AN: Thanks for reading, everyone. Please keep reading, reviewing, following, favorite...ing, etc! (Also, for those of you who have played Shadow Hearts Covenant - an amazing game, by the way - you might recognise a reference...)
Chapter 42: Kei, The Girl From Yokohama
|July 28th|Asakita – Sakura Dormitory|9:30 am|
It had been several days since the Knowledge Seekers had triumphed over Nisa Liat. Whether or not she truly was gone was unclear, but for now, Bythos had remained quiet. Perhaps no one knew what to do with their Princess gone, and neither of the Aeon Admins was willing to be the interim leader. As such, Shintaro and the others had continued going to school as normal.
He felt as if a massive burden had been lifted off his shoulders. If Nisa Liat was truly gone, then surely there would be nothing to worry about, except ensuring the Cognition Cores remained out of harm's reach. And he trusted all his allies – no one would dare abuse their powers. The two remaining might not even appear any more, without Bythos to spur them into existence.
For a week, however, Kei had been absent. It seemed the fight had truly drained her, and she needed more time to recover than previously thought. Still, she was finally awake today, and so Shintaro went to find her to provide her with a copy of the study notes he had prepared, with Michiko's help. When he had told the others about this in their group chat, however, he soon found the others willing to tag along, and thus, they would spend the day together in Asakita.
Shintaro arrived at the dormitory, to find Kei talking to two other people. One was an older, kindly gentleman wearing a long white apron, and a pair of glasses somewhat too large for his head. The other was a brunette woman, possibly in her early twenties, whose bushy hair seemed similar in shape to her father's. Her pink outfit reminded her of something he had seen Reia wear once, including the sharp neckline.
"...Good to see you up and about, missy." The man said, smiling. He then patted her on the shoulder, warmly. "Look after yourself, alright? Young people push themselves too hard these days."
"Father, I'm sure Kei-chan will be fine. She's been doing wonderfully at the store, and – hm?"
The two had finally taken notice of Shintaro, and looked him with curiosity. Kei smiled, however, and ran over, grabbing his hand to bring him over to her friends.
"Hi, Shintaro-kun! Long time no see! Sorry I made you all worry..." She said, and then gestured to her friends. "This is Toshikazu Wakahisa, and his daughter Chou!"
"Oh, from the toy store?" Shintaro asked, thinking back to the brightly coloured shop he had passed earlier. It had been around for quite some time, he knew, but had never had the occasion to come out here and look in. Perhaps Kei's employment there would motivate him to make a visiti.
"Good to meet you. I'm Shintaro Nakahara. Kei and I are in the same class."
"Ah, we've heard about you! The bookish boy with the ponytail!" Toshikazu said, grinning. "She's quite fond of you, I hear!"
"Yes, she's always saying 'I wonder if Shintaro would like this', or 'Shintaro-kun would love coming here during our special events'!" Chou said, smirking.
Kei giggled, more bubbly than Shintaro was used to seeing her. "We've become quite close since April. A lot has happened since then, and he's been there with me all the way."
"Well, we better get back to the shop. Good to meet you, boy! Come see us sometime!" Toshikazu said, waving goodbye.
"Have a good afternoon!" Chou said, joining her father.
"It was nice of them to check in on you," Shintaro said.
"Yes, they're very kind. Of course, so are you."
Blushing, Shintaro laughed, as did she.
"Thanks for coming with those study notes. I knew I could count on you and Suzuki-sensei." She said, as she took his notes, and put them into her bag. "The others are still coming, aren't they?"
"Of course. In fact – hey, over here, guys!"
Soon enough, the team were joined by Kohaku, Masato, Natsumi, Akari, Noboru, Toshiaki, Evelina, Manami and Kaii. Kei beamed with delight at so many of her friends being around, and Shintaro couldn't help but smile as well.
"I knew he'd get here before us..." Masato said, grinning.
"I'll say. When it comes to studying, Shintaro is all over that." Natsumi said. "And he certainly wouldn't allow Kei to miss out on lessons, would he?"
"H-Hey..."
"Aww, you're turning red!" Noboru said, cheerily. "Relax, we're just messing with you. Kei, it's good to have you back!"
"Thanks, Noboru-kun. I'm a little surprised everyone turned up. In a good way, of course. Now that things have settled down a little, I've got an idea. Let's go do something in Asakita we can all do is a group. Not the theme park, that's still closed..."
Noboru gulped- it was there, after all, that he had his last date with Teruko. Perhaps he'd never go there again, even if it did reopen.
"I know! The Space Museum!" Kei said, after a moment of thought. "This time, we can enjoy it as normal. No Shadows will get in our way this time!"
"Ooh, that sounds amazing!" Kaii said, clenching his fists. "Never had a reason to go there before now!"
"The Great Beyond?" Manami asked. "I've never been there before...was that place transformed in the Theio Kosmos too?"
"Oh yeah. We got to land on the moon, sis got to blow up robots in a giant spaceship, it was pretty wild. This time, there's a far lower chance of us all being blown to smithereens." Masato said, with a sly wink.
"Bro, you know no one else can fly the spaceship better than me!" Natsumi said, pouting.
"Then let's go!" Shintaro said. He and Kei lead the way, the others close behind. As they walked, he noticed her looking at him – and he swore, out of the corner of his eye, she was smiling at him.
|Mizuho – Reverie|10:00 am|
Today, Michiko and her husband Masaki were dining out for breakfast, and had chosen the popular Reverie in Mizuho. Having heard about it many times from Novalie, as it was close to her college, she had faith it would be a wonderful venue. And having been busy with Gnosis-related activity, as well as her teaching, it was good to spend more time with her husband.
"I must say, it's been a long time since I had an omelette..." Masaki said, drumming his fingers on the table with excitement. A handsome man, he had always taken pride in his appearance, dressing sharply in suits for his work as a lawyer – he was at the same firm as Setsuna Kon, fiancée of his wife's colleague Hideki Yoshinaga. Even his 'casual' clothes had a smart, professional air to them, somewhat clashing with his wife's pink ensemble.
"You can't go wrong with an English muffin..." Michiko said. "Or...do you remember when we had tapsilog in Manila? Perhaps we could ask if they do something similar..."
Masaki shook his head, smirking. "That might be asking for a little too much. Still, we ought to think about what to do during the summer break. You've put in so many extra hours for the school, you deserve a long holiday, somewhere warm and sunny. I've had my hands full too, of course. Thanks to Bythos and their schemes, there's a massive increase in companies seeking compensation. Perhaps, if that rumour about Nisa Liat being dead is true, the city can forget about Bythos for good."
"...I hope so too. I'm sorry for being so distant, darling. But -"
Masaki put his finger affectionately over her mouth, then leaned in for a kiss.
"Forget it. My wife is an amazing teacher, who brings out the best in all of her students, no matter how long it takes. I couldn't be more proud of you. Even legends like you have to take holidays sometime, don't they?"
"Well...I love travelling with you, Masaki-sama." Michiko said. "Perhaps -"
"Oh wow, I didn't expect to see you there!"
