Tengu Commercial District
Slightly rushed and unedited, but enjoy.
Wanted to post this before the day is over in my zone.
I'm not the best romance writer, so just don't sacrifice me.
Evening
A district serving as a commercial area, mostly dominated by companies and organizations.
It was towards evening, and despite that, the skies remained unchanged.
People could be seen moving about at such an hour.
And in this district was a building.
It was structured like the rest, but on the front side was a digital-analog line clock.
Above it was the name Clock Tower written in bold.
Moreover, every light in the building was lit up at that moment.
"I never tire of seeing this place."
At the path that led to the entrance, Morgan and Kurumi got out of a car.
She then looked at the building with a smile.
The path was decorated with tiled floors and gardens accompanied by bouquets of flowers.
"It took some negotiations with that guy to get this place,"
Morgan replied with a smirk.
"By that guy, you mean…"
The male didn't reply; instead, he gave a slight smile, pulling her towards the place.
Getting to the entrance, the glass door slid open, allowing them to enter.
As they did, a cool air greeted them.
It was even cooler than outside, yet it felt comfortable all the same.
The reception was massive, a wide space, and the desk was just behind.
Flanking the left and the right were elevators to other floors.
While the stairway was on the deep end side of the building.
Immediately, both of them strode hand in hand towards the reception.
Behind the desk sat a young woman with glasses, focused intently on her work.
She didn't notice until Morgan was in front of her.
"Working so hard this late, I thought today was work-free?"
The female behind the counter paused, then raised her head to see Morgan.
"P-p-president!?"
She practically jumped out of her seat, standing straight in a perfect salute.
"I can't believe you scared her like that…"
Kurumi muttered beside him, prompting Morgan to let out a sigh.
He then motioned his hand to her—
"No need to be tense, but make sure you join us in time."
Adding that, he dragged Kurumi towards the elevator, who walked closely behind him.
As they did, he noticed she was staring intently at him.
"What–? Why the look?"
"No, I was wondering when you'd tell the story of how this place came to be."
A huff left Morgan's lips as he stared in front of him.
"Don't worry, they'll get to know about it soon; it's not far off."
"I guess that's okay then."
Then silence between them.
"Did you... enjoy your day?"
Morgan tilted his head to the other side, prompting a smug smile to form on Kurumi's face.
"Pftt–hahaha!"
Kurumi clutched her stomach with her free hand while laughing.
Morgan didn't bother to speak and simply kept his silence.
"Are you still that awkward? Somehow you're better at keeping people at arm's length than this?"
She continued wheezing.
"To begin with, I'm not that much of a romantic person."
Morgan countered.
"I know! Sometimes, I wonder what your goal is in all of this."
She mused, tugging his sleeves, and now that she mentioned it, she had never asked.
At first, he convinced her it was to help her; then, down the line, she found out.
His aim seemed to be something.
"I'll say it's more of a wish if anything."
Morgan held his chin while musing to himself, then he tilted his head to the side, coming to a pause.
"Well, I'll tell you another time."
Eventually, he dropped his hand, with a smile that somehow managed to stun her.
Kurumi couldn't help but point to him at that moment, making Morgan freeze.
"What?"
"That expression—maybe if you had it on all the time, you'd look more charming."
"For real?"
Morgan blinked, facing the elevator wall that barely reflected his image.
Holding his chin, he then began making all sorts of faces.
Everything was to no avail.
"Kihihihihi! Seems like you are more of a natural person."
She then paused, tilting her head up.
"Do you know that your natural expressions are more enjoyable?"
"Is that why you love touching on subjects that tease me?"
Kurumi let out a gasp, a hand holding her chest.
She slowly shook her head with a convincing expression.
"Oh no, what do you take me for?"
"A very terrible person."
"Thanks for the compliment~"
Holding her dress with her free hand, she gave a curt bow.
Morgan rolled his eyes.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity.
Ding~
The elevator door opened to an expansive space decorated in red and green.
Lights filled the area as many chattering people filled the area.
"This crowd is—"
Morgan froze a bit as a figure from the front noticed him before approaching.
Blonde hair, with red-themed clothes too.
It was none other than Artemisia, who then finally stopped in front of him.
She leaned forward towards Morgan.
