Zero Rush Pt. 3

Strolling down the main avenue of LuminoCity, every passerby turned their heads, following the sight of a person overloaded with shopping bags. Big ones, small ones. Bright colors, dull grays.

The sheer number of bags per person was enough to frighten anyone crossing paths with the couple. There were so many that they no longer fit in his hands, climbing up his forearms nearly to the elbows.

“I’ve never been treated this well before…”

“Oh, nonsense, it’s the least I can do! Are you sure you don’t want me to carry some of the bags?”

“No… it’s a gentleman’s responsibility to carry the bags!”

Especially when the one who paid for everything was her, huh, champ?

Shut it, Shi-nii!

That’s right. Tadashi was strolling — or rather, strutting — down the avenue, fully sponsored by Rush. The poor girl let her soft, love-struck heart guide her actions, compulsively paying for every single one of her husband’s consumerist whims.

Hey, hey, hey… IT DIDN’T HAPPEN LIKE THAT! START FROM THE BEGINNING, PLEASE!

In Tadashi’s defense, let’s rewind a little, back to the very start of their date:

Everything had begun normally. At lunchtime, the two lovebirds left the school with no plans of returning anytime soon, taking advantage of the free pass the prodigy had… and the way no one ever missed our boy Zero.

The choice for their date was a fancy restaurant right beside the Grand Noble Plaza, the city’s central landmark.

“Madame More, what a pleasure to see you again. Will you be wanting your usual table?”

“Yes, in fact, I made a reservation today!”

“Oh, that wasn’t necessary. There’s always a table available for you Madame and…” the maître looked Zero up and down from head to toe, “…companions.”

“Oh…I go by Miss Zero now,” Rush declared.

The maître’s mustache twisted in such strange ways across his expression that it was impossible to describe.

Tadashi would’ve been embarrassed if he’d heard that exchange. But he was distracted, glancing behind them, uneasy about something.

“Would you like me to take your coat, sir?”

Turning his attention back to the man, Zero replied:

“Only if you return it… I really like this coat.”

The leather uniform was actually pretty cool.

The place itself was cinematic. Even the lighting alone created the perfect atmosphere for conversation and dining. It was worthy of being at the very heart of such a visually appealing city.

“Huh… so she not only planned it but also reserved the table,” I muttered, walking through the establishment in my skeletal form.

1–0 for Rush, with a strong opening move for the date.

Shi-nii, I don’t think you understand the concept of a date.

The couple sat at a table in the corner of the restaurant, a more private and dimly lit spot.

“Mr. Moncar, I’d like a glass of Caberlot Charnodet wine, your oldest vintage. Honey, would you like some wine too?”

“W-wine? I… can I drink that?”

“I don’t know…Do you have any health problems, honey?”

“I…”

The drinking age must be lower in this world, Tadashi thought.

“I don’t really know much about wine…”

“Shall I bring you the wine list, madame? I could recommend some lighter options to suit the gentleman’s palate…” the man said, subtly fishing for his name.

“Zero,” Tadashi replied.

“…Huh… Zero… Wait, you?” It was impossible to miss the disappointment in the maître’s voice.

Rush closed her eyes, brushing her delicate fingers across her chin, not even registering the maître’s words.

Then she snapped her fingers:

“Huh… thank you, Mr. Moncar, but skip my glass. Bring us a whole bottle of Caberlot Charnodet. If he’s going to develop a palate for wine…” Rush cast Tadashi a piercing glance, “…let it be sweet.”

Tadashi gulped.

The conversation was good, but even during the meeting, Tadashi was still trying to find out more about the cult:

“So, the order you belong to... I'd like to know a little more about it, if it's not rude.” Tadashi was getting the same evasive answers, so he tried another approach. “Since you're from the More Order, I'd like to join too!”

Without thinking, Rush replied:

“Never do that. For your own good.”

“Ah... so, you... don't like the order?”

“I was adopted by my master and out of respect for him I work for them, but the order is... complicated. All the ceremonies, masks, meetings, and mysticism are just a facade for their true purpose...”

