Izayoi Nonomi believed herself to be fairly flexible, but here she was, letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. The bell's ringing signaled the end of school activities for today, which meant club activity. However, the sky was already a beautiful mix of dark blue and orange hue, the clock on the wall telling her that it was a quarter from four.
"It's gotten this late, hueh… guess strategy meeting is for tomorrow?" The seemingly nonchalant, drawled out question brought by her honored senior incited several kinds of responses. Between helpless chuckles and a grunt of agreement, there was an irritated hiss which sounded rather out-of-the-norms. Hoshino blinked and set a one-eyed gaze to a certain direction. "Uheeh, that's no good, Serika-chan. Why so angry?"
"Well, that was worse than useless!" The dark-haired first-year student shoved books and stationary box into her favorite backpack. Her lips were pulled taut into a powerfully sharp-angled 'へ' shape and her glare seemed like it could melt through the desk drill deep into the planet's mantle. "Was that seriously a class? He barely knows stuff he's talking about, and now I'm going to be late for part-time job!"
"Oh, right. At the usual place, huh?" Hoshino lifted and twirled an index finger. "That's a pretty scathing review, though."
"Say that to that fool over there!"
And indeed, sitting on a stool at the corner of the clubroom with a thoroughly defeated look on his face was the rumored… no, the 'notorious' teacher of Schale.
"Teaching is harder than I thought…" murmured the adult man.
Aah, that's definitely not a good sign… When he said that he just got into teaching position only recently, it turned out Vash the Stampede wasn't lying. He was indeed very inexperienced for a professional educator, his expositions and spiels more often than not a spaghetti mess and stumbling over study subjects here and there. He wasn't doing so bad when it came to arithmetic and social science, but how could Nonomi put to words accurately what had been transpiring throughout the day…? Oh right, very very lopsided and outdated.
The teacher knew his chemistry and physics well, so that at least fit his claim of being a former tradesman and journeyman. He was also an expert when it came to biology, almost disgustingly good at it that Nonomi could believe it were he to proclaim that he could recite everything about human anatomy while in sleep-walking state. However, the range and record of his knowledge was incredibly limited and narrow, and he struggled a lot just to adapt to the packages he had been looking up to for references.
Had he gone off to teach at Millennium first instead of Abydos, he might have been forced out by Seminar due to how behind the time he was. Although…
"These are extremely old-school lessons, yanno. Sure makes this old bone feeling awfully nostalgic," the eldest among them all said with a carefree smile. Her senior, Hoshino, ended up as the only one who had managed to absorb the lessons so far. "You're not doing so bad in the gig, sensei. But well~…. you'll probably have your work cut out if you keep at it like this."
The senior might have worded it in a manner of extending an olive branch, but the teacher turned pale as white sheet and about to lose his soul now. For whatever reason, Hoshino's attempt to lighten the mood failed horribly like one couldn't believe. It made the typically affable third-year to yelp in blank surprise. Nonomi also felt like she had seen the teacher's posture from an old battle manga she once read as a child, but the title unfortunately escaped her…
Something about the day after, or was it next week? Tomorrow's John Doe…?
"A-n-y-w-a-y! As expected, I can't approve this guy!" As she was stuck in her fugue, Serika had long moved on from her task and stomped her way out of the clubroom. She turned around for one last time before shutting the sliding door with gusto. "I'm off! See you tomorrow!"
…
The silence that followed was quite awkward and painful. However, the next to get up from her seat and retrieve her weapon from the makeshift gun rack was Shiroko. The ashen-haired girl had already wrapped the good ole blue and striped scarf around her neck and she gave a small wave to everyone.
"A-ah… umm, were you doing okay with your study, Shiroko-senpai…?"
Kind Ayane tried her best. Her role was probably the most prominent today. After all, she had expended all of her energy in salvaging the lessons to a manageable extent. As the secretary of the Foreclosure Taskforce, Nonomi couldn't help but feel bittersweet from Ayane's growth. She had truly become a mighty force to reckon, a reliable ally to have, and all she needed left was to be confident with her own judgment just a bit more.
