Chapter 20: A Humble Request
"So then, I somehow managed to solo that dungeon, as well." I say, finishing recounting my tale to Lady Noire over the phone on a lazy Sunday afternoon. "Your tips really helped."
"Well, I'm glad I could help out there. You can start pulling your own weight now in dungeon runs, right?" Lady Noire asks, a clear teasing tone in her voice.
"H-hey, I help out…"
"Hehe, I know. But, you still panic sometimes when you pull a little too much aggro."
"It is a bit nerve wracking when it doesn't go all according to plan." I say, scratching the back of my head. "Oh, um, hey, I wanted to ask you something."
"Huh?"
"Are uh, you free next weekend? I'm planning to fly into Lastation and there's something I'd like to discuss." I pause as I can hear what sounds like someone either stumbling or a lot of boxes hitting the ground. "N… noire?"
"I'm fine!"
"Are you sure…?"
"I'm one hundred percent fine!"
"If you insist, Noire…"
"U-um… what's the occasion?"
"Oh, um… Lady Blanc hasn't told you?"
"Well, she mentioned she'd be visiting next week as well. Actually, Neptune said she'd come in too, now that I think about it."
"It was just more convenient this way, I think. But um… we wanted to discuss the possibility of coming cleaning about the gala."
"So that's what it was…"
I hear an air of disappointment in her voice. "Well, I'm flying in Saturday evening and I already decided to close the shop on Monday just in case things run long, so if you want to do something while I'm there like play Four Goddesses Online to—"
"I… I'll think of something, don't worry. I'll keep my calendar free that day." She says very hurriedly. "Oh, I'll pick you up from the airport as well, or I'll have Kei come and get you if I can't."
"Oh, thanks."
"Have you already reserved a hotel?"
"I was going to do that right now, actually, along with the flight."
"Don't worry about the hotel, I'll set up a room for you in the Basilicom."
"E-eh? You don't have to go so fa—"
"We haven't had a guest in a while, so it should be okay. Besides, you said next time you wanted to talk to Uni a little more, right? It'll be easier if you're here."
"I guess I can't really argue against that. Well, I'll make sure to have my tickets bought tonight, then." I breathe a sigh of relief. "But, um, are you on board?"
"I'm… well, Kei will probably complain because of all the work we put in, but she should be fine if I say I'm in line with it, and also be transparent that it was your request."
"That is something I am willing to admit, yes."
"I don't think most people will have an issue if it comes out that we did all of this because you didn't want your life to get affected right then and there. It's just… I'm just a little afraid of what's going to happen to your shop and you."
"I guess… we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it, huh?"
"Yeah… I'm a little surprised you wanted to go through with it, though."
"I just wanted to not live in fear of it, really. Plus, after seeing Lady Ram and Lady Rom get buzzed by reporters for it, I decided I didn't want them to have to carry that weight for me."
"Geez, you should do something for yourself for once. I'm making you pick where we're going to eat for dinner. No, actually, I'm going to pick five very expensive restaurants, and you are going to choose where we're going, and they will all be of equal price. You're going to get the full five course meal, so you can't skip out and just get an appetizer."
"No mercy from you, huh?" I ask, getting a laugh in return. "Are you sure that won't be popping the surprise a little early?"
"Oh, I guess people are bound to talk. Okay, fine, I'm making you pick the restaurant for after we reveal everything."
"Haha, okay, I get it. Well, I'm going to go and get those plane tickets now. They'll be a little pricey since it's somewhat last minute, but I'll hold."
"Oh, it's fine. I'll reimburse you, so just hand me the receipt when you get here."
"You don't have to."
"Well, if I wanted you to come over here, I would've done the same, so just think of it that way. And I'm not taking a 'no' from you."
"You and the other CPUs give me a hard time over this sort of thing, but I think you're equally just as guilty." I say in a clearly joking tone. "This is revenge for all the times I slipped and called you 'Lady Noire' by mistake when you only wanted to be called 'Noire' before, isn't it?"
"Maybe a little."
"If I make you a really good cup of coffee, will you forgive me?"
