“Now speaking of your last fight, there’s something I’ve been wondering about for a while,” the host said into his microphone. He paused to take a sip of his beer. “There’s not a whole lotta info out there, so I’ll just ask the source. Deon and Skrili: what’s your story?”
There it was. They were over a half-hour into the discussion, so Deon had just started doubting he’d get his chance. This ‘podcast’ format felt quite loose compared to the interview they’d done after the beach shoot, even though the setup was basically the same: metallic cylinders called ‘mics’ before everyone’s faces, and cameras to capture every angle of the round table where they sat.
The podcaster had leaned most of his energy towards Kotono and Otogi, who sat closest and worked him like an instrument as they kept him wow-ing his way through the conversation. But finally, it was Deon’s time.
Finally, he could introduce all their newfound fans to the coolest duo in the League.
And maybe even do some good for the cause while he was at it.
“‘Cuz, I mean…‘The Skrili and Deon Ultimate Team Attack,’” the podcaster read off of a screen beside his mic. “Weird name, sure, but…wowza that packs a punch!”
“Thanks, man,” said Deon extra-coolly.
In the seat beside him, Skrili simply listened on.
“To debut that kind of move, especially with a rookie, in your second fight together…I mean, you guys shocked the Multiverse with that,” the podcaster remarked. “But if I remember right, the first time we saw the two of you together was back at the Fantasy Country Conscious Competition. Right? Those press photos at the Hotel of Champions?”
“She WASN’T drunk, by the way,” Kotono interjected, her mouth right against the mic and her eyes on a camera playfully. “Just healing. Got it, you guys?!”
Even after all this press work together, her liveliness kept catching Deon off-guard. He had to remind himself she was in publicity-mode–but apparently, she was using that power to set the record straight.
“Uh-oh, better go back and change those headlines. I wouldn’t mess with her!” the podcaster joked into the same camera. “Still, though–after those pics, Deon, everyone saw you as ‘the boyfriend.’ Now all the sudden you’re on the hottest Special Team together. Where did that chemistry come from? Obviously there’s some history.”
“You guessed it,” Deon revealed. “Our story actually goes way back, before the Hotel of Champions. Funny enough, it all started with a fight over some apples. Ha, remember that, Skrili?”
They’d laughed together about how they first met many times now, but this time, Skrili hardly replied. Maybe Deon’s much-practiced ‘publicity voice’ was throwing her off.
“Oooh, story time! Do tell, do tell!”
Deon readily humored the podcaster. He recited as much as he could of their origin tale: a faceoff for fruit, a thugs’ ambush, and how a resulting hunt for their rivals turned into a deep friendship while rekindling old friendships alike.
He found he needed to leave out or reword quite a few details to preserve Pang and Phillip’s reputations. After all, they did steal Skrili’s identity and commit other acts that would undoubtedly get them banned from the League–things he knew they’d undo if they could.
But thankfully, Deon had practiced.
His tale was precisely what he’d rehearsed over and over again in their travels, while waiting for Volona’s team to finish his makeup or while walking here and there. He’d daydreamt this scenario countless times over. Now, the Multiverse would learn how hard they worked and how strong they’d become.
And that was only the start. Just like Kotono and Hiroko had done, he could use this newfound platform to his advantage.
“Man, that’s bonkers,” remarked the now beer-buzzed podcaster. “Talk about twists and turns…and it’s still going.”
There. The foundation was laid, now Deon could take his shot.
“Yep…’cuz it all started with trying to find Pang,” he said, “and sadly, that’s what we’re trying to do again now.”
The liveliness in the set gave way to a stillness. Deon’s teammates stiffened around the table, their gazes downward to downplay their fiery ambition.
Though Deon had practiced this very line, that same energy crept up on him. His chest burned–he could suddenly hear Pang’s larger-than-life laugh echoing in his thoughts.