"Merry Christmas, Claire-san."
"Ahh, Merry Christmas Sia."
The moment he muttered that, his smile turned into a slightly strained one.
Kurumi at his side then wore a way too big smile.
Oh shit, oh shit!
I have to get away quick!
Morgan thought as he sweatdropped. He looked in front towards the rest.
Cecile, Dr. Elric, Para, and even that woman, what was her name again?
Even Shido was here. Great.
It was in that moment, Shidou noticed him.
Morgan's expression brightened.
Naturally, Shidou waved back and started his walk towards them.
But midway, he was intercepted by Cecile who seemed to say something.
Then, Shidou froze.
And then, he turned.
Morgan's face drained of all color.
"Dear, would you care to jog my memory who this woman is?"
Kurumi's tone was sweet, but her grip on his hand was anything but cutesy.
"Uhm… haven't I introduced you two, like, hundreds of times now…?"
He looked between the two before shortly looking towards the crowd.
But as though partaking in her game, Artemisia too shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Clair-san, I seem to keep forgetting all the time."
No, wait there.
In the first place, he perfectly knew what this situation was.
But he didn't expect that Artemisia would develop feelings for him.
Yeah, he saved her, fine and good.
However, it seems that because of the memory exchange as well as their resonance abilities.
That seemed to cause it too.
However, Morgan was firm in his decisions.
Yet, the saint proved to be a true one.
"Well, Artemisia, this is my girlfriend, Kurumi, and Kurumi, meet Artemisia, my—"
"Oh, so you're the second rank."
Artemisia froze hearing Kurumi's words, but she didn't panic either.
She simply tilted her head to the side.
"Eh? What on earth are you talking about?"
Clearly, Artemisia lacks in the attack power department.
However, it seems she's strong in the defense department.
If anything, her naivete seems to be helping her in that department.
"Sorry, girl, excuse me a bit, I want to talk with Kotori over there concerning something."
At some point, while both were staring at each other, Morgan calmly excused himself.
He didn't panic; he naturally slipped away.
But because they were too focused on their competition, they let him go.
"Jeez, I can't believe you used me as a shield."
Reaching her, Kotori, wearing her commander ensemble, crossed her hands under her chest.
"Sorry, but the last thing I want is for those two to turn against me."
Kotori glanced over to the entrance of the long hall, near the elevator.
Yeah, she could understand.
"Still... I can't believe you managed to tame that woman."
"Tame? Ha! I wish... all that aside, I saw the data. Thanks for the help."
"Hmph, as long as you fulfill your part of the deal, then it's no problem."
Just as he said that, Morgan felt a few presences behind him.
It was the other members of the SSS, with Maya, Elric, and Para.
"Oh, y'all are here too."
Morgan raised a hand, prompting them to surround him.
"Finally, the star is here."
Elric said before pushing a glass to him, as Morgan stared at him exasperatedly.
"Wait, why are you dressed as Santa?"
"Don't point at me. Para and the others forced me. Apparently, I look the part or something like that."
Though he said that with his voice mixed in annoyance, he seemed to enjoy it.
"Sir, actually, he didn't resist the minute we told him."
The smart businessman, Para Abellum, dressed in the same outfit as usual.
He leaned closer, whispering that to Morgan, who had a wry smile tug his lips.
"Did you say something?"
Elric turned to him with a literally menacing light in his eyes.
Ah, he's embarrassed…
Morgan, Para, and Elaine thought, each with a calm demeanor.
Para faced the other side, tilting his glasses upwards.
Elaine calmly twirled her wine elegantly, glancing over her shoulder.
Morgan, on the other hand, simply crossed his hands in thought.
"Guess it's our turn. Thank you all, and shoo away~ shoo, shoo~"
Ashley came before Morgan, dramatically waving Para and the rest away.
She then formed a fist and coughed into it.
"Ahem, we, the SSS Brigade, want to present to you~"
Saying that, she froze for a moment, letting her words hang in the air a bit longer.
Then, she raised her hand up—
"Let's get this darn party started!"
Somehow, a guitar appeared in her hands, and in the hands of the other member of SSS.
A drum set appeared in front of Leonkra while a keyboard appeared in front of Minerva.
