Boss Rush
To LilithTheLurker: I need a description of the appearance of Rose and Anna.
Enjoy!
II: Guardian Force
Up in the skies, Marguerite laughed. The winds whipped her hair out as she beheld Neo Domino City, wrinkling her nose. A strong smell, like decapitated flowers echoed about her, so strong it was.
She laughed, and another seed bloomed...
"That's alright now, Ryuusei-kun," Miyagi Avalon sighed within the House of Cards Garage.
It was a small shop located by the Daedalus Bridge itself, and therefore a popular stop for D-Wheels and other transport about to make the arduous haul into the Satellite area. Even though Neo Domino had been rather receptive of Satellite overall, few D-Wheel garages were there in Satellite itself, and therefore most shops still preferred maintenance in Neo Domino itself. It was also in the House of Cards Garage that Ryuusei learned the tricks of the mechanic's trade.
"It's fine, Ava-san," Ryuusei answered. "After all, you're paying me for this, aren't you?"
"What a hard-working boy," Ava murmured, brushing her shoulder-length dark brown hair behind her ear, framing her heart-shaped face. Feather extensions in misty blue, speckled with darker spots reached about to her shoulders, give or take a couple of centimetres. "Well, Ryuusei-kun, actually I have a niece who's looking for a boyfriend..."
"Thank you, Ava-san," Ryuusei quietly answered. "But, I'm not interested in dating right now. Sorry."
"Oh? What a shame," Ava sighed., turning pale grey eyes on her employee. "So, how's the D-Wheels?"
"Rex's Throne needs rework," Ryuusei answered. "Meteor Stream is fine, and Carpe Jugulum is still working perfectly. With this, Team Black Knights can participate in that rumoured tournament."
"Ah, the Stygian Dirge Riding Duel," Ava nodded wisely. "You're not the only one, though. Our Team Ragnarok is also going to participate~"
"Eh, so Harald-san finally announced his retirement?" Ryuusei asked.
"Well, it'll be the first time our new Team is going to play~!" Ava laughed. "Either way, this period is good business for us, Ryuusei-kun!"
"Yes, Ava-san," Ryuusei agreed. "But... I wonder how those two is doing?"
"Zora-san, are you sure-"
"Of course I'm sure!" Zora yelled at Rex as Ryuusei stepped into the Poppo Time shop. "You can't tell such a minute difference, but I'll bet my years of experience over books at any time!"
"Ah, good afternoon, Zora-san," Ryuusei said. "Is there something going on?"
"Ryuusei-kun!" Zora enthusiastically greeted.
"Ah, Ryuusei," Rex acknowledged by the counter with the elderly owner of Poppo Time, Zora. "We're just debating whether this watch is worth the amount requested to be pawned."
"What, you can't even decide on a price?" the plump man in the suit demanded nastily. "I'll take my business elsewhere!"
"Then go!" Zora imperiously demanded. "We have no need of your business!"
"No matter how you look at it, it seems authentic," Rex muttered. "Cleaned, but... there's something wrong..."
"The wheel is too shiny," Leo, Zora's son and the resident clock-maker, pointed out. "And, the design too modern for a clock of this age. Tell me, customer, do you know what we do to cheats...?"
Blustering, the man made a run with the watch right as Rex took off his service apron. "Thanks again, Zora-san."
"More manners than his father, at least," Zora muttered. "See you, Rex-kun, Ryuusei-kun."
"Leo-san, pay-day is tomorrow!" Rex called.
"Right, right," Leo waved.
"Chase's already at Martha's place," Rex informed Ryuusei as both of them put on their helmets. "Did you bring it?"
"Yes, I did," Ryuusei muttered. "Those small things..."
They drove through a much more improved Satellite, the infrastructure showing signs of updating and change, perhaps not as rich as Neo Domino itself but still changing. A breeze blew past, and everything was fine-
"Watch out!" Rex swerved to a stop right as someone threw himself over. "What?"
"Are you alright?" Ryuusei dismounted to check.
"What the hell?" a few tattooed hecklers yelled from the side. "I saw the blond guy run Makoto down! Aniki, punish them!"
"What? He threw himself!" Rex scowled.
"Now, now," the leader sneered. "They're still kids, after all. Maybe we'll just let them off with a broken arm, heh..."
"It's a fight you guys want, huh...?" Rex growled.
