Chapter 4: Bribri and Ma Biche
I awake to an uncomfortable sensation in my arm. Though my eyes are having trouble adjusting to the fluorescent lights overhead I make out a particular shade of purple hair. Just then I notice, to my horror, that Yuuko-sensei is groping my arm. I practically jump out of my bed in one motion, startling Kasumi and only barely managing to pry a surprised look from my physics teacher.
"Oh, well good morning six-pack Shirogane~" Yuuko says with a sickly-sweet voice.
It's as though my soul leaves my body at the inflection of her voice. It does more damage than any of Sumika's gut punches ever could. My soul returns from hell as I recall my mission. Right. Sumika.
"Hey sensei, the nurse said I was clear to leave today, and I'm kind of in a rush, I'm just gonna…" I attempt to leave but Yuuko-sensei blocks my path.
"Not so fast, mister. You have some explaining to do." She's all of a sudden serious, her voice losing the hint of flirtatiousness that previously prevailed. "You're going to tell me how you got that strong. Because as far as I and the Mitsurugi Security Agents I've been working with know, you haven't hit the gym in several…well…ever."
Kasumi looks at me with a guilty expression, as though she's done something to bring this fate upon me.
Yuuko starts up again, "Shirogane, I'm going to be straight with you," dear Lord what could that entail, "Are you from another world or aren't you? Because despite my previous evaluation, you continue to display symptoms of contact with such a place." I suppose now I have to tell my life story before I get hauled off to a research facility or something.
As I speak the concerned expression on Yuuko-sensei's face turns to curiosity. My memory isn't perfect, especially with the further back I go, so my explanation is a little less detailed than I'm sure she was hoping. Still, eventually she must have divined that I ensured that nothing would come with me from that world to this one, or at least nothing about the BETA or mankind's near-extinction. As I finish telling her about my final farewell to her alternate self, she stares off into space, in deep thought.
"So…I was pretty amazing there, huh!" I didn't expect that, or perhaps I should have. This is Yuuko-sensei we're talking about. There's no one in the multiverse with as much self-confidence as that woman. "Well, in any case it appears there is no danger. If other me was sure of it, considering she predicted that what happened to that other timeline would come about, then I trust my judgement in the matter."
"So…what do we do now?" I ask, somewhat sheepishly. I've basically just reunited with my sole partner-in-crime for the past several years.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, other you would always have some mission for me or some next step, even if it was just loitering and waiting for you to do something or…" she stops me.
"Shirogane…there's nothing left for you to do." Those words hit me hard enough to knock the air from my lungs. "Shirogane, it is as Yashiro-san said, your fight is over. Go live your life."
I want to cry. I've done a lot of that lately, but something catches me this time.
"No, sensei, there's still one more thing I need to do. One more mission." At this Yuuko-sensei look perplexed, "A mission given me by my captain, and a promise I made to Sumika," that expression is now replaced with a knowing smirk.
"You'd better get going then."
"Yes, ma'am!"
I get regular clothes on and practically dash out of my hospital room. I'm reprimanded by a doctor for running and thus slow my roll. Why am I in a hurry anyways? I think its that I owe it to Sumika to make up for the time I've already spent bumbling about. Still, I'm a fairly fast walker so I make it to the lobby in no time. There a girl carrying something activates the sensors, causing the murky glass door to automatically slide open. It's Meiya with an arrangement of flowers. She looks elated to see me up and about. She runs over and gives me a warm embrace. It's abundantly clear she's been worried sick about me. The glass door opens and closes again, the activating entity unseen.
"Takeru! I'm glad to see you are up and out of bed."
"Yeah, they said I had no injuries and kept me overnight as a precaution. Though, I'm sure they couldn't tell you anything. Sorry to worry you."
"Takeru, you needn't worry yourself over such things…" she then glances about somewhat perplexed, "I thought that…"
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing, Takeru!" She's lying but I let it slide. I have to get this over with before I end up taking advantage of her any more.
"Meiya, let's go somewhere we can speak privately. I can't let this sit any longer." Her face grows nervous at this suggestion, but she nods her head in approval.
We make our way to the roof access door, pushing it open and feeling the cool breeze on our faces. It's overcast today and a storm is approaching over the bay, causing a steady gust of wind. For now, thought, the weather is comfortable, so we remain.
