…
- (? looking at his hand) So what do you think of that?
- I think it's weird coming from you, but what can I do if your argument is right?
- (?) Then I suppose you agree with my request.
- Yes, but there's something I don't understand. If you want him to become a good Summoner, why don't you let go of your contract with him? It would be easier and simpler.
- (?) Yeah, but… There are things I would like to see him achieve. For someone who almost started his life losing everything… My sympathy for this is almost inevitable.
- Who knew you'd easily get attached to someone without acting crazy.
- (?) Seriously, why do you guys see me as a freak? I'm not like that all the time.
…
- You know, I don't think I feel angry or hateful about it. It's a natural thing to happen and if it happened before I have a more rational sense of loss, I can't be whining about telling myself it shouldn't happen.
- (?) Sounds like a cold guy saying something like that.
- (Cyro laughing) Sorry, but like you said. The feeling is different when you witness the fact or just know it from other people, unless you have a strong connection that makes you wonder what could have been done differently. But you know? Maybe I'm just being too optimistic about it...
…
- Hey… I know you're there. I know you're going to say it was your fault and that you should have done something, but that's not quite the case. That is our duty as Gachas. Defending humanity in any way possible and what he did was not only an act of loyalty to that duty, but because he cared for you. So please… Stop blaming yourself for something you weren't ready to deal with. Please Cyro…
…
When he got up from the floor, Cyro just took a deep breath and went to a bathroom near the stairs to wet his face and clean the dirt mark on his uniform from the kick he had received. Looking into the mirror, he could see that the punch mark was still forming on his face, so it would be hard to hide it or pretend he had hurt himself in some miraculous way. Taking another deep breath, Cyro just left the bathroom and walked quickly to get out of school before 3pm.
Leaving school, Cyro kept looking around and out of nowhere...
- (Hyoudo screaming in Cyro's ear) FOUND YOU!
- Bastard! Stop doing this!
- It was bad~~ It was impossible not to. It was so boring waiting for you that… Wait… What was that?!
- (Cyro rubbing his hand over the wound) Oh, this? I… bumped my face against the stair rail…
- WHAT?! How is that even possible?
- (Cyro pointing at his sneaker) When you're not in the habit of adjusting your shoe laces, that's what it is.
- Even so! Dude, this is bad. Are you in pain or something?
- It hurts a little, but I'm fine.
- Wants to know? Let's leave this Arcade tour for another day. It won't…
- Forget that. You've been bugging me to go there, so let's go.
- Man, not for a crack! I will not go…
- Hyoudo, relax. There's no need to get tense and agitated about it. You said… One time or another, this would happen to me, I'm so clumsy. But forget about it. Come on, I'm still in the mood to enjoy this Friday.
Cyro starts walking without saying anything. He knew that Hyoudo would understand that someone would have punched him in the face, especially for saying that one time or another this would happen, but because of respecting his friend and not creating an unnecessary scene, Hyoudo simply remained silent, looking worried to Cyro, and then walking to reach Cyro. The atmosphere between them was strange and some students who were there were looking at Cyro or laughing, knowing why that bruise on his face, but none of that seemed to bother Cyro or Hyoudo who was almost on the verge of saying something, but nothing happened.
03:10 PM
Taking the path that Hyoudo usually takes to go to school and passing through some streets busy with cars, students from many schools, adults leaving their jobs or strolling through that part, Cyro and Hyoudo ended up on a busy street full of some students in a few familiar restaurants, arcade locations and stores, and up ahead, he started looking at a 3-story building with a sign reading "Richter B. Game Arcade" where they were heading.
- It's been a while since I've seen it here.
- Yeah… I came here last week and he was investing in some really crazy virtual reality games. You could even see the zombie biting you… That was disgusting.
- Aren't you the one who feels dizzy with this type of game?
- Nothing! It's not funny just to see people screaming in fear or almost throwing up with those games.
- Do you think it's cooler to be sick playing games than to see other people get sick? Seriously, how am I still hanging around with you?
- Who knows, right? Go see your…
- Don't pretend to say that I'm unconsciously attached to you, if not I'm leaving.
