Chapter 17 - Momo Part 1
It's a beautiful, clear-blue-sky kind of day in the town of Sainan.
Children play tag on a jungle gym.
Teenagers on the sidewalk wave to a police cruiser patrolling the streets; the two cops inside wave back.
Two elderly men play chess outside a barbershop.
A jogger with a dog stops at a water fountain for a quick drink.
A young couple sitting on a bench by the river share a heartfelt kiss.
Below the bench on the grass, a gust of wind carries the pappus seeds of a dozen dandelions into the air.
As the seeds ascend higher into the sky, the slender hand of Momo snatches a few of them. She smells the seeds, smiles, and blows them into the wind. As she hovers in the air, she takes in the wondrous sights of the peaceful town below. Her moment is interrupted by her ringing cellphone.
"Hey, Mikan," she answers.
"Hey, sorry. Forgot to mention, we also need eggs," replies Mikan over the phone.
"Oh, no problem. I'll add it to the list," says Momo.
"Thanks, Momo. See ya back home," says Mikan.
"See ya then," says Momo, hanging up her phone. Then she resumes flying.
Such a beautiful day, she thinks. Hard to believe less than a week ago, all these kind, innocent people were nearly vaporized by that Stem jerk. Now, here they are, living their lives without a care in the world. Hmm?
She stops when she notices a group of teenage punks spray-painting a wall in an alley; it's a breathtaking mural of Rito striking a heroic pose.
And it's all thanks to him, thinks Momo as she smiles.
The alley is between a coin laundry and a TV store. One of the punks notices the news playing on the TVs displayed in the store window.
"Hey, guys, check it out," says the punk. All of the punks gather around the TVs.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Momo lands on a street light, and watches the news from above.
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A news reporter named Kimiko Shina stands in the parking lot of what's left of Sainan High. Behind her, a construction crew consisting of humans and aliens work round the clock to rebuild the school.
Kimiko smiles, and begins her report. "And we're back. As you can see, reconstruction of Sainan High is nearing completion. One week ago, the school was devastated in the early stages of the historic battle between the hostile alien criminal known as Stem, and the young hero who saved the planet, not to mention the whole universe, Sainan High's very own, Rito Yuki. Since then, this selfless crew of both humans and aliens alike have been working nonstop to repair the campus. Students, staff and the general community will be pleased to know the school will be fully rebuilt by tomorrow, and reopen as early as next week."
Footage of the moon plays onscreen; it looks as good as new; not a trace of the epic battle anywhere.
"Speaking of rebuilding, as many will remember, the moon itself was decimated during the concluding stages of the historic battle. But as our sovereign King Gid of Deviluke promised, he reshaped the landscape back to its original state in a matter of minutes. As well as...left behind a personal calling card," says Kimiko in voice-over.
Zoomed-in footage of the moon reveals the following words engraved in a crater: KING GID WAS HERE.
Momo shakes her head in embarrassment.
A hilarious photo of a wide-eyed, bed-headed Rito appears onscreen, like someone took his picture when he wasn't ready for it.
"As for Rito Yuki, we can all breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the young student was discharged from medical care, having already made a full recovery," says Kimiko.
A recorded talk show of Rito and Oprah plays onscreen.
"While Yuki is grateful for all the praise he's received, he wishes for nothing more than, in his own words, to return to his normal life," says Kimiko.
Rito's segment from the recorded talk show plays. "I, uh, I'm not king just yet. It'll be some time before I am. So until then, I'd like my life to go back to the way it was. You know, I, I appreciate everyone's kind words, but honestly, I'm just looking forward to going back to school," he jokes, making Oprah and the audience laugh. "To everyone watching, I humbly ask that you respect both my and my loved ones' privacy. Thank you," he finishes.
Kimiko continues, "While his request was honored by some, it has fallen on deaf ears for others. World leaders from the UN, as well as alien dictators from foreign planets, have been clamoring for a chance to meet-and-greet the young hero following his victory. As the savior of the universe, it's no understatement to say Rito Yuki is now everyone's favorite idol. Of course, this hasn't come without its own share of controversy. Several military organizations have approached Yuki, some seeking to turn him into a weapon, while others fear he may turn against the people of Earth, and argue for his imprisonment. But regardless of what the military or government officials have to say, public outcry leans in Yuki's favor. Many support his request to be left alone, as well as his succession to the throne, with #AllHailKingRito! exploding across various social media platforms. Yuki himself has personally stated that he refuses to be used as a tool for war, and will work to prevent such conflicts when he takes the throne. And it seems many of our alien neighbors support his cause."
Footage of hundreds of alien ships orbiting Earth plays onscreen.
Kimiko continues, "As mentioned before, following the historic battle, many alien species have visited Earth, simply to thank Yuki in person for his service. In response, world leaders seized the opportunity to begin peaceful relations with said species."
Dozens of photos slide across the screen, all showing leaders, presidents, ministers, kings and queens of every country shaking hands with the alien leaders of various planets as a sign of peace.
Kimiko reappears onscreen, and concludes, "Not since the Apollo 11 moon landing has mankind taken such a giant leap. Will peaceful relations with these new species be achieved? And if so, what will this new peace bring? New worlds to explore? New technologies and cultures to share? Whatever the future holds, I think I speak for all of us, and I mean ALL of us, when I say both the future and the universe are in the best of hands. The hands of Rito Yuki. And if he's watching right now, I just wanna say...thank you, Rito."
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The punks watching the news holler and high-five one another.
Up on the street light, Momo smiles at the news, and at the relief it's already starting to bring to the public. Then she flies off.
It seems everyone, even mere strangers, have already put their trust in Rito, she thinks. This turned out better than I'd ever dream. Sure, it maybe moving a little too fast, but Daddy's got everything handled for now. Rito will continue living his life, prepare himself, finish school and become king when the time is right. Though I can't help but laugh. He can battle a cyborg-alien on the moon, and give an inspirational speech to trillions of people, but he still gets nervous from all the attention. He's so cute.
She puts her hand on her heart, and her expression frowns.
I just realized...he's been so busy, we haven't spent any time together. It'd be nice if he were here, even if it's just getting groceries, she thinks. Wonder what he's up to right now.
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Downtown, Rito walks alone on the sidewalk.
As he passes by random people, they slow down, smile at him, and say things like "Good morning" or "Thank you."
