(GS3) Field: Destroyed Shopping District

[Jello]

"That'll be all sir, thank you again..." Haruka had just got off of the phone with a carpenter to get his walls and floors fixed up. The total cost nearly broke his bank and he was almost in tears once more.

He decided the shopping district was a good idea. Ice cream was always a good time for Haruka. However it seems Sera said he has a stomach ache. Haruka doesn't know how Sera can even feel Haruka's stomach when he isn't in control, and Haruka himself doesn't have even have the faintest feeling in his tummy that reminds him of pain.

"You're getting on my nerves again."

"What'd I do this time? I even congratulated you last night!"

"Not you."

What? My abdomen is in pain.

"It can't be. You don't even have a real body."

Haruka was having a three-way conversation with Vortimer and Seraphim. Funnily enough, they can actually hear each other. Must be a side-effect of both being in his head.

"Well, Sir Sera. How is it in there? Inside a host you cannot control?"

I can control him plenty. I choose not to.

"Hoh...?" Haruka cringed at the thought that the right to control his own body could even be stripped from him.

Walking up to the ice cream shop, he notices the normal clerk isn't there today. Instead some young girl was working there, probably a little younger than Haruka in fact.

"Haiii, can I help you?"

Haruka pointed to the sea-salt ice cream treat he always bought. The girl kept trying to make conversation but the only thing on Haruka's mind was the night before. Yukino seemed to shine in the moonlight that evening, and everything about her was what Haruka had needed for a long time. Somebody to watch his back, and be there to tell him he was wrong when he couldn't see what was right. If only she could deal with Sera in particular. That might just be a problem Haruka himself must deal with, considering Sera's tendency to just take the reins.

It was difficult to keep a straight face on when he thought about her. He often started daydreaming really hard at this point.

"Sir...?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah, thanks." Haruka takes the bag of sweets and ice cream and walks out of the shop. With no particular destination in mind, Haruka sits down at a bench in front of the Star Gate themed coffee-shop and started his first treat.

[Hope]

Hana sent a text to Haruka:

"Hey I have a favor to ask of you. ~ <3 BELLA"

[Jello]

"Hmm... this tastes kinda funny.."

Haruka takes a couple more bites of his ice cream before he realizes his phone is buzzing.

A text message? Oh, it's from Hana.

Haruka reads the text twice, just to make sure he saw it right. A favor?

"Whatcha need? -haru"

[Grimm]

Noah stirs some sugar into his coffee, when he notices someone sitting outside of the coffee shop he is currently situated in.

"That person seems rather peculiar." Noah thinks to himself while he sips on his cup of coffee.

[Hope]

Hana had just finished cooking an egg and texted in reply:

"I think after yesterday's success I can ask you. I think even with the War of Liberation having just started my sister still isn't ready to perform her duties as Chosen Sword. I was thinking of using one of the houses in the residential area that the family owns and having you guys just stay there to relax for two days or so. Like a get away or vacation time. I'll inform Ezel and Garmore to stop bothering her about the war also and just let her focus on getting better. I think it may be best that she spends time with you in order to just forget what her duties are and just be happy as a regular person. I'll cover all the expenses. Are you up for it?  ~ <3 BELLA"

[Jello]

Haruka stared at the text once more. This time, a slight red shade covered his face.

"Have Yukino stay with me somewhere in the residential area? uh, i'm totally fine with that, sure. is yukino tho? -haru"

He really wanted to spend more time with Yukino, for sure. The problem is, he didn't want to smother the poor girl. Not only that, but she has a large sense of pride. Was this really going to help her?

He hit send and found himself taking him and his bag of treats into the coffee shop. He started craving his black cup of energy after the scent wafted out of the store.

[Grimm]

Noah organized his deck on the table in front of him.

"Maybe my starting vanguard or trigger lineup should change...." Noah thought to himself while casually taking another sip of coffee.

[Hope]

"She should be. She told me she's crushed by the weight of being the Chosen Sword. My mom usually says that when she needs a vacation."

[Jello]

"rite then. just message me the details and the address and ill be there later."

After hitting send again, he takes a quick glance around the room. Haruka has an insecurity problem and certain shady people throw him off. He instinctively would hide from them if he felt the need to. But he saw no such people here, so instead he bought a cup of coffee and sat in the far back corner.

You seem vigorous, Haruka. Did something happen? Are you having a heart attack?

"Yes and no. I'll explain later." Haruka is genuinely surprised Sera doesn't know why Haruka is suddenly so excited.

[Grimm]

Noah puts his deck back in his deckbox and finishes his coffee, then leaves the coffee shop.

[Cherry]

Yukino wound up aimlessly wandering around the entire day while coming up with plans with Ezel and Garmore for the war. For some reason, the two ceased talking about it. An irritated queen had to argue with them over getting more info out, as they told her they were ordered to say no more on the matter. While the wolf intended to keep his mouth shut, the lion went ahead and continued on. He still spared no detail as her guardian.

The queen's mind began trailing off in the middle of the explanation and strategies, however. A text was sent to her beloved.

"Hey, where are you? I wanna see you."

Might've been a bit blunt instead of a cute yearning to see his face.

[Jello]

Sip. Sip.

This was Haruka's first attempt at coffee with milk. Normally he always just had it plain because adding stuff felt arbitrary. For once though, he did a half and half mix.

Sip. Gulp.

This is actually... really good. I might have to try this more often. He looked up from his cup to check his phone. Probably Hana with details as to where he and Yukino would be staying.

"Hoh...?" Turns out it was Yukino herself. She was looking for him. This made him grin a little, kind of delighted.

"at the coffee shop near the ice cream parlor. have you talked to hana today? -haru"

[Cherry]

Oh, she had passed the coffee shop awhile back. The queen began to backtrack.

"On my way. Haven't seen Hana today since I left the house early, and I've been talking with Ezel all day. How was your day though?"

[Jello]

"Another cup please? Thank you." Haruka ordered himself another cup of coffee, experimenting a bit more with what he liked.

Oh, a text. That was fast.

"hmm, i see. well i have news for when you get here then. also its been pretty good. sera isnt the worst guy ever anymore -haru"

Haruka hit send without realizing that he never actually explained who Sera, the Seraphim, really was to Yukino. He had just said he hated the name, and never really brought it up after that point with her. He felt as though it was sort of a depressing topic altogether and nothing she wanted to hear about.

"Well that's gonna be awkward."

Sip. Sip. Gulp.

This is so gooooooood.

[Cherry]

Entering the coffee shop without thinking was not the best course of action. The heavy aroma of caffeine still made her feel nauseous, how could Haruka stand this stuff all the time? Holding back on puking, she quickly spotted the caffeine addict. Approaching him, Yukino affectionately embraced him from behind. "Good to see you, cutie", she greeted, quickly easing into their relationship. Sitting down next to him, she quickly got to prying into the first topic: "So... Sera?"