#gothichalloween

Ren: ….Sorry for the wait.

Victor: Ren… I hadn’t been waiting that long, it's the appointed time we promised to meet after all.

Victor: More importantly…. have you come to a conclusion?

Ren: ……

Victor: Perhaps I’ve been too hasty. I was convinced you also weren’t the type to enjoy meaningless small talk.

Ren: Yeah, I’m not. I didn’t reach out to you for some idle talk

Ren: As for what we’ve been talking about..... I’m not interested in getting involved with your experiments in any way, shape or form next time.

Victor: Oh my, that’s what it came to…. That’s beyond my prediction

Victor: I went out of my way to bring the drug with me…  Isn’t it fine that it’ll solve your problem?

Ren: It doesn’t matter. …..Rather, there’s a solution without needing to rely on you. 

Victor: Is that so?

Victor: ……. Ah now I understand, you’ve thought to go to someone else instead. 

Ren: Yeah. It might be irrational of me but, there’s a person besides you capable of helping with my problem.

Victor: ….Good grief. Then I suppose I’ll have to give up now, if this is what it came to.

Victor: Very well. Have you brought that jack-o’-lantern trinket with you?

Ren: ….?

Victor: That amulet I gave to you that fends off so-called evil spirits.

Ren: It’s right here…

Victor: Fufu, you did as I told you to and carried it with you. Was this somewhat useful to you?

Ren: Yeah, I’ve informed you about it before. Though, for some reason it stopped being effective halfway through...

Victor: I see…

Ren: Oi…. What are you taking out of it now?

Victor: A fragment of substance. It’s a level 1 and small, but this pit-sized core is capable of being plenty useful. 

Victor: Regarding its trait, it has the ability to make the target person experience nightmares. 

Victor: Although I said nightmares, it’s also effective while you’re awake since it can also manifest said imagery outside of a state where you’re asleep.

Victor: Things you hate, things you’re frightened of… what one considers to be a ‘nightmare’ depends on each person.

Ren: ….What?

Victor: I’ve obtained it from the first time you came to me for a consultation, I had taken my measuring instruments out at once to research your person. 

Victor: Which resulted into discovering that this fragment was stuck on one of the soles of your outdoor shoes. 

Ren: ….!

Victor: Your initial prediction at first was correct. The source of this strange phenomenon was indeed caused by substance.

Victor: I realized it and thought that I had to make use of this circumstance.

Victor: After keeping an eye on you, I collected the substance when you had collapsed, and instead of it I’ve given you this jack-o’-lantern trinket. 

Victor: While acting as if I was cooperating I took the necessary data, and when it was the right time, in return I inserted the substance in the trinket.

Ren: This entire time…. I was being tricked….

Victor: Indeed. If I were to say that it wasn’t deception, I’d be lying.

Ren: …………

-

notes:

Nova: Hey hey. Do I resemble my father?

Nova: I don’t often get told that I do resemble him because we’re way too different in terms of personality~

Nova: But I do take after him in terms of face structure, maybe with wearing these glasses….

Victor: ………….

Nova: Vic?

Victor: You don’t resemble each other at all.

Nova: Eh, “not at all”!?

Nova: I was expecting you to go like, “The degree of similarity is about 51.278%.” but, not at all? 100% not?

Victor: Wearing glasses doesn’t make much of a difference.

Victor: ….For you, for I

Nova: ?

Victor: I believed that I’d be able to see the same point of view as Oswald if I were to wear them when I received these.

Victor: I was still 15, or 16 at the time but, the fact that a human engaging with science had such a childish way of thinking, it makes me feel ashamed.

Victor: Even with glasses, he remains himself, and I remain myself.

Nova: Aah… It’s true that you were cute when you were younger~

Victor: Cute…? Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to call it foolish, or absurd?

Nova: Huumm… It’s the same kind of cute as when Marion is happily eating pancakes, or when he comes to the lab for a popcorn party?

Victor: I cannot quite comprehend that.

Nova: Aah… yeah, it’s whatever. Ahaha~

Nova: But how it’s important to you to the point of continuing to use them, and keeping in mind that dark past associated with it, don’t you believe deep down that they serve as some sign of good luck in the end?

Victor: No. They’ve become such an integral part of my body that any other glasses give me a sense of discomfort.

Victor: Signs of good luck and spiritual things are all the same, I don’t believe in such baseless things.

Nova: Hmm….? Well, suppose that is just like you~?

