368/Phoning A Friend

Phoning A Friend
Date of Scene:	05 September 2023
Location:	Four Clover Mall
Synopsis:	In the aftermath of 'No One Sleeps In Tokyo', a heavily wounded Koji has to face what his own choices have gotten him into, and it's up to Hanzo to finally do what his Master can't... ask for help. And like a ray of sunshine, Chiyo Sakai arrives. Both have to reveal secrets, but in doing so, a friendship is strengthened.
Cast of Characters:	Koji Silvia, Chiyo Sakai

---

Koji Silvia has posed:
It's about 4am in the morning... School is supposed to be starting for some of the older students, but for at least one of them... the day is going to be a lot longer than it should.

Koji regains consciousness, some of his blood on the floor of the construction shed he was hidden in by his Device, and the rest staunched by a work-shirt he'd found stuffed in here under something. Somewhere in his collective fog, he thinks 'Need to pack bandages, tape, and alcohol in Hanzo...'

But his Device has other thoughts on the matter. Instead of responding to it's Master, it has decided to take matters into it's own hands, and in Koji's pocket, his phone is active and being used as a bridge for it to the Tokyo Internet and to find help.

This is why at this ungodly hour of morning, Chiyo's phone buzzes. and keeps buzzing until it falls on the floor!

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Early mornings were actually something Chiyo was accustomed to. She was already up having seen her grandfather off to work, and settled in to nap a bit longer before school. It was one of those routines she'd picked up long ago that was so much of a habit it just happened naturally any more. Even if there were days she longed to just sleep in.

Her phone going off so violently jars her awake again in an instant and she picks up the phone without even looking at the caller ID. Why? Because if someone was calling at this hour it must be important, right?

"Hello?" It's only after she speaks that she glances down at the phone to check the ID, and then quickly presses it to her ear again with a sound of concern. "Koji?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
Instead of Koji's voice, the one that comes through is an older japanese-sounding man. One with a kindly but stern, and slightly tired voice, << Chiyo Sakai. This is Hanzo. My Young Master requires your assistance. Your Earth Device's mapping system has been updated with his position. This Device is requesting your assistance. >>

Koji, back in his hiding spot, very tiredly focuses his dripping remains of mana to pull a bottle of energy drink out of storage, and sips at it... still unaware of his partner's choice in action.

For Chiyo, the odd voice continues, << Bandages and medical table, sterilizing agents will be required. Multiple lacerations. Three cracked ribs. Assistance is requested. Message ends. >>

The phonecall ends, and Chiyo's Map app on her phone immediately pops up with a marker that's over at the Four Clover Mall and just behind it.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
The unfamiliar voice causes Chiyo to sit up straight listening intently. Help requested for his master? The thought is pushed aside for now in favor of listening to what was requested. The objects described mean someone was injured, likely badly, and this causes her to scowl. Whoever it was, whether it was Koji or someone else, she couldn't ignore such a call.

She also wasn't sure she could provide some of that. A medical table? The rest though, that she could do.

Quickly she rushes around the apartment gathering what items she could. The first aid kit, extra bandages and cleaner, hand sanitizer--Not the greatest but it would be something. Anything she can think of she puts into her bag slinging it over her shoulder.

Quickly rushing down to the shop below she calls out, "Ojiisan! I'm sorry, I just got a call that one of my friends needs me." She pauses, staring at her grandfather seeking the proper words. "I... I don't know how much I should share since it's personal for them, but I promise it's nothing bad! They just need someone right now. I don't know if we'll be up for school. Can I? Is it okay if I don't today? I'll try to I just don't know right now if I should leave them alone."

The wisened old man who was always so taciturn around the shop pauses in his preparation of today's goods to listen to Chiyo, and stare at her with lips pursed together. Considering. Debating. Then he nods a single time. "Check in with me later. You've never done something like this before. I trust it's important."

He gets a quick hug from Chiyo, and then she turns to run off. "I promise I'll be careful!"

Run she does. At least two blocks, crossing the street when the light wasn't even fully turned because at this time of the morning there were so few people out she could get away with it. Just two blocks. Then she ducks around a corner to continue her trek through the city, not as Chiyo, but as Guardian Daifuku who leaps out of the alley to bound along the rooftops to the mall.

