"Emergency only? So you will be around much more?" Nata happily asked, enjoying the dinner.
"That's what Edith told me. But honestly, I have never been vacation-kind of a guy." Hiroshi admitted, clearly unsure how to process the new free-time he has on the list.
"Pretty obvious." Olivia noted, which took Hiroshi by surprise "What do you mean 'Obvious'?"
"You barely do anything." as she added, reminding that only time he has really spent the calm evenings were in front of the television.
"Well, that's just... you see." Hiroshi tried to stammer out a reason for it, but honestly, he never felt much comfortable on going outside.
"So why don't we head into the city, then!" Nata excitedly got up from the table at the prospect
"I mean, it isn't a bad idea." Hiroshi noted, but wasn't so sure on the plan.
"Then it's settled." Olivia confirmed, as she happily smiled while kicking her feet.
He was unsure how to feel about the prospect, but seeing the girls were more than happy to go out to explore, he couldn't help but crack a light smile. "Fine, I guess tomorrow we will go see the city."
As both girls gave a light cheer at the prospect, they also got shoved onto the spotlight, as he made it so they could spend the current free-time to consider what to do on this expedition.
Thursday morning, usually pretty busy day for him, but now it was next level awkward.
"So, you decided to go on a date, then?" Edith noted, seeing Hiroshi arrive with Nata blushing a storm and Olivia was giving light concerned looks while wondering what she could have planned for their expedition. He could feel heavy judgement aimed at him, enough to compete against Kat's gaze.
"Well, less of a date but more of a expedition."
"It is an date." Nata said with a light huff. "a date for her" Hiroshi repeated with tired sigh on her advances.
"I am more of a couch potato when it comes to breaks, and since I won't be busting my legs every day onwards, they wanted to go see the city." Hiroshi explained, and fitting as all three haven't seen the city in proper.
"I-I see." Edith muttered, giving even more judgmental glare, which Hiroshi couldn't help giving cold sweat to.
"And, I hope to keep you to the promise." Hiroshi continued. "You know, the one you told me at the hospital."
Edith quickly tried to go through her memory bank what she said back then, but completely had forgotten, making her drop her judgment and with lukewarm smile, apologized for troubling them, as she calmly went on her way.
"What was that about?" Nata asked in mild confusion, as Hiroshi just shrugged it off.
As they went to gathering hall to help Olivia study, Edith tried to wrack her brain on what promise she had made, before remembering finally. 'post-pone our date', she remembered, and to her surprise Hiroshi remembered it as well, but she was thankful to remember, as it eased her mind for future.
Upon finding proper seating and clean table, Hiroshi and Nata went about helping Olivia. Her having already picked up on some words, but difficulties on many others.
"You are really skilled at this." Hiroshi complemented her on the progress, as he gave headpats, which made her fluster a lot.
"I know four languages, reading is another." Olivia huffed from her shyness with proudness, surprising the two.
"English makes one." Nata noted, "And you most likely know spanish, coming from Cálajara." Hiroshi informed Nata in case she didn't know.
"French and Italian." she added. "Born French, Father Italian."
The answer left the two surprised, and as Olivia guessed would be next question, which after some contemplation, decided to explain. "When mother died, father tried to get work at Cálajara as he had money problems, but couldn't support both of us fast enough, so he gave me to tamers. Not many enjoy moths, and I was lost for home long time. and since everyone busy at tamers there, I got neglected in study." she explained, which brought down the mood in the group.
"Well, you have home now." Nata excitedly tried to bring up the mood, with Hiroshi joining. "And I promise we will take good care of you." as he confidently crossed his arms.
"Thanks." Olivia muttered out, hiding her blush in the mane, as she returned to her studying, going through some first and second grade books
As hours ticked on by, and even with company, it was starting to tire and bore all of them, before eventually 13:00 hit, letting them finally free from study time.