Michiko gasped. Having walked into the cafe was a younger teacher at Kansei, Natalie MacKenzie. She'd recognise her anywhere, for she rarely deviated from her standard outfit of a blue shirt and black skirt. Originally from Edinburgh's Midlothian region, she'd been living in Japan for just over two years.
"Hello, Natalie! This is my husband, Masaki!"
"Pleasure to meet you. You teach at Kansei, yes?" He asked, as they shook hands.
"Aye! It's been great, all the students are so polite. A lot politer than the ones back in Scotland!" Natalie said, laughing. "Naebody ever talks back to me. They actually want to learn English. Much better than when I was wee and having to take French..."
I'm just grateful Nakahara wasn't in that class. Although after what happened between him and Courtois, perhaps he isn't in love with France as much.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you! I'm meeting someone on a date, but just wanted to say hello!" Natalie said, as she grabbed a nearby table. "He should be here soon..."
"Oh, a date?" Masaki asked. "Who's the lucky man?"
Natalie burst out laughing. "Lucky? With me? Aye right! Well, he's a chef for Hotel Aquarius in Ginumi. We met at Seabreeze Gardens, and we got talking about this and that. The first time I've been on a date since I moved to the city, so I'm a little nervous..."
"You'll do just fine," Michiko said, reassuringly. "I was so nervous when Masaki first asked me out, and we were still in college. But then when we got there, he turned out to be just as afraid. Then, we started talking, and little by little, all of that went away. I have a feeling you'll be the same."
Natalie looked at her, surprised. "How long have you two been married, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Coming up to about sixteen years," Masaki replied, happily. "And I couldn't be happier."
"That's lovely! Nearly as long as my sister and her husband!" Natalie said, enthusiastically. "They're talking about coming up to see me during the summer. Their bairns will love that, too. Siobhan wants to see the theme park, but I'm not sure if they'll be open for her then. Luke's asking if he can come to watch the baseball game..."
Siobhan? I've heard that name somewhere before, I think. But where?
"Oh, here he is!" Natalie said, going to greet the long-haired, muscular man who had just entered the room. Somewhat unkempt, and in casual clothes, he looked very much the opposite of Masaki, a rather slim man. "Good to see you, Koji."
"Yeah, same here." He said, smiling, as they quickly embraced. They soon sat down, clearly enjoying each other's company.
"Looks like they're happy..." Masaki said, with a twinkle in his eye. "Just like us, don't you think?"
"Y-Yes..." Michiko said. "At least, even in this difficult time, many of us are finding love. Just like Hideki, and Setsuna from your office."
I wonder how they would react if they knew that myself, and their siblings, were fighting for their lives? If Nisa Liat is truly gone, then hopefully they never need to know. Even so...
The two continued their breakfast, a prelude to the rest of their plans for the day.
|Asakita – Great Beyond Space Museum|10:30 am|
The group had been enjoying the Museum for a good while now, and without any Shadows lurking in the gift shop, it was easier to appreciate the exhibits. The ceiling still amazed Shintaro, as did the miniature train at Stellar Station. Manami couldn't help but scream as it went faster and faster, much to Evelina's laughter.
"Wow, that was amazing!" Toshiaki said, climbing out of the train. Evelina helped Manami out, giggling. "You not a fan of trains, Manami?"
"Um...not ones like those, at least!" She said, shuddering. "It's all part of the fun, I suppose. Now, this is the spaceship that actually took you to the moon, correct?" She pointed to the Galaxy Vanguard, mounted to the ground. Unlike in the Theio Kosmos, this one would not take off.
"Yeah!" Natsumi cheered.
"Man, I wish I'd seen the one that actually flew through space..." Kaii said, admiring the ship's paint job.
"It wasn't actually space, you know..." Noboru said, rolling his eyes.
Natsumi ignored them, and walked closer. "I love this game! Here, let's get in, and I'll show you – huh? There are kids already there...we better wait."
Sure enough, two children were already there, excitedly playing the game. One of them, a girl, was in the controls, while the boy was in the side seat, helpfully 'loading' missiles and firing extra guns. Eventually, the duo was fighting the boss Natsumi barely managed to defeat, the Dragoon Dystopia.
"Oh no! The Ultima Laser isn't charging!" The boy said, panicking. "What are we gonna do?"
"Do something to stop it from attacking!" The girl ordered, holding onto the gun controls with all her might. Nodding, the boy looked all over, and quickly found a purple button – he bashed it with all his might, and sure enough, the dragon-like mecha was ensnared by purple electric 'whips'.
"You can do this, Shinju-chan! Fire!" The boy cried.
Shinju? Then the boy must be Akemi!
With the press of the trigger buttons, the Ultima Laser was fired, completely destroying the final boss. With it, a cutscene played of the ship flying straight to the moon, and doors nearby flashed white triumphantly.
"Yes! We did it! Let's go, Akemi-kun!" The girl said, running out. She soon saw Shintaro, and gasped. "Oh, it's you again! And the guy from Chieki! Shintaro, right?"
"That's him! And you remember Masato, of course!"
"S-Sure do!" Akemi said, following his friend. "Wow, there's so many of you! Are you guys all from Kansei and Chieki too?"
"Yes, apart from Kaii here!" Natsumi said, smiling, pointing to the eldest one in their group. "I'm Masato's twin sister, and champion at this game – oh wow, look at your high score. That's...actually a lot higher than mine!"
Shinju giggled, hands behind her back. "I'm good at games like these. I play them at home all the time! Usually with Akemi."
"So these are the same kids you met at the arcade?" Noboru asked.
"Yes, they're very skilled gamers. Maybe we can learn a thing or two from them!" Shintaro said, winking at Masato. The rest of the team introduced themselves, however Kei seemed less than enthused to greet them. She stayed further back, but the children didn't notice her shyness.
"Um, we're gonna go check out the Moonbase now. You're gonna play Galaxy Vanguard, right? It's all yours, miss Natsumi!" Shinju said, grabbing Akemi's hand. "C'mon, let's go!"
"Okay! Bye, everyone! Nice to meet you two again, and all of your friends! Have a good day!" Akemi said, and they ran off through to the 'Moon'.
"Aww, what cute kids!" Akari said, clasping her hands together. "I swear I've seen them somewhere before..."
"Huh? Yeah..." Kaii murmured. "Shinju & Akemi? I've heard their names somewhere before, I think...but where?"
Shintaro shook his head. "I don't know. But I doubt those kids are anything to worry about. They're just having fun, playing any game that catches their attention. So innocent, so carefree...makes me think back to when we were still in elementary school."
"Oh yes! That was where I first met Shintaro-kun. And Masato & Natsumi, too. We were so small then..." Kohaku said, scratching her chin. "Those were good days."
"Let's hope those two have good days of their own to look back on when they're our age," Manami said. "Now, Natsumi...can you beat Shinju-chan's score?"
"...I'll give it everything I've got. But I might need all your help. Everyone, we board!"
