From the Start: Short Stories
Chapter 3
This is my first attempt at a chapter that is supposed to be romantic. Please tell me if I can accurately write the characters' feelings or if I should stop trying to write romance scenes.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE GOD EATER FRANCHISE HOWEVER I DO OWN MY OC.
The sun's warm rays shine through the blue curtains of Winter's room with ease. The curtains do very little to limit the amount of light that shines into the room. In fact, the whole room is illuminated by these rays which is enough to cause Winter to stir awake with multiple groans and grumbles; not really grateful for the wake up call. Several minutes later of Winter's failed attempts to get back to sleep, he swings his legs out of his blanket and his feet connect with the slightly warm floor.
"I suppose there are worse ways to wake up." Winter mumbles before opening his eyes and swinging the rest of his body off the bed.
"Like when Tsubaki stood over my bed and commanded me to prepare for a mission in the next 10 minutes." Winter lets out a fatigued sigh, unable to shake off the weariness he still feels. After a few stretches and yawns, Winter moves to his terminal with the intention of checking his emails for the day. Winter logs on to the terminal and views his schedule.
"February the 14th, eh? Valentine's day? I didn't realise it when I woke up." Winter whispers to himself as he recalls how difficult it is to keep track of time in the dystopian world he inhabits.
"Well, do I have any scheduled missions today?" Winter, once again, whispers to himself before checking.
"I don't. Well, I'm going to have to do something with Kanon today. I hope she doesn't have any missions today." Winter speaks before entering a thinking pose with a hand rubbing his chin.
'If I had a beard this pose would look very appropriate. Anyway, what can Kanon and I do?' Winter's thoughts get back on track. 'I know that most women like romantic stuff, but not being a romantic person I have no idea of what to do. I could give her some chocolates but that sort of thing usually isn't a common gift for women. Besides, that's probably what she will be giving me. So, chocolate is out of the question.' Whilst Winter begins thinking up credible ideas, he gets dressed for the day. Putting on his clothes was difficult since Winter still has his Gawain-like arms but since he had clothes tailored specifically for him, it wasn't too much of a problem. After dressing himself, Winter left his room, making sure to lock the door, and headed down the corridor.
Moving down the corridor and to the lift, Winter pressed the button or the lift to arrive at his floor. Moments later, the lift appeared and Alisa emerged from it.
"Winter?" Alisa asks with her voice rising in intonation.
"Wrong. Guess again." Winter answered in a humoured tone.
"There's not many people I know that has massive Aragami arms like this." Alisa says as she moves from the lift and towards Winter's left Gawain-like arm, pressing on it whilst looking at Winter. In response, Winter moves his four metre long appendages away from her touch.
"What brings you up to the Executive Section?" Winter enquires with a hand gesturing to the space area around them.
"I'm here to see Sakuya, actually." Alisa announces before flicking her hair up and moving towards Sakuya's room.
"Okay then." Winter simply replies before moving into the lift.
"Actually, Winter. Can I talk to you for a moment?" Alisa asks as she makes her way back to Winter. Winter sighs in response and moves out of the lift, making his way over to sit next to Alisa who had taken the liberty of moving to the seats located in the area before the lift. Winter had made sure to move his appendages so that they weren't in the way of the two whilst they talked.
"You know what day it is right?" She asks in a slightly shy manner but not enough for Winter to suspect anything.
"Yeah, Valentine's day. Is there someone you like?" Winter enquires since Alisa brought up the date.
"Well... I... Feel nervous talking to a guy about it but... Yes there is someone." Alisa responds in a more nervous manner.
"That's great. I'm sure they'd be happy to receive something from you." Winter tells her, already suspecting that Alisa wanted to talk to him to ask what she should give this person for Valentine's day.
"But... I don't know what to give him. As a boy, what would you like to receive on Valentine's Day?" Alisa asks Winter and he smiles, knowing he correctly predicted the topic of conversation.
"Well, have you thought about chocolates? I mean, that's probably what most guys expect." Winter states simply.
"But if he expects that then it isn't going to be unique, is it?" Alisa comments on Winter's statement, not wanting to be traditional.
"Well, if you want to give him something unique, then maybe you should... Erm... I can't think of anything." Winter says with a nervous laugh.
"Well you were of no help at all!" Alisa gives an angry shout before getting up and moving towards Sakuya's door. Winter also gets up and moves towards the lift that was surprisingly still there. He turns back as he thinks of something,
"Alisa, I'm sure he'd be happy no matter what you give him!" Winter shouts before stepping into the lift and pressing the button for the lower levels of the Den but not before seeing a smile on Alisa's face and seeing her enter Sakuya's room.
Upon reaching his destination, Winter moved out of the lift and to Hibari's desk.
"Hi Hibari." Winter greets her with a smile.
"Hey Winter. Why are you here? You don't have any scheduled missions." Hibari asks with a slightly confused expression on her face.