"God, reminds me of school, and why I didn't like it." As hiroshi got up and stretched his body. Only to get surprised as Nata was already hopping excitedly, ready to head out, and Olivia wasn't much further behind her.
"So, what did you girls plan?" He decided to ask, as he followed their lead.
"Mine will be first, a good and proper date." Nata declared with a cheer. "And I enjoy the park a lot, It would be nice time."
Hiroshi could feel a light dread come onto him, but seeing he put it onto them, he couldn't really deny the proposition. "Sure."
Olivia got slightly shy, as it was clear they had planned this through, but she was still unsure on her own side. "Karaoke... and baked goods."
"alright, that sounds good enough for me." Hiroshi noted, as he made sure the spot they were using was clean, before following their lead.
He couldn't help but smile to see Nata happily dashing in front, as Olivia seemed to be cheering up to be with them.
His attention slowly drifted, as he could note that her wings seemed to start to look more proper than crumbled paper, but he couldn't help but note how weirdly folded they were, expecting it being much more like butterfly, but seemed much more likely to blanket her back, reminding it being more similar to Sophia's wings.
"By the way, Olivia. How are the wings feelings?" He decided to ask, and with curious look from her, and mild attempt at looking at her own wings. "good?"
"Then while we enjoy park, why don't you try training them? Just folding and flapping. Nurse recommended that after all." He reminded her, as she just gave nod in response.
With current plan's laid down. Hiroshi had easy time showing the girls quickest way to the park, and to put it simply, Nata was literally starting to vibrate by how much energy was packed in that small frame of hers, as Olivia wasn't that confident in such unsecure place, but couldn't also deny the natural beauty it held, with all kind of ecology, showing Finland's beauty in a small scale.
While Nata dashed along the paths, leaving Hiroshi and Olivia behind, he brought her to the park's center, and leaving her rest by some of the benches. And before leaving her, with quick grab on passing by Nata's shirt collar, he took out the old phone she was keeping and gave it to Olivia. "Just call if trouble arrives."
He released Nata that just excitedly returned to run around, clearly spending her energy plenty, but seems it has barely put a dent to her for now, as he proceeded to follow, leaving the moth on her own.
Taking in the sights calmly, Hiroshi couldn't help but note how uncontrollable Nata really is when he just lets her be. so trying to think up something, he got reminded that she was still an dog at heart. 'I guess it wouldn't hurt trying.'
Searching for a little moment, he found unique enough of a stick he things she couldn't confuse it for another, and just couple wags of it already got Nata in front of him with excited smile, with tail wagging hard. 'Welp. Here goes nothing.' as making sure the forest was clear enough, with a full strenght throw, it flew into the woods, with Nata chasing after it without even second thought.
But as Nata came with the stick with cheer, Hiroshi couldn't feel an ache of something being wrong, and passersby silently judging them didn't help. 'So, she is still wild. Unable to control her instincts.' he thought, staring at the cheerful girl in front of him. 'That smile... is it real?' he contemplated, almost like finding an layer of horror behind this happy scene.
"Nata..." He said, which seemed to knock her back to reality, as the tail wagging slowed down. "Don't fetch the stick." said with commanding tone, as she quickly realized his stare was of concern. "I... I understand." Nata said, and nodding to affirm it.
With another slight shake of the stick, he went and threw it, and as he's fears were placed right, he could note how conflicted Nata was, both looking where he threw the stick, getting her excitement up, only for her to pull her vision away back to Hiroshi to calm down, but that inner desire still keeping holdon her, shortly returning her gaze to the woods, before her needing to fight to look at him again.
He moved to hold her hand, which quickly got her attentions. As she was still confused on what he was getting at.
"I want to ask you again." He got serious this time, and looking straight into her eyes. "Do you want to go on a date with me?" as he tried to find clues in her face.
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"Yes. For a while now, at least." She admitted, being more calm, and he could tell she didn't get any sudden changes, so pulling his stare away from her. "Why don't we enjoy a calm walk, then?"
