Author's Note:
Hi! This time, I decided to try new interactions. Hope you like it and please review :)
Hide's Room, 2nd Floor, Sawada Residence
"Kyuuuu~"
Row snuggled into Hide's touch. It hides behind Hide's palm when Takashi and Haji's hands tried to touch it.
"He is so cute." Takashi commented.
"Can't believe that this little guy belongs to that stone face." Haji commented, staring at the little hedgehog peeking shyly towards them behind Hide's hand.
"Shinogu-senpai gave him to you last night?" Takashi asked, still trying to touch the shy hedgehog.
"No. He said that I must give him back later." Hide placed the hedgehog into his bag where it sleeps soundly. "I'll be going now before Reborn kills me."
"Are you sure you're ready to train again?" Takashi asked worriedly. He is not a doctor, but he at least had heard that concussion treatment involves monitoring, physical and cognitive rest. Symptoms usually resolve within three weeks, though they may persist or complications may occur. If it happens to Hide during his training while their supposed
"Yeah. You got us freaked out when Arisa and Saki told us that you've concussion. Those Hibari brothers are so gonna pay for it." Haji cracked his knuckles at the thought of the two clouds. Seriously, involving his best friend in their family argument. True, his best friend was the one who jumped in himself between them, but it will never if only the two of them to actually act like a grown up, especially that useless, womanizer, annoying adult, Fuuhaku!
"Haji, I don't think you have the right to talk about acting all grown up when you're childish yourself." Takashi patted Haji's shoulder with genuine sympathy. The red head didn't realize that all of his thoughts are shown clearly in his face.
"Hey!"
Hide and Takashi laughed together. Hide pushed Haji aside, going to the door. "I'll be going now. I can't let Saki and Reborn waiting any longer. I'll see you later!"
Hide bid his two friends. Haji and Takashi could hear Hide's voice that was saying to his mother and grandmother that he's going to train and the front door closed. Haji and Takashi were looking at each other for a few seconds, not knowing what to do or what to say, but Takashi eventually started up a conversation, though it might be not a pleasant one for the red head.
"Speaking of which, are you still mad at your dad? It's almost a month and you haven't return home." The Rain Guardian candidate asked.
"Hmph! It was his fault!" Haji pouted, crossing his arms and turning his face away from the other teen.
"But your dad is your tutor, right?"
"We only meet each other during trainings. Of course, none of us exchange a single word since then. Not until he apologize to me."
"It's just like Kusaka said, you two are stubborn." Takashi scratched his head.
"Of course! That is one of our Three Gokudera Commandments!" Haji said proudly, making Takashi sweat dropped.
"That's not a compliment, Haji…" Takashi sighed. Well, it was impossible to change the red head's mind as long as that stubbornness still remains in him. If he tried, there will only be argument between him and Haji. Better not to try.
"Want to grab some ramen? My treat. I don't have anything to do since my training is still–" When Takashi realized it, Haji has already opening the window and looked at him with ramen eyes and drooling mouth.
"What are you doing? Let's hurry and go to Eisei Ramen*!" Haji jumped out from the window, waiting for Takashi to do the same.
Up in Hide's room, Takashi gave Haji body signs that telling the red head that he will use the stairs so he could first greet Kyoko and Nana. It would be rude to just go home without excusing themselves to the house owners, right?
Street, Shopping District, Namimori Town
"Please come again!"
Haji and Takashi came out from the ramen shop with their stomach full. Haji was smiling widely, so wide that his cheeks were hurt. He was apparently satisfied beyond belief since he got a chance to eat the limited edition of the extra jumbo beef ramen. Thrice. Takashi, on the other hand, was sulking. He looked at his wallet and felt a cold rain pouring from black cloud above him. His allowance for a month was swept away just within a few minutes in the ramen shop.
"What should I say to Dad and Old Man? This means I need to help up with the shop more to get new allowance…" Takashi felt like crying, but he held it. He told himself to think of it as a lesson, a lesson to NEVER EVER offer Hajime Gokudera a treat for the rest of his life.
"Speaking about training earlier, how's your training?" Haji asked, noticing his companion was silent since they left the ramen shop. Must be from eating too much, or so he thought. How wrong you are, Haji.
"I'm doing fine, I guess. Since yesterday my Dad started to use his Vongola Gear to train me." Takashi recalling yesterday's training.
