A/N: Formed from my thoughts on Nogi Wakaba is a Hero, YuYuYui, my addiction to running away from work, my theories on Takashima Yuuna…'s sizes, and once in the blue moon reminder to write and edit something, so thanks chill blue night, and thanks everyone who's still reading this. Coffee ahoy!
It had taken a bit of time and a lot of effort to get Itsuki off Yuuna, but once the young blond started to lose interest in a simple glomp and proceeded to rub her cheeks against the other innocent girl's chest...
Tougou insisted.
Takashima, herself, had remained none the wiser, as she was simply happy that she could freely move both arms again. Using one to ruffle Itsuki's hair in return, she thought back to her own friends' antics while eating udon and felt somewhat relieved. Even well beyond her time, and the end of the world, heroes could still sit down and bond over food.
'Beyond my time…?'
'But the world hasn't ended yet…right…?'
'Right…It didn't end...the fighting didn't end…'
'Even though we all thought it was the last battle…'
'It wasn't.'
'…xxx…'
'We're still fighting.'
"Eh?" Yuuna let out.
"Is something the matter, Takashima-san?"
The last thought, while very much sounding like her own, sure wasn't. Had another one of Yuuki Yuuna's thoughts slipped through? That would at least explain why there was no interference. But the Hero Club in front of her had claimed that they were now retired.
That should have included the other Yuuna too…right?
Unless…the other Yuuna was also a lia- technical truth teller?
It was a long-winded theory, and didn't suit Takashima's personality in the slightest, but she decided to test this out in the simplest and most direct way possible. Even if it didn't work, it would at least give her something to divert Tougou's attention to, right?
"Um…more memories are popping up." She answered sheepishly. "And I don't really know how to phrase this any better, but by any chance is the other Yuuna really still…"
"…this flat?" It was rather strange how instinctive it was for Yuuna to completely divert the question. Made all the weirder, by how self-depreciating the first idea for an alternate prompt was. Yet that only served to confirm the theory.
'The other Yuuna is withholding something…'
…And no one else was the wiser…
Come to think of it, based on what Tougou said, that was probably the only method, the other Yuuna could use to even come close to keeping the others in the dark.
But that discovery could wait…because as of her two last words, Takashima Yuuna was also going to be fighting…
"Takashima-san…would you please elaborate?"
"Yuuna…but bigger…"
"Oh!? Tell me more! Were you also a megalopolis!? Or were you perhaps…the mythical U-Utopia!?"
"Yuuna-san…I looked up to you…"
Fighting a very uphill battle of trying to convince everyone else that her original body was supposedly "better" than this one. The small problem being how that wasn't true. If anything, her current body was virtually identical to her previous one. And if one didn't believe in themselves, how could they make miracles happen?
"Ah…" so in her infinite wisdom, Takashima thought, and realizing that she couldn't come up with a decent explanation, did the only thing she could to get away from this topic. "Hey look some flying udon!"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Ah! Yuuna-san!"
She physically ran away from the problem, and prayed to the good Shinju that by the time the rest of the Hero Club caught up to her they'd forget all about-
"Too slow! To think that you'd have the gall to believe you could beat a perfect hero like me in terms of speed! You still haven't even paid for that udon yet! And don't expect to weasel your way out of it with giving Tougou the usual puppy dog eyes."
"Yeah that's right! If Tougou pays for you, then she should pay for all of us!"
"…Um...Fuu-san…I never said I'd pay-"
Correction, she tried to physically run away from the problem, but while Takashima Yuuna was many things, she couldn't in good conscience let dining and dashing be one of them. Walking towards the counter, she tried to reach for her non-existent purse before realizing that she was wearing a sundress. Instead unclipping her outer jacket's pockets, with a last ounce of hope, what she saw next crushed it completely and caused her to apologize to the nice person at the counter before calmly going back to her seat.
'You've got to be kidding me! What kind of Yuuna goes out without a single yen on her person!?'
"If you're looking for the other Yuuna's wallet, she's standing right here." Motioning towards Tougou, Karin gave a rather satisfied grin.
"…Eh? She?"
"Yuuna-chan often misplaces her wallet, so she eventually gave up and often leaves her money with me for safe keeping."
"I see…then Tougou-san could I please get my…err…her wallet?"
"No."
"Tougou-san? Please?"
"This wallet belongs to Yuuki Yuuna-chan, and you're Takashima Yuuna-san, allowing you to use Yuuna-chan's money without her permission would be wrong of me as a friend."
'I mean I'm Yuuna-chan too you know…? And I can't really leave if I don't pay so…Will I have to work it off? I don't mind a bit of manual labor but that feels kind of embarrassing too…no ways around it then let's-'
Yet before Takashima could go up to the nice lady, tell the truth, and ask for some hard labor like washing the dishes, a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind. It was the rather firm hand of her one and only savior, Fuu.
"Tougou, you can't just leave Yuuna hanging, you promised you'd pay for all of us remember?"
