Fictions Mentioned: Back to the Future
Episode 5 - Introductions Are In Order
OP Song:
Tomorrow Never Dies · Sheryl Crow
Location:
Multiverse: KK 2004 Multiverse
Universe: ACMI Universe-Prime
Insert Song:
Back In Time · Huey Lewis & The News
"Tell me, doctor, where are we going this time. Is this the 50's, or 1999. All I wanted to do, was play my guitar and sing. So take me away, I don't mind. But you better promise me, I'll be back in time. Gotta get back in time."
It was one late afternoon in Academy City. The afternoon sunset was seen from the skies, being blessed with orange tinted colors that complimented the white aerosol clouds.
Somewhere in the roads of District 7, Touma Kamijou was sporting a simple smile on his face, with goggles worn over the eyes, a helmet worn over the head, and a pair of gloves worn by the hands, as he was driving his advance rectangular shape hoverboard as gently as possible in order to accomodate the three young women: Misaki Shokuhou, Seria Kumokawa, and Ayu Mitsuari who were simply standing at the board and enjoying the sights of the drive-through while wearing the same gloves, goggles, and helmet, feeling the light breezes produced by the speed that the hoverboard was going. Many of the bystanders who were simply passing by would eventually take notice of them as they could only sport surprised expressions due to an unexpected sight.
And needless to say, even the three young girls were quite surprised, shocked, and impress at what they were actually seeing and feeling right about now.
They didn't think that it was possible to actually be able to experience this type of phenomenon in their lives as they were actually being driven through the streets of District 7 through nothing but an advance rectangular hoverboard, touching the platform with their own two feet and managing to stick and not fall from the ride as they would see the young man at the front driving the board with ease. That wasn't all, because the hoverboard was apparently installed with a radio of all things that could activated mentally. And the song that they were now hearing appeared to be a Western song, and judging by the tone, appeared to have originated sometime back in the 80s.
Who... Just who was this person...?
That was the bewildering question that these three young maidens have tried to answer and ponder ever since they first saw this young man taking down a bunch of Skill-Out thugs and managed to save one of them, Ayu Mitsuari, from a very unfortuante fate.
After the incident, Seria Kumokawa had suggested that they need to stop by some place in order to eat and drink first. They could use a little refreshment after the brush up that they had with the Skill-Out thugs. Naturally, Kamijou had agreed, and to her and the two girls' surprise and shock, the former managed to materialize the hoverboard that transformed from a green colored cube. And of this moment, he and the girls were currently standing on as it drives in a careful and smooth fashion.
"Don't bet your future, on one roll of the dice. Better remember, lightning never strikes twice. Please don't drive at eighty eight, don't want to be late again. So take me away, I don't mind. But you better promise me, I'll be back in time. Gotta get back in time. Gotta get back in time. Get me back in time."
And Seria Kumokawa couldn't help but sport an excited smile on her face as she screamed in excitement. "Wooooooohoooooo!"
And Misaki Shokuhou couldn't help but sport an excited smile as well despite having some second thoughts relating to the fact that why was she accompanying the old hag and the cotton candy haired girl. After all, she wasn't really needed at this point as the crisis was eventually averted. And yet for some reason, she decided to accompany them and the boy as they would head towards their next destination as she couldn't help but get curious about the young man who had suddenly swooped in and save the cotton candy haired girl. She couldn't help but giggle softly however due to the sheer ridiculousness that she was now experiencing. "Hmmmmmmm."
And Ayu Mitsuari couldn't help but join in the brim of positivity as she sported an excited smile as she felt the natural breeze that would cool her skin. Eventually, she started to giggle in excitement. "Hmmmmmm. This is not quite the walk that I expected it out to be."
"Hmmmm. Hey, boy. How the hell did you even managed to get this kind of sweet ride?," Kumokawa asked, still sporting an expression of excitement as the winds blow her natural black hair.