In the middle of their sword clashes, his father suddenly summoned Jiro and Kojiro and used Cambio Forma to attack back. It took him by surprise, since it has been five years since he last saw his father using his Vongola Gear. It was so strong that he was easily defeated. Not only that, his father able to switch between one sword, four swords, and two swords in the middle of his attacks. He has a looong way to go.
"You too? My Old Man also started using Vongola Gear since two days ago to train me. That jerk…" Haji twitched at the training for the past few days. That damn old man was making fun of him since he thinks he was so great just because he was using Vongola Gear! He'll pay him back in tomorrow's training!
"Hajime-kun, Takashi-kun?"
Haji and Takashi heard their names being called from behind them. They turned and saw Arisa smiling at them.
"Arisa-chan! What are you doing here?" Takashi happily greeted the girl. Despite knowing that the illusionist is older a year than him, Takashi couldn't help but to call her with suffix '-chan' since she was so cute. Arisa herself also doesn't mind with it, although Ryou grudgingly accepted it.
"I'm just taking a walk. You two?"
"Ramen." Takashi said dryly while pointing at Haji. It was not difficult to guess what happened just from the single word. Even Arisa had heard about Haji's gluttony for ramen that's comparable to a…certain pink fat animal.
"That creepy brother of yours is not with you? Don't you two have any training?" Haji looked around Arisa, searching for another blue head to pop out from nowhere like it usually does.
Arisa shook her head. "Ryou said that he want to be alone for today, so I don't have training partner." She sighed in disappointment.
"I thought all of us have been assigned with tutors. You and that creepy Ryou don't have one?"
"Our father is our tutor." Arisa answered, making the two confused.
"I thought Mukuro-san is at Italy." Takashi remembered his father talking with the Mist Guardian through phone yesterday, something about war preparations in Italy or something.
"Oh, yes he is. He trains us through our dreams to strengthen our master of illusions. All of our family has telepathy connections to each other." Arisa pointed at her head, her brain to be exact.
"Wow. Illusionists are amazing, huh…" Takashi said in awe. It would be nice if he could have a telepathy connection with his mother. With that, they can meet each other even when they are miles away.
"So you two training your illusions with your father through dreams, while training your direct combat ability with each other? And since Ryou is away, you can't train by yourself?" Haji repeated for confirmation.
"I don't think just swinging my spear around and hitting rocks and such would be a good direct combat training." Arisa was bored. She already asked the others to train her, but they were either busy or too tired after training their respective students. She didn't know what to do.
"That settles it, we'll be your training partners for today!" Takashi rounded his arms around Haji and Arisa.
"Huh?!" Haji and Arisa chorused.
"This will be a perfect after meal exercise! Right, Haji?" Takashi tightened his grip on Haji, almost choking him.
"F-Fine! But let go of me first!" Haji pushed Takashi away.
He sheepishly looked at Arisa. She was the younger twin sister of that illusionist freak who likes to tease him and his best friend. But it's not like he hated her for that or anything, mind you, he just don't know how to act around her. She was so different from Kareha and Saki and other girls that he knows. She was quiet, shy, didn't talk much, and there were also times she gave him or the others this blank look whenever they were having a fit, Hide and himself in particular.
Plus, she also has this…innocent aura that made not only him, but also everyone, feeling drawn to her. To put it into words, she was so innocent that it made it hard to hate her. What made Haji uncomfortable about her though, there are times when he thought that she was able to see through what he is thinking.
Unaware of the close observation of the Storm Guardian candidate, Arisa talked casually to Takashi.
"Is it really okay? I don't want to bother while you two are having fun." Arisa shook her hands to refuse, but Takashi suddenly held it and smiled at her assuredly.
"Don't fret it, Arisa-chan! Now, let's go to where you usually train!"
Kokuyo Healthy Land, Kokuyo Town
"Let's decide who will spar with Arisa-chan first. C'm on, Haji." Takashi twirled his hand for rock-paper-scissor.
Takashi used rock.
Haji used paper.
The Storm Guardian candidate raised his hand up in victory pose while the Rain Guardian kneeled down, sulking in defeat. Just what actually happened today? He, the 'Lucky Yamamoto', the one who is supposed to have tremendous luck that no one else has, was so unlucky for today! What happened?! Did someone curse him? Jinxed him?
Ignoring the sulking rain, Arisa and Haji prepared themselves, facing each other.
"Arisa, don't hold back. Give me everything you have!" Haji brought out his guns (the bullets are replaced with special bullets).
