Usual Days
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Chapter 1: Park Acquaintance
Legend
Word denotes character thought
"Word" denotes cell-phone conversation
Word denotes setting, time
-Word- denotes sound effect
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Timeline: May 2, C.E. 71; +1300 PM
Location: Aprilius City; Park
It was a sunny afternoon in the city park. Several people relaxed about throughout all the areas of the park, getting away from their hectic schedules in their lives and wanting to take a break for a change.
Amongst them, one young man, docked in all-white clothing consisting of a sleeveless overcoat, long sleeve shirt, pants, and brown leather shoes, leisurely strolled by, his hands pocketed inside his pants. The front bangs of his short, spiked brown hair sometimes obscured his view, prompting him to brush them away with his left forefinger. His blue eyes shimmered, which were his unique asset that highlighted his handsome self, as they drew curious stares and flirty smiles from several attractive women passing by his way.
"Did you see him? He's so hot!"
"-Sigh- He's so dreamy..."
Able to hear their remarks within an earshot, the young man smiled to himself as he continued his stroll. Taking a stroll through the city park was one of his daily routines, as he liked to keep himself fit everyday. He checked his watched strapped to his left wrist for the current time --- 1:05 PM.
5 minutes since I started today's stroll. Hmm… what to do…?
Pondering on his next move, he saw a nearby bench and sat down on it, taking out his hands and propping both arms resting lazily on his left and right, which seemed to a third person's view that he was hogging the bench to himself. However, that wasn't the case when an elderly man around his 60's suddenly approached by, looking first at him. Held in his right hand was a brown cane for support.
"Excuse me, lad, would you allow an old man to take a seat?"
"Oh…? Of course, sir, please take a seat here, I don't mind. I don't plan on having this bench to myself, please…"
The young man then gestured the elderly man to take a seat next him, who gladly accepted and rested his left hand over his right as he sat down with a contented sigh. He then slowly took a glance at the youngster seated next him, taking notice of his nearly all-white clothing. Feeling his gaze, the young man met his with a concerned face.
"Yes? Is something the matter?" he inquired.
"Um… I can't help but notice your white clothing, lad. I suppose that's a new fashion trend these days."
"-Chuckle- No, it's not the case, sir. White is my favorite color, and it's my personal style wearing this type of clothing. Does this offend you?"
"Oh, ho, ho, ho… relax, lad, I don't find offense looking at that. I was just curious, that's all."
Seeing the elderly man then looking away from him and minding his own business, the young man directed his attention on several small families enjoying each other's company. He warmly smiled at the sight of family bonding when he remembered his family. At that instant, his smile was broken, as he felt a lingering ache in his heart.
Sigh… I wish I'd meet my parents…
Truth be told, the young man's only family was his distant uncle, Peter Hyne, who was his late mom's brother. The mentioned man adopted him as his son, seeing he was the only living relative. A scientific genius, Peter Hyne specialized in nanotechnology, where he'd hope to incorporate it into a medical breakthrough. The young man found out from him about his parents being also scientists. Other from that, he could get nothing much about his parents from his uncle, who promised to reveal all in a proper time.
Dismissing further thoughts of his late parents, the young man continued his gazing around the park.
I'll probably enjoy this moment a bit longer…
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Meanwhile, from the other side of the park, a young lady walked inside, also enjoying an afternoon stroll. Her long, pink hair graced about with her movements, as the hem of her knee-length blue skirt swayed about with her slow walking. Her hands were on top of each other, then resting on her stomach, as she felt the soft breeze of the afternoon wind brushing her matching blue vest worn over a pink shirt.
Some young teen couples noticed her presence, with the males somehow entranced by her presence, much to the dismay of their girlfriends, who eagerly dished out their awaiting punishments at them instantly.
Not minding them, the pink-haired princess continued her stroll, taking a deep breath of preserved nature and atmosphere of the place, and breathing out.
"Ah… what a nice day for a stroll in the park…" she remarked cheerfully.
-RING- -RING-
The ringing of her cell-phone prompted her attention to it, as she stopped and took it out of her small pink purse worn around her left shoulder. She pressed the answer button on the cell-phone, starting the receiving call.
"Hello?"
"Lacus…! Are you in the park now?" a concerned, deep male voice inquired.
The pink-haired princess, Lacus Clyne, widen her eyes in recognition of the voice, her lips curved up slightly.
"Father…! Yes I am in the park. How are you? Where are you now?"
"Thank goodness. Ok, please wait for me there, I'm coming ASAP. I'm in my head office here in the central district, being swamped with paperwork as usual."
