Time Traveling Hero

After saying goodbye to Luna, I hopped on my trusty bird Raijin and flew off into the open sky, soaring above the city which I lived in. After a couple minutes of the sweet breeze flowing over me, we landed on the roof of the school almost unnoticed.

"Thanks buddy. I'll call you later today, okay?" I rubbed his beak, and he let out a small squawk before extending his lightning patterned wings and flying off into the distance, going to probably frolic in the nearby forest.

I sighed before scratching my head. It feels weird being back after so long. I had a strange sense of anticipation, as if I was waiting for something big to happen at any moment.

I stayed on the roof for a little while longer, stretching my still tired body while gazing at the students walking in from below.

"Well, lets go," I murmured under my breath before going downstairs to my first class, where I met the usual two.

"Master has arrived."

"Master…? Oh, you mean Hiro!?"

One look of apparent apathy, and another look of joy and excitement. Both Anna and Depra looked at me in earnest, and I raised up a hand in response.

"Yo."

I was suddenly tackled with a hug, and I stumbled backwards and almost fell.

"What happened to you!? Everyone in the club was so worried!" Depra was squeezing me tight, and he had his head buried in my shirt. "Anna wouldn't tell us what happened, and you never answered your phone, so we were going to visit you if you didn't show up today and-!"

"Alright, I get it!" We were starting to attract the attention of the girls in our class, and that was the last thing I needed right now.

"So, you're alright?" Depra looked up at me, sniffling.

I gave him a small smile before mussing up his hair. "Yeah, no need to worry about me, alright? I'm A-Okay."

I noticed the girls starting to squeal, and I quickly realized what it was starting to look like.

"Master, I didn't know you swung that way."

"Hey, don't make it worse damnit!" I gave a menacing glare at Anna, who simply turned her head back towards the window.

"Make sure you take good care of each other, okay!?" One of the girls yelled out from the crowd, and more squealing erupted from them.

"Hey, it's not like that damnit! Come, tell 'em Depra!" He sniffled and looked at me with a confused expression on his face.

"But, isn't taking care of one another normal?" F.u.c.k, why did you word it like that!?

"Wait, it really isn't what it looks like!"

I managed to get free from Depra's grasp, but by that point it was too late, and they had scattered like the leaves in the wind, probably spreading their gossip around school.

I frowned at the culprit, who was smiling happily at me. Well, it's not like I could be mad at this guy anyway.

"By the way, are you sure everyone was worried about me? Even the pink haired annoyance?" I asked as I settled down into my seat, taking out all my completed homework.

"Oh, that. I'm pretty sure she was worried too, somewhere in that heart of hers," Depra said hesitantly before nodding to himself in reassurance. "Anyway, I can't wait to tell everyone your back! Let's just text everyone first and-!"

"Hold up, let's not be hasty now. I'd rather it be a surprise for everyone. That way, I can actually see who was worried." Also, I know for a fact that Prez would surely show up at probably the most inopportune time if she knew for a fact I was in school...

"Oh, I guess that makes sense," Depra said before taking his seat.

"Also, I'm curious if Pinkie actually cares about me or not," I said menacingly, knowing full well that she doesn't give a damn.

"Master can be pretty scary sometimes," Anna said, joining the conversation as well.

"So, that means you're going to the club today, right?" Depra asked expectantly, his excitement clearly visible in his shining eyes.

Honestly, I didn't want to. I didn't think I was ready, not by a long shot. But…

"I honestly don't know man. I'll think about it."

A look of disappointment flashed on his face, and his eyes started to waver between happiness and sadness. "I see. Okay then…"

Ah crap, this is not what I wanted. The last thing I wanted was to see him like this. But I can't exactly play it off as a joke since it's true…

"I'm sorry, but there's a lot of complicated stuff happening in my life right now." He simply nodded as he turned away. I scooted my desk next to his before continuing, whispering in his ear.

After I whispered what I had to say, he turned back towards me. "You? Really?"

"Yep, but don't tell anyone alright? I'm trusting you with this. So, if I don't show up, please don't get too sad, alright?"

He nodded vigorously before giving me a smile. "Right, no problem best friend. I'll keep it with me to the grave!"

I sighed a breath of relief. Good, he's back to whatever semblance of normal he's at right now.

"Master, why must you leave Anna out?"