Arisa nodded and materialized her spear. With a quick move, she swung her spear and a bunch of lotus showed itself. It flew to Haji with amazing speed. In a blink of eye, Haji was wrapped by the lotuses. He felt the pain of the bind around him body. They're getting tighter and tighter around him. Haji groaned. This was not the first time he experienced illusions, but it was still difficult to deal it.
"Not…bad…!"
Arisa just stared at him, waiting for him to move. Haji twirled his guns in his hands and shot at the floor beneath him. A fierce of storm flame exploded from the floor randomly, burning the lotuses that bind him. He fell on the floor, but quickly stood up again.
She tapped her edge of her spear once more, the ground began to shake and exploded, fire burned everywhere. Haji gasped at the sudden action she took. He almost tripped but he was able to balancing himself. Haji lunged forward, pointing his guns at the illusionist and shoot.
She blocked the bullets with her spear before swinging it at Haji to counter, but Haji slid down and tripped Arisa's feet. This, however, backfired, when Arisa dissolved her spear and grasped Haji's shoulders while her left foot was on Haji's stomach. Following the fall, she stepped her left foot on Haji's stomach, hitting him to the floor. Using her hands, she jumped away from Haji's body.
Haji felt his backbone cracked from the impact. Haji groaned as he rubbed his back and stomach, slowly getting up.
"You're suck, Haji!" Takashi booed.
"Shut up!" Haji shouted back at Takashi.
He admitted that he was holding back because his opponent is a girl, putting aside the fact that she is the daughter of Vongola's most formidable illusionist couple. But he didn't expect that it would turn out this way. And he also realized that Arisa herself was also holding back like he is. This is just training not a real duel to death or anything, so it's understandable.
Still…
"Arisa, I told you to give me everything you have! This maybe only a training, but if you want to grow your potential, then you must use that potential!" Haji encouraged. To prove that he was serious, he increased his own flames.
Arisa flinched. She seemed unsure of herself. Looking at her spear, she began to question herself. Was it really okay to use her true power? What if she couldn't control it? What if it run out control and harmed not only her enemies, but also her comrades?
"You need to believe that you can do it if you want to become stronger, Arisa-chan!"
Arisa turned to Takashi who was smiling encouragingly at her. She clutched her chest as she remembered what her father and brothers told her. It was almost the same as what Takashi said. Can she do it? It's been a long time since she used 'that' flame.
"I need to…believe that it would happen…"
Convinced, the air around Arisa changed. She placed her hands on her both side and closed her eyes in concentration. This alarmed Haji and Takashi. Haji decided not to move out of fear it would be a huge mistake, while Takashi took cover behind the wall, sensing that something big would happen and he would be in a mess if he didn't take precautions now.
Dark thick mist flames started to gather around Arisa. The flames were getting thicker and thicker that it almost turned into pitch black. Arisa slowly opened her eyes, and Haji and Takashi saw surprised them.
Arisa's eyes turned into red! Not only that, in her right eye there is kanji 'four' while in her left eye there is kanji 'two.'
"I'll show you… The Mist of Hunger…"
Much to both Haji and Takashi's shock, the mist flames around Arisa dispersed in blink of an eye. Not getting any chance to react, Haji was left engulfed by the thick mist flames. The touches of the flames slowly took away his energies. Haji trembled and finally kneeled down.
A loud thud caught his attention, and he looked, with confusion, that Takashi had fallen, succumbed to the mist flames.
His breathing was getting heavier. His vision faded away.
And everything went black…
XoXoXoXoX
= Eight Years Ago, Italy =
Arisa and her two brothers were sitting beside their mother's bed; the latter was resting peacefully with Arisa holding her hand while Nichrome stroking her hair gently. Their father was speaking with Shamal outside, right in front of the room. Even though they were outside, Arisa could hear what they said.
"How is she?"
"She's fine. I didn't find anything wrong physically other than fatigue, but I can't say for sure for her psychologically."
"I can handle that."
"I'm more concerned about your children's…unordinary power. Even though nothing ordinary in this Mafia world of ours…"
"What's your point?"
"I'm talking about the mist flames that your children have used. Any other idiot would know those mist flames are not mist flames that people see everyday. Plus, I'm sure you saw their eyes when they used the flames!"
"Trust me, even I don't know how come they possesses those powers. I got this eye and its abilities from my past lives, and that is not something that can be passed down. This, I am 100% sure."
"Whatever. At any rate, you need to keep an eye on your children and train them so this won't happen again to your wife or other people."