No one harasses him for an autograph or selfie; not because they're scared of him, but because they're respectful of him.
He saved all their lives. All he asked in return is that he's treated the same as he was before. To his relief, they're honoring his request.
I'm really happy things turned out like this, he thinks. Then he looks at his watch, freaks out and starts running. Oh, crap. If I'm late, she's gonna kill me.
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Outside the grocery store, Momo exits with a single plastic bag of groceries.
"Well, that's everything. Time to head home," she says before taking off to the skies again.
A pair of birds fly next to her. They court and kiss one another mid-flight, and then fly off.
Momo watches them go, and becomes lost in thought.
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Flashback sequence
The morning after Rito and Yui shared their night together at Mikado's clinic, he contacted his friends and family, telling them he was okay. Not two minutes later, Momo arrived at the clinic by herself. The sight of Rito's smiling face brought tears to her eyes, and she hugged him so hard, Yui had to pry her off to prevent her from breaking his bones. Though he was happy to see Momo, he was surprised no one else showed up; Momo said that was a secret.
Later, Mikado returned to the clinic, still a little hungover from her night out with Tearju. She finished evaluating Rito, confirmed his good health, and granted his discharge. The dark matter power within him was stable. Of course, she couldn't help tease the girls, telling them it won't be a problem for Rito when he has kids. Rito, Yui and Momo blushed pure crimson. Mikado explained Rito will be able to father children normally, but while some of his kids maybe born normal, some maybe born with dark matter in their bodies. Rito became worried, but Mikado assured him they'll be fine, and promised she'd be the obstetrician for his future children, which only made him and the girls blush even harder. Momo internally agreed with Mikado, believing Rito's children will become great leaders and warriors who will maintain the peace their father will one day create.
When it was time to leave the clinic and escort Rito home, Momo requested Mikado come along just in case Rito collapsed on the sidewalk or something. Mikado became suspicious, but agreed. And so, Momo, Yui and Mikado walked Rito home together, and wouldn't take "no" from him for an answer. But just as they left the clinic, they were accosted by Zastin and three Devilukean bodyguards.
Apparently, they formed a perimeter around the clinic, and stationed themselves at different blocks on the street; they'd been guarding Rito the whole time while he was recovering without anyone knowing, including Mikado. Their goal wasn't just preventing crowds of paparazzi from swarming the clinic, but also preventing any assassination attempts on Rito's life. But for obvious reasons, the public wasn't even informed of where Rito was being treated. Still, Zastin didn't want to take any chances, and took it upon himself to protect the heir apparent to the throne. While Rito thought Zastin was being ridiculous, he was grateful to him.
But as Rito and the girls started home, Zastin and the bodyguards shadowed them. Much to Rito's dismay, Zastin wanted to keep him under protective watch at all times from now on. Rito worried doing so would only draw more attention, and humbly dismissed Zastin and the guards. When they annoyingly refused, Momo got angry, ordered them to go to Rito's house immediately, and threatened to tell her father if they disobeyed. Zastin and the bodyguards hilariously got scared, accepted her order, and took off to Rito's house. Rito questioned Momo why she'd send them to his house, but she said it was simply another secret.
As they walked home, it wasn't long before strangers on the street began heckling Rito for autographs and selfies. Even Yui's tsundere attitude wasn't enough to scare them away. With no other choice, and not wanting to admit Zastin was right, the group took to the skies; Rito flew while carrying Yui, and Momo flew while carrying Mikado.
Once they arrived, they were astonished by the crowds surrounding Rito's house, but grateful to Zastin and the bodyguards who were keeping them at bay. They landed on the front lawn safely. But just as Rito opened the front door, Lala, Nana and Celine came flying through it, and tackled him onto the grass. They shed tears of joy, happy he was alive and back home. He comforted them until they stopped crying.
When they went inside, Rito, Yui and Mikado were greeted to a surprise party, celebrating Rito's victory and recovery. Everyone close to him was in attendance; his parents, his friends from school (Saruyama, Mio, Ren, Aya, Saki, Tearju and Oshizu), Mikan's friends (Sachie, Mami and Genno), all of his lovers, and most surprisingly, all of his lovers' family members. From there, Rito was showered with all manners of affection and gratitude from the guests, most of whom thanked him with hugs, handshakes, bows and shoulder pats.
His parents, Ringo and Saibai, embraced him with tearful eyes, and told him how proud they were of him.
His eleven lovers stole his lips, each of them kissing him several times in front of everyone.
And suffice to say, he received marriage blessings from all of his lovers' families; they all supported the harem plan without question.
Run and Ren's parents, the king and queen Memorze, embraced Rito with open arms.
Kyouko's parents, the Kirisakis, ambushed Rito next. Kyouko's human mother kissed Rito's cheeks, and her Flamian father shook his hand, nearly setting it on fire.
Risa's parents, who managed to take time off work to be with their daughter, squeezed Rito so tightly, he nearly fainted.
Rin's parents, more the traditional type, bowed before Rito as if he were a feudal lord.
Yui's parents hugged Rito, and her brother Yuu gave him a hearty smack on the back.
Haruna's parents hugged Rito, her sister Akiho kissed his forehead, and even her dog Maron licked his face.
And of course, King Gid and Queen Sephie were in attendance. Gid believed he already said everything he needed to say back on the moon, so he just patted Rito's shoulder, and helped himself to the delicious spread of food for the rest of the party. Sephie, on the other hand, couldn't keep her hands off Rito. She hugged him, and innocently buried his face into her enormous bosom, flustering all of his lovers with jealousy. Lala, Momo and Nana comically had to pry him away from their mother's grip.
Yami jokingly reminded Rito of his promise to throw "the biggest party ever" after he defeated Stem, which caused the whole house to erupt with laughter. While Rito didn't in fact throw the party himself, it still happened anyway, and he and everyone else were more than satisfied with how it turned out.
Momo gave a toast to Rito, thanking him for saving the universe, and wishing him good luck as the new king. After that, everyone enjoyed the party to the fullest. Rito's parents showed off his baby pictures to his lovers, making them squeal with delight, and him with humiliation. Music, dancing, and laughter filled the house and backyard. All the while, Zastin and the bodyguards stood outside around the block on security detail, keeping anyone and everyone from getting in and ruining the festivities. Thanks to them, Rito and everyone enjoyed the night.
