Capítulo 59: Parallels
[Day: Tuesday]
[Time: Afternoon]
[Location: Sanctuary City]
I finished all of my classes for the day, the day going by as smoothly as I expected it. I decided to go out into Sanctuary City to explore a bit and find my bearings around the city once again. Faith joined me as she was finished with her classes as well, the two of us strolling around the sidewalk of the bustling streets of Sanctuary City.
"So...uhm how did you like your first day?" Faith asked, looking at me with a smile.
"It was pretty decent. Everyone was relatively nice to me, so no complaints here," I said, a smile on my face as I looked around. I turned my gaze to Faith, giving her a soft smile. "How was your day?"
"It was really nice. It's way more peaceful now than it was before...and I really like the fact that you're pretty much here permanently..~ It gives me a peace of mind.." Faith said softly, her shyness around me still palpable in her expression.
I chuckled softly, gently wrapping my arm around her shoulder. "Well I'm glad you had a great day..~ How about we go get something to eat? I noticed you didn't eat anything for lunch."
"Y-Yeah..~ I wasn't really that hungry, but I am now.." Faith said, leaning her body against me and wrapping an arm around my waist.
"What do you feel like having? I could go for some tacos...or maybe some chicken? I don't know, you all have some pretty nice options around here..~" I said, scanning around the area for a place to eat.
"Can we go to the arcade? They have amazing pizza, and I wanna play some games with you, hopefully win a grand prize while we are there.." Faith suggested, looking up at me with hopeful eyes.
"We can do that. I've always wondered what your arcades looked like," I said, looking down at Faith with a smile.
Faith's eyes sparkled with happiness, a bright smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I promise you'll love it..~ I know a great arcade Baylee and I always go to on the weekends."
"Lead the way," I said, a soft chuckle escaping my lips.
Faith nodded then gently grabbed my hand, leading me to an arcade. I could tell how excited Faith was to spend one on one time with me as it was long overdue. We haven't really gotten the chance to hang out alone as anytime we would hang out, it would be with along with her friends.
Soon, we made it to a local arcade and Faith's excitement now through the roof. The neon lights of the arcade bathed Faith and I in a kaleidoscope of colors as we stepped through the entrance. The sounds of beeping machines and cheerful laughter surrounded us, creating an atmosphere brimming with excitement. Faith clung to my arm, her eyes wide with wonder and a hint of nervousness.
"I'm telling you, this place is amazing!" Faith exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe. She glanced at me, a shy smile playing on her lips. "I promise you that you'll love it here."
I grinned, my eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'm sure I will, I am a gamer like you before I'm a hero. Ready to have some fun?"
Faith nodded eagerly, her nerves momentarily forgotten. We moved through the arcade, trying out various games. I demonstrated his skill at the racing games, deftly maneuvering through virtual streets, while Faith cheered me on. When it was her turn, she managed to surprise herself by finishing in third place, earning a proud smile from me.
"Does Shiro finally have competition in the racing genre?~ She did really good," Lustie giggled, watching us.
"Whatever.." I chuckled softly, turning my gaze to Faith. "You did surprised me though, you were really blazing through the course."
"I usually suck at these games..~ Baylee is the one who taught me how to get better at these..~" Faith said, a shy smile curling on her lips as she looked up at me.
"And we are not surprised," Passion laughed softly, resting on Faith's shoulder
Next, we tackled the air hockey table. Faith's shyness melted away as the competitive spirit took over. She laughed as she managed to score a few points against me, who responded with playful teasing and exaggerated groans of defeat.
After several games, we found ourselves in a small corner of the arcade with a cozy pizza parlor. The smell of melted cheese and freshly baked dough made our mouths water. We settled into a booth, sharing a large pepperoni pizza and cold drinks. Faith took a sip of her soda, the bubbles tickling her nose, and looked at me with a contented smile.
"This is perfect," she said softly. "I've never had this much fun on a date before."
I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. "I'm glad you're having a good time, Faith. I am too."
