[ The world has changed; that much is certain. All it took was the arrival of one messenger, crying out that war has come. Tolling of bells recruited every able-bodied man to fight, from peasant to adventurer, changing the atmosphere of the city Haru has called home in the past months since she arrived here. The city had gone silent for many days and nights, drained of liveliness that have become routine for taverns throughout. No clues to what have become of the armies ever came back, apart from ravings of old men too unfit to have joined the army, about how the armies are losing to some unknown foe. It's confirmed by the returning men, some carried in stretchers and brought back to the city aboard horse-drawn wagons, too traumatized to even speak of what became of the army. Whatever bravado and arrogance they used to have - it's gone. The nations of this world have been defeated by something they can't even comprehend. Some say it's demons, because what else is capable of such a feat?
Soon enough, people's questions are answered. Instead of an invading force, they're surprised by a peaceful arrival of strangers not of this world. Flags that bore the proud insignia of this nation are lowered and removed as people are gathering at the town square, meeting the strangers from another world who have all come bearing gifts. Food and supplies are handed out to the locals, as well as offers of medical care as these people - soldiers in technological armor, riding on modern vehicles - set up and claim this city as under their protection. Roaring of fighter jets and rumbling of helicopters can be heard around the city, and soldiers patrol the streets and build friendly relationships with the local inhabitants. But all of them seem to answer to one man. A tall and imposing figure in black armor, with golden shoulder plates that signify his rank. His soldiers refer to him "Commander", as he makes sure everything runs smoothly.
Making an impression with the locals, Troy lets his soldiers enjoy the city among themselves or with the locals. He makes sure they treat them all properly, though, as both a strategic move to endear the locals to them and also because that's just how he likes it. Troy has been kind and reasonable with the locals, even the Madam of Blue Cat Nocturne. They had an interesting talk, with Troy putting on the charm on her too and getting him to show that he's capable of relaxing. When things have been settled, Troy eventually did take the Madam's offer. He went to the brothel and slept with a lot of the girls who seem more his type, all of them - at once. Even the Madam had to step in. It left Haru and Lupe out to just hang out, with Troy eventually exhausting his partners before it was even midnight.
This is the only time he can be approached by Haru as he was always busy and surrounded by others. Troy strolls around the staff dining area after a quick rinse, wearing some relaxed clothes and not his armor for once and spots Haru in there. Troy brought some snacks to offer for the girls, and it seems like Haru has gotten into them. They're all packaged snacks from Earth, from chocolate bars and chips. There's even some Japanese ones there, which no doubt would get Haru's attention. ]
Oh you like those? We brought loads of 'em along.
[ Snacks have been a good way to essentially bribe locals - especially children. But some of his soldiers indulge in it too. Troy helps himself with some water as he speaks. Even outside of his armor, Troy is tall and broad, so the mug looks small in his hand. ]
[Everything turned to shit when the Centurion appeared.
Up until his arrival, things were going great. Business was booming. The mood inside the tavern was cheerful and boisterous, full of talk and laughter. Even the most troublesome customers were on their best behavior when soldiers were around. And not only that, but the soldiers were actually good in bed. Gentle yet passionate, toned and fit, with tons of stamina to spare. Haru seriously had no complaints.
But then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. The first discordant note was Commander Bisque's smile: Haru realized it didn't reach his eyes. After feeling his hand on her thigh beneath the table, she started to suspect Shequraso's military boyfriend was less-than-faithful. At the same time, the soldiers were talking about how some new guy was being sent to take over the army: some big bad hectosquad commander. A hardass known for whipping his men into shape. And sure enough, when he walked in the door the very next day, the entire tavern went dead silent. Even his outward appearance was terrifying. One look at his twisted smile, and Haru knew just what kind of man he was.
The soldiers changed, under his command. They stopped smiling, unless they were having a cruel laugh at someone's expense, and lost all interest in talking. In bed, they treated the girls like tools. No more gentle lovers' sex; they'd all turned rough and violent. But it wasn't just their behavior that changed. During sex, Haru noticed all sorts of scars covering their bodies.
No one to dared to shit-talk the army while the Centurion was around to hear. But in the streets, Haru started to overhear mutterings. Something was demolishing the army. Soldiers were disappearing into the forest and being found slaughtered in record numbers. Which in this world could only mean one thing: it must be the work of the Demon Lord.
Things took a turn for the even-worse when the soldiers left to go on some big mission. The commander asked to borrow Shequraso; apparently, she was going to sing for them to boost morale or something. It sounded a little suspect. Haru had never heard of an army having a personal idol-girl. But her friend's singing voice was totally stunning, so she could buy it. Besides, Shequraso's boyfriend was squad captain. Surely he'd protect her, right? Even though he put his hand up Haru's skirt just the other day?
Shequraso left. Haru bid her goodbye and went back to work. One day passed, and she started to miss her friend's singing. Two days passed, and she started to wonder if her friend had brought enough clothes and personal items. Three days passed... and she'd grown anxious. Then four days passed, and her anxiety turned to dread. She started to suspect the worst: that Shequraso was being used by all those men for more than just her singing.
By the morning of the fifth day, she was getting ready to venture out to the barracks and check on Shequraso herself. She was ready to save her friend, if need be. Even if that meant offering herself up in the other girl's place, she'd do it. But as soon as she stepped into the street, she heard news that stopped her in her tracks.
"No way! The entire squad?!"
Apparently, whatever was lurking in the forest had decimated the military, including the squad stationed in her city. Commander Buffness, Commander Bisque, every single soldier she'd ever served a drink or slept with—they were all dead. Every last one. For a second she actually felt sorry for them.
But then she arrived at the deserted military barrack. She searched the premises until she found her friend, and what she saw enraged her like nothing before. There was her Shequraso, cowering on the floor of a filthy room, with messy hair, dirty clothes, and marks all over her skin. When she saw Haru, she crawled over and cried.
Haru was furious. If the soldiers who'd done all that had been around, she seriously could've killed them. But instead they were all gone, and she had no one to vent her anger on. Feeling sick to her stomach, she stole a horse and carried her friend off to the nearest hospital.
So that was how things ended with the military. Goodbye, Short Hair, and your amazing stamina. Goodbye, Fluffy Hair, and your new buzzcut. Goodbye, Shequraso's Shitty Boyfriend. I hope you rot in hell.
The next few days were quiet. The mood at work was gloomy, like someone had just died (which made sense because a lot of people did die) and there wasn't much business. Not only were all the soldiers dead, but practically every adventurer who'd gone into the forest recently had also died. Without soldiers or adventurers, who the hell were they supposed to cater to? Bards?
So Haru had a super-slow week at work, and then, all of a sudden, there was this big city-wide announcement. Haru left the pub along with the others to go see what was going on, and that's when things got super weird. Because when she looked up at the sky, she saw fighter jets. So much for this world having no modern technology!
Basically, what happened was that the thing in the forest killing all the soldiers wasn't the Demon Lord after all. Instead they'd gotten taken down by another army, with way better fighting skills and high-tech equipment. In other words, this world had been invaded, and now the city had been claimed by some dudes from another world. A more modern world, like the one she was from. Wild.
Things could've gone really, really bad from there, but it turned out the invaders were a peaceful sort, at least now that they'd taken over. They were giving all these gifts to people, and wanted the citizens to like them, even though they just wiped out their whole army. Some people had lost their sons, fathers, brothers or boyfriends in that war, so their nice-guy approach wasn't bound to work on everyone. But to Haru, who'd seen firsthand how crappy the military could be? She was all for it. Thank you, officers!
Not only that, but if the invaders were from a more modern world like her own... maybe she could even figure out how to get back home.
Now that the city had been seized, there was a new Commander in town. At first, Haru only saw him from a distance, but he had a handsome face and wore gaudy-looking armor, like something out of a movie. After all she's been through, she didn't automatically trust the guy. She knew by now that men could smile at women one moment and turn violent the next. But she didn't not trust him, either. She wanted to meet him for herself—not because she cared a lot about politics or whatever, but because she wanted to know more about this "other world" he came from. So, she started hatching a scheme to meet Mr. Gold Shoulder Plates.
Turns out, she didn't need any schemes. Because the very next day, the guy came to visit the brothel. Haru and the other girls crowded around a window, watching him chat with the Madame outside. For a second, she wondered if they were in legal trouble. Since the new government came from a more modern world, they might oppose prostitution. Was she going to have to make a run for it to avoid ending up in the slammer? Peering outside the window, she waited to see what would happen next. And the answer was...
No, of course they weren't in trouble. Sex work wasn't suddenly illegal now. Old government, new government, gold shoulder plates or black shoulder plates, it didn't make a difference. All men love to fuck. And the Commander was no exception. Haru watched in amazement as Mr. Gold Shoulder Plates went straight for some freaky group sex. Even the Madame joined in! And they didn't bother to get a room, they just did it right in the pub. There were hardly any customers left anyway, so she guessed it didn't matter...
It's not like she was dying to sleep with him, but it did kind of hurt that she wasn't hot enough to get invited to the orgy. Like, really, my gorgeous ass isn't enough for you? After spending some time voyeuring, she and Lupe wandered into the kitchen for a snack. And that's when she discovered the mountain of sweets this guy had brought with him.
She and Lupe both oohed and ahhed when they saw it. This world didn't have a lot of girly food like this; all the food here was designed to appeal to men. A mountain of sweets would have thrilled her under any circumstances. But these weren't just any ordinary sweets; these were packaged goods, and some of them were even brand names she recognized.]
No way! Pocky?!
[She reaches for the box with a gasp, holding it up like a precious treasure. (Even though it's cheap, mass-produced, and wasn't even her favorite snack in the before-life.) Meanwhile, Lupe tilts her head. "You recognize this stuff?"
Haru will answer her in a minute. First, she's gotta stuff her face. That's when she sees him. He speaks up, and she raises her head, with three sticks of pocky crushed between her teeth in a not-so-ladylike fashion.
He looks less impressive without the gold shoulder plates. But up close, he's even more handsome. Her heart thumps as she realizes this is her chance to learn more about the other world, and she chews what's in her mouth as fast as possible.]
Yeah? Well, thanks...
[Now for a pause. Damn, how does she introduce herself to someone who just slept with all her co-workers right in front of her face?
Pretty easily, as it turns out. She's good at giving men a smile.]
[ He lifts a hand, addressing both Haru and Lupe with a glance of his eyes and a small smile of his lips. He is aware that it will take time for wounds to heal and scars to fade. This wasn't his first world-hop after all, and he's seen the many ways people can react to their actions. But every step towards the right direction is a good one, even the small ones like calling him by his name. ]
Guess I should also let you two know in case you weren't told earlier, your friend Shequraso is in our custody. We took her to our hospital where she's being taken good care of. You can visit her tomorrow if you want.
[ He figured that saying that would at least give them some ease. It's late in the night now to go visit at this instant, and Shequraso is no doubt asleep after being put under. ]
And get more snacks to bring back here.
[ Troy takes another sip of water, letting them decide on what to do and how early they want to see their friend, but to also just relax. ]
[Troy. Yeah, she caught that name earlier. That's what he told the other girls to moan. Though before he came to visit the brothel, she'd only heard him referred to as "Commander." In any case, now that he's introduced himself, she probably shouldn't keep calling him "Mr. Gold Shoulder Plates," even if it's just in her head. Especially since she owes him a debt.
Her smile slips and her expression sobers at the mention of Shequraso. Haru's been doing her best not to think about her friend. All the recent changes have distracted her. But whenever she remembers the state Shequraso was left in, her blood starts to boil. For the first time in her life, she gets the urge to kill. And she could've done it, too, thanks to all the powers she gained from sleeping with the military.
But that's just hypothetical. The army was slaughtered, anyway. And if they hadn't been, and Shequraso's torment had continued, who knows what would've happened? She could've suffered worse injuries. She could've died.
That's why Haru has to be grateful. Regardless of what changes the new order brings, and even regardless of whether or not her own life improves... she's just glad this guy stepped in at the right time.]
Ah, yeah, I heard she transferred hospitals... With your technology, she should be in good hands.
[She'd felt a twinge of unease when she first heard the news. Leaving Shequraso alone in some strangers' custody after what just happened... it felt a little scary. But the Madame vouched for her safety, as did Kiyori. Haru just has to trust them; she has no other choice. So.
