Chapter 16: A Night of Unrest
Their bellies now full, the showing of recorded moments from the Preliminary had concluded by the time they were finished eating their amazingly tasted warm meals, excellently cooked, and Emma only hoped to thank the chef that made her ordered dish, but it's beyond her knowing who and where and if she may even find whoever made this dish, considering how busy they must be at the moment.
She looked around the area and notice that several people have begun leaving the food court, satisfied from their delicious meals and the showing in these jumbo screens, as many of the other competitors departed elsewhere, the night now dawning upon all their senses as many competitors left to either explore the brightly-lit city, or head to their sleeping quarters.
That's right. There's supposed to be rooms for all of us, I wonder where it'll be... Would it be like a shared establishments? Individual houses? The first seems more likely, and preferred to by Emma, as she doesn't feel quite content living in a big empty home by herself. She never truly thought of living in any house without anyone else there beside her. Emma had only ever known living and sharing everything with others, in every room and the outside of the house they play. There was never a quiet moment, always a family in sight, and she loved every moment of it.
She once had the desire to stay at Gracefield forever, that orphanage was the only home Emma has ever known and love, the prospect of seeing the outside world had etched her, but not the prospect of being adopted and warmed by a new family, because she had Mama and her foster siblings, she already had her family. Even when the warmth of that home hid a terrible secret that means their imminent demise, it was still the home she grew up happily in, and even now, she misses it, all of its joyful memories that has since been destroyed in that fire.
The beginning day and partial night of the Preliminary was her first time when she was ever truly without anyone with her, but now was the entire night when she will have only herself to accompany, at her assigned quarters, without the distraction of a mission and persistence of survival. This is a time when they may rest, relax, until day breaks and next morning comes when they may do whatever they must, prepare themselves for when the next round is announced.
Though Emma is determined, she felt rather sad, yet has done well not to show it for her new friends to worryingly see. At least Gon and Killua will have a room accommodated for the both of them to share. It was almost something to envy for, but Emma only saw it fortunate and nice that the boys will have each other. Emma internally asserted herself with a pull of her backpack strap. She'll just have to male due with it, sleeping at a new, unknown place by herself.
It'll be fine, she assures herself and her prodding heart. It's been some time since she had a comfortable bed to sleep on, it'll be something to look forward to, she thinks to herself optimistically.
Killua stretches his arms as they, soon after their finished plates were collected, stepped down from the table. "Alright, so we're supposed to have rooms ready for us already."
Emma nodded, recalling Mashu's instructions, "Ms. Kyrielight said that we'll have to talk to one of the workers around here, and that they'll be able to guide us there."
Gon looks around the area and spotted one officer in blue uniform standing by a wall, a police hat that had a small gold emblem of a triangle-like shape. A beautiful looking young woman with aqua green hair and orange-amber eyes surveying the area firmly and attentive. He briefly jogs towards the officer.
"Excuse me, miss?" He asked. "Do you know where competitors are supposed to sleep?"
The officer looks down to the questioning boy as Emma and Killua catches up to Gon, stopping right behind the boy in forest green. The NPC officer, Officer Jenny, took a surprised regard at the sight of the children before seeing the worn patch and its stars on the side of Gon's backpack, affirming him and correctly assuming the other two children to be competitors as well, and would then answered helpfully.
"Oh. Well yes. There's a station where competitors are directed to their assigned sleeping quarters. At every competitor's registration and passing of the preliminary, they'll be already given individual homes to rest in throughout the Intermission."
"Where would the sleeping quarters be?" Emma asked.
"It depends," Officer Jenny replies, "and varies for each competitor, who may need special accommodations to fit their needs. It could be somewhere in the city, or far out. They can also range from houses, apartments, and etc. In either case, there'll be mobile transportation provided for the competitors to take these places."
"Who would get special treatment?" Killua questioned.
"They're only for those who are dependent on a certain living condition that not just any apartment or house will do," the officer explains, emphasizing with a point of her white-gloved finger, "They could prefer living in a field of wheat, in a cave, on a ship or even under water. This is something that can be personally requested, although the process might be a little tedious. The staff of the Wired does their best, though, that every appropriate living arrangement is met to fit with the competitor's preference, based on the information and background we were able to collect from them."
"Hm," Killua hummed. He wonders if he should question how these people would know this much about them already, but that's to assume if this officer will even be willing or able to answer that. The NPC officer's dark worn shoe claps lightly against the stone below her feet, the tip of it pointing to one direction as a start for it.
"I can lead you to one of the information stations nearby. The workers there will find where your sleeping quarters are, and if you need help going around the city, I can guide you to your assigned places."
The officer then brought up her hand and saluted, "The name's officer Jenny by the way, you'll be seeing me and several others who look just like me around the Wired. While I can't say I can guarantee what kind of homes you'll be given, if it's with other competitors nearby, be at your best behavior and no unruly fighting, or I'll have to detain you. Understand?"
The children nodded to the officer's no-nonsense warning, and the officer smiled. "Good. Now if you'll follow me, I'll be glad to help you kids. It's pretty late now, and way passed your curfews I would think, especially since, by the looks of you three..."
She regarded with her eyes the ruffled clothes dressed by the children and their few battle scars of just minor scratches and smudges of dirt on them, smiling with mirth, "You could use a bath and some rest. Let's get you to your quarters then."
They followed the officer, overtaking only a few city blocks on foot before arriving to one of the nearest stations, a fairly sizable Information Center - a round building with white green stone walls, in an area where people could enter all around the building. Officer Jenny was able to get to one worker who eagerly granted them assistance, pulling up the registry in her tablet and visual identification of the seen children - confirming their names, and pinpointing the designated sleeping quarters waiting for them.
"Okay. Looks like there's two separate apartments. One for you boys, and the other for you, young lady," Officer Jenny addressed, looking back to the children before then leading them away from the Help Center. "They're both apartments somewhat a little away from the city. It's a hefty walk, and I imagine you kids must be too tired already. We'll have to take a train car to get you there easier."
"Oh wow! I've only ever seen this in a book before!" Was Emma's reaction at her first ever seeing of a train-car. It was essentially a miniature, single crate train, following the rails, and singing bells as it came to a steady arrival. She'd bet Phil would love this, being the train-loving boy the young one is. They were mostly riding this transportation by themselves, with just a few people riding along with it, though seeming to mind their own business.
