บท 25: NO. 25 - A Fun Day Out
Himiko and I were peacefully walking through the streets of Hamamatsu as we made our way to Hatsume's Mechanical Repairs and Such. Looking over to the happily skipping girl beside me, I saw how she looked around my home city in wonder and excitement.
The two of us haven't gone out too often, for obvious reasons, but when we did, Himiko thoroughly enjoyed it.
She was dressed in a large pastel pink jacket with a white hood that hovered over her short white skirt. A pair of white and red sneakers were on her feet, while her legs were covered in black thigh-high socks. Maki's round glasses and a white medical mask were on her face.
The mask was there to try and hide her identity, at least slightly.
"Now remember. Mei can be a bit eccentric."
"How interesting!"
"Don't get offended if she can't remember your name. It took her weeks to remember mine."
"I'll just have to make a super duper strong impression then!"
"...are you saying I don't?"
"..."
Seeing that she wouldn't budge, I let the matter go. Himiko's excitement at making new friends was too large to be shaken by my warnings.
It didn't take much longer for us to arrive at the storefront. Once there, I held the door open for Himiko, and we walked in. To my surprise, I saw Mei's mother, Hatsume Yumiko, behind the counter.
Yumiko had long black hair and bright green eyes tied into a high ponytail. She wore a casual dress with a clean apron around her front.
"Ah, Souta-kun!" Yumiko said with a large, motherly smile. "You're finally here!"
"Hatsume-san," I said with a slight bow, which Himiko copied. "It's nice to see you. It's rare to see you in the storefront. I figured you'd be wrangling Mei."
[+5 SP]
"I tried that. But that girl inherited her father's strength and stubbornness. Oh! Who's this cutie? A friend of yours?" Yumiko said as she walked around the counter to gush at Himiko, causing the blonde to blush. "Your outfit is so cute! I love your glasses!"
"A-ah, thank you." Himiko nervously said. She then placed her hands in front of her and properly bowed to Yumiko. The ingrained manners drilled by her parents kicked in. "I'm… Toga Himiko. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hatsume-san."
"Our names are so similar! Isn't that a coincidence!" Yumiko gushed as she inspected Himiko's signature hair buns. "Did you do your hair yourself? I love it! I wish MeiMei would let me style her hair."
I smiled as I watched Yumiko happily talk to Himiko. Despite being thrown off by the woman's bright and motherly personality, Himiko quickly regained her cheer. The two then entered a long chat over what outfits they thought were cute and how they go about styling their hair.
I wonder if Himiko was ever able to talk to her own mother like this. But knowing how they treated her, probably not. This must be new to her.
Unconsciously, my right fist began to tighten in anger. The quick snippets I read in the original timeline were just scratches on the surface of what Himiko's parents did. I didn't want to think of what kind of life she had to live under her parents.
"Let's go, MeiMei! Souta is here!"
"No! Take me back! This is kidnapping!"
"I can't kidnap my own kid."
I snapped out of my dark thoughts at the sound of Minato's and Mei's loud voices and noticed that my nails had dug into my scarred palms. Causing some blood to seep out. I quickly created some bandages with my Construction technique and wrapped them around my palm.
"You can't imagine how hard it was to get her out of her workshop. Don't even get me started on what I had to do to get ready." Minato said as he walked into the room with a dressed-up Mei under his arm. "Thanks for taking her out, Souta. Gods know she needs some fresh air."
"It's no problem, Hatsume-san," I said as Yumiko and Himiko watched Mei struggle to escape from her father's hold.
[+5 SP]
"Souta… how could you?" Mei muttered as she was placed on the ground. She was dressed in some casual clothing, which consisted of sneakers, jeans, a jacket, black gloves, and steampunk goggles. She even had her travel tool set on. "The betrayal! Why would you do this to me? I told you I wanted to work on my newest baby today! I even invited you to watch me!"
[+10 SP]
"You can't build stuff every day, MeiMei. You need to go outside every now and then. Spread your wings. Expand your horizons." Yumiko said with a warm smile as she placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Go enjoy yourself. Okay, Sweetheart?"
Mei looked uncomfortable at her mother's encouragement and nodded regretfully. Yumiko always got her to listen somehow. "Okay…"
"Great!" I said, wrapping an arm behind Himiko's shoulders. "Mei, this is Toga Himiko. She's that friend of mine I told you I wanted you to meet."