"Hmmm, no. An—hm? Uni? Oh, it's um, everything's fine, I just dropped a book earlier, don't worry about me. Um, I'll have to call you back in a bit, okay?"
"Sis, who are you talking to?!"
"Talk to you later, Noire."
"Mhm, talk to yo—Uni, stop trying to get my ph—"
At that, the line cuts off. Geez, she's really protective of her sister, isn't she? Well, guess it's time to buy my plane tickets. Lastation, huh…? I guess I haven't visited there in a long time.
"Ah, so there's this one right here, too..."
"I know that people said that my store would fit right in with Lastation, but this is a lot more coffee shops than what I was expecting."
As I had already told Lady Noire what I was flying in for, it was mostly just agreeing to everything and formalizing a plan. Meeting in person was really just a courtesy, but it was easier to get everyone together on Saturday night after having flown in. Since it wasn't strictly business and more so just personal, rather than have to meet during the day time in a fancy board meeting office, we mostly just sat around a lounge in the Basilicom and had some cola for drinks while talking about it.
That left Sunday for any lasting open discussions, but most of us were already satisfied with the outcome, so really it turned into walking around with Lady Noire. Lady Uni, who I had tried to make peace with, left us a little while ago, having spouted angrily something about "Just go have your romantic comedy already" as she left, and since then the atmosphere has been a little jumpy.
For now, Lady Noire is just pointing out some of the coffee shops nearby, mostly telling me which one she likes and what they all do well. There was one a few years ago that closed, which is one we were looking for, but its name kept escaping the tip of her tongue. Out of pride, it seems she wanted to see if she could eventually remember its name rather than looking it up.
The current cover story, anyways, as we are occasionally bugged by a reporter, is that I flew in from Planeptune as I hadn't lived in Lastation before and wanted to better understand coffee, and where else than a place that really catered to coffee hounds everywhere? The reason Lady Noire was accompanying me was she was also investigating the rumor that Lapin House apparently had its start in Lastation. Thus, having utilized my connection with Lady Neptune, I reached out to Lady Noire about being shown around. Or you know, so says the cover story.
Speaking of coffee shops, I never did ask Gregory about it, actually, about why the shop was in Planeptune. Plus, with the way he made coffee, I'm sure it could've been a hit here.
"They focus a lot more on the drinks, hm…"
"I think it's just that your shop is in Planeptune, so you have to have a healthy balance with the sweets along with the coffee." Lady Noire says, to which I nod in reply.
"Oh, that's definitely true."
"So, did you…"
"No… ire?" I say, pausing as I wasn't quite sure if…
"O-oh."
"D-did I say something wrong?" I ask, quickly regretting using only her name. "It's, ah, so—"
"No, it's just… I'm glad. Thank you."
I force myself not to breathe a sigh of relief. It was hard enough pushing myself right then and there to use her name. But it's all worth it to see a small smile on Lady Noire's face, clearly happy I used her name without the formalities. Even if it means we're skirting the line in trying not to reveal our hand too soon.
"Um, hey. We've done a lot of walking now. Why don't we go back to the Basilicom for now? It's already been about ten coffee shops now, so we can take a break before I show the rest. Or at least, after we find where the one we were searching for, at least. I know the one I really liked that closed down was here if I remember right, it was actually really famous, too..."
"Oh, that would be nice." I say, glancing around the small plaza we're in. There's a few shops around the area, as it's much like a strip mall. Fairly sparse for a Sunday, too.
"And about what we discussed…"
"Oh, um… sorry to drop something so heavy." I say, looking at the ground.
"No, it's… well, it was a bit disappointing when you came over just for that. But, I'll go through with it. It'd mean a lot less… sneaking around. Though, are you ready for it?"
"Well… I guess I have to be." I say, looking up and trying to smile for her.
"Hehe. Well, if you ever think the pressure is too much, I could use a personal barista."
"Thank you for the offer, but I don't think I can really bring myself to leave Lapin House."
"Consider the offer open, though."
We have a small laugh at that as we walk around some more. Lady Noire directs us through another plaza area, with both of us looking for the remnants of the closed down coffee shop that used to be around here.