"Meiya…I need to tell you something…" Meiya's eyes dart about like a stage fright-stricken child giving a presentation. Its completely not like her. "Remember all the stuff I was talking about on our date?" her silence marks her assent "…well…I remember it now…" at that her eyes widen slightly. She regains a bit of her composure, finally bringing herself to look me in the eyes.
"So…Takeru, you…remembered the promise?"
"Yes. A promise I made to the most important person in my life." Meiya's eyes well up with tears, but strangely they don't look sad. "I also remembered a lot of things that happened in my past, good and horrible. About the reason for that diagnosis."
"Takeru, do you intend to keep that promise?"
"Yes…" at that moment the light shines in her eyes such that what I say next seems cruel, "…I'm going to keep my promise to Sumika." The light fades, replaced with a deep sadness. The tears finally run down her cheeks. Her eyes examine the ground in front of my shoes.
"Oh…I-" she can't make out the rest of her phrase through a sob she's failing to suppress. After everything, I finally appreciate just how much Meiya loves me.
let me die at the hands of the man I love
Her words flash through my brain as I watch her pitifully attempt to regain her composure.
"Meiya, I've been taking advantage of your kindness. I'm sorry for taking this long to sort through my feelings. Meiya…you deserve to hear it from me. I love Su-"
"Stop!" Meiya shouts, not lifting her head. She then says in a meek voice, "Sumika deserves to hear it first, not me." I'm taken aback. Its not just me Meiya cares about, but Sumika too. She probably cares about everyone in our group if I had to guess. "Takeru, I will be fine." She finally raises her head. Tears still stream from her eyes but she forms her lips into a smile anyways, "Go, Takeru. Be happy. Be happy with her…"
I nod, "Thank you, Meiya. This may seem strange, but believe me when I say it. Meiya, you were my guiding light, though you may not know it. Thank you. I hope I can someday repay you." Then, I turn and exit. I mean that, Meiya. Thank you. I hope I can tell you everything someday.
As I ride the train, the clouds darken overhead. Eventually I hear the first tapping on the roof of my car. By the time I make it to my stop it's a torrential downpour. Luckily for me the station isn't too far from my house so I run as fast as I can across the barren landscape where my neighborhood once stood. I see a familiar pale figure waiting outside my door, taking shelter under the overhang. She's completely fixated on the object in her hands that she doesn't notice my arrival until I'm about a meter away from her. She looks up at me.
"Shirogane…its Sumika."
"I was just looking for her I-"
"She's not here, Shirogane-san…she was…at the hospital. She saw you…and Mitsurugi-san." Damn it! So that's who Meiya was looking around for! They probably came together.
"Wait, she's not here? Where is she?" Kasumi just looks off in the distance, as though pointing with her gaze. "So, she's out there somewhere? In this weather? She's off her rocker. I'm gonna go get her," but just as I turn to run Kasumi's voice calls out to me.
"Wait! Shirogane-san! Take this." She shoves the object previously in her hand into mine. It's the wooden mister rabbit I carved.
"Kasumi…how did you…"
"Shirogane-san…go."
And so, I take my leave. I practically sprint in the direction of Hakuryou, checking familiar hangout spots on the way. I don't really know where she could be but my best guess is the school. I start up the Hill from Hell, slipping a couple times but managing to scale it mostly unscathed. I stand at the gates. School's closed due to yesterday's incident so the gate blocks my path. I could scale it but there are a few places I can check outside first. I make my way around the exterior walls to the tree overlooking the city.
As I suspected, at the base of said tree sits a girl, with red hair and clothes soaked and clinging to her body. She stares blankly out over Yokohama.
"Sumika!" I shout as I run towards her.
"Takeru-chan? What are you doing here?"
"I'll explain, lets just get you somewhere dry and warm" her body is shivering from the chill, "You're a real idiot, you know that? You could've died if I hadn't come." I'm suddenly reminded of the time I slept on that bench in pee park. I suppose I'm repaying the favor.
Sumika silently obliges, following me past the gate (which was conveniently left ever so slightly ajar and thus unlocked) and into the school itself. I lead her to the girls' locker room where she changes into her gym clothes. She exits the locker room with the same blank expression on her face as when she was staring out over the landscape. I decide to speak up.
"You had me really worried there, Sumika. You need to be more careful about these things. I know you're tough and all but you could still get really sick if you're out in the rain like this." My expression of worry seems to break her despondency slightly.