They looked at her guiltily. It was their fault that their mother was in such a state. They lost control of their powers because of their stupid emotions. They promised that they wouldn't cause any more trouble for their parents than they already had, but looked at the result now. They hurt their own mother.
Their father came inside, sitting on the other side of the bed beside his wife. One look at them, Arisa and her brothers knew that he was telling them to go home and let him take care of their mother. Of course, they outright refused. They were the ones responsible, so they should be the one to take care of her.
"I'm going to have some conversation with your mother inside our world and to make sure that psychologically she's all right and with you three in here is distracting me."
To say that her oldest brother was annoyed was an understatement. Yet, what their father said was true too. After what happened, perhaps it was the best for their mother to be left alone with their father. They really hoped they could enter the illusionary world of their parents and apologize to their mother there instead of waiting for her to wake up, but unfortunately, their skills are not that high yet.
Begrudgingly, the three siblings excused themselves, giving their mother one last concerned glance before leaving the room for good.
XoXoXoXoX
Ten Minutes Later, Kokuyo Healthy Land, Kokuyo Town
For ten minutes, Haji and Takashi were out cold, panicking Arisa who quickly reached for her bag and made herbal medicines to cure the effect of her flames. She was glad that she only used small portion of that flame, or else, it would be too hazardous! Arisa thanked to God when Haji and Takashi were awake. She unconsciously hugged the two to feel that they were indeed alive, only to pushed them away again when she realized what she was doing.
"What the hell…was that…?" Haji asked, still coughing hard from the attack.
"I-I'm sorry…" Arisa patted Haji's back comfortingly, offering him a glass of herbal medicine that she made.
"No, it's fine. I'm the one who encouraged you." Haji assured and gladly accepted the medicine.
"Still, that was awesome, Arisa-chan! You should try to use it once we fight the Disscordo!" Takashi drank his medicine as he complimented the illusionist.
"Sorry… I still can't properly using this flame…" Arisa guiltily looked down, fiddling her fingers.
"What is that flame anyway? I never saw that kind of mist flame before." Haji asked.
"The Mist of Hunger…" Arisa answered. She started to give the two a brief explanation of her special mist flame.
Mist of Hunger enabled her to absorb other Mist flames and strengthening her own Mist Flame with the Flame that she had absorbed. Depending on the type of Mist Flame that being absorbed, it grants her various abilities to fight. This flame is also capable of stealing the physical abilities of their opponents, including speed, stamina and raw strength, and add it to their own, thus strengthening themselves, and weakening their opponents.
She told them how she didn't quite understand herself regarding this flame. Not even her parents knew, and they could only make a speculation: the flame was created from her father's fourth path and second path of his Six Paths of Reincarnation, since the numeral two and four in her eyes when she was using the flame are similar with that of her father's. But in the end, it was only a mere speculation.
"Big Brother and Ryou also have special mist flames like I do. But their abilities are different."
"…Why am I not surprised…? That's a one bizarre family that you have." Haji sighed, ruffling his hair tiredly.
"Then, what kind of mist flames that they have?" Takashi asked.
"Ryou's flame is 'Mist of Record' and Big Brother's flame is 'Mist of Decay'. I can't reveal much though. I promised them that I won't tell to anybody without their consent. Sorry."
"Never reveal your card to your enemy, huh?" Haji stated with distaste but understanding.
"At first, I actually don't like this power myself, but Father told me that there must be a reason why I was born with this power. I must not think of it as a 'curse', but rather as a 'gift'. It's difficult to think that way, but it actually makes me feel better even if it's only a bit." Arisa smiled at the memory of her father when she first used this flame. She still can't accept it, but she'll learn, until she can love her 'gift' wholeheartedly.
"You have a nice father, Arisa-chan. Unlike our fellow over here who is having a fight with his father and still hasn't reconcile." Takashi pointed his thumb at Haji, evading a punch from the red head. "I'm going to call my Dad to tell him that I will be wait for training." Takashi moved several steps away to call his father.
Arisa tilted her head. "Why you're angry at Gokudera-san? Did he do something wrong?"
"Big mistake! He didn't tell me and Mom that he is sick! I won't come back until he apologizes!"
"I know I'm intruding, but I think he just doesn't want to worry you. You should know that better since you're his son."
"Not telling us only makes us feel worse!"
