Hello, everyone!
I'm back... at long last.
Maybe this should become my normal greetings: it took me exactly three freaking months to update this and while I was busy a lot, it's still largely my fault this is out so late.
On the other hand, I have prepared almost 11 thousand words, not including author's notes... thus, I decided to divide the chapter into two parts of roughly 5 500 words. The first part today, the second one in a few days (maybe after a week). The cutting point is not perfect though. Actually, the entire two-chapter is kinda all over the place... on the other hand some interesting stuff will happen, so maybe we shall get to it...
...but before that, seeing that the last update was so long ago, I decided to add one more feature below.
(* * *)
Previously, on The World Kanon Only Knows:
Asked by Kanon to help her design a dating sim with her music, Keima is researching various aspects of galges in class, to the surprise of Ayumi.
The first design meeting with Keima, Kanon and Okada is a little rough, but the group comes up with some drafts and approximate plans for release date... and during the break Kanon recharges her batteries with Keima's help.
Sometime later, Keima somehow ends in Kanon's apartment for more battery charging and pink furniture appraisal.
Moreover, Kanon gets a brilliant idea to get more time with Keima, and the idea turns out to consist of using Eri to substitute for Kanon once in a while. The female Katsuragi is very enthusiastic to help, but Keima is unsure.
Despite the doubts, the plan is put into effect and works well for a while, up to the point when Kanon's mother appears at the studio for some reason and witnesses Kanon and Eri swap places using magic.
What are going to be the consequences? Read on to find out.
Enjoy!
(* * *)
"And that's how it is," Keima finished.
What followed were blank stares coming from the five people sitting across the table from him.
Keima's mother was looking between confused and angry, apparently not fully understanding what she was doing here. Okada was looking similar, but worried instead of confused. Keima and Kanon's fathers seemed to be just confused.
And Mrs. Nakagawa seemed to just be angry.
Kanon and Eri, who were sitting on each of Keima's side, both sweatdropped.
The dark-haired Katsuragi sibling was fidgeting under her mother's gaze and seeing that made Kanon's stomach clench with guilt.
It was all her fault. She was the one who had suggested the entire swap-places idea and now had dragged Keima and Eri into trouble. And it had been such a good plan! Everything had been going well too... and then Kanon had messed it up.
Yes, it hadn't been Eri who messed up, even though her playing music out loud instead of using earphones had made both girls unable to hear that someone was coming and opening the door.
But it hadn't been Eri's fault – Okada-san had said she was going out for ten minutes and Eri had known she won't be back during that time.
It was Kanon who had messed up. It was her who had let her guard down and had become absent-minded enough to confuse days. Yes, Kanon had known her mother would be coming to the TV studio to see her daughter, but Kanon had been certain it was supposed to happen two days later!
She had confused days and because of that her, Keima and Eri had to explain everything to the five people sitting on the other side of the table.
Why were there five people? Well, after Mrs. Nakagawa had seen the two girls in the changing Kanon had been hoping that the only thing her mother had seen had been her and Eri exchanging clothes. If so, then Kanon could have explained that Eri just wanted to try her clothes or that Eri just really wanted to be an idol for a day. Of course, such an explanation would mean a lot of lectures for Kanon, but she had been willing to take it as long as Eri wasn't punished or held responsible.
But unfortunately, Kanon's mother had seen more – she had seen both illusions being dispelled and it had shocked and dumbfounded her so much that she hadn't made a sound until both girls had realized she had been there.
After that, all Hell had broken loose.
In retrospect, Kanon could understand her mother. Seeing something like that would make everyone confused and worried about her daughter. Her mother was less of a problem though. The problem was that Mrs. Nakagawa had sought Okada and demanded an explanation as the manager was the one responsible for Kanon.
And then Okada, who hadn't seen anything, with her career on the line and with her knowledge on how to push Kanon's buttons managed to corner the girl. The fact Eri was much less resistant to being questioned than Kanon hadn't been helping either.