But Rito couldn't help noticing Mikan avoiding him throughout the party.
Eventually, the crowds and paparazzi dispersed, but Zastin and the bodyguards remained on post. True to their word, there'd be guards posted indefinitely around Rito's house until he became king. Rito preferred they'd leave, especially since he himself was more than powerful enough to deal with anyone coming to his house looking for trouble. But in the end, he accepted their presence as a necessary precaution.
Aside from that and Rito's newfound fame, life gradually returned to normal for him and his friends.
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Still flying through the air with the bag of groceries, Momo returns to reality, looks down and smiles at the town of Sainan.
I can't believe how much has changed. But...some things haven't, she ponders whilst frowning. Rito...the girls appointed me as the harem manager, but you still haven't even recognized me as part of the harem yet. I know you've been working hard to become king, and I didn't want to be selfish and force my love upon you. At least, not again. But it's over. You did it, you won. You proved yourself worthy of the throne, defeated Stem, and charmed all the girls you needed to. But even after all this time, you still haven't answered my confession. Am I still being punished for secretly wanting to be your best girl? I just...I...huh?
She spots Rito running on the sidewalk.
"Rito?" she asks, surprised. Then her face radiates with joy. "Oh, what perfect timing! And he's alone for once. Now's my chance," she says, descending fast towards him. But just as she's about to call out his name-
"Sorry to keep you waiting," says Rito to someone on the sidewalk.
Momo halts her descent, and hides behind a billboard when she sees Rito stopping and panting before Yui, who stands in front of a café with her arms folded and her face in a scowl.
"Late on our FIRST date?" hisses Yui.
Rito prostrates himself before her with a bow, and starts fishing for excuses. "I'm so sorry, Yui. The interview lasted longer than expected. I tried to bail, but they just wouldn't let me go."
"Uh-uh," she says, not buying it.
"You're right. I was escaping a mob of fangirls, and told them I already had the best girl in the universe waiting for me," he says.
"No," she says.
"You got me. I wanted to get you a gift from the store, but couldn't decide and lost track of time," he says.
"Try again," she says.
"Uh...traffic?" he says with a sheepish smile.
Yui glares at him until her mouth curves into a smile, and she breaks into a fit of laughter. "Come here, dummy."
Rito walks up to her, and plants a big, wet one on her lips. She responds in kind by sticking her tongue in his mouth. Up above, Momo watches the steamy display of affection from behind the billboard. Her eyes dazzle, and her mouth drools.
EEEEYYY! she thinks. This turned out SO MUCH better than I could ever dream.
Rito and Yui finally break away, faces red and breathing heavy.
"You're shameless," teases Rito.
"Shut up, hmm-hmm," teases Yui.
"But I really did get you a gift," he says, revealing a small box of chocolates from inside his jacket.
"Oh, Rito," she gushes, accepting the box.
"Hope you don't mind store-bought," he says.
Yui opens the box, and sees half the chocolates melted from being inside Rito's jacket. "Or melted," she jokes.
Rito smacks his head. "Sorry."
Yui strokes her finger through the melted chocolate, tastes it, and smiles. "Still tastes delicious. You pass."
"Phew. Well, then, shall we?" he insists, offering his hand.
"Let's," she replies, taking his hand.
They walk hand-in-hand into the café. Momo watches them from up on the billboard.
This I gotta see, she thinks. But before she flies down, she realizes she's still carrying the bag of groceries. Oh, man. I really need to get these back to Mikan. I could fly super fast back to the house and come back, but Rito and Yui will be gone by then. Think, Momo, think. Wait! I got it!
She whips our phone, and sends a text.
...
Suddenly, a warp portal appears next to Momo.
"Wow, that was fast," she says.
Lala emerges out of the portal. Her hair is wet, she's wearing a towel, she holds her phone in one hand, and her warp bracelet in the other; she was in the middle of a shower when she teleported. Momo is baffled.
"Momo! I got your text! What's the emergency? Are you okay?" asks Lala, grabbing Momo's shoulders with worry.
"Uh," says Momo.
"Does anything hurt? Is Stem back? Is Rito in danger?" asks Lala.
Oh, Big Sis, thinks Momo, shaking her head. Maybe I shouldn't have told her it was an emergency.
"Momo?" asks Lala.
"Oh, everything's fine, Big Sis, promise. I was just wondering if you could give this to Mikan," says Momo, offering the grocery bag. "Tell her I'm sorry, but something came up."
"Oh. Okay, then," says Lala, cheerfully accepting the grocery bag without question. "Oh, wow! Is that curry in there?"
"Yep. Mikan said she'd make it tonight," says Momo.
"Then I'll get these back to her right away. You can count on me, Momo," says Lala.
"Thanks, Big Sis. Uh, sorry to inconvenience you like this," says Momo.
"No worries. We're sisters, after all," says Lala.
"That's right. But, uh, maybe have Peke give you some clothes next time," suggests Momo.
"Hmm?" asks Lala.
"Oh, never mind. I'll see you at home," says Momo.
"Okay. Later," says Lala, stepping back through the portal. Soon as she does, it disappears.
Momo sighs. That girl is so adorably innocent, she thinks. Now then.
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Momo flies down onto the sidewalk, and ducks beneath the front window. Then she slowly peeks her head up, and spies on the store. She gasps at what she sees inside.
The café isn't just any café, but a cat café. Where there aren't tables for the dozen customers drinking coffee, there's an assortment of scratching posts for the clowder of cats and kittens littered around the café.
Oh, wow, thinks Momo, marveling at the cute felines. Then she spots Yui and Rito.
They sit on the carpet in the corner, playing with the cats. Yui gushes with glee, petting, cradling, and rubbing her cheeks on every cat she can gently get her hands on. Rito shines the red dot of a laser pen on the wall, moving it around as several cats jump for it. He and Yui laugh, enjoying themselves to the fullest.
One of the cats manages to catch the red dot.
"Hey, way to go, little guy," says Rito. "Huh?"
To his surprise, the cat in question isn't just any cat; it's the same stray, tabby cat from the playground; the one Rito and Yui saved from those three thugs who were throwing rocks at him.
"Yui," says Rito, getting her attention.
She follows his gaze, and her face lights up when she sees the tabby. He looks Yui up and down, walks over and pounces into her lap. Yui's eyes begin to water with joyful tears, but she wipes them away, and smiles. She lifts the cat, and lovingly rubs her face against his, making him purr.
