Operation Revolution - ARMS

Back to the tower

Spring Man and Kid Cobra were riding in Spring's blue sports car on their way home. The two of them had met up with Twintelle and Rhielle at Mintendo Noodle House to get dinner and return home to listen to Min Min's plans while Ribbon Girl and Mechanica already got there and left before them.

"I heard they've developed a new kind of takeaway container that's much more ecofriendly than the ones before," KC started the conversation while signaling at the takeaway bowls he had in his arms, "these are completely fully biodegradable and the material they're made of are beneficial to the environment."

"That's nice," his friend replied, "you know, Mintendo used to be my second favorite restaurant after every single pizzeria in the city."

"I'm sure Min Min would be quite happy to hear that," said KC with a chuckle, despite the fact that Mintendo would be Spring's thirty-ninth favorite restaurant.

They stayed silent for a while until Spring Man initiated another conversation.

"I'm confident Min Min's plans would work," he said, "she's really logically intelligent. There's no earthly way it would go wrong again."

"I hope so," KC replied softly.

"And we are all going to help her, no matter what," Spring continued, a broad optimistic smile on his face.

Kid Cobra opened his mouth, about to correct Spring that not all of them would go on the new heist, but stopped himself before he could say anything. He turned his head to look at his friend, whose eyes were on the road, undistracted.

Responding with a quick "yeah", KC lowered his head.

Remembering his promise with Min Min led him to remember how he had lied to Ribbon Girl, which then led him to think about what lie they were going to tell them to explain why Ninjara couldn't come on the heist with them.

"KC?" Spring Man calling his name snapped him back to reality.

"Oh, huh?"

"You didn't hear me ask you why do you think Min Min told us so little about the failed heist?"

"Uh yes, of course I heard you ask. Hmm, I'm not sure. Perhaps there wasn't much to tell? That's why she didn't? I'm sure she wouldn't intentionally lie to us for a bad reason," KC replied. While talking to him, Spring Man glanced at KC every now and then while driving to show he was paying attention, but it had KC wondering whether Spring Man knew that he knew the real reason why Min Min didn't tell.

"You're right," said Spring, "but it just hits me with a weird feeling. Surely she'd think we'd need to know everything to be able to help stop Coyle? She'd need all of us together."

KC turned to look outside the window while answering, "yeah. ARMS is our responsibility. We're stopping Coyle together."

Then, taking his phone out of his pocket, he pulled up Min Min's contact and the keyboard appeared for him to type a message.

We're in the car -KC 19:03

-*-

As an introvert, Twintelle often did not talk. And naturally, she did not mind any awkward silences. She was behind the steering wheel of her car with Rhielle, driving home to ARMS Tower right behind Spring Man's sports car. Instead of those really flashy expensive limos almost every famous celebrity has, Twintelle's car was a normal black one that normal people would own, just so she wouldn't draw too much attention to herself.

With a light, serene smile on her face, she stared ahead, looking at the traffic. She didn't notice Rhielle's body tense up and how nervous she looked.

Rhielle was silently fidgeting in her seat. She had the takeaway bowls in her lap, but she couldn't sit still. She'd be shooting looks at Twintelle every seven seconds, tapping her fingers on the bowls impatiently, shuffling restlessly in the heated seat, or repeatedly fixing her long purple braid even though there was nothing wrong with it. But despite all this, Twintelle only thought her friend was just wanting attention and therefore paid her none. After a while she finally heard Rhielle relax in her seat and sigh.

It was followed by deathly silence in the car for around a minute until Rhielle finally spoke.

"Twintelle."

"Yes?"

Another sigh before "in your opinion, what is the most important thing in a friendship?"

"Lots of things are important... but I'd say that the most important thing is loyalty, maybe?" Twintelle replied, her expression scrunching up a little.

"Loyalty, okay," said Rhielle, her breathing getting quicker. She then looked at Twintelle again, as if about to ask a question that decides her life or death.

"I'll give you all the loyalty you need. I'll never betray you, backstab you, or switch sides. Will that be enough for you? I'm trying to be a good friend. But if I give you all you want, can you please, please promise to give me one thing as well?"

Twintelle looked slightly surprised by her friends' words. They seemed to have spilled out in a rush, as if she'd been holding onto them for a while.

"Of course, Rhielle," she answered. For a while she wondered if this was some sort of joke, and her friend was just going to ask her to get her Starbucks tomorrow morning.

Rhielle breathed, "I need your forgiveness."

Right at that moment the car stopped at a traffic light. Twintelle sat back in her seat and turned to look at Rhielle.

"Even if you did the worst thing in the worst thing in the world, as long as you realize your mistake and is willing to change and learn from it, I'd one hundred percent forgive you."

"You're the only person I trust enough to tell," Rhielle replied, "Twintelle, I'm doing something bad. I'm doing something out of my mind. And yes, I realize this isn't something I should do, but it's not like I have another goddamn choice!" she looked at Twintelle with pleading eyes, her red eyes brimming with tears. She heavily breathed a few times before continuing in a quieter voice, "I'm doing something that nobody would forgive. It's absolutely UNFORGIVABLE, which is why I need you more than ever. I want to keep on being your friend, and I'll stay loyal forever, if that's what you consider important. Just please," Rhielle paused, eyes closing, "forgive me."

Twintelle was slightly more surprised than before by Rhielle's small revelation. Her natural instinct would be to ask her what she did, considering "I'm doing something bad" instead of "I did something bad" was used, which was strange. Still, she decided to respect Rhielle's right to keep her secret, and it did not look like a prank at all.

"I forgive you," she said softly, trying to appear gentle.

But before Rhielle could answer, the red light changed to green, so Twintelle put both hands on the steering wheel and stepped on the gas, closely following Spring Man's sports car.

-*-

Since neither Ribbon Girl nor Mechanica were legally old enough to drive, they took the train home. There was around a ten minute walk between the train station and ARMS Tower, so they had their takeaway bowls in one hand while clutching their coats with the other. It had started snowing a bit and was a bit windy.

Finally, ARMS Tower appeared in sight. The wind ceased a bit.

"We'll find out what Min Min has planned for us soon," said Ribbon Girl.