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Chapter 18: Errands
Day 24 (Thursday - April 9th)
In the blink of an eye, the morning vanished. In its wake, the mid afternoon glimmer that shone throughout the room. Or at least, what of it that could through the closed blinds.
Though the room itself was dark, just enough light permeated through the fabric to allow the outlines of everything to be seen. Including his crush he was nuzzled against.
Once again, another phantom pain emanated from his head causing the male to tremble for but a moment. Something he couldn't discern whether it had awoken the girl or not because in doing so, You had once again begun to gently fiddle with his loose locks. It was becoming a trait she'd started doing as of late in an attempt to alleviate his own pain. Whether physical or mental. Then again, maybe the act soothed herself as well. It wasn't always about himself. With all the stuff that happened, her own stress was likely due to him. He knew that much was but one possibility amongst many.
In response to the kind gesture, he could only muster out a sniffle before burying himself deeper in her touch.
"How are you feeling?" The soft voice of hers succeeding a whisper mutters.
He felt like shit. She knew he felt like shit.
Yet, the question seemed as though there were layers to it. Layers he instinctively recognized and understood. Squirming at first with a wry groan, he scoots away meeting her eyes for the first time.
Curious, loving, and worrisome blue eyes meet a tired pair of red.
"Meh." He utters for a soft chuckle to exude through her lips.
The sound alone alleviates more of his inner ache as she rests a tender hand upon his cheek.
"That's a start."
For a minute, neither speak. Their usual lull of silence seeps into the atmosphere of the room though it would depart as quickly as it had entered.
"C'mere." She beckons, arms outstretched.
Obeying, he shuffles back into her embrace of comfort. One hand holds his side as the other caresses his messy hair. Placing himself in the crook of her neck, he intakes a subtle whiff. Exhaling through his nostrils, a light giggle escapes from the girl.
At this point, anything You-related either made his eyes roll or heart skip a beat. The latter being oddly relaxing despite having read hundreds of romance novels. Regardless, it was therapeutic all the same.
Feeling You's hand begin to slow to a halt, he doesn't bother to question the cause. She'd been massaging his head on and off for hours. A break was understandably needed by this point.
What came next made his eyes snap open. After all, he learned very well how her lips felt.
Her soft, tender, skin laid itself upon his forehead. Carefully, she pulled back to rest her head atop his own once more. In doing so, her wrap over him only tightened ever so little.
To feel them again so soon…
He didn't understand why he did what he did next. It was clearly unconscious. He knew that much. Pondering more, he could only come to one conclusion.
Like an infant reaching out for their mother, it recognizes its safety blanket. Just as that had, so had his body.
As a child, whenever a situation presented itself that bothered a young Relon, the comfort of a human's touch would be what it took to ease his worries. Whether in distress regarding school or troubles falling asleep, his parents would always hold his hand or massage his bare back.
The effects of his nightmare had waned to a point, his body was acting on impulse rather than instinct. Those very instances from his past flowed from his mind to his body.
They were so close, they could literally feel the other's heart beat in sync.
In response to her action, his own hold on her reinforces itself as his arms snake under her shirt to hold her bare back.
As if taken aback for only a moment, as noted by her hold on him easing, he feels a second peck atop his head as she returns to holding him.
Once childish mannerisms he'd thought to have ceased returned in an instant.
Their own heartbeats thumped at a calm pace unlike the previous night. Not a sultry thought existed in the current moment. Acknowledgement; yes. Temptation; no. Only the care and comfort of the other thrived within their consciousnesses.
"Question." He mumbles.
"Hmm?" She hums back.
"What time is it?"
Blinking at the normal question, she stubbornly rolls over to peer out the corner of her eye at their phones plugged in beside one another. In doing so, she pulls Relon into her chest. As quick as she'd done it, she rolls back to peer at the boy. Not a blush in sight though that was likely due to his tiredness.
"A little past 2."
"Hm." He gives a hum of acknowledgement to pause as if in thought.
"What's up?"
Not answering immediately, his face buries itself into her chest. The childish nuzzling causes a slight blush to finally form on the girl's face.
"Sorry. It's comfy…"
Hearing his exhaustion, her own jitters disperse as she caresses his head once more.
"It's fine. I'll wake you up later."
"'Kay…"
Within seconds, his wrap around her lightens signaling his mind having fallen aslumber once more. With a soft chortle, her eyes linger on the now dormant teen.
The sight of now as opposed to earlier held a stark contrast. The once trembling male now exuded a sense of nirvana. It was relieving to see the boy she harbored deep feelings for already on the road to recovery.
Moving her hand to the front where a few fringes lie, she lifts it revealing his forehead. With one last kiss, she snuggles into his touch once more, relinquishing herself back to rest.
There were things to do but that could wait.