"Oh… that must be a lot of work for you."
"-Chuckle- Don't worry about it, I'll get by as always. If I can't be there by 30 minutes, I'll send my personal assistant to pick you up. When are your classes by the way? And which school was that also?"
"Ok, father, I'll wait here, I don't have other plans for the rest of the day. Also, my classes will start by next month. Father, I can't believe you forgot the name of my high school! It's called Archangel High!"
"Ho, ho, ho… just kidding, of course I remember your high school. Besides, I'm the one paying for your education, so I have to know. Oh, I've got to go now dear, I'm needed for a board meeting with the city councilor. If there's any problem, you have the cell-phone number of my personal assistant. If you're going back home early, then let me know."
"I understand, father. Bye! I love you always."
"Me too, Lacus… please take care out there."
With that said, Lacus ended her conversation with her father Siegel Clyne, who was Aprilius City's current mayor. The general public knew the fact their mayor having a daughter, but unfortunately didn't see her picture, not knowing what she looked like. So to them, Lacus was any other civilian, unless she introduced herself that is. The pink-haired princess closed her cell-phone, placing it back inside her purse worn around her left shoulder when suddenly…
"Thanks lady!" a rough voice spoke out of nowhere, startling her. At that instant, a mean-looking mugger approached behind Lacus and made a grab for her purse. Taking advantage of her surprise, he ripped his target roughly from her hands, giving her no chance to fight back. He quickly made a mad dash towards the other side of the park, where it had less security.
"Hey…! Stop! Help…!" Lacus screamed helplessly. Nearby bystanders witnessed the event, appalled by an act occurring in a supposed secured place of the city. Suddenly, the heavens heard her call, giving her answer in the form of a park security guard approaching her from his station (which was near the park entrance Lacus had just entered from) after noticing the gathering crowd around Lacus.
"Miss, are you alright? What happened?" the security guard asked her alarmingly.
The pink-haired princess tugged at his right sleeve of his security guard uniform and began dragging him along with her in a sudden sprint.
"Someone stole my purse. Please help me!" she exclaimed.
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After finishing his observation of people in the park from his seat, the young man decided to walk around, stretching his body to remove little stiffness from seating down on one spot for too long. He stood up and gave a polite good-bye to the elderly man he had shared the bench with. The two exchanged small smiles of courtesy, before the young man parted ways.
His eye suddenly caught sight of the park's central water fountain, a large, oval shape object firing off a dazzling display of waterworks in a spherical look. Fascinated by the display, he walked close to it, watching it with few bystanders nearby. He pocketed his hands in his pants, standing upright.
Nice pattern… the city mayor really focused on improving the park's quality and look.
Alas, fate came knocking in, interrupting his quiet moment… that is, in the form of a mean-looking mugger, with a small pink purse in hand, suddenly pushing his way through some of the bystanders, knocking one or two down to the ground.
Followed next was a shrill whistle belonging to a park security guard, with an entrancing pink-haired female teen following behind him. They were in hot pursuit of the suspect.
"Stop thief!" the park security guard warned.
But as natural laws dictate, a hard-headed thief wouldn't be stupid enough to obey that order, such as this one mentioned in this chapter here. From a distance, the mugger could make out the park's other exit as he hoped he could make it there.
Unfortunately, he forgot to focus on what immediately popped in front of him --- a white-sleeved left arm.
-WHAM-
Flipping down he went as his neck made contact with the arm, and landing painfully face first on the concrete ground of the park's path road he was running on. His landing position mirrored that of a bird spreading its wings (his arms and legs were spread out).
-THUD-
"Ugh…" the mugger croaked painfully, as he felt the wind taken out of him. He shakily reached for his neck, slowly rubbing it to try easing the sudden pain registering from there. The small, pink purse he was carrying was now in the mysterious attacker's right hand, as he flexed his left arm before dropping it down to his sides.
Bystanders crowded around the scene, amazed at the sudden turn of events that happened before them now. What amazed them more was the mysterious attacker turning out to be the young man who immediately popped in the mugger's escape path and extended his left arm, bringing it on contact with the mugger's neck, almost about to take his head off with the force. Then, at the same time, he received the snatched small, pink purse. Several of the bystanders craned their faces into pained looks as they watched the mugger writhing down the ground in pain.
"Holy… did you see that?"
"Shit, he almost clobbered the guy's head off! And he just stepped in front of him and did so in the exact time… as if he anticipated it! And he even got that snatched small, pink purse back from him!"
"Ho, ho, ho… ah, it feels good to be young."
