Chapter 3
First Date and A Battle
Rima looks so pretty today. Although, she always looks beautiful.
Her smile is so radiant. It seems as though she’s finally being herself.
I can’t believe that she’s actually letting down her wall that she
uses to keep people away.
I want to just be straight-forward and confess that I like her.
But—her song…
If he were to honestly say something like, ”I like you”,
I would laugh to my heart’s content.
There’s no way I’m going to confess.
I already know what she’d say.
I could hear her response in my head already.
“Are you stupid? Don’t ever talk to me again,
dancer boy.”
That’s most definitely what she’d say.
Then she’d start laughing at me.
Rima looked at me. “Nagi, what’s wrong?”
“Uh… Just thinking about some important things.”
She gave an expression of curiosity. “What things?”
"It's stupid--- you wouldn't want to know."
"We're friends, aren't we?" Rima asked.
"Yes." I said, grinning.
"Well, don't friends trust each other?" Rima asked, doing a puppy dog pout.
She just doesn't play fair...
"You know, people won't respect you if you take advantage of your looks." I teased.
"It's worked for me so far." She laughed, flipping her hair jokingly.
Rima’s POV
I wish Nagi would tell me what’s wrong.
Maybe if I hung out with him more, he’d grow to trust me.
“Hey, Nagi?”
“Yeah?” He replied.
“I was wondering--- do you wanna hang out after the Guardian meeting?”
“Sure. What do you suggest?” Nagi answered.
“I was thinking that we could go to the mall. I forgot to buy a few items on the school supply list.” I replied.
“I need to get some more school supplies, too. I’ll meet you there at 5 o’clock, OK?”
“It’s a date.” I said, smiling.
Nagi smiled back and nodded.
We finally made it to Advanced Math.
Nagi was greeted by the students as he walked in.
“Now we have two Guardians in our class!” One girl beamed.
Nagi and I took our seats. “So, Rima, how long does it usually take for the teacher to arrive?”
“I’d say it’s about another 5 minutes before the teacher arrives and class starts.”
“Uh, there’s kinda something I wanted to tell you…” Nagi started to say.
I noticed the teacher walk through the door.
“Tell me after class, Nagi. The teacher showed up early.”
The teacher walked up to the board and began to speak.
“I hope you’ve all greeted Fujisaki-kun, who has started in this advanced class today.”
The teacher immediately got into handing out homework.
This is why I dislike the teacher.
It was a partner assignment, so Nagi and I decided to work together.
It had to do with solving algebraic expressions.
“If the problem is 2(4a) + 6(50 x 100) and A is 7
would the answer be 30,056?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He said.
“Why don’t you jot it down on paper so we can double check.”
We put the work on paper and discovered that 30,056 was indeed the correct answer.
We continued on with the rest of the homework.
We were the only ones who got finished in class.
The teacher began grading our paper.
When she was finished, she returned it.
“Congratulations. You got an A+. You two make a good team.”
Nagi and I sat down and started to talk.
“What were you trying to tell me earlier?” I asked.
“Nevermind. It’s nothing.” He replied.
He’s starting to get me frustrated.
“You really don’t trust me, do you?” I said, sighing.
“It’s not that. It’s just that I can’t tell you it. It’s something you might already know, anyway.”
“That you’re the same person as Nadeshiko?”
“You knew that?”
“Well, I kinda told you that I knew… but, you were character-changed with Rhythm.”
“That’s fine. I don’t care if you know about my… alter ego. That’s not what I was gonna tell you, though.” He said.
“Please tell me. You’re not fair!” I said.
“Sorry, Rima. I was going to tell you, but then I remembered exactly why I didn’t tell you already.”
The bell rang, and Nagi and I parted ways for the remainder of the school day.
After classes were through, I headed to the Royal Garden for the Guardian meeting.
Kusukusu sped right to the other charas and within moments---
They were all doing silly faces and bala-balance.
All except for Kiseki.
“Desist with your insolence, commoners! I’m the king, so I must be the funniest chara!” Kiseki yelled to the charas.
“Who made you our boss?” Ran asked.
“I’m the clown, Kiseki! I’m funny!” Kusukusu said.
“……..No….. I-I’m the ruler, so I get to be better than everyone.” Kiseki said.
“We all have special qualities-dechu. I’m the baby, so I’m the cutest-dechu.” Pepe added, her tone suggesting a challenge.
“I beg to differ~desu.” Suu chimed in.
“I’M THE CUTEST! I mean, cheerleaders are always the cutest! SO I WIN!” Ran said.
“…..I always thought that I was the cutest…” Kiseki muttered.
“Nah, man. But I’m the best dancer.” Rhythm said.