"Well, I've got something planned for Valentine's day..."
"And you want to know if I'm available to go with you? I appreciate the offer but if Tatsumi finds out he will kill you." Hibari interrupts with a nervous smile. She only gets more nervous as she sees Winter's stunned expression.
"Wh-What? No! You do know I have a girlfriend, right? What I want to know is if there are any Aragami in the City of Ruins." Winter speaks with his stunned expression still present.
"Oh. You should have said that from the start." Hibari gives an embarrassed laugh and Winter becomes even more stunned with his jaw appearing unhinged from the rest of his skull.
"Well, there have been sightings of a Susano'o and an Aether there which Sakaki has arranged for the new recruits to defeat so..."
"What?! Sakaki has arranged for the new recruits to defeat them?! There's no way they'll survive! I'll complete both missions! Tell Sakaki that he would be sending the new recruits to their death!" Winter interrupts in utter disbelief.
"B-but..." Hibari attempted to stammer out a few words but another interruption from Winter wouldn't allow it.
"but nothing! If Sakaki complains, tell him to speak to me about it." Winter announces before going to God Arc Storage Area 2 to collect his God Arc. Once he has collected it, he goes to the roof where a helicopter is on standby and informs the pilot of the situation. A few minutes later, Winter is headed to the City of Mercy to defeat two Aragami.
Meanwhile, with Winter's love interest, Kanon, she has already made her way to the cafeteria and requested to use the kitchen. She was given permission to and is now preparing all the ingredients and equipment to make Winter something for Valentine's day.
"So, I've prepared all of the things, now it's time to start." Kanon says with a happy clap of her hands.
"Hey there. Mind if I join you?" Kanon turns her head to the person to find Annette standing in the doorway.
"Of course not, Annette." Kanon informs her. "I'm guessing that you want to make something to?"
"Yeah. You've got that right." Annette answers as she walks into the kitchen and finds an apron, tying it around her waist as she speaks,
"Would it be okay to make something?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" Kanon asks in confusion as Annette approaches her.
"I want to give something to Winter for being a good friend. So I thought I had better ask for permission before doing so." She says nervously with an arm behind her head.
"That sounds fine. Just make sure he doesn't get the wrong idea." Kanon replies, slightly nervous that another person wanted to do something for Winter.
"I know." Annette responds with a happy smile before collecting equipment and ingredients for her own use.
About 10 minutes into the cooking operation, Annette asks Kanon a question.
"So, what are you making for him?"
"The traditional home-made chocolate. I'm going to make a big bunch since I know he loves to eat." She responds with a gleeful smile on her face, clearly enjoying making the treats.
"What are you making?" Kanon throws the question back at Annette.
"Well, I kind of assumed that you were making him chocolate so I thought I'd make him an apple crumble." Annette responds with a small smile. "I don't even know if he likes apple crumbles. I've never seen him eat one." Kanon grimaces and Annette takes notice of that.
"What? What's wrong?" Annette asks in a panic, almost dropping the bowl of ingredients in her hands.
"Well... Uh... How do I put this? Winter loves eating almost everything but one of the things he really hates are crumbles." Kanon breaks the news to Annette.
"What? Really? Oh, dammit! Well, at least I didn't get very far with it. I'll make something else." Annette says with her head lowered in a dejected fashion as she moves her way over to the bin and drops the contents of the bowl inside of it.
"Yeah, sorry about that. How about you tell me what you want to make and I'll say if he likes it or not." Kanon speaks up in an attempt to make Annette feel better.
"That sounds like a good idea. How about... I make some sort of shaped jelly?"
"Winter doesn't like jelly either. He says that it has no taste and he won't eat anything bland." Kanon shoots down another one of Annette's ideas.
"Really? Wow. I must have bad luck if I pick out two of the things he doesn't like. Does he like cake?" Annette asks with an expecting an answer expression.
"I think he does." Kanon says as she enters a thinking position, putting a finger to her chin.
"Great. Then I'll make a cake then." Annette announces with a smile before collecting the necessary ingredients. Meanwhile, Kanon continues making her chocolates, making each one heart shaped.
Another 40 minutes later and the two have finished their gifts for Winter. With proud smiles the two marvel at their work. Kanon's chocolates have been designed into heart shapes and have multiple colours. Annette's cake has two pink corners adjacent to each other and two yellow corners, also adjacent to each other, that match the colour of the rest of the cake. Scraped into the side of the cake is a "Thanks Winter!" message so that Annette can show her gratitude towards him. They put their creations into two different containers.
"When are you going to give your cake to him?" Kanon asks with the transparent container of chocolates in her hands.
"Actually," Annette says as she picks up her container and moves to Kanon, "I was hoping to put it into his room. Would you mind coming with me?" She asks as she shifts the box round to get a better grip.