"Yup! You can call me Himiko! It's nice to meet you, Mei-chan!" Himiko jumped toward Mei and grabbed her gloved hands with a large smile. "Let's be great friends!"
"Do I have a choice?" Mei said with a defeated sigh, her hands twitching as if desperate for tools.
"Nope!" Minato, Yumiko, Himiko, and I all said.
[+10 SP]
x x x
The train ride to Musutafu was an annoying one. Himiko wouldn't stop asking Mei dozens of questions.
Usually, this wouldn't get any answers from Mei. But thanks to Himiko's acute perception skills, she quickly changed subjects and began to ask Mei about her inventions. Now, THAT got the pink-haired inventor otaku to talk.
"…and then I used a different type of polymer, which ended up doing the trick! You should have seen my baby! It was amazing!" Mei said excitedly as she showed Himiko several photos on her smartphone.
Her loud and crazed energy caused some of the nearby train folk to stare at her in annoyance. A well-dressed man had an irritated look on his face and was about to tell Mei off when I suddenly stepped between them and smiled at him. He swallowed whatever comment he had and slithered away.
"Wow! You sure are super smart, Mei-chan! Tell me, tell me, how did you come up with this baby's design?"
"I'm glad you asked, cat-eyes! You see, I…"
Damn, Himiko moves quickly. She's already on a personal-features name base. Soon enough, Mei will actually remember her name.
I sighed at the unfairness of it all and looked outside the windows at the speeding buildings as they blurred by. I felt a buzz in my pocket and pulled out my phone. It was a message from Keiko.
[Keiko: Izuku-kun and I are here! Let me know when you all are almost here!]
I responded by saying it shouldn't be much longer. Sending my message, I put my phone away and continued to listen to the two chattering girls. A small smile grew on my face as I watched the two enjoy themselves in their conversation.
x x x
"It's nice to meet you! I'm Hase Keiko!"
"Oh, I'm Midoriya Izuku. It's nice to meet you two."
"I'm Toga Himiko! But you all can call me Himiko! I'm so happy to meet Suk- Souta-kun's friends!"
"..."
I reached out and lifted Mei's chin up from the small metal box she snuck with her, causing her to realize where she was.
"Oh. Remember this name! I'm Japan's- no! The world's future leading genius in all things support gear and innovations! Hatsume Mei!" Mei said with no shame as she placed her fists on her hips.
"Ah, she's exactly like you said she would be." Keiko said as she and Izuku walked over to us. Creating a group of five. She then turned to Himiko and smiled. "Souchan has told me that you're a great cook, Himiko-chan. We should swap some recipes!"
Himiko's eyes glowed with glee as she nodded eagerly. "I'd love to! Oh! We should all swap numbers! You too, Izuku-kun!"
"H-huh?! Me too?!" Izuku blushed in embarrassment from beside me. I blinked as his shirt had the words Dress Shirt. "O-okay!"
"Bro, you need to calm down." I placed an arm around Izuku's shoulder and motioned to Himiko, who was happily exchanging numbers with Keiko and Mei. The latter didn't exactly know why Himiko took her phone as she tinkered with her small box. "Himiko won't bite... I think."
[+10 SP]
"Huh?"
"Okay!" I stepped forward and clapped my hands. "Let's get this show on the road, everyone! We have a city to burn!"
"Right!" Kieko and Himiko pumped their hands in the air with excited grins.
"We are? Tch. I forgot to bring my flamethrower then." Mei muttered as she looked over at me from her small project. "That's okay! I'll fashion up a new one in no time!"
"Bet." I said as we all began walking down the sidewalk toward the local shopping mall.
[+5 SP]
[+10 SP]
[+10 SP]
[+10 SP]
Izuku blinked in concern as he stayed in place while we all walked off.
"That was a joke... right?"
"Let's go, Izuku!"
"Ah! Coming!"
x x x
The hustle and bustle of the mall filled our ears as we navigated through the crowded aisles, laughter and chatter filling the air. Bright lights bounced off the polished floors, illuminating the colorful storefronts that lined either side of the wide corridor. Seeing what apparently was a cute-looking dress, Himiko and Keiko dragged us all into a chic boutique.
