Back with another part if the movie, which should be interesting. We are going for Yoshino's turn, along with a addition I think you'll all like. Now lets dive in and check on how Michael is doing this morning at a certain shrine.
From Twilightiger1602:
*Reads Warning* Pfft, I wouldn't worry about that. Hell, anything that can stir the mindless mobs on Twitter into a frenzy is usually a good thing XD. Also, apologies for the mix-up. Guess I must've forgot the exact order of these dates... probably because I was half-asleep from taking a ridonculous amount of sleep-meds while reading.
Anyways, as for this, Miku's date definitely did not disappoint. It was just the right amount of heartwarming and steamy(Nice touching adding the make-out session in the elevator), on top of being a barrel of laughs on Michaels end. Seriously, seeing/reading him literally sing out an extended "No" to Miku and that little incident in the clothing store had me laughing like an idiot. Seriously, what the hell was she doing to him in there XD!?
At the end, with yet another Mission/Date accomplished, you added in one little tid-bit that I never even considered until now; that being the very existence of Miku's parents. Honestly, I can't seem to remember any sort of mention of Mr. and Mrs. Izayoi in canon, so having the narrative actually acknowledge that they are there, very much in support of their daughter, adds a nice touch to both her character and the world-building... though it also raises a few questions that were never really answered. Who are they as people? What do they do for a living? Were they authorative or permissive in their parenting of their daughter? How exactly did they respond to their daughter's rise to fame and subsequent downward spiral into depression over her career being ruin by some spurned jackhole?
That aside, there are also two little details that definitely caught my eye;
1. Seeing Mana and Kotori actually getting along rather nicely. Knowing their sort of sibling-rivalry (Or lack thereof due to Mana being very sporadic in terms of appearances) in canon, it's nice to see them actually being agreeable to another other... even if it's at Mikey's expense at times.
2. Apparently Hiroto has a crush on Michelle... *Inhales sharply* Hooo boy, he's going to be in for a shock when he finds out.
Pain: You mean "if" he finds out?
Panic: If... if is good.
Bakuganman: Lol, high off sleep meds . No joke, I know a guy who does that ironically, but hope you feel better soon enough to no longer take them.
I figured you'd like it, as the biggest DAL fan in my comments. Had to make things a little hot in the elevator, plus it sounds like something Miku or any of the more aggressive type of girls of the harem would pull. Plus as an idol who never gets to be alone with her number one fan often, she needed a moment to spoil herself.
Then there was the #MeToo moment…
I'm touching on Miku's parents since its an interesting form of discussion. Like you asked, were they supportive or were they the kind of parents you see you see on toddlers and tiaras? The full fic plans to go even further, as implied by the final scene last chapter.
Mana and Kotori are definitely friendly as coworkers in the canon, but it never goes any deeper than that so I expanded on it, which there will be more on that and my additional plans for Mana in this chap.
Hades: And you… are wearing… his. MERCHANDISE?!
Mayuri Judgement - Part 6, Yoshino Prayer/Mana-pology:
That same evening once Michael and the 3 girls watching his date with Miku (not counting Kotori and Mana as that was their jobs) came home, Yuzuru did not come home until much later. In fact she even missed dinner, but she went: "Assurance. I am fine."
What she had been doing was calling Origami. Her phone rang that evening, thinking it was Michael who promised to call her back, though the contact info was for Yuruzu. Regardless, she had answered it. "Hello?"
"Master Origami?" Yuzuru asked. "Request. I need your assistance with something."
Origami didn't know why, but hearing the Spirits voice, while it didn't make her angry per se, her chest ached again for some strange reason. "… S-Sure… what do you need?"
"Problem. Michael and me are going on a date in 2 days," Yuzuru began… again, the tightening feeling in Origami's chest just got somewhat tighter, but the AST member did not know why. "As his Ex, I would like your expertise on suggestions on how to plan our date." Yuzuru told her.
If the second Wind Twin was honest, while she always had a poker face, she was a bit nervous. After seeing her sister go out of her way to plan a date, yet the entire date had all gone wrong, she and Michael still had a good time, which while Yuzuru was proud of Kaguya for such an achievement, Yuruzu herself felt her confidence take a nosedive, unsure if she could pull this off by herself.
Origami was starting to scare herself. Just hearing "Michael" and "date" in the same sentence made her chest feel like somebody had punched right through her body… what was up with her this evening?