"Enough, Rex," Ryuusei answered as he checked the man. "You're clearly uninjured, so can you please stand?"
"What?" the leader growled. "You look damn familiar, brat."
"Stow it, Sakamaki," a deep voice growled as a blue-haired older man strolled over, a Marker clear on his face. "Can't you tell? That's Yusei's brat."
"Hah? T- That's Yusei's brat?" Sakamaki spluttered. "Then, the blond brat-"
"You need your eyes checked, anyone can tell he's an Atlas," the man answered. "You okay, kids? Himuro Jin here."
"Ah, thank you, Himuro-san," Ryuusei nodded. "I'm Ryuusei, this is Rex. Did you know my father...?"
"Yep," Himuro nodded. "Damn, you even hive his eyes... but not the hair, no wonder Sakamaki couldn't tell. So, where are you going?"
"Ah, we're going to visit Martha-san," Ryuusei answered.
"What a coincidence," Himuro laughed. "Take those rides and wheel them along, we're not far."
"Ah, thank you," Rex nodded as he took the Throne up.
There was complete silence as they wheeled it towards the small cottage that was Martha's orphanage.
"You're late!" Chase called amongst the crowd of children. "Rex, Ryuusei, surely that part-time job couldn't have taken too much!"
"Don't equate us to you!" Rex growled. "Anyway, weren't you stuck in the office or something about your uncle?"
"Ah, settled," Chase waved a hand. "Martha-san, they're here!"
"Martha-san," Ryuusei nodded as the matron of the house came out.
"Oh my, Ryuusei," Martha chided as she accepted the gift. "It's just like Yusei said, you've grown so much! This old lady must be getting old as well..."
"Well, you certainly don't look it, Martha-san," Rex bluntly answered.
"What a honeyed tongue!" Martha murmured. "More sense than Jack, at any rate..."
"Ne, Martha, you're going to tell them about the scary girl, right?" one of the orphans suddenly whispered.
"Scary girl?" Rex echoed.
"Takuma!" Martha scolded. "Sorry, Ryuusei, actually I'm due for a visit from Shimotsuki-san."
"A psychic...?" Ryuusei murmured.
"She's over there by the swings," Takuma whispered. "Chase-nii couldn't get close because of that monster."
"That monster...?" Ryuusei blinked as he approached the swings and touched an invisible wall. "Ah, Swords of Concealing Light."
"Are they?" Martha whispered. "She won't come out."
Seated on the swings was a tiny young girl, her long hair silvered and matted, hanging loose to her waist. She was dressed in a neat, pleated dress, and shoes, her hair tied up in matching ribbons, but otherwise her grey eyes were listless. On her arm was a silver DuelDisk, the plate small and hardly amounting to anything, but still glowing.
"Yukina Suiren," Martha told us. "That's the girl. Her parents died of a car accident which she was the only survivor. She was saved by the Shining Angel."
"The searcher?" Rex blinked. "What power..."
"Suiren!" Ryuusei called. A gust of wind blew, right as Ryuusei touched where his cheek had been suddenly sliced open.
"Ryuusei!" Martha called in shock. "Stop this, Suiren!"
"Leave me alone," Suiren sulked. "You're all the same, liars... I don't need you. I don't need them."
"What should we do?" Rex whispered. "She's been there for some time already..."
A voice suddenly spoke up. "Oh, Ryuusei, you're here."
"Shimotsuki," Ryuusei acknowledged as the dark-haired girl walked up. "You're here to take her from here?"
"Well..." Setsuka coughed. "Yukina Suiren. Born to parents Yukina Sakura and Shizuka. At the age of eight, you came to this house. You are like us, individuals cursed or blessed with power-"
"Enough!"
The force was enough to shatter the nearby chains on the swings. "Why are you here? You're all liars! Only the cards... only the cards never lie to me! Go away!" Right there, another fixture shattered. "I'll hurt you!"
Setsuka gazed silently for a few moments. "Then, shall we Duel?"
"E- Eh?" Suiren blinked,her anger fading in the face of the non sequitor.
"Duel," Setsuka repeated slowly. "A Duel is something that allows you to understand far more than simple words. You cannot lie in a Duel. Well?"
"A Duel... fine," Suiren accepted as she stood up. "Aren't you afraid of my power...?"
