers.
Outside the Hatsune residence...
"Gosh KuO-ey, that really smarts." Rin complains as she massages the back of her aching head.
"That's nothing compared to the whupping I got from Piko earlier." Mikuo says whilst helping her feel better by gently stroking and kissing the sore part of her noggin.
"Well, I won this dare challenge fair and square so let's go back to the clearing and charge Neru, Rinto and Nero their dues. Besides, I left Winner with Neru and who knows what harassment or mind poisoning she is doing to her now." Rin says as she clutches her phone and sends the cutesy snapshots to the others as proof of her dare challenge exploit's success.
"Ok, you go ahead then. You set up the sound system so that we can sing together when I arrive there. I'll just get something in my room's bathroom." Mikuo mentions.
Hugging him, "You mean, you rather take a deuce first in there. *~snickers~* I'll pick the first song, ok?" Rin says with a grin.
"Whatever!" Mikuo replies then smooches her before they head opposite ways.
Whilst approaching the living room...
Mikuo notices tiny round sparks floating around upstairs. Suspicious, he opens the hunter's utility closet nearby and takes out a binoculars and checks it out.
He recognizes the tiny blades in orbs hovering in front of that area. He then decides to do his business elsewhere.
Putting two and two together, he quietly walks away, grinning.
After no less than nine minutes...
Snickering, "Geez guys, does it really have to be in my room just to get back at me?" the tealet says as he greets them downstairs on their way to the laundry room.
"My God… Please don't tell us that everybody already knows about it." The silveret says in a jittery tone.
Sensing kindness in him, "Sorry if we soiled your sheets, Mikuo. I'll wash them right away. Thanks for not minding us using your room by the way." The goldenette says shyly whilst blushing adorably and timidly showing him the messy beddings in her hands.
"It's alright. Don't worry guys. They will only know if you tell them yourselves. Lucky for you, Rin is no longer here so your secret is safe with me if you preferred it kept." Mikuo says with a tone of understanding.
Smiling and satisfied, Olivia walks ahead to do the task whilst Piko is left behind with Mikuo.
"If you really mean it, then thanks. I don't know if I can handle that kind of teasing calmly after something ultimately private as this from happening." Piko truthfully tells him, making sure that no gadget is pointed at him at present.
"But you know what? You're lucky. I had to wait for a whole week before my partner and I decided to become intimate because she just had her first day of 'number three' when I finally worked up the guts to ask her for that." Mikuo casually shares his own confidential experience.
"You mean, you asked right away too and on the very day after you asked Rin to be your girlfriend?" The younger boy queries curiously.
"Hmm, actually I never 'asked' her to be my girlfriend. We just sort of became bf and gf before we knew it. I didn't think there is a need to ask since we've been really close since we're little kids, had leveled up, had gone through all bases and, you know, 'others'." The older boy replies openly.
"And others? …if it's ok to ask." For the first time, the brainy one asks innocently.
"Oh, you know. Pregnancy scares, infections, the bad side of things you'd eventually share when being together. You did come prepared and used protection, right?" The brawny one educates his younger peer.
"Actually…" He utters.
9 minutes ago...
"Olivia, you mentioned earlier that Abysslan women can choose and predict when they want to have an offspring, correct? But you also said, there are cases that they can't -like when they had relations with non-Abysslanders, right?" Piko asks her whilst enjoying their especially tender endeavour.
"That is positive. Why'd you ask, Piko? Are you worried we might have an offspring afterwards?" Olivia replies with a completely flushed countenance. Her eyes sparkle with delightful bliss at the innocent thought though.
"I'm just saying because you may want me to use protection. I really don't have any at the moment but surely Mikuo probably has a stash somewhere in here." He says as he is about to summon a couple of tiny blade orbs to find them for him.
Interrupting...
"Wow… I expected that from either Len, Nero or Rinto out of all people but 'YOU' came unprepared? But then again, I stand corrected. Those three are obviously virgins too, just like you were…
*~glances at his watch~*
9 minutes ago?
*~smirks~*" Mikuo cuts in between his tale whilst checking the time in his wristwatch.
"Shut up! I'm not finished. Besides, I never really get the chance to carry or even touch any of those! It is because…
x_ _X ; …
I'm too embarrassed to purchase them!" Piko admits, looking mortified.
9 minutes ago...
"…so, um, I'll just go find one then." He says as he is about to stand up when the two tiny blade orbs hover beside the nearby night table.
He feels a tender hand grasp him by the wrist as he turns to face her.
"You don't have to… I mean… well… Piko… um… Piko, I…" She stutters whilst blushing so uncontrollably. She looks deep into his eyes with a mixture of bashfulness, hopes and silence.
Feeling her heartbeat race, "To be honest with you Olivia…
*~blushes deeply~*
I don't want to use one. I don't really mind becoming a parent at this age. I will work hard to provide and support for the both of you. I will love and welcome him or her with opens arms and with no trace of regret. Being with you is all I want and there is nothing else I would wish for." he volunteers to first share his own thoughts.
"That is what I wanted to tell you too, Piko. I will work hard to be able to provide and support for you both as well. I feel that I won't regret it at all if we actually become parents after this." She says blushing adorably with eyes glistening joyfully.
Leaning most seductively, "My sentiments exactly."
He grins and then continues with their intimate activity.
Back to present time...
"I see. So you both decided to take the plunge, huh? Well then the least I can do for you is give you one of those, I guess. Hold on, let me just get it for you." Mikuo says as he temporarily leaves at the moment.
Piko waits for him on the spot outside the laundry room when Olivia comes out of the door.
Carrying her recently skill-washed pink hat and Mikuo's bed sheets, "I'm back! I used an extra speedy washing skill to cleanse these bed sheets, pillow cases and blankets asap. By the way Piko, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I hope you didn't mind me listening." Olivia tells him, blushing intensely.
Giving her a hearty smooch, "I'm glad you were. So no worries." he says it's fine then he lifts her back in his arms in smiles just like he did earlier.
Then they see Mikuo returning and approaching them and then he gives them an item.
"Here, you go. Use that after a week or so to check your status." Mikuo hands them a pregnancy test.
"Why, thank you Mikuo. Much appreciated. And thanks for letting us use these. Here you go." Olivia says as she receives the item and hands him the fresh beddings.
"I'm surprised to see you both still alert, standing and sturdy. Usually, people feel exhausted and utterly sleepy after that. Both your stamina are truly extraordinary and remarkable to seem normal as you are right now." Mikuo commends them and wonders why in a way.
Noticing that there is a need for an explanation, Piko informs him. "Well, I have a revitalising skill too which helped both of us to evade the need for sleep. My healing skill is slightly minimal compared to you-know-who but they come in just as handy during times of urgencies and emergencies as well. Anyway, we really appreciate your advise and understanding. Thanks Mikuo. Also, thanks for the meaningful conversation. It helped me a lot." Piko says, grinning whilst cuddling the girl in his arms and playfully putting her hat on her head.
"No problem. Oh just in case, you hit positive on that thing. Save me a seat as a potential godfather, ok?" With a thumbs up, Mikuo casually volunteers to become a child's guardian.
"We'll be honored to." Piko and Olivia both reply in cute smiles.
Then taking the emptied trolley, they stroll back to the clearing together.
