3 weeks ago..
"Hey, Fruity." Akira said to Fruity, as Fruity waves at her.
"Hey Akira, what's up?"
"I think I'm beginning to accept my gender for the first time.."
"..Oof. Are you sure? What if the school doesn't accept it? You've been dedicated to the role as a guy, going into the boys bathroom and everything, are you sure you want to tell them?"
Fruity said, as Akira was offended.
"So you're saying don't tell them? Don't accept the gender I was born with? You're telling me to just allow everyone to bully me, Fruity?"
"That's not what I'm saying-"
"Then what are you saying?! I want to hear you say it out loud, now!" Akira shouted, as Fruity scratched his head.
"..You sh-"
Akira swung her hand at Fruity's face, slapping Fruity's cheek. Suddenly, Akira noticed a vein popping out of his forehead, as Fruity slammed his fist into the desk.
Kokoru walked in to see him arguing with Akira, the bickering got louder and louder. Kokoru shrugged it off as Fruity getting mad at Akira again, so he sat down and began eating. He looked at my food before hearing a table slam.
"Oh my god! Fruity, I'm-"
"Shut the hell up, you green little SHIT!" Fruity shouted, as Rhed walked up to diffuse the situation.
"Fruity! Relax, man. You were never like this with the others, with Shizuka and Kam-"
Fruity punches Rhed, as he hits the table and is almost hit by a fork.
"F-Fruity.."
"..I'm sorry."
Back in the present..
"Man, I feel like I've been asleep forever! What happened?"
The whole car turned around to face the man at the end of the car. They saw one, sitting up.
"What? Something on my face?"
"How are you awake?"
"I dunno. I just smelt smoke and opened my eyes." The man said, as Kokoru flicked his head.
"Ow.. what was that for?"
"You're really here.. Rhed."
"Yeah, I am. Anyway, what did happen?" I asked, as the car goes quiet.
"I see.. I can ask when we get home." I said, as Akira hugged him.
Back at the house..
"Wow. This is the house? Nice.. I'll just sit he-"
"Nope. We need to make sure you don't feel the effects of post-hospitalization." Kokoru said, as he brought me into the kitchen.
Kanashi walks up to Noa, looking outside. She admires the sky, as Kanashi walks up to her.
"How'd you know the two? Toshiro and Tafu, how'd you know them?" Kanashi asked, when Noa began to monologue.
"I knew them once my mom and dad decided Nozomu was too good for me. I couldn't even tell you guys, and I was really pissed off. Then, I met Tafu and Toshiro. They introduced me to a group of 20 people that called themselves 'The Lovers'. They were my Family away from my family, a group that protected themselves and others. Then, bombs began to fall, and the group was split into an argument. 12 of them went and defended Sutareta, while the other 4 would get to shelter and protected by Tafu. 4 of the Lovers didn't even know what was happening.. I never knew what happened to the 12 that ran. For all I know, they could've died as soon as the bombs fell. I'll never know what happened to Senpai Shinjiro.. or Ibu-Ibu.. I'll never get to tell them anything anymore."
Kanashi handed her a napkin, as she refused.
"Well, we don't blame you for leaving. We all fell apart after you left. Kokoru finally did what he learned his forms for, and Momoru had business with Kamaye. I was left, and all I ever did was what I was told. So I remembered what you told me, and everyday I waited at the airport for you to come back. I was 15 at the time, and now I'm 19. Eventually, I bought a house next to the airport and kept waiting. I still have it now!" Kanashi said, as Noa looked over at her.
"You waited 4 years.. for me?"
"It sounds weird when you word it like that, bu-"
Noa hugged Kanashi, as he pet her head. They stayed out there, as I looked over at them.
"You noticed it too?" Kokoru asked me, as I smirked.
"Yeah, teen love. It happens, you and I should know better than anyone here." I said to Kokoru, then Momoru walked into the room.
"How's he doing?" He said, dropping pain killers onto the table.
"I can walk." I said to him.
"Y'know, everyone thought of you as this mom to Shizuka. What happened to you? Why'd you decided to change?" I asked him.
"Well, just like Kokoru over here, I took a beating that I remembered, and it tends to change you." Momoru said to me, as Kokoru and Momoru left.
"Hey honey, you doing ok?"
"I'm fine, Akira. Thanks for being with me even halfway in the grave." I said.
"Hey, same with you! Without Kanashi, we wouldn't be here. Come to think of it.. why does he listen to everything everyone says?" Akira asked me, as I stood up.
"Just like everyone of us, it's the absence of parenthood. You'll come to understand in a bit." I said to her, as she stared in confusion.
"Hey, everyone! We're gonna celebrate Rhed's awakening by going down to the market!" Momoru shouted, as everyone cheered and ran downstairs to the car. We all got into the van and left, as the sun began to go down.
We arrived at the market and it was incredibly crowded. We began walking around and eventually we found a noodle bar right next to a museum. We all sat down, as Noa and Kanashi began talking like old friends. Kokoru, me, and Akira all began to talk about the past, as Momoru stayed watch.
"Welcome! Noodles are ¥500 per customer!" The bartender said, as I began to chuckle.
Suddenly, from above me, two birds dropped two wallets, filled with money.
"Heh, it's like you never left."
"So, Rhed! What happened while you were in the coma? What did it feel like?" Kokoru asked, as I chuckled.
"Uh.. It felt like a realistic dream. I couldn't explain it even if I tried. One thing's for sure, I never lost thought of her!" I said, hugging Akira.
"I missed you so much, Kira. Hey everyone, cheers! To the strongest woman I know, Akira Abiko!" I shouted, as everyone cheered and slurped up their noodles.
Momoru crosses the street, as I followed after him.
"What's up?"
"Do you hear that? Something's happening in here, and it doesn't sound normal." Momoru shouted, as he and I listened closer.
It was crashing, rumbling, and what sounded like silenced gunshots.
"Yeah, something's up. Call the others, and tell them to meet me on the roof." I said to Momoru, as he nodded and I ran around the side of the museum.
I looked around, then checked the back. I saw a ladder, and I climbed up it. I grabbed onto the ledge and climbed up. I looked around the roof, before noticing a skylight.
"Crap, all of them are nailed in." I said out loud, before noticing one of them.
One of the skylights was propped open with a full wallet, as I chuckled again.
"Ok, now you're starting to annoy me, lady luck!" I said, as I opened the skylight.
"Let's test my luck on that guy." I said, as I threw the wallet at a bookcase behind a man with a gun.
The wallet knocked over the bookcase, as it dominos into each other and eventually lands on the man's hand.
WHOA!
I fell out from the skylight and landed on the bookcase, as I turned my head to face the others downstairs.
It was Okawa, Kamaye, Fruity, Shizuka, and Yuki. Heh, I've missed you guys all so much.
"Heh, nice to see you guys again! Weird running into you guys here! Guess I just got lucky!"
I kicked the guy in the face, then turned to face the others.
Man, does it feel good. Feels good to be lucked out.