It's less of a plaza and more of a strip mall, actually. Open air, wide walkways, all with that sleek and efficient Lastation look to them. Up above is some glass roofing to help shield us from the sun just a little bit, with some fans also spinning above. Most of the stores are open, getting their usual Sunday afternoon business, though there's a few sections where there aren't any stores and a "For Lease" sign occupies the window.
"I get the feeling this place has seen better days." I mumble.
"It's… well, from what I remember, that coffee shop really drew in a lot of people, with how famous it was, so business everywhere around it boomed naturally, too. It's bugging me that I can't remember it's name, but it's been so long since I thought actively about it. It really helped business, from what I can remember."
"Go figure… huh…"
"What is it, Elliot?" Lady Noire asks as I narrow my eyes, glancing in the distance at a man standing in front of one of the larger "For Lease" marked areas, right in the center of a small courtyard, which itself is in the dead center of the mall's layout. It's a standalone building with enough space around it that you could fit some tables and still have enough walking space for people to comfortably pass by. But more importantly, the person standing outside the shop...
"It looks like my mentor is here."
"Well, it can't hurt to see if it's him, right?" Lady Noire says with a smile. "Plus, if it is, I'd like to meet the person responsible for Lapin House's creation."
I nod, then raise my voice a little bit. "Gregory! Gregory, is that you?!"
The man who I think is my mentor looks up, resting on his cane. As always, he's dressed nicely, this time in a dark brown suit with a red tie, along with a matching brown hat. His grey hair and beard is neatly combed, as if he was attending a formal event.
"Elliot…?" He asks, turning around to face me, confirming who he was.
"Gregory, I… what are you doing here?" I ask, walking towards him with Lady Noire following behind me.
"Oh, this is… it's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
Gregory is taken aback for a second, only now putting together that Lady Noire is with me. His eyes go wide as he takes off his hat, holding it above his chest as he bows while holding onto his cane. "Lady Noire, it is a great honor and pleasure to be in your company."
"I can see where Elliot gets it now. You don't have to be so formal." She says, giving him a friendly smile.
"My most humble apologies. However, I hope you will understand if I am a bit slow to adapt." He says, rising from his bow.
"What are you doing here, though?" I ask as he puts his hat back on.
"Ah, well…"
At that moment, I don't think anything could have prepared me for his answer.
"...this is where Lapin House was born."
"...eh?"
"I was intending to come here alone, but I suppose it's fitting that you're here with me. Come on, come inside." He says, pulling out a key from his inner pockets. "Ah, wait, forgive me. I don't mean to steal him away from you, Lady Noire."
You know exactly what that kind of language implies, Gregory…
"S-steal him away? No, you weren't! T-though, I'm a little curious about the origin of Lapin House as well."
"I see. Then, I would also like to invite you." Gregory says, unlocking the door of the larger standalone building. "Please, do come in."
Inside is a very spacious looking area. There's no furniture, but most of the fixings are still in place. Chandeliers, a wooden floor that looks like it's still receiving maintenance, an enlarged bar-counter area right in front of the kitchen, a stage big enough to fit a piano and maybe a band. There's even space for a jukebox, I think, in the back corner. It's like an upgraded and souped up version of my…
...Lapin House…
"There hasn't been a coffee shop here in years." Lady Noire notes as she walks around. "There was one here a long time ago, but I think no one thought they could ever match with its popularity and quality. No one would ever say that, though, but I'd like to think that's the reason."
"We were very sure to be the best we could. It makes me just a bit happy that no one could have stood against it, even after all this time." Gregory says, the pride evident in his tone and how his steps have become slightly lighter.
"Gregory, just…" I say, looking at my mentor as he leans up against the counter. "...just what is the story of Lapin House?"
"I'm genuinely curious as well." Lady Noire chimes in. "Do you mind telling me, too?"
Gregory smiles nostalgically, as if remembering something when he glances around.
"It was a long time ago. In fact, I wasn't the original owner of this shop, either. I started much like you, Elliot. A simple worker, manning the counter and making coffee. I even worked after school, much like you back in the day.
