Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Shoka smiled at the EleStra cutscene Nagi had sent her and replied with a heart-shaped fireworks sticker.

After such beautiful words of encouragement from the one and only Lord Tomonami himself, victory was assured!

Not that Shoka believed it was necessary. Knowing that her friend cheered her on simply gave today the great start it deserved.

One last time, she used her phone as a mirror. That watershine eyeshadow surpassed Shoka's expectations. Subtle enough to seem natural, but an absolute jawdropper in sunlight.

Would Rindo even notice the small changes? He should, once they stepped into Melody Emergency. The real killer move hid under her cherished Mr. Mew hoodie.

Either way, Shoka didn't need anyone to tell her what she already knew. She was quite the catch. True to form, getting ahold of her was far from easy. Even for someone she treasured as much as Rindo.

Keeping him on his toes made him look cuter than she dared to admit. She could see him from afar, comparing his position to the newest photo she had sent him.

Had Shoka bumped into someone else and moved out of the crowd?

Did she expect him to show up from the opposite side?

Was he taking too long for her liking?

Rindo carefully observed his surroundings. He scoured the whole plaza for her. From the water chime clock to Claritea's and back to a kaleidoscopic tunnel, acting as the blacklight center’s entrance.

Once the tension showed in his movements, Shoka delivered him from his worries.

"There you are!" Rindo concluded, as two soft hands blocked his sight. "Just where was I supposed to be?"

Faster than he could turn around, Shoka took him into her arms: "Right here, you dum-dum!"

Good grief, did she start strong! Rindo's surprised gasp was music to her ears.

"So ... is that it?" he reassured himself, adjusting a strap of his mask. "Is this what I'll have to get used to?"

"Nah. That was only a stretch. Mandatory stuff," she kept teasing him. "Make it past the door and the claws come out for real!"

Smirking, she tilted her head and leaned forward.

"Just so y'know. In case you've got second thoughts and all," his shoulders tightened at Shoka's singsong. “That’s your cue! Follow your internal screams all the way home."

"Not a chance!" Rindo objected. "There's no way I'll miss out on something you've been hyping up for two weeks!"

"Famous last words ... Well, then. Prepare to have your mind blown!" she mimicked an explosion with a wide gesture of her hands.

The second they stepped inside, Rindo knew that Shoka wasn't kidding.

He had kept up with her daily countdown through status updates, but no highlight reel could do justice to the experience that was Melody Emergency. This blacklight center wasn't flavor of the month, but rather of the decade.

Behind those massive, white doors lay what felt like an unburdened stroll through the galaxy.

For once, keeping his eyes on his feet was a good thing. Rindo saw tiny sparks cast off in every step they took.

Stardust.

Uncountable particles of stardust, marking and uniting the paths of all the customers who had been lucky enough to secure a ticket for today. Amidst azure blue and violet lights, their exploration created a milky way galaxy of their own.

Slowly looking upwards, Rindo froze in place at the ethereal sight in front of him.

"What's the matter?" Shoka asked him, cocking her head. "Cat got your tongue?"

The cat had made a grasp for his heart and seemed to toss it from paw to paw, like its favorite toy.

Feeling his jaw drop, the boy could see more stars fall to his feet. They fell gently into the glowing cluster beneath them. Right from the illuminated frills of Shoka's petticoat. Every single time she moved. It seemed like she had just emerged from the space trail herself, its particles still sparkling above her eyes.

Now it clicked. She had changed something about her usual look, after all!

He had been too focused on her shenanigans to notice. That and he never would've dared to size her up. Especially on their very first date. That would've been Shoka's mine of teasing gems, 'til the stars came out above Shibuya.

She'd swept him off his feet. She loved to see a reaction that surpassed her own expectations. Otherwise, she wouldn't whirl around in front of him, waiting for him to answer.

"More like being spoilt for choice," Rindo admitted. "How about this ... You know this place like the back of your hand, don't you?"

"All the must-sees and hidden gems," she smirked.