Beep.
For now, she'd take in this moment of relaxation-
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Eyes opening irritably, she peers out the corner at her now alit phone showing a few notifications.
Returning to the boy still cuddling her body, a silent groan escapes as her arm maneuvers around and behind awkwardly grabbing it careful not to wake said male. Eyes squinting from the brightness, she quickly adjusts it to read the numerous texts. Clicking on one group chat, it opens.
[Homeroom Girls Chat]
Chika-chan: You-chan, where are you guys? The bell's already rung! Text back when you can! Hope everythings okay!
Sakurauchi-san: Hello, Takami-san and a few of the others are wondering if anything has happened. The teacher has already put you both down as absent. Please send us an update if you do not mind.
Absent-mindedly, she goes to the next being from Hanamaru.
Hanamaru-chan: Good afternoon! I noticed you and Rel-oniichan weren't at school yet. I hope everything is okay!
Finally, the last. None other than Mé. Aka Aunt Lucy.
Aunty Lucy: Helloooooo my adorable niece/future daughter-in-law-to-be, I got a call from school noting of you and my son's absence a while ago. I'm just now getting a short reprieve from work so I'm going to assume you two may not see this right away due to "whatever" you lovebirds are doing. Remember, use protection~. Text back when you get a break ;)
Blinking a few times, a trait of the Lucinance's and Asuka's she's come to obtain, she rereads the messages. She was thankful that her phone had a notification reminder should she not open said updates. However…
She now wished she hadn't seen Aunt Lucy's.
Trying her best to lessen the explosive embarrassment she was now feeling, she began to run a hand through his messy hair. In a way, it helped soothe her mind. Then again, anything related to Relon would either send her over the edge or make her feel as though she was on cloud nine. There was no in-between with him.
Clinging to Relon just slightly more as she defuses her flushed visage, she relents after a moment before her thumb works on response after response.
[Homeroom Girls Chat]
You: Hey girls, Relon wasn't feeling well so I stayed home to watch over him. Sorry to not have sent something sooner. I was somewhat tired myself. Good news is he's feeling better now.
Leaving the chat, she taps on Hanamaru.
You: Hey Hanamaru-chan, sorry about the late response but Relon wasn't feeling well so I stayed home to take care of him. He's feeling better though so we'll likely be back tomorrow.
Exiting, she goes on to Mé.
You: I'm going to pretend I didn't read any of that. On another note, Relon had a bad nightmare so I decided to stay and watch him. I'm sorry if that caused any problems.
Clicking the light off, a chime immediately comes for You to refocus once more.
Aunty Lucy: No, I'm thankful to have you watch over him. Relon has disliked school but has never been one to skip so it must have been a rough one. Keep me posted if either of you need anything.
Blinking, again, she had to mentally stop everything at the sudden shift. Aunt Lucy never ceases to amaze how she can go from a teasing aunt to a serious parent. It was something You herself had rarely seen except during their childhood.
Adjusting the volume to not be as loud, she opts to put the cellular device under her pillow.
Once more, she looks at the sleeping teen. Exuding a breath, her eyelids shut as darkness takes her.
Unknown
"Run, young man! Run, chosen one! For your life is on the verge of changing!"
Like that of a stampede, one lone word rang within the chorus of relentless voices.
"Run!"
"Run!"
"Run!"
"Run!"
Amongst the layered assault, one single voice split the onslaught in two. It was as if its mere presence, every word it spoke, held such a weight that everything else around it drowned in a void of nothingness.
"I know you can surpass such an easy trial. Now, run! Break through your humane shackles and accel towards a new reality! Never forget! You're the masterpiece I need, Champ!"
Like chains having fought for freedom his eyes snapped open. Immediately, his body felt the fading rush of… that.
Shivering as the dream fades fully, he takes notice of his situation. He's currently snuggling You. His arms holding her bare back, no bra present. Recalling his earlier nightmare, his body's "other functions" cease regarding their unconscious inspection.
Peering his eyelids barely upward, they take sight of You's peaceful visage.
"You…" In response, a sound emits from said girl.
Carefully, her eyes slowly shutter open. Angling down somewhat, her thin lips curve into a greeting smile.
"Hey."
"Heyo." He greets back with a tired smile of his own.
"Feeling any better?"
"Somewhat. Sorry for the trouble…" In acknowledgment of his words, the knowing pout You sports tells him that his own words are unneeded. "I retract my previous statement." Lightening back up with a smile, she gives a small nod.
"Good. Your well being is what matters." Face remaining unchanged, it's the subtle twitch of his hands that gets her attention. "Relon?"
Unresponsive, a slow blink comes in tandem with a sigh. Her eyes now take in the tension his shoulders were hiding since waking up as they now lessen.
"I… did something."
