Hello to All! Welcome to the 2nd chapter of The Rising Sun! This prequel story won't be very long, I just needed to establish the character relationships and Personalities and yes this story will be told through the eyes of Kazeyare Kouta, the OC I created to supplement Gunha. There will be Character development for Gunha, but that's in the other story(Which I will finish) So without further ado, let's go on to chapter 2!
MEETINGS,MEMORIES, AND ABILITIES
After my unexpected reunion with Gunha, I was told to wait in the room two doors down the hall. Kihara dragged Gunha away telling me it was 'personal' training, though I have a feeling that it wasn't going to be pleasant for Gunha due to the way she said it. I opened the door to the room to find it quite normal. It seemed to be a small break room with a large leather couch next to one of the walls and a T.V. mounted in the top left corner as you walked in. Did I mention there was a young looking woman sleeping in the middle of the floor next to a Labrador retriever? No? Well I did now.
"What?" They were both strange in appearance. The young looking woman was wearing a cheap looking business suit with a lab coat over it. The dog had some sort of electrical components attached to it that I immediately thought cyber-dog and laughed a bit at my own little joke.
The 'cyber-dog', as I called it woke up and looked at me, "Ah, he's here." I could have sworn I heard a man's voice. "Oi Yuiitsu, get up. He's here." There it is again.
I chuckled as I stared at the weird scene before me, "C'mon Kouta! I know it's been a long day, with the crazy Kihara and meeting Gunha, but hearing voices? Man I've really lost my sense of reality!"
"What are talking about?" Again the imaginary voice resounds in the room. "Don't just stand there talking to yourself. Your blocking the doorway. Close it and sit down." I obediently do as the voice says and quietly sit down trying to sort my thoughts.
Okay your not going crazy. The 'cyber-dog' is talking. That's fine right? It's normal in the headquarters of scientific advancement. I mean we have people who can fly, so a talking cyber-dog is nothing strange. The Kihara Family are the smartest people not in just Academy City, but the world! Their the reason we have the only successful psychic development program. So maybe that woman was just tired after working all night on completing this cyber-dog.
The woman finally started to move after the dog nudge and called her name, "What? He's here? Fine, fine, I'll get up." she said lazily as she slowly picked herself up from the ground and stretched out her arms and legs.
"Your the one who stayed here all last night just to see him." The dog retorted. Just what kind of person waits all night for someone you've never met? And why would you sleep on the floor when there's a perfectly good couch here! And how is that dog talking?
The woman finally acknowledge my existence and made eye contact. I quickly gave a light bow, "I'm Kazeyare Kouta! Nice to meet you."
The woman put her hand to her mouth and yawned, "Kihara Yuiitsu."
The cyber-dog lowered its head, "Kihara Noukan." I also bow in response to his introduction. Wait. Why am I bowing to a dog? And did it just say Kihara? No! There's no way that dog is human! While I have seen my fair share of the impossible being done thanks to a certain idiot, there's no way that this polite and well-mannered cyber-dog is a human!
My thought were interrupted by Yuiitsu(Too many Kiharas to use family name) placing her face centimeters from mine. Her sweet scent falling on my nostrils. Though wearing a cheap business suit, she was still relatively attractive to me. "C-can I help you?" I struggle to control myself as a man.
She pulled her face away from mine and closed her eyes as if she was thinking about something difficult. "...Boring..." she muttered something under her breath. She sighed as she crossed her arms, "I wasn't expecting him to be so normal." Eh? "I expected him to be similar to Gunha or have a unique personality due to his interesting ability, but he's just normal high school boy." I'm sorry for being so normal! What were you expecting? Sogiita Gunha #2? I shuddered at the thought of two Sogiita Gunha's running around Academy City. "Well whatever. I still have questions for you, normal boy."
Don't call me normal as if it's an insult! "Yes?"
"What's your relationship with Sogiita Gunha?"
I thought about it for a moment. Our relationship huh? We were friends with similar ideas back in middle and elementary school, but that's it. I looked up to him. He was the living proof that heroes do exists in the world. But he was also the truth that shattered my dream. Not everyone can become a hero.
*FLASHBACK*
I just returned from my power scan and I finally achieved level one! A great accomplishment for my 2nd year in middle school. I should be happy that I finally got a power right? A power I can use to help others. To stand next to him. To be a hero. But this was a day that utterly crushed me from the inside.
Error In. That's what my school called it. A unique form of telepathy and hypnosis. Apparently my power can send information to other people without their knowledge. At first I didn't understand until they gave me this boring analogy. Let's say the brain is like a filing cabinet, It files everything in a certain order and pulls out the necessary information when the proper stimulus is applied. Like the information to swim when you see a pool, or the knowledge that you have an umbrella in your locker when you see it's raining. The brain only pulls that information when you think about it. My ability can give someone information about something or someone they've never seen before. For example, I can give someone the knowledge of American History, but they will never notice until the get asked a question about it or they actively think about it. I can also give someone knowledge on how to swim or ride a motorbike, but not the ability to apply it. That's Error In.
But the most prominent use of it, is the ability to deceive someone. For example I can give someone the information that I'm actually a Level 4 Telekinetic who likes to rip people limb from limb. The person heard this information from a friend of a friend, who never actually saw the guy but heard he had short blonde hair and sharp brown eyes. Obviously it's a lie. But a lie sprinkled with some truth and obscurity is a very effective lie. They said it would be effective as long as they don't think about how they got the information or held previous knowledge that counteracts the information I installed. So what? I can psych out a person? That might be effective the first time, but the next time I'm pretty sure they're going to rip me limb from limb!
I mused over my thoughts as I headed to our normal headquarters. The 'Heroes Den' as he liked to call it. In reality it was just a empty maintenance passageway we discovered in the learning core. I opened up the door to the passageway, ensuring no one noticed when I did so and followed the lights to the large space to find my friend, Sogiita Gunha practicing his sure-kill move.
"Amazing Punch!" A strange phenomenon occurred around his arm as a invisible force was launched to the wall, causing a large crack to appear.
"I keep telling you not to practice your moves down here! What if it falls on us?" I sighed as I set my bag on the ground and sit in my chair that has a paper taped to it labeled 'Gutsiest'.
He replied with his normal grin, "Don't worry! With our guts, a simple cave-in won't be able to stop us!"
It's not you I'm worried about! "Well let's return to Yesterday's topic." I tried to address the reason why we're here.
"Conquering all the arcades in District 15!" He spouted his nonsensical reply as he slammed his fist on the table.
This guy!... "JUDGMENT! I keep telling you we should join Judgment!"
Gunha's enthusiasm immediately deflated at the mention of Judgment, which irked me to no end. "Ehhhhhhhh. No way. There's no fun in being with Judgment."
That does it! I flipped the meeting table and it flies over Gunha's head as he fall back on his rear. "Every single time I mention Judgment or Anti-Skill you shoot it down cause of some stupid reason or another. 'There's no romance in following the rules and upholding them' or 'Guns are for the gutless'! My favorite one so far has to be 'I don't like the green armband'! So what do you suggest huh? We become vigilantes?"
Gunha stared at me for a while before tears started falling down and a weak smile appeared on his face. "That's it!" his voice grew louder. THAT'S IT! We'll become the first vigilantes of Academy City." He jumped up and threw his fist in the air in a celebratory fashion.
Your still not getting it? I threw my left shoe at his face. "Denied! Being a vigilante is counterproductive! Not only do we have to deal with the thugs and bad guys, but Judgment and Anti-Skill as well! I don't want to be shot by one of the good guys!" I vehemently argued against the idea.
"I don't want to fight the good guys either. I know as vigilantes we won't be able to get along, so I thought about it for awhile. How can we avoid conflict with them?" Wow! Gunha sounds serious about this. He never really thinks things through. This is a first. Maybe's he maturing. "So I came up with a perfect plan." Maybe there's hope for Gunha after all. "I call it 'Run away before Judgment and Anti-Skill arrive'! What do you think?"
I think there's something wrong with your head! I calmed myself and decided to call it a day. "We'll continue this later Gunha. And that's not even a well thought out plan." I walked over to Gunha to pick up my shoe.
"Wait." he grabbed my shoulder when I passed him. A devilish smile appeared on his face. "We had our Power Scans today! Did you get any results?" he jabbed my side with his elbow. That's right. I did Level up, didn't I. Do I really want to tell him about Error In? I always bragged about when I get my power I'm going to knock some serious sense into him for the trouble he's caused me. But now I won't even be able to do that! But That's okay! I've heard stories of a powerful middle school girl who also has similar psychic powers. Besides, I won't be level one forever right! But... How do I raise my level? How do I get stronger?
"Hey Gunha?"
He still had that devil grin, "What? What?"