"Heh…you sound kind of like my mom right now, Takeru-chan…"
"Yeah…I suppose I kind of do, but I was really worried you know, you can ask Kasumi." Her expression darkens slightly again.
"Takeru-chan…why did you come here?"
"Because I heard you had wandered off into the rain of course. What kind of guy would I be to not come looking for you?"
"What about Meiya-san?" Now we get right to the point.
"Me and Meiya…had a talk. About how when I…killed that guy yesterday, I started to remember a lot of things. Things that happened to me, and a promise I made."
"Takeru-chan…you finally remembered what you promised to Mitsurugi-san all that time ago?" You know, Sumika, that didn't even occur to me. My memories of my original life have become somewhat murky compared to those I have of *that* world. So that's why…
"I'm such an idiot…" Sumika stares at me a bit confused at what I mean, "…no. I didn't."
"Then…what…?"
"Sumika, I need to tell you something. You're probably going to think I'm insane or something, but everything I'm about to tell you is true."
"Takeru-chan, you're being weird right now…"
"I promised someone very important that I would tell you everything that happened to me. I know I never keep my promises but please allow me to keep this one." Sumika looks at me as though I just stepped off a ship from another planet. Not entirely untrue. No doubt she's wondering what would have possibly happened in the approximately 10 minutes of my life not under her watchful eye. Still, she speaks her mind.
"Is it…the reason you've been acting strange?"
"Yes, it is. I only just remembered it all." I close my eyes and collect myself for a moment.
"Then please, Takeru-chan, you can tell me anything. You know that."
I begin. "I…had a dream…"
"Wow…it sounds like something out of fairy tale, I mean…aliens, giant robots, alternate dimensions?" The way she says it makes me wonder if that world's Sumika had too much confidence in her ability to believe me.
"Yeah, I figured you would think I was crazy."
"No!" Sumika blurts out, "I believe you, Takeru-chan! Anyone can read it on your face that you're not lying, and how would you explain those muscles anyways! And it explains how you already know Kasumi-chan. I believe you 100%!" I'm relieved. I feel the tears well up in my eyes, but there they remain.
"There's another thing I left out of that story that I need to say here and now," Sumika stares at me pensively awaiting my answer, "Kagami Sumika, I am in love with you. And I always will be no matter what universe I'm in. You are always you and I am always me, that much I know for certain. There's not a world out there where we don't belong together."
Sumika's shoulders begin to quiver and happy tears begin to fall. "I…I love you too, Takeru-chan! I always have and I always will!" She raises her head and throws herself into my arms. I'm knocked to a sitting position on the floor. Sumika buries her head into my chest and continues to cry her tears of elation. I cast my gaze outside, the weather shows no signs of letting up, effectively we are trapped here. I then gaze down just as Sumika raises her head, her vibrant red eyes meeting mine. "Takeru-chan…?"
"Y-yeah?"
"From now until we're nice and old, can I…be your Sumika?"
This time tears begin to fill my eyes, "Of course, now and forever." We look into eachother's eyes for a while, eventually closing them and, as if instinctively, lock our lips together. Though I've lived countless lives and felt these lips during a few, it still feels like the first time. I'm still just as in love with her as all those lifetimes ago when I first held her in my arms and kissed her like this.
Even after our lips part, we stay like that for a while, her head resting on my chest, waiting for the rain to cease. I bask in this moment. It's practically all I've wanted and fought for these past 3 years. Sure, I wanted to save the world, but this was my personal, intimate, reason for fighting as I did.
At some point we fall asleep, only awaking to the sound of birds chirping and the gate being swung open. We hide ourselves as the teachers file in. Yuuko is among the first to arrive and, perceptive person as she is, instantly spots up peering around the corner. However, Yuuko, in an uncharacteristically kind motion, distracts the teachers and somehow leads them down the hallway opposite us, giving us a window to escape. If only we were so lucky. As we made a break for the gate we run into a familiar figure.
"Shi-ro-ga-ne!" Marimo-chan shouts us down, "and…Kagami?! Did…you guys…?"
"Uhhhh good morning, sensei," Sumika crumbles under her stare.
I decide to play it cool instead, "Hey, Jinguuji-sensei! Good morning. Its sure is a nice one ain't it?"
"Shirogane, do you really think you're going to sweet-talk your way out of this?"
