HOTD: A New Dawn

"As long as you remember that they're not for free, pick anything you like." Tysone shrugged. 

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Mai rolled her eyes. She put down the notebook and leaned back on his bed, crossing her arms behind her head. "You know, you might be a lot more valuable than you look."

Was that supposed to be an insult or a compliment? 

"Oh, is that so?" Tysone asked, a little curious. "What else can you see me doing?"

"I dunno." Mai glanced at him. "You've got a nice voice, and you can hum decently. Maybe you can be my backup singer or something." She threw those words casually but seriously. He raised an eyebrow at that, wondering if she'd suddenly sit up, laugh, and tell him she was joking. 

She didn't do so. 

Tysone shook his head, chuckling. "Nah. That's not really me."

"Then what are you?" Mai urged, now looking at him intensely. 

He considered the question. He knew he was a man who was still searching for his place in the world, and he was willing to take a few risks to find it.

He had no qualms about using his knowledge, but it wasn't just about money for him anymore. He had the urge to be more than a bystander, to shape his destiny. If he couldn't do so with all the foreknowledge he had, then he didn't deserve to live anyway. 

And in that, Mai could play a crucial part.

Tysone hummed. "I'm not exactly sure. But I think there's a corner of this world with my name on it, waiting for me to claim it. And I think that's exactly what I'm gonna do."

She cracked up. "You're a weird one."

"You know you love it. I'm an enigma wrapped in a sexy package."

"Sexy, eh?"

"Oh yes."

"Hmm…"

Mai's gaze roamed over his figure.

"Checking out the goods, eh? So unabashedly as well, what would your fans say?" He laughed.

"You're an arrogant one. But I guess I should be thankful that you're on my side." She sighed, before flashing Tysone a hesitant yet genuine smile. "After all, it's thanks to you if I got so far without any accidents. Even the syndrome's effects are not as strong as they used to be. So, yeah, pervy yankee. Thank you."

Tysone stared at her. She was being honest. Being able to affect a fictional character's life so much, to the point that they looked at you with such deep gratitude was oddly disconcerting but gratifying. 

He waved her off, grinning. "You're making me feel shy. Don't thank me yet, we've got a lot of work ahead of us."

"We do, don't we?" 

Tysone rummaged around his drawer some more, before he pulled out a sheet of paper with lyrics written on it. He smiled at it. "I've got something that's gonna suit you just fine, bunny princess." He handed it to a blinking Mai. "It's short, sweet, and very simple. With the right melody, you'll kill it."

She took the lyrics sheet and began to read it. Her grip on the paper tightened as an inexplicable expression adorned her darkened eyes. "What's it called?"

"Past Lives."

"Can you… hum it for me?" 

She asked, at last, not looking at him.

Tysone closed his eyes. "I'll do ya one better. I'll sing it."

… 

The next day.

As soon as Tysone walked out of school, he found himself staring at the vivid, erotic eyes of none other than Miku Yuuki.

The girl from last time.

They widened when they fell on him, a wide grin bloomed on her face as she waved her hand at him.

"Yo!"

"Miku?"

"Oh, you remembered me." Miku said, her tone dripping with amusement. "I'm flattered."

"How did you know I was here?" He asked bluntly, ignoring the bait.

"A girl has her ways..." She replied coyly. "Besides, I couldn't just let you walk away after what happened earlier. I had to thank you properly."

"You already did." Tysone said, his patience thinning. "No need for a follow-up."

"But I insist." Miku pressed. "It's not every day I meet someone as… intriguing as you."

"Flattery won't work on me." He tried walking past her.

"It's not flattery if it's true~" She followed after him.

"Don't follow me." He stopped, giving her a hard look.

"I just want to repay the favor."

"You're making it seem like you have a crush on me."

"Maybe I do."

"Truly a woman with no standards."

"You're quite mean to a girl you just met, you know." Miku said.

"Your impression is not a positive one. And that's saying something coming from someone like me."

Miku tilted her head, smiling, her cheeks blushing a shade of pink. "You're so forward."

"Ah, I see." Tysone shook his head. "So you're one of those. The types that are turned on by aggressive behavior. Toxic type shit."

She looked at him through her long lashes, her voice dropping to a low murmur. "Do I seem like that kind of girl?"

"You sure as hell act like one."

She shrugged, the motion causing her tight uniform to strain against her breasts. Tysone looked at them and looked back up to her.

"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm just here to return the favor." Miku said.

"I don't care for it."

"You'll change your mind." Miku said with a confidence Tysone didn't appreciate. He sighed.

"What's the point?" He asked. "We're just going to walk around in a park. You can talk, and I can ignore. I mean, what's in it for you?"

"Nothing. But I'm curious about you, and I think we can have fun."

Tysone scoffed. "What kind of fun?"

She walked slightly ahead of him, then stopped and bent a little, showing a hint of her cleavage. "I can think of fun stuff you probably never had before."

Another bait. Subtle manipulation to have him chase her whims. In this girl's mind script, Tysone would probably say something along the lines of 'Fine, let's see what you've got.' Or maybe even something crude and pervy that would have her reply 'Oh, you silly boy, I wasn't talking about that.'

Anything that would confirm her control.

But Tysone wasn't scripted. He wasn't predictable. And he sure as hell wasn't in the mood.

"You're exhausting." He said instead, his tone ice-cold as he stepped around her.

For a split second, Miku's confident mask faltered. Her grin tightened, her shoulders stiffening as if she wasn't used to losing this type of game.

"Exhausting?" She echoed, quickly recovering. "That's a first."

"Yeah, well, congratulations." Tysone said, his back to her. "You can put it on your résumé. Professional pain in the ass."

The words hit harder than he'd intended, and a flicker of something—was it hurt?—crossed her face. But she didn't retreat. She never did. Instead, she darted ahead of him, planting herself squarely in his path, her expression suddenly serious.

"You're not like most guys, you know that?" She said, her voice softer now, almost vulnerable.

"And you're not like most girls." Tysone replied flatly. Seriously, he was getting upset now. "Not in a good way."

She blinked, and for a moment, he thought she might actually give up. But then her lips curled into a slow, almost dangerous smile.

"Maybe that's why we're talking." She said, hands behind her back. "Maybe you're as messed up as I am, Tysone."

"Messed up?" Tysone smiled, staring at her as if she were an oddity in a glass box. "What, are we going to bond over our shared trauma now?"

Miku didn't respond. To be fair, Tysone didn't give her the chance. He felt like if he didn't cut their conversation right then and there, she'd latch onto him like a leech.

She was a pretty girl, and he wasn't one to turn down such a cute face, but what crawled behind that smooth skin made him have second thoughts. And so, with one final, long glance, he stepped past her.

Miku tried to grab his sleeve, but he was already way out of her space. 

"I'm sorry, but I'd prefer it if you could leave me alone. I'm a busy man, you know? And I'm certain you're busy too, you know, going around and flirting with whoever strikes your fancy." He said. 

He could hear her suck in a sharp breath behind him. "That's not—"

"I'm not one for drama, alright?" He interrupted her. "Especially the high school type." 

"But—"

"Don't follow me. If you try, I'll call the cops and have you arrested." Tysone said without looking back. "And if you insist even then, well, I might just do something that might get me arrested."

Miku stood there until Tysone was out of sight. 

Nami, who had just walked out of the school's gates as well, shuddered when she saw the smile on Miku's face, or the slight murkiness in her eyes. 'Whoever catches this girl's attention will have enough love problems for two lifetimes… if they even get to live their first.'

Author Note: More chapters on [email protected]/LordCampione.