"Well, I actually got this from two old friends of mine who live in America. Their names are Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty Mcfly. Doc is a scientist by trade and an inventor of a lot of cool stuff while Marty is the Doc's assistant and an aspiring professional musician who is really good at playing the guitar. Truth be told, this hoverboard that we got was actually pretty advance already, invented by a couple of individuals that had been handing them out at the time. We just modified it even further with new in-built functions that were added to the mix, such as the radio that you and the rest of the girls are now listening too," Kamijou explained, sporting a smile of reminiscence.
"That's the quite the story. I gotta say, boy, I never peg you the type to like Western music," Kumokawa smiled.
"Well I like all types of music really. This one just so happen to be one of my favorites, that's all," Kamijou explained, making a right turn down towards another road that managed to surprise a couple of passer-bys as they noticed them.
"So Kamijou-san, where exactly are we going at this time?," Mitsuari asked, sporting a curious expression while sporting an excited and giggling smile.
"Well, Mitsuari-san, you're just going to have to wait and see it for yourself as I wouldn't really want to spoil the surprise," Kamijou said, smiling.
"Ara? Now that really has me quite curious, Kamijou-san," Mitsuari sported an amused smirk.
"In any case, just stand back, relax, and enjoy the music since we're almost to our current destination," Kamijou said with a smile as he turned left towards another intersection.
"Gotta get back in time. Gotta get back in time. Get back, get back. Get back Marty. Gotta get back in time. Gotta get back in time. Get back, get back."
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
Dies irae - Animation OST: Burlesque
"Welp we're here everyone."
That was the voice of Touma Kamijou who was sporting a simple smile on his face, as he and three young girls: Misaki Shokuhou, Seria Kumokawa, and Ayu Mitsuari had managed to come towards a restuarant by the name of Joseph's Coffee and Restaurant.
This restaurant is quite well known for serving coffee, desserts, and other meals. This establishment is quite to be a significant place due to the fact that all types of people tend to gather for one reason or another. Whether if it was just your ordinary average students having a good time, or your simple staff requesting a meal, or people from shady backgrounds and connections gathering around for a presumed meeting of subtlety. And it was also a place where an organization that was dedicated to the protection of the Multiverse that is known as the SCP Foundation would usually conduct their secret meetings and observations, for many of the staff who work here are actually members of such an organization.
But that was something that only Touma Kamijou would know and not the three young women who were right beside him.
Quite literally actually as they just managed to hop a ride in the advance rectangular shape hoverboard.
The girls themselves were quite curious at the simple restaurant that seem like a far cry from the fancy restaurants that people with high standards and a lot of money tend to spend by. Not that this was a bad thing of course. Sometimes, simple seems to be a lot better. Even more so when it was related to the two girls: Misaki Shokuhou and Ayu Mitsuari who have been having their own respective thoughts before getting involved in a Skill-Out takedown, and little did they both realize that their thoughts were actually related to each other.
They all begin to hop out of the hoverboard as their helmet, goggles, and gloves were all dematerialized into nothing but static, much to their surprise once again. Kamijou would lightly kick the hoverboard which converted back into a green colored cube that landed on the road. He would pick it back up and put it into his pocket.
Kamijou would turn towards the three girls who were sporting curious expressions at the latter. The former would eventually say. "Well girls, let's get inside. Despite the fact that it would only be a few hours until night time, at least we should get some refreshments first before we all decide to go back to our respective homes."
"Ah yes, speaking of that, I seem to recall something that Komoe-sensei once told me. I heard that you were living alone in an 8-storey student dormitory, somewhere in the seventh floor, correct?," Kumokawa asked, smiling.
"You could say that, senpai," Kamijou agreed, making a nod before eventually walking through the front door, with the three girls coming right behind them.
If it weren't for the fact that they had managed to hop a ride at a hoverboard of all things, they might have collapsed from dehydration due to the heat. The month of August can be too hot for some across the majority of Japan as the islands and mainland are seeing a rise in temperatures as the heat wave continues, however one wouldn't rule it out as the lower numbers and right itinerary can still work well during the summer season.
