Episode IV - Geeking out With the Crow

Ruruka’s POV / Hanako POV

Morning came on October 18th. I wanted to sleep more as I could feel the sun’s warmth shine on me. The coolness of the blankets weighed down on me, which felt very nice. After letting Hanako stay with me for some time, we eventually became room mates.

Although she was timid at first, I kept helping her when she needed. She can sometimes be a pain, having to teach her certain stuff she doesn’t want to learn. On the bright side..? My eagerness to help her learn new things shows that she cares about me.

Each time she came back from work, her personality changed slowly. That timid and shy side of her isn’t there anymore, replaced with an open heart. It was scary seeing her change slowly, because I liked that quiet side of her. But, I’m still happy for her! Seeing her open up more means everything to me.

“Ruruka~”

“Ruruka~!

“Wake up~”

Getting up, I sat weakly on the edge of my bed, and I rubbed my eyes opening them. It was 9 AM.

“Hana…ko…?!” I got startled as a small black crow appeared on my lap. I screamed and jumped off behind my bed, thinking a crow escaped into my room and was going to give me bad luck.

“Ruruka!~” a voice came from the crow.

“It’s me~!”

I heard Hanako’s voice come from the beak of the crow and I thought she was projecting her voice like one of those people who can manipulate their voice. What was it…? Oh yeah! A ventriloquist! I rushed out and ran to her room, only to find her gone.

“Hanako?! W-where are you?” I was extremely worried, because I was alone with a black crow in my apartment.

Chotto matte— (Wait. Hold on) …A Crow..?

I felt fluttering sounds around me and the black crow landed on my shoulder. Raising my arm up with my fingers up, the crow jumped and perched on them. Its red eyes glittered as I looked into them, and the presence felt oddly similar to Hanako’s red eyes. I realized something, The Quiet Crow isn’t a legend, she is the Crow! How could I forget!

“Geez!! Don’t scare me like that, Hanako!~” I grunt a little bit, even though I knew that she had supernatural powers.

“I really got you, didn’t I?” She said through her beak.

I took the time to look at her again, and she was smaller in size, unlike her human appearance. It really was her! I pat her head knowing that she was still here.

“Don’t do that again, okay?! I thought you were gone!” I voiced my concerns, but I ignored that thought. I watched her jump and transformed back into her human form, I immediately felt a wash of relief come over me. She laughed at my over-reaction and I was embarrassed. She wore the new shirt that we bought a week ago.

“I thought I should show you some of my abilities!” She told me, “you’ve already seen some of them!~”

“Oh?” I wore a smile, “what can you do anyways?”

“Hey, hold my hand?” she held it out. I took her hand but as I touched her fingers, I flinched.

“Ahh! Cold!! Hanako~! Warn a girl next time, okay?!” I rubbed my hand to make it warm again, but she took my hand and this time, it was warm and relaxing.

“I can raise my body temperature at will anytime, from freezing to hot! It feels nice, right?” She held my hand and I nodded.

“I can also do this…!” I blinked my eyes, in shock, as she manifested snow from her hands.

“Woah!” I touched the snow and it was actually real! Wow!

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” I teased her. She giggled at my curiosity and showed me more of her abilities. I was more than intrigued, I was impressed, given the fact that she had powers similar to that of the urban legend.

“Let’s go to the roof!~” she told me. I laughed and I followed her, as we exited my complex and found stairs that led to the roof. When we arrived, we made sure no one else was there. It was just the two of us.

“What are you going to do-” I got cut off as she transformed once again, but this time, her bird form was huge! Almost the size of my height (I’m 5’6 and Hanako is 5’1)!

“Eeek!!” I fell on my bottom, looking up at her huge display. She spread her wings apart and let the sun bathe her.

“Hanako!!” I pouted, “you forgot to warn me!”

She laughed at me. I looked up and her black feathers shined against the sun, and it was pretty. Her wingspan was about six feet long, her feathers, flowing about in the wind.

“W-woah….,” I said under my breath. I touched her feathers and they felt cool and nice. The soft like texture of it calmed me down as I hugged her.

“Actually, this is my main form,” she said, “I only use my small form when I want to become less known.”

