Arc 2
Dusk's Beginnings
Opening: Lift
A pure black sky, glittering with stars, and a brilliant sun begins to rise and breaks the horizon. As it rises, one by one, individuals of various ages and backgrounds gaze toward its light.
Azumi gazes towards the sunrise as she stands beside Sorahiko. She shields her eyes, but keeps staring at the sun glittering over the water.
Niharika and Guinevere both look up at the same time, with looks of wonder and curiosity on their faces.
Loki grins as he tilts his head up towards the sun a second before jumping on the back of a laughing Jordan while, at the same time, his tail nudges Kabuki closer to them unwillingly before the three of them look towards the sun.
Minerva and Fa'izah aren't too far from the group of boys, patrolling, but even they turn to stare at the sun, a bit of light shining in their eyes.
Momiji, Murdina and Ethan sit around a cafe table, Momiji bright red as Murdina begins to tease and Ethan laughing. Together, they gaze at the sun as one.
Oboro, laughing, as he grabs onto Shouta and Hizashi. Nemuri and Tensei are not far behind them, the sun giving a gleam to their movements.
Kendra stands by herself, but she still looks up. On the other side of the world, her brother, Yuito, does the same.
And with Yuito, Toshinori, David and Leon glance up, across the world from everyone else and yet still connected, still under the same sky.
Times when I just can't
Bring myself to say it loud
'Fraid that what I'll say comes out somehow awry
The Ether Academy students are sitting in their classroom, all in their individual groups, where they felt most comfortable. Niharika is with Guinevere, Loki, and Jordan.
Most everyone is in the middle of a conversation, but Niharika is silent, simply watching, her fingers tracing shapes on her desk, with blue paint leaking from her fingertips wherever she traces.
That is when it seems
We move in circles day to day
Twist the drama of the play to get us by
The paint suddenly transitions into a beautiful blue sky, with a woman standing on a building, staring into it.
Down below, Azumi patrols the streets alongside Sorahiko, while the woman watches her.
The woman's dark rimmed eyes track Azumi's movements, even as Azumi herself remains unaware.
Right as she reaches the corner, however, Azumi pauses and looks up.
But the woman is nowhere to be seen.
And it feels like fear
Like I'll disappear
Gets so hard to steer
Yet I go on
Shouta sighs as he lays down against his desk, looking close to falling asleep any second. His friends surround him, but it is almost as if he were the only one in the room, even as they reach out to him.
Shouta turns his head, his eyes passing over his classmates, including Kendra, before settling on the window and the blue sky that grows cloudy as he stares on.
He blinks for a moment and when he opens his eyes, the world narrows down to just him, alone in the dark clouds…until a shaft of light splits them, lighting a path for him to take.
Do we need debate
When it seems too late
Like I bleed but wait
Like nothing's wrong
The light sparkles as it grows, until it becomes evident someone is standing within. A figure that Shouta doesn't know, one that turns away from him.
Guinevere walks slowly down a path, wide violet eyes showing how lost and scared she felt. The darkness appears to reach out, as if to grasp her and pull her into the unknown.
She cowers before she pauses, as if she hears a sound.
Guinevere turns, as the light improves and she sees Shouta, who finally sees her clearly in return.
The light and darkness blend together and they both vanish.
You lift my spirit, take me higher, make me fly
Touch the moon up in the sky, when you are mine
Oboro, a smile on his lips, races across the sky on a cloud. Jordan laughs as he swings onto a telephone wire as the two teens compete against each other.
Suddenly, Toshinori jumps in the air, easily keeping up with the younger boys. He gives the two a quick thumbs' up before he lands back to the ground.
Oboro laughs as he reaches a hand out, grasping Niharika's hand and pulling her onto his cloud. Niharika smiles then, bright and unrestrained, as paint forms at her fingertips and streams out at Jordan which makes him falter.
Jordan stumbles backwards, only to land in Kendra's arms and instantly yelling about cheating.
You lift me higher, take my spirit, make it fly
Where all new wonders will appear
Azumi runs alongside Toshinori with Kabuki and Murdina right behind her. Kabuki puts on a butterfly mask, and propels himself faster with colorful wings. Murdina is practically ice skating, winking at Azumi every time she passes by.
Azumi looks up at the sky briefly, then at the man beside her. Her face blushes fiercely before looking forward once more, a smile mirroring the one beside her. A hand grasps her own and then in the air she goes before landing on a pair of broad shoulders.
