"Bonne lecture! This is getting very interesting everyone, is this starting to be a romance story now? Or Kamen rider or pokemon story? Pretty unusual for the author to create this chapter differently. But hey, I'm not complaining, I like how characters becomes characters themselves. And Hop is enjoying his own character, isn't that wonderful?" Tassel said
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Chapter 32: Two illumination of light together
It's the evening outside. Inside the Fantastic Bookcafe Kamiyama, Ryugh is looking at his Gatrikephone
"So this is he's dating," he said
"What are you doing?"
Ryugh turns his head to see her, "Rena, it's about Hop," he showed it to her
She looks at the Gatrikephone and see Hop is playing with a girl, "Who's that he's playing with?"
"I've identified her identity," Ryugh responded
"What's her name?" Rena asked
"Here, take a look," he showed the identity of the girl to her
"Helena...?" She read the name
"Yeah, that's her name," Ryugh replied
"Why did you go out of your way to find her identity?" Rena asked
"Interesting facts about her when I found out, she died from the war 3 years ago," he responded
"She... Died?" She asked
"Yeah, it was interesting thing to know more about her," Ryugh said
"If she's supposed to be dead... Then who's that?" Rena asked
"Let's ask him if he knows more about her or if she's a different girl with similar appearance," he said
"I mean, it's getting dark so he'll be here soon enough," she responded
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With Hop and Neoma
Both of them are laying on the grass in the amusement park after they had their fun together
"That was so much fun," he said
"I agree, that's the most fun I had with someone," she said
"You have friends, right?" Hop asked while he sit up
"Uh-huh, they're great friends, I haven't met them in a while," Neoma replied while she sit up
"I have great friends too," he responded
Neoma looks at the sun to see it's the evening, "I'm sorry if I leave early today, it was a lot of fun being with you. But I have to go back home,"
"That's fine by me, go do what you are going through for tomorrow," he replied
"I will," she got up and leaving him to go back to her home
Hop looks back at the evening sky after she left, "Today is a good day, I would never thought about actually having fun with another person who I fall in love with,"
He stood up and going to exit the amusement to go back to the cafe, but before he made it to the exit, Hop noticed someone on a bicycle going full speed that is going straight towards him. He thought that the person would hit the brake to slow down
Hop continue to go to the exit without thinking much about it. That until second later, he was bumped by a bicycle behind him. He was able to stand his ground and balance himself so he wouldn't fall
"What was that for!?" He asked
The person who was on the bicycle finally stops and turned around, "I'm so sorry!"
"Why didn't you hit the brake?" Hop asked
"The brake is broken, so I couldn't stop myself," the person said and got off from his bike then reach something in his backpack
"What are you doing?" He asked
"As an apology, here take this," he took out a balloon Pokemon and give it to him
"What's that?" Hop asked
"It's a balloon Pokemon,"
"What's the pokemon is it based on?" He asked
"Oh, this one is a Greavard. The spirit dog I think, I don't know my knowledge of many pokemon but I don't know if this is accurate or not," he replied
"Why specifically Greavard?" Hop asked
"Because, it represents a spirit that never leaves by your side even in death," he responded
"That's... Very meaningful,"
"Yep, take it, it's my apology," he said
"Who are you anyway?" Hop asked
"Hm? Oh, my name is Ren. I'm an employee of this amusement park," he responded
"Ren, I guess I'll take the balloon," he said and receives it
"Oh, I have another thing with me," he said and puts his hand in his pocket to search for something
"It's fine, no need to give me another gift," Hop said
"Ah ha! Here it is!" Ren said and took out a bag of dates from his pocket
"Dates?" He was confused
"Here, accept my apology," he gives it to him
"I already accepted your apology!" He replied
"Just take it, you must be hungry and need a snack," Ren responded
"Fine," Hop took the dates from him
"All right, I'm going now, see you later if you visit this amusement park again," he said with a smile before going to his bike
"What a strange person, I'm not complaining for his personality," he said and goes to the gate to exit the park
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In the Fantastic Bookcafe Kamiyama
Hop opens the door and came back to the cafe, "I'm back,"
No one responded to his presence because there's no one in the cafe. Hop sat down on the empty seats and think about today he had
"She was... Just that beautiful..." He mumbled to himself
"Were you dating her?"