"… Just… do you whatever comes naturally to you. Michael was never picky." Origami said, needing a moment to answer the question. "I'm sure… I-I'm s-sure…" Origami hesitated and wiped her face… that's when she felt wetness. Was she sweating?
…
Tears? In her eyes? Now on her finger?… Why was she crying? This just came out of nowhere. When she didn't finish her response, Yuzuru was shown looking concerned but Origami continued before the Spirit could ask about.
"I'm sure he'll like anything you come up with. That's how it was for me." Origami quickly said. "That's all I can tell you, I have to go." She was about to hang up when…
"B-Beg!" Yuzuru said with more emotion than she intended, her voice also cracking from it, but it got Origami to stop herself. "… Implore… I need your help." Yuzuru said in an emotional tone. "Plea… I don't know if I can do this myself… Michael sacrificed so much for me and Kaguya… so much for all of us…" she added. "I want to make it up to him… to pay him back… if you have anything, anything that could make this date amazing for both of us… … please…"
Origami looked at her phone, contemplating what she should do. Yuzuru really sounded like she wanted to show Michael a good time, but didn't know how (which Origami gathered from the spa incident). Now to add on top of that, she wanted it to be not necessarily better than Kaguya's, but have the same effect as Kaguya's. Not a competition this time, only to properly thank the boy who helped her out.
Just like Origami wanted to do, but never got the chance.
…
…
…
Origami: … Step one: A Chinese soft-shelled turtle…
XXX
It was finally night time and Mike was taking a break on the couch. Only a few days into his summer, dated only 2 of the 6 of the Spirits and he was already exhausted. He hasn't even reached the halfway point yet! What's even weirder, he tried calling Origami before, but for some reason the line was busy… maybe she had her notifications turned off? Poor girl needed all the rest she could get.
Kotori walked into the room wearing pajamas but had a towel on her head, signifying she just got out of the bath. "I gotta say, Big Bro; your a natural at being a girl." She taunted her roommate. "Your mastery over female manners is astounding."
Michael could have commented out loud here 'and your still naturally built like a boy', but he held himself back and kept it to himself. After today, he just didn't have the energy to argue with Kotori too long unless he came up with an assured way of victory for the conversation.
"Put a loliop in it…" Is what he said when he turned his neck to look at her. She looked decently cute right now, the towel just laying on her hair. "How's Miku's signal now? Any changes?" He addded.
"Actually, yes. Just got word from Fraxinus a minute ago." Kotori said. "As with Kaguya, Miku's signal also gotten weaker." She added as she sat at the kitchen table with a magazine.
"Nice. Progress is progress." Michael had gotten up around this point to join Kotori at the table, but not before pouring himself some water. "Next his Yoshino, then Yuzuru," This is around the time he sat down at the table, took a drink, then eyed Kotori teasingly. "And then a little Strawberry Shortcake, am I right?"
Here's where a very faint blush appeared on Kotori's cheeks, which she turned away so Mike couldn't see it (even though he already did). "Y-Yeah… its only to weaken the orb further and see what happens."
Michael had to mentally chuckle… prideful as always. His little stepsister/roommate could be cute when she didn't necessarily mean to be. "I'm honestly glad and looking forward too it." He said to mess with her more, but he was also being genuine. Her face completely shattered, her heart probably having paused for a second. "I don't really date you much as the others. Who knows, maybe you'll be the funnest one."
"How are you so calm all of a sudden?!" Kotori blurted out. "Before you were like: 'there's a giant invisible ball floating over my fucking house', now your okay with it?!" She added, also mimicking Michael's voice to the best of her ability. "The only reason we're doing this is because YOU said there was a snow globe in the sky!"
Michael thought quickly with a smile. "And if you never hired me, there wouldn't BE a snow globe in the sky."
Kotori: DA-…!
…
…
… despite opening her mouth to snap a response, she had no counter for that one. After holding her position for a moment, Kotori then closed her mouth and groaned through her closed mouth while glancing away. "… go take a shower, pervert." She held up the magazine to her face.
"I do bubble baths." Michael said, getting up and leaving the room. As he was walking away, Kotori glanced at him and when his back was completely turned, she peeked from behind her magazine.
"… sheesh." Kotori said.
