//------------------------------// // Arc XXVIII Episode IV: Keen Observations // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// “C Corp…C Corp…aha. Here it is.” Aidon had traveled downtown to the inner city near Vanhoover. There, he’d park outside a rather large office building, and exit his SUV. Next, he’d read the information he had gotten from Tatsuya’s cybernetic arm… “‘420 Elm Street’,” he read the back of the motherboard chip, and looked up at the building. Sure enough, the number ‘420’ could be seen on the very top which meant that he had the right place. “Very odd indeed,” Aidon muttered as he pocketed the motherboard. “But whatever they’re doing, it can’t be allowed to continue. Selling these sorts of devices to crazed individuals with no sense of self is no better than drug dealers peddling their wares to the weak-minded….” As he started walking towards the building, his phone rang. “Hm? Hello?” he answered it. “Yeah, Aidoneus? I’ll be down there in a few days.” “Jascha? Wait what? Are you on a plane right now?” “Boarding one soon. I’ve got a job opportunity that requires my immediate attention. What about you?” “I’m currently investigating some strange new technology that I don’t recall the state approving,” Aidon explained, “One of the yakuza members I engaged in combat made use of such things and I have reason to believe it was obtained illegally.” “I see…” Jascha sighed over the phone, “This isn’t good. I’ve got family down there, you know. Maybe I should plan a longer stay.” “My friend, what in god’s name has had you stuck across the Atlantic for so long?” “The students of Edinburgh have needed me for the past few years. I’m sure you know what that’s like. But ever since I retired, I’ve got no real reason to stick around. Plus, they all sort of encouraged me to come down here and visit you. I heard that you’ve recently hit it off with a certain someone, yes?” Aidon cleared his throat. “Er…well, that is to say, yes. Luna and I have been spending more time with each other recently. Though I’m unsure of what would possibly be a good place to take her next. Though, I did get a recommendation to head to Zephyr Heights…so that might be where I go next.” “Good luck, my friend,” Jascha replied with an amicable chuckle. “And I hope you can figure out whatever illegal activity that’s going on down there. My sister and her family are still down there and I plan to visit them for the holidays.” “How nice,” Aidon supported his friend’s decision, “Be sure to tell me how they’ve been once you make it.” “Of course. My flight is on its way now. I’ll be seeing you, friend.” “See you when you get here.” With that, Aidon hung up his phone. “...what secrets does this place hold, I wonder…” Meanwhile, from a window in the upper level of the office building… “..so he’s here. Guess we’re both more than just teachers, aren’t we, Aidon?” Meanwhile, at the Apple Farm… As Applebloom prepared Silver Spoon’s order out in the pumpkin patch, Keiji walked with the latter as they followed the farm gal. “By the way,” Keiji started off, “That weird magic you used to save me the other day in court…where did that come from?” “Oh that…I’ve got no idea, honestly,” Spoon replied while she thought back to that moment. “I just…felt some unknown force overtake me and it allowed me to fight back to stop that lady from stabbing you.” “Must be that ‘aether’ crap Twilight was talking about,” Keiji muttered as he scratched behind one of his ears. “Since the magic is kinda everywhere, it kinda latches itself onto whoever it wants. For you, it must’ve been something related to ninjas given that shuriken.” Spoon held her hands behind her back and turned to stand in front of Keiji. “Alright, listen. You can’t tell anybody about this.” Keiji paused and tilted his head with a confused expression. “Um…what coil--” “I like manga! And anime…and other stuff from Nippon!” she squealed in a hushed tone, “That’s…kinda why I found myself interested in you.” “...” The realization hit him, and Keiji replied with a shit-eating grin as he bared his vampire fangs. “You’re a goddamn weeaboo, aren’t you, Silver Spoon?” “Er…” her face flushed a shade of pink as she stared back for a moment. Then, she fidgeted in place and pushed her glasses up. “I…t-that is to say--yes?” “Huh, that’s pretty nice,” Keiji dropped the grin and replied with a casual shrug, “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m just surprised someone high-class like yourself would be into that shonen stuff.” Yet again, Silver Spoon turned her head up and scoffed. “If you must know, it’s…because I have a certain level of attachment to the type of characters I see in those comics.” But then, her tone changed--becoming more solemn as she recalled her past, “...They reminded me of an old friend I used to have. He used to be so…kind and noble, wanting to strike it out on his own despite his parents’ wealth…until he was bullied out of school…” she looked up at Keiji and idly kicked the ground. “Er, sorry…didn’t mean to get too emotional there.” Keiji shut his eyes for a moment and thought about what he heard her say. The fact that he wasn’t the first guy she had met and gotten to know painted a clearer picture as to why Silver Spoon acted the way she did towards Diamond Tiara. “...I see now…” “Nah, don’t trip,” Keiji replied as he opened his eyes, “You’re good. And I’ll make sure I don’t kick the bucket.” “You better not…” Spoon begged in a spiteful manner, betraying her true feelings of being grateful for his words, “I…I-I won’t have anyone to emotionally throw myself on when Diamond Tiara isn’t around!” “Riiiiiight…” Keiji chuckled and shot her a wink with his serrated smile, “I’ll hold you to that.” Spoon’s cheeks went pink again as she stuttered, “...g-grrgh…stop looking at me like that!” “You want some water? You look thirsty as fu--” “I AM NOT-”