He turns his head and see it was Ryugh, "Ryugh? Did you heard me?"
"I did not, but I did saw you and a girl playing together," he replied
"That's probably nothing, it's just a friend," he replied
"Is it really?" Ryugh asked
"I'm sure of it," Hop replied
"If so, is her name is Helena by any chance?" He asked
"Helena...?"
"Is that her name? No?" Ryugh asked
"Uhh... Yeah, that's her name," Hop lied
"He lied,"
Hop turns his head to see Rena, "You too? What do you mean it's a lie?"
"Well, I can sense if someone is lying or not with a very high accuracy," she replied
"If her name isn't Helena, then what is she?" Ryugh asked
"Why do you want to know about her?" Hop asked
"I'm just curious," he replied
"I... Fine, I'll answer so I wouldn't have to answer more for tomorrow," he responded
"So, what's her name?" Ryugh asked
"Her name is Neoma Aisha, she's someone I hung out with today," Hop responded
"Neoma Aisha..." Ryugh mumbled to himself
"There, anymore questions?" He asked
Rena saw a bandage wrapping around his right hand, "What happened to your hand?" she asked
"Oh this?" Hop showed her the hand that's covered in bandages, "I was just... got mugged
"You got mugged? You know you are strong, right?" Ryugh asked
"It was a surprise attack, okay? I hadn't had time to react," he replied
"That still doesn't make sense," Rena said
"Trust me, I'm not the strongest in the group, I'm still a human being," Hop responded
"Yes and no, you are human, but isn't an ordinary one," Ryugh said
"What do you mean?" He asked
"Never mind,"
"That's great, now, I want to take a shower," Hop said and was about to go to the fridge until Ryugh stops him
"Hop, take this with you," he said while giving it to him
He looks at the thing he gave him and see it's a copy of the Thousand and One Night book, "A book?"
"Keep this with you at anytime, it's important," he replied
"Why's that?" He asked
"This book is a gift from me as an apology for my past actions," Ryugh responded
"Why are you giving it to me?" Hop asked
"Because, you deserve it," he replied
Hop receives the book from him, "I know I love the stories within the content of this book, but why me and not Victor?"
"I knew you would ask, it's because, of what I said back in your home world," Ryugh said
He looks at it and looks back at him, "Fine... But I'll give you this in return," he puts the bag of dates on the table
"What's this?" Rena asked
"It's dates, enjoy them, I'll be going to wash myself," Hop said before going to the fridge
Rena goes up to Ryugh, "Do you think it'll work?"
"According to my prediction, it would getting rid of a threat," he replied
"What threat are you talking about?" She asked
"I don't know, it shows me that all of the members will disappear," Ryugh responded
"Disappear...? I don't want to disappear again..." Rena said
"Don't worry, this time I can save you," he said while picking up a date and putting it in his mouth to chew
She smiles, "Of course that's so you,"
"Not really," Ryugh said before spitting out the pit and tossing it towards the bin, however, it misses
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Tomorrow
With Hop
He's walking under a bridge and going somewhere, "According to Gloria, this way is a shortcut to the shop where they sells mooncake,"
While it's a long journey, he decided to take out the leftover dates that Ren gave him
"I've always seen these before in advertisements, I want to try them, glad they spare some for me," Hop said and take a bite off the date, "Hm, it tastes sweet and caramel like texture. That's nice," he continues to eat it until it left only the pit left
He thought about throwing it to the trash but he looks around to see none are nearby, not even around him
"Well I can't just put it in my pocket again since it has my saliva, guess I'll just throw anywhere else since this can decompose," Hop said and throws away the pit without much thought
Until then, he heard a scream coming from in front of him. The scream was produced by a female voice and he rushed to the source of the voice
When he arrived, not only he was shocked, but the fact that the one getting attacked was Neoma, and the one attacking her is the white Falchion from yesterday
"Neoma!" Hop rushed to her aid
The figure puts its blade above and was about to swing it downwards before Hop came in and stop it from swinging the blade. He kicked the figure and goes to her
"Let's get out of here!" He said to her while helping and get her to get away from the figure
With them
They've gotten away from the figure, Hop looks over to Neoma and see wounds on her shoulder
"You're hurt..." He said
"What was that thing? It attacked me!" She said while in pain
"Calm down," Hop said and took out something from his pocket, "Here, I know it won't do much but it can stop the bleeding,"
What he showed to her was a handkerchief, she looks back at him after he gives it to her
"Thanks..." she receives the handkerchief and puts it to cover the wound
"Now, I really want to know why Falchion attacked her, it was me, now her, what does Ryan want from us?" Hop mumbles to himself
"Hop..."
