Time Traveling Hero

After my very strange encounters with that girl and her woman only entourage, I sat at that bench for a while longer, gazing up into the afternoon sky. I really didn't want to go. Honestly, running away for as long as possible seemed like a great idea to me.

But, since this was a grade from Eris, I didn't really have much of a choice to go, did I?

I put my necklace back around my neck and underneath my shirt before slinging my backpack across my back. I stretched out my body and started the long walk to get to the Hidden Club. The going home club had went home a while back, and most of the students were already in either their club or sports activities.

I passed by our usual track and field team on the way to the old school building and opened the sliding door to get inside. I walked down the singular hallway and stopped in front of the door with a sign that said Hidden Club on it.

I could hear loud voices coming in from the inside, and it seemed like they were in the midst of an argument. Well, here goes nothing!

I opened the sliding door, and I could now clearly hear their voices, or rather, the Prez's voice.

"And that's why today's operation is to go over to number 1's house and see how's he doing!" She finished her statement as she slammed her hand on the chalkboard behind her, before her eyes grew wide in shock.

Soon everybody was staring at in me shock, except for Depra, who had a big grin on his face, and Anna, who nodded at me.

I scratched my cheek before raising my hand in greeting along with a small smile.

"Yo."

As I've said once before, it was going to be a long day.

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"Well, now that we got that cleared up Prez, it seems we need to decide a new activity for today," Caelus said, after everyone had bombarded me with a million questions I somehow managed to avoid.

"Oh, if you knew Depra, why didn't you say anything!?" Lachesis said angrily, punching his in his arm.

"Hey, don't blame him, I asked him not to," I said, sitting in my usual spot, nearest the door.

"Anna knew too, but since Master told me not to, Anna obeyed."

"I've said this a million times, and will probably tell you a million times more, but please don't call me Master when it can cause such a big misunderstanding!"

Anna simply shrugged and turned away from me. That cheeky little!

I redirected my gaze at Pinkie, who was avoiding my gaze. "So, you were worried about me too Pinkie?"

"Like hell I was!" She pouted before glaring at me. "I was thinking that it would be great if you never came back you ass!"

"Again, you're meant to be a cute moe role, not a tsundere. Please keep that in mind in the future."

"Oh, shut up!" Ah, so Depra was telling the truth then. I let out a chuckle before attempting to direct my gaze at the dreaded three.

First was Heracles. He was playing with blocks for whatever reason and caught me staring at him before he gave me a wave. I quickly turned away, my heart starting to pound. I figured as much, but what about Caelus?

Caelus was trying to calm down Prez near the back of the room, but just looking at him was enough to cause the same reaction.

Damn, if it's this bad with those two, then what about…?

"And you!" I was suddenly confronted with a Prez in front of me, who had somehow managed to give Caelus the slip. "You have a lot of explaining to do! I think our activity today should be to interrogate number 1 until he spits out everything he knows!"

Brown hair a little bit over shoulder length, hazel brown eyes, and a modest c.h.e.s.t to top it all off. I stared into those furious brown eyes, not able to break away to eye contact, until…

Impossible.

I quickly covered my face by burying it in my shirt, not wanting anyone to see it.

Impossible!

My heart was so loud that it managed to overpower Prez's loud argument, and my stomach felt like it was in knots.

ImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossibleImpossible!

There was no way in hell I could look at that girl! I felt, no, my face and ears were most definitely blazing red right now. Calm down Hiro, it's just Prez, right? Yeah, that idiot who always takes things the complete wrong way.

My memories of that time came rushing back, and I felt a warm feeling wash over me, and the last scene, of when she-!

"AGH!" I banged my head on the table, trying to block out these feeling somehow, and I somehow managed to get on the floor, my head out of my shirt.

"It's impossible, isn't it? Why her of all people," I muttered, holding my head in pain.

"Um, are you okay Hiro?" I looked up to see Pinkie looking down at me.

"My savior!" I said, and she frowned before shaking her head.

"I think he's lost it guys."

I took a deep breath and relaxed, allowing my body to calm down. I looked back at Pinkie before giving her a smile.

"Thanks, I mean it."

"Huh? I didn't even do anything!"

I got up and started to give her head pats. "Sure you did Pinkie." I gave her my best grin, and all she could do was take my head pats in full swing.

"Hey, I get it already, so stop it, would yah!?" I relented, and Pinkie's face was flushed pink, her pink hair now mussed up thanks to my head pats.

Now that I think about it, what's her eye color? I leaned in closer, trying to look into her eyes.

"I never noticed it before, but you have weird eyes," I murmured, and she tensed up as I continued to look.

"Um, I would rather keep that a secret please," she whispered in my ear, and I nodded before leaning back.

