The concert was cut short, and the young pop idol was rushed to the hospital. Felix watched with a hollow expression as two operatives dragged Yoko into a black vehicle.
"Get your hands off me!" She cried out in frustration, letting out a pained sob, "This is all Obsidian's fault! They took everything from us!"
As they put her inside the vehicle, she shrieked, "They ruined my life!"
Felix's phone as it suddenly buzzed, and as he picked it up, a holographic screen popped out and a familiar face was projected.
"…So, how was the concert?" Maria asked.
"I, um… Other operatives from Obsidian should be handling the mess right now. I guess you were right, I really do suck as a bodyguard." Felix scratched his cheek.
"So, you fucked up big time, huh?"
Feeling a twinge of shame in his heart, he replied, "I had one job, don't let her get shot, and I just barely managed to do that. So… kinda."
"If it makes you feel any better, I almost died when you were supposed to be bodyguarding me." She giggled to herself.
He laughed dejectedly, "It really doesn't."
"I just wanted to check up on you. I wanted to pick you up, but apparently you're riding on Obsidian, and I still have a lot of work to do on this stupid Matrix Key."
"You just wanted to come to Japan, didn't you?"
"Mmmaybe." She chimed, she paused, looking at his half-smile, "What's with the smirk?"
"Nothing… I'll get you some snacks and souvenirs. I'll just escort her to the hospital one last time."
"Alright. Get me some sushi snacks." The transmission went off.
Alone, he gazed at his hand, and was unable to stop himself from grinning.
"It worked…" He clutched his hand, "It finally worked."
Felix glanced up and realized that Natsumi was walking up to him, "Was that the friend you spoke so fondly of? Something about her just felt… off."
Silent, his smile faded, noticing the small patch of bandage on her chest.
"Hm What? Why the long face?" She asked.
"You shouldn't be here right now."
She turned her head towards the streets where several shining lights were, and asked, "I was thinking, how about we go out tonight, too?"
"You should be getting treated." Felix stood up.
"It just finished; the doctors said the wound isn't even a centimeter deep. I'll be fine."
"Then I suggest just resting for the night, you've had a busy day, so…"
She tugged on his sleeve with her head lowered, "…Today was a good day, I'm sure it will continue being a good day."
Felix's hollow expression softened to a worried smile, "All right."
The two walked through an empty path, no vehicles in sight, where the only noise was the fading buzz of the street lamps and the distant horns of cars. As they walked in the dark of night, the girl gestured at a small empty stall at the corner of the road, shining with a golden, warm, welcoming glow.
The young pop idol sat and looked through the menu.
"Hmm, one jumbo parfait please! What about you?"
"I'll just have a coffee."
"Nuh-uh. Wrong answer. Not available. Order something else." She replied while mimicking a buzz sound.
"Ah, mhm. I guess I'll have a… ramen."
As the bowl was placed in front of him, Felix ate it the way it was. Natsumi glanced at his direction and asked; "Really?"
With both eyebrows curled, Felix answers with another curious question, "What?"
Natsumi chuckled, "Well, if you're gonna have ramen, at least try it my way."
Felix's lips curled downward with an awkward expression. His eyebrows lowered as she prepared his bowl for him. As he took a slurp from the bowl, Natsumi quickly asked, "Speak thy thoughts, how is it?"
"It's um… nice."
"It should be. So…about earlier." She spoke softly as she placed the bowl in front of him.
As Felix feasted on the ramen, he glances over to the pop idol gazing on him, asking "What?"
"You know, I'm surprised that Ayame had it in her. Slamming a folding chair against the manager. She was crying about it, too." She giggled.
"Ah… yeah, that caught me by surprise, too."
"This was… an eventful night. I can't imagine how it went for you."
"At the very least I wasn't on stage performing in front of a thousand people. When I was in front of a crowd, I froze."
"Heh… was it the one eight years ago where you said "I have no idea what's going on?"" She said in a well-informed manner.
"You read those documents too?" Felix lamented, recollecting the moment where he stood in front of a crowd. He stood on the stage, overwhelmed by the several executives and militia staring daggers at him.
The bright flashes of light, one by one felt like an explosive to him, leaving him stunned.
Young Felix opened his lips and spoke softly, "I have no idea what's going on."
Felix recoiled from the memory.
Natsumi then answered his question, "I watched a video."
"Is there anything that escapes you?"
"Who knows, but I always dig as deep as I can. So, the thing with the bullet." She asked gently, uncertain how to go about it. "So it's the real deal… that's the power of an esper."
"I don't even know what that word means…"
"Uh-huh. Anyhow, since you missed my performance, you owe me something else."
"Ah, is that right?" Felix shot out sharply.
"To pay me back, accompany me around the town. We finish our date last night." She smiled brightly.
The two traveled around the city. Through the night, the bright lights, and the beautiful sights, stopped only to greet the fans who recognized Natsumi under her thick, loose, black hoodie.
When they returned to the penthouse suite, Natsumi walks inside with an exhausted smile.
Felix sat on the counter with a calm, solemn look on his face.
"Did you have fun?" She asked with an enthusiastic sigh.
The corners of his lips subtly rise, as his face lets out a gentle smile, "…Yeah. How's the wound?" Felix asks, clutching his own arm.
"It's fine now. They said I should come back tomorrow for a check-up, though. Still… to think that Yoko-san…I didn't... I really did feel safe thanks to you."
"Well, I am the Golden Lion Agency's best." Felix turned his head, hiding his smirk.
"Wasn't the best the 'Golden Lion' herself?"
"What was that?" Felix asked sharply in an unamused tone, glaring at her.
"I mean, that's what the robins s— w-well, the robin's may have... been wrong. Thank you for tonight, I'm glad you were my bodyguard."
His expression softens, letting out a gentle smile, "I'm glad you were safe, and I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you properly."
"Pfft…What's with that genuine kind smile, it really doesn't suit you at all." As she chuckled, Felix scratched his cheek, bashfully looking away.
"Since the night is young, and since you weren't able to watch my concert, I guess maybe I should sing for you." She grabbed his arm and dragged him to the couch.
"I think you should go get some rest."
"I didn't stay up all night last night because my gacha roll sucked." She said as she set up sheets of papers.
She stood before him illuminated against the moonlight as she began to let out her soft voice. Her singing reverberated around the walls of the room. It was a gentle, yet unrefined tune that blended well with her cutesy, high-pitched voice.
Felix, who was not well-versed in music, listened intently.
As she finished singing, she sat on the chair on the other side and asked with a cheery yet tired smile, "So, speak your mind, what do you think?"
"It was great." Felix scratched his cheek.
She pouted while holding back a restless yawn, "Sounds disingenuous."
"It was amazing, I just don't know how to put it. Sorry, but like I said, I really only know a little about piano music."
"Well then, I'm glad. I'll try to fully get you into songs one day..." She yawned in between.
"It's weird how you would even write a song about me, we just met last night."
"It's not very often that I meet people who I could fully trust."
"We literally just met last night."
"My idol senses were tingling! But… after tonight. I guess I have to reevaluate my personal biases. But to be truthful, it's been something I wanted to do for a while." The volume of her voice weakened, and her eyelids began to feel heavy.
"Sing for a stranger?" He asked nonchalantly.
"Write a song for someone I could believe in. You did stop… a bullet for… me." Her words slowed down as she began to doze.
Natsumi let out one more warm smile as she finally fell asleep.
Felix's cheek turned rosy as he scratched it, before replying, "Really, you should take care of yourself, especially after tonight."