“You look splendid either way~” I gave her a compliment and she blushed slightly.

“Do you want to go flying? Well, on me?” She asked me.

“Flying..?! Isn’t that dangerous…?” I was a little hesitant.

“I’ve never actually carried someone before. You’re my first, if you want to,” she expressed.

“I…well…,” I got nervous as she sat down for me as I got up onto her back. It felt smooth sitting on her cool feathers.

“I’ll take you up to it..”

She got up and perched next to the roof on the ledge and spread her wings. Jumping off, I felt a powerful gust of wind flapping from her wings next to me, and we were airborne!

“Wow….!!” I looked at the scenery before me, the Tokyo streets below and the horizon before us. But before we could take off, I felt her feathers ruffle and grab onto me securely as a seatbelt, as they formed over my lap.

“Now you’re safe!” she projected her voice. It does feel nice, having her feathers act like a seatbelt. I let out a delighted scream as she launches herself into the sky, wind rushing through my purple tinted black hair, as the ground falls away beneath us. I clung tightly to her feathers, as my heart pounded with excitement.

“This is so cool! Hanako!~” I panted for air, even when I was enjoying the exhilarating ride.

“Go faster!~”

“A-are you sure?” She was hesitant as she glided through the air.

“I can go really fast…”

“Oh, really now? Just how fast can you go?” I challenged her.

“Alright, well, take out your phone and put it on me. I’ll securely trap it in place in my feathers!” She asked of me. I took my phone out from my pocket, and I put it on her back, her feathers, turning into some type of phone lock holder, and held it in place. It’s currently 9:15 in the morning.

“Watch that clock!” She told me to keep a watch as she kept flying before picking up pace. I squeal in exhilarated terror as she suddenly lunged forward, the force of acceleration whips violently around us, buffeting my hair and clothes as the landscape below blurs into a stream of color. She suddenly halts and before my eyes, I got shocked drastically. We were in front of the Burj Khalifa!

“H-H-Hanako…?! W-what the heck?!” I was extremely out of breath, flabbergasted at her immense speed. I looked around us and down at my phone. It was 4:15 in the morning, where it was still night!

“You never cease to amaze me!~” I laugh at her abilities and what she could do. She literally a goddess…and she lives with me! We flew and circled around the tall tower at a distance as we adored the scene before us. She the flew off again, with her speed tripled.

“Aaaahah!~” I laughed and yelled as the air brushed past us, and this time, we were in Egypt, in less than a few seconds, taking in the view again, this time, looking at the pyramids. 3:15 AM. She flew to the highest point of Giza and perched on it.

“Ruruka~” she called for me.

“Yes…?” My chest lifted heavily as I panted with excitement, amazed at her abilities.

“I can go even faster!” Hanako told me, “hold on tight!”

“Even faster..?!” I was shocked. Just how fast can she go?!

“Count me down from 3 then!” she told me to start.

“Alright…,” I was nervous but excited at the same time.

“Three…”

“Two…”

“…..One…!”

At my count, she launched—with all her might and blinding speed.., we flew around the earth stupidly fast, as day and night appear as instantaneous coasters around us as we fly near light speeds. I laughed with joy as the world blurs into a kaleidoscope of color outside, the relentless rush of air whipping at their hair and clothes with enough force to steal the breath from my lungs. I start to cling fiercely into Hanako, laughing deliriously even as tears stream freely down from my cheeks.

“This should be..impossible…!~” I laugh with enjoyment as I watch the zones turn around us, night, and day, in unison. Just as she kept going, my inner nerd started to question her immense speed.

“Wait…Hanako…,” I was worried, “isn’t flying this fast enough to break the space time continuum or something?!”

“Look at your phone. It might be 3:16 AM, but, we’re currently flying in zeptoseconds, so it’s still 9:16 in Japan! Also, it’s not enough to break it,” she answered my worries.

“What even ARE you?!” I had nervous laughter.

“I mean, I knew you were fast but…holy heck…”

She’s just casually rewriting from what I already knew in school…!!! Is she crazy? Yes, but this is a hard feat that no mere human can achieve..! She just did it, effortlessly! This time, I watched her fly slower and as we do, we appeared in France, The Eiffel Tower. It stood tall and mighty from the ground up, the night skies and the city lights, glittering below us. I looked at my phone again and it was now at 2 in the morning.

