After another big and deep portion of the most boring classes, according to Liza, Akira thought the day would never end. Yet suddenly, it was... again.
Zhenzhen was standing at the entrance with Cleo, discussing something, while Akira, Liza, and Joshua were getting closer.
Cleo darted her eyes back and forth, seemingly nervous, sometimes glancing at Zhenzhen.
Zhenzhen asked her in a polite tone.
Zhenzhen: "Do you require something of me, Miss Cleo Williams?"
Cleo jolted a bit, but tried to remain calm.
Cleo: "Oh, it's not... Mister Zhenzhen... Have you ever thought about which club you're supposed to join? Everybody says it's a big thing in Japan. We need to consider joining one, right?"
Zhenzhen looked towards Akira and the others as they came closer.
Zhenzhen: "Indeed, we are, Cleo. I'm considering the martial arts club, if they have one."
Cleo covered her mouth with her little palm.
Cleo: "Oh... I wonder which club I'm supposed to join..."
Zhenzhen, still gazing at Akira, shot her a brief side glance, full of wisdom.
Zhenzhen: "You need to choose what your heart truly desires."
Cleo giggled under her breath.
Cleo: "What my heart truly desires..."
Akira, Liza, and Joshua approached the entrance. Zhenzhen and Cleo stood there like campus guards, though the real security guard was long gone, napping from boredom, and a little journal was covering his face. The entire entrance hall was the same: students wandered back and forth, laughing loudly. Akira even saw a couple of guys trying to repeat his stunt from yesterday—lifting a girl like a sack of potatoes—only to be interrupted by Mia Walker, who was patrolling the perimeter and advising them to stop this type of activity immediately.
People were getting a little too hyped about the so-called "Rules of Nature" challenge. A few genuinely believed that by joining clubs here and now, they'd receive some massive bonus, but nothing like that had ever been promised.
Akira playfully waved at Zhenzhen and Cleo.
Akira: "Hello again, guys."
Zhenzhen: "I greet you once again, Akira."
He bowed with his usual polite fist-and-palm gesture.
Joshua jolted in place, struggling to handle the formality.
Joshua: "Oh, you guys... is this part of your 'video gaming' roleplay, or...?"
Liza barked with a loud chuckle.
Liza: "Phew! Josh, what are you saying? I mean, sometimes we may look like total weirdos, but not that much, all right?"
Joshua turned to her, his face full of questions.
Joshua: "Yeah, but..."
Akira: "What do you think, Zhen? Would it be a problem if we told him?"
Cleo's eyes widened, as if Akira had almost let slip that they were Ars Goetians.
Zhenzhen bowed again—a little less formal, but still enough to show it was acceptable.
Joshua darted his eyes around in anticipation.
Liza's eyes narrowed, and she delivered her message in a tone as dry as old oak shavings.
Liza: "He's a monk, Josh. You see, his head is shaved!"
Joshua: "A real monk? Here?! Uh... sorry, didn't mean any disrespect..."
The girls looked at each other with warm, smiling faces. Akira smiled like a guy trying to hide the fact that he just robbed a bank. Zhenzhen observed them in his usual calm and polite way.
Joshua: "I can't believe you guys... I wonder who else is hiding crazy secrets like that. Akira, you're not secretly part of some hidden ninja clan or something, right? Cause I swear—sometimes you look just like one!"
Akira chuckled under his breath.
Akira: "Obviously not, Joshua."
Liza: "Ha! I tell ya... Senpai is WILD enough to be a ninja!"
Cleo: "Liza!"
Liza: "What? Come here, my favourite mascot! Time for your hourly punishment."
As always, Liza couldn't resist tugging poor Cleo by her cheeks, which looked like little dumplings.
Cleo: "Ah... Liza! No... please stop it..."
She laughed along with Liza.
Akira: "I decided to sign with the kendo club. What about you guys?"
Joshua blinked in surprise.
Joshua: "I've been wondering about that myself... I don't even know what to join. Maybe I should just follow you without a second thought..."
Liza: "Ha! Dude's got no personality!"
Joshua blushed and chuckled nervously.
Cleo, her cheeks still red as peppers, tried to defend him.
Cleo: "Liza! Rudie..."
Liza: "I was just joking, holy cutie! You guys are too stiff with this stuff. Given the chance, I would establish my very own club!"
She raised her finger, polished nail catching the light, shining like a princess.
The stunned silence that followed her words suggested she had just revealed plans to create a major corporation with no financial backing.
Joshua: "Captivating thought, Lizaveta. What theme would you choose for your own club?"
Liza: "Isn't it obvious? A girls' club! Just for us! Okay... maybe a couple of boys can join too. As our servants, maybe..."
The boys glanced at each other with a flicker of irony.
Akira: "Captivating indeed..."
Liza: "What was that, Senpai? You gonna tell me it's a bad idea?!"
Cleo: "Girls only..."
Cleo sounded like her wet dream was finally about to come true.
Akira: "Yeah, but I cannot join the girls-only club with you, Liza—if you wanted me to join a second one."
Liza: "Well..."
Zhenzhen: "You didn't give that much thought, did you?"
Liza: "Oh, stop it, Zhenzhi! I know I'm not a genius, all right! Maybe more deliberation is necessary..."
Cleo picked her up with a beam.
Cleo: "Maybe you could mix multiple themes in it. So everyone could join!"
Liza shrugged.