Just outside their home, the mysterious blond girl was watching their home. But even more mysterious was the fact her earrings flashed a different color again…
XXX
"Did you find Michelle?" Asked Hiroto whom was with Tohka's 3 friends, also now calmed down from yesterday. After seeing 'Michelle' again for the first time since the festival, they assumed they'd see her in town sometime today. But they had no such luck.
"Nope. Not at all. It's so weird." Said Aii.
"I've even tried calling her 5 times this morning, but it kept going to voicemail." Said Mai, but then she gasped as she saw Michael walking towards them. "Hey! Michael!" She ran over. Michael heard his name as he was looking as his phone, which he slipped back into his pocket as he looked up whom called him.
We do happen to see he had 5 missed calls from this morning by Mai's number…
"Oh, hey Mai." He greeted her, and noticed the others had followed her over. "And you brought the whole gang, what's up?"
"Did you know your cousins in town? We saw her yesterday with Miku Izayoi." Mai said.
Michael slightly flinched. "Uuuuuh, you mean Mana Takamiya?" He asked, playing dumb.
"No, your other cousin, Michelle." Aii asked, where she normally would have gotten annoyed at Michael, she understood the confusion [that he pretended to have]. "Where is she? We're getting really worried."
"Hmm, maybe I should call her again…" Mai said as she went into her pocket and for her phone.
Michael's eyes widened. "NOOOO!" He blurted out with his hands outstretched, panicking that if they called 'Michelle', they'd end up calling 'her'. Of course, the group of 4 side characters looked at him in confusion. "… uh… h-her phone died last night!" He thought up an excuse. "Yeah! You should have seen her, all black eyes after her date with that Pop Idol… Kinda jelly, not gonna lie." He added on to it. "Look, I gotta met someone somewhere. Enjoy your summer!" He said as he walked past all of the before they could ask him anything else.
The 4 humans watched him go. "… well, he's useless." Said Mai.
"That's so lame." Said Mii.
Michael could just hear Kotori and Mana having a ball with this, one slyly smiling and the other giggling nearly uncontrollably… don't even get him started on Kurumi when she eventually finds out, one way or another…
XXX
Michael eventually arrived at the meeting place Yoshino told him about, but he still felt very weird about this particular situation. Even when he was assigned to seal her, the thought of dating or hanging out with a 13-year-old in that context made him feel very uncomfortable. Even when he did have to kiss her and save her from her out-of-control power, it still felt weird.
Supernatural being or not, she still had the appearance of a child… maybe Twitter dot com had a point…
Regardless, Michael saw his next date, Yoshino, poking around by a shrine up ahead. Was ironic she wanted to met him here, but he'll probably save that point for later. He didn't call her name, but he did walk towards her. Either she turned around hearing his advance or felt the Spirit Power from him (probably least likely, but was still a possibility), because she noticed him coming over by the time he was 9 feet away from her.
"You came!" Yoshino said in a cheerful voice, though not as cheerful as Tohka's for the Hermit still had the shyness in her voice. It was still akin to a child seeing their favorite person come by.
She was also wearing a completely different outfit, being all green like her Astral Dress but no rabbit ears and was a summer-seasoned style. She did have a green hat on with a small bow on it, and a small beige skirt that matched her shoes. Yoshinon even had a similar outfit, only just a green collar and the same bow on one ear.
All of this was cute… but the additional dating context felt awkward to Michael. He could pretend this was two minors hanging out, but even that barely helped.
"Why wouldn't I?" He asked her. "Figures you'd choose to met up here of all places."
Yohsino didn't blush, but did glance away which could be interpreted as her blushing and trying to hide it. "And we're not just meeting at a shrine…" Yoshinon said. That's when Yoshino looked back to Michael.
"Michael… do you remember this shrine?" She asked, softly. Jesus, this one girl was the cutest out of all the others he had to date, being an adorable shy child.
"How can I forget?" He said. "This was the spot and the day I spotted the 2 cutest rabbits in Japan."
That's when Yoshino blushed, knowing he was teasing her and Yoshinon, but also appreciating the compliment. She gave a single head nod as a response.
"Yoshino and I spent a long time thinking about this date." Yoshinon said.
"Oh, did you both?" Micheal asked.
"We did! But in the end, we only came to one logical conclusion…" Yoshinon responded.
