Liza: "This snowfall is crazy, Senpai!"
She almost lost her footing, trying to keep up with Akira on her medium heels.
They checked the metro station first, but no luck. Akira sensed they needed to search in a different location; time was running out. After wasting some time, they came across a low marble edge, grey and chipped, with a couple of pigeons pecking near a small trash can. A worn bench sat next to it.
Akira stopped. There, tucked into the corner, was Ota—curled up, half-buried under crumpled newspapers.
Akira got closer to Ota and nudged him with a finger. He was sleeping like there was no tomorrow. And snored like a clueless beaver.
Akira: "Mister Nishioka... Mister Nishioka, please wake up!"
He snorted even louder, while Akira helplessly tried to wake him up.
Liza giggled loudly, standing behind Akira. From time to time, she glanced up at the sky, still not quite believing that snow was falling in September.
After a while, Akira finally reached him, poking more forcefully.
Ota: "Be careful, Robin!"
He threw up his hands, trying to reach someone long gone.
Liza coquettishly glared at him.
Liza: "Robin? Who's Robin?"
Ota stared at them both as if they were wraiths who had just shown up to torment him.
He studied them for a very long moment.
Akira tried to explain.
Akira: "Mister Nishioka..."
But Ota quickly cut him off.
Ota: "I thought you came here to finish your father's job, Akira..."
Akira felt anger and compassion at the same time.
Akira: "Mister Nishioka, I would never! I came here to rescue you, actually..."
Liza: "Yeah, Senp here's been going nuts looking for you, Pops!"
The 'Pops' Ota Nishioka made another long pause.
Ota: "Get out."
He comically wrapped himself in an old newspaper as if it were a blanket and turned over.
Liza: "Wha?! Popsie, look at this snow on the ground! Do you want to freeze to death out here?!"
Ota answered her in his firm, old voice.
Ota: "I said, go away."
Akira: "Mister Nishioka, I came here to offer you shelter inside my apartment complex..."
Nishioka tried to mumble under his breath, but it was easy to hear him anyway.
Nishioka: "How this saint here is Todo's son, I can't believe him..."
Akira stood behind him with an apologetic expression.
Akira: "We have a place in the attic, in the apartment complex where I live. The only problem is getting you there. I can provide food and drinks from time to time, can't promise the schedule though—I'm not very rich at the moment—but I try to do what I can!"
Ota Nishioka took a deep, heavy breath.
Ota: "I said, get out, you two!"
He shifted under his paper blanket.
Liza moved forward, unable to restrain herself.
Liza: "Look, beardy! We didn't come here to spend the whole day with you, ya hear me?! I also got work to do, cleaning trash behind our cafe! So either you come with us, or I'll drag you to Akira's castle myself, and that'll be the last thing I do in this life!"
She sounded anxious and funny at the same time.
Liza: "And God Almighty is my witness! Since Judgment Day is coming, we need to help each other in our times of need!"
She even did a little parody of Ota's voice as she said it.
Ota still hadn't even flinched.
Ota: "No means no."
His body tilted under the old newspaper blanket.
Akira: "Mister Nishioka..."
Liza didn't let him finish. She started pulling poor Ota away from the corner where he was lying almost peacefully.
Ota: "Help!"
He yelled comically.
Liza: "Nobody will hear you here, Pops!"
She was wrong—there were a couple of people going in and out, not far from them. Liza kept dragging the poor beggar away from his resting place, while Akira tried to figure out what to do about the situation, and how to explain things to the hypothetically approaching police.
Ota: "Foreign girls have no respect for their elders!"
Liza: "You're coming with us—Senpai needs you, old fart!"
Ota: "Old fart?! I was right! The world is doomed! Such a beautiful girl, such bad manners!"
Akira: "Please, Mister Nishioka, just get up, we need to—"
"Somebody needs to call the police!"
A foreign-looking woman stood behind them, phone in hand, talking to someone. She stared as if they were trying to kidnap the poor man.