The weather in Japan in the month of August is generally hot and very humid. Average temperatures ranges 18—31ºC (64–88°F), with a hot climate in the central and southern prefectures. The average rainfall is high at 182 mm (7 inches) and there are occasional typhoons to consider. As August is a peak travel season with schools being closed for the summer holidays, it's best for travellers to book a tour well in advance and make reservations for one's stay.
And as Kamijou and the girls went inside, they eventually manage to find a clear seat of four as they sit down somewhere with a clear view of the city streets. Kumokawa and Mitsuari were seated from one side while Kamijou and Shokuhou would seat on another side. And as they sit down, they would take notice of the fact that there seems to barely be anyone who was in this place aside from a few students who were seated down from other seats. There was someone who seem to be a twenty year old handsome man, wearing a waiter outfit composed of a white shirt, black bowtie, black vest, black pants, and black shoes who was speaking to a woman at the counter, discussing about something about how one can increased more customers at a time like this.
"That time of the month, huh," Kamijou muttered, smiling sympathetically.
There was someone who seem to be a twenty year old handsome man, wearing a waiter outfit composed of a white shirt, black bowtie, black vest, black pants, and black shoes who was speaking to a woman at the counter, discussing about something about how one can increased more customers at a time like this. After noticing Kamijou and the three girls, the waiter and the woman on the counter could only pull a smile. The waiter was now coming near towards the table.
"Ah, Kamijou-kun. It seems that you've brought company with you this time," the waiter said, sporting a smile.
"Yeah, seems I have. Slow day at work today, huh," Kamijou responded with a smile, with the three girls sporting curious and attentive expresssions; sporting an intriguing smile in the case of Kumokawa.
"Tell me about it. You'd think that people would come here in droves due to the intense heat that is currently happening outside. But then, I suppose that they might have turned up to other restaurants, especially those connected or related with L.S.S., so I shouldn't be quite surprised," the waiter shrugged his shoulders, before eventually getting a notepad and a pen from his pockets in order to take their order. "Speaking of which, anything you four would like to order."
"Well, I'll have the usual in my case. You would know what it is by now. So how about you three?," Kamijou asked, sporting a curious expression.
The three girls would all look at each other before turning back to the waiter.
"Are there any burgers, fries, chocolate pie, and coffee?," Mitsuari asked, sporting a curious expression.
"Actually we do, miss," the waiter listed the order down from his notepad, sporting a look of concentration. "Anything else for the other two?"
"I'll have the same order as her," Shokuhou responded simply.
"Same here," Kumokawa responded simply.
"Alright then," the waiter nodded. "You'll all have to wait for a few minutes until then before we can finally get your order."
"Oh we don't mind at all," Kumokawa smirked as she looked towards Kamijou who took notice, sporting a curious expression.
And thus, the waiter would eventually walk away and head towards the counter in order to submit the note to the counter. In the meantime, Kamijou and the three young girls were simply waiting for their order, with the latter three slightly glancing towards the former. In the case of Shokuhou and Mitsuari, they couldn't help but feel a bit awkward, especially when it concerns a young boy that was basically of a similar age as they were.
They couldn't make any comments. Well, all except for Kumokawa who could only start another discussion due to noticing a pattern trend that was pointed out in a conversation.
"You know..." Kumokawa said.
"Hmm?," Kamijou, Shokuhou, and Mitsuari could only look at Kumokawa in curiosity.
"Come to think of it," said Kumokawa, sporting a curious expression. "I hear that they're ending their twenty-four-hour service soon."
"They?," Mitsuari asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You know, the L.S.S. Animal Protection Fund," Kumokawa shrugged her shoulders in a casual fashion. "Now that I looked back at it, I seem to recall all of those paper advertisments that were pasted on the walls. It read something like "Service terminated until 24:00" or something like that."