Arisa blinked. She had heard this before. Then it hit her. Now, the Storm Guardian candidate was in similar position as Hide when he found out about the truth behind his older brother's death. And Haji didn't realize it, but he shared the same opinion as her twin. They are family, they supposed to share everything with each other instead of trying to carry burden alone. She couldn't blame Gokudera-san though. She understood his reason since all her family, including herself, had done the same thing in the past.
But at the same time, she also understood Haji's anger and disappointment of being left out. She heard a lot from her father how stubborn the Gokudera family is, while sometimes this could be a good thing, this could take like forever unless one of them make the first move. She wanted to tell him what she feels, but won't that mean that she's meddling with other people's business?
"Don't think of it as meddling. You're trying to help a friend."
An image of her twin popped in her mind, telling her to have more confidence in herself. That was…surprisingly made sense. Right! She's doing this to help her friend!
"Do you really plan to continue like this?" Arisa started slowly.
"How can a man like me bow down my head after what I said!" Haji crushed the cup he was holding to show that he was serious. If he apologizes first after what he had told his father, his pride would be crushed.
"But…that's what family does, right?"
Haji looked at Arisa in confusion, half-glaring at her, making the girl flinched a little. She trailed off, having a second thought about telling her opinion. But then another image of Ryou came into her mind, looking impatient at her.
"Just tell him now! Don't make me come out from your mind!"
"Will you be quiet?" Arisa unintentionally said back.
"Arisa…what's wrong? Your face look…grouchy." Haji looked at Arisa as if the girl had grown another brain in her head.
Arisa blushed in embarrassment. How can she let herself making such a face over her own imagination while they are having a serious talk? Shaking her head and cleared her throat, she started again.
"Making mistakes, causing troubles, and fighting always happen in family. In the end, it's not like you really hate each other. Sometimes, you don't need to say sorry directly and follow the flow. Before you knew it, everything has already gone back to normal. Like siblings fight."
Arisa smiled softly as she recalling the time when she was younger, when she had a quite big fight with Ryou. They didn't talk for almost a week until their father 'accidently' lock them together in a warehouse, leading them to work together to get out and they reconciled.
"You don't need to apologize or anything. Just talk to him like you always do. Gokudera-san is a nice person, so I'm sure he'll eventually understand his own mistake and tell you everything."
Haji was still skeptical and unsure. This is his father that they were talking about. He was the very origin of the Three Gokudera Commandments! Is it really going to work?
"In order to make it come true, you need to believe it will happen, right?" Arisa reminded, using Takashi's words earlier. "At least your problem is not as serious as my Father and Big Brother's." She added in her mind.
Haji grumbled while pondering the possibilities. What she said was right, but still, won't that mean that he admit defeat? Wait, this isn't about winning or losing but it was about right or wrong! Was he being childish? Was he?
"Well…I guess…I'll give it a try…" Haji muttered quietly.
Arisa smiled triumphantly. She did it! This was the first time she was able to convince someone other than her family! Thank you Ryou! She will cook his favorite foods for tonight's dinner!
"You should be confident about yourself as well. Forget about your brother or anything else and think about yourself."
"Eh?"
Without turning to Arisa, he continued. "Lack of self-confidence usually stem from constantly comparing oneself with another. You must be often comparing yourself with that creepy twin of yours."
Arisa shuddered, feeling she was hit by ten arrows. Bullseye.
"You are you and your brother is your brother. Stop trying to become like him or such. You have your own power, your own excess. Try to develop your excess and be yourself. I think…you're okay the way…you are…now."
Haji's face reddened. Not wanting the illusionist to see it, he excused himself and rushed out from Kokuyo Land. He almost couldn't believe that he was able to say it! He felt grateful for Arisa, so he thought that he at least should say something nice to her. But still, he and Arisa were not that close as friends like his childhood friends, so he was nervous and it was embarrassing!
Meanwhile, Takashi, who had just finished his call, returned to Arisa's side while watching Haji left in hurry.
"He's leaving already?" Takashi asked.
"Yeah. I wonder if he's still feeling sick from my attack." Arisa wondered in concern.
"Nah, I'm sure he's fine! And from the looks of it, you able to talk some sense into him." Takashi patted Arisa's head, making the girl blushed.
"N-not really, Hajime-kun is also a good listener himself. And…"
"And?"
"You said it yourself, right? I need to believe if I want it to come true." Arisa repeated again.
"Oh! So you're listening really well!" Takashi was pleased.