"Nn. The chemistry lesson was fun. Really fun. Very inspiring." Shiroko's answer was paired with a glimmering gaze full of respect and ignited lust for more knowledge. Be that as it may, the bright atmosphere surrounding her felt like it was heading down on a strange vector. Could it be… "Bullets are readily available and sold anywhere, but it's a missed opportunity not having my own special mixes for all these times."
...ah, this girl's no good. That was surely the collective thought shared between the Taskforce members who were still in the room. Nonomi also had a vague feeling she and Hoshino currently harbored the same suspicion that Shiroko would no doubt apply the lessons whenever the situation demanded it, no matter the intention behind them… It was more than likely impossible to tell her not to do whatever she was planning to do with her 'totally not personal' gunpowder mix. Sorry about our Shiroko, but tough luck there, sensei—
"Areh? He's gone again?" Nonomi glanced around, seeing the absence of the lamppost attached with a sea urchin for head in the clubroom.
"Eh!? But he was still there seconds ago!"
"...seriously? How did he do that again…?" Hoshino approached the empty stool, bent down, and made a curious sound. She was holding up a piece of paper in her gloved hand, and she flipped it around with a scrutinizing looks on her face. Was it just her or did the girl give it a mean glare? "Ah. He said that he will be back, but why is the note written in old, cursive english? And why does this feel like it's printed through a typewriter…?"
Huh… he really is an oddball through and through. Nonomi didn't think there would be more than several personality labels to slap on the adult. Eccentric, polite, full of smiles, frivolous, kind, pacifist, generous with a pair of sticky hands on the side, and now a surprisingly high ego to stroke. The girl was starting to think he could do anything like popping out of a trash can one day, and she wouldn't even be surprised by it. Just who is he and what is he, truly?
Either way, it seemed tomorrow would be another hectic day. What sort of surprise was lying in wait for her and this little sanctum of her precious school…? Unknowingly, a small smile surfaced on Nonomi's face.
Kuromi Serika huffed for the nth time today. Well, sometimes after she left school grounds, all that anger naturally petered out. It was a fairly normal occurrence that happened to her, but since she was already two-thirds of the way to her destination…
Yeah, she really needed that. Away from the clubroom. Away from her friends for some personal time. It let her feel a bit at ease with herself, except…
Today really didn't go well. It was a significant thing, a sign that her school's situation was changing thanks to a new a dynamic. Even as she and her friends struggled with the unorthodox lessons, that adult's approach actually wasn't half-bad. He just… well, he was just him, clumsy while being utterly sincere. He could have afforded to be more flexible by staying up-to-date with the city's educational standard, but that seemed a bit harsh when knowing that he had only been around for no more than a week. Heck, he's giving a solid progress if his claim about being new to the job's true.
And yet, she couldn't accept it. Deep down, Serika knew the fault lied in her.
But she couldn't help it. There he was, entering their circle without a care to the world even though he barely knew his stuff. That boundless and baseless optimism unnerved her as much as it made her feel how far he stood from the whole picture. She couldn't imagine what reaction he'd have the moment he realized how little he mattered. When the General Student Council ignored her school's plea for all this time, was there even any need to hope that Schale would do what those people had refused to do?
I doubt it. Serika huffed. As she passed by a vending machine, she paused mid-step and brought her gaze to her backpack. Ooh, I didn't refill the bottle…
The idea of skipping on snacks and drinks was originally implanted by Shiroko. It was a good idea, though. After all, you could just go to the nearby park if you wanted to fill up empty drinking bottles. It reduced the amount of trash that could pile up, and it saved up some money. Overall, it was a rarity for the current Serika to fail and forget such a basic necessity. The designated treasurer of the Foreclosure Taskforce looked up to the orange sky. After half a minute passed, she let out a long, suffering sigh.