"How did you level up so quickly?" I wanted to know. "You've been at a high level since elementary school!" I never should have asked. "I've never heard of someone developing their powers so quickly!" I walked to my own destruction. "What kind of trick do you use?"
He looked at me curiously, "Hmmm I don't really have any tricks, since I don't take part in the Power Development Program."
What? I froze when he said it.
"I've had these powers for as long as I can remember."
What's he saying? That's impossible!
"Though it's suppose to be a secret, I'm what they call a Gemstone. A naturally born esper."
Gemstone? What the hell is that? I grit my teeth and clenched my fist, struggling to hold back this disgusting feeling in my gut.
"So you've never taken the drugs?
"Nope."
"No large needles stuck under your skin?"
"None that I can recall."
"No advance brain surgery?"
"Brain surgery? Just for an ability?"
I lost it. I turned around and threw Gunha the strongest right hook I could muster straight to his face. It felt like a brick wall when it connected, like all my bones in my hand had broken, but he flinched a stepped away from me, giving me enough time to grab my shoe and run for the exit.
Just for an ability? Like you could understand! What do think I've been doing this whole time? I've been trying to reach you! To stand where you stand! A naturally born esper. So I've been chasing a pipe dream? He was born with his ridiculous strength! I had to go to this strange city and have crazy thing done to me! Stuff that gives me nightmares! And what do I get? Some stupid power. Error In. That's right. It was an error for me to even think I can be someone like Gunha, who was born with his power. At the time I hated Gunha. Not for breaking my hand, not for all the stupid thing we've been through. No. I hated him for being born the way he is. I hated him for something he had no control over. Something he had no way of changing. After that I didn't speak to him. Even now I considered it the worst day of my life. Not only did I give up on my dream, but I lost an important friend. To this day, I'm unable to forgive myself.
*END FLASHBACK*
I thought about it for awhile since It's been a couple of years since we last met, and we didn't exactly depart on good terms. Yet when he saw me after all those years, he didn't seem to hold a grudge. So, are we on good terms? I really have no idea how to classify our relationship. "I guess you could say we were once good friends."
Yuiitsu nodded her head in agreement. "I see, I see. But that's not what I'm talking about." Eh? Again I was lost. She shook her head mockingly, "This is why I can't stand kids. They don't understand anything." I can only understand something if it actually makes sense!
"You need to specify what you're talking about Yuiitsu." See! Even the dog makes more sense than you! "To be blunt kid, we're talking about your sexuality." Eh? I'm lost again. "To be more specific, are you the pitcher or receiver?"
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? Y-you think me and Gunha are like that?" I put my two index finger together.
They tilted their heads in unison, "You aren't?"
My blood rushed to my head in anger! "HELLLLLLLLLL NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! What made you even think that! In fact before that, Give me back my youth I spent recalling that painful memory! And I'm definitely not gay! Why would you even ask that question? Is that even relevant to why I'm here? I am man who loves women! Don't bring up stupid subjects!"
She put her hand to her chin, "Hmmmmm? But most of your friends are male."
"THAT'S NORMAL FOR A HIGH SCHOOL BOY!"
"And then you have the White Day incident." I paled when she said this.
"Don't remind me about that dreadful day! Our whole class... Shameful!" I held my head as I tried to suppress the memory of my first high school White Day which to all the boys in my class was considered the worst day of our high school life. So much that we all came to an agreement that that day NEVER happened.
"I'm still not convinced you're into women. What about me? What's attractive about me?"
"Ah?" What's attractive about her? A lot of things but out of spite, I decided to not mention them. "Nothing! Who would be interested in an old-" I felt something fly by my face followed by a loud cracking noise from behind which I only assumed was said object breaking the wall behind me. "Your face is absolutely gorgeous and you have the legs of a model!" I squeezed out the painful words.
She looked at me with a disgusted face. "Pervert." Don't make me say it if you don't want to hear it!
By the graces of god, the door opened and a small girl with violet eyes and hair walked in. "Oi Yuiitsu onee-chan. Gramps want's to see you." Onee-chan huh? So she's a Kihara also. That probably means she has a screw loose in her head too.
"Is that so?" she replied casually. "Well this has been fun." For who exactly? "Though your not at all interesting, you have some sort of curious appeal. A bronze star perhaps?" she walked out the door waving her hand followed by Noukan the cyber-dog. I give an exhausted sigh and fall down on the couch. They still haven't told me what I'm doing here. I lower my head as I think about what to do next.
The small violet girl sat next to me and looked at me curiously. "What's wrong onii-chan?"