Deon gripped the mic and brought it against his mouth. “So: everyone out there,” he began, staring into one of the cameras. But its operator pointed to another one with a red light on the front, so he moved his gaze. “Everyone: keep your eyes peeled. And if you see anything, or know anything, tell–”
“Report it to the League,” came Otogi’s smooth interruption. “Absolutely, Deon. Our team funds the League’s investigation. So anything you can tell them helps us find our friend.”
The star consciousness nodded Deon’s way, and Deon returned the gesture–normally he’d be annoyed at such an interjection, but he realized it quickly: Otogi had just saved their butts.
Credo had made it clear their involvement in the rescue needed to appear limited to the funding. Though Proscious was more than suspicious now, thanks to the chase in Boston, Team Hiroko couldn’t simply show their hand to the whole Multiverse.
“It’s beautiful, really,” the podcaster gushed after reiterating the search for Pang to his audience. “I mean, you and Skrili started as two super different kids from two different middles-of-nowhere, and now you’re the hot new duo everyone’s talking about, doing great things like Hiroko would. You just seem so in-sync with each other, you know? Tied together like a knot.”
“Yep, that’s us! We’ll be a duo for life,” Deon assured. “But shout-out to Skip, our Legend Trainer. We wouldn’t be at this point without him.”
“For life, huh…?” pressed the podcaster. A gleam came to his eyes as he prepared to land the conversation where he’d apparently been heading it. “That begs me to ask what I think is on every fan’s mind…is it more than a press rumor that you two are, maybe, more than friends? Could there be…a secret relationship here–?”
Skrili stirred.
“No.”
A sword might as well have stabbed through Deon’s heart. Skrili didn’t hesitate, or even blink, as she shot it down. It was the first and only thing she’d said the whole interview.
Man, I know we can’t reveal that stuff or we get in trouble, he bemoaned to himself, but jeez, Skrili. That was a little TOO convincing!
He spotted Kotono eyeing the two of them for a moment, a fleeting frown of concern sneaking onto her face before recovering her pretense of bubbliness.
She even got Kotono with that, Deon noted.
Skrili returned to absently fiddling her fingers.
Okay, okay…she’s still mad. Maybe we can meet in the middle. Yeah–maybe I’ll cut her hair, but to a medium length…
“Oof! Welp, that’s bad news for the content farmers…but great news for all the single fans out there!” the podcaster teased. “Now Deon, you mentioned the legendary Skip. From what I’ve seen, it’s no surprise you two worked with that dude…”
Just as masterfully as Skrili had squashed the topic, the podcaster deflected to a backup discussion. After turning his focus towards Phillip for a bit, he returned to Kotono and Otogi for some final remarks about the team’s future.
With handshakes and thank you’s across the set, Deon found it was over well before he would’ve liked. His carefully-crafted origin story and his brief comments about Pang felt like a blip in the overarching experience.
But as he rose from his chair, he smiled to himself nonetheless. He successfully spread the word for Pang–and this was only one of countless more opportunities.
After all, they were stars: the whole Multiverse was watching them now, eager for their every utterance.
Doing the right thing has never felt so cool, he beamed.
Lammy stood just outside the studio door, waiting with the bodyguards while Team Hiroko filed out into the hallway. He shuffled his way into the group right before the wall of guards enshrouded them.
“How was it?” Lammy inquired.
“It was cool–”
“Wait, what?! Did I just hear you right?!”
“Yep. Alex Malachi. He just retired from the League. The headline’s right here.”
“Huh?!” Deon spat. He spun back towards the door, as did his teammates, but the bodyguards’ momentum kept them walking away. All they could see was a glimpse of the producer and host coming together.
“Don’t pack up yet! Get those cameras rolling again: bonus episode!”
The studio voices faded under a chorus of seagulls as the entourage reached the building’s main door and met the beach breeze.
“Dang…Alex quit the League?” Deon remarked. “No way…”
Otogi crossed his arms in thought. “Weird, even after Ving retired, I assumed he’d stick around,” he concurred. “Guy seemed like a lifer through-and-through.”
