18:00 UTC, July 5th, 2045 CE | Japan Archipelago / New Tokyo / Airport
"We have arrived, Ko! The wonderful city of New Tokyo, the home of otaku culture!"
"That we have, Ray. What should we see first? A mega-mall? A themed cafe? An authentic ramen joint? What about sushi? Or should we check in at the hotel first?"
"Geez Ko, stop being so responsible and thinking about plans, I'm the only adult here. Act your age for once."
"Oi, I'll be turning 16 in a week! A couple hundred years ago that would have been considered an adult. Just because you are turning eighteen today doesn't mean you can suddenly start to lord it over me."
"Oh, you better believe I'm going to lord it over you. I finally have a distinct advantage! I can drink alcohol and you can't." Ray then proceeds to make a weird face and stick her tongue out at me. For being two years and one week older than me, she doesn't seem to act like it.
"Well, let's head to our hotel room and check in. Then we can be free to explore the city."
"Okay Mr. Responsible Child. But you owe me sushi."
"How the klack does that mean I owe you sushi?"
"Well, it's my birthday, so you owe me sushi!"
"Well, then on my birthday in a week you owe me sushi, so it cancels out!"
"Geez, what a spoilsport."
We then proceed to take a taxi to our hotel. It is a five star luxury resort! It even comes with an attached private hot spring. Courtesy of Father's money and business connections. Having a wealthy parent sure makes birthdays better.
How the hell did Ray and I's parents allow us to go to Tokyo alone for three weeks when I'm still a minor? Well, that's a long story, to sum it up, they are not very good at the whole parental authority thing (also known as we destroyed all of their parental pride and they let us do whatever the klack we want).
As a celebration of Ray's eighteenth birthday, we then proceed to hop many bars (of course I'm not drinking). We also get some very fancy sushi and ramen. However, at the end of it all, I am stuck carrying Ray's unconscious body back to the hotel. It seems she went a bit overboard and passed out from all the alcohol… classic reckless girl.
6:00 IST, Fourth day, First month, 3079 PV | Risia>Castera (~43%) / Clark Battleship / Heavenly Cloud (Officers Lounge)
I'm in heaven? My entire body seems to be locked up and is in great pain, but it seems as though I am laying on a warm cloud. I was just having a wonderful dream about how Ray and I went to Tokyo for our 16/18th birthdays.
As I ponder this wonderful sensation, I feel as though my hair is being gently combed. It feels wonderful in comparison to the pain in the rest of my body, I lean into the sensation. This must be what pure happiness feels like. Although I can swear I've had a similar experience before, I don't quite know where.
Hmm, strange, I hear something that sounds like a lullaby my Ray used to like. It's almost as if she is right next to me. I wish she could be, this warm cloud is very nice. I think I drift off to sleep for who knows how long.
When I come back to awareness I am still on that warm cloud of heaven, but the lullaby seems to have stopped. My body seems to feel slightly better, I try to move my hand and feel something in my palm. It's a hand? I squeeze it gently and it squeezes back, interesting. I also notice a hand resting on my head.
I rise further from my exhaustion. I open my eyes to a strange yet familiar sight. It's Ray, although it appears I am looking up at her. Oh! I'm laying in her lap. This aligns with the heavenly sensation from my past memories. The combing of my hair and lullaby must've been her.
She appears to have fallen asleep, I sit and watch her cute sleeping face from my perfect vantage point. After a while, I start to rub gentle circles on her hand, which is a surefire way to gently wake her in such situations. I know this from a vast amount of past experience.
Surely enough, after a few minutes she gently opens her eyes. Her blue eyes nicely reflect the little light that is in the room, almost as if they are glowing with renewed vigor.
"Mornin' Ray." I say while remaining on my perfectly warm cloud of heaven.
"Mornin' Ko, please move, I'd like to stretch, it's been like seven hours. You really went out hard back there huh." I then proceed to reluctantly move from my spot.
"I believe your tending has once again allowed me to recover from my deep slumber. Maybe you should've gone into therapy rather than law."
"You know just as well as I do that If I seriously tried therapy I'd likely make any clients cry by the time I was done with them. You are the only one capable of resisting my particular brand of healing, Mr. Responsible Child."
"Oh, c'mon, enough with the age quips from half a decade ago. I'm nineteen now! I can drink alcohol!"
"Hmm, true, but I'm the grand age of twenty one! You may be able to drink, but you still can't gamble like my esteemed self."
"Hmm, with my Skier power I doubt any casino would be able to refuse me entry now. I could simply convince them I'm twenty one!"
"Ooo, id love to see that, Mr Responsible Child breaking the law for once!"