"Hello, precious," she says.
The tabby cheerfully meows in response.
Yui feels Rito's eyes on her. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just...I love you, Yui," he says, smiling.
Yui blushes, not expecting that. But she smiles back, and holds his hand. "I love you too, Rito."
They lean forward, and press their lips together. Soon as they do, everyone in the café applauds and cheers, happy for them. Even all of the cats meow their congratulations. Rito and Yui break away, flushed with embarrassment, but still holding hands. They trade looks, and laugh at themselves.
Momo continues spying on them from the sidewalk.
What a splendid date, she thinks. I can't wait to see what he has planned for the rest of the girls.
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One day in Nana's virtual safari.
Out in an open field, Rito and Nana play with the family of blue pandas.
Kor and Ebby munch on a pile of green leaves which Nana gathers. Rito plays tag with the kids, scrambling around as they chase him. Atto and Pumpo get a hold of his legs, and Areya tackles his chest. They all go tumbling into the grass, laughing.
"Okay, you kids, come eat," says Nana to the children.
The blue panda cubs moan, wanting to play with Rito some more.
"Come on. Don't make me ask twice," says Nana, stomping over to them.
"Uh-oh. I think Nana needs a tickle, you guys," teases Rito.
Nana stops walking, and backs away. "Rito, don't you dare."
"Here I come," says Rito, rushing towards her.
Nana runs away. "Rito, no! No, no, no!"
Rito catches up to her, grabs her around the waist, twirls her around and tickles her.
"No, no, stop! I'm serious. I'm gonna kill you, no, ha-ha, no, ha-ha," she says before bursting into laughter.
As Rito spins her around, he drops onto the grass with her on top of him. The blue pandas laugh with them.
"You beast," she teases.
"You know you like it," he replies.
She cups his face with her hand, leans down and kisses him. He hugs her with one arm, and kisses her back.
A few yards away, Momo lays face-down on the top of a hill, spying on them through a pair of binoculars. She enjoys the sight.
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One day at the park.
Rito and Yami sit on a bench, holding hands, reading the same book and sharing the same bag of taiyaki. Then Rito notices Yami getting flustered and twitching her shoulders.
"Yami?" he asks.
"I-It's nothing," she says.
...
Then she looks up at him. "Actually, Rito..."
"Yeah?" he asks.
Yami leans closer, and whispers something in his ear. Rito becomes equally flustered.
"Y-You sure?" he asks.
"Don't make me repeat myself," she says.
"Right, sorry," he responds. "Well, uh...if you insist."
With that, he props his legs up on the bench, lays down, and rests his head on Yami's lap. Both his and Yami's faces turn beet red. Rito can feel her legs shaking under his head. She gulps, and begins petting his hair.
"H-How does that feel?" she asks.
"It, uh, feels nice," he responds.
"Really?" she asks.
"Really," he replies.
"I'm glad, hmm-hmm," she says.
"Ah, you got some taiyaki paste on your cheek," he says, raising his hand and wiping the paste off her cheek.
It takes a moment for him to realize he's touching her face. Not wanting to upset her, he withdraws his hand. But then she grasps his hand, and returns it to her face, enjoying the sensation of his touch. They smile at each other. She lowers her head, he lifts his, and they connect their lips.
Up in a tree, Momo watches them with a giddy expression.
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One day by the river where Rito used to train with the Kurosaki sisters.
Rito and Mea nap together on the grassy slope.
Momo watches them from up on the bridge, drinking a bottled soda and bored out of her mind.
Kinda lame for a date, she thinks. Then again, Rito did just have three-in-a-row. No wonder he's tired. Hmm?
Just then, Mea stirs awake. Actually, it's more like she was never asleep to begin with; she was just pretending, and waiting for Rito to fall asleep. She lifts her ponytail, and prepares to use psycho-dive on Rito.
On the bridge, Momo watches in confusion, and ponders. Why is she-
Then she comically spits out her drink in shock.
Oh, no, she thinks. She wouldn't. Oh, who am I kidding? Of course, she would.
Down on the slope, Mea's ponytail inches closer to Rito's forehead.
She's gonna make love to Rito in his dreams, thinks Momo, unfurling her wings. She's breaking the harem rules. I've gotta stop her.
But before she takes off, Rito's hand seizes Mea's ponytail, surprising both Mea and Momo. Rito opens one eyes, and glares at Mea.
"Oh, Rito, you were awake, hehe," says Mea, sheepishly.
"And you're dead," teases Rito.
Mea laughs and starts running; Rito gives chase. As Mea runs along the river, she trips and splashes into the water.
"Mea! You okay?" asks Rito, offering his hand.
"Yeah, I'm good," she replies, taking his hand. Then she gives him a smug grin, and yanks him into the water with her.
"Oh, you really love pushing your luck," says Rito.
"Only when you're around," replies Mea.
They swim up to each other, embrace and share a kiss.
Back on the bridge, Momo sighs in relief. I'll give her a good scolding later.
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One night at the local movie theater, the marquee displays the newest releases; one of them reads "Space Pirates 5."
Inside the theater, only a dozen scattered patrons fill the seats. Among them are Rito and Rin, holding hands as they share popcorn and drinks, and enjoy the schlocky B-movie on the big screen. Rin wears the same outfit she wore on her first date with Rito; a frilly skirt, a ribbon in her hair (which is down instead of tied up as usual), and a tight blouse that accentuates her curves.
During the big climactic battle onscreen, the hero and love interest share a passionate kiss before he runs off to fight.
Rito and Rin trade smiles, both sharing the same thought. They lean closer, and lock their lips for a solid ten seconds before parting. Then Rin rests her head on Rito's shoulder, and he wraps his arm around her.
A few rows behind them in the back, Momo sleeps in her seat; this isn't her kind of movie.
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One day at the local arcade.
Momo hides behind a crane machine, filled with stuffed Rito Yuki toys. She presses her face and scratches her nails against the glass as she eyeballs Rito and Neme playing air hockey.
That girl's got some nerve, thinks Momo. Hauling Rito off to the exact same arcade she forced him to bring her way back when? Looks like Mea's not the only one who needs scolding.
Neme wins the air hockey game, and jumps in celebration. Rito, being the good sport that he is, offers her a high-five. Instead, she grabs him by the collar, yanks him down and steals a kiss as her reward. He's surprised at first, but then just goes with it.
