"Mm....." You groan

"Ah... you're finally awake...!"

The soft, male voice can be heard from a little nearby. It grows closer as footsteps are starting to grow.

You can feel a chair being pushed to your side as you hear pieces of clothing shifting, implying that a person just sat beside you in a chair.

You open your eyes slowly.

To see a man with blue highlights on his hair and glasses that has small chains on, holding the face of an angel as he smiles in relief below your half-conscious body.

"Oh... Thank goodness." The man sighs as he closes his eyes slowly, before facing you back once again.

"What... What happened...? Where am I...?" You really wish to stop asking those questions if only you don't often get knocked out of indescribable reasons.

"You just fell out of a black hole near my house.... I found you falling, so I tried to stop your fall from hurting with as much as I could...-" The man in glasses explains, as he remembers to himself about the moment where he had to quickly write down a cushion bed on his book to make it come to life, and then place it towards the spot he believed you were going to fall on(which in goodness sake, he succeeded-).

"Right now, you're in my house... I think you should stay in the guest bed a little bit longer, as you seem to not have recovered yet from the fall." The blue, young man then stops as if remembering something.

"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Ike, Ike Eveland, the Novelist. It is a pleasure to meet you, dear stranger from the skyes...~" The man named Ike says as he bows lightly with his head, then chuckles quietly to himself at the description he just made.

"Ah- hello, Ike. Call me Y/N, or Yin..." You manage to spill with a tired smile as you accept the hand Ike offer to shake with. He merely hold your hand and squeeze it gently before letting it rest on your torso.

For a stranger, he seems like a harmless, friendly person....

Things are going strangely smoothly though-

Wait.

You quickly sit up the bed, in panic. "Where's Vox??? Where is he???" You question to yourself as you look around. You find yourself in a bedroom with blue carpet and lots of bookshelves.

"Oh- it seems something- I mean, someone has made you back to being hyped up..." Ike sweatdrops with a smile at your sudden behavior until he stops himself once he hears the certain demon's name.

"Oh yes, Vox told me many wonderful things about you... I now see why tells me that." Ike says with a light smile.

"Wait, you know him too?"

"Of course I do... I also come from the past."

.

.

.

HUH???

"Then why am I here? Where are we...? Wha-?" Your brain isn't functioning- however, your gibberish questions were gently stopped by Ike's finger.

"You're in 20xx(future).... The future. If you're asking how am I here while I'm actually come from 1969- I just have a special ability to time travel...." Ike explains as he fixes his glasses with his two fingers, then implying the book that is in his other hand.

"I've never expected to learn about someone being able to time travel as well... But in a way that is out of their control."

"Oh yes- time traveling machine accidents..." You answer as you scratch your cheek with slightly nervousness. "I-I actually come from 2022..."

"Time traveling machine? 2022? My, are you interesting..." Ike calmly gushes as he tilts his head slightly while adjusting his hold on his book holder. "I guess I shall write something dedicated for you- you may just become another special spark of inspiration to me...~"

"...?!?

Ike just quietly chuckles at your shocked expression.

"Now now... Relax, knowing Vox, his probabilities of dying are pretty low, or he must secretly has an infinite amount of lives if he ever does die...." Ike assured, yet rolling his eyes at the thought of the cocky Voice Demon. He once again makes you stay relaxed as he organizes the bed sheets for you to get more comfy.

"Right...." You chuckled softly, earning a comforting smile from the Novelist.

"Are you hungry?"

"Mmm... A little bit...? I just ate a hotdog-"

*GROWLSSSSSSS*

"Ah.... I'll take that back for now-"

"Heh... It seems someone is still hungry~ Oh well, no worries, I'll prepare you some caviar toast and hot chocolate." Ike offers as he makes his way to the kitchen. "Feel free to look around, but please consider to not move from the bed." He calmly instructs as your eyes start wondering around the living room.

Woah, so many books in the book shelf-

But unlike other books, which are usually blue or in dark colors... There's... 4 books, 4 colorful colored ones.

4 individual stories. One yellow, one orange, one red, and one purple.

The bookshelf that has the 4 books in it is not too far but not too close to reach it unfortunately. Though having a sharp sense of sight, you have the perk to be able to read small letter from a certain distance.