"Right. What do you think of taking turns, then?" he suggested, offering his hand. "There must be plenty of things you'd love to do, given how much you wanted to meet here. I can still add a wish or two, once we've made sure of that."

An offer she didn't have to think over for a second. Putting her hand in his, Shoka was ready to become the Melody Emergency guide anyone dreamed of: "Rindo Kanade ... This date's gonna light up your face for a lifetime!"

Rindo had no doubts about that. Upon closer inspection, this place left nothing to be desired.

One could spot several, colorful spheres in between the galactic trails. They came into view through huge, circular glass tiles, inmidst the motion-responsive floor. What first looked like far away planets turned out to be the tables of the restaurant downstairs.

Tiny robots with cat ears and expressive screen faces rolled from one group of customers to another. They helped the waiters take orders, cleaned the floors, and carried dirty dishes back to the kitchen in their glowing shelf tummies. Once you could afford an entire soccer team of Menyans, as these adorable assistants were called, people knew you planned to run an award-winning business.

Speaking of winning, Melody Emergency was very considerate of its prize hunters, too. The front arch belonged to the claw machine enthusiasts. All those who made it their mission to free the entire cast of their favorite animes and games from a disco beats-blasting prison.

They were right next to the video booths, where successful players and cosplayers got to reenact both their favorite scenes and fill the glaring content gaps of their beloved franchise with their own efforts. At the end of a day, they took a three-minute episode home in their email account, whenever photos would not suffice.

The heart of the blacklight center belonged to the dancers. Whoever didn't feel like being bound to the rules of V0IICE or Presto Riot met here.

Much like the rings of Saturn, different topics spread around this lively core. All the ones who wouldn't battle it out on the dancefloor, chose their arena in timeless video games or settled the score by shooting hoops or sending pucks flying into each other's goal. People who preferred a larger team effort joined forces in the laser tag arena of Warrior's Dance or headed for the bowling hall on the ground floor.

In the outermost ring of the building lay a blacklight minigolf course, presenting the current highlights of Japan’s music industry in immersive, interactive screen walls and challenging obstacles alike. It thus became the namesake of the entire establishment.

The further Shoka led him into it, the more Rindo understood why they had to secure their tickets weeks in advance.

She pressed his hand eventually and stopped in front of a racing simulator: "Oh, hel-lo! If it isn't my home turf! Think you can handle the absolute madness of Comet Chivalry 2, Rin-Rin?"

At first glance, the challenge seemed easy to master. The unknown could become your home in seconds with reliable friends by your side. Rindo was sure of it, while he recognized the characters on screen. This team racer was a popular spinoff of Pfadacht Voyager 2, one of his favorite RPGs.

How could a race track possibly do justice to all his favorite locations? And how would the different character classes spice up the gameplay - if at all? His curiosity could've shushed his nervousness. Hadn't it been for their potential opponents, yelling over the music.

"Have you seen those guys taking the wheel?" Rindo thought. "Clone warrior looks. An entire tube of hair gel at work. Rehearsed tremors on the buttons. You better believe they make that game their part-time job. Go ahead. Ask me to do a backflip into a shark tank, while we're at it! I'm sure they'll be just as delightful to hang with!"

His inner torment aside, her boyfriend replied: "Yeah. Sure."

The unpleasantries began the second they took their seats. A red-haired girl in the group wrinkled her nose at Shoka, way before her fingers touched the steering wheel.

"Eyo? Ya ain't part of the elite?"

Completely unbothered, Shoka discussed the offered characters with her partner. She had no time to spare for the nuisance to the far right. Unless she wanted to return to the UG by dying of laughter. That chick's fierce bop was not as intimidating as she'd hoped it to be. Especially with those gigantic hoop earrings that budgies could have swung on.

"Hello! She said something!" A tubby boy exhorted her.

At last, Shoka feigned surprise: "Ah, geez ... Cultural knowledge gap, I'm afraid ..."

She flashed the gang a toothy smirk, then turned back to Rindo.

"Where I'm from, we don't talk to duds. It ain’t our fault. Once their IQ drops below room temperature, they just …” The brunette shrugged. “Poof! Turn invisible!"