Liza: "Maybe..."
Akira: "Glad everyone's ready to make a decision. As Mia said, it is indeed important. In our country, that is. Nobody's forcing you, but it'd be better if you joined at least something."
Liza slapped his back playfully.
Liza: "Right back at ya, Senpai! Fresh into university life, and already immersed in the kendo club! Classic Senpai's priorities, huh?"
Akira glanced at her with a knowing grin.
Akira: "You know I need my sword skills..."
Joshua's eyes widened.
Joshua: "W-wha?!"
Liza: "Relax, Joshy! It's 'cause he sucks at VR games too! He'd never beat me one-on-one with swords..."
Akira cackled ominously, taking her bait.
Akira: "Is that a challenge, Liza?"
Liza looked like she'd just made the worst mistake of her life.
Liza: "Urgh... obviously not, Senpai..."
She shrank down like a middle schooler on her first day.
Akira: "I was joking..."
Liza: "Yeah, yeah, the famous jester Senpai..."
They all giggled at that.
Akira: "I'm off, guys. I can't be late for the dojo..."
Joshua's eyes widened again.
Joshua: "Dojo?! You mean you're learning swordplay there, too?! You're crazy, man!"
Liza: "Told ya. Senpai is WILD!"
Cleo: "We also need to discuss something, guys... if you remember."
Zhenzhen gave Akira a confident look.
Akira: "Can't explain everything now, Joshua. I've always liked a good sword spar. Maybe it's me being too traditional, or maybe it's just in my blood... But like I said, nothing dangerous. The weapons at the dojo are dull and can't hurt anybody. In the kendo club, we use bamboo swords instead of real ones."
Liza grinned ominously at Joshua.
Liza: "You know, Senpai could always just steal a real one and come for you at night, ha!"
Joshua giggled, though a little nervously.
Joshua: "I hope he only shows up next time to save me from another pack of hooligans..."
Akira: "Don't listen to her, Joshua. I'm telling you the truth—nothing dangerous."
Liza: "Dangerous-shmangerous. You guys are no fun..."
Zhenzhen glanced at Akira again.
Zhenzhen: "Shall we go?"
Cleo nodded.
Cleo: "Yes!"
Joshua: "Are you guys going together?"
Akira: "We usually—well, not usually, it was just once before. Zhenzhen lives in the dorms, and we're heading the same way with Cleo and Liza."
Joshua: "Oh, cool. If you guys wait for me, I'll come too—need to check the schedule real quick!"
Liza: "You can just check it tomorrow, you know? In the morning."
Joshua scratched the back of his head and laughed.
Joshua: "Yeah, you're right. Are you guys not going?"
Akira looked over at his companions—those bound to the Dreamscape, just like him.
Akira: "We are, but we need to discuss something. You go, Joshua—we'll wait for you at the university gates, all right?"
Joshua: "Ah... okay. I'll be quick!"
Liza: "Don't rush, Joshy. These guys' video game discussions are boring anyway, y'know?"
Joshua gave her one last look and walked off.
Akira: "Let's hurry, guys. I've got no time... Barely avoided being too late for work yesterday, and now the dojo master's gonna scalp me alive if I'm gonna be late. He's super strict, and I already skipped practice yesterday..."
Liza beamed at him, hands behind her back.
Liza: "Busy golden boy, Senpai!"
Akira couldn't hold the embarrassment and burst out, pointing at the door.
Akira: "Bah! Let's go already!"
Liza: "Ha-ha!"
As they proceeded to the amber gates, all of them stood, staring at each other.
Zhenzhen: "So..."
Liza darted her eyes up at the dark skies above, standing under Akira's plastic umbrella along with Cleo.
Cleo whispered, looking down shyly.
Cleo: "I'd hope nobody will get any ideas..."
Liza: "What are you talking about? Look at those blockheads pointing at us!"
Both of them seemed embarrassed. Zhenzhen stood as if nothing was happening—he looked like he didn't even feel the rain, standing there with his bald head exposed. There was no space left under Akira's umbrella, so it had been decided that only Cleo and Liza would stay with him.
Akira chuckled a little awkwardly. He scratched the back of his head, holding his umbrella high against the downpour.
Liza, though being almost as tall as Akira, looked at him, raising her eyes.
Liza: "I can't believe you're so tall, Senpai. Look at you—you're a lamppost!"
Embarrassed, Cleo giggled quietly.
Akira: "Thanks for the compliment, Liza. Officially call me Lamp Post Senpai from now on..."
The girls laughed together, while Zhenzhen grinned, barely holding back his sincere smile.
Zhenzhen: "So far, Miss Merlinaza hasn't given us any signal that something is wrong, right?"
Akira: "Yeah..."
He closed his eyes as if preparing to peer into the Dreamscape just by closing his eyes.
Liza: "She's just whistling there, and that's it!"
Merlina truly was in their minds, sitting idly, whistling like a fisherman.
Merlina: "I hear you, sweetie. What am I supposed to do for you, huh? Jabber with you all day? I'm busy!"
She said it firmly, yet showed her face through the magical wisp-camera, to reassure them that everything was fine... for now.
Cleo closed her eyes just like Akira, trying to imitate him—or so she thought. She blinked a few times.
Cleo: "I'm glad you're alright, Lady Merlinaza!"
Merlina: "Oh, thank you, dear. We've got a surprise just for all of you, my fellow lads. Return to the Dreamscape shortly. Don't forget to set a clear time for drifting back to us!"