"Hell yeah!" Kaii cheered, running into the ship.
|Komatsu Household – Back Garden|11:00 am|
Today, with Noboru enjoying the day with his friends, Shigeru and Kaiyo had the day to themselves. Enjoying the warm weather, they got on their summer wardrobe and began to sunbathe.
"...What a great day," Kaiyo said, adjusting her sunglasses, and admiring her husband's muscular arms and chest, glistening in the sun. "And what a great view, too."
"Yes, I concur..." Shigeru said, winking at his beloved in her swimsuit. "Noburo won't be back for quite a while, so we might as well enjoy this Sunday as long as we can."
The government employee was very grateful for this fine weather. Now that Nisa Liat had gone, he had faith that the city would recover. Yet, he felt pangs of guilt, for the villain was the ghost of his best friend's beloved daughter. Telling her, he told himself, would be far too cruel. To reveal she had returned to a new, distorted 'life', only to have that new life torn away from her...there was no way he could break her heart again.
Her heart hasn't healed at all in all these years. Opening up new wounds wouldn't be fair. If Bythos is without their leader, then their Aeon Admins will no doubt fall. Alas, they've been elusive in both worlds.
"I forgot to tell you, Shigeru..."
"Hmm?"
"The other day, when I was out in Hiyashi with my old friends from school, I thought I saw him."
Shigeru sat up, alarmed. "You mean...Toki?!"
Kaiyo nodded, biting her lip. "I'm not sure if it was him, if I must be honest. He didn't seem to see me, thank goodness. I just didn't think he'd have the nerve to come back to this city. Not after everything he put me and Noboru through."
"Don't you have a restraining order against him?"
"Of course I do! My son nearly died because of him. Toki, I...I can never trust him again. I can't let him near my baby, no matter how much he's 'changed'. Seeing him walking down the street, without a care in the world...it brought back so many horrible memories. Especially when he raised his fists, I -"
"Kaiyo, it's okay." Shigeru said, forcefully. "You're with me now. When we got married, I promised I'd never let him back into your life. If he ever comes near you, or tries to contact you...I'll destroy him, no matter how much it takes."
"...Thank you, Shigeru. Toki, if he knows what's good for him...he should stay as far away from Shinshuto as possible. So that Noboru never, ever sees him again. You're his father, the one he loves and looks up to. The father that Toki could never be."
He reached out his hand, holding hers. "Everything's going to be okay, my love. Soon, Noboru will be on his summer break. Perhaps we can all go somewhere, and spend some time together as a family. How does New Motus City sound?"
Kaiyo looked at him, surprised. "I've heard of that place. It's so far away...but perhaps that'd be good for us. Let's talk to Noboru about it when he comes home!"
"Of course. I'm sure he'll love it. Farawell, I hear, has a lot of art galleries and film houses. He'd fit right in there!"
As the two drank from the orange juice Shigeru had made by hand, he thought about Toki, the man he still hated more than anything else. Yes, Toki was technically on their side now, and he'd managed to reconnect somewhat with Noboru – and his older son Kaii. Still, it didn't erase what the disgraced actor had done in the past, especially to Kaiyo. Her stories of his abusive, alcoholic moments made his own blood boil, hotter than today's sun.
He would speak to Toki, face-to-face, about this shortly. He had to make it incredibly clear that he was never to come near Kaiyo. Shigeru would also have to have a stern word with Noboru, and make sure he never, ever told his mother the truth. For she might not forgive either of them, for keeping so much from her.
Forget it for now, Shigeru. Let your son enjoy today. He'll be busy keeping Kei company. I wonder where they are now…?
|Ginumi – Seabreeze Gardens|12:00 pm|
Despite her best effort, Natsumi didn't quite reach Shinju's high score – she came very close, however, only 100 points behind. Deciding to accept this, the group finished exploring the museum, and now, they were exploring the sights of Ginumi, purposely avoiding the street where the Gold Laguna once stood.
Upon Noboru's suggestion, the team took a look at the lush Seabreeze Gardens. This place was its usual self today, with a few other guests having barbecues and enjoying the scenery. Minami took a keen eye at the fountain in the centre, taking several photographs with it using her phone.
"What a nice place..." Evelina said, looking around. "Was it here you fought one of the Anomalies?"
"Mnemosyne, yeah. Now, of course, we know her real name, and why she turned to Nisa Liat..." Masato said, sadly.
"I hope she can rest in peace now," Kohaku said, clasping her hands together. "She and the other Anomalies."
If Nisa Liat didn't change her mind about them, would she have kept creating more and more beings like Mnemosyne and Nox? Menoetius is still at large, and -
"H-Hey, come on, we didn't come here to get all gloomy," Toshiaki said. "Ginumi's a great place to look around. And without Shadows to worry about, we ought to just take in the sights."
"Yeah, senpai is right!" Natsumi said, gazing up at his face, red in the cheeks. "Hehe..."
Kaii and Akari admired the birds in the sky, standing rather close together. Then, they saw the ducks in the pond and cheering at how 'adorable', they were, ran towards them, taking as many pictures as they possibly could.
Animal lovers, huh? Those two make a great team. Even if he is a little older...
"Wow, the sea breeze feels great. Just like back home." Kei said, stretching her arms up high. "I'm just glad I found a city so close to the sea..."
"So Kei, Yokohama faces the sea too, right? What's it like there?" Shintaro asked.
"Beautiful." Kei looked at the ocean, her eyes twinkling. "Especially at Mirai 21, when every building lights up at night. Those lights shine on the blue seas all over. Every single evening I spent there was like heaven."
"You feeling homesick at all?" Masato asked.
"Some times. But I'm enjoying this city's skyline at night, too. It's new, and exciting. Even Bythos can't take that away from me. And I still have a lot of time here before I return home."
"With Tanjoshima, Ginumi's going to be better than ever," Noboru said, pointing over to the artificial island being constructed. It was going to be connected to the city via the long Paradise Bridge, itself a work of art that had been under construction for many years. The island would boast many buildings, such as new homes, a giant shopping centre, a concert venue, museums, and a skyscraper that would be the tallest in the city.
"...Yes. It's very nearly ready to be opened to the public!" Kohaku said. "My parents have been hard at work at the project, as ever. It's not quite as impressive as Odaiba, but it should give Shinshuto even more of a spotlight."
"Oh, your parents are government employees?" Manami asked. Kohaku nodded. "I see, it must be hard for them, especially with everything that's happened since April."
Kohaku nodded, looking away from the others. "...We spend very little time together anymore. I'm hoping when the summer comes, they can finally get a holiday for all three of us."
"It'll be a good break from the Theio Kosmos, too," Shintaro said, happily. After looking around at the park for a while – Akari and Kaii being entranced by the ducks – the team continued on their way…
|Tarumi – Aoi Recording Studio|12:30 pm|
Today, Electric Sea were recording a new track that Netuno had spent the whole night writing, and re-writing until he was convinced it was perfect. Based on his great-grandfather's stories of the First World War, he had titled it Vicious 1915. It was rather heavy on the drums, much to Elzira's delight, but of course, the other members had their roles to play. After getting down the refrain, the team went to their break room to rest.