"A Mafia King's Jazzy Schemes.... Detective Rias' Cases: Documentary.... Akuma Clan: The Voice Demon of the Sengoku Era.... and...

The Cursed Sorcerer...?"

These titles pretty much ring you some bells- but, you remember something about the last title....

That's the same title from the historical museum! Shu Yamino! That attractive sorcerer with the biceps...- (Help, why did I wrote this-)

Your train of thoughts get cut off by the gentle knocks from the door. You then turn to see the door opening, revealing Ike with a clean metal tray that has the mentioned caviar toast and a hot chocolate mug next to the plate. There's also a bowl of grapes to go along.

Seeing someone taking care of you like this reminds you of Mika...

Ike places the tray on the night stand that is on your right side, he then kneels beside the bed and cabinet sounds can be heard from under the bed to reveal that Ike was fetching a portable bed table from the bed cabinets. He carefully places the little table, then the tray with the yummy food....

"Bon Appetit...!" Ike says, as you slightly sit up then put your hands together with a closed-eye smile.

"Itadakimasu...!"

You thank the food before start eating. Ike merely resume to sit on the chair from before, his face now turning towards the window walls side that are slightly covered by modern-style curtains. The windows are technically and slightly the walls themselves, which display a beautiful landscape of a futuristic city at night. Except that the corner between the two window walls has a hard wall with a cushion laid there.

You pretty much still have the habit of now wanting to talk when eating, so you quickly finish eating before sharing your thoughts about this place.

"I never knew the future would be this... Different." You note as you could see the small figure of a floating car disappearing behind the tallest, distorted skyscrapers from the window.

"Mm..." Ike quietly agrees, he seems to be not used to how the future looks like either, as an individual who has been used to growing up at an old-fashioned, classic environment.

"Turns out... It is not very safe out here...." The Novelist shares a small, vague fact from his old experiences in this timeline.

"Really...?" You ask, wearing a concerned look.

"Yes... The air is stiff and no longer clean, the city we're in is ruled under a republic regime by... cyborgs who enforce and build many laws for humanity... Pretty much a tense atmosphere when residing here."

"Sounds like.... Communism- or Socialism." You trail off as you try to focus on the meaning of the terms... Politics and government stuff may not be your strongest field. "Will you be alright here, though?"

"I'm just here to stay temporarily to support a certain apprentice of mine, before I come back to the past." Ike answers. "I was about to depart until I found you- I couldn't just leave you alone out there."

"Oh... Right, sorry for the burden." You apologize sincerely as you bow down.

"No no! I actually would gladly introduce you to him, as he is such a young artist with a bright mind and soul. You're not actually a stranger, if one of my dearest friends know you as their ally as well."

"Ah..." You reply, quite fascinated by the Novelist's wise words, "I would love to..."

Oh right- You're about to mention something.

"Oh yes- Ike?"

"...?"

"What are these four colorful books? They seem familiar by the colors and titles."

"Oh, you mean these ones?" Ike stands up to check the bookshelf where the books are. He took his time to take them out of the bookshelf one by one, taking seriously on not damaging the covers. "Oh, you're looking at the best-sale books I have written! These are all dedicated to each of my friends..."

Huh, the book covers are all blank- Only the titles are present.

"So you also know Mysta and Luca?" You curiously ask Ike with a smile as he places the books on your lap. You carefully examine the book coverings and what's inside.

Luca, Vox, Mysta, and.... Shu. Their names are written separately in each different book on the last end of the inside cover.

"Oh! Yes... they're also my friends. You met them, too?"

"Yes yes! Vox is very supportive. Mysta and Luca are super nice... Though, they're pretty loud and strange... I guess that what makes them part of themselves." You reply, wondering why you haven't met a certain missing person yet back then. "How... Do you know that sorcerer?"

"Mm? Ah, I met each of these people individually. He also got pulled into the black hole like Vox did once.

"Oh right..." You quietly say.

"Did something happened before you fell?"

"Well... Mysta, a friend I have, and Luca ended up falling into different black holes... I was with Vox until an unknown force pushed me into a black hole that suddenly appeared in front of us- I remember Vox jumping on that same hole as well with me..."

"Ah... no wonder why you looked worried before." Ike points out while looking at the ground as if he was thinking of something.

