T r a n s p a r e n t

  She narrowed her eyes slightly, a huff escaping her parted lips. “… Was that supposed to be an insult, Shintaro?” She stared up at him from the corners of her eyes, eyebrows raised expectantly. In all honesty, she was expecting him to say something along the lines of ‘What? Of course not’ in that sarcastic tone, but really, with his age now, she didn’t truly know what to prepare herself for. 

Time changes people after all. 

"Heh, you tell me," Shintaro smirked. He hadn't meant to insult Ayano, but he couldn't resist teasing her. For some reason, the boy felt light. The regret, that was like lead building in his stomach for two years was finally being bled out. But a small thought in this skull clawed at his nerves, whispering that this was all fake. That Shintaro had done nothing to deserve a miracle, so why would he get one? Luckily, Ayano was active enough to distract the boy from his brain. 

  "Hey, I already said I have money, so why not just let me pay for myself and you can get what you want? If you give all your money away to other people, you won't have any left for yourself," The boy sighed. She's lucky she doesn't carry around the deed to her house, she'd probably give that away to the first homeless person she saw. Shintaro thought. 

❀ { Sighing faintly the girl tried to push away these thoughts and emotions, thinking it was just the NEET being …. well … himself. After all Momo and Kido had somewhat warned her on how paran— “Eh!?” In the midst of her thoughts Mary found herself bumping against the male’s back as he came to a halt. “Sh-shintaro-kun…” Looking over his arm red hues caught sight of a rather tall silhouette making his way towards the two. 

"Hey now, we don't want trouble, so just give us what you've got, alright?" The one in front of Shintaro wheezed. 

  "Wh-what?" The boy murmured. His arms and legs instinctively widened to shield Mary and prepare himself for danger. 

"You heard 'em, just give us whatever valuables you've got and we'll be on our way," The stout one facing Mary grumbled. 

"We...don't have any valuables," Shintaro said sternly, eyes focused on the ground. It was true that the boy didn't have any money in his pocket, but he did have his cell phone, which he wasn't ready to give up. The men growled in response. 

"Yea, if that's true you wouldn't mind us checkin, right? Take off your jacket," 

The sudden confession about Shintaro admitting that he didnt take a promenade around the park for years is plenty evoked everyday via Ene’s pranks telling that her master is not at all acquainted with a few new alleys straightly constructed nearest from his house though it is very likely plausible that tracking down the communal path is certainly the best decision but condensed to what he planified early, thought borrowing a shot period of break won’t hurt anyone.

Once they got to the park, Shintaro opened the gate and lead them both inside. It stayed open till 8 pm, so they had some time to wonder around before they had to leave. Once they were inside, Shintaro started a slow walk down one of the paths. 

"So, did you ever come to the park when you were younger?" 

"How did I know her? Ah.. I met her one time when I was getting Oniichan from school. I found her arguing with Oniichan, I was so confused. Haru-nii saw me and said ‘Who’s that?’. I panicked and hid because he was extremely tall." she laughed. "Aya-nee pointed it out that I was Oniichan’s little sister and Taka-nee was shocked and asked ‘Oi, Ayano. Are you sure that girl is related to this idiotic impolite asshole?!’. It was funny! Well.. That’s as much as I remember from the first meeting of Haru-nii and Taka-nee.. I don’t remember much.." she continued.

"Then again.. Taka-nee and Haru-nii usually mess around with me.. I would be squirming.. One time, Haru-nii saw what happens if I get hurt and Oniichan saw it.. He said it was horrifying.. I don’t know why though.." she said. After walking awhile, they finally reached their destination. ‘Enomoto Takane’ was craved on the stone.

  Shintaro stayed quiet. He focused on keeping his breath even and his footsteps sure. Whenever he remembered a happy moment between him and his friends, the voice in his head got louder. The only friend Shintaro thought he deserved during his time in isolation after their deaths. You didn't love them, and now they're gone. It rasped. They deserved so much better than you. You could've done so much for them, but you just sat there. Pathetic. Momo was a better friend to them, and she barely even knew them! 

Once they reached the grave, all was silent. The air was thick with things unsaid, until Momo broke the silence. Shintaro couldn't answer her question right away. He didn't really know if he believed in an "up there", since his belief in some kind of higher deity was shaky. But they have to go somewhere, right? One of Shintaro's fears was that his friends were stuck in some horrible afterlife, but he didn't want to plant that fear in his sister's head. 

"Yea...I'm sure they're really happy. That is, if Takane learned how to lay off teasing Haruka long enough to smile every once in a while," He answered, hoping that he sounded like he believed that himself. 

  "…It’s nice to see you again, Shintaro." He glanced down at the green shirt he was wearing, clutching the fabric in his hand. He looked up at the other, and appeared to be thinking himself. "….I would normally look like how I usually do, but someone said I was under ‘gray-faced magic’. I should be normal again by tonight…" He held up his hand for himself to stare at, and made a fist. Then, he opened up his hand again, and made a fist with his hand again. He did this a couple of times, before making circles with his hand, using his wrist. Then, he began bending his arms, before swinging them in circles. He seemed to be checking the entire arm for any disabilities, but there didn’t seem to be any.

  "Haruka," He murmured. The sudden recognition sent poison down his spine, making him unable to move as he realized exactly what he was seeing. His friend, the same one who ate lunch with him while doodling in his sketchbook, was standing in front of him. The same one who's deadly illness took his life years ago was living and breathing right in front of him. The same one who's brain was swapped with that of a clueless android stood examining his new body in front of him. 

thelyingmonster

ask-kido-tsubomi

interneethero

sissi-the-sissy

shsltama

…Today was not a good day. A-ya now regrets going outside for a small walk. All these random strangers following him, some stranger than others. Well, he has to keep his manners in check, at least.

"Helloooo!" A muffled, electronic voice called out from Shintaro's pants, causing the awkward dude to stumble to a stop on his walk. 

  He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone, which had a little blue girl floating around the screen. "Ehh...Ene, why the heck did you just say hello to me? I don't have headphones, so everyone just heard you," 

"I wasn't saying hello to you, I was saying hello to him!" Ene chirped, pointing to a boy in front of Shintaro. With that, the teen turned to face the NEET and mutter a greeting in return.