She'd roused the whole bunch against her within seconds.

"Still did my research, though!" Shoka added insult to injury. "Quite a few teams 'round here have big mouths, but nothing to show for it. Hmm ... Their names're on the tip of my tongue ..."

Rindo enjoyed it. Every single second of it. Despite that, he didn't dare to move a muscle. Cap'n pompadour - the guy he'd been worried about from the start - looked like he’d pop a vein at the first sign of laughter. That pseudo delinquent gritted his teeth harder with each of Shoka's remarks.

"The Blow Hards? The Sunday Drivers?" she went on, tapping her pointer against her chin. "Nah. Not recognizing anyone. Didn't even get a mercy seat with the blandest bunch."

"Quite brazen for someone who never logged in, aren't we?" their boss leaned in uncomfortably close. "Get past us or get lost! No one paid for your garbage attitude!"

"Likewise, Greasington. If your goons know even less 'bout driving than basic manners, this is gonna be embarrassing ... for you,'' Shoka concluded, without so much as looking at him. She got ready to encourage Rindo, instead, only to see that her boyfriend was ready to roll.

Shoka knew that look. The way his eyes lit up and his smile softened, each time he was sure to be in control of the unknown. While his partner had been busy stirring up the gang, Rindo had put his trust in a racer by the name of Anastacia.

No matter how closely she looked at her, Shoka could not recall ever having seen her on the track.

Ever.

It surprised her, given how striking her appearance was. Had spring shown itself in human form, Anastacia would've been it. Golden snakes adorned her rose-colored kimono. Despite her dark eyes and antelope features, she seemed uncannily human to Shoka. Even after she saw a gigantic albino python emerge from her sleeves and rest on Anastacia's shoulders.

"Really? He's one of those guys? Yuckers!" the most ear-drilling groan rose from the disgusted mob.

What now? What was the big deal with Rindo's choice?

"Can't lock someone up for having excellent taste!" Shoka defended him. "Also ... yuckers? Seriously?"

The brunette cocked a brow.

"What kind of lousy senior home did you break out of?"

"Cocky and clueless!" the unpleasant lad, who Shoka had dubbed "Greasington", let out an exaggerated sigh. "The best kind of mix. Fine. I'll let you in on something. No need to thank me."

He pointed at Anastacia, then at Rindo.

"Whoever plays CCR 2, for ... f-for their overrated, pweciouslavenderwaifu," Greasington mumbled, gagging at the words he could hardly utter. "Ain’t a true fan! They don't deserve to play our games and they sure as hell don't deserve to be here!"

The gang backed him up with ardent nodding.

"I can tell you here and now, he can't even name the game these characters are really from!" he bumped his elbow into Shoka's side. "Real talk, I would run, if I were you!"

"Let's see how well you can run that pert mug of yours, once I run you over!" Rindo raised his voice.

A clear announcement, which struck and startled them like lightning - and made Shoka bite her lip.

“Damn, Rindo”, she thought, only to find the next obstacle ahead of her.

Now of all times, Shoka couldn’t rely on Plume. The fluffy Persian Scottish Fold, who was also a highly gifted archer and pyrotechnician, had already been claimed by that pompous slime bolt.

Marvellous.

It was then when Shoka's eyes widened at a familiar feeling. Right in the middle of her right shoulder. Two fingers, gently pressing against it. Two more, curved and barely noticeable, in nothing but a little tap.

There was no point in turning around. No one had queued behind their seats this whole time.

And yet, without a doubt, she could feel it. A little push, encouraging her to look closer at who beckoned her over on her screen.

It all came back to her, the second their eyes met ... but could she do her justice? Could she just take her hand and take to the skies - like he used to do it?

The world belonged to the brave ones.

Thus, Shoka joined forces with Calypso, a free spirit with the largest coral reef afro known to all.

In a world of brutes and heavy machinery, she was fragile and easy to catapult off the ground. Most people, however, didn't know that's exactly what made Calypso beautiful.

The moon rose above Jona Temple. It slowly opened its golden gates for the two teams, dead set on making the loser regret all of their life choices.