"It was a lively place, back then. Especially during the evenings, when we'd have more live music than just the piano and jukebox. On special occasions, we might even have a full jazz band, playing that old tune 'Lastation Delights'."
Lastation Delights, that's… one of the records kept in the jukebox in Lapin House, something that Gregory passed onto me. So that means...
"White Rabbit was the name of the coffee shop then." Gregory says, confirming my train of thought.
"What about your wife, then?" I ask, still not understanding where she fell into the big picture of all this.
"She was a singer here, mostly because she was waiting for her idol debut. We met when we were both walking to work one day. Over time, we became friends, then lovers, and then got married. Over time as well, I took over more and more duties of the coffee shop, deciding it would be my career. Marianne kept waiting for her idol debut, but decided she liked the shop more and stayed with us. Eventually, I took over the shop entirely, and it became our life. Today is the anniversary of that day, after all, that White Rabbit became mine.
"However, one day Marianne fell very ill. While she loved working in Lastation, she had always been a Planeptune woman at heart, having spent her childhood there. Unsure if she would be alive for much longer and if the surgery would work as intended, we closed the shop down and moved to Planeptune as she wanted to return there. As we didn't want to disclose Marianne's illness to anyone, we gave the shop a new name and pretended that we weren't associated with White Rabbit."
"And that's how Lapin House came to be." I finish.
"Perhaps you would have made the connection if you paid more attention in school, Elliot." Gregory says as I feel my cheeks reddening a little. "Lapin is an old word, but it means rabbit."
So the answer has been under my nose this whole time, huh…
"In the end, Marianne eventually passed away. By that point, though, I was already feeling the toll on my body. I couldn't bring back the place we had shared together. But, every year I like to ask for the key so I can come and give this place a look through and perhaps wipe the dust off. Relive some old memories, the like."
Gregory looks right at me as he stands up straight. A pang of fear goes through me, as I can already tell what's about to happen. Gregory, I know you… but please, don't… not after I'm finally starting to sort out what my feelings are.
"So I have one request of you, Elliot, as your former mentor."
I brace myself, knowing what he's about to ask. I wish I could stop it, but after hearing that story there's no way I can just say 'don't say it', let alone to the person who gave me everything.
"Please resurrect White Rabbit."
"Can't sleep?"
"Not really…" I mumble, still looking at the city of Lastation from up high. It's a nice view, from the Basilicom. "Oh, sorry. Good evening, Noire."
"I brought you some warm milk, if you'd like."
I glance over, finding Lady Noire dressed in her black and grey pajamas holding onto a tray with two cups of what I presume are milk on it. Her hair is let down much like when I saw her in the hotel, as there's no need to style it now. I'd tell her she should let it down more often, but that's rather embarrassing. She is rather beautiful as she is now, after all.
"Thanks."
She puts the tray on the windowsill, both of us looking out at the cityscape which flickers and sparkles in the night sky.
"Are you… thinking about moving?"
"I… I don't know." I mumble, shaking my head. "On one hand, I'm happy that Gregory thinks I can do it. You have no idea how happy that makes me, that he's gotten to the point where he believes I could do White Rabbit, his cafe, justice. But…"
I feel a hand lightly brush up against mine. I look back, finding Lady Noire with a concerned look on her face. "Are you scared you won't be able to handle it?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, but I don't think that's my primary fear. Planeptune is… home, you know? There's a lot I'd be leaving behind. It'd be like… I guess if you asked Kei to live in Planeptune."
"Mhm…"
"I guess this is something I need to think on." I say, shrugging. "Preferably after we come out about the gala."
"That's fine. You shouldn't have too much on your mind, anyways."
I can't explain it… no, I definitely can explain why it's the case, but I can feel that itch in the back of my mind and in my hand that's telling me to pick up my phone and call IF. Not to ask for advice, even, like I always do, but just… to let her know.
"I guess that's true. One thing at a time."
"One thing at a time." Lady Noire echoes back, giving me a smile. "But I know you'll make the right decision."
"That was strangely ominous of you."
