The long awaited finally came. The crimson-eyed girl slipped out of the dorm to attend to a rendezvous with a certain friend. She jogged all the way to their meeting place. By the time she arrived to her destination, her stomach was growling wildly like a mad beast who wasn't fed for days. She quickly searched for her friend. After a minute of glancing around, she finally found him eating takoyaki with two gorgeous women. She ran to them as fast as she could, draining almost all of the energy she had left. The wild card panted and wiped the sweat on her forehead. Her heavy breathing caused one of the women to look up. "Ah, Minako." She gave the girl welcoming smile. "I see you are here."
The girl waved at the woman and her companions. "Hey Elizabeth, Margaret, Theo."
"Give your seat to Minako, Theo," Margaret ordered. Theodore obliged to his sister's command and offered his spot to the girl. Minako felt guilty, but took the seat anyway because she was exhausted. "You must be famished, here." The eldest of the three siblings offered Minako gave her a four pieces of steaming takoyaki.
Minako accepted it and thanked them for the food and the seat. She blew the takoyaki to cool it off. Once she thought it was safe enough to eat, she wolfed it whole and cringed when the ball burned her tongue. She quickly swallowed the takoyaki and stuck her tongue out to fan it with her hand. Elizabeth took the juice - that was supposed to be Theodore's - and handed it to the girl. Minako didn't care anymore who's drink it was and downed all the juice in one gulped. She savored the soothing effect of the four season juice to her tongue. "Thank you."
"You are welcome," Elizabeth responded, ignoring her brother's longing stare at the empty bottle.
"I suppose the two of you forced Theo to bring you two?"
"Heavens no! We simply wanted to assist our brother dear in answering whatever inquiry you have."
"Also," Margaret added, "it piqued our interest why our Theo here seemed so animated. No I see why..." she brought a takoyaki into her mouth and savored its flavor. "Humans must have amazing power to create something this delectable... Now then, what is it that you wanted to ask?"
Minako set aside the takoyaki given to her and gazed thoughtfully at nothing in particular. "Has Narukami-san asked you about the situation?"
"He was," Theodore replied.
"Did you tell him the truth or did you tell him the same story I told Ryoji and Shinjiro?"
"We told them the story."
Though it was against their policy to meddle with the affairs of their guest, in a way, the denizens of the Velvet Room somehow did by relaying Minako's lie. At first, the siblings thought that their master will not allow the request of the female wild card, but he unexpectedly complied, stating that this piece of untruth will make Minako's journey happen. So, in order for their guest to proceed with her quest they must bend the rules. They agreed to speak only of her lie until she finally reveals the truth. Sure, this might cause Yu to question their honesty, but it was necessary help their guest to take the right path. It concerned Margaret to tell an untruth to the gray-haired wild card, but her master reassured her that Yu will understand their purpose for lying. Minako remembered how conflicted the eldest of the three was with her request. She couldn't help but feel remorseful for asking them to do such a thing.
"Are you feeling well, Minako?" Margaret asked out of concern. Minako looked up at her and tilted her head due to confusion. "You were wincing. Perhaps your tongue suffered an injury?"
"No, no it's nothing..."
"Are you sure?" Minako nodded. "Well, just to be sure. Please take the rest of this flavored liquid we purchased."
"No thank you. I'm really fine."
"Then why did you wince?" Elizabeth asked. "Is there something ailing you?"
"... I apologize for making you lie. And I'm sorry that up until now, I still can't free you from my lie." Minako poked the takoyaki with her toothpick to release some of the pressure and stress she was feeling inside. "I know I should tell them the truth now. I knew I said it so many times now, but somehow, I can't bring myself to tell them the truth...
"Deep down I know all of it is my fault and I have to tell them the truth sooner or later. I also need to forget about all my little dramas and just stand up and do something. I always remind myself that if I was able to face Nyx I can handle this too... But at the end of the day, when I look into the mirror, I see this weak girl - a cowardly liar - staring right at me. I don't see the so-called savior of the world in it. I don't see the your previous guest anymore..."
The crimson-eyed girl hung her head low in weakness and defeat. I'm the worst, she brooded mentally. But before her thought got anymore worse, Elizabeth pinched the wild card's cheeks.
"Your cheeks are safe. Now little Theo can rest at ease."
"Elizabeth!" Theodore exclaimed in fear. "Look at what you have done on her cheek." Minako suddenly realized the stinging feeling on her cheek. Theodore quickly came to her side and stroked her cheek gently, worry visible on his countenance. "You must not do that to our valued guest."
"You are not the one to talk little brother." Elizabeth smiled teasingly at him. "You have been making inappropriate advances to our beloved friend, Minako."
"I-I am certainly not doing that to Minako," he said. His cheeks slightly flushed pink.
"Then why are you touching her in such a way."
"Are you now? And there is no hidden agenda in your touching her cheek with such a lewd face?"
"I am not!" Theodore defended, his cheeks growing redder due to the sudden accusation.
"Prove it then, brother dear. Prove it." But Theodore couldn't say anything. He was too distracted with his sister's claim. While Theodore was busy thinking of who-knows-what, Elizabeth turned to Minako. "Have you calmed down now, Minako?" she asked. "Your face was growing darker and darker, I thought it would make you feel better to see someone look so troubled."