Standing in front of Troy, she bows her head deeply. And Lupe, feeling just as much gratitude, does the same.]
Thank you for taking care of her.
[Really, she means it. From the bottom of her heart. Tomorrow she'll go and visit. She can even bring some snacks. And speaking of snacks...
Haru lifts her head, now looking curious.]
Are you guys going to be selling this stuff now...? I mean, are shops going to be selling it?
[She'd thought that maybe the army just brought these snacks as gifts. But with a new government in charge, it wouldn't be surprising if stuff like food and agriculture received a total overhaul. Maybe this new world will change to be more like the modern world...? In which case... she'll probably have a better life here.
Though she's still curious about the prospect of traveling between worlds.]
[ Troy's brows furrow sheepishly, briefly waving a hesitant hand at their bowing gesture. He accepted their gratitude with a nod, but he didn't make a big deal out of it from then on, and instead just continues to be himself. He pulls up a chair to join the girls on the table that's littered with the packaged snacks alongside some local fruits. ]
Nah, they're gifts, 'sides I don't think the local currency is really gonna be worth much back in our world. We've moved on from coins and paper a long time ago.
[ Most transactions are digital where he's from. Even credit cards are outdated. But that doesn't mean more people from his world aren't gonna start rolling in to mine the world of natural resources. ]
You two must be curious about all of this, hm?
[ He takes another sip of water, gently laying his cup on the table as his relaxed gaze eyes both Haru and Lupe like friends. He waggles his brows with playful confidence, opening the floor for their questions ]
I don't sleep like normal people do so I got time to kill.
[She's not sure what that look is for. She would've thought an esteemed guy like Mr. Gold Shoulder Plates (whoops, she called him that again) would be used to people bowing their heads. But between asking them to call him by his first name, and pulling up a chair to chat, it seems like he wants things to be casual? Maybe he's just a chill guy.
The natural thing to do is sit down again, too, so that's what she and Lupe do. While Lupe opens a package of Pocky for herself, eyeing the wrapper curiously, Haru raises both eyebrows at Troy's next words. Wait.]
You don't use coins?
[It's a shock. Even in Tokyo, people used coins and paper money to pay for things. Of course, there were also things like credit cards and online shopping that don't exist in this world. But to think there might be a world where paper money doesn't exist at all is kind of...]
Do you use, um, electronic payments?
[She almost said online payments, but catches herself at the last second. He might not know what "online" is. Pocky and fighter jets came before the Internet, after all. But then again, the packaging on this Pocky looks modern, and they even have some pretty obscure flavors...
Yeah. "Curious" is right. It's a good thing he's a night owl, because she wants to bombard him with questions.]
[ He answers with a pause and raised brows, tilting his head and focusing more of his attention to Haru. He puts his cup down and shifts his weight to face her more, brows furrowing with a curious gaze ]
How did you know about that?
[ He looks to Lupe as well, wondering if his hunch involves her too, but his focus quickly drifts back to Haru. ]
[Haru's face falls. Crap. She said the wrong thing, even though she'd been purposefully making an effort not to sound like she knows too much. So now what should she do?
She could just tell the truth. The Madame didn't believe her story about coming from another world, so Haru kinda just gave up on ever telling anyone. But if this guy and his army come from another world themselves, surely they'd believe her. Maybe she could finally talk honestly for the first time since coming here.
But is now really the best time for this...? Should she really be coming clean about her whole unbelievable-sounding life story right now? In front of Lupe-chan?
Lupe, for her part, isn't helpful. She simply shrugs and gives Troy a Look, as though to say "Don't look at me." And then she opens her mouth and says this: "Haru's always talking about stuff we've never heard about." At which point Haru grits her teeth. Wow, thanks for selling me out!
Fighting back a grimace, Haru waves a hand, affecting an innocent tone and attempting to smooth things over with a smile.]
Well, um... all your modern inventions are made using electrical or mechanical engineering, right...? I just remember hearing about that downtown, when everyone was talking about the invaders and all the new technology they have... So I guess it was a lucky guess.
[ Troy just looks at her quizzically after hearing Lupe's words. He gives Haru a moment to pedal back and admit to it, but he states almost certainly: ]
You're from Earth.
[ He has a good idea why Haru is behaving this way now, understanding it maybe awkward to talk about, so his voice remains calm throughout it, leaving his body language at ease and his gaze soft. But to ease the heat of the spotlight off of Haru, he adds: ]
So am I, and everyone else in my company.
[ This is big news even to someone who isn't surprised by this concept. Someone from his home is trapped here, and it makes his protective tendencies just surface more. Shequraso's predicament and the fact that this is a brothel in a world where women are treated as second class citizens, made it flare up more so. Troy feels his fingers brush over his stubbled chin, in thought ]
There's no worming her way out of this one. Haru's heart sinks while Lupe repeats "Earth?" in a quizzical tone. It takes her friend a moment to put two and two together, but soon she's asking the inevitable.
"You're from a different world?"
She sounds both shocked and incredulous, like she can't quite believe it, and Haru can't blame her one bit. The idea of someone traveling to this shitty world, only to become a prostitute, must sound completely absurd. And Haru never said one world about it, only claiming to be from the boonies. This whole entire time, she's basically been lying to everyone. But now the jig is up. Time to face the music.
Haru loses the awkward smile and forces down a grimace. She faces Troy with a serious expression. Though deep down, she's still kinda glad to have met someone from her world, she wishes they could've had this conversation in private.]
About a year.
[She turned eighteen in this world. And she's not the only one who did so.]
There's another person like me, too. He came here with me. But we didn't come in a spaceship or anything. It was kind of by accident...
[No doubt he'll expect her to elaborate in a minute. Which she's fine doing. But first, she's got something important to do: turn and face Lupe. The other girl still looks totally taken aback; no doubt this will change things between them. Haru takes a deep breath and says what's necessary.]
I tried to tell the Madame once, but she didn't believe me. I assumed the same thing would happen if I tried to tell anyone else, so I kept my mouth shut. It was just easier not to talk about it. But I never meant to deceive you guys... I'm sorry.
[And with that, she bows her head, asking forgiveness.
For a long moment, Lupe just gapes at her from underneath her fluffy bangs. But then, she speaks. "Um, you don't have to bow. I'm not mad at you or anything. I'm just surprised." More like she's really surprised. But, tentatively, she reaches a hand out, patting Haru's shoulder, which causes Haru to lift her head again and bashfully smile. Yay, friendship?]
[ Troy leans forward as Haru answers Lupe's curiosity. His hand finds his chin as he continues to watch Haru's mannerisms and sees some resemblance to typical Terrans, but Lupe herself doesn't act too different. Her answer made him feel a pit in his stomach, and it's made worse by the fact there's another one. It made his protective instincts flare up, wondering how many people from Earth have been here before too or if there's anyone in the army that they destroyed...
Troy takes the news as well as he can, still having that stoic seriousness that he nods away with an empathic look ]
There's nothing to apologize for. You did what anyone would.
[ He lets Haru and Lupe have a moment. His tone shifts from friendly to more business-like ]
Do you know where the other one - the boy - is?
[ He feels it's a long shot, especially with no way of communicating with each other from the lack of phones or similar devices. But Troy's afraid that Chiba might have been one of the casualties. It will be next to impossible to know from the sheer amount of firepower the armies were subjected to but, Troy hopes Chiba is one of those who refused to help the army. ]
[Once Troy asks about Chiba, the moment is over. Lupe drops her hand, both girls turning to face him again. Even without either of them having said his name, Lupe knows who they're talking about. Haru, for her part, grimaces a little bit.]
I'm not sure... he used to come here a lot, but he hasn't been back recently. We sort of had a fight.
["Fight" isn't really the best word for it. "Fight" makes things sound equal, but it's more like he started saying all this shitty stuff to her, and she'd finally had enough. She even told him, while wiping cum off her face, "Don't ever come here again."]
I could ask his girlfriend, but I'm pretty sure she was on the verge of dumping him, plus she's had all these injured people to deal with since she's a Sister, so she might not know where he is, either. I'm pretty sure he isn't dead, though. He's not in the military, and he has a pretty good cheat skill, so he'd be difficult to kill.
[She's thought about it. The idea did cross her mind. Which worried her a little bit, because even after everything, she wouldn't want him to be dead. But if he is dead, she'd be seriously shocked.]
[ Troy nods, making a mental note to add that to his plans. ]
He sounds like an... interesting person. "Cheat skill" or not.
[ Having a fight with someone is one thing, but having a girl be on the verge of dumping that same person is also another. He doesn't want to jump to conclusions but in his experience with sordid love affairs, he feels like Chiba is a type of guy that even he won't get along with.
With that, he stands up. ]
You can give me his name, and I'll have one of my people look for him. It's late, you two should get as much rest as you can so we can visit the hospital tomorrow.
[ He's probably gonna stay up a little later. He and some of the helpers carried the other girls to their respective rooms already, a lot of them still passed out from the fun time with this newcomer. ]
I'll be around if you need anything, good?
[ Meanwhile, Chiba is indeed still alive and is being bullied by Troy's companion Sofia, who can easily negate his cheat skill with one of her own. He is afraid this will happen, Sofia's a bit of a maverick.
Regardless, he'll wait for them in the morning, before a full sunrise. Light is still barely peeking out from the horizon, and the cold night fog is still hanging in the air. He's still in some relaxed casual clothes, waiting by the door for their ride. ]
["Interesting" is one way to put it. She wonders if Troy's ever met any otaku back on Earth. She's also not so sure Chiba will want to be tracked down, since he seems to be enjoying his new life better than his old one. But as long as Troy's not going to kill him or anything, Haru doesn't have any qualms about tattling on him. Not after he treated her like crap last time.
(She also doesn't remember his real name. Whenever he's tried to tell her, she always plugs her ears. But that doesn't matter, either. Down by the arena, he's known as "Endless Crimson Rain." That should be enough to go on.)
In response to Troy standing up, Haru slides out of her own chair automatically. He won't have to endure any more bowing, though, from either her or Lupe-chan; just some slightly-awkward waving as he bids them goodbye.]
Oh, um... yeah, we're good. Thanks.
[So there he goes. Haru's left watching his manly backside retreat. She's been given a lot to think about, and the reminder of Shequraso, still hospitalized, makes the mood feel a little heavier. But before she can think too deeply about Chiba, or about the implications of someone from her world taking over (or before she can go back to eating her Pocky)... she realizes Lupe-chan must have a lot of questions. Turning to Lupe, she asks, "Wanna go upstairs?" and Lupe says "Alright," so then the two of them head up with some stolen candy.
They talk late into the night, Haru explaining as much about her home world as she can, though it's kinda difficult to explain modern-day Tokyo to someone who grew up in such a medieval setting. Still, she does her best. She even shares some stuff that she's never shared with anyone else before, like what happened in middle school, because she figures Lupe would understand. That part makes her a little nervous, but at the end of it all, when she has nothing left to get off her chest, she realizes how good it feels to be totally honest with someone. So, maybe it was for the best that Mr. Gold Shoulder Plates saw right through her.
While going to bed (and feeling kinda sick thanks to all the candy she just ate), Haru thinks some more about Troy. He's got a handsome face, a nice body, he brought her Pocky, and now she knows he's from the same world as her. Can he be trusted? How are things going to change with him in charge? She doesn't know the answers yet... but she wants to believe things will get better. At the very least, those guys who hurt Shequraso are gone, so hopefully things won't get worse.
The next morning, Haru's one of the first people up. Despite her stomachache, she managed to sleep pretty well. It probably helps that she wasn't drinking last night and didn't participate in any marathon orgies or anything. After fixing breakfast, washing some dishes, brushing her teeth and fixing her hair, she's out the door, wearing a cloak over her ruffled red dress.
Most of the others are still eating breakfast or getting washed up. Not everyone's visiting Shequraso—some of them weren't that close to her, or else they're simply too tired. Others might be too upset. But several other girls said they're going, and of course, so did Lupe-chan. The ones who aren't going pitched in to get a bouquet of flowers for her, which Haru's been entrusted with carrying. She leaves the door with the bundle held to her chest, hood pulled over her head.
Spotting Troy, she spends a moment eyeing him. No gold shoulder plates this time... he looks like a pretty normal guy. Though he also looks undeniably modern, compared to the other men in this world. Somehow she still feels a little awkward around him, but she raises her hand up to greet him nevertheless.]