Long story short, Kanon had known she had messed up big time. At this point covering everything up seemed impossible, not to mention it would be incredibly unfair to their parents at this point. So Kanon had promised to explain stuff, but only with Keima there.
After that, she wasn't completely sure how it had happened, but here they were – Kanon and Katsuragi siblings sitting in front of five adults and trying to explain stuff... which resulted in Kanon and Eri sweatdropping at what Keima had just said.
This was not how Kanon had envisioned her parents meeting Keima!
"So allow me to sum that up," Okada said as she repositioned her glasses, glaring at Keima, "Kanon and your sister were swapping places to allow her to see you more often."
"Yes," Keima said, calmly.
"And your explanation for what Mrs. Nakagawa here saw," the manager turned to the other woman, "can you repeat what you saw?"
"Umm...," Kanon's mother hesitated as more eyes turned to her, "I mean I saw Kanon and that other girl in the room and then they," the woman gestured for a while, searching for words, "changed. I mean one second Kanon was on the left and that girl was on the right and the next moment there was a flash of light and then poof! Kanon was on the right and the other girl was on the left!"
"Thank you," Okada said as she turned back to Keima, "and your explanation for this, Keima-kun is, that it was, how did you put it, a magic trick your sister learned from your neighbor."
"Precisely," Keima replied without blinking an eye.
"That's impossible!" Kanon's mother said.
"Trust me, Tenri's tricks are very good," Keima said, "she can even make an entire train disappear. It's like real magic. It even got me impressed."
Liar!, Kanon thought, it wasn't a magic trick and you don't think Tenri's tricks are that good!
"Well, what about the voice Mrs. Nakagawa heard?" Okada asked. It was clear she was determined to get to the bottom of this.
"The music was playing in the background, wasn't it?" Keima questioned back as if it was obvious.
"Keima-kun," Kanon started as she put her hand on his shoulder. She understood what Keima was doing. He was trying to weasel their way out of it, by feeding everyone one of his fattest lies yet. Kanon even understood why he was doing it, but it was useless. Not only was it unfair, but him being able to lie and convince everyone wasn't enough. Okada's career was at stake here and the bespectacled woman was already suspicious before, so she wouldn't give up now. Adding Eri into the mix it just wouldn't work anymore.
"Let's stop this," she said.
"What do you mean?" Keima said back, his voice much quieter.
"Let's not do it like this!"
Keima sighed. "Alright, in that case, the only choice is to-"
"And don't even think about erasing anyone's memory!" Kanon exclaimed, that statement managing to bring even the dozing off fathers back to full attention.
"Erasing anyone's what?" Mari questioned, "what do you mean by that?"
"Yes, what do you mean by that?" Keima asked, continuing to act.
"Don't give me that!" Kanon told him, getting closer and making Keima lean back. "Let's just tell the truth and be done with it."
"Are you kidding?" Keima said, glaring back at her. "Of course we can't do that! Even Apollo wouldn't be stupid enough to do that!"
"You're already saying it, aren't you?" Kanon told him.
"Umm... guys," Eri tried to calm them down, but it was useless.
"Whatever I say now won't matter, when the memory remov-"
"Oh no, you don't!" Kanon moved even closer. "You're not erasing my parents' memories!" Kanon said as she jabbed her finger into his chest in a demanding manner. "You know how I feel about you, but this is something you won't do!"
"And how exactly you plan on stopping me?" Keima challenged, his arms over his chest. "You are aware of everything, so you know there's nothing you can even threaten me with."
"Oh... you mean, besides Tenri, Chihiro, Ayumi, Haqua, Diana, Vulcan," Kanon started to count on her fingers, "and, I don't know, two dozen other people? You still didn't count, like, several thousand of my fans!"
Keima tried for his poker face, but he didn't fully succeed.
"Okay, what the hell is going on here?" Mari Katsuragi asked as she stood up, her hands slamming against the table. Normally it would be time to panic, but it seemed part of Mari's anger was due to her confusion and helplessness, as indicated by her shaking hands and the tone in her voice.
"Fair point," Keima told Kanon, completely ignoring his mother, "in that case I'll just change your mind."