"Oh. That's right... you lived at your orphanage all of your life. All this must be so new and exciting for you," Gon asked, happily smiling widely at Emma's wide-eyed curious face that tasted the passing breeze of the train-car's movement across the city, watching the wonderful passing view of the city buildings, cars, and people, while nodding at Gon eagerly. Like a forest of tall colorful and bright lights so full of life, Emma was captivated by the view of it all, her head out of the window and her hair being frazzled by the wind, her hands clutching the grip support.
"I know how awesome all of this must be. When I finally left my home island, everything that I saw and the people I met, it was the coolest," Gon added as he and Killua looks out alongside her, Killua having a minor reaction than the others, but otherwise taking some smiling notice at their faces and continuing points to whatever interesting thing that caught their eye at the passing buildings. Officer Jenny seeming to take joy in the sight more so, red-cherry lips grinning pleasantly as she addresses some places they were pointing to.
"You know, I'd recommend hiding away that patch, instead of keeping it out in the open," the officer said to Gon. He looked her way curiously as she added, "While the force I work with, and the Guardians of this city, do their best to keep order to the Wired, some competitors can be clever, and crimes can happen quick."
Her friendly face turned serious, "We do our best to protect everyone - competitors who are only looking to rest and train in peace, and NPCs running businesses to help them, for anyone to have a chance in this competition. But not every competitor might want to follow the rules. So be sure to take good care of yourselves, and keep that patch safe."
The value of the stars on their individual patches once more hitting them, Gon understandingly nodded and puts the patch inside his backpack as advised, "Can you tell us why these stars are so important?"
The officer smiled apologetically, "Sorry. I can't disclose that information yet," her mouth frowned thoughtfully before uttering quietly, "What I can say though is that this is done as a precaution, meaning it's a lot safer - for yours and all the other competitors sake, if we don't tell what makes those stars important yet. It'll be revealed soon, so make sure not to lose it."
The same tone of a foreboding statement that Mashu had also given, Gon only nodded once more, and looked back out to the city with a more thoughtful look about him. Emma and Killua taking close heed to what was said. Emma thought and theorizes deeply, though one easy conclusion has already come to her.
"Are you three participating this competition together?" The officer then asked.
Gon affirmed brightly, answering cheerfully, "Me and Killua entered together. We later met Emma in the Preliminary. She helped us get through a really thick forest that had plenty of traps and strong beasts. Since she's helped us out so much, we're going to share the wish with her."
Emma removed her gaze at the city to the beaming boy who expressed proudly, a promise in his voice. "All three of us are going to win this competition together!"
The little girl's heart alighted with joy and amazing gratitude as her smile came to be, matched by the boy who said this to the surprised eyes of the officer woman. "Really now?"
"Is it allowed to share a wish with others, Officer Jenny?" Gon asked.
The officer gave a thoughtful look, pressing her fingerprint against her chin. "Hm... I can't really say... Not that I don't have to authority to tell it. Unfortunately, I don't really know."
Her face looked strained as she considered deeply, "If it's by the winning competitor's own desire, it might be allowed, but then again, the winning competitor gets only one wish, and I'm not sure, or never heard of anyway, the possibility of splitting a wish into two. You'll probably have to ask one of the workers stationed at those dome-shaped buildings; the main staff of the Wired. They're the ones running this competition, but I wouldn't say that they'll be willing to give anything that may only be accessed to staff-members only. But if anyone were to know how the wish works, it's them."
"I see..." Gon said, crossing his arms over the window frame and resting his chin upon it. Delved into his thought as he searched for a likely compromise, should it come to be that only one winner is allowed. Emma, though could see and relate with Gon's struggle, never felt more encouraged and happy, reaching over to him and grasping his shoulder.
"We'll figure it out. I want to help you guys get the wish too. We'll find a way how."
"Yeah!" Gon enthusiastically agreed, high-five'ing with Emma while Killua looked a moment at them before turning his gaze back to the city lights, now coming to a steady decline as they pass by gradual increase of trees. Smaller buildings like entering a humble neighborhood, yellow lights glowing through the windows shielded by curtains, a few people taking in the cool night air and star-gazing.
The train-car arrived at another stop that had a lit lamppost and some benches back to back under a shelter. A vast forest beside the road, and neighboring smaller buildings at the other side. Tall lampposts lighting with whitish glow along the pathway.
"Alright. We're here," Officer Jenny informed, stepping down from the train-car, the children following after her. "The forest here has plenty of good spots for picnics, camping, other activities, or if you just want to take a nice stroll and look at the pretty scenery. Hunting is also allowed, though that's only if you go far enough and at purely designated Hunting Spots - but you'll first have to find the Ranger's Station so that they can point you to the right direction. Get too deep in the forest though and you'll be meeting with several wild creatures, so be sure to take precaution, and know your way back."
"Yes ma'am," Gon and Emma simultaneously affirmed, their gaze to the buildings and forest with wondering interests. The forest especially reminded Emma so much of her old world and home, the woods of Gracefield where she would always play tag, hide and seek, and other fun games she remembers fondly.
"There's also a beach just a couple more miles ahead," Officer Jenny added, "but the train cars doesn't go that far. If you want to stop by that place, you'll have to either go on foot or take the city bus. There's about several more villages around here that has its own shops and stores, if you don't feel like making a trip to the city, but you will have to go back there eventually when the first round begins."
They walked across the sidewalk, passing by houses the children gave their curious looks to. After a few more blocks, they reached a very large lot, several of the same buildings sharing it, with available parking spaces as well. It was an apartment complex, dark-red roofs and peachy-tan concrete walls, black stairs though an elevator is also available. The complex reaches five stories high, hundreds of doors that demonstrated each living quarters, lights shone in some curtained or not-curtained windows, a signaling telling of its living occupants.
"Here we are. This is where you boys will be staying." The officer gladly introduced before regarding Emma, "As for you, there's just a couple more blocks to go over before we'll reach the building where you'll be staying at."
"That's too bad." Emma heard and looked over to Gon who spoke, seeming let down, and looked at Emma with a slight sad smile, "I was hoping we'd be close by."
The instant of his downed face, Emma quickly answered enthusiastically, "That's alright! We can always get together whenever. I can always come over, if that's alright with you guys."
He nodded eagerly once more with a confirming "uhm!" Killua shrugged unconcerned, "Sure. I don't have a problem with that."
If they're going to be working together, then certainly they'll be needing to get together and comply one way or another. Her tracker would certainly come in handy, and in any case, she was skillful enough that, although doesn't have the power that Nen users like themselves have, she is pretty versatile and clever. They could use whatever help they can get. Killua's not normally a fan of having anyone that might slow them down, but as long as she can prove to keep up with them just enough, he'll have no complaints.
