Mmmmmmmmmmm, what's going on? Something has happened… wait. Where am I? I feel a little cold. And my head is on something really soft. This is softer than a pillow. I wonder what it is? Whatever it is, feels good so I snuggle into the soft thing. I know that something is different but the softness of this… whatever it is, is too good not to just lay here, just keeping my eyes closed...
"Hidaka-sama, are you awake?"
Huh? Who's talking to me? I opened my eyes and saw a flash of dark orange. My head is on something that is dark orange in colour. I wonder what it is? I moved my hand to touch it. The fabric is soft. Almost like… it looks like a… skirt? Naw. Why would my head be on a… oh no.
I desperately looked up to see beautiful eyes looking down at me! With those eyes, I can see myself in them! I rubbed my eyes, in pure disbelief. If I'm looking up at someone… no, it's a pretty girl. A pretty girl is looking down at me with a smile that belongs to someone like an Angel...
"Iyaaa!"
I let out a blood curdling scream and sat up straight away! Because the girl is! This girl is! I remember now! This girl is the girl that… she forced herself onto me! She is the girl that said some weird things and suddenly kissed me on the lips! A-And that light. I remember a light but… that was… it formed bird-like wings. They were really beautiful… just like Nanami-san...
But I'm on a bench… I had my head on her lap while resting on a bench! I looked into her innocent looking eyes. They really are very… beautiful. I could get lost in her eyes but… where's the bag!?
I brought a bag with us and now it is… oh. It is to the side of the bench. I picked it up and held the handle tightly. I don't want to lose that but for now it's time for reality to set in by me saying...
"I-I-I-I! I-I AM S-S-SORRY F-FOR P-PUTTING M-MY HEAD ON YOUR L-L-LAP! A-AND FOR FAINTING!"
I screamed out at her! Clearly I've done something strange! I fainted and she had the kindness to stay with me until I woke up! Even giving me what I've heard about! The legendary "Lap pillow!". I was given a lap pillow from a girl I've not known for more than an hour or so? Then again, she did kiss me out of the blue so why wouldn't she give me a lap pillow? Uwah! My life is so weird right now!
She looked a little surprised at my screaming, before she brushed off my concerns with a wave of her hand.
"No, it is okay my Ashikabi-sama. It's the first time anyone has placed their head on my lap before. It was a nice experience. And I'm glad that I didn't do anything too strange to my Ashikabi-sama. I thought something terrible happened when you suddenly fainted like that."
Eh? She isn't bothered? Why isn't she bothered? I think that if I had someone's head on my lap, who I don't know, then I would be at least a little… wait. What did she say about an Ashikabi? Her and… oooooooooooooh! That chick with the staff from before! P-Please don't tell me that she...
"Erm… Nanami-san, right?"
"Yes! You remember that huh. Sorry about before. I seemed to have shocked you quite a bit. Maybe I could've handled that better. But not to worry, I will become a more diligent Sekirei for you from now on!"
I tilted my head to the side in wonder. Sekirei? Okay, she has to start telling me what a Sekirei is before I cry.
"T-Tha… that girl with the staff thing before… she isn't going to chase after us again, is she? Because, that was a scary experience to say the least."
"Nope! I think she will leave us alone for the time being. But don't worry Hidaka-sama, I will protect you with my life. I would die before anyone would dare to harm you."
My heart skipped a beat then. I've never had anyone say anything so sweet before. Yet, I am going to take her words literally. She would die for me. Isn't that a little extreme? I can't say I would do the same right now as… I don't know her. How could she die for me when she doesn't know me? I could be a complete bastard yet she is willing to risk her life for someone like me?
"T-That's s-so sweet Nanami-san b-but please don't ever risk your life for me. I couldn't take it, knowing someone would get hurt because of me."
"A-As I thought! You truly are a kind Ashikabi! I heard that there were some very bad Ashikabis out there but I seem to have found a very caring one. And an adorable one as well!"