"In your nightmare?" A nod so tiny, had she not been mere centimeters from his face she may have missed the gesture.
Relinquishing his hold on her bare back, his hands cup the other as both take in their trembling.
"Damn it…" He murmurs, her own worry surging to the front though she holds back from reaching out.
There were other me's. He thinks. Each an embodiment of something. I don't know. Could care less now.
"Do you… want to talk about it?" Her hesitancy was well-warranted but he appreciated it nonetheless.
Refocusing on the girl supporting him even now, his hands ball into fists.
"No." His hands unfurl as her eyes go wide before softening. "Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize. I just want to know what happened so I can help more."
"You needn't apologize. I wish to know what occurred so I may help you." A kind voice belonging to a young woman with a xhosa accent comes to mind.
Instinctively, his body jerks pushing him against the wall upright. One of his hands is held in mid-air with the other reaching for something behind him.
"Relon?!" You gasps in exclamation from the sudden action as Relon's sudden panting soon calms.
Arm from behind seeming to feel for something, it collapses as the tension, for the second time now, departs from his body. Meeting her face, he averts his gaze.
"Relon?" She raises a hand to widen as he pushes himself further, hugging his legs.
Relon, please. Don't make that face. That look… Even though we're so close, it feels as though you're suddenly pushing farther and farther away.
"What did you see?"
She hadn't known why she phrased it that way.
He couldn't care about the meaning behind such a painful question.
Their own interpretations were so vastly different in that given moment. Had either been more specific, the words that left Relon's words may have been altered ever so slightly.
"Just what lies beneath my guilty conscience."
"Guilty? What are you-"
"You." He cuts her off before she can ask another. "Sorry but can we put a pause on this?"
Despite her knowing of his condition, the multiple questions swirling inside her mind, he had still not looked her way.
"No." The kindness and consideration she'd shown up until now had vanished as her tone spoke with a weight. In response, his own sight orbs now widened. "Look at me."
It sounded like an order more than a request.
Leap from the bed, blur out the screen door onto the walkway, maneuver around to blitz away. Just like that, I'd be home free. But… I'd be running away. Again…
"You're thinking of running away." She mutters to get his attention. "Just know you won't get far. I'm pretty stubborn too." In spite of her serious tone, a smug grin full of confidence bloomed. Yet, as soon as it had, it wilted.
"I've run away enough for one lifetime as is." He sighs moving off the wall, past her, to stand. "We should get ready for the day." He adds departing out the dim room leaving You all alone.
Blinking at a loss for words, her mind couldn't make sense of that. Against everything from this morning to a minute ago, she'd combatted just fine. Some minor issues here and there but nothing her own understanding of Relon combined with her own self couldn't handle.
That however, those sudden words upon his departure, made all understanding she believed to have dissipate.
"I've ran away enough for one lifetime as is."
What did he mean by that? She questioned, eyes glazed on the carpet floor moving sporadically in search of an answer, hell, a clue, to such a statement that's left her flabbergasted.
What was probably the worst feeling through that whole debacle; he never met her eyes. One sight as he passed her made it seem as though he'd become so distant she couldn't reach him. So cold he'd become a stranger.
How did he do such a thing? How could he go from kind and gentle to cold and void in a flash. It was as if…
A switch was flipped…
Relon
Having prepped for the day, Relon returned to You no longer in his room. Hearing the subtle sounds of movement from her own room, he'd guess her to be readying as well.
Eyes moving to the bed, the memories of their time together both the morning, early afternoon, and mere minutes prior resurface. It had turned from a gentle and forlorn atmosphere to a mess and he was to blame.
No matter how he looked at it, mumbling just a little bit of what he did would send anyone close over the edge. He could only imagine how Miguel and his mother would react had You been in their place and yet he'd gone and done possibly the worst of the three.
With Miguel, he'd understand and talk through it because they were brothers that respected one another. His mom was a doctor so she'd listen just as she had regarding any of his other concerns growing up. You, however, was one he tried desperately to keep unaware of his deeper troubles. Light stuff like school or indecisiveness striking were fine but… the mental and physical "package" he's been carrying was the furthest thing far beyond even the corners within his mental depths could hide and just a little of that slipped. Not once but twice.
"Just what lies beneath my guilty conscience."
"I've run away enough for one lifetime as is."
It was as though his nightmare had become a reality. Maybe his counterparts were right. Maybe he couldn't keep everything inside forever from her.
Finally dressed in a usual red and black attire, he grabs his phone to wince at the messages and missed calls. He'd have to text his mom and some of the others back.
His head still ached slightly from both the dream and his "talking" with You. His mood was shot. To put it simply.
Mind flashing back through the morning to now once again, he shakes his head. Tossing on his black jacket, he closes the door. Ironically, as his closes, You's opens.