Akira: "I hope this surprise of yours is going to be pleasant, Sensei..."
Merlina: "Look at that, the famous dull beggar speaks again! How come you are always doubting me, Akira boya?"
The girls giggled, closing their eyes, just to see Merlina's flabbergasted face through the vision in their minds.
Akira: "Disastrous puss..."
Merlina: "...Then again, I haven't seen anything suspicious here, to be honest with you, my children. It seems like a calm night in this frozen world so far. So, like I said—come back to us, and don't forget to set your time in stone. We don't want one person waking up and waiting for the others for an hour or two..."
Zhenzhen glanced at Akira.
Zhenzhen: "What about our plan?"
Akira opened his eyes and shook his head.
Akira: "I don't have any, Zhen... The only thing I know is that we need to press on and advance toward the black citadel. We'll find out what's waiting for us there."
Liza: "Avoiding Four-Eyes and her boyfriend along the way would be nice, too..."
Cleo opened her eyes and gave Liza a faint pinch.
Cleo: "Liza!"
Liza: "Ouch! Holy Roller Girl, you're in deep trouble now!"
Cleo tried to hide behind Akira's back while Liza reached out to pinch her instead.
Akira: "Now I'm really being used like a lamppost..."
Zhenzhen chuckled softly.
Zhenzhen: "Girls..."
Liza pointed her long-nailed finger at him, halting her pursuit of Cleo, while Holy Roller Girl clung to Akira's arm, hiding her face behind his shoulder and glancing warily at Liza.
Liza: "Say one more thing about girls and I'll pinch YOU next!"
Zhenzhen smirked calmly.
Zhenzhen: "Not going to happen, Lizaveta."
Liza: "Ha! So sure of that? Come here!"
She moved a step forward but froze—the rain was still coming down hard, and she didn't want to step out from under Akira's umbrella.
Liza: "Oof! You! Zhenzhi, you cheater! How are you standing there like this, like it's nothing?"
Zhenzhen nodded politely in the rain as if preparing to educate her.
Zhenzhen: "But I am, Lizaveta. I feel every drop falling on. It just doesn't bother me."
Akira: "We need to move, Zhen. I hope you're not catching a cold. Let's meet in the Dreamscape, as it's inevitable. No use talking more here. Let's hope Merlina's going to be fine till we return."
Merlina popped back into their minds, facing the magical camera again.
Merlina: "Oh, look at that! My pupil finally cares about me. A touching moment..."
Akira: "Disastrous puss..."
Merlina: "But you just said—"
Akira: "Forget it."
The rest of them giggled again—Akira's and Merlina's exchanges were just too funny.
Akira: "You guys..."
Zhenzhen: "I bid you farewell, my friends. May you return to the Dreamscape safely."
Akira nodded.
Akira: "Goodbye, Zhen. Let's meet up again around midnight."
Liza: "That's too vague, Senpai. We need an exact time!"
Cleo: "How about 10 PM?"
Liza: "You sure like sleeping early, Cleo..."
Cleo: "I wouldn't say that's particularly early, Liza."
Akira nodded again.
Akira: "10 PM it is, then. Let's go. I can't keep watching Zhenzhen soak in the rain... I wonder where Joshua is..."
Joshua Abelman was visible through the glass doors at the entrance, talking to Mia Walker. Igor stood nearby with a couple of other students—it looked like they were discussing something.
Akira narrowed his eyes.
Akira: "Great..."
Liza: "I think we should just go, Akira. We'll tell him we waited, but he didn't show up."
Akira: "Nice excuse, Liza..."
Cleo: "Maybe we could wait just a little longer..."
Zhenzhen bowed politely in the pouring rain, completely soaked, and walked off.
Akira: "Goodbye, Zhen."
He waved, and both girls followed with their own waves.
Liza: "Senpai, look at the time! Maria's going to kill me!"
Cleo blinked and looked at Akira.
Akira: "Alright, let's go slowly. Maybe Joshua will catch up..."
Right after he said that, Joshua stepped out of the RIU and shouted at them.
Joshua: "Guys—sorry! I need to stay a bit longer. It's about the clubs—Mia and the others are still deciding, and I have a few things to clarify with her. Sorry again! See you tomorrow!"
He waved, then went back inside.
Liza: "Told ya! This slacker chose Four-Eyes' speech over hanging with us. Traitor!"
Cleo: "Liza..."
Under Akira's umbrella, Liza, acting like a wild Amazon in the rain, shot Cleo a swift glance.
Liza: "What? Let's go already. Move it, Senpai!"
Just as she said, Akira started walking toward the metro station, shielding them both from the heavy downpour, while behind him, Liza's light prods urged him onward.
Liza: "Cleo... a question... are you ready to get to the Barghest? To try on a mascot costume?"
Cleo: "Still don't know if it'll be a good idea, Liza..."
Akira: "I think that's a disa—"
Liza: "Oh, stop it, Senpai! You're ruining her mood. You look like a giant wendigo struck you, not her! I can't believe it..."
Cleo giggled, her palm concealing the wound near her small mouth.
Akira: "At least tell Maria it has to be tomorrow and not today... or better, any day with actual pleasant weather. Not something like this..."
He glanced up through his plastic umbrella at the dark skies hovering above.
Akira: "It's raining and snowing at the same time. The snowflakes melt mid-air and add to the rain. Just more water mass falling on our heads..."