Before she could respond, he gently pulled her along on a slow pace, taking her sightseeing the park's forest. He could take note his grip on her hand calmed her, but her natural urges still were trying to bubble up just doing something simple as a walk.
Deciding to take breaks when she seemed to get most pent up between her urge, he decided to take her to the woods, checking and introducing her to the plants that were found there.
As he explained, he could note her real curiosity was coming up, and having fun as he explained stuff. And as they continued their walk, Nata had much more ease with her urges slowly.
"So, how do you know so much about plants?" she asked, not a smile on her, but it eased his mind as it was. "Oh, when I was a kid, I always liked plant-life. Just knowing the very thing that keeps us alive, and the thing we walk upon is alive without concept of who we are... it is just a weird thought, that I can't help but smile at." he admitted, "And before I got sent to vocational school in a hurry, I was considering to become a botanist. But I doubt every dream comes true."
"I understand." Nata spoke up, as Hiroshi got surprised on her opening up. "I wanted to become a farmer just like how my father was. The life felt so busy, while being so calm." she continued, almost choking on her words, but Hiroshi was quick to comfort her with pat on the head.
"If you want, at end of the month, we could get some planters and get something like carrots and green onions to grow." he said with a promising smile.
He took note as she seemed about to cry, and as he was about to go hug her, she brushed her tears away. "I... I would love that. Thank you." as she gave that shining smile he saw long time ago, on the day he took her in. "yeah, no problem" he said in exhale, as he backed away and kept it to patting her head, before continuing their walk.
"jeez, you look more exhausted than us." Hiroshi noted, as they had returned to Olivia after an half a hour walk. She was panting and sweating on the bench, very much not making good look to passersby. "Training... hard" she said, clearly a struggle for her.
"well, you wanted karaoke, so at least you wont need much exercise for that." Nata noted, which Olivia was partly grateful with.
Now with the girls being more calm and taking a seat on the bench, Hiroshi used a map on the phone to hopefully find an karaoke place, and to his surprise, there seemed to be one, a small distance from the park... and as they arrived by it, he could note it was one of the nightclubs he saw during night patrol.
'Double-sided business, I guess.' he thought, and as they entered, it was very much stuffy place, with a young male clerk by an messy counter, about half-asleep on his work.
"Welcome, here to rent a room? Hour is 15 euros. Extra commodities cost extra 10." he said, barely lifting his gaze. The group felt too uncomfortable to speak, as Hiroshi paid for the hour. They got handed keys. "Room number 7." the clerk noted, before hazing back into his half-asleep world.
Deciding not to stick too long at the front, they went to the room, and to their delight, it felt at least comfortable to stay at.
Before the girls could get down and sit, Hiroshi quickly asked them to wait, as he quickly made sure to check every nook and cranny for possible trash, or possible cameras just in case. And after short clearing, he let the confused girls in.
Taking a seat, and Hiroshi tried to familiarize himself with the technology before him, Nata decided to ask Olivia, "Never expected you to be into music. So, what genre you exactly like?"
"I listened to others play music at station... my favorite?" and after some thinking, she calmly stated. "Heavy metal."
"You sure are an mixed bag." Nata noted with light awkwardness. "I do enjoy metal, but I am more Alternative." hiroshi added to the conversation, as he slowly figured out the box and mics.
Leaving the air for Nata to give her answer... she got slightly flustered and shy. "Actually, I have barely listened to music. Mostly just heard it in shows and movies."
"Well, we have full hour, so we can try finding your favorite genre while at it." Hiroshi noted with a mild smile, as both girls were more than happy to explore the selection.
To both of their surprise, Olivia was excellent singer, even with deep and raspy voice hitting the bars, but they rather wanted to avoid her losing her voice, so Hiroshi made most picks for her. And Hiroshi couldn't help but admit to himself, but seeing her so excited and happy compared to the day they first met, it pulled a string in his heart.
