Chapter 12:

Chapter 7: Play Date

Radiant Prism - The Goddess of Chaos and a World With You [Short]


"Are you alright, Yuu Yuu?"

She didn't look well, and I wasn't sure why.  Yuu Yuu sighed and shook her head.

"Yuu Yuu is fine, Feo. Just... tired."

She put her hand behind her back and smiled.

"Since Feo has some days off... do you want to play with Yuu Yuu tomorrow?"

"Play?"

I mimicked her. She gave me a cunning smile. Yuu Yuu had this side to her, and it always took me off guard.

"Sure... I'll meet you at the forest tomorrow?"

"Hey, Feodora!"

When I turned around, those bright blue eyes met mine as I looked at her. It was no one other than Eve Seed, holding her gun around.

“Oh, Eve.”

I turned to Yuu Yuu. She stopped, quite a ways away from the two of us. I doubt she could hear us from the distance she was. Yuu Yuu seemed a tad apprehensive to approach. I turned back to the psycho as she crossed her arms. She stepped to my side, grabbed my shoulder, and walked me further away from Yuu Yuu.

“What’s wrong?”

“I found another bomb in the city. Vivian and I finished early... so I did a sweep and found it.”

Eve whispered. I was shocked as I tilted my head. She looked at Yuu Yuu, then turned back to me.

“Shh… I disarmed it but kept the tracker on it. So, it should appear to look like it’s working. I’m going to watch it, and when it attempts to go off… I’ll find out who planted it.”

Understanding that Eve had this covered, I nodded softly.

“So, if I ask for your help… will you be willing to help me?”

Eve asked.

“… Yeah.”

"Cool! Have a great day you two!"

Eve smiled cunningly and then walked into the ore factory. I turned to Yuu Yuu who waved at me.

"What... a strange day."

Since the day was over, I went home as Jade told me to. That night, I relaxed and thought about my upcoming playdate with... Yuu Yuu. Exhausted, I closed my eyes and went to sleep. The night was peaceful, but my battle with my night terrors began.

I opened my eyes to the blinding light that filtered through the window. My room was a mess, and I was halfway off the bed. My feet dangled there, likely kicking all kinds of things around as I slept. 

"…You know… I never heard myself scream at night…."

I questioned as I cleaned up my room…

How badly do I scream in my sleep? If someone I met recently heard me screech as I slept… would they treat me as badly as the bullies in the orphanage did?

As I picked up the nightstand that I must have pushed over at night… I thought about all of this. Maxwell… was at the forefront of my mind this morning.

“Maxwell…”

I whispered his name. When he first uttered it to me, it was cold and full of what felt like contempt. As if I was just a flea that was bothering him… but then he nurtured me to who I am today. I’ve fought trials and survived.

When I stepped out the doorway, it was cloudy and looked like it would rain soon. But the air was lovely, and I casually strolled in the forest.

"This forest is… stunning."

 I came to that break in the trees that looked all the different. Those beautiful light blue waters greeted me with open arms when I entered. It was a tad cloudy, so it didn't shine as glamorous as before, but this was the place.

A grin came to my face.

“F-Feodora?”

From across the way, the timid loner looked at me. Her eyes went bright as she waded across the water, came to shore, and rushed at me. She stopped at my feet and lowered her head.

“Oh… ah… You... you came.”

I looked at her, and those feelings began to cause my heart to throb harder.

“… I wanted to see you.”

I confessed as I put my hands behind my back.

"Ah… listen, Yuu Yuu.”

I thought about what Maxwell told me briefly, but his warnings faded in the distance like a match at the end of its wick.

"I don't like being around people…"

My words were ahead of my mind, but I got out what was in my chest.

"But… but you… seem different... and…"

The courage to speak my mind was something I lacked at times due to my lack of social interactions. This wasn't like the survival skills beating me every day. But I needed to express what was in my heart… ultimately shattering the warnings from my mentor.

“… I wanted… to see you badly. I… I think I want to get to know you a lot better.”