"Phew...I've never had a song that had me play the drums like that before," Elzira said, excitedly. "You ought to write more songs like that..."
"I might just do that," Netuno said, with a sly wink. "Great work from you two as always."
"Nothing to it," Heliodoro said, grabbing a cup of coffee.
"I've felt better recording than I have in a long while. I'm not sure why, but as long as it helps the album come along, the better." Lenore said, drinking from her rose water. "Bythos has been quiet for a whole week...that can only be a good thing."
"I...truly hope so," Netuno said, gulping. He had always felt uncomfortable talking to the rest of his band about Bythos, afraid of blabbing the truth. What would they do if they knew he had been helping the fight against Nisa Liat and her Aeon Admins? Would they cheer him on, or beg him to never set foot in the Theio Kosmos again?
Just then, two people walked in. Elzira ran straight over to the man that had just walked in, and they passionately kissed in full view of everyone. Astonished, Netuno couldn't quite find the words, to find Elizra kissing the Titan Tyrant.
"Hey, T.T.!" Elzira said. "Glad to see you!"
"No problem, El." The Tyrant said, holding her in his arms. "I heard you on the drums earlier – it was fucking wild. If only I could get you recording with me, baby..."
"Ahem." The other guest said. Netuno looked over at the woman in surprise – it was none other than Reia Rimando.
"Reia!" Lenore said, happily. "Are you and Netuno -"
"No. And if he ever kisses me like that, I might just stitch his mouth up." Reia said, completely deadpan. "I do have something to talk to him about...Netuno, you got a minute?"
"Sure. Be back shortly, guys..." The frontman said, and he and Reia left the room. He was just glad to be free from Elzira and the Tyrant's sickeningly romantic kisses, but from the serious look on Reia's face, he wasn't so sure this would be much better. Finally, they were further down the hallway.
"Netuno, we have to do something about Bythos. Even without Nisa Liat, there are still a lot of them at large. And the Aeon Admins, too. And yet everyone else is just sitting on their butts, doing nothing useful. Why?"
"Hey, my work here matters! To us, and our fans!" Netuno said, angrily. "And we're waiting until that Kei girl recovers, aren't we? She was the one who put a stop to the Pleroma Princess, after all. Let us enjoy a moment's peace."
"So that her underlings can plan their revenge?!" Reia said, angrily.
"Listen...we all want Bythos to be over and done with. So that we can get back to our daily lives. And those kids can focus on school, instead of helping us deal with those fucking lowlifes. But after fighting so much, we...need a break. You too, Reia."
"I don't really feel like celebrating, not now. Not until there's no one left in Bythos. You all can enjoy your time off, but I'm going to be doing some actual work, on trying to figure out what the Admins might be doing next." Reia said, angry. "I was hoping at least you would want to join me...but I guess I was wrong about what kind of man you are. Bye."
She quickly stormed off, just as Lenore was approaching.
"Netuno?" She said, worried. "What's wrong with Reia? Did you have an argument?"
"Sort of." He said. "I don't want to talk about it..."
"Oh? Then...just remember this. We fight for the ones we love." She said, with a sorrowful stare. With that, she returned to the break room, where the rest of the band were waiting.
"The ones we love, huh?"
Reia and I have known each other for a while now. She's always teasing me about my music, my style, my guitar, anything about me that she can poke fun of. And I always give as good as I get. I always get a kick out of being near her, though. But lately, whenever I see her, there's a pit in my stomach. Why would I fall for her, though? And why would she want me?
Shaking his head, he returned to the band, ready to continue the lengthy recording session.
|Tarumi – Orchestral Avenue|13:30 pm|
After exploring the beachfront of Ginumi some more – Masato insisted on buying everyone takoyaki for lunch – the group were now in Tarumi. Death By Moonlight might not have been playing, but there were still plenty of other shows in town, across the various theatres and cinema houses. The street known as Orchestral Avenue looked as grand as always, meticulously decorated with streetlamps, statues, fountains, and many fine restaurants. It was the perfect place to splurge on a night out of culture.
"Are you...okay, Noboru?" Kaii asked, looking at his brother. "I mean, if you wanna skip Tarumi -"
"No, I'm fine. Honestly, Kaii, you don't have to worry about me so much. I...I can handle being here. It's not like I'm all alone. But thank you..."
Manami was silent. She had heard the story of the Tarumi Cognition Core from the others and knew of Teruko's true fate. Now she knew the truth of many of the tragic events that had rocked this city to its core. Shintaro saw the sorrow in her face and Noboru's and spoke up.
"There are a lot of free shows here that we could see. Comedy sketches, magic shows -"
"Not Keiya's, right?" Masato asked, frowning.
"No, not that guy..." Shintaro said. "I wonder what he'll do next, if Bythos collapses."
"Screw him." The Yoshinaga male twin said, angrily. "He can do whatever he wants, but it doesn't change anything. Hasn't he already got what he wanted?"
"Well...now that everyone knows the truth about his rival, and that rival is now dead..." Kohaku said, shuddering at the thought of Chaos, the entity that transformed into EX-NIHILO before her eyes.
"Exactly. Bythos will fall, and all its members will be arrested. Even if they are people we once trusted." Manami said, sadly. "Now, there is a good show we can watch at the Tomochika Comedy Club..."
"Oh, sweet! I love that place!" Kaii said, eagerly. "When does it start?"
"In about...fifteen minutes. We better hurry. Come on!" Manami soon ran off, and of course, Toshiaki took the lead, leaving the others trailing behind.
The team went towards the club, a small venue, but nevertheless, it blended in perfectly with Tarumi's grandiose architecture. Before long, the group were sat at the back of the dark room, and as the show began, it suddenly began to feel to Shintaro that he'd been here before.
When, though? My parents have never taken me here. Kohaku and I have never been here together. And I'd never come to a place like this on my own. So why do I remember this chair? The lights? The way the comedian on stage walks? This is really weird…
Despite the comedian's best efforts, Shintaro's nagging doubts made him unable to focus, and thus, he didn't manage to laugh even once…
|Hiyashi – Iron Nation Fitness Centre|14:00 pm|
Today, while his wife took their daughter to her judo class, Hiroyuki was exercising for the first time in a little while, having been neglecting the gym in recent weeks. Sure, fighting Shadows and Bythos helped keep him in shape, but it wasn't the same as a regular fitness routine. As he was about to get on the treadmill, he saw a familiar young woman get off the one next to him, dressed in a blue tracksuit. She drank from her bottle of water, sweating.
"Novalie?"
Gasping, the Norwegian turned to him, but upon seeing who it was, she smiled.
"Oh, hello, Kita-san!" She replied. "I didn't know you used this gym..."
"I just joined, actually. Thought it would be good to get a workout that didn't involve shooting demons to death."
"Yes, exactly my thoughts. I thought it would help if I toned up, if we were to fight again in the Theio Kosmos. Although, if Nisa Liat is dead, surely we wouldn't have any major battles ahead?"
"You can never be too sure, kid. She might have more nasty surprises for us, or contingency plans if she were to lose in battle. Those Aeon Admins don't scare me – look how many times we've thrashed them. But there are a lot of Shadows that she had under her control..."