Looking at her for only a moment, his eyes refuse to check her out instead whipping to the side. Out his peripheral, he noticed her slight pout.
"Ready when you are." He voices departing down with the girl right behind.
Reaching for the door, her voice grabs his attention.
"You're not hungry?" She asks.
Emotions flaring, he kills the surge.
"No. What are your plans for the day?"
"Since we skipped, I thought I'd take the chance to finish the outfit but turns out I'm out of blue fabric so my plan was to go by the fabric shop while we're out."
For a moment, he doesn't respond.
"What color blue?" He could practically feel her eyes blink at his question.
"It's mainly azure and cobalt but I was planning to get the dozen shades of blue deal. Never know when inspiration may strike."
"... I'll get it for you."
"But-"
"You still need to work on other portions of the uniform, don't you?" He tilts his head peering out the corner of his eye. "You work on that and I'll get it. Kill two birds with one stone."
Was he asking her to stay so he could be alone? Was this his way of expanding the already uncomfortable distance between them? Was this his way of reassuring her he was fine and just wanted some time alone?
So many questions and none proved to support an answer. She'd urged him once and he pushed away so she'd relent this time. In hopes of pulling him close to her once more.
"... Okay."
"That outfit…" He says turning his back on her. Said girl is donned in a blue pinafore with green squares at the hem of the skirt over a black shirt with white polka dots. "It looks good." Stepping out, he departs leaving a stunned You Watanabe in his wake.
Even in spite of his own self troubles, he was pushing himself to ease her own worries. Leaning against the open door, she looks on. A mixture of relief and worry evident.
"Relon…"
Numazu City
The thought of having You watching over him left a bad taste in Relon's mouth. Given their turn of events, a small break away from one another was something he believed was needed. Or else he may let something else slip out.
Mind thinking of the best route towards his destination, he places his earbuds in before melding into the slow-moving crowd. With a few taps, his phone clicks through to his music playlist before hitting the shuffle button. The incandescent performance of George Michael's Careless Whisper a melody upon his hearing.
Sector A - Knitting Store
Bell jingling overhead, he simply nods at the clerk's greeting. Finding the aisle, he peruses each color before coming to a halt.
Bingo.
Lifting the package, he inspects it.
There really are twelve different shades. So much is compacted together pretty well too.
Eyes transfixed, his head shifts down the aisle and over to the corner indicating the red colors. Pausing in front of it, he wanders the different reds.
Scarlet, Blood, Tart, Carmine, and many more were labeled all around.
He'd call himself a connoisseur given his love for the color. Vermilion was a color he'd loved ever since he could recall looking in a mirror at his own eyes.
Finding another package of reds, he inspects it indeed finding fabric of vermilion. Deciding to take it, his orbs pause at his items.
Many consider red as a symbol of things like love or passion. With Blue being that of freedom or serenity. What people do not take into account is it also represents the blood spilt because of the chaos bred on the daily.
If I'm the chaos and You's the peace, then we're polar opposites. We'd never wor-
Stopping himself with a shake of his head, he looks far off towards the front of the store making his way. Stepping out, a small force hits him.
"Ah!"
Stumbling back while dropping his bags, he looks to see the culprit and a patch of red.
Wait.
Isn't that…?
"Ow…" The female winces.
"Kurosawa-san?"
True to his inquiry, seated on the ground sat Ruby Kurosawa.
"O-Ow… I'm sorry. I didn't-" Cut off as their eyes meet, her body stiffens.
"Ruby?" Another familiar voice calls from an aisle over.
Another second and Dia Kurosawa appears, her expression shifting from confused to concerned before the beginning of Ruby's squeal can erupt. Thankfully, having seen this in time, Dia covers the girl's mouth so as to not cause any commotion.
"It's okay, Ruby!" She insists for the frantic girl to simmer to a shaky fit.
Hesitantly, form clearly still trembling, her breathing levels out.
"Sorry." Despite it being only a mumble, Relon's own voice spurred Dia's sisterly instincts away. "Lucinance-san?"
"Are you alright?" He asks, voice just one octave away from sounding muted.
"Mhm." She nods with a sniffle clearly still bothered.
"Good to hear."
Without waiting any further, he gathers their belongings, handing it over before grabbing his and walking away.
"Wait, Lucinance-san!"
"Sorry. I'm not feeling like talking, President."
Pausing her approach as the words leave his mouth, both girls can only watch wordless as he vanishes around the corner.
Causing trouble for others,especially the confrontation President wouldn't help make matters better. Not as I am now…
Paying at the counter, he exits. In passing, his eyes meet the eyes of the sisters as they enter the line. Returning forward, he puts in his earbuds. Task completed, he cycles through the next song for his phone to buzz.
[Aniki (Miguel)]
Aniki (Miguel): Oi
Furrowing, he begins to discard his phone for it to buzz once more.
