Chapter 162: Deep Talks

Chapter 162: Deep Talks

~Third POV~

[Honno City, One-Star District]

Mash managing to carry her back home began to place her on the couch. Panting and groaning in pain she spoke in a thankful tone, "Thanks… for bailing me out of there… Mash."

He smirked as he began to examine her for any injuries getting the medical first aid box in a calm tone, "No problem. Sides I kinda warned you to be careful with the guy. He completely leveled up."

She snorted as she flinched being treated by the one-sided smackdown as she spoke in a determined tone, "Damn it, that guy was tough! Guess the Elite Four aren't just for show! But I can't run from this. I gotta find out who killed my dad soon."

Admiring her determination he placed a hand over her shoulder, causing her to look up as he spoke in a confident tone, "You're determined, that's good. But don't lose your way until you get answers, Ryuko. Besides someone got to look out for you to save your ass. That's what friends do."

She blushed a bit as her heart beat a bit faster from his words she replied looking down with her hair shadowing her face but a noticeable blush present, "Thanks, that's really kind of you…"

Seeing he made her mood better he stood up patting her head reaffirming her in a calm tone looking up at him, "No probs Gear Eyes. Heh, because God forbid you to need the help with the number of times your ass gets kicked that needed saving in so many ways girl. I gotta run to the groceries to resupply I'll be back later."

Leaving to collect more medical supplies and everyday items she growls at him fuming alone but soon calms down as she mutters to herself, "Why you son of a – sigh… God damn it, that asshole's making this difficult… it's so hard not to fall for an asshole like him…"

She could only grumble at this, but a small smile did escape through her lips. Seeing it could take a while she decided to iron Senketsu after the close call they had as he moaned in a delighted tone, "Aaah… This is the best. Don't forget to iron under the lapels. Hmm… yeah, that's the spot."

Ryuko smirked at her greedy Kamui in a friendly tone as she cleaned her sailor uniform, "You're such a spoiled piece of clothing, Senketsu. But we did have a close call so a bit of relaxation is much needed."

Senketsu agreed as he pondered an idea out loud in a curious tone, "Hmm…. Hey, Ryuko. What do you think Mash?"

At the sudden questioning, she blushed immediately as she replied a bit too quickly in an embarrassed tone, "W-What kind of question is that?!"

Senketsu urges her to continue using a specific line of questioning in a curious tone, "I mean, what kind of person do you think he is?"

Ryuko replied instantly with a deadpan expression, "An idiot."

Senketsu urged Ryuko to be serious as she relented in a genuine honest tone sighing out loud as she said, "Fine. He's a good guy to have around. He's also the only boy that's stayed this close to me for so long. Usually, by this point, I would have beaten him up or he would have run away. Why ask Senketsu?"

Curious about her friend's sudden interest in her other friend Senketsu spoke in his usual stoic tone his opinion of the boy, "I am not calling Mash a bad person, I already know he's a good friend and is fun to hang around. But I don't REALLY know him."

Ryuko tilted her head confused muttering out loud in a confused tone, "Know him?"

Senketsu soon began to explain what he meant from his point of view in a calm tone gazing at her with one eye, "Mako wears her emotions on her sleeve, Mash however is just a complete mystery. Remember when he jumped in while you were fighting Satsuki? When I saw him fight her, I thought we would lose a friend that day. I was genuinely shocked when I saw him go toe to toe with Satsuki with relative ease."

Ryuko nodded, crossing her arms and agreeing with Senketsu's line of reasoning in a curious tone, "Yeah… now that you mention it his crazy strong. Like stupidly strong it might be because of his own uniform perhaps?"

However, Senketsu shot down that idea as he continued explaining in a curious tone pointing out the mohawk menace, "True but not likely. I had believed he was wearing a Goku Uniform or Kamui since he lives in the One-Star District. But after living with the boy and searching his closet no such thing, my theories flew out the window. But the other thing came during the time we fought that pervert mohawk."

Ryuko recoils slightly from the experience with Senketsu continuing to point out a fact they overlooked at the time in a stoic tone, "Whoever that mohawk pervert was managed to keep his stand against us even transformed. I saw what happened after you were unconscious with Mash instantly defeating him in one blow with his weapon. You know the cross around his neck into a gun or hammer?"

Ryuko paused to consider Senketsu's words as she agreed she spoke calmly, "Huh. That's right. I tried asking but he just said it was Magic. Bullshit. But what are you trying to say, Senketsu?"

Senketsu replied with a sigh escaping from him in a neutral tone one eye closed, "I just wish I knew more about him."

Ryuko sighs at the same time agreeing with her partner's words in a defeated tone, "Yeah, me too…"

Sensing Ryuko's sadness Senketsu teased the poor teenager in a stoic tone wiggling his eye scarf, "… maybe you can even find out if he likes you back."

This seemed to have caught her off guard as she stuttered her face turning red in an embarrassed tone, "W-W-What's that supposed to mean?!"

Embarrassed Senketsu continued teasing the poor teen detecting changes in her heart in a calm tone, "I can tell you like him, your heart slightly jumps when you talk to him. Especially calling your name."

Ryuko blushes as she yells angrily at her Kamui throwing a tiny tantrum in an embarrassed tone, "BUTT OUT OF PRIVATE STUFF LIKE THAT!!!!"

