Unexpected Reactions

"Tell us EVERYTHING!"
"Yeah what did you mean yesterday?! Were you for real?"
"Didn't expect something that surprising out of you."

'They're all on me, sheesh. Not that it was surprising.'
I had just reached the club room when they all started their questioning.

"Yeah, it's true. I was quite surprised myself when I arrived home and saw her."
"No kidding, I guess you're avoiding all that yelling then huh?"
"Yeah, sorry about that Shin, I didn't expect us to be caught like that."
"You can say that again! It was so scary."
"So, does that mean we'll be free from anything like that happening in the future?"
"I'm not sure, I didn't really talk about that."
"Even if we are, I'm still not gonna do it, last time was enough."

'Shin's right, I should probably come up with better excuses that doesn't end with them getting yelled at. I doubt Gaia would go easy on them, even if they're my friends...
I'm pretty sure I only got off freely because she thought I was there for her. Hopefully she keeps thinking that.'

"You've been kinda silent Tarou, anything on your mind?"
'Oh, Hiro's right, wonder what's up.'
"I just realized that we have an in."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean your aunt! She can probably give us an in on becoming heroes! Surely she knows the best ways to learn magic! At least she'll definitely have more pull than your dad in dispatch."

'Ah, should have guessed Tarou would say that...'

"Maybe? I don't think I could ask that, besides we're nobodies, not trained in the slightest."
"Which is why she could help! Shin, Hiro, you guys agree right?"
"Hm, having to consider seeing her again sends chills down my spine but... I guess yeah, she could help train us so we can eventually become heroes and do some real help."
"I'm not gonna lie, I don't really care. But I guess it could be interesting to try."
"Great answer from Shin, Hiro is... Hiro, but they both agree, so what do you say Kazu?
It'd be tough to talk to her after our last experience, but this is our objective, the point of the club is to help people, and what better way then to eventually becoming heroes ourselves after learning some strong magic!"

'That's quite the pressure he's got on me...
I guess I could mention these guys to her, would get them off my back too. Would just have to hope she doesn't bring me in.'
"Ok, I'll mention you guys to her and see what happens, no promises."
"WOOHOO!"
"Cool!"
"Hm, nice, hopefully it'll be interesting."
"Though remember Tarou, it's not set in stone. Especially after the yelling we took she might still say no. Which, on that note, please smooth that out for us Kazu!"

"I'll see what I can do."
'I wonder what she'll even say about this...'

Clubs over, time to walk around the city to check if anything interesting is happening.

...

After a while I see smoke billowing out from the north.
'Oh? Somethings happening over there.'

I rush over, doesn't take long until I see the fight.
'Here's hoping there's no Gaia around...'
I teleport myself to an alley near the fight.

"Try and run around all you want, you won't get past my fire."
"Tch, coward!"
"WHO YOU CALLING A COWARD!"

'Well, that guy seems easy to bait into anger, no Gaia around either, perfect.'

"Only a coward would hide behind a shield of fire, at the very least you could have been a brave villain."
"Bold words from some random hero guy who can only run fast!"
"The name's Thunder, thank you very much."
"Wow, how lame can you be? Thunder? More like battery."
"WHAT?!"
"Nothing more than a pair of triple A batteries."
"...You will rot for this, you beast."

'Huh, didn't expect HIM to also be easy to bait into anger, these two might be fit for one another...'

"Besides, you're nothing more than a tiny ember."
"How DARE you! You will remember the name Inferno when I'm done with you!"

