Running through the desert dressed like a vigilante out of a chuunibyou's fantasy carrying an adorable nerdy redhead - that had really nice legs - on his shoulder while dragging her cosplaying twin, while a giant sphinx with their mother's head -who admittedly might be attractive if she'd turn down the murderous rage - chased after them screaming about how Futaba killed her, was not how Akira thought he'd spend his first day in Tokyo

Which was clearly not true. She was clearly alive. And Futaba looked like she couldn't hurt a fly. Unless it was a video game or something then all bets were off.

To sum things up he had no idea what was happening, or what he was doing. But he never knew what he was doing so that was normal.

"Futaba!" Contender for the worst mother screamed as she came crashing down atop the dun sending a storm of sand their way. "You should be the one dead! I wish you had never been born!"

He could feel Futaba stiffen at the words, her body going cold and rigid like he was carrying a statue. Not that he could blame her they were fast running out of options, all that was around them was sand, sand, and horrible creatures that were really offended by their living.

"If you want live," The ever calm pharaoh Futaba mumbled, pulling on his hand to get his attention. Seriously these girls were adorable. She pointed towards a small passageway that appeared underneath the Sphinx, "I suggest you hide in there."

Running towards danger to get out of danger? It was so crazy it might just work. Plus his super cool moves as he got them in there were bound to score him bonus points with his soon to be girlfriend. No doubt want she'd see how cool he was and develop an adorable crush on him.

Maybe she was even his underclassmen and would follow him around saying senpai! Don't worry Futaba! Senpai will notice you!

Once inside the oddly well-lit tomb, however, his two damsels were anything but pleased.

"You suck at this!" Futaba yelled as he sat her down, her face was red and her body was shaking. She shook with each breath slowly shrinking down into a ball. "I can't believe you threw me like that!"

"It was the only way." Standard dark vigilante line right there, can't go wrong with classics. His face was probably going to get stuck like that if he kept smirking, not that it was a bad thing, especially if Futaba found it cute.

She glared up at him from her squatting position. "Don't lie to me, you totally just wanted to look cool! Well, guess what you don't get style points in an RPG!"

Well, he caught redhanded. "How do we get out of here anyways?"

"I don't even know where we are." She sighed, the fire in her voice was lost. "I can only make a few guesses at where we're at based on incomplete data but nothing solid, and even then I'd have no idea how to get out, let alone…"

"Futaba!" The sphinx screamed from the outside slamming its paw on the entrance.

She screamed, tears falling from her eyes as she fell to her side.

He could feel Arsene leave him as he stepped forward to embrace Futaba, holding her loosely as he rubbed small circles on her back. "Don't worry, I'll get us out of here. I promise."

The other Futaba appeared, apparently, she had been missing since they first entered the tomb. She was transparent and floating. "You need to leave. Now." The entire world shook with far more force than the sphinx pounding outside. "She can't be here."

Easier said than done.

"Well, how do we do that?"

"The same way you got in."

"I don't see any closets."

XXXX

Shojiro glared at the clock, the damn brat he was supposed to be watching over hadn't bothered to so much as show up. He spent the whole day trying to work out what to say to the punk only for him to pull a no-show. "Last time I stick my neck out for somebody."

He did leave the address for Leblanc didn't he? There was no way he was going to give that delinquent his home address, especially not with Futaba and the whole mess with Sae Niijima. Still, it brought a smile to his face, Futaba had protested the whole ordeal vehemently. She'd probably be happy that he never showed up.

"I should probably take home some Curry, I'm sure Futaba would love it, might even be able to convince her to have a family meal with me." Their last meal had been what? Christmas time? And that was just fried chicken. No, tonight they were going to eat a nice family meal. Besides he had to wait at least twenty-four hours before he could file a missing person's report.

As he closed up shop and walked home with curry in hand it was hard not to think about the lost country boy wandering through Tokyo. No, getting lost is no excuse, even with all the stuff happening with the trains it was still reliable and easy to read. That damn delinquent was probably in some drug den doing hitting up a joint of dab or whatever the new hot drug was. "Back in my day, we'd just get drunk and chase girls."

An elderly man nodded in agreement as they crossed paths, shame the area was filled with a bunch of old folks like him. Perhaps if there were more kids her age around Futaba might be willing to get out of her room. He'd heard her online shouting at her computer and furiously typing about some feeding noob on the online games she spent most of her time with.

But he had to be careful, he didn't want any delinquent to get their hands on Futaba. The last thing she needed was some smoker loser boyfriend with no future to trick her into loving him. Which was why that Akira punk was not allowed anywhere near her. "Not that Futaba would fall for that, she's far too smart for that… And hasn't stepped outside the house in a couple months."