Liza: "You're beginning to sound much like that old fart professor..."
Cleo widened her eyes, unable to tolerate such rudeness.
Cleo: "Liza!"
Even Cleo's hiss was cute — like the soft steam of a cupcake volcano about to pout.
Liza: "Don't look at me like that, girlie! I know what I'm talking about! I survived TWO FREAKING HOURS of THAT OLD FART TALKING ABOUT SOME CHEMISTRY REACTIONS! Like I care about that stuff..."
Akira chuckled, raising a palm to his brow.
Liza: "You know I'm right. You survived it too, Akira!"
Akira: "The lecture was... a bit boring, maybe. But you don't need to call the professor an 'old fart', Liza..."
Cleo nodded vigorously in agreement.
Liza: "Whatever you say, Senpai. Anyway—do you even have any warm clothes?"
She didn't need to mention it. Back at the entrance, both she and Cleo had pulled their funny-looking warm hats over their heads—green for Liza and pink for Cleo. Liza was also wrapping her green scarf back around her neck.
Liza: "How about a present? Just from me..."
She caught Cleo's firm, timid stare, which said: "Not fair, Liza. Not fair at all."
Liza gave her an apologetic beam grin.
Liza: "He-he, okay, how about we BOTH give you a present, Senpai?"
Akira: "You don't have to go that fa—"
Cleo: "You'll need warm clothes, Mister Akira!"
Cleo, even smaller than Liza, lifted her chin and looked up at Akira, as if she were his grandma, caring about him too much.
Akira: "I can't believe you guys..."
Liza nodded to herself with a sly grin.
Liza: "Black scarf, it is!"
Cleo darted between Akira and Liza, smiling as they proceeded under his plastic umbrella.
She tugged at Akira's uniform.
Cleo: "Mister Akira, I promise you'll get absolutely THE BEST scarf and a HAT."
Liza glared, peeking out from Akira's side.
Liza: "YOU ARE SO BOLD, GIRL, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"
Right before they were about to part ways, passing the monument, Akira faced a minor dilemma: if he and Liza left Cleo behind now, the poor girl was going to get soaked under the heavy rain.
Akira: "How about I give you an umbrella, Cleo?"
Liza's eyes widened.
Liza: "How about that? Another traitor?!"
Cleo giggled again, covering her mouth with her little palm.
Akira: "I can't believe you, Liza..."
Liza: "Alright, I was joking, obviously... But what about us, Senpai? Are we just going to run toward the metro station like this?"
Akira: "I can cover you with my uniform..."
Liza: "Are you serious?!"
Cleo's eyes widened like dinner plates; she was envious enough that Liza got to go home with Akira every day.
Akira: "Also... I forgot to mention I need to buy a mattress and some clothes for Ota. Maybe even an entire bed..."
Cleo: "Ota?"
She looked at Akira questioningly.
Liza: "It's the Pops—"
Akira glanced at her.
Akira: "Liza..."
Liza's tone shifted abruptly, mimicking a regal narrator from a vintage television program.
Liza: "Yes, I forgot... His royal majesty, Mister Nishioka! Son of that Nishioka, and the one before him! Their bloodline is FULL of that Nishioka's honour, don't you dare call them otherwise..."
Akira chuckled along with Cleo after that performance.
Akira: "You're truly one of a kind, Liza..."
Cleo: "Ha-ha!"
Liza: "Whatever, Senp. If you still don't want to be late for your dojo, you'd better part ways with your plastic umbrella fast. Or are we gonna stay like this forever?"
Cleo: "I believe I can—"
Akira took off his black RIU uniform, adorned with a red emblem.
Akira: "Let's run to the station, Liza. Cover yourself with this. Cleo, take the umbrella. Don't worry about me, I'll manage... somehow."
Cleo hesitated at first, but after catching another self-reliant stare from him, she reconsidered and took it anyway.
Cleo: "Thank you, Mister Akira."
Akira gave her one last warm smile.
Akira: "Don't mention it, Cleo... And please, consider calling me Akira next time. You don't need to be so formal, not after everything we've been through."
Cleo looked down, then back up at him.
Liza tugged Akira by the sleeve of his now-soaked white shirt.
Liza: "Senpai, are you mad? Let's go already! I care less about Zhenzhi and more about you right now! At least he's got a dorm nearby. My heart bleeds every second I see you staying half-naked on my behalf. Later, Cleo!"
She waved at Cleo along with Akira, then yanked him forward to get him moving faster.
Cleo stood there under the plastic umbrella, her lips barely parted, a healing wound tracing their edge as she whispered possessively.
Cleo: "Not fair, Liza. Next time I'll give him the best scarf... and A HAT!"
Right after whispering it to herself, she turned away, shaking off the lingering feelings that tugged her toward her friends and focused on the road that led to her home.
Running like mad, Akira and Liza nearly slipped and crashed into the crowd gathering near the station. They finally ducked under the roof, out of the rain. Akira, limp and dripping like a flower caught in a sudden deluge, looked at Liza, barely catching his breath.
Akira: "You run pretty fast... for a girl, Liza."
Liza, breathing heavier than him, mumbled something under her breath before raising her voice.
Liza: "What did you just say, Senpai? Girls can't run?! Is that what you're implying?! You better take that back!"
Akira tried to respond calmly, but his lungs weren't cooperating.