Faith smiled at me, a blush settling on her face. She scooted over next to me, resting her head on my shoulder. "I've always dreamed of days like these..~ I don't want today to end at all..~"
I chuckled softly, gently moving her hair from her face. "Well I can always take you out again, recreate special moments like these and make new memories with you..~"
Faith nodded, looking up at me with lovestruck eyes. "I'd love to go out with you again... It always amazes me how how manage to make time for everyone as well..~ I really appreciate that about you..~"
I smiled back at her. "Well I have to..~ I don't want anyone feeling isolated...everyone here gets equal treatment.."
Faith held my hand in hers, leaning up to land a gentle kiss on my lips. I kissed back, gently cupping her cheek in my free hand, deepening the kiss. Our kiss lasted a few moments before we broke the kiss.
"You ready?~" I asked softly, my eyes meeting hers.
"Mhm..~" She said softly, nodding her head.
With our hunger sated and a sweet memory created, we wandered back into the main arcade area. Faith led me to the infamous claw machine, its transparent glass showcasing a multitude of stuffed animals and colorful trinkets. At the center, a gleaming box promised a 100% off coupon for any top prize in the store. Faith's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"I've heard this thing is nearly impossible to win," I said, a determined glint in my eye. "But let's give it a shot."
Faith nodded, her nervousness creeping back. She watched as I carefully maneuvered the claw, my concentration intense. The claw descended, grasping a plush toy before slipping and dropping it. Faith's heart sank a little, but I just chuckled.
"Almost had it. Your turn," I said, handing Faith a token.
"He didn't use his Crest of Luck? I would've, fuck claw machines," Lustie said, chuckling softly as she watched.
"I'm glad he didn't actually. You know how fast this scene would've ended if he used it? I like a bit of suspense..~" Passion giggled, watching the claw return to its original position.
Faith took a deep breath, stepping up to the machine. She felt my encouraging presence beside her as she positioned the claw. Her hands trembled slightly, but she focused, determined not to let her nerves get the best of her. The claw descended, grabbing the box and lifting it slowly. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, with a soft thud, the box fell into the prize chute.
"We did it!" Faith exclaimed, her face lighting up with pure joy. She turned to me, who looked equally thrilled.
"Nice job, Faith!" I said, pulling her into a hug. "I knew you could do it."
Faith felt a rush of warmth as she hugged me back, her earlier nervousness replaced with a sense of accomplishment and happiness. Together, we retrieved the box from the machine, holding our hard-won prize between them.
We made our way to the prize store, Faith flashing the coupon at the worker and pointed at the gaming console that sat high on the shelf. Once the worker handed her the grand prize of her choice, Faith squealed with excitement, wanting to head straight home so she could play with her new console.
As we walked out of the arcade, hand in hand, Faith felt a newfound confidence blossoming within her. She glanced up at ne, who smiled down at her with pride and affection. This was a date she would never forget, a perfect blend of excitement, challenge, and connection.
{Date Finished!}
{Date with Faith Successful!}
{Credi Earned +100,000 (40,000 went to Luckie.)}
[Day: Tuesday]
[Time: Evening]
[Location: Home - Sanctuary City]
Faith and I walked into the share house, laughing and talking about the date we just had. We went to the living room so Faith show off her new gift to Jessica and Baylee.
"I was wondering where you two were, you both were gone for hours," Jessica said, watching Faith sit down beside her.
Faith smiled and took out her console from the bag, her gaze shifting to Jessica and Baylee. "Yeah, I guess I should've texted you all that Shiro and I would be out for a while. We went to the arcade earlier since we were both free."
"Oooh!~ The arcade we always go to? That place is amazing!~" Baylee said, her eyes landing in the console then she gasped. "You actually won the prize?! We have to set it up!"
Faith nodded happily, looking at Baylee. "What do you think we should play first?"
"We have to play Celestial Warriors! I have to see if the graphics are better and I want to play as my glorious king Kenshiro again, his combat style is so sugoi!~" Baylee said, her excitement to play games with Faith bubbling to the surface.
As the girls began their usual gossip and set up the new game console in the living room, the door bell rang. I got up to get the door, letting the three relax and have fun with their games.