"Hey Depra, are you sure he's alright?" Lachesis asked, and Depra nodded vigorously.

"Yep, he's good!" he said confidently.

I sat back down in my chair before clearing my throat. "Well, now that you guys know I'm okay, what's the activities for today?"

"I already said, didn't I? It's an interrogation of the highest order!"

"I veto that idea Prez. Anyone else veto it?" Everyone raised their hands except for Prez. "Then it's decided. We won't be doing an interrogation today about Hiro, or any day."

"But-!"

"Now then, let's try to think up of another idea, okay?" Wow, way to shut her down Caelus.

Prez ended up in a corner, mumbling to herself in anguish as we decided on where to go.

"Oh, by the way, were you the guy that all the girls have been talking about today?" Caelus asked me, and I tensed up at that sentence.

"Oh yeah, someone saying there was a new gay couple, with Depra and a mysterious boy," Lachesis added, and there was a hint of anger in her voice.

"Yes, it was me, but no, it was a complete misunderstanding. Trust me on that."

"Anna also knows it was a misunderstanding, since Anna was there," she said monotonously, and a look of obvious relief passed over Lachesis' face.

Way to make it obvious girl, I thought with a smile on my face. "So, I nominate that we all go home for the day."

"Denied. Any other cheeky ideas you wish to say before we actually start?"

"Caelus, you're being awfully savage today, aren't you?" Hera said, his deep voice rumbling throughout the room.

"Well, let's just say I'm not in the most pleasant of moods today. So, I suggest we go to the arcade to blow off some steam."

"Arcades still exist?" Pinkie half murmured, half asked.

"Yep, there used to be a lot more, but I think there's only 3-4 in the city, and only one close to us. So, hope you have enough money on you, because we're going to have fun today!"

"I've never actually been to one before, so go easy on me, okay?" I asked, and everyone's gaze homed in on me,

"Oh, so we can finally take away that crown? I can't wait to take away that smugness," Pinkie said, cackling to herself.

An overwhelming aura filled the room, and it was if I could hear their thoughts.

"We have a chance!"

Crap, now I really can't afford to lose.

"So, today's the day we finally topple number 1!" Prez's head peeked out from above me, and I quickly turned away to look at Pinkie.

"Hey, what's that for!?"

"Let's get going, shall we?" I asked as I got up from my seat. Yep, that's the best strategy. Don't look at them, always look at something else, or…

I spotted something on the cramped shelves I our clubroom, and I grinned to myself.

I pocketed it without anyone noticing by using my trick and nodded at the others.

"Come on, let's go already! The day isn't getting any younger!"

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"Um, Cae, where exactly did you find this place?"

The eight members of the Hidden club, besides Caelus, were all staring up at the location of the arcade, and shocked would be an understatement of our reaction of the place.

"I used to come here when I was younger, why do you ask Prez?"

The place was called Battle Arena, and, as the name implied, it looked like an arena straight out of futuristic fighting game, complete with steel spikes, loud rock music, and let's not forget the people who look like they've been fighting all their lives.

"My question is how I never noticed it before," Lachesis said, looking up at the dark clouds in the sky.

It was rather close to our school, about a 30-minute walk towards the edge of the city, where suburbia ended and urban life began.

"Come on, I can't wait to blow off some steam in here," Caelus said happily as he practically skipped his way inside the building.

"I swear, this City has the weirdest places," Pinkie muttered, and we trailed behind him, finding the inside to have the same vibe as the outside.

I glanced around, admiring the oddity of the building, all while making sure I didn't bump into anyone that could kill me.

"Ah, let's play this game! We could have a tournament to see who's the best!"

"The best…" everyone muttered, and I felt a cold chill run down my back. Nope, I couldn't afford to lose today, not in the slightest.

"Alright, I say Hiro goes up first, and he'll fight Lachesis!" Caelus said, and Lachesis started to crack her knuckles in anticipation.

"I'm actually pretty good at fighting games if you could believe it," she said, and we both took our places. She chose a heavy character, and I chose a light swordsman, who was pretty to look at to boot.

"That's a pretty bad matchup for Hiro, isn't it?" Caelus said rather loudly, and I could feel their bad thoughts trying to permeate my being. Damn, do they really want to me to lose that badly?

We began to play, and I started rather awkwardly as I tried to get used to the controls. Because of that, I got absolutely wrecked in the first round, but I at least managed to damage her some.

"You're frighteningly good at this," I muttered, and she let out a wicked grin.

"I won't let you take this round!" The second round began, and I was putting up a decent fight, with us being even until we were both at half our hp.

"C'mon Lachesis, destroy him!" yelled out Pinkie.

