Charles Patricius

Moving on from one conversation seemed easy enough, though Kazu was sure each girl involved had additional thoughts about the matter. He wasn't too worried about how things were going. Well... perhaps he was, but there were hidden reasons beyond hidden feelings; none of it was worth anyone's concern. Joy. Everyone should just experience a bit of joy for this two-year adventure between worlds. As such, a pleasant shift toward Angelica's Gaia experience was in order. What she noted about the feeling was something most just adjusted to. Kazu remembered the feeling of carriages being just as strange during his early experiences. "Smoother than horse-drawn though, right? Those things were terrible on countryside roads," he claimed. "The types are just as varied no matter where you go. It just depends on what you need them for. This one is public transportation for people who don't have vehicles of their own and aren't going far enough to need a train. If somebody's likely to carry heavy cargo, they'll probably get a truck instead of a car. Bigger families might get an SUV, and so-on. There are a lot more on Alaya than what Aincrad has too. You'll see carriages, chariots... whatever the hell that thing King Gilgamesh flies around on... lots of stuff!"

Soma knew Emirie would be joining his cause, regardless of her willingness to 'help' him. Their entire conversation thus far, to Soma, was more an orientation or rundown than an interview or recruitment. When his decisions were made, they were made firmly. This one had taken some time to form... but mere seconds into their chat, there was no turning back until cooperation began properly. Now was the beginning. Emirie officially signed herself up to become the third member of his little party. Temporary or otherwise didn't matter; everything was temporary in some respect. As for what he was climbing toward... "The top. There's only one, but I quickly realized something when I entered this world. Becoming the strongest as an individual is absolutely impossible. In that case, what I should do is obvious. Gather the 'Strongest Allies', and become their leader. The 'top' isn't an idea or a metaphor; it's something unquestionable and unachievable. It's an infinite ladder, and the only way anyone can claim they're at the top is when no one else around is any higher on that ladder."

Kazuhiko was quite right about the girls involved having extra thoughts. Even Miko maintained a few though she felt she had no room to speak given her own more comfortable upbringing in at least one of her lives. Regardless, there was talk of buses, cars and other forms of trasnport which apparently varied by use. Public Transportation as it was called, was useful for those who couldn't afford or have their on vehicles and he was right about the other thing as well. "Well, everything is better than horse drawn carriages, unless those have a lot of extras on them they are always horrible. I will say that it is quite interesting how people got over their travel needs though... this whole technology thing is kind of it's own form of magic in a way," she said happily. All the while Konomi was listening and a bit confused, well that wasn't right, she was coming to terms with the fact that at least one of these people was from a magical world that maybe the others had been to. She wanted to question it, but she would have felt so ridiculous doing so that it wouldn't have mattered regardless. And thus those calming headpats from Anya persisted as she aimed to held their newest member adjust to her new reality. "Also I have no idea what King Gilgamesh flies around on... I might be out of the loop on that," said Angelica. Most of these girls had no idea what he was talking about so he was definitely alone.

It seemed that with the confirmation that Soma would indeed have Emirie among his ranks, that he became much more comfortable telling her the depth of his ambition. It was interesting, hearing him speak of his understanding of this world only a few hours past him being born. "Sou ka, so you plan to go full speed ahead towards an infinite goal without cease... I will hand it to you, that is an interesting first decision," she mused though she couldn't hate him for his desire. She had no such ambition but she also didn't need it, hers were very manageable goals so she'd be pleased to extend a hand to someone else, while she made her way to her own goals by her own means. And who knew, maybe she'd find something even more interesting while tagging along. And thus came another call, as a cord was pulled for them to begin exiting. "Everyone make sure they pick up their bags. Someone please keep track of Anya-chan. We're exiting the bus at this next stop!" Miko mentioned. Theyw ere less than a few store fronts up from their next official stop, which was a store which specialized in men's wear called Diviner. But of course, she'd be one of the last to exit after the bus came to a halt if only to make sure nothing was forgotten or left behind.

