"You... said... this... was... a SHORTCUT!" Teddie glared at the raven-haired male in front of him. Not only did Ryoji took lightest two of the people they had to take to the dorm, but he was also using a pushcart to carry them there.
"We're almost there," Ryoji told him blankly.
"But you said that five minutes ago," Teddie whined. "We've been walking for almost an hour now."
"It's true this time. And we've only been walking for twenty minutes."
Teddie just groaned. Walking was already killing Teddie' s feet and legs slowly. The weight he was carrying was getting heavier with every step he took. He can already feel his body aching. I'm going to be beary sore tomorrow, he thought.
"Found it!" Ryoji exclaimed. They were in an alley somewhere near Paulownia Mall. At the end was a tall brick wall.
"A dead end?" Teddy looked at it skeptically. Ryoji just ignored him and picked up the two girls in the pushcart.
"Let's go."
"To where!?" Teddie asked, exasperated.
"Through that wall." Ryoji ran and disappeared through the wall. Teddie stared at the wall dumbfoundingly. He gulped before closed his eyes and dubiously followed suit what Ryoji did. He prepared for himself for the impact that never came. He slowly opened his eyes and saw that he was at the dorm's lounge.
Ryoji chortled at him. "You, you - hahahahaha - should've seen your face." Ryoji clutched his stomach and laughed again. He wiped the tears of mirth on his eyes.
"WHAT BEARZARRE THING JUST HAPPENED!?" Teddie asked Ryoji with mixed irritation and wonder.
"The girl from the Velvet Room, the one with short hair, told me about these one way portals that lead you to anywhere in Port Island. That portal we just went through, she told me it would lead me to the dorm. I never knew it would be here though." I wish it could've been Minako's room though, Ryoji thought. He quickly shook his head and ordered himself to stop thinking of such horrible things.
"I wish all portals lead to the girls' room." Teddie sighed and gently placed the two he was carrying on the sofa. "Where's Ai-chan?" he inquired. He looked around and noticed that she was no where to be seen.
"She'll be here soon with her speed," Ryoji, who has now calmed down, said. "I'm guessing you're staying behind?"
"I want to but..." Teddie flopped down the couch and leaned his head on the headrest. "Ai-chan's better at explaining things to Mitsuru-chan."
"Yeah... Mitsuru would surely come here if she hears about it." Ryoji looked at the clock. "It's almost eight."
Teddie ears perked. "What did you say?" he asked, turning his head to Ryoji.
"It's almost eight?" Teddie's eyes widened. He looked at the clock. "Something wrong?" Ryoji looked back and forth from the clock and to Teddie.
"I missed their graduation..." Teddie said sadly. He leaned forward and covered his face with his hands. It muffled his voice when he said, "I'm the worst friend ever."
"Whose graduation?"
"Yuki-chan and Kanji's..." Ryoji wasn't really sure who they were but he was sure this was very important to the blond.
"They're graduating together?" Ryoji mentally face-palmed at how dumb his question was. He glanced at the other male and saw that he didn't mind. At least, he thought he didn't mind.
"Yeah," Teddie said happily as he straightened. He took out his wallet and inside was a picture of people who looked familiar to Ryoji. Teddie pointed at a girl with long, black hair. "Yuki-chan was supposed to graduate last year but something came up with their family business. It's a good thing that she was able to graduate now."
"What about that Kanji person?"
Teddie chuckled. He pointed at the tall male, with black hair and glasses. "I never really expected him to graduate. I always thought he wasn't that smart. He used to look like a criminal when he was younger. He still looks like one but not as terrible as it was before. I guess looks can be beary deceiving." He gave Ryoji a knowing look. "I think you know what I mean."
Ryoji smirked, knowing very well who Teddie was implying. "Yeah. Who knew someone like Shinji would have a soft spot for dogs, and acts like a mother?"
" 'Minako, don't talk with your mouth full,' " Teddie impersonated. " 'Ken, eat your pepper. I told you not to eat too much, Teddie.' "
"You forgot something," Ryoji said, trying to contain his laughter. " 'Ryoji, learn to wash your own underwear. Don't expect me to do this for you all the time.' " The two burst out laughing.
"You can't really hate the guy," Teddie said with a grin. "Without him, this place would be a mess. Also, I always wanted to know what it's like to have a mother even if she-he looks like a thug."
"Yeah..." They both looked away with a pensive expression. They never had a family to begin with. They weren't even humans. But just having something to come back to was enough to lift them up from there saddened state. "It's really good to have friends."
"Yep! We should go back before Ai-chan comes back though."
"Why?"
Teddie raised a brow. "Do you think she'd volunteer to stay here now that she's obsessed with protecting Mina-chan?"
"Good point." Ryoji remembered how difficult it was to calm the female android when she found out that the auburn-haired girl wasn't going to include her in her search party.
"Let's leave her a note so she won't freak out."
"I know a not-that-short-but-short-enough shortcut to school. Wanna take it?"
Aigis ran as fast as she could. She wanted to stay in the tower. She wanted to be there in case she was needed. She knew was going to be first. She calculated everything to make sure that neither of the two - Ryoji and Teddie - will be at the dorm before she did. But she failed. All she could do was stare at the piece of paper on the coffee table.
Hey Ai-chan ʕ•ٹ•ʔ
Since you were carrying those three beary heavy people and you were running beary fast, Ryoji-kun and I have decided to go back so you could take a break. We know that you must be beary tired so please enjoy your short break.