"Yeah, show him who's boss!" Prez yelled out as well.

I really don't need the peanut gallery, I thought, as I slowly started to sweat. Damn, I really can't lose.

I managed to block her special move and countered with my own, and I could hear the groans in the background.

"You can still get it Lachesis!" Hera roared out.

"Anna believes in you as well!"

Even Anna was rooting for the other side!?

"Fine then, I'll just prove you all wrong!" I finished her off, and the second round was mine.

"What's up with your learning curve Hiro? You're learning so quickly it's almost ridiculous," Lachesis said, scowling.

"I have my pride on the line."

The third round began, and it was the toughest out of the past two. Soon, I was on the verge of losing when it happened.

"Y-you can do it Hiro!"

Depra! Depra was the sole one to cheer me on. I glanced at Lachesis and decided to take advantage of this moment.

"Well, it looks like your crush want's me to win. How does that make you feel?" I whispered to her.

"Wh-what the hell are you talking about!" She glared at me for a couple seconds too long, and I managed to win.

"Ugh, I lost…" Lachesis said, staring at the screen in shock.

Sorry, but I had no choice. I rested my hand on her shoulder before speaking.

"I'll still help with your romantic endeavors."

"Shut up already," she said meekly, and she shuffled away and sat a nearby bench.

The next rounds went as followed: Prez beat Heracles, Pinkie beat Anna, and Cae beat Depra.

Of course I'm forced to face her, I thought as I prepared my secret weapon.

"Hey, are you seriously going to play like that!?"

I was wearing a blindfold and got ready as I chose my character.

"You know, you've been acting kinda funny since you came back. You won't look me, Caelus, or Heracles in the eye! What happened?"

"Let's play already," I said as the round was just about to begin. Even though I couldn't see her face, I already knew she was pouting in the cute way she always did.

It was a lot harder, playing this game while blindfolded. I lost the first round as I could barely see, but the second round I decided to use my trick.

"Huh!? How did he get that good! And he's blindfolded even!" Prez exclaimed.

I managed to win the second round, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Just gotta do it one more time, and then it can come off.

"Hey, you aren't cheating, are you!?" Prez asked, and I could feel body heat as she got dangerously close to me.

"Keep it up and you'll lose," I said, playing off her question.

"Huh!? Hey, you started without me!"

I ended up winning, and I took off my blindfold in relief. Good, odds are that Caelus will win the next round, so I can at least deal with him.

I took a seat next to Lachesis, who was still depressed from the round I played with her and looked up at the ceiling.

"This is a lot harder than I thought," I murmured to myself, and I watched Caelus mop the floor against Pinkie, with her not even able to win a round against him.

"All right Caelus, beat him for us!" Prez screamed out, and similar screams were echoed out from the other six, except for Depra, who was watching quietly.

"So, are you really bad at fighting games," Caelus asked as we chose our characters.

"Yep, I don't play 'em all too much. I'm more of a rpg guy."

"I see, so you won't mind if I beat you then?"

"Like hell you will. I've got my pride to think about."

The first round went to Cae, as I expected. I knew I wasn't going to win the first round, so I decided to analyze his playing style to try to find any weakness.

"I see, so that's it then," I said, chuckling to myself before letting out a hearty laugh.

"What's so funny?" Caelus asked, I could see he was starting to get unnerved.

"I found your weakness," I said, an evil grin on my face. I couldn't help but laugh, it was so obvious.

"Wha-what are you talking about?" He asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"It's so obvious, and so easy to take advantage of, that I'm surprised that no one else could see it!" The round started, and I took advantage of his confusion and won the round.

"Ugh, what the hell is going on here," Caelus muttered as the third round was about to start.

"If you can't figure it out soon, you'll never beat me. Not in a million years," I said as we began to fight.

I could see him frantically trying to overcome whatever weakness he had, and it was at that point that victory was assured.

"WINNER!!" The screen exclaimed, and Caelus's face looked shocked as he fell onto his knees.

"… Can you tell me what weakness I had?"

I looked down at him and couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny huh!? I mean it, what weakness did I have! I could've sworn I had covered them all, so what was it!?"

Everyone else in the club also wanted to know as well, and I shrugged. I guess it wouldn't do any harm.

"Honestly, you had no weakness', gaming wise I mean. Honestly, it should've been impossible from the start."

"Then how-!"

"I was simply implementing psychological warfare," I said, and everyone had a blank expression on their face.

"I just made you think you had a weakness, and while your brain was constantly trying to find a weakness you didn't have, your playing got worse enough for me to win. It's as simple as that."

"I-I see…" He said, and he started to laugh too. "So, it was my complete and utter defeat then. Man, you really played me good."