What looked like a horrifying attempt to mash craters into the machine on the right, was met with a calm and curious sightseeing tour on the left.

Rindo paid no mind to the roaring gang whatsoever. He was far too busy taking in every detail the course had to offer.

After tight corners around the zen gardens, crystal clear ponds framed the track.

He slowed down, almost tipping over the cornerstones, in order to see what water lilies and kois were supposed to hide.

"Just as I thought," Rindo smiled to himself. "This really is no quick cash grab! They know what they're doing."

Reversing as quickly as possible, he continued to follow his opponents. They were far too busy riling each other up. It almost felt like him and Shoka blurred into the scenery for them.

So far, so good.

Shadows of adversity enveloped their ruthless feud. The clashing of swords and charging silhouettes let Rindo relive fond memories. Memories of a journey for liberation to these holy halls.

Once shot out of the temple, the racers had to make it to the top of Mount Conscientia. Easier said and done with the track falling apart beneath their wheels.

Nothing but lava awaited those who couldn't outspeed the ground cracking wide open, much like the lies this kingdom had once been built upon.

Enormous caves awaited them close to the mountain's top. They were filled with gems and other riches as far as the eye could see. Remains of thieves - even friends - which once found their demise in an old civilization's traps, stuck out of the glimmering treasure waves.

They soon were lost beneath the rubble, as Rindo watched his surroundings collapse. On the road to safety, his suspicions prove true.

There was no doubt about it. This adrenaline rush was meant to turn their eyes away from something crucial. A trump card hiding in the shadows. Revealed in the faint drippling sound of water, almost drowned out by the shower of boulders around them.

The latter even followed them outside the cave. On the lap's final stretch, Rindo was forced to find his way through a landslide.

"I wouldn't put it past them to ... Yep," the grip around his steering wheel tightened. "They really went there. Sadistic as always."

He hoped it wasn't true, but he had to make sure. A quick item toss later, Rindo knew that the boulders' trajectory could be changed and used to his advantage.

The developers' attention to detail had been remarkable. Rindo made a mental note to praise it online later. So much of what he held dear about the world they'd entered was exactly where it was supposed to be ... but could the same be said for his favorite character? There was only one way to find out.

Certain to have cracked the code, Rindo believed he knew everything he needed to win, soon catching up to the others.

What now came into view was Shoka having the worst race of her life. Under constant fire from those who ganged up on her, she hardly had time to recover.

That she was stuck with a fragile character - taking her sweet time to accelerate after each hit - didn't help, either.

"All snacked up on your lemons, kitty?" Greasington asked her, firing a second rocket to throw her off the map. "Cuz I've never seen a puss that sour!"

Shoka would have loved to rip him to shreds here and there. However, she refused to give him what he wanted.

She hated being humiliated with her own main. She hated not having a wacky mantis shrimp by her side, keeping the competition off her tail with his inventions. She hated how much she hoped for Kabukumo’s shields to rise and change the track for the better.

Even though she knew. She knew they never came back.

"Got a two-in-one bundle from the same trash can, didn't you?" Rindo asked their unpleasant opponent.

Time seemed to slow down for Shoka. If only for a moment, as Rindo's character was sent flying over hers.

What was that gleam in his eye?

For someone who now slept with the kois, he sure seemed thrilled.

"Your disses are even worse than your hot takes!" the blonde continued, not leaving the course out of his sight for a second.

Even Greasington's pretentious grimace couldn't break his focus: " ... Huh? Since when did you get here?"

A question he soon regretted asking. Much to his dismay, Rindo chose to stick to him like wax.

No scream nor item was powerful enough to get him out of Greasington's line of fire. He couldn't reach Shoka. No matter how much he wanted to obliterate her.

"This ain't Nutkin Party, ya mask nibbler!" the choleric roared. "Unlucky Stars aren't part of the game!"

"Exactly…" Shoka pondered. "So why does Rindo make a bolt for every trap?"

She didn't have the time to grasp Rindo's methods. What he gave her, however, was a chance to unleash Calypso's full potential.

