// Companion(s) Equipped! //

// //

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"You're indeed a talented artist, Y/N."

A day just passed and you found yourself collaborating with Ike on making book covers for his 4 stories that are dedicated to his friends. You pretty much ended up inviting and he accepted the offer, though he will eventually do you an offer in return as he now feels indebted by you.

You both just learned that both of you working together turns out pretty smoothly. Ike's writing skills are high-tier while your artistic skills are just capable to meet up with Ike's skill level in writing.

"Ike, have you ever thought of writing a book about yourself?" You say as you just finished digitally Illustrating Luca's book cover.

"Mm... yeah, I have that idea in mind for a while,,, But I'm not sure, there are still some blank pages to fill in before making the real final version."

"Alright, but rest assured! Is not too early to start writing your story, Ikey~" You slightly encourage him while poking him by the cheek, giving him a soft smile. He merely nods as he smiles warmly at you in return.

He never thought having some new company would motivate him this much.

"Oh right- it's time to introduce you to another artist friend of mine."

___

"Make sure to cover yourself a little- and please take this." Ike instructs as he helps you wear a futuristic, complex coat and dress you up nicely underneath it- he explained before that it can help you as a disguise and some protection for your skin-

Ike doesn't know if your skin is sensitive when coming contact with the toxic air present around the city, as you just arrived from his house's backyard where there's an invisible bubble protecting it from the air. He then motions you to turn his back to him. You become puzzled at first until you feel a gentle touch on your neck: he just placed you some kind of collar(?).

"This will help you breath normally through the air." Ike adds as he prepares himself along with a shopping bag.

For some reason the sight of him seems like he is pampering you like a mother hen....- It's a pleasant feeling nonetheless.

You both are going to go shopping some snacks on your way to a friend's territory Ike mentioned-

"Oh goodness- what's with all these snacks...?" You question as your eyes widen, you were assisting in holding the stretchable shopping bag Ike brought as he placed pretty much 10 of each different kind of brand of snack- and 1 can of soda that says "blue rockstar"-

How does this small bag still look small when being filled up with so many stuff???

"Which snack would you like to try on, Yin? I'll pay it for you." Ike asks with a curious gleam on his eyes, somehow using a pure sweet tone beneath the question.

"Mmmm.... So many options....- Can I really buy something from here?" You ask, unsure if you should waste someone else's savings.

"I insist, Hjärtat..."

"H-Huh?"

"Just pick one." Ike assures you with his closed-eye smile not faltering, pretty much not minding your surprised look.

"Ah, okay...? I'll pick that one- it looks yummy...." You conclude as you point at the certain snack- you would rather take one that has a familiar snack logo but then the new brands of snacks.... Mm.....

"Very well...~" Ike says in a calm, jolly manner.

"Thank you for your service." Ike mutters at the cashier before making sure he paid for the purchases. You merely follow him from behind like a little duck as he exits the huge shop-

___

You both find yourselves in front of a big territory protected by some air force field.

And there's a huge line waiting in the background... Despite that the performance hasn't yet starting until 2 hours???

You were about to touch the air force field until your hand was gently held by Ike's, telling you to not touch it. Probably because it might electrocute you...

Ike looks around his surroundings while trailing his hand around the wall slowly, until a sound of a button is heard.

"Yo?" A radio voice is heard from the other side of a hidden speaker.

"I'm Stuck in the Abyