章節 10: Remembrance
It's been almost a month, and there hasn't been any Undergrounder activity in any of the North American territories. Our heroes regularly show up to the headquarters, where they all meet in room 309.
"DAHHHHHH!!!!" Carly's scream echoed through the room, causing everyone to turn and look at her.
"What's the matter with her?" Jennifer asked Arata, her brow furrowing in concern.
"Her school holidays are coming to an end, apparently," Arata replied with a slight shrug.
Jennifer nodded in understanding. "Wait, she's still in school?" Lila asked, her eyebrows shooting up. "Which school?"
"New Fred's High," Alex said as he plopped down on the couch. "She's in her final year."
"Oh, and how do you know?" Lila's tone was edged with suspicion.
"Paulie told me," Alex replied, stretching his legs out.
Lila's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, so now you're getting down with her or something?"
Arata, sensing the brewing storm, tapped Jennifer on the shoulder and walked away, wisely choosing to avoid the impending clash. Jennifer followed, her eyes widening in anticipation of the familiar argument.
"What if I am?" Alex shot back, his tone defiant.
Lila's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Wow, so you move on fast, huh? First me, now Paulie. What's next, the cafeteria lady?"
Alex rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. Like you didn't move on. Didn't see you crying in a corner."
Lila crossed her arms, leaning forward. "I didn't move on, Alex. I just realized you weren't worth the tears."
"Right, because you're such a catch," Alex retorted, sarcasm heavy in his voice. "Remind me again how many guys you've scared off with that charming personality of yours?"
"At least I'm not a coward who runs away the moment things get tough," Lila snapped back, her cheeks flushing with anger.
"Coward? I think the word you're looking for is 'smart.' I dodged a bullet," Alex said, smirking.
"Bullet? You wish you were that important. More like dodging a mildly annoying mosquito," Lila fired back, her eyes blazing.
"Mosquito? I'd rather deal with a swarm than go another round with your drama," Alex said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender.
"Drama? You're the one who brought Paulie into this! Maybe if you didn't act like a high school gossip, we wouldn't be having this conversation," Lila said, her voice rising.
"Me? A gossip? That's rich coming from Miss 'Did you hear what so-and-so did?'" Alex mimicked her voice, rolling his eyes.
"At least I care about people, unlike you, Mr. Ice King," Lila shot back, glaring at him.
"Better an Ice King than a Drama Queen," Alex countered, his voice cool.
"Drama Queen? Oh, you haven't seen drama yet," Lila warned, leaning in closer.
Carly, who had been watching the exchange with growing frustration, finally couldn't take it anymore. "WILL YOU TWO JUST SHUT UP ALREADY?!" she yelled, throwing her hands in the air. "You're like a bad reality TV show. Seriously, get over yourselves."
Lila and Alex fell silent, both looking a bit embarrassed but still glaring at each other.
"She's more of a mom to the group, even though she's the youngest," Jennifer said with a chuckle.
"I agree," Arata nodded, walking over to the coffee machine. He poured himself a cup, savoring the warmth as he took a sip.
"Hey everyone…" Elio entered the room, his face clouded with melancholy.
"Hey, Elio, all good?" Arata asked, raising an eyebrow as he stirred his coffee.
Elio walked over and sat next to Carly, who was still fuming from her outburst. "Yeah, everything's fine, but I'm sad because my holidays are coming to an end. I need to start going back to college."
"Oh, which college?" Arata asked, taking another sip of his coffee.
"Fred's University of Science and Research," Elio replied, his tone heavy with resignation.
Jennifer's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, you both go to the same school and uni?"
"We do?" Elio asked, glancing at Carly with genuine surprise.
"Yeah, she's in the high school, and you're in the college," Lila chimed in, looking up from her phone.
"I actually didn't know," Elio admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Me neither, actually," Carly said at the same time, her expression softening a bit.
Arata grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "I guess school won't be so bad if she can meet Elio regularly at their study center."
Carly's lips twitched into a small smile. "Yeah, maybe."
Alex, sensing a rare moment of camaraderie, decided to seize the opportunity. "I just realized, I never actually asked anyone's age. Up for it?"
"Turned 22 this year," Arata said, raising his hand.
"Me too!" Jennifer chimed in with a smile, standing close to Arata.
"I'm 30," Lila said, a hint of pride in her voice.
"I'm 34," Alex added, nodding.
"18," Elio said, looking around the room.
"I'm 17," Carly said quietly.
"Damn, so you two are the youngest here," Arata said, looking at both Carly and Elio with a warm, almost sibling-like affection.
Jennifer glanced at Elio and Carly, her eyes softening. "You two have a lot of time ahead of you. Enjoy it while you can."
Carly shrugged, still looking a bit grumpy. "Yeah, I guess. It's just school, you know?"
Elio smiled at her, a rare expression of camaraderie. "We'll get through it. Besides, it's not all bad."
Lila leaned back, a playful smirk on her face. "Just wait until you get to our age. Then you'll really have something to complain about."
Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "You're not that old, Lila. Besides, age is just a number."