Nova: But this is why we should watch a horror movie together~....

Victor: Oh….? Where in the world were you carrying that DVD?

Nova: Fufu~n♪ I said that the boredom will kill me, so I brought it with me to watch it together~

Nova: While watching the League today, I got in the mood for this… Ba-baaang! A classic masterpiece, none other than “Frankenstein”!

Victor: ….That’s what you chose, out of all things

Nova: Eh, not happy? It’s not any different than usual, is it?

Nova: It’s a timely theme, and when I’m holding a popcorn party with Marion and the others, we seldom watch classic works. 

Nova: A night of appreciating “Frankenstein” together with the Frankenstein of HELIOS… Ahaha, it’s kind of making me excited~♪

Victor: Please don’t put such ambigious terms together… But I understand, I will accompany you for one watch.

Victor: It’s just the two of us, there’s no need for popcorn. I’ll go set coffee so please get the movie ready.

Nova: Yaaay~~!

Victor: Ah, Nova… I had forgotten for a second, but please return my glasses----

Victor: ………

Nova: Hm? Vic, what’s up~?

Victor: ….Ah, sorry. I want these

Nova: Ah, the glasses!? Sorry sorry, forgot to give ‘em back~

Nova: They are important to you after all. Alright, here you go♪

Victor: Thank you very much….

Victor: (....... For a brief moment I felt as if I saw Oswald instead of Nova….)

Victor: ……….

???: ----, ct…

???: ….. Victor……

???: VIIIC~! Heeeelp meeee~~~!

Victor: …..!

Nova: Huuuh? Vic…. don’t tell me, were you sleeping right now?

Victor: Good morning…..

Nova: Morning…. Wait, it’s 2 am in the middle of the night though~?

Nova: Didn’t expect you to be sleeping in the lab though. You often point out how you don’t believe that I’m able to sleep in such a place too.

Victor: Today was-… it is already the next day, isn’t it. The Halloween League cost me more energy than I expected it to.

Victor: I restarted my research but couldn’t quite concentrate…. And while thinking about what would be the most efficient way to work, I concluded that I should sleep for a little while.

Victor: I see it’s still 15 minutes until the alarm goes off. I planned to sleep for an hour and half, but given how I’m feeling somewhat refreshed, it’s fine. 

Nova: Sorry for waking you up~ I thought you were still awake and stormed in like I usually do

Victor: It’s not a problem. Either way, did you reach a stalemate with something?

Nova: Naaah~ I’m not I am stuck on anything irrelevant actually

Nova: The Halloween League got wrapped up, and there’s nothing I need to quickly finish up….

Nova: But…. it unexpectedly got soooo boring that I don’t even know what to do~!

Victor: Staving off boredom, I see… Wouldn’t “help” be inappropriate to say in this case? 

Nova: No, it fits the moment. I want you to help me since I’ll end up dying from the boredom

Victor: People cannot die from boredom.

Nova: C’mooon~....

Nova: Well, it’s fine. You know…. it’s been a while since I’ve seen you without glasses on

Victor: Naturally I take them off while sleeping. ….Oh my, where did they go. They were supposed to be next to my right hand as I slept….

Nova: Ta-daaah♪ How does it look~?

Victor: ………

Nova: Huh… no reaction. They’re just for show, aren’t they? You should be able to normally see me~?

Victor: Yes, I can see. ….It’s merely that I’m astounded by how childish you’re acting.

Nova: Riiight~ Anyway, how is it? It fits me right? Wonder if I’m more like a researcher now~?

Nova: Since we’re on the topic…. You received my father’s glasses as a memento when he died, right.

Nova: Where are you even keeping these glasses?

Victor: …..? You’re wearing them right now.

Nova: EEEH!!!??

Nova: No, I mean… It has already been 16 years since my father died? That these same glasses have a brand-new quality to them….

Victor: I bring them into an optical store from time to time, and I have kept up basic maintenance every single day without fail.

Victor: The fact that they’re made out of sturdy material has its benefits, I can continue to keep using them in great condition. 

Nova: Even so, you look way too much after it….

Victor: All of it was for research. Despite the fact you had cooperated with me before, it didn’t lead anywhere…. which is why I naturally could not be satisfied with.

Victor: However thanks to this, the drug has been improved and it was possible for it to advance to a new stage. Thank you very much.

Victor: Although ideally I would like to cooperate once more for an experiment… 

Ren: You’re, seriously the worst….