She put her hands together in a love heart shape and winked cutely. This isn't normal… how long was I knocked out for? I took my phone out of my pocket to check the time… I'VE BEEN OUT FOR TWO HOURS!? HOW THE HELL DOES THAT HAPPEN!? ONEE-CHAN IS GOING TO THINK THAT I'VE ABANDONED HER OR SOMETHING!
I-I… I need to go and see Onee-chan now! I-I don't have time for Sekirei, Ashikabi or whatever else! Super powers! No normal human could've jumped that high or that far. These girls are like superheroes from out of manga… hey, am I in a manga now? That would be so totally cool if I was in a manga now. But none of that matters now! I need to go to Onee-chan!
"Erm… Nanami-san. I actually need to go so… goodbye!"
I stood up and was about to leave when I felt a hand grab my own! By instinct, I tried pulling away but I couldn't due to her crazy strength! My face turned completely red. I'm not used to things like this. People holding my hand, k-k-kiss… kissing me! She kissed my lips with her own… and took that thing that… I never thought that anyone would ever… and suddenly this girl said that...
"Please wait a second. Hidaka-sama, as your Sekirei, I should accompany you."
Why did she sound so… you know. She sounded like she had to follow me. Like it was an obligation or something. Is that how she… sees the world? I'm no expert but if you kiss someone, you don't automatically have to follow them everywhere… or that's what I believe anyway.
"I don't know what you are on about but you don't have to do anything. No one is your Master, you know? The way you said that then, it sounded like you were following around a Master or something."
That's the impression I got anyway. Nanami-san stood up and looked down at me. Great, this looks like I'm being accompanied by an Onee-san now. She let a smile grace her face as she spoke soothing words to me.
"In a sense, you are my Master. But I don't think Hidaka-sama would ever treat me badly. I sense nothing but goodness from my Ashikabi. That's why I chose you to be my Ashikabi."
"Erm… you aren't going to let it go, are you? No matter what I say, you will follow me won't you."
"Yes."
She gave a sharp nod and a determined face. Great, now I have a stalker, that's something called a Sekirei, whatever that is. At least she's really pretty. If I have to have a stalker then I am happy that it is someone so sweet and cute like Nanami-san.
"Ugh… I-I guess you could come but… please don't mention anything about Sekirei, Ashikabi or the likes when we go to Onee-chan. It would only raise lots of questions that even I don't have the answers to."
Just then, my phone started ringing. Of course, it's going to be Onee-chan! She will be wondering where I am… but when I look. It was a number that I don't recognize. Hmmmm, even though I shouldn't… I answered it anyway.
"Hello?"
"It's about time! I've been trying for ages now!"
Uwah! Someone is yelling at me through the phone! Hmph, I am not taking abuse through my phone. I hit the end call button.
"Talk about rude."
"Who was it, Hidaka-sama?"
"Oh… I don't know. I feel like I know the voice but it's not someone I'm overly familiar with."
As I said that, the phone started ringing again! And it's the same person! I immediately hit the end call button! I am not talking to someone who yells at me! But then it rang again! Ugh! I answered it and said, "Go away!" Then I ended the call again. But then it rang again! For the love of God! Does this idiot not know how to take "Go away!" as an answer!?
I hit the end call, but the person rang again! This continued for a while until I collapsed on the floor and cried. He won't leave me alone. It's harassment! First a beauty takes my lipginity, that's what I call it anyway as it is my lips virginity, and next I get weird phone calls from some creep who yells at me.
"Hidaka-sama… shall I answer the phone and tell this person to leave you alone?"
"It couldn't hurt."
I handed her my phone and she answered it. Maybe she can convince them to leave me alone.
"Hello… oh, Professor!"
Professor? She knows some kind or Professor?
"Yes, I am doing quite well, thank you Professor!"
Then, Nanami-san handed me the phone. I gave it a wary look as she gently moved her body over to mine, wrapping her arms around my neck from behind me! H-Her boobs are getting pressed into the back of my head!