Akira: "I didn't mean it like that, Liza..."
Liza: "I know what you meant—take this, stupid Senpai!"
She started poking him with her long nails—right in the most vulnerable spot of all... his armpits.
Akira: "Ouch! Ouch, I give up! Liza, please! That one hurt—gods have mercy!"
Merlina, whistling the same old tune in their minds, giggled from time to time.
She raised her voice.
Merlina: "You two better stop wasting time, lovebirds!"
Liza held herself back from landing another poke to Akira's ribs, just in time to declare their usual protest in sync with him.
Akira and Liza: "We are not!"
Merlina giggled flirty.
Akira: "Let's go grab another umbrella. Want me to get one for you, too, Liza?"
Liza: "You don't like it when I'm close, huh—"
Merlina: "Told you. LOVE-BIRDS!"
Akira and Liza harmonized once more, but with increased volume.
Akira and Liza: "WE ARE NOT!"
Most of the Japanese commuters around them turned and stared, as if these two had just committed a war crime against public etiquette.
Akira: "Not so loud, Liza..."
Liza: "Look who's talking, stupid Senpai!"
Akira shook his head in disbelief, chuckled, and went to grab another umbrella—or two, just in case. Meanwhile, Liza stood at the ticket gates, still hiding under Akira's black uniform, forgetting that they were already under the roof.
He returned with two clear plastic umbrellas.
Liza sneezed.
Liza: "Look what you've done, stupid Senpai! We gave our last umbrella to Cleo, and now I'm freezing out here, huh?!"
Akira: "I'm sorry, Liza. Let's hope you warm up soon. Your immune system will handle it... Maybe."
Liza muttered something quickly.
Liza: "Will get warmer in someone's arms, stupid Senpai..."
Akira didn't hear it.
Akira: "Don't be mad at me, Liza. We need to pay for the tickets and catch the train."
Liza raised her eyes. He hadn't done anything wrong, which somehow just made her more annoyed. She took the second umbrella forcefully and handed back his uniform.
Akira stood there with a confused look while Liza turned away and tapped through the ticket gate.
Akira: "Just like Zhenzhen said... Girls..."
He hurried after her.
They stood together on the train platform, waiting for the train to arrive.
Liza pouted, still mad at Akira.
Liza: "Moronic Senpai!"
Akira: "What did I do, Liza?!"
Liza glanced at him with the expression of a spoiled princess.
Liza: "Nothing! That's the problem!"
Akira tapped her slightly damp green hat with the dangling pom-poms.
Akira: "Whatever I've done, I'm sorry, Liza."
Liza glanced at him again, barely holding back her beaming smile.
Liza: "Moronic Senpai!"
Akira chuckled as they boarded the arriving train.
Swaying, gripping the overhead railing, Akira and Liza tried to survive the usual pressure of a crowded subway car.
Liza: "I think someone's touching me where they're not supposed to, Senpai..."
Akira glanced back quickly, but it was just a few people pressed against them from all sides.
Akira: "We just need to hold on till our stop."
Liza hissed comically.
Liza: "Moronic Senpai..."
Akira couldn't help but laugh.
Akira: "Keep calling me that, and it's gonna stick. People'll think that's my actual nickname."
Liza looked up at him with her usual sly grin.
Liza: "If anything... I'm not mad at you at all. But sometimes... You need to keep saying what a girl wants to hear, heh."
Akira shifted, trying to balance against the weight of the crowd—and the pressure Liza herself was applying just by being near.
Merlina: "Good advice, dear... I can use that one too!"
Akira: "Sensei..."
Merlina: "Right back at you, freshman, praise your mentor, and see, a miracle could happen!"
The rain kept pouring, heavier than before, and the sky had already gone dark. Evening wrapped Ryoto in a damp, shadowy hush. The streets looked even older than usual—rows of traditional buildings, mostly Japanese or Chinese-style, with a few odd foreign touches mixed in, like someone forgot what country they were in halfway through building. Akira and Liza hopped off the train and broke into a run. They were already late—Akira for the dojo, and Liza for her part-time job.
Akira: "I urgently need to buy something for Ota to sleep on. Same with clothes—looking at him wearing those old rags makes me feel sad every time..."
Liza: "His bamboo hat looks dope though!"
Akira, admiring her comment, shot her a look and chuckled as they charged forward to reach the Barghest cafe.
After a moment, Liza's eyes widened. Once again, it was a black student from RIU—Aberash Taylor—overtaking them like a marathon runner, dressed in the same black RIU uniform as Akira.
Liza: "Hey! There, do you think you're heading on, Mister Cacao!?"
Aberash glanced back at them mid-run, shielding himself with a clear umbrella, glaring at Liza as if she were a mad police officer obsessed with rare jewel confiscation—and he had the goods in his pocket, right here and now. He looked back one more time... then picked up the pace.
But Liza was already out of stamina. She stopped, hands on her knees, catching her breath.
The whole time, Akira had been trying to cover her with his umbrella. Liza clutched her shoulder bag, stubbornly refusing to use her own umbrella. Like a personal bodyguard, Akira stood over her, holding his umbrella high.
Liza: "I can't believe Maria invited him to our place again! Unbelievable!"
Akira frowned, watching Aberash disappear into the rain, then turned to Liza.
Akira: "I think you need to tell me who he is, Liza. I... I felt something on our first day. A presence in certain students—you, Igor, Zhenzhen, Cleo... All of you are being awakened as Ars Goetians. He's the last one. The only one who hasn't awakened yet."