I offered him a hand, and he accepted it as I lifted him up.

"And one more thing," I added on, as everyone was leaving, and Caelus tilted his head in confusion.

"Yeah, what's up?"

My head was down, but I slowly managed to bring it up to his eye level, and as I stared at into his blue eyes, I finally said the words I wanted to say to him.

"Sorry, for forgetting I mean."

His eyes grew wide, and his mouth dropped open as he soon covered his mouth with his hand.

"No problem. It really has been a while, huh-" he finished the sentence as he said not my nickname, but my actual name.

"And for the record, he doesn't remember yet either," Caelus added on, a big grin on his face.

How long he was waiting for us to remember, I have no clue. But it all worked out in the end, when about one year later the last person in our group of three remembered at last.

And that was one person down, with two more to go.

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"Seriously, why won't he look us in the eye Hera!"

I could hear Prez complaining on a nearby swing to Heracles, who was patiently listening to her rant. I was sitting on merry go round, in a nearby playground.

The sun was setting over the horizon, and we decided to come here after the winner of the tournament (me) was forced to buy them ice cream. We had stayed in that place for so long that we managed to lose track of time.

I was holding a teddy bear that I got from a crane game I had played blindfolded (I spent the rest of my time in that place blindfolded as Prez tried to sneak attack me at every chance she got), and was planning on giving it to my sister.

I heard the merry go round squeak, and Lachesis sat down next to me, a rare occurrence indeed.

We both watched the other six goof around, and after a couple minutes of silence, she began to speak.

"You've changed."

I tensed up and quickly relaxed before trying to brush off her statement. "Oh please, as if I would change that quickly."

"You're right, it seems improbable, but it really is the case. After all, you're a lot nicer to us now. And don't say you aren't, it's very noticeable."

I finally looked her way, and she was watching Depra make sandcastles along with Pinkie. "So, what's it to you?"

"You're an enigma. I can't read you, and it's rather frustrating at times. I have to wonder if it has to do with that necklace you covet so much."

"I'm pretty simple actually. I like what most guys my age would like, along with a couple of other hobbies."

She sighed. "Not what I meant."

A couple more minutes of silence, before she spoke again.

"Hey, can I trust Depra to you?"

Huh? I looked at her in shock, and she had a somber expression on her face as she continued to look at Depra, who had managed to topple the castle he had built.

"He's yours, not mine. No matter how much I joke, I was being serious about helping you."

"It would never work," she muttered.

"Regardless of it would work or not, you still have to try, right?"

"Just as you have things you won't tell us; I have things I can't tell you. Maybe one day, but not right now. It's still too early."

"That's bullshit and you know it."

"Oh really, then would you explain to me why you were gone for almost a week. You weren't sick, we know that much. Better yet, tell me what happened between you and the Prez, because there's most definitely something there."

I grit my teeth as the memories came rushing back, and I started to dig my nails into my palm as I clenched my hands.

"I can't tell you everything," and right as Lachesis was about to counter me, I forcefully continued.

"While I can't tell you everything, I will say, I did something that wasn't very easy, not in a long shot."

"What might that be?"

I let out a small smile as I looked at her. "I visited my mother's grave for the first time, that's what."

She finally averted her gaze away from Depra, and a look of shock arose on her face.

"Yep, my mother died when I was five, so almost ten years ago. Let's just say I went through some awful remembrance the weekend before last."

"But, what about Prez?"

"What about me?"

A sudden voice interrupted our conversation and I leapt away so fast that I couldn't keep my balance and fell on my b.u.t.t.

"Again? Maybe something did happen between me and Hiro," she muttered, and she turned away from me, which I was happy about, because if she saw me, she would see how bright red my face was.

"Oh, I see," Lachesis murmured as she helped me up. "That's your problem."

"I'm going home now," I said, brushing myself off. "I'll see you guys later."

"Eh, you're leaving already!?" Depra exclaimed.

"Yep, have a cute sister waiting for me at home!" I waved goodbye before running away into an alley, where I called Raijin.

"Speaking of home, I feel as if I'm forgetting something," I muttered to myself as we took off in the air.

And about five minutes later, we had arrived at home, where I sent Raijin off to hunt.

I fished out my key from my backpack and opened the door.

"I'm home."

"Big bro!"

Luna? I was suddenly tackled with a hug, and I looked down to see Luna scampering behind me.

"Why is she back already!?"

"Who are you talking about?" I asked, but I soon got my answer.

"Hello there! It's been a while, hasn't it!?" I turned towards the voice, and I remembered the thing I had forgotten.

"Your favorite stepmom is back in the house!"

As I've said twice before, it was going to be a long day.