"I suppose you're right...yes, it's important to be cautious. Once Kei-san is ready, we can discuss our plans with everyone. I'm just grateful for the chance to be a normal college student again, and actually spend time with the other girls in my class. Although one of them – Haruya – has become rather cold with me..."
Hiroyuki frowned. "Why?"
"I...I don't know. Unless...no, surely not." Novalie said, horrified at whatever thought had come to her mind. "She couldn't be in Bythos, could she? Hiroyuki, below the Aeon Admins are their coloured Squads, correct? Crimson, Azure, Jade and Goldenrod?"
"Yes. Far as I understand it, they're handpicked to serve two different Admins. Goldenrod are the only ones still around, all girls. Kakusa had a skirmish with them in Sogen Park, alongside their leaders. That was when Menoetius appeared, and everyone had to flee for their own safety."
Novalie nodded. "I remember that, but did you catch their names?"
"...Yes." Hiroyuki said, after a moment's thought. "Miyuki...Sakiko, and...well, Haruya."
There was a moment's pause, as Novalie's eyes went wide with horror. She stood still, as did her comrade. He watched her, worried.
"Your friend might just have some insight as to what Bythos are doing now." Hiroyuki finally said. "But...if it's too hard, you don't have to say anything -"
"No. I have to do something. Reia's been on my case the whole week about how we're just sitting by and doing nothing until Kei recovers. I'll...I'll find Haruya, and ask her outright. I won't let down my guard around her, of course."
"Do you need me to -"
Before he could finish asking the question, she immediately walked straight to the ladies changing rooms. Sighing, he decided to continue his routine alone, finishing with the weights.
When he was finally done, and back in his casual clothes, he walked outside, to find his wife and daughter waiting for him.
"Oh, hello!" He said, giving his wife a kiss, and his daughter a tight hug. "What have you two been up to all day?"
"Lots!" Kaori said, happily. "Today, in judo class..."
The family walked off together, heading towards their home. He tried to focus on his daughter's possibly embellished stories of her judo prowess, but his fear for his friend Novalie kept distracting him...
|Hiyashi – Keyaki Hills|14:30 pm|
After Tarumi, the group next headed to the commercialised Hiyashi district. With everyone still shocked by what had happened in Ginumi, few were talking about the situation at Aramis. Indeed, with Evelina's father still unconscious, there were increasingly few developments in that situation.
"Your father...will he awaken?" Manami asked, as the group ventured into the vast Keyaki Hills.
"...I don't know. His condition is stable, as far as the doctors have told us. Yet he won't wake up, no matter how much my mother and grandmother try. Even my voice can't reach him." Evelina gazed at her feet, depressed at the thought. "The EX-NIHILO...what was Nisa Liat thinking when she created that beast?"
"As a ghost, her loneliness may have lead her to neglect the value of human life," Kei said, hand on her senpai's shoulder.
"...Try not to worry so much, Senpai," Natsumi said, approaching her from the other side. "Your father didn't end up like any of the other victims. He's still alive, and there's still a chance he could awaken."
"...Yes. There is." Kei said, albeit uncertainly.
Noburo frowned at her, but turned to the blonde.
"The EX-NIHILO is the one thing in this world I hate most. Even more than I thought I hated Toki. I really hope it's gone this time...if it ever comes back, then I'll tear it to pieces, again and again. No one else is going to die as Teruko-chan did."
"Thank you, Noboru," Evelina said. "I...I think I can relax a little more now. Come on, let's look around."
And so, the team took off, wandering in their large group. Shintaro, of course, was ecstatic to be in the book store, even if they still had Celestine's novels prominently displayed with a large advertisement.
Perhaps one day, I can read Leanne Rouge again. I wonder where Celestine is right now…?
"We will intervene if Shintaro tries to purchase the entire store, right?" Akari asked.
"I wouldn't be so worried, Akari-chan. He's probably read everything in here already," Kaii said, ruffling the bookworm's hair.
"H-Hey, stop that!" Shintaro, embarrassed, quickly neatened his hair. As the Chieki runner laughed, Kei approached a book with a navy blue cover, curious.
"Oh! This is Hajime's favourite!"
"...Who?" Masato asked, curious. "He in your class at Kansei?"
"Actually, he's one of my friends back in Yokohama. He wasn't quite as well-read as Shintaro-kun, but he did like a good murder mystery. Always trying to figure out who the killer was...every single time, it's the last person he expects."
"Ooh, I never heard you talk about your old friends before!" Natsumi asked, as she and Akari exchanged excited looks. "C'mon, what's Hajime like?"
"Oh, he's very headstrong. Doesn't like being told what to do. But he always fights for the people he loves most." Kei said fondly, and she suddenly laughed, having remembered something of this old friend. "Last year, instead of just doing a haunted house for the festival, he wanted to do a haunted dance club."
"Was he a good dancer?" Manami asked, now intrigued.
"...Not even remotely," Kei said, chuckling. "His ghost costume didn't exactly make it easy for him to pull off any dance moves. So it was basically a whole afternoon of loud dance music...and him constantly falling over, tripping over other people's legs, and accidentally destroying the decorations we'd put so much effort into making."
Ouch. I hope that doesn't happen with our festival.
"How is he doing since you left Yokohama?" Toshiaki asked, curious.
"He's doing very well. He and the others are a little sad that I'm not with them, though. But I'm going to see them all during the summer at some point." Kei said, happily. "Him, Ryota, and Midori...we were best friends, right from the moment we were put in the same class."
"That's so sweet. Once you're all together again, it'll be as if no time has passed at all." Manami said.
"Y—Yes, I suppose you're right..."
"Once you're done with this year of school at Kansei, you're going back for good, right?" Shintaro asked.
"You don't want me to leave?"
"I...It's just, I've gotten so used to having you around, it'll be strange without you. Right, guys?"
"Yeah, exactly," Kohaku said. "I didn't think you joining our class would be so eventful."
Kei smiled. "It's not like you'd never see me ever again. Maybe someday, I'll come back here. Depending on what happens, of course."
"What happens with what?" Noboru asked.
"Life, school, everything," Kei said. "Okay, I'm going to buy this one. So that I've got my own copy. Maybe I'll predict the real murderer this time. You've already read this, haven't you, Shintaro-kun?"
He nodded, approvingly. "It's a phenomenal story. Hajime-san will love it."
"Now remember, no spoilers..." Kaii said, wagging his finger – as Akari joined in. She seemed to be standing closer and closer to him, these days.
"...I would never dream of spoiling a novel. I have some standards." Shintaro said, in high spirits, breaking out into laughter among his friends.
|Mizuho – Shinshuto City College|15:00 pm|
Novalie walked into the library at her college, where many of her fellow students were reading up on their various subjects. She looked all over, and finally found the student she was looking for. Haruya Shindo – possibly of the Goldenrod Squad.
If only I had Kei and the others to confirm her identity. Approach this gently, Novalie. I have to control myself.
"Good afternoon, Haruya-san." Novalie said, politely waving.