"I know, but it's happening right in front of my eyes. Somebody needs to do something!"
Liza: "Oh shoo..."
Akira: "We're all gonna be in trouble. Mister Nishioka, I'm not sure if you're aware, but my father initiated a manhunt for you. He's calling you a terrorist!"
Ota: "You don't need to worry about me, Mister Yamauchi..."
Liza: "What are we gonna do with him, Senpai?"
"Police? I'm not speaking Japanese fluently, but I think I need to report—"
Akira: "Mister Nishioka, it's now or never. My attic's not the best place, not the most comfortable either—but at least you'll be safe!"
Ota: "So my family's in danger too."
Akira faintly shrugged.
Akira: "Yeah, but they're in another town, aren't they?"
Ota adjusted his bamboo hat while Liza pulled him toward Akira.
Ota: "They are. Still..."
Liza stopped dragging Ota toward Akira for a moment. She stood in front of him, breathing hard.
Liza: "Okay, how about your Armageddon Udon or whatever it's called, Popsie? You can have it on me, deal?"
Ota turned to her and adjusted his round glasses, barely visible under his large bamboo hat.
Ota: "You girl... Are you serious?"
Liza nodded quickly.
Akira glanced around.
Akira: "I think she's calling the police for real."
"Hey, you two! Don't you have any shame? Trying to bully a beggar?"
Akira stepped toward a lady who was bragging about the police.
Akira: "Miss, we're not trying—"
Liza comically keeps pulling poor Ota.
Liza: "Forget about it, missy. He's coming with us."
"Police!"
Akira couldn't believe it—two policemen were heading their way. From far off, they looked like complete opposites: one large and chubby, the other slim and small.
Akira shook his head.
Akira: "I'm so dead because of you, Mister Nishioka..."
Ota gently made a gesture for Liza to stop pulling him while he stood up, glancing at Akira.
Ota: "All right, all right. But are you sure we can stay at your place, lad?"
Akira nodded to him.
Liza: "Let's bounce, guys!"
Akira: "Aye, till we get ourselves in big trouble."
Liza, Ota, and Akira tried to run away, looking extremely out of place to the surrounding people. Not only was the weather terrible, but these three were running as if they had escaped from a circus.
They ran fast, straight toward the 'Barghest'. Ota might've been fast and acrobatic in the Dreamscape, but on the way from his sleeping ground to Liza's cafe, his pace wore him out pretty quickly.
Ota signaled for Akira and Liza to stop.
Ota: "I'm not young anymore... Young people can run so fast. Lucky you."
Liza: "What are you talking about, Pops? I can barely stand right now. Nobody told me snow in September is a regular thing in Japan!"
Akira: "It is actually not..."
Liza raised her hands above her head.
Liza: "What do you mean 'not', Senpai? Look at everybody—nobody even cares!"
She pointed at people walking not far off with a straight face, most of them Japanese, just holding plastic umbrellas like Akira, or wearing warm clothes like Liza.
Liza: "Well, anyway, I hope you guys just reach Akira's castle safely. I got work to do."
Akira: "I promised to help you, Liza."
Liza: "Yeah, but what about the Pops here?"
Ota stared at them both.
Ota: "I can help you too if you want... Need somehow to earn my place at Akira's attic."
Akira muttered with guilt before Nishioka could finish.
Akira: "You don't owe me anything, Mister Nishioka..."
Liza glared at them both, grimacing as she thought hard about Ota's proposal.
Liza: "Well... actually, three pairs of hands are better than one. I mean, if you want, you can help, Pops."
Akira: "I think you need to start to call him Mister Nishioka, Liza."
Liza glanced first at Akira, then at 'Pops' Nishioka.
Ota raised his palm.
Ota: "I don't mind, Akira..."
Akira: "I told you the full story, Liza. Maybe it's not a big deal to you since you're a foreigner, but for me it's very important. Just call him Nishioka or by his name, please."