It was hard… but it came out. When I forced my eyes to turn back to Yuu Yuu, she had a surprised look. Her rounded cheeks were a light shade of pink, and she pushed her hair across her face.

“Oh… ah…F-Feodora… I…”

She stammered. I couldn't tell, but it felt as though… she felt indifferent about my feelings. I couldn't make out her wariness, which showed… how socially immature I was.

“Wh-What’s your favorite color?”

Nervously, she asked. I was confused… So I answered just like a confused person would.

“Ah… I like black a lot.”

Her eyes lowered, and suddenly she began to giggle. Annoyed, I put my hands on my hip.

“W-What’s so funny?”

“I-It… was super obvious that you liked black.”

With her hands behind her back, she smiled brightly at me.

“I like white…."

She reached out, took my hand like before, and tilted her head at me.

“What else do you like, Feodora?”

She slowly began pulling me along like she was inviting me to her palace. Before I knew it, I was side by side as she wrapped her arms in mine and set her head on my shoulder.

“Ah… should I just list things off?”

This was the closest I've ever been with someone. The pink bunny was soft as we walked. Gently, Yuu Yuu would push her body closer to me. She was a bit more shapely than the other girls I've met in Radiant City, and she showed that. I... found myself thinking about her in all kinds of ways.

“What’s your favorite food?”

“I like… green tomatoes. Fried green tomatoes the most.”

“Those are super sour!”

She teased.

“I like sweets more… like strawberries. Grapes are probably my favorite food.”

A smile came to my face as I turned back to her.

“I’m growing strawberries and grapes back at home.”

"You know how to grow food, F-Feodora?! Everything I grow dies…."

Dejectedly, Yuu Yuu pushed her head into my side. We continued walking along the river like this.

“You know, Feodora… Yuu Yuu doesn’t like people.”

She whispered.

“Hm?”

“That’s why Yuu Yuu lives far away from Radiant City. Yuu Yuu… really doesn’t like people.”

I noticed before, but there were times when Yuu Yuu acted like she was an observer to the conversation

“But… I-I-I…. ever since that first night I ran from you… I think I….”

She sighed.

"I think I… noticed that I found someone I don't mind seeing…."

Before I knew it… I found myself caressing Yuu Yuu's round cheeks. She continued softly.

“I… think… I …kind of… like you, F-Feodora.”

She admitted, holding my hand onto her face.

“You remind me of a small animal… and I love small animals.”

The heat of my body was rushing to my face. I needed to say something, or else I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

“…”

I opened my mouth… knowing full well I was striking against a creed I was begged to follow.

"I like you too… and…. I want to get to know you better, Yuu Yuu…."

It was like we both had two separate keys, and they finally came together. Her cheek became wet suddenly as she approached closer to me.

"D-Do you mean it? Y-You, want to get to know… me? Not Yuu Yuu…. but me?"

Before I could answer her odd question, she buried her face into my chest. Slowly she rubbed her nose on me like a kitten.

“I-I never… had someone…. Think that way about me before.”

She stood up on her tippy toes and grabbed me tighter.

"I want to tell you all about me. I like birds… a lot. And squirrels and horses and…."

Yuu Yuu began shooting out animals like a Gatling gun. Then something simple passed my mind as I held her in my arms…

We both seemed socially awkward… as if our lives were spent away from people… And I believe that’s what drew me into her the most… 

“Don’t worry… we have time to chat, Yuu Yuu… I’m… not going anywhere for a while...”

I could feel her body warm up as we finally met each other's eyes. I couldn't understand what was going on in her mind by the look she gave me, but as the pull between us started to draw us closer, we approached slowly.

“F-Feodora?”

“Yuu Yuu…”

The heat of her tickled along my lips. I could oddly taste the sweetness from her breath as we slowly got closer. The waves were calm. It felt like the wildlife was giving us our time alone…

This world was too perfect to be…

But suddenly, the sky opened up just as the top of her lips danced above mine. It wasn't a tiny storm either. It was like buckets were being dumped on us intentionally. My hair stuck to my face as we both looked up at the sky. Our clothing was drenched in an instant.