Here's where Yoshino took over. "Rather than go somewhere else, I could only think of spending time with you here." She said, which Michael appreciated internally for 2 reasons:
1) With her personality as it was, going somewhere else would be tough on her anyway.
And 2) There were less wandering eyes here, so less judgments would be thrown his way for obvious reasons.
"Is that okay?" Yoshino asked, feeling from Michael's lack of an immediate response that something was wrong with her idea.
"Oh, yeah. It's fine. Can't think of anything better." He said. This made both Yoshino and Yoshinon very happy.
XXX
First Michael and Yoshino/Yoshinon did a few prayers and wishes. It was calming to say the least, and it served as a great way for Mike to relieve some stress himself.
After that, they played a variation of Rock-Paper-Scissors near some stairs, where the winner would say the first word that came to their head, then take a step for every syllable while saying each syllable. It was a cool little spin, Mike couldn't lie.
Finally there was a game of hide-and-seek (which didn't surprise Michael due to Yoshino's age and this was a perfect place for it). He went first, but found Yoshino pretty quickly, though he pretended not to see her as to not discourage her. She went after him, and he chose a good spot that there was no possible way she was going to find him unless he stuck his arm out for a quick second.
He climbed up to a roof, which wasn't too hard thanks to all the structures around the shrine.
"I see you, Michael!" Yoshino pointed him out. She did get nervous he was up so high (at least by her height) which delayed her declaration, but she was impressed with how athletic he was. Combined with the other Spirits powers including herself, it was no wonder he was able to stand up to that Darker Tohka longer than anyone else.
"Darn, ya found me." He said, feigning disappointment, but this was lost on Yohsino, especially after he rubbed her head which she liked… her and Tohka could be so childish, but it added to their charms.
They got fortunes afterward. He read his to himself…
Poor Fortune.
He deadpanned at the piece of paper, and was about to just rip it in half before… "Ah! I got a Great Fortune!" Yoshino said. "What did you get?" She asked Michael while looking in his direction.
"Er, not important." He said well shaking off his initial feelings quickly so she wouldn't catch wind of them, stuffing the fortune his pocket.
They sat on a bench to take a break, enjoying the quiet. "You're not gonna get bored just sitting here are you?" Michael felt like he had to ask.
"No." Yoshino shook her head. "As long as we're together, anywhere and anything is fun."
Now Michael felt a fourth Cupid arrow. Damn, these girls were really getting to him, but he played this one off with a smile. Yoshino even looked up at him, her eyes focusing solely on him, but when he noticed her doing so, she blushed and glanced away.
He saw a smile hidden under her embarrassment though.
XXX
Much later towards the evening when the day was coming to a close, they both stood at where Michael first entered.
"I had such a good time, Mister Leecher!" Said Yoshinon.
"I did too, Michael… thank you today." Yoshino said, giving Michael a small bow.
"Don't give me too much credit." Michael chuckled. "This was your idea… and it was honestly relaxing. Lord knows I'm gonna need it for the rest of the week." Yoshino blushed from the praise, but did still smile brightly. "Come on. Let's get home before it gives dark." He added, noticing he sounds like a parent.
Yoshino followed right beside him, but as they were walking, she eyed one of his hands to his side. Automatically, she's slowly reached her small tender hand over to his, but then hesitated and pulled away, also looking down. Michael did see this, honestly surprised her of all Spirits would make a bold move, but he also understood why she attempted it.
Throughout the entire date and even before this particular one, unlike with the other girls, he has not held her hand even once. This is mainly because he still feel really awkward about it, seeing as the other girls were closer to his age, but Yoshino was at a much younger demographic. This was not to say he didn't care about her, it again just felt very awkward. His American cultured lifestyle prior to coming here told him that anyone under 12 was a charge. Even him being a few years older, it still made it inappropriate.
As they continued to walk side-by-side, he glanced around his surroundings really quickly. '… well… no-ones around… and it IS late…'
Swallowing what his former lifestyle told him, he gently and slightly extended his hand toward Yoshino, offering it to her. The Ice Spirit stopped dead in her tracks when she saw this… was he really doing this? Could she really do this?
She slowly but surely reached over, though she did pull back a few times while doing so, but eventually placed her fingers into his much larger hand, immediately feeling the warmth coming off of it… she was in awe, but eventually began to squeeze it gently.