"No," Kanon said, "I'll change yours as I did before," she narrowed her eyes, "I think it's fair our parents learn the truth about us," her face softened, "please," she added.
Keima was about to retaliate, but Eri asked: "What about me?"
Her brother immediately turned to her with a scolding gaze. "What do you mean what about you? There's nothing about you!"
"B-but I'm a part of the story!" Eri said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"No, you're not!" Keima said. "After my dead body!"
"Mom, nii-sama is bullying me!"
"Stop acting like a 10-year-old!"
"Okay, please let's calm down, everyone," Kanon said, noticing things getting out of control and watching the five faces on the other side of the table getting more concerned, angry and confused, "let's just get this done and over with!"
"And I said 'no'!" Keima answered. "Honestly, you said you'd make it up to me and I won't regret this and then you ignored me when I told you that it was a bad idea and now this," he pointed to the other end of the table, "happens!"
"I'm sorry," Kanon said, guilt filling her, "it was my fault and I'll accept your punishment... but this has to be done."
"No, it doesn-"
"Are you scared, Keima-kun?"
"What?" Keima exclaimed flabbergasted. "Me? Scared?" Kanon nodded. "I'm just concerned about what would happen and I'm trying to prevent that!"
"That's the definition of being scared!" Kanon told him. "You're just scared of what would happen! Look, I know it's my fault and there's been a lot of unfair things that happened to you, but this is our reality and I really think you should be the strong man I know you are and accept it... please accept it."
"Nii-sama?" Eri said. "Accepting reality?"
After that, it was silent for a while. Kanon kept looking at Keima with pleading eyes and Keima kept looking back with an uncertain expression.
"I don-"
"Please," Kanon repeated as she took his hand into hers, "I promise, I will make it worth in the end," she said, "I promise it'll be ok. And I'll be there with you," she squeezed his hand, "you're not alone in this Keima-kun."
It was quiet again and everyone in the room looked at Keima, who's face slowly begun to change. He didn't say anything, but the way his expression changed it was almost as if...
"I'll be damned," Mari breathed out as she sat down again, her legs buckling at the thought of her son actually accepting reality... in whatever context Kanon meant it.
"Shit!" Keima said as he put his hand on his face. He stayed like that for a moment, before sighing and removing his hand from his face, revealing his business face that made everyone perk up, with Eri gasping and Kanon gulping. There was just something about the determined Keima that brought a rosy blush to her face.
"Alright, though this is on you," Keima told Kanon, before turning to the five people across the table, giving them a look a general would give soldiers, before saying:
"Haqua, are you there?"
For a moment nothing happened and then the purple-haired devil materialized out of thin air, taking place in the empty seat next to Eri.
"You know I am," the girl said, swinging her scythe in a badass manner, before almost falling back when Eri pounced on her with a smile and cry of 'Haqua!'
"You knew she was here?" Kanon asked.
"Of course," Haqua answered for Keima as she got Eri and her hugs under control, "I am usually around and Katsuragi asked me specifically to be here," she narrowed her eyes at Kanon, "though you know, even if you convinced him, that doesn't mean you convinced me. You do realize this is a major incident and-"
"We had a lot of people knowing already and nothing bad had happened so far," Kanon noticed.
Haqua looked at Keima and then sighed, muttering something like 'why do I do this', before crossing her arms over her chest.
"Can you float?" Keima said to Haqua before he turned to Kanon. "Also, can you come out, Apollo?"
There was a sudden flash of light and then the ditsy goddess was now where Kanon was previously, sending feathers around.
"This," Keima pointed to Haqua clearly floating above the ground, "is a devil..."
"A New Devil," Haqua corrected him.
"And this," he pointed to Apollo, "is a goddess."
"Hello, Kanon's parents, Katsuragi's parents, and Manager-san!" Apollo said cheerfully, waving to everyone present, seeming not bothered by their shocked faces.
"We have a lot to cover, so let's do this," Keima said with finality.
(* * *)
"Are you alright?"