Following the path sent to her phone she's soon enough in the area she needs to be.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Managing to sit up, but not back, since the upper part of his back is still sporting that cut from Fate, Koji sits in a sort of curl, drinking electrolytes to get some of his energy back, but feeling the effects of the lack of the blood in his system. No one is here... no one can see the pain and the fear. No one can see him in broken pieces. There's a sniffle... and he winces his eyes shut as his bruised but uncut arm brings up the drink once more.

"Hanzo?"

When the response comes, there's almost a sense of relief from him...

    << Your vitals are low, Young Master. I apologize, but I have broken protocol. Help is coming. Your safety is my ultimate priority. Regeneration has kept you stable while recovering, but your Linker Core is drained. >>

He just sighs. Feeling cold and unable to even be mad, "Please tell me you didn't... call Rashmi... she's already going... to be mad... about Chrono..."

Another wince, "I shouldn't... I... "

    << Young Master, focus on recovery. Help is imminent. >>

The Blade that was using his Regeneration magic on him slowly and shakily lifts up and floats out the small upper window.

    -OUTSIDE-

A small V-shaped blinking light pulse slowly and in time towards where Chiyo has handled on a roof.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
There were always lights on rooftops of some sort. Lights from a window, or from a flood light below. For the taller buildings lights to ensure that planes wouldn't fly too close. Yet that was an entirly different light that catches her eye and far too low to the ground to be any of those things. That had to be it.

With a quick leap she springs across the distance to land in a crouch lightly on the ground outside, possibly being heard by the one within. It's here she pauses, debating, and then shakes her head a single time. It didn't matter who it was they needed help. It was help she COULD provide, too.

The hammer slung over her shoulder is swung forward to tap lightly to the ground, gently even, as she invokes the power she knew she had. Time momentarily seems to stand still around her. It's quick. It's a cut scene. The Culinary Guardian kitchen appears around her from which she can make those snacks and treats that would help revive, rejuvenate, and heal. Perhaps more the former than the latter but she had used it this way before.

That little magical bubble bursts less than a minute later leaving her standing there panting with a decorative three-teired bento box stacked beside her. It didn't hold an entire meal, just various things she thought may help depending the state he was in.

Only then does she finally cross those few feet left carrying the box, and the bag she'd brought with her, as she pauses to lean her hammer against the door. "I'm coming in," she calls out before doing just that.

Just in case he's near the door it's opened slowly revealing her outlined in the light from outside. "Koji?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
What Chiyo sees is Koji... shirt bloodied over the right arm, and down the shoulder of the other side... one eye closed shut from bruising, and several rough-healed cuts on his face. His glasses are not on, and as he stares with one eye, he's shakily holding a bottle of his favorite energy drink in his hand.

It drops and rolls away in a quarter-circle-turn when he sees Chiyo there.

"What did you..."

Both hear:

    << What was necessary, Young Master. Chiyo Sakai was the optimal choice. Welcome Chiyo Sakai. I am Hanzo, and this is my Master, who you know as Kojiro Silvia. >>

It causes Koji to just hang his head, and groan, "This... isn't how I wanted... you to find out..."

And when he looks back up at her, the veil breaks... and suddenly there is the boy she's fought side by side with a few times AND the boy she asked to pretend to be her boyfriend out of panic! One and the same...

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Except, it's not Chiyo. Not as his eyes adjust to the light of the figure stepping forward. The hair was similar, but... but then she crouches down beside him wearing a pink and white garb that was nothing like Chiyo would ever wear. Culinary Guardian Daifuku offers him a soft, sympathetic smile in turn.

The Veil doesn't even need to drop for her as the magic she had summoned to make what she needs to fades from her turning her back once again to Chiyo. "You and me both," she lets out quietly with a small sigh. The magic was dispelled, she was returned to who she was, and what she'd made in the meantime was still here.

She reaches out first to pluck up the emptied energy drink setting it right, before turning back to her bento box to open up the decorative top. "I'm glad you're awake. That means you can eat," she explains only to withdraw a small bowl and spoon from which the scent of sweet red bean soup with mochi balls wafts.

"I'm Culinary Guardian Daifuku," she offers both as explanation and as an introduction to 'Hanzo.' The spoon is dipped into the soup and she lifts it to Koji. "Here, it will revive and heal you."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Koji manages to mutter out, "I... 'Hanzo'..." And then with his injured arm he taps his smartwatch, "My... friend. Device..."

