MAPOV
I yawned as I opened my eyes…
11:24 P.M.
Lee and I had a day off today, so we decided to go have a few drinks last night…
If 3 pitchers of lemon margaritas and 4 pints of piña coladas and a bowl full of "space cakes" count as a few…
"Morning sunshine…" Lee greeted as he cooked up our lunch.
"Oh… S'up dude?" I greeted back as I rubbed my sore head, because of a minor hangover.
"Interesting night last night right?" Lee said.
"What's with the rhymes dude? Last night was interesting… you tried to hit on some blond dude with a scar, fought a kid over a piece of candy, sang a song with an awful voice, got up and threatened to burn the place to the ground…" I recounted as I entered the bathroom.
"Hm… I don't recall…" Lee said.
"Duh… hey dude, I need to go now, so, on the double with that beef stew…" I said while drying my hair with a towel.
"Hey, you gonna see that hot chick again?" Lee asked.
I then grabbed a pair of barber's clippers and made my hair shorter and had the bangs just above my eyebrows…
"Oh yeah… and her name is Yukari by the way…" I told him.
Then I tied the back end the same style as Lee, back knot.
"Yukari… Affinity? Or beautiful pear tree?" he mulls.
"My girlfriend." I said while putting on a black t-shirt with a blue button up shirt with a grey tie and a hoody with black and white horizontal stripes with a logo of jack skellington.
"Girlfriend huh? Tell me, if you loved her so much, then why did you go away?" Lee asked.
I stopped.
"I…I didn't leave her… not in my own will… I had no choice…" I said sadly.
"Really? Never mind then, I'm sure you had your reasons…" Lee said as he bit into a bratwurst.
"I… wouldn't…I couldn't…" I said as I left.
"Smell ya later kid!" Lee shouted as I went out.
As I turned the ignition to my Ducati, I gunned it to an 80 mph run.
"Aketchi Street… on Kujikawa Avenue… ah! There!" I said as I saw a sign that read "Aketchi Street."
Then, I saw a 13-14 year old kid snatching an old lady's purse, so I intercepted him.
I grabbed the kid and pulled him to a wall.
The kid who was 5'6 had a faux hawk wore a black t-shirt with a glow in the dark green skull, an urban camouflage hoody and had a black hexagonal patterned shorts.
"M-minato-san?" he said.
"Ken? What the hell are you thinking kid? Robbing some old lady's purse… Give it back and I'll take you to Yukari's party with me." I said.
"…Fine…" he said.
After he left for a few minutes, he returned.
"There, I gave it back… now would you mind telling me how you're alive?" he asked.
"I'll explain later, right now, you can come with me, Amada…" I said.
"It's Masters. Ken Masters… I changed my name when Sees disbanded. You could say it's my street name." he said proudly.
"Quit playing Street Fighters, kid…" I said as I let him wear the spare helmet.
"Hold on kid, Shadowfax here has got quite a kick…" I said.
"I don't need to hold onnnnn!" he said the last bit as I gunned the engine as he quickly held on.
I saw the house with a mailbox that read "Takeba",
"Glad she's not yet married…" I said.
"Who?" he asked as I spaced out.
As I rang the doorbell, I caught the smell the scent of basil and spaghetti…
"Coming!" Yukari's voice responded.
As she opened the door, she seemed shocked.
"Oh my gawd… Minato? Your hair…" she seemed shocked.
"I know… it's that bad isn't it-" I began.
"I love it! You look so prim and proper and that back knot is just sexy…" she flirted.
"It's nothing really…" I said as I looked in her eyes.
We stared at each other until someone shouted:
"Takeba, I think your pasta and fillet mignon is ready." A noble voice said as it got closer.
Itwas a red-headed woman, around 20-21...
"A-Arisato… Uhhh… welcome back… T-Takeba told me that you awakened…" She said shyly.
"Mitsuru! Glad to see you too!" I said as I hugged her.
"Yes! Uh… I mean, I am glad you returned…" she said as she returned the embrace.