They entered the lobby-like area where the receptionist worker is currently at her desk. Her head picked up at the sliding doors opening (cool! in Emma's eyes, it's her first seeing one like that as well) and their entry and walk towards the front desk.
"Hello. I have two competitors here who are assigned to stay at this building," the officer addressed. "Names are Gon Freecss and Killua Zoldyck."
The receptionist typed the names into her computer, looking at the screen at whatever popped up. "Oh! Why yes. We have their rooms registered and ready for them. If you'll follow this worker, he'll lead you right to room 483 at building B."
Another worker comes up and nodded to them, leading the way with a welcoming arm gesturing for the hallway. Gon adjusted the wear of his backpack as he and Killua turned to Emma. "We'll be heading to bed then," the bright Hunter of forest green said, "I hope we'll get to see you again soon."
With great appreciation, he bowed his head down passed his shoulders, "Thank you for all your help at the Preliminary, Emma," and picked his head back up with a wide grin.
Surprised by his presenting gratitude, the little girl waved her hands urgently, "No no! I'm the one who should be thanking you. I mean, you guys are really amazing."
"Still, you helped us out a lot, guiding us and fighting alongside with us. I really appreciate all that," Gon smiled widely. "I want us to hang out again! Come by our place anytime!"
The boy practically outshone her own bright personality, Emma conceded with a nod and waved happily at their leave. Gon returning the gesture with the same enthusiasm, and Killua giving a casual one before the boys followed the worker through the hallway, to the double-glass doors that led outside and for building B. Emma continued to watch their leave for a little longer, until they turned the corner, and she looked back to the patiently awaiting officer.
"Ready to go?"
"Yes, Officer Jenny," Emma said, as she left behind the longing inside her once she is no longer with her new friends, pushing it to the far back of her mind. She will see those boys again.
The officer looked at Emma for a bit, but because Emma has masked her feelings very well, there was nothing much to build upon the officer's suspecting intuition of the girl, so the woman disregarded it and leading themselves out of the lobby. Leaving the apartment and the lot, they resume their walk across the pavement for four more blocks, passing several establishments, a small trek up on an upward slope hill, until they reached the next apartment complex.
It had the same nice simple aesthetics as the other apartment, but with a different and darker color, dark violet roofs and deep green concrete color, the porch lights on, glowing white across the walkway at each story that reached up to six floors. They entered the lobby and met with a male receptionist, who gladly and helpfully directed to Emma's assigned apartment with another worker there, a female, to guide her.
"Will you be alright by yourself at your apartment?" The officer asked.
Emma nodded, certain of this to the officer and to herself. "I'll be okay. Thank you for guiding me here."
She looked down to her brown boot feet for a moment, clenching and slightly pulling the straps of her backpack as she thought more of what to say, and added, vibrant green eyes meeting back up to the officer, "It's my first time seeing a city like that, and going to places like this. Meeting and finding so many new people all together at once. I only ever read about them, but seeing it all is so much different than how I imagined it would be - as a good thing! I only wish my family were here to see everything."
The officer smiled, warm amber eyes that melded with her professional sternest exposure, "There's plenty more amazing things to see in the Wired. Why don't you and your friends have a look around the city tomorrow?"
The little girl smiled at the idea, "Yeah. That might be something we can do."
An alerted sound from the phone-radio by the officer's shoulder, Officer Jenny grasped the phone as she overhears a message sound through the static, "200 East Avenue; Shopping District. Fight in Progress-"
The officer picked up the handheld radio from her shoulder strap-hold and held it against her ear, listening to the message. "I better get back to duty. It's a busy night, the first night after the Preliminary after all - and some people just aren't looking to settle down just yet."
She looks back to the girl, "A big city like that can be promised to have all sorts of troublemakers and incidents. When you kids do go out exploring, be sure to be careful and stay out of trouble. I'm trusting that you'll know how to look out for yourselves and each other."
Amber eyes noted the rifle carried by Emma, yet even by the sight of it and this girl's obvious scars - a testimony of rough challenges overcome, the officer still second-guessed herself. It was enough of a bother that this child would be living by herself. Jenny knows of children who could take care of themselves, but that's more so because they had some form of a companion or companions with them.
But she has dawdle here long enough, and she had to assume that there was a reason why she wasn't assigned a guardian of some kind. This little girl was chosen to be a competitor, and managed to pass the Preliminary with her friends after all.
She set aside her own concerns, her patrol across the city was required. Adjusting her blue hat and the heels of her shoes clicked together, the Officer Jenny saluted the girl with a small smile, "You have a good night now. If you ever need anything, the workers here will do their best to help you. And in any case, there's always someone available to assist. You just have to find them."
Emma looked at the pose of the officer curiously, and mimicked it out of politeness or an understanding of its greeting/parting manner - small hand salute and upright posture, much to the officers amusement and increased smile, though it was actually a very decently executed salute. The officer then started for the door, waving back at Emma who wished her a "good night" as well, black shoes walking out, her blue-uniformed back watched by Emma until the officer's figure disappears, rounding the corner and behind the wall.
Letting out a little quiet breath, Emma looks to the apartment worker who gestured for the hall in leading direction, and she walks that way for her room, placed in Building C; Room 336.
/.\
Emma looked with intrigue the sleek peachy-sand color walls of the elevator she and the leading workers were within, a much more modern and even simpler looking design than the one that that was found in the hidden bunker of Goldy Pond. Listening to the humming of the transport machinery as it steadily takes them to the third floor, where the metal doors slide open with an arrival ding. She steps out with the worker, looking at the corridors and its many doors, each an apartment for its living occupants.
They walked further down the corridor, the enclosed hallway eventually leading to the outside where bar fences separates from the dangerous accidental decent down, and the doors by the walls. A view of the forest and streets, and other buildings Emma could see, as the entire complex was upon a hill. Houses and other buildings spotted within the trees and such. The endless stars above more distinct as the city lights were far from reach. Emma takes in the cool gentle breeze before she immediately stopped when the female worker found her door with a rectangular window beside it, shielded by curtains from inside. The worker unlocks the door with a key.
"Here is your apartment. Hopefully it's to your liking," she opens the door and reaches in, switching on the lights inside. "If there's ever anything you need, don't be afraid to call us downstairs. We'll be available 24/7."
Emma enters the apartment, bright green eyes looking around the room. Peach-white painted walls, dark brown wooden floors that looked to have just been cleaned, and a sliding glass door that led to the back porch of white concrete fence wall, where she could see the bright lights of the city in the distance. The apartment was actually quite simple, and seemingly spacious. A small kitchen with its island in front of it, cabinets attached the wall above where the stove is, and a simple gray refrigerator beside them.