Momo keeps watching them from behind the crane machine. Suddenly, the crane lowers, clasps the hand of a stuffed Rito Yuki toy, raises said toy and drops it into the bin. Momo only just notices the two kids playing the crane game. They give her an awkward look as they collect their toy. Momo smiles sheepishly, and disappears.
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One day inside a karaoke room.
Rito and Kyouko belt out the lyrics from an iconic rock-n-roll, love song. While Kyouko sounds like an angel, Rito sounds like a dying animal. Neither of them can contain their laughter from how awful he sounds.
In the karaoke room next door, Momo listens to them through the wall. Unlike Kyouko who puts up with Rito's abysmal singing, Momo's passed out on the couch, looking like death.
She really, really loves him, she thinks.
Back in the other room, Rito and Kyouko finish their song. They embrace and kiss.
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One day at the maid café where Mio works.
Rito and Risa share a table, trading stories and having laughs.
Mio approaches with a large, lovers-themed, ice cream sundae. Rito is taken aback by the size of the dessert whereas Risa dives right in. Rito shrugs, and helps himself to his side of the sundae.
Then Mio delivers a cup of coffee to another customer seated at a table in the back; it's Momo wearing sunglasses and a hat for a disguise.
Risa feeds a spoonful of her ice cream to Rito; he's embarrassed at first, but accepts it. As he leans forward to eat off her spoon, she seizes the chance to grab his head and pull him in for a kiss.
At the other table, Momo comically spits out of her coffee, which draws attention from the other customers. Momo quickly hides her face behind her menu before Rito and Risa notice her.
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One day at the outdoor water park.
Rito and Run slide down the water slide together; she yells with delight while he screams in terror. Soon as they splash into the pool, they're ambushed by the surrounding patrons. Fans flock to Run due to her idol status, and to Rito for his hero status.
With that, Rito carries Run in his arms like a princess, flies out of the pool, and lands on the other side of the park. Soon as Rito sets Run down, he flusters like crazy; it's one thing for him to see her in a bikini, but holding and carrying her while wearing said bikini is another story. Run smiles and blushes, happy Rito would get all excited for her, feeling like he's finally seeing her after so long.
Run gently touches his face, and kisses him for all eyes to see. Rito buries the embarrassment, and kisses her back. All of the males watching become jealous of Rito while all of the females watching become jealous of Run. After they kiss, Rito takes Run's hand and leads her off to the other pool.
Momo watches them while floating on an inner tube down the lazy river. Unlike before, she has a somber expression on her face.
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One evening in the park, Rito and Haruna take Maron for a walk.
Haruna clings to Rito's arm with one hand, and holds Maron's leash with the other.
She offers the leash to Rito. "Here."
"You sure he won't mind?" he asks.
"Of course not," she replies.
"Alright, then," he says, accepting the leash.
The second he does, Maron spots a butterfly and takes off after it, yanking Rito along for the ride.
"AAAAHHHH!" yells Rito, trying to keep up with the dog.
"Maron, stop! Heel!" calls out Haruna, chasing after them.
"Oh, no!" yelps Rito.
Maron chases the butterfly through the mud, dragging Rito through it. As the butterfly disappears up into a tree, Maron continues barking up at it from the base of the trunk. Meanwhile, Rito tries to stand up, but the ground's so slippery, he keeps sliding and falling back into the mud like an idiot. Haruna finally catches up, and gasps to see her boyfriend all filthy because of her dog.
"Oh, Rito, I'm so sorry," says Haruna.
"No, no, it's okay," says Rito, finally getting on his feet.
"Maron, bad dog! Come here," scolds Haruna.
Maron whimpers, and returns to Haruna.
"What am I gonna do with you?" she says, taking his leash.
"Really, Haruna, it's fine. Dogs will be dogs," says Rito.
"Hmm-hmm," she laughs.
"What? Okay, yes. I've got mud everywhere, haha," he says.
"It's not that. It's just...you're so forgiving. You're gonna make a great king, Rito," she says.
Rito smiles, and approaches her. "And you'll make a great queen. I know it."
For a moment, the two just smile longingly at one another. Then they share a passionate kiss. Once they break off, Haruna wipes some mud off her lips.
"But you DO have mud everywhere," she laughs.
"Yeah, right?" he laughs.
"Come on. Let's go back to my place and..." she says before leaning close to Rito's ear. "Take a bath together," she whispers with a blushing face.
Rito freezes, burns red and erupts with steam. Haruna giggles and skips away, taking Maron with her. Rito watches her go for a moment, gulps, smiles to himself and chases after her.
Hidden behind the public restrooms, Momo appears from behind the wall; she appears sad and lonely as she watches Rito go.
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One night at Rito's house.
In Lala's bedroom, Rito and Lala work together on her gadgets. They disassemble the guns on Lala's wall, improve the faulty gadgets which always result in sexual mishaps, and begin inventing new ones altogether.
Lala finishes repairing the Neme-watches. "All done."
"Thanks, Lala," replies Rito, reaching out for the watches.
But Lala doesn't give them to him. "You know, Rito, you have this new amazing power. Sure you even need these anymore?" she asks, concerned.
"I want to," he says, smiling.
Lala smiles back and hands over the watches, happy he'd still wear them for her. As he straps them on, he notices the assortment of random, disassembled gadgets scattered across the floor; the super vacuum, the sniffer robot dog, the twisty rope, everything.
"You build the craziest things, you know that?" he teases.
"Yeah, I know, hmm-hmm," she replies.
Outside the bedroom, Momo hides and eavesdrops behind the wall.
"I can't wait to see what you'll build next," says Rito.
"What WE'LL build next," says Lala as she touches her belly, implying something other than gadgets.
Rito gets her meaning, and shivers. "Oh, uh, ahem."
"Kidding, hmm-hmm. I know it's way too early to be thinking about that," she says.
"I'll say. Can't imagine the crazy inventions a mini-Lala would build, hehe," he jokes.
"Or the sexual accidents a mini-Rito would cause," she teases.
"Uh, let's hope that's one thing I don't pass on," he says.
"Rito," she says.
"Yeah?" he asks.
She stands up and spreads her arms. "Come here."
While confused, Rito goes along with her request. She embraces and kisses him. For some reason, it feels different than the last few times they've kissed.