"Yeah, of course." Kanon replies positively and they both set off to Winter's room.
They soon reach Winter's room but come across an obstacle.
"Oh! The door's locked." Annette announces in a dejected voice as she continues to fiddle with the door handle, hoping that the door would open.
"That's not a problem." Kanon says with a smile as she puts her container down and fumbles through her pockets.
"Of course it's a problem. If the door's locked then I won't be able to put it into his room..." Annette trails off as Kanon takes her hands out of her pockets and reveals a small silver key.
"Not when Winter has given me a spare key." Kanon says as she unlocks the door and pushes it open, stepping into the room with her container in her hands.
"Actually, I don't think you should come in here." Kanon says with a nervous smile as she stands in the doorway.
"Why? What's wrong?" Annette asks with a puzzled expression as he tries to worm her head around Kanon to see why she would say that.
"Let's just say that his room is a mess." Kanon replies with her nervous expression and takes the container from Annette, making sure to close the door before putting the container on the desk next to Winter's bed. Kanon leaves and relocks the room.
"I've left it near his bed. So what are you going to do now?" Kanon asks Annette who had patiently waited for Kanon to re-emerge from Winter's room.
"Well... I'll probably see what's happening around the Den. Well, I'll see you later, Kanon." Annette speaks and waves a goodbye as she enters the lift. Kanon, with her container still in her hands, then went about searching for Winter.
After a while of searching and resulting in being unable to find Winter, Kanon moves to Hibari's desk to see if she has any idea of where Winter is.
"Hi, Hibari." Kanon greets her, "Do you have any idea where Winter is? I know that he didn't have any missions scheduled for today." Kanon explains.
"It's funny that you mention that; Winter went out to the City of Mercy to kill a few Aragami." Hibari gives Kanon an honest answer.
"Why would he do that?" Kanon asks with a puzzled expression.
"I have no idea. Sakaki had arranged for the newest God Eaters to kill these Aragami but Winter was highly against it."
"So Sakaki has that much faith in the new recruits?" Kanon asks.
"Yeah but Winter thought it would be a death trap so he took both missions."
"He is with another person right?" Kanon asks with a worried voice. Her worry only grows as Hibari mentions that he is soloing the mission.
"What Aragami is he against?" Kanon's voice raises as her concern grows.
"If I remember correctly... He is against a Susano'o and an Aether." When Hibari mentions "Susano'o" Kanon has an instant flashback o the last time that Winter and her were against this type of Aragami. It resulted in Winter being speared through the chest, narrowly missing his vital organs. Had it not been for Winter's ability to regenerate so quickly then Winter would have definitely died that day.
"Have you been in contact with him?" Kanon places her hands on Hibari's desk, making the container of chocolates she was holding drop onto the desk as well.
"Yeah, he said that he had defeated the Susano'o about five minutes ago but he still has to defeat the Aether. I can arrange transport for you if you want to go to him." Hibari offers Kanon as it was clear she was in a distressed state, although when she mentioned that the Susano'o had been defeated Kanon did seem relieved.
"That's be great, thanks. I'll go and get my God Arc now." Kanon answers before picking up the container from the desk and heading to the area where her God Arc is stored.
Within 10 minutes, Kanon has received her God Arc and gotten onto a helicopter bound for the City of Mercy. After another stressful 10 minutes, Kanon finally arrives at the City of Mercy and instantly locates Winter from the helicopter. She tells the pilot to move closer towards Winter who is still engaged in battle with the Aether. Although he looks fine, that doesn't stop Kanon from panicking and jumps out of the helicopter with the container of chocolates in one hand and her God Arc in the other. Kanon aims her jump to land directly onto the Aether as she fires multiple mortars at point blank range. The mortars finish the Aragami off as it falls to the ground with its final roar.
"Not that I'm sad to see you but that Aragami was supposed to last me a few more hours." Winter says with a sigh and a hand scratching the back of his head before moving to Kanon.
"What do you mean it was supposed to last you a few more hours?! You're supposed to kill Aragami at any chance you get!" Kanon shouts back with her fear turning into anger.
"Now we've got nothing to do to pass the time." Winter crosses his arms and assumes a thinking pose before signalling to the pilot to leave without them. Understanding the gesture, the pilot heads back in the same direction he came.
"Why did you just dismiss him?! How are we going to get home now?!" Kanon shouts with her anger slowly subsiding.
"Well, I was hoping to bring you out here later so we might as well stay here until the show starts." Winter informs Kanon with a smile whilst constantly glimpsing at the container in her hand.
"The show?" Kanon repeats before noticing that Winter's attention occasionally drifts to the container she is holding with one of her hands.
"I did make some chocolates for you but I don't think you deserve any." Kanon speaks up as she crosses her arms and turns away from Winter.