Liza grimaced.
Liza: "You say it like I tried to offend him anyhow. Gave him more donation money than you, by the way."
Liza raised her finger, while Ota faintly nodded toward her.
Akira: "I know you meant nothing bad. And only if you can."
He gave her a puppy-eyed look.
Liza: "Ok, I get it, Senpai! Just let's go already!"
Akira faced Nishioka again.
Akira: "Only if you want to help her too, Mister Nishioka. We can just go to my apartment. I told the owner you're my uncle..."
Liza cut him off with a shout.
Liza: "Uncle?!"
Ota's eyes widened.
Akira: "Yeah... So, the problem is, Miss Mariko—the owner of the apartment complex where I live—she's pretty fanatical about my father. She's even willing to vote for him in the next elections..."
Liza: "Senpai, you are wild! So you basically lured Pops to the lion's den!"
Akira: "Liza..."
Liza: "Ok, ok, 'Mister Nishioka'."
She gave both of them a funny curtsey.
Ota faced Akira.
Ota: "How do you plan to enter the building? If she realizes who I really am, she's going to call the police and try to reach Todo, and we both are going to be in trouble."
Akira: "I don't think we even need to show your face. Let's just cover it with something..."
Ota: "You didn't think this whole thing through, Akira..."
Akira: "I tried to plan everything, Mister Nishioka! But as you can see, I've got my hands full—weather, the Dreamscape, RIU, work, dojo..."
Ota shook his head with a grin.
Ota: "You got so many responsibilities, and you decided to put your life on the line just for me?"
Akira: "I don't think I'm putting my life on the line. The big advantage I have—Miss Mariko kinda knows my story... I mean, between my father and me. So, believe it or not, I think if I just tell her you're Todo Yamauchi's brother, she'll let you in. Like I said, it'll all be on me. My responsibility. Not yours."
Ota: "You are too kind. And not for your own good, Akira."
Akira shrugged.
Liza: "What are you talking about, Pops? Senpai is the best!"
Akira glared at her again, irritated.
Liza: "M-i-s-t-e-r Nishioka! You see? I said it!"
She paused and beamed at them both.
Liza: "Are you two going to help me or not?"
She stood leaning toward them with a power pose.
Akira nodded, along with Nishioka, and they moved behind the 'Black Dog' cafe to clean up some garbage.
After a while, they were done with the job. Liza finally made a phone call to report that everything was clean to Maria, and that she could call the garbage truck.
Liza held her phone close to her face.
Liza: "Where are you now?"
Maria said something.
Liza: "Uh-huh. Again, it's about this dude..."
Maria's voice sounded embarrassed.
Liza: "Whatever, girlfriend. Akira helped me here, so you don't need to rush, heh."
Maria's tone sounded a bit less embarrassed as she said something and ended the call.
Liza stood behind the 'Barghest' cafe, watching Ota and Akira place the last trash can in the right spot.
Liza: "Nice work, boys!"
Akira and Ota nodded together.
Akira: "Still need to figure out where to find a cape or something to hide Ota's identity."
Ota: "...Or you can just drop the idea to hide me at your place, son. It's not leading to anything good, believe me."
Akira faced him.
Akira: "I can't just watch my father ruin your life for the second time, Mister Nishioka."
Ota sighed heavily and scratched the back of his head under his bamboo hat.
Liza: "What are you standing here like it's somebody's funeral, huh? I got a dark gothic cape from that time we had the 'Ghost 'n' Goblins' event, Senpai. So if you want, I can just give you one!"
Akira: "It will be very helpful, Liza. Thank you."
Liza playfully waved at him.
Liza: "Ha! I wonder, can I go with you? To escort you two to your place?"
Ota: "A lively girlfriend you have, Akira."
Ota grinned under his worn bamboo hat.
Akira and Liza, embarrassed, said it almost in unison.
Akira and Liza: "We are not!"
