Akira Otori's Card story – Some things don’t change growing up

[kozvme]

 

Ren: (Training was harder than usual today...
But it sounds like I can use these martial arts techniques I was taught in various situations.
If someone were to sneak up from behind, for exampleー)

!

Akira: Woah...!

Ren: You...

Akira: Watch out! How can I not freak out if you suddenly grab my arm!?

Ren: You're the one who came at me first. What do you want?

Akira: Ow, that hurtssss! Let go of my hand! I just wanted to scare you!

Ren: ......

Akira: Hah, that was awful... What was that technique, anyway? You grabbed me so fast.

Ren: ... A martial arts technique Marion taught me earlier. 

Akira: Heh~...
You're wide open!

Ren: Using a childish trick won't work on me.

Akira: What about this then!

Ren: You can only dream of taking me down with something of that level.

Akira: You little- Then this...!



Bianchi: Huh?
Hey, you two!

Akira & Ren: !?

Akira: Oh crap... you remember, Ren?

Ren: ... Y- Yeah, I do.

Akira: Let's get outta here before he dresses us up funny again...! (1)

Ren: Yeah...

Bianchi: Ah, wait a second you two!



Bianchi: Please wa~~~it!

Ren: He's still chasing us...!

Akira: We'd better leave the tower. Make sure to follow me, Ren!

Ren: ......

Bianchi: Wait...! Goodness, why are you running...!



Akira: Haah, hah... I don't think he'll chase us all the way here...

Ren: Haah...  God, nothing good comes out when you're around...

Akira: Huh!? I didn't do anythin'!

Ren: Shut up. I got into this mess because of you.

Akira: Hey, where are you goin'?

Ren: If I stay with you, there is a high possibility that he will find me with how rowdy you are. I'll go back by myself.

Akira: You know the way?

Ren: Of course.

Akira: ... The tower is in the opposite direction.

Ren: !
... It's all because you ran randomly...

Akira: But we got away because of that, you know!?

Ren: ......

Akira: He's probably still looking for us inside the tower, so let's patrol this area and take our time to go back. 

Ren: ......... Fine.



Akira: Oh, do you remember that store, Ren?
You really wanted the stuffed cat they sold at that knick-knack store.

Ren: ... I don't.

Akira: Really? You used to whine in front of the store about "wanting to bring the kitty home", thoughー

Ren: I didn't say that.

Akira: You did.

Ren: Did not.

Akira: You did, you did, you did!

Ren: I did not say that and I don't remember.

Akira: ... Hah, you used to be much cuterー

Bianchi: I finally found you!

Akira: Geh! You gotta be shittin' me, he caught up with us!?

Ren: What do we do...?

Akira: We scatter!

Bianchi: Don't move you twoー

Akira: Let's meet back at the "cat's left ear", Ren!

Ren: ...!

Bianchi: Goodness gracious, why are you running from me...!



Akira: Haah... Haah... If he comes here...

(... Ren's still not here? We separated out of necessity, but I wonder if he can make it by himself...
He might not even rememberーー)

! Ren, over here!

Ren: ... What about that person?

Akira: Hehe, I flew away with my genius leg strength!
Anyway, you actually made it.

Ren: ... It's a place I used to visit often as a kid, after all.

Akira: Oh yeah. You gave it the name "cat's left ear" to distinguish it from another park nearby.

Ren: I don't remember that muchー

Jude: Found you.

Akira & Ren: !?



Jude: Bianchi, I've captured the two. Huh, you didn't ask me to? Haha, Bianchi, it's obvious I would help you if you were in trouble. I'll wait at the park.

Akira: Let me go! Let me go, asshole!!

Ren: Kh......! You...!!

Bianchi: Thank goodness. You twoー

Akira: LET~~~ ME~~~ GO~~~~!!!!!

Ren: Kh...!!

Bianchi: Wait, if you don't pipe downー



Bianchi: Alright, you should be fine for now. I was worried about your uniforms tearing any time now because they were frayed.

Akira: Ooh, it doesn't look like it was torn at all!

Ren: Sorry for the trouble.

Bianchi: It's fine. Still, running away like that... Did you think I'd get mad at your scuffle in the hallway?

Akira: No, no, that's notー

Ren: Well, something like that.

Bianchi: This is just a quick fix, so don't make strenuous movements, alright? I'll prepare your new uniforms once we get back to the tower.
Both of you are still growing, so I'll adjust the size a little.

Akira: Ooh, it's all thanks to our daily training ♪

Ren: Still growing, huh...

Jude: Honestly, you should be thankful to Bianchi for keeping you on his tail all the way here and worrying about your uniforms.

Bianchi: You're speaking out of turn again...

Akira: No, you were a great help. Thanks, Bianchi!

Ren: ... I appreciate it.

Bianchi: My, oh my. What an honest puppy and kitten we have here! Now then, let's go back to the tower and have you change into new uniforms ♪


___________

(1) Refers to Ren's "Other Side Hero" card story.