“Hey, hey~ I want to take a picture! Can you get closer?” I asked her. She was still flying in place but was hesitant. She trusted me to show off her powers, now I want to make her happy.

“Hanako?”

“I don’t want to draw attention…,” she voiced her concerns.

“Then, do you have any other abilities that can get us closer?” I challenged her.

“I though you’d never ask!” she said, “I can finally use this skill now!”

Curious, I watched her use her powers, and her head started to become invisible as the effect transitioned over us whole. We were actually invisible! That’s so cool!

“Woah, you can do that?!” I was shocked.

“Wait, but how will we take our picture…?”

“Oh! About that! I made it possible for your phone to just capture us as objects in front of other things, even though we’re still invisible to others. I call this Double Perception!” she relieved me of my worries. Now that is truly amazing!

She quietly landed some distance before the tower, turning back into her human form. I turned on my phone and the shutter sound off, so we wouldn’t alert people around us. In an instant, I could see us in the camera and the tower clearly, even while we were still invisible. I pressed on the capture button to make this a wonderful memory.

“Ruruka…I can’t hold on to this ability much longer. It’s harder with two people and a phone…” she says to me as her ability to keep us invisible starts to fade. She quickly transforms back into her bird form.

“O-oh, okay…,” I got back up on her and she soared upward. She could finally release that invisible grip on us. I wanted to go back home so we could still talk about other nerdy facts. Eventually, Hanako slowed down as we made our way back to Tokyo and landed back on where we originally lifted off.

The thrill of going so fast made me ponder with awe about her abilities. My legs wobbled as I stepped down. She transformed and helped me to the chairs. I just then had a realization. Even though I’ve read comics about feats like this…isn’t this near FTL?!

“You’re faster than light?!” I bolt up from sitting down, my eyes, comically widened, I held my phone up looking at the time. It’s 9:18.

“Now I’m starting to think this is a dream!”

We laughed together — nerds with shared obsessions. Being a fan of both manga and comics in general made us grow a bit closer. I slumped down against the cool texture of the chairs with my back, feeling the warmth of the sun hit me.

“Hanako,” I looked at her.

“You’re one of a kind~”

“Thanks…,” she blushed at my compliment,

“I haven’t done this in a long time, man, I was already at peak when I was just 10 years of age.”

I got really surprised as she dropped that bombshell on me.

“You really have been holding back 100%, haven’t you?” I teased her, poking her face. She nodded.

“You have to tell me more about what you believe in!” my curiosity peaked even more.

─────⊰ ✦ ⊱─────

After that immense showcase of speed, we were back at my complex, and we cooked up some breakfast: rice omelet! It was delicious since we both enjoyed it.

“Hey, you’ve heard about isekais, right?” Hanako asked me sitting, on the couch as I cleaned up the plates. She was reading some of my manga as she waited for me. After I was done, I headed towards her.

“Yeah, what about them?” I asked her.

“Well, you know how we have a lot of different superhero stories and worlds that take place in other worlds?” she said and I nodded.

“It made me think of my abilities. These powers I have….they don’t come from this place. They’re from another other world…I think,” she explained. I sat up because I think she’s going to tell me more about her experiences with her powers.

“When I was 10…,” she started, “I accidentally broke time itself and went into different multiple realities. There, I saw that there weren’t any “Hanako Reinas” through many countless realities I’ve visited.”

“Wait hold on..! Are you saying the theory of the multi-verse is real?!” I was nothing but shocked and intrigued, and she nodded.

“Does that also mean you’ve anchored yourself to this universe we’re in?”

She closed the manga and set it aside.

“Yeah…and that's just it. That's the problem. I'm the root anchor of this world, yet somehow, Reinishi's powers came from an unknown place. Even if there were other ‘me’s out in other worlds, even at that age of 10, they would've discovered me instantly.....,” her voice trailed off.

I could tell that she felt alone, not just having me, but as the anchor. This dark, ominous, story about her powers made me feel all but nervous for her.