Toshinori laughs as Azumi utters words in surprise before he continues on, the others continuing to move alongside them.
Like the other day
I thought you won't be coming back
I came to realize my lackluster dreams
Momiji stands alone in a snow-covered forest, her tail giving the only light in the field. She looks around at the snow piled around her feet, her tail's flame giving her just enough light to see.
She is still alone, but she doesn't want to be. She slowly begins to move toward and then to search behind the trees, trying to find any sign of life.
Just as the hopelessness begins to weigh on her, a snowball hits her in the face.
Momiji turns, her eyes wide, and finds Loki grinning at her.
And among the schemes
And all the tricks we try to play
Only dreams will hold their sway and defy
Suddenly, Loki has another snowball in his hands, ready to throw it in a single moment.
Momiji cries out before she dives behind a tree, a second before Loki throws the snowball. She peeks out behind it and pouts at him, only to find that he has vanished into thin air.
The kitsune looks around for him when, abruptly, Loki appears behind her and pushes her into the snow.
Instead of landing, however, the snow vanishes and the two are falling through a kaleidoscope of color and ice. Reaching out the two barely grasped hands before the scene tears them apart and changes anew.
When it feels like fear
Like I'll disappear
Gets so hard to steer
Yet I go on
With black hair and coral colored eyes, a teenage boy walks in the crowd, so non-scripted he goes by unnoticed. An alleyway appears and a 6'2 frame stops him in his tracks. Wide coral eyes framed with wisps of hair slowly rise and meet a pair of pale blue eyes and a face with scruff growing along the chin and jawline. A step backwards occurs out of fear, then he is gone, the man behind him frowning into the crowd as his red-brown shirt rustles in the breeze.
Do we need debate
When it seems too late
Like I bleed, but wait
Like nothing's wrong
A teenage boy with wild and spiky dark blue and red fringed hair happens to be practicing martial arts in a dojo, and all by himself. Sweat glazes his brow and dampens his white clothes as he focuses on his breathing, on the silence around him.
Suddenly, the door opens and the teen turns to see Leon and Tensei enter, looking ready to practice.
Soon, all three teenage boys are training together, their different styles contrasting with each other.
You lift my spirit, take me higher, make me fly
Touch the moon up in the sky, when you are mine
Hizashi is excitedly talking to Nemuri, notes spread out around them and littered with pictures relating to a radio.
Ethan walks by them, stops when he hears something interesting and then stands beside Hizashi.
Hizashi grins as he continues to speak and Nemuri allows a soft smile to grace her face. Ethan reaches out, laying a hand on each of their shoulders.
Abruptly, they drop through the floor, books and stars streaming past them, so fast that they could barely be seen.
Nemuri shifts her grip, grasping onto both of the boys and holds on tightly as they fall into the abyss.
You lift me higher, take my spirit, make it fly
Where all new wonders will appear
David and Minerva are going over old documents, seeming to debate back and forth over their 'izah stands behind them with her back against the wall, and watches as the two continue to be absorbed in their conversation, a soft smile brightening her face.
Suddenly, Minerva frowns and glances up, only to see the walls of the room begin to crack. She shouts something and Fa'izah raises her hands.
The wall crumbles and Yuito appears on the other side.
The four of them stand in the moment, none knowing what would occur next.
An image of a smiling Kendra flashes through Yuito's mind and he growls as his fist slams against the library floor, sending them all falling into the darkness below.
You lift my spirit, take me higher, make me fly
Touch the moon up in the sky, when you are mine
Shouta and Guinevere fall, light and shadow mixing as they stare at each other.
Abruptly, Shouta's eyes widen and he blinks, his quirk turning them red.
Suddenly, as the light and shadows fade, Shouta reaches out to grasp Guinevere's hand. When she glances around, she could see everyone falling around them.
Momiji and Loki. Hizashi, Ethan and Nemuri. Leon, Minerva and Fa'izah.
Guinevere cries out, reaching with her free hand for the others to take. One by one, they begin to link together, forming a circle as Shouta stares relentlessly above them.
You lift me higher, take my spirit, make it fly
Where all new wonders will appear
The three teens in the dojo suddenly pause as a glimmer in the sky catches their eye through the window. Tensei's eyes widen before he yells and races out the doors.