"Come on, you guys! You have to see this dress!" Keiko exclaimed, holding up a vibrant blue sundress that seemed like any other to me.
"Oh! You should try it on!" Himiko teased as she held up a pink skirt. "So cute! I want to try this on!"
"You should! I know you'll rock it!" Keiko replied with a bright smile.
"Awe, Really?!" Himiko blushed as she held the skirt tightly. She then looked over to see a black denim jacket. "Oh! That jacket would look great on Mei-chan!"
"Hm?" Mei looked up from where I was holding her shoulder in order to stop her from wandering off. "No thank-" Before she could finish, Himiko and Keiko grabbed her wrists and pulled the pink-haired inventor off to the changing room.
"Souta! Help! I'm being taken!"
"I'll remember you fondly, Mei."
"Souta!"
[+10 SP]
After that, Izuku and I ambled over to the store's shoe section. Izuku sighed as he turned to me with a shaky grin.
"Man, girls can be pretty scary."
"True," I muttered as I raised a pair of grey and black sneakers. "What do you think of these?"
"Oh, I think they're really cool," Izuku replied as he looked over at a pair of very familiar sneakers on display. "Wow, those look impressive."
"Dude, those are literally the same shoes you're wearing."
[+10 SP]
"Are they? Hmm."
The girls, and a reluctant Mei, continued browsing and trying on their outfit picks for another hour and a half. Sometime during their mini fashion show, Mei had snuck away from them and found refuge with Izuku and me on a bench. I then promptly received two smacks on the head from Mei.
Once Himiko and Keiko were somewhat satisfied, we all decided to take a break at the food court to grab a bite to eat...
"The hell do you mean you don't think Godzillo can beat All Might?" I slammed my fist on our table and pointed my chopsticks at Izuku, who looked uncharacteristically confident. "Such blasphemy. All Might's a scrub next to the King of the Monsters!"
[10 x 4 = +40 SP]
"Souta-san, I'm sorry, but you're wrong," Izuku said. "All Might is Japan's number one hero! The world's strongest hero! While I do think Godzillo is an amazing hero, All Might is on a completely different level."
"You damn fanboy. This is the thanks I get after raising you as one of my own." I stood up and walked around the girls, who were watching us in interest as they drank their milk tea. "I won't take this disrespect lying down. I'll put you down, Boy! Say it! Say that All Might ain't shit next to Godzillo! Say it!"
"Geh... I-I won't!" Izuku stood up and stared me straight in the eyes. "All Might is the best hero ever! I won't back down, not even from you Souta-san!"
I grit my teeth as my fists clenched tightly. "Damn... to think you've grown so much to the point of standing up to me. I see you've grown a little... Very well, I'll let this slide." I placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "I'm proud of you, Izuku."
"Souta-san..."
[10 x 4 = +40 SP]
Keiko, Himiko, and even Mei turned to one another in confusion.
"What just happened?" Mei asked as she tilted her head.
Keiko shrugged as she sipped on her drink. "I don't know. I stopped trying to make sense of what Sou-chan does or says after we turned six."
"Hmm, this must be a guy thing then," Himiko said as she held a finger on her chin. "Very interesting."
x x x
After a few more hours of wasting time and messing around at the mall, we all agreed to go watch a movie at a nearby theater.
[Total SP: 8,619]
Man, today has been a treasure trove of points. I smiled over at my group of friends as they bickered over what movie we should watch. Then again, I have been saving my points up for a wild gambling night.
Izuku and Keiko tried to get everyone to watch the newest superhero movie. At the same time, Mei wanted to watch a documentary on the hundred years of innovation of hero support items. Himiko was trying to convince everyone to watch a horror movie.
I was more than happy to let them figure out how we were going to waste two hours from the comfort of this cushioned seat I sat on. Leaning back, I looked around at the busy movie theater lobby, where several people ambled about.
"That's her. Isn't it?"
"Yeah. She fits the description."
I turned to see three police officers walk through the theater's main entrance. They had steady and determined looks on their faces as they headed straight towards my group of friends. Specifically, towards Himiko.
"Ah, shit." I stood up and made two hand signs. My twin divine dogs and several rabbits rose from my shadows. "Go warn, Himiko."