"Oh really now," Kamijou muttered, interested in the topic. "Sounds quite unfortunate. Then again, another new service would eventually pop up to replace the old service so it's basically spreading public awareness at this point. Speaking of which," his eyes caught the respective bags of the two middle school girls: Misaki Shokuhou and Ayu Mitsuari. "Those bags that you both carry are quite the unique accessories."
"Oh!," both Shokuhou and Mitsuari would notice the young man staring at their accessory bags in an interested manner, much to their embarrasment as they instinctively tried to hid their bags from the side.
"Umm, thank you for the compliment, Kamijou-san," Shokuhou muttered softly, clutching her bag that was full of remotes.
"My my, I didn't think that the great Mental Out was quite embarrassed of being looked over by a boy. Truly, such a pure maiden at heart astounds me deeply," Kumokawa spoke with humor.
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
Max Payne - Main Theme
"...Eh?," Mitsuari muttered, slowly sporting a surprised expression on her face as she heard the term "Mental Out" being uttered by the high school girl that was sitting right beside her. Eventually, she would slowly stare upon the blonde haired girl with a new pair of eyes.
Mental Out.
That was a term that she had heard occasinally in passing whenever she were to pass by the corridors of Tokiwadai. Even more so, sometimes there appeared to be comparisons that were drawn between her ability - Mental Stinger - and Misaki Shokuhou's ability - Mental Out. On the surface, they look similar in terms of ability and application. Their powers are derived from their profound control of the secretion of chemicals in the target's brain via the control of blood distribution, cerebrospinal fluid, and others, in the brain. Instead of controlling bio-electricity directly, she changes its conductive efficiency by controlling the fluid that acts as a catalyst for the electricity to flow through.
There was one slight difference between them despite the similarities in power.
Misaki Shokuhou was a Level 5 while Ayu Mitsuari was only a Level 3, a few steps behind from the former.
This would bring her to recall her very own past, in a time when she was quite the optimist, the kind and reliable older sister that anyone can count on. A time when she and some girls have participated in a project called Ideal.
She could only shake her head as she'd rather not recall all of those painful memories, still recalling the pains and disappointments, still recall a woman in a lab coat dying right before her very eyes, and she couldn't do anything to stop it.
But try as she might to not make her bottled up feelings known, there was a certain spiky haired boy who could not help but take notice of it as he spotted it for a split second before a normal face would eventually resume it's normal look of bewilderment and understanding that was no doubt mainly caused by the two young high class ladies who were arguing as to who has the better physical appearances.
"Hmmm," Shokuhou was fumming at the mouth, growling and glaring at Kumokawa in quite a cute manner much to the raise eyebrow of Kamijou who couldn't help but feel some type of familiarity from what he was now seeing right before him. "Oh like your one to talk, you black haired bitch. In fact, you are practically in the same position as I am. You can flaunt all you want about how your some type of role model for the boys to drool over but in reality, you're just an old hag whose trying way too hard to act cool and flanderize yourself like a stripper."
Kumokawa could only twitch in irritation, with arms crossed. "Well excuse me, Ms. Non-Physical, at least I have an overall attractive body," then she became smug. "While you on the other hand are still developing around the edges."
"I'm so sorry, but I could not even be bothered by your so-called attractive body seeing as how there's nothing there except a piece of fat meat that is delivered to the poultry factory to get overcook like a chicken deluxe meal," now it was Shokuhou's turn to be smug.
"Says the blondie whose practically as flat as a board. I mean really, look at yourself. Bad enough that you look like some wannabe character in a shōjo manga, but even with all of that, you just had to add it with another weakness on your part. Being physically unfit every single time you try to managed to run on your own," Kumokawa begins to fire back.