He's sounding a little blurry again as you come close with the spoon, and he has to push with his good arm to lean back and accept the spoon.

"Sorry."

It's all he can say as you finally get to his mouth and he shakily opens it up to get that spoonful into him. You can see his face is ashen, and his one visible eye is slightly glassy. He looks like he got hit by a car, and almost coughs the soup back up as he swallows. With a sigh, he leans back and whispers, "I've been a pretty bad friend."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
The warmth of the food that fills him seems to remain even after that first swallow. Warm, and comforting, and soothing. The more that is eaten, the more that warmth seems to spread out over his body reaching areas which are injured offering soothing relief.

Chiyo dips the spoon again and offers up a second bite while shaking her head. "Nice to meet you, Hanzo. And, no you haven't, Koji. We've all got secrets. Sometimes they're just *this* kind of secret. It's not as if I told you mine, either," she points out with a glance back down to look him over now that she was closer.

It wasn't a pretty sight.

Putting on a calm enough face she returns her gaze to his, glassy or not, and asks, "What happened? Or... no, sorry you should eat more first. It's imbued with the power of Kamado-gami so will help restore your energy and heal you."

Realizing this may not be the most easy to take thing, really, she adds, "I do have bandages and other items if needed. Just... let's try this first. It's worked for others before." Okay. Luna, it had worked for Luna.

Koji Silvia has posed:
On the second bite, the swelling on his face begins to recede and the color returns to it as he's infused with that spiritual power. Even the gem-bearing smart-watch on his hand, the supposed 'Hanzo' he was speaking as his identity as well as friend seems to brighten some. A third bite, and he sighs, even smiling a little... but it's a shaky thing. Absently, he reaches for his bottle, but it's gone, and instead he just brings the hand up and motions for another bite to be offered.

There's dirt from the concrete floor of the small shed, there's streaks on his cheeks that are obviously tears. All in all yeah... a lot of the confident facade is stripped away, and what's left is someone who was scared and alone.

Another sip of soup and he's strong enough to reach into his pocket and take out a little cube with glowing lines on it, "This... this was why."

Looking back up into her eyes, "That's good. Makes me think of... summer days... laying on... the grass."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai smiles, both relieved and proud that it was in fact working. It was good to know that while she had few skills, this was one that carried over to be useful even in her guardian role. "Kamado-gami is god of the Hearth and strives for the betterment of mankind. We use food to be fueling but also to remind ourselves of what is worthwhile in life. The good times."

Her head tilts to the side a little a she gives over another spoonful. It's the object he pulls out which she regards thoughtfully. After that spoon is eaten, she dips it back into the bowl leaving it there to reach instead for the object regarding it. "Is it like your watch, then?" she guesses.

"If you feel up to it, I have daifuku and other snacks to eat too. I just thought the soup would help if you were really hurt." Which he was. Her face drops again meeting his gaze still trying to be reassuring.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine, Koji."

Koji Silvia has posed:
"Come to..." He pauses, and Koji touches his belly with his injured arm, "Suddenly really hungry..."

He takes a couple breaths to recover himself and sit up a bit more, able to look around, and the back, "It's... He's... from another world..."

There's another pause from him, as if pondering what and how much, and then just shakes his head, "Nine months ago I found out my mother is from another world. A world that doesn't have all of this going on, but many people can do magic. She came to Earth on a misson for her people... and they told her she couldn't come home. So she... disobeyed orders and used her Device to help fight like we've been doing. Then she got too old, got pregnant with me... and her magic began failing her."

He has this almost hurt tone in his voice, "When you get old enough, it goes away... so we only have it for so long, but that only happens here... on Earth. So... one day... I accidentally found she'd left Hanzo out... and when I found her... she was being attacked by a monster."

And then he just SHRUGS, as if to say... that's really all.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai takes it all in quietly as he describes exactly what happened to him. When he starts to sit she reaches out to offer a hand if needed. It just lingers near his shoulder, not wanting to risk injuring further but also not wanting him to force himself. She was there if he needed the support.

Lightly she twists to the side to set the bowl back into the multi-tiered bento box on the top, only to pull the second one out. These were little mochi buns that were smaller than usual so they would be easy, bite sized bits. Some were filled with bean, a few with strawberries, and ... some were just wrapped with bacon. Just like she'd brought to the barbecue.