"Oh, why should I be afraid of something familiar?" Setsuka answered.
"Duel!"
Suiren: LP 8000
Setsuka: LP 8000
"As a courtesy, you may have the first turn," Setsuka answered.
"Courtesy...?" Suiren repeated. "You're letting me go first..."
"I issued the challenge, it is only right that I allow the first turn," Setsuka answered. "Though, that shall not change the outcome."
"...thank you," Suiren whispered. "Draw! I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen! Now, I special summon Bountiful Artemis [1600/1700] to the field. I then summon Freya, Spirit of Victory [100/100 → 500/500] [1600/1700 → 2000/2100] and set a card. Turn end!"
"Draw," Setsuka intoned. "I play the Spell, Magic Triangle of the Ice Barrier. I reveal Cryomancer, Dewdark and Dance Princess of the Ice Barrier in hand to destroy your set card and special summon Dewdark [1200/800]. Then, I summon Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier [1300/0]. I'll then play the Field Spell, Wetlands!"
The scene changed to a rainy field that enriched the monsters on Setsuka's field [1300/0 → 2500/0] [1200/800 → 2400/800].
"Are you going to attack my Artemis?" Suiren posed.
"No," Setsuka answered. "For one thing, there is no need. Dewdark can attack directly."
"Eh?"
"Go, Dewdark!" Setsuka commanded.
Suiren: LP 8000 → LP 5600
Setsuka: LP 8000
"I'll set a card as well, turn end." Setsuka dictated as Suiren staggered back to her feet. "This is a Duel between Psychic Duellists. Do be careful."
"That... that was clever," Suiren murmured, almost in admiration. "Draw! Artemis, attack!"
"Cryomancer does not allow level four or higher monsters to attack," Setsuka pointed out. "My style prefers to draw this out, you see, so you'll have to bear a bit longer."
"Ah," Suiren nodded. "Then... I'll summon Harvest, Angel of Wisdom [1800/1000] and end my turn."
"Draw," Setsuka patiently called. "I summon another Dewdark, and I equip both with one Mage Power each [2400/800 → 3900/2300 x 2]. This battle is over. Both Dewdark, direct attack."
Suiren: LP 5600 → LP 0
Setsuka: LP 8000
"That..." Suiren stared as the Dewdark disappeared. "You're... just like me..."
"Yukina Suiren," Setsuka spoke as the swords around dissolved. "I come from the Arcadia Movement, just like that brother over there. We are here to give you peace."
"Peace...?" Suiren echoed.
"My name is Shimotsuki Setsuka," Setsuka introduced. "I am here to take you into the Arcadia Movement. You are what society calls a Psychic Duellist. If you wish, I will take you away from here. If not, then here you remain."
"Take... me away...?" Suiren echoed.
"I will come again tomorrow," Setsuka murmured as she turned to leave.
"Wait!" Suiren stood up. "What... what do you mean by peace?"
"Peace? That is... you can declare that you're protected by angels and mean it," Setsuka answered. "I will help you find the answer to your powers, that you will have others like you. If you wish it, I will help you, I will take you with me to find what you seek. If you do not, I will leave you."
"Take me with you!" came the answer.
A small smile formed. "Then, come with me... Suiren."
Night fell over Neo Domino.
Cities are strange things. If a city has a personality, maybe it also has a soul. Maybe it dreams, and the lives of the citizens are in the dreams of the city. Why certain places hover on the brink of recognition; why we almost know where we are. As night falls, and Neo Domino comes alive, the lights of the Daedalus Bridge a string of diamonds against the even more shimmery dress Neo Domino itself was decked out in, as if, one day, the city were to wake.
It was somewhere the light never reached, one of the dark spots from where Neo Domino had messed itself changing from just one to two combined to one so long ago that Misawa Tsugare wandered.
"Honey trap, bait..." Tsugare muttered to himself. "Why am I always being used in this...?"
"Woo!" A laugh sounded as Tsugare spun back to face a man in a burgundy suit. "Adam, Adam Loxley here, nice to meet you."
"Can't say I return the sentiment," Tsugare nervously answered. "Erm, can I help you...?"
"Oh, that's rich, hon," Adam laughed. "So, what's a piece like you doing here?"
Tsugare felt himself twitching as he unconsciously touched the amber suspended on a choker around his neck. "Excuse me then."
