37. Past, present and future.

The newscaster babbled on about humiliation and UA pride and other such banalities trying to get a rise out of the most well dressed rat on the planet.

Principal Nezu on the other hand, played it cool, not giving the media any more ammunition against them.

Good move too.

It's surprising how the most sensible person in that room was a rat in a vest coat.

I chuckled, as Kuribo whined, nuzzling up to me begging for a treat.

"No. No more treats for you. You're getting fat as is, you little chicken nugget!" I chastised the little floof, who now turned to play his ultimate move : puppy eyes!

"Oh come on! I can't say no to my good boy~" I cooed, dropping him a piece of pork cutlet, before packing the rest in my bento, preparing for my trip.

Switching off the tv, I looked at the clock.

11 am.

On time.

Slinging on my bag, I made for the door, when Kuribo began whining, nipping at my heals, as if to say, 'don't go papa!'.

"Aw~ such a cutie! You wanna come with papa?"I asked, scratching his head.

"Woof!" He barked in agreement, jumping up and down like a madman.

"Okay. Okay. Settle down." I said, slipping on my shoes, before picking him up in a fireman carry, locking the door behind me.

Minutes later we were at Dagobah Beach, with Kuribo basting in the sun, flipping in the shallows, having the time of his life.

"It's sweet how dogs can just forget about everything and have fun, enjoy the moment..." Aiba commented, taking a knee by my side, spreading a picnic blanket on the sand as Gentle put down their bags.

"So." I muttered, jumping to my feet, "I take it you've come to terms with it?

Had a breakthrough?"

"Why don't we have a go at it and you'll see?" She replied, smiling cockily.

"Ohoho! Someone's confident. I like it. I like this new Aiba." I praised, noting her distinct lack of a twitch at the mention of her name, and a proud fatherly smile settled on my lips.

"What about you Gentle?" I continued.

"I'm going to kick your teeth in this time!" He smiled, letting out a low chuckle.

"It's good to have a positive attitude. Shame how much fun I'll have wiping that smirk off your face." I shit-talked them, shedding my shirt.

"Don't stray too far, Kuribo!" I warned, as we got into our stances.

"On count of three?" I suggested.

"Why not?" Gentle answered, shifting his stance, gaze darting across the beach, charting the area.

"A bit too obvious with the eyes, Gentle." I warned, as I began counting down, " Alright! Three.....two...."

I didn't wait for a one as I struck preemptively, summoning a fusilade of shelves before me, shooting my books out at them.

While they dodged, I slipped past the shelves, and began setting up my labyrinth as did Gentle, summoning shelves and elastic air sheets wherever we went.

That is until I bumped into one, and was thrown three feet back.

"Wha-" I muttered, when I realized what had happened.

"You crafty bastard!" I cried, "You created the barriers before you walked up to me."

"A wise man once said, great warriors end the battle before it even begins." Gentle replied with a cheeky grin.

"You really took that to heart huh?" I teased, when his smile shifted, as did his eyes. To my back.

Instantly, I dropped to the floor as a pink blur zoomed over me, smashing into the sand, throwing a cloud of dust.

"He wasn't the only one...." Aiba added, standing back up from her superhero landing, radiating a pleasant but overpowering pink aura, from boots and pantyhose to her little french hat.

"Now you're talking!" I said, gearing up for a fight at full power, as yellow-blue electricity arced across my skin.

Then, I disappeared, leaping back, just in time to avoid Aiba's claw hand.

Her fingers dug into the wood, braising through it like cake.

"Holy fuck, you've grown. A bit too much, I'll say!" I quipped, dribbling on my feet.

"Hehehehe!" Aiba laughed, as I slammed into another one of Gentle's invisible bouncy walls, disorienting myself, instinctively jumping up in an effort to avoid the bouncy maze he was setting up.

Except, I bumped into another barrier, straight above me, slamming back onto the sand, as air was knocked out of my lungs.

"Aukha!"

I wheezed like a donkey, when Aiba walked up to me, relishing in my defeat.

"You predicted that I'd jump out of the maze huh?" I asked, impressed.

"We had to prove ourselves." She answered nonchalantly, squatting before me.

"You going to give up?" She asked, sure of her victory, when I summoned a book in my hand making to slam her in the fave with it.

Instinctively, she covered her face, giving me the opening to teleport out.

"What? You can teleport?!" Aiba cried in shock.

"That's just cheating!" Gentle complained.

"Our enemies won't care about honor. Neither should you. Fight dirty." I imparted, before powering up once more.

Perhaps I'll test my own new move, Shifting Shelf Labyrinth!

"Not gonna fall for the same trick again guys. Start thinking, cuz here I come!" I bluffed, taking a runner's stance, even as I summoned a hail of shelves above them.

They braced for a dash, darting their eyes around them when they noticed.

Nothing. Then, shadows grew at their feet.

"Fuck!" Aiba muttered, while Gentle dove for her, putting up a trampoline above them at the last moment.

When they stood up though, was when they realized the true horror of their situation, as the shelves settled in neat patterns, forming a labyrinth around them.

And above them, blotting out the sky rose a tower of shelves, extending the labyrinth into 3 dimensions.

My voice echoed across the corridors between shelves, like a B-movie villain.

"A puzzle, especial for you~

One way in, no way out. Try your best!

And P.S., I wouldn't try to brute force through it, unless you want to be minced meat beneath a tower of shelves."

"Tch..." Aiba spat angrily.

"Lost again, haven't we LaBrava?" Gentle resigned, tapping his cane against the shelf wall.

"No. Not yet. He has to be somewhere in here. All we need to do is find him!" She muttered, walking ahead, into the open corridor.

"Come on Gentle. This isn't over yet."

"I'll humor that!" He chirped, twirling his cane, as he strode out behind her.

Then, as Aiba turned a corner, I shifted a shelf behind her, blocking her way.

Before she noticed though, I had already teleported behind Gentle, taking him by surprise.

My punch got him square in the jaw, knocking him down and out in one blow, when the shelf beside me cracked.

Next it blew out, sending out a chain reaction of collapse as the tower maze fell apart.

Immediately, I unsummoned the maze, lest I hurt Kuribo, who was standing guard outside.

"I figured." Aiba commented, looking down at Gentle on the floor.

"I knew you wouldn't risk a collapse catching Kuribo in harm's way."

"Too risky." I chastised, "What if I had put Kuribo away? Or just plain didn't care about his life? You and Gentle would've been dead!"

"Oh please! I know those eyes. You absolutely adore the pup.

You would never..."

"That's not the point, Aiba." I interjected, wagging an accusatory finger in her face.

"Fine. It was a risk I was willing to take, regardless.

But....if it helps, I'll accept my loss this time."

"That you will." I said, picking up Gentle, and laying him on the blanket.

Then, I turned to Aiba, who was looking at her lover downcast, and knelt down to her eye level.

"Aiba, listen." I said, softly, taking her by the shoulders, "It's okay to let go of the past, but you shouldn't let that take away your vision for the future.

I know you're willing to die for your cause, but .... for once, try living for it.

You'll do no one any good dead.

Besides, what the point of working towards a better future if you won't even live to see it?"

I patted her cheeks, smooshing them playfully.

"Awawawawa!" She cried, as a smile slowly returned to her face.

"Now now. Don't go stealing my lover for yourself!" Gentle joked, waking from the knockout.

"N-no...Gentle, It's not like that~" Aiba squeaked, jumping into his arms.

I chuckled, and Kuribo walked up to me, soaked and sandy.

"There you are, baby." I rubbed his back, before turning to the others.

"Who's up for some lunch?"