Aniki (Miguel): Oiiiiiii
"I'm not in the mood, Miguel," he sighs placing the device in his pocket.
Seconds pass before it buzzes in quick repetition. Patience having dwindled, he snatches his phone, swipes over the answer function and puts it to his ear.
"I'm not in the mood, Aniki. What do you want?"
"Perfect, you answered! I see you just left the yarn shop."
"How do-"
"I finished planting my cameras all over Numazu! If you look up and to the left, and wave, much would be appreciated."
"Where?!" He blinks looking around.
"More to the left."
"Miguel…!" He growls.
"A little higher, lil bro."
"Last name." Relon says for the line to go quiet.
"Do me a favor." Miguel says in a calm voice. "Buy me some usb cords. All different. At least three of a kind. Bring them to the stadium for me. Thanks."
Without awaiting a response, the line cuts.
Lingering on his phone, his gaze lifts up to a talk story building. The faintest glimmer of something shiny making him continue his quiet trek.
Numazu Stadium
Walking up to the legendary location, bag of countless cords in hand, he slides down to the bottom. Approaching the entrance, the doors slide open. Continuing down the color-lit hall, he enters the auditorium. Peering up to the control room box, he ascends the stairs. Upon entering, he finds the male seated messing with a series of buttons.
Silently acknowledging his presence with a shake of the bag, Miguel shoots up to his feet.
"Nice! Thank you, my dear little brother." The tall teen smiles ruffling Relon's hair before descending down the staircase. "Come on!"
Looking over the jovial teen, he does so. One step after another as opposed to the skipper that was his other best friend. Taking a right further into the building, they come across a large room with mats, soft quilts and blankets scattered.
"Here we are. The bedroom!" He grins with a grand gesture. "Big sleepover for everyone whenever we stay the night!"
As much as he wanted to match his brother-figure's excitement, all he could scan was a barren room with simple fabrics. The bare minimum for any so called "sleepover."
Watching Miguel take a seat at the center, he gestures for Relon to take the open space before him.
"What's going on, bro? When you're down like this, it's never anything good."
If there was anyone to confide in, it was his Aniki.
"I… had a nightmare."
One Explanation Later
Long since had Miguel's expression shifted from neutrality to perturbed.
"That's quite the bad dream." A silent nod, eyes devoid of life is Relon's response. "You dreamt only of the girl's you had direct contact with. And they were only the ones you've recently met here. Not those you've known over in America." Another slow nod. "Hmm… You realize it wasn't real. Right?"
"I do…"
"But you think that side of you from your dream can possibly be real."
At this, Relon's hugging form tightens.
With a sigh, Miguel leans over ruffling Relon's scruffy hair.
"Bro, I'm gonna say this as honest as I can be. You being down bad in a dream can genuinely compare to real life."
The look in Relon's confused eyes told Miguel all that he needed.
"Obviously you like You so you don't need to tell me or you mom. She's the best friend a guy can ask for and she's had eyes on you for over a decade now. Despite being gone for six years. Given you two literally got intimate under the moonlight with not a streetlamp in sight, which good job by the way. Skipped a base or two but still haven't kissed so that's the next goal. Anyway, being turned on is normal. We're guys! It's literally our function to react in a hormonal way to what we find attractive!" He smiles at the blushing male.
"Then… why haven't I reacted like this to anyone?"
"Simple. Have you thought of anyone the way you have You? Think now?"
One second followed by many more goes by as the amused smile Miguel now wears remains for a careful shake to come.
"There you go. Your feelings for her are that deep. Whether its infatuation, your deep bond, or you're just really down to get it on whenever the chance arises. Now, here's my next question. Why don't you two get together already? You'll stop hearing teasing from your mom and I."
"Because."
"Because… why?"
"What we're doing. All… this." He gestures to meekly shrink. "I want to give her, whoever, all my focus after we achieve our goals."
"That sounds like a shitty thing to do."
"Huh?"
"You're making her basically wait for who knows how long!" He chops Relon's head lightly. "Not to mention you're also choosing to remain single! This is our youth! Our lives are already messed up as is! We're trying to keep it as normal and civil as can be, dude!"
"But-"
"Ah! I'm not done yet! What if someone else comes along because you two are waiting? What if Kunikida-chan gets more affectionate to a point she falls in love, huh? What if some guy from your school takes interest in You? Can you honestly say you'll walk away and let things go when your heart is already at this point?"
"No! I just-"
"Relon." He cuts off in a knowing tone making Relon stop from intervening. "You're making it seem as though you just want to wait to see what other options you get." Miguel says carefully. "I know that's not the case, but someone may see it that way. You may see it and simply is going with it. Simply 'focusing on all this and waiting' won't work for long. The only thing I can see is the leader of Japan suddenly accepting harems officially or something. Concubines is the official term but Japan has rarely used that because we made the term 'harem' such a common word to use in its place."