[ Troy only slept for a bit, probably not even an hour. But it's good that he's superhuman and that amount is enough for him to at least be functional. Still, he yawns and feels sluggish for a superman. He's just glad that he doesn't look like shit when he waits for Haru to step out. When he hears her voice, he perks up and smiles, greeting her with an upward nod ]
Right back at you. You're looking great for someone who probably barely slept.
[ Well, Haru looks great in general, he admits. A car peeks out of the end of the road, just as he takes a glance around her. ]
No Lupe?
[ He asks, reaching out with his big arms to carry the bouquet himself. The other girls are accounted for and would probably go later with the madam, but since Haru and Lupe were spared from his unquenchable thirst last night, he just wondered about the other girl. Lupe is cute too, and he won't deny wanting to see more of her. Still, the vehicle arrives with no driver. It went at a relaxed pace, and the quiet streets made it easy for the autopilot feature to navigate the town just fine. The car stops, looking a little futuristic off-road vehicle with a lot of glass, and Troy nods toward it to invite Haru to get in, adding with a chuckle as the doors open ]
Would have loved to see her reaction to a car. Sure it's not the sexiest car, but still.
[Today, Koyama Haru is shopping. She's moving from one trendy boutique to the next, wallet at ready. Why? Two reasons. First of all—because she's a Tokyo JK, and Tokyo-born high school girls just love to keep on top of the latest trends. But second of all, and most importantly...
She's got birthday cash.
It's kind of a big deal. Her parents did reinstate her allowance a few weeks into the school year, granted, once they saw that she was making friends who were asking her to do things like grab a Fr*ppucinno at St*rbucks and split the bill for karaoke. They hadn't forgiven her for her mistakes, exactly, but more than anything, they were concerned about her fitting in at her new school. So when they saw that she was fitting in, and that she'd even become one of the popular girls, they wanted to encourage it. But they weren't handing her a ton of cash. Just enough to pay for some small expenses after school. It was enough to buy some make-up, some music on iT*nes, and some fancy seasonal drinks, but it wasn't enough to go on a shopping spree or keep on top of the latest trends.
Things worked out anyway, because as a JK, she has to wear her school uniform most of the time, anyway. So long as she had a couple of stylish outfits for weekend outings, she should be all set. But she hasn't been shopping for new clothes since middle school, and honestly, she totally misses it. She's wasted tons of hours scrolling through fashion blogs and thumbing through magazines with a yearning sigh trapped in her throat. Living in Tokyo, she sees all kinds of cute boutiques, and every time she tells herself that when she has some more cash, she's totally stopping by for a visit.
But now, she's sweet sixteen, and now, she's got birthday cash. Her parents didn't really know what to get her, since like most boomers, they don't keep up with modern fashion trends. And that means one thing: time to go shopping.
Ideally, she would've liked to go with someone, if only because shopping alone makes her look kind of lame. But she already saw all her friends on her birthday, as well as her boyfriend (who doesn't know a thing about girls' fashion, anyway). And her older sister said she'd love to take her, but something came up with her new boyfriend and she cancelled at the last minute. Typical. Haru would complain, but she's mostly just glad her sister seems to have found a nice guy this time, instead of the total douchebag she was dating before.
So, that's where she's at: strolling through the city alone, popping into random stores, and fending off the occasional guy who tries to nanpa her with some shitty pick-up line. Though it might not be smart for a schoolgirl to travel alone, she kinda likes shopping by herself. There's nobody to rush her, nobody to make her wait forever while they try stuff on in the dressing room or try to decide what to buy. And being surrounded by fashionable clothes and accessories (even though a lot of them are still way out of her price range) is truly bliss. Living in Tokyo is seriously the greatest.
Now, shoes aren't high on the list of things she's looking for. A killer pair of boots or a cute pair of ballet flats can totally make an outfit, but good shoes are kind of expensive, and they're less likely to be noticed than a cute skirt of a really cool jacket. But while she's aimlessly wandering one boutique, she finds herself in the shoe section, and figures she might as well take a look. There are some seriously high heels on display, including spiked heels and stilettos. Honestly, she's not even sure she could walk in some of these. But she sees some nice pairs with a chunkier heel, and wonders if maybe it might be worth investing in something like this. She's kinda short, and the doctor told her she's probably done growing. A good pair of heels would make her legs look longer and more shapely, too. Maybe it's worth trying some on? But just as she's starting to consider a red pair with flowers embroidered into the fabric...
Someone catches her eye.
It's a guy. Which is sort of noteworthy all on its own, since she hasn't seen that many guys out shopping in boutiques today. But it's his appearance that grabs her attention and refuses to let go. He has blond hair, but not the bottle-blond kind—the kind that looks natural. He's tall and skinny, with bright pink, loose-fitting clothes—also an attention-grabber, cause most guys totally refuse to wear pink. Even in Tokyo, he stands out. But it's his face that really gets her. He's got piercing blue eyes, as cold as ice. And when he turns his head, she can see that he's got something covering the left side of his face. Something like a scar. A burn scar.
Honestly, she's speechless. As a Tokyoite, she has tons of practice minding her own business and ignoring people who look weird. But this guy isn't just weird-looking, he's captivating. He's got this cool aura surrounding him, which makes him totally impossible to look away from. And she's so busy thirsting at looking at his face, she doesn't even notice the weirdest thing he's got going on.
His shoes.
As he starts looking at the pairs of shoes nearby, she quickly turns her head away, not wanting to be caught staring. The tips of her ears feel hot. Aren't these all women's shoes? Is this guy shopping for his girlfriend...? A cool-looking guy like that probably does have a girlfriend. She's just a little surprised, since he didn't look like the emotional type, and he gives off this really cold aura. But of course, for a certain type of girl, that just makes him even dreamier...
She's so wrapped up in her own rambling thoughts that she barely notices when he speaks. Picking up on his voice in the periphery of her hearing, she turns her head again, coming face-to-face with those cool blue eyes. A cooler shade of blue than any color contacts could provide.
He's looking at her expectantly. Which means... wait. He's talking to her, isn't he?]
Uh...
[Crap. She was so distracted by his looks she didn't hear a thing he said! All she can offer him is a nervous, flustered smile.]
[He rarely went out shopping, even less so in casual clothes, especially since he usually didn't have spare cash on him. Funding the operations of their gang was Koko's specialty, but Inupi usually tried not to impose on him given he knows Koko's odd relationship with money. However, today had just been one of those days. A petty disagreement, some extra cash for lunch, and no meeting to attend. They'll probably talk again in the evening when they both go to their secret hideout, because Koko had 'other things' he had to attend to that he wasn't looping Inupi in (which shows he's very mad), but at the moment he had nothing better to do.
The shop he happens upon isn't his usual spot. Not that he has one, not when even the heels he has are stolen from his mother's closet. Not that she'd notice, if she even realized he came home at all sometimes. Still, he had entered because a pair of pink heels caught his attention, and despite catching the surprise of others, he figured he could take a look at least.
The heels turned out to not be to his taste, upon closer inspection. The design too flowery, the material too stiff, and the heel itself didn't even look nice. After that, he just started to check around, see if anything catches his attention.
A prickling sensation at the back of his neck alerts him. At first, he thought she was someone else, a guy trying to pick a fight with him. It wouldn't be the first time, not with his lifestyle, and he would probably enjoy a fight right now. However, when he turns to look for where that intense gaze is coming from, he sees no one except a girl whose face looks redder than the shoes she had in hand.
Huh.
Those actually looked nice.
Which is why he had approached her, mostly because of the shoes. His voice was quiet on a regular basis, but when she fails to hear him the first time, he decides to pick up his volume. The nervous look was probably because of his expression. It wouldn't be the first time someone looked like they wanted to run from him.]
Can I take a look at those?
[He gestures to the shoes, looking straight at her.]
[Even from a distance, that icy-cool expression was A Lot. Having it directed right at her sends a jolt through her. Not an icy-cool one, though—she's not afraid of him, even though that burn scar is enough to make a person wince. No, it's more like a bolt of heat.
Is this how guys feel, when they're approached by pretty girls...?
Say something, dammit, she commands her stupid monkey brain. She can't afford to freeze up like some horny loser with no social skills!]
O-Oh, yeah, sure! Knock yourself out.
[Stepping off to the side, she gives him room to examine the heels. Which she'd honestly been considering, but there's no need to make a decision now. She could always come back to take another look later. In fact, there's no need for her to stick around at all.
But she just can't help herself. She doesn't wanna bother him, but she's curious. Even in Tokyo, it's not every day that you meet guys who are stylish and foreign (?) with icy stares and mysterious scars on their face. (Though obviously, she's not gonna ask where he got the scar. That'd be way too tactless!)]
[He nods when she sidesteps, acknowledging the gesture without actually thanking her. She seemed to like the shoes, he thinks, so he hopes that this isn't the last pair. Closer inspection shows that the material is a lot better than the ones he saw elsewhere. Velvet under his fingers, the pattern sewed on rather than printed. The heel is a little high, higher than the one he's wearing now, but it looked sharp enough to make a kick satisfying.
The price tag makes him frown, knowing he doesn't have the cash for it, but it couldn't hurt to try.
He was about to look around to find a saleslady when the girl spoke up. Honestly, he'd almost forgotten about her in that short moment, being too interested in the actual shoe, that it took a moment to digest the question.
Oh.]
No, it's for me.
[He says bluntly, lifting his heel and tapping it back on the floor, letting the stilettos speak for themselves. This one was getting a bit worn out, since it's his favorite pair, so he's looking for a new one.
[It's not like she's sheltered. Tokyo has all kinds of guys walking around: guys who are fashionable, guys who dye their hair and get piercings, guys who aren't afraid to wear pink. But she doesn't think she's ever seen a guy wear shoes like that before. Platform shoes or boots with a bit of heel, yeah, she's seen that. But stilettos?!
She's seriously mind-blown. If you'd asked her before whether or not it's a turn-on for guys to wear women's shoes, she would've said "Nah." But she isn't feeling turned off. Honestly, she's kind of impressed. It takes guts to wear something like that as a guy, and the shoes add to his mystery. And to top it all off, he looks surprisingly good wearing them, like so good she's almost jealous.
Even though they don't quite match the rest of his clothes.
She recovers from her shock, eyes traveling back up to the guy's face. His eyes are still watching her, which makes her cheeks feel hot. But it's now that she sees the truth: although his eyes are blue like ice, they aren't cold. Not really. He's not very expressive, but he doesn't look unfriendly. Heels or no heels... she can talk to him normally.]
Hmm... I'd say I'm pretty good.
[She's not a fashion expert, but she does browse magazines. And also the Internet.
With a curiosity that has yet to be satisfied, she asks him another question.]
Are you looking for something that'll match the clothes you're wearing now?
[The shock was expected. The easy recovery was pretty impressive though, given others might've started saying things. It wasn't really worth explaining the reason behind it, because simply put he just enjoyed it at the end of the day. He finds he likes that she just goes with it, and even asks him what he plans to match it with.
It's enough to keep him talking, just because he likes the ease of it.]
Something more flexible.
[He says instead, his eyebrows pinching as he thinks on it. It might come off a little like a glower though.]
I don't like owning too many shoes, but these were sturdy.
[At first she wonders if suddenly his mood grew sour, what with him frowning and all. But he doesn't sound irritated. So maybe he's just thinking really hard about shoe-shopping. He's a guy who takes fashion seriously, huh...]
So you want a pair that's built kinda like this pair...
[That's the conclusion she draws. He didn't answer her question about the new outfit, which makes her assume the answer is "no." She's a little disappointed about that since it would've been fun to play dress-up with him. But should she really be playing dress-up with a guy she just met when she already has a boyfriend...?
She doesn't know what the answer is. But whether it's right or wrong, she doesn't want to leave this guy alone. She wants to help him out, and she wants to learn more about him. The scar on his face, his fashion sense, his attitude—he's someone who exudes mystery, and it's impossible not to be curious.
So, instead of saying "Good luck with that" and leaving on her merry way, Haru turns back to the shoe selection, this time with his preferences in mind instead of her own. Stilettos, but "versatile," and made from a sturdy-looking material...]