"Please, sensei! Excuse us this once!" I clasp my hands together and bow.
Marimo sighs and bends her neck, "Fine. Besides, I'm almost positive it was Yuuko who left that gate unlocked and it will be hell trying to get anything to come of it if she's involved." We give Marimo-chan a sincere bow and run down the hill. Its early so we still have time to get home and change into uniforms. As we approach our neighborhood something seems wrong. There are houses here where there weren't before today. My suspicions are confirmed when we turn on my street to find the last of a set of moving vans departing, and regular stretches of residential development where Meiya's mansion was.
No matter what your choice, either sister or Kagami is going to be hurt
Yuuhi was right, but I've made up my mind. Sumika is the most important person to me. I just wish the parting didn't have to be so sad.
We arrive at school just before the bell rings. Class starts before anybody gets to interrogate me personally. Marimo-chan gives the sad news that Meiya and Yuuhi would not be attending Hakuryou from this point going forward. Class eventually ends and I immediately expect everyone to hound me either about the incident with the American 2 days ago, or the twins being gone. Its not as though there could be another culprit in either of those cases. Sure, I did get a few comments from some other guys in my class either asking ignorant stuff like "how did it feel to shoot someone?" or praising me for taking such a dangerous person down. As for the my conspicuously all-girl friend group, however, they are considerate not to mention it. They can probably tell I'm not storing it in the "positive memories" part of my brain. Instead, Chizuru is so kind as to broach the other elephant in the room to me mono e mono.
"So, Mr. Indecisive finally decided to man up." Sakaki says, idly standing adjacent to my desk as I throw my belongings into my bag.
"What was that?" I'm kind of surprised, it almost sounds like…praise?
"You finally made a decision. I expected you to have those two performing in your personal circus until graduation, to be completely honest." I should know better than to expect genuine compliments from this one.
"You know, I expected you all to be mad that I sent them away. It seemed like you were having fun together."
"Shirogane. Meiya and Yuuhi are all our friends. That's why I'm glad they're gone, and I'm sure I can speak for the others in this matter too. Though Yuuhi seemed indifferent…" Sakaki continues after a brief pause, "…Meiya…I could tell she was growing more in love with you by the day, and thus more miserable with the prospect that you would be taken from her…"
"Yeah. I could tell. That's why I knew as soon as I decided, I needed to tell her." A small silence follows.
Chizuru's eyes suddenly narrow and a playful smirk finds her way across her lips, "So I guess this means that you and Kagami-san…tied the knot?" the remark has the intended effect of catching me completely off guard, lighting my face ablaze in what I assume is a vibrant shade of crimson, in addition to shifting gears to the not-so-gloomy side of things.
"N-no, not…not that far…" I stammer out.
"Ahah…a rare sight to see Shirogane looking all embarrassed. I'll take your reaction to mean you two are just dating. Can't expect any invitations to RSVP soon, can I?"
"Yeah, you're right on the money."
Sakaki forces a quick smile and turns to leave, "I'm going to run ahead to the others. I think we're all walking home together today since practice for the sports festival is on hiatus. We'll be by the gate."
"Okay, I'll be down in a minute. Thanks, Sakaki." She walks off. I rise to follow not long after.
I change shoes and head outside towards the gate where the girls are idling about talking to something or another, not really paying any mind to their surroundings. I catch a glimpse of Kasumi out of periphery and turn to her. She walks over and greets me.
"Hello Shirogane-san," she then stares over at the group of girls.
"So, this is it, Kasumi. I'm finally back in my world. Or I guess I have been but I'm just now aware of it. Sure, things are a bit different, but this is definitely…home."
"Shirogane-san…do you know why I'm here? I wasn't here before, was I?"
"Come to think of it, no. You weren't and neither was Yuuhi. She was…dead in the previous world." A silence follows. Eventually Kasumi continues.
"Sumika-san…wanted me to be here with you guys, and for us all to be happy together. I'm…so...thankful," she chokes the words slightly.
"So, let's go and grant that wish, Kasumi." She looks up at me with her saucer-plate eyes and gives a firm nod of assent as we hear Sumika's booming voice.
"Takeru-chan! Kasumi-chan! Let's go!"
Me and Kasumi walk over as I begin speaking to Sumika, "Sorry. It looked like you guys were gossiping and I didn't want to butt in, unless you want to share with the class what you were talking about that is?"
