"I'm home Mikan!" Rito called after he opened the door. Letting himself in as he stretched his arms upward.
The night had already descended. The sky portrayed a dark canvas. With countless white dots signifying a cloudless firmament. And the moon amidst the clouds generating reflected light.
A cold breeze swished by the front door. The chilly contact making the orange haired teen shiver. Closing the door immediately as to not let the frigid air inside the warm household.
Rito then took of his shoes before hearing footsteps emerge from the living room. Lifting his head up, he saw his sister there with a frown and had her arms crossed. Her eyebrows rose as he gazed at him questioningly.
"Welcome home... is what I wanted to say. It's eight o' clock Rito. Where were you? Why are you so late?" Mikan asked with a narrowed gaze. Rito could only scratch the back of his head as he offered a wry smile.
On a side note, perhaps deciding to test his newly re-activated abilities on some delinquents proved to be a wrong decision on his part. But hey, it's been years since he decided to let loose a little. How can you blame him?
And those wannabe gangsters really were great as punching bags. Hope they got his message.
"It's that late already? I didn't even notice" He let out a nervous laugh while Mikan just frowned, she was not amused at all.
He didn't want to worry his little sister. He even lacked the intention of doing so in the first place. But that didn't say anything about him inadvertently causing it. Even if it wasn't on purpose. He still had trouble correcting that.
"Answer the question Rito" Mikan firmly stated before her eyes gained a delightful glint. A glint that was barely noticed by the orange haired male.
"Did school have to do with this? Or did you join your friends in a detour or something?" Rito could only stand there confused. She can sure change the subject really quick.
"Huh? What? Of course not" Rito said with a scoff. "You know I'm not in any clubs. Saruyama's only a sort of friend. But we aren't that close to start any outing of sorts. And even if he did, he dislikes going out for some reason" Mikan could only look at him with a deadpan.
"So, you're also saying that you only have one friend in the school?" Rito nodded simply with a straight face, making the girl sigh. Rubbing her temples as if in a headache.
His brother had always been like this. Contrary to his appearance, he was not a social butterfly. She noticed that he had never once hanged out with any friends other than that Saruyama person. And even those were limited to going to school or just accidental meetings every now and then.
"Rito, it's been a year since you started high school. You're a second year now" Mikan said. Worry was laced in her tone.
"So?"
"So? What do you mean 'so'? Haven't you made any friends at all? How about those people you keep mentioning whenever I ask about school?" Mikan stated with an incredulous stare.
She couldn't believe his brother for acting like this. If he kept this up, she knew it would only end badly for him in the long run one way or another. And from what she was hearing from him, he never even gave any thought or effort of doing so. She knew he was capable of making friends easily. But that remained useless if he just kept everything to himself so stubbornly.
"Well, I never did try" Rito said with a shrug, confirming Mikan's thoughts. "And those people I mentioned except Saruyama? They're just people in the school Mikan. They're the people that I can only remember because I see or, even sometimes, talk to them almost every day" He explained. Mikan's frown gained a significant degree, hearing him talk like this.
It's funny though, here she was, admonishing her brother for not being social. Yet she knew firsthand as to why he didn't even give it a mere thought. And why he didn't even make any friends from the start.
Since the last time he did... he ended up intentionally breaking every relationship he had with those people that held that title.
...Even her relationship with him nearly came to that close brink.
"You're hopeless" Mikan said as he placed a palm on her face.
"Hey. I take offense to that"
"How about Sairenji-san?" Mikan stated hopefully, ignoring his retort.
"What about Sairenji-san?"
"Any type of relationship that I need to know?" It was Rito's turn to look at her with a deadpan.
Really this again?
"Why are you persistent about her? Didn't we have this talk earlier? Yeah, she's kind and beautiful. But I do not have any romantic attraction towards her" Mikan visibly winced from the blunt statement.
Her brother can really be painfully blunt most of the time.
"You know... if she heard what you said just now. She would definitely run away and cry" Rito rolled his eyes. "You sure she doesn't have any chance at all?"
"Don't say it like that. You're implying that I have really high standards, which I don't. And she isn't the problem... it's just me" Mikan rose an eyebrow at that.
"What made you say that?" She asked wondering what kind of thoughts made her brother assume something like that.