"Huh? Oh, it's...you, Novalie. Good to see you..."
Sitting at the study desk, Novalie looked straight at her eyes. After a moment, she spoke up.
"What's wrong, Haruya? You keep avoiding me during classes, and you always seem so unhappy to see me...why?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Haruya snapped. "If you know something, spit it out!"
"Fine, I will," Novalie said, firmly, her smile vanishing. "You're in Bythos. Goldenrod Squad. Correct?"
There was a moment of silence. Haruya looked to her left, and then her right. Finally, she stared back into the Norwegian's sapphire eyes.
"...You think you're doing the right thing?" She asked, scowling. "Nisa Liat disappeared after she went to Yosei Forest to deal with you all. Now no one knows what to do. The Aeon Admins keep arguing with each other, they can't make up their minds. And now...the Mayor can do as she pleases. Of course, you think you've saved the city..."
Novalie shook her head. "The city needs time to recover. Once it does, there won't be a need for any groups like Bythos. And you can go back to being a normal college student, just like me."
"Oh yeah?" Haruya said, raising her voice. "You don't know anything...if your Mayor is so amazing, why didn't she support our charity?"
"What charity?"
"The Shinshuto Pet Society!" Haruya snapped. "You don't remember? They were struggling for funds, but the Mayor obviously didn't care about the work we were doing. We asked for help, but the council rejected us...and we had to close!"
"So that's why..." Novalie said, stunned.
"Yes, exactly. I joined Bythos to get my revenge. But that's never going to happen, is it? All because you had to have that girl with the Wild Card. Now there's no one among us who can come close to Nisa Liat's strength. It's only a matter of time until we collapse..."
Tearfully, Haruya got to her feet, grabbing her bag, and briskly marched out of the library. Novalie watched her, still in shock. She knew Mayor Ashikaga was under a lot of criticism, but she hadn't realised an animal welfare charity had suffered because of her. What else could the Mayor be hiding, she wondered? Perhaps she would have to research that herself...
|Mizuho – Kita Crossing|16:30 pm|
After a long while browsing various stores in Hiyashi – Shintaro bought a collection of plays to read for fun – the group were now exploring Mizuho. Masato, of course, was ecstatic to see the grand Baseball Stadium, having been inside not too long ago to watch the team's latest game.
"I have to play there someday. I just have to." He said, as the group ventured through the bustling Kita Crossing. The Kaleidoscope had been reopened last week, and life in the district was relatively peaceful. Of course, the building in Mizuho Shintaro was most excited to see was the prestigious Shinshuto College.
"...Is that the university you're planning to apply for, Shintaro-kun?" Manami asked.
"Maybe. Although I do wonder if Tokyo University would be the better option..."
"Tokyo, huh?" Toshiaki stopped for a moment, pondering the Japanese capital. "It seems to have calmed down after last year. Maybe studying there wouldn't be such a bad idea."
"Oh, the Phantom Thieves! How could I forget about them?" Natsumi said. "I wonder where they are now?"
"Beats me..." Masato said, his eyes now on one of the giant outdoor TV displays. A young female model with blonde pigtails was posing in a blue dress, with a great, beaming smile. She seemed to be doing a commercial for a soft drink, one durian flavoured.
Ann Takamaki, is that her name? She's been appearing in a lot of adverts and magazines since last year. I wonder what she'll do next?
"There are so many different places you could study, Shintaro. And considering how well you did on the mid-terms, I don't think you'd struggle to get into any of them." Kei said, earnestly. "Maybe...you could think about Yokohama."
Really? I never thought about studying there before. But if Kei was there, then – what am I saying? Wait...what am I saying? Ever since we fought Nisa Liat, I keep thinking about Kei. What's changed?
"...Are you alright?" Kei asked.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. I was just wondering what it'd be like there."
"I think you'd fit right in. Course, you'd have me and the others to help you out if you need it. Midori might try to rope you into her karate classes, though."
Kohaku looked over. "Midori?"
"Yeah, she's super dedicated to it. As a karateka, she's...well, she was the best in our school. No one even came close to beating her. She was always disappointed I preferred kendo, but she has her fists, I have my sword."
She's never talked about her friends so much before. I wonder what's changed? Did fighting Nisa Liat soften her, somehow?
"When she's in karate mode, she's serious and focused, and doesn't take anyone's shit. Outside of that, she's so sweet, and kind of ditzy. It's hard to explain. She was always pretty popular with the boys at our school. Still is, according to Hajime & Ryota."
"Ryota?" Noboru asked.
"The other guy in our group. Kind of a quiet, passive guy. Very handsome, sort of like you." Kei said. The young actor's face went red, slightly embarrassed. "He likes everything to be organised, and tidy. Not one for doing things on an impulse. The opposite of Hajime, really...but they do say opposites attract."
"...Huh?" Akari stared, confused. "Attract?"
"Oh!" Evelina said, after a brief pause. "So..."
Kei nodded, happily. "Midori and I weren't expecting it at all. During Spring Break, we spent a lot of time together, since I was leaving the city at the start of the new year. One evening, however, Hajime suddenly asked Ryota out. The latter already told us he liked guys early on, but we didn't know Hajime was gay too...until then, of course."
"And they're doing okay?" Kohaku asked.
Kei nodded. "They're keeping it quiet for now. Still, they make a great couple. They complement each other really well. Although that's probably why we all did so well as friends. We brought out the best in each other. Like...I guess, right now, with all of you."
Shintaro looked at her, amazed. "Us?"
"Of course, Shintaro-kun. Ever since I joined Kansei in April, we've been close. Yes, we've not always agreed with each other, but I don't know if I could imagine life without you...all."
Then she feels the same way as I do…
"There's so much time left until you have to go home. And we still haven't had a big meal together yet. I know just where to go in Totsuka!" Kohaku said, rubbing her palms together.
"The Bella Donna, again?" Kaii asked, smirking. "I could wolf down a whole pizza..."
"Not this time! We've been there enough times since this whole thing started. No, there's a good place in Yorokobi Boulevard, not too far from the clock tower, that I think we'd all love..."
|Bythos Citadel – Administration Chamber|17:00 pm|
The eight Aeon Admins were sat here, deep in discussion. The general mood was unpleasant, and while Toki and Asami were quiet, the others kept sniping at each other, unwilling to hear each other out.
"Are you insane, Katashi?!" Aika shouted, scowling at the Kansei runner. "We can't risk that! We don't even know where their new hideout is!"
"Fine, at least I'm coming up with ideas. Stupid bitch...what are you even good for?"
"Excuse me?! How dare you sit there and insult me! Ever since I met you, I've loathed every second I've had to tolerate being in your company!"
"Shut the hell up, both of you!" Celestine barked, standing to her feet. "Katashi, the Golden Laguna proved that destroying buildings over here would be massively dangerous in the Akartharto Kosmos. We can't just target random buildings..."
"Then what do we do, Celestine? What the hell do we do?!" Rinaka shouted. "I thought the Ginumi Core would appear, but it hasn't. This is a disaster! We can't even use Ignoranatia!"
