The Butterfly Effect [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 2.01 ー Jun & Elenora

He frantically looked to each side, the ends of his scarf wagging with him, "Keep your voice down, Miss, that's not the sort of thing that you're supposed to shout out in a place like this."

"But you are, aren't you?" I pressed on.

The Haruka-Look-Alike dabbed my forehead with the handkerchief, and I realized my scrape was a little bigger then I had imagined. At least a bloody face can't keep me from walking, I thought. I looked down at his wrists, to see the same illuminated, blue diamonds where Haruka's blades extended from her skin. He promptly pulled his sleeves down and glanced as his books, before turning back to me.

"First of all, my name is Jun. Not Haruka. That's the name of my system's model--"

I beamed. "So, I was right. Are you a female model or a male one? Do they even produce male models?"

Jun sighed, stuffed the handkerchief in his pocket, and rose gruffly. "You ask too many questions. Foreigner, right?"

"I can tell you have too many answers." I snapped audaciously, which surprised the both of us. He questionably extended a hand, and I took it.

I apologized immediately: "I'm, er, really sorry I bumped into you. I was looking..."

Looking for Tomoe. I hoped he was alright. It wouldn't have been fair to just dart off now, though. The others were probably looking for me, and I felt obliged to help the stranger I have met. And he was an android too.

I stopped myself at that thought. Haruka was defective. I was told that Hibiki had detached the controls in her nape, giving her free will. What about Jun?

I made sure to watch my words from then on.

"... for someone."

Those rounded glasses were almost too big for his face. It took a moment for me to realize that there were no lenses in them, despite the concern he put into nudging them further back onto his nose. "If you insist you were, then I suppose it's true."

The others would be looking for me. Tomoe would be looking for me. And we were all supposed to be searching for Kaosu. Nevertheless, I was compelled to know more, since I had met another android.

"Let me help you carry those books," I offered.

He narrowed his eyes, slowly picking up book after book from the stack, handing me half of the load. Gradually, it became most of the load. There were over-sized history books and about three scientific textbooks. I could barely see in front of me, and I dearly hoped I wouldn't be walking far. I was already tired out from getting to Anzen Rozu from the Von Faecero manor. It was all so far away from the beginning.

I didn't want to admit it, but I really hoped Hibiki wasn't mad at me for darting off, and the thought alone nagged the back of my mind. In my defense, Kotone had run off too.

Answering my question, he said "I live on the Western side of the city. It's quite the walk, but you'll help, right?"

"Uh, definitely!"

Jun tossed the rest of the books in my hands, I flinched at the extra weight, and pulled out a band aid, sticking it rather carelessly on my forehead. My hood slipped down, and he paused, and pulled it back over my head.

"Thank you," I mouthed.

"I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into, queen-to-be. I'll put some proper ointment on that wound when we reach my place. I'd like to hear an explanation too, if you don't mind."

❀✿

Tᴏᴍᴏᴇ

They knocked me out.

The mangling, vile weasels they were couldn't handle me awake. The damned fools rendered me unconscious, and I had to repeat it to believe it.