A/N: I can really tell when it gets too busy in the rest of my life to write. I get all antsy and start fixating on word counts.
Here's the next chapter; thanks for waiting!
Ikko's arm snapped up in a cross overhead. His leg shunted forward, his foot digging into the sand. He winced as his toe collided with a rock hidden beneath the grains. "Ow, ow, ow…"
"Your form's all off."
"Yep," he grunted, without looking at the woman who spoke, "I've been at this a couple of days, and I'm still not getting the hang of it. Watching the video's no help, either."
He stretched out, resetting his stance and letting his shoulders slump. Finally turning, he saw Ishigaki. "What's that supposed to be? Karate?"
Ikko confirmed her guess. "Tsukune and Haiji recommend it. Good way to centre yourself in the morning."
"You need a proper tutor. You're only gonna get so far with videos."
"I'm making do. We've only got a couple of days left; anything I can take back to carry on at the Academy is gonna be useful."
"For a student, you're very serious about this."
"Have to be." Ikko said. "If I wanna make myself useful, I need to do more than keep my eyes open. Gotta get stronger, faster. Gotta do more than I could this year."
For some reason, Ishigaki laughed. "Sorry, sorry. I'm not laughing at you. I think Tsukune's rubbed off a bit too much on you, is all."
The corner of his mouth pinched. "I don't think I could match his drive. He's insane."
"You have to be to do this job," said Ishigaki, "Speaking of… I'm glad I could catch you."
"Why?"
His heart leapt to hear her answer. "Haruhiko's recovering well. He's up and about and, whilst he's still under surveillance, I was wondering if you might find some time tomorrow to visit him."
"Name the time."
"Let's call it lunch. You guys are leaving in the evening, right?"
"Last bus back," he said, "Well, first and last. Only bus."
Ishigaki chuckled. "Alright. I'll let them know."
She reached for her phone, but stopped halfway through. "Oh, breakfast is ready, by the way. You coming?"
"In a bit." Ikko replied. He checked the spacing on his feet. "I'm gonna get a couple more rounds in."
"Get your steps spaced right." She offered. "The rest'll come with time, but that's where you'll let yourself down if you're just going through the motions."
"Got it."
She padded away, taking off her shoes to empty them of sand when she reached the inn. Ikko laughed to himself, having not seen her out of a suit since their first meeting. His distraction out of the way, he returned to his kata, but managed only a half-hearted attempt. In truth, his attention pulled in two different directions, neither of which being his new exercise regime. Part of him wanted to eat, but a greater chunk of him had his eyes on the cluster of rocks where he and Mizore had embraced only two short days ago.
The weight of his phone in his pocket kindled an urge to text her, to get her to come out, but he resisted the giddy thrill as best he could. He drove the energy into the latter half of the kata, hurrying through it so that at least one of those needs would see some attention. He headed back, walking at first then jogging once he caught the first whiffs of food.
"There you are." Gin was the first to greet him, on his way downstairs as Ikko entered the lobby. "Good practise?"
"So-so."
"Hungry?"
His stomach answered for him, growling furiously. Gin cackled, letting him past. Every morning, the group rearranged the lobby as they had on their first arrival, taking breakfast together. A rota decided who was doing what; today, for the first time since arriving, Ikko had nothing assigned to him.
Instead of using that time to relax, or sleep in, he'd chosen to train the same way Tsukune—who cooked today—and Haiji—who set out the tables—had shown him after the incident. As the fight with Haruhiko had drained all of his magic, physical training became the order of the day, and every day since.
"It's important to train every one of your abilities," Tsukune had said, "Plus, it helps you stay focus when things get tough."
Though his magic had recovered by the time the day was out, Ikko elected to keep that part a secret, preferring the ache of his muscles to the wobbling of his brain that extended practise caused.
Taking a seat between Kia and Etsuko, Ikko reached for a cup and one of the coffee pots. "Morning."
"Morn'n'." Kia mumbled through a yawn. "Where've you been?"
"Training. You?"
"Sleeping," she said, her eyes barely open, "San isn't free until the end of the day, so we've been up late."
"The joys of working service, huh?" Etsuko joked.
"Right?" Kia groaned. "I shouldn't complain. It's a miracle she's even able to train me."
"True. I'm stuck with Gin."
Ikko sipped his coffee as the two talked around him, watching the group settle down. He caught Ruby's eye as she reached for some food, causing them both to smile; his greeting, hers knowing.