“Eh?!”

Yuu Yuu complained as she looked over her shoulder.

“Why did you have to do that?!”

She shouted at the sky. It… was adorable…I found myself giggling as I took her soft hand.

“Let’s get out of the rain.”

I suggested. This time I pulled Yuu Yuu along with me instead. We made our way outside the beautiful valley and up to my home. Yuu Yuu and I were soaked in the rain. It was to the point that our clothes were sticking to our bodies. I ushered her in and shook my head like a dog.

“Eh?!”

I noticed I did something socially wrong as I turned back to the pink bunny. I was embarrassed that the girl I... liked... might look at me strangely. However, just like me, Yuu Yuu was… shaking her head like a dog. I… felt then and there that we had more in common than I could have ever imagined.

"I have some spare clothing for us. It's just a nightgown, but you should be able to fit it."

I rushed into my room and brought out a pair of gowns I used when lazing around. Yuu Yuu held it in her hands and put it to her nose. It was white… just like her favorite color…

“…It smells nice.”

She complimented me before turning back to me.

"Our chest sizes are a bit different, though, F-Feodora."

"Ah... yeah."

She was... bigger in that area than I was. There was no comparing it. I rubbed the back of my head shamefully... It was apparent that... the size there would be the problem. The bunny giggled, and it took me a bit to realize she was teasing me. Cutely, she backed up, holding the white gown behind her back.

"There's a bathroom over there. I'll get the fire going, and we can dry our clothing..."

I've never had anyone over my home before, so I couldn't tell if my place was dirty or clean by her standards. Instead of saying anything, she bounced over to the door. The white uniform she wore… made it easy to see her pure white bra underneath because of how damp it was.

After a moment inside the bathroom, Yuu Yuu peeked out. Playfully, the troublemaker threw her clothing on the floor before me and hid in the room again. On the floor was her uniform. When I picked it up... I reminded myself that... these were Yuu Yuu's. Not only that but... I could catch a glimpse of her body before she shut the door…

It was then that I realized…

I brought someone that I… kind of liked to my house… A person I... found relatively attractive...

This was far beyond breaking my creed. But instead of dwelling on that, I cleaned up the room with my fireplace, put our wet clothing around it, and got into my gown.

“Feodora…”

Her soft voice resonated in my ear as I turned around. She was in the pure white dress that stopped at her knees. She looked happy… wearing her favorite color. I kept on my black nightgown… because my favorite color was black.

“Are you warm?”

I asked. Instead of answering, The bunny tattered over to me and pushed those soft arms around me.

"Huff!"

I cried as we both fell to the floor. There we lay in each other's arms. For some reason, I giggled, and Yuu Yuu did too. In the space of the fire, we stared into each other's eyes.

"Tell me more about you, Feodora…."

She asked as she shifted her body closer to me.

"…Well, there’s not much to say. I used to live in a forest. I was there for around 10 or so years with my mentor… before that, I grew up in an orphanage…."

I closed my eyes and recalled those times.

“I don’t know who my biological parents are or why I was in the orphanage. All my memories became established as I was there.”

Yuuna listened intently as I continued.

“…I”

I became afraid as I reached deep into my heart and confessed something…

“I scream at… night… when I sleep...”

I’m not even sure why I brought it up. As If the bunny could sense the fear in my voice… Yuu Yuu's soft fingers touched my lips and spoke slowly…

“Like a… banshee?”

That word was one I hadn't heard in years. The rain outside hit on the windows. The heat of the fire was roaring. I felt as though my back was being seared. Intently, I looked into Yuu Yuu’s eyes and felt a light haze surround me.

Flashes of light came to my mind, and I found myself thinking about a girl from the past…

If I recall correctly, she had pink hair. At the time, she was being teased. Those three bullies made her run around like a dog, which upset me. It was that day when I punched one of them in the nose. It was the taller one with short blond hair. I broke her nose… and that led to the other two tossing me away like trash into the forest.