Keima's eyes shot open and he sat up. His room was dark, thick curtains effectively blocking the afternoon sun. How long did he sleep? And who was talking to him? The voice was female, but the silhouette he saw by the door was not like Eri's or mom's. In fact, in the darkness, it reminded him of Vintage agents.
"Who's there?" he asked as he discreetly searched for his glasses. Where did he put them?
The figure didn't answer, though Keima could swear he heard a sigh, before it walked into the room and past Keima.
"What are you-Gah!" Keima shielded his eyes from the blinding sun as the figure opened the curtain, letting the light inside.
"Wow, you're really out of it, aren't you otamega?" the figure asked.
There was only one person who after all this time still occasionally called him that.
"Chihiro?"
"That's me," the girl in question sat in his chair, backrest to him, giving him her trademark cheeky smile.
"What are you doing here?" Keima asked. Was it a dream?
"Eri invited us over."
"Us?"
"2-B pencils," the brown-haired girl clarified.
"My sister?" Keima asked and Chihiro nodded. "Invited the entire band?" Another nod. "Knowing that my mother is now aware of most of the story?"
Yes, it was several days after Kanon has convinced Keima to reveal the truth to their parents and Okada. And, as expected, by the end of the day, pretty much everyone involved knew of that. Keima suspected it had to do with Eri being a blabbermouth. Or his mother questioning Tenri. Or both.
"Yup," Chihiro said, "and what do you mean by 'most of the story'?"
Keima snorted. "You didn't think I'd tell every tiny detail?" he asked.
Chihiro shrugged. "If you went along with telling the outline, what harm are the details?"
"Another hour of my life wasted for one," he told her, "anyway, if the entire band is here then how come Yui isn't in my room yet?" he asked instead, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
"Oh, she'd very like to get here, but your mother stopped her," Chihiro explained, "she said that you already have girlfriend and such."
"And that stopped Yui?" Keima looked around as if he expected to see Mars climbing through his window.
"You say it as if you didn't know your mother," Chihiro shivered, "besides Yui has a lot of problems lately," she counted with her fingers, "studying, her mother, your mother, keeping away from suitors."
"Suitors?" Keima snorted. "She can just avoid them."
"Not if they're brought by her mother," Chihiro said, "When I think I'd have to deal with that on summer break, I actually feel bad for her."
Keima was silent for a moment.
"None of that explains why are you in my room?"
"Well... Yui did want to 'check on you' and after your mother forbade her, someone else had to go."
"Why not Ayumi?" Keima asked.
"Well, she was kinda too scared of your mother to volunteer."
"Eri?"
"Your mother is kinda too scared of her," Chihiro said, "and Miyako didn't seem eager to go here, so that left me to check on you... speaking of that, are you alright?"
"What made you think I wasn't alright?" he asked.
"Well..." Chihiro said slowly, assessing him. First, he hadn't been playing his games when she had arrived. Second, he had been sleeping and seemed out of it. Third, there were bags under his eyes and his hair was in more disarray than usual. Compared to the normal focused and, in a way, energetic Keima Katsuragi Chihiro knew, this Keima looked lost.
"You don't look alright at all," Chihiro said, "what's wrong?"
Keima hesitated.
"I'll stay here until you talk," she propped her hands on the backrest, "or maybe do you want me to call your mother instead?"
"You're annoying as always," Keima said, but Chihiro only grinned.
"So... what's going on?" she prodded.
Keima sighed.
"You need to ask?" Keima said. "I told my family the truth."
Chihiro groaned.
"Look," she said, "I know your thought process is different from most people... but if you want any of us, mortal beings, to understand you then you'd have to tell me the story bit by bit."
"Should I make it simple as if you were Eri?" Keima asked.
"Maybe as if I were Ayumi," Chihiro said, "c'mon, you'll feel better when you do it."
Never had Keima thought the brown-haired girl in front of him would remind him of Tenri so much. Their approaches might've been different, but both girls seemed more and more like his therapists.
Chihiro was right though. He was losing his cool. Not that he didn't notice that. He sighed again.
"You saw my mother, right?" Chihiro nodded. "How did you think she had taken the news?"
