The afternoon sun beamed down on the students of the Ketsu high school. It was the end of the day, and they were all eager to leave. Another night of hanging out, battle idol and of course love.
All students held their phones heads high. All except Emi; weighed down by her heavy thoughts, she was the epitome of misery. Her gaze fixed firmly on the ground, with only the occasional glance up to avoid crashing into someone.
"Emiiiiii." A high voice called out from behind her. A pair of hands landed on her shoulders, snapping her back into reality.
"Emi are you alright? You seem a little down today." It was one of Emi's friends, Mayu. A friendly girl with an infinite supply of energy and kindness.
"Y-Yeah... I'm okay." A half-hearted reply, but the concern from Mayu was a welcome distraction.
'Should I tell her?' Seeing her brother a mess on the ground still weighed on her mind. However, the thought of telling anyone about what she saw was a non-starter. What would she say? That her brother had a hole through his chest, and that he healed himself without healer magic? She would be dragged away to an insane asylum. Her only hope was that Eren would speak to her.
"Really? You seem kinda down." Mayu picked up on Emi's sombre tone, but she wasn't about to let it go. "What happened?"
"..." A slight shake of the head. She couldn't speak about that night, but perhaps a little truth would help. "Family issues."
"Oh no... You know you can always speak to me. Whatever you want. If you want to hang out, or even if you just want me to come over, I will be there." The kind hearted friend was an angel in these trying times. Her face full of sympathy. She would give all the world to help her friend.
"Emi, Emi!" A voice called from ahead. Yui, another girl with thick glasses bounded towards her. Reaching them with a burst of energy.
"Emi, there is a man out the front of the school, and everyone says he's super-hot, and he's looking for you!" The girl's enthusiasm was enough to make anyone smile.
"A man Emi? My oh my, so scandalous." Mayu's eyes narrowed with a sly smile, a teasing tone in her voice. She poked Emi in the ribs, causing her to blush.
"Who is he? Your boyfriend? I need to see this." With a gentle tug on Emi's hand, the trio took off toward the front gate.
A small crowd of students gathered by the gate; all eyes locked on a single figure. A man leant against a black motorbike, his white hair flowed gently in the subtle breeze, his features strikingly handsome in the afternoon sun. Although his less attractive feature; sanpaku eyes were hidden behind aviators.
Students whispered amongst themselves, debating who was lucky enough to have such a dashing escort waiting for them. The girls' faces blushed as they stole glances, hoping it was them. And there, amidst the sea of curious gazes, stood Emi. Her eyes fixed on her brother.
Emi and her friends pushed through to the front, eyes widening when they saw the person who was waiting for her.
"Emiii... Who is that?" Mayu questioned her friend with a whisper, her voice tinged with curiosity and excitement.
"Is that your boyfriend? He's hot."
"N-No t-that's-"
Eren's gaze caught sight of Emi, pointing directly at her. "Emi, come here."
All turned to the raven-haired girl; a mixture of expressions met her eyes. Jealousy, envy, confusion; she was a deer in headlights. Walking with quickened steps to Eren, under scrutinous eyes of jealous school girls and curious boys.
"E-Eren. Why are you here?" Her voice trembled. The very sight of him brought memories of that night to the forefront of her mind. She was both glad to see him, and fearful of what he could do.
"I wanted to show you my new bike. Remember when we used to ride when you were little?" His voice was soft, but the tension between them was palpable. Eren knew she had questions that he would have to answer at some point. He knew it would be difficult, but he had to at least try.
"Here." Bike jacket ripped off from his frame; underneath a tank top, his shoulders exposed to the sunlight. Scared arms caused a stir within the crowd; whispers spread like wildfire. But the white-haired man cared little for their gossip.
Emi's face crimson like blood, her mouth agape at her brother's audacity to approach her at school. Helmet put over her head to mask her blushing face.
'I would love to be that jacket...' Mayu watched from a distance, a hand on her cheek. She could feel the heat rising to her face. A small pool of blood formed from her nostrils. Her friend snapped her out of the daydreaming with a flick to the ear.
"Alright then." Patting the seat behind him. "Hop on."
With trembling legs, she climbed onto the bike, her arms wrapping tightly around her brother's waist. The engine roared to life, the bike vibrated, filling the air with its powerful purr. The students watching in awe of the cool sight.
*Vroom* *Vroom*
Nostalgia. The feeling of being on a motorbike was something Emi missed; she had not done so in years. A wave of excitement washed over her, as they slowly began to move.
"Always wear your helmets and jackets, even if it's only a short trip. This is a onetime thing. Safety always comes first. Alright guys?" He said in a serious tone, turning to the students behind him. The lack of secondary bike attire caused him to deviate from his usual safety precautions. But a single journey would be alright.