“…Hey…”

I began to ask…

“How did you know… people used to call me banshee?”

Her grip on my body became tighter as she pushed her head on my chest.

"I don't remember much… before being sent to the orphanage…."

Yuu Yuu began suddenly.

"But I was adopted…by the Light Camp. There, I met mother… and was separated from everyone…"

Concerned, I listened closely.

"I was given… to my mentor later on..."

“Your mentor?”

She nodded softly.

“Janova… her name is… Janova. She taught me how to enchant… and use my lack of a vessel to do amazing things. Because of her… that I can play with small animals…."

Cutely, she turned back to me.

“Thank you… for protecting Yuu Yuu that day...”

I was awed at what she said. It was like she reached into my mind, found that memory, and brought it out. She didn't go into what she meant, but I think we both realized something… something essential…

Could it be that we'd known each other back then? In the past, the pink-haired girl ran away from me before I could talk to her. Could she have been… that bunny who ran from me back then?

Instead of going further into it… I held Yuu Yuu all the tighter. We searched each other's eyes once again. This time the room was warm, unlike the cold outside. Her irises were bright, like stars, and I always found them fascinating. Nobody in my life up until this point had struck me quite like her...

It was simple...

and I needed to make it simple...

So I gathered the courage in my chest and said what had been spiraling in my heart since the first night we met...

“…I like you, Yuu Yuu.”

I confessed as my eyes fell slightly.

“…I like you too, F-Feodora.”

She whispered tenderly.

Our lips came closer as she pushed her body next to mine. The softness of her engulfed me as I held her back tighter. Her bright pink eyes lowered like mine, and I felt the tip of her top lip touch mine. There was no going back from here…so I embraced her warm lips with mine. My mind was in a haze for a moment as it fell back to that pink-haired girl who ran off… crying to the orphanage mother.

But this time, I wasn't letting her run so quickly…

The warmth of her skin pressed against me as we shared this tender moment. I found her a tad more aggressive as she pecked my lips longer. Yuu Yuu… the timid loner, seemed to have this playful side to her that attracted me. It felt like... this moment had been years in the making. There had been times that I thought about that girl who ran away from me. Was she scared of me? Did she hate me like everyone else? Those questions were still unanswered...

But it didn't matter, at least tonight.

“Hehe…”

She giggled, but I stopped her by brushing my lips on her again. Tenderly… for what felt like hours but was likely only seconds, we shared our feelings. Finally, we broke apart as the realization of what we had just expressed to one another came to light.

"Feodora... wants me."

As if she was in disbelief, she said it, trying to tell herself that we... were meant for each other in this way.

"I want... you."

I responded between our kisses of ecstasy.

"Only me?"

She asked timidly. The world was cold to us. We believed that we were destined to be alone... yet here we were, proving to them that we, two outcasts... were made for one another.

"Feo..."

She whispered...

"Feo... Feo..."

I could feel Yuu Yuu moving underneath me. She opened her eyes slightly...

"Only you..."

I finally answered. Only Yuu Yuu was on my mind... Only her.

"Fine then..."

Yuu Yuu whispered in a dark tone, and it took me by surprise...

“No! Don’t!”

Yuu Yuu screamed as she pushed me off of her. I fell to the side of the side as she stood up and raced to the front, towards my door. I was surprised by the abruptness of it all.

“Yuu Yuu?”

“Oh… F-Feodora! I’m so sorry.”

It was then I noticed something… she wasn’t looking at me…

I turned around to see a shadow in the room. It vanished as if it was heading to the front door. As it waved, I could see what looked to be a figure with a long dress and long hair speeding out of my home.

“Who is there?!”

I cried out as I rushed behind Yuu Yuu, towards the front door. The door was open, and whoever was in the house had already vanished into the night. For a moment, I waited there, making sure I couldn’t see them before shutting the door and rushing back to the room with Yuu Yuu. She was holding her stomach.