They were actually doing it! They were holding hands! Yoshino's happiness was overflowing at this point, Michael actually letting her do this with him! She felt so warm in her chest, nor does she contain the bright look forming on her face. Michael smiled back at her, and they continued home together.
Michael still felt very awkward about "dating" a 13-year-old, but this did feel nice. And hey, if somebody does in fact see them, he could just say he was her babysitter or older brother.
'… I'm so getting put on a list…' He couldn't help but think. This was going to take some serious getting used to.
All in all, it was honestly a good relaxing time, and felt like a kid again. In comparison to all else he's been through lately, this was a rather peaceful day… although he had a feeling the other girls' dates would not be so kind…
Speaking of which, this was currently the only time they did not stalk him during a date. Either they did it out of respect for Yoshino, or they didn't consider her serious competition…
…
…
They were being watched by that same mysterious blonde girl that kept appearing wherever Michael was, who was poking her head out near one of the shrines watching them leave. She did not follow them, but instead returned deeper into the shrine for some reason.
She ended up going to the exact staircase Michael and Yoshino/Yoshinon used for their Rock-Paper-Scissors game earlier in the day, indicating she had watched the entire time. She looked at her hands, doing the same symbols that Michael and Yoshino used, effectively playing the game on her own… but said a strange phrase:
"Ma-yu-ri…"
Saying three syllables of that strange word, she then skipped down the steps 3 times. She did this several times, using that same strange word to continue going down the steps until she made it all the way down to the bottom of the staircase. She looked to be either experimenting or trying to understand something…
She approached where Michael and Yoshino got their respective fortunes and got one herself. We don't see the result as its worded side is only visible to the girl, but that's when she looked up towards the big orb in the sky, where it flickered with light before her earrings did the same, changing color once again…
XXX
When Yoshino and Michael returned, Michael was literally just getting ready to turn on his favorite console game when he heard frantic knocking at his door.
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK! KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!*
Was pretty loud too. Who the hell could that be? Kotori didn't come home, so that was a possibility. Or maybe it could be Yuzuru for her turn tomorrow? Though it seemed out of her character to knock like that, but if it was, then it was the polar opposite to how Kaguya got to him.
When he got to the door and opened it, the last person he expected to see was…
"Mana?" Michael was honestly very surprised by his surprise visitor, his cousin wearing her usual hangout clothes. It's not to say Michael didn't want to see her, he was just stunned to see her visit him out-of-nowhere. "What's the matter? Why ya knocking like my house is on fire?" He asked as he stepped out and closed the door behind him. It locked automatically but he had his key on him.
And what was with Mana's face?… It looked like a mix between concern and guilt.
"Hey, Mikey." Mana began. "Ya wanna go out on a date real quick?"
She asked that question so abruptly that Michael had trouble deciphering if it was a serious question or a tiny dramatization of asking to hang out right now. "Now?!" He asked. "Can't this wait till tomorrow before my date with Yuzu-…?"
GRAB!
He didn't even get to finish because Mana grabbed one of his arms very quickly. "Come on!" She dragged him away from his door.
"AAAAH! HEY, EASY! Been dragged around for three days, my arm's sore!" Mike said as his smaller cousin dragged him by his arm down the street with him slightly bent forward as a result, either ignoring him or just not paying attention.
He was being serious about his sore arms however…
XXX
Back with Yoshino, she reacted just like Kaguya and Miku, still having persisting emotions from her date with Michael. In Yoshino's cause, Yoshinon was patting her head after the bluenette had told Tohka all about it, having decided to go to her room.
"I see… so that's another way to have a date…" Tohka said.
"It was really fun!" Yoshinon said. Yoshino agreed with a open mouth smile.
Tohka went over and rubbed Yoshino's and Yoshinon's heads' affectionately, which they both loved. "This info will make Michael's date with me so much more perfect!" She said, and after backing off, she went back to her notebook to write all this down, doing cutesy poses as she went.
"With all this planning your doing Tohka, your's might end up having the best date out of all of us. I'm looking forward to seeing what your cooking up!" Yoshinon said.
"Good luck. We're both rooting for you." Yoshino said, kindly.
Tohka gave them a fist pump. "Just leave it to me! It'll be his best last date ever!"
XXX
Believe it or not, Mana dragged Mikey to a McDonalds and he was sitting alone in a booth, while Mana was just coming back with a tray of food. Noting too crazy like 100 of every item like a certain Princess would, but two sides of fries and two shakes… she also bought a Happy Meal, with apple slices.
