"So what do you need Okkotsu...? Make it quick, because I'm super busy." Noel grumbles out, her face is completely red, and her words come out slurred... She's drunk, that's for sure. I bet a million dollars that she's not actually working at all.
But that's a good thing, if she was actually working then I would have came here for nothing. Thankfully I correctly deduced that my cute teacher who also happens to be an executor wouldn't be working on a Sunday.
I raise a hand, holding a bag. "I came here to check on you Noel-Sensei, I haven't talked with you a while now... I also brought alcohol by the way." I haven't even talked with her ever since Vlov died, mostly because I have been busy with my new adopted siblings and stuff, but that's still no good excuse. Also Kohaku and Hisui are not my siblings!
Noel's eye widen as she looks at the bags. "Oh nice, I ran out just now." Maybe I should have brought something else, I don't my cute teacher to turn into Qrow Branwen. "Still, how did you buy those anyways Okkotsu? You aren't old enough for it..." I technically am!
A grin appears on my face. "I have my ways." Not that I actually use those ways often, I'm not much of a drinker after all. I will also choose to not mention that the inventor of those special ways was actually my bro Shiki.
Rika appears out of my shadow, a smile on her face. "We have our ways." Don't talk like you actually contribute! Though if I was willing to steal stuff, you could probably then shine brighter than ever. Perhaps my true calling in life is turning the rest of it in a heist movie?
For a moment Noel seems scared at Rika's appearance, but she quickly calms down. "Ah, you guys shouldn't be proud about stuff like this... What would your parents think...?" Well, Rika is an orphan, and my parents pretty much never contact me. Basically due to the power of assuming apathy means yes, we are fine!
My teacher then sighs. "Ah, whatever... Normally as a responsible adult I should get both of you into trouble, but today is a Sunday." Also you're not a responsible adult... Mostly because of the flirting with students thing, get rid of that and you're peachy.
Still, while I ignore her comment, Rika doesn't. My girlfriend cutely tilts her head in confusion. "Responsible? When did Noel-Sensei start being responsible?" She doesn't need to really. Her jobs include having the fattest ass ever and being Ciel's sidekick... Actually I take back that last one, it sounds really mean.
Noel's eye twitches. "Considering I work both as an executor and as a teacher? Always." Still tries flirting with students though, that takes away points. "Honestly Okkotsu, do you always go around everywhere with your girlfriend?" I went on a date without her yesterday! Instead, I was followed by my second girlfriend!
I smile awkwardly. "Yeah, I pretty much go everywhere with Rika..." I feel like there's something else I should mention... Oh yeah, that, I should probably mention that. "By the way Arcueid is also definitely following me." She is my second stalker after all. I can't feel her presence, but she's probably watching us atop of a building or something. Honestly the fact that Arcueid is improving her stealth skills is scary.
Yet again Noel seems terrified, differently from the time with Rika however, she doesn't calm down immediately. "What the hell did you bring that monster here for!?" I didn't! She follows me around without my consent... Actually I probably consented and just forgot.
I sigh. "Don't worry Noel-Sensei, she won't do anything to hurt you." I would like to tell Noel to shut up and not call my girlfriend a monster, but I remind myself that the last time she met Arcueid, the vampire made her piss herself. Because of that, I can't blame this Christmas cake for any feelings of negativity.
Noel takes some time to think, and then finally rolls her eyes. "Sure, whatever. I can't believe you and Ciel are okay with being buddies with the most vampire to ever vampire." Senpai is very much not okay with it though, it's just that Arcueid is very persistent.
Rika smiles. "So Noel-Sensei, can we come in? Or are you actually busy?" I wouldn't bat an eye if a teacher couldn't rest even during Sundays. It might be that her fake job takes more effort than her real one, teenagers are more troublesome than the dead after all.
Noel waves us off. "Yeah, yeah, you two can come in..." She pauses for a moment. "But the vampire can't. She can't step one foot in my apartment." I don't think any of us could stop Arcueid if she actually wanted to, so I can only hope she respects your wishes.
The executor leads us to inside of her, as I just learned, very cramped apartment. It also doesn't help that the whole place looks like a mess, it's not organized at all. As expected of a Christmas cake I suppose, though for one second I did think that responsible adult Noel would break the stereotype.
Noel basically drops her entire body onto a sofa, laying down. "You guys sit wherever. I don't really care." And so I sit on the first chair I can find. Rika just keesps floating besides me as usual, though she seems to be scanning around the apartment with wonder in her eyes.
For some reason my ghost girlfriend gushes. "Wow, so amazing! This is the apartment of a single adult woman in her late forties! Sensei's must look the same!" Why do you wish to bring her wrath upon us? Because I wouldn't doubt that Sensei can sense when you think bad stuff about her.
Noel's eye twitches. "Late forties!? What the hell is up with that? I'm on my late twenties damn it!" You honestly look super hot, so don't worry. It's just Rika being mean as usual, she has a special level of anger when it comes to Christmas cakes. I imagine it's due to the repeated kicks she has received from Sensei.