“Not by a long shot.” Miki replied to Rhythm, attempting to do a dance move--- but failing. “Fine.. but I’m still the best artist.”
Amu intervened. “You’re all the best in certain ways. Stop arguing!”
“Let’s begin today’s Guardian meeting by discussing what Easter’s going to do next.” Tadase said.
We had battled Easter for the Embryo. It turns out that Gozen was a little boy. It was hard to bring ourselves to fight him (he was a little boy, after all), and unfortunately—the Embryo got away. Now our search for the Embryo and battle with Easter begins all over again.
Ikuto escaped, though, to look for his father overseas. Amu had been devasted and talked to me about it for hours.
“Apparently Easter has an American girl, about our age, who can extract X-eggs.” Tadase continued.
“How can she extract X-eggs?” Amu asked.
“Well, let’s just say that her way of extracting X-eggs… well, uh-- would remind you of a slightly younger, American version of Utau…”
“She must be another singer.” I said.
“Easter has no creativity…” Nagihiko added.
“What’s the girl’s name?” Yaya asked.
“Her name is Tara… I don’t think she’s much of a threat, though.” Tadase replied.
“Why not?” Amu asked. “I’m sure she’s a threat if Easter hired her…”
“She can’t speak Japanese. So, she can’t understand Easter’s instructions and the people who listen to her singing don’t understand what she’s saying.” Tadase explained.
“Why bring it up, then?” Nagi asked.
“Well, they’re teaching her Japanese, so eventually she will be a threat.”
After several more minutes of discussion over a silly American girl who may or may not be a threat, the Guardian meeting ended.
Tadase must have noticed Nagi and I’s rush to leave.
“Hot date tonight, you two?” He asked.
Nagi and I looked at each other and blushed. I directed my head towards Tadase.
“J-just getting school supplies.” I replied to Tadase’s comment in an embarrassed, stuttering way.
Tadase motioned his hand, signaling Nagihiko to come to him.
Tadase whispered something to him that I couldn’t distinguish.
Nagi’s face grew as red as a tomato, and I could practically feel the heat radiating from his skin. “Shut up.” He mumbled to Tadase.
Nagi came up to me and we walked on the schoolyard together.
“That couldn’t have been any more awkward.” Nagi said.
“You think?” I said sarcastically. ”What did Tadase tell you?”
“……It’s nothing.” Nagihiko replied.
I rolled my eyes.
“I’ll meet you at the mall in an hour.” I said, waving goodbye.
My mom picked me up.
As soon as I got in the car, my mom started glaring at me.
“Hmph. Is that your boyfriend?” She asked, confirming that she’d seen Nagihiko.
I blushed for the thousandth time this week. “No… he’s just a friend.”
“Be careful, Rima. You know boys are only after one thing….”
“Oh gross!!! Ewwww! MOM! I am NOT having this conversation with you right now!” I replied.
My mom has a way of making things that much more awkward.
As soon as I got home, I changed into my favorite shirt.
It was a coral-colored tanktop with rhinestones around the hemline and bright red polka dots all over it.
The bottom of the shirt was lacy and oh-so-feminine.
I then changed out of my school skirt.
I chose a yellow, ruffly miniskirt and I wore a white petticoat underneath (don’t judge me).
I finished it off with red sneakers.
When I looked in the mirror, I noticed that I looked like a clown.
A slightly more stylish, teenage girl version of a clown, but still….
What was I thinking? I mean, I probably would’ve still worn the shirt—after all, it’s my favorite—but, what possessed me to wear a completely unmatching skirt with it?
Separately, they’re fine. Together, they made me look like I escaped from the circus.
I looked down at my red sneakers, and I realized that they added to the “clown look”.
I didn’t have time to change again, because it was 20 minutes till 5:00. Too late for regrets.
I grabbed my money from my piggybank and headed out the door, saying a quick “goodbye” to my parents.
I ran downtown and saw Nagi, outside the mall; waiting for me.
“Hey, Nagi.” I greeted.
Nagi was trying to hold back a chuckle. “Hey, Rima. Nice skirt. It goes great with your tanktop.” He teased.
“You’d know a lot about skirts, wouldn’t you?” I replied coldly.
“Fair enough.” He said, laughing.
“I didn’t realize about the skirt until it was too late to change…” I muttered.
“You look cute, anyways.” He said, and then winked at me.
Nagi winked at me? So out of his character. I wonder…
“Hey, are you character-changed with Rhythm again?”
Just as I thought, Rhythm popped out of Nagi’s chest and Nagi went back to normal.
“I’m sorry about that.” Nagi apologized.
“You did it again?” I asked.
“It wasn’t by choice, Rima” He mumbled.