"Well, I wouldn't say everything. It feels like running into terrible modes of transportation is destiny sometimes. I'll take a wooden carriage on a rocky path over being flung through a portal again," Kazu said, meaning every word. "But I guess you could compare it to magic. People will always find a way to make life easier, magic or no magic," he added. Regarding the vehicle often used by King Gilgamesh, he found it difficult to explain. What even was it? "Uhh... it's like a flying throne? It's full of weapons, it has wings, it's pure gold and... really, really fast based on the one time I've seen it. That's about all I've got."

One conversation was in a lulled state, and another seemed to be ending. Soma had no further information to offer Emirie at present, and it didn't seem to matter on her end either. Whatever the case, an announcement was made to initiate the group's departure. Soma was up and ready to move without hesitation. Hearing mention from Miko about keeping track of the child, however, he kept an arm extended low to offer his hand. All the while, Kazuhiko was sitting back. It seemed Miko wasn't the only one thinking to leave last and ensure everything was taken care of. Of course, he'd also become used to picking up the rear when involved in a group. "Already? Wow, I forgot how much quicker regular transportation was on this side. We should bring back a book and use it to invent cars or something," he said, stretching.

"I disagree. I don't actually mind the whole being tossed out of a portal thing. Well, as long as it isn't always happening," Angelica countered as one who'd actually been tossed out of a portal quite recently. Though the idea that humanity aimed to make things easier was quite obvious based on all the things she'd seen so far. Phones, money you didn't have to carry around in your hands. Bags which weren't magic but could still hold lots of things and a whole host of other things she'd barely had time to properly process. Like these buses which could carry them rather quickly from one point to another which would have taken quite a bit to walk to. Right now, Miko was mentioning they should be leaving so she got up and made her way out with her duffle bag over her shoulder. Other girls were filing out as well. Sena, Chika, Ai, Kei and Kaguya would make their way out at the announcement with bags attached to their persons.

Emirie at the same time didn't have to wait for anything as Soma was up first extending a hand to Anya after the announcement. Anya had a face of pure childish satisfaction as she took Soma's hand and left the bus with him, and Emirie waited and escorted off the Gaia side original Kohara Konomi. They'd exit together and Emirie made sure she had her bag as well in a forest green color. With all of the people making their way off, Miko was scanning seats of which Kazuhiko managed to be one of the last to file off as well. "I'm pretty sure we don't need a book, just materials. Apparently Olga was a mechanic on this side, and she'd probably be legitimately upset if someone else made a motor vehicle of this sort before her," Miko mentioned. With a scan done to make sure everyone had picked up all of their belongs, and that she had all her own as well. She'd slide off the bus right before Kazuhiko knowing he'd want to pull up the rear. With everyone off the bus and on the side walk, Miko's hand would extend into the air and she'd begin speaking again. "We are headed down this way, to the store called Diviners," she announced. Though she didn't know if any would know what the store was, she'd make sure to explain it an anything else on the way.

Of course Angelica would choose the portal route over carriages; she'd only been through one to his knowledge. Kazuhiko, on the other hand, had been launched through more portals than he could count. "In that case, you take all the portals from now on. I'm done not even knowing what I'm about to land on, or if I'll slow down enough before impact to avoid being maimed," he griped. With that complaint out of the way, Kazu began packing up the few cards he'd taken out in the past couple of minutes, sliding them comfortably back into his deck box. There would be more time to deal with organizing those later.

For now, Kazu was following Miko out to the pavement. Everyone else seemed to have fallen in place, including their newest addition. Before they all went on their way, Miko mentioned a comrade of theirs being a mechanic in this world. Perhaps she would be upset to learn someone else invented a car before her... though knowing about that vehicle of Gilgamesh's, such a thing was possible anyway. Regardless, Kazu's plan wouldn't change. "Olga's still one of us. I never said I was going to trust myself to put a car together, book or not. I'd still get the book, though. No telling when she's from on this side, or if she's forgotten ─ or if she knows everything she'd need to know for a full build. If she wants to make a car, we could at least give her some reference for a refresher," he said before hearing the name of their next destination. "Wait, DIVINERS?! Annie, your plan's full of holes! We need clothes, not designer fashion statements! People on this side
already think we're a group of ubermodels or something!"