"Um... well, I guess?" the girl tried.
"Yeah, my mother took things 'well'," Keima said, "and I'm 'alright'."
"Okay, so how did she take it?"
"In multiple ways," Keima started, "of course it started with denial. It was too bizarre and in conflict with her image of me to immediately accept, but hard evidence was enough to stop her from calling me a liar and raging at me. It lasted for like two days during which me and Eri had to take over the café. After that, my mother accepted the truth and it became... weird..." he paused.
"Go on," Chihiro prodded him.
"Well, first thing is that she doesn't seem to be able to decide what to do with me," Keima continued, "it was clear before. I was a disgrace of a nerd son and she was constantly on my case. Now sometimes she seems angry I didn't tell her anything."
"I'm not saying you should tell her sooner, but her behavior is understandable," Chihiro said, thinking of what her mother would say if she told her she was running with Keima invisible among violence-thirsty Vintage agents.
"That's not all," Keima stood up, "other times she looks as if she saw me and Eri for the first time. Like she doesn't know us anymore. Like she's scared."
"Can't say that surprising either," Chihiro said. She already noticed something in his story and current demeanor, but she kept quiet for now, "you have to understand her. She had her views on you for, like, 17 years now, so a shock is pretty normal. Your new image is fighting the old one. I believe it has a name in psychology."
"Cognitive dissonance, yes," Keima said, "but I guess you're right, it's just... it's difficult."
"Well, sucks to be you then," Chihiro said, "what about the others? I mean Kanon's parents," she clarified when Keima looked at her blankly, "they were there, right?"
"Yes," Keima said, "Kanon's manager seemed to have been in shock as well, but she's passed it now," he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, "she already started spewing ideas on how to use Apollo's magic and healing abilities to improve Kanon's performance. Kanon and Apollo are not amused."
"I'm surprised she didn't want to use your abilities," Chihiro mused and Keima laughed darkly.
"Oh, she did," he said, "she wanted me to work on Kanon's schedule and other stuff, but Kanon told me I have absolutely no obligation to do anything Okada asks me to do."
"Nice," Chihiro said, "but you were supposed to talk about Kanon's parents."
"Well, they were very angry with Kanon at first for not telling them about anything, including the assassination attempt," Keima started, "then they apparently got really angry at me for putting Kanon in danger."
"You put her in danger?" Chihiro asked. "It was those dark-cloaked bastards who-"
"I marked Kanon as a goddess' host," Keima said.
"Otherwise we would have a damn world end!"
"I ignored the signs of Vintage targeting Kanon," Keima said firmly, "I let her get hurt."
"You saved her!"
"At the cost of hurting you and Ayumi."
"Well... you're not wrong there..."
"And there was that last attack too," Keima added, "anyway, it's no surprise Kanon's parents are doubting whether I'm a good boyfriend for their daughter."
At this Chihiro straightened herself on the chair.
"Don't tell me you broke up with Kanon," the brown-haired girl asked, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"No, I didn't."
"Did... her parents want you to break up?"
"Well... it seems they brought up such a suggestion, but Kanon didn't take it well. Apparently, she and her parents had a big argument," Keima smiled weakly, "so I basically made their family turn against each other."
Chihiro snorted. "Kanon-chan has the right to decide what to do and she's been living alone for a long time and she's adult enoug-why are you laughing?"
"What you're saying is exactly what Kanon told her parents," Keima brushed his hair out of his face. Chihiro wondered when was the last time he washed it, "so... in result, I was invited for a dinner."
"Ooh... that's good, right?" Chihiro asked.
"It's a lot of pressure," Keima said, "it's not like in games. Or it's like in games, but after encountering a poison flag. It'll be a minefield now. The success depends on so many variables..."
"But you want it to succeed," Chihiro stated, not asked.
Keima was silent for a moment and then shrugged. "I guess I'm not used to losing or turning down challenges, so I'm treating this as a game, as I always did."