"Who's the kid?" Yukari asked.
"Oh, this is Ken Amada, remember? I found him." I said.
"Hey Yukari-san… its Ken Masters now…" he said.
"Amada, video games are bad for growing kids…" Mitsuru scolded.
"Hehe…so uhhh… can we come in?" I asked.
"Oh, of course, come in, come in!" Yukari gestured.
We went inside.
Her home was a lovely two storey house; the first floor had a living room, with two couches forming a big "L" and had a coffee table and the kitchen was on the other side. The second floor is mainly her private area, like bathroom and bedroom.
"Nice place you got here…" I admired.
Then a young lady with a shoulder length teal hair came down.
"Oh! Minato-kun! I'm soooo glad you're back!" Fuuka said as she hugged me.
"Fuuka… you haven't changed a bit!" I said.
"Tee-Hee…" she said.
Later…
"H-Here you go Arisato… I made it a while ago…" Mitsuru handed me a tea cup.
"Oh, thanks!" I said.
It was chamomile tea.
"Wow… this taste good…" I said while sipping.
"Thanks…" Mitsuru said shyly.
"Here Amada…" Mitsuru said as she tossed Ken an Ice tea.
"Thanks…" he said.
Knock! Knock!
Two impatient raps sounded from the door.
"Junpei, calm down…. You that hungry?" a confident voice asked.
"Hey Akihiko-san, didn't you get last night's text from Yuka-tan?" A whiny voice asked.
"Of course…But it's really impossible that Minato resurrected all of the sudden… I'll bet you 5000 yen that last night's text was just some big joke." Akihiko said.
I decided to get the door.
"Yes?" I said, half-joking and half-serious.
"Haha! Pay up, BoxCar!" Junpei said as Akihiko pulled out 5000 yen.
"I had to see it to believe it… Minato, what's up dude?" Akihiko said as he slapped me in the back.
"Fine, I had some problems, but I'm good." I said casually.
"You haven't changed a bit. Literally." He said.
"Minato, dude, I knew you'd be able to do INCREDIBLE things, but rising from the dead… that's just sick right there, bro…" Junpei said as he punched me lightly in my arm.
"T'was nothing really…" I said.
"Alright, let's get some grub!" Junpei said as he entered.
"Junpei-san…Sanada-san…" Ken greeted.
"Ah, the prodigal son returns!" Junpei said grandly.
"What?" Akihiko said.
"Nothing…Nothing…just some poetry I read." Junpei said.
After Yukari served the food, we chatted happily.
We were talking about the time when Junpei had a skiing trip.
"Hahaha… by the way… how DID you return, Minato-san? Did you fall from the sky? Did you wake up in some cave, or maybe rose from the ground or were you reborn from an egg?" Ken asked curiously.
"Calm down, Ken… Let him say it." Junpei said as he nibbled on a piece of fillet mignon.
"Well… I came out of the tree at the Shrine… it cracked open as I emerged from it…Naked as a newborn baby…" I said.
"Naked? How so? Didn't you have clothes?" Yukari asked.
I already had an answer.
"Well, apparently, since my clothes were only from my old body, it did not transfer to my new body," I said while gesturing myself.
"And my new body was being formed at the tree from the shrine; it didn't have any clothes there but beside the offertory, there was a paper bag full of it." I said.
Everyone mulled.
"I've heard of some myth like that… but, where?" Mitsuru mulled.
"The myth of Malakas and Maganda… down south in the Philippines… about the first man and woman that emerged from a bamboo tree." Ken said.
"Hm… yeah… that's it!" Mitsuru said.
"Thank goodness there wasn't anyone else there…" Yukari said.
"Yeah… now…" I began.
"You were naked! Hahahaha!" Yukari laughed.
"Yeah, Yeah… You know Yukari, I'm real shy…" I said as I stroked her hair.
"Yeah…you're real shy all right! And I'm really lovin' your tie…" she said in a flirty way.
The group seemed rather uneasy.