I smile. "Rika is just teasing Noel-Sensei." I chuckle. "There's no need for you to get stressed over it, you're super beautiful." She even has the stereotypical mole that is reserved for femme fatales! So really, Noel is winning at life.
Noel rolls her eyes. "Don't patronize me Okkotsu. You hang around vampire princesses and Ciel, I know my place." Ah, well, I can't deny that they are indeed better looking... But why can't legends co-exist!? Besides comparing yourself to Arcueid is straight up unfair.
Rika tilts her head in confusion. "Why would them matter? Yuta thinks I'm the prettiest anyways." Well, yes. That's because I'm in love though, I'm not delusional enough to think my opinions are shared by the wider world.
Noel chuckles. "I... Shouldn't ruin the dreams of teenagers, but then again..." She looks at me with a knowing grin. "So Okkotsu, is Miss Orimoto over here the prettiest girl in the whole wide world?" I guess she's expecting me to fumble? Or maybe to awkwardly lie?
What she expects doesn't matter though. "Yep, Rika is the prettiest. She's also the hottest by the way." My answer comes straight from my heart. That's because in it, she's really is the best, it's kinda like a guy that is married to his old wife.
There's a saying I heard somewhere that a person gets used to having a beautiful lover in three days, I would like to add something to that saying. A person then stops being used to it after like a year, because I can't think about Rika without having my breath stolen away, and my heart beating faster.
Noel senses the honesty in my answer, and genuinely seems shocked by it. Rika however, doesn't show any outward reaction except for a blush. That's because she already rightfully expected this from her boyfriend of many years.
My teacher pouts and looks at the ceiling. "Now I don't know whether I want to throw up because I'm drunk, or because you two are idiots." She sighs. "Maybe both...?" To be honest, I'm surprised with the type of drunk you are. I expected the overly exaggerated crying depressed type, or the super happy type, but...
Noel instead seems genuinely melancholic, looking at some place I can't. This is the type of drunk I hate the most, because they tend to be type that most easily succumbs to staying like that forever. If nothing else, it reminds that Noel also has something dark in her past.
A sudden memory hits my head, it was when Ciel talked about the only person who survived the massacre committed, how she tried paying her back... Could it be Noel? The survivor I mean...? Nah, no way. Noel has some weird worship towards Senpai.
There's no way she would like and trust the person was possessed into killing her city, unless Noel is a saint that is. Which probably means whatever happened to my teacher was not related to Roa... Except I also know Noel hates him. In fact, she said she would fall in love with me if I killed him.
Should I ask her about it? I actually don't know whether Noel actually trusts me enough to tell me about her past, we haven't interacted much, but she is drunk right now, so...
"Hey Okkotsu, wanna fuck?" My train of thought is interrupted by something completely outrageous. It's from Noel of course, who suddenly decided to hit me with a nuclear bomb in the shape of dialogue.
Rika gasps and answers for me. "W-what!? No way cougar! Besides, his girlfriend is right here if you haven't noticed!" It's a testament to Rika's patience and kindness that she didn't immediately attack Noel. Boy I am glad my girlfriend's yandere levels aren't that high compared to some fictional characters.
Noel giggles and raises her arms. "It's fine...! We can just have a threesome!" Noel sends Rika a flirty look of all things. "I never had sex with a ghost before, but I'm willing to get freaky." That's great and all, but don't suddenly attack us with such a invitation out of nowhere!
It's almost like she's drunk or somet-! Oh right, she is very drunk. Should I care though? I tilt my head and start thinking about her question. Does it really matter if she's drunk and clearly feeling awful...? I'm a guy that shouldn't care about this sort of stuff.
I mean, it's not like I will ruin her life, protection exists. I'm sure I could convince Rika to join too, she doesn't have any problems around Noel, because the teacher doesn't make her feel insecure. And besides, I was just about to dig in on Noel's past, just because she was drunk...
A imagine of Elesia goes through my mind. "Sorry Noel, I'll pass." And I'll pass on asking her about her past too. I can't betray the girl I never met, more than that, I can't betray Ciel, Kohaku, Hisui, Shiki, Sensei, and many others who expect better from me. Including Noel of course.
The truth is that I can't just decide to be an asshole again, that's because the Yuta Okkotsu who saves people from vampires would not sleep with a drunk girl... Damn it, my friends are way too good of an influence, they even changed a guy like me a little bit.
Rika gives me a weirded out look, she then silently starts patting my head. Seriously, what am I? Some sort of pet, like a dog? Do I need positive enforcement for when I do a good action? Because in that case I want scooby snacks.
Noel however, just sighs. "Yep, you already fell into Ciel's perfect web... Who wouldn't want to fall, I guess." And there is is, that weird worshiping of my senpai. Though I can't deny that Elesia was on my mind when I rejected her.
I get up. "Well, I can kick that godly version of Ciel from your mind later, for now I'm cleaning this mess you call an apartment." I have a free day, and Noel is too drunk to do it. Since she has to work tomorrow, if I don't lend a hand, she will stay with a messy apartment until the next weekend.