Liza: "What?! Cacao-man's gonna get trapped in your dreamy world, too, Senpai!? Fantastical..."
Akira couldn't believe she'd called him "Cacao-something" again. He raised a hand over his face, trying to hide his crooked smile.
Liza: "What?"
Akira: "I don't know how you handle it abroad, but that sounds extremely racist to me, Liza..."
Liza: "Bah! I didn't call him anything offensive. Maria gets mad every time I call him that—ha! Met him a few times at our cafe. I doubted it was him on the stairs with an onion boy; his sports uniform made him hard to recognize."
Akira shook his head in disbelief.
Akira: "...And I wonder why she's mad at you..."
Liza: "What do you mean? She always barbs at me about you, Senpai, so sometimes I think—it's payback time! Heh!"
Akira: "Let's just keep going, Liza. Can you describe his character to me? He is an American exchange student, right?"
Liza leaned toward him under the umbrella, beaming as they walked toward the same old Black Dog cafe.
Liza: "Interested in him, aren't you, Senpai? That boyish love still won't let you go, aha!"
Akira covered his face again, trying not to groan.
Akira: "Just tell me what you know. I don't need details about his personal life. Or whatever's going on between him and Maria. Just the basics, thanks."
Liza: "Yeah, but you'd be interested to know Maria actually likes a bl—"
Akira: "I DON'T WANT TO KNOW, LIZA! Just... tell me about his behaviour. Is he acting strangely or anything like that?"
Liza: "Oh... alright."
She had clearly been teasing him for a while, but as they advanced toward the cafe, she gave him a quick summary of the student who'd just blown past them.
They reached the entrance to the Barghest Cafe. The curtains were open, and the lights inside were glowing warmly.
Maria and two girls were rushing to serve clients. Aberash Taylor stood near the counter, facing Maria, who grimaced as she tried to explain something to him.
Liza: "I can't believe Cacao-dude ran so fast!"
Akira: "Liza..."
Liza: "Forget it, Senp! I told you everything I knew about him. So long! Maria's gonna kill me—I'm late again..."
Akira: "Don't forget, our mental bodies are still trapped in that icy wasteland. We need to be prepared for anything."
Liza: "I'm always prepared, Senpai! Ha-ha!"
Maria moved to the window while Aberash tugged along behind her. She knocked on the glass to get Liza's attention, letting her know it was time to get to work.
Liza: "Upsy-daisy! Haha... Don't forget to say hi to 'Pops' for me, Senpai!"
She gave Akira a playful tug on his uniform, beamed at him, and opened the cafe door. Maria made a cartoonishly smug face behind the window and waved at him. Akira gave a faint wave back.
Aberash stood in the background, spotting Akira. He narrowed his eyes and sat down at the cafe table with his arms crossed, watching as Liza slipped through the staff-only door to change.
Akira didn't bother to investigate—whatever Aberash was doing wasn't his business, anyway. He was already late for the dojo, running through the same neighbourhood he'd visited yesterday.
The good old dojo stood just left of the "red temple", and farther down from Ghost Rider Works. Akira still hadn't forgotten he needed to find a local store—either to buy a mattress for poor Ota or, at the very least, let him rest in Akira's own bed for the night. The old man sleeping on that wooden attic floor seemed increasingly cruel.
Akira: "Merlina, is everything alright over there?"
He pretended to speak into his earphone—barely visible behind his left ear.
Merlina: "The only strange thing I saw from here, freshman, was that flash of light not so long ago... Also, I think a giant lizard is guarding this place—"
Akira's eyes widened as he came to a halt in the middle of the crowd gathered outside the dojo.
Akira: "Giant lizard?!"
Merlina: "A dragon, probably. A frost one."
Akira: "Sensei, are you crazy?! Why are you telling me this only now?!"
Merlina: "What do you expect from me, Akira boya? Should I go telling your friends—especially the girls—that they possibly might be fighting a distant cousin of the dinosaurs? Poor things didn't deserve that."
Akira glanced around like a lunatic, holding his umbrella and slim document case, one hand to his ear as if trying to catch radio signals from outer space.
Akira: "I can't believe you, Sensei..."
Merlina: "No need to panic, Akira boya. It's still a long path to the Frozen Citadel. For now, prepare yourself for your little 'dojo'. Good thing your spiritual energy is still surging and surrounding your body. It should last a day or two, maybe. If you planned to infiltrate the Citadel, then we're in a suitable spot. The dragon appeared to be hiding in the mountains, far behind the Citadel."
Akira's Mind: "A whole dragon... Am I seriously going to fight that thing?"
Merlina: "Back to reality, freshman. You told Liza to 'observe her surroundings'—maybe you should follow your own advice!"
His loud mutterings about dragons, as if speaking of Godzilla, caused nearby people to point at him as if he were crazy.
Akira smirked, looking at the dojo.
Akira: "I'm an idiot..."
With that said, he walked into the long-awaited dojo.
The vibe inside was peaceful. Soaked in earthy browns and muted tans. The room itself was square-shaped, ancient wood stretching in every direction, the high ceiling woven in a cool layered pattern—like thatched reed or bamboo—adding a touch of texture that breathed tradition.