“H–he liked it so much,” added Kotono. “Watching him and Ving almost made me enjoy Conscious Competitions…”
She wandered off to take in the open air, so Phillip and Otogi did the same. The bodyguards had opened up, allowing the team more freedom along the brick patio behind the studio. Deon figured they must have been ahead of schedule; normally they’d be straight off to the next thing.
He stretched, noticing Skrili not far behind him and Lammy for once–it was purely circumstantial, though, since she’d been the last to leave the studio.
But he welcomed the coincidence nonetheless. This was the first time they’d been together (at least, without cameras involved) since before the ship had landed.
Stolen story; please report.
“Hey, isn’t that nuts?” Deon said to her. “Our guy Alex retiring?”
Skrili seemed preoccupied with something else, arms crossed and eyes scanning their perimeter. But she shrugged, entering the conversation.
“I knew it was coming,” she said. “And I think it makes sense.”
“Really?”
“Sure. His teammate didn’t want to do it anymore, and she’s his best friend,” Skrili reasoned. “Maybe that made him rethink what he really wanted.”
“Eh, maybe…but why would anyone give all of this up?” he doubted.
At last, Skrili’s distant eyes rose to his. They saw through him, holding captive his attention with that intensity he’d come to love. She was finally engaging with him again.
“Hey…if you were in Alex’s shoes…what would you do?” she asked.
“No idea, but I definitely wouldn’t quit. This is the dream!” came his immediate insistence. “I could never.”
Skrili smiled. “…I know you couldn’t.”
She stepped off to the side a bit. Deon half-expected her to distance herself again, but she simply stared out into the ocean in silence for a while.
“You know, you took some liberties telling our story in the podcast,” uttered Skrili.
Oh, I guess she actually was paying attention, then, Deon learned. “Yeah, but there’s a lotta stuff we probably shouldn’t say, right?”
“I mean the part about how we met,” she explained. “You didn’t mention how I whooped your butt.”
“Yeah, well…” Deon chuckled.
A breathy laugh escaped Skrili, as well. But her head lowered, her bangs hiding her eyes. She grew quiet once more.
Seemingly at the sight of laughter between them, Lammy reapproached the couple. Deon noticed him with a start–he didn’t even realize Lammy had dismissed himself in the first place.
How’d it go? Lammy’s expression communicated silently.
Again, Deon chuckled. Lammy had obviously slipped away to give them a chance to interact.
He’s taking this way too seriously. We’re just in a little fight. See? It’s already patching itself up.
Deon watched Skrili for a moment. She’d returned to analyzing the area yet again.
Well, I guess Lammy and Skrili are pretty important to each other now, too, he understood, his heart warming at the thought. Man: I’ve got the best girlfriend, the best cousin, the best job…I’ve really got it all, now.
That’s why we’ll save Pang. We’re unbreakable like this.
“Psst…h–hey guys…”
Kotono joined them, with the others close behind. By her whisper and closed shoulders, Deon had a decent guess for what was coming next.
What was their secretly-mischievous star fighter hoping to pull off this time?
“I checked what’s n–next on the itinerary…” she uttered, streaks of pale red energy falling from her in a demonstration of pure loathing.
“Yeah, just another video interview, right?” Deon had memorized.
She nodded, some more light shaking free. “Exactly. I can’t take it anymore…besides, there’s a s–super good smoothie place a couple islands over. Anyone wanna…play hookie with me?”
Deon melted a bit: Kotono initiated the idea herself, like she probably used to do with Hiroko. Clearly, after the team’s scooter adventures, they became the trusty new companions for her misadventures.
But while he patted himself on the back for that, Deon knew this time, he’d have to decline.
“I’d love to another time! I’m having too much fun with this,” he explained. “I mean, it’s another chance to get some new fans before the fight!”
Otogi snickered. “In that case, I’ll pass this time, too. Deon doesn’t know this next guy’s shtick yet. I wanna catch his reaction. I’ll go tonight if you have the time.”
Kotono remained smiling, but her light energy betrayed her as her hue shifted to a pale blue.