"If you wanted a bedtime Happy Meal with extra Happy, did you really need me?" Michael asked.
"You are the extra Happy." Mana cutely smiled at him. She then skipped to the 'Cool (yet cheaply made) Toy', tearing open the package. "Awwww, isn't it cute?" She presented the toy, which was a small school bus-like toy.
"You want me to drive you to school with it? For all the little girls and boys to get all jealous and you go 'dats my numba one couzin! He's da bestest in da whole wide Japan!'" Michael said, being hyperbolic and speaking in a squeaky voice that sounded like a child that didn't go through puberty yet.
"You can Seal girls and see invisible balls, but I doubt even you could pull that off." Mana teased back, putting down her new toy and taking a bite of a apple slice.
"Bet I can drive Frax better than Tori." Mike said.
Mana laughed. "I'd love, to see that." She then took a fry and dunked it in her milkshake before eating it. While this was fine and dandy, Michael knew better.
"So am I gonna have to guess, or you wanna tell me what's worrying you?" He asked, which did get Mana to recoil.
"Th-There's nothing wrong!" Mana denied. "What makes you say that?"
"Maybe because whenever you were upset when we were kids, you'd beg me to take you to McDonald's." Michael said. A flashback was then shown of a Young Mana in distress, but then another one after it showed her in a McDonald's in a much happier mood with Young Michael in the same image, this including the playhouse at certain locations. Was pretty cute honestly.
Mana glanced away, being caught. She really thought she could hide it this time, but her favorite cousin knew her too well. She did not answer him verbally, but her silence spoke volumes to Michael.
"… So what's eating you?" He asked, sort of punning where they were at, then began to make a few guesses. "If its Kurumi… yeaaah, she has her moments; but she's not gonna eat me, I'm sure of it." (He actually wasn't since the Nightmare still puns it, but continued.) "Ya got nothing to worry about with Tohka, I don't think she'll turn into a Shadow Pokemon again." (Again, wasn't sure, but continued.) "Miku… sssshe was a controller, but its not li-…"
"I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THEM!" Mana blurted out a tad loud, which made Mike recoil. While there weren't many customers in here at this time of night, the ones that were along with the employees did look over at the couple upon her outburst. She of course realized what she did, and looked a little embarrassed. Everyone else Lost interest pretty quickly or just didn't care, and went back to their own things.
Mana sighed, then lowered her voice before continuing to talk to Michael. "… It's not the Spirits I'm worried about, Mikey. I'm worried about you!" She said. Yes, she still had her grievances with and about Kurumi, but that wasn't the main issue. And yes, she did worry about the other girls too, but not nearly as much as her precious cousin.
She then then began to look a bit upset. "… It's my fault…" she said. "You've been getting put in danger because of me…"
"Mana, what are you talking about?" Michael asked, surprised Mana admitted to feeling this way. It was odd as she initially blamed Kotori before since she had 'hired' Michael to deal with the Spirits. "I'm the one who decided to come here."
"Maybe, but I pushed you too it!" Mana said, getting slightly more upset and her eyes began to water. She wasn't crying, but she would be soon if she kept these emotions active. "I projected at Kotori… I'm the one who suggested you come here, but I didn't think you'd actually do it…"
Michael thought back to that phone call just before he decided to pack up and leave for Japan. Days before, he did that call from Mana, jokingly suggesting that maybe he could fly over if he was that curious. He knew it was a joke, but the more those thoughts lingered in his head, the more he really thought about idea. And the more he thought about it, the more appealing it sounded to him.
Of course, you know what happened then: he arrived in Japan, experienced his first Space Quake, reacquainted with Kotori except it wasn't it over the phone or a camera, dated Origami for a bit, met Tohka and Yoshino, then bumped into his cousin Mana by pure coincidence.