Rika sighs. "So we're working...? Fine..." I actually wasn't counting with Rika's help, but I sure as hell will accept it. Specially since living with her has shown that she's better than me at stuff like this.
Noel scrunches her eyebrows together. "What's wrong with my apartment? You guys can't clean it! Everything is in it's perfect space!" Wow, it's the excuse I tried using on my mom during my past life. It obviously never ever worked. Though mom just made me clean my room myself, instead of cleaning it for me, so Noel is winning really.
Rika sighs, she's already organizing stuff... So fast! "Noel-Sensei, you are not a kid... seriously, didn't your parents teach you anything?" Ah... That's probably not the best thing to say, Rika!
Noel shrugs, contrary to my expectations she doesn't burst in anger. "Eh, they all kicked the bucket before they could. It's all her fault I'm like this ya know? Always being ahead of me, always." Her fault? Is she talking about Ciel...? If so, is it the Ciel I now know, or Elesia?
Rika hands me a broom, I have no idea where she found it. After it she glares at Noel. "Don't go giving out excuses. My parents were useless trash, so they wouldn't have taught me anything even if they didn't die." My eyes widen, it's a rare sight to see Rika shit talking her dead parents, specially her mom.
Noel pouts. "Geez, I get it... I will try to not let things get messy from now on." Then she sends me a look of curiosity. "By the way Okkotsu, what's your story?" Oh, now I'm being interrogated? Why though?
I make a confused face. "What do you mean my story? Nothing crazy happening to my family." Besides the fact that we don't talk too much because of the whole Rika thing. Well, I'm not too mad about it, I had a great relationship with my parents in my past life.
Noel sighs. "Yeah, I guess I know that. It's just strange that a guy like you never mentions them at all." She crosses her arms. "It's none of my business Okkotsu, but you should know that just because you're content, doesn't mean that..." And she fell asleep. Truly amazing.
Still, she made me think as I sweep the floor. "My parents huh?" The truth is that I'm the son of two people, and the big brother of three others. I wonder what she meants by content? Could my parents be unhappy about my situation?
Rika sends me an apologetic look. "Sorry about them Yuta." She's apologizing like she's the one at fault here, even though she did nothing wrong. She was just a kid who had become a ghost after all, of course she would act crazy at the beginning.
Though I guess that means I can't blame my family for it either, besides it's not like they abandoned me or anything. They were just scared... And I don't resent them for it, probably because I'm an adult of course, I imagine a normal kid would feel worse about it.
So should I do anything about this situation? I'm honestly fine with the current status-quo, and for the longest time, I thought my parents were fine with it too, but now Noel has planted weird seeds inside of my head.
I send my ghost girlfriend a smile. "It's fine Rika. You didn't do anything too bad, and you never hurt them either." Thankfully something irreparable was never done, because if it was... I wouldn't really know what to do. Would I take Rika's side or my family's side? Maybe going down such a line of thinking is more cruel than helpful.
Rika smiles back. "Thanks Yuta. Though sometimes I feel like you give me too much slack." She giggles. "Though maybe I give you too much slack too, Mister First Ghost." What does that even mean?
My face shifts in confusion, Rika however just sends me a knowing look. Ah... I realize now, of course Rika would know. Really what was I expecting? I have been living with her for years now.
Still, if this is we're we talk about normally taboo subjects... "Hey Rika, how did you feel about your parents?" That's a path I rarely walk into. Her past with them is as much of a secret as mine, something we both just sort of ignore.
Rika pauses, taking a moment to think. "Well... I... Didn't really like them all that much. Mother thought she was a know it all, and father hated it that a bunch. Back then though, I agreed with mother... Looking back though, they were both stupid and not prepared for a life as a parent." She sighs. "I didn't do it though. No matter what grandmother says."
I raise an eyebrow. "Didn't do what?" All I remember about her grandmother, was that she was cold and cruel. That she warned everyone in the neighborhood against Rika... Though at the time Rika was also the type who seemed she would turn out to be a bad person.
Rika keeps cleaning. "Kill them I mean. I didn't kill my parents." Ah, I see. "Did you ever thought I did? Please be honest with me Yuta." I don't want to hurt Rika of course, but if I need to be honest...
I nod. "Yeah, I thought you had at least killed your dad. I wasn't so sure about the mom, though I had my suspicious." But I forgav- No, it's not that I forgave her, I just cut that memory of my mind.
Rika chuckles. "I figured. Hey Yuta, I love you, no matter what anyone says in the future, or what fears you have." I already knew that, and of course, I feel...
"I love you too Rika." The absolute same. Maybe I don't know everything about Rika, even after all these years, but something will never change. The fact that I want to keep learning more, be it in moments like this, or when we are just messing around.
So why can't I give my spooked parents and sister the same chance? I'm the son of four people, and the big sibling to three girls after all.
...
"Hey dad? Nah, nothing happened, I just wanted to know if everything was okay back home..."
AN: Like a Dead Apostle, this fic rises up again!