[It was neither a yes or no, though affording clothes right now was out of his budget. Going shopping? A possibility, if there was time. Something to consider later, if he finds the right shoes. Luckily, she actually takes his preference into consideration, and he looks more at ease when she shows him the shoe.
It looked a bit more 'cute' than elegant, but he takes it anyway to inspect it, considering it. Compared to the straps of his own heels, this one was thicker. The bow wasn't a problem, but...]
Are there others?
[He isn't giving it back to her, at least, so he seems to like it enough.]
[She might've misinterpreted the question. But now she's crouching down further to look at the stack of boxes underneath the display.]
Looks like it's just black and white. The white ones look nice, too...
[And it seems like a good color for him, between his light-colored hair and his pale blue eyes. There are other white high-heeled sandals in boxes, too: a pair with a gold buckle, a pair with pearls...]
Wow, these look fancy.
[Though they might be too fancy for a guy. Or maybe not; before meeting the Mysterious Guy with a Burn Scar, she'd never once considered which heels would be best for a fashionable young man.]
[Sure, bright red heels or a nice lavender one would also be good, but if he's using it with different outfits, black or white seems like a better choice. Black moreso given what could spill on it.
The chunky heel doesn't do it for him, but he does take a closer look at the third pair she showed him. He has to go lower and lean towards her to see it, which might also mean she doesn't have much personal space left, but he seems more interested in the shoe than in her.]
This one looks nice.
[He admits, taking it from her to inspect further. It looks a little flimsy compared to the first one, which has him frowning, before he looks at her directly.]
[As soon as leans in, her heart rate instantly skyrockets. Woah! He doesn't seem conscious of their proximity at all, but she definitely is, and while he's examining the fancy shoe she can't help taking the opportunity to examine him.
From up close, his features are even more striking: that scar forever seared into his skin, that natural sunflower blond hair hanging over his head, those pale blue emerald eyes... although the scar remains the most noticeable thing and makes him look rugged and manly, it's still the eyes that intrigue her the most. The look in them is just so mysterious. She can't even guess what he's thinking. What sort of background does he come from? What sort of life does he live? And what kind of products does he use to make his hair fall like that? She's still so curious...
When he turns his gaze on her, she almost jumps. Caught in the act of staring, she does her best to wipe the thirst from her face and act natural. Right, he's only here to look at shoes. She can talk about shoes! Except...
What?]
Uh...
[Is that a real question? Does she look like she gets in fights? She might be a gal, but she's not a yanki or anything! She's gotten into arguments, sure, but not ones where anyone takes a swing at her.
... except for the time her mom found out what she'd been doing and slapped her across the face for her stupidity.
But she's not going to think about that right now. Not while talking to a hot guy in a trendy boutique.]
Um... [She taps a finger to her chin.] I'm not sure. But I guess if I was in trouble, I'd want something I could run in, so probably not the ones with a skinnier heel.
I guess the other problem might be that white shoes get dirty kinda easily? As a kid, I had these white ballet flats I really liked, but after a few months they were all scuffed-up, even though I was careful not to walk through puddles or anything...
[Not just dirt, but blood would also show up easily.
But this guy isn't vicious or anything, right? He wouldn't hurt people without a cause... right??]
[He is very vicious, he is also very docile, which is probably a strange contrast. Like an attack dog, mostly, trained for both. It doesn't matter at the moment, because he's not in a fight nor is he planning on kicking down anyone in their territory today, so he's extra docile in front of her.
Her surprise isn't unusual, but the way she describes her own story is interesting if only because he didn't expect it. Ballet flats... definitely wouldn't work for him, but he gets her point. That also makes him place back the white one, because it's no use wearing that then if they both agree on the same point.
At the question though...]
It's better you don't know. You're just being helpful, after all.
[So he doesn't want her to get in trouble because of him.]
[Goodbye, fancy white shoes with the pearls. Seeing him put them back is kinda disappointing when she would've liked to see him try them on. Not that she's into dudes' feet, or anything... but in the heels he's wearing, his feet looked surprisingly delicate for a man's...
...... her train of thought just keeps on getting weirder.
At his evasive response, she just kinda shrugs her shoulders. Of course, she should've expected that.]
If you tell me, I won't tattle on you. I don't even know your name, let alone where you go to school, you know?
[If he goes to school. It's possible he dropped out. Or maybe he's older, and he's already graduated. She honestly just doesn't know anything about him, which is kind of a bummer to think about. To her, he's a really memorable guy, but to him, she's just some girl in a shoe store he'll totally forget about.
But.]
But if you don't want to tell me, that's fine.
[She can't force a sense of closeness between them. If he doesn't want to talk, then that's that. Everyone's got secrets, after all, including her. And it makes sense that a guy with a huge burn scar would have stuff he doesn't wanna talk about.
Though she does hope the scar isn't related to the fighting. If someone did that to him on purpose... that's just too cruel.
But she shakes her head to herself, as though trying to clear away the dark thoughts. No more gloominess! They're here to look for shoes, after all. Taking on a cheerful tone of voice, she blurts out,]
Say, what's your favorite color? Uh, for shoes, I mean...
[He could tell her his favorite color in general. That works, too.]
[Probably. He isn't exactly thinking much about those things, but the brighter the color, the more he likes it. He doesn't know for shoes, but the one he's wearing was once a bright red. The color's faded over the years, and over constant use. While it hasn't broken down, it's definitely worn out. Snapping might be expected soon.
The fact that she was a random school girl might make her forgettable, but she is helping him without judgment, and for that alone he will probably remember her anyway. At least, talk about her to Koko, who would probably track her down, so sorry Haru.
Her earlier statement has him thinking, even as he reaches out for the same heels he just put back. He might actually like them a little more than he's admitting, especially when he inspects them.]
I'm Seishu. Inui Seishu.
[He starts, if only because she asked, rather than because he was being nice. He's not against answering questions, after all.]
I don't care about that. This is our territory, anyway.
[So even if she tattles, what would they do? Raid the store? He'll kick their ass for it.]
Do you need to go anywhere, or can I ask you to stay and help me a little longer?
[She hadn't expected that. But then, it makes sense, given his clothes. Although he doesn't have bright eyes or a "bright" personality, somehow, that kind of color seems like it would suit him.]
That sounds nice. I like bright colors, too.
[Though he doesn't really seem interested in talking about this. He seems kinda... distracted. Is he thinking about fights? To ask a question like that, she wonders what kind of delinquent lifestyle he leads. But then he reaches for the fancy shoes again and inspects them seriously, which causes her to blink. Okay... maybe she's misreading him. Rather than being a deep, brooding sort of guy...
Maybe he's just really spacey?
Either way, she's not expecting him to give his name, all while staring at the shoebox. So she's back to blinking stupidly again. And also—
That's his name? Isn't that kind of unusual? Or more like, it's impressive-sounding. Though it's kind of cute that it has "dog" in it, too. Given his hair, it makes her think of a shaggy dog with floppy ears. Maybe that's why she smiles.]
Seishu, huh...? My name's Haru. Koyama Haru.
[Which sounds totally boring compared to yours, but oh well. She's not insecure about it or anything. She's feeling pretty good at the moment, in fact; they're acting all chummy, he trusted her with his name—things are going great.
As a matter of fact, time doesn't stop, and Seishu continues chatting as though what he said was no big deal. And meanwhile she's just staring with a dopey smile plastered to her face.
Uhhhhhhhh.]
Uh—
[C'mon, answer him!]
... nope! I've got no plans after this.
[Which hopefully doesn't make her sound like a loser with no social life.]
So it's cool. I can help you find shoes. There's gotta be something here in bright purple. In fact, I think I saw a pair kinda like that a minute ago...
[And she proceeds to busy herself with going back to browsing. She can just ignore the gang affiliation. No biggie.]
[He perks up at that, eyes widening slightly in interest as he puts the shoe back once more. It was as though the mention of something closer to what he likes had put all thoughts out of his head, and he's focused on that one goal. Since Haru is not making any weird reactions, she either missed his implication or is acting extremely well to hide it. The fact that she isn't running off is enough for him to deem her trustworthy, at least with shoes.
That's a plus in his book.]
Where did you see it?
[All other shoes forgotten now, he waits patiently for her to lead the way, eager to see them.]
[Alright, cool, so he didn't notice her little slip-up. Phew.
Still, isn't it kinda weird that he said that so casually?? True, she is just some nobody, and she already said she won't be getting him in trouble, but it's a lot to drop on someone!
Maybe it isn't a lot to him, though. It's times like this when she remembers Tokyo is a big place. There are all sorts of people out there on the streets, and she has no clue what any of them are going through, or what kind of life they might be living. For every cafe she's sat in, and every store she's browsed, she never once considered whose "territory" it might be. She's done illegal things too, of course, but the two of them live in different worlds.
It's kinda easy to forget all that stuff when he's so single-mindedly absorbed in looking for shoes, though. Honestly, she's never met a guy so keen on shopping before. He must really like high heels. And there's something kinda interesting about that... isn't there? It definitely adds to his mystery.
Anyway,]
I think it was over there.
[Looking around the area, she scans over the different displays until she catches sight of the bright pair she was looking for: another pair of sandals, natch. Although...]
... I guess they're more pink than I remembered.
[They're kinda in between pink and purple, but they're definitely more on the pink side. Which means they're not what he said he was looking for. Still,]
They kinda match your outfit.
[Turning back to look at Inupi, she eyes the jacket and pants hanging off his thin frame (while trying not to get too distracted by his body itself, or his handsome face). They really are almost the same color as those shoes.]
[A few suits, some casual wear that was more fitting, but if he were to pick what to wear then his current outfit was more like his version of house clothes, or default casual. It was something he was comfortable in.
He doesn't complain about the color though, and seems pleased anyway even as he takes it from her with a nod, appraising it. The gems were a bit too much, but...
Yeah, here he's kicking his sandal off. The size is a bit too small, given they were women's shoes, but he's curious enough to check.]
I don't usually get to wear them. It's a day off, and K--- I just felt like looking around alone.
[He stops himself from revealing Koko's name. Anyone who was into the biker gangs of Tokyo would be able to connect Koko to the current Black Dragons. Though, anyone who knew Inupi's name would also be able to do that, but he's already told her so there's nothing he can do to take it back.]
[A guy who mostly wears pink and purple... she wasn't even sure that guys like that existed outside of idol groups, but it's cool. Of course, she doesn't want a boyfriend who's like, completely girly without any masculine charm. But a guy who's cool-looking and just happens to wear pink is fine in her book. After this, it's gonna be hard to go back to her boyfriend who just wears blues and blacks and browns all the time. But right now she's with a different guy, so there's no need to think about him.
... which sounds kiiiinda suspicious. But isn't cheating if you're just helping the guy look for shoes, right?? Right.
Unlike her boyfriend, who gets super fired up about things like his crappy garage band, this guy's pretty chill. He appraises the shoes super seriously and then takes them from her with nothing but a short nod. Except he doesn't just want a closer look—he also wants to try them on, or else he wouldn't be taking those heels off in the middle of the store (and revealing his still-kinda-delicate-looking feet in the process... again, not that she has a thing for feet!!). But before putting on the shoes, he starts talking again.
She stares, not sure what to make of his first words. He doesn't get to wear heels often? Well, she supposes that isn't surprising... it's not something a guy could get away with in a lot of environments. But he wanted to go shopping alone? Is that his not-so-subtle way of telling her to get lost? Her lips twist. Sorry I crashed your alone time.
But before she can actually make that apology,]
... huh?
[Her eyes blink. Did she hear that right?]
You want me to model them?
[She seriously didn't see that one coming. He's been paying way more attention to the shoes than to her (not that she's salty about it, or anything...) so she didn't expect to be asked that. But then again, the reason he did ask is probably just because he's interested in the shoes and probably has nothing to do with her.]
We're not gonna be the same size, but... I guess I could try them on.
[Though if I look so great, why wasn't I invited to the orgy, huh? That's still what she's thinking in the back of her mind. Not that she was dying to participate, or anything... eating Pocky with Lupe-chan was actually more enjoyable than that probably would've been. (Although he did seem skilled.) But it's the principle of the thing!
Uh, but speaking of Lupe-chan...]
She said she'd be out in just a sec. But then the Madame asked her to help with something...
[Which kinda makes her wonder how long they should wait. Troy seems nice and all, but it's probably not a good idea to keep him waiting around too long, considering he's doing them a favor, and he's supposed to be their savior or whatever...