He hid behind his mug. As the only one with a line directly into his soul, Ruby was the only one who noticed the change in him. At least, he thought that was true. He was too scared to check. All others seemed too busy with their own holidays to pay any particular attention to Ikko's goings on.
Even—perhaps especially—the one with whom they were going on. He found Mizore at the opposite end of the table, slumped over a cup of coffee and a plate of food as Kurumu wittered on about something. She seemed to listen, nodding along and making noises between sips. Her eyes flicked his way, and his dipped, returning to breakfast. They hadn't set any particular ground rules, but both intuited the nature of this new… whatever this was. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long before a proper distraction landed in his lap.
"Think the city's calmed down any?" Etsuko asked, flicking through her phone.
"Probably," Ikko replied, "You wanna go?"
"It'd be a waste to spend the whole week stuck at the beach and the inn," she said, "Not that this isn't paradise."
"We could go shopping?" Kia piped up, brightening.
He hummed, looking up at his fringe. He pulled at one of the curlier strands. "I could use a haircut."
"I don't think I've ever seen you near a pair of scissors."
"Yeah, it's been a few months too long." He grinned. "Been a bit too busy to think about it."
"Shopping and styling," Kia confirmed, legs kicking, "Sounds like my kinda date. Should we bring Su? Hey, Su!"
Making the decision for them, she waved Su down. "Yes?" she called back.
"You know your way around here, right?"
"Yeah…?"
"Wanna show us?"
"Sure! I got time."
"Double date." Etsuko nudged Ikko. "You're welcome."
He chuckled politely, busying himself with his breakfast. "Nice to have it confirmed."
"Because we've been very subtle," she smirked.
"Hey, I don't know what happens up the girls' dorm stairs." Ikko shrugged. "You two could be the most obvious couple in the world and I'd be none the wiser."
"Well, don't let Gin give you any ideas on trying to find out. Of all the role models here, he's probably the worst."
"Why're you studying under him, then?"
"Because I happen to be good at my job," Gin growled behind their ears, startling the pair, "You kids have fun out there, alright? Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
He barked a laugh, swaying away. Etsuko gave Ikko a look that said, "See?", and they went back to their breakfast and city trip planning.
The cacophony of men at work gave Ikko pause. They passed by the construction site, where power tools and shouted orders paved over the memories of Haruhiko's transformation.
"Everything okay up there?"
He turned away, finding Su smiling at him. She held out her arm. "C'mon. Might as well look the part."
She pointed with her other arm to Etsuko and Kia, leading the way hand-in-hand. The latter had spun around, waving for them to keep up. Her shouting only barely made it over the jackhammer in his ear.
Ikko waved back and, looping his arm through Su's, started moving again. The city may have forgotten about Haruhiko and the two others killed by Fairy Tale's attack, but he hadn't. They hadn't. "It's weird, acting so normal after…"
"Yeah," Su concurred, "But we have to. If we spent every day fixating on every tragedy that came our way, we'd drive ourselves mad. We have to look after ourselves too, find our own happiness."
"Right."
"On that subject…" Her tone took on a sing-song quality, the same way it had when she'd teased him previously. "How are things?"
He felt his cheeks burning. Reflexively, he looked down to her hands.
She wiggled gloved fingers and leaned in to whisper. "I share a room with her. Didn't need to touch to see her gawping into her phone late into the night. Or sneaking out."
"I thought we'd been more careful," he mumbled.
"If it's any consolation, no-one else has noticed."
"You haven't told anyone?"
"Hey, it's your business who you tell. You two wanna keep it quiet, that's on you."
Her assurance relaxed him by a small measure, causing him to breathe out.
Giggling, Su prompted him again. "So…?"
"It's nice," Ikko whispered, "I've never done this before."
"I thought you and Kia had a bit of a thing?"
"Yeah, but then she—you know. We only had the one kiss. Haven't really spoken about it since."
"Never before?"
Ikko shook his head. "Never had the chance."
"You happy?"
"Huh?"
Su looked across. Their pace slowed. "Does she make you happy?"
Ikko blinked. The question seemed strange, arriving from an angle he hadn't anticipated. It weaved a stammer into his answer. "Y-yeah. She does. Why?"
Su beamed. "Good. Enjoy it."
"Is this where you threaten to hurt me if I break her heart?"
"Ikko, you couldn't break your way out of a wet paper bag. You're not breaking her heart."
"Hey!"
"I'm kidding." She giggled. "And no. We're all friends here. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, we're still friends. Got it?"
"Thanks."