Appearance-wise? He was undoubtedly good-looking compare to other boys she saw. Personality-wise? A bit rough on the edges, quiet and solemn most of the time, too mature for his own age, a hidden and rarely showed extreme kindness and protectiveness side and ever so blunt. If anyone can tolerate the last part, her brother was in a league of his own.
Really, there was also that one time where she regretted being his blood related sister.
'What are you thinking!?' Mikan thought as she placed her hands on her flaming cheeks. 'Get your head out of the gutter Mikan!' She mentally cast aside her inappropriate thoughts.
"Well..." Rito started gaining Mikan's attention. "...it would just be a waste. Not like it can last forever or something" He cryptically stated. The little sister could only guess of the many implications in that statement alone.
"What do you-? You're just- You don't need to think that far at all!" Mikan squawked. Disbelief written all over her face from what she had just heard.
She didn't know if her brother was one of those extremely rare loyal-to-the-core ones. Or just maybe one of those people that thinks and worries way too much. At least he's not treating romantic relationships like a fling. But she can't really say if his doing it the right way.
Rito could only look at his sister with a sigh. She was probably thinking of the wrong implications in what he just said. Well, it's certainly better than her being correct that's for sure.
Since he just can't say that he 'died' that particular night and had only about one and a half year until he officially dies after all.
"You know what?" Mikan raised her hand. "Just get inside and let's forget this conversation. Just heat up dinner if you want to eat. I'll be in my room doing my homework" She stated with a dismissal wave of her hand before turning around to get upstairs.
"Sure!" Rito chirped. Relieved as Mikan seemed to forget to ask him why he was late. Taking off his shoes. He then made his way into the kitchen to heat up dinner.
[~][~]LINE BREAK[~][~]
The orange head's room was fairly simple than most. A bed adjacent to an opened window. Shelf filled with books and manga. A small T.V with some consoles. A closet with a mirror. And a soccer ball lying around in the corner of the room.
"What's up Saruyama?" Rito said with a yawn as he plopped down his bed. A phone held in his ear. He had finished eating and he had gone to his room right after.
[So did you get beat up?] The orange haired groaned.
"Nothing happened Saruyama" He stated whilst remembering something. "...Nothing at all"
[Well, be alert. They could be anywhere]
"So, why did you call me?" Rito asked changing the subject.
[Oh, right. *Ahem* I was meaning to ask you if you have something for Sairenji-san] He palmed his face.
"That's what this is?" Rito said with a hint of irritation. "Mikan asked me the same thing earlier. The answer is no"
[But dude! She likes you!] He raised an eyebrow.
"How can you tell?" Rito tilted his head. He tried to remember the times where the girl showed any romantic interest yet nothing particular shows up. The only thing he could notice is how she seems to blush whenever they talk. Weird.
[You're so dense!] A tickmark emerged from his forehead.
"Hey. I'll have you know that I'm not"
[Really? Then you probably thought of any possibilities of her liking you. Care to share?]
"Apart from always blushing whenever she talks to me? That's probably it" Rito dismissed.
[Dude that's it!]
"She just always blushes every time we talk. What's the big deal?" Rito questioned.
[...Rito, can I asked you something?]
"Hurry up" He urged impatiently.
[What comes into your mind when a female blushes?]
"A fever or at least nervousness and humiliation" Rito immediately said with a shrug.
[...You're hopeless]
"Why does everybody think I'm hopeless!?"
[*Sigh* Didn't you join the soccer club in middle school?] Rito was relieved by the sudden change of topic.
"Yeah. I was. Wait, how did you even know that?"
[Dude you're famous! You were their star player from what I heard. You led the team to the regional then nationals for crying out loud!] Rin winced from his friend's loud tone.
"Oh, that? That was a long time ago" He shrugged.
[You should really join the soccer club Rito. They've heard of you as well. And now they're thinking of trying to recruit you!]
"Well, they're just waiting for a no. I'm not really interested anymore" He denied looking at the soccer ball in the corner of his room.
[You're wasting your skills Rito! Think of the opportunities you may get!]
"Opportunities?" Rito asked confused.
[The ladies! Girls always love the athletic ones! And they'll certainly adore you since your quiet all the time. They always love some twists her and there!] Rito groaned irritatingly.