The crowd of young girls turned away embarrassed by the look in his eye. The boys looked on with envy at Eren's cool persona and ability to handle the bike.
'Damn, I want to ride that bike.' the thought plastered along their faces.
*Vroom* *Vroom* Vvvvvvmmmmm*
***
*Vroom* *Vroom*
The motorcycle sped along the highway, with the wind whipping against their faces as they zipped past the other cars. The roar of its engine drowned out Emi's please.
"EREN, SLOW DOWN!"
"What? Go faster? Alright then." Throttle pushed further.
*Vroom* *Vroom*
"Noooooooooooo. SLOW DOWN!" Emi screamed back.
"What? You want to see a trick like when you were little? Alright then." Eren pulled the handle bars, causing the front wheel to rise. A small wheelie to the dismay of his sister.
"No no no no noooo!" Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Her nails digging into his waist.
*Honk* *Honk*
Car horns honked at the pair, but to no avail.
"Ahhh! We're going to die!"
*Thud*
The wheel landed on the ground once more. Now going a reasonable speed. The young girl's arms were trembling around the white-haired man's abdomen.
"We're not dead." Emi muttered. Although she wouldn't dare say it, she actually enjoyed the thrill of the ride. Her brother was always a good rider and knew the limits of himself and the machine he rode.
"We're here." They pulled into an off ramp. Pulling into a nearby parking garage and stopped in an available spot. Eren dismounted and helped his sister off, taking off her helmet.
"You still enjoy the bike rides. Don't you?"
"N-No... I was scared the whole time." She pouted. But the smile on her face spoke volumes. A faint blush coloured her cheeks as she recalled the rush of wind and adrenaline from her younger days.
"You are a poor liar dear sister. Come on; let's grab something to eat."
The reason for this visit had several purposes. First, he wanted to take her out on the bike, to give her some much-needed excitement. Secondly, to maybe at least talk about what she saw. Lastly, this shopping centre held one of the finest strawberry sweets shops in Japan. Something that would cheer her up.
"Where are we anyway?"
"Odayaka shopping centre, I hear it has the best strawberry desserts in the city." Emi's ears twitched at the mention of her beloved dessert.
"Okay." She tried to hide it but her eyes beamed at the thought. Following Eren to the escalators.
This shopping mall was much like many others around Japan. Multi-levelled with a modernity feel too its interior design. Even the shoppers still filled stereotypes; mothers with young children. School girls with bags filled to the brim. However, the one thing that stood out was...
"Robots?" Eren couldn't help but notice them. 5-foot-tall mechanical humanoids basic blocky design that followed around the mothers. Carrying bags of shopping, or the children themselves.
"When did they invent them?" He was surprised to see them out and about.
"I don't know... 3 or 4 years ago." Emi replied.
'Maybe our ward is too poor to afford them. Still, they seem a little creepy.' He couldn't help but feel unnerved at the sight of them.
The pair entered the bike shop first.
Eren would be dammed if he would ride without some proper safety equipment. Helmets, gloves, jackets; the works. However, this was for Emi. She picked out a dark pink helmet and purple jacket, with black gloves to compliment.
"Good taste." Nodding at her choices, Eren paid the man. A hefty sum for the gear. But on his Silvermane salary; it was all cheap now.
Although, her choices were rather rushed. She had something else on her mind. They left the store, bags in their hands.
Next, the sweets shop. Located opposite the entrance. It was a small boutique, but it exuded elegance and charm, with a pink and white striped awning that added a whimsical touch to the storefront. A long line of mothers, schoolgirls and robots all in queue to enter the store.
Emi was the most excited she had been in days. The aroma of freshly baked pastries wafted through the air. The cases lined with an assortment of cakes, cookies and pastries adorned in delicate hand-crafted decorations that sparkled in the light.
"Here." Handing her his Silvermane card. "Get as much as you want. My treat." Her eyes like a kid on Christmas. Sometimes it really is easy to please a girl.
"Wait. Get some for Jun and his sister." She nodded nearly skipping away.
"Wait. Get some for Guildmaster Baelor too."
She skipped with excitement. Joining the long line.
Eren lay on a nearby bench, like a lazy lizard under the skylights. Winter was soon here; he might as well enjoy the final days of warmth before they are gone. His eyes closed; a moment to rest in peace.
Hard to come by these days for a man who spends many nights stalking the rooftops.
*Clank* Clank* *Clank*
'What now?'
Robotic noises drew his attention. A group of mechanical servants gathered around him, like a flock of metallic birds, their joints clicking and whirring.