"Oh, like your skill set is in any better. As I recall, your entire apartment is practically a mess when no one's looking. As much as you claim that you have it all, you seem to have a problem of cleaning up your damn mess. I wonder... would that have to include something from the toilets," Shokuhou smirked as she said the last part.
"Y-You did not just go there!," Kumokawa, now utterly pissed off, stood up so suddenly as she slammed her hands towards the table as it shook in tremors.
"I. Think. I. Just. Did!," Shokuhou said every line slowly with emphasis, standing up gracefully with a smug look on her face, with the upper part of her left hand placed towards her chin. "Ohohohohoho."
But before things would escalate further...
"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!"
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Kamijou would suddenly blow a silver whistle that he had gotten from his pocket, managing to bring pain to all three of the high class ladies who could not help but cover their ears. The noise was just sudden, irritating to the ears, until the noise would finally subside and clear, leaving a disoriented trio of young girls who still covered their ears, still hearing the after effect of the noise before it quickly subsided.
"Wh-What the heck are you doing?," Shokuhou asked the spiky haired boy in irritation, partly because of the after effect of the noise and partly because of the sudden intrusion.
However...
She would notice the serious look on his face, almost likened to that of a scolding parent, one that had intimidated her and the two other girls who also took notice of his demeanor.
"Look to your side, Shokuhou-san, tell me what you see?," Kamijou, after putting his whistle back to his pocket, asked grimly while crossing his arms.
The three girls would blink at the sudden order and question. Then they turn to their side... And what they had found was a couple of students from somewhere around middle school, high school, and university, and some employees from the restaurant were all staring at them, sporting bewildered and concerned expressions.
"...Ah," Shokuhou would eventually notice that she and Kumokawa had managed to draw attention to themselves.
"I don't know what kind of beef that you or Kumokawa-senpai have with each other, and I won't pry to it out of respect for both of your privacy, but at the very least, can you both try to be more civilized in a public area, because I feel that it would do a great disservice to the people who work here and the people who come up here if a potential scandal that is based on falsified rumors were to come out. And I don't think that you both wouldn't want to have more attention than needed," Kamijou explained in a logical manner, one that the two girls could not deny as they glance towards each other in a hesitant but apologetic manner.
"Sorry," Kumokawa muttered as she bowed her head lightly.
"Sorry," Shokuhou muttered as she bowed her head lightly.
Then both of them would sit down, which in turn gave Mitsuari a chance to breathe a sigh of relief that the argument that was gaining attention was stopped while Kamijou nodded in satisfaction.
And then, another round of silence came upon them as they awaited their order.
And while waiting, Kamijou couldn't help but take notice once again of Mitsuari, recalling the first few moments when her actual face was showing. And it wasn't the good kind either.
Believe it or not, Kamijou was quite the observant fellow. A trick and a daily habit that he learned when studying under the Dark Knight of Gotham City. It was quite the useful skill to make use of when no one was practically looking nor paying attention to you. In subtle ways, one could actually learn about the different profiles of each person based on one given reaction that would be shown via facial expressions.
He's not claiming to be as good as his best friend, Shinichi Kudo, when it comes to this type of stuff since this is the latter's forte as a detective, but he's good enough to know a few basic skills of facial analysis already.
There was something that felt quite off when looking at Mitsuari in those few fractions of a moment. It was like the latter was hiding something. Whether if it was a good or a bad thing, Kamijou didn't know. But the only thing that he could truly be sure was this. He definitely needs to keep a close watch on her as some type of gut feeling was resonating within him, almost nudging him in a way towards the probable dangers that he would eventually have to deal with in some unpredictable future.
He wasn't a precog by any means nor was he someone who could clearly see the future. There were only certain gut feelings so to speak, and his gut feeling is telling him that he needs to focus on Mitsuari, since out of all the three girls who were seated alongside him, Mitsuari seems to be likened to an alarm being rung from within his mind, and that he would need to focus clearly in order to solve this dilemna.
And not a moment too soon.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Betcha Never from Cherie (2004)