"Easy for you to say, Mr. Thirty-Four," Lila shot back, her tone teasing.
Jennifer laughed, the tension in the room easing. "We're all in this together, no matter our age. Right?"
"Right," Arata agreed, raising his coffee cup in a mock toast.
"Aru?" Jennifer whispered, her voice tinged with vulnerability.
"Yeah?" Arata turned to face her, concern evident in his eyes.
"My parents' and brother's graves and even those guys who saved me... can we go today? I really want to talk to them," Jennifer requested softly, Vamby fluttering around her with a shared sense of melancholy.
Arata nodded. "Of course. Sir Alex, we'll be back soon," he informed Alex, who was engrossed in his work.
Alex looked up and nodded. "Sure, but remember, you're still on duty, so be ready to respond to any emergency calls."
"Don't worry, sir, I'm not you," Arata quipped with a sly smile as he turned to leave with Jennifer.
Alex's eyes widened in surprise. "HE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT!" he exclaimed.
Carly and Elio burst into laughter, while Lila shot Alex a knowing look.
Arata and Jennifer were stuck in traffic in his newly purchased car, a sleek Honda City CVT model. It was comfortable and stylish, reflecting a milestone from Arata's first salary. As they sat in the car, the sounds of the city filled the air.
"This team, it's fun to be like this with them. Kind of like a different family," Jennifer remarked, gazing out the window.
"A family we know little about. I mean, I know about you, and you know about me, but the rest... they're still kind of strangers," Arata replied thoughtfully.
"You're right, but it's fun nonetheless. Since the whole incident with Luke last month, things have been iffy, and you guys really brighten the mood," Jennifer said, smiling.
"Especially when Alex and Lila bicker," Arata added with a chuckle.
Jennifer laughed along. "I still don't understand why Sir Alex rejected Lila. She was more than ready to date him."
"My wolf instincts say it has something to do with his past or maybe with Lila herself," Arata mused. "Remember I spoke about how we met Elio and how I almost died?" he asked.
Jennifer nodded, listening intently.
"I noticed two things. Things that I can't reveal at headquarters, of course," Arata continued.
"What is it?" Jennifer asked, curious.
"Number one, Lila and Elio were already escaping, almost as if they knew that Uriel and Butter were coming for the ring," Arata pointed out. "It's strange and out of character for them. It's like they were expecting trouble."
Jennifer nodded, understanding his point.
"And number two, when Alex apologized, even though he seemed guilty, he kept saying, 'I feel guilty for putting our lives in danger.' It doesn't make sense, considering when I had the faulty ring, he was fine with me being in the danger zone. But suddenly, he feels guilty for putting me and Carly in danger? Something doesn't add up," Arata explained.
"Wow, no wonder you were a genius in middle school. You think so much with such a small brain," Jennifer chuckled.
Arata smiled. "You never changed, just the same old Jenny."
"You neither, Aru. Still the same genius yet shy Aru," Jennifer teased, poking Arata's cheeks.
"I'm definitely not shy anymore," Arata protested, his cheeks turning red.
"Then why are you so red?" Jennifer teased, trying to take advantage of the situation.
"Shut up!" Arata said, embarrassed, as Jennifer chuckled.
"Cute," she murmured softly, looking away.
Arata, with his enhanced hearing from his wolf's power, heard it. "You too..." he said in a barely audible voice, his heart racing a bit faster.
Arata and Jennifer finally reached the graveyard, navigating through the traffic. They stood in front of the graves of Jennifer's parents and brother, the air heavy with the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers. The sky was overcast, casting a somber tone over the scene.
"I'll be right over there," Arata said, pointing to a nearby tree. Jennifer nodded, appreciating the space to have a private moment.
Jennifer knelt in front of the graves, her hands clasped together in prayer. She closed her eyes, memories of her family flooding her mind. Tears welled up as she whispered her thoughts and regrets.
Arata, giving her the privacy she needed, scanned the surroundings. His eyes caught a figure in black regal clothing, moving gracefully between the headstones. Intrigued, he approached.
"Thank you, Harry. You were always a good person," the figure in black murmured, placing a rose on a grave.
Arata glanced at the headstone. "Harry Andrews. Was he important to you?" he asked.
The figure turned, revealing a woman with an air of authority and sorrow. "Very. He created me," she replied.
"Strange way to put it, but I guess he was your father," Arata said, puzzled.
"You could say that," the woman responded, her eyes distant.
"What's your name?" she asked, her gaze shifting to Arata.
"Ryuki Arata," he said, watching her closely.
"Arata… Wolf Ringmaster, I see," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"How do you know that?" Arata asked, feeling a prickle of unease.
"I am the Queen. Nice to meet you. I heard from Cheese you handled yourself well against that Vampire Bat Undergrounder," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"You're an Undergrounder? You look very human…" Arata said, his shock evident.
"That's how my creator designed me. I am an Undergrounder and the Queen of them," she explained calmly.
"What do you mean?" Arata asked, his mind racing.
"Ryuki Arata, help me revive Sheena and I will leave you and your headquarters alone," the Queen offered.