But even then, he didn't pick up even once that his blue-haired ponytailed cousin felt this way. She hid this very well, but now it finally must have reached a boiling point and had nowhere else to go but out. It looked like he and the Spirits weren't the only ones stressed out…
"I… I'm sorry… I should've kept my big mouth shut…" Mana said, her head slightly down and her eyes closed, probably trying to hold back tears but they were leaking out. "You never would have been attacked by Nightmare… that stupid tree never would have spawned… you wouldn't have…"
Mana stopped suddenly and gasped lightly, feeling warmth on her side, then felt a length of it wrap around her opposite side. It made her eyes snap open, seeing that sometime during her rant, Michael must've transferred over next to her, because he had an arm wrapped around her.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Vánargandr." Michael said in a serious tone, which gave Mana pause before she could say anything else. "You suggested it… I acted on it. No one else." He added. "You never could have predicted I land the job as Japan's Player In Management Profession, nor all the baggage that came with it." He then looked directly into her soft brown eyes. "I'm happy I came here, met up with you again, even made some crazy friends human and non-human along the way. So I don't wanna hear anymore of that bullshit that your somehow to blame… do you understand what I'm saying?"
He said that with such passion yet such sincerity, combined with that look in his eyes that Mana felt her heart skip a beat. She could see why the girls liked him, and even probably the reason Nightmare (claimed to have) turned over a new leaf. After getting back to her senses, she gave a small smile and a nod.
She also scooted closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder in content. "Can we, stay like this for a bit?" Mana requested. He did not give a worded answered, but did slightly tighten his grip, nor did he say no.
XXX
Yuzuru just arrived back into her's and Kaguya's apartment… where the hell was Michael at? Yoshino came back, and today was there date, right?… So where is he? Why wasn't he home? She had knocked and rang his doorbell twice each, standing there for a few minutes between each action, but she never got an answer.
So she decided to call it a night. Maybe she can catch him by morning just before their date… Yuzuru was still a bit nervous, she wasn't gonna lie. And she even thought about the plan Origami gave her… would it even work? She wasn't gonna doubt Master/Ex-Origami, it just didn't seem totally Yuzuru's style.
She took a seat on the couch and got a magazine, and began to read its contents.
XXX
Mana and Michael finally left the McDonald's… it was a decent side-date, and it was nice to hang out with his cousin again. It almost felt like a time long forgotten, mainly before all the crazy stuff began happening to him.
He found it very ironic telling Mana he quote: happy I came here, met up with you again, even made some crazy friends human and non-human along the way; yet 3 days ago he was debating to himself whether he should stay or he should go at a pool party… he honestly still did not have a clear-cut answer. He enjoyed his time and friends here, that much was definitely true… but was it enough of a reason? They were under the protection of Ratatoskr now, so it's not like the Spirits really needed him. He trusted that Kotori would do everything in her power… literally everything in her power if you caught his meaning… to keep them safe.
Besides… it's not like he's some sort of hero. Some destined leader of a village hidden in leaves…
Along the way, they passed by the hospital Origami was staying at. It was dark out, but maybe he could visit her real quick? The idea sounded good, so he walked towards the direction of the building in question.
"… Cuz, where ya going?" Mana asked, seeing her cousin go off somewhere and then followed him. He went towards the hospital where he went inside and approached the front desk, a male worker sitting there reading something.
"… Can I help you?" Asked the male worker who noticed 2 people before him while he looked up from his reading material, also putting it down and sounding tired. The way he said it came across as rude.
'Lovely costumer service…' Michael wanted to say out loud, but refrained himself. "Yes, I was wondering if we can see one Origami Tobiichi?" He asked, only adding Mana to the mix simply because she was there.
"… sir, do you know what time it is?" The worker said, again sounding a rude.
Michael did not actually, so he pulled his phone slightly out of his pocket like how you would do when your only checking the time or see if you had a notification. "Its 10 o'clock." He said.
"Visiting hours ended 2 hours ago. Unless this an emergency or your a family member, I can't let you in." The worker said.
Michael did not respond for at least 6 seconds, contemplating on what to say. "… … do boyfriends count?" He asked in a silly tone. Mana glanced at him with an eyebrow raise, as if silently asking him: didn't you two break up?
"… … … I'll see you tomorrow morning, sir." That was a 'no' from the worker, him going back to his reading. Seeing as he obviously will not budge, the duo left the same way they entered.
"Hmm… if I still worked for the AST, maybe I could have negotiating something…" Mana thought with some fingers under her chin, it now obvious to her what Michael wanted, but felt bad she could not do anything as she had quit her old job… not mentioning the HQ was destroyed, but eh.
Michael however, walked to another section of the building. Mana noticed this. "… Cuz?… Now where ya going?" She of course followed him again, only this time he ended up by a side door. He tried to pull it open… and to no ones surprise it was locked, it not budging no matter how many times Michael pulled. "Not trying to be nosy, but didn't you both break up?" She asked.