"Fuu-sempai I don't recall making a promise of any sort…"
While Yuuna didn't really want to coerce money out of Tougou, this was technically Fuu's doing and…she wasn't about to stop the good will of the club president.
But the good will didn't stop there.
"I'm pretty- No I'm definitely sure you did," said Karin smugly. Yuuna noticed that her hand had been clenched in a fist the entire time, the tips of what appeared to be a crumpled, thousand yen, bill showing.
'But all of Karin-chan's bowls total one thousand, five hundred…ooh…if that's the case then as a good friend, I am completely justified for what I'm about to do…the finisher!'
"Pretty please, Tougou-san?"
"Yuuna-chan- I mean Takashima-san…"
Even if it had been a different person inside, outward appearances could still be worth something. Puppy dog eyes from the face of Yuuki Yuuna, the result was practically pre-conditioned.
"…Fine…"
"Yay! I love you Tougou-san!"
"…That…doesn't make me happy in the slightest…"
"Um…Tougou-san? You're a bit red, are you okay? Do you have a fever?"
"Leave her be Yuuna, a maiden's heart is a delicate thing when overcome with Girl Power! But more importantly, this is cause for celebration Tougou's treating!"
"Another bowl!"
"Same!"
Everyone started to happily order more, the prospect of a free meal serving as a distraction. From what Yuuna saw of Tougou's demeanor, how she didn't at all seem perturbed by the prospect of paying, and how Sonoko's house had been a mansion, she realized that maybe the girl in front of her was rather well off.
The others were too busy to notice Yuuna's observing gaze, as they ran to the front counter watching their new bowls of udon being prepared.
But regardless, Yuuna held her tongue.
Behind her, the only other person who remained at their table, being the one who wouldn't have wanted another bowl because it would have all come out of her pocket.
"Are you not going to order more yourself, Takashima-san?" Tougou asked in a whisper.
"No…I'm fine." Turning around, and observing the dark-haired girl's lax smile, Yuuna saw that it didn't necessarily match her gaze. Piercing and analytical, it was the same observing gaze that Anzu often had whenever formulating battle plans or researching. The kindness of this girl was directed at her friends, and as it stood Takashima Yuuna was just another outsider. And to that, she was somewhat glad. "Tougou-san…thanks."
"…" Tougou didn't turn around. Instead she merely repeated her earlier words. "That…doesn't make me happy in the slightest…"
"I know. But even so."
Tougou remained silent for a spell, having appeared to have contemplated her next choice of words. She started with the most obvious one.
"Why?"
"Because you're not putting up a front and pretending," was Takashima's immediate answer.
And with those words, the dam burst, and the truth began to overflow.
"You're not the Yuuna-chan we know…"
Yuuna merely listened and nodded in agreement, she respected the courage it took to say that upfront.
"…Yet regardless your actions, mannerisms, habits, even what you told us of your appearance and fighting style. Your similarities are uncanny…you could probably trick anyone else into believing you're the genuine Yuuki Yuuna…but you're not actually very genuine, are you?"
The next words Tougou said, put an honest smile on Takashima's face.
"…Quite frankly, Takashima-san…you creep me out."
After all, the ability to make such an honest confession was only deserving of praise. And with those words face to face,
"I know." Takashima answered bluntly. "But that's good. It means you can distinguish between us, and I'd like you to keep seeing me as such."
"Eh? What do you mean by that?"
"I am not Yuuki Yuuna, that much is obvious. Nor am I trying or want to replace Yuuki Yuuna. I am Takashima Yuuna, and for better or for worse, even I'd get slightly angry if someone who knew me thought otherwise." Yuuna mused. She had established the boundaries of their relationship, and now created some semblance of even footing. So all that was left was to deflate the situation. "Also, I'm not completely flat."
"Takashima-san…you don't have to worry. I'd never mistake you for anyone else." Tougou relaxed. For once a genuine smile appeared on her face. Yet it wasn't the same one she gave to the Yuuna she knew on an intimate level, but rather a grin she'd give to an acquaintance when telling a joke. "It was my mistake, you're not creepy, so much as just far more irritating."
"Really?" Takashima also grinned. "But that means Yuuki's record isn't that spotless either."
"…"
"…"
Both Takashima and Tougou broke out laughing loudly.
Coming back with their bowls in hand, the rest of the hero club shared a glance with one another before coming to the same conclusion.
The two at the table were being really creepy.
A/N +: So, if you've read this far, thanks! Throughout the chapter, you might have noticed that "Yuki Yuna" and "Togo" suddenly became "Yuuki Yuuna" and "Tougou" in that case, keen eyes. This is a running change across all the chapters because Yuusha no Shou confirmed the spelling as "Yuuki" or so goes my flimsy excuse. The truth is I just prefer the "Yuuki Yuuna" and "Tougou" spellings overall…well that and I want to keep as far away from a certain set of subtitles as possible. Speaking of those subtitles, I've always considered finding ways of dropping the honorifics…but in this case the intimacy levels have been shown as not being able to transition very well and come out awkward if forced. I hope these changes and continuations won't hamper the reading experience. Thanks again~!