"Wait a moment, hon," Adam's voice suddenly turned dangerously soft. "That way lies danger for girls, especially pretty ones like you."
"I'm a guy!" Tsugare defended.
"...no way!" came the disbelieving denial.
In answer, Tsugare just touched the faint Adam's apple at his throat. "See this? Guy. Good night."
"Well..." Adam muttered. "I might just be tempted... how 'bout a Duel? You win, I leave you alone, I win, and you come with me."
Alarm bells were already ringing. "That's rather suspicious, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I thought so," Adam sighed.
"No, I was referring to how much red you wear," Tsugare tapped his nose. "I swear I've smelt that somewhere... we'll have that Duel alright..."
"Duel!"
Tsugare: LP 8000
Adam: LP 8000
"I'll go first, draw!" Tsugare called. "I summon Naturia Guardian [1600/400] to the field in attack mode!"
"You just... summoned a tree," Adam pointed out.
"Geez, thanks," Tsugare drawled. "I'll set two cards, turn end."
"Draw!" Adam cackled. "I'll summon Gellenduo [1700/0] to the field in attack mode!"
"Gellenduo?" Tsugare echoed as the two monsters in one appeared. "I'll chain the summon with the special summon of the tuner, Naturia Cosmobeet [1000/700] from my hand."
"Then I'll play the Field Spell, The Sanctuary in the Sky!" Adam called.
"Counter Trap, Exterio's Fang!" Tsugare called. "I'll negate it by sending one card from my hand to the graveyard."
"Che," Adam laughed. "Gellenduo, attack Naturia Cosmobeet!"
"Trap card, Urgent Tuning!" Tsugare called. "Tuning, level four Guardian to level two Cosmobeet! Green dragon of the east, Seiryuu, to protect the forest it is time to arise and fight. Synchro summon! Roar, Naturia Barkion!"
The Chinese dragon that appeared was a magnificent specimen, that roared as it thumped onto the field [2500/1800].
"Replay occurs, I'll stop," Adam admitted. "I set two cards, turn end."
"Draw!" Tsugare called. "I summon Naturia Pumpkin [1400/800], and if I normal summon it while you have a monster, I can special summon a Naturia monster from my hand such as the tuner monster, Naturia Cherries [200/200]! Tuning, level four Pumpkin to level one Cherries! White tiger of the west, Byakko, hear the cries of the forest of your home! Come to defend us! Synchro summon! Strike, Naturia Beast!"
With a savage roar, an emerald green tiger leapt from the Synchro Summon. Its legs were like trees, and moss grew on its fur [2200/1700].
"Well, with that..." Tsugare considered. "Gellenduo can't be destroyed by battle, but if you take damage through him it'll be destroyed all the same. Still... say, have you been keeping count?"
"Eh?" Adam blinked.
"I have exactly five Earth Attribute monsters in my graveyard right now," Tsugare pointed out. "So, meet this guy, Grandsoil the Elemental Lord [2800/2200]!"
With a rumble, the monster appeared, gold-brown burnished armour shining as it loomed along with the other monsters.
"The effect of Grandsoil, is that I can special summon a monster from any graveyard, just like Monster Reborn," Tsugare pointed out. "So, I'll special summon the Naturia Spiderfang [2100/400] I've left there."
"That's cheating!" Adam pointed out.
"Well, Spiderfang can't attack if you don't activate a card effect," Tsugare shrugged. "So, Grandsoil, attack!"
"Trap card, Mirror Force!" Adam called.
"The effect of Barkion, I banish the Naturia Guardian and the Naturia Pumpkin in the graveyard to negate and destroy Mirror Force," Tsugare rattled off. "Go, Grandsoil!"
Adam: LP 8000 → LP 6900
Tsugare: LP 8000
"Then, your own monster is destroyed!" Tsugare called. "Now, Beast, Barkion, Spiderfang, direct attack!"
Adam: LP 6900 → LP 100
Tsugare: LP 8000
"Wow, you're good," Adam praised. "It's just tingling..."
"So that's why," Tsugare noted. "You reek of blood."
"Well, no matter," Adam gave a wan smile. "Shall we?"
"Turn end," Tsugare admitted.
"Draw!" Adam called. "I'll play Cards from the Sky, banishing a Light Attribute Fairy to draw two cards. Now, I set a monster and a card, turn end."
