Mistress, a voice echoes. I don't answer it. I continue to lay where I was, too tired to do anything else. Mistress, it calls again. This time it's less distant. It's like the voice was getting closer.
My eyes slowly open. An outline of a person hangs over me like a cloud. I could make out a gas mask, and knew who it was almost immediately.
"Clear," my hoarse voice addresses.
"Yes, Mistress. I arrived as quickly as I could." He places a gentle gloved hand at the side of my face. He uses his thumb to move hair out of the way. "Mistress... Why are you laying here? Are you hurt?"
I shook my head no. I attempt to stand up, but soon find out I have no strength in my legs. My limbs feel heavy, like they turned into weights.
"I can't get up," I say.
Clear shifts something that was over his shoulder. I squint my eyes to get a better look, and recognize him just from the clothes he wore. It was my Rhyme opponent.
"Noiz-san is sleeping. I am going to carry you now, Mistress."
I assume that's his name: Noiz. Along with this, I also presume that they know each other. Why else would Clear bother? Unless, he was unnecessarily generous... If my thoughts are correct, then he's a special case.
Shifting the boy on his shoulder, Clear gently picked me up. But unlike slugging me over his other shoulder, he held me civilly with one arm. One...arm.
God I needed to fix how skinny I was. I've said it a million times before, and I'll say it again. I can't walk around looking like a sack of bones. You can't see my ribcage if I lift my arms or anything, but it can't be any more obvious that I'm underweight.
My head turned to the boy Clear was carrying. After studying his face, I could make out more details.
He was a tall, slender man. Strawberry blonde hair poked out of his hat, and his skin was quite pale. I also took notice of how many piercings he had, and the bandages wrapped around both of his hands. To be honest, it made me wonder if he was a delinquent or not. If so, then that explains what I learned about him in Rhyme- no to mention the bandages and piercings. Those were a given.
I couldn't really see much of his outfit. Though I can tell he had a few layers to his clothes: a dark navy and white collared shirt, with a long sleeved black undershirt, and a green tie that was currently untucked. From here I could see various accessories with a Usagimodoki pattern imprinted on them, such as his belt and his hat. Speaking of hat; it had a woolen underlayer, a rabbit pattern, and one smiley face pin. The pin itself stuck out like a sore thumb, in size and design- made to have sharp teeth and blood bellow its smiling mouth.
What a character...
"You know this guy?"
Clear hums to acknowledge my sudden question. "Yes. Noiz-san helped us in Oval Tower."
Wow. I meet Aoba, and BOOM. I'm destined to meet the rest of the Oval Tower survivors before the week is out. Aren't I just a lucky gal? Maybe by the end of this, I can get autographs too.
I let my head lower to Clear's shoulder. A wary sigh escapes my mouth.
"I came here to escape that depressing crap, and what do I do? I run into someone who was involved in that depressing crap."
Glancing down, I realize that Orio was latched onto Clear's left leg. He looks up at me, and blinks. I suppose this was his way of letting me know he was okay?
Ugh... How am I going to forgive myself? I know that Rhyme can hurt my AllMate, so what do I do? I play Rhyme. It's my fault that he could have gotten hurt.
"What time is it," I ask.
"5:12am," Orio promptly replies.
Tired. Why was I so tired? Could it be the result of what happened?
...What exactly DID happen? I remember bits and pieces. After Orio was hurt, I got angry. Then I did something. I recall bright flashes of pink and purple. I think I remember attacking that guy 'Noiz' too. But after that- nothing. My mind draws a blank.
"Mistress, you should rest," Clear says. "I will take you to Aoba-san."
See? Even he can tell how exhausted I am.
Perhaps taking a nap wouldn't be such a bad thing. I mean, I don't want to look like I just waltzed in the middle of a Rib fight when we get back to Aoba's house. His friend, Koujaku, is probably still there. I will be surprised if he isn't. Let's not fail to mention the scolding I'm in for when Tae has me in her sights. I've already begun to formulate my 4 part apology.
My eyes fall shut, and a comfortable breath exits through my nose. I take in the scent of Clear's hair, and am surprised to detect shampoo. After all, I was told that he was a robot. Logically, I thought that robots couldn't shower.
Hum... The more you know, I guess.
YOU ARE READING
Love Game
Hayran KurguHer parents are dead, her brother ran away from home years ago, and she lives by herself in an abandoned building. She's an aloof girl who makes AllMates, and knows how to take care of herself- and her panda bear AllMate Orio, of course. With few fr...