- Don't do that~~ I'm kidding hehe…
Even with the discomfort, Hyoudo was still trying to cheer/irritate his friend to make him calm down, even though it could result in more stress for Cyro, but Cyro wasn't even caring about Hyoudo's attempts because for him it would be better to wrap Hyoudo and make him forget what happened, even if it was difficult. With that in mind, the two ended up entering the Arcade, passing through the themed automatic door.
At first glance, there were many students from Cyro and Hyoudo's school in almost every Arcade game that was on that floor. There were so many arcade machines that it complicated the movement inside. Many retro games, current games, games with special controls or different formats always seemed to leave Hyoudo with a sparkle in his eyes, while Cyro just wondered how much the owner of Arcade paid the electricity bill of that place. Walking a little to what appeared to be the center of the building, they both saw stairs that led up to the second, third floor and the roof that was available for people to stay there and spend time there.
- So… What is the first game you want to lose?
- You choose, Hyoudo.
- So… KOF 2002!
A few minutes passed. Cyro and Hyoudo were already playing an arcade machine with a fighting game that many people knew so much that Arcade had many machines with that specific game. Cyro isn't an exaggerated gamer like Hyoudo, but knowing the basics of combos and character specials, he played calmly and attentively to Hyoudo's style of play that smacked a lot of almost every character, but usually hit some combos accidentally while it remained to violently hit the buttons. And in the end…
- Serious?! I want a rematch, Cyro!
- It's not my fault if you just need to break the machine.
- HEY! I trained a lot, so don't tell me that!
- (Cyro smiling greedily) Okay yeah. Just talk. So let's go one more if you want to catch one more time.
- Your!
One match later…
- AGAIN?!
- If you want to stop being humiliated, accept your defeat, Hyoudo.
- No way! How can you beat me if I'm the one who comes here more often?
- (Cyro mentally) You just come to keep cheering and making people fight over the games…
- Anyway, now I'm sure that…
- (?) Cyro?
Hearing a female voice and noticing that many boys who were there playing on nearby machines were looking at someone behind him, Cyro just turned around and…
- I have a theory that you're stalking me because it's not possible, Mallory.
- I assure you that it is not my intention, but to do what, right?
-b(Hyoudo) Mallory? Ah, Mallory!
- (Mallory looking at Hyoudo) Ah, hello… Eh, sorry I don't know your name yet.
- Hyoudo. Hyoudo Aggerton.
- Nice to meet you officially, Hyoudo~~
- (Cyro) So what are you doing in a place like this?
- Well, I was with some friends and I decided to take a walk, but I think I lost them because I'm not meeting them.
- (Cyro) I see.
- (Mallory) I didn't think you liked playing that kind of game.
- (Cyro pointing to Hyoudo) Yeah, but that creature over there is happy to lose, so I'm giving him what he deserves.
- (Hyoudo) Dude, can you at least treat me like a normal human?
- (Mallory) Mind if I see for a while? I don't even know where I was going anymore and some strangers appeared wanting to chat with me who were scaring me.
- (Cyro slightly uncomfortable) Okay.
- (Hyoudo) TIME TO PLAY SERIOUS!
With Mallory at his side, Cyro and Hyoudo began to play one more game. Unlike the same result of the two previous matches, Hyoudo seemed to have adapted to Cyro's style of play and started winning two rounds with effort, making other youngsters who were there surprised by Cyro and Hyoudo's match or just looking at Mallory. But in a surprising twist, Cyro won two more rounds, making Mallory slightly surprised.
- (Hyoudo) Come on, Cyro! Show what your Terry is capable of!
- (Cyro) Said the guy who plays Shermie just because she has big thighs.
- (Hyoudo) Mallory this is his lie, okay?!
- (Mallory) Okay. Not that I…. Just play there, go.
The last match seemed well balanced, with Cyro and Hyoudo hitting and defending the combos in an exceptional way that made even Mallory stay alert in the game, and lacking little life for both…
- (?) I found you, Mallory.
Upon hearing this familiar voice, Cyro becomes distracted, making Hyoudo hit a special on Cyro's character, causing him to lose and Hyoudo to celebrate a lot.