Kazuhiko offered Angelica the portals of the future as he was tired of dealing with them. His gripes seemed very logical, "Yeah, I'm going to pass on everyone you, you know... moderation and all that~" she said in a joking manner. After exiting the bus, everyone else was outside and Miko and Kazuhiko were left to discuss cars and the one member of their group who would most enjoy building a vehicle of that type. "Those are all reasonable points, and I definitely wouldn't see her turning down reference materials. I'll add it to the box," Miko mused about the whole of it. Soon enough they were all off the bus and should have been headed for the men's clothing store which could see each of the males of this group outfitted almost completely but of course there was an issue.

What was this one? Well, Kazuhiko took issue with the type of store Diviners was. According to the leader of their group the men needed clothes not designer gear. He also claimed that their image was already in question and this would compound the issue. A sigh escaped Miko as she turned to look at Kazuhiko, "This isn't a hole, this choice is perfect. Diviners is men's apparel in most of its forms. Yes, it is fashionable but it also isn't as expensive as you are making it sound, it's not like the shopping we're definitely doing for us at Chioriya Boutique later. Besides all that you can get literally everything there, and in enough different forms that you guys won't end up looking exactly alike literally all the time, which I figured would be good if we are going to have multiples of these group outings," she said coming up with most of her justifications after the fact. "And if it's the price you're worried about I figure I could clothe all four of you in a more complete way for the same or less than I just spent getting just underwear for all of us," Miko finished. By the end of this minor tirade her face had gone a bit puffy as she pouted about the outcome. Getting four guys to shop at a reasonable place shouldn't be difficult.

Kazuhiko couldn't outright get behind the idea of collecting designer clothes using someone else's money. Even if he were the one paying, he would have chosen something a bit more cost-friendly. Even if Miko insisted that it could all be handled for the males of this group, even with greater ease than undergarment purchases for the young women present, it didn't seem like the best idea. The existence of variety didn't make it a simpler matter either. Worse still, Miko was still planning a trip to Chiyoriya Boutique ─ a very expensive place that was arguably the most popular designer in Japan during this time period.

"Annie, mind explaining when and why you became freaking loaded?! You're not talking human amounts of money. Aren't you seventeen?" Kazu questioned. He figured there was no getting out of this situation, but the endgame answer would probably just have to be... making up the difference later somehow. A sigh passed Kazuhiko's lips as he silently decided upon that future. "You know what? Fine. Fine, I'll make everything even weirder and take the expensive clothes. Happy?" he said as they encroached upon the shop.

Kazuhiko disliked the idea of splurging with someone else's money. Miko disliked the idea of not caring for her friends the same way she cared for herself. Beyond that the bender she'd been on wasn't all negative. Over the course of the last few days, back in a world that didn't treat her as badly as her previous life on Alaya did she was content to live and enjoy. That pouty nature of hers would remain for a few moments yet as Kazuhiko wondered when and how she'd become loaded enough to spend the type of money she planned to spend today. The answer to that question was simultaneously easy and difficult. "I am seventeen right now yes. And... I am independently wealthy. I did explain that I have a job here already, actually I'll be working tomorrow. But I also spent my second night back here in a casino where I won so much money that this shopping trip isn't even the first round." she explained, but there was still something vague about it. Anya was staring at her directly as she explained, but couldn't make sense of all the things going on in Miko's head.

Ah, but it seemed Kazuhiko after some thought was willing to take what she offered and Miko looked at him still chewing her puffy little cheeky as she glanced at him. She'd known him for far too long, she knew he was considering the methods in which to make up for such ridiculous spending and it wasn't necessary. Perhaps she could assuage his feelings about it a bit. "Yes, it will make me happy. I wouldn't treat my friends any differently than I treat myself. So, if I am buying cool stuff for me, I'll also buy cool stuff for all the other girls. And if I am doing that then I would also buy cool stuff for all the guys. Besides, it's closer to one stop shopping this way, and it'll get us to the card shop faster~" she said lightly. One could note that she'd not explained her job, one could also note that she was underage and gambling and one could note that she had no qualms spending her own money. But after three hundred years of being poor, she could enjoy spending her money on herself and her friends. "To Diviners~" she claimed the store front a few doors down would lead into a designer men's apparel store. "Alright guys, also make sure you get a duffle or a backpack. Make sure you grab underwear, and socks along with any pants and shirts you grab," she offered freely.