My Devine dogs nodded and ran off towards her. Thanks to Himiko wearing Maki's glasses, which let her see my Shikigami's, Himiko quickly saw my divine dogs and rabbits. The dogs pawed at her leg and turned to the police. Her eyes grew wide in fear before she quickly slipped on her medical mask.
"A-ah, I'm sorry! I have to go home! Something important came up!" Himiko abruptly said as she dashed away from the confused group.
"Toga-san?" Izuku said as Mei watched in confusion.
"Himiko-chan? What's wrong?!" Keiko called out, but Himiko was already gone.
Seeing her run, the officers sped up but didn't run after her in order not to raise a panic in the public.
"Alright, let's do this."
Cracking my neck, I walked over to a distracted couple and snatched one of their coffees and napkins from their table.
With a hot cup of coffee in hand, I headed straight at the police officers and accidentally crashed into one of them. Spilling hot coffee all over his chest and face.
"Gah!" The officer cried out in pain as he quickly tried to rub off the coffee from his face.
[+5 SP]
"I am so, so sorry! I just spilled a very hot liquid all over your face." I yelled as I tried to help the officer by patting his clothes with my napkin. I dabbed his face, chest, and, finally, legs.
While I was at it, I winked at my rabbits, launching them into action. Two of the rabbits rushed over to the officer I was patting and quickly tied their shoelaces together.
As they got to work, I quickly lowered myself and extended my leg, causing the second incoming officer to trip and fall.
"Whoa there! I didn't see you!" I cried out with a spin, spilling all of the remaining coffee into the third and final officer's face. Causing him to scream and grab his face in pain. "Here, let me help you!"
[+5 SP]
I reached over to a nearby table and ripped off its tablecloth, leaving all of the contents on top of the table in place. I wrapped the tablecloth around the third officer's head, blinding him as my rabbits tied his laces together.
Moving over to the fallen officer, I winked at my rabbits as they finished tying his laces as well. They gave me a thumbs-up and melted into the shadows.
"Officer! Officer! Let me help you!" As I moved to help the fallen officer, I ended up tripping on nothing, causing me to fall over him. "Gah! I'm so clumsy! I'm all thumbs today."
[5 x 3 = +15 SP]
"Get out of the way kid!"
The officers glared at me and tried to run where they had last seen Himiko go, but they all ended up tripping due to their tied shoelaces.
"Can't believe that worked," I muttered as I walked away from the struggling officers.
Reaching the others, I saw that they were too worried about Himiko's disappearance to have seen my performance. How sad.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" I asked them. I then looked around with a look of suspicion. "Where's Himiko?"
"Sou-chan!" Keiko cried out as she grabbed one of my jacket sleeves. "Himiko-chan suddenly left! I tried to call her, but she won't pick up. I'm worried about her! She looked really scared."
"We have to go after her. What if she's in some kind of trouble?" Izuku said with a concerned expression while Mei nodded.
"Okay, Let's go after her, then," I said as I looked over my shoulder to see the confused officers scanning the lobby. "Let's get moving."
x x x
"There you are."
I walked over to Himiko as she sat on the rooftop of my house with her knees against her chest. Sitting down next to her, I looked out at the dark star-filled night sky. A soft hiccup escaped Himiko as she buried her head into her knees.
"I was having so much fun."
"…I know."
I wrapped my arms around her as she leaned her head into my chest. Her sobs shook my chest as she cried.
"They were worried about you, you know. They didn't give up looking for you until I forced them to stop." I whispered as I rubbed her left arm. "You made some really good friends, Himiko. There will be a lot more opportunities for you to hang out with them."
[+15 SP]
"It'll just happen again... They'll keep looking for me." Himiko said as she looked up at me with tears streaming down her face. "It's not fair... I don't want to live like this... I just want to be free."
I said nothing but pulled her in tighter as she continued to cry into my chest. A cold feeling swelled in my chest as I brushed her hair.
"Don't worry, Himiko. You will be... I promise."
-
AN:
Wow, you guys really threw all your power stones at my window. Here I was doing some personal stuff today and I come back to WN to see the first goal already being met.
Very impressive.
Well, here is your first bonus chapter of the week! Be sure to leave me plenty of comments!
Until next time!
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