"Draw!" Tsugare called. "Grandsoil, attack the set monster!"
"Damn..." Adam scowled as the set Nova Summoner [1400/900] was destroyed. "Well, here comes another Nova Summoner!"
"In attack mode," Tsugare pointed out. "Barkion, attack!"
Adam: LP 100 → LP 0
Tsugare: LP 8000
"Oh, that... hurt..." Adam wheezed where Barkion had hit. "You're..."
"You still reek of it," Tsugare commented as he approached the man in burgundy. "Blood. You're a killer, you've just killed, and most likely I would have been your victim. Yes?"
"You..." Adam produced a long knife from inside his suit jacket. "I'll..."
Tsugare lifted his left bang to expose the amethyst eye, a great contrast to the amber one common to the Misawa. "Listen to me, Adam Loxley."
"Y- Yes..." Adam's reaction slowed, his speech slurred as his breathing quickened. It took only a few seconds for him to be trapped under the spell of that gaze.
"You are going to turn yourself in," Tsugare whispered, his voice melodic and almost like a choir. "You are going to confess everything. What you did, who you killed, and you will never mention me, or why you confessed. You'll just say that you had a guilt attack."
"I... I felt guilty," Adam nodded, as if that made sense.
"Yes, yes, Adam Loxley," Tsugare whispered. "Go now, confess. Or I will not be happy."
Slowly, woodenly, without even folding up his DuelDisk, Adam slowly walked away, never speaking a word, and completely mesmerised by the thought of pleasing that voice like leaves in the wind...
Exhausted, Tsugare slumped against a wall, his bangs covering the amethyst eye of Diarmuid once more. "That was creepy."
"A 'seed'?" a voice commented as Tsugare quickly reacted. "Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, if I'm not wrong."
Tsugare backed until he could glimpse the silhouette of the man who had just spoken. "Who are you?"
"I'm the red spear, Gae Dearg," the man answered. "Well? Answer me, Diarmuid."
"I don't know, it's this cursed eye," Tsugare honestly answered. "Barkion, hold him!"
"A psychic as well," the man laughed as he moved past the great dragon to slam Tsugare into the wall, his breathing erratic. "How powerful you must be."
The stranger never got to answer as Grandsoil slammed a hand into him, forcing him off as Tsugare backed away.
"A card like Grandsoil is one of six," the stranger commented. "Naturia... it suits you, Diarmuid. What's your name? Oh, sorry, mine is Benibara."
"I don't believe you," Tsugare answered bluntly.
"Why?"
"For one thing, trying to trick me with a Fate/Zero reference is hardly going to improve my impression of you," Tsugare rolled out of the way as a spear dug into the wall where he would have been. "That also counts."
"Marguerite never told you?" the man sounded confused.
"I'm a psychic of the Arcadia Movement," Tsugare quickly touched the amber on his choker. "Hands where I can see them. I'm taking you in for suspicious activity in a known criminal area."
"I wasn't aware there was such a charge," the man commented, his face still shrouded in shadow. "But, I can't afford to get myself caught just yet, Diarmuid."
"I'm not whatever that is!" Tsugare snarled. "I'm- Well, I'm not giving you my name!"
"Because names can control people," the man, Benibara, agreed. "We'll meet again, but on different sides. Until then."
Tsugare stared right before he was pulled into a disorienting, hard kiss.
"W- What?" In the ensuing confusion and whirl, Benibara took the chance to disappear.
"I'm going to kill you!" Tsugare's shout echoed in the place.
"I'm home," Ryuusei called as he walked into the Fudo house with his friends.
"Welcome back!" Seika greeted. "Today is sukiyaki to celebrate the start of school once again!"
"Tomorrow's the day, right?" Ryuusei nodded. "I'll be there, Seika."
"Mmm!" Seika smiled. "Rex-nii, Chase-nii, there's extra for dinner!"
"We're in!" they yelled.
"Of course you are," shoes clattered as they were unceremoniously dropped. "I'm home..."
"Welcome home, Dad," Ryuusei answered Professor Fudo Yusei. "Mom?"
"Baa-san is taking the night shift tonight, I've sent her dinner along," Seika answered. "Jii-chan, we're having sukiyaki today!"
"That's nice..." Yusei nodded. "Erm, do we have enough...? Because Kiryu mentioned something about dropping in..."