Leon turns to the other boy and nods towards the door before the two follow after Tensei.
The glimmer in the sky grows brighter, drawing Oboro's gaze up and his own eyes wide in shock. He mouths Shouta's name, causing everyone racing with him to pause and look up.
There is a glittering orb in the sky with Shouta, Guinevere, Momiji, Loki, Ethan, Hizashi, Nemuri, Minerva, David and Fa'izah becoming clearer inside it.
Azumi yells just as Tensei, Leon and the teenage boy reach the scene.
Take me high, make me fly
Make me fly, take me high
Take my spirit, make it fly
Take my spirit
Niharika reaches out as Oboro creates another cloud. Together, the two of them catch Momiji, who looks shocked at the impact, paint staining her clothes as Niharika apologizes and Oboro laughs.
When Loki comes into arms reach, Kendra throws Jordan forward with a wave of blue energy. Jordan wraps his arms around Loki and continues to swing on the telephone wires, with a cry of victory.
Kabuki pushes himself into the air with his butterfly mask and grasps Nemuri's wrist in his hand. The two take a minute to steady, but soon Nemuri is cheering as the wind ruffles her hair.
Minerva is entirely calm as she falls, simply reaching out a hand. With no surprise at all on her expression, Tensei launches himself into the air and latches onto her wrist, getting them both safely to the ground. Minerva only yawns.
Murdina pirouettes her water to create cushions for two people to land on, easily catching both Ethan and Fa'izah. Ethan groans as he sees his rescuer, his cheeks tinting pink as Murdina grins while Fa'izah merely smiles in gratitude.
The teenage boy suddenly moves faster than the eye can comprehend. Before anyone else can blink, he suddenly is back on the ground, David beside him, safe and sound. The teenage boy, however, looks towards an alleyway and briefly looks as if he sees a blonde man with light blue eyes. A second later, however, he is gone and the teenage boy is running once more.
Toshinori throws Azumi into the air at the second Shouta's eyes close. Guinevere cries out, holding on tightly to Shouta when Azumi grabs onto both of them, pulling them close and shielding them with her body. They fall to the ground, only to be safely caught in Toshinori's arms.
The group exchanges bewildered looks for an instance before they are running once more. This time, they all run together, reaching for the future they all want to see come to fruition.
Chapter 6
The Beginning of Things to Come
Two years had passed since the Aether Island Sports Festival, and Niharika, now 17, happened to be contemplating her third year of high school, even if it was the beginning of June. Well, more than just that since both Ether Academy and UA introduced a cross-training program with each other a few years ago, which happens to be a month from now; in July.
And she also happened to be waiting for her results on the Provisional Hero License or the Aether Island equivalent. She just finished and happened to be waiting in line with all the other students. She was thankful that she was taking the first test of the year and that would be one less thing to worry about if she passed. She wasn't sure how she would have handled that on top of training besides UA students along with her own class.
It was bad enough that both shared the same test, date, and testing field this time around. Her brown eyes glazed over those she was familiar with and then focused on those she didn't know. One caught her attention immediately due to having wavy white-blue hair that was like a yellow rose in a field of white daisies. Being 6 feet tall also helped the young man as well and she couldn't help but frown at him.
Oboro Shirakumo happened to be a very jovial character that made jokes and witty comments with innuendos every chance he got. He also happened to be very energetic and goofy as well, which was something Niharika wasn't too sure if she liked or not.
Then there was his extravagant behavior, and Niharika had the distinct idea that he wasn't big on the following protocol. Whether or not that was the case, she wasn't sure until he came bouncing over toward her.
"Rainbows," he remarked, a grin pulling up his lips and reaching his eyes.
"Excuse me?" Niharika asked, her eyebrows reaching her hairline.
"Your paint. My clouds. Rainbows," he remarked, his right hand creating small clouds while he pointed to her with his left.
"And how would that work exactly?" she asked, placing her hands behind her back. She didn't recall using her quirk in front of him but the Provisional Hero License had a practical portion, where each student had been put into an unknown critical situation and had to escape that situation as strategically as possible. So he could have picked up the basic idea behind her quirk while watching her.
But a rainbow? How would paint and clouds do that? It just wasn't logical in her eyes and thus, she said so.
"Simple," he replied, and she swore that his smile got even bigger, he was all smiles and no face. He leaned forward but before he reached out, he asked, "May I?"
