Last Time on Cherry Soda Revival…
Kansei transformed. Cheri just watched on. A new Mew came to the rescue; Mew Orange Soda. Cheri is sinking fast.
Chapter 7
'Apologies. Why Couldn't I Help?'
Warai ended up taking Kansei back home, agreeing with Cheri and Aoi that trying to explain what happened would be too difficult. Instead they all opted for the idea of running. Warai and Kansei lived near each other, thus went together. Aoi lied, saying he lived near Cheri, so they could walk together. Really, he just wanted to talk to Cheri. Since the mysterious Mew Orange Soda appeared, Cheri had been becoming increasingly more depressed by the second.
"Cheri," Aoi said as they walked down the dark, empty road.
They were alone and free to talk. Only the occasional car would pass by, though Aoi had no worries of any eavesdropping from them. As Aoi called out to Cheri, she ignored him. She walked ahead of him a few paces; keeping her head down, merely watching her feet scuffle ahead.
"Cheri!" Aoi called out louder.
His irritation was growing.
"What?" she muttered.
She didn't look up, but she did stop walking. That was enough for Aoi to calm down a bit. He took a deep breath and stood ahead of Cheri. He placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.
"I'm your friend. I may not have known you for long, but I have shared many secrets with you that I haven't even shared with my long-time friends," explained Aoi. "To me that makes you and I even closer. So if there is something you need to say, I'm available to listen."
He was offering his shoulder to cry on. Cheri remained quiet at the offer. Just as Aoi sighed, thinking it was pointless to offer, she began to speak.
"You thought I was like you, in some way or another," said Cheri in a low voice. "That was somewhat proven by me being able to see and communicate with Ichi. That much is obvious, but other than that, I am nothing like you. You are a hero, able to transform to defeat monsters and protect people. But me… I couldn't even protect Kansei even though I was right there when Kansei attacked him."
She paused.
"I think it would be best for you to go back to ignoring me," she suggested. "It is-"
"Shut up already," interrupted Aoi. Cheri's eyes widened as she looked up in surprise. "You're my friend, no matter what you do now. I know you are special, you just haven't figured how to waken that inner fighting spirit your hiding. And you know what, when that spirit awakens, I will be there beside you as a friend."
He brought Cheri in for a hug. Cheri accepted the hug, though quite awkwardly.
"You don't take 'no' for an answer, do you?" asked Cheri.
"Nope," Aoi said with a laugh. "I always win."
He patted Cheri on the head and continued to walk ahead.
"We should probably get you back home," said Aoi.
"Yeah," agreed Cheri.
Ichi watched this unfold from a far. He couldn't hear the conversation, but had a feeling he wouldn't like it one way or another.
"Shit," he muttered to himself as he watched Cheri and Aoi hug. "I can't let you become one of them; not after all the time I have spent on you. You will join our side to eradicate the human race."
He let out another scoff before he vanished into the night.
Next Time on Cherry Soda Revival…
School is out for the weekend. Cheri is invited to hang out. Kansei is there and still isn't happy about last night. Cheri and Aoi both get cornered. Problems. A Couple More Misunderstandings!
This chapter was shorter. I wanted to get a chapter published. I have been stuck in a hotel room for more than a month now while I look for a place to live, so that has taken a toll on my creativity. I usually get some writer's block when traveling, but not like this. So I am hoping to get out of this hole by publishing something. Next chapter will include more social interaction between Cheri and Kansei, along with Aoi and a new(-ish) character.