"What was that for?" he asks.
"Nothing. I just realized I haven't kissed you today," she says.
"Oh," he says, joyful.
"Rito, the first and last thing I wanna do everyday for the rest of our lives is kiss you," she says, blushing.
He blushes back with a smile. "That can be arranged." He leans forward and kisses her again.
Outside, Momo releases a soft sigh.
It's finally over, she thinks. Project Harem is a resounding success. Well done, Rito. Well done.
Her eyes become moist, but she wipes them away; there's no need to cry. This is a good thing. Everything she planned for has come to fruition, and her work is done.
It's not his fault he can't make time for me, she thinks. As she listens to her sister and her beloved kissing, she begins to feel left out. But I think I've seen enough of him with other girls for a lifetime.
Once again, her eyes become moist, and once again, she wipes them away. Then she walks off, not wanting to spy anymore.
Back in the bedroom, Rito and Lala finish kissing, completely oblivious of Momo's hidden presence.
Lala gently touches Rito's chest. "By the way, Rito..."
"I know," he says. "I'll talk to Momo, I promise."
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Later in the dining area.
Rito, Mikan, their parents, Celine, the Deviluke sisters and their parents enjoy a curry dinner together.
"Eat up, everyone. Our first day back to school starts tomorrow," says Lala.
"Ugh. I don't wanna go back yet," moans Nana.
"Me neither," moans Momo.
"Now, now, girls, you know your education is important," says Sephie.
"Yes, mother," say the Deviluke sisters at once.
"By the way, Mikan, I must say, this is quite delicious," says Sephie.
"Oh, uh, thank you, your majesty. I know it's not the royal cuisines you're acquainted to," replies Mikan.
"Nonsense. In fact, you'll have to get me the recipe. And please, there's no need for formalities. After all, I'm gonna be your new mother very soon," says Sephie.
Her comment makes Rito, Lala, Momo and Nana blush.
Sephie turns to Gid, who's too busy stuffing his face. "Isn't that right, dear?" she asks.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, yeah, whatever," he replies.
"Well, I for one can't wait for my boy to get hitched," says Saibai.
"And to so many women. Which means so many grandchildren, hmm-hmm," says Ringo.
"MOM!" squeals Rito.
"Oh, relax, sweetie. I'm only teasing. Besides, you already have a daughter," says Ringo.
"Papa!" cheers Celine.
Rito smiles, and pets her head. "Yeah, I guess I do."
"Anybody want seconds?" asks Mikan.
"Yes, please," replies Momo.
"Same here," says Rito.
"Me! Me!" says Gid.
Mikan gets up from the table to retrieve the pot of curry simmering on the stove.
"You know, Rito, soon as you marry Yui, the two of you will have to fill out the necessary adoption paperwork for Celine," says Nana.
"Yeah, you're right," says Rito.
Mikan reappears with the pot, and pours a ladle full of curry into Gid's bowl.
"Here you go, uh, sir," she says.
"Much obliged. And that'll be father to you, missy," says Gid.
Sephie smacks him upside the head. "Be nice, dear."
As everyone laughs, Mikan pours a ladle into Rito's bowl.
"Thanks, Mikan," he says.
But Mikan doesn't respond; she barely looks at him, and hurries over to Nana to refill her bowl, leaving Rito bewildered. While everyone else keeps laughing and enjoying the night, Rito keeps his eyes on his sister.
She's been like this ever since I got back from the clinic, he thinks. I wonder what's wrong.
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Later that night, Rito lies alone in bed, awake and lost in thought.
Usually, Momo would sneak in about now, he thinks as he stares at the door, appearing disappointed. And usually, I'd ask her to leave. Is that why she stopped coming? No, that's not it. I know exactly why she stopped. But what am I supposed to do? If I add her to the harem, it should be because I love her. And the reason I still haven't is because I...no. I can't possibly tell her that. She'd hate me for sure if I did. Not just her, but all the girls. I'd lose them. Man, this harem stuff ain't easy.
He bangs his head against his pillow.
Ugh, he thinks. And then there's Mikan. Why's she distancing herself from me?
Just then, the doorknob starts to turn. Rito perks up, excited. "Momo?"
The door slowly opens.
Okay, Rito, he thinks. Now or never. This is the perfect opportunity to tell her the truth. Whatever happens happens.
A girl in pajamas holding a pillow steps through the door, and closes it behind her. Rito's eyes take a moment to adjust to the darkness; the girl standing before him isn't Momo.
"Mikan?" he asks.
"Scoot over," she says, approaching the bed.
"What?" he asks.
"Just do it!" she snarls.
"Okay, okay," he says.
He makes room, and she crawls into bed under the covers with him. She adjusts her pillow, and lays with her back facing Rito. He stares at her for a moment, unsure of what she's doing or what to say. He reaches for her shoulder, but retracts his hand. He opens his mouth to speak, but thinks better of it.
"Well, uh, goodnight," he sighs, rolling over with his back to her.
The two siblings lay in bed in awkward silence.
...
...
...
Okay, so it's not Momo, thinks Rito. But even so, again, this is the perfect opportunity to talk to Mikan. Maybe I can find out what she's so mad about. And maybe, I could ask her for help with Momo. No, I can't do that. Should I ask about Genno instead? No, no, of course not. So what?
...
...
...
The sound of whimpering catches Rito's attention. He feels the blankets faintly shaking, and rolls over to look at his sister.
Even in the dark, he can tell she's crying.
"Mikan?" he asks, reaching out.
The second he touches her shoulder, she spins around, latches onto his shirt, buries her face into his chest, and bawls her eyes out. The tears stream from her eyes like rivers, and her wails echo like sirens. Rito's never seen her cry this hard or long before. He remains still; doesn't move nor speak; not until his sister lets it all out.
"You promised you wouldn't die," she says.
Rito remains silent.
"You swore on our family's name. You lied to me, Rito. Liar. Liar. Liar! Liar!" she yells, pounding his chest.
Rito strokes her hair, and kisses her forehead. "I'm sorry, Mikan. I'm so sorry."
...
...
...
Mikan finally calms down; her face is wet and blubbery, like she's drained herself dry of anymore tears. "I thought I lost you."
Rito tightly wraps his arms around her, and pulls her in close. "I'm right here. And this time, I promise, I will never leave you again."