Victor: I believe words have different meanings for each person, but in this case I can comprehend as to why I am ‘the worst’.

Victor: I will take responsibility for my way of conduct if it has caused any discomfort for you. I offer you my sincere apologies. 

Ren: …..That’s the kind of apology you’re giving me, huh. 

Ren: You seriously don’t think that you did anything wrong by getting me involved into your experiments, do you now

Victor: I do things based on what I believe in. I cannot let unnecessary emotional involvement lead me the wrong way and let me get sidetracked.  

Victor: On the contrary, it doesn’t matter what others think. If you’re not satisfied with my apology, then feel free to let out your anger as much as you want.

Victor: Please go on ahead and continue to hate me, resent me, until you’re satisfied.

Ren: …..

Ren: As much as I want to… I don’t have the time for it. Nor do I have the patience to keep you entertained any longer.

Ren: Besides…. this feeling is nothing towards the degree of being ‘hatred’. Don’t run your mouth as if you know everything.  

Ren: …..I’m not qualified, nor have the right to preach about humanity but, I’ll only leave you with this

Ren: One day you’ll self-destruct with your way of doing things.

Victor: ……..

Victor: Fufu, how funny….

Ren: ….., what are you laughing at?

Victor: Ah, sorry. The way you said ‘self-destruct’ oddly moved me.

Victor: Perhaps it stems from the way I look right now...

Victor: Victor Frankenstein, the man I’m dressed as, is undoubtedly synonymous with self-destruction. A monster created by his own hands is what ended up being his demise.

Victor: I had to think how it was just like that, and laughed without thinking. My apologies.

Ren: ………..

Victor: Perhaps it was Marion’s intention to choose this costume to begin with….

Victor: If driving myself to the point of destruction will complete my research, and get Oswald’s dream fulfilled on top of it, then it means nothing if I did self-destruct. If anything, that is what I truly desire.

Ren: You’re-…

Ren: !!

Ren: H-hello…?

Marion: “Ren, where are you. It’s already time to head towards the LOM venue.”

Ren: Ah… got it, I’m going right now. I was thinking to meet up soon.

Marion: “Alright… Also, do you know where Victor is? He’s not to be found anywhere….”

Ren: He’s here with me

Marion: “....Huh?”

Ren: We’ll be going to the LOM venue together.

Marion: “....Okay. Hurry up, I won’t forgive being late.”

Ren: Uuwh.. Ueeh…

Will: W-why did Ren start crying? It’s all good now so you don’t need to cry?

Akira: Uuueh~..... Shion-nee-chan, sorry. I just wanted to scare you a little bit

Akira: I’m throwing this pumpkin away! I’ll throw it so far you won’t be able to see it at all…. I’m sowwy~!

Will: Akira, you’re too loud… Aaah, what do I do. It’s a mess!

Shion: Alrighty!

Will & Akira: !?

Shion: Tears flew out of me because I got way too spooked, but it’s good! I’m sorry, I scared all of you too didn’t I?

Akira: Shion-nee-chan, you’re fine…?

Shion: Totally fine! I acted embarrassing without meaning to but… the fact that I let Akira scare me to the point of crying is even more embarrassing. Don’t mention anything to your mothers about this okay?

Akira: !! Okay!

Ren: Uuu, uu… guwuueeeh~....

Shion: Why are you crying even more now? Onee-chan has already stopped crying, shouldn’t Ren too?

Ren: Uuu… Onee-chan…

Shion: Come now, we’ll be going to the super fun Halloween League♪

Ren: Halloween League….

Shion: Akira and Will, can you two get ready?

Akira & Will: Yeah!

Shion: So keep your chin up, Ren. Once you’re feeling better we’ll head towards the venue. 

Ren: …..Yeah!

-

Ren: (That’s right…. In the end, we did end up going to the Halloween League back then.)

Ren: (It was devastating to see Nee-san cry, and it left a really strong impression on me.)

Ren: (I had forgotten all about it but, yeah… That night, the four of us did go to the League---)

Nova: Ah, has the rain stopped? The sunlight is shining through

Ren: ….It has

Nova: Ren-kun…. If you are up for it, don’t you want to sit down for a talk at the lab once we're back? There still has to be something you’d want to say, and I also- 

Ren: No…. It’s fine

Ren: Actually, I have to get back to patrolling. If Marion finds out I’ll get the whip

Nova: Ah, you were in the middle of a patrol? Eh… Waaait~ already going?