"Hehe, well... I thought it would get your mind off of it a little if I joked around."
I give a smile back to her. "Well, the thought's appreciated."
"Though, if you do move here, it's not that far from the Basilicom, so… I'll be sure to go every day."
"Well, I should probably practice a little more with my latte art, then. It has been a while." I say, thinking on it a bit. "Is there any art in particular you'd like to see?"
"Oh, um… maybe you could try the priest class symbol from Four Goddesses Online?"
"That's a good idea, actually. It should be fun. Should I make the one for your class as well?" I pause, seeing Lady Noire get a bit flushed at this, scratching her left cheek. "A-ah, I must have said something strange, didn't I?"
"N-no, you didn't, it's just… I didn't expect that, is all. I'm just happy you thought of me, is all. Oh, that was a bit strange as well, wasn't it…?"
"Not at all, Noire. You were the one who introduced me to that world, after all." I say, picking up my cup of warm milk. "So, thank you."
"Thank you for giving me a chance." Lady Noire says, taking her own cup.
The two of us clink them together before sipping the milk. Mmhmm, delicious… that's pretty good, actually. I can already feel myself getting a bit tired just from the small sips.
"Though, can you promise me something?"
I put my cup down, looking at Lady Noire, who looks away at the cityscape through the window when I do so. I try looking in the reflection to get a glimpse of what kind of expression she has on her face, but I can't tell a thing.
"I'll do my best."
"Coming out in public about the gala is… I think it's a nice thing, but can you promise me that, no matter what the media says, that we can still… be, er, with each other like this?"
"It would be my honor to."
"Ah, geez, that's not the kind of tone you should use! Say it properly this time."
"Then, La—"
"No, not that kind of proper!" She says, grabbing my shoulders and forcing me upright to stop the bow. "You know what kind of proper I meant…"
"Then… Noire, no matter what the media says, that I will still like to be like this with you."
I let out a small "eep" as Lady Noire suddenly closes the distance between us, with her head slightly touching my chest. Her hair is silken soft, with the smell of citrus coming off strongly from it. She still hasn't let go of my shoulders, her grip getting stronger as her fingers really edge into my body.
"...Noire?"
"I won't forgive you if you go away."
That's right, I remember. I was told a while ago that Lady Noire has difficulty reaching out to people and really communicating her real feelings. That, and she doesn't have a lot of people like me in her life. What we're planning to do here could radically change everything. Maybe she's scared that I'll withdraw just to have all of the media folks go away or that I'll run away to avoid all of the pressure. No doubt there's going to be a lot of speculation about our relationship and whether or not we're just friends. It might be easier if I just run away and let it all fade. So going this far to be so direct...
"Noire."
"Elliot?" She asks, looking up straight into my eyes.
"I'm… really nervous sometimes, you know? You saw it when we were at the gala, I almost didn't even walk down the stairs with you. You had to give me a little push. So… please don't let me run away. I'll try my best, but if it ever seems like I'm going to turn tail and run, I want you to grab me by the shoulders like right now and stop me."
"I won't let you go."
"How very scary."
"You're the one who told me to say it!" She yells, giving me a light shove. "A-anyways, that was really embarrassing, so I hope you're happy!"
"Ye… yeah, it kind of was, huh?" I say back, scratching the back of my head with my right hand. "But thanks, Noire."
"You're in a better mood now, too." She says, leaning up against the wall. "So I'm happier, too."
"If only we could say the same about Lady Uni, though."
"Well… maybe her mood will improve when this all blows over. I think it might just be because I didn't tell her anything. Not that I'm really obligated to, but it'd be nice if she would concern herself a little more with… well, herself, rather than always trying to get my attention."
"Isn't that something you should tell her, then?"
Lady Noire sighs, looking out the window. "She's definitely not in the mood to listen right now, so I'll have to wait until later. I hope she's not being a bother."
"She isn't, but it'd be nice if we could be friends with each other. She's just a bit unapproachable, is all; that, and it really doesn't feel like she likes me at all."
"Mhm. Well, if she can't stop you from being um, you know, friends with me, then I don't think the press can scare you away. I won't have anything to worry about."
"Thanks for having that much faith in me. But, I'd just like to communicate somehow to her that we're on the same side. I think we both want what's best for you, since that's what friends do, right?"
"Y-yes, of course."
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no, don't mind it. Anyways, your flight is a bit early tomorrow, right? You should go to sleep."
"Ah, right." I say with a nod. "And um… hey, Noire, I… I really appreciate you talking to me about this. I don't know what I'm going to do about Lapin House, but… can you promise me that…"
The words never make it out of my mouth. That's just… too much of a request, even for friends. It was alright for Lady Noire to ask that of me, but for something seemingly so trivial as where I decide to work…
"Only if you keep your promise to me."
As if reading my mind, Lady Noire gives me a smile that eases away my worries.
"It's okay for you to ask for that too. We're friends, right?"
"It's… hard. Even if you say that, sometimes it still feels wrong to ask for something like that."
"Elliot." Lady Noire says, her tone telling me to look up at her. "It's… fine. I mean, Neptune and I have fights too. We disagree on a lot of things and we compete, but somehow, we always end up sticking through it together, and ultimately we've never left each other. I know you don't think of yourself as on that level, but to me, you're there. We'll find a way to make it work. On both of our ends."
I give a small nod in reply. "Okay. Admittedly it's a bit scary, still, but if you're all with me, then I think I can do it."
"Good. Now go get some sleep. Try not to think too much about today, okay?"
"I will. Good night then, Noire."
"Good night, Elliot."
"It's been a while since we've talked, hasn't it, Elliot?"
Kei breaks the silence of the car ride to the airport, apparently being the one to drive me there today.
"Yes, we uh, don't really get to talk so much, do we?" I say, giving a small smile to smooth the conversation over.
"Well, it's only appropriate, I suppose. Our paths don't cross much." Kei says with a nod as she shifts lanes to overtake a car.
"Is there something you wanted to talk to me about, then?"
"Ever so sharp, I see. Perhaps you could call it another evaluation."
"Not another one…" I say, groaning internally.
I hear a rare chuckle from Kei, who gestures to the glove compartment.
"This better not be a written test, or at least it should be multiple choice." I grumble, finding what appears to be a thin metallic, sealed folder-briefcase of sorts. "Oh, one of those 'how do I open this' puzzles."
"While I am always evaluating you, Elliot, this isn't like that." She turns her head, looking forward at the traffic ahead of us as the light changes. "Noire told me of your predicament, after you got back."
"She did, huh…" I say, weighing the folder in my hands. "I guess she would."
"Oh?"
"Well, it's… kind of like IF and I, I think. She sees you as someone she can absolutely trust and is the first person she goes to when she thinks she needs help."
"Hm. I'm flattered, thank you." She says, taking it in stride. "Regardless, I took the liberty of running the numbers of what the costs of operating there would be, along with compiling some of the history behind White Rabbit. There's also some data about how the store being there helped the area flourish and while small, some responses to a supposed rumor that the shop may be returning."
"Oh, wow…"
"Of course, it being in that locked box solves two problems. One, you no longer have to worry about running the numbers yourself nor concern yourself about garnering the feasibility and possible reception of your move. Two, the box itself is electronically locked and only I know the passcode. Therefore, Elliot, I'd like for you to concern yourself with only the task at hand; namely, ensuring that your reveal goes smoothly, and think about White Rabbit only after all of the dust settles. After the reveal, I'll give you the passcode."
"I see… thanks, I really mean it, Kei." I say, looking at the metallic thin box in my hands. "This seriously is a load off of my mind."
"If you really mean it, then ensure that it all goes well. I'm counting on you, Elliot."
"You won't be disappointed, Kei."
"After your stint with the gala, I have high expectations of you." She says with another nod. "Perhaps this will be the key to getting Uni to open up to you. I hear she has been rather prickly, lately."
"I think being around has um… exacerbated her ire." I say, trying to find a nice way to put it. "We didn't exactly get along after the gala."