'Sheesh, is this a fight or a roast? If it can even be called that...
In any case, those two should be around here somewhere...'
I look around and easily spot Tomo, he seems to have climbed onto the roof of a small building, on the other side of the fight.
'He forgot to hide himself from everyone else... Classic Tomo, always so tunnel visioned. Aya is probably there too then.
...Hopefully.'
I teleport closer, to the ground next to the building.
'Huh, I could probably scare him too, that'd be funny.'
I teleport behind him on the roof.
"Fancy seeing you here!"
"AH!"
"Hah! Look who's scared now!"
Suddenly a voice comes from behind me.
"Probably still you!"
"WOAH!"
"HAH, I gotchu again~"
'Damn it, I focused on scaring Tomo and forgot about Aya and her damn invisibility.'
"Yeah, and on that note, I never got to scare you last time, remember?"
"Who cares about that Tomo? Just enjoy the fun~"
"Easy for you to say, you didn't get scared and nearly blew our cover after scaring Kazu."

'Ah right, well those two are too busy bickering anyway.'
"Sorry. Anyway, fancy seeing you here, not late this time huh?"
"Not at all."
"Though these two are mostly bickering. How lame~"
"That they are, not like the other time with Gaia."
"Oh, speaking of! What happened to those friends of yours?"
"Yeah! You ran off last time, did you get to them in time? Or have they perished under her cruel punishment, never to be seen from again?"
"Relax Aya, no, I didn't get to them in time, so they did get yelled at, quite a lot I hear."
"How about you? Did she tune you out?"
"Well he's alive, so maybe. Or maybe she's about to attack! Any minute now."

'Why must Aya be so dramatic.'
"Actually... Speaking of that... She's my aunt."

They both freeze and slowly turn to look at me.
"She's what?"
"Eh?"
"Yep, found out recently, I actually had no idea. The way my mom described my aunt before... was quite different. She also had never visited so... Yeah."
"No way..."
"Oh also, you won't believe this but, actually, I think the ice queen personality that you described is just something she puts on as a hero, her real self is more... Cutesy."
"HUHHH???"
"Spare no details, in fact, can I visit?"
"I won't assist your fan club Tomo."
"How could she be cutesy?"

'Huh, now that I think about it...'
"You know what, she sort of acts like you do Aya, a little bit."

An explosion of fire suddenly appears behind her, almost making me think it was her shock exploding out of her, instead of it just being from the fight.
"I..."
"Woah, now THAT'S surprising, I'm keeping this to myself, a Tomo exclusive!"
"I won't lose..."

'Huh?'

"I won't lose to her!"
"Woah, she's found her life's goal."
'Now Tomo is being dramatic.'
"Alright, well, we're missing the whole fight."
"Bro, who cares about the fight, this is WAY more interesting."
"Yeah I'll have to agree with Tomo, that was honestly shocking, I never would have guessed it.
Oh! I'm curious, did you find out how long until she eliminates every villain in town?"
"Actually she's here to train heroes, she only fought the other time because she was near the fight."
"I guess that means we won't get bored anytime soon."
"YAY! Well not for danger staying, but YAY we won't get bored."

"DAMN IT ALL! You'll see! When I get out, you'll taste my revenge!"
"Yeah yeah, tell that to the judge little ember."
"Puny dead batteries would be more useful than you."
"And a match would give out more fire!"

'Ah, the fight's over...'
"Well, I guess we should go before they catch us."
"Oh, I guess we missed the whole fight? Eh, that's fine, thanks for letting me know though Kazu!"
"Do you mean us? Not just you Tomo."
"Right... Sorry. Though do expect a lot more requests to visit."
"Yeah! If she's kinda like me, then I'd LOVE to hang out and see if I can befriend her!"
'I guess I should have also seen this coming... Can't believe she'll want to check on Gaia through me...'

"You're not getting jealous of Aya wanting to hang out with Gaia instead of you are you? Hmmmm?"
"Huh? Stop talking nonsense Tomo."

I teleport to the ground, with Tomo dropping next to me, along with Aya.
"Sorry, cya around Kazu!"
"Yeah cyaaaaa~"

'Well, that was interesting, missed out on most of the fight though.
Well I guess it was just Thunder and... Ember? Damn it, I forgot.

...I guess I'll have to talk to Gaia about the guys now huh?'