"Still friends." Michael said after pulling one final time. "But figured a surprise visit wouldn't hurt." He added, and was about to give up and call it a night… but eyed his hand. Then the door again.
"… Michael, what are you thinking?" Mana knew that look, she could literally see the wheels turning in his head.
Michael didn't hear the question, and it wasn't that he was ignoring it… he just got a very crazy idea. He slowly reached forward, and concentrated… he's never done this before, let alone used any of her powers; but if this worked, it would make good practice.
…
…
His entire hand went through! Mana was shocked, and even he was shocked more-so… hot damn, it actually worked! While he couldn't see his hand anymore, he could still feel with it. And with a twist of his wrist, he felt the knob on the other side, grabbed it, and turned. The door opened before Mana could say how stupid this was.
He immediately retracted his hand out of the door, looking back at his hand. "… Guess I'm the Nightmare on Tenju Street now…" he said while looking back at Mana while also referencing whom's power he used, his face telling her he was joking but also being serious.
"Michael!" Mana scorned him, but this had little effect.
"What? You've never tried breaking and entering before?" He joked with a smile.
"No! I have not!" Mana said adamantly.
Now MICHAEL raised an eyebrow, but still had his smile. "… remind me again who gave their ID to get us into DEM of America?"
"They forgot to remove me from the system! Not my fault!" Mana excused, which to be fair was out of her power, but it didn't change the fact she offered to try as a former AST/DEM Employee.
Michael gave her a head pat. "I'll cya tomorrow, Mana." He said before going into the building the illegal way. Mana at first held a hand out to try and stop him, but he was already inside the building at that time.
Instead, she cupped her hands over her mouth. "If you get caught, I'm not bailing you!"
"Tori will!" Michael called back, his voice a little farther, signifying he was deeper inside. With pretty much nothing she can do, Mana left… but did smile and chuckle once she got some distance away from the hospital.
That boy can be really spontaneous at times.
XXX
"Yuzuru! Bath's free!" Kaguya told Yuzuru as she came out of their apartments bathroom, dressed only in a pair of bra and panties, but her hair was completely unbraided. The portion in the back that was normally braided hung down like Yuzuru's braided ponytail.
If both twins entered a room like this with that style… yes, it was sexy, but the only way to tell them apart would be their body types. Even then, one would probably be too distracted to tell the difference.
"Confirmation. Will take one in a bit." Yuzuru said while still reading her magazine, but now laying across the couch. She looked to be in deep thought, but we then see the magazine was just a cover. What she was really reading was a slip of paper she wrote down Origami's distractions on.
Eventually, she then got up to take her shower, taking both reading materials with her.
XXX
Back at the hospital, Michael was sneaking around, heading for Origami's room. At this point, he was clinging to the walls and even peeking around corners to make sure nobody was there. His system was working so far.
He wasn't worried about the camera's actually. He found an ice solution to that problem…
He did turn one corner, but a female doctor (could be a nurse but he wasn't sure) appeared coming down the hall literally out of nowhere. He panicked and hid behind the side of a vending machine on a wall, but it was only a matter of time before said doctor came forward.
When the doc finally approached the vending machine… Michael was shown to have somehow vanished as the doctor kept walking by. Once she was out of sight, Michael reappeared a moment later from within the wall next to the vending machine, his panic apparently somehow triggering further [and indirect] use of Kurumi's power.
He got out of the wall completely and then lowly sighed in relief with a hand on his chest. That's another favor he owes her…
Aside for that one moment of his cover nearly blown, he did make it to Origami's room. The light was off, so maybe she was asleep, but Mike opened the door and poked in to check on her anyway. Origami was sleeping peacefully and honestly rather cutely, but that's not all of whom was there…
Two more additional and younger AST members that he recognized, Mikie Okamine and Mildred Fujimura if he remembered correctly, were sleeping here in chairs and blankets.
Mike had to be honest, those two were cute, but they didn't have any sexiness to them like Origami did. Maybe because they were still quite young, one of them even younger that Kotori (though he couldn't remember which one).
He gave a smile, seeing Origami was fine, and then left out the door while gently shutting it. He'll try calling her sometime tomorrow.
TO BE CONTINUED…