"Bullshit!" Chihiro said, startling him. "Look at yourself," she told him and when his incredulous expression didn't change she continued, "tell me, when was the last time you've been concerned about what your family thinks of you? When was the last time you were so concerned about your real girlfriend and what her real parents think of you?"
Chihiro paused for a moment, to calm down, before she continued. "You do have a good idea what's going on with you, don't you?"
Keima was silent for a while. Unlike what Chihiro expected he didn't look away, look down or close his eyes. Instead, he looked back at her with a determined expression. Once upon a time, she would have taken that gaze as a glare, a challenge or an insult and it'd make her disturbed. She didn't exactly approve — as that was part of why he was shunned by his peers — but now as she got to know him more, she understood that look better. The look like the one he had given her back on Akanemaru a while ago. The look of someone who had his own beliefs, who knew himself and who wouldn't let the world around him dictate what was fun or interesting and what wasn't.
Except he didn't really seem like he was himself right now.
"Okay," he said suddenly, bringing her back to the topic at hand, "I'll bite. What's going on with me?"
Chihiro briefly wondered if he really didn't know or was it just a way to defend himself, but she just decided to go along with it.
"You're changing," she started, "you see yourself as you were years before and it disagrees with what you're going through right now... a cognitive dissonance as you have put it."
"I'm changing?" he repeated. "How?"
"As I said, before, you're caring about the stuff you wouldn't care for before," Chihiro explained, "like your parents, friends... your life in general, I guess."
"I cared for my life before... at least my life in the game world," he said, before pausing, "are you suggesting I'm becoming part of the real?"
"Well, yes and no," Chihiro answered.
"That doesn't make sense," Keima said, "it's either one or the other."
Chihiro shook her head. "What I mean is, you're changing from the otamega Katsuragi we all know... but you think that'll immediately make you like us normies."
"Wouldn't it?" Keima snorted.
"You see, the thing is you're different from us. I mean fundamentally different," Chihiro said, "even as a gamer you were never like other gamers..."
"So, what happens, when I stop being... me?" Keima asked, unsure.
"Who knows?" Chihiro mused. "Maybe you'll be like Einstein or Hawking. One thing is for sure. It's happening," Chihiro sighed, "Kanon-chan sure is something..."
Keima blinked. "What do you mean?"
Chihiro gave him a look. "Don't play stupid," she said, "I agree that your family deserved to know the truth... but I understand why you wanted to avoid it. It's a lot of hassle for someone who wants to be left in peace... yet you agreed. Because Kanon pleaded you."
"How do you know this?" Keima asked before he answered his own question. "Eri... I'm going to murder her."
"No you won't," Chihiro said, "it's tough for her now as well, so she needs ours and your support as well. The same goes for your mother. All of you are trapped between 'old status quo' and 'new status quo'... I know the transition is hard and it's not going to be pretty... but you're going to go through this and you're going to be happy about that," Chihiro finished as she stood up.
Keima thought she was going back downstairs, but instead, the brown-haired girl walked to his closet and started to rummage in it.
"What do you think you're doing?" he hollered.
"Relax, I'm not searching for your porn, or eroge, collection, that'd probably be under your bed."
"I don't-" Keima started before Chihiro threw something at him. He looked down to see a fresh shirt and pair of pants... and a towel. He looked back at her, incredulous.
"What is that for?" he asked.
"You look like a mess," Chihiro pointed to his hair and eyes, "so you will take a shower, then you will wear fresh clothes and then you will walk downstairs and talk with your sister and parents and make the new status quo come faster," she gave him a hard look, "and if you refuse, then the only difference will be that me and Yui will drag you downstairs."
Keima sighed, but obeyed.
(* * *)
Finally, the ringing stopped and the intercom came to life.
"Hello? Who is it?" a voice asked.
"It's Keima," the gamer said.
"Okay, give me a minute, Keima-kun," the line went dead after this.
Of course, it was more than a minute, but after some time Kanon did come out of the elevator and out of the building to meet him.
"Good day, Keima-kun," the idol said.