Ota laughed loudly.
Ota: "Ha-ha, you may be students already, but you still act like kids!"
Liza: "You're just bonkers... Pops!"
Akira: "Liza..."
Liza: "What?! You can say I need to respect my elders, but this one... IS JUST A BIG TROLL!"
Ota laughed again like a growling bear.
Akira: "Let's go take the cape from the 'Barghest'."
As they got close to the door of the 'Black Dog' cafe, someone opened it and ran off quickly, not even looking back. Akira recognized the person—it was Aberash Taylor, the Black student from RIU, who had quarreled with Igor on the stairs at the university.
Akira mumbled under his breath.
Akira: "It's him. What's he doing here?"
Hearing him, Liza turned with an annoyed grimace.
Liza: "Yeah... that's the guy. I thought he just looked similar. Maria's dark secret."
Akira raised an eyebrow.
Akira: "What do you mean?"
Liza: "Some things are better not to know, Senpai..."
Maria opened the door of the 'Barghest' a moment after Aberash ran off.
Liza: "Well, boss, are you going to explain something to me..."
Maria glanced in the direction Aberash had gone—presumably toward the metro station, maybe back to RIU. It was almost 6:55 a.m.
Liza shouted again.
Liza: "Maria!"
Maria faced her with a poker face.
Maria: "I heard you the first time, sis. So what's the killer doing here? And who's the old man—somebody's papa?"
Akira rolled his eyes.
Akira: "Hello, Maria. You really need to stop calling me a killer. I don't like that nickname."
Maria: "You guys helped Liza clean the trash out back, right? Good job! I just got here recently."
Liza mirrored her poker face.
Liza: "Uh-huh."
Maria: "You fox... I told you the truth! I was rushing. I didn't know Aberash would be waiting for me here..."
Liza: "So when's the wedding, heh?"
Maria playfully narrowed her eyes.
Maria: "Dangerous game you're playing, Liza dear."
Liza teasingly beamed at her.
Liza: "It's payback time, ha-ha!"
Maria rolled her eyes in return.
Maria: "So, you clean it back there or what?"
She pointed toward the back of the Barghest with her big finger.
Liza: "Told you we did it! Now the only thing left is to grab a cape for Akira."
Maria shot a look at him.
Maria: "Gonna kill somebody in style, huh?"
Akira facepalmed.
Liza: "Obviously not, you crackhead! It's a long story!"
Maria gave another teasing poker face.
Maria: "Uh-huh."
Liza: "Whatever, let me through!"
While Maria called to her, Liza vanished inside the cafe.
Maria: "Don't forget it's expensive merchandise!"
Akira stepped closer to her.
Akira: "I can pay if you want."
Maria: "I was joking, killer. Relax."
Akira nodded and stepped back.
Maria: "So, who's the old one?"
Akira: "Don't be rude, Maria. It's my... uncle."
Ota stood there like a piece of furniture.
Maria: "Well, if you say so. I wonder—are all your relatives dressed like that? Love the style."
Akira narrowed his eyes with a grin.
Maria: "All right, all right—killer's stare! I give up!"
She raised her hands like a hostage and stepped into the cafe behind Liza.
A couple of minutes later, Liza ran out with a bundle of black clothes in her hand.
Liza: "Let's go, boys!"
Ota finally spoke, facing Akira with a tired, haunted gaze.
Ota: "Still have time to reconsider, son."
Akira: "I know it's maybe not the best option for you, Mister Nishioka... but at least stay until the snow lets up. I still can't believe this weather is real."
Liza: "Tell me about it, Senpai! Let's move!"
All of them, led by Akira, headed toward Miss Mariko's apartment complex.
Among all the buildings in Ryoto, this one stood slightly apart—painted yellow and red, it gave off a warm, welcoming vibe. Most of the residents were clerks who couldn't afford anything more expensive.
Liza handed the dark cape to Ota.
Liza: "Here you go, Pops!"