Once I opened the door, I noticed a familiar face in front of me. "Joy? Hey, what's up?"
Joy shifted slightly, holding her school bag close. "Hi, Shiro. Uhm...since we're partners in Ui's class, I thought it would be a good idea to exchange numbers. That way, we can stay in touch for any future projects."
"Good idea," I agreed, pulling out my phone. We quickly exchanged numbers then I stepped back, gesturing for Joy to come in. "Would you like to come in and chat for a bit?"
Joy hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure, I'd like that."
I led Joy to the kitchen, where we both settled at the small wooden table. I offered her a drink, and she accepted a glass of water. As we sipped our drinks, Joy began to open up.
"So, I want to let you know something. I'm the Student Council President for the university," she said, a hint of pride in her voice mixed with the usual shyness. "It's a lot of responsibility, but I enjoy it. I want to make a difference and help improve the university for everyone."
I listened attentively, nodding. "That sounds like a big job. It's impressive that you can handle all that responsibility."
Joy smiled faintly, a touch of color rising to her cheeks. "Thank you. It can be overwhelming sometimes, but I have a good team to support me. And, um, I wanted to thank you for standing up for me against Hazel. She's one of the bullies I've been dealing with recently, and it means a lot that you spoke up..."
My expression softened. "I'm glad I could help. No one deserves to be treated like that, Joy. If you ever need someone to talk to or if you need help with anything, I'm here."
Joy looked down at her glass, her fingers tracing its rim. "It's not easy to open up about it. But knowing I have someone like you to rely on makes it a bit easier."
We continued to chat, sharing stories and getting to know each other better. We had more in common with each other than I expected. I found myself admiring Joy's resilience and dedication, while Joy felt a growing sense of trust and comfort in my presence. The kitchen became a little haven of understanding and budding friendship, a stark contrast to the noisy excitement in the living room where Faith, Jessica, and Baylee were still immersed in their new game console.
As the evening wore on, Joy glanced at the time and reluctantly stood up. "I should get going. Thank you for the talk, Shiro."
I walked her to the door, smiling warmly. "Anytime, Joy. And remember, you're not alone in this."
Joy nodded, a soft smile on her lips as she stepped out into the night. I watched her go, feeling a sense of fulfillment in knowing I had made a small difference in someone's life. I closed the door and returned to the lively scene in the living room, where the girls were beaming with happiness and competitiveness as they all played the game together.
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[Day: Wednesday]
[Time: Morning]
[Location: Sanctuary University]
The next day started off smoothly, everyone was lively today and the conversations were filled with laughter as the girls talked about the game they were playing yesterday. Today Melissa was absent due to her meeting up with Mark to hang out for her mental health day. Each girl had their own designated day for their mental health which I thought was good as it kept them sane.
As the conversations were going on, I noticed a bit of commotion going on across the courtyard. I activated my Level 2 Unleashed State, now able to see what was going on. I noticed Joy getting ganged up on by Hazel and her cronies, a faint memory flashing in my head as I remembered my time getting bullied by Mark, Eric, and Jake.
Jessica noticed me standing up, tilting her head as she wondered what was going on. "Babe? What's wrong?"
"I'll be right back," I said, walking toward the table Joy was sitting at.
The girls watched me as I walked off, noticing I was heading straight for the table Joy was sitting at. They watched me closely and wondered what I was going to do.
"I told you to do the work, flat board! I'm not going to fail Ui's class because of your dumb incompetence! When we say do something, you do it! Just because your daddy is the dean, means nothing to us," Hazel said, gripping Joy's hair.
Joy squeaked a bit as her hair was being pulled. "S-Stop it..!"
"Hey!" I called out, walking toward Hazel and her friends.
Hazel turned toward me then a smirk played on her face. "Oh, hi handsome~ Come to watch me teach this loser where she really stands in this place?"
"Let her go," I said, my voice firm and authoritative.
Hazel rose an eyebrow, looking down at Joy then looked back at me. "Pfft...you're kidding right? You're gonna stick up for this weakling? Don't you know tha—"
"I don't care...Let her go.." I said, giving Hazel a glare.