"Hey!" Kia had now turned around, breaking contact with Etsuko to wave more vigorously. "What's a tour guide supposed to do when she's so far behind!? Hurry up!"
"Sorry, sorry!" Su unhooked her arm and hurried to catch up. Ikko chased after them.
Past the construction site and the youth centre, they came upon one of the city's closer shopping districts. Ikko remembered stopping on the border of this place for breakfast, on his way back from training. It seemed so long ago already, like he looked back on the memories of another person, remembering the events but not the feelings—spare one.
Clenching and unclenching his fist, he returned to the present. The girls had somehow gotten ahead of him again, scouting for whatever it was they wanted to shop for. Keeping his eyes peeled for a hairdresser, he followed along. Etsuko and Kia gossiped about how much they wanted to spend whilst Su checked her phone, no doubt texting the others.
Kia stopped, as if remembering something important. She faced Ikko as they rounded the corner into the district proper. "What do you want to do today?"
The weight she put on 'you' delayed his immediate answer. He threaded the words carefully, feeling like he was being tested. "Find… a hairdresser?"
"Just that?"
There needed to be more? "I guess I could get some new clothes."
Kia's smile faded, which only deepened his confusion. "You sure that's all you want to do?"
"We could have lunch, too? Where is this going?"
She opened her mouth, but Etsuko interjected with a backhand tap to her shoulder. "It's fine. Sometimes quiet's enough."
He wanted to ask, "Enough for what?", but they moved on before he could do so. Su hadn't noticed his bafflement, either, forcing him to stow the question for now. His hinting at needed some new clothes prompted a fresh discussion when they hit the first store.
"What do you like to wear?" asked Kia, picking out a sundress from the rack.
"Not those." Ikko mumbled.
"Really?" she said, and held it up to him, "I think it'd bring out the colour in your eyes."
"Ha. I don't know. Jeans and stuff."
She mimicked his voice, dropping an octave and taking on a surliness that inspired her shoulders to curl, before breaking out into a teasing grin. "Jeans and stuff. Must be nice, not having to think about it."
"You've never tried anything else?" asked Etsuko.
"Never needed to."
Kia returned the dress, so that she could better stick her hands to her hips. "Let's fix that."
"Jeans are fine."
"Nope—we're getting you something decent to wear."
"Why?"
"Because!" She trilled, not explaining further.
"Could be fun," said Su, looking at Ikko appraisingly, "How about it, Ikko?"
"I thought we were clothes shopping for you lot?" He tried.
"At least give us a chance," Su replied, "Who knows? You might end up catching a few more eyes."
Ikko narrowed his at her. "Who says I want to?"
She stared right back.
He groaned. "Fine. No dresses."
Etsuko clicked her fingers. "I thought we had him."
They sat him down outside the dressing room and scattered about the store, abandoning him to dreading the experience he'd surrendered himself to. He occupied himself with his phone, crossing his legs on the leather pouffe placed for those waiting for changers to show off their outfits. A text waited for him:
Mizore S.: what time will you be back
He tapped out an answer.
Me: No idea. We're clothes shopping at the moment
Mizore S.: ?
Me: I wanted a haircut
Mizore S.: you probably need one
Me: thanks :(
Mizore S.: lol, don't be back too late
He chewed the inside of his cheek, thinking. He decided it was worth letting her know.
Me: Su's figured it out btw
After a long moment, the bubble showed her typing, at which point Ikko let go of the breath that had caught in his chest.
Mizore S.: took longer than expected
Me: isn't that bad?
Mizore S.: she knows how to keep a secret, don't stress
Me: what about everyone else?
Mizore S.: too busy to care – let's keep it that way for now
Me: yep
If Su's reaction was any indication, Ikko could see the logic in her desire for secrecy, beyond the very obvious. He wouldn't want the last days of their vacation tied up with that.
A bundle of cloth landed in his hands, draping over his phone. He looked up to see Su, who winked. "Try those on."
He took the hangar in hand, holding it up. "What is it?"
"Just try it. The girls'll be back soon."
"Alright…"
He shuffled off into a dressing room and hung her selections up. Even for his lanky frame, they seemed a bit big. He stripped and changed, struggling with the new fit. The hem of the top fell down over his hips, the sleeves bunched at the wrist so much that he ended up rolling them back. Looking in the mirror, the rich blue swallowed him whole. "How is this any different to jeans and stuff?" he mumbled.
Su's voice surprised him from behind the curtain. "Have you got both bits on?"
"Uh—no. Just the top."
"Try them both, see how it looks."