Dark wooden panels lined the walls, interrupted only by square windows that filtered in soft, diffused light. Thin paper screens divided off parts of the room, completing the aesthetic. A grid of light beige tatami mats spread across the floor, precise and clean, with an emblem etched in the centre—a wicked eastern-style dragon clutching a sabre-like sword in its coiled tail. Two scrolls hung quietly on the walls, each bearing surreal, weathered paintings of imagined warriors or old spirits.
A pair of weapon racks stood to the side on a slightly raised platform, lined with various blades—long, short, and elegant. Across from them stood a torii gate carved from dark wood, as it was almost sacred. The whole place had an atmosphere unlike anywhere else. The woodwork was flawless, every joint and beam laid with care. It felt like time slowed inside these walls. Every detail whispered age, discipline, and tradition. Breaking the silence would've felt like a crime.
However, the crime was carried out by a charming little dog known as the "Phantom of Karelia", a grey Shiba Inu with deep, dark eyes that added to the dojo's mysterious ambiance.
Akira could barely hold back the warm smile spreading across his face as the little friend came closer, close enough to get a little hug from Akira.
Akira: "Ahaha, I miss you too, Phantom."
The master of this dojo was Ren Zaitsu, though he wasn't there at the moment. Akira dared to leave his soaked uniform behind and changed into the training clothes waiting for him in the corner—no doubt prepared by the owner. Many people showed only idle interest in "dojo training," and recently, not many had been visiting. Akira was alone in the large room, pushing himself—physically and mentally—trying to become a better Warrior in the Dreamscape, a perfect swordsman. To stay strong, protect his friends, and possibly find the Lesser Key.
Mister Zaitsu finally arrived, clearly surprised to find Akira standing tall in the middle of the room, swinging a dull uchigatana, accompanied by a small barking dog.
Ren Zaitsu wore traditional gray dojo attire, old and tattered but still high quality. His sharp face was framed by long black hair tied loosely but deliberately in a knot at the back.
He cradled a warm cup of tea in his hands, the saucer balanced beneath it, raising a cup toward Akira with a polite, friendly smile.
Ren Zaitsu: "Late, Yamauchi!"
Akira had barely begun to sweat, while Phantom of Karelia, still circling him. He gave a faint nod to Mister Zaitsu as Akira swung his sword in training.
Akira: "Hello again, Mister Zaitsu. People just keep telling me I'm late..."
Ren Zaitsu suddenly made a lightning-fast gesture with two fingers toward him, his expression comical.
Ren: "Because you are! Don't tell me that 'Tetsu' fellow is bothering you again with his dirty work."
Akira shrugged, pausing his sword swing for a moment.
Akira: "Without that dirty work, I'd never find a way to pay you for using your dojo, Master Ren."
Ren sat in the middle of the room, with his back to the wall, facing Akira.
Ren: "Huh! Just to make this old cockroach with a mustache angry, I could give you free access to the dojo—free of charge!"
Akira let out a crooked smile.
Akira: "You know I can't do that, Master Ren. Sorry."
Ren Zaitsu chuckled softly, closed his eyes, and sipped from his tiny cup, enjoying the fresh green tea and calm evening.
Just like that—in the company of the barking dog Phantom of Karelia and Master Ren sipping tea—Akira spent the last part of his evening hours training hard.
Afterwards, Akira bid his farewells to Master Ren and Phantom of Karelia.
Getting some black mattresses for Ota "The Ossan" Nishioka was a quick task to handle, as he bought cheap clothes just for him, and headed to Miss Mariko's apartment complex.
When he entered the building, Miss Mariko greeted him again as if no time had passed at all.
Akira thought about what might have happened, since Ota had been in his apartment—maybe he had caused some mischief, or something else. But the complex had remained calm and silent, almost like the dojo.
He nodded to Miss Mariko and headed upstairs, while she met another tenant coming down the opposite staircase, clearly dissatisfied.
"And what? No kitchens here? Outlandish!"
Akira's Mind: "Welcome to this apartment complex, friend. If you want to cook food or take a long, steady bath, do it somewhere else; that's why it's so cheap."
Miss Mariko tried her very best to stay polite, explaining the surroundings to a newbie foreigner who had just arrived and tried to rent a room in this part of the city for the first time.
Akira met Ota right after he opened the door to his apartment.
Ota startled a little, darting from the open window to Akira and back.
Ota: "Nobody followed you, it seems."
Akira shrugged as he placed everything on his little table. His hands were full today—a plastic umbrella, his uniform, clothes for Ota, and a mattress. He was fully in pack donkey mode and didn't even feel exhausted, though he was a bit sleepy, which was a positive sign... for an Ars Goetian, that is.
Akira: "Hello again, Mister Nishioka. Did you try the attic? I'm fine with your staying at my place."
Ota closed the window. The weather outside had finally begun to calm—a little rain, no snow, and that was it. He gazed at Akira as if he were truly a saint in mortal body.
Ota: "I can't believe you, lad. You're not afraid of your father at all, Akira?"
Akira: "I am, but he didn't bother setting up surveillance on me or anything like that. You know how powerful he is in the Dreamscape. He doesn't need that kind of trickery."
He began sorting things out, handing the rolled mattress and the fresh clothes to Ota.
Akira: "Here you go, Mister Nishioka."
Ota: "Thank you, lad."
Akira nodded.
Ota: "I was up in the attic, Akira... It's a snug place... Putting it mildly. It's already miles better than sleeping on the streets every day."
