maybe one of these days they'll go on an actual date

[cutefaced]

Comments

[zerotohiro]

Exactly. We could make up a place...say you're from a different country or something, but then we have to explain why and how you got here and how long you're staying. We'd have to come up with a whole new backstory for you.

[cutefaced]

That seems like it would be really easy to mix up. Also, if I'm from a different country, how did you and I meet?

[


guess who doesn't know about the internet]

[zerotohiro]

...you know that people from other countries can meet all kinds of people, right? We're a big tourist city. Or I tell everybody I met you in an MMO. [How many of those words won't make sense to her...]

[cutefaced]

[Well, she was going to ask him some logistical questions, like "what country am I supposed to be from" and "Kouka doesn't exist here, does it?" but then he distracts her, so. What she asks instead is -]

What's an MMO?

[zerotohiro]

Massively multiplayer online. It's a type of video game where you and a bunch of people around the world are playing the same game against or with each other. I can show you if you want.

[cutefaced]

It sounds neat...

[Hmm. Actually, now that she thinks about it -]

That could work. If anyone overheard us talking about the castle, we could say it was from the game, right? ...um, but what if they decide they want to play the game too?

[zerotohiro]

Trust me, they won't. My friends are into other stuff...well, Fred might. But then we just tell him the game's down for maintenance and leave it at that. It'll totally work.

[cutefaced]

...

[Yona fidgets with the hem of one of her sleeves.]

You'll let me meet your friends?

[zerotohiro]

...yeah. Maybe not right away until we figure out what to do, but...why not? [If Yona's staying permanently he'll have to introduce her to them anyway. Same with Cass.]

[cutefaced]

[She relaxes a little as he explains, then beams.]

Oh, good! You had me hide before, so I wasn't sure if it would be okay to meet them.

[zerotohiro]

Yeah, well...that's because I just ditched all of them on a spooky island and I figured it would be even worse if they found out I was hiding out with someone they'd think is a total stranger in my garage.

[cutefaced]

...

[wait]

You have spooky islands here? I thought this was a city.

[zerotohiro]

Well yeah, it is a city. But Akuma Island's not that far from here. And a couple of other places, like Alcatraz.

[cutefaced]

I don't know what Alcatraz means but I'm sure if I stay here long enough I'll learn.

[So it's... probably fine.]

...your friends are going to help you now that you've made up, right?

[zerotohiro]

It's a prison. You probably don't want to go there. [But to her question...he nods.]

Tadashi was their best friend. They won't let Callaghan get away with this.

[cutefaced]

You're my best friend, so... I'm glad you're not going to have to do it alone.

[And she's glad, too, that he probably won't up and murder anyone. ...he's had to do enough of that.]

I still want to help you, too. ...is waiting for you to come back still the best way I can do that?

[zerotohiro]

[Probably.]

...I'm not going out tonight. We're going to meet tomorrow, so...you don't have to wait for me to come back.

[cutefaced]

...can I come with you tomorrow?

[Or is she going to meet his friends after all of this is... finished...]

[zerotohiro]

...it's going to be dangerous. I don't know if it's a good idea. [And before she says it:] It's a different kind of dangerous than the game was. I don't know what's going to happen.

[cutefaced]

The game--

[...yeah, he absolutely beat her to that. Yona pouts.]

...is it going to make it harder for you to do what you need to if I'm there?

[zerotohiro]

...yes. [At least he's honest.] It's not anything you did, but it will. I'll come back after everything's over though.

[cutefaced]

[That's not easy to hear, but... it is the truth.

She nods.]

I'll wait for you.

[zerotohiro]

Thank you. [It's not easy to say either.] After everything's over, I promise I'll explain. I just have to be sure.

[cutefaced]

Okay...

[She clearly doesn't like it, but she'll go along with it.]

Um, should I stay in here while I wait for you?

[zerotohiro]

It might be for the best. Aunt Cass doesn't check the garage if I'm not here so she won't notice anything's up. I'm not going back out until tomorrow though.