“I’m going,” said Skrili resolutely. She stepped away from Deon to approach her idol. “If…if it’s okay, I’ve been wanting to chat with you about some things…”
The blue around Kotono flipped straight to white and gold.
“Aw, of course it’s okay, Skrili! Yay, buddy date!”
Now standing beside Kotono, Skrili deflected Deon’s eyes. And despite having become a master in deciphering the differences between her various blank stares, this time, he realized he had no read on her.
Okay, I’m lost…is she mad at me or not?
Phillip crossed his arms in focus. “Then I’ll stay behind, too. My illusions can make it look like you never left, and I’ll be here to make sure they stay believable until your return. That way I don’t have to worry about someone doing something stupid to mess it up.”
“Hey! Otogi’s not supid,” Deon joked.
The dreary illusionist sighed.
Some of the bodyguards stirred. Their leader Fenn raised his hand to his ear, receiving a message. It was probably time to start moving soon.
He winked at Kotono to give his subtle approval: he’d cover for their antics once more.
Oh yeah…he can read our minds, recalled Deon.
Realizing their window was growing slim, Kotono quickly whispered her warmest ‘thank you’ to Phillip.
He nodded, and then nodded again to signal the illusion was intact.
Kotono took Skrili’s hand and led the way. Together, they headed away from the patio and bypassed the guards without a hitch. Only their teammates and Fenn observed their departure, as they must have become invisible to everyone else.
When Deon’s focus returned to the remaining group, he found replicas of Skrili and Kotono in the same spot.
“You’re a good dude, Phillip,” he commented.
“I owe those two my life,” Phillip said plainly. “Now as I warned, don’t do anything stupid.”
He began walking, which made Deon realize the bodyguards were beckoning them for their next obligation. A couple agency workers stood at the front.
“Alright guys, one more interview before lunch!” they called.
Lammy sighed as the bodyguards enveloped them again. “I wonder if we’ll actually get to see these islands at some point…”
“You could’ve tagged along with the ladies,” Deon pointed out.
His cousin’s face beat red as he shrugged.
“Come on, you can’t still be shy around girls after all this!” Deon snickered. “They love you out here. Your girlfriend is literally a queen!”
That only worsened his blush.
Otogi laughed, watching what was still visible of Skrili and Kotono as they ventured deeper into town. Kotono pointed all around, showing her the sights.
“A girl and her oshi,” Otogi beheld. “Skrili must be in heaven right now.”
“Yep. She acts like she doesn’t care about the League,” Deon said, “but she can tell me every little thing about Kotono’s career.”
“Yeah, Kotono: someone who hates being in the League. It makes perfect sense for her to be Skrili’s favorite, if you think about it,” Otogi pointed out. “You, though: you seem to be catching onto this lifestyle real fast. You’re loving this, aren’t you?”
Deon’s smile nearly glowed. “It’s…well, it’s everything I’ve always wanted.”
“Then let me give you some advice from an expert to a newbie, like I’m sure Kotono is doing for Skrili,” Otogi offered. “If you wanna make this your life, don’t let it get to your head.”
“Coming from the guy with a house in every Country…”
“That’s money stuff. I’m talking about the competition, the fame,” explained Otogi. “If you can handle that, you’ll have what it takes to be a lifer. Got it?”
He offered Deon his fist.
Deon bumped it with his own. “Yeah, of course I’ve got it.”
“Good. ‘Cuz the longer we can keep this Team Hiroko machine rolling, the better chance we have of saving your buddy,” concluded Otogi. “If this is who you are, then don’t let anything take it from you.”
~
Deon plopped backwards onto his bed. The usual soft glow of blues and greens flowed across the ceiling, his room in a preprogrammed hush for its “sleep mode.”
While he could hardly get enough of all the new environments, and especially the ocean waves, there was some comfort in returning here each night. He was glad the team could sleep in the ship, reemerging recharged for the beautiful frenzy of their career each day.
He let out a long, satisfied sigh.
What a day. That was the most press stuff we’ve ever done at once, Deon reflected. I’m getting good at this.