Anything Relon could offer as a rebuttal was quickly snuffed out. In actuality, what his bro was saying was indeed true. Both the issues Relon has been internally facing as well as the open perspective from a different angle. If Relon saw no issues but in himself and Miguel only saw issues surrounding Relon, then he feared what You's thoughts were. Given his earlier action… it didn't make him feel any more better.
"I'm just saying, you guys can wait. But for nothing to happen would be an incredible amount of luck. Something you have a weird relationship with. Who knows, maybe you'll just draw a bunch of girls at this school to you and just… have a personal harem that You is okay with being. It's not too farfetch'd. We have the highest chance like in anime because we're in Japan so…"
"I get it, Aniki…"
Eyes returning to the downcasted look of Relon, another breath leaves Miguel's lips.
"Alright, I'll let you off for now. Seriously, I'm happy you two are closer but you'll need to figure something out sooner or later. Especially if after we make this work more members join. You're a charmer so it isn't unlikely for girls to be drawn to you." He smiles patting his shoulder. "Any who, get going. You still need to get back and I still got stuff here to do. Those showers aren't going to fix themselves. And hey, if Japan allows harems like on Uni Island with your Grandpa, then you're set! You got You, Kunikida-san and those other girls you dreamt of!" Dodging a pillow thrown, he chuckles to give a farewell wave departing leaving Relon alone.
Quietly, he arose and departed. The lingering advice of his best friend and bro repeating itself on repeat.
Stepping outside, the chime of his phone buzzes once more.
[Mé Asuka (Mom)]
Mé Asuka (Mom): Hello my dear son. I forgot to bring a lunch and am too busy to order anything. Can you bring me something? Love you 3
Blinking in repetition like always, he can only shake his head beginning his trek once more.
Sector B - Hospital
How long has it been since he came here? The answer was quite simple. Simply a year.
Walking through the sliding doors, his eyes trail from the secretary desk upwards to the countless floors and back down.
"Ah, Relon, welcome back!" The secretary, a middle-aged woman, greets with a smile. "Your mom is on the 27th floor down the hall on the far right."
"Thanks. It's… good to be back." He musters out.
"It's good to have you back. Your mom has been in even higher spirits than her usual ever since."
Nodding his appreciation, he heads for the elevators. Click later and he felt himself ascend. Looking through the clear glass, the sight of the lobby grows more and more distant as the activities on each floor passes by. With a ding, the doors open as he steps out.
Like many times he's seen before, the casual pace of the workers fill his vision. Some nurses chatting at the computers, other faculty heading up and down the hall, and civilians lingering at specific spots. Likely to visit a patient or leave.
Following the secretary's directions, he makes his way down the hall.
"Mr. Chigiri Hyoma, correct?"
Hearing the voice of a nurse address someone a short ways ahead, as his body approaches, his eyes look in to indeed find a nurse speaking with a teenage boy around his age. He has reddish pink hair and deep pink eyes.
In that passing moment, his eyes glance to the brace around his knee. In doing so, they lift to meet the eyes of the male. As quick as they made contact, it ended as the image of the redhead left his vision.
A leg injury perhaps?
Stopping before the instructed room, he double taps for a response to come.
"Come in~." The voice of his mother hums.
Doing so, he finds his mother giving a greeting wave in her doctor's attire as she sits on a bed.
Blinking at her, he only gives a small shake in disappointment.
"How are you feeling?"
Straight to the point. That told him all that needed to be said. This was him mom, yes. However, before him currently was the head doctor of Numazu City, Japan. Not his mother.
The calculating look she sports, the notebook clearly visible on a table not far from either of them; he walked into this situation expectantly.
With a careful exude of air, he walks in closing the door behind himself.
"Fine somewhat. I spoke with Aniki." He answers curtly while placing her lunch on the table. "I got you a veggie platter with fish."
"Miguel, huh…? Good. Care to talk about it? I won't judge."
He's had this same occurrence happen numerous times before in his life. Some things he'd spill and others… he'd be hesitant on.
"Not yet," he decides. It's neither an immediate yes or a reluctant no. Something he's learned to opt for when he's made better sense of his inner turmoils growing up.
"Very well," she answers without a moment of hesitation. "Your nightmares have always been rather realistic compared to the average human. Then again, everyone in our family is quite unique, wouldn't you say?" She chuckles and just like that, the doctor mask was off and back on was the face of his mother. "So, how far did you and You-chan get while you were 'recovering?'" She grins using her fingers to emphasize the second meaning, this in turn only makes him blush to form a deadpan look.
"Again, she took care of me… when I couldn't." He mumbles averting his gaze.