- (Mallory) Aaron~~. Where were you?
- (Aaron) We were looking for you. But why did you stop… Oh, I get it. Hey there, Cyro.
- (Cyro) … Hi.
- (Mallory) So I got lost from you guys and found Cyro and his friend here.
- (Aaron) Got it. But I thought you said you didn't like Mallory around you, Cyro.
Cyro was simply silent because Aaron had been the guy who punched him in the face, and upon hearing that, Cyro didn't even react, making Mallory slightly uncomfortable with what she'd just heard.
- (Mallory) Cyro?
- (Aaron) That's why I thought it was weird that you were here with him, Mallory.
- (Hyoudo) Hey what…
- (Cyro) Needed to talk like that to her? I should say that.
- (Mallory) Wait, what are you…
- I don't like you one bit, Mallory. You piss me off so much just being around me and honestly… You're just going to waste time being around me, so leave me alone, you fucking boring blonde.
- (Mallory) Cyro, I thought…
- (Cyro) FOUND WHAT? That I like people to be irritating me when they can? You're the worst of them because even when I want to be alone, you show up and stress me out more than you should. So, do me a favor and leave me alone!
Just surprised by what she had heard, Mallory simply put on an almost sadbexpression and just turned her face away, walking away from Cyro.
- (Aaron speaking quietly) Just like that.
Saying this, Arron followed Mallory as some people there began to curse Cyro for saying that, making him leave where he was before someone approached him and started an unnecessary fight. Hyoudo just looked at the situation and left right away from where he was.
…
On the 2nd floor of the building, Cyro just stared at the rain that was forming, falling abruptly, seeing the street empty because of it, and in the meantime...
- I was already suspecting that the mark on your face was from a punch, but I didn't expect it to be Aaron.
Looking to the side, Cyro notices Hyodo arriving with a soda and a small bottle of grape juice, handing the juice bottle to Cyro who ends up accepting.
- He has a good right hook. Nor was I expecting this.
- Man, when I said that at one time or another this way of yours would charge you, I wasn't saying it that way, but I warned you, didn't I?
- Hate to admit it, but yeah. You warned...
- Let me see if I'm right… What you said to Mallory was a lie, wasn't it?
- And do I look like a liar?
- There is a lot, but you seem like one of those who can't lie for so long. And last-minute, much less.
- Am I not convincing enough?
- Look, if I were an idiot like Aaron, that would convince me, but honestly… I've heard every one of you that I already know when you're telling the truth or lying.
- If you understand this, I think you'd better go to a doctor's office to get your head checked.
That aside, you didn't answer me.
- Don't you think it's obvious it was a lie?
- Well, it's easy to assume, but I wanted to hear from you.
…
- So, are you really going to shut up?
- It makes a difference? Whether it's a lie or not, you know I don't like it when someone tries to approach me for no reason. Especially she who draws too much attention wherever she walks.
- You won't tell me she caught your eye, too.
Maybe, but if she does it without making a lot of effort, let it be far away from me.
- Well… You really have no way. But back to the subject… Lying or not, I think you should apologize to her.
- Why?
- Because even if you said that in a slightly cruel way, you'll be seeing each other in the classroom, at school and maybe even on a daily basis. So I guess making her hate you will only make you worse off. Especially now that she's going to rise a little higher in the school's popularity.
- And does it matter? Look at me and say this matters to me.
- No, but it's no use pretending it's not you, one time or another, your way will charge you. And the way Aaron looked at you, I think it's going to be a lot more than a punch in the face.
- How do you want me to do that with him getting ready to punch me more in the face every time I get close to Mallory?
- Well, the one who apologizes and suffers a little is the one who did the wrong thing.
- You really want to throw me in the fire, right?
- Just a little maybe~~ But go with me, one hour everything will pass and it's better to go through hell first than wait for it to arrive and go on for a long time.
As much as Hyoudo had said something simple and the last option Cyro would think of, the intention was to make Cyro leave that annoying side of him aside and become a little more normal, something Cyro refuses to accept. And even though he knew it would be a pain to deal with Aaron and his friends, Cyro just took a deep breath…
- Seriously… How am I still hanging around with you?