"At least you have your mother to share things with? To help you... I hope?" It seemed like it would be nice having someone who could advise about things at least. "I just made some mochi which I brought to the temple for New Years. I saw a cat there, and fed him some, and when I got home I found a Senbei cracker on my pillow. I thought Ojiisan left it for me. When I ate it though...." It was her turn to shrug. "I'm told there's others like me but I've not met any yet."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Almost immediately, he plucks up one of the bacon-mochi and pops it into his maw, almost swallowing it in a single go. But after a greedy moment, he just allows it to sit on his tongue and takes a few chews to let it play around his teeth, followed by a gulp. It's an almost tangible effect as a sliver of glass stuck in his cheek tings to the floor, followed by a shudder in his body as it pulses health back into his body. One of those curious Blades of his, the one that was outside floats back in, and begins to bathe a silvery-blue light onto his back, and makes him shiver again, "Anyways..."

Once more he holds up the little cube, "This has everything I could steal from Obsidian."

The conversation pauses as he picks up a red bean one this time and almost gulps it down, polite enough to chew and swallow before speaking, "The explosion in Juuban was their doing. A piece of a ship from... the part of space my mother's people are from crashed down here. We were all trying to get things from it. Then someone set off a bomb. I got someone out, but... they got taken for medical help. It was dumb, but... I took a risk. I thought... if everyone's all focused on what just happened, they wouldn't notice if I broke in and took information. And it almost worked."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai doesn't stop him from gulping down the various mochi other than to remark, "Slowly," to hopefully keep him from choking. That wouldn't be good for his health in normal circumstances. Right now it would be very bad and cause his injuries to jar a lot too.

"Obsidian? The company?" Her eyebrows draw together considering it. She'd heard some rumors but nothing substantial. Seeing this, hearing this, she now nods taking it in.

"Not a bad idea, but it sounds dangerous too. Did someone come after you or was the ... the ship too damaged?" Her eyes skirt away from Koji to look up toward the sword that floats over glowing with wide eyes. Not scared. Just a bit in awe of it all. It was so different from her own experiences so far.

Koji Silvia has posed:
He groans and looks almost relieved as the beam sweeps up and down along his back, doing something that's working along with the magic snacks. Which he starts to tuck into while you ask your question... but slowly like you request. One at a time and he makes sure to eat one of each before going back to the bacon mochi again and devouring them all in a quick pace. Licking at his fingers he settles forwards again and puts the cube back in his pocket, "Someone from Obsidian... someone who calls himself Riventon, works with this other woman named Precia. They set up somehow before the chunk arrived. Apparently... this ship blew up some time recently, and parts of it are going to fall here, but also at different times... some already fell, some haven't. Some fell maybe years ago. I think."

His face looks normal again, the wounds all turned to nothing but faded red-marks on his face and his eye sems to be uninjured from whatever happened, "A little girl... couldn't have been more than ten. These people use little girls as WEAPONS."

That one word SEETHES off his tongue... and he cools it with a strawberry mochi, "Anyways... I was four hours in, and just trying to get into the last part of it. This part that... I can't explain. It's like it's there and not. Anyways... I got attacked. She was fast. Too fast for me. Cut a chunk out of my back, put me into a building... she chose not to kill me..."

That causes him to hang his head, "I couldn't let anyone else take this risk Chiyo. And I know I almost died... I should have died... and I'd be doing that not even... even..."

He gulps once, "Not even with my friends knowing why."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Little girls as weapons. That was something that causes Chiyo to pause as she almost points out they were kids, too, and also fighting. Then again she was older than the age that Koji states. Her lips press together in a thin line at the thought.

Shifting her weight back onto her heels, still crouched, she draws a deeper breath. "That's awful. I'm glad you got out, and I'm glad Hanzo called me for help. It's lucky that I have a way to help out more than just bandages."

A little smile comes as she assures Koji, "I would have come even if that's all I could do, though. I'm just glad I could do more."

"I told Ojiisan I may need to take the day off school, so we can take however long you need."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Pausing in his feast, he stretches his legs out next to you, and then sort of runs the heels of his shoes along the concrete as if trying to test the material. Once he considers himself ready, he moves a bit and slides forwards, turning a bit so you can see, "Can you lift my shirt and see how bad it is still?"