He unhooked the other part of the pair, a flowing black mass of soft fabric. It took him a moment to recognise sleeves in the folds, given how long and wide they were; they could well have been additional tops, stitched onto the main body. He slung it on, wrestling his arms through the sleeves, and looked in the mirror.
A soft gasp elicited a laugh from Su. "Looks nice, right?"
Ikko turned this way and that. He'd worn baggy clothes before, had picked his fair share of ill-fitting outfits, but never like this. The long lines of the shirt and the cardigan flowed over him, accentuating his height without sharpening it. Even with his normal jeans underneath, he could see the difference. It made him look both older and somehow more complete. "Yeah." He confirmed back to her. "How'd you figure this out?"
"It wasn't hard. Just a step up from your usual outfits. Comfier, too, I'll bet."
A giddy excitement welled up in him. He took the cardigan in hand and swished it, the energy of the motion urging a broader smile to light up his face. "I could get used to this."
"You wanna wear it out?"
Su's first choice proved Ikko's favourite, much to the dismay of Kia, who had selected an array of incredibly fancy dress shirts to pin him into. They selected a handful of tops and jackets for him to mix and match, as well as a pair of dark skinny jeans to contrast. Ikko left the store carrying more clothing he was happy with than he ever had, whilst the girls picked only a few items apiece. "Hairdresser next," he said, enthused by the success of the first stop.
"Okay," Etsuko said, checking her phone, "We'll find somewhere for lunch. Sound good?"
"You're not coming with?"
"To sit and watch you get your hair cut? No."
He deflated. Buoyed by their support, he anticipated at least some help in the rest of this new, transformative venture. Helping him pick clothes now left him wanting them to assist with the next step of this journey, but he found himself unable to express that. The expectation of their help paralyzed his willingness to ask for more.
Kia, noticing the loss of drive in his voice and the rounding of his shoulders, spoke up. "I'll come with."
"You sure?"
She smirked. "You're so easy to read. Yeah, I'm sure."
Agreeing a place to meet, they split up. Ikko led the way to the hairdresser he'd found on his phone.
"Been a while, huh?" Kia prompted.
"Has it?"
"When it's been just us? Yeah."
She took his hand, and Ikko gave it a squeeze. It felt like the most natural thing to do. "I have you to thank for it," he said.
"Don't be silly. This is all you."
"Nuh-uh. You were the first person to drag me out of my shell."
"Drag's a bit of a strong word…"
"It is not—don't you remember? You were the only person who had a problem with me gaming all the time."
"Oh. Yeah." Kia laughed. "My nerd rant. I remember."
"I can't think of anyone else so determined to stop me from being alone."
They took their time getting to their destination, intuiting on some level that they both needed this conversation. Ikko dawdled at a pace that would normally frustrate him as Kia admitted, "It wasn't just for your benefit."
"No?"
"I needed someone to hang out with, too. You weren't the only one struggling for friends at the time."
"You had Etsuko."
Her hand twitched at her mention. "Yeah, and she's great. Really great. But, I dunno… I wanted to hang out with you. That mattered, y'know?"
"And now the fate of my hair is in your hands. How far we've come." He joked.
"I'll take good care of it, I promise." She giggled. Coming to a stop outside the hairdresser, they turned to face each other. "I know I'm half the reason it's taken you so long to trust… us, but I'm glad that you do."
Her fingers twisted into gaps between his, linking them more tightly, but he sensed a distance in her words that he longed to pull closer. "Does it bother you, what happened between us?" he asked.
His honesty seemed to shock her. A dark crack snapped across her ocean-blue eyes, quickly quelled but unmistakeable as her Guise slipped. "Doesn't it bother you?" she asked, quiet.
"No." He replied, pulling their joined hands into view of them both. "This matters way more than how we got here."
Her lip quivered. Tears dewed her eyes, blinked away when she asked her next question. "That's not a line from one of your games, is it?"
"What kind of games do you think I play?"
"I never really paid attention."
"Well, I don't play that kind of game."
"You made that up all on your own?"
"Kia!" Ikko burst into a laugh. "Just because I ruined one moment doesn't mean you get to ruin this one in revenge."
"Hey, I'm just curious! It's not like you to have smooth lines to hand."
"I'm trying to be nice, okay?"
"I know, I know," she sniffed, the corners of her mouth pulled up into a wide grin, "Thank you, Ikko. I needed that."
"You and me both," he concurred, "Now, can we sort my hair? People are staring."
She nodded and, together, they crossed the threshold.