"Just once, then…" Once she rummaged a coin out her skirt pocket, Serika tried to slot it in—only for her grip to loosen in a fraction of an instance. The coin clinked as it bounced off the pavement before rolling away on its own. "Wah! Ah, wait…!"
She quickly chased after it with a stumble. As the coin began to lose its momentum, that allowed the girl to speed up and grab the slowly rolling coin in one fell smooth. She grunted with a victorious smile on her face… and then she heard the bushes on the roadside rustling. There was no wind—
"N-nyaa…"
...but there was an adult man holding up twigs and leafy branches over his head. As he crouched low, probably in a futile effort to make himself smaller, he... Well, it would have sort of worked had he not worn the white coat… Wait, that's not the problem, here!
"What the heck are you doing here!? How did you find me!" Serika all but shrieked, taking some steps back before anger took control of her body. "No, have you been stalking me!? What the hell, you perv!?"
"Whoa, now that's excessive… I wasn't exactly trying to stalk you or anything."
The teacher threw away the twigs and branches off from his person and walked out of the bushes. Unfortunately for him, some leaves and broken branches were still stuck to his hairs, nestled in like a bird nest.
"Lies! Then why are you following me?!"
"Well… I mean, it's kind of embarrassing…"
What is!? What sort of self-respecting adult actually wilted and stuttered when demanded for an answer? Was he even serious? No, wait. Was he just messing around with her, wasn't he… Yeah, no, he's way too lame for that!
"I'll call the Valkyrie on you."
"Aww, geez! Why are you so extreme!?" The teacher… Vash coughed into his fist, straightening out his back as he took things seriously at long last. "Hm! Well, you said that my teaching was a stuff of nightmare, so…"
Aah, so it's that? "Are you complaining?"
"No. I just wanted to know which part of the lesson did you find terrible." The adult puffed and patted his chest. The usual easy-going attitude he often displayed was nowhere to be seen, and in its place was a hapless smile. It was quite a contrast, and stark was the difference as he bowed slightly; scratching the back of his nape all the while. "I get that my teaching sucks, but I have no idea what to correct and where to improve… wait, where are you going, Serika?!"
"Shut up...! Don't follow me! I'm busy, get out!"
"Eeeeeehhh?"
This is so stupid…! Why did this have to happen today of all days? She had something important to do, a place to work at and earn some funds for her school! There was no reason to dilly-dally here, and no way in hell would she allow this Outsider to discover her second sanctuary! Who knows what troubles will he bring with him!
Without a doubt, she needed to scram. Solidifying her resolve, Serika broke into a full-sprint; out from the T-junction to cut a sharp corner into an alley and jumping down a stairway which connected to the lower-level district. Her feet were light, her shoes singing in a rush of rhythm as the first-year student delved deep into the autonomous school district. From the main street to the alleys, through gaps between abandoned houses and jumping over bent fences to cut the shortest path to her destination.
Five minutes later, she arrived at where she needed to be. Glancing around, there didn't seem to be any sign of the nuisance, and that was good! Serika harshly breathed out to readjust her composure, the awareness to the weight on both of her shoulders confirming that she still had her bag and gun with her. Once final check was done, she walked to the front entrance. Clean and tidy, yet there was little to no effort put in advertising the store's specialty. That was fine. The chief who had hired her was lax and preferring a natural touch to his business.
Action spoke louder than words; it made her realize once again that the Shibaseki was a world apart compared to that fraud of an adult.
"Right! Let's do this…!"
Serika opened the sliding door.
The trash can at the far right of the store front rattled.
Serika halted her step, her eyes immediately drawn to said object.
The trash can… did not rattle. It did not rattle because it had something inside, right…?
Serika looked ahead of her, back to the trash can, then to the front. The wafting scent of seasoning and spice in the air was hard to ignore. She also saw the waiting figure of the store owner from behind the counter. The chief of Shibaseki Ramen was a bipedal canine, a proud native resident and restaurant owner around this part of the town.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Serika? Did something happen?" The store owner raised an eyebrow as he tilted his head ever so slightly.