Reaching for another mochi, he chews it down and what you see is a t-shirt CAKED in blood. It's honestly a lost cause, the pants as well. He's red all down his back and over one leg...

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai hesitates as she looks at the shirt. That bloodied, horribly torn shirt that was just barely hanging onto him now that he sat up enough for her to see it. A quick breath is drawn in hissed between teeth as a little shiver runs up her own spine. Blood didn't scare her. That *amount* of blood did. If she hadn't gotten here as quickly as she did, would he have made it?

Carefully she reaches out to lift the shirt taking care to pause if anything sticks or pulls. It's just to see his wounds. Her face sets into a grim, determined look as she braces herself for what she might see.

Koji Silvia has posed:
The miracle of godly cooking combined with the power of Devicer Magic has turned what looked like a bad wound into nothing more than a long shallow cut going from near the back of his neck on the right side down and half-way down his back, almost like someone was stopped from being able to complete the blow. Lifting the shirt, you find that it was not in fact cut, and was soaking up the blood afterwards... even though from how everything was spread, a cut like that could easily have been hidden in it.

Looking up over his shoulder at her, he gets a breathy laugh, "A fake boyfriend with a secret identity as a superhero... I bet it'd make a really good Manga. Especially... if you... were a superhero too. It'd be even funnier if we only liked each other in our other identities, right?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Ohthankgoodness. The thought may not have been spoken but it's clearly read on Chiyo's face when she sees the result of the combined healing. It was something that looked very deadly yet at this point was more than surviveable. "It looks like it's healing well. It shouldn't tear or re-open at this point. Just looks like a very new scar," she explains.

The thought of it being a manga does cause her to give a little chuckle. "Tell me about it. That time I was late to meet up, too, was because of fighting." Though perhaps at this point he might have understood that. "Maybe we should write a manga. Then no one would ever suspect."

Koji Silvia has posed:
He pulls off the shirt entirely, and then looks to you apologetically, "Do you mind turning around for a moment? I'm going to change. I keep gym clothes in Hanzo in case I need to make a quick change or something happens. Maybe I need some first aid supplies too."

With the red-tinged back exposed, the Blade floating in the air bathes it with more of that blue-white light and you hear- << PURIFICATION. >>

It seems to sweep the grossness away, and leave him with just the angry red line that you can see, with 3-4 more on his left arm. But you also can see that there was at least a half-dozen more pieces of building glass that fell out with the shirt.

The gem of his watch glows and it projects out an RHA gym shirt, shorts, shoes, and socks. It takes them about a half-minute as they resolve.

"I'm not that good of an artist... and honestly... I'm jealous of your cooking. I feel like I'm coming back from summer break now. You know... like we went to a beach or something. I don't know why all these memories are popping up... but they're nice... It's like things are..."

But he cuts that thought off.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Oh! Oh of course," Chiyo glances away quickly as she stands, and steps to the side to give him more room. "I have some first aid supplies in my bag. Just... Right. I'll just be here." She stops in front of the door staring at it like a guard. There was no way she was going to look over her shoulder at this point.

The light that flashes against the wall makes her very curious about waht's going on. She doesn't dare look lest she make it embarassing for both of them. Instead she just keeps her ears strained for any sound of him in pain, or possibly falling. He seemed to be doing much better.

Her head turns slightly to the side at his remarks just before she catches herself. Refocusing on the door she clears her throat. "I could teach you to cook. Though I don't know if it would have the same result, the cooking itself is the same."

The talk of the memories has her head tip down with a bit of a smile. "Sorry. About the memories, I mean. I think it's supposed to be just a once or twice thing for the snacks I make while transformed, so you may be getting more than usual."

Koji Silvia has posed:
A quick rustle of clothes and he's in the shorts, the socks and the running shoes... while the floating knife that accompanies Koji is running that same light over the sodden clothes and they begin to vanish, "No the memories are nice. Just... it's nice to think of something happy. I haven't for a while. The stuff like our little grilling at night thing... it helps me just ignore how insane my life has become. I used to cook a lot at home. Darien was cool enough to sneak an EM cooktop and a fuzzy cooker into the room for me so I could make us stuff on occasion."

Now he looks over his shoulder, "Could you put a bandage on my back? Just in case. And I promise... I'll answer any other questions you've got."