- Simple. I wouldn't let my friend be alone in such a silly problem.
- … You can stop making that face now.
- (Hyoudo smiling) What face?
- Nevermind…
- Well, since the folks downstairs want to hit you, we can say that day is over.
- And suggest going out in the rain? I know it's the beginning of the weekend, but I prefer to get home well and not with a cold.
- A weekend and the cold passes.
- Not for a...Hm?
Before answering anything, Cyro glanced at a person who passed by, catching his attention.
- What is it, Cyro?
- … Is nothing. Look if I get sick when I get home, I swear I'll beat you up on Monday.
- I doubt it~~
…
While this was going on, Mallory, Aaron and another group of 4 friends were walking on the 3rd floor, talking and walking up the stairs to the ceiling. Mallory still looked a little haggard from what Cyro had said, and seeing that, Aaron decided to approach her.
- Hey, cheer up Mallory! Anything I can go over there and make him apologize to you on his knee.
- No need to do this, but I didn't think he was serious.
- Why do you think that? He's a pretty disgusting guy, horrible and boring as hell. Nobody likes him.
- Seriously? What did he do that was so bad for everyone to think that?
- Ah, well… He said that to you.
- Yeah, but it was for me.
- Well, uh… He keeps bugging everyone on classroom so he's silent during classes.
- But I've never seen him do that and he would be right if he did.
- Well, that can be, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he's pretty inconvenient when he wants to.
- When did he throw his food at Olliver earlier in the week to make him stop pestering that 2nd year girl?
- Did he play for it? Wastes food when he could have just said something. What an idiot he is, huh.
Even though Aaron said it in a way that made Cyro sound like the worst kind of person, Mallory didn't even care or give credit to it, which made her think that Cyro might have done it because of what he'd said the day before about people wanting to make her believe it wouldn't be good to get close to him. And this idea was more evident as she looked at Cyro during his match against Hyoudo when she noticed the punch mark on his face, but to avoid a nasty conversation about hearing "bad" things from Cyro, she just kept to hers.
- Mind if I go to the bathroom?
- All right, Mallory.
Walking a little ahead, Mallory goes to a nearby bathroom, while her friends lean against the wall, waiting for her. In that group, there was Aaron, more 2 boys and 3 girls, and Aaroon and the girls were from Mallory's class, which remains to be believed that both were in couples and no wonder. While they were talking, one of the girls ended up kissing one of the boys, and after that happened…
- Alice?!
In a disbelieving voice, a boy with short hair and the normal height of a 17 year old ends up looking at that girl who had just kissed another boy, and realizing who it was, the girl got slightly nervous.
- Noah?! Eh… What are you doing here?
- Alice, why did you kiss...
- (Boy) Look, if you don't know, she's my girlfriend, got it.
- Alice… You told me that…
- I know what I said! But… You know, I don't…
- Why did you keep saying those things to me? And why didn't you tell me?
- Because I… didn't want you to be sad.
Besides, I never…
- Never what?
- (Boy) I would never be with you from the start, you idiot.
- Trevor… Shut the hell up!
- Tell me that's not true, Alice! Tell me it's not…
- … I'm sorry, Noah. But I didn't see you as more than a friend. I hope you understand.
- It's no joke...
- (Aaron) Hey, kid. Get off!
- Hurry up, Noah. Please…
- Just kidding…
- (Trevor approaching Noah) Didn't you hear?! Get out, kid!
- Just kidding…
Hearing this one more time, Trevor ends up walking towards Noah and with his fist closed he starts at Noah.
- I SAID… GET OUT, YOU ...
- Just kidding...
And just as Trevor would punch Noah in the face…
- What?!
- Just kidding… No… Is it?
Just like Trevor, that entire group sees Noah holding Trevor's hand, but the weirdest part is his gaze. It no longer looked like the gaze of a boy discovering an illusion of love, but his eyes were in a state of dread and hatred being covered by a very strange shade of purple. Trevor tries to take his hand away when he sees this, but before he can do anything, Noah ends up punching him in the stomach, causing Trevor to be flung close to his friends who are starting to get scared by it.
- TREVOR! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?
