MVR Round 2 P2

R5

"I'm doing this." I said, as Merrow nodded at me grimly.

"You got this, Thomas."

I nodded at Deacon, who cracked his finger.

"What happens next will forever define who you are. This is the meaning of living your life, Thomas. Take that step and evolve as a warrior."

"And don't fuck it up!" Sammy chimed in, causing me to trip out the door.

"Sammy!" Merrow chastised, as Deacon walloped Remnant 4 over the head.

I looked at myself from the reflection.

I was dressed well. I had my hair combed and everything.

It was time.

For my first date with a girl.

Two hours later

"Whoa. Thomas. You really sped through that date my guy!" Sammy waved me over and put his arm around my neck.

I walked with Sammy dejectedly back to the house, as Sammy laughed.

"So, did you two hit it off? Huh?"

"Sammy." I said, my voice sombre.

"Whazzzup?"

"She left halfway through the dinner."

Sammy's face went horrified.

"Oh shi- I mean. Well, you did what you could, Thomas! I'm sure there are plenty of fish in the sea-"

"Sammy, I threw up at the table."

"Oh."

I sighed, as I opened the door. How was I going to face Merrow like this? After everything she had done for me. She had a heart to heart and everything.

"It's okay, Thomas! You're never too old for your first love! I was 16 when I had my first boyfriend."

Yeah, thanks Merrow. Thanks for telling a 25 year old man that as if 16 and 25 were the same age groups. Ugh. She helped prepare my outfit. My hair. Gave me inspirational speeches and everything. Now I had to go back to the house and tell her all her efforts were for nothing.

Sammy and I arrived at the door.

"Sammy... I'll be the one to tell her. Alright?"

Sammy's face paled.

"Y-Yeah. Good luck, bro. Just remember, you still have us. We'll be there for you the next time you fuck up a relationship!"

I turned to Sammy.

"What the hell dude..."

I unlocked the door and brought my hand up to the handle.

I swallowed hard.

Here goes nothing.

"THOMAS! Oh my god!" Merrow ripped the door open and crushed me in a hug.

"Thank goodness. I almost thought I lost you to some random girl!"

"Wh- What are you even saying?" I asked, unable to comprehend the situation.

Merrow suddenly realized what she was doing and pulled away.

"Ah, erm. Yeah. Sorry about your date."

She was totally not sorry at all!

Deacon was at the doorframe.

"What she meant was she was scared to death that she lost her little brother figure to another woman."

Merrow glared at Deacon, as Deacon quickly silenced himself.

"I, uh. Ahem. Well, now that you're back, I guess we could probably discuss some things about our next mission."

After that terrible series of events, we held our meeting first thing in the following morning.

Deacon put his hand on the table.

"You're going with Kanade and Sammy to Arman's high school. And you're going to convince him to come with us."

"Umm..." I slowly raised my hand.

"Yes, Thomas?" Merrow asked.

Stop treating me like a little kid!

"Two questions. How are we supposed to convince Arman to go back? Didn't Sammy try that and nearly get his ass kicked? Also how are we supposed to just go to a high school like this! We're grown adults man! Look at me! I have chest hairs like some old gramps!"

I lifted my shirt, as Skylar yelped.

"Jesus, Thomas! I do NOT want to have to see your disgusting chest first thing in the morning."

"My god. Aren't you supposed to be my older bro. What the hell is wrong with you, no wonder your date dipped. So loud and having a mental breakdown first thing in the morning." John muttered, leaning against the chair backwards.

That damn brat!

"We're going to talk to him. At the very least, get some more intel while we're at it." Deacon said, calmly.

"Also, don't worry about the age thing. When you guys arrive at his universe, the Remnant Normalization should handle the age difference from time displacement. You guys will age back to your teenage forms just fine."

Oh yeah. I forgot about that.

"Well, I guess. I guess that's cool." I muttered, fidgeting with my hands.

"Is something wrong, Thomas?" Merrow asked.

"It's just... I don't like going back to high school. I've had a really bad experience with it in the past. Don't really wanna do it again."

Sammy chuckled. "My guy, I'm going and I spent my high school bullied. Don't worry about it. The three of us will be popular as hell! We've been through it once already, after all."

Kanade frowned. "I'm actually more concerned with the fact that you're affiliating with us..."

I guess you can say this was one of those back to the past, high school do-overs you would see in cliche'd shows or movies. Unfortunately, like I always did, I started the journey off by throwing up all over the floor.

"Thomas! Oh god! The Shadow Travel killed him!" Sammy yelped, as Kanade put his hand on my back, soothing my nausea.

"Are you alright, Thomas?"

"Yeah. Whoa."

I looked up at a younger Kanade, his hair had gotten shorter, reaching his ears, but still very white. His face, the worry lines and permanent scowl all gone, replaced with an angelic tone. He looked... almost pretty like a girl.

"K- Kanade, you-"

Kanade tilted his head. "What's wrong?"

Was it wrong that I found my own brother hot? Would that be considered illegal?

I turned to Sammy, who scratched his head sheepishly. He didn't look much different. I guess since he always had the same childish face. Magenta streaks in his hair and brown eyes. He looked like your average delinquent.

Wait.

What about me?!

I held out my hand and summoned a rock from the ground, green and teal winds blowing around it like a mini-rasengan until the lump turned into a beautiful piece of quartz. I stared at my face from the reflection.

"Wow." I muttered, unimpressed.

I guess I should have known.

I was never attractive in college. Or high school.

And this stupid piece of quartz reminded me of it once more.