"What do you want?" A curt tone, a man who had no time for nonsense.
Each remained silent; handing him a small card with business name and contact information. Promptly returning to their masters.
Women turned their heads away, trying to hide their blushing faces. Mothers of young children, husbands of powerful men. All wanted this man for themselves. It was no secret to any that Eren was a good-looking man. Still though, he didn't appreciate the attention.
'I'm not a prostitute for fuck's sake.' A disgusted sigh left him. 'Why can't these people just go about their day without such vices.'
Not wanting to be outwardly rude, he pocketed them. Much to the sly smiles of the owners of said robots. Their eyes not leaving him, watching his every move.
"Eren." Emi Exited the store. Carrying several boxes of sweets, parcels precariously balanced on top of one another.
"Emi, do you need a hand?"
"No, I've got it." She replied curtly.
'Girls and their sweets.' A light shake of his head.
*Clank* *Clank*
A robot servant approached the girl, not slowing down. It walked with a mission.
*Bang*
The robot collided with her. Emi's packages fell from her grasp, scattering their contents across the floor.
"Oh... My sweets." Emi could only stare in dismay. Tears began to well in her eyes, her shoulders drooped and her spirit sank. Her precious sweets, now scattered like fallen leaves.
The robot continued along, the owner too busy chatting on her phone to care.
"Hey!"
*Smash*
A fist found its mark in the robot's face, going clean through its head. Another kick sent its body, smashing into a wall. The white-haired man, seething with anger, glared daggers at the machine.
Like a flip of a switch. The atmosphere turned to hostility. All eyes that had been watching them with lustful gazes, now held a different kind of fire. A cold stare of contempt. Mothers grabbed their children and fled the scene. Leaving their mechanical servants behind.
From the shadows of every store emerged workers; eyeing down the pair. Behind every corner, they watched from afar. The shopping complex became a hive of quiet whispers, a buzz of malicious intent. The sound of footsteps echoed as the workers emerged from every direction, converging on the siblings.
"Shit. Emi get up, we need to go. Now." Eren hissed, helping her to her feet. He could feel it, the growing sense of danger. Something he should not have to have been wary of in a domestic place as this. But then of course this world was full of dangers.
The crowd began to converge on them; an unrelenting wave of hostility.
Eren would easily cut them down as the Reaper, use his knights to fight them. But with his sister in tow, he couldn't risk her being harmed.
Emi clung to his jacket, her hands trembling as the mob moved in closer.
"Stop!" A loud voice boomed, the sound echoing through the complex and reverberating off the walls, halting the workers in their tracks.
Out came a woman, matching the attire of the mothers with their kids. Her long black hair and fierce blue eyes made her stand out from the crowd. She wore a tailored suit and her demeanour was that of authority, her presence commanding attention from all who saw her.
"I saw everything that happened here."
"Who is the owner of the bot who crashed into this young girl." A woman stepped forward; bowing her head in apology. She looked like she could cry at any moment; the fierce blue stare of the woman caused a chill in her heart.
"You must take better care of your servants. If not for the safety of those around you, then at least for the cost of having to replace them."
"Yes, ma'am. I'm terribly sorry."
"Go back to work! Nothing to see here!" The crowd dispersed, returning to their stores.
The woman turned to Emi. "I'm also sorry. I'll replace your desserts; they will be with you within 10 minutes."
"And you. My... white haired boy. You pack a punch." She gave a coy smile; her eyes narrowed. "Are you freelance or with a guild?"
"With a guild... Why does it matter?" Eren's guard was still up; the situation was nothing but trouble.
"Shame. Well, I'll give you my guild card any way. Give me a call if you want a change of pace, or a bit of fun." She handed Eren her card, giving another sly look.
---
Name: Ichika Nakatoni
CEO of the Odayaka Corporation
Number: XX-XXX-XXX-XXX
---
'I need to be more careful next time.' He had just walked blindly into another guilds HQ. Nearly causing an incident between the two. Luckily the guild master was there to stop anything from happening.
With her sweets returned the pair left the shopping centre. A cool wind blew, as dusk set in on the streets of Tokyo. The pair had enjoyed their time at the arcade, playing games together. Eating some of the best desserts in the city. But it was time to go home, the moon would rise soon and with it a new night of hunting would begin.
"Thank you for today, Eren..." Emi said, her voice tinged with gratitude. She had been worried about him ever since she found him in a state of disrepair on the floor. Her worries were eased, but only temporarily. For now, though, she was just enjoying the time spent with him; it felt like they were both normal again, if only for a moment.
"Anything for you little sis." Eren replied with a playful ruffle of her hair. He was happy to have given her a good day.
He knew he owed her a lifetime of them.