- AAAAAH! MY...
- (Noah) It's... kidding...right, right?
Paying more attention to Noah, his school uniform seemed to be smeared with a purple substance that had started to come out of his skin, making him start to give out screams that began to distort little by little as this substance started to approach of your face. As the group of friends lifted Trevor who was scared and hurt, Noah's body began to transform into something without a clear description. His normal height gave way to a solid mass that made his body seem big enough to almost touch the floor's ceiling, his lower torso seemed to have already been covered by the substance, while his arms were still being consumed, making room for two other arms popping up in the same place, the abdomen region was slightly exposed and Noah's face was almost obscured with only his right eye and half of his left face still visible. And the moment that substance seemed to have stopped covering his body...
- ALICEEEEEE!
A great scream echoed throughout the building. The glass windows on all floors burst with the intensity of that scream, startling many people in the building. Alice, who was feeling guilty for rejecting Noah, seemed to be in a state of shock as she realized that her friend Noah had turned into a being everyone feared…
- Has he become… a Corrupted?
As he said those words, the group of friends started to run, but Alice just stood there, not believing what she was seeing, and in a matter of the blink of an eye, Noah ended up picking up a momentum and advancing on Alice with all of his strength. His hand almost bigger than a human's hand was to try to catch Alice, but just as he would catch her and her friends yelled for her name and told her to get down…
- (?) Sorry, boy...
Looking at Noah's hand, Alice froze. Almost touching her face, a hand came out and stopped Noah from touching Alice. And in an instant, Noah ended up getting punched in the face, but the surprise was because of the force that had caused Noah to be thrown into the wall at the end of the corridor that was next to him. And looking to the side, Alice notices a woman with long blonde hair, rather intimidating light blue eyes, slightly larger in terms of height and body than she is, wearing an oddly formal outfit due to her size.
- (?) Girl, if you're not in a condition to run, stay behind me and run when you can. I guarantee he won't touch you, and even if it's a colleague of his, I can't guarantee I won't hurt him.
That woman's slightly thick voice made Alice snap out of her shock and start running towards her friends, who were surprised to see that woman who wasn't even there in a matter of a few seconds.
- Wait, there's a friend of mine in the bathroom...
- ALICEEEEEEEE!
- (?) I think he's going after you, so please don't worry about your friend, because I'll make sure she doesn't get caught in this conflict in the process. Now go!
Shaking her head positively, Alice started to run towards her friends, who when they got close, started running together to the other end of the corridor that had access stairs to the other floors. Seeing this, Noah took another attack at that woman, but when he tried to hit her, a glow began to circulate in that woman, revealing a very different and unusual outfit. That formal outfit of her gave way to a gray and gold sleeveless outfit slightly open in the navel region, your pants gave way to silver armor across the region of your lower torso, and in the region of your arms there was a piece of fabric that he covered some parts of his arm with two slightly large bracelets on her wrists.
- (Aaron) She's… A GACHA?!
By the time the glow had ended and Noah was about to land a blow on the woman, she sidestepped, punching Noah's strange stomach, making him hit the ceiling, and when he fell, the woman ended up giving a kick so hard that it made Noah hit the wall at the end of the hall again, but this time he was sunk into the wall, making distorted pain sounds. When looking back and realizing that that group of friends had already left that corridor, the woman only took a deep breath.
- (?) They already left, ma'am.
- I told you... Don't call me that.
- (?) Pardon.
Coming out of the bathroom with yellow signs and streaks on her arms, Mallory simply stands behind that woman, watching Noah with a neutral gaze.
- (?) I believe this space will prevent me from wielding my Star Blazer.
- No problem. Use your physical strength as a form of combat that I will support you.
- (?) Won't you feel bad about hurting a student at your school, Mallory?
- I didn't want to do this, but we don't have a choice. If we're going to destroy his Corruption traces, we don't need to measure limits, especially with a lot of people on the lower floors.
Noah ends up coming off the wall and starts giving a distorted scream once more, causing the woman to stay in a fighting stance and Mallory raises her right hand and points at Noah.
- For my Summoner pride, I'm going to have to eliminate you, Noah. I hope you forgive me for that.