Her train of thought grinds to a halt when he reaches out for the bouquet. She hadn't expected him to offer to carry it for her...]
Erm... thanks.
[It shouldn't be a big deal. But she just gets flustered around people who do her favors. And with this guy in particular, it's like she's still not sure what to make of him. She wants to leave a good impression, since he's her ticket back to her world. Although... honestly, she's not completely sure how she feels about the idea of going back there. After everything that's happened, and after a whole year has passed, it's hard to believe she could just go back to her old life. She's not even sure that's possible for her. And it's that thought that kept her up late, intruding on her beauty sleep last night.
But for now she isn't boarding any spaceships or hopping to any new world(s). She's just going to see her friend. Her poor, overly-trusting friend.
And apparently she gets to make the trip in a big, flashy car.
The second the vehicle comes into view, Haru's eyes bulge outta their sockets. She's so deprived of technology here that she would've had that kind of reaction no matter what kind of car it was, honestly. But this car? This sleek car made of glass, which apparently has a self-driving feature?! This car completely knocks her socks off.]
Woah...
[When the doors open, she just stands there for a second. It's obvious what she's meant to do, but she can't stop staring! It takes some serious effort just to force herself to respond normally.]
Um—sexy or not, I think it looks cool. And where I come from, self-driving cars haven't really been invented yet, although there are plans for them. So that part's really cool.
[She sounds like an idiot. She can't just keep saying "cool" over and over again. But it's not like she knows anything about cars... That's more of a manly interest, isn't it?
Sorry, Lupe-chan. It looks like she will be going with the Madame. Because at this rate, Haru's gonna take off without her. She walks around to the passenger's seat, gearing up for the most exciting car ride of her life. Because it's not every day that you get chauffeured around by the handsome and mysterious savior of your whole world.]
You said cool twice. Now you got to say it a third time.
[ He points out to tease her a little, getting on the driver's seat and putting away the bouquet of flowers behind him. The seats even turn, apparently. There's no steering wheel, and the whole dashboard is a big display. Troy gestures for her to take a seat before the car doors close on their own. Troy commands the car's AI to take them to the hospital once they're both settled in, causing the vehicle to move slowly through the narrow streets ]
I can have someone pick up the others later, no problem.
[ He adds, letting Haru enjoy something she probably took for granted when she was in Japan. Once they leave the gates of the city, the car starts picking up speed - going zero to sixty in seconds. Troy sits up as a folded steering wheel pops from underneath the dashboard. He takes control of the vehicle and lowers the windows with a flick of a switch, and even the roof starts to retract, turning the car into a convertible. ]
Figured the fresh morning air is better than the AC. Anyway, been outside of the city much? Thought maybe you can take pictures of places you've seen now that you have a chauffer to drive you around. Don't you just feel fancy?
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no subject
Soon enough, people's questions are answered. Instead of an invading force, they're surprised by a peaceful arrival of strangers not of this world. Flags that bore the proud insignia of this nation are lowered and removed as people are gathering at the town square, meeting the strangers from another world who have all come bearing gifts. Food and supplies are handed out to the locals, as well as offers of medical care as these people - soldiers in technological armor, riding on modern vehicles - set up and claim this city as under their protection. Roaring of fighter jets and rumbling of helicopters can be heard around the city, and soldiers patrol the streets and build friendly relationships with the local inhabitants. But all of them seem to answer to one man. A tall and imposing figure in black armor, with golden shoulder plates that signify his rank. His soldiers refer to him "Commander", as he makes sure everything runs smoothly.
Making an impression with the locals, Troy lets his soldiers enjoy the city among themselves or with the locals. He makes sure they treat them all properly, though, as both a strategic move to endear the locals to them and also because that's just how he likes it. Troy has been kind and reasonable with the locals, even the Madam of Blue Cat Nocturne. They had an interesting talk, with Troy putting on the charm on her too and getting him to show that he's capable of relaxing. When things have been settled, Troy eventually did take the Madam's offer. He went to the brothel and slept with a lot of the girls who seem more his type, all of them - at once. Even the Madam had to step in. It left Haru and Lupe out to just hang out, with Troy eventually exhausting his partners before it was even midnight.
This is the only time he can be approached by Haru as he was always busy and surrounded by others. Troy strolls around the staff dining area after a quick rinse, wearing some relaxed clothes and not his armor for once and spots Haru in there. Troy brought some snacks to offer for the girls, and it seems like Haru has gotten into them. They're all packaged snacks from Earth, from chocolate bars and chips. There's even some Japanese ones there, which no doubt would get Haru's attention. ]
Oh you like those? We brought loads of 'em along.
[ Snacks have been a good way to essentially bribe locals - especially children. But some of his soldiers indulge in it too. Troy helps himself with some water as he speaks. Even outside of his armor, Troy is tall and broad, so the mug looks small in his hand. ]
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Up until his arrival, things were going great. Business was booming. The mood inside the tavern was cheerful and boisterous, full of talk and laughter. Even the most troublesome customers were on their best behavior when soldiers were around. And not only that, but the soldiers were actually good in bed. Gentle yet passionate, toned and fit, with tons of stamina to spare. Haru seriously had no complaints.
But then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. The first discordant note was Commander Bisque's smile: Haru realized it didn't reach his eyes. After feeling his hand on her thigh beneath the table, she started to suspect Shequraso's military boyfriend was less-than-faithful. At the same time, the soldiers were talking about how some new guy was being sent to take over the army: some big bad hectosquad commander. A hardass known for whipping his men into shape. And sure enough, when he walked in the door the very next day, the entire tavern went dead silent. Even his outward appearance was terrifying. One look at his twisted smile, and Haru knew just what kind of man he was.
The soldiers changed, under his command. They stopped smiling, unless they were having a cruel laugh at someone's expense, and lost all interest in talking. In bed, they treated the girls like tools. No more gentle lovers' sex; they'd all turned rough and violent. But it wasn't just their behavior that changed. During sex, Haru noticed all sorts of scars covering their bodies.
No one to dared to shit-talk the army while the Centurion was around to hear. But in the streets, Haru started to overhear mutterings. Something was demolishing the army. Soldiers were disappearing into the forest and being found slaughtered in record numbers. Which in this world could only mean one thing: it must be the work of the Demon Lord.
Things took a turn for the even-worse when the soldiers left to go on some big mission. The commander asked to borrow Shequraso; apparently, she was going to sing for them to boost morale or something. It sounded a little suspect. Haru had never heard of an army having a personal idol-girl. But her friend's singing voice was totally stunning, so she could buy it. Besides, Shequraso's boyfriend was squad captain. Surely he'd protect her, right? Even though he put his hand up Haru's skirt just the other day?
Shequraso left. Haru bid her goodbye and went back to work. One day passed, and she started to miss her friend's singing. Two days passed, and she started to wonder if her friend had brought enough clothes and personal items. Three days passed... and she'd grown anxious. Then four days passed, and her anxiety turned to dread. She started to suspect the worst: that Shequraso was being used by all those men for more than just her singing.
By the morning of the fifth day, she was getting ready to venture out to the barracks and check on Shequraso herself. She was ready to save her friend, if need be. Even if that meant offering herself up in the other girl's place, she'd do it. But as soon as she stepped into the street, she heard news that stopped her in her tracks.
"No way! The entire squad?!"
Apparently, whatever was lurking in the forest had decimated the military, including the squad stationed in her city. Commander Buffness, Commander Bisque, every single soldier she'd ever served a drink or slept with—they were all dead. Every last one. For a second she actually felt sorry for them.
But then she arrived at the deserted military barrack. She searched the premises until she found her friend, and what she saw enraged her like nothing before. There was her Shequraso, cowering on the floor of a filthy room, with messy hair, dirty clothes, and marks all over her skin. When she saw Haru, she crawled over and cried.
Haru was furious. If the soldiers who'd done all that had been around, she seriously could've killed them. But instead they were all gone, and she had no one to vent her anger on. Feeling sick to her stomach, she stole a horse and carried her friend off to the nearest hospital.
So that was how things ended with the military. Goodbye, Short Hair, and your amazing stamina. Goodbye, Fluffy Hair, and your new buzzcut. Goodbye, Shequraso's Shitty Boyfriend. I hope you rot in hell.
The next few days were quiet. The mood at work was gloomy, like someone had just died (which made sense because a lot of people did die) and there wasn't much business. Not only were all the soldiers dead, but practically every adventurer who'd gone into the forest recently had also died. Without soldiers or adventurers, who the hell were they supposed to cater to? Bards?
So Haru had a super-slow week at work, and then, all of a sudden, there was this big city-wide announcement. Haru left the pub along with the others to go see what was going on, and that's when things got super weird. Because when she looked up at the sky, she saw fighter jets. So much for this world having no modern technology!
Basically, what happened was that the thing in the forest killing all the soldiers wasn't the Demon Lord after all. Instead they'd gotten taken down by another army, with way better fighting skills and high-tech equipment. In other words, this world had been invaded, and now the city had been claimed by some dudes from another world. A more modern world, like the one she was from. Wild.
Things could've gone really, really bad from there, but it turned out the invaders were a peaceful sort, at least now that they'd taken over. They were giving all these gifts to people, and wanted the citizens to like them, even though they just wiped out their whole army. Some people had lost their sons, fathers, brothers or boyfriends in that war, so their nice-guy approach wasn't bound to work on everyone. But to Haru, who'd seen firsthand how crappy the military could be? She was all for it. Thank you, officers!
Not only that, but if the invaders were from a more modern world like her own... maybe she could even figure out how to get back home.
Now that the city had been seized, there was a new Commander in town. At first, Haru only saw him from a distance, but he had a handsome face and wore gaudy-looking armor, like something out of a movie. After all she's been through, she didn't automatically trust the guy. She knew by now that men could smile at women one moment and turn violent the next. But she didn't not trust him, either. She wanted to meet him for herself—not because she cared a lot about politics or whatever, but because she wanted to know more about this "other world" he came from. So, she started hatching a scheme to meet Mr. Gold Shoulder Plates.
Turns out, she didn't need any schemes. Because the very next day, the guy came to visit the brothel. Haru and the other girls crowded around a window, watching him chat with the Madame outside. For a second, she wondered if they were in legal trouble. Since the new government came from a more modern world, they might oppose prostitution. Was she going to have to make a run for it to avoid ending up in the slammer? Peering outside the window, she waited to see what would happen next. And the answer was...
No, of course they weren't in trouble. Sex work wasn't suddenly illegal now. Old government, new government, gold shoulder plates or black shoulder plates, it didn't make a difference. All men love to fuck. And the Commander was no exception. Haru watched in amazement as Mr. Gold Shoulder Plates went straight for some freaky group sex. Even the Madame joined in! And they didn't bother to get a room, they just did it right in the pub. There were hardly any customers left anyway, so she guessed it didn't matter...
It's not like she was dying to sleep with him, but it did kind of hurt that she wasn't hot enough to get invited to the orgy. Like, really, my gorgeous ass isn't enough for you? After spending some time voyeuring, she and Lupe wandered into the kitchen for a snack. And that's when she discovered the mountain of sweets this guy had brought with him.
She and Lupe both oohed and ahhed when they saw it. This world didn't have a lot of girly food like this; all the food here was designed to appeal to men. A mountain of sweets would have thrilled her under any circumstances. But these weren't just any ordinary sweets; these were packaged goods, and some of them were even brand names she recognized.]
No way! Pocky?!
[She reaches for the box with a gasp, holding it up like a precious treasure. (Even though it's cheap, mass-produced, and wasn't even her favorite snack in the before-life.) Meanwhile, Lupe tilts her head. "You recognize this stuff?"
Haru will answer her in a minute. First, she's gotta stuff her face. That's when she sees him. He speaks up, and she raises her head, with three sticks of pocky crushed between her teeth in a not-so-ladylike fashion.
He looks less impressive without the gold shoulder plates. But up close, he's even more handsome. Her heart thumps as she realizes this is her chance to learn more about the other world, and she chews what's in her mouth as fast as possible.]
Yeah? Well, thanks...
[Now for a pause. Damn, how does she introduce herself to someone who just slept with all her co-workers right in front of her face?
Pretty easily, as it turns out. She's good at giving men a smile.]