Shiro motioned for calm, even though most of the others were far from calm. "I think it'd be best if we continue searching for the Princess. She may still live, albeit injured..."
"Koyanagi-san, we've already tried this, quite extensively. There was no sign of her in Yosei Forest. She didn't return to the Citadel. Searching all of the city turned up nothing. Does it not seem logical that, despite her power, she was slain?" Keiya said, impatiently, head in his hand, bored.
"What do you think, Asami?" Katashi asked. "You've barely said a word all day..."
"Um..." Asami stammered, gulping. "I-I don't know..."
"How helpful," Aika said, rolling her eyes. "I thought you'd have more to contribute."
"Why would she? No one here has anything to bring to the table anymore!" Toki shouted, banging his fists on the table. "What the hell are we even doing here, fighting like this?!"
"Toki?" Asami said, eyes wide with fright.
"We already got what we wanted from her, didn't we? Revenge against the people who wronged us, in one way or another..." Toki said, looking everyone in the room in the eye. "Nisa Liat is gone. There's no reason to carry on Bythos without her, is there?"
"Oh…? That's odd, coming from you, Hayashi." Celestine said, sneering at him. "Weren't you spouting how loyal you were to the Princess?"
"...You're all idiots," Toki said, shaking his head. "Look, we're not getting anywhere. There is no second-in-command, after all. Nisa Liat didn't choose anyone to take control if something happened to her."
"So what's your plan, dickhead?" Katashi asked, crossing his arms.
"I ain't go one, you stupid punk. And unless either of you have something good, I'm going home."
"Yeah, me too. I'm tired of us fighting and not getting anywhere!" Asami said, glowering at everyone. "Maybe...I never should have joined Bythos in the first place. Goodnight..."
Without waiting for either of the other six to respond, Asami and Toki made their way out of the room. The older of the two was fuming, while the video blogger watched in fear.
"Toki, is there nothing we can do?" Asami asked.
"We still need to find something to make them open their eyes..." He replied. "Until we find it, we're on our own."
"Then I'll keep looking, as hard as I can. We have to find something, anything at all, that will make us see the light – and come together."
The two stared at each other – and Toki saw the fire in Asami's eyes. Smiling, he nodded.
"I'll do the same. C'mon, let's get out of here."
The two departed for the Akarharto Kosmos. At least two Aeon Admins had a common goal. And if they found the evidence they needed, all eight might just abandon Bythos. For Toki, it was his only hope.
|Totsuka – Jungo|17:30 pm|
The restaurant, designed to be as traditionally Japanese as possible, was packed full with guests. Yet, Kohaku had been able to book the place, and so the group had a table all to themselves. With the many touches and finished to the place's dark wooden décor, it felt almost like going back in time. The staff were all dressed in yukata or kimono, which made Shintaro feel somewhat awkward in his simple shirt and jeans.
"What a beautiful place..." Manami said, gazing at the fish in the aquarium. "And everything smells so good. If only we could eat the entire menu..."
"I don't think we can afford that, somehow..." Kei said, amused.
"Really? My father could buy this entire Boulevard."
"Let's...just eat without any hostile takeovers," Evelina said, somewhat frightened. "They certainly didn't have places like this in Gothenburg..."
"Do you miss Sweden, Evelina?" Kaii asked.
"I do now." She replied, grimly. "With everything that's happened to my family...we would have been so much happier if we'd stayed with the rest of our relatives. I wish I'd listened to Catharinus when he begged me to stay..."
Catharinus? Where have I heard that name before?
"Oh, I remember you talking about him. He was crazy about you, wasn't he?" Toshiaki asked.
Evelina nodded, with a bittersweet smile. "He's my baby cousin, five years younger than me. It's not hard to get him excited about something. Always liked playing with me, and since we loved the same video games, it was a lot of fun. I haven't seen him in so long...but his side of the family are coming to visit us soon. At least I have that to look forward to."
"Yes, indeed..." Kei said, looking through her menu. "Family is important, after all."
"More than anything..." Kohaku added.
"What about your family?" Shintaro asked as he turned to Kei. "I mean, I know about your aunt, but -"
Kei looked up at him, sadly. "...My parents died. It's just me and my grandparents now."
Oh my goodness…
"Don't look so depressed, Shintaro-kun. I've come to terms with that – mostly." She said, drinking from the glass of water. "Then there's my aunt..."
The one who died sixteen years ago, right? Wait...sixteen?
"Kei, when exactly did your aunt die?"
"...I told you before, didn't I? Six years ago."
Six years ago? I could have sworn she said sixteen. Am I thinking too much about this?
"And she was a Kansei student, right?" Noboru asked. Kei nodded. "I see...I don't remember reading about anything happening there in 2012..."
"Of course you wouldn't. No one knows." She said, seriously. "That's why I'm here. I have to find out the truth...but I can't get you involved."
Shintaro gulped. She had been so talkative about her friends earlier, and some of the fun days she spent with them. Now, however, she was going back to her secretive self. Her aunt's death was clearly too personal for her to allow anyone else to get involved with. If he couldn't respect that, he might lose her for good.
"...Alright. But if you need us, we're here for you." Shintaro finally said. Kohaku nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, everyone. To be honest, I think I'm a little closer to finding the truth. Especially after defeating Nisa Liat."
"...Why?" Akari asked.
"Oh...um...because, by winning, I feel like anything is possible," Kei said, after a moment's pause.
The team continued their meal, the conversation moving to idle chit-chat about whatever grabbed their interest. Shintaro was recommending countless books, and Kohaku many of her favourite albums. Masato, of course, waxed lyrical about his favourite baseball teams, including the games Dorothy had told him about. As ever, Natsumi was eager to show everyone some of her new 'Hi-Natsu' designs for the season, including a lot of swimwear. Noboru talked about being approached by a casting agent for a short teen movie on TV, and his upcoming audition. Akari, naturally, was squeeing over how adorable her dog was, and how cute Kaii was – she quickly 'corrected' this, to his own dog being cute, must to his delight. Toshiaki and Evelina talked about many of their computer and electronics projects, involving all kinds of sensors. Manami still had Water Dance to look forward to, and hoped to wow everyone attending, even without Katashi.
It was a good, pleasant evening for everyone. The more he spoke with his friends, the more Shintaro's heart soared. This is how the school year should have been, he felt. No more worrying about Bythos, or Nisa Liat. Just spending time with his best friend Kohaku – and the myriad of new friends he'd made over the past few months.
Yet, part of him still worried about what lay in store. Specifically, the remnants of what Nisa Liat left behind.
|Hanashima Hospital – Ward C-1|18:00 pm|
The nurse came in to check the patient in this ward. A seventeen year old who had sustained severe injuries in April, and had yet to awaken from her coma. Today was no different, the nurse said, sighing to herself.
"Oh, there you are." The nurse's older colleague said, looking over the raven-haired girl, who remained still, aside from her breathing. She could at least breathe unaided, which was a small improvement, but in the months since, she hadn't even budged, not even once.