"I knew this is where it'll eventually end up" He muttered as ge placed a palm on his face. "Sorry, not even going to bother"
[I see... so that's how it is] Rito perked his ears from the sudden change of tone.
"What is?"
[Don't worry Rito. Even if you don't like girls. There are bound to be some players on the other team that'll be vying your attention. You're my friend so I'm not gonna judge]
"..."
[...]
"...I'm taking a cold shower now. I'm hanging up Saruyama" Rito blankly said in a monotone as he turned off his tone. Desperately trying to erase what he had just heard earlier in his head.
With a tired nod, he reached for a towel and a change of clothes before exiting his room.
"I'm gonna pound his head on the roadblock tomorrow"
[~][~]LINE BREAK[~][~]
"That's the stuff..." Rito said with a relieved sigh as he felt the cold water dribble down his head. The cold liquid massaging his discernibly lean muscles. Drips of water dropping down the white floor all the way to the sink.
The water cascaded to his body filled with numerous scars, stab wounds and knife gashes. His back seemingly the same in that aspect. Injuries that was nothing more than a memory of the past. These were the various complications that he had 'escaped' from and had once regarded by the doctor as a miracle since he was alive.
Really, getting stabbed in the lungs, stomach, and liver multiple times? The doctor in all his profession must probably be stupid to think that this was all just a miracle. If he had been normal, he would be straight up declared dead. Well, not that he can complain.
He opened both of his eyes as he stared at his palm.
"Hey. You there?"
"..."
"Guess not. Lazy bastard" Rito muttered as he placed a palm on his right chocolate brown eye. Only showing his light blue pale eye as he stared at the mirror.
"How does this even work? I mean, I can't exactly see anything with this side. How can he just come up with these things?" He asked himself with a wondering and admiring tone.
He studied the left pale blemished eye carefully. As if trying to figure out any kind of mystery due to its nature. But to no avail as he just tried to squint his eyes with each passing momen-
*Crack*
"...That should not happen" Rito gawked as he saw a part of the mirror crack. Specifically, lines of crack that appeared where his left eye was reflected. Shaking his head, he chuckled amusedly as he close his eyes. "...Weird"
With another abrupt open of his eyelids, his left eye glowed. His pupil and iris gained a small whirlpool-like pattern that seemed to extend. The glow burning quietly and strongly with every second that passed.
When someone states abilities, it directly assumes the inherent skills of a particular human. Not to be confused by power. As it is a type of concept that relates to a profession, mystical origins or even an authority.
Abilities are sometimes integrated or learned in the human system that allows adept use of knowledge in a particular field they excel in. They also pertain to a term called 'specialized' as it depicts a narrow scope where in a person only learns a specific skill set that he/she can use. As to not disrupt the natural flow or avoid contradictions of what he/she can do.
Well... that would be the theoretical and scientific explanation.
The power to ignite flames out of existence.
Possess inhuman velocity that surpasses supersonic speed.
The ability to become invisible with no kind of scientific or religious assistance.
Those are what the world call as [Abilities]. Special types of powers that are bestowed upon selected humans that provide them with the capability to do the impossible. You could even say that they are the untapped potential of human kind.
But those shouldn't exist in the world. In this world.
"There!" Rito cheerily stated as he closed his left eye. "All this thinking is making me dizzy. Good thing I prepared a cold bath" He said before turning the tap off. Lingering drips of water droplets emerging from the shower head.
The mirror in the tiled wall seemingly remained untouched. The cracks earlier seemingly mended like a human's wound. No traces of impairment were seen in its surface.
It was nothing more than a curse. A heavy blight in the form of a blessing.
"...Probably should've at least warmed it up" Rito complained outwardly as he submerged his body in the tub. The extremely cold water enveloping his frame. "What was I thinking!? Too cold!" He shivered due to the freezing sensation. Standing immediately as he decided to heat up the water.
"-!?"
Rito suddenly sharpened his eyes. The traces of shivering momentarily forgotten as he darted his eye around the bathroom. Feeling something strange that made the atmosphere swirl in anticipation.
Then a bright light emerged. Right at the very center of the bathtub. The water exploding as big droplets of liquid spread outwardly in a random fashion. An object materializing as it makes its existence known.