Akira sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Akira: "Liza, Liza..."
Liza: "Okay, okay—here's your royal cape, Master Nishioka!"
She offered him the cape like it was a treasure.
Ota grimaced as he took it.
Akira: "Now just wear it, don't say anything, and pretend you're sick or something. I'll handle the rest."
Ota: "A shame your father didn't finish me in the Dreamscape."
Liza widened her eyes.
Liza: "Pops, what are you even saying? Are you bonkers for real? Now I'm curious—what kind of guy are you in there? Didn't Akira call you a ranger or something? So like, a real one? You shoot arrows and all that?"
Ota tried putting on the cape, looking like a member of some dark cult, hiding his bamboo hat behind it.
Ota: "You both would do well to stay away from that place. It's dangerous."
Liza: "Oh, we know, all right! We fought a giant ogre-wendigo just last night!"
Ota turned toward Akira in his dark cape. His eyes were hidden, but his posture made it clear—he was staring, irritated.
Akira: "I know how it looks. I'm not dragging her—or anyone—into this. I swear."
Liza: "What? If anything, you don't need to worry about me, Popsie! I'm a big girl!"
Akira sighed again.
Akira: "Liza..."
Liza playfully slapped Ota on the back.
Liza: "Let's go, Uncle Popsie! Let's see how Akira lives!"
Hyped more than either of them, Liza practically dragged them both inside the building.
She beamed at Miss Mariko as they entered.
Liza: "Hello!"
She gave her a quick wave.
Miss Mariko: "OH! Master Yamauchi, is this..."
Akira: "I mentioned it before, Miss Mariko. This is my uncle, Ota Yamauchi."
Ota snorted under his dark hooded cape.
Everyone glanced at him.
Akira: "...And he caught a cold. Just a little, ha-ha."
He tried to smile, but his acting wasn't great.
Liza: "I'm Liza, by the way!"
She playfully extended her hand, fingers splayed with long nails toward Miss Mariko. Miss Mariko, surprised, returned a light and friendly handshake.
Miss Mariko's eyes widened like dinner plates.
Miss Mariko: "Master Yamauchi, I can't believe you finally brought your girlfriend here!"
Akira and Liza: "We are not!—"
Ota snorted again, louder this time.
Akira tried to explain.
Akira: "We're coursemates."
Liza blushed, lowering her eyes.
Liza: "Y-yeah..."
Miss Mariko: "Oh, I'm sorry! You two just look so good together!"
She clenched her fists with a delighted expression as if Akira were her own son and she'd just found out he had a promising future bride.
Liza grinned at her with her usual sly look, elbowing Akira playfully.
Liza: "So, coursemate, are we gonna see your place or what? Don't forget about 'uncle', though..."
Akira: "First, I need to explain something to Miss Mariko."
He stepped closer and leaned in, keeping his voice low for her ears only.
Akira: "I know this doesn't look great, Miss Mariko, but it's urgent. We need to hide my uncle here. I can cover his rent. I only ask of you—please keep it a secret. And... is it possible for him to stay in the attic?"
Miss Mariko glanced at Ota's face covered by the dark hood, then back at Akira, eyes widening again.
Miss Mariko: "Is your uncle... in danger?"
Akira: "Something like that."
Miss Mariko paused, visibly thinking.
Miss Mariko: "It's 7:22 already, Master Yamauchi. You might want to hurry if you don't want to be late for university!"
Akira: "We need to figure this out first, Miss Mariko. Ask me anything you want—just please let him stay in the attic."
She thought for another brief moment.
Miss Mariko: "If you promise it won't cause trouble for your father, we can arrange it."
Akira smiled warmly.
Akira: "I promise, Miss Mariko. Everything will be fine. Like I said—for this favor, ask me whatever you want."
Miss Mariko looked stunned, then gave a confused little smile.
Akira: "Okay, 'uncle', let me show you the attic."
Just as they were about to take the stairs, Miss Mariko stopped them.