Somewhat at the center of the room is a brown wooden rectangle table with its four chairs. An empty book shelf beside it, close to the corner of the room and against the wall. Walking further in the apartment, Emma noticed a single bed placed behind the kitchen island, a pale brown rectangle wooden dresser with a lamp of a white cap, and a wireless telephone in front of it. A kitchen and living room that was also her bedroom, a very strange thing for Emma to see as said rooms were always individuals back in her world, yet it was appropriate for a single person to live here. Like a fusion of a nice and spacious motel room in everyday household, or so she's read.
The worker then presented Emma the bathroom door beside the dresser and the closet, the bathroom having both a bath and shower as one, a white toilet and sink cabinet beside it, white tile floor and pale-yellow walls. It was rather small, a normal private bathroom that felt so odd for Emma to see as she's only ever shared several baths with her foster siblings, their own bathroom in Gracefield rather spacious, perhaps even the one in that underground shelter just about the size as this whole apartment.
The closet that was closest to the back porch was just as small as well, with a single wooden bar high above her head to hang up clothes, and a shelf for her to put whatever. There was also a folded step-ladder for her - a small child, to use. Placed and leaned against the wall on the ground, white frames and black steps.
"This is the key for your apartment," the female worker handed the key to Emma, the little girl looking at the golden-like item she held and gently grasped in her hand. "If you happen to lose it, come downstairs and we'll get you a new one."
Emma nodded, "I will. Thank you miss."
The woman grinned pleasantly, "Alright then. If there isn't anything else, I'll be on my way. Good night."
Emma waved at the worker, following her out and watches as the adult headed back for the elevator. The little girl looked to the nice glow of the neighborhood lights seen through the railings before re-entering her apartment, closing the front door. She looks up at the modern lock system that was of simple design.
Rather than there being a key hole to lock from the inside like the Gracefield House had, this door is with two horizontal tiny bar grips above the door knob as her security measure. She touched the tiny bar's cool gray exterior and twisted it to vertical, hearing a locked click. No burglars tonight, Emma has enough crime novels to know the repercussion of an unsecured door.
Even if such novels were meant only to alleviate boredom for book-lovers intrigued of suspense, it is what taught the children the potential evils to look out for in the outside world, back when they still assumed themselves to be in the world lived populous by other humans, and Emma always took such books seriously, as it was one of the many materials that taught them about the Human World. She wasn't sure what to look out for at living in this new place, but it didn't hurt to be cautious. Though, she imagined something would be strong enough to break even these locks, the footage she's seen of those powerful competitors warranted these suspicions.
She walks back to the center room of her apartment. Another once over to the living room that also has her bed tucked against the back of the kitchen island. This place was far smaller than both the House and the underground bunker, yet as she stood in the middle of the room alone, she only saw it as spacious.
First walking over to the dresser, she pulled open the bottom drawer. Inside is a set of white pajamas, from large to small, and found a pair just about her size, a reminiscent to the white pajama clothing Gracefield orphans wear, white as the bed sheets and pillow case that could easily catch the slightest stain, and thus, gives evidence of any outdoor or indoor activity done by the children, and the loving efforts done by Mama to clean them, so that they remain presentable and pristine-quality as products.
"I should go wash up," she said, grasping her face that had been dirtied from the dangerous and close calls of the Preliminary. It was quite a contrast, having slept in the wilderness and fought for her life, now here she is, with all the desired comforts at her acquire. She glances to the closed glass doors that led to the back-porch, the city lights that could be made out from this distance, and then heads into the bathroom.
It was a radiant feeling to rid the stench and grime, shampoo bottles and other soaps already freely available by the tub, yet even though the bathwater was warm, it was honestly a dull experience. Normally, Emma would be a fan of baths, but at this moment, it wasn't anything that felt worth reveling in, the reason for this obvious.
She reminisces the wonderful bath-times she had together with her family, the bubbling laughter that floated along with the bubbles, their marco pollos, and the playful splashing that were often too much as it would overflow the bathtub, and they would get scolded by Mama. Emma remembered being the energetic child having trouble standing still while her eldest foster sisters tried to wash her messy hair, and she having to eventually take up that role to her equally enthusiastic little siblings. Those were the good times she always treasured in her heart.
After finishing her bath and drying herself up with a towel, she puts on her fresh and comfortable pajamas and climbs onto bed. Her body in relief to the soft comfort of the mattress, her head lying against the pillow. All the lights in her apartment were off, except for the lamp upon the dresser next to her bed. She stares at the scene of the city's glowing top from the back porch, her entire apartment sounding quiet, it made everything felt still.
This wasn't a place she could immediately call home. No, her real place of belonging, whether it was burnt to ashes or that underground bunker, even as it had the luxury of beds, baths, and a roof to protect them from the rain and snow, those things that made living in a house comfortable, was not what made Emma love it only so. Rather, her home was with her family. As long as she was with them, it did not matter where they would end up being. Whether it was in the woods, or any other unknown places.
For that, she cannot quickly call this empty apartment a home, nice as it is. Reaching for the lamp and switching off its light, the distant city lights illuminated the apartment with a dark blue hue. Her figure covered by the bed sheet, pressing her face against the pillow, her lonely heart longed once more for her missing family, as she hopes to dream of them smiling, and she smiling with them.
/.\
"Emma! Come look at this."
Fingers tending to the tangles of Alicia's hair with a brush in her right hand, the bright personality of orange hair looks to little Sherry's presentation of a drawing, stick figures as their whole family with shapes for clothes, a sunny background carved by scratchy coloring. The other orphans busy and dedicated to their own sheets of paper and box of crayons in this room of homely familiarity, a few of them she hears and sees chasing down the hall gleefully, spotting Thoma and Lannion up to their usual shenanigans with each other..
Emma smiled widely, "It's beautiful Sherry!"
The red-headband wearing girl glee at the comment, her bright green eyes as equal - and stunningly similar - to Emma's. "I'm going to show this to Norman!"
The smaller child bounces away at her happy exclaim. A pinch at Emma's heart at the name, and her smile faded. "Norman?"
Her eyes followed after Sherry as the younger orphan found the other orphan among their family, drawing alongside Yvette and Mark. His white hair that had that affectionate single curled strand, his head turning for Sherry, lovely blue eyes that smiled at the approaching young girl, and then at Emma, his expression peaceful.
The cold hollowness in Emma's heart grew greater, confusion taking hold of her, the instant recognition of something amiss. She looked to the other orphans in the room, several of them blissful and enjoying their time, yet here she noticed, a few of them wearing head sets, eyes staring intensely at the paper as if they were at their exam table. That... was certainly not right.