She hesitated for a second…well a good minute. Her hands locked behind her back and she could feel the paint coating them.
"Fine! Here!" she exclaimed, practically thrusting her hands in his face out of nerves.
His smile didn't fade but stayed in place as he took her hands in his own. A few seconds later, a small trail of clouds lifted from their hands and rose into the air. Each one is a different color with a hint of other colors mixed in. A cotton candy field of clouds soon appeared above their heads moments later and people started to notice. Suddenly, the clouds rushed towards the lights in the ceiling, causing the voices of the students around them to become even louder, but a second before the colored clouds hit the roof, they burst into rain. The water diluted the paint but both the light and the water were enough to create a cast of color above their heads while the multicolored water reminded Niharika of luminescent bubbles or pearls.
"So that's what you meant!" she remarked in awe, watching the colored rainfall, and the mist rises. Its appearance reminded her of the inner shell of the Villosa Iris, the rainbow clam due to the soft pastel colors.
"Absolutely," he remarked, releasing her hands slowly. "I knew that would make you less serious."
"Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?" Niharika questioned, pulling her own hands back and raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Both! No, neither?" Oboro furrowed his brow in confusion before it smoothed out and he smiled once more. "I dunno, I just thought you'd look pretty with a smile. Besides, I like making people smile, especially serious types like you and Shouta."
"You mean Aizawa-kun?" Niharika clarified, choosing to ignore his comments about her smile. And the slight tingle to her cheeks. Nope, nothing going on there. She put all her focus on the Japanese words sliding past her lips and the shocked expression Oboro wore, clearly having expected her to continue in English as he had.
"Yeah, he's somewhere here too," Oboro smiled, getting over his shock quickly, though he still spoke in English. Niharika rolled her eyes at him but nodded. "Hopefully he passed, his quirk isn't that good when it comes to combat."
"But combat isn't everything," Niharika reminded him, glancing down at her paint-stained fingers. Even after two years of training, her quirk couldn't truly be counted as a weapon. It was brilliant as a disguise and as a surprise long-distance attack, but she hadn't quite mastered making it into an actual weapon.
"True, it has some merit if being a hero fighting against villains means anything," Oboro admitted before he created another cloud, this one small and seemingly harmless. "But fighting villains isn't all a hero is good for. And quirks aren't the only weapon available."
Niharika thought back to two years ago when Leon had saved her alongside David, Kabuki, and Azumi. He had fought the Svalinn just as Toshinori and Azumi had, but he had confessed he was quirkless. She couldn't think of someone so strong as being lesser, just because he had been born without the advantages given to so many others who called themselves heroes, yet did less for the people who mattered, the civilians.
"Wow, that sure got philosophical!" Oboro laughed, throwing his head back with the weight of it. It was a bright laugh, one that drew Niharika's attention without even trying. "I'm the only one of my friends here. Are you the only one of your friends in this group too? You seemed kinda lonely."
"Guin and Loki are in the next group over, and I think Jordan was assigned to the third group," Niharika confirmed. "Where are your friends?"
"Ohhh, let's see…" Oboro hummed, a finger tapping his chin as he exaggeratedly thought. "Well, I think Shouta is with Nemuri in the next group, while Tensei got Hizashi in the last group." He suddenly winced. "I feel sorry for that group, Hizashi's quirk can deafen people easily."
Niharika winced at the statement and would have said something about it if something bright hadn't flickered past the corner of her eyes. She quickly turned her head but managed to only see the back of a tall teenage boy. The bright flames flickering on and off around his wrists gave her the impression of anger and annoyance.
"Who's that?" she asked, her voice low enough to only reach the ears of Oboro.
"Him?" Oboro asked, leaning toward her enough to see where her line of sight was. "Enji, I think. The royal hot head!"
"The two of you are on a first-name basis?" Niharika asked in surprise, her eyes going back to Oboro.
"Nope! Just not too familiar with his last name is all," he casually remarked.
"The two of you don't get along, do you?" she asked, stepping back slightly. She wasn't too keen on getting in the middle of a boy's…macho thing.
"Aw, what gave me away?" Oboro teasingly asked, another bright smile on his face. He was always smiling, Niharika could tell. It rarely left his face, and she could already tell that it would be a much colder room if he were to suddenly frown.