"Is that a bad thing?" At this, he turns back to her. "You two have always done that for one another. If you're referring to your 'manly ego' then I for one didn't take you to care about that." She muses, moving over and grasping her lunch to eye it eagerly.
"I don't. Just… things are rough between us because of me." He confesses taking a seat.
"Because of your nightmare." she surmises to receive a nod. "You should know with how she cares that You-chan won't hate you. You do realize that, correct?" Another nod eventually comes after a moment of hesitancy. "So, what will you two do?" She asks taking a bite of her veggie.
"Huh?"
"Dear, you two are going tohave to cross a certain bridge sooner or later. Since coming back, your relationship has accelerated. And I mean accelerated. Day one you were childhood friends and nowadays, you two are inseparable."
"But we were like that as kids." He retorts with a slight frown.
"The difference is you're not kids. It's clear to all of us, something I'm sure Miguel mentioned, but you need to decide whether you're going to remain friends or become something more. If you keep acting back and forth, it'll send mixed signals and could endanger your friendship."
Clearly wincing from her truthful words, he falls back on the bed staring at the ceiling.
"This sucks…"
"Life tends to be that way," Mé chuckles. "Tell me, why not date You-chan?"
"I… made a vow. Once my personal goal is met, then I'd focus on dating."
"Oh, is that so? Do tell, what goal are you focusing on to stop your ability from getting the only young woman I, your mother, approve of? Soccer? Clearly not. Your goal for soccer matched You's. If that was the case, you both would have made that vow. But you made it. Not her. A one-sided promise." She deciphers while biting her fish. "So. Is it an agreement with Kalos?"
It was swift as it was blunt. The casual though uneasy atmosphere immediately became thick. Her narrowed eyes cutting to the still visage of her son didn't give her an answer.
"No." Eyes widening at the tone, they remain stunned as he lifts himself up. One life-filled vermilion eyes now dulled to a blank slate. "My relations to that bastard are as stark as reality is from my nightmares."
Too gobsmacked to respond, she can only watch as he slowly rises. The tension of his muscles adds visible veins with every flex. Exuding a long unsteady breath, his shoulders drop.
"Sorry. I'll figure my issues out on my own. Who knows, maybe Japan will go back to allowing harems like on Uni Island with Grandpa," he chuckles as though nothing has occurred.
Knock knock knock.
Both Asuka and Lucinance snap their heads to the door.
"Mé? It's Kikuko."
"A-Ah. Ahem, come in!" Mé calls shaking off her stunned self.
"Excuse me then," a polite and feminine voice says sliding the door open.
Like his mother, doctor's coat on with a dark red shirt and black skirt, the woman in question has dark red hair, light purple eyes and a beauty mark on the bottom left of her mouth.
"Oh, am I interrupting?"
"No, you're fine Kikuko. We're just relaxing. Relon, this is Kikuko Nishikino. A dear friend from merely days in medical school."
"Oh." He voices standing and bowing. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"Wow, so formal!" She gasps with a smile. "Are you sure he's your son?" Kikuko teases.
"Hey! I'll have you know he's my pride and joy!"
Watching both women lightly banter back and forth, he retakes his seat as their antics soon die out.
"Relon," Mé gestures to the woman. "Her daughter is actually your age as well as You-chan's. Originally, they were going to move here but some plans changed and they ended up somewhere else."
"So, does that mean you've moved to Numazu, Nishikino-san?"
"Not yet. Your mother has actually put in a personal request for me to come assist her for the time being so I'm simply acquainting myself with the work environment."
"Kikuko here is actually the lead doctor of another hospital in the southern region of Japan. Though that town is much smaller so they haven't had a need for her expertise."
"I still feel bad about the decision to move there in hindsight. In doing so, Maki didn't make as many friends turning her into somewhat of a recluse, only focusing on her piano skills and us." Kikuko mumbles dejectedly. "Had we moved here like originally planned, then you all would have likely been the best of friends."
"Relon, once you meet Maki-chan, do get along with her. She may seem somewhat rude and may push you away, but she does truly mean well."
"Like a tsundere?" He and Mé both wonder with their family trait in the form of tilting their heads.
Holding back a fit of giggling, Kikuko nods.
"Quite. I've even joked about it to her but Maki doesn't take kindly to that. Though the blushing totally makes it worth it." She giggles along with Mé.
Offering a chuckle of his own, Relon's eyes catch Mé's flicker his way.
"Kikuko, we should get back to work. Relon, it's already dark out so get home safe. You-chan's waiting."
"Yes, ma'am." He nods before bowing once more. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Nishikino-san."
"Awe, the pleasure was all mine. I just wish we could have met so much sooner, Lucinance-kun! Do take care and stop by, we can mess with your mom together!"