Her body stops trembling, enjoying the warmth of her brother. She hugs him tightly in return. "Even though your body is different...you still smell the same."
"Uh, thanks?" he says, not sure what she means. But she's happy, so he just goes with it.
"Rito, can I sleep with you tonight?" she asks.
"Of course," he replies.
Mikan smiles. "Well, then, goodnight."
"Goodnight, Mikan," he responds.
The two close their eyes, and remain locked in a hug as they drift off to sleep. But Rito's mind begins to wander again.
Wait, he thinks. Just like Mikan, all of the girls must've taken my death hard, even if I was only gone for a few minutes. Well, they all seemed happy during our dates, so maybe they're okay. Although, I should still make sure. I'll discuss it with them later. But Momo...who knows how hard my death was for her. Sure, she's probably mad at me for not...charming her yet. But she must be sad too. She told me how much she loves me, and she might've taken my death worse than the others; she just isn't showing it. Okay. I got it. I know what to do.
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The next morning.
The parents wave goodbye to their kids as they head off to school.
Zastin and the three bodyguards notice their departure, signal each other, and take to the skies; they shadow Rito and his friends from above while they walk to the school.
Later, the group reaches the crosswalk where Genno is waiting. He blushes when he sees Mikan.
She bids Rito and the others farewell, and walks away to meet with Genno. But then, she stops in the middle of the street, bewildering everyone. She spins around, runs back to Rito and kisses his cheek, surprising him and the others.
"Love you, Rito," says Mikan.
"Love you too, Mikan," says Rito.
They trade smiles, and she runs off to Genno. Before he can say anything, Mikan takes his hand and leads him away. He smiles, goes with it, and they go running hand-in-hand off to school.
Lala, Momo, Nana and Celine watch them go, happy for them. Rito also watches them, proud.
"Alright, let's go," he says.
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Sainan High. New, improved and reopened.
Mr. Principal stands on the entrance steps, bidding welcome to the crowds of students walking into the school; he's not ogling any of the girls, saying any lewd remarks or doing anything perverted whatsoever.
"Welcome back, everyone!" he says. "Good to see you all again. Now I know what you're thinking, and I agree; we're back a lot sooner than I thought we'd be, hehe. I wouldn't have mind a few more weeks off-I mean, welcome back! You'll find everything the same as before. We have our generous construction crew to thank for that. Of course, there's someone else we should be thanking. And that someone is..."
His voice trails off when everyone starts clapping, paying him no heed. The students and faculty applaud, cheer and whistle; Mr. Principal follows their gaze, smiles and starts clapping himself.
It's Rito, with his harem of lovers following him.
As he walks towards the school, the crowd parts like the Red Sea, letting him through. Even the students inside the school open the windows, and applaud him. They cheer him on like a celebrity with his entourage on the red carpet.
"Thank you, Yuki!" they cheer.
"Way to go, Rito!" they cheer.
"Welcome back, hero!" they cheer.
"All hail, King Rito!" they cheer.
All the attention makes Rito nervous beyond reason, but he keeps his head high. If I'm gonna be a king, I better start getting used to this, he thinks. He turns around to his lovers with a sheepish expression, gesturing for support.
Lala cheerfully waves at everyone. Haruna and Nana appear just as nervous as Rito. Run and Kyouko simply smile, accustomed to life in the spotlight. Risa notices Mio in the crowd, and they trade thumbs-up. Neme and Mea wave while Yami remains aloof as usual. Rin feels out of place; while she's happy walking to school with Rito, she feels compelled to do so with Saki and Aya. Then she spots her friends walking into school a few yards away. Rin takes a step towards them, but Saki's scowl hilariously stops her, and tells her to keep walking with Rito. Yui carries Celine, becomes uneasy from all the attention, and shrugs at Rito; might as well deal with it.
Rito notices Saruyama, Mikado, Oshizu and a tearful Tearju among the applauding crowd. He exhales, smiles and gives the crowd a wave, which only increases their cheering. Well, this isn't so bad, he thinks.
As the group enters the school, Run nudges Kyouko's shoulder and asks, "Aren't you glad you transferred schools?"
Kyouko looks to Rito in the front, and blushes. "You better believe it."
Trailing in the back of the group is Momo, smiling at the crowd. But soon as she enters the school, out of their sight, her smiles drops into a frown.
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Later that day, Momo emerges from the girl's restroom.
Maybe I should go talk to him, she thinks. No. As much as I want to, I can't always be the one taking the initiative. It's just...he has all the other girls. Stem isn't a problem anymore, and neither is Black Darkness. The only thing keeping him is himself. Oh, Rito, what in the world is taking you so long?
"Momo!" yells a group of boys.
"Oh, no," sighs Momo.
The Venus Momo Club (VMC), her unwanted fan club of boys, ambush her in the hall. As usual, they sing songs, recite poems, offer gifts and praise her beauty.
Momo fast-walks back to class, with the VMC harassing her along the way. Once she finally reaches the doorway into her classroom, the VMC blocks her path.
"Please, guys, let me through," she says, politely.
"Oh, we just wanna tell you how much we love you, Momo. Ain't that right, fellas?" says the VMC leader.
"That's right! We love you so much, Momo!" respond the VMC members.
"Really, guys, I need to get to class," says Momo.
"Not until you hear our newest song about you. You're gonna love it," says the VMC leader.
Momo starts to get mad, and even a little teary-eyed.
"Hey!" yells a voice from inside the classroom, startling everyone.
The VMC turn around to see Rito standing before them in the classroom.
"Rito?" asks Momo, surprised.
"What do you want?" demands the VMC leader.
"She asked you guys to move," replies Rito.
All of the VMC members glare at Rito. The leader storms up to his face, and pushes a finger into his chest. "Listen, Yuki, don't think just because you saved the universe means you can take any girl you want. You've already got a bevy of beauties, you sick pervert. Leave Momo alone," he growls.
"Yeah!" agree the VMC.
Rito glares at the leader's finger stabbing into his chest. Then he looks up, staring daggers at the leader and the rest of the VMC. His hazel eyes turn blue, and a light shade of black shines across his brown hair; he's flexing his White Darkness power.
The leader scurries back in fright, as do the rest of the VMC members.
"YOU'RE the ones who are gonna leave her alone. For good. Or else, when I become king, you're gonna wish you had. Got it?" threatens Rito.