“As an anchor point of this world, I'm constrained to this linear flow of time. I'm not immortal, and I can die, I can experience pain, wounds, and injuries. I’m susceptible to bullets,” she continued.

“And if I do, I won't be able to rebirth myself in other worlds, if there aren't any other "me's." My powers would go back to where they came from, and I don't know where that is. Even if I do, that feeling is scary, not being able to find this world again, or you…”

“Hanako…that must be a huge burden for you to carry, knowing that there aren’t any other ‘you’s’ out there…,” I voiced my concerns, even though I felt happy she is here with me. I’m also glad that I referred her to work at the bunny café, because it looks like she’s changed now, her confidence is back!

“I know I have you…,” she looks at me with a smile, “but I sill have this huge feeling of emptiness I can't shake off, no matter how far I push it back. Being the only existing anchor of this universe sucks.”

I gave her a hug as I felt my heart go out for her.

“It must suck, right?” I tried to reassure her, “that feeling of being lonely.”

“You don't get it, do you?” She let go of my warm hug.

“What if you had my powers knowing that you're the only anchor being of this world? The feeling of loneliness when you can't connect to other versions of yourself in the multiverse knowing that they don't exist in those worlds?”

As soon I heard that, I wanted to retract my statement, because she was right. Although I’m a Ninja, I don’t have powers like hers - I’m just a human placed in this world. A moment of silence befalls us.

“Eeeh…whatever!~ I don’t really care about all that. Just being here with you is enough for me, isn’t that right, Koa-chan?” She smiled at me with a cute expression, my heart skipped a beat as she called me by my first name.

“Y-Yeah..~” A nervous expression showed on my face. She’s really playing with fire right now! What do I do..? I can’t tell if this is actual love, affection, or maternal love! Ever since I let her stay at my place, she’s done nothing but being understanding! Why can I not shake this feeling off...? Even with her calling me by my first given, I’m not used to her affectionate side.

“P-please…I’m not used to you calling me Koa..,” I was embarrassed as I try to look away from her. Her cold, cool hands touched my face, and she turned my face towards her, looking at me. Her red eyes glistened and glowed, wanting to kiss me but I put my finger against her mouth.

“Ruruka…,” her voice called for me.

“Yeah…?” I asked her.

“I love you. Can you go out with me?” she confessed her feelings to me, moving my finger away.

What did she just say…? She wants to go out with me? How do I even return these feelings? I tried to find my answer, but all I could think was about myself. What if I hurt her? And out of all the times, why did she have to say that right now?! Now I don’t know anymore!! She leaned onto me and I tried to look away, trying to dodge these feelings. This is unfair…

“T-this isn’t….I…,” I tried to find my words. My heart started to rapidly beat fast, and I didn’t know what to say. I bit my lower lip and gently pushed her away from me.

I said, “…I only saw you as a child, if not…my surrogate daughter…,” not knowing how she would respond.

“How do you even see me…?”

I became utterly confused.

“I see you as my best friend and my role model!” she responded to my question. My eyes widen with conflict.

Aajdghakjdguig f#%&(%!!!*

How can I compete with that…?! My eagerness to protect her screams out very loudly! She leaned into me with intent of hearing my answer, but all I could do was to push her away, trying to avoid my feelings for her.

“Hanako….I’m sorry…I…,” I got up trying to leave, but she grabbed my hand, trying to stop me.

“P-please…,” her voice utters, “I-I want to be with you..”

I mean, I also want that! But, this maternal instinct isn’t letting me think straight! I still want to protect her from people who might harm her….!

“I can’t. Not like this,” I told her, but her grip was still there. She started to put more strength on my wrist, and it began to hurt.

“H-hey…you’re hurting me…!”

“Let go of me…!” I forcibly yanked my hand away from hers, and I left her alone on the couch. I ran to my room, unable to accept her confession.

Even though I had such conflicting feelings and emotions I can’t control, I started to cry. I locked myself in my room and slumped against the door with my back.

How do I live up to her wishes? This huge wall I put up myself….I can’t even lower that to meet her level….!

