Chapter 3

Time: Unknown Place: Velvet Room

How did I know that….

The sound of a certain melody filled Kentaro's ears as he came face to face with a long nosed man. A normal person would be confused or freaked out, but all Kentaro felt was familiarity.

"Welcome back to the velvet room dear trickster."

That voice! Hearing the long nose speak, and the over familiarity of the place in general it was like something clicked in Kentaro's head. How did I forget being in a place like this? Keeping his thoughts to himself, he looked at the man in front of him as he had more to say.

"Your journey has now finally begun, and already you seem to be going past normal means." The look Kentaro gave was filled with confusion, so he was glad that Igor continued talking.

"You already acquired your first social link. The bonds made with your fellow man. Continue collecting social links, and you may have the power needed to overturn fate."

That must have been that weird voice earlier, finding friends and gaining power, I don't know whether to believe or not, but it sounds wrong.

"I assure you, it would be fine as both parties benefit from completion." !? D-dDid he just…? With another surprised and confused look Kentaro glanced at Igor for any sign of trick or movement, checking to see he wasn't read like a book. All he found was a smile big enough to rival a cereal mascot.

"A looming threat is upon you, and our services will be required in the near future."

"Wait WHAT!?" after hearing that Kentaro finally spoke up and loaded up his questions.

"What do you mean threat? What are your services? Who is she?" He gestured to the woman from before still sitting on the stool looking at a book of sorts. "What can I do? And who are you?!" After his outburst Kentaro took big breaths and controlled himself.

Despite hearing all of this, Igor sat and only offered his smile. Then he spoke "all will be revealed in due time dear guest. As for who my assistant, her name is-"

"Melody" "My name is Melody" She had stood up from where she sat and spoke in an upfront manner, "and I will guide you towards a better tomorrow!" She had this twinkle in her eye that felt all sorts of wrong.

"Uh.. Yea. Igor?"

"Her purpose will be revealed later down the line. And with that our time is up" as soon as Igor said this, Kentaro's vision started to go white.

"Wait, I still have questions!"

"And they will be answered, but in another time, the next time we meet will be of your own accord, farewell trickster."

"At least be consistent when addressing me!" and with that, the velvet room was gone and Kentaro awoke in his bed. Man what a weird dream.. He proceeded to get ready for school, feeling dread as he felt something bad was coming.

Time:April, Friday-Afternoon Place:Junbon High Entrance

Another day passed by and even though the lessons were funner than other schools, Kentaro still felt tired. Guess some things don't change.. He figured that he'd have to get a job sooner rather than later, so he's been trying to find an employer during his breaks. Figures no one would want to hire a high school for an actual job. So he's been stuck finding work to do. Today was supposed to be another hunting day, but a certain headband had other ideas.

"Come on. You have a year to look for a job or whatever, seriously, we're in the prime of our life, why waste it like an old man."

"I need money, you know how it is."

"Yea Yea, just take a break dude. You can't work if you stress yourself out ya know?

He does have a point. A thought that betrayed him as Itsuka gave him a big grin signaling that he knew he was right.

"But, I still have to find one, when I do, I'll take a break like you said."

"Aughh, fine gimme a sec" Itsuka proceeded to whip out his phone and dialed someone. After a few moments, the call was answered.

"Hey..yea...augh not right now... Look you know that guy I was with... yea… yup… great." He then hung up and walked back to Kentaro with a bigger grin than before.

"What did you-"

"Got you a job, starts on Sunday" What?

"What" Kentaro repeated out loud.

"I got you a job, it's at the café, you remember?"

"Yea I do but, how did you-" He got cut off again as Itsuka quickly retell his story.

"Well you were upset as she was the only one working, she wanted a new punching bag, you needed a job, it just worked out." He said matter-of-factly.

"Well you got a job, so now we celebrate." Itsuka said with enthusiasm.

All Kentaro could do was just stare wide-eyed and nod as the transaction took place before him. He was so stunned that he didn't notice the girl walking in front of them before he collided chin first.

"Yeowch!"

"Ahh" they both fell on their behinds as Itsuka watched both in horror, and amusement.

"Ahh, sorry, sorry. Are you ok?".

"Yea, watch where you're going next time k?"

"Uh, yeah sorry."

"Dude, you alright, you knock hard into ms fumes"

"Augh, polite as always Myoshi-san"

As things got clearer, Kentaro saw the girl before him. A mixture of beauty and class, along with equal parts fluffy and bubbly. The somewhat long brown autumn hair and rosy cheeks, All Kentaro could think was cute. Regardless of what he knows what that means, it was the perfect description he thought of her as she turned back towards him gazing at him with her milky black eyes.