"You know full well exactly what's going on," I said, scooting my desk back towards its rightful spot.

"Not everything," she responded, her yellow eyes focusing in on me.

Ugh, what a pain. Maybe I should've taken one more day off, I thought as I absentmindedly tapped the desk. Now that I think about it, those rumors should spread right to the Prez, shouldn't they?

I froze at the thought, imagining her presence barging into my classroom unannounced. Damn, looks like I'll have to hide during breaks and lunch today.

It was going to be a long day.

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I collapsed onto the roof, having finally survived until lunch. I had spent the entire day barely avoiding ambushes from the other members of the Hidden Club and was finally able to be alone for an extended period of time.

I opened my lunch box to see Luna's usual note.

"Have fun with your friends today big bro!"

If only it was that simple Luna. I clapped my hands together and said, "Thanks for the food," before chowing down in silence.

There were plenty of people outside, eating in the courtyard, trying to enjoy the summer weather while they still could before Fall came in.

"Oh." I stared down at my empty lunchbox, not realizing how quickly I had eaten. I sighed before leaning back against the wire fence, staring up at the clouds passing by.

"It's been a while since I've eaten alone, huh?" I muttered to myself.

"Well, do you mind if we join you?"

Huh? I stopped to take a drink of water, but before the bottle reached my lips, a girl's voice pervaded my peaceful silence. I turned towards the door to find an entire entourage of women and girls alike, all surrounding a single girl.

"Yes, I think I shall join you today." Wearing a long, flowing dress with plenty of ruffles, her heels clacked on the concrete as she approached me, her entourage in tow.

Did I not lock the door? Hell, who even is this girl?

She snapped her fingers, and a chair was rushed in by two people, along with a table and her lunch. She nodded at the two, and they bowed before scurrying back to the rest of her entourage.

She smoothed out her dress before sitting down, crossing her legs as she fanned herself.

"So, what do you go by?"

Huh? Is she serious? "Isn't the person who starts the conversation supposed to introduce themselves?"

"Oh please, you honestly think a peasant like you deserves to know my name? Now tell me, or else."

I glared at her before taking a swig of water. Why must I meet with such weirdos? "You can call me Hiro, spelled with an I."

"Well then Mr. Hiro, how did you acquaint yourself with such a wonderful spot as this?"

"I'm pretty sure I locked the door, so how the hell did you get here?"

"Oh, one of the male teachers was ever so kind to give me one; a key I mean. Yes, men and boys alike are so easy to manipulate, Ohohohohohoho!"

What type of laugh is that? I looked around to see myself surrounded, with the exit being blocked. Well damn, this sucks.

The strange girl wearing the sun hat suddenly snapped her fingers, and her entourage tensed up, as if awaiting orders.

"Bring me an umbrella please, the sun is no good on my skin."

And just as quickly as she asked, an umbrella was brought, with a stand and all. She took off her hat and folded up her fan before setting them down gently in her l.a.p, and only then was I able to see her face and hair.

Long blonde hair flowed down, gently swaying in the wind. Her green eyes felt like they were piercing my very heart, and her face alone would make anybody, boy or girl, lose their breath. She was, in short, the very definition of elegance.

If it wasn't for her personality, she maybe could've even been perfect.

She took a sip of her tea before resting her chin on her hand, staring at me as one would look at a stray on the side of the street.

"Well Mr. Hiro, don't tell me you've fallen for me already," she said, a wry smile on her face. "I guess that's inevitable, as all men always fall for me."

I had to blink a couple times before I started snorted. "Sorry, but if you think that was enough for me to fall for you, then you really don't know a thing about people like me."

A brief look of shock appeared on her seemingly perfect face, before she picked up her fan and covered her mouth, staring at me in earnest.

"Well, it seems you are different then. Men normally can't stare me in the eye like you can. I wonder what's different about you Mr. Hiro…"

"Well, maybe if you just didn't speak and just looked pretty, I maybe would've been attracted to you."

She let out a haughty laugh before closing her fan with a sudden crack. She pointed her fan at me, as if trying to lure me in with her charms.

"I see, so this one isn't it…"

Eh? Was her c.h.e.s.t always that big? Or her lips that red and full? Even her eyes…

"Hmph, how surprising. I didn't expect that. How could it have been wrong though," She said, a small smile on her face. "Tell me, what is that hanging around your neck?"

