Moonlight incandesced off an airborne figure. Every time this figure would dip toward the dark forest below, they would kick the air, propelling them back up and allowing their speed to maintain its heightened state.
More fun than walking. Caspian thought.
The unnatural development rate of his relationships still demanded answers, but those truths wouldn't come in a short period. So for now, he'd savor the blessed situation he found himself in. But that didn't mean he was postponing the issue, as he'd already arrived at several potential explanations. And in order to prove if they held weight, he would need to continue deepening his bonds…
The swathes of forest broke apart beneath him, revealing a clearing. At its center loomed Doctor Kuseno's Laboratory.
Heading here was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Once he left the Hero Association Hospital, he returned to his apartment only to find Genos still absent. No returned calls, either. Remembering the detailed directions Genos had provided him in the past, he set out.
Air rampaged around him as he stepped down once more, approaching the clearing at a breakneck speed. His eyebrows raised the moment he spotted the figure standing outside of the laboratory.
"Who!?"
His landing came quick and hard. The force of which resulted in a small crater and a cloud of dust that obstructed him from clearly seeing the woman ahead of him who he could of swore he heard say something.
Moments later, the dust cloud settled, allowing him to see her unobscured.
Under the night's clear sky, bathed in the glow of a full moon, a figure stood primed. Her white bandeau top mirrored the pale shade of her hair. Flowing sarong of the same color draped around her waist, tied at the side, its folds veiling a portion of the two curved swords crossed at her lower back.
"Caspian?" Yuta released her grip on her swords' hilts, but her posture remained tensed. "What are you doing here?"
"That's interesting, because I was also going to ask you the same question."
He stepped out of the small crater, flashing her a smile before heading straight toward the laboratory's entrance.
It would be much easier to head right in and uncover the secret transpiring here rather than standing in place.
"Wait!" Yuta leapt right in front of him, placing her palms against his chest. "You see—"
With her so close to him, he leaned forward, gazing into her amber eyes, causing her words to stop as her thick eyelashes fluttered.
Seeing her charming expression combined with the faint scent of her perfume, saccharine and intoxicating, and how it mingled with her natural smell. He displayed zero hesitation when he closed the distance between their faces and stole her lush lips.
Yuta paused for a heartbeat, her breath hitching — but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned in closer, her fingers grasping his shirt as if to anchor herself there.
He cherished her soft velvety lips that had the slightest hint of dryness that made him want to dwell, to feel the way they molded perfectly against his own.
When their mouths parted, Caspian lingered close, his forehead resting against hers. Her breathing was uneven while her fingers still clutched his shirt. He could feel the rapidity of her pulse where his hand had found its way to the side of her neck. The two remained close enough that he could almost taste the sweetness of her breath again.
"I hope that was okay. Please don't be upset…"
Yuta leaned back and looked up at him. "Do not say such foolish things," she reprimanded with a warm tone. "This is a bliss I have never known before. How could I be upset?"
Caspian knew he didn't deserve the affection of her or Suiko, Tatsumaki, Fubuki, and Mosquito Girl for that matter.
The words he planned to say next got stuck in his throat when Yuta continued.
"You are one of the victim's here. I must ask you to please restrain your anger in the coming moments."
Yuta took the puzzled Caspian's hand and dragged him toward the laboratory.
The warmth of her hand was pleasant at least, but the temperature felt a little high. How nervous was she?
They reached the dual metal doors in about a dozen strides.
Yuta banged on the door with her free hand. "Fubuki, open up!"
Fubuki too? Is everyone here? Why didn't I just use my 'Sense' ability?
Caspian heard hurried footsteps arrive on the other side of the door before an electric buzzing played out and the doors opened, the laboratory's interior light flooding out into the night.
Much to his disappointment, Yuta's hand darted back to her side.
"Yu…" Fubuki's voice faltered when she saw him.
Caspian scrutinized the unsubtle shifts in her countenance. "Well, now I'm really curious." He made his way past Fubuki. But halted his step when he noticed her bandaged finger. "How did this happen?"
"I did it."
When he realized she didn't plan to elaborate further, he understood there was no benefit to pressing her further.
If she got hurt, then Tatsumaki should also have come here…
Continuing forward, he took in all the various machines, cabinets, and shelves lined with high-tech gadgets he'd never seen before. He couldn't help but admire it all. But it wasn't what he was searching for.
A sound from further in the laboratory caught his attention.
Heading toward the sound, he passed by a machine that stretched to the high-ceiling but turned around when he heard Fubuki's voice echo out behind him.
"W-We made a mistake." Fubuki clasped the sides of her dark royal-green V-neck dress. "Today has been one thing after the next and you've been brutally honest since the start and I don't want you to get the wrong impression of me and think I'm a deceptive person. Ah, why am I saying all this to someone I've only known since earlier today? Now you're going to think I'm—"
"Slow down and breath Fubuki." Suiko said as walked out from a corner that was not too far ahead of the trio. "She wants to say we're sorry and planned to tell you."
I haven't been very honest either.
Caspian shook his head. "I still don't know why you're all here. Actually, how did you find this place?"
"Mosquito Girl informed us," Yuta answered.
"Okay… then, how did she know?"
Fubuki's hands unclasped her dress as she said, "She said Carmin told her."
Every answer only made his understanding of the situation slip away more.
"Who?"
Suiko motioned with her arm for him to follow her. "Here she is…" The faint hint of worry which passed through her blue eyes didn't escape him.
Aching to understand, he hurried past Suiko and rounded the corner. There he caught sight of the area he was searching for with the familiar multi-monitor station to the right of the familiar inclined surgical table where Genos received his upgrades and repairs.
However, it wasn't Genos lying on that table this time.
-- -- -- -- --
Thank you for reading, commenting, liking, and all other methods of support you show me.
If you'd like to read ten chapters ahead; you can do so over on Patreon.