I'm Haru. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir.
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[ He lifts a hand, addressing both Haru and Lupe with a glance of his eyes and a small smile of his lips. He is aware that it will take time for wounds to heal and scars to fade. This wasn't his first world-hop after all, and he's seen the many ways people can react to their actions. But every step towards the right direction is a good one, even the small ones like calling him by his name. ]
Guess I should also let you two know in case you weren't told earlier, your friend Shequraso is in our custody. We took her to our hospital where she's being taken good care of. You can visit her tomorrow if you want.
[ He figured that saying that would at least give them some ease. It's late in the night now to go visit at this instant, and Shequraso is no doubt asleep after being put under. ]
And get more snacks to bring back here.
[ Troy takes another sip of water, letting them decide on what to do and how early they want to see their friend, but to also just relax. ]
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Her smile slips and her expression sobers at the mention of Shequraso. Haru's been doing her best not to think about her friend. All the recent changes have distracted her. But whenever she remembers the state Shequraso was left in, her blood starts to boil. For the first time in her life, she gets the urge to kill. And she could've done it, too, thanks to all the powers she gained from sleeping with the military.
But that's just hypothetical. The army was slaughtered, anyway. And if they hadn't been, and Shequraso's torment had continued, who knows what would've happened? She could've suffered worse injuries. She could've died.
That's why Haru has to be grateful. Regardless of what changes the new order brings, and even regardless of whether or not her own life improves... she's just glad this guy stepped in at the right time.]
Ah, yeah, I heard she transferred hospitals... With your technology, she should be in good hands.
[She'd felt a twinge of unease when she first heard the news. Leaving Shequraso alone in some strangers' custody after what just happened... it felt a little scary. But the Madame vouched for her safety, as did Kiyori. Haru just has to trust them; she has no other choice. So.
Standing in front of Troy, she bows her head deeply. And Lupe, feeling just as much gratitude, does the same.]
Thank you for taking care of her.
[Really, she means it. From the bottom of her heart. Tomorrow she'll go and visit. She can even bring some snacks. And speaking of snacks...
Haru lifts her head, now looking curious.]
Are you guys going to be selling this stuff now...? I mean, are shops going to be selling it?
[She'd thought that maybe the army just brought these snacks as gifts. But with a new government in charge, it wouldn't be surprising if stuff like food and agriculture received a total overhaul. Maybe this new world will change to be more like the modern world...? In which case... she'll probably have a better life here.
Though she's still curious about the prospect of traveling between worlds.]
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Nah, they're gifts, 'sides I don't think the local currency is really gonna be worth much back in our world. We've moved on from coins and paper a long time ago.
[ Most transactions are digital where he's from. Even credit cards are outdated. But that doesn't mean more people from his world aren't gonna start rolling in to mine the world of natural resources. ]
You two must be curious about all of this, hm?
[ He takes another sip of water, gently laying his cup on the table as his relaxed gaze eyes both Haru and Lupe like friends. He waggles his brows with playful confidence, opening the floor for their questions ]
I don't sleep like normal people do so I got time to kill.
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The natural thing to do is sit down again, too, so that's what she and Lupe do. While Lupe opens a package of Pocky for herself, eyeing the wrapper curiously, Haru raises both eyebrows at Troy's next words. Wait.]
You don't use coins?
[It's a shock. Even in Tokyo, people used coins and paper money to pay for things. Of course, there were also things like credit cards and online shopping that don't exist in this world. But to think there might be a world where paper money doesn't exist at all is kind of...]
Do you use, um, electronic payments?
[She almost said online payments, but catches herself at the last second. He might not know what "online" is. Pocky and fighter jets came before the Internet, after all. But then again, the packaging on this Pocky looks modern, and they even have some pretty obscure flavors...
Yeah. "Curious" is right. It's a good thing he's a night owl, because she wants to bombard him with questions.]
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[ He answers with a pause and raised brows, tilting his head and focusing more of his attention to Haru. He puts his cup down and shifts his weight to face her more, brows furrowing with a curious gaze ]
How did you know about that?
[ He looks to Lupe as well, wondering if his hunch involves her too, but his focus quickly drifts back to Haru. ]
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She could just tell the truth. The Madame didn't believe her story about coming from another world, so Haru kinda just gave up on ever telling anyone. But if this guy and his army come from another world themselves, surely they'd believe her. Maybe she could finally talk honestly for the first time since coming here.
But is now really the best time for this...? Should she really be coming clean about her whole unbelievable-sounding life story right now? In front of Lupe-chan?
Lupe, for her part, isn't helpful. She simply shrugs and gives Troy a Look, as though to say "Don't look at me." And then she opens her mouth and says this: "Haru's always talking about stuff we've never heard about." At which point Haru grits her teeth. Wow, thanks for selling me out!
Fighting back a grimace, Haru waves a hand, affecting an innocent tone and attempting to smooth things over with a smile.]
Well, um... all your modern inventions are made using electrical or mechanical engineering, right...? I just remember hearing about that downtown, when everyone was talking about the invaders and all the new technology they have... So I guess it was a lucky guess.
[Ahahah. Yeah, that'll convince him.]
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You're from Earth.
[ He has a good idea why Haru is behaving this way now, understanding it maybe awkward to talk about, so his voice remains calm throughout it, leaving his body language at ease and his gaze soft. But to ease the heat of the spotlight off of Haru, he adds: ]
So am I, and everyone else in my company.
[ This is big news even to someone who isn't surprised by this concept. Someone from his home is trapped here, and it makes his protective tendencies just surface more. Shequraso's predicament and the fact that this is a brothel in a world where women are treated as second class citizens, made it flare up more so. Troy feels his fingers brush over his stubbled chin, in thought ]
How long?
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There's no worming her way out of this one. Haru's heart sinks while Lupe repeats "Earth?" in a quizzical tone. It takes her friend a moment to put two and two together, but soon she's asking the inevitable.
"You're from a different world?"
She sounds both shocked and incredulous, like she can't quite believe it, and Haru can't blame her one bit. The idea of someone traveling to this shitty world, only to become a prostitute, must sound completely absurd. And Haru never said one world about it, only claiming to be from the boonies. This whole entire time, she's basically been lying to everyone. But now the jig is up. Time to face the music.
Haru loses the awkward smile and forces down a grimace. She faces Troy with a serious expression. Though deep down, she's still kinda glad to have met someone from her world, she wishes they could've had this conversation in private.]
About a year.
[She turned eighteen in this world. And she's not the only one who did so.]
There's another person like me, too. He came here with me. But we didn't come in a spaceship or anything. It was kind of by accident...
[No doubt he'll expect her to elaborate in a minute. Which she's fine doing. But first, she's got something important to do: turn and face Lupe. The other girl still looks totally taken aback; no doubt this will change things between them. Haru takes a deep breath and says what's necessary.]
I tried to tell the Madame once, but she didn't believe me. I assumed the same thing would happen if I tried to tell anyone else, so I kept my mouth shut. It was just easier not to talk about it. But I never meant to deceive you guys... I'm sorry.
[And with that, she bows her head, asking forgiveness.
For a long moment, Lupe just gapes at her from underneath her fluffy bangs. But then, she speaks. "Um, you don't have to bow. I'm not mad at you or anything. I'm just surprised." More like she's really surprised. But, tentatively, she reaches a hand out, patting Haru's shoulder, which causes Haru to lift her head again and bashfully smile. Yay, friendship?]
Sorry. Holidays.
Troy takes the news as well as he can, still having that stoic seriousness that he nods away with an empathic look ]
There's nothing to apologize for. You did what anyone would.
[ He lets Haru and Lupe have a moment. His tone shifts from friendly to more business-like ]
Do you know where the other one - the boy - is?
[ He feels it's a long shot, especially with no way of communicating with each other from the lack of phones or similar devices. But Troy's afraid that Chiba might have been one of the casualties. It will be next to impossible to know from the sheer amount of firepower the armies were subjected to but, Troy hopes Chiba is one of those who refused to help the army. ]
no worries (+happy new year!)
I'm not sure... he used to come here a lot, but he hasn't been back recently. We sort of had a fight.
["Fight" isn't really the best word for it. "Fight" makes things sound equal, but it's more like he started saying all this shitty stuff to her, and she'd finally had enough. She even told him, while wiping cum off her face, "Don't ever come here again."]
I could ask his girlfriend, but I'm pretty sure she was on the verge of dumping him, plus she's had all these injured people to deal with since she's a Sister, so she might not know where he is, either. I'm pretty sure he isn't dead, though. He's not in the military, and he has a pretty good cheat skill, so he'd be difficult to kill.
[She's thought about it. The idea did cross her mind. Which worried her a little bit, because even after everything, she wouldn't want him to be dead. But if he is dead, she'd be seriously shocked.]
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He sounds like an... interesting person. "Cheat skill" or not.
[ Having a fight with someone is one thing, but having a girl be on the verge of dumping that same person is also another. He doesn't want to jump to conclusions but in his experience with sordid love affairs, he feels like Chiba is a type of guy that even he won't get along with.
With that, he stands up. ]
You can give me his name, and I'll have one of my people look for him. It's late, you two should get as much rest as you can so we can visit the hospital tomorrow.
[ He's probably gonna stay up a little later. He and some of the helpers carried the other girls to their respective rooms already, a lot of them still passed out from the fun time with this newcomer. ]
I'll be around if you need anything, good?
[ Meanwhile, Chiba is indeed still alive and is being bullied by Troy's companion Sofia, who can easily negate his cheat skill with one of her own. He is afraid this will happen, Sofia's a bit of a maverick.
Regardless, he'll wait for them in the morning, before a full sunrise. Light is still barely peeking out from the horizon, and the cold night fog is still hanging in the air. He's still in some relaxed casual clothes, waiting by the door for their ride. ]
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["Interesting" is one way to put it. She wonders if Troy's ever met any otaku back on Earth. She's also not so sure Chiba will want to be tracked down, since he seems to be enjoying his new life better than his old one. But as long as Troy's not going to kill him or anything, Haru doesn't have any qualms about tattling on him. Not after he treated her like crap last time.
(She also doesn't remember his real name. Whenever he's tried to tell her, she always plugs her ears. But that doesn't matter, either. Down by the arena, he's known as "Endless Crimson Rain." That should be enough to go on.)
In response to Troy standing up, Haru slides out of her own chair automatically. He won't have to endure any more bowing, though, from either her or Lupe-chan; just some slightly-awkward waving as he bids them goodbye.]
Oh, um... yeah, we're good. Thanks.
[So there he goes. Haru's left watching his manly backside retreat. She's been given a lot to think about, and the reminder of Shequraso, still hospitalized, makes the mood feel a little heavier. But before she can think too deeply about Chiba, or about the implications of someone from her world taking over (or before she can go back to eating her Pocky)... she realizes Lupe-chan must have a lot of questions. Turning to Lupe, she asks, "Wanna go upstairs?" and Lupe says "Alright," so then the two of them head up with some stolen candy.
They talk late into the night, Haru explaining as much about her home world as she can, though it's kinda difficult to explain modern-day Tokyo to someone who grew up in such a medieval setting. Still, she does her best. She even shares some stuff that she's never shared with anyone else before, like what happened in middle school, because she figures Lupe would understand. That part makes her a little nervous, but at the end of it all, when she has nothing left to get off her chest, she realizes how good it feels to be totally honest with someone. So, maybe it was for the best that Mr. Gold Shoulder Plates saw right through her.
While going to bed (and feeling kinda sick thanks to all the candy she just ate), Haru thinks some more about Troy. He's got a handsome face, a nice body, he brought her Pocky, and now she knows he's from the same world as her. Can he be trusted? How are things going to change with him in charge? She doesn't know the answers yet... but she wants to believe things will get better. At the very least, those guys who hurt Shequraso are gone, so hopefully things won't get worse.
The next morning, Haru's one of the first people up. Despite her stomachache, she managed to sleep pretty well. It probably helps that she wasn't drinking last night and didn't participate in any marathon orgies or anything. After fixing breakfast, washing some dishes, brushing her teeth and fixing her hair, she's out the door, wearing a cloak over her ruffled red dress.