"This young man stopped this awful mugger! If it weren't for him, he would have gotten away with that small pink purse belonging to that young, pink-haired girl over there with a park security guard."
Not heeding the bystanders' remarks, the aforementioned hero adjusted the collar of his white sleeveless overcoat, and ran a hand through his brown, short spiked hair, adjusting it. He eyed the injured mugger warily.
Whew… made it just in time. Scum like his caliber shouldn't be allowed to prey on innocent people enjoying their leisurely time here in the city park. I hope I didn't break his neck, though.
The park security guard brought out a pair of handcuffs from a small pouch attached to his black leather belt, fitting them on the mugger's wrists. He roughly helped him up to his feet, holding him firmly by his shoulders from behind.
"You picked the wrong place and time to do this, buddy," he remarked to the dazed criminal, who was slowly gathering composure. The park security guard turned to the young man, giving him a quick, right handshake while holding firmly the mugger with his left hand. He nodded affirmatively at him.
"Thank you for your assistance. If it weren't for you, he would have made off with this young lady's pink purse. He had us chasing after him from a few blocks. I didn't imagine he'd bolt for the other exit," he spoke.
The young man shook his head and gave a small wave of his right hand at him in disagreement.
"He suddenly dashed in amongst the crowd with that pink purse in his hand. I didn't want to let him get away, so I did what I thought was right, that's all."
Then, another park security guard quickly pushed through the gathering crowd, meeting up with his partner. He looked at the cuffed mugger then to him.
"Mugging…?"
"Yeah… he had us running for a while until this kind young man stepped in and stopped him in his tracks."
The second park security guard faced the brown-haired young man, giving his thanks. He looked at the pink-haired female teen standing next him, asking her confirmation regarding the original possession of the pink purse.
"Well, miss, can you drop by the park station later so that you can give your statement regarding this matter? It's official paperwork you see, when it comes to crimes."
Lacus nodded in reply.
"We're open until 12 midnight, but you can drop by now. The earlier, the better, so that we won't have to detain you any further," the second park security guard looked around the gathering crowd waving off to break them, "ok, folks, show's over. Please resume with your business. Thank you."
With that said, the crowd of bystanders then slowly dispersed, resuming on with their business in the park. The two park security guards proceeded to escort the cuffed mugger to the park station, where he'd be jailed for his crime.
That left the brown-haired young man and Lacus alone, with the pink-haired princess shyly looking at him with a smile. She gave a small bow, expressing her gratitude.
"Thank you very much, mister. I didn't know what to do if my purse was gone. It contained all my important stuff I carried."
"Oh, um… I did what I must. My advice for you is to be always on guard whenever you go out, and never keep all your important belongings in that purse. And lastly, you might want to reconsider its color; bright colors tend to attract unwanted attention."
Lacus smiled again, feeling little embarrassed for being reprimanded by this mysterious brown-haired young man. She couldn't help but notice his blue eyes, the first thing pulling her close. Next, her gaze traveled from his eyes to the contours of his face, which looked surprisingly smooth and clear for a guy in her age. Her interest on him peaked further as she noticed his almost all-white clothing. His brown hair was short, seemingly spiked up little, which accentuated a free-spirited look.
And when she summed up an overall picture of him, she recognized one fact --- he was definitively handsome.
The young man then remembered the pink purse clutched in his right hand. He snapped out Lacus's reverie by gently shaking her by her left shoulder, earning a soft cry of surprise from the said female teen. He handed back her pink purse.
"This rightfully belongs to you, miss."
"Thank you, mister…?"
The young man extended his right hand in front of her, which she gladly accepted. At the sudden contact of his hand, her temperature seemed to climb up little.
"I'm Kenji Hyne. You are…?"
Lacus gave a warm smile at him.
"Lacus… Lacus Clyne."
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Minutes later and inside the park security station, which was a few blocks away from the central water fountain of the park, Lacus dispense with paperwork containing her official statement regarding the mugging incident happened a moment ago. She handed the paperwork, which was a page long, to the station's female security, who accepted it with a smile. She bade the pink-haired princess good-bye as she watched her leave the station. Along the way, Lacus thanked the two park security guards who helped her out in retrieving her snatched pink purse. Exiting the station, she stumbled upon the brown-haired young man whom she met before waiting outside for her.
"Oh, hello, Kenji…! What are you doing here?"
Kenji scratched his right cheek with his right forefinger, coming up with an appropriate reply.
"I wanted to check up on you after that mugging incident. So, you're done with the official paperwork the park security asked you to write?"