"What? Why? I want some chocolate!" To Kanon, Winter sounds like a desperate child which greatly amuses her but she doesn't show it in her facial features and just "hmphs".
"Please Kanon. You don't want your chocolates to go to waste, right?" Winter pleads as he moves closer to Kanon.
"They won't be wasted. I could give them out to everyone in the Den." She responds, keeping up her act which makes Winter drop to his hands and knees, begging for the chocolate and even mustering up his best puppy-dog eyes in an attempt to change Kanon's mind. Unfortunately for him though, she keeps turning away so that she can't see his expression. That is until Winter grabs onto her midriff to stop her from moving and even feigns a few tears.
"Say please." Kanon says, unable to keep up her façade for much longer.
"Please Kanon."
"Okay. Just don't go fighting two Aragami like that by yourself. You remember what happened the last time we fought a Susano'o, right?" Kanon asks which brings back both pleasant and unpleasant memories for Winter since that day was the same day that they had seen the sunset together. Kanon also hands Winter the container full of chocolates.
"Yeah, there was an unfortunate accident but if that didn't happen, then you probably would have had to wait longer to hear me say that Harley is my first name." Winter responds with a smile before relinquishing his hold on Kanon and standing up, opening the container in the progress.
"Wow, these look pretty." Winter says as he views the multiple coloured chocolate hearts inside the container and takes a blue one from the box and eating it.
"They taste delicious too." Winter says after finishing the chocolate and grabbing another one.
"Well I'm glad you like them." Kanon responds with a very pleased smile which mirrors he emotions. She had to admit that she was slightly nervous about giving Winter some chocolate but her nerves disappeared at Winter's comments.
"So... Uh... What do we do now?" Kanon asks Winter who is still eating some of her chocolates. He presents the container to Kanon and shakes it slightly as if to say "take one". She doesn't accept though.
"Well, there's still a bit of time before the show starts... Follow me." Winter says after finishing one of the chocolates before taking another, grabbing her hand and moving through the remains of one of the buildings. They soon reach the roof of the building that doesn't really look too sturdy.
"Is this safe?" Kanon asks with worry evident in her voice.
"Well, it's not dangerous." Winter answers her and clasps her hand tighter. She squeezes slightly harder in response. After a few seconds, Winter directs them to a sturdier looking corner of the building and sits down so that his back is leaning against the remains of a small section of wall. Kanon takes a seat next to him and Winter shakes the container at her again in an attempt to give her one.
"No tha..."
"I'm only going to keep asking, you know. I bet you haven't even tasted one yet." Winter informs her before looking at the sky. The sky was slowly beginning to turn shades of red and orange. Kanon takes one of her chocolates, although reluctantly, and eats one to make Winter stop offering any to her.
"So, how long are we staying out for?"
"Probably about 20 more minutes. I'll call for a helicopter to pick us up soon." Winter answers honestly but pointing into the horizon.
"That's what we're here for." Following his finger, Kanon notices also notices the sky has changed colour and the sun is slowly sinking into the earth. Or at least, that's what it looks like.
"The sunset? It is quite a nice view." Kanon smiles as she moves herself to sit closer to Winter who wraps an arm around her in response.
"It's times like these which makes me thankful that we have saved the world. You can only appreciate the smallest things in life when you know how it feels without them." Winter speaks with a smile gracing his face.
"That makes no sense." Kanon looks at Winter whose smile drops for a second.
"Shut up. I'm trying to be romantic. I'm not very well skilled in these things, you know." Winter's smile returns as he gives Kanon a peck on her forehead.
"Just be yourself. I fell for you knowing that you weren't very romantic" She leans her head against Winter's shoulder. "Just you being with me is all I care about." A few minutes off bliss silence pass before Winter decides to speak up.
"Actually, Kanon, there's something I want to ask you."
"Oh? What is it?" Kanon asks in confusion.
"Well, you know how Sakaki has been holding these popularity events? Well, he's holding another one next week. Last time Alisa was there with me but it got quite boring. Can you be there with me in the next one?" Winter asks Kanon nervously. Kanon seems to enjoy his nervous expression, choosing not to answer him for a while so that she can revel in it.
"Of course!" She gives Winter a hug before kissing him on the lips to which he reciprocates.
"Great, thanks!" Winter speaks up whilst his thoughts tell a different story,
'I better not tell her that a few people tried to feel me up.'
Once the two of them had finished on the roof top, they called for a helicopter to pick them up. Once they arrived back at the Den, they both went into Winter's room where they proceeded to watch the television whilst snacking on Kanon's chocolate and Annette's cake.
"I'll have to thank Annette for the cake." Winter says aloud, waiting for a response from Kanon. Looking down to his lap, he sees that Kanon's eyes are closed and her breathing has become shallow.
"You're asleep already? Wow." Winter whispers and stares at Kanon for a few more seconds before switching the television off, giving her a peck on the head and drifting off to sleep himself.