"Something important," I said vaguely before taking another swig of my water. A snap of her fingers, and two women started to approach me, probably for my necklace.

I quickly shot to my feet and glared them down. "Beat it." They froze at my words, before glancing nervously back at the girl.

"It is quite alright, I merely wish to see what it is," she said calmly, and my hand reached up to my key, clenching it tightly from underneath my shirt.

"Now, now Mr. Hiro, you wouldn't be so vulgar as to hit two proper ladies, would you?"

"I'll hit whoever I wanna hit, as an advocate for true gender equality," I said, taking inspiration from the man, the myth, the legend himself; well, maybe it would be better if I didn't say.

"Well, I guess that's alright then. It's not like that's what I came here for," she said before waving them off, and the two women shuffled back into her large entourage.

"So, why are you here?" I asked, staring her straight in her light brown eyes.

"Didn't I tell you Mr. Hiro? I wish to talk and talk we shall. Let's see, what to discuss? Now that I'm remembering, you never told me how you found this place to begin with."

She kept up her gaze, and I exhaled sharply through my nose before speaking once more. "Well, during my first day here back as a freshman, the door was open, so I decided to see what was up. It wasn't really anything special at first, but I soon found myself coming up here a lot."

I turned away from the strange girl and looked out the wire fence. "But the thing that really kept me here though, was the glorious view of the sunset you can get from here." It had astounded me the first time I had ever laid eyes on it. A view no else knew about, a small little bubble of a world that I could call my own. It was quiet up there, and since no else was allowed up here after I used my privileges as number 1, it was one of the places I was at peace.

"I see. At a cursory glance, you seem like the type to like vulgar things," she commented, her heels clacking towards me before she took her place next to me.

She wrapped her hand around the fence and gazed out at the view this roof gave its viewer. "But it seems you're a bit of a romantic as well."

What's with this girl? I can't get a read on her at all. It was if her personality was constantly changing.

"Ah, that was the bell. I'll see you later today then, Mr. Hiro," she snapped her fingers, and all the stuff she brought with her was whisked away by her entourage, and they quickly made there way downstairs, and the strange girl walked away, her heels clacking on the concrete before turning back to me.

"Maybe we can see that sunset together one day," she said, and a warm smile appeared on her face before she turned back around, now with a little bit more pep in her step as her golden-brown hair bounced up and down.

I clutched my shirt, frowning. Why did it feel as if my heart skipped a beat just then? Ah whatever, I just prayed I didn't have to see her again.

Of course, that's never the case with me

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I yawned as I sat down in the courtyard, the school day now over. I was laying down on a bench, staring up at the leaves up above, the sun occasionally piercing through to warm me up a bit.

"Ugh, am I really going to go?" I muttered to myself, using my arm to cover my eyes from the light.

I already know that running away isn't a long-term solution, but facing them right now, Caelus, Heracles, and…!

"Agh!" I started to ruffle my head as I squirmed around. Just thinking about it makes me feel so…

"Why hello again Mr. Hiro! Yes, what a fine spot you've chosen once more! I congratulate you on this fine accomplishment!"

Damn it, not again. I opened my eyes to face myself surrounded by her entourage of lackeys once more, and shining amethyst eyes were staring at me, her decent sized c.h.e.s.t proudly sticking out in pride.

"Don't you have a club or something? Better yet, join the going home club."

"Hmph! How rude. I thought I would simply strike up a fellow chat with the acquaintance I made at lunch. Now scoot." She started to poke me with her fan and I reluctantly made room for her.

"So, what is it that you wanna talk about?"

"Well, I did some asking around about you, and it seems that nobody knows who you are! They even said they never heard of a Hiro before! Is that a nickname? What is your actual name?" The bombardment would've probably kept going if I didn't act, so I put my finger to her lip.

"You're right, Hiro isn't my name. But what's it matter to you anyway? I would prefer it if nobody knew what my actual name was."

I released my finger from her soft lips before sighing. "So, why are you so interested in me anyway?"

She touched her lips, c.a.r.e.s.sing them in shock. "That was the first time a man's been able to touch me in a long time."

"Oh please, judging from your looks, you can't even be older than me." She looks to be around Luna's age if anything.

"Oh, so you like younger girls than, is that it?" She asked, starting to fan herself again.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Seriously, just trying to have a conversation with this girl is annoying. Reminds me of another weirdo I know.