"Ah, no… it's nothing… well, it's not something big." The cat-eared girl returned her gaze to the shady-looking trash can. "Say, chief. Do you have a duct tape or two?"
"Aaah…? That, we do have some. What for?"
"Oh, just gonna ward away some huge pest who's stuck in the trap!"
The girl smiled the widest as she finished her side-task in completely sealing the lid to the trash can. It was resisting and she could hear the frantic yelps from within it, but that reaffirmed her suspicions even more. Worse, her opinion of the thing that lurked inside the drum went to an all-time low, now. Once she was done, she kicked the ironclad container which made it roll deep into the alleyway. For the last step, she tucked out her tongue before going back to the Shibaseki Ramen store.
Whatever happened to that guy afterwards was none of her business!
Time really flew by when you committed yourself to the task at hands. Working as a waitress did exactly just that.
Guiding the customers to available seats, matching names to the dishes, and delivering orders without a slip or stumble to it. Furthermore, she had to differentiate between first-time and long-time customers, minding herself with what sales pitch she could use after knowing their preferences. It might be awfully simple for a part-time job, but it took more energy and brain power than expected when rush hour happened. Personally, the service industry fit Serika to the tee, and she'd have it no other way.
However, only few customers had filed in. Most of them were faces she recognized, and the rest chanced upon this place out of simple curiosity than anything. Occasionally, a group of gourmets or students from other schools swung by, but that last two barely showed up for the last month and two. It was depressing to think about the dwindling number of customers, but she couldn't let her smile falter. Besides, there hadn't been any outlaw who needed forceful eviction tonight; that proved to be a good thing, right?
As her line of thoughts trailed off, Serika gave herself away to the workflow. She immersed herself in the job, and before she knew it, the closing hour fast approached.
"Good work, Serika. You did great today, too."
"Un! You as well, chief! I'll clean up the tables before I'm done with my shift." Serika paced back to the counter, hugging the serving tray to her chest. "You could do with less random freebies, though… I keep on telling you, we barely break even these days…"
"Ah, no worries. A warm, good food is a blessing to have." The shiba-inu folded his arms together, nodding all the while. Chewing on an unlit pipe, the way he closed an eye made him out like a worldly veteran… if that sort of labeling made some sense. It was kind of reasonable to Serika, but she didn't let the stray thought out of her tongue. "Life can be tough and unexpected. Don't you think having warm, delicious dinner after a hard day at work be considered a miracle in its own right?"
"Well, that's… I can't exactly deny that, but come on, chief…"
The owner of the Shibaseki Ramen was a tough nut to crack. He was a good person through and through, but his words were slick with pearls of wisdom. He just knew how to lift up your spirits, and he had a professional work ethic as well. Best of all, he was a fair and honest businessman. Those loan sharks from Kaiser could learn a thing or three from the chief… and there she was, going on a tangent which spiraled down to negativity.
Ugh, why does this keep on happening? Serika really didn't learn her lesson. Once work was done, she automatically went back to thinking hard on unrelated stuff. It felt as if she had a short attention span, but no way. I'm not that scatterbrained, I'm still young!
"Oh yeah. Here's the last order, by the way."
"Pardon?" Serika blinked at the bowl of ramen. It was a katsu kare ramen, topped with a lot of chopped leeks and garnished with crushed garlic as well as chili flakes. She swore she had seen off the last customer, but then, whose order was this for…? "Errm, aren't we closing up for the day, already?"
"I've got two more bowls. One for me, one for you, and this one is for the customer right over there."
The chief pointed with his paw. Serika followed his direction and turned around… only to see an adult at the corner table close to the storefront. He had a familiar spiky hair, a white coat hung on the back of the chair he was sitting in, and the glasses-wearing weirdo even dared to wave at her with a smile that stretched across his face. Serika nearly did a spit-take.