That was more than enough to ask for.

It didn't take much to save her honor. All she had to do was make up for an entire lap of distance between her and that self-centered pest.

Yeah. No pressure whatsoever.

Shoka searched for the closest rail in reach. Failure here would lead them from smoke to smother through their entire date. She couldn't let that happen.

Even though she silently cursed herself for picking a character so fundamentally different. Calypso truly shined as an aerial racer. The more rails she got to grind, the more she picked up speed.

While this opened up incredible shortcuts no one else had access to, her light-weight class made her an absolute nightmare of a character to master.

The game made sure to remind Shoka of that each time she stacked up grinding combos. The only thing louder than the laughing mob was the beat of her own heart.

The path less taken guided her through the blossoming crowns of trees, right to the temple's watchtowers. Pushing herself off one gong after another, she had no time to predict what came next. All she could do was trust her gut.

Shoka felt like she was imagining it. It seemed far too convenient to believe it. And yet, something - or someone - seemed to reach out to her, as she kept grinding across the edge of the temple's roof.

Something glimmered in between the clouds. Waving gently in the wind, like a copper-colored hand.

It encouraged her to reach for it.

It must have.

She didn't have the time to weigh it up. This familiar hope let her body take action all by itself.

"Rise the blues and bring the burn, lunge out both ways twice and turn!" Shoka screamed, risking it all.

Using the roof as her ramp, she launched Calypso into the air, unleashing all her stored up boost power at once - and felt her jaw drop at the rewards.

"Yeah. No. There's no way this is legal!"

It was.

It was the most beautiful thing they could have hidden here. So beautiful that Rindo could feel his heart soar at something that made him feel uneasy otherwise.

The excited steps and muttering of crowds forming around them suited the thunderstorm traveling through the clouds.

Most people didn't know it was possible. Not even Shoka, after all these years.

The shortcut beneath the ponds was easy enough to navigate. Rindo could catch up without even looking at his screen.

He wouldn't miss this sight for the world.

The sight of enchanting awe, lighting up his girlfriend's eyes.

It happened right here.

A single moment, which convinced Shoka she had to be there. She had to be there when the story was written, unfolding from the first word to the last page.

She had to experience what would happen in the original game, for her to end up on an ancient dragon's back. Flying across the petal lands, as dying trees rose towards the sky in gold, darkened lakes lit up in the moonlight, and lava streams hardened into paths of crystal.

All around Mount Conscienta, the world was healing.

If only Rindo and Shoka knew that the view behind them was just as remarkable.

Their audience followed the surprising events with wide smiles and excited gasps. Several people whispered, hoping they could take another look at the fantastic sight they'd just missed.

All their hopes for that lay on Shoka. Especially now that she finished the second lap in a little more than half a minute.

It made Greasington's blood boil. He had to nip that pseudo-uprising in the bud.

The second he leaned forward, she knew. After all, it was her signature move ever since. From the day she made the king dance amidst her fireworks.

What she couldn't predict, however, was the ambush from the leader's shadow.

Rindo's chest tightened at the malevolence distorting their faces. A ruthless force he was ready to drive out with all the hits he'd taken.

Suddenly, horror spread at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. It echoed across the course, followed by a groundshaking wave of hissing and rattling.

"Gladiola Serpent!" was the name of the neon-pink, hydra-shaped demise Anastacia unleashed from her hand.

One after another, it devoured the mischievous bunch, launching Rindo's character past any victim in its path.

"Did you turn your brains off for the day?" Greasington shrieked. "Do something!"

"I ... can't do a thing. Like ... literally," his tubby friend muttered, mashing the buttons in despair. "My weapon’s gone and the pedal ... won't budge."

"Mine, too! That antler hag busted my kart!"

Rindo enjoyed their whining like a warm shower. He smiled to himself, finally seeing the remaining two racers on his horizon line. Those jokers wouldn't bother them for a while.

All that was left was to pick the problem by its root - but unfortunately, Greasington's clumsy herd gave him all the information he needed.

Slamming his horn button til it stuck, he roared: "You're not getting out alive! Not after makin' a fool outta me!"