“Nagi needed a confidence boost, so I took control!” Rhythm said.
“Which I specifically asked you not to do.” I vaguely heard Nagi whisper to Rhythm.
“Why would you not feel confident, though?” I asked.
Immediately, Rhythm started answering me. “Nagi was worried about---“
“Whether I’d find the right school supplies.” Nagi cut Rhythm off.
I grabbed his hand; which apparently surprised him----
and led him into the mall.
We walked past a bunch of different stores on our way to find school supplies.
After walking for five minutes, I ended up accidentally tripping Nagihiko; causing him to fall to the ground.
“I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed.
He grabbed my hand and gently pulled me to the ground next to him. “Now we’re even.” He said, laughing playfully.
I laughed, too. This seemed like one of those moments you’d find in a Hallmark card. I liked it.
We both stood up, smiling. We looked into each other’s eyes.
I felt a surge of electricity between us. It was forceful, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Nagi felt it too.
I started blushing (how many times have I done that now?) and I turned my head.
I discovered that Amu was standing by a store behind me----
Apparently spying on Nagi and I.
“What the heck are you doing here?” I mouthed to Amu.
“I wanted to see how your date was going.” Amu mouthed, smiling.
I shook my head in disapproval and turned back to Nagi.
Nagihiko led the way to a store that was entirely filled with school supplies.
The store was HUGE! I was surprised.
It had two walls dedicated just to pencils!
It didn’t take long for Nagi and I to get what we needed from the store.
After we left the mall, we decided to walk downtown.
“Rima, do you mind if I stop in the book store for a second?” Nagi asked.
“Oh, sure. Go right ahead. I’ll wait out here.” I replied.
“OK. I’ll be back quickly.”
I paced beside an alley next to the book store.
Within minutes, I sensed I was being watched.
I was right.
I was grabbed, and my head was covered with a bag.
Whoever it was that kidnapped me put me over his shoulder and was, I assumed, taking me towards his car.
I was being kidnapped for the second time.
I was so afraid…. The horror of what it’s like….
Tears started streaming down my cheeks and I screamed and struggled to no avail.
Until the kidnapper fell to the ground.
I lifted the bag off my head to see that Nagi had tackled the kidnapper, a man who was twice his size.
The kidnapper, who tauntingly introduced himself as Jaaku, started to battle against Nagi.
“You’re a stupid little kid to attack me just to rescue this worthless girl.” Jaaku said, chuckling.
“If she’s worthless, why bother kidnapping her?” Nagi yelled.
“You really don’t want to know the answer to that.” Jaaku replied, a heinous smirk on his face.
I didn’t understand what Jaaku meant, but apparently Nagi did.
“You… You’re a sick pervert! Leave Rima alone!”
“Ha! Is that what the girl’s name is?” Jaaku asked rhetorically, grinning.
Nagi looked at Rhythm.
Rhythm nodded in reply.
“My heart: UNLOCK!
Character transformation: Beat Jumper!”
Jaaku stared at Nagi in shock.
“AHHHH!!!!! What the heck are you--- some superpowered kid?!?!”
Nagihiko smirked. “You could say that.”
“Nagi, be careful!” I begged.
“Don’t worry about me. I need to get you away from him.” Nagi replied.
“Beat Dunk!” He yelled.
Sure enough, Jaaku was on the ground….
But not for long…
“I don’t care if you are some freak or whatever…
You’re going down!”
Things got really violent. Blood everywhere...
From both Jaaku and Nagi.
Neither of them would give up. Nagi was getting hurt….
I turned to Kusukusu. “I need to charanari.”
Kusukusu nodded solemnly.
“My heart: UNLOCK!
Character transformation: Clown Drop!”
Now I really did look like a clown.
“W-W-WHAT?!?!?!?! THE GIRL’S A SUPERPOWERED
BRAT, TOO?!” Jaaku screamed, completely astonished.
“…..Is that really so shocking?” I asked.
Jaaku grabbed me by the arm. He was shoving me and clawing his nails into my bicep. “Listen, you brat---- you’re not any stronger just because you’re another freak.” Jaaku grinned and looked confident. He turned to Nagihiko.
“I’m not going to punish you, foolish boy. Take a step closer and your girlfriend will get punished FOR you!” Jaaku said, pulling a knife out of his jacket pocket.
I was scared for my life. I never had gotten so close to death---
It was the shock and frustration of it all that caused me to break down. Tears were streaming everywhere.
I helplessly looked over to Nagi. He kept his composure well, but I could see in his eyes that he was frustrated.
Nagihiko’s POV
What am I supposed to do?
If I come closer, she’ll get hurt. If I don’t come closer…. she’ll get hurt.
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