"Forgive me, I failed to consider that, too. I was a little too concerned with making sure Noire was fine that I didn't factor Uni or you into the equation. How unlike me, but I suppose the short notice made it difficult to think straight."
"We all have our off days, you know? It's not like I'm always raring to go every morning." I say back, trying to give her an encouraging grin. "And… don't apologize for it, please. I think that I wouldn't have been able to become friends with everyone if you didn't."
"I hope that after this whole reveal, you'll still be thankful to me." She says, snorting. "Well, that's enough of that. I don't like to mix business and personal ties, so forgive me for abruptly cutting things off here. That, and we've arrived."
"It's fine. And thanks again for the ride."
"Make sure to put that in your checked luggage, by the way. I'm fairly certain they'll let it fly if it's in your bag, but just to be safe."
"Ah, right, of course." I say, stepping out of the car before closing the door, then getting my luggage from the trunk. I slip the folder into the suitcase that'll be going into checked luggage, giving Kei a thumbs up from behind the car. With that, she takes off down the road, leaving only me behind.
Well, at least I can rest a little easier now. Knowing that after this gets taken care of, I won't have to stress so much about potentially moving to Lastation. One step at a time, I suppose.
My thoughts are interrupted by a small buzzing of my phone.
"Hey, I had to help see someone off at the airport as part of my duties, so I'll be hanging around." IF's text reads. "Just let me know when you board and when you touch down, I'll pick you up."
"Are you sure that your motorcycle can handle a suitcase?" I text back.
"It's fine, I brought the sidecar for it. You can ride on the back to get used to the feel of being on the seat."
"Haha, thanks. I'm at the airport in Lastation now, just have to make it through security. I'll let you know when I touch down back in Planeptune."
"Okay, got it. Have a safe trip."
As I put the phone back into my pocket, I can't help but smile a little bit. Yet, there's just the tiniest bit of unease that wells up within me, whenever I talk or think about IF. If I move to Lastation and reopen up White Rabbit… I wonder just what's going to happen between everyone in my life right now.
I really need… to sort out what this feeling in my chest is. No, rather, I think I already know what it is. But I just have to sort out… what I want to do about it.
Teehee.
So, I think everyone can kind of see where this is going and uh, yeah. There's no real point in trying to be sneaky about it anymore.
First off, goddammit people, this thing started as a legitimately friendship sort of deal and it has spiraled into this potential triangular situation. On one hand I am amused, on the other hand, man we are so far off the rails from what I started this story as that uh, we are in space.
Or maybe I'm just lying again and this is all going according to plan.
Either way, chapter notes! The history of Lapin House was short and sweet, there wasn't a need to drag it out; I thought that in hindsight, there weren't very many clues. There were a lot of times it came up that Lapin House belonged more in Lastation, that it was strange his shop was in Planeptune, the record "Lastation Delights" being a small one, and a hint back in Chapter 7 stating that Gregory's late wife had an "influence in Lapin House opening up in Planeptune". I probably could've added more hints to it, but hindsight is 20/20.
Outside of that this chapter was basically Noire Ship 2: Tsundere Harder, and while not as shiptastic as the gala and the morning after it, it definitely was a step in her direction. It was also because of this that I ended up changing the ending of this chapter to be a little more ambiguous in its wording.
Also, trivia: this is like the fourth version of this chapter. For some reason I just couldn't get it right lol. The third version of this chapter had a big scene where Uni, Noire, and Elliot went to an arcade and messed around, with Elliot taking a transfer student from Planeptune under his wing who was clearly alone despite having come with some schoolmates and helping him garner some attention from them, and he and Uni having some bonding over it. I ended up scrapping it because I thought it didn't fit that well with the chapter as it subtracted from the scene where Elliot and Noire have their little heart to heart.
Either way, let me know what you all thought! Next chapter is probably the one I've been looking forward to for the longest time other than the gala chapter and is what I would call a definite "no turning back" point for this story.
Thanks to everyone who's been dropping in so far and I hope everyone's staying safe from Corona-chan. While it's just words from a random dude on the internet, I hope all of you are doing well.
See you guys all next time!