Chapter 6: Counting Clouds

Akihabara main street

The morning had barely seeped through the dawn, yet a small scale commotion was already brewing. Front of a famous local shopping street, known for its cheap electronics and retro style neon signs.

A police officer dressed in grey and blue formal wear was on the verge of finalizing the speeding ticket he has been writing for as long as the past half an hour-to an elderly man parked in a stupidly-expensive sports car.

When a sudden deafeningly loud screeching sound shook the entire street. causing some signs to fall over-breaking open, and taking the officer by enough surprise for him to spasm and send his cup of coffee flying, which in its turn spilled on a passing-by middle schooler,

Amidst the chaos of what was once a calm morning. A tall man suited in full black stepped from between the confused crowd and into the back end of an alley, where a motorcycle was parked.

Both the police officer and the middle schooler began running. One towards the noise and one away from it. The old man had noticed the police officer running away and took his chance, soaring across the street in his sports car. Some say he was last seen in Turkey.

-Running towards the noise, the middle schooler began extending his tongue, licking clean the coffee dripping all over his face. An energy boost of sorts. Then-

BWUM!!

An unexpected, rumbling thick motorcycle, sped across the street in a gust of wind from behind. Perched atop it was the same man black. His red tie flung in the air and whipped his helmet over and over again under the immense speed.

The middle schooler’s eyes sparked with excitement,

“Hell Yeah! Vice-Captain Solfin is gonna take care of the stupid Dasvelt!

"I HAVE to see it, NO! I’m GONNA see it!”

He yelled and ran even faster now.

His backpack was open though and some of his books fell to the ground as he ran. Forcing him to turn back. And he did,

Picking each book up in a lifeless, sad expression.

Chapter 6: Counting Clouds

Still lying on her back, enjoying the breeze from within the crater she had made. The cause of all the chaos was indeed still careless.

Dumya counted the slow-moving clouds drifting above her on the open street.

Eight.

Eight.

Nine.

Nine.

Nine.

Nin–

Ten.

It was her way of killing time while waiting for her shattered leg to finish healing.

Ten.

But at its current, painfully-slow pace. She guessed it would take at least twenty more clouds.

Eleve–

BWUMMMM!!

The calm shattered as Solfin breached the scene on his yellow beast of a bike. Noticing a faint glow at his helmet’s radar he then pumped the brakes. Illegal mana usage?

But the speed was still so high that it flung him clean into a nearby bakery whose glass had shattered minutes ago. Scattering glass and pastries into a chaotic unappealing mess. Oops

He quickly walked back out, and with a practiced motion he double-tapped a hidden button at his shoulder, activating his helmet camera. 

He slowly scanned the area for any threats, his hands resting on his pistol,

A crater the size of a small car had caught his attention.

“Very interesting.”

His hands glowed light-blue, summoning a high-caliber sniper riffle. And he leaped, anchoring his feet on both opposing ends of the crater.

Whoosh His rifle quickly followed him, floating back onto his grip. Pointed directly at the doll-like girl below.

She glared up, annoyed that she could no longer see what might have been the twelfth cloud, the one shaped vaguely like a rat.

Solfin clicked at his shoulder again, turning his camera off.

“Very interesting indeed.” 

He scratched his head and his eyes narrowed, 

The media’s not gonna love this one.