"Also, I'm happy. He said that I should be myself instead of trying to be like Ryou. He said that I'm okay the way I am now." Arisa had wanted to hear those words. She was timid, so not many people pay attention to her. When they did it usually only a normal remark, telling her to do her best and such. She wasn't jealous or envies her twin or anything, but this makes her underestimate herself.
"I also think you're okay to be yourself. I like you the way you are, Arisa-chan! I hope you can be with us more often!" Takashi said cheerfully and genuinely, making the girl blushed even harder.
"E-eh?!"
"Because it would be lonely if you, Saki, and Kusaka are not around. The more merrier." He added.
"O-oh, so that's what you mean." Arisa was shocked for a moment. In fact, today was full of surprises, good surprises from people aside from her own family. She would remember this. This was one of the happiest moments in her life.
Takashi stood up, stretching himself before offering his hand to Arisa. "Do you want to continue the training? I'll be your partner now. Don't worry, since I was hiding behind the wall, your flame didn't affect me that much."
Arisa stared at Takashi's hand that extended to her and then at Takashi. Seeing Takashi's smiling face, she nodded, accepting the hand.
"Let's do our best together."
Living Room, 1st Floor, Gokudera Residence
"I'm home…" Haji said to his mother who was standing in front of him and to his father who is not far away from them.
"Hajime-chan!" Leti hugged her son. "You finally come back! Do you know how much I missed you?"
"We met yesterday when I was training with Dad, Mom." Haji reminded. He actually felt his back hurt from his mother's hug, but seeing that his mother was really worried for him, he remained quiet.
"This and that are different!" She retorted, letting her son go.
Haji and Gokudera glared at each other. None of them speak or move, merely exchanging curses and insults through their glares that only Gokudera family members able to understand. From Leti's observation, the curses and insults included 'stupid old man', 'ungrateful runt', 'pinky brat', 'pathetic puppy', and so on.
"Tch, Hajime, go to your room. It's late and you should be in bed." Gokudera finally told his son, who scowled at him.
"You're not the boss of me, Old Man." Haji muttered but did so anyway after he bid his mother goodnight, going upstairs to his room.
"I take it you two were fine?" Leti asked once Haji was out of earshot.
"No we're not!" Gokudera spat out, looking away from his wife.
"You can't treat him like a kid forever you know. He's strong like you do." Leti leaned her head on her husband's back, her hands holding his arms gently.
"…You know why I can't…not now of all times…" Gokudera replied, frowning deeply.
Leti sighed. "Perhaps you should reconsider about the so-called our Three Gokudera Commandments." She gave her husband a peck on the cheek and returned ahead to their room, bidding him a goodnight.
Azarel's Room, Guardian Quarters, Disscordo Hideout, Namimori Town
Azarel settled down into the chair and began sorting through the items on the desk, his body quick to fall into the routine of deskwork. He then plopped the documents onto the marble table and began looking through the papers intently. Soon he was sorting at a quick and efficient pace.
As he put the papers to the side, he grabbed a significantly bigger file and began flipping through it.
The door then opened, revealing Lottie tiptoeing to sit by Azarel's side. She leaned her head on his shoulder, looking at what Azarel was reading. She raised her brow when she realized what it was: a compilation of the people of the H-Box Project.
"I thought that we're done with this. Didn't we have produced four powerful H-Boxes already?" Lottie asked, snuggling closer to the illusionist.
"No, this is for the prototype of the other project that we're going to use in the battle against Vongola." Azarel answered without looking or minding the Sun Guardian.
Lottie pouted since the illusionist was unfazed by her playful seduction, but didn't pursue it even further. She let him go, but still sitting close to him as she spoke, "I thought Boss offered himself to use 'that' prototype?"
"I know. But I don't think one specimen would be enough for this prototype. I need at least one more to make sure whether there're differences depending the person who use it or not." Azarel stopped at certain page, finding that he has been looking.
"Perfectionist aren't you?" Lottie commented, chuckling at the illusionist.
"What can I say? Everything needs to be perfected or else it won't go the way we want. Speaking of which," Azarel finally turned to his companion. "How is the search for Nichrome Dokuro?"
Lottie shrugged. "That man knows how to cover his track. He's kind a like you. But hey, there are still his siblings, remember?"
"True, that he is our first priority, but I thought the Boss precisely said that we need the three of them in order to reach our goal." Azarel reminded the young woman.
"Our two projects, the three special Mist flames, and the Arcobaleno. Once we have them all, everything will go according to plan."
*Ramen shop where Haji usually eats ramen.