Before Olivia got too much spotlight, Nata got pushy and made hiroshi sing. Clearly adept at best, but he still tried his best, and song selection was something more calming in comparison, with a catchy tap.
Then lastly Nata explored her options, and while others felt so foreign for her, she comforted to rock as the others, before settling in more indie-side of things.
As time seemed to fly by, the room was full of laughs and cheerful smiles, and to Hiroshi's surprise, he felt surprisingly light in their moment, almost like it was an secure place outside of home, but it couldn't last long, as he noted their time was coming up.
Leaving the establishment, seems the clerk had already succumbed to the awaiting slumber, so he left the keys by the counter as their next destination called.
With the mood high, and everything seeming to go better than expected, they finally came arriving at a small street-side bakery.
While Nata and Olivia were curious in appearances and what were on sale, they got surprised as the clerk and Hiroshi seemed to know each other.
"Heippa Hiro, mit?se tahot?" the clerk behind the desk noted, which took girls by surprise, and unsure what to say as they didn't understand him.
"Ukko, mukava n?hd? sinut. Parille yst?v?lle jotain hyv??, toivottavasti." Hiroshi responded with jokish tone. while the girl's attention slowly turned to the display, full of all kind of sweets and baked goods, unlike in the cafe, these were full on proper treats, made in-house.
As clerk and Hiroshi chatted on, Olivia gave a small cough while Nata pulled Hiroshi's arm with an huff.
"Right, sorry. Meet Ukko, my old school friend." as the clerk gave a wave to them, appearance being much more pointed and sharp compared to Hiroshi, aside the cultural appearance differences.
with mild finnish accent, he greeted them. "So, what's the story between you three? I hope Hiro is treating you right, he can get pretty guarded at wrong times." Ukko asked with a smirk, as Hiroshi just gave a awkward chuckle.
"We are his fosters!" Nata happily claimed, seeming to return to her dog-act, while Olivia nodded, before continuing "And enjoying a free day." as she gave a small blush, which she tried to hide, and giving a way different context on things to Hiroshi's dismay.
"Well look at that, I guess your misfortune did really turn around and given you a chance." Ukko happily exclaimed, clearly teasing Hiroshi as he was left flustered.
"But seeing you two... Don't tell me, are you married to someone already!?" Ukko exclaimed quickly, and at the same speed Hiroshi shouted back "NOT AT ALL!"
"I mean... I did go on a date with spokesperson for Tamers, and after a lot, I joined their forces, and seems they give you unlimited foster limit as an employee." he proceeded to explained than leaving him hanging with questions in the air, which Ukko nodded to.
"Ah, yeah, you never were good at denying people's requests, especially if they were girls." he muttered out loud, which left Hiroshi's inner mind screaming.
"Misfortune?" Olivia asked, as Nata was quick to come in asking. "I mean, he has been unlucky at times, but he was even more unlucky?"
"Oh, you girl's don't know? Hiroshi here was legend among our school, he couldn't go anywhere without having something bad happening to him. You'd think someone was trying to kill him by how many insane events went down all because Hiroshi was at the wrong place at a wrong time." Ukko went on to explain, as Hiroshi felt like he could scream for him spreading words about his past like it was nothing.
"Weird." Both girls commented, but seems they didn't contemplate it too much either, before returning to pastry lurking.
"Anyways, we have plenty of fresh patches. Feel free to order plenty." Ukko mentioned, and before they knew it, they were leaving with entire bag full of different kind of baked goods. "well, lucky to know a place with a discount to friends." Hiroshi muttered, as he was happy to leave with minimal dent to already limited funds
On the walk home, Olivia was carrying the bag of goods, as Nata kept to her thoughts, before shortly looking at Hiroshi. "Surely you aren't misfortunate, after all you got us."
"Yeah, I am lucky with you two." Hiroshi said in return, but he didn't feel right lying to her like that. He knew things weren't lucky at all, his senses were flaring up, misfortune was about to strike.