What, the, hell?
He had to admit, it was a nice and cozy place. Vash hadn't been checking out many places, only important public facilities and shady spots where troubles frequently brewed up, but this noodle… ramen restaurant had a certain charm to it. A bit rustic, but calm and warm.
Yes. Warmth really was the biggest draw point. Vash nodded to himself, even as his order arrived with a bit of spill from the rough deliverance.
"Here's your order, one bowl of katsu kare ramen with extra garnish and chili!" Serika all but yelled out. Her voice echoed thanks to the empty restaurant, but that wasn't a problem at all for ex-gunman extraordinaire like Vash. She had a nice voice with a clear and vibrant pitch. "Now finish it and go home already…!"
"Yay! Been waiting for this!"
"Are you listening to me!?"
A vehement grunt came from somewhere in the back. Vash glanced to the side, seeing the disapproving gaze from the bipedal canine in a dark blue eastern clothing. At that, Serika wilted and stopped herself from saying more. Well… that was a bit of a surprise, even though Vash didn't really mind the treatment he had received… He was used to being a public nuisance, and it was easier to smile and walk off when he must. Wasn't like he ever had a ground to stand on.
But this city is kind, as expected.
Not just to an odd stranger like him, but even to their own citizens. Vash watched on as Serika scurried off, the triangular ears atop of her head laying almost entirely flat.
Well, that's for latter. His priority right now was to fill his gullet, and so he did. Picking up a pair of chopsticks, he took a heap of noodles for the first chow. The texture was not overly tough, but it was also not overly brittle. The perfectly cooked noodle was then left swimming in a thick and gravy curry broth, but much of the excesses dripped away when he scooped up another heap. The fried pork chop was also crisp and thick, producing an explosion of umami in his mouth. Finally, the vegetable oil danced with salt and peppers, perfectly balanced in measures while the garnish ignited a wonderful warmth in the pit of his stomach.
He could most definitely sleep tight tonight; wasn't that something else? How many times had he managed to get a feast like this?
It almost made him cry, but there was a right time for everything in the world. Tears did not fit mealtime, simple as that.
Too bad that I can't be pigging out this time around… The invisible prickling at his neck had irritated him like no other, but now it was gone as if it was never there. When he looked to the counter, a certain cat-eared girl could hardly be found. Neither the bowl of ramen meant for her nor the eating utensils were left behind. The only trace of her presence was the sounds of a faucet turned off and a door swinging shut with a sign that said "STAFF ONLY" on it. Well, he did hear that it was closing time and that his was the last order for the day, so it couldn't be helped. Go figures, my luck of the draw is just the absolute worst.
"Thanks for the food! That was the best ramen I've ever had, boss!" Vash brought the tray with a cleaned out bowl and licked clean chopsticks at the counter. His wallet was getting extremely thin and light, but he could still pay. He just had to live off from the park faucet tomorrow, sure, but that was life for you. "How much was it? You've got a regular in me starting today!"
"Heh, you know your stuff, sir." The white and orange bipedal canine smirked. Impressive how emotive he was, but he didn't exaggerate it so much. That was a sign of genuine sincerity and gratitude, right there. "First-time customer always got a free meal promo, so it's on the house. I've never seen your face, by the way. Quite an oddity even though I'm one of the stubborn few still clinging to this land."
Oops, busted, huh? "Hah ha, yeah. I'm a teacher of Schale. Nice to meet you."
"Ohho? Truly? I've heard of your exploits on TV, but you're much more affable than the way Kronos made you to be."
"Aww, shucks. I'm just regular ole me," Vash said. How embarrassing, words really did spread like wildfire. "Sides, I'm new to the job. Still got a long ways to go."
"Now, now. I may not know much, but you must have been called here for a reason." The canine in dark blue twirled his smoke pipe. "Looking down on yourself will not help you, much less those in search for a guiding light. Ever heard of Sirius?"