"Kiryu-sensei?" Chase yelped, jumping to his feet. "He's coming here?"
"Just some ownership disputes," Yusei answered. "It's fine, but we haven't seen him for a while."
In the end, Kiryu never turned up, but the conversation swung wildly about a wide range of topics from D-Wheels (fine), physics (boring) and mechanics (and the use of recyclables thereof).
Soon, as all conversation was apt to go, it swung to the Arcadia Movement. Particularly, one glaring issue...
"How is the Arcadia Movement funded, Nii-chan?" Seika innocently commented.
…
…
…
"... it's a long story," Ryuusei muttered. "There's a mix of public and private funding, as well as Shimotsuki's own fortune and the Arcadia Movement's jobs. Most usually find themselves in the body-guarding or police, so the NDPD is recently looking to recruit officers from there, and also pay a recruiting fee. There's also the fact that the City grants the Movement a stipend yearly, so the Movement has a lot more leeway. There are also consulting fees and... well, think of it like a huge guild that protects the interests of its members and gets paid in return."
"But, there's no limit on membership, which is free to begin with," Rex pointed out.
"But, the Arcadia Movement gains influence through its members," Ryuusei pointed out. "Why else would Shimotsuki demand an arm and a leg, ad actually get them?"
"An arm and a leg? Oh, right, we had a ham delivery today!" Seika said. "I cooked it for tonight's sukiyaki!"
Very slowly, Ryuusei looked at the ham, and swallowed.
"Oh crap," Chase had realised. "She wouldn't..."
"Not with Seika," Ryuusei still looked green. ""Who knows what she thinks, really... she hasn't been completely there when we rescued her from that world..."
"Ask me no questions and I shall tell you no lies," Setsuka whispered. Her legs were crossed as she leaned back into the black leather armchair to better stare her debtor down. "Our agreement?"
The man standing before the armchair shuddered. "Well, erm, we didn't find anyone with special powers, really. Really, Missy, not in the Satellite or the Daimon Area."
"The Puzzle Area?"
"That's dangerous!" the man protested. "Teenage gangs and all of that."
"Is it?" Setsuka gave him a look. "I employ you to throw yourself into danger for me, Saiga-san. Are you intending to renegade on our agreement?"
"You witch," the heavy-set suddenly stated, levelling a gun at her. "I have free choice to choose where I search."
"I'm the monster you owe a debt to," Setsuka answered as the man's hand suddenly jerked to level the gun to his own temple. "Would you prefer to commit suicide yourself? I don't think a temple shot is enough, is it?"
There was a shot as his kneecap folded in a burst of blood under him, and the man gasped.
"Or the thigh?" Setsuka casually commented as the man proceeded to begin clubbing his own leg with the gun. "Well? Do not forget what you owe me, Saiga-san."
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" the man, Saiga, howled.
"Hmph," Setsuka snapped her fingers as the hand holding the gun relented, the weapon itself dropped to the carpeted floor. "Reject."
Saiga groaned as the lead bullet dug itself out of his kneecap.
"If you find me one of those people, and bring his whereabouts to me, I shall heal your leg and release you from your obligation," Setsuka stated. "Go. Fail me and know the consequences."
Saiga was all too eager to get away from the girl.
"That's a new skill set," Jimmy commented once he spotted Saiga leave.
"I can only do it to people who owe me," Setsuka answered. "It's rather interesting, isn't it?"
"You're a sadist," Jimmy complained, but knelt down as he came close to her. "Is this about the witch you told me about?"
"Yes, oh, yes."
"Setsuka. Pay attention."
"You're unfair," the girl hissed as her boyfriend curled up in the armchair, but made space for him. "As to your question, I have my suspicions. Saiga was due for a reminder of to whom he owes his life to, anyway."
"That's a cruel and unusual punishment," James murmured as he took to running his hands along her shoulders and elbows, the skin goose-pimpling with cold even though spring was here. The air around her smelt of winter mint and something else, sweet and refreshing. Another reminder of how close she was to that edge. "Surely you didn't need to scare the man out of his wits. People will think you're a witch."
"Their opinion hardly matters," Setsuka pointed out. "Only yours does. Never forget that, James."
"You know, I'm thinking of a pet name."
"Perhaps I could distract you from that."
She did.
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