"Perhaps you are simply easy to read," Niharika commented, tilting her head just slightly. The loose strands of her hair delicately fell against her shoulder and she allowed the smallest smile to curl her lips up.
Oboro's smile turned into something soft, but still so very full of light.
"Or maybe you're just perceptive," he mused, his voice softer and yet still recognizably him.
Niharika's cheeks burned as she looked away and she was thankful for the sudden interruption as Oboro's attention turned toward the tables and screens that the staff of the examination was sitting on.
Out of all of them, Shijou, a stern-looking woman with the appearance of a succubus, happened to be the only one Niharika could easily recall. She figured it was a good thing that the woman's appearance made it easy for her to remember since the older woman was the focal point of the staff and in charge of supervising the exam.
"Wow," Oboro murmured, catching her attention once more. He just shook his head with a smile on his face but she didn't bother asking why. Given that his focus was entirely on Shijou, she probably didn't want to know.
"Hello everyone, thank you for coming in today. We are now going to announce who, out of those of you who are here, have passed the exam and earned your Provisional Hero License," Shijou announced with all the gravity of someone in power. "Now turn your gaze towards the TV screens. If you need to come closer, you may but no pushing."
Niharika placed her hands on her stomach as it suddenly twisted and slowly moved with the crowd as they drew closer to the giant screens. Oboro was whistling beside her and she wasn't sure if the noise made her nerves worse. With a deep breath, she ignored it and slowly read through the names until she found her own.
The first phase she passed with about 79 points. A smile graced her face as she read her score for the second phase; 2nd phase, 84 points. The next thing she knew, she had a pair of hands on her shoulders and was being shaken roughly back and forth.
"We did it! We passed, Niharika!" Oboro cheered, his grin bright and unrelenting in its cheerfulness.
"Y-yes, but p-p-please st-stop shaking m-m-me-e-e!" Niharika gasped, her words stuttering from the force of his attention.
Thankfully, Oboro did stop shaking her. However, instead, he let out a laugh as bright as the sun and pulled Niharika to his chest in a tight hug. He was a full foot taller than her and his body practically enveloped hers, but Niharika couldn't stop her arms from instinctively returning the hug.
"We're gonna be heroes! We did it!" Oboro whispered in her ear, almost as if he couldn't believe it.
Niharika felt a smile curl on her lips and she tightened her grip on him.
"Yes, we are, Shirakumo-kun," she whispered, reaffirming his words.
"'Oboro'," he corrected instantaneously. His voice was somehow even softer now as if he was sharing a secret with her. Perhaps he was, given the meaning of names in Japanese culture. "You can call me 'Oboro'."
"Alright then. We are going to be heroes…Oboro," Niharika nodded against his chest.
At that moment, the loud cheers of those who passed and the disappointed cries of those who didn't pass which filled the room faded away. It was just the two of them in this single moment.
It was strange and different, but Niharika found she didn't dislike it.
They were going to be heroes.
Slowly, she pulled away and smiled up at Oboro, his joy contagious. She felt as if she could fly or perhaps create a masterpiece without even trying. The possibilities felt limitless in that single moment.
Oboro only stared at her, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. There was a tint of pink on his cheeks as he stared at her in silence.
"Oboro?" Niharika questioned. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah! I'm great!" He awkwardly pulled away then, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry, just…caught up in the moment." He coughed into his fist, his cheeks turning just a bit brighter color.
How curious…Niharika hadn't heard any rumors of Oboro Shirakumo ever being embarrassed. In fact, most of the rumors claimed he was usually quite shameless in his actions, even undressing in class once with his quirk acting as a censor. But here he was, blushing over a hug.
"It's okay, I think we both were," Niharika smiled kindly, hoping to reassure him. She reached out a tentative hand, her bracelets the only thing announcing her movement as she rested her hand on his arm. "Nothing to worry about, okay? I'm okay and so are you."
"Y-yeah, all good." Oboro nodded, briefly meeting her gaze with a slight smile. Slowly, the embarrassment faded away as an idea formed in his eyes. "Hey, are you meeting up with your friends? What do you say we bring our groups together, get to know each other?"
"Are you sure your friends will be okay with that?" Niharika asked, tilting her head slightly.
"I have no doubt Nemuri is planning something right now," Oboro laughed as he took out his cell phone. "C'mon, let's go set up a meeting place!"