They should go on a trip. Close the cafe for a couple days, leave the house, and that damn prosecutor behind them and enjoy themselves as a family.

The gate to his home was open. The door was shut, but unlocked, and there was a package sitting in the hallway. His father senses were tingling. Something was amiss, the delivery guy wouldn't have brought it in. did Futaba receive it? No, she would have dragged it up to her room if that was the case. "Futaba? You home?"

No scream, that was good… hopefully. No, yell of hunger. But, that was normal. Futaba rarely responded when he came home unless she was hungry. Maybe she was passed out again? It had been a while since the last time she needed a recharge.

And why was there a broom just sitting on the ground? Carefully returning the broom and closing his closet. "Ahh hah, I got it. Futaba, tracked the package online and when the delivery man came she told them to push it inside, all the while she held onto a broom for protection, she tried to bring it up stairs but got exhausted. So she left everything here and is currently sleeping."

Sojiro nodded to himself, it was easy to imagine Futaba doing exactly that. "I better go check on her, make sure she's in bed, We'll have curry some other day. Better go check on her."

He was halfway up the stairs when he heard a thud from behind him.

"Owwie owwie owwie." That was Futaba's voice. From behind him? Was she hiding in the broom closet? "Stupid sand, I can't believe that Joker!"

"Futaba?" he sprinted down the stairs, to see her sitting on the ground rubbing her head, glasses on lopsided and her hair looked frizzy, almost like she had gone outside. Last time she did that she entered the Futaba sleep for nearly a week. "Are you okay? Is everything alright? What happened?"

"Oh? Hi, Sojiro. Oh did you bring home Curry?" Futaba tried to stand but was barely able to, having to use the wall to hold herself up. "Woah, still a bit shaky."

Well, at least Futaba was happy at the moment. "Yea, do you want to-"

There was a ruckus from the closet that cut him off. Followed by a boyish oof and a knocking on the door from inside the closet. Admittedly curiosity got the better of him and he opened the door. Broom, bucket, and black haired boy fell out from the closet in a heap on his floor.

For a few moments, Sojiro stared at the boy. He knew this boy. He had been sent a picture of this boy. This was the no good punk ass bitch that was supposed to show up at his cafe hours ago. And he was hiding in his closet, with Futaba looking like she had been active.

"Alright, you punk!" Sojiro roared pulling Akira up by his shirt. "What the hell are you doing in my house! I gave you specific instructions and directions to show up at Cafe Leblanc. Not break into my house and."

"Sojiro stop!" Futaba scrambled up and positioned herself between her and Akira. Was she defending him? "It's not his fault! Honest!"

Why would she be defending him! Oh god, it happened! Some delinquent punk convinced Futaba that she loved him and now her life was ruined! "What are you talking about Futaba?"

"Ohh," She dropped her arms behind her back and fidgeted slightly like she was in trouble. Then she locked eyes with him, her hands were fists at her sides, looking just as stubborn as her mother once had. She seemed so lively. Was it because of this boy? "I knew that the boy you agreed to watch over was going to be coming today, so I wanted to meet him to make sure he wouldn't hurt you or anything. But I forgot that I had a package coming today, I tried to bring it inside and he saw me struggling and offered to help me. After that, I invited him inside and we played games in my room until I heard you coming home, and then I freaked out I pushed him into the closet and hid under the stairs. And I'm sorry I panicked but it's all my fault! Not Akira's! He's a jerk but he's also a nice guy!"

She was out of breath by the time she finished. And Sojiro could barely keep up let alone grasp the concepts. Futaba had been worried about him, that was sweat. Akira also helped her with a package, that was a nice thing to do. But then he also befriended Futaba… is he the reason why she's so happy? She almost seems like a normal girl right now. Could he really beat the tar out of Futaba's first friend in years? "But I didn't see him when I closed the closet."

A sly smirk appeared on the youth's face. "That's cause you're old."

"Don't push your luck punk!" With a grow Sojiro finally let go of boys collar and sighed. "Well, I guess this makes things easier going forward, but we won't have enough time to make your room livable tonight, so you can stay in the guest room tonight."

"I'm not staying in the guest room?" Akira asked, readjusting his fake glasses, he really did look less threatening with them on. Maybe the kid really was trying to do something about being a delinquent.

"No, you're staying in the attic above Leblanc, mostly so that I have a living security system and someone to close up at night." That and there was no way he was going to let a boy sleep under the same roof as Futaba.

"Sojiro! Akira! I hunger!" Futaba collapsed to the floor again, her hands pressed against the floor to keep her steady. "Feed me curry!"

AN: Sorry for the long time no update, been wrestling with depression recently and you know all that fun stuff. So I ended up writing other stuff instead of this. Anyways! Here's the chapter! enjoy it!