"And sorry as well" Uh? "I also wasn't watching where I was going, so I'm sorry, My name is Kira Kizugawa. We're in the same class, but I'm mainly in the middle."

"Ahh no need to apologize, I was stunned earlier due to Itsuka here" "Hey" "So I should have been more careful, Names also Kentaro, Kentaro Abihara nice to meet you"

"Likewise, so your friends with Myoshi, huh?..." She looked distraught for a second then went back to neutrality earlier "Just be careful Abihara-san, Myoshi here isn't a great thinker, so you'll have to be the brains near him" "ww-what?"

"He-he, yea, he is a handful" "I am right here!" "but I think he is alright"

"Just keep an eye on him, he might bring you down to somewhere sketchy" It was said in a joking manner, but it felt like a real warning.

"Well be careful, don't want to have any more clichés happening, right?"

A furious blush appeared onto the girl and fell down slowly. "I..uh..well.. Hmm!" She turned a bit to catch some air then calmed down "Well have a good day Abihara-kun" With that, she took off still accompanied by the blush on her cheeks.

I am thou Thou art I

Thou has discovered a new strength hidden inside

With the birth of the Lovers arcana

Thou shall receive thy strength to face unjust fate

Rank 1

Weird, it happened again. Oh well, not like it's hurting me or anyone. Kentaro then turns around in time for a hand to wrap around him with anger behind it.

"Dude, why did you both act like I wasn't here, not cool"

"Sorry man, but hey I said you weren't as bad as she said."

"Whatever, you owe me for the curry now, lets go"

"Yea, alright, it was pretty good last time"

"Only PRETTY GOOD." "oh man I will throw out all the punches now"

"Hey wait up"

Time: Friday-Evening Place:Unknown

Running across the stone ridden pathway, the figure in silver dodges gunfire with ease, as they run through the compound full speed.

"Stop her, we can't let her escape, otherwise Fujikawa will have our heads!" A voice yelled out, a man in blue.

"What if we kill her?" A soldier had asked worriedly.

"You can't kill something that isn't alive, besides, aim for non-vital areas, cripple her, so to speak." The man in blue had said this without hesitation as if talking to a friend about mundane things.

With the order given the men shot more accurately than before, seems like their orders have been changed, proximity 50% of shots made will now have an impact.. I won't get away unscathed. Preparing retaliation procedures. The girl simply increased the acrobats from before as more shots rang out loud.

"Close the gates! Seal off her exit" The blue clothed man shot out. Every second of this pointless chase irritated him further.

Won't make it at this speed. Need more energy for proper momentum. Looking for a valid backup plan. Looking around somewhat frantically, the girl saw a pile of red barrels. Seems to me the only valid exit point. Preparing for major damage to the hull. She then sprinted with all her might over the barrels playing on a risky play.

"It's over chrome dome. Surrender now, there is nowhere to run" The Blue shirt said with victory having completed his capture of the silvered girl.

"I am afraid of having to ruin that pretty little face of yours you know. So be a good girl and return to your owner. Otherwise, we might have to have a "accident" again." The man spoke with venom, as if a threat like so would be courteous.

"Sadly, I will not return to Dr. Fujikawa." The girl in silver finally spoke to her oppressors. "I know what I was created for, I can not say the same for you" with that she moved her weapons system to active and prepared to fire.

"Shame, a doll thinking of being human, sadly I don't hold you in the same regard as the good doctor." The man sighed but smiled cruelly. "And those weapons mean an act of self-defense from us. Boys she's armed, light her up!" With that the soldiers took aim at the silver girl. Just as expected. The girl then put her weapons away and braced for impact.

Wait! Those barrels, aren't they? Shit! "Hold your fire!" The man realized where they were too late as the soldiers fired their weapons which in turn blew up the barrels full of gasoline. The explosion ringed throughout the mountain and the girl wasn't there after they were reorganized after the surprise.

"Shit. Well let's not tell the doctor about this and say a training accident gone wrong. Pack it up boys. And if any of you say a word I'll make sure to personally give you a medal of "Honor' to take home." With that threat the men packed up their weapons and gear and returned to their normal routines thinking the girl was no more.

….

Critical error…. Central.. Sy-stm. Damg-e. Optics Fa-il... Mus..rea-ch tri-ks..ter. A damaged girl slowly made her way into the city, as she hoped she could reach the trickster in question, before it was too late.