I just ignored it and put my arm around her.
"Yukari… I missed you…" I said as I touched her cheek.
"…Yeah…me too…" she said.
I gave her a hug.
The group fidgeted in their seats.
"Okay guys! I need to squeeze the lemon." I said.
As I left, the group spoke. I didn't listen to it much.
YTPOV
The group seemed uneasy as Minato left to use the bathroom.
At length, Junpei said:
"Did you tell him?" he said.
I shook my head.
"I…I couldn't bring myself to do it…" I said sadly.
"Then it'll hurt him even more…" Fuuka said sadly.
"Yeah…like putting on a band-aid and suddenly pulling it off…"Akihiko said.
"You need to tell him soon…" Mitsuru said.
"Let me go over to him…" Junpei said.
"Don't tell him…Just "Butter" him up…" I said.
"On it…" He said as he went to the kitchen where Minato used the 'loo.
MAPOV
I was washing my hands as I finished my stuff.
When I went out, Junpei was outside.
"Hey dude…do you want a drink?" he offered a margarita.
"No thanks dude… it's a bit early isn't it?" I said.
"Ummm…its 5 P.M." Junpei said.
"Oh…I don't drink. Just give me a lemon soda, please." I said.
"Okay dude… how is it with Yukari?" he asked as he grabbed a lemon soda and tossed it to me..
"Dude… I really don't mean to brag, but my charms are so contagious, they need to produce a vaccine for it and my lines are so daring, I should be arrested for flirting with chicks." I said, rather proudly.
"Dude…you're about to get a rude awakening…" he mumbled.
"What?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing…" he said as we walked out.
As we went back to the living room…
DING DONG!
"Hm? Who could that be…Aigis?" I said as I opened the door.
It was a man with a short "crest" like a faux hawk, had expensive clothes and wore too much cologne, his face slightly resembled my face and he was a bit shorter than me.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
"Um…yes, I'm here for my girlfriend's party…" he said with a pompous voice.
"Oh, are you Fuuka or Mitsuru's boyfriend?" I asked chattily.
"Yukari's. Can come in now?" he asked.
I froze. Then I said,
"That's impossible, bro; you got the wrong place because I'm her boyfriend…" I said matter of factly.
"Hahaha… you kidding right?" he said.
I felt my anger boiling as I prepared myself for a fight.
"Minato! Stop… this… is…Nathan Azai… he's… my boyfriend…" she winced.
I was devastated.
"Wh-what…?" I said.
I then pushed Nathan aside as I went out and ran for it.
YTPOV
"Minato, wait!" I screamed as he ran off, leaving his ride.
"Akihiko, Amada, Iori run after him!" Mitsuru screamed.
"Okay, but my name is Masters! Ken Masters!" Ken shouted as he ran with Akihiko and Junpei.
"What was that all about?" Nathan asked.
"He…is that guy I keep telling you about…" I said.
"Ahhh…Your first true love?" he said.
"Y-Yeah…" I said.
Meanwhile…
"Where is he?" Junpei exclaimed.
"I don't know, why do you think we're looking for him?" Akihiko said.
"Isn't that him?"Ken shouted as he pointed to Minato sitting on the beach in front of a fire.
"Hey! Dude!" Junpei shouted as Minato looked at them.
MAPOV
I made a run for the beach and I made a fire pit.
I sat on the fire as I thought about Yukari.
I even contemplated….
"Hey! Dude!" a voice shouted.
"Junpei?" I said.
"Dude… Don't worry about it…" Akihiko said as he sat down beside me.
"Yeah… Nathan's a big wimp…" Ken said.
Akihiko and Junpei stared at him.
"You know him?" they asked.
"Yeah… I mean not personally… I sorta borrowed his wallet…" Ken said.
"What?" Akihiko said.
"Okay… I guess we need to go back eh? I'm sure Yukari would be with me…" I said.
"I hope so…" Junpei said.
As we returned,
Yukari was sitting on the porch bench.
"Minato…" she said.
