Chappie 2- I'm Back!
Three days later, a newly-resurrected Tsukasa stood on his own two feet and smiled his thanks to Subaru as the group stood on the outskirts of the city.
"I still don't understand, Tsukasa," she said mildly. "Why couldn't anyone else do it? I mean, if it was just a simple matter of posting a request for a skin on the BBS...?" The others (Bear and Ginkhan) nodded their agreement. Ginkhan began a complaint; "You made us go through all that tr-"
Tsukasa shook his head, raised a hand for silence, and Ginkhan realized that his voice had stopped working without his consent. He gaped like a fish out of water for a moment, then stopped trying.
"Subaru is respected and well-known," Tsukasa explained. "No one would have given her request a second thought. I wouldn't have the Knight do it- I don't trust him."
Ginkhan shrugged. "Fair enough."
"But what about Mimiru? Bear?"
"Mimiru is too..." he paused and groped for a word. "...stupid." Might as well shoot her down sooner then later. "For all I know she would have told everyone why she was requesting my character skin!" snapped Tsukasa. "I'm sure that would have been well received!" Subaru took note of Tsukasa's quick mood swing and a worried frown crossed her brow.
Bear shook his head. "No, Mimiru has matured a bit over the last year," he said defensively.
Tsukasa shrugged and changed the subject. "Now that I have returned, I'm sure I have some time before they figure out how to come after me again."
Ginkhan raised an eyebrow. "Who, bounty hunters?"
"No, the programmers," Subaru answered for Tsukasa, who nodded.
"Those annoying Powers that Be." He smiled, then laughed. "Ah, it's good to be back!" He stretched, then turned to Ginkhan. "Oh, stop glaring at me or I will tear your eyes from your sockets and weld them to the front of your helm," he said, his smile disappearing and his eyes turning cold.
The Knight did not detect any sarcasm in Tsukasa's voice, so he turned away. Subaru and Bear both looked to Tsukasa in surprise.
"Tsu-Tsukasa!" Subaru said in shock. He looked at her. "...you were making a joke, right?"
The young man's face did not change, but his eyes softened as he looked at her. "..." was all he said.