She felt a tug of her shirt from behind and she turned around.
"Hey Emma. What's wrong?"
A girl of long black hair and perceptive dark eyes, looked in questioning at Emma's dazed face. The girl easily recognizable at once as Emma said the girl's name, "Susan?"
But that couldn't be, Susan had left Gracefield, Emma remembered saying her hopeful goodbyes and sad misses. The dark haired girl in front of her was even wearing the same formal clothing at her farewell gathering - green overcoat, orange vest, black skirt and white hat. The sort of clothes that which all kids of Gracefield would wear before going to the gate.
Emma heard more laughter behind Susan and she moved her head to see. Two girls laughing together as they finger painted with red, green, and yellow paint upon a white poster, the first girl with blonde hair at a side-high ponytail, and the other dark-skinned with black braided hair into a ponytail.
"Michelle? Olivia?"
Emma looked back to the rest of her family, picking out each and every head she spotted. There was Hao sitting beside Nat playing at the piano, and Sadie too. It should be good to see them enjoying, but this was strange. Something was truly strange. Weren't some of these kids been adopted already?
She felt a tap on her head and she looked up, Ray's calm gaze consoling Emma, his hand over her head. "Try to remember," Ray said, "You know, don't you? We were the ones who always had to see them go."
It clicked in her mind. Snapping back to Susan, Michelle, Olivia, Hao, all the children who had been "adopted," and then returning to Norman, his white clothing changed into a green overcoat and white hat, black dressed pants with his suitcase by his side, his eyes so sadly peaceful as they looked at her fearful ones. It came to her like a bullet. These kids weren't adopted. They were shipped. It wasn't an adoption.
All of them, her whole family including Emma. They were products. Meat to be eaten. Every orphan that were supposedly adopted and taken away, they were all killed. They were murdered by the demons.
"You look pale, Emma."
Fear wracked her heart, ripping her from the despairing remembrance of the fate of the shipped orphans - her family members. She with distraught looked towards the door, the warm violet eyes of Isabelle piercing her soul as she stood at the doorway, carrying a familiar small child of light blonde hair whose face cuddled against the woman's shoulder.
"Emma..." A soft sounding voice of a little boy clutched her side, her startled green eyes looked down to the adorable smile of Phil, looking up at her with glowing trust. "You'll come back for us, right?"
Of course. Of course she will! She'll be back for all her family, for the rest of the Cattle Children. Just as she said she would!
"They're all waiting for you, Emma," the kind face of her foster mother spoke.
The little body she carried suddenly slumped back, the vampire flower stabbed at the small body of the little one, the vacant eyes of Conny staring at Emma's horror. Her mother still smiling, her eyes now cold.
"You'll save them, won't you?" The voice of her mother corrupted, meshed with another haunting terror that bellowed the urge to scream inside Emma, as the wall of this room was suddenly broken through.
The tall figure stands hovering in front of Isabelle, from amidst the dust clouds of the room destruction, the bodies of her family lies dead on the floor bloody, vampire flowers at their chest, parts of their body cut through by claws. The sight of her deceased family bringing anguish to Emma that wracked her body with pain, she couldn't even scream.
"Will you save them?"
The intruder said, cloaked in his black attire and wearing his dark hat belonging to the Grim Reaper himself, his skull mask of shattered fragments exposing his singular hungry eye for the remaining girl, his bloody and long sharp clutches that burned Emma's sides when she looked at them, and held Little Bunny, the favorite stuffed rabbit of Conny, the rabbit that started everything, as Lewis sharply grinned.
"Emma."
She awoke with a gasp. Bright green eyes widened at the dark ceiling, her chest heaving with every heavy breath. The glow of the city afar touching the side of her bed. She slowly rises, sitting up and rubbing her forehead, feeling the sweat that emerged from it. Her pounding heart loud inside her ears, she calmed it to a steadier beat in a short moment. Rubbing her eyes as her mind held the shadows of her nightmare, yet she kept calm despite them, though a faint sickly feeling came to her stomach, bearing with it.
She looked up to the round clock stationed at the wall, it wasn't even passed midnight yet. Her attention then drifts to the illuminating city, its existence like a bright beacon in the middle of darkness. Looking back to the sheets that covered half her body, she finds her small hands clutching tightly, and relaxes them almost immedietly.
Her apartment remained silent aside from her steady breaths, unmoved by her disturbance of the nightmare. She knew then what was obvious. She did not like being alone. She misses her family. She wants to see them - Ray, Don, Gilda, Phil; she wants to see everyone again. But she knew the futiliy of this wish, not unless she is willing to give up this opportunity of a wish, the opportunity to save themselves from the Demon World. She doesn't know though, if she could make an entire year or so without anyone here with her. It was just too quiet.
This is not a place she could call home.
She looks back to the glass doors, pushing back her bed sheets, and steps upon the cold wooden floor, getting her soft slippers that hid underneath the bed. She makes her way to the back porch, opening the door and sliding it into the other door - much to her surprise and brief intrigue, before stepping outside. The cool wind sending chills to her, yet she does not retreat into the given warmth of indoors, as somehow, it felt warmer out here, where she could hear the wind whistle, the gentle rustle of the leaves, and the sounds of the city miles ahead.
She walked to the end of the porch, which was small, and to the barrier wall that was her fence between herself and the area below and before her, resting her crossed arms upon the edge and laying her chin between them. She was once more captivated by the view of the massive city, stretching across the horizon and to beyond what her own eyes could see. The buildings and towers tall, its lights endless and vibrant in this night, taking place as this world's moon almost - outshining the literal crescent that hang upon the starry sky. She simply gazes at it all, its life surged by its wonderful brightness, and the countless people that must be living there now.
She hopes cities in the Human World would be just as beautiful and full of friendly people as this.
Emma had realized then, she really has nothing on what the Human World is like, other than what was exemplified in several textbooks she's read through in the Gracefield Library, and even then, it was very likely that all those books hardly covers the Human World in anymore depth other than at a surface level with general information. She wasn't even sure if those books were outdated, or brand new, judging by how off she, Norman, and Ray were when they suspected the Demons to have taken over - their conclusion, to have been fifty years, the actuality, they have been around more than over a thousand.
She wondered what sort of culture and people did the Human World have. What sort of system or places. Was it all exactly how the books tells it? Was it everything she hoped it would be?
Was it a safe place?