I knew something like this would happen, but I can’t control the outcome. Why am I like this…? Why am I being so stubborn…? My heart started to break down, exhausted from the tears that drenched my face. What should I do….? Should I face her head on…or….ignore it as if nothing happened…?

“Mou…” I whimpered, “this isn’t fair…, Hanako….”

Although the day was filled with fun, I had worries about myself.

part.i of iv – Hanako’s POV: Post-Confession──⊰

Ever since I confessed my feelings Ruruka, she didn’t try to answer me back since she pushed my hand away. I couldn’t dodge this feeling, because, ever since she said:

“I only saw you as a child, if not…my surrogate daughter…,”

My feelings of doubt started to surface. It was like she had put up this wall around her heart, disallowing her emotions to escape. I just realized that I was rejected by her. Is rejection supposed to feel cold and harsh…?

“It hurts…,” I uttered under my breath. I had grabbed into the pillow, my tears come out, staining the patterned flowers of the cover. My love for her is much stronger than I thought it was, because I even though I saw her as my friend, I saw her as my equal.

Unpleasant memories from my past start to resurface, trying to torment me by using this exact moment as a way to define Ruruka’s actions as ‘abandonment.’

Voices filled my head saying:

“She doesn’t deserve you,” or “you don’t deserve her.”

There were even statements that I thought to myself like:

“Am I worthy of loving her…?” and “Is this even worth it?”

Even as these bad memories try to cloud my judgement based on this moment, I stood my ground, defending my new self that I had put on. I came to one solution, all by saying:

“I can’t let the past define my current situation.”

“I get to decide what is right or wrong!”

I was confident about my future. To grow from these memories means that I need to steer clear of those hateful comments, which starts now. And I want to be with Ruruka.

My feelings for her have not changed one bit, because I really fell in love with her. She saw past my timid bravado and she there for me at my lowest. Now it is my turn to return that favor!

➽────────────❥

It has been a day since she ignored me. I even tried to get her attention by doing something unsafe, but, she didn’t care (I didn’t do it, I just wanted to test her response). But despite everything that happened, I wanted to know why, so I used my ability to peer into her current headspace.

Before the 19th of October hit, it was around 11:45 in the evening. I secretly went into Ruruka’s room to observe her with my abilities. I softly and gently held her hand as she was sleeping, and I let my red eye glow as I stared at her.

Her mind was all a mess, and all she could ever think was: “How can I meet her expectations..?” or, “Do I even love her?” Another one of her thoughts stood out to me, and I became sad about it, “I hate myself. Why can’t I seem to lower my guard around her, yet I still have this overprotectiveness?”

She had shielded her own heart from those conflicting emotions, and it made me upset, seeing her this way. I really wanted to talk to her about her feelings, but, given the fact that she couldn’t answer my confession, it might be rude to overwhelm her again (so I stopped myself from advancing). I gently got up but her hand tightened on me slightly, she mumbled in her sleep, “I’m sorry, Hanako….”

I gently released her grip on me because I felt a little hurt, not knowing how she might respond to me even after hearing her thoughts with my abilities. Instead, I went to sleep.

part.ii of iv – Haruhi Aoi’s Words──⊰

Today was the 20th and I was already at work, taking care of the bunnies. I had finished up cleaning their litter box and replaced their water for them.

“Reina, you can take a break now,” Aoi-san came up to me. I felt relieved after she told me. I got up and went to the restroom to wash my hands and left after. In the back of the café was a lounge for staff, so I went to the couch to sit down, relaxing my body.

It was fun, taking care of the rabbits, since it allowed me to get distracted from my other thoughts. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I grabbed the pillow next to me and I clung into it, hugging it as I try to think of ways to get Ruruka to see me for who I am as a person. My mind wandered off as I pondered about it.

“What’s wrong?” Aoi approached me, noticing the unusual silence that came from me. She came and sat down next to me and said softly, “if you want to talk about it, I’m here!~”

Taking her offer up, I spoke, “I confessed my feelings to Ruruka.”

Aoi’s ears perked up as soon as I said that, and she said, “how did it go?”

“I…don’t know,” I said with honesty.