/////

[Later, Honnouji Academy]

Mash had returned to the academy and entered the tower with no small amount of effort casually taking his time after ensuring Ryuko was taken care of. He soon came by the door to the room in which Satsuki drank her tea.

He took a deep breath and exhaled as he talked to himself in a neutral tone with his eyes closed, "Sigh… let's get this over with already."

Opening the door he scanned the room to see Sanageyama in front of him as he spoke in a bit surprised tone albeit startled, "Bastion… why did you interfere earlier?"

Seeing that Sanageyama was about to exit he indulged in the teen's curiosity in a neutral tone facing him, "Many reasons but you can't tell a guy to look good saving a cute girl in need from a would-be attacker now? Besides that, Gear Eyes seemed to have gotten an inflated ego defeating you the first time. In many ways, I can see this for her to take her time getting stronger seriously for the time comes being humbled by you so thanks for that."

Sanageyama took a few seconds to process his words before curtly nodding his head in an understanding tone, "I see… you are shrewder in your means of using me to help Matoi in the process. You are more powerful and intelligent than Matoi."

He chuckled at the praise as he rolled his eyes responding in a neutral tone to the kendo warrior, "Tell me something I don't know mongrel. But as much as I hate to admit it, you've improved keep that up. Now if you excuse me, I got to talk with your lady."

Sanageyama walked past Mash and went to leave but stopped before speaking in a neutral tone arm crossed, "Hmph. I said I would challenge you, and I will, but Bastion later. Just don't lose your way till then."

Soon Sanageyama left as Mash smirked and turned towards the person he came to talk to in a calm tone as she sipped her tea, "You and I need to talk, Eyebrows."

Satsuki was calmly sipping tea, waiting for her 'guest'. She didn't have to wait long as he revealed himself to her as she spoke in a calm tone, "Bastion, it is good you came. This conversation was long overdue."

He nodded his head agreeing with what she said in a calm tone shrugging his shoulders as he sighed out loud, "Sigh… so… what did you want to talk about?"

Satsuki felt compelled to immediately ask his objective in her school in a serious tone, "Who do you work for?"

Mash replied in a neutral tone as their gazes were locked to one another as he shrugged his shoulders, "Myself."

Satsuki's eyes narrowed as Mash had separate goals of his own from Ryuko judging by their interaction as she spoke in a blunt tone, "What is your role in my Academy or with Ryuko Matoi?"

Being asked this question he paused briefly that didn't escape her notice. Taking a few seconds he finally gave his answer in a neutral tone, "Hmm… that's a bit of an odd question what my role is. If I had to say it was a role, I was forced upon in your academy not by choice mind you. As for Gear Eyes… I'm not sure…"

Analyzing his expression Satsuki's eyes narrowed as he truly didn't know how to feel for Ryuko Matoi with a distant and concerned glint in his eyes. But she returned to the question the previous time they had before they were rudely interrupted in a serious tone, "I suppose I won't pry much of your relationship with Matoi. But what was it you were trying to say before we were rudely interrupted."

He could only sigh as he spoke in a calm tone but there were glints of annoyance in his eyes as he explained, "Sigh… as I was trying to say the last time… No. It would probably be too much to explain given the limited time. To begin with, let's start small. Do you think humanity is alone in this universe?"

Satsuki narrowed her eyes seeing him purposefully avoid the direct question as she played along in a stoic tone, "The idea that we are alone in the universe seems to me completely implausible and arrogant, considering the number of planets and stars that we know exist, it's extremely unlikely that we are the only form of evolved life."

Mash nodded agreeing with her words following along as he continued explaining in a neutral tone with his arms crossed, "You would be correct. Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe, or we are not. Both are equally terrifying prospects to consider especially the Life Fiber proven this fact."

Satsuki's eyes narrowed further but didn't respond as he continued explaining in a neutral tone, "But we're straying off topic. Now imagine this. You know that humanity isn't alone. There may be aliens in our Milky Way galaxy, and there are billions of other galaxies. The probability is almost certain that there is life somewhere in space…"

Casually taking steps Satsuki soon spoke in a cautious tone eyeing Mash with a different light wariness in her eyes, "… then you plan to tell me you're someone not from Earth? An alien like the Life Fibers?"

This answer made Mash laugh at the idea as he spoke in a casual tone looking down on the academy through the window, "Ahaha… if only that was the truth. But sadly, yes and no in your answer. I'm 100% human. It's just I'm not from this part of the universe nor reality for that matter."

Proving his point, he bit his thumb drawing blood and showing his red crimson color proving his point as she made her answer in a shocked tone, "Then are you someone not naturally born in this universe? Then who exactly are you…"

Pausing briefly Mash spoke the obvious as he began to leave feeling this information was enough for Satsuki to have for the moment in a neutral tone, "There's not a single shred of evidence for the multiverse. If to explain this universe, you need a theory that invents an infinite number of parallel universes - that's not a very good theory I'll admit but that'll be all for now. Will talk more later."

Leaving through the door Satsuki returned to her seat her hand placed over her forehead sighed gazing at the leaving figure back in a stern tone, "Sigh… his answer is vague. You're not going to tell me what I want, are you? Hence the vague words. There's no telling if what he says is true or false in the end. But know I Satsuki Kiryuin will uncover what I want to know and mold you to my right hand against her…"