She had to believe it was. In any case, it was the one other world her family had to escape to, as staying in the Demon World would risk an inevitable and abrupt demise. She has to reach the Human World, the only place known where only humans lived, where her family and all the other Cattle Children may live the rest of their lives freely, without fear, without anymore sorrows.
But how can she really go to such a place if she has no concept of its current state? What it was like and what to expect from it? The question itself was brought up between her and Ray, the likeliness that the humans in that world will not be so welcoming, and would possibly even force her family to go back to the Demon World, to uphold the promise, to avoid war with the Demons again.
If that were to happen, then her family were either hopelessly doomed to forever seek shelter elsewhere, to keep running, or make their own world of a haven somehow, a world they can all live in safely; these alternatives are surely to be the most difficult to achieve, and that is why this struggle to reach the Human World must succeed.
As a contingency plan, her family will likely have to somehow blend in with the new world, pretend as if they were natural inclusions of it since birth, but for that to be successful, they have to understand what the Human World is like, its society and its rules. Any misstep and they would be found out immedietly, and be sentenced back to where they were trying to flee from.
She has to know, or experience somehow, the workings of human towns and cities. This thought ran through her mind several times as she continues to look out the main center of the Wired. The conclusion to this pondering presenting itself openly and clearly, and she had already caught onto, and soon enough, she made up her mind.
She backed away from the wall and goes back inside her apartment. Once inside, she reached and changes back to her venturing clothes, tying the shoe laces of her boots and grabbing her backpack taking along her apartment key she pocketed in one of the pockets of her bright jacket vest.
Once done, and also neatly making her bed, she then moves for the front door with purposeful intent.
/.\
The city louder up close, with bustling business of late night-outers, laughing NPCs and Competitors walking about, though admittedly, Emma can't really tell the difference between who was a competitor, and who was a non-participating contestant. The only clue she could capture of either identities, was if the person had their patch of gold stars or not, which she was able to spot, but this wasn't infallible as many of them could have simply hidden away their patches, just as Emma has.
She gazes with wondering infatuation to the large colorful billboards promoting a variety of tasty-looking items, products, and faces of famed actors or singers, electronics being sold (for free apparently) in several stores, and snack stands station on the sidewalks.
The black road was open for people to walk freely upon, but every once in a while, she would spot a person riding on their vespa (she spotted two, one white and one yellow) or small patrol cars going at appropriate speed down the road, bicycle-riders ringing their bells to warn their approach, skaters riding along the edges of the benches and fountains before getting called to by a nearby patrolman. It was just incredible to see. That a night meant for sleep could be so lively like this. She couldn't help but stare at everything.
"-and I'll take three of those, and five of those. Thanks!"
Emma looked to another snack stall she passes by, a very pleased-looking, and very tall man, in a rugged red long overcoat that reminded her of roses, his left arm covered in brown leather and closed by belts while the other arm was adorn by his coat's red sleeve, his hand holding a chocolate coated doughnut as his happy grin of stuck crumbs was chewing delightfully the bag of doughnuts he held in his other arm. The man's hair spiky and blonde, his eyes a kind sky blue.
She stared up at the man with awe as he ate doughnut after doughnut that were as big as her hands in single bites, perhaps a bit too long as she stopped to look, and it happened long enough for the man to notice and glance down to her, herself flinching from the sudden attention as his nice blue eyes blinked at her.
"W-mmph!" He muffled with a mouth full of his enjoyed treat, first swallowing down the pieces of doughnut in a single gulp, and he started again, a friendly smile worn, "Well hello there! Something I can do for you?"
"Ah. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare. I was..." Emma quaintly fumbled apologetically, her green eyes looking at the treat in his hand with a tilted head. "What are you eating?"
"Hm? You never seen a doughnut before?"
"Oh! I have. Well, I had bagels before. Mama didn't allow us to eat anything with too much sugar," Emma explained.
He bit the doughnut in another wide bite as he took in that answer, "Sounds like you got a responsible mother then," he said in resuming talk while still had the doughnut in his mouth (a bit bad-mannered, but he looked more silly than he did rude), "Kind of a shame though. Kids should be allowed to have all kinds of sweets, well at least up until they get cavities or sugar high."
Emma nodded, "Yeah. She didn't want us to get sick."
With her family allowed to eat as much as they please, it was wise on Mama's part not to offer anything that held too much quantity of fat or sweets. On the outset, it did seem like Isabelle cared for her children's health, but now Emma understood that it was really Isabelle looking out for the quality of the orphans, making sure they were perfectly fed, not spoiled.
"Over one doughnut?" The tall man asked.
Emma grasped the straps of her backpack as she answered, "We were allowed to eat whatever she made and have as much as we wanted. I think she was worried that we would get too many sweets and ruin our diet."
And perhaps the flavor as well for the demons.
"One doughnut wouldn't hurt, would it?" The man asked again, seeming rather comically disturbed at the concept of the treat being forbidden from her family.
Emma had to think for a moment before answering, "No, I don't think so. If it's just one, it probably wouldn't be so bad."
"Well, in that case, here you go!"
He took another doughnut from his brown paper bag, a caramelized brown treat thick with dough and shining with its own coating, and hands it over to the little girl. Emma reached up in reaction, surprised by the offer as she grabbed the treat that was bigger than her own hand, looking at it up close with perplexed blinking eyes as she looked back up to the mister.
"Are you sure?"
"I don't mind. I got plenty in here anyway," he said with a slight shake of the big brown bag. "Honestly, it sounds criminal to not have at least one doughnut in your life. Trust me, the first time trying it will change your life forever."
He exemplified with wiggling fingers and a whimsical eyes that sparkled his blue orbs even brighter. Emma giggled at the funny gesture before looking back to the given treat.
Were Emma a normal child, raised in a normal world in a normal family, she would have been taught well about the concept of accepting gifts from strangers - which not only highly frowned upon in many worlds, but also a potential to be dangerous. But because she was not raised in a normal life, where only happiness of the world was assured to her until the blinding fantasy was shattered and the truth was revealed, Emma would only think it rude to deny a generous gift, unlike either Ray and Norman, who would have given instant doubts to the man whose name is not even known yet.
But Emma was not one to unnotice the true nature of a person, they may hide it well, but perhaps since the gentle mask of her foster mother had been unveiled, she'd been careful in noticing the intention of strangers, trusting their goodness until there was evidence that suggested otherwise, and immedietly be on the defense. But as of now, she felt no intentional harm, or reason to distrust this man, whose harmless eyes and mannerisms only spoke kindness, and perhaps a bit of silliness as well.
And she was right on the mark, for truly, this man wouldn't harm a fly or even a spider, as this was a man who only ever saw the treasuring gift of life. Thus was the character of this blonde man; Vash the Stampede. An ironic title, for a tragic man who knew love and want for peace.
