WORLD OF SUITS

~ Michi ~

"Hmmmmm."

"Uh. Michi?" Musca gave me a concerned look.

"Hmmmmm?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm thinking."

"Can you do it in a way that involves less glaring?"

"No."

"Well then can you tell me what you're thinking about? You're frightening me."

"Ikki."

"Oh. Yeah, today was interesting. From what you told me before you two met up, you have some really good childhood memories because of him." She paused. "And the hand holding…"

"Don't remind me." He had walked me home after we had explored the craft shop some more, very slowly and holding my hand the whole time. Why hadn't I shaken him off? It was just that… The overall feeling of this day had been so nice. Remembering that I had a good friend in him had made me feel so relieved, I had actually felt quite pleasant in response to his touch.

"So. Who do you think is more handsome, Ikki or Shin?"

"What? Don't ask stupid questions."

"I think it's a legitimate question."

I sighed. "They can't be compared."

"Elaborate, please?"

"Well…" It was embarrassing to talk about, even with Musca. "Ikki is beautiful. He's like an angel. An angel who always hits on you. And Shin… He's dark."

"Uh… One sounds a lot better than the other the way you explained it."

"Meh." I shrugged. Still, Shin was the one who caused a hot stirring in my chest whenever I saw him or thought of him. "Anyways! Change of subject. Tell me what you know about the other two."

Musca nodded. "Right, we did have a few things to talk about still. Just remember that even though I'll tell you all I can, my knowledge is actually quite limited in regards to the men in the pathways."

"That's fine. Just do what you can."

"Right. Well, Shin and Ikki you're already involved with. There's Kent, also. We haven't even met him yet, though. But according to Orion, you can't miss him. He's very tall and wears a long green jacket and glasses. He's also a friend of Ikki's, so maybe you could meet through him. But that's all I really know about Kent."

"I'll try to come up with a way to bring him up with what I've got. So who's the last one?"

"Actually, it's Toma."

"Toma? Really? He seems like the most balanced person I've met so far."

"Maybe. All I know is…" Musca frowned.

"What?"

"I just don't know how concerned I need to be. It's just that, Orion really seemed to have a strong dislike for Toma."

"Really? Why?"

"I have no idea. He never told me."

"Well…" It seemed so unlikely. Toma was a sweet guy so far in my experience. "I'll keep it in mind, I guess." I lay down with a sigh and stretched luxuriously. "Ah, I love bed…"

Musca gave me an amused smile. "Tired?"

"No, just relaxing while I think." What would be the best thing to do next? Should I focus on Ikki and Shin for now or try to meet Kent and figure out what Toma's concern was in the pathways? "I'll just wing it I guess."

"By the way, something to reassure you." Musca pulled her sleeves up over her hands, since their length usually obscured them. "See this?" There were four symbols on the back of her hand that could only have been the suits that represented each person in my mission. "Whenever you finish one of the pathways, the respective symbol will disappear from my hand. Then you'll know for sure, so you won't have to worry anymore with that route."

"That's helpful. Maybe it'll help me not go crazy." I laughed, then rolled over onto my stomach, waving my legs in the air behind me, when my phone vibrated. "Oh!" My heart thumped.

"What?" Musca floated just above me, peering at the phone.

"It's Shin." The text wasn't even anything special, yet I was all aflutter. Oh well.

It read: How are you?

I wasted ten minutes trying to think of a response to that simple question. "Um…"

"You're ridiculous." Musca shook her head.

"Shut up and let me spazz out in peace."

Finally I messaged back: Good, found a craft store on Main Street today. Lots of fun. You?

"You're not going to tell him you were with Ikki?" Musca read the message.

"No way. Why would I? It'd only stir the pot."

"Good point." She stared at my phone when it vibrated again, just as invested as I was.

It read: I'm okay. Didn't know there was a craft store. Maybe we could go together?

I stared at the message. "Asshole! You… Argh!" I buried my face in the pillow and kicked my legs, having a mini tantrum.

"Uh? Michi?" Musca patted my back.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Friends hang out, that's normal…" The transitional period after our last talk would probably be a little bit awkward.

So, I texted back: Sure. When?

He replied almost instantly: The next day we're both off? Would have to check the schedule.

I smiled to myself, excited, and typed: Sure. It's a date.

I stared at it the second it sent, realizing what I'd done, and typed in a hurry: Not a date, not a date. Just a figure of speech.

"This feels a little bit sad on your end," Musca commented.

"Please don't point it out. I already know," I sighed, then looked at the phone as it vibrated again. "Oh, it's Ikki this time."

His message read: I had a good time today. Hopefully we can do it again sometime.

"Oh, that's nice." Musca smiled.

"I guess so." I replied back: Me too. And yeah, that'd be nice.

Ikki texted: When is the next day we both have off? Let's get together then.

I frowned and typed: I don't know. We can check the schedule, but let's just hang out whenever that is.

"Michi, be careful. What if all of you are off on the same day? Then you'll have to choose."

"Come on, that's highly unlikely."

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

Next, Shin and Ikki texted back at around the same time. Shin's was: You're weird. Ikki's was: Looking forward to it.

I sighed and texted them both goodnight before turning my phone off. "It feels… weird."

"How so?" Musca perched on the side of the bed, and I moved to give her room.

"I feel like I'm two-timing them."

"That's irrational. It isn't like you're dating either one of them."

"I know, I know… I'm just weird, like Shin said."

"Maybe." She paused. "You'll definitely have to get over that feeling, Michi. There are two others, and no telling how your feelings will develop. And even if you have to do something… Er, less than honorable… With the pathways merged, I'll respect it if you do whatever it takes. You shouldn't hold anything against yourself."

"Meaning, if I have to play with everyone's feelings, then I should do it."

"I'm just saying that you shouldn't be hard on yourself. You have a huge responsibility here, and I know it's not easy. It won't get easier."

I thought about it for a minute, but just shook my head. "I'm going to do this in a way I can be proud of, no matter what. No playing around, no cheating."

Musca nodded. "I'll support you whatever you do."

"Thanks." Having her to talk to made things feel smoother. But still… If I had to betray my own morals, then there wasn't a point. That, if possibly nothing else, I would keep until the end.