Kanon was using Apollo's illusion, but it extended only to her hair, which was long and brown. Together with her boring glasses, it made for a decent disguise. She was also wearing clothes Keima hadn't seen previously. Actually — aside from her school uniform and the dark coat get-up she used for disguise — he didn't remember ever seeing her wear the same set of clothes twice. However, while the particular articles might've been different and unique, the general theme and purpose he had seen before. Kanon was used to glamorous stage dresses, so she naturally strove for more casual, common and easy-to-wear clothes when off duty. However, this time the casual part was toned down, giving the girl the air of maturity and seriousness. And Keima knew exactly why.
They were going for dinner at her parents' place today.
Fortunately, Keima himself didn't have to choose between being himself and trying to dress up, because his usual shirt and pants seemed fitting enough for the occasion without the need to do anything.
Okay, maybe he was better groomed than usual, but his mother did this.
Okay, maybe she didn't, but she would have nagged him otherwise, so it's the same thing.
"So," Kanon said, bringing him back, "shall we start walking?"
"Walking?" Keima repeated. "You mean Okada isn't waiting around the corner to give us a ride?"
"No."
"Are your parents fine with you walking the streets like that?"
"Well, it's not like I'm alone," Kanon said.
"Yeah, I make you feel safe, I remember," Keima said, "is that enough for your parents?"
"Well... that, me being stubborn and the fact that Haqua-san or some other devil is probably around one of those streetlights," she pointed to the street, "and besides, I wanted to talk to you... alone."
Keima nodded. "How far is to your parents' place?"
"Well, I normally don't really walk there from my apartment," Kanon said, "but I'd say it's no more than 15 minutes."
"Alright," Keima said as they started walking, "what did you want to talk about then?"
"I'm sorry, Keima-kun," Kanon said with her face downcast.
Keima looked at her surprised. "For what?"
"I dragged you into this and made your life more difficult again."
"It's funny," Keima remarked.
"Huh?" Kanon uttered, not understanding.
"Back then you argued with me to have it your way and now you're being sorry for making it hard for me," Keima explained, "it's really ask-for-attention-then-fry-him-then-apologize with you, isn't it?"
"I'm so sorry!" Kanon said.
"It's alright," Keima said, making her look up, "I was the first who dragged you into this entire business when I marked you as goddess host 10 years ago," Keima said, "if anything, we're even."
"S-so... you're not mad?" Kanon asked, looking lost.
"No, not really," Keima said, before pausing, "now, if that's all you wanted to tell me, then I suggest we talk about our game."
"Our game?"
"Yes, summer break is not going to last forever and our time is already tight, so we may as well use that 15 minutes to talk. I do have a few ideas I want to bounce off you."
Kanon didn't say anything.
"So," Keima offering his arm to her, making the idol even more flabbergasted, "shall we get going?"
Kanon was unmoving for a moment, before she took the offered arm and started walking with Keima, looking away from him to hide her blush... only to look into a window, where she saw happy-looking Apollo showing her thumbs up.
"So, about our game," Keima started and 20 seconds later they Kanon already found herself invested in the conversation.
(* * *)
As I said, it's not a perfect cutting point, but it allows to divide it into two almost equal-sized chapters.
Anyway, some important things happened here as you can see. First and foremost: Kanon somehow convinced Keima to tell the truth and the result is unprecedented in this series: now Mari Katsuragi finally knows what's been going on and so do Kanon's parents... who don't seem to have reacted too well and the next obstacles on Kanon and Keima's route to happy ending is a dreaded dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Nakagawa. Don't worry though, I'm sure Keima will be polite and... well, who am I kidding...
Moreover, we also got to see Keima struggling with his own identity so much that Tenri's help is not enough and Chihiro had to fill the role of an additional therapist, helping Keima realize that he might be becoming a little different then he had expected the entire time. Chihiro also forces Keima and Eri to talk things with their mother, though we don't get to see the result of this talk.
I guess you'll have to wait for another chapter to see how Keima survives dealing with his and Kanon's parents. :)
As usual, I want to thank everyone for their support, including views, favs, follows and reviews. They always make me happy. Please, continue to support me and let me know what you think of my story.