Ignoring the strange event that was happening. Rito quickly raised his left arm forward in a grasping motion. His right arm following shortly after as it intended to pierce. His legs ready, making sure he was ready to jump out of the bathtub in a moment's notice.
"Escape successful!" His right hand stopped immediately hearing the cheerful voice. Almost making contact with the figures neck, almost drawing blood for the kill. His left hand softly touching a soft orb that comprised of the figures skin.
Rito studied the figure with a narrowed gaze. Focusing on appraisal and observation more than anything else.
"Teleportation?" Rito thought as he described what he had seen.
The figure had pink bubble gum hair. Her voluptuous clothe less figure soaked by the impromptu shower. Curious dark emerald green eyes gaining recognition as she stared at Rito's two heterochromatic eyes.
Realization donned on his features as he hurriedly registered that it was a girl he was seeing. Removing both of his arms on her form, he jumped back as the bathroom's door collided with his back. His narrowed eyes gazing at the girl threateningly, though the small discernible blush on his face ruined the effect.
"Who are you?" Rito stated as he focused on the task at hand. Erasing the soft sensation he felt with his left hand earlier.
"Waa~ You're cute when your blushing!" The girl cooed happily as Rito gritted his teeth.
"I didn't blush! It's just a natural reaction!" He roared loudly. Immediately forgetting the situation he was placed in. Denying the phenomenon called as 'blushing' like a plague.
He never blushed! Ever!
"RIto! What's going on in there? I heard something exploding" Rito widened his eyes as he heard the distinct sound of his sister calling. 'Mikan!' With a conflicted decision, he opened the door to get out of the bathroom. Noticing the sliding door to be unlocked, he hurriedly opened to see the form of his sister.
"Rito? What are you- Kyaaaahhh!" Mikan screamed as she saw his brother's naked form.
"Mikan, I need you to listen to me" Rito stated in a serious tone as he placed both of his hands on the shoulders of the madly blushing Mikan. The girl was staring at him with wide eyes.
"W-W-W-Wha- Y-Y-Y-You-" Mikan could only stutter as she had a great view of his brother's lean form. Etching the very picture on her mind permanently.
"What are you stuttering for? Anyway, I need you to get in your room" Rito commanded. Unknowingly forgetting that he hadn't yet grasp a towel to cover his body.
"R-Room!?" Mikan squawked. Her eyes seemingly stuck to his own after barely removing it from his body earlier. Certain thoughts invaded her mind from the context. Thankfully, she averted her eyes in time as her curiosity almost made her look below.
While she had seen her brother's body a long time ago, she never once saw it again after the incident. Since he avoided to show it to anyone. Looking at it now, the wounds on his body was already healed. Only scars were left. Yet they didn't appear revolting at all. Instead, they seemingly appealed to his lithe form.
"Oh, forgot about this" Rito said with a surprised tone. Noticing the lack of towel. Reaching for the hanger for a towel to cover his body. He then turned to look at his blushing sister again.
"Mikan, will you stop ogling me for a second?" He said with a straight face.
"I-I'm not o-ogling you!" Mikan defended harshly. Denying admitting that there was a sensation of disappointment that washed over her when her brother covered his body with a towel.
"Sure you're not" Rito rolled his eyes as he knew her sister's eyes stayed relatively longer in his upper section. He then shook his head lightly to return at the task at hand.
"Anyway, there's a naked girl in the bathtub with big boobs that appeared out of nowhere. I made the mistake of leaving her in the bathroom after I remove my grasp on one of her boobs" In the future, Mikan would look back in this moment and think of how her brother managed to say that with a straight face.
"What?" Mikan said with pure confusion.
"Now I know it's hard to believe. But you need to go in your room before I deal with her" Mikan could only look at her brother blankly.
"Are you perhaps doing kinky things with your friend?"
"What? No! Didn't I tell you? I don't have any friends!" He retorted.
Mikan looked at his brother sadly. Rito noticing this frowned.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing. So, you said that there is a girl in the bathroom now?" She asked. Calmness evident in her tone.
"For the second time, yes. Now you need to-" He was promptly cut off when Mikan passed by his form and made his way to the bathroom's door. "Mikan! Don't!"
"There's no one here" Rito stopped his shouts after Mikan turned to him with a deadpan.