{Golden Tongue Activated (1/10)}
Hazel grunted softly as my command forced her to let Joy go. She scoffed and glared at me. "Tch, whatever. Let's go girls...wait until Blake hears about this.."
Hazel and her friends walked off, her two friends looking back at me and giving me a middle finger and sticking their tongues out at me. I watched as they walked off into the distance then sighed, the faint glow on my arm disappearing.
"Hey, are you okay..?" I asked, gently placing my hand on her shoulder. My expression softened as I waited for her answer.
Joy looked up at me, giving me a shy nod. "Y-Yeah... Thank you for helping me again... I really appreciate it.."
I smiled at her then helped her up. "Come sit with me and my group..~ You'll definitely be safer with everyone there..."
Joy smiled a bit, looking over at the table with Jessica, Baylee, and Faith. She turned back toward me and nodded. "Okay..~"
As we walked back to my group, Joy felt a sense of relief and belonging she hadn't felt in a long time. The others welcomed her warmly, making space for her at the table.
As the morning went on, the girls laughed and shared stories, and Joy slowly felt herself becoming part of the group. She was starting to believe she had found a safe haven among us. Soon, the first bell of the day rang and we all got up to head to our classes.
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[Day: Wednesday]
[Time: Noon]
[Location: Sanctuary University]
The day went by smoothly with no further issues and I walked down the busy halls to get to Ui's class. As I walked toward her class, I noticed a figure approaching me. His expression was dark, his fists clenched in anger and behind him was Hazel with a sinister grin on her face.
"You must be Shiro," The man said, glaring at me and his tone laced with disdain. "I heard you were trying to flirt with my girl."
I stared at the man then sighed, shaking my head. "Is that what she told you? Look, I was just helping a friend in need. Your girlfriend was bullying her,"
Blake's face twisted in anger. "That's not what I heard." He stepped closer, his intent clear.
"Look man, it's literally my second day here. You hardly even know me. How about we take some time to actually think? Besides, I've already gone through this song and dance before. Trust me, no one wants your girl," I said, placing my hand in my pocket.
Before Blake could strike, a tall figure stepped between us, placing his hand on Blake's chest. It was Dante, his presence imposing and calm.
"Yo, man. cálmate," Dante said coolly. "You don't want any trouble with Shiro, trust me. Plus he's cool with Karma so c'mon, don't let some dumb shit get you in trouble. We have a game coming up this Friday, we don't need you benched again."
Blake hesitated, looking at Dante then at me, calming his nerves and sighed. "Alright, man. My fault, man. I just don't take anyone talking to my girl any type of way."
"Nah I understand, bro. Just know I never flirted with her at all, I can promise that," I said offering my hand toward him. "We cool?"
Blake closed his eyes, taking my hand and giving me a handshake. "Yeah, we're cool."
"Thank the Heavens you didn't have to fight. We can't be hospitalizing folks on the second day y'know. Gotta wait at least a week," Lustie giggled then grunted as Passion smacked her head.
"We aren't hospitalizing anyone at this university. You already know about the lock down situation last time we had a fight here. We need allies, not more enemies," Passion said.
Dante watched as Blake walked off then clapped a hand on my shoulder. "You straight?"
I nodded, a smile playing on my face. "Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. Nothing I haven't dealt with before."
Dante nodded, walking off. "Oh yeah, tonight Naomi said we're riding out. We're gonna be meeting with someone who can help us take control of the Central Division of Sanctuary City."
"Gotcha. I'll make sure to be there," I said, watching Dante disappear down the hall.
[A new potential ally huh? This should be interesting. I suggest we take Ani and Eliza with us just in case.]
'Yeah I was thinking the same actually. Plus it will let them get used to Sanctuary City more if they haven't already been going out with Charlotte and Celene,' I said to Lust-E via telepathy, walking toward my classroom.
"Whoever it might be, if they claim they can help us take control of the Central Division, they must be pretty strong.." Lustie said, hovering behind me.
I nodded and began to think about who this mystery person was. I decided to not think too much about it for now, only focusing on getting through with the rest of the school day. The thought of this mystery person did sit on the back of my mind though...
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