Chapter 3: The Cracks

Tomoki was headed home on his bike. Almost there. He saw clouds on the horizon. Pulling into the driveway he dismounted his bike and went inside. He couldn't stop thinking about the scene he had witnessed at Ikaros' house. Everything her mom had told him was insane. Like...how could someone do that to their own daughter? Makes no sense at all. He threw a frozen pizza in the oven and sat down on the couch to relax. But he couldn't. His heart rate wouldn't settle. It was like he was still riding. But sitting perfectly still. He couldn't settle down. How. Just how could someone do that. Even if you need the money. Go get a second damn job. Don't do that to your daughter. Shes so incredibly smart and beautiful. I wonder if her creative abilities are still good. Seems like emotion is the source of most creative inspiration. She has a beautiful mind but her abilities are crippled so much. He didn't hear the alarm for the pizza going off for a minute or so. Then he smelled the slight burning. Racing to the kitchen he pulled the pizza out the oven and it wasn't too badly burned. Cutting a slice he returned to his couch. If I ever meet that guy, I'm gonna hurt him.

…

The next day he went to his lab class hoping to see Ikaros again. To his dismay she was not present when he walked in. He was a bit early but she had beaten him here by a significant margin the previous day. Ok well if she doesn't show up, I guess I'll see her tomorrow. He took his seat. And calmly looked towards hers. My heart rate is up again. Why am I so excited to see her? Minutes passed and still she was not there. Please come to class Ikaros. Wait what the hell is wrong with me? I have known her for all of 4 days. 5 minutes to the start of class. Where is she. Hope I don't get paired up with someone else. As if on cue, she walked through the door and started towards him.

"Hello Tomoki. How are you doing today?" she said smiling slightly. She extended her arms towards him indicating she wanted a hug. Tomoki happily obliged.

"I'm fine Ikaros. How are you feeling? You gave us all a pretty serious scare last night."

"I am doing well. I found myself….desiring your company. I….enjoy talking to you."

"Well I really like chatting with you too. Plus I'm pretty much convinced that I will need help understanding some of my math classes."

"That is no problem. I will happily help you with your classes. In return, I would like to spend some more time with you."

"I….would like that."

….

After class, they had little to do so they went to the same restaurant as before.

"You were almost late today. Was something going on?"

"Yes I woke up late this morning. I was unable to fall asleep last night with my regular dosage. I take medication to help me sleep. I had to take an extra dosage in order to calm myself after the ride yesterday."

"Oh wow I had no idea. I remember the first time I rode a bike. It was the most incredible experience I ever had."

"Yes that was the same for me. It was scary at first. But then it really did feel like I was flying. Thank you again for taking me," she said with a small smile.

"Like I said, it was my pleasure. I enjoyed meeting the rest of your family. Even though Nymph kinda tried to kill me."

"I believe Nymph cares about me a great deal. And I believe that she thought you had hurt me."

"I understand that feeling I think," Hell, I was thinking that I wanted to hurt her father for hurting her and I've only known her for a few days. "She cares about you and wants to protect you."

"I believe she thinks I cannot protect myself. Which is somewhat correct. I have no formal combat training."

"Well I wouldn't worry about it. I'll help you out as much as I can. I have to ask. Nymph told me that if I tried to hurt you that she would kill me and that no one would find the bodies. And that they had not found the other ones yet. At first I figured it was just talk of a sister looking out for her other sister. But after yesterday I am not so sure."

"I do not know for sure. However there have been several men in the past 4 years that have attempted to make sexual advances towards me. Shortly after I never saw them again. It would not be entirely unreasonable to think that she may have scared them off."

"Oh. Well, you are an incredibly beautiful girl. Some men cant really control themselves." Wait did I just say that? SHIT SHIT SHIT BACKPEDAL

"You...think I am beautiful?" She asked blushing slightly. OH MY GOSH THAT'S EVEN CUTER

"Yeah, anyone would. Your hair is really pretty and your eyes too. And you are such a nice person. How could anyone not like you?" SO glad I'm not eating right now cause I would have just choked and died.

"That is very kind of you to say. Thank you. I am glad to have met you." She said smiling again. It is amazing how much cuter she gets when she smiles.