"Alright, if you're sure," Niharika agreed, taking out her own phone as she followed the intriguing boy.
The boy who now held an arm out to her, as if they were in a Victorian romance novel.
"My lady?" he beamed, fluttering his eyelashes jokingly at her as he spoke. Niharika could only sputter a laugh as she looped her arm through his.
"Why, thank you, kind sir," she dramatically declared. "Lead on, then."
And with another bright smile, he did.
Amara was old.
He had been old for a long time, longer than most would ever be in a single lifetime, and he was tired. He had lived a good life, he had been happy once upon a time.
Perhaps he could be happy again someday.
Amara snorted at the thought. How unlikely it was.
But even still, he looked down at the papers that littered his desk, all about these students that were taking their first steps into being heroes.
There were some promising ones amongst them, he had to admit. Promising enough that he was…thinking.
President Fujimori knew where he was, and knew what he had to offer. She, like her predecessors, had told him that the door to Ether Academy was always open to him, along with all the resources he could ever require for himself, physical and mental included. Amara hadn't thought about doing something like this in years, but…
But…
Amara looked down at the papers again.
Aizawa. Roseis. Iida. Azalea. Sharma. Shirakumo. Yamada. Adams. Everly. Kayama. All high school students, yet their potential was obvious in just provisional exams. And they were the ones who had learned through the crisis of Aether Island returning from Mimir where it had remained for centuries to come and ten years to others. Their class was a time of chaos and disorder, yet they still performed exceptionally considering the circumstances.
And there were many others as well, others stacked under these students who also caught Amara's eye.
To be part of these students' lives…well…he could certainly think of less enjoyable things to spend his endless time with.
Except maybe…for one. One he realized that fate gave him a second chance. If he was willing to look at it that way but his long years made him critical and cynical on such matters. Matters that could still be out of his control. Or was it?
It probably was best to keep his distance on that one individual. For now.
He looked up from his desk and the papers in his hands. His light blue eyes gazed out the window on his left. The summer blue sky was endless and the scattering of white clouds took him back.
He shook his head at the thoughts now suddenly flowing through his mind and then settled.
The students could be the next step for him.
But was he willing to take the next step?
Amara couldn't say he had the answer just yet.
Azumi, like Niharika, felt that the past two years flew by extremely fast but for different reasons. Her college courses kept her busy on top of her hero work as well. And then there was her building a relationship with Toshinori. And then, she was traveling between places, mainly the states, due to Fa'izah adding more hero work. Simply investigating what occurred two years ago and Aether Island relations between counties but she felt that there was more to it than that.
But her thoughts were focused on a giant however, his presence taking up her mind lately. For the past few days if she was honest herself. And it wasn't for the lack of trying either. What brought her current line of thought was a classmate that asked her out a day and a half ago.
And it took her by surprise.
She felt wrong like she was cheating and she had to say no. Watching the guy's face fall made it worse and that moment kept playing in her mind as she went through her day. She didn't quite place a finger on the reason until she came home and looked at her phone while taking off her shoes. It hit her then as she saw a message from Toshinori.
Slowly she stood, her eyes wide. There was a bit of heat in her face and she slowly turned. There happened to be a diamond-shaped decorative mirror in the hallway, one that she used to spice up the plain and empty wall. Her green eyes took in the bright redness of her face and the sudden shocking expression that she still wore.
When did she decide to see him differently? Was that really what was going on?
No, she couldn't be. She shook her head as she padded into the kitchen, her eyes locked back to her phone screen.
Or could she?
"God!" she exclaimed, her eyes closing as pulled her hands, phone and all, towards her face. The phone was lightly touching her forehead, its coolness contrasting sharply with the feelings racing around her heart. Denial. Confusion. And a few others she either refused to name or couldn't.
Oh, boy! How am I…?
But her thoughts scattered and her form flinched as her phone, the ring tone being Happy by Pharrell Williams, blared in her hands. One person had that ringtone.
"Speak of the devil!" she remarked, her eyes scanning the name.
Let's pack this away for now!
"Toshinori!" she exclaimed joyously, thankful that her voice didn't give her current state of mind away.
"Yo!" the bright and cheerful voice reached her ears...right ear. Toshinori must have had a good day if that joy was a sign.
"You're in a good mood," she remarked, giving him the room to talk about himself. She still wasn't in the right state of mind at that moment and she hoped that allowing the man to talk a bit would help her get her thoughts in order.