Each and every host, photographer, and business person seemed to love him.
But none of these industry people adored him as much as Mr. Inoue. Over a gourmet taco dinner by the beach, the team owner reinforced the same sentiment Otogi had expressed: Deon was a natural.
In fact, he was so enamored with Deon’s enthusiasm, he largely forgot to interact with his own daughter–which was lucky, considering Kotono wasn’t even there.
Deon raised his head from the mattress to check the door: still, no sign of Skrili.
Huh. Good thing Phil’s a solid Illusionist, he remarked. How many smoothies are those two drinking?
His TeamTrack pinned her location not far, on the outskirts of this series of islands surrounding Honest Stadium. At least he didn’t have to fear for her safety.
If something went down, we’d hear Kotono’s energy from here, he knew.
Deon lay his head back down and yawned. It seemed he’d have to hear how it went in the morning, as his eyes were already drifting shut.
But then with a soft beep, the door slid open.
Skrili slipped in with naturally silent steps.
A few groggy blinks pulled Deon back to the waking world. He couldn’t help but grin as his eyes followed Skrili’s form to the kitchen area. She placed a single shopping bag on the counter.
“You have fun with your best buddy?”
He expected to elicit a blush from her, but couldn’t see it. Maybe it was just the mellow lighting.
“...Yeah.”
She paused, before leaving the kitchen to quietly take off her shoes and untie her hair.
“You know, Skrili, I’ve been thinking about that haircut,” Deon shared. “Hear me out: what if I cut your hair, but like, to a medium length? I think that would still work with like, our overall team look, and they probably wouldn’t have to redo your merch and stuff…”
He thought his compromise was going okay enough, but he trailed off when Skrili breathed out a single, sudden laugh. She wore the same smile she’d given him after the podcast–that new, strange smile.
“You don’t get it,” she practically whispered, as if talking to herself. “I don’t really expect you to, though. It’s okay.”
She brushed past the bed and acquired some night clothes from the luminescent dresser.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Skrili came to a pensive stop at the end of the bed. “The haircut is a ritual. It’s a part of me nobody can change,” she tried to explain. “Like…what the League has become for you. It’s in your nature. It’s how you see things, how you need to do things–because it’s who you are. Nobody should…try to change that about you.”
Steadily, she resumed her quiet walk.
“It’s okay, Deon. I’m not mad about the haircut.”
Those words would’ve eased Deon’s mind days ago, but they did quite the opposite. Skrili was walking away from the bed: she obviously planned to sleep on the couch again tonight.
“Wait, what’s wrong? If you’re not mad about the haircut anymore, then why are you still mad at me?” questioned Deon.
She stopped once again.
“I’m not mad at you, it’s alright,” she uttered. “I just…I really wish I could be.”
Her purple eyes studied him for a moment.
“You look really sleepy. You should get some rest,” she suggested.
“Uh…alright. We’re cool, though?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure, Skrili?”
“I’m sure,” she whispered.
That soft smile returned.
“Goodnight…dummy.”
~
Deon’s eyes drifted open.
No alarm? his slurring mind still noticed. Did Skrili forget to set it?
He sat up with a stretch. “Hey, looks like we’re gonna be late…”
No reply came. When his recovering vision fell on the couch, it was vacant.
Oh, she’s already up. That’s a surprise.
But he couldn’t hear the shower running. Nothing was heating up in the kitchen, either.
“Uh…Skrili?”
Her shoes weren’t by the door. Her bag wasn’t resting by the nightstand.
Deon shuffled his way to the side of the bed. “Skril–”
He froze.
Skrili’s drawers to the dresser were left open, and they were all completely empty.
Deon sprung to his feet. He scanned all around.
Nothing…? Everything’s gone?
No: he quickly found two traces of her left. One was the small shopping bag, still in the same place on the kitchen counter.
But the other one pierced him with the final wound.
Like an offering, Skrili had placed her TeamTrack neatly at the edge of their bed. And it was switched off.