He turned his head, "What is it?"
"I have something to show you," she replied
"Huh?"
"Follow me to the place where I mostly spend my time alone," Neoma said and starts walking
"Where are you going?" He asked and follows her
Both of them are walking to the destination where Neoma is taking him. After a few more minutes later, they've arrived
"Where are you taking me?" Hop asked
"Look over there," she pointed out
He looks where she's pointing and only seeing a street, "What am I supposed to see?"
"Do you know what this street holds?" Neoma asked
"No? Is it a secret place?" He asked
"Yeah, that street, is where my families died," Neoma responded
"A what?!" Hop was shocked, he looked around and still saw the surrounding areas are still intact, but he was curious then asked her, "But how?"
"Because, they were in the middle of a genocide that happened..." she replied
"But why? And how? How did it happened?" He asked
"To be honest with you... I have no idea, all of it happened so fast... I was there when it happened..." Neoma responded
"That's sad..." Hop said feeling empathetic
"Do you know about the Thousand and One Night book?" She asked
"Yeah, that's my favourite book," he replied
"My father used to tell me stories from the book," Neoma said
"Really?" Hop asked
"Yep, and ever since, I read the book more for the stories it contains," she replied
"That's very meaningful, I've never knew the book would have symbolic meaning for you," he said
"I know..."
Hop turns his head to her, "Is there something wrong-"
Then, suddenly, Neoma leaned in and kissed him on the lips which caught him off guard. She separate herself from him while he's still befuddled at what just happened
"W-was that..."
"It was,"
"I... I couldn't believe it!"
"I know,"
"You... Is... Is it real?"
"How do you think you can feel it?"
"It... It was... Wonderful!"
Meanwhile in the background, someone is recording them without their notice
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Inside the Fantastic Bookcafe Kamiyama
Ryugh is watching the video he recorded of them, "I knew it was a trap!"
Rena comes over to him, "What trap?"
"This girl... I know what's her true intentions," he said
"What's her intentions?" She asked
"I've figured out after following him and seeing that girl, and I know her next move,"
"Yeah, but how?"
"After listening to their conversation deeply, it just feels like she has hidden intentions,"
Then, both of them disappears leaving only the Ankokuken Kurayami and Kougouken Saikou Seiken dropped to the ground with Ryugh's Gatrikephone as well
Hop came back to the cafe with a cheerful mood, "I'm back!"
He went in the cafe with ecstatic feeling then steps on something, Hop looked down and see a Gatrikephone
"Whose phone is this?" He picked it up and inspected it, "Why is there a Gatrikephone here...? Anyways, I am so happy after she became my girlfriend!"
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"Now, this is interesting. Now's left is our trio, will they defeat the entity who is erasing the Swordsman? Or they'll have to find out themselves even longer? We'll see that in the future chapter," Tassel said
CHAPTER 32 COMPLETE
SEE YOU NEXT CHAPTER