"Hey!"
"Haha, definitely." He says bidding farewell.
Exuding a heavy breath as she leans against the bed's railing, Mé eyes the door.
"I take it that something happened between you two?"
"No. Something between him and Kalos. Something bad. That's for sure…"
Outside
Amongst the dark night, the luminescent glow of the neon lights washes over the city streets. Passersby as far as the eye can see, various groups going to party with other business workers heading home from a hard day at work.
As the constant shuffling of bodies and steps fall in tandem with his own, not a thought lingers. Only the image of his sole mistake mere moments ago.
"No. My relations to that bastard are as stark as reality is from my nightmares."
He'd done it again. Just like in his dream.
That side came out. A solemn oath he made prior to returning broken so easily. All because he couldn't keep his cool over the simple mention of his father.
Fists gripping on the edge of nails embedding into skin, he stops himself. Either his mother would question further or simple let him be. Given his wording, he could only hope that latter as she too didn't want anything to do with Kalos. Then again, he was her son. Her everything. She'd get involved with that man because of their relationship.
"That's it! I'm out!"
Huh?
Unknowing of where exactly he was, much less how far he had traveled during his inner thoughts, Relon takes in an unfamiliar park with a sports field.
"Wait…"
Slowly, but surely, it clicked. That construction site he, You, and Miguel once fled through… this was it. A park. Barely even that. A soccer field with benches often found in parks.
"Why here…?" It seemed so out of place given the layout of the city. There were other larger parks scattered in other sectors but this… was so random. "Was something else supposed to be built here?"
"Come on, dude! The game's almost over!" A player in casual wear pleads.
"Screw that! It's a loss no matter what! We have no synergy, our composition is off, and we're down three goals!" The departing player waves off.
"Heh, that guy gets it. Why not call it quits?" A player with a green scrimmage vest calls out earning laughter all around from his teammates.
"You guys are down both three teammates and goals." Another player with a green vest says calmly. "Why not call it quits? This is just a street game after all. No need to waste anymore of our time. Coming back from these odds is impossible."
"You shut your face!" A guy in casual wear shouts back in anger. "I ain't quitting! Even if I'm the last player left!"
The stubborn teen is on the slightly taller side with a muscular build. His hair is a pale blond styled flatly against his head with amber eyes and sharp shark-like teeth.
"Look man, I'm just saying. Things aren't looking good for you guys."
"You never know." A vestless player in casuals shrugs.
He is also on the tall side with long black hair kept in a bun with silver and black eyes. The most noticeable trait is his ear as though an animal slashed parts of it off.
"He's right, dumbasses! You have a defender that just stays away from the action!" Another player points.
Eyes going over, Relon's own widen at the familiar red head boy indeed off by himself on the field not seeming tired.
"Then you gave that striker who goes wild and refuses to pass!"
Once more, he trails to the front. A tanned young man stands uncaringly. He has spiky blond hair with pink tips, two strands falling on both sides of his face. He has pink colored irises with white slitted pupils like that of a feline.
"You're practically down half a team when you include those two." The calm guy says.
"Start the game back up already! You'll see!" The shark-toothed male growls.
"Alright. Suit yourself." The calm player sighs. "Does anyone want to join their team? We got 30 minutes left so it won't be for much longer. We'll try to win quickly!" The hollers.
"Bastard's underestimating us!"
"Hey…"All eyes turn to the lone male walking their way unzipping his jacket. "Can I play?"
Preview!
It's odd. Even as I re-enter the world of soccer, it feels as though I never left. What happened over there has affected me. Made me stronger, faster, smarter... Superior than any soccer player, any human when I truly accept and lean into what I've been given. So this time, You, just for a little bit. Let me vent the only way I can! Next time on Love Live! Revolution! Chapter 19: The Superior Soccer Player
Omega Porunga: Yeah, Relon's clearly not all there, but like you say, hopefully, You, his mother, and the others will help him through it...
The power of friendship and romance cleanses all in this story! Just... not right away. He got that dog in him, that's what lol. All of the service we got on the OVAs and Yoshiko's anime were splendid and I was just happy to get more Sunshine stuff. Tsuzuri easily #1 for me. I'm a sucker characters with two different colors on both sides of their hair. That and its white and red like Topaz from Star Rail.
A/N: I was already gonna implement soccer elements along with swimming into this fic so when I got into Blue Lock, slowly the pieces (pun intended) started to put themselves into place. With how I write and my plan for this story, it was rather easy to implement. This is STILL a Love Live fic (with all of the idols) and STILL a SUPER HAREM. I've simply given Relon the characters for his soccer life. Also decided to make this a Sunshine X Blue Lock instead of Sunshine X School Idol for obvious reasons. Anyway, have a great day and leave a review! Love hearing what yall's thoughts are!