Immediately as it did, they began playing a jam; moreover, Ashley was the lead guitarist and singer.
Morgan blinked.
How?
Naturally, he was a thousand percent sure that his sister was not a good musician.
Hell, he was willing to bet fifty percent of his soul to prove a point.
Then, he looked up—
No wonder, that explains it.
"It's the latest commercial technology the Research team was working on."
Artemisia and Cecile slid to his front, both by his left and right side, respectively.
"I can see that; that means full dive is close to becoming an actuality."
He calmly thought he might have lost it if it were otherwise.
In other words, Ashley was cheating using a virtual system.
Basically, she was lip-syncing and motion-acting.
Morgan stifled a laugh.
"Mhm. It's like you say."
Artemisia nodded, seemingly having finished her standoff with Kuru—
"Employer, hehehe!"
He felt a voice behind him. It was the voice of someone who was long gone.
She staggered around, placing her hand on his shoulder like he was a long-time bro.
"Nia, are you drunk?"
"Drunk? Me? No way—hic!"
Morhan stared at her, then at his two vices, and shook his head.
"We made sure to exclude any sorts of alcoholic drink."
He then took the glass cup from her. Morgan's face instantly churned.
"Seems like she got drunk on apple juice."
"I said, I'm not drunk, hic!"
"Yeah, you don't seem to be, you ARE. Seriously, how did you even get drunk?"
Both Artemisia and Cecile turned to the sides, stifling a laugh threatening to burst.
"Let me get her then."
Cecile said, walking towards Nia, holding her by the hand, and putting her in a princess carry.
Morgan simply stared with his lips hanging open as he watched Cecile tow her away.
"She's also recovering well."
"Cecile?"
"Yeah, I believe with the necessary equipment, she can become a top Wizard too."
"Of course, second only to us."
Leaning towards him, with her hand behind her back, Artemisia said that with a smile.
Morgan nodded.
Really, had it not been for Kurumi, he would have strongly considered her.
But despite knowing that, she's still sticking to his side.
Well, Kurumi had asserted much to her, so it wasn't like she wasn't aware.
Yet, at that moment, Morgan couldn't help but stare at the room.
It was filled with people he'd come to know since he'd begun his journey.
Somehow, it felt weird.
What started as a lone journey had expanded into something this big.
His ambition was no longer his ambition.
If he wanted world domination, then without another word, Clock Tower would strive for it.
'What troublesome people.'
Thinking that, he turned back.
"Where are you going?"
"A little break."
Saying that, without anyone else noticing, Morgan slipped away.
He took the elevator to the top floor, where his office and other offices were.
Naturally, his was the largest, occupying the most space on that floor.
Click~
With a click, the room opened, and immediately, the light came on.
Slowly, he went towards the back, to the floor-to-ceiling window.
He saw the city below: the lights, the cars, and people moving about.
"Now that I think of it, after their deaths, I spent six Christmases in solitude."
"What began as a group of five has turned into this much; I'm appalled."
Just as he spoke, the door to his office clicked.
Someone else had stepped into the room.
"I believe it simply shows how influential you are."
Despite the new entrance, he didn't need to look at them.
Their tone was all too familiar, and there was only one person that had this access.
Naturally, Morgan replied to them.
"Well, if I say that wasn't even in my goals, would you believe it?"
"Maybe? For me, it had been curiosity. I should have forgotten you, but somehow, I kept on meeting you. Or so it goes."
"Or so it goes…?"
She then stepped beside him, glancing at the city blocks that spread in front of them.
"Though for me, it's different."
Morgan admitted.
At first, his entering the Neighboring World wasn't entirely for her.
But when he came to consider her, he began acting for her.
And that was when it really clicked.
"I'm the type of selfish person that only aims for their goal."
"I already know."
She replied with a curt nod.
"That said, you're still willing?"
"Kihihihi, never underestimate a woman's dedication, Clair. After all, you said you would follow me to the depths of hell, didn't you?"
"Ahh, I said I'll overturn hell—"
"Same thing, Clair, same thing."
Having said that, Kurumi then turned towards Morgan, who also turned to her.
Slowly, a light rose up to the sky and exploded into bright, blinding light prompting both to move closer.
"Merry Christmas, darling~"
"Mmhm, Merry Christmas."