P. S.
Please call Mitchan and explain to her what happened. ʕㆁωㆁʔ
With love,
Teddie
"How could they have outran me?" Aigis thought aloud in frustration. She thought of every way possible but nothing came into her mind. She gave up and called Mitsuru.
"Wow, Mitsuru-san!" Chie gaped at the food in front of her. Mitsuru just smiled triumphantly. She successfully organized, yet, another feast for her friends. "This is amazing!"
Chie was about to dig in only to be stopped by someone who grabbed the back of her collar. "We're still waiting for someone," Yosuke said before slowly cowering behind his partner when Chie glared demonically at him and lifted her fist.
"Yosuke-kun is right, Chie-chan," Fuuka said, trying to calm the girl. She mentally sighed in relief when the younger female unclenched her fist. "We're still missing six more people."
"Who?"
Fuuka balled her small hands and uncurled a finger for every person she mentioned. "Aigis-chan, Labrys-chan, Yukari-chan, Akihiko-senpai, Junpei-kun, and Teddie-kun."
"But Fuuka-san, we can't let them-" she pointed at Yukiko and Kanji "-wait. This party is for them. We can start without them. Right, Mitsuru-san?" Chie looked at the woman expectantly.
Mitsuru pondered about this. "Well, I guess we-" Her phone interrupted her. She checked who the caller is and picked it up immediately. "Aigis, where are you? Is something wrong?... Alright... I understand... We'll be there."
Everyone watched Mitsuru. All of them were wondering about the conversation she just had. They watch her dial fumbling with her phone before placing it over her ear once again. "Please send enough ambulance for ten people to Minatodai Dorm. Be sure to be inconspicuous as to not alert the civilians."
"I guess dinner would have to wait now." Chie gazed at all of the food on the table, specifically the steak, longingly. Yukiko gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder.
"I hope you don't mind having a little warm-up before dinner," said Mitsuru. She left the room and went to her limo. The others followed wordlessly and entered the lavish car one by one. Mitsuru began to tell them word per word what Aigis said.
"Sup, dude!?" I said to the new kid in class. She suddenly looked up. Her eyes were wide open because of surprise. I couldn't help but laugh at the funny expression on her cute little face. "You look like a deer in headlights.
"Who are you?" she asked innocently.
"Me?" I pointed at myself. "I'm Junpei Iori. Nice to meet ya." She nodded and smiled at me. "I transferred here when I was in 8th grade. I know how tough it is bein' the new kid... So I thought I'd check up on you, make sure you weren't freaking out on your first day."
She looked like she was about to say something when someone sighed from behind me. It was Yuka-tan. "At it again, huh? Honestly, is there any girl you wouldn't hit on? Did you ever think you might be bothering someone?"
"What? But, I was just bein' friendly." I defended myself. I wasn't really hitting on her. I only hoping that I could have a cute girl like this as my girlfriend. That's different from flirting.
"If you say so." It's clear that she didn't believe me. She turned to the new kid and they started talking as if I wasn't even there.
I was starting to get annoyed. I decided to butt in. "Um, hello? Did you forget I'm in this class too? C'mon, lemme in on the fun!
"By the way, do you guys know each other? I heard you two came to school together this morning. A couple of cuties like you, walking side by side... The whole class was buzzing about you."
Yuka-tan just rolled her eyes. "Ugh... Could you just cut it out? I hate dealing with rumors like that. I mean, I'm used to it, but she just got here, you know? Don't you feel bad, spreading rumors like that?" She checked the time on the wall clock before turning to me. "Well, I've gotta go take care of some archery team stuff. Don't try anything funny, you got that, Junpei?" She ran out.
"What is she, your nanny...?" I asked the girl when Yuka-tan was already out of earshot. "Well, just to clear something up, I seriously didn't come over here to hit on you or anything. If you ever have a problem you can tell your ol' pal Junpei about it!"
She grinned at me. Boy was it something to see. "Thanks," she said.
"No prob! My door's always open. So to speak."
A dream...
"You're finally awake," Yukari said, looking down on him.
"How long was I out?"
"I don't know we haven't been here long."
"We're back," Teddie cheerily said. "Where's Labby-chan and Mina-chan?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Ryoji said from behind him. "They're still up there."
Teddie glared at him. "Do you think they'll need backup, Yukari-chan?" Yukari just shrugged.
"Minako-san said that they'll call for us if they need help." Ken looked at the teleporter. "I wonder if they're alright..."
A phone suddenly rang. It was Shinjiro's. Who modified that!? Yukari thought as she watched her senior - who is now younger than her - answer the phone.
"Hello?" Shinjiro answered. It was on speaker so that everyone would here.
"THE REAPER'S AFTER US!" Minako yelled in fear. At the background they could here Labrys throwing attacks on the highly dangerous shadow. "THERE'S NO WAY OUT! WE-"
"Minako... MINAKO! We have to-" But before Shinjiro could finish multiple shadows surrounded them. "Shit. Why now of all times!?"
Yo guys! Congratulations on those who graduated (in this place kids like me graduate on March). I know how hard the practices were but you survived and so did I. Enjoy your long vacation to those who are going to college. And to the other from another country, I'm not really sure how things work there. I hope you guys enjoy though. I also hope you guys like this chapter.
One more thing. The next take a while because there are somethings I have to do. I just hope I make it through alive (not really dangerous).
Thank you readers.
Thank you BananaMiss and Victoria Tessance for following/favoriting.
Thank you Rosalida Lancaster Leonhart and aDistantYume for your comment.
aDistantYume: I can't believe you're reading this. I kn this isn't really the right place to say this but I really like your work!