She suddenly stopped fanning herself, her deep blue eyes looking at me in wonder.

"Hey, what's up with you?" She leaned closer, and then pulled my necklace out from underneath my shirt.

"A key?" She stared at it in earnest, flipping it over and examining it carefully.

"Hey, stop that!" I snatched it back before stuffing it back under my shirt. "Why are you so interested in that anyway?"

"Well, boys don't wear accessories like that, not unless it's for a reason. Does that key unlock a door somewhere important?"

"As far I know, it doesn't."

"Then why keep a key such as that?"

"It's… a parting gift," I said vaguely, turning forward before crossing my arms. "Now, please don't ask anymore questions about it, okay?"

"As you wish. I know better to pry too much anyway. After all, who doesn't have stuff people don't wish to know about?" She too faced forward and stared up at the blue sky.

"You really do have a knack for finding beautiful spots Mr. Hiro. Just think, that on these school grounds alone, there could be spots such as these."

I don't get her at all. I glanced down at her, her thin body reminding me of a delicate doll dressed up for a tea party. Where did she even come from anyway, and why have I never heard of a girl as eccentric as her going to our school? The entourage alone I would've noticed.

"Say, Mr. Hiro, what do you think of me now? Do you think you could fall for a girl such as myself now?" She gave me a grin this time, from ear to ear, and I was met with splendid white teeth.

"Nope, no can do." I said simply.

"Really, I have never met a man such as yourself before, but I guess it was bound to happen. Could it be because of that, or…" She started to mumble something to herself before looking back at me.

"So, I would like to borrow that key of yours." I started to growl, and she simply held up her hand in response. "I merely wish to check something. I'll give it right back."

When I still didn't respond, she hesitated before gripping her fan tightly. "Fine, if you must be like this, you can hold this if you like. It's rather important to me. I always carry it around with me, no matter where I go. When I realize I have forgotten it, I will rush back on my own, despite the dangers it may have on me and my entourage."

"Who gave it to you?"

A sad smile appeared on her perfect face. "A man like no other." She cleared her throat before looking back at me, her black hair swaying in the wind, her sky-blue eyes sparkling.

"So, it seems that we both have something of extreme sentimental value Mr. Hiro. So, a trade for your key for my fan, what do you say?"

I hesitated before sighing. I really am too nice.

"Here, you don't have to give me that fan. Just do what you're going to do and get it over with." I took my necklace off, and let it slip out of my hands into her slender ones. And once it left my hand, my vision went fuzzy as my brain went into a haze.

"I see, but was that really it?" I stared at the girl, squinting hard at her, trying to focus in on her, but to me, she looked like a blur of people, it was so strange.

"So, will you do my bidding, or are you truly different?"

"Of course not," is what I wanted to say, but my mouth had stopped working, and not a peep came out.

"Not an immediate answer? I'll ask once again: Will you do exactly what I say, to the upmost of your ability and potential? Will you be a slave, just like all the others?"

That doesn't sound so-! I shook my head internally, wondering what the hell was wrong with me. Why would I even try to consider that?

"So, what's your answer? Tell me."

Her voice started to reverberate all in my head, making the haze so much worse that I was barely able to think straight anymore.

"Don't!"

A clear voice rang through my head, through all the static.

"After all, don't you already have something important to you!?"

Ah, that's right.

"After all, you have…"

How could I possibly forget something like that? Way to be a letdown Hiro.

The haze started to clear, and the girl was no longer a blur. Short brown hair, light brown eyes, and a modest c.h.e.s.t size.

"After all, I have her."

And my vision turned to normal as my necklace was returned to my hands.

"I see, so it's your first…"

I watched as her entourage started to leave the courtyard, and soon, it was just me and her left.

"Well, it was nice to meet you Mr. Hiro. We may meet again far sooner than you think."

She started to walk away, her heels clacking against the sidewalk.

"Hey, was it true, about that fan?"

She stopped, her blonde hair flowing in the wind. "As if a lady would ever lie. See you around, Hero." She soon rounded the corner and disappeared.

I suddenly got chills as she said my nickname. Even though it was just my nickname, why did it feel as if she meant my other title…

"Welp, I guess it's about time to stop running away." After all, looks like I owe her yet another debt.

And thus, Hiro's life-changing Tribulations have come to an end.