But then again, she always enjoyed hearing him speak and all.
Please! Not down this road again!
"I've found some puzzles while shopping today," he stated over the phone, causing Azumi to smile. "Most of them are flower fields though but I couldn't help myself. Once I am done putting them together, I'll frame 'em."
"I should keep an eye out for you," Azumi offered during his pause, opening the fridge for something quick and easy.
"I believe it would be best to wait once I get back, though. Too many things to pack and send would be rough," he answered, and the sudden noise in the background hinted that he was still communing.
"Right, right," she agreed, pushing aside some yogurt and a package of mushrooms. She was in the mood for something simple and quick as she looked in the meat compartment but that made her shut the door in annoyance.
Should she go out for something?
"You seem distracted. How was your day?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle.
She paused, not sure how to answer.
"Well….I had some guy ask me out a few days ago," she replied slowly, going to the pantry and looking there for something.
"And…?" he asked, his voice neutral for once. She paused at that since she wasn't sure how to place it. Was he upset? Worried?
"I turned him down. Wasn't interested," she remarked, pulling out a container of popcorn but placing it back after giving it a good look over.
"Really?" he asked, a door slamming in the background. She thought she heard a hint of relief coloring his voice slightly as she raised an eyebrow at a package of oatmeal cookies but the sound of voices rolling by and dimming may have had something to do with it.
"Yep, you know me. I had to agonize over it," she continued smoothly, hoping that Toshinori would take the hint and go with her response. A bag of rice noodles earned a quick glare before she pushed the pantry door close.
Chicken Naban sounds good!
"If you're not interested, you're not. Please try not to worry about it," he boomed over another sudden uproar of people. Azumi winced as she looked around for her purse.
"Game night?" she asked, finding it on the kitchen counter.
"Absolutely!" he boomed once again, and she could hear David in the background saying something she couldn't hear. She always thought he wasn't into that sort of thing but Toshinori was there. Toshinori had a unique charm for that sort of thing.
"I suppose I should let you go," she stated, looking down at her shoes. The prospect of being alone tonight didn't look good.
"But I just called!"
"It's been about five to ten minutes, you dork!"
"Really?"
"Why should I lie to you?"
"Because you enjoy hearing me talk."
"Oh god, Toshinori!" she exclaimed, holding back a laugh as she placed a hand over her mouth.
"It's true!"
"I know but you didn't have to say it or say it the way you just did," she laughed, sitting down and allowing her laughter fade into giggles. "You're something else, you know that?"
"So you tell me," he answered, the volume of the crowd lowering, giving her the impression that he found a secluded place for the moment. "Are you still coming over for the summer?"
"Of course! We're going to do some hero work while I visit," she answered, her mood brightening up at the thought. At least she wouldn't go headfirst into an unknown situation. Toshinori and David would be there. Maybe Leon if he was going through her school and all.
David's voice suddenly was picked up by the phone then. A few minutes passed between the two.
"I am sorry, I have to go," Toshinori remarked then, his voice heavy with sincerity.
"Don't be! We can always talk again later," she consoled, leaning against the wall and closing her eyes. For some unknown reason, she felt closer to the man than she was before and a pleasant heaviness settled on her heart.
"Thanks! I will call again soon," Toshinori stated, his deep voice gentle and low.
"Talk to you later and have a good time," she said, and the call ended seconds later. With a sigh, she launched onto her feet. Another sigh escaped her as she placed her phone into her purse.
Her feet tapped the floor then as her hand grasped the doorknob. The door opened with minimal effort and the soft breeze ruffled her hair and cooled her face which froze along with the rest of her body.
"You're still alive? Where have you been all this time?"
Luna: Sorry for the long wait here folks! Life gave both Wolfie and I a solid kick in the breeches. Made it a bit rough to be inspired and work on the chapter. But we hope this one makes up for it, even if it's a bit on the short side.
Sorry, this would be the last time for an opening.
OC submission is still open, folks!
Wolfie: Hi, everyone! I'm not gonna apologize mostly cause I do that too much, but hey, we're here now! Would you believe me if I told you we had all but one scene written a month ago?
Thanks to everyone who's been reading though, we appreciate it! I hope you enjoyed this chapter with its intro to everyone's new positions…of a sort. :) We have plans, folks, lots of plans, haha!