…..

They finished their food and Ikaros was looking around nervously. Tomoki noticed. "Hey is there something wrong?"

"Well...I was hoping we could go for another ride on the bike. I have my helmet here."

"Well yeah sure. Where do you want to go?"

"I do not know. I just want to feel that again."

"Well I got some homework from my math class. And we both have that assignment for UNIV to do. Lets go somewhere we can work on that."

"That is a good idea. Could we go to your house?"

"My house? Not the library?"

"I..do not like libraries. The one on campus always has too many people in it. They make me uncomfortable. And I would like to see where you live."

"Why?"

"I have never been to a home other than mine. I am curious."

"Well sure. Come on. Hopefully we can beat the rain today."

….

As it turned out, they did not beat the rain. By the time they arrived at Tomoki's apartment they were both soaked. He pulled under the cover and they both got off the bike and ran inside. Soaked to the skin and shivering violently, they stood in the living room of his small apartment. He grabbed a towel for her and took her hand.

"Ok here is the bathroom. You can go in there and take a warm shower. I think I have some old clothes that will fit you."

"Yes I will do that. Thank you." At that, she disappeared into the bathroom and Tomoki ran to the back of the apartment to change clothes. He was changed in mere seconds. And he looked around for a shirt and some sweatpants he could loan her. He found some and he knew they were a little too big for her. Well. This could be interesting.

….

"Hey Ikaros, I'm going to leave these here for you to change into. I will be in the front."

"Ok thank you Tomoki" He heard her say from the shower. OMG she is actually naked in my shower right now. This is kinda amazing. He left the room and went to the front. He decided that the best thing he could do was turn on the heater, grab some blankets from the closet and try to cook something that wasn't terrible. He wasn't much of a cook. Ah hell. Ill just do a pizza again. That should work out fine I think. He threw it in the oven and set a timer, this time listening intently for the buzzer. He turned on the TV and flipped to the weather. Looks like the storm that was overhead now wouldn't clear for several hours. Well, not that I mind, but I guess I'm stuck here with her for a while. Might as well make the most of it.

"Tomoki, I think these clothes are a bit too big for me." Ikaros said from behind him. He turned around and saw a wondrous sight: Ikaros wearing a t shirt that was 2 sizes too big showing plenty of cleavage and sweatpants that were just a bit too tight around her hips. Woah….thats….really good looking.

"Uh lets see. Maybe if you tie a knot in the shirt at the back it'll fit a bit better?"

"Yes that may work. Could you do it for me? I cannot see back there well."

"Yeah of course," he said as he moved behind her. He gripped the too-long t-shirt and made a small knot. In doing so he got a perfect look at her butt, and it was very nice. No, stop thinking these things. Its not really right. "There ya go. How is that?"

"It feels much better," she said as she turned around. Now even more cleavage was visible. Tomoki blushed intensely. "Are you ok, Tomoki? Your face is very red."

"Yeah I'm fine. You just look..."...unfrigginbelievable… "really cute. Yeah. Really cute."

"Thank you. Nymph told me that showing some of my breasts was a good way to make boys think I was cute."

"Uh….well yes that is true but there are really two kinds of cute ya know. There's cute like your cute face, where it makes a guy happy to see you. And then there's….cute like...what you are doing with your boobs. It also makes guys...happy….but in a different way. And that way makes guys do dumb things they shouldn't do."

"I do not understand. They are both called cute, and both make boys happy, but one decreases their intelligence and compromises their judgment?"

"Right...pretty much. Um. How do I say this." Tomoki halted.

Scooting up close to him with curiosity, and unknowingly allowing for an excellent view of her boobs, she asked, "How do you say what?" BLOODY HELL SHE IS TOO MUCH

"The second kind of cute is...its not cute its sexy and boys don't get happy they get horny."

"So breasts are sexy, and it makes boys grow horns?"

"Um not exactly. I guess you don't know what sex is."

"Are you referring to the differences between males and females?"

"No it is something that a man and a woman do when they love each other. It is very complicated. Please do not tell your mom or Nymph that we had this talk. I really do not want her getting the wrong idea."

"Tomoki...what is love?"

….

End of chapter 3!