"You're changing the topic. You need to answer me!" Arata demanded, his frustration growing.
The Queen glanced behind him, noticing Jennifer approaching. "Your partner is coming. I will take my leave. Think about what I said. I'll be off now," she said, turning to leave.
"Aru! Where were you? What are you doing near this cliff?" Jennifer called out, her voice filled with concern.
"Cliff? There's a grave…" Arata began, but as he turned back, he realized there was only a cliff there, no graves. "She tricked me… Was she telling the truth about Harry Andrews, or was this a deception? And what about Sheena… Who is she?" Arata's thoughts swirled.
Jennifer shook his shoulder gently. "ARU!" she called again, worry etched on her face.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought. Had a weird daydream," Arata said, shaking his head to clear it.
"Let's go back," Jennifer said, linking her arm with his. Arata nodded, casting one last look at the cliff before they walked away, his mind heavy with questions.
Arata and Jennifer made it back to the headquarters, entering room 309 where the rest of the team was gathered. "Yo, you guys are back," Elio greeted, his eyes still on the book he was reading.
"Hey, Elio. Nice to be back," Arata replied as he set several packages on the table.
"What's that?" Carly asked, looking up from the paperwork Alex had given her.
"Good old lunch for everyone. No need to go to the cafeteria today. I got you guys some special lunch so you can enjoy your time," Arata said, unpacking the boxes with a flourish.
"YOOOO, you bought lunch!" Lila exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she approached the table. "Any special occasion?" she asked, grinning.
"Just a small celebration for my first salary," Arata replied, smiling.
"Damn, you're already spending?" Alex teased, raising an eyebrow.
"I mean, I don't care about money; I care about fighting Undergrounders," Arata said with a shrug. Alex smiled and patted him on the back.
"Alright everyone, let's eat!" Arata announced.
Everyone eagerly gathered around the table, excited to see what Arata had brought. He had gone all out, getting a variety of dishes to cater to everyone's tastes. There were bento boxes with sushi, sashimi, tempura, and rice; steaming bowls of ramen with rich, savory broth; assorted dumplings and dim sum; fresh salads; and a selection of desserts, including mochi and taiyaki.
"Oh my god, you got sushi! And ramen! This is amazing," Lila said, grabbing a pair of chopsticks and digging into a bento box.
"This looks incredible, Arata," Carly said, already slurping noodles from her bowl of ramen.
"Thanks, Arata! This is a real treat," Elio added, helping himself to some dumplings.
Jennifer smiled at Arata, grabbing a piece of tempura. "You really went all out, didn't you?"
"Figured it was worth it," Arata said, smiling as he watched his friends enjoy the food.
Alex picked up a piece of sashimi, savoring the flavor. "This is really good, Arata. Thanks for doing this."
"No problem. Just wanted to do something nice for everyone," Arata replied, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
At the Queen's lair, the atmosphere was heavy with the soft hum of machinery and the flickering glow of arcane runes etched into the walls. The Queen sat on her ornate throne, draped in regal black clothing, her eyes distant yet sharp.
"Did you meet the Wolf?" Cheese asked, breaking the silence as he adjusted his glasses, looking up from a stack of old scrolls.
"Yeah, what an interesting fellow," the Queen mused, her voice smooth and contemplative. "He is just as you described, Cheese. Not too aggressive. He didn't panic, just seemed confused by my arrival."
The Queen chuckled softly, a rare sound that caused Butter and Lance to exchange bewildered glances. "The Queen smiled?" Butter asked, her usually stern expression showing signs of confusion. Even Lance, who was typically unflappable, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Ryuki Arata…" the Queen said, her voice trailing off as if she were savoring the name. "I want to test him. I hope he joins us. He is someone that Sheena will also like."
"How can you be so confident about that?" Lance challenged, his tone respectful yet skeptical.
"Why don't you test him, Lance?" the Queen suggested, her gaze unwavering. "If you doubt me, why not try him in your own way?"
"Nah, too weak," Lance dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I'd rather test Alex or that chick he had his time with. Both were pretty strong."
"Actually, Mister Wolf's girlfriend is also quite powerful," Cheese interjected, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "She was able to bring out the soul of the ring."
"Pretty strong indeed," Butter agreed, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"I saw her," the Queen continued, a hint of admiration in her voice. "She was there with him. I thought I could talk more with Arata, but she found me quickly."
"Oh, that's unfortunate," Butter said sympathetically.
"How is the Uriel situation?" the Queen inquired, her gaze shifting to Butter.
"He has found a position as a professor at New Fred's High," Butter reported. "He's gathering information on the student before making a move for the ring. We're not sure where the ring is kept, but once he finds it, he'll retrieve it."
The Queen nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Understood."
She stood up gracefully, her eyes moving to a pod containing the body of a woman. The soft blue light from the pod cast an ethereal glow on her face. "One more ring, and then revivification… We didn't get any new information from that kid Elio, but if he's right, she will be back with us in no time."
The Queen's hand reached out, gently touching the cool surface of the pod, her expression a mix of determination and longing.
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