"The star constellation?" Vash had vague knowledge about astronomy, but he wasn't an expert in that matter. The Alpha Canis Majoris was said to be a beacon in the night sky, from times immemorial to this day, but that was all there was to it. He didn't really know its significance, the symbolism it represented, or even the long history it carried as the closest thing to humanity's eternal companion, ever so distant yet so bright. "That's kind of… uh, a bit grand, don't you think?"
"And what's wrong with that? Sometimes, all you need is to be there for them."
That's… true. "But it's a hard thing to do."
Making promises. Fulfilling them. God knew how many vows he had broken. He had lived a really long life, but he failed countless of times. He was likely the absolute worst kind of person that could be expected to stay by other's side. Too many failures on his part to make him feel confident enough for the job.
"...I see. Sounds like you've got your own baggage, huh."
Vash sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about that, boss."
"All good. You don't look like you're going to throw everything away at moment's notice," the owner of the ramen store huffed. Good-naturedly. Patient. And in understanding. It was a rare sight for Vash to see somebody who could be so cool like this. "Well. Since you're a teacher, can I at least request something from you?"
Huh, is that what teachers do around this part? "Well, sure, I guess…? What is—"
"Take care of those kids, will you?"
"...I can do that, as best I can."
"Hm. Then that's all I need to say," the store owner said. He turned his back with the tray and empty dishes, walking off to the kitchen sink. "Serika should already be done with tidying up. The back door is… right, just go around this building from the side alley."
Vash couldn't help but to chuckle. Giving his thanks, he marched out of the store and did as he was instructed to. Going through the side alley, he hopped over the trash can he had managed to get out from, ducked down an air conditioning pipe, and lifted one foot as a cat and mouse dashed out from the darkness. Unsurprisingly, the rat and the feline looked horribly scrawny. Vash shook his head, donning his usual smile as he fixated his gaze to the front—there she was.
"Good evening, young miss. It's not the kind of chilly airs you want to soak your bones in, don't you think?" The barrel of an assault rifle pointed back at him. Vash raised his hands high above his head as his greeting failed to ease the mood. "Yeowch. Tough customer from start to end, aren't we?"
"Shut. It. You've been seriously stalking me for the whole day," Serika replied. She was back in her school uniform, blazer, necktie and all. However, veins popped out on her temple, and the smile she wore never once reached her eyes. "What the hell's wrong with you, and what are you even plotting, you dastardly adult."
"Come on, now~… Can't we at least drop the gun first…? No need to be hasty, my fair lady~" The sounds of a bullet loaded into the chamber forced Vash to throw out a 90 degrees bow. "I'm terribly sorry about that! It was an honest to goodness mistake!"
And just like that, he was forced to confess to his crimes in front of a child. The way the girl turned a cold stare down at him was downright terrifying, made worse by being held at gunpoint. However, it wasn't for long as Serika planted a hand to her face.
"Urgghhh… I swear, you're beyond saving, sensei." The girl sighed. "Just… there's so many things I could call out, but you're probably the type to never regret it."
"Now that's a bit far. Even I have my own share of regrets." Vash paused, recalling the too many times he managed to brush off death by the skin of his teeth. He pressed two fingers on his chin and pondered deeply at his track records. "Well, not all of it is a genuine mistake, surely…"
"Why are you muttering to yourself, there? I'm leaving, now."
"Ah, wait wait wait! Come on, Serika. I just wanted to have a talk with you."
"Well! I don't want to!"
"But why, though…"
"Do you even still need to ask—!" Suddenly. As if a cat got to her tongue, Serika cut off her words and favored breathing in deeply. The girl schooled herself well, and it must have taken some significant effort. "Forget it… do whatever you want."
Vash softly smiled. The sky had darkened considerably. The stars were completely visible, and the moon hung high in the canopy of the world. He fell in line, following after Serika through the empty and barely illuminated streets. It was strange. According to his smart tablet, it was barely past seven, but the downtown already felt like it had been abandoned for years. Nightlife lasted quite long back home, so this scenery provided an odd sort of lonesome contrast..