Most of the others are still eating breakfast or getting washed up. Not everyone's visiting Shequraso—some of them weren't that close to her, or else they're simply too tired. Others might be too upset. But several other girls said they're going, and of course, so did Lupe-chan. The ones who aren't going pitched in to get a bouquet of flowers for her, which Haru's been entrusted with carrying. She leaves the door with the bundle held to her chest, hood pulled over her head.
Spotting Troy, she spends a moment eyeing him. No gold shoulder plates this time... he looks like a pretty normal guy. Though he also looks undeniably modern, compared to the other men in this world. Somehow she still feels a little awkward around him, but she raises her hand up to greet him nevertheless.]
Good morning~
Still alive.
Right back at you. You're looking great for someone who probably barely slept.
[ Well, Haru looks great in general, he admits. A car peeks out of the end of the road, just as he takes a glance around her. ]
No Lupe?
[ He asks, reaching out with his big arms to carry the bouquet himself. The other girls are accounted for and would probably go later with the madam, but since Haru and Lupe were spared from his unquenchable thirst last night, he just wondered about the other girl. Lupe is cute too, and he won't deny wanting to see more of her. Still, the vehicle arrives with no driver. It went at a relaxed pace, and the quiet streets made it easy for the autopilot feature to navigate the town just fine. The car stops, looking a little futuristic off-road vehicle with a lot of glass, and Troy nods toward it to invite Haru to get in, adding with a chuckle as the doors open ]
Would have loved to see her reaction to a car. Sure it's not the sexiest car, but still.
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She's got birthday cash.
It's kind of a big deal. Her parents did reinstate her allowance a few weeks into the school year, granted, once they saw that she was making friends who were asking her to do things like grab a Fr*ppucinno at St*rbucks and split the bill for karaoke. They hadn't forgiven her for her mistakes, exactly, but more than anything, they were concerned about her fitting in at her new school. So when they saw that she was fitting in, and that she'd even become one of the popular girls, they wanted to encourage it. But they weren't handing her a ton of cash. Just enough to pay for some small expenses after school. It was enough to buy some make-up, some music on iT*nes, and some fancy seasonal drinks, but it wasn't enough to go on a shopping spree or keep on top of the latest trends.
Things worked out anyway, because as a JK, she has to wear her school uniform most of the time, anyway. So long as she had a couple of stylish outfits for weekend outings, she should be all set. But she hasn't been shopping for new clothes since middle school, and honestly, she totally misses it. She's wasted tons of hours scrolling through fashion blogs and thumbing through magazines with a yearning sigh trapped in her throat. Living in Tokyo, she sees all kinds of cute boutiques, and every time she tells herself that when she has some more cash, she's totally stopping by for a visit.
But now, she's sweet sixteen, and now, she's got birthday cash. Her parents didn't really know what to get her, since like most boomers, they don't keep up with modern fashion trends. And that means one thing: time to go shopping.
Ideally, she would've liked to go with someone, if only because shopping alone makes her look kind of lame. But she already saw all her friends on her birthday, as well as her boyfriend (who doesn't know a thing about girls' fashion, anyway). And her older sister said she'd love to take her, but something came up with her new boyfriend and she cancelled at the last minute. Typical. Haru would complain, but she's mostly just glad her sister seems to have found a nice guy this time, instead of the total douchebag she was dating before.
So, that's where she's at: strolling through the city alone, popping into random stores, and fending off the occasional guy who tries to nanpa her with some shitty pick-up line. Though it might not be smart for a schoolgirl to travel alone, she kinda likes shopping by herself. There's nobody to rush her, nobody to make her wait forever while they try stuff on in the dressing room or try to decide what to buy. And being surrounded by fashionable clothes and accessories (even though a lot of them are still way out of her price range) is truly bliss. Living in Tokyo is seriously the greatest.
Now, shoes aren't high on the list of things she's looking for. A killer pair of boots or a cute pair of ballet flats can totally make an outfit, but good shoes are kind of expensive, and they're less likely to be noticed than a cute skirt of a really cool jacket. But while she's aimlessly wandering one boutique, she finds herself in the shoe section, and figures she might as well take a look. There are some seriously high heels on display, including spiked heels and stilettos. Honestly, she's not even sure she could walk in some of these. But she sees some nice pairs with a chunkier heel, and wonders if maybe it might be worth investing in something like this. She's kinda short, and the doctor told her she's probably done growing. A good pair of heels would make her legs look longer and more shapely, too. Maybe it's worth trying some on? But just as she's starting to consider a red pair with flowers embroidered into the fabric...
Someone catches her eye.
It's a guy. Which is sort of noteworthy all on its own, since she hasn't seen that many guys out shopping in boutiques today. But it's his appearance that grabs her attention and refuses to let go. He has blond hair, but not the bottle-blond kind—the kind that looks natural. He's tall and skinny, with bright pink, loose-fitting clothes—also an attention-grabber, cause most guys totally refuse to wear pink. Even in Tokyo, he stands out. But it's his face that really gets her. He's got piercing blue eyes, as cold as ice. And when he turns his head, she can see that he's got something covering the left side of his face. Something like a scar. A burn scar.
Honestly, she's speechless. As a Tokyoite, she has tons of practice minding her own business and ignoring people who look weird. But this guy isn't just weird-looking, he's captivating. He's got this cool aura surrounding him, which makes him totally impossible to look away from. And she's so busy
thirsting atlooking at his face, she doesn't even notice the weirdest thing he's got going on.His shoes.
As he starts looking at the pairs of shoes nearby, she quickly turns her head away, not wanting to be caught staring. The tips of her ears feel hot. Aren't these all women's shoes? Is this guy shopping for his girlfriend...? A cool-looking guy like that probably does have a girlfriend. She's just a little surprised, since he didn't look like the emotional type, and he gives off this really cold aura. But of course, for a certain type of girl, that just makes him even dreamier...
She's so wrapped up in her own rambling thoughts that she barely notices when he speaks. Picking up on his voice in the periphery of her hearing, she turns her head again, coming face-to-face with those cool blue eyes. A cooler shade of blue than any color contacts could provide.
He's looking at her expectantly. Which means... wait. He's talking to her, isn't he?]
Uh...
[Crap. She was so distracted by his looks she didn't hear a thing he said! All she can offer him is a nervous, flustered smile.]
Sorry, what was that?
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The shop he happens upon isn't his usual spot. Not that he has one, not when even the heels he has are stolen from his mother's closet. Not that she'd notice, if she even realized he came home at all sometimes. Still, he had entered because a pair of pink heels caught his attention, and despite catching the surprise of others, he figured he could take a look at least.
The heels turned out to not be to his taste, upon closer inspection. The design too flowery, the material too stiff, and the heel itself didn't even look nice. After that, he just started to check around, see if anything catches his attention.
A prickling sensation at the back of his neck alerts him. At first, he thought she was someone else, a guy trying to pick a fight with him. It wouldn't be the first time, not with his lifestyle, and he would probably enjoy a fight right now. However, when he turns to look for where that intense gaze is coming from, he sees no one except a girl whose face looks redder than the shoes she had in hand.
Huh.
Those actually looked nice.
Which is why he had approached her, mostly because of the shoes. His voice was quiet on a regular basis, but when she fails to hear him the first time, he decides to pick up his volume. The nervous look was probably because of his expression. It wouldn't be the first time someone looked like they wanted to run from him.]
Can I take a look at those?
[He gestures to the shoes, looking straight at her.]
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Is this how guys feel, when they're approached by pretty girls...?
Say something, dammit, she commands her stupid monkey brain. She can't afford to freeze up like some horny loser with no social skills!]
O-Oh, yeah, sure! Knock yourself out.
[Stepping off to the side, she gives him room to examine the heels. Which she'd honestly been considering, but there's no need to make a decision now. She could always come back to take another look later. In fact, there's no need for her to stick around at all.
But she just can't help herself. She doesn't wanna bother him, but she's curious. Even in Tokyo, it's not every day that you meet guys who are stylish and foreign (?) with icy stares and mysterious scars on their face. (Though obviously, she's not gonna ask where he got the scar. That'd be way too tactless!)]
Looking for a present for someone...?
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The price tag makes him frown, knowing he doesn't have the cash for it, but it couldn't hurt to try.
He was about to look around to find a saleslady when the girl spoke up. Honestly, he'd almost forgotten about her in that short moment, being too interested in the actual shoe, that it took a moment to digest the question.
Oh.]
No, it's for me.
[He says bluntly, lifting his heel and tapping it back on the floor, letting the stilettos speak for themselves. This one was getting a bit worn out, since it's his favorite pair, so he's looking for a new one.
... Actually, she might be useful.]
Are you good at matching outfits?
1/3
Oh yeah? Well, in that case—
2/3
3/3
She's seriously mind-blown. If you'd asked her before whether or not it's a turn-on for guys to wear women's shoes, she would've said "Nah." But she isn't feeling turned off. Honestly, she's kind of impressed. It takes guts to wear something like that as a guy, and the shoes add to his mystery. And to top it all off, he looks surprisingly good wearing them, like so good she's almost jealous.
Even though they don't quite match the rest of his clothes.
She recovers from her shock, eyes traveling back up to the guy's face. His eyes are still watching her, which makes her cheeks feel hot. But it's now that she sees the truth: although his eyes are blue like ice, they aren't cold. Not really. He's not very expressive, but he doesn't look unfriendly. Heels or no heels... she can talk to him normally.]
Hmm... I'd say I'm pretty good.
[She's not a fashion expert, but she does browse magazines. And also the Internet.
With a curiosity that has yet to be satisfied, she asks him another question.]
Are you looking for something that'll match the clothes you're wearing now?
[All that pink...]
Or were you going to buy a whole new outfit?
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It's enough to keep him talking, just because he likes the ease of it.]
Something more flexible.
[He says instead, his eyebrows pinching as he thinks on it. It might come off a little like a glower though.]
I don't like owning too many shoes, but these were sturdy.
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So you want a pair that's built kinda like this pair...
[That's the conclusion she draws. He didn't answer her question about the new outfit, which makes her assume the answer is "no." She's a little disappointed about that since it would've been fun to play dress-up with him. But should she really be playing dress-up with a guy she just met when she already has a boyfriend...?
She doesn't know what the answer is. But whether it's right or wrong, she doesn't want to leave this guy alone. She wants to help him out, and she wants to learn more about him. The scar on his face, his fashion sense, his attitude—he's someone who exudes mystery, and it's impossible not to be curious.
So, instead of saying "Good luck with that" and leaving on her merry way, Haru turns back to the shoe selection, this time with his preferences in mind instead of her own. Stilettos, but "versatile," and made from a sturdy-looking material...]
Those are kinda cool, aren't they?
[Though the bow might be a little much.]
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It looked a bit more 'cute' than elegant, but he takes it anyway to inspect it, considering it. Compared to the straps of his own heels, this one was thicker. The bow wasn't a problem, but...]
Are there others?
[He isn't giving it back to her, at least, so he seems to like it enough.]
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[She might've misinterpreted the question. But now she's crouching down further to look at the stack of boxes underneath the display.]
Looks like it's just black and white. The white ones look nice, too...
[And it seems like a good color for him, between his light-colored hair and his pale blue eyes. There are other white high-heeled sandals in boxes, too: a pair with a gold buckle, a pair with pearls...]
Wow, these look fancy.
[Though they might be too fancy for a guy. Or maybe not; before meeting the Mysterious Guy with a Burn Scar, she'd never once considered which heels would be best for a fashionable young man.]
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[Sure, bright red heels or a nice lavender one would also be good, but if he's using it with different outfits, black or white seems like a better choice. Black moreso given what could spill on it.
The chunky heel doesn't do it for him, but he does take a closer look at the third pair she showed him. He has to go lower and lean towards her to see it, which might also mean she doesn't have much personal space left, but he seems more interested in the shoe than in her.]
This one looks nice.
[He admits, taking it from her to inspect further. It looks a little flimsy compared to the first one, which has him frowning, before he looks at her directly.]
Which one would you wear in a fight?
[... Yes, he's serious.]
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From up close, his features are even more striking: that scar forever seared into his skin, that natural
sunflowerblond hair hanging over his head, those pale blueemeraldeyes... although the scar remains the most noticeable thing and makes him look rugged and manly, it's still the eyes that intrigue her the most. The look in them is just so mysterious. She can't even guess what he's thinking. What sort of background does he come from? What sort of life does he live? And what kind of products does he use to make his hair fall like that? She's still so curious...When he turns his gaze on her, she almost jumps. Caught in the act of staring, she does her best to wipe the thirst from her face and act natural. Right, he's only here to look at shoes. She can talk about shoes! Except...