Below are responses to the latest reviews:
Ghost Man: yup, Z-axis 180 degree rotation was successfully applied :). Yup, Okada kida still underestimated Keima's passion when it comes to games. Heh, I wonder when Kanon is more yanderish: with or without her batteries charged :P. Lol, I didn't even think of the lesbian possibility. That'd be interesting. *gasps* No issues? Are you sure you have the right fanfic? :P
EdszxNeo (first): thank you very much for giving me such an elaborate review. It's so long that I don't even know what to comment about. I'm honored mine is the first fanfiction you reviewed. Also it always feel great to see someone enjoying this series and fandom like you do. Heh, Apollo is totally underappreciated here :P. Glad you liked the details. Though, it's not a nondescript, censored, alien burger! It's BigWac *huffs offended* xD. Yes, Kanon is a girl of (pop)culture :P. Lessgoo xD.
Big Bad Beowolf: thank you for the review, glad you like the chapter. I thought about Okada seeing Eri and Kanon (it was far more logical and easy to do), but I specifically wanted Kanon's mother involved for reasons.
ZelgadisGW: is this Blackbeard's laugh I'm hearing? Yeah, butting heads for the win! No idea what you mean with the carpet thing *whistles innocently*. Yup, Kanon make sure Keima is comfortable...-ish. Thank you for the review!
EdszxNeo (second): I think Keima not having male friends is one of the points that makes him him, though I agree that Ryou is next to useless and we have only 3 important-ish male characters in the story. I can already see a "Kanon Nakagawa co. – schedule fixing" signboard with a knife symbol underneath xD. Yup, Kanon's very
diligent. *gasps* You predicted Eri's appearance! o.O Heh, I believe Elnon ("Elsie" + "Kanon") is fan-made name for whe Elsie was substituting for Kanon in the manga :P. It's magic *snort* *snort* xD. Also, thanks for the corrections. :)
Sir Sleeps-a-lot (both): lol, you say that to a gain who updated after 3 months. No biggie. I'm always very happy to see and read your reviews. Especially since I wasn't very fast for reviewing myself. I'm glad you appreciate all the little details :). It's almost as if Keima is having a double life xD. Yup, nice reference you have there. It's not like I can compete with you when it comes to music :). *blushes at all the compliments to my writing* T-thank you very much. Keima's idiot hair said it wasn't over yet and it shall have it revenge! xD Nooo, don't tase my reviewers just because they give nice and long reviews! Bad Kanon! *gets tased myself*
Heh, I didn't even notice I always gave Kanon kissing privacy. Yup, Kanon is not just listeniing. She knows what kinda game she wants to make! :) Laughed at Keimonium xD. Yes, beds and carpets are nice ;). Now that you mention it... maybe Kanon's mother should walk in on something else sometime in the future :P. Once again thank you for your reviews, they sure brighten my day :).
El Sasori69: thank you for the suggestions. As you can see, Keima and Kanon got to fight a little bit. Maybe it wasn't very intense or long-term, but Kanon did put her foot down, so I hope you're satisfied. As for Yui, I do have one or two ideas, but we'll have to see about that.
UzumeofGamindustri: thank you very much for your review! So, KamiNomiNai was the best in your opinion? Glad to hear that :).
Sol D. Mars: thank you very much, glad that you like the direction the story is taking. I hope you'll like the further chapters too. And I understand you: Ayumi is a great girl :).
Jargax: yes, thank you very much for taking your time to review :). I hope you'll enjoy the rest of this story and that I'll be able to write it faster.
Fss The Red Devil: welcome to the part. Glad you reviewed :). I think it's time to establish "Ayumi and Haqua" bodyguarding agency :). Bad pun? Where? The capacitated one was a great pun :). Sorry to dash your hopes concerning the apartment thing. And I'm not your favorite Polish person anymore? T.T Yes, I'm evil! Muahahaha! :). Nooo! I'm not the second favorite Polish person now? So... am I your favorite again? Yay! \0/
Okay, that's it for today. Stay tuned for the next chapter coming in a week!
See you next time!