As I sat on the bench, the guys stared at us.
"Guys… a little privacy, please?" I said.
"Okay…" they said as they went inside.
Yukari and I stared at each other until she started.
"I'm sorry… I meant to tell you…" she said.
"You'll break up with him, wont you? We'll be back together wont we?" I said as I held her hands.
She looked sad.
"Look… I know it was selfish of me to think that I could have both of you… but maybe…it can't be…" she began until I stopped her.
"Yukari…. I'd much rather be friends with you, than not to have you in my life at all…" I said as I held her hands.
She nodded quickly.
"Minato…" she said as she hugged me.
We entered the house.
Nathan was chatting about his finances which no one else bothered to listen.
Ken even drew little dots on his eyelids to make Nathan believe that he was listening.
Until Ken started snoring.
"Hey Nathan… this is Minato." She introduced me to him.
"Minato Arisato." I said.
"Nathan Azai." He said boldly.
"Sorry about that bit earlier…" I said.
"Yeah… be more nice when you meet people." He said curtly.
"Now, would anyone tell me who owns that Ducati outside?" he asked.
"I own it." I said.
"Huh… I only own a Lancer… I'd kill to have a ride like that…"
I didn't know if he was joking or not.
I just shook my head.
As I sat next to Ken, I snapped my fingers on his ear.
"Ah… that Nathan guy finally stopped yapping?" he asked.
"Yeah…" Nathan said.
"Thank goodness, you're pretty boring…" Ken said as Fuuka, Junpei, Akihiko, Mitsuru and Yukari laughed.
"Tch… So… Minato… you watch football?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah…" I said.
"What team you like?" he asked cautiously.
"Chelsea…I'm a proud Headhunter…you?" I said.
"Oh yeah? I'm a Millwall fan… Bushwhacker pride." He said.
I grabbed the beer bottle as he held on his bread knife.
"Cut that shit out guys, this ain't Football Factory!" Ken said.
"Alright… I need to leave now, so…" he said as Yukari went with him.
"Okay…" she said.
As they left…
"Minato… where do you live?" Fuuka asked.
"Oh, I live at my friend's house… not much but…" I said.
"Dude! That's no way to live! Get the brochure from my car, dude!" Junpei said as he tossed me a key with a baseball keychain.
As I went outside, I saw Nathan and Yukari kissing but when she saw me, I pretended that I didn't see anything.
"Bye." Nathan said as he looked at my Ducati and rode off in his green Mitsubishi Lancer.
As I opened his backseat, I saw several coloring books and a rattle.
"Damn… looks like Junpei finally cracked…" I said as I pulled out a bunch of brochures.
As I went inside the house, Junpei was chatting with the others.
"Hey Junpei! Aren't you a little old for coloring books and rattles?" I teased.
"What? Those aren't for me…" he said.
"Who, then?" he said.
Everyone grinned.
"For…for…for my two kids…" he said shyly.
"Kids? Hah! Who's your wife then?" I asked.
"Chidori. Chidori Yoshino Iori." He said.
"What? When did you get married?" I asked.
"Well… when I was 17… right after summer…" he said.
"How old are your kids?" I asked.
"Well, they're twins, little Solenn looks like Chidori but has my hair color and blue eyes, loves baseball and a bit tomboyish, and little Chon has Chidori's hair color and has green eyes and is a bit of…an emo. They're both four, just like Mina-" Junpei began before Yukari threw a buffalo wing at him.
He caught it in his mouth.
"Later Stupei…" she said.
"Okay, Junpei can you go to the Suemitsu Restaurant? So we can talk about the housing?" I asked.
"Of course! I'll be there at 11 A.M." he said with a gleam in his eyes.
"I'll tag along too." Yukari said.
"Tomorrow then? I'll see you two there…" I said.
"Okay! Bye!" they said as I exited the house.
As I arrived Lee's house, I told him about the move.
He seemed pretty sad, but insisted that I still pick him up.
I agreed as I slept and had a nightmare.