Lacus nodded, clasping her hands together.
"Yes, it didn't take that long. Oh my…" she then checked a watch strapped to her left wrist for the current time --- 14:00 PM, "I'm afraid I have to go, someone will come to pick me up."
With a slight nod to her, Kenji pocketed his hands in his pants. He wanted to strike up a conversation with her now, but it seemed she had other plans.
"I see. Well, it's nice to meet you, Lacus. But do take care when going out to parts of the city like the park."
The pink-haired princess bowed slightly to him in respect, feeling touched by his concern for her well-being, even though he was a stranger. She then flashed a warm smile at him.
"Thank you for your advice. Perhaps we'll meet again."
With that said, she watched him part ways from her. At that same moment, a female voice called out to her from nearby.
"Lacus, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!"
Lacus turned around to the voice, finding a woman sporting a long, brown hair, green eyes, and a well-to-do look. She was dressed in semi-business attire consisting of a red blouse and gray knee-length skirt. Judging by her appearance, she seemed to be around her mid-20s. The young woman quickly approached her side.
"Are you alright? Why were you exiting the park security building just now? What happened?" she fired off a series of concerned questions.
"-Sigh- Marie, there's no need to worry, I'm ok. Someone tried to steal my purse, but a kind gentleman stepped in and stopped him, retrieving my purse back for me. I just parted ways with him now."
The stated woman was Marie Ashcroft, Siegel Clyne's personal assistant. She was a reliable person who saw to every job assigned to her done. Currently, her assignment now was to pick up her boss's daughter and drop her off home. Wiping off her forehead in one motion with her right hand, she continued her attention on Lacus.
"Goodness, mugging…? And at the time of this day… really, I better suggest to your father regarding the park security here. Speaking of which, who was that young man you were talking with before? I managed to catch a small glimpse of him from a distance, when I finally spotted you from the central fountain area."
The woman's character really made the pink-haired princess fond of her, based on her remark just now. She knew better that she could trust her with anything. Fighting the urge to laugh at the thought, Lacus gave an easy-going smile.
"Apparently, he was the one who helped retrieve my purse back. His name is Kenji Hyne."
Marie raised a left eyebrow at the name, seemingly interested.
"Kenji Hyne… hmm… that name sounds familiar. I can't put my finger on it, though. Well, it's good to know that you're safe. Come on, I'll drop you off home. It seems your father wasn't able to get off early from today's meeting with the city councilor, sorry."
Lacus shook her head in reply.
"I understand the nature of my father's work. Besides, it's important to him. Shall we go?"
"Oh, right, of course… come on."
With that said, Marie proceeded to lead the pink-haired princess to her parked car waiting outside the city park. Along the way there, Lacus couldn't help but ponder on the young man she just made her acquaintance with.
Kenji Hyne… my, what a kind gentleman…
She could recall the image of his face, down to his small smile. Remembering it made her cheeks slowly flush.
I never knew he was quite a handsome gentleman by the way. I hope we meet again.
Deep down, she made a silent prayer to the heavens, hoping for her wish to be granted.
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Timeline: May 2, C.E. 71; +1500 PM
Location: Aprilius City; Hyne Residence
Closing the front door and locking it after him, Kenji Hyne found himself in a modest studio-type apartment facing the metropolis. It had been home to him and his uncle Peter Hyne since the start of his high school.
"I'm home…" he remarked quietly. His eyes widen little in surprise as they fixed on a small brown suitcase perched nearby the front door. At the exact moment, his said uncle stepped in view coming from the bathroom, dressed in a white coat worn above a blue polo, belted blue jeans, and brown leather shoes. He seemed ready for travel.
"Well, you seemed ready to go. Where are you off to, uncle?" Kenji inquired, interested.
Peter's face twisted in reluctance, not wanting to voice out his real reason of leaving. But seeing his beloved nephew standing before him made the weight even heavier. With a defeated sigh, he shrugged his shoulders.
"Kenji… I don't know how to say this. But… there's been a change of plans."
The younger Hyne was awe-struck by the statement. But then, only one word registered out of his mouth.
"Huh…?"
"-Sigh- Kenji, I'm afraid I can't watch over you any longer, as much as I wanted to. It seemed my work is calling out to me. I got a call from a long-time friend… his name is Aile Kato. He asked me for my help regarding an important research project he's concocting off in the Mendel Institute."
Needless to say, Kenji was shocked at the news.
"I've arranged for you to live with my sister's family… her name's Via Hyne."
Yep, it was another shocker for the young Hyne.