*uses Monster Reborn*
I have been resurrected for the second time. Let us hope there will not be a need for a third. Yes, I had to delete my old account, but aren't ya glad I opted to orphan Eternal Nursery and some other stories?? I sure am!
First of all, I have an ongoing project I will finish if there is demand for a second chapter of Eternal Nursery.
Second, this fic is HEAVILY based on a manga I've enjoyed reading, however as the title reveals the entire plot, I will write the name at the end of the chapter. I recommend you read it.
Without further ado, I hope you enjoy…
"are you coming tonight?"
Atem felt his chest tighten when he saw his phone light up with the text message.
She had texted him like this before, with the same intentions. His reply was also, always, the same.
"yes"
"Do you believe in magic?" she asked him the day they met.
"No." he replied immediately.
"Do you ever wish it was real?"
"Mm… I never thought about it."
Mana looked at him questioningly.
On that day, they were in his apartment, which coincidentally happened to be right next to hers. They had been introduced to each other that morning by a friend, and spent a few hours together within the friend group, learning more about each other. Eventually they had found out that they were both living in the same building. This was good news to both of them, as they had begun to get along well.
Mana had been quick to let him know she wouldn't shy away from challenging him to a duel every now and then, but only if he was up for it. Of course, Atem would never back down from a challenge.
That was how she ended up in his apartment, sitting opposite of him, asking more questions to know more about him.
His living room, which also happened to be his kitchen, and also his bedroom (it was a very small building with even smaller apartments) was full of books and games that should have reminded him of the existence (and the absence) of magic, Mana thought. How did he never pay any attention to it?
"I think… it would be convenient." he ended up saying, continuing the duel.
"Yeah, I would create all the cards I wanted out of thin air!"
Atem's eyes widened. "Wouldn't that be cheating?"
"Not really. I'd still be dueling fair and square, just with my dream deck."
"Okay, I guess I can get behind that…" he trailed off as he stared at his hand. "Although, I'm pretty lucky as it is when it comes to finding good cards."
"I'll say… you're a tough opponent." I'm Mana said, thinking of the last time she had to pay this much attention to the duel itself.
This was their third round by that point and Mana was still hoping she could win at least one. Even so, she enjoyed the process of losing the duel against Atem, she realized. He played in an organized fashion and kept her on her toes. It was interesting to watch him plan his moves for future turns. She couldn't figure out his technique at all!
"Stop analyzing me…" he said, looking down and smiling softly as he spoke.
"I wasn't…"
"You were. I can see it plainly on your face." Atem's smile grew wider, he leaned closer to her over the table. "You want to know my secret."
Mana's gaze shifted from his eyes to his smile for a second. "I…"
She was suddenly distracted by a clinking noise that came from beneath her feet. A couple loose changes had fallen from her pocket and rolled under her chair. As she looked down, he spoke.
"I can tell you." Atem told her.
Mana looked back at him then. "No need. I'd like to figure it out on my own."
"Does that mean we will be dueling for a while, then?"
The thought made Atem happy because even though he could duel over and over and over again, he had sadly found out; not that many people liked dueling repeatedly in a short period of time. The reason was unknown to him.
"Why is that happening?" Mana suddenly asked, frowning as she looked around.
"What is?"
"Things keep falling off. Something near you just rolled away…" She stood up and turned. "Is your apartment tilted…?"
"No?" He watched as Mana knelt down and picked up a coin. "I haven't noticed anything."
Mana pursed her lips and decided to let it go. She was most likely agitated because of losing repeatedly, and had entered a state where she was bothered by external factors too much.
They continued their game for a while, until Mana decided that he had won enough times for the day. It was a weekday, they would both need some rest. Atem agreed, but not before getting a promise for a second time.
"I was wrong… I will shy away from challenging you… Spare me please?" Mana whimpered and feigned sobs as she put on her shoes.
"It's not up to me." Atem said simply.
"I think it is."