"What?"
"See? There's no one here" Mikan repeated as she took a step away from the door. Showing an almost unused and perfectly empty bathroom.
"Wha-!? Where did she go? How did she-? I didn't even-!" Rito was cut off when Mikan spoke.
"Rito, I may be proud of you for finally taking an interest on this stuff. But please try not to mix reality and imagination together" Mikan asked with a sly tone.
"Easy for you to say. Might I remind you that you had the same thoughts as earlier when you looked at my body? Sure there was a lack of context. But your face literally exploded when your imagination went away too far from reality" He scoffed making Mikan blushed heavily.
"T-That was your fault! Idiot! Stupid Rito! Baka onii-chan!" Mikan wailed. Blushing more visibly before dashing outside the bathroom. Going up the stairs before a door slammed shut loudly.
"Mature as my sister. She really is easy to embarrass" Rito chuckled amusedly before remembering the situation from earlier. "Did she teleport again? Probably answers why I couldn't sense her" He muttered before hearing an indistinct thump.
"That sound came from upstairs" Rito looked up the ceiling. "Mikan is in her room right now" After a quick change of his clothes, he hurriedly made his way upstairs as well. After that, he then found himself in front of his door.
"Whoever you are..." Rito grumbled incomprehensively before opening the door.
His abilities ready to be manifested at any second.
As expected, he found the girl in his room. Seating comfortably with a towel draped over her form. She had her eyes closed as she breathed calmly. As if sensing someone was there, she opened her dark emerald green colored eyes to stare at Rito.
"Ah. I'm borrowing your towel" The girl exclaimed with a cheerful tone.
"Who are you? State your intentions" Rito stated while trying to erase the forming redness in his cheeks. But he was noticeably failing in that regard.
Hey, give him some credit here. Even if he had most of his whole life stripped out of him and decided not to engage in a romantic relationship with anyone. He was still a young teenager boy with perfectly integrated hormones to match. The female body was still a subject that appealed to him. So you can at least give him some exceptions. And furthermore, he was still currently working in that department.
"Ooh~ You're blushing again!" The pink-haired girl giddily commented. "How cute!" Rito's eyebrow twitched from that one.
"I'm not blushing!" Rito denied as he shouted before shaking his head. "Name?" He stated once more.
"Me? I'm Lala!" The now named Lala introduced herself briefly.
"Lala? What kind of name is that?" Rito asked confused.
"My name of course silly!"
"Riiiight... Well, now that I know you. Can you kindly state your intentions for breaking into my hous-"
He was promptly cut off when the door of his room slammed open. A small cream-colored figure with swirls as eyes hovered quickly heading his way.
"Lala-sama! I-!" The white figure didn't even manage to complete its sentence when it was force to dodge an impromptu hand stab in the air. "Hey, careful! That nearly got me!"
"Another one!?" Rito said as he readied to face the new intruder.
"Peke!? You managed to get away?" Lala shouted recognizing the cream-colored robot now named as Peke.
"Lala-sama! I'm glad that you're safe!" Peke ignored Rito as it flew to Lala's arms. The latter embracing the little robot with a relieved smile on her face. "Thank goodness that the spaceship didn't leave the Earth's atmosphere yet!"
"Okay, what's going on here?" Rito stated as he looked at the two. Peke then now noticed Rito for the second time.
"Lala-sama. Who is this weird Earthling with the high-frequency hand from earlier?" Peke asked curiously. From what it had noticed, there was an odd reading on Rito's right hand earlier. A dense frequency was enveloping the appendage that can even match their energy sword's standard absolute cutting edge technology!
"Earthling?" Rito raised an eyebrow from the specific comment.
"High-frequency hand?" Lala stared at Rito with the same expression. Her eyes then widened as she remembered something. "Oh! I forgot! What's your name by the way?" She asked.
"...why should I tell you?" Rito tilted his head as he finally calmed his nerves. While he didn't mind giving his name to a stranger, he at least knows not to give anything away from anyone with unknown intentions.
So that also covers anyone he labels as a stranger right? His mind just thought of something way too contradicted! Rito shook his head once more. How confusing.
"How rude~ Come' on! At least tell me!" Lala pouted in front of him.