"That's not really nice," Minako responded, "but thank you."
"Minako," Margaret started. "You must remain strong. I know that you are going down an arduous path, but you must be strong and endure all the pain that may come your way. You must not let you emotions drag you down and you must not let your fear hinder you from doing what you must.
"Though we may not be able to assist you in combat, I want you to know that we are always here to support you in whatever way we possibly can. And also, please do not apologize to us. I believe that we are not the ones that you should be asking for forgiveness."
"Yeah... Yeah you're right. I hope they can forgive me." Especially Ryoji and Shinji.
February 4, 2016
"Why won't you just let us help you?!" Ryoji yelled before Minako left the cheap hotel room for the tower.
"I don't need your help," she answered coolly. "I can do this on my own."
"Then why... Why did you bring us here?" He stared at the girl's back searchingly. He knew Minako brought him back. He remembered. He remembered a dream-like scene where Minako told him about what's happening and how it was all her fault. Though he doesn't remember much about the what she said, he knew that the girl brought him back so she won't be alone. He heard her say that. But he wanted to hear it from her. He wanted to hear the whole truth from her. But no matter how many times he and Shinjiro ask, they would get nothing.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Stop lying Minako," Shinjiro said. "I don't know what this guys means, but I do know that I'm here to help you. Now stop being a moron and let us come with you."
"No," she said, finality evident in her voice. When no one said another word she decided to take her leave.
"Let's follow her," Shinjiro suggested.
"But what if she finds out that we're tailing her?" Ryoji asked, remembering the girl's new persona - Theia - that helps her sense anything nearby.
"How 'bout we try asking those people in that blue room."
"You think they'll tell us?"
"We won't know until we try." The pony-tailed boy looked at the clock. "We should go now if while we still have time. They're at the Paulownia Mall, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's go."
"What are you guys doing here?" Minako asked Ryoji and Shinjiro. After roaming at the tower for she decided to go to the Velvet Room. It surprised her to see her friends there.
"We were expecting you," Elizabeth said. "They were inquiring us about your purpose for venturing to the tower."
"I see..." Minako sighed. "I'll just come back here tomorrow," she turned to her friends, "Come one Ryoji, Shinjiro-senpai. I'll explain it to you along the way." Minako first asked if it was possible that she exit to the Mall. Igor did his magic, allowing the girl to leave the room to the mall instead of the tower.
"So what do you guys know so far?"
"That you go to this tower," Shinjiro said. Though he already knew where it was - inside a portal on the school rooftop - he still asked the girl where it was.
"That's classified," Minako answered.
"Even if we buy you ramen?" he drawled
"You can't always buy me with ramen or any food."
"Fine. But what's happening. If you can't tell us what's happening, the least you can give us is an explanation."
"I agree with him," Ryoji added. "We're really confused. What's really happening?"
"There's this powerful force that will slowly eat everyone's memories until their bodies no longer remember how to function properly..." Minako said. She relayed everything that she created in her mind. Though what she was saying has a lot of holes, the two accepted it, thinking that she might've been just as confused as them to why the whole thing was happening. But that wasn't really the case. She knew everything, but everything in her mind was a mess. She promised herself not to say a word until she finally sorted out the whirlwind of events that suddenly occurred to her. But now, here she was telling lies. Powerful force... she let out a small, shamed smile. More like me.
February 4, 2016 - end
After spending two hours, playing with the three at the arcade, Minako decided to stop by the shrine to visit Makoto again. She didn't want to go back to the dorm, not when she's feeling like crap for being an awful person.
"Hey Makoto, how are you doing?" She didn't hear any answer. But Makoto was there and he told her that he was fine.
"I'm still not sure how I'm going to end this. You must be really frustrated of me now."
"No, I'm not."
"But I want to try something. Maybe if they remember who I was, maybe things will go back to normal. Or maybe I just want them to remember me... Man, why am I so selfish."
"I'm selfish too, so don't worry."
"I know that the only way to do this is by climbing the top of that tower... But that would take to long. What if something bad happens during that time..."
"..."
"I really have to snap out of it and start thinking positive, else I'll end up quitting. I just need to go up that tower and fix what needs to fix and make sure the things go back to where they use to."
"But if you do that you'll..." Makoto couldn't finish what he wanted to say. Even though Minako can't hear it, he still can't say it.
"This is my fault, I know."
"No, it's mine. Everything is my fault."
"But no matter what happens, I will end this. I don't care what happens to me."
"I can't let anything happen to you!"
"Well then, wish me luck. Hopefully, I can tell them the truth when I get home."
Makoto watched the girl leave. He clenched his hands tightly to a fist. He felt so helpless that he could only watch as Minako took the blame for everything that he started. He stared at where the girl left. I will find a way to solve this and to save you.
Yeah, I know. It's boring. But if you guys think otherwise please review, I'd really appreciate it. Anyway, if this chapter confuses you more (and if I'm making anyone too irritating by always backing out or is just OOC - too OOC) please let me now. I'll think about what I can do (I guess).
Thank you readers for your support. Till next time (^^)/~~~