“Are you okay?”

I asked, but suddenly, she held me in her arms.

“I’m so sorry. She got upset and was going to hurt you! I… I didn’t want her to hurt you!”

“Who are you talking about, Yuu Yuu?”

She turned towards the door, still with tears in her eyes. I could see her shaking as she… explained.

“…Janova. My mentor, J-Janova wanted to hurt you… and I didn’t know what to do, so I screamed.”

"Janova? You're mentor... was here?"

I could only imagine that she saw Janova in the house behind me. So, to warn me she screamed, and that was the shadow I saw. Yuu Yuu held me close and rubbed her loose tears on my chest.

“Why was she here?”

I asked, trying to pull any information from her.

“Janova gets angry when… when I don’t listen to her. S-She… was going to punish me by hurting you this time.”

It still didn’t make sense what she was saying.

“I need to know who this Janova person is. I need to meet her, Yuu Yuu.”

I demanded as I held Yuu Yuu’s shoulders. She looked terrified as she shook her head from side to side. Tears were forming in her eyes.

“No! Yuu Yuu is not allowed to introduce Janova to anyone!”

She screamed, causing me to back up slightly. Noticing my hesitation, Yuu Yuu reached out and took my hand in hers.

"No, wait! I didn't mean to yell at you, Feodora. P-Please, forgive me. Please, forgive me."

She begged and begged as she held my arm.

“It’s okay… I… I just need to understand why you can’t introduce me to Janova. I… I need to understand you… if I want… If I want to be with you.”

I confessed.

“…”

Silently, she looked away. Then, like someone gave her batteries, she popped up like a toy.

“Yuu Yuu has to keep her identity a secret… and Yuu Yuu is not allowed to show Janova to anyone.”

She began as she leaned down on the floor. Together we sat there as she explained to me.

“Janova and Yuu Yuu are on a mission. The mission will fail if Janova is discovered. So… until Yuu Yuu’s mission is complete, you can’t meet her, Feo.”

I was taken aback by this as I continued my questioning.

“A mission… what kind of mission.”

“For the Light Camp.”

She answered coldly.

“Can’t you tell me… what they want you to do, Yuu Yuu?”

Yuu Yuu shook her head from side to side.

"No… I'm not allowed to do that. As Light Camp members, we must abide by our laws. We are not allowed to give out anything regarding delicate missions. Else we are faced with severe punishment!"

It was like listening to a recording as she read off her laws. I was taken aback by how… different she sounded when she spoke about the Light Camp’s rules. It was like someone reached inside her and became Yuu Yuu if only for a second.

“I understand…”

I said… but that was a lie. There was too much that I still wanted to know about her. And… with Janova willing to break into my home and attack me like this… something needed to be done.

“As it stands, I still want to talk with Janova. At least let her understand that I like you and…”

Yuu Yuu shook her head.

“No… I… I don’t want you to talk to her! Don’t worry, I’ll talk with her tonight. I’ll tell her that I have feelings for you… and not to hurt you! S-So please don't hate me! I… I don’t want you to hate me, Feodora!”

She was trembling as she begged. There was nothing I could do but take her word for it.

“No… I trust that you will talk with Janova.”

My heart sank a bit… but she was begging me to trust her and… I could at least do that if I genuinely had feelings for her. As she walked to the door, I followed her. When she reached it, she turned around and flapped her eyes at me.

“Ah… tomorrow… ah…”

She put her head down.

“Tomorrow… can you meet me at the lake? You know, the one we were at before?”

“Oh… sure.”

With that, she took her backpack and started to exit the home; before leaving, she waved at me and shut the door.

“Yuu Yuu messed up! Yuu Yuu didn’t listen!”

I heard Yuu Yuu scream. 

It was strange and unnatural the way she spoke. 

I looked out the window as Yuu Yuu ran off towards the forest. Everything in me wanted to know more about her… tonight. 

See if I can discover… just what the timid loner was hiding…

muishiki
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