Ren: …..My bad for bringing that up out of nowhere.

Nova: Huh….

Nova: No, it’s not a problem at all!? It’s nothing to apologize for~?

Nova: …More importantly, is it really fine, Ren-kun?

Ren: Yeah. ….I’m good

Nova: And there he goes… It’s okay if he said so himself but….

Ren: “I’m finally a hero, I have a chance to take action for my family, to obtain power…”

Nova: …..No. I’ll have to sit down and talk with Ren-kun one more time after all

Nova: Ren-kun

Ren: !

Nova: I’m sorry for interrupting you. But let’s take a moment.

Nova: I’d listen to you with no problems if you were saying things to get it off your chest… Though it doesn’t seem that’s the case.

Nova: I do think there’s truth in what you’re saying about Shion-san being happy that time, you are her little brother after all. ….I’d also like to believe that she was happy then.

Nova: And then….. losing one’s life in the midst all of that, has to be regrettable… 

Nova: Even so, it’s not our place to assume things. It’s harsh to say, but there’s nowhere to turn to for the right answer.

Ren: …………

Nova: ….I wasn’t able to confirm it at first, but now it became clear.

Nova: Ren-kun….. Your reason for joining HELIOS is to avenge the loss of your family, isn’t it? 

Nova: You don’t need to say anything if you don’t want to. However, I’m under the impression that’s how it is, and if it’s different after all then convince me otherwise while you can. 

Ren: …….

Nova: ……

Nova: Just as you I don’t know what she thought of, and neither do I have any way to find out.

Nova: However…. I’m sure that the Shion-san I knew of wouldn’t blame her little brother, nor get mad at you for your reasoning.

Nova: She was always bright and a straight-forward positive person. I don’t think I’ve seen her cry before either when I think about it...

Nova: No... there were probably times where she has cried. She’d often mess up or get scolded back at the lab. 

Nova: And still, she wouldn’t let herself cry in front of others. Whether she’d be sad or frustrated, she’d quickly get back on her feet with a cheerful smile.

Nova: ….I did want that she wouldn’t hold back with showing this side of her. Though I didn’t say anything since I lacked the ability to do so.

Nova: But as far as I can remember, that’s the kind of person Shion-san was…. how about it?

Ren: ...……

Nova: What you said earlier about Halloween… I’ve actually heard about how Shion-san cried because of a jack-o’-lantern before.

Nova: She had told me the next day about how she had accidentally burst out in tears in front of her little brother. 

Nova: If anything, it felt like it was quite a funny story. I remember her laughing about it while telling it, saying how it was “pathetic”, or “embarrassing”~...

Ren: Huh…

Nova: And that was just one part of the whole thing, since the main takeaway was how she had brought her little brother and his friends to the Halloween League….

Nova: If I’m not mistaken you all went because of the invitations tickets she received from the lab, right? She was glad to talk about how it made you and your friends really happy

Victor: Given that you’ve been continuously coming to get your blood drawn, I’ll hand you some iron supplements. Please don’t hesitate to tell me about anything else if you have any worries about your physical condition.

Ren: It’s not really...

Victor: ….?

Victor: Ah, the fact that you can’t quite get up in the morning is not something that started happening recently, is it?

Ren: Wha-... How could you tell what I was thinking...

Victor: Simply a guess. If you have insufficient blood, you won’t be able to wake up early and drowsiness will increase during the day.

Victor: If you have anemia on a regular basis, taking these supplements might have it’s effect. Fufu, it’d be nice for your problem to get solved.

Ren: I-it’s not like it’s a problem….

Victor: Is that so

Victor: Changing the subject, how is the effectiveness of the protective amulet? Has there been any changes since then?

Ren: …..There has

Ren: Since I started carrying it around with me… There actually haven’t been any strange happenings.

Victor: Oh my, really?

Ren: Yes, really.

Victor: Which means that my judgement was correct after all. 

Victor: It’s a relief that the source of it is clear however…. In what way should I take responsibility

Ren: Eh…

Victor: Naturally these efforts were on behalf of solving your problem, still if there is anything else please do tell me about it.

Victor: As one would expect one’s life is precious, but if it’s for the sake of continuing my research, I’d be going as far as willing to give up a part of my own body. 

Ren: O-oi… What are you saying

Victor: ? Did I say anything strange?