Rito stared at her with a narrowed gaze. Her emerald eyes stayed focused on his own. After a few seconds of mentally debating, he sighed as he cleared his throat.
"...Rito. Yuuki Rito" Rito answered plainly.
"Muu~ Don't be so depressing!" Lala pouted before gesturing for Peke. "Oh right! This is Peke! An all purpose costume robot that I made" The orange head looked at the robot curiously.
"I haven't heard anything about it online..." Rito muttered. "You must be really smart and creative for making that. And it has a built-in artificial intelligence too" He offhandedly praised. But inside, the gears in his brain was currently processing.
Teleportation?
Earthling?
Spaceship?
Talking robot?
Rito thought as he knew it was now somewhat obvious yet truly disbelieving. And the black tail from Lala's back with a spade on its end was really an eye-catcher on its own.
"...Aliens. Really? And they're even speaking Japanese" Rito muttered with a sigh. If he hadn't seen it, he can't say that he can accept it. But the truth is literally right in front of him.
Wait... then flying saucers really do exist? Awesome! He must ride one at all costs!
"Aww~ You're making me blush!" Lala stated as she cupped her cheeks with her hands.
"So, what's an alien doing out here?" Rito calmly stated as Lala and Peke looked at him in surprise.
"You know about aliens?" Lala asked pointing to herself.
"Of course not. It was somewhat obvious from both of your conversation. And your tail kinda gave it away" Rito informed as he pointed at Lala's tail. "The other thing that's plainly obvious is that you both seem to be on the run" He deduced. And from their even more surprised expressions, he knew he was correct.
"Ehh!? How did you know? You're really smart!" Lala praised.
"I'm not that smart honestly. It's pretty much obvious when you think about it" Rito shook his head with a small smile. He then raised his eyebrow as he saw Lala approaching him in his direction. "What?" He asked as they are now standing face to face.
"I think you're really cute when your smiling" Lala chirped. "Much better than when you're blushing from earlier!" Rito embarrassingly scoffed at that.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not one to blush..." Rito muttered stubbornly. Then he faced Lala once more. "Can you wear something first? You shouldn't really show that much skin to a person you hardly met. Aren't you embarrassed at all?" As if realizing something, Rito turned his head away from Lala out of courteousness.
"Oh~ I didn't really mind being naked" Lala stated as Rito shook his head in exasperation
"No Lala. You only should show that much skin to people that you can trust and are comfortable with. You're lucky that I'm one of those few that at least care enough to know that you're a girl too" Rito firmly stated. "From how extremely beautiful you are, I'm not surprise that most people will surely take advantage of you if you act too careless like earlier" He lectured with nothing more than indifference in his tone.
Lala blushed slightly from the Rito's words. Due to certain circumstances, those kinds of compliments were hardly come to get by if someone was in her position. Contrary to what Rito had said, the 'few' that he was referring to was nearly non-existent. She can even count the number of males that regarded her as beautiful with no ulterior motives with one hand and even spare three fingers while she's at it. Well, except people that has a job to do in her place with specific circumstances themselves.
"R-Right!" Lala stated with an uncharacteristic stutter, taking Rito's words to heart. She then turned to the same surprise robot as she spoke. "Peke! Dress form!" She added as she tossed the towel that wrapped her frame.
"Hai! Lala-sama!" Peke then flew to the air. "Transform! Dress Form!" The robot then glowed brightly.
Rito still had his head turned was unable to see the transformation. Only mechanical-like sounds and, weirdly, Lala's moans was all he heard until the light vanished. He turned his head too look at Lala's new outfit.
Lala was wearing a white full-body dominatrix suit. A sort of skirt was attached to each side of her hips. Purple patterns and designs were evident on some parts of her outfit and gloves. While a hat that had the appearance of Peke's face was worn comfily atop her head with bat wing-like appendages. And her tail more emphasized swaying excitedly from her rear.
"Is it too tight Lala-sama?" Peke asked as Lala shook her head.
"Nope. Just perfect. It's great that Peke came here quickly" Said Lala as she checked her outfit before turning to Rito. "So? Does it look good Rito?" She asked.
"It's weird" Rito bluntly stated with a straight fase.
He would surely look back at this moment. And would question himself as to why him of all people would describe someone as 'weird'.