"Yes, your highness! We'll disband and never bother Momo again! Right, fellas?" yells the petrified leader.
"Yes! Yes! We promise, your highness!" yells the terrified VMC.
"Good," says Rito, returning to normal.
He walks right through them, and offers his hand to Momo. She blushes from the gesture, and takes his hand. As he leads her into the classroom, he shoots another chilling glare at the VMC. They scream in terror, and scatter like the bugs they are.
A few students witnessing the event, including Nana and Mea, are awestruck by Rito.
"He's so cool," whispers Mea.
"Who'd have thought?" whispers Nana.
Once they're alone, Momo realizes Rito's still holding her hand. Against her wishes, she takes her hand back.
"Thanks, Rito. That was really sweet," she says.
"Sure. I'd do anything for you," he replies.
...
"You should, uh, probably get back to your own class. Bell's about to ring," she says, heading for her seat.
"Actually, I swung by because I was hoping we could chat," he says.
Just then, at the worst possible moment, the warning bell rings. The students return to their desks.
"Sorry, Rito. Some other time," says Momo, sitting at her desk without another word.
Rito watches her for a moment. "Alright, then," he says as he exits the door.
Momo turns to see him leave, and buries her face into her hands with a groan. Ugh, what is the matter with me? she thinks.
A few seats behind her, Nana and Mea watch Momo with somber expressions. Then they trade looks, wondering what they should do.
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After school by the training river.
Once again, Rito and the Kurosaki sisters duke it out in the sky. While both Rito and Yami fight in their transformed states, all of them are holding back; going all out would destroy the whole planet.
Neme blasts an energy wave, Mea shoots one of her cannons, and Yami slashes with her hair. Rito fires three separate energy blasts, striking all three of them, before he evades Neme's attack, blocks Mea's and gets struck by Yami's. All three sisters hit the ground while Rito splashes into the river. They all recover quickly, and laugh at each other.
"How many times does that make it now?" asks Mea.
"You mean Rito falling into the river? I lost count, fufu," responds Neme.
Rito swims to shore, and powers up, releasing his energy just enough to heat up his clothes until they're dry.
"Looks like you've got the hang of that new power, Rito," says Yami, returning to normal.
"Thanks, but there's still a few kinks I need to work out," he says, also returning to normal.
"In time," responds Yami.
The four of them gather on the same grassy slope.
"Not that I'm not having fun, but Stem's gone. Is all this training still necessary?" asks Mea.
"Stem maybe gone, Mea, but he won't be the last villain we face," says Neme.
"That's right. We ALL have to keep getting stronger in case anymore foes appear," says Yami.
"Well, personally, I hope we get so strong, we won't even have to fight," says Rito.
"Why's that?" ask Mea.
"Because our so-called foes will be too scared to fight us," jokes Rito, which makes all of them laugh.
"In any case, if anymore bad guys DO show up, let's enjoy this peace before then," says Yami.
"Here, here," says Neme.
"Agreed," says Mea.
"Yeah," says Rito as he lays down on the grass to watch the sky.
The other girls join him, snuggling next to him. They all watch the sky in silence for a few moments.
"By the way, did anyone else notice Momo acting strange at school?" asks Neme.
"Now that you mention it..." starts Mea.
"Very much so. And I'm certain we all know why," says Yami.
With that, all three girls turn their incriminating eyes upon Rito, flustering him.
"Okay! I know, I know, I know! I just...ugh," sighs Rito.
"Rito...you need to talk to her," says Mea.
"I tried, but you saw how she just blew me off," says Rito.
"Can't say I blame her," says Mea.
"Come on," says Rito.
"Rito, if you approach her only to chat, she's just gonna keep avoiding you," says Yami.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" worries Rito.
"First, take a deep breath. Go on," encourages Neme.
Rito sighs, and does as he's told. He inhales and exhales a few times, calming down.
"Now, if you want Momo to give you her time, you need to give her something in return. Something more than just words," says Neme.
"You mean like a gift?" asks Rito.
"Like a date, doofus," says Yami.
"A date?" he asks.
"Why not? You gave all of us dates. What's one more?" implies Mea.
"Yes. It'd be the perfect excuse to arrange a chat," says Yami.
"Just be sure you tell her what she needs to hear, and what you need to say," says Neme.
Rito considers their advice for a moment. "Hmm-hmm," he laughs.
"What's so funny?" asks Neme.
"Nothing. It's just...when it comes to Momo, you've really changed, Neme," he says.
"Fufu. We all have," says Neme.
"Yeah," agrees Mea.
Yami kisses Rito's cheek. "You can do it, Rito. Don't forget how far you've come."
"Yami..." he says, touching his cheek.
"Hey, no fair! I want a kiss too!" says Mea, latching onto his Rito's neck and puckering her lips.
"Me three," says Neme.
"Both of you, back off," says Yami.
"Uh, girls," says Rito as the three sisters wrestle with him in the middle.
Oh, well. Guess I'll have to get used to this too, he thinks. Now, as for Momo...
Just then, the sound of wheels rolling over dirt grabs Rito's attention. He looks up the slope, and sees a vendor pushing a cart full of flowers along the path.
That's it! thinks Rito whilst smiling. Momo, here I come.
Author's Note: Hello, everyone.
Okay. At first, this was only supposed to be one chapter. But then, as I kept writing, it just kept getting bigger. There was so much I wanted to cover, and so much that needed to be covered, that one chapter wouldn't suffice. Heck, I almost thought about cutting it in half, and calling the first half "Aftermath," since it literally focused more on the aftermath of Rito's battle with Stem. But then I remembered my promise to all the patient fans who've been waiting and WAITING for Momo's turn. So I stuck with splitting it in half, got the aftermath out of the way, and still tried to give Momo as much time in the spotlight as possible. Then I thought, if any girl actually deserves a two-parter, it's her; so this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. And the next chapter will finally be her and Rito in the spotlight together.
On that note, I have some news. Since this became a two-parter, I've decided to write at least three more chapters, and bring this fanfic to an even 20 chapters. Like I said, next chapter will focus on the romance between Rito and Momo. As for the final two chapters, I'm still brainstorming, but I'd love to hear any ideas from you readers (thank you for yours, Temporal King). Anyway, that's the game plan, and I'll have the big Momo chapter done soon as I can. Thanks for reading, everyone.