Here it came. The familiar siren forced Shoka to think it over. There was no way she could pull off the dragon ride twice.

If she failed and fell, who knew where she'd end up? Let alone how quickly she could get past the recovering bunch?

She had no other choice but to boost for her life. The disastrous hissing closed in on her, with no hideout in sight.

Rindo wouldn't reach her pursuer in time. No matter how much speed he kept squeezing out of his tires.

The time had come. The time to turn the skies into her dancefloor.

"Here goes nothing," Shoka muttered to herself, the grand "Slam!" of the ace lever echoing in her head. "Crack the skies, High Tide Parade!"

Dead silence filled Shoka's ears. She didn't see Rindo's smile, shining brighter than any firework could. Nor did she see Greasington's face derail in anguish - amidst an ecstatic crowd of spectators.

Just like that, with nothing but sheer confidence, Shoka didn't manage to block - but parry - the rockets chasing her.

Every. Single. One.

Higher and higher, Calypso spun through the air, until she soared out of the cave. The landslide boulders turned into mere stepping stones under her command.

Undone by his own ambush, her pursuer could only watch the maw of Anastacia's serpent swallow him up.

Rindo couldn't pass up the opportunity to wave a gentle "Thank You!" signal, before passing him with a wink. He did deserve a calm stroll ride after taking out the entire competition.

Parking his kart backwards behind the finish line, he enjoyed the euphoric cheers of their audience.

"Bel et bien, une merveilleuse rivale!" ¹

Shoka jolted up at the sound of a familiar voice. There was no mistaking it. Gliding past the finish line, she heard him loud and clear.

Did her memory play tricks on her? He never had spoken about her like that ... had he? And yet, she could've sworn he had seen her follow in his footsteps.

Rindo gently patted her on the shoulder, before leaning over to the defeated racers. Greasington and his gang cowered before him.

"Not too shabby for someone who hasn't the slightest idea, huh?"

What could that masked monster possibly dig for in his coat pocket? They whimpered at the shocking revelation.

"Damn right," Rindo presented his phone screen, showing them his platinum trophy profile for Pfadacht Voyager 2. "I'm one of those guys."

One last glare sent them packing up and running out of Melody Emergency. Nothing but mumbled curses were left of the so-called elite club.

Their last members had hardly recovered from tripping over their own feet, when Shoka and Rindo saw people of all ages dash towards the drivers’ seats. They could hardly contain their excitement.

"Thank the stars! These jokers hogged those karts since they opened up!"

"Did you just see that?! I had no idea you could fly in that game!"

"Right? My besties and I have a weekend pass, but we never saw those two! Not when we show up, at least. I wanna give that snake lady a try. Is that her?"

"Yup! Anastacia!"

"Dude, you good with randomized tracks? There must be tons of shortcuts for airboard gal! No one ever told me about 'em!"

Seeing so many people enchanted by characters he loved was the best reward Rindo could ask for.

The further they walked into the blacklight center, the more it sank in. They let out a victory shout, leaping into each other's arms.

Shoka kissed Rindo faster than he could blink. That boy, who haunted any pretentious poser in their nightmares, was her partner. Blessed and armed with a true B.K.B. - a butt-kicking-bride.

"Aim for his heart on the racetrack: Check!" she smiled to herself, wondering what Rindo could possibly request in return.

Her confidence soon faded with disbelief, once she picked up another conversation in the crowd.

"What was the meaning of this? Are you putting another bee in her bonnet?"

"Nonsense. I would never!"

"He would never!" a heavy slap and sheepish cackling drowned out their conversation.

Once was a coincidence. Twice was a hint.

Trying her best to spot them, Shoka gripped Rindo's hand tighter. She could see it - but not believe it.

Them and her couldn't possibly be further apart. Yet here, of all places, only a few steps seemed to separate them.

Ink black hair. Heels that shimmered like veils of fog after heavy rain. Gracile in all movements, like a secretary bird.

"It ... It can't be.”

_______________________
Footnotes:

1. French: “Truly, a marvellous rival! return to text