They sat upon a bench nearby, Vash enjoying his delicious doughnuts with a blissful expression, and Emma - though considerably wary in tasting the treat (nothing wrong with being a little cautious), if he had just purchased it, he couldn't have possibly done something to it already. With that in mind, she placed her trust in the man's generosity, and took a single small bite of the doughnut.
Her eyes alighted by the instant sweetness that traveled her tongue and entered her throat.
"Mmmm!" She expressed delightfully, and bites into the doughnut again, chewing and swallowing before commenting, "This is amazing!"
"I know right?" Vash said, his puffed cheeks and chewing smile wider as he watched in amused soft glee at the little girls instant addiction to the treat, eating it pace-fully, yet very enthusiastically. "These are just the best! Glad you like them already."
"I do! I really do!" She said in between bites, a bigger bite as she, though politely, keeps at a steady pace as she awaited for Vash to join her in eating the treat, to which he obliged, grabbing another doughnut - cinnamon flavored with a simple brown color to it, and he happily eats it in a single bite alongside her.
"There's plenty more here if you want any. I'm kind of saving some of these for a friend, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind you having one. Never wanted me to see him eating it, but I know he likes it. He can't hide that smile from me no matter how much he sulks," Vash chatted, biting into the next doughnut and savoring the sweetness with dream-like content.
"Is he around here?" Emma asked, eating halfway the doughnut now, looking up to the blonde tall man in red.
"He went somewhere else for a moment, but he'll be back. We separated for a bit to get some supplies before we both head to bed for the night." He then finishes the remainder of the doughnut, which was a good chunk of it still, his cheeks puffed and pink as he happily ate his obviously favorite treat.
Emma slows down her bite of the delicious caramel doughnut, chewing, savoring, and swallowing before asking, "Are you and your friend competitors?"
"Yup!" He answered without a hint of hesitation, getting yet another doughnut. "Oh man these are soooo good." He then eats it eagerly. "I hardly get enough doughnuts where I come from. This place is essentially heaven for having these available always!"
Emma looked down to the doughnut as she listened, "I see..."
"Are you a competitor also?"
She kept herself from jumping in her seat, visibly calm as she looked back at the man. His innocent blue eyes regarding her with patience and attention. There was no obvious malice in his expression, and so, she felt comfortable to admit it.
"Uhuh," she said, nodding.
"I figured. People don't often always see kids carrying a rifle like that," the man pointed out to the weapon hung beside her backpack and next to her bow and arrows, eating another doughnut with a throw to his open mouth and chomp.
"I mean, it's not exactly rare where I'm from, but normally their fingers would be a bit too small to pull the trigger." He said with a hint of sadness in his tone Emma was able to catch. "Do you know how to use that?"
Emma nodded, "Mhm. I've only had this for about... a week I think. But I'm good with it."
"Oh a w- A WEEK?!" Vash sputtered, instantly choking on that bit of doughnut that got caught in his throat. Emma sprung up from her seat, her feat upon the bench as she bang her hand against Vash's back while he coughed and coughed until he got the doughnut down.
"Th-that's awfully short, don't you think?" Vash asked. While learning how to use a gun on the first day will certainly promise a decent shooter, it normally doesn't mean instant expertise, even at that time span. Further more, even at a single glance of her rifle, he could tell it's making and capable rounds, the sort of dangerous weapon that brought him discomfort that a young girl was wielding it.
Emma thought about it, and came to agree, answering his concerns, "Maybe. It's actually two weeks now that I think about it, including this week we all just got through. I pick up on things faster than some of the others in my family. My foster brother Ray is the same as I am, sometimes he even learns things better than I do."
"Really now?" He said curiously, looking up to the faded stars glossed by the city lights taking up the space of shines. "A week or two of practicing isn't so bad, I guess. Honestly would like to see that for myself."
"I can show you," Emma offered, though she looks down for a moment. "I'm not sure where the best place to practice shooting is though."
He aeemed interested and also conflicted at that offer, standing up with his nearly below half empty bag of doughnuts in his arm clutch still, "Hm... there is this store that has a shooting range. But I wouldn't want to drag a little girl there..."
He grabbed his chin in thought. Emma, hearing the place, says in assurance, "I've never been to a shooting range before, but I think I won't mind it. I've gotten used to the loud sounds guns like this make."
He cringed at those words and shows sympathetic hints of sorrow in his eyes as he says gently, "Sounds like you've been through a hard life."
She nodded, "That's true, but I was able to get through it thanks to my family, and all the people we met who helped us."
Finishing her doughnut, Emma beamed appreciatively to the man. "Thank you for the doughnut by the way. It was very delicious."
Recovering from his reaction, he smiled warmly at her, "You're very welcome. What's your name?"
"It's Emma," the little girl introduced herself, her liking to the man having hold of her now, evident in her pleasantly bright green eyes. Standing up from the bench, she asked him, "Is that shooting range nearby? I can show you how I shoot if you want to see it. I'm also thinking of getting new ammunitions as well."
"I'll admit, you got me curious. It's also nice to meet you Emma," he waved his hand in greeting and stood up as well, "If you are looking to restock, I guess I can show you that place I know. Not really excited to do it, but if you're going to a place like that anyway, I hope you won't mind me accompanying."
He then starts for a direction, "Just be careful around the display set when we get there, and watch out for all the weapons they have."
She follows after the red coat wearing blonde man, pulling on her back pack's straps. "I will. What's your name also, mister-?"
"Oh look! There it is! Just follow me," he walked on with hastened eager steps, his avoidance to her question as if pretending to never heard it. Emma looked in peculiar at the back of the strange man, but carried on in resuming follow.
He's at least nice, she credits. Odd in a funny way, but undoubtedly nice. She already knew she would like the blonde man.
Competitors Introduced:
Vash the Stampede (Trigun)
Non-Participating Contestants Introduced:
Officer Jenny (Pokémon)
(italicized for easier read)
A/N: If only we just have amazing cops like Jenny, I hope this didn't bring any discomfort, considering what's happening in America. The system needs a lot of re-working, and that's all while having to deal with this pandemic going on.
I did some editing to previous chapter to help better characterize certain characters, this might happen in this chapter as well later on, though I'll probably end up being busy as college days are coming back for me.
If it's not known now, our main focal point characters we will be following for this story is Emma and Garou. Our hero and villain, competing in the Competition Between Worlds. Next chapter will continue Emma's perspective before we switch back to Garou. There is much more I wish to say about these two but as of this moment, there's already quite a lot of my A/N being written down, so I shall hope to explain it another time.