“She said, “…I only saw you as a child, if not…my surrogate daughter…,” and left me alone. It hurt, hearing her say that.”

“Are you serious..?! How inconsiderate…,” Aoi had a stern look, then asked:

“Look, I know she took you in to care for you, but, how do you see her as?”

“Well…I see her as my friend!” I responded with confidence, “I treat her as my equal, but I don’t know if she can do that. I know she cares for me, but, I think she’s been holding back for too long.”

“She has this wall I can’t reach, and I want her to show her vulnerability around me.”

“I’ve already asked her before, but, she returned back to her old self…”

“Should I have even confessed to her?” I was lost, thinking if my confession was enough.

“Is your love for her real?” Aoi stepped in and asked me. I want to be close to Ruruka, I really do, but she shut me off after I confessed.

“Yes~,” I responded to her question, “working here at this café changed me drastically. It allowed me to be open to others to care and serve for them. Ruruka is my friend, but I also want to be there for her at her lowest point.”

Not only she opened up my life, I want to open hers! I want to be the person that can break her guard down! My confidence sprung back when I started working with Aoi-san. I started out as a caretaker for the bunnies, and now, I’m a waitress! I’m able to talk to others freely and they respect me for who I am. I want to be her partner. Not as someone who needs constant care.

“Actually…, both me and Ruruka used to date, I also know her secret, being a ninja and all,” she opened up.

“Even though we broke up, she always held her cautious side up, that maternal instinct. I tried to break those walls down, to make her realize I’m not a child… And that I don’t need her to protect me.”

“Have you tried to reach her heart?” I asked her, listening to her side of her story. I want to learn from her experience because I want to be that person to break those walls down. I love Ruruka for who she is, not only as a friend, but as someone who cares.

“Yeah, I’ve tried,” she responded, “I tried three times! I wanted to make her realize that, but she couldn’t. I can stand up for myself, and I don’t need this over-protectiveness!”

“But in the end, I didn’t like where things were going, so I broke up with her. I couldn’t get to her feelings in time, and she shoved me away, which hurt me (we’re on good terms now).”

This was the first time I heard Haruhi vent about Ruruka, since they are (and were) close. Honestly? I didn’t even know she dated her before she told me now!

“Reina-chan, I have a favor to ask of you,” she said.

“Yeah?” I replied back, tilting my head.

“I want you to break that impossible wall in her heart!” she requested, getting worked up for me.

“But how…? I tried that once, but it didn’t work…,” I told her my recent attempt to do so. I thought back to that time when I had sex with her (because I also knew she was super cautious at that time).

“I’ll tell you what! Her birthday is on November 2nd, right?” Aoi asked me and I nodded.

“I want you to prepare a special birthday for her! She loves red chocolate velvet cakes and cute decorations. And from thereon is up to you to decide whether or not you can break her guard down!”

“You got this Reina, I believe you can do it! You’re the only one who can do this!” she said, giving me a thumbs up. Hearing her support for me to reach out to Ruruka’s feelings worked. I can do this, I just need to execute it based on how I want it to go.

“Can you talk to her, just in case?” I asked her for a favor. She gave me a thumbs up, so I got up and decided to stop by a store before I went home.

➽─────────❥

Throughout the following days and weeks, I spent my time preparing for her birthday, even with Aoi’s help. I told Aoi-san my secret about being the Quiet Crow and she got shocked when I proved it. With my abilities and her help, I handcrafted a snowflake jewelry, with both our names etched into it. The cold cool feeling of the snowflake pressed against my hand. I looked at awe in it, as I made it with love and genuine happiness, I was a little nervous to give it to her. But, if I want to see her break out of her shell, it has to be done out of a loving heart.

I boxed up and prettied it, and I put it aside for now.

➽────❥─────❥

Some days pass a bit, and it became the day before her birthday, the first of November. She had told me she will be out all day due to her job. She’s not just a bartender at night, but an interior designer for apartments and buildings. Hearing her thoughts after she came home is pretty fun, because I can tell she’s a hard worker, managing between her day and night jobs. It must be tough.

When I heard the door open, I popped out a confetti shaker and surprised her when she came back, which was exactly midnight, 12 AM, on her birthday!