Miko may have answered Kazuhiko's question about her available funds, but having 'a job' could never cover such spending without existing wealth. Kazu would have asked half a dozen more questions, but he assumed most of her finances came from the gambling... which she shouldn't have been legally allowed to do, causing a very different concern. "Annie, how the hell did you get into a casino? Is it the MILF build? It's the MILF build, isn't it?" he assumed. She and most other girls in their group looked mature beyond their years, so perhaps it was that simple an answer.

The logic presented by Miko was fair as a way to treat one's friends. Being of a similar mind, however, Kazu wasn't going to let such favors go unreturned. If nothing else, he couldn't argue with a quicker trip to the card shop. It even seemed that part had been thrown in with purpose. It was, after all, one of the easiest ways Kazu could be convinced to drop something. "Are you exploiting my weakness, Annie? Because I might be into that," he said as they entered the store. Well... as most of them entered the store. Just as he'd done previously, Soma casually burst into the building as if it were his own bedroom. Seiichi teetered his way in a few people later, and Yuuya a bit behind him. Kazu would be the last to step inside, if not among them. Of those who entered, Soma spoke to the members of his personal group. "You've all spent enough time looking at me. Find me something interesting," he requested, albeit in a way this society might consider rude. Kazuhiko was still hanging around between Miko and Angelica, seemingly baffled by all the displays around them. "There are a lot more appearances of the word 'diviner' than I thought. This amount of branding is a little intimidating. . ."

Miko was the type of person who wouldn't allow her friends less than she allowed herself. This had an odd showing when she was making purchases, but she saw nothing wrong with it. She knew Kazuhiko was similarly minded, but also knew that he would likely never understand how she saw and understood him. He was a person who saved her from the darkness of her childhood in the magical world, she'd not been lying to Father An when she'd mentioned that she'd follow him anywhere. He had her devotion in a way few people would ever know. Ah, but as always there were quite a few distractions. In this case, Kazuhiko was wondering how she got into a casino to win the money he assumed she was spending now. He attributed it to her physical form but that wasn't entirely the case, "Well, the look was initially part of it, but not the whole of it. I know a guy who likes to gamble and he was feeling lucky so he wanted me to go with him. I wanted Kaguya to have a good night and brought her too. And got us both in, that's all," she explained of the situation at large. She wasn't the type to withhold information which didn't need to be held.

Moving on, Miko had mentioned their eventual trip to the card shop intentionally. She'd known that Kazuhiko was really into card games, and the previous day's teaching rounds proved it beyond a doubt. If distractions could be presented to keep him from focusing on the spending of funds that truly didn't matter to anyone, all could be well. But of course, the brown haired lad noticed this and pointed out that he might like the girl taking advantage of his weaknesses. 'That's fucking hot!' she decided in a singular moment. "Box it," she muttered immediately. Meanwhile, Soma demanded the group of girls who were attached to him find him something interesting and in this case both of the older women looked at him for a few moments longer, and strangely enough it'd be Konomi to speak, "If you are getting anything out of here, there are a few things to consider. I assume these clothes are magic, there is no logical explanation for how you fit in your pants otherwise," she said looking him over. She was pretty good at taking measurements, not perfect but she could get close enough. "If he's getting pants make sure he gets compression boxers too. Reds, whites and blacks look good against his skin as well," she mentioned for their group at large. Anya looked at the girl with wide eyes, that was actually good. "Anya knows what to do!" the little girl mentioned she turned to her elder sister and held her arms up, and Emirie took her without thinking too much about it. "Hai hai, I'll help you reach higher things then," she mused, "Arigatou Kohara-san," she offered to the girl as she went about shopping. Meanwhile, it seemed that Kazuhiko was intimidated by the amount of branding put all over men's clothes. "Kaya-sen," Miko started to have the black haired girl waving her hand away as she'd already begun her movements towards Yuuya. "I already got it~" she mentioned casually. As Sena walked up to Seiichi with a smile on her face, "Sena-sama is here to help her big brother pick some cool stuff too!~" she said knowing that men were less prone to such shopping. "No need to be intimidated, we can probably find you quite a few pieces that aren't so obvious, start from the inside out," Miko offered. "And don't forget the bags, it'll make it easier for us to keep everything organized," she said to the group at large.