There will be point of view chapters from many other characters from different series, including NPCs, and otherwise expanding this story somehow by diving into the motivation of others while also forming a bond between them, and the conflict that would undoubtedly come by others, and what the competition will bring.
I've yet to properly answer all the reviews given before the last chapter, I hope to amend that right now.
Garou certainly has shown to being nice around kids, two instances of this happening is of course, Tareo and Metal Bat's little sister. This doesn't mean though that he's completely against fighting anyone who are willing to fight him, or has the aptitude of being great fighters, to which he will eagerly challenge outright. Especially those with strength to back it up - and more especially if they're heroes.
(Case in point when he tried ambushing King, possibly knowing that if he doesn't, he wouldn't have a shot against what he "sees" as the Strongest Man in the World if he let himself be known beforehand. lol. Likely Garou had this happened to him before, so he should by all fairness be able to do the same to others.)
This can be confirmed when he told Tareo that it's good for Tareo to not be a hero. Now, this could mean a lot of things. For me, when I heard it, I instantly understood it to say that Garou wouldn't hunt Tareo because Tareo's not a hero, regardless of Tareo being a kid or not. The Hero Hunter doesn't discriminate to whoever hero he hunts, whether they're weak C-class heroes or strong S-class heroes. But in his mission to become the Strongest Monster, he leaves civilians out of it, even those who have a connection to certain heroes.
This is definitely shown in the Webcomic, and might be demonstrated further depth in upcoming chapters of the Yusuke Murata illustration of the One Punch Man Manga. He's unwavering towards every hero and fighter, brutal in his acts of "evil" as a "villain" (he freakin sliced off a hero's arm for heaven's sake. like DANG!)
While I can imagine he goes "easy" on kid heroes or young fighters, he's not nice, especially against those who should expect to get hurt. (ex: karate students or fighters in general, people causing public disruptions or attack on others, and especially heroes). If it happens that these young fighters can dish out really strong attacks, then he'll respond in kind.
That's my interpretation of who Garou fights. When it came to situations like with Emma though, since she clearly states an unwillingness to fight, he lets her go, just as he lets go of Metal Bat after Metal Bat's little sister intervened. In one way, he sees her "surrendering" and "decides to show mercy," and two, he sees "not worth the effort" of hurting a defenseless little girl even though she stole and lost his hard earned points. (he really just a softie).
That one point when he tried to grab her while she was with Gon and Killua, it was more so to instigate Gon and Killua to attack him, if they didn't respond so he'd probably be lost on what to do next. Next bet, if Emma didn't grant that unforeseen offer, he would have likely attacked Gon and Killua, and have Emma react by fighting him back (like with what happened with Mumen Rider, although he'll probably just knock her aside easily, nothing too brutal).
But if Emma were to remain steadfast in her brave rescind and putting herself between him from Gon and Killua, then it's another impasse since he doesn't seem to strike those who won't give him a fight, or at least those who doesn't fight back (otherwise, it'd just be bullying). He can get annoyed and the temptation is there to be "really" evil, but he's managed to have enough self-control to not outright deck Emma's pointed insight to his character (although he wants to be evil, he's looking to become "his" version of "evil," and while he can be pushed, it's a mystery if he will actually follow through with it - apart from that one time when he tried to and... well, failed).
He once again rescinded when it's clear cut that they don't want to fight him and even surrendering their stars, to which he pridefully rejects, since he's not looking for hand-outs or pity (although he won't say no to easy healing and free meals). He's somewhat okay with Emma now, since she managed to fulfill her end of their deal, but he'll keep the promise he and Gon made to fight another day.
I'm saying lots of probably and seeming cause honestly, Garou is such a confusing and fascinating character that I think I might have a crush and I hate it. Although he's certainly an eye-candy for a lot of ladies, funny enough that he's considered the ugly kid (kid Garou is so adorable though, Tareo as well, I love them both, although i hate what Garou did to Mumen Rider - precious and beloved bike-man of justice whose really out of his physical realm against incredibly strong opponents, but he's got a strong heart which a lot of One Punch Man fan loves.)
It's actually a peculiar circumstance to why Garou's been chosen as a participant to the Competition Between Worlds, circumstances which I cannot give away as of now, but look forward to the reveal of it. It's nothing that grand, just maybe a bit... well it'll be a long while before the reveal will come. So hopefully, all of you will enjoy the story
Q/A:
DedeTC: I hope to write such instances of character-bonding moments, just casual camaraderie, though as of now, they're still in "mission-mode" to prepare themselves for the next round, I dare say that even for this "relaxing period," there's not gonna be a lot of relaxing, but training.
Maxim7: Garou will inevitably become stronger the more competitors he faces and fights, against Kenshiro, while he can slowly become immune to those pressed attacks, he still has to figure out the secret behind the technique in order to avoid its full effects. He also needs to hone his new ability of Nen, and try to overcome all other sorts of abilities that still yet awaits to be unveiled by those in the competition. So yeah, if he survives, the Nightmare in Wolf's Clothing will be unleashed, though there are plenty of strong and strategic opponents he'll have to face.
Also, as for whose behind this competition, I dare say, to keep on guessing, there's quite a lore to it I made.
Emma will be making all sorts of friends, be it male or females. There will be female characters upcoming for Emma to make friends with, though this likely won't be for a long while. It seems she gets along rather well with boys, considering her tomboyish-like personality, though she still is very much a young lady. She will have female friends to mingle with eventually.
Zack24: I haven't watched or played Blazeblue, if I get around to it, I might just do so, or at least throw in a reference there. I do know that RWBY had their crossover with it, so it might be mentioned very much.
Wolfking554: It's not firmly known as of now just who will be among Emma's team, though I have a few ideas in mind already, certainly some hopes and guesses are free to be made though!
Kitsunelover300: AMAZING CATCH! I'm so happy you caught onto that! (I'm assuming you mean Alucard, of course). Indeed, Gon is both a typical and deconstruction of the Shonen Character trope, something which Emma kind of diverges, though as I study her character, I managed to pick out some things that makes her - though typical, unique as well, and not just because she's the rare main-leading female shonen character. I will likely talk about this next chapter. I certainly hope to make such wonderful interactions with such characters, though as of now we'll be focusing on Emma, but without a doubt, Gon's personality will draw in others as much as Emma has the ability to.
Next chapter I might give my insight into the character of Emma, and why I believed there were some similarities to her and Garou, while also making some contrast to the obvious comparison between Emma and Gon. Until then, stay safe out there.