Akira nodded again. Ota gave him a dry chuckle.
Ota: "You're too good to be a Todo son, youngster. If only..."
For Ota, everything that had happened in the Dreamscape—and after—had left a mark. He wiped away a small tear that welled up in his left eye, welled up behind his round-rimmed glasses, barely visible to Akira.
Akira raised his hand in a gesture of stopping Ota from punishing himself on his behalf.
Akira: "Don't be like that, Mister Nishioka. I already told you—you can stay here as long as you want. I can even live in the attic myself!"
As only he could, Ota shifted back to cheerfulness like a true street performer.
Ota: "Just like Robin said... you're doing good for no reward, huh?"
Akira glanced at him. For a moment, it was touching—Nishioka, in some parallel universe, felt more like a real father than Todo "Warlock" Yamauchi ever did.
Akira: "Robin—your inner self, right, Mister Nishioka?"
Ota let out a dry growl of a laugh.
Ota: "Aye. Robin Hood. Hoped you've heard of him."
Akira nodded with a grimace as he tried to remember something from his memory.
Akira: "An archer... and a thief."
Ota laughed loudly.
Ota: "Funny, you call him a thief, lad."
Akira let out a dry chuckle of his own.
Akira: "Meant nothing by it. But he was one. Famous 'rob the rich, give to the poor' kind of thief."
Ota nodded, still wearing his black cape with the hood tossed back.
Ota: "Aye. That's him, lad."
He paused, glancing between the mattress and the clothes Akira had given him.
Ota: "You're going to enter it again, lad?"
Akira nodded, tired of repeating the same old: "I am."
Akira: "I don't have a choice, Mister Nishioka. We're all trapped there. It was never my intention—"
Ota: "A fate set in motion."
Akira rolled his eyes and threw up his hands.
Akira: "Not you too, Mister Nishioka!"
Ota growled like an old street bear, grin rising with his throat.
Ota: "Ha! Lad... I swear, people like you are one of a kind. I can't believe saints like you walk among us, feeble mortals."
Akira: "I'm a big sinner, Mister Nishioka. And my sin... It's carved deep within me, like a lurking shadow soaring behind me whenever I fall asleep. A shadow of my past life, maybe? My inner self — called Devilish."
He paused, gazing at his clenched fist.
Akira: "Yet I won't let my father have his way. It's his will against mine! He caused my mother's death. Made you suffer as well! If I let him take control of the Dreamscape... of this entire country... nothing good will come of it."
Ota let out another one of his dry-throated laughs.
Ota: "If you say so, lad..."
Nishioka made a pause of his own, facing the poster on Akira's apartment wall.
Ota: "I'm still on the run in the Dreamscape. But we can help each other. You helped me here, in the real world—but I can help you out there. I'll draw Todo's attention, while you go after whatever's pulling you into that frozen waste, far beyond Ryoto's reflection. We could also share some intel about the Lesser Key of Solomon. You and I might even figure out how this pyramid and the nearby realms are connected. And in the end, you'll be the one who stays a step ahead of your father."
Akira nodded in agreement.
Akira: "I understand, Mister Nishioka. Here's the key to the attic, in case you change your mind about staying down here. It's a small place for both of us, but I can go upstairs—"
Ota: "Not gonna happen, lad. You stay. This is your home after all. Just be careful, in both worlds. Even if the Queen of Tales is watching over you now, you're still vulnerable—and not for your own good."
Merlina stopped whistling in Akira's thoughts just long enough to fire off a snarky remark.
Merlina: "Look who's talking! This irresponsible Ranger made one of the most dangerous Ars Goetians in years infuriated—and now he's giving advice. Remarkable!"
Ota growled again, as if he'd heard every word.
Akira shot him a smirk, narrowing his eyes.
Akira: "Still a mystery how you could hear her, Mister Nishioka."
Ota's expression shifted once more—this time toward seriousness.
Ota: "What do you mean, lad? I just remembered an old anecdote, that's all."
He blinked, took the attic key from the table, and turned to leave the room.
Just before walking out, he looked back and gave Akira a knowing stare.
Ota: "Be careful out there, Akira... and follow the infinite power of dreams."
He closed the door behind him.
Akira stood there, confused.
Akira: "How... how does he know that? That's what my mother used to say, long ago..."
Merlina: "A mystery, freshman."
Akira: "Disastrous puss!"
Merlina: "Huh! I think you need to stop playing the hand of Providence. It's getting late. Better prepare yourself. Time to drift away!"
Akira blinked a few times and closed the curtains. The room smelled faintly—like someone who hadn't washed in a while. Definitely a man who stayed at his place for a whole day. He noticed some crackers and a bottle of water left behind by Ota "The Ossan" Nishioka.
Akira: "He forgot these..."
Merlina: "You going upstairs?"
Akira shrugged again.
Akira: "Tomorrow. Maybe."
Merlina: "Liza and the others are asking if you're ready. The ninth evening bell tolls soon enough in your world. You promised them you'd fall asleep soon."
Akira nodded to himself.
Akira: "I'm ready, Merlina."
Behind the curtains, a single snowflake drifted down onto the Ryoto streets. At that hour, Akira and his friends were once again preparing to enter the endless wastes of the Frozen Realm.
Akira closed his eyes and saw Merlina smiling in front of him.
He drifted off to sleep with a smile, even though nothing in the real world—or the Dreamscape—was anywhere close to being perfect.