"I think there's a solution on finding them all and group them all back."

"You... can...?"

"It's possible, though it'll take a while. I can attempt and check all the spawn points I've known so far from when I was time traveling if I can see one of us there." Ike explains, opening up his unusual book, making it glow in blue sparkles before a blank page is displayed into a full pages of different maps with labels and points.

___

"So you're saying- thanks to the time traveling machine, the 5 of you got pulled around between different timelines and eventually crossed paths, got to know each other, and became friends? Then you got inspired by the time traveling technique, so you were able to make your own time traveling techniques trough paper, pen, and ink thanks to the sorcerer named Shu Yamino...?" You review with a serious, focused look.

"Quite an accurate summary." Ike confirms with a nod.

"To be honest, no matter the unfortunate events and the confusing predicaments we happen to face in our way, I think we have learned many things from them... New places, new faces that face similar struggles, new ideas about our homeworld..." Ike elaborates, pretty much as a way to say that your mistakes in the invention were definitely worth it.

You can agree that if things didn't turn out as it is right now, you wouldn't have met such incredible, handsome, special men- or even experience the wonders of different adventure in time.

"I never expected that a powerful sorcerer I saw from one of the portraits from a historical museum would also get involved into this, omg....." You admit, remembering the features of the sorcerer. Few seconds later, something crosses your mind as you find your handbag right next to you. You grab it with a hand and open it to see that your notebook has been with you the all time as well.

"If I ever meet him, that is the time when I'll get cursed and perished..." you say in pure embarrassment.

"Oh please- have anyone mentioned you're cute?" Ike doubts your insecurities while looking at the notebook you're now holding. "Shu is actually a friendly sorcerer despite of the obscure backstory, I'm sure he wouldn't try to lay his hands on a person as adorable and harmless as you..."

"To add more, I'm sure Vox would do anything to protect you if you're really under his loyalty." Ike adds as he pats your back comfortingly.

You sigh as you smile thankfully In return. To be honest, who else would be this nice as him if you didn't happen to land near his house...?

You open your notebook to see unfinished drawings of each of your friends you have met, plus the sorcerer from the portrait you saw....

Alban at the Convenience store you both first met, his adorable focused expression was slightly covered by his sunglasses as he was looking at the bags of cookies from the snack shelves from the side angle.

Mysta in the bar you both first met, adjusting his detective coat as he wears a serious look but somehow brings out a cartoony personality.

Luca at the flying helicopter he was sitting on, his figure could be seeing from the bottom angle at the opened door as he tries to keep his hat from flying while wearing a big grin that could win many people's hearts. Pretty much enjoying the performance Vox was doing while you were still on his shoulder.

Vox at his kitchen, surprisingly not causing arson, but instead professionally cooking a big portion of fried rice for you, him, and Alban...

Last but not least, The sorcerer from the portrait. It is less sketched unlike the other drawings. It doesn't have a background nor his half-body could only capture his long, beautiful hair and handsome features of his face.

"You're a talented artist..." Ike compliments you from the background.

Wait-

HE'S LOOKING THROUGH YOUR NOTEBOOK TOO-

You slightly jump at the voice but sigh in relief nonetheless. You bashfully thank him.

"Thanks... I'm not really an S-tier artist..." You scratch your head-

"S-Tier....? Mmm..." Ike was caught into thinking, trying to remember what does the term mean according to his apprentice from the future.

"Oh, right- but no, I mean it.... You're very talented, you really caught their features so well.... And i find this boy's style pretty appealing too." Ike points out.

You look at the drawing Ike is pointing at, your smile got slightly wore off by the second of your beloved thief's face.

He was referring to the drawing of Alban

"Oh, that's a friend of mine, he also got into the time traveling situation too... We were like traveling buddies once we first met at a convenience store.... We were inseparable, until he went missing- and now we're much more separated...."

You explain as you look down...

Remembering what Vox said about him seeing Alban falling from an open hole while he was running away from something at the streets.

You were both inseparable...

But it seems, he no longer is with you....

Gentle hands start to wipe your tears slowly, you can not only help but stay in Ike's comforting hold until you fall asleep.

___

// Meet the New Companion! //

// A Novelist from the past who seems somewhat closed-off. When an idea for his next work sparks, he becomes a completely different person. //