"Oh-oh nothing Takeru-chan, just about…you know, class and stuff! Do you know we have a quiz this week?" Sumika stammers out.
"Kagami-san, you really needn't lie," Sakaki speaks up, with the same smile she sported earlier, "Shirogane, we were just discussing how to legally elope in Japan. Topical conversation, you agree?" Sumika and I blush deeply and look away from eachother.
"As was our discussion about Japanese divorce law," Ayamine says in her usual monotone. My legs give out at hearing that.
"A-a-ayamine! Stop that!" Sumika is flustered, understandably so. The conversation continues on like that for a while, with only the usual reaction-provoking questions being asked, like when the wedding date is, how many kids will we have, what will their names be? Sumika keeps growing darker and darker shades of red while after a few of them I stop feeling embarrassed about it. Maybe its because I've kind of dealt with this sort of thing before, and after going through TSF training with them, its hard to me to get flustered in front of these guys. I begin giving serious answers after a while, pulling Sumika deeper into her embarrassment-induced ego-death. I feel bad because now it feels like we're all tag-teaming her.
"You know, Takeru, you're acting very mature all of a sudden. Are you feeling okay?" Mikoto attempts to raise her hand to my forehead, "you haven't touched a poison dart frog recently, right?"
"I don't think those live in Japan. And how would that make me more mature?" I retort.
"Yoroi-san is right, I expected you to be writhing with embarrassment by now," Chizuru joins.
"No…that's just me…" Sumika adds, not lifting her head from its chin-tucked-to-chest position. Just then Kei gets in my face and examines it closely.
"Creepy"
"What did you say!?" I yell.
"Sumika-san, you really are amazing!" Tama looks up at Sumika with adoring eyes.
"Eh? Me? Why?"
"You've been dating Takeru-san for a day and he's already acting like a grown-up!"
Sumika snaps out of her downcast state and assumes what I imagine she thinks is a dignified pose, "Heh heh! What can I say? Only a woman's charm can turn a boy into a man."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Sumika," I get out before catching a slug to the shoulder. It doesn't hurt all that much but still causes me to stumble.
"Meanie!" Sumika pouts.
We continue on our way like that. Joking and laughing at eachother's expense. Kasumi is mostly quiet but is enjoying listening to everyone. There is an unspoken discomfort, however. Though no one says anything, its clear that the group is incomplete without the Twins, particularly without Meiya. In the short time she was with us she became and inseparable part of all of our lives. We approach the point where we go our separate ways. Admittedly, a few people should have turned a while ago, but were enjoying the conversation too much. Even Kasumi turns to leave, explaining that she agreed to go over to Tama's house tonight and to tell Mrs. Kagami she'd be back sometime that evening.
That leaves just me and Sumika walking the rest of the way to our street. It's pretty awkward to say the least. Maybe it's the combination of our crash landing into a relationship just yesterday and the incessant fun-making by the others. Sumika suddenly stops. We're standing in front of the Pee Park. I hear Sumika mutter something. Its barely audible but I still make it out.
"Thank you, Meiya."
I approach Sumika from behind and give her a gentle hug. I feel her shoulders tense up then relax.
"Takeru-chan…I…I miss Mitsurugi-san already. Though we were rivals, she was my friend just the same as any of the others. It won't be the same without her."
"Sumika. Do you want to know what Meiya last said to me?" Sumika stays silent as my invitation to continue, "she said, first, that she'd be fine, whether you choose to believe her or not. Lastly, she told me to be happy, with you. That she wanted us to be happy together." Sumika turns around to look at me. "Now, we aren't about to let her down by being all sad, are we?"
"No…" Sumika says in a hushed sort of voice, "…I, too, want us to be happy together."
"Then let's." My eyes stare deeper and deeper into hers. Before I realize it, I'm lost in them. I draw closer to her. My hands find their way to her waist then move to her back pulling her tight to myself. Our faces inch closer together till they meet at the lips with passion. I never want to let her go. In my heart, I never will. A few times our lips part momentarily, only for our first glances at eachother to pull us back in. When we finally cease our embrace for the last time that evening, the sky is an array of pastel pinks and blues, marking the setting of the sun.
We wordlessly join our hands and start for home. Two rabbits, one stuffed and the other wooden, dangle from Sumika's bag.
We start towards our newest beginning together.