What?]
Uh...
[Is that a real question? Does she look like she gets in fights? She might be a gal, but she's not a yanki or anything! She's gotten into arguments, sure, but not ones where anyone takes a swing at her.
... except for the time her mom found out what she'd been doing and slapped her across the face for her stupidity.
But she's not going to think about that right now. Not while talking to a hot guy in a trendy boutique.]
Um... [She taps a finger to her chin.] I'm not sure. But I guess if I was in trouble, I'd want something I could run in, so probably not the ones with a skinnier heel.
I guess the other problem might be that white shoes get dirty kinda easily? As a kid, I had these white ballet flats I really liked, but after a few months they were all scuffed-up, even though I was careful not to walk through puddles or anything...
[Not just dirt, but blood would also show up easily.
But this guy isn't vicious or anything, right? He wouldn't hurt people without a cause... right??]
Do you... get into fights often?
[Maybe he does martial arts. That'd be cool.]
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Her surprise isn't unusual, but the way she describes her own story is interesting if only because he didn't expect it. Ballet flats... definitely wouldn't work for him, but he gets her point. That also makes him place back the white one, because it's no use wearing that then if they both agree on the same point.
At the question though...]
It's better you don't know. You're just being helpful, after all.
[So he doesn't want her to get in trouble because of him.]
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...... her train of thought just keeps on getting weirder.
At his evasive response, she just kinda shrugs her shoulders. Of course, she should've expected that.]
If you tell me, I won't tattle on you. I don't even know your name, let alone where you go to school, you know?
[If he goes to school. It's possible he dropped out. Or maybe he's older, and he's already graduated. She honestly just doesn't know anything about him, which is kind of a bummer to think about. To her, he's a really memorable guy, but to him, she's just some girl in a shoe store he'll totally forget about.
But.]
But if you don't want to tell me, that's fine.
[She can't force a sense of closeness between them. If he doesn't want to talk, then that's that. Everyone's got secrets, after all, including her. And it makes sense that a guy with a huge burn scar would have stuff he doesn't wanna talk about.
Though she does hope the scar isn't related to the fighting. If someone did that to him on purpose... that's just too cruel.
But she shakes her head to herself, as though trying to clear away the dark thoughts. No more gloominess! They're here to look for shoes, after all. Taking on a cheerful tone of voice, she blurts out,]
Say, what's your favorite color? Uh, for shoes, I mean...
[He could tell her his favorite color in general. That works, too.]
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[Probably. He isn't exactly thinking much about those things, but the brighter the color, the more he likes it. He doesn't know for shoes, but the one he's wearing was once a bright red. The color's faded over the years, and over constant use. While it hasn't broken down, it's definitely worn out. Snapping might be expected soon.
The fact that she was a random school girl might make her forgettable, but she is helping him without judgment, and for that alone he will probably remember her anyway. At least, talk about her to Koko, who would probably track her down, so sorry Haru.
Her earlier statement has him thinking, even as he reaches out for the same heels he just put back. He might actually like them a little more than he's admitting, especially when he inspects them.]
I'm Seishu. Inui Seishu.
[He starts, if only because she asked, rather than because he was being nice. He's not against answering questions, after all.]
I don't care about that. This is our territory, anyway.
[So even if she tattles, what would they do? Raid the store? He'll kick their ass for it.]
Do you need to go anywhere, or can I ask you to stay and help me a little longer?
1/3
[She hadn't expected that. But then, it makes sense, given his clothes. Although he doesn't have bright eyes or a "bright" personality, somehow, that kind of color seems like it would suit him.]
That sounds nice. I like bright colors, too.
[Though he doesn't really seem interested in talking about this. He seems kinda... distracted. Is he thinking about fights? To ask a question like that, she wonders what kind of delinquent lifestyle he leads. But then he reaches for the fancy shoes again and inspects them seriously, which causes her to blink. Okay... maybe she's misreading him. Rather than being a deep, brooding sort of guy...
Maybe he's just really spacey?
Either way, she's not expecting him to give his name, all while staring at the shoebox. So she's back to blinking stupidly again. And also—
That's his name? Isn't that kind of unusual? Or more like, it's impressive-sounding. Though it's kind of cute that it has "dog" in it, too. Given his hair, it makes her think of a shaggy dog with floppy ears. Maybe that's why she smiles.]
Seishu, huh...? My name's Haru. Koyama Haru.
[Which sounds totally boring compared to yours, but oh well. She's not insecure about it or anything. She's feeling pretty good at the moment, in fact; they're acting all chummy, he trusted her with his name—things are going great.
Until he drops that on her.]
2/3
3/3
As a matter of fact, time doesn't stop, and Seishu continues chatting as though what he said was no big deal. And meanwhile she's just staring with a dopey smile plastered to her face.
Uhhhhhhhh.]
Uh—
[C'mon, answer him!]
... nope! I've got no plans after this.
[Which hopefully doesn't make her sound like a loser with no social life.]
So it's cool. I can help you find shoes. There's gotta be something here in bright purple. In fact, I think I saw a pair kinda like that a minute ago...
[And she proceeds to busy herself with going back to browsing. She can just ignore the gang affiliation. No biggie.]
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[He perks up at that, eyes widening slightly in interest as he puts the shoe back once more. It was as though the mention of something closer to what he likes had put all thoughts out of his head, and he's focused on that one goal. Since Haru is not making any weird reactions, she either missed his implication or is acting extremely well to hide it. The fact that she isn't running off is enough for him to deem her trustworthy, at least with shoes.
That's a plus in his book.]
Where did you see it?
[All other shoes forgotten now, he waits patiently for her to lead the way, eager to see them.]
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Still, isn't it kinda weird that he said that so casually?? True, she is just some nobody, and she already said she won't be getting him in trouble, but it's a lot to drop on someone!
Maybe it isn't a lot to him, though. It's times like this when she remembers Tokyo is a big place. There are all sorts of people out there on the streets, and she has no clue what any of them are going through, or what kind of life they might be living. For every cafe she's sat in, and every store she's browsed, she never once considered whose "territory" it might be. She's done illegal things too, of course, but the two of them live in different worlds.
It's kinda easy to forget all that stuff when he's so single-mindedly absorbed in looking for shoes, though. Honestly, she's never met a guy so keen on shopping before. He must really like high heels. And there's something kinda interesting about that... isn't there? It definitely adds to his mystery.
Anyway,]
I think it was over there.
[Looking around the area, she scans over the different displays until she catches sight of the bright pair she was looking for: another pair of sandals, natch. Although...]
... I guess they're more pink than I remembered.
[They're kinda in between pink and purple, but they're definitely more on the pink side. Which means they're not what he said he was looking for. Still,]
They kinda match your outfit.
[Turning back to look at Inupi, she eyes the jacket and pants hanging off his thin frame (while trying not to get too distracted by his body itself, or his handsome face). They really are almost the same color as those shoes.]
Do you have a lot of similar clothes in purple?
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[A few suits, some casual wear that was more fitting, but if he were to pick what to wear then his current outfit was more like his version of house clothes, or default casual. It was something he was comfortable in.
He doesn't complain about the color though, and seems pleased anyway even as he takes it from her with a nod, appraising it. The gems were a bit too much, but...
Yeah, here he's kicking his sandal off. The size is a bit too small, given they were women's shoes, but he's curious enough to check.]
I don't usually get to wear them. It's a day off, and K--- I just felt like looking around alone.
[He stops himself from revealing Koko's name. Anyone who was into the biker gangs of Tokyo would be able to connect Koko to the current Black Dragons. Though, anyone who knew Inupi's name would also be able to do that, but he's already told her so there's nothing he can do to take it back.]
Can I see how this looks on you?
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... which sounds kiiiinda suspicious. But isn't cheating if you're just helping the guy look for shoes, right?? Right.
Unlike her boyfriend, who gets super fired up about things like his crappy garage band, this guy's pretty chill. He appraises the shoes super seriously and then takes them from her with nothing but a short nod. Except he doesn't just want a closer look—he also wants to try them on, or else he wouldn't be taking those heels off in the middle of the store (and revealing his still-kinda-delicate-looking feet in the process... again, not that she has a thing for feet!!). But before putting on the shoes, he starts talking again.
She stares, not sure what to make of his first words. He doesn't get to wear heels often? Well, she supposes that isn't surprising... it's not something a guy could get away with in a lot of environments. But he wanted to go shopping alone? Is that his not-so-subtle way of telling her to get lost? Her lips twist. Sorry I crashed your alone time.
But before she can actually make that apology,]
... huh?
[Her eyes blink. Did she hear that right?]
You want me to model them?
[She seriously didn't see that one coming. He's been paying way more attention to the shoes than to her (not that she's salty about it, or anything...) so she didn't expect to be asked that. But then again, the reason he did ask is probably just because he's interested in the shoes and probably has nothing to do with her.]
We're not gonna be the same size, but... I guess I could try them on.
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[Though if I look so great, why wasn't I invited to the orgy, huh? That's still what she's thinking in the back of her mind. Not that she was dying to participate, or anything... eating Pocky with Lupe-chan was actually more enjoyable than that probably would've been. (Although he did seem skilled.) But it's the principle of the thing!
Uh, but speaking of Lupe-chan...]
She said she'd be out in just a sec. But then the Madame asked her to help with something...
[Which kinda makes her wonder how long they should wait. Troy seems nice and all, but it's probably not a good idea to keep him waiting around too long, considering he's doing them a favor, and he's supposed to be their savior or whatever...
Her train of thought grinds to a halt when he reaches out for the bouquet. She hadn't expected him to offer to carry it for her...]
Erm... thanks.
[It shouldn't be a big deal. But she just gets flustered around people who do her favors. And with this guy in particular, it's like she's still not sure what to make of him. She wants to leave a good impression, since he's her ticket back to her world. Although... honestly, she's not completely sure how she feels about the idea of going back there. After everything that's happened, and after a whole year has passed, it's hard to believe she could just go back to her old life. She's not even sure that's possible for her. And it's that thought that kept her up late, intruding on her beauty sleep last night.
But for now she isn't boarding any spaceships or hopping to any new world(s). She's just going to see her friend. Her poor, overly-trusting friend.
And apparently she gets to make the trip in a big, flashy car.
The second the vehicle comes into view, Haru's eyes bulge outta their sockets. She's so deprived of technology here that she would've had that kind of reaction no matter what kind of car it was, honestly. But this car? This sleek car made of glass, which apparently has a self-driving feature?! This car completely knocks her socks off.]
Woah...
[When the doors open, she just stands there for a second. It's obvious what she's meant to do, but she can't stop staring! It takes some serious effort just to force herself to respond normally.]
Um—sexy or not, I think it looks cool. And where I come from, self-driving cars haven't really been invented yet, although there are plans for them. So that part's really cool.
[She sounds like an idiot. She can't just keep saying "cool" over and over again. But it's not like she knows anything about cars... That's more of a manly interest, isn't it?
Sorry, Lupe-chan. It looks like she will be going with the Madame. Because at this rate, Haru's gonna take off without her. She walks around to the passenger's seat, gearing up for the most exciting car ride of her life. Because it's not every day that you get chauffeured around by the handsome and mysterious savior of your whole world.]
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[ He points out to tease her a little, getting on the driver's seat and putting away the bouquet of flowers behind him. The seats even turn, apparently. There's no steering wheel, and the whole dashboard is a big display. Troy gestures for her to take a seat before the car doors close on their own. Troy commands the car's AI to take them to the hospital once they're both settled in, causing the vehicle to move slowly through the narrow streets ]
I can have someone pick up the others later, no problem.
[ He adds, letting Haru enjoy something she probably took for granted when she was in Japan. Once they leave the gates of the city, the car starts picking up speed - going zero to sixty in seconds. Troy sits up as a folded steering wheel pops from underneath the dashboard. He takes control of the vehicle and lowers the windows with a flick of a switch, and even the roof starts to retract, turning the car into a convertible. ]
Figured the fresh morning air is better than the AC. Anyway, been outside of the city much? Thought maybe you can take pictures of places you've seen now that you have a chauffer to drive you around. Don't you just feel fancy?