“Which is?”

“A group of wealthy merchants trying to gain more power and money. My master has great ideas for the city and the empire, but to rise to power, it's impossible not to associate with the worst... and when you're not a noble, the worst become... even worse.”

She took a bigger sip of her wine:

“My master is a great leader, a truly indecipherable man. I've seen him do things that are scientifically impossible... but even a messiah has to submit to the mold of the powerful.”

“Right... I think I'll join a theater club or something like that, then."

“Hahaha... Do that. Taking away my title, there's no benefit to being in the Order.”

“Title?”

Rush pulled a brooch from her purse.

“I'm of the highest rank — a Lord. In addition to my salary, housing, and being the commander of a team, I still have a say in the voting... but as I said, none of that matters.”

That sounds... AWESOME!

Little by little, the face that projected from our enemy was... super cool.

Rush only had the one glass she wanted. Tadashi, on the other hand… well, the rest of the bottle had to go somewhere.

She knew the place. She reserved the table. She ordered the drinks, the starters, the main dish.

And in the end—

“Wait… on the menu, these zeros… they’re not cents, are they?” Tadashi asked, startled and more than a little drunk.

“Huh? Of course not!”

“Crap…” Pulling his wallet from his pocket, the sight wasn’t promising.

“Don’t worry about the money!” Rush said, slamming the table with her hand. “The only zero I care about here… is you.”

Zero turned completely red.

2–0 for Rush. A devastating score for the morale of Zero’s fans.

Leaving the restaurant, the couple decided to take a stroll and check out some shop windows along the immense promenade beside the plaza. And when I say “decided”…

“Let’s do some shopping! How about it? I need to buy a few things for my research at a shop down the street. We can check out whatever catches our interest on the way!”

“Huh… Ah, thanks, Rush, but I’m broke. I don’t have money for anything…” While he was saying that, Rush grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the row of stores.

3–0. Another point, earned through sheer persistence.

I CAN’T SAY NO TO A GIRL! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? I’M GOING TO START CRYING… Wait—why can’t I feel my foot?

Stumbling drunk, I had to help Tadashi, channeling mana to speed up his metabolism and flush out the alcohol. We ended up sweaty, but in the end, my plan worked.

4–0–1, a nice score for me.

HEY, THE NARRATOR DOESN’T GET TO PLAY!

I’m not the narrator. I’m the referee, pal.

The shop windows glistened in their radiant displays, dazzling consumers with every step. Each new store brought Tadashi face-to-face with increasingly tempting items:

Dual-purpose wands that transformed into staffs.

Customized gun-wands, with choices of color and shape.

Clothing-armors, soft like fabric yet as durable as titanium plate.

Even a magical laser sword, like that weirdo’s.

At every store, Tadashi’s eyes lit up with wonder. And every time — Rush intervened.

“Here you go,” Rush said, handing him a bag.

“Huh… what’s this?”

“The laser sword you were eyeing. I bought it as a present for you.”

“For… me? BUT THAT’S WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!”

“Oh… so you didn’t like my gift?” she asked, her eyes glistening.

“I mean… I liked it, but I don’t want you to waste your money for nothing.”

“If it made you happy, then it wasn’t for nothing.”

“Ah… f-fine, thank you then…”

4–0 for Rush, a masterclass performance. It was starting to get ugly.

That exact exchange, word for word, repeated itself ten times.

Clothes, watches, wands, sneakers, hair products. Rush’s gifts came in every variety. And each time — amid Tadashi’s stammering and discomfort—he lost and accepted the present.

This can’t be real. I must still be drunk to be this pathetic… I feel like a scammer extorting the poor girl.

14–0 for Rush. Shameful. The audience (me) booed.

The girl finally bought the research materials she needed, in a small shop tucked away in an alley — a dark coffee bag embroidered with golden threads.

“You needed to buy coffee for your research?” Tadashi asked.

“It’s just… since I’m taking a break right now, I’ll have to make up for it tonight. I’ll need the extra-strong coffee to stay awake.”