Miss Mariko: "Master Yamauchi... is it for long?"
Akira: "I don't know myself, Miss Mariko. But I can pay like he's officially staying in my room, not in the attic. And if you want, I can even contact my father for you to meet him personally."
It was a bluff, obviously, but Miss Mariko took the bait without hesitation.
Miss Mariko: "Oh! No need for that, Master Yamauchi!"
Akira bowed politely, one palm over his chest, then gave Liza and Ota a signal to follow.
Liza gave Nishioka an impish push to make it clear where he should go.
Liza: "So that's your room, huh?"
They stood on the second floor of the building.
Akira: "Yeah, but I need to open the attic first."
Ota: "Forgot the key?"
Akira: "Funny thing is—I've got them, but they're inside my room. I helped Miss Mariko clean it out. It was full of old junk and boxes she didn't need anymore."
Liza poked Ota with her elbow and teasingly hissed.
Liza: "Senpai's a superhero, by the way."
Ota pulled down his hood.
Ota: "You're taking a big risk inviting me here, Akira."
Akira fiddled with the key, trying to open the door.
Akira: "I don't care about risks, Mister Nishioka. I promised I'd help you. I know something happened between you and my father back then. So now I'm trying to make things right, even if I don't have many options."
Liza leaned toward Ota again and hissed happily.
Liza: "Told ya—superhero!"
Akira choked faintly, then finally got the door open.
Liza: "Whoosh, nice place you got here, Senpai!"
The three of them stepped into Akira's room.
Akira dropped to a crouch, peering under the bed.
Akira: "Like I said, nothing special. Probably disappointing."
Liza stood just behind him, eyeing the room like it was the Akira Yamauchi Exhibit.
Liza: "Wha? No way, Senpai. Did you try to call Cleo, by the way?"
Akira: "Didn't get the chance. I've been running around since early morning."
Ota: "Something happens in Dreamworld with your friends?"
Akira finally spotted the attic key under his table. The room wasn't trashed, but it was messy enough to pass for a classic boy's room.
Akira: "Something like that. We got trapped in a frozen wasteland..."
Ota: "Not good."
Liza: "Whelp! Picture me, dreaming peacefully, then boom! Senpai teleports right in! Then Merlina says something spooky, and whoosh! We're stuck in this Frozen Citadel realm!"
Ota: "Dark Citadel... a blurry vision just behind Ryoto..."
He rubbed his chin in thought.
Akira: "No time. We'll be late for RIU. Sorry, I dragged you into this, Liza."
Liza scoffed.
Liza: "Pfff, Senpai, who cares about morning lectures? I mean yeah, skipping all the time's not great, but come on—what's student life without a little roguish mischief?"
Ota smirked.
Ota: "Wise words."
Akira: "Not you too, Mister Nishioka. You can stay here for now. I'll show you the attic later tonight. Gotta get you an air mattress or something."
Liza: "You're letting him crash in your room? Wow, Senpai—you are the apotheosis of generosity!"
Ota: "I still think I'd be better off just sleeping on the street."
Akira: "Not while it's snowing like this. Don't even think about it, Mister Nishioka. I'm not doing this to be some 'good person'. Everything we do, we do for ourselves—because we can't do otherwise. So just take the room. That's it."
He grimaced slightly.
Akira: "What now, Merlina..."
Merlina, speaking through the magical lens in his mind, cut in smoothly.
Merlina: "Don't want to interrupt you, freshman, just a quick update. No enemies nearby—but I did see a strange flash of light near the Black Citadel."
Akira wrinkled his brow.
Akira: "Great..."
Ota: "Something happening in Dreamscape?"
Akira: "Nothing specific. Just wondering how you even survived my father's attack?"
Ota looked at him, tired.
Ota: "Todo's a good summoner, but a terrible shot. Same with his summons—they copy his aim. He'd level half of Ryoto if it meant getting me."
