Fledgling [Mariko Awakening]

Hearing Mariko utter “Shou-chan” tightened a vise-like grip into his heart; Shouhei heard her say that name lovingly, annoyingly, madly, kindly, throughout his life. With his memories sparked in an unseen flare, he lapsed back and murmured to her in Japanese, their native tongue.  “{...How the hell else’m I s’posed to help ya get your memory back, ya dummy.  ‘Sides, it ain’t ‘bout bein’ ‘manly,’ it’s ‘bout me payin’ ya back for everythin’ ya did for me, darlin’.}”

Seeing Lupin sock his own persona in the arm brought Shouhei back to the world surrounding them, as the foggy haze slowly lifted, once again revealing the streets of Suzie Q.  

“...Thanks again, Lupin.  For real.  But yeah, if ya don’t mind,” Shouhei offered a sincere grin as appreciation, while he gently shifted Mariko to better balance on his back. “I’d like to take her back home.  Hit me up tomorrow or whenever ya can.  I owe ya- it’ll be my treat.”

With that said he nodded to Lupin and started his walk back home.  Once again memories surfaced themselves in a similar situation.  Days when Mariko had rehearsed relentlessly at dance studios, practicing for hours on end to exhaustion, leaving Shouhei to carry her on his back in the exact same manner.  He could feel her warmth on his back, could feel the light and steady breaths of slumber lightly caress the nape of his neck.  The sounds of summertime cicadas were replaced with the noises of traffic, milling people, and the songs of various idols playing as advertisements.  Gently he nuzzled his head against hers for a moment, as he usually would.

“...Guess we can make a rain check for hot chocolate.”