She had to pull an all-nighter because of you, Tadashi.

Hey, remember we’re both Zero! It’s because of us.

My job’s backstage. You’re the public relations guy, sweetheart.

15–0. A heartbreakingly cute point for Rush.

Don’t worry, I finally have an ace up my sleeve!

“Here, Rush — this is for you.” Tadashi handed her a reddish drink and a skewer of strawberries coated in chocolate.

AND I WAS THE ONE WHO PAID FOR THOSE!

“Since we skipped dessert, I thought I’d surprise you.”

“Strawberry milkshake? How did you know I love strawberries?”

“What do you mean? I’ve seen you eating strawberries like ten thousand times…”

“Wait, so… you were paying attention to me…before we married?” Rush’s face turned redder than the fruit.

“Uhum..?”

No… wait. Wasn’t it the student council president, Chiyo, who loved strawberries? I always saw her on the train in the morning with a strawberry juice box, and in the evening with strawberry sticks.

16–0. OWN GOAL! He mixed up the current girl with his ex-crush!

NOOOO! THE REFEREE’S CHEATING!

And that’s how we reached this point: carrying a mountain of bags, Tadashi struggled to eat his strawberry skewer.

Maybe rewinding to the past wasn’t the best idea after all.

Tadashi walked straight ahead, but his eyes in the corner tried to follow some movements he perceived behind him.

“So, did you have fun today…Honey?” Rush asked.

Rush turned Tadashi's attention back to her.

“Me? Yes, no doubt about it... Actually, I'm asking myself the same question. I'm not the best when it comes to conversation. Did you manage to get some rest?”

They talked quite a lot. Sure, there were occasional stammers or awkward silences, but that’s just what happens when teenagers are getting to know each other.

“Don’t worry, I really enjoyed it. I needed that. That lab has been suffocating me for a long time. “ Rush said, smiling simply. "I just hope you're happy...that I'm keeping my end of the bargain.”

Rush’s vows echoed in our minds: Protecting and ensuring your happiness will be my daily duty, now and forever.

It wasn't just a date between a couple or husband and wife for her — it was another work obligation, just like her research.

He wanted to tell her not to worry about it. That she didn’t have to force herself into anything. Under the sound of a small fountain nearby, Tadashi leaned closer, words ready on his tongue:

“I have to go to the bathroom… now!”

Urgently, the girl rushed straight to the nearest restroom.

“Shit…” Tadashi complained, losing momentum for his impactful speech.

“No, man. I'm sure she went to pee, man...” I replied, crossing my skeletal arms.

“Ha..hahahah. That was kind of good, Shi-nii.”

Now alone, I looked at Tadashi:

“All right. I think we can sort this out during her bathroom break.” I said.

“Yep…”

…

…..

……

In the blink of an eye, we disappeared. No one looked after us — not even the several bags we were carrying.

“Eh? Where did that bastard go?” asked a man, standing on top of a building, a good distance from the front of the restrooms where we had been.

“Damn it… I swore it was that creepy stalker who was following us.”

“Ahhhh!” Startled, the man, clad head to toe in black ninja attire, stepped back from us.

He watched us through a sci-fi-like monocular.

“What a shame, I wanted to hit that guy again. But you’re no amateur like him, you can tell just by your outfit that you’re a professional.”

…

There was no response from our ninja opponent.

“Buddy, you can stop the roleplay. I already heard that ugly voice of yours. After yelling, your ninja image has already taken a hit.”

“How did you notice me?” asked the ninja.

“You were hiding?” Tadashi smiled, surrounded by the piles of bags. “Maybe you were hidden to others, but to my eyes… you couldn’t have been more obvious. But now, tell me — who do you work for?”

The man let out a sigh for a second and then…

“SMOKE BOMB!”

A cloud of smoke erupted from the rooftop. Tadashi instantly began coughing.

“Son of a—” Tadashi coughed like crazy from the smoke. “Who says ‘smoke bomb’ before throwing it? Hey, come back here!”