"It's okay Hidaka-sama. The Professor would just like to talk with you briefly. It's important so please listen, okay?"
"I-If you're sure it's important then."
I looked back at her to see her nodding with a small, yet kind and gentle smile. So I put the phone to my ear and started listening.
"It's about time! Now, my name is Minaka Hiroto, the CEO and founder of MBI. "
"The CEO of MBI? Why are you calling me?"
I heard him sigh and I resisted the urge to push the end call button. If Nanami-san says that it is important then I will just have to grit my teeth and go along with her, whatever that may be.
"Now young man. You have become one of the lucky people that have winged a Sekirei and become her Ashikabi! "
"Will you just tell me what that means idiot!? I am on a tight schedule here!"
I heard a growl coming from the MBI man. Hey, it isn't my fault that you're prone to anger, is it? I sighed to myself as I heard him speaking again.
"The Sekirei Plan. The name of the game that you have now become a fortunate participant in. The rules are rather simple. There are 108 Sekirei and have been released into the city, to find an Ashikabi, then fight and fight and fight until only one Sekirei and Ashikabi is left. That lucky pair will be allowed to ascend and the winning Ashikabi will hold the fate of the world in his or her hands! "
Fight? Sekirei Plan? If I'm getting this right then I am the Ashikabi, whatever they are for, while Nanami-san is a Sekirei. And we have to fight in some kind of game for us to ascend, whatever that means. And somehow, we hold the world in our hands if we win the game? That sounds rather barbaric to me.
"And, lastly. Since you know about it, it has to remain a secret or MBI will retaliate with any means necessary."
Did I just get threatened? But with that, the line goes dead. After it went dead, I just stood there, frozen. Because I bumped into some girl, I've suddenly become a part of a death game. That's what it is, isn't it? A game of death and… um… I don't know what I am going to do now...
"Hidaka-sama, are you angry at me?"
She suddenly asked as she unwrapped her arms from me. I turned to look at the girl. She seems to be a little distraught about it.
"N-No, of course I'm not. But, fighting? He makes you fight others of your… kind I guess the word is?"
"Y-Yes, we fight and fight until only one Ashikabi Sekirei pair are left. But, I will make sure that's us! Somehow anyway. With Hidaka-sama's love, I feel like I could take on the world!"
S-She thinks I-I love her!? I-I… I-I don't love… I don't know what it means to love...
"I-In any case, I really do need to get to the hospital now. Onee-chan will be angry at me for being late, and her cake is gone now so… ehehe, I'm going to get yelled at..."
As I mused to myself, Nanami-san suddenly gained teary eyes! S-Shit! W-What have I done now!? I always seem to upset people!
"Nanami-san! W-Whats wrong!?"
"I-I've caused you t-to be late a-and I-I've d-dragged y-you into something that..."
I went over to Nanami-san and by instinct hugged her. She seems to be upset about something so trivial. So what has she dragged me into some game? I've had worse news in my life. Like Onee-chan. That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to… and my parents dying… if I lost Onee-chan as well then...
"N-No, don't concern yourself with it Nanami-san. You were… you were only looking for an Ashikabi. I'm sorry that you had to settle for someone like me."
"I didn't settle! Please know that I didn't settle for you! I wanted you!"
She really needs to stop saying things like that or I really will start feeling strange. Even now, my heartbeat is going faster and faster. What is this feeling? I-I can't think about that now.
"L-Let's go Nanami-san. Just like I said before, please don't mention anything about… Sekirei, Ashikabi or anything like that around Onee-chan."
"I couldn't anyway. It's forbidden to mention such things to normal people. Even relatives of our Ashikabi can't know unless they have Sekirei as well."
"I… see. Then, let's go Nanami-san!"
"Okay Hidaka-sama!"
I'll tell her later not to call me that. For now, I need to go and see Onee-chan and hope that she isn't angry about me missing everything so far. We don't get much time together and her disease is… it doesn't matter. Nanami-san and I then leave for the hospital!