Well… it was a rather quiet trip, all things told. At some point—
"I don't trust you, sensei."
"Hm. I can tell," Vash agreed. He was a professional when it came to reading into the characters of other people. Serika had always been defensive, aggressive, and quietly staring daggers at him as if she was waiting for him to slip up. Well, today's mishaps confirmed that pet theory of his, more or less… not that he had any excuse to cover up his low teaching skill, though. "Sorry about that, by the way."
"...about what?"
"About not being reliable. I always ended up doing that, I guess." Vash turned his gaze upwards, catching the sea of stars decorating the night sky above in his sight. "Giving my very best is one of my personal creeds, but the best I could do is bumbling my ways through everything."
Serika didn't say anything to that. Her steps too did not speed up or slow down, much less stilted. However, he could sense the discreet looks sent his way.
"...you're hopeless, you know that? And not like Hoshino-senpai or Shiroko-senpai." The cat-eared girl paused. "We've been doing just fine on our own. Almost everyone stopped seeking for help, and it's not like we're doing so badly on our own. Only Ayane-chan thinks that if she keeps on trying, maybe somebody would come down here. Some day. One day."
He could tell. Oh, I have absolutely no doubt about that.
Timid and shy that she was, Ayane had never struck him as someone who'd put herself and others down. She was pure-hearted like that, and it didn't even take long for Vash to recognize the soft strength swelling in her heart. Not everyone had the capability to stay kind and warm as she was, even after life hit you times and again with unexpected avalanches of misfortunes. And yet, it was Ayane who delivered the request for aid to Schale office. It was all by her own will, through her own initiative, with her own method and courage.
"So, why…?" Serika trailed off.
"Why do I stick my nose into your business?" The silence that followed was too blunt for an answer. However, it was also not the first time he got asked that question. As it so happened, Vash had long figured out that he couldn't just reply as if it was obvious every single time. Somebody like Serika would much prefer a clear cut answer, surely. "Your school's situation reminds me of home, I guess."
"...huh?"
It wasn't a normal answer, right? He was telling the truth, however. Abydos was a land covered in sand. A desert that stretched to the horizon, desolate wastelands littered with the ruins of dreams, abandoned town blocks and criminal activities always at an all-time high. While the city proper of Kivotos had its own problems, Abydos struck a chord within him; their crisis resonated with him in a deeper level than most.
"There's no money to make, no fun places to visit, and children have to scrape by just to fill their stomachs. You can never tell when your luck may run out, but that sad state of affairs goes on even until now." Vash looked away. Well, he tried, but he knew that he couldn't escape from reality. Complaining did nothing. It never could do anything, and things could go from worse to worst at moment's notice. That was why he moved out, a gun in hand and an ideal blazing in his heart. "This shouldn't have come to pass, Not here and not to kids like you. So I decided to help out no matter what it takes."
"...what the heck does that even mean?" Serika then pointed out, "You're the one who jumped into the line of fire. You sneaked behind the enemy's line completely unarmed, exposing yourself to dangers without a care. You fixed Ayane-chan's truck and you even tried so hard to rein in Shiroko-senpai. Then, then… ugh, you're so stupid, sensei."
I sure get insulted a lot, today… "Guess I'm being nosy, huh? Sorry about that, Serika."
As the girl glared fiercely at him, the prickling sensation went back in full force. Vash formed the same smile he always had, even as he rubbed his left shoulder; as if to dispel the uneasiness he had gotten too accustomed with. The thing he always ended up relying on the most to get through the turbulences of life. He hoped, against all odds, that it was just a feeling of his. A false alarm.
Needless to say, like all things in the world, it didn't always work out.
A/N: Currently, my music playlist switches between early Heisei Riders and Stereo Dive Foundation. Feels kind of weird to say that when my chapter titles so far have been directly taken out from the game OSTs.