"I'm just tired. I want to go home and pretend this day never happened. All day I've been dealing with strange people! A beautiful girl tried to burn my scalp off. Sogiita Gunha giving me one of his impossible explanations. Even just now I had to deal with a talking robot dog and a woman questioning my sexuality. I was even forced to praise her only to be called a pervert! I'm just done. My throat hurts from all my yelling and I'm pretty sure they reopened old mental wounds just for their enjoyment. Now that I'm sitting here thinking about it, I haven't eaten anything in a while. This day might be one of the worst days of my life." I realized that I'm just complaining to a middle school girl about the current events and felt ashamed of myself. I put on a big fake smile to reassure her, "Sorry. Don't worry about this onii-chan. I can-" I turned to the girl only to find that she had left sometime during my talk. Though I thought it rude to leave when someone is talking to you, she was kind enough to leave a note. I picked it up off the couch and read the message. 'Boring'. I felt something snap in my head. "DON'T ASK IF SOMEONE'S ALRIGHT THEN NOT EVEN LISTEN TO THEIR PROBLEMS! AND I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING SO BORING!" I crumpled the note and threw it on the ground in my fit of anger.
The door to the room swiftly swung opened as it was kicked by a man with wavy blonde hair wearing a red and blue tracksuit. "Who the hell has been yelling in here! I can't concentrate on my work dammit!" He set his gaze upon me as I immediately realized that I'm in a research facility that is being used by the top people of science.
I quickly calm myself and return to my normal demeanor. "I-I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused you sir!" I said as I gave a light bow.
"Huh?" His beady eyes seemed to be analyzing me. "Your that Kazeyare Kouta kid aren't you?" I nodded my head. "Hmmm." I knew what he was thinking. "Sogiita Gunha's friend huh?" Just please don't say it. I don't think my heart can take any more of this abuse. The blonde man simply closed the door and walked away, leaving me with my jumbled thoughts and beaten heart.
"I." This day needs to end soon. "I just want to go home." I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and opened it to see that I have a message from a number not registered in my phone. I read the message and it felt like someone took a hammer to drive the final stake in my heart.
*Kihara Ayumi here. Forgot you were still at the Institute. Me and Sogiita already went home. We can continue this talk later.*
My hand limply fell to my side. Then what was the point of me coming here in the first place?
I've never been so happy in my life to see that tall familiar building. It was like staring at the gate of heaven after being thrusted into hell. I took the elevator to my desired floor and stopped in front of my dorm room. Normally I don't stop in front of my dorm room, I just insert my key, enter and crash on my bed. What stopped me from doing this was a notice from the Kihara Research Institute.
*To Kazeyare Kouta. All of your personal belongings have been moved to your new residence in Nagatenjouki Dorms. Room #777. We apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused you.*
...The Nagatenjouki Dorms are in District 18. Public transportation has shut down long ago... I still have to go to school tomorrow. This day can't possibly get any worse. I'm still not sure why they even called me in the first place!
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I was greeted by none other than Kihara Ayumi wearing childish flower patterned pajamas and her green hair no longer in a ponytail but flowing below her neck. It was quite a refreshing site.
"Not so loud you dumbass. It's late you know. People are trying to sleep." She said sleepily while wiping her eyes.
I lowered my voice to a whisper, "I don't give a damn about that! I just want an explanation as to why this is happening to me!"
"You still don't know anything huh?" NO ONE'S EXPLAINED IT TO ME! "Well here's the short version. Sogiita Gunha requires 24hr surveillance and we've been assigned to the task. That's it."
"Can I decline?" I asked.
"Sure, but I doubt you have the ability to carry all your belongings back to District 7." she walked back in the dorm room and only what I assumed to be her room.
So this will be my life huh? I lost all my strength to fight or think. I closed the door behind me and fumbled around in the darkness to stumble on what felt like a couch. Whatever. I'll deal with it Tomorrow.
Chapter two is over! A lot of other canon characters made their appearance in this. Can you name them all? I was really nervous when I did the flashback of Gunha and Kouta. I always thought it was weird that Gunha wasn't in Judgment, so I gave him an obscure reason why he doesn't that kinda fits his personality. So. I need some feedback on this chapter. Was it good? Did I focus too much on the humor aspect and completely overshadow the Scars that he reopened. What happened on White Day? Ask the previous Kamijou Touma. I bet he has some insight to it. Chapter 3 will arrive sometime in the future! Look forward to it.
Crashing Out!