Holding up the little cube from before, the one that's supposed to have knowledge of Obsidian on it, "There are others who know who I am. I'll introduce you properly if you want. That way... you know who you can trust."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"I... I've met a few so far. I saw something I wasn't supposed to and they realized," Chiyo explains simply. There was one other as well, that she'd shared the information with. "That might help though. Friends are always good."

She waits another half second to brace herself, and then turns around to reach down for her bag to withdraw the bandaging. "Of course. Better to be safe." Moving forward she tears open a little alcohol wipe first warning, "This may sting. Let me clean it off before bandaging."

It's the only warning he gets before the cold wipe is run over the injury on his back. She's quick, but not super gentle about it. She does waht needs to be done for it to actually clean. It's finished swiftly to instead put the warmer, non-stingy bandage over it.

"I'm not... so great with this," she mutters but she does try to keep it neat, and tight."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Wincing, Koji replies, "I've had my share of friction burns and bruised bones from gymastics... heck.. my toe's been bro-OW... SSSSS..."

He's cut off as the cleaning and bandaging is done, and looks over his shoulder with one eye winced shut, giving you an obviously trash-confidence smile, "Better than I could do."

And he tries not to chuckle a little more as he holds still while you finish up, "How about this... we try and alternate hanging out with at least two normal hangouts to one... craziness. Does that work for you?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai finishes up her work just looking over his back. It wouldn't bleed through his shirt at least, and she felt reasonably certain that it would hold awhile. Hands rest on her hips as she considers if there's anything else she could do. There wasn't though. Not at the moment.

"You know," she has to admit with a soft smile offered back, "That sounds like a good idea. Having some good times to make it worth all the trouble. I mean," she runs a hand back through her hair pausing as it hits her bun ontop, and drops her hand away again. "If we outgrow the powers, then we need to also have lives we want to keep going with. If that makes sense."

She looks over her sho ulder a moment now to regard that high window. "We should probably get going before any workers show up. I'm sure it's getting close to that time."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Using your bandages, Koji wraps his bicep down to his elbow to cover up the other wounds-turned-scratches, like some six-clawed cat tagged him hard, and then picks up his shirt to pull on. Looking around, he winces at the bloodstains on the floor, but almost immediately, Hanzo floats down and clears that up with the same declaration of 'Purification'.

He tries to move smoothly, but he wobbles a bit, still weak overall from the experience, "Ugh... You don't mind that I'm leaning on you like this, do you?"

As he speaks, he reaches out and puts his hand on your shoulder, "I think you're going to have to lead me for a bit before I get my strength back..."

"Should I carry the bento?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai reaches up to pat Koji's hand on her shoulder when he reaches out. "You're fine. I'm..." She pauses here out of habit. Already she'd admitted she was a magical girl, it's the rest that she found herself hesitating on. Lightly clearing her throat she gives a shake of her head.

"I'll get the bento. I'm a lot stronger than I look." The hesitant explanation given she flashes a smile back toward him. "A *lot* stronger."

Reaching out with her free hand the bento is taken by the handle ontop hefting it up without any sign of stress. "You can lean on me as much as you need. Where do you need me to take you?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
"Let's get to the rail station... we can go back to Juuban the normal way, and I can work up the stomach to call my mom and beg her to tell the school I need to day off."

Koji does not sound happy to have to ask for her help, and then he adds, "I know I should trust her... but there been a lot of lies told in my family... and knowing it hurts. I'm trying to forgive because I'm getting why... but it's hard. But who am I to talk... I'm probably just as bad as her."

As they begin walking off and away from the construction site and the morning air seems to warm just a little for reasons unknown, he adds softly, "Maybe after I can finally meet your grandpa? And then crash on your couch and get some real sleep."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai leads him out without rushing things. She lets him set the pace so as to not risk either of them falling. Leaving the site was good though; construction folks were usually early risers, too. As they move outside the familiar orange and white tabby cat which hung around her moves in to walk beside them looking as serious as a cat can.

"That sounds like a plan. Ojiisan knows I left to help a friend, so won't be too surprised." There's a long, awkward pause. "But please don't mention the fake dating thing to him. Or dating at all," she adds clearing her throat a little awkwardly.

"My mom ah... had me at a young age. I don't want him to think I'm also going down that road." Redfaced she continues along saying nothing more.

Bonito though states in his deep voice unbefitting a cat, "If we pass anyone, stay silent. I'll hide your presence until it's safe."