"Geez, you think I'd actually break a law? And aren't you a law student? Should you be encouraging law breaking behaviour?"
"Well, for your information, I have changed my social status. I am now a former law student, current candidate for humanity's future administrator. I have gained a massive following on twistabooktokdit! I have nearly a billion followers! Though it seems that klacker Luna Aurora has over six billion followers! What does she have that I don't?"
"Hmm, perhaps it has to do with her assets-"
That response earns me a very hard punch to the jaw. It hurts a lot. Ray lets out a large huff and looks quite upset. She then proceeds to walk out of the room, perhaps I overdid it.
I ask Cal for a status report on our current situation.
Cal:"It is currently 9:45 IST on the fourth day of the first month. We are due to exit hyperspace into the Castera system in about twenty minutes. Transcendent has informed me to tell you to come to the bridge once you are freed from your 'heavenly experience'."
It appears I was unconscious for about four hours. It seems that Initae also handled the exit from the sanctum back into the universe, too bad I missed it. On the other hand, I got to experience heaven and get sung to by an angel, so I guess the tradeoff was worth it.
Doing as requested, I make way for the bridge. When I enter it is just Initae and Beck Flap inside. It seems they were having a discussion about navigation or something.
"Greetings dear friend Initae."
"Why hello there dear friend Ko! I was kinda worried that I had you do too much and you'd die. Your human minds are much more fragile than I thought. Oops.
Anyways, we are about to arrive at Castera, the site of the New Years Gala. And guess what! We have arrived twenty hours ahead of schedule. Ray stormed in here in quite a bad mood, I think she headed off to the observation deck. Whatever you did, you should probably apologize."
"Why is it that when Ray is upset you blame me first? What makes you think I did it? Well.. to be fair it was me this time. But that isn't necessarily the case!"
"Well, the only time I have ever seen that expression on her was when you were away at the sanctum undergoing your trial and I was observing her. So, I figured that something must've happened with you in order to provoke such a response!
Now go fix whatever it is you did. We can't afford to have our two contestants fighting mere hours before their grand entrance at the Gala."
Having nothing to rebuke her sound reasoning, I leave the bridge and head off to the observation deck. When I enter, I find that Ray has changed into her wonderful swimsuit and is aimlessly floating on the water. I too change into my bathing suit. Which now shows off all my cool markings along with my well-muscled body!
I quietly join her in her aimless floating. We gradually drift closer together, almost as if we are magnetically attracted. After a few minutes, our hands touch. To my surprise, she grabs my hand and gently squeezes it. We drift like that for a few minutes. But then she drags me underwater, too fast for me to even react.
She then proceeds to wrap me in a headlock and we surface. In my ear she whispers, "You better take that comment back." In a very threatening tone.
Having no other choice, I very awkwardly try to remedy the situation. In my most convincing tone, I whisper right back. "Hmm, now that I think about it, assets really aren't a determiner in social media fame. Perhaps she is using some shady service to gain fake followers. You are definitely far superior to her in every way, of this I have no doubt."
Ray makes a sound that sounds like acceptance, but then she smacks me in the head hard. But then she proceeds to relax and wrap her arms around my waist.
"Geez, Mr. Jerk, you tried but rather than solely give me a compliment you also insult others. That isn't a very good look, although as a future politician that leads humanity I suppose that is a very valuable skill."
She seems to have forgiven me and returned to normal. Also, to be clear, it's not as though she is lacking in the asset department. But rather Luna may have an overabundance in the asset department. Though now that I think of it, it has always been a touchy subject for her. Also my earlier comment was implying that she was lacking assets, but was not my intention. I shall take this lesson to heart for the future and aim to never make such a blunder again.
We proceed to float around the pool, wrapped up together for what feels like a few hours. It is very relaxing, staring up at the beautiful skydome that is reflecting the light of Castera and many stars around the room.
After a while, in a quiet voice Ray whispers in my ear.
"At the gala tomorrow, we are going to blow their minds. They won't be able to pay attention to anyone else but the pair of us. I hope they are ready, because together we will win this game. To any obstacles that stand in our way, I say bring it on."
End of Chapter 24
A/N: Greetings dear reader. Once again, I, the author, returns! I hope you enjoyed this very nice chapter between Ko and Ray. Also, you may have noticed many recent chapters being on the shorter side. But do not worry, for I can promise that big stuff is about to happen, and with big stuff comes big chapters! Be sure to drop a follow to get updates when the latest stuff happens!
As always, if you're enjoying the story, be sure to follow/favourite/rate/comment or share with a friend, it is always appreciated! Until the next one, dear reader.
Cathrix