Akira: "Crazy old fart..."
Liza: "Hey! And you told me not to say that!"
Ota cackled.
Ota: "We're both crazy old farts, boy. Lucky Ryoto's double is a ghost town right now—I didn't see anyone trapped there. Looks like everyone slept peacefully. No nightmares or demonic trouble."
Merlina: "Send Ranger my heartfelt regards, Akira boya!"
She smirked again through the magical wisp lens.
Akira hesitated, then rolled his eyes.
Ota: "What?"
Akira: "'Queen of Tales' says hi. A disastrous panther..."
He started speaking normally, but mumbled the last part.
Merlina: "Very rude, freshman!"
Akira: "Just keep that circle stable, whisker. I don't wanna die of a heart attack in class. If something happens to us, Mia's going to kill me for a second time."
Merlina: "Aye, aye, Sir!"
Liza: "I think four-eyes didn't even flinch. She doesn't care!"
Akira: "Maybe. Anyway, let's get to RIU. Here's some money, Mister Nishioka. If you need anything, just go out and get it. But wear the hood, and do not talk to Miss Mariko. She acts clueless, but she's sharp. I doubt she fully bought my story. Only leave if you really have to. There's a Konbini nearby—just grab what you need and come back."
He handed Ota some bills and waved at Liza to follow him down the stairs.
They were running past Miss Mariko when Akira's phone rang. He had his hands full, holding both the keys to his apartment and a plastic umbrella.
Akira stopped.
Akira: "Liza, can you answer the call? It's probably Cleo."
Liza: "Let's try it, Senpai."
She looked at him in surprise.
Liza: "Wait—when did you even get her number?"
Akira: "At..."
He glanced at the clueless Miss Mariko, realizing he didn't want to say the word Dreamscape in front of her.
His bad acting kicked in again.
Akira: "Right yesterday, when we passed each other after lectures. Don't you remember, Liza, hehe?"
He smiled at her like a wounded crocodile about to be turned into shoes.
Liza raised her long-nailed finger—her acting skills were ten times better than his.
Liza: "Yeah, I remember!"
She took the ringing phone from his pocket and answered the call.
Liza: "Hello?"
A timid girl's voice came through the phone.
Liza: "Yeah, sorry, it's not him. Cleo, he's got his hands full..."
The timid voice sounded embarrassed... and a bit fired up.
Liza blushed, glaring at Akira.
Liza: "What do you mean?! WE ARE NOT DOING THAT! You know, for a saint, you've got a VERY colorful imagination, girlie..."
Akira stood there, embarrassed for both of them, trying to figure out what exactly they were talking about. Miss Mariko giggled behind her palm, clearly listening in.
Liza: "You crazy, holy girl! Well... yeah, we're at Akira's place... BUT WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING, YOU SILLYHEAD! We're going to RIU right now. Just wait for us at the metro station, or around that woman statue, whatever."
The timid voice said something again.
Liza: "I SAID IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT, YOU MAD SISTER! We're going now!"
Akira stared as she ended the call.
Liza raised her eyes with an annoyed expression and rolled them hard.
Liza: "I can't believe she said what she said!"
Akira: "What? Is she okay? You didn't even ask how she was."
Liza: "Oh, she's fine, alright—saying all THAT! Crazy holy roller girl..."
Akira: "I wonder what you were even talking about."
Liza: "Like I said, Senpai, some girl secrets are better left hidden. Anyway, let's roll. She'll be waiting for us near the station, close to RIU."
Akira turned to Miss Mariko, smiling like a shot penguin.
Akira: "Sorry about that, Miss Mariko. Thanks for everything. See you!"
Liza waved too, flashing her striking smile.
Liza: "Goodbye, Miss!"
Miss Mariko smiled and waved at them as well, and just before they left the building, she said.
Miss Mariko: "Ah, how wonderful to be young... a love triangle!"
She said it with her hands clasped near her heart, smiling warmly.