Hearing the cars pass by, people and monsters walking and chatting, stores and services sprawling the building line, and a tiny snap. With hurry he pulled the girls that were slowly taking the lead back. And before they could question what he was doing, one of the business signs fell down, smashing right where they would have been if Hiroshi didn't stop and bring them back.
As the girls were left in shock, He sensed it wasn't over, as the sign's destruction reached to the street, and in hurry he pulled the girls to nearby alley, as semi-truck swerved to avoid the chaos, only to end up crashing some distance from them.
He could feel slightly calm, before things flared up again, as to everyone's shock, with some chaos coming within the load, only to come bursting with monsters.
Horse monsters to be specific, while demi and were variants were able to control themself, a pack of centaur fled from inside, with ear and eye covering, most likely to ease their travel, shocking all passersby and including the trio that took shelter in the alleyway.
"Wait here." Hiroshi commanded as the girls fearfully looked as he tried to approach and calm the centaur's as part of his work, but before anyone knew it, they went off like a stampede, and as he tried to stop it, he took note as one of the centaurs instinctively took grip of his hand, leaving him to be dragged by her side as they went on the run across the streets, as passersby were left to watch in horror on how things quickly turned into chaos.
Legs scraping the asphalt , he tried to quickly get grip on the centaur pulling him along before he lost his shoes, but it was hard with oncoming traffic making them jerk from side to side, giving him hard time to get control, but at least giving him enough air to breath away from getting asphalt burns.
With couple attempts, he was able to reach with his free hand on top of their back, and with a hard pull, he got his leg up and over, letting him carefully release the grip centaur had on him as he was properly mounted on them.
he quickly assessed the situation, as it slowly became clear the centaurs were following one in the lead, relying on smell, touch and whatever sound that came through the cover. So taking careful moves, he stood on top of the one he was riding, and carefully tried to walk and hop between the centaurs to reach the front.
After couple hard turns that almost made him fall, he eventually got to the leading centaur and mounted on top of them. He could tell they weren't thinking straight, so negotiations wouldn't work too well and taking cover off could just cause it to make a wrong turn an make all of them crash, so with attempts to get some control, he took grip of the waist, and tugged it to the left, and to his surprise and delight, it worked flawlessly.
As he tried to process what to do next, he quickly realized and with quick check, he saw an tattoo on the same spot as Nata and Olivia, but this time being 'S', meaning they were going to be used for sports.
"Yasuda! What a coincidence." he heard, before looking up and seeing Kat flying above, having put on the tamers shirt, having come in with a hurry. "Can you control them?" she tried to confirm, as he quickly replied "Yes, lead the way if you have a plan."
With it, she flew ahead of the pack, he tried to follow her lead, turning corners as slowly more tamers and cops came onto the scene and helped to remove civilians out of the way, and after some time, he could note a giant wall of webs build between the buildings, and before he could react, Kat took grip of his shoulders with her talons and flew him up and above the net, as the centaurs got caught in the netting.
As there were couple spider were's and spiderkin nearby, with Tamers being happy that the plan worked, while civlian helpers getting credit for their work, as he was shortly brought to the ground with Kat landing little further away.
He couldn't help but collapse onto his hands and knees, trying to ease his racing heart and breath as he tried to lower the adrenaline.
"You did really well, Yasuda." Kat noted, as she approached him and gave slap on his back. "Thankfully the damage was minor"
Hiroshi just gave a light smile as but he couldn't get properly back on his feet before getting tackled by worried Nata.
Quickly trying to check, he saw Nata dig her face into his gut with tears on her face, as Olivia wasn't much behind, worried as well, but clearly controlling herself better.
"It's alright, I am fine." he tried to comfort Nata, but she was latched onto him tight, as Kat was just left to stare and wonder.
'Maybe Sophia was more right than I thought...' Kat thought, contemplating the possible implications 'But I have feeling this is start of some new trouble.' as she checked the centaurs, that were slowly being released from the netting and taking into custody by Tamers for interrogation and investigation.

