Happy (belated) Birthday, Touma! Hopefully, you wouldn't mind this story that's overdue already by a few days. (Hope Clear likes this too) D:
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On a clear sunny day, the cool noon breeze passed a familiar park with familiar faces. However, today showed a new face in the park. A boy with noticable long hair is sitting down, closed arms and serious eyes looking straight at a fixed point, waiting for someone to arrive. Then at a distance, he saw someone- a girl moving in a worried pace, then sees the boy's location and goes towards him. As the boy sees this, he stood up and loosened his arms as if to meet her.
The girl made a stop when she was closing in to him. "T-Touma...! Um..." she said, gasping for air, "...I'm sorry to make you wait." Touma gained a slight surprise from her response. "Hmm.....I'm guessing you're Clear, right? Don't worry, I haven't been waiting long." Clear bursted out of shock, "...O-Oh! I'm sorry for forgetting to introduce myself! Y-Yes, I'm Clear. Nice to meet you! A-And...Happy Birthday, too!"
"Oh, here's something for you too." Clear handed Touma an item she's holding, a present in a box shape. Touma took the box, then appears to be examining it. The two sat down after the giftgiving. Clear shyly looked at Touma, whose focus appears to be in the present. "Umm....You can open that now, if you like." Touma replied while looking at her, "No. I think I know what this is, so it's best I open it later." "R-Really? T-That's good, I guess." she said as she takes her eyes away and smiling.
The mood became quiet, as Clear appears to be relieved and Touma returns to checking out his present, looking at it in all sides. Clear decided to break the silence, "S-So, how are things, now that you've quit 961?" Touma, in a monotone voice said, "It's alright. I don't have anything planned for now." She replied, sounding a bit disappointed, "Is that so?" then returns to silence. Touma didn't reply.
"So..." Clear reluctantly asked with a small voice, ".....Why did you quit and disband Jupiter?"
".....We weren't connected. That's all." says Touma, while getting the box closer to himself and holding it more firmly. "Huh? What do you mean?" asked Clear, in a regretting, somewhat doubtful tone.
".....Jupiter was built by using the best idols Kuroi found. Naturally, our combined skills were great." says Touma. "But at that time, when we lost to the 765 Producer and his idols, I realized something. They did grow strong, but what made them beat us was the bond that they shared. That gave them strength and, despite our skill, we never really 'bonded' the way they have." he adds, as he looks down to the earth.
Clear says, "I don't get it. If being friends was all it took, then why did you have to disband?" "That's simply just not it," Touma replied. "It's just.....I needed time to think, to be sure of myself. Besides, I think I may not be able to 'bond' with them. Not anymore." She quickly said, "T-That's nonsense. Of course you can still-" Touma cut in, "But it's not that easy. With them. Or...probably anyone...."
"Of course it's not that easy," immidiately said Clear, "People should get to know each other, find out how each other behave and learn to trust them as they are. It's like that, for any kind of relationship, and with whoever you have the relationship with." "Really?" Touma asked, where she quickly replied, "Of course."
Touma thought in focus of what has Clear said. After a short while, he stands up, and offers a hand to her so she can stand up as well. "I.....I guess you're right. Thanks, Clear." said Touma, with a reassured smile, "I guess I have a lot to do about that."
"T-T-Thanks? I-I...don't think I did anything special....." Clear shyfully replied, also reaching out to his hand.
Touma smiled to her response and looked back at the present she gave him.
"Hmm...Maybe I should give you a present too."
"W-What!?" said a surprised Clear, blushing greatly to that statement.
"Oh....." said Touma, while now looking at her, ".....Never mind."