"Who is this Hisaya Ueda child?" The younger nurse asked, curious. "Is it true the police want to talk to her when she wakes up?"
"Apparently. She's suspected of murdering her father. He was scum, by all accounts." The nurse said, shaking at the thought. "And the mother died years ago. The police were involved then but never arrested anyone. I shudder to imagine what went on at home. At least she's safe here, but when she wakes up..."
"What a horrible story." The younger nurse said, staring at the young girl in the bed. "All we can do is wait until she recovers. However long that takes."
"You there, any change in the patient's condition?" A doctor asked, walking through.
"Afraid not, sir." The young nurse said, holding her clipboard. "It's been over three months since she was admitted. Not a single relative or friend has come to visit her. It's so sad..."
"Come on, let's get back to doing the rounds." The older nurse said, heading further into the corridor. The doctor and the other nurse followed, leaving the room silent.
Just then, the lights went out, and the entire ward was dark. There was thunder rumbling outside, even though the sky was clear. Around Hisaya, strange glowing green lines resembling cracked glass appeared. Just then, her fingers twitched, and her eyes began to stir. Before she could move any further, however, there was a massive sound of glass shattering, and a red mist covered the bed. When it cleared, the patient was gone, and the bed was torn to shreds.
"What was that?! Why are the lights off?" The doctor demanded, the two nurses following. "What the – where did Ueda go?! What the hell happened here? Look for her, quickly! She can't have gone far! I'll call security!"
The three of them began searching the ward frantically, but could see no sign of the girl. Little did they know that she had been drawn back to the world that had caused her so much pain. What would happen next would be out of anyone's hands...
|Sogen Park|19:30 pm|
After dinner was finally over, the group went their separate ways. Shintaro, however, wasn't quite ready to go back home. Neither, to his surprise, was Kei. Without any specific plan, they decided to go for an evening stroll throughout Totsuka's Sogen Park, a place they had both come to love.
"It's been a great day..." Kei said, happily. "Thank you."
"Thank me? For what?"
"Where do I even begin?" The Wild Card said, chuckling. "The study notes, the endless number of books that I now have to read because you told me I should...and just being there for me when I got better."
"It's...just what friends do. Midori, Ryota and Hajime probably would have done the same, right?"
"Yes, I...suppose so," Kei said, as the two of them continued walking. There were still quite a few people wandering, either on their own, or with friends or their loved ones. The sun was starting to set now, and the sky had a beautiful radiance, especially with the clouds capturing the light.
"I need to decide where I want to go after school..." Shintaro said, after they walked past the tea house in the middle of the park. "Yokohama is starting to appeal to me more and more."
"Oh?" Kei said, grinning. "Well, I can tell you all about the city. Even if I haven't been there in months, I know it like the back of my hand."
The two sat down on a bench – it was the same one they had sat when they had just recruited Masato. It was hard to believe there were so few of them back then, and their worst worry was fighting the Claret Squad.
"I talked about Mirai 21 earlier, didn't I?" Kei said. "It's kind of futuristic. There's a giant theme park with a Ferris wheel there, even better than the one in Asakita. It's the Cosmo World, and the wheel is the Cosmo Clock, since there's...a clock on it. There's also the art museum, with a lot of great works there, including Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso...it's amazing to wander through. The building looks great, too. Here, let me show you..."
She soon began showing photos on her phone of the various sights of the city, including the grand Museum of Art. The more Shintaro saw, the more he felt like he was there. Then there was Kishamichi Promenade, where Kei had spent many days after school with her three best friends. The pictures of the pedestrian walkway were in Spring, hence the beautiful cherry blossoms on the trees.
"My favourite...oh, there's the Nippon Maru. She's permanently docked as a museum ship, and she's amazing. It was built in 1930, so...a long time before most of this city. Right?"
"Yeah, the modernisation didn't really start until the 1980's here..." Shintaro said. "I'd love to see your hometown someday, Kei-chan."
"...You would? Well...maybe someday." She said, looking away. "I'll be there soon, I hope. Midori will still be mad at me for leaving, but...she'll be so happy to see me again. Ryota and Hajime too, of course. They keep telling me about what's happening at my old school. I just tell them about how great Kansei is, of course."
Shintaro nodded. "Well, I can't imagine Yokohama has a high school quite like Kansei. Maybe Chieki..."
"Oi!" Kei poked him reproachfully, only to break out into laughter. "My old school uniform used to look a lot like Chieki's, you know! The green isn't that bad!"
"I'm kidding..." Shintaro said. "But you know what? I've decided. I want to apply for a university in Yokohama. I love Shinshuto, but someday, I want to get out there and see the rest of Japan. Maybe other places in the world. Like Evelina's city in Sweden. Gothenburg, right? Or...that place in Scotland MacKenzie-sensei is from. Edinburgh, that's it! And there's Vienna, too!"
"Why the capital of Austria?" Kei asked, confused.
"It sounded nice, at least from...what Celestine told me. She has a sister living there. But that's not why I want to go. I just...want to see new places, broaden my horizons, etc. Maybe I can finally follow in my grandfather's footsteps..."
"You mean, write a book?"
"Of course!" Shintaro said, grinning. "Who knows...maybe I'll start now? And finally, when I'm done with school, university...I'll get it published, no matter how long it takes. As long as I can get my book out there, I can make my grandfather – and my parents – proud."
The thought of him writing his own book had always appealed to him, but after speaking to Kei and the others today, he now knew he must do this. Even if few bought his book, even if he was doomed to obscurity like his grandfather, he must write. Every single other novel he'd read, and all of his life experiences, would lead him forward into putting his own pen to paper, and writing the best story he could manage.
"I...I'd love to read it, when it's finished." Kei said, smiling. "You'll no doubt be asking everyone for their opinions, of course. Kohaku in particular..."
"Of course. But not just her. I've...got a few good friends now." Shintaro said, warmly. "The Knowledge Seekers are going to stay together for a long time, I think. Just like how you'll always be friends with Midori, Ryota, and Hajime. Right?"
Kei nodded. "If you really could leave this city, that'd be amazing. If only I could show you Yokohama in person. If only..."
She gazed deep into his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat.
If only what, Kei? What's on your mind?
"Are you alright, Kei -"
She suddenly got up, and looked at her watch.
"Sorry, but I really need to get back to the dormitory!" She said, with a somewhat exaggerated shocked expression. "Shintaro, I'll see you at school tomorrow, okay?"
"O-Okay, sure. Take care..."
She smiled, and ran off as fast she could. Today, she had finally revealed something about herself, and the life she had left behind. Yet, even so, she still had many secrets, ones she didn't want to reveal. Or perhaps, they were ones she simply couldn't tell to Shintaro and his friends…
What exactly did happen to her aunt all those years ago? Was it six years ago, or sixteen? Why can't she tell us? If she did, what would happen?
With Nisa Liat's apparent demise, all they could do was prepare to finish off the remnants of Bythos, and usher in a new era of peace for the city. Then one day, Shintaro could finally join Kei in Yokohama, and be with her forever. It was a dream he hoped would one day come true, and he would hold onto that, for whatever dark days lay ahead.