"No, it really isn't. Because even if I do spare you, in your words, you'll just come back for more on your own." He opened the door for her as he talked. "I think that you will try to beat me with all your might, until…"
He trailed off and met her face to face, eye to eye, and then…
Right between their faces, a little white spark flared, and a piece of something materialized out of thin air before hitting the ground.
The two witnesses to this incredible reality-defying moment could only watch and stare at the object, now rolling and spinning between their feet. When it slowly stopped spinning and fell to lay flat, they saw it. A coin.
Money.
Mana was taking short and fast breaths. Atem had held his breath. They looked at each other. Neither moved.
Atem, still holding the door handle, swiftly closed it back.
Biting the inside of her cheek in thought, Mana decided to ask. "So… you're not like… an undercover wizard or something, right?"
"I'm not."
"Because that whole 'Never heard of magic!' thing was suspicious from the beginning."
"You started that conversation." Atem responded, then huffed. "I'm having a hard time believing that real money appeared out of nowhere, but if we're pointing fingers, then you're more suspicious than I am."
They decided to inspect the object. Sure enough, it matched perfectly with the ones in their wallets. Mana suddenly remembered the ones she kept getting distracted by during their duels. When they compared all of them with each other, they found no difference.
In the span of a few days, they tested the "money" to see if it was valid. And it was. They could spend them (and more, as they somehow kept getting blessed with random money appearances) and purchase whatever they wanted. Vending machines, bubblegum machines, regular cash registers, ATMs… it was accepted by all.
Suddenly, their lives were changed. Money kept appearing out of nowhere, for free. For them to use.
Only, it wasn't actually, really, free. As all things go, this money also needed to be earned as a result of labor. However, their labor was a bit different.
At Mana's apartment, he changed into his homewear outfit and folded his clothes neatly, putting it on her dresser.
"Can I ask one thing?" Atem spoke to her as he opened the door, letting her inside now that he was changed. "How can you do this?"
Perhaps it was bad timing for him to ask such a question. They had already talked about it, and had decided on it. He was already there. He had changed his clothes!
"Letting a man I've known for only two weeks enter my apartment freely and also letting him sleep in my bed, next to me?" Mana innocently asked as she smiled and walked past him. His question didn't sway her in the slightest. She was excited to crawl into her bed and fall asleep as fast as she could.
He had to laugh a little at the indifference in her voice. "Uh, yeah."
"I trust you," she quickly answered. "Maybe I shouldn't. My brother would definitely say that I shouldn't. But I do." Sitting on her bed, she tapped on the free space next to her. "I think you will use this opportunity the same way I will and it will work out fine!"
They had found out that the conditions for the money to appear was a bizarre one. Their money appeared on instances when they did what a couple might be doing.
They used safe physical touches such as hugs and hand holding to their advantage. And it would be enough for them to pay for a whatever they needed at the time. But one day, Mana had a bigger idea.
What if the amount of money got bigger as they made the relations more intimate?
That was when they came up with sharing a bed. It was only for sleeping purposes, of course. It was normal for a girlfriend and boyfriend to be sleeping together, it also required some type of trust and affection from both parties. It only made sense if they got more money than what they got from hand holding.
So they fell asleep, and started a new habit for both of them.
But in reality, they were both awake. Atem could not sleep, thinking of his question to her.
He was such an idiot, asking her 'how could she do this', as if he wasn't the one in her bedroom! He hoped she didn't get the wrong idea and felt belittled by his blunt question that looked like an acquisition in disguise.
Ah, but she was cool with her answer, Atem thought. She had answered just like he had days ago, analyzing him and believing in him. He couldn't stop thinking about her tone of voice as she spoke.
Meanwhile, Mana, who was also very much awake, was thinking about how awkward she had been. Would Atem think that she's viewing him only as a money maker? That she is willing to do anything for money? That of course was not the case, but what if she had ruined her own image by not choosing her words carefully?
Both of them, on each side of the bed, silently sighed and thought…
Having a crush sucks.
Manga: A Story About a Man and a Woman and When They Sleep Together Money Appears out of Nowhere