Ren: Strange…

Ren: I thought I had received an apology before but… that you’re going as far as this is surprising.

Victor: Surprising?

Ren: ….Yeah. How do I say it, I thought that you had absolute confidence in that experiment.

Victor: Yes, confidence… I do have absolute belief in it. 

Victor: Still, you won’t progress further if you fail to recognize failure as what it is. When treading upon unknown territory such thing is natural to do… 

Victor: For this reason, I’m cautious with choosing cooperators and affirm from the beginning that there is mutual benefit to be gained.

Ren: ….Are you planning to do the same thing once there happens to be someone that says it’ll be fine to work together?

Victor: Yes, absolutely

Ren: ………….

Ren: Why are you fixating so much on that research?

Ren: Do you want to be deemed as some renowned scientist and get praised, like Oswald Summerfield?

Victor: Where did that… 

Victor: I have no interest in status nor fame. The notion of wanting to be on par with Oswald, not to mention be ahead of him, is preposterous. 

Ren: Then, why…

Victor: My goal is nothing more than improving a hero’s strength and their powers.

Victor: As to why, it was what Oswald desired. The dreams that he wasn’t able to fulfill, I want to realize them by my own hands.

Ren: ……..

Victor: 16 years ago….. When Oswald had died, I became mortified. 

Victor: If he had lived longer…. If he had just a bit more time….. All I could think about were futile things beyond my grasp, I was eating my heart out.

Victor: For days and days on end, I seriously considered ways to revive him, or methods of achieving communication with the dead.

Victor: Nevertheless, no matter how much I had struggled, realizing it was impossible… As a result of straying off for how many months, I’ve reached an answer, and that is I had no choice but to inherit his will and fulfill his dream. 

Victor: The one who we call Oswald Summerfield was a splendid man that put his whole heart into protecting this world from the menace we call “substance”, and had contributed more than anyone else. 

Victor: To think that the life of someone like him was ephemeral, and came to an end… 

Victor: It’s when I realized… that there is no salvation in this world, nor is there a god.

Ren: ……

Victor: Ah, my apologies. It is not my intention to deny religion nor believers of it. Please don’t get the wrong idea.

Ren: No, it’s not that I did….

Ren: …...If anything, I’m the same as you

Victor: …………

Ren: The examination is already done, right. Can I go back to the room now?

Victor: Yes, that is not a problem.

Jack: Now then Gast, please put these in the oven.

Gast: OK. It’d be great for these to get baked without messin’ up

Jacqueline: Gast-chama, it’s necessary to check the temperature. If you don’t confirm it, it’ll end up just like before・ ・ ・ 

Jack: Jacqueline・ ・ ・ It was no one other than you that got the temperature wrong・ ・ ・ 

Gast: Ahaha, the one that made the mistake up understands it the best. I won’t mess up so keep your eyes peeled

Jacqueline: Yes-nano~♪ 

Marion: Good grief….

Ren: Marion. I did as you said and made new dough.

Marion: Ah. Then I’ll let Jacqueline cut out the shapes….

Ren: Is it fine if I go already. I have something to take care of

Marion: ….Right, that’s fine

Ren: Then I’ll be going…

Marion: ……..

---

Ren: (....He’s obviously suspicious of me.)

Ren: (I told him that when I collapsed it was because of lack of sleep and nothing else but, it feels like he hasn’t been trusting me ever since.)

Ren: (I don’t believe that I have to tell Victor about it, still it’s kind of… awkward to keep up this charade.) 

Ren: (Actually now that I’m thinking about it, why did I have to act this sneaky about visiting Victor’s lab-)

???: T-thank you very much, Victor-san….

Ren: …..?

Victor: Feel free to drop by anytime you desire to

Grey: T-thank you…..! I-I’ll be looking forward to it when I do…..

Ren: Looks like he’s awfully fond of you

Victor: Ren. I was thinking it was about time for you to come

Ren: Don’t tell me… did you also drag Gray into that experiment?

Victor: Fufu. We were merely discussing about substance.

Victor: Heroes who are interested into substance itself, like him, are rare to come by. Sometimes I invite him over to my lab, and we’d be doing such things as sharing information, or I’d be answering his questions.

Ren: ….Huuh?

Victor: If there’s perhaps any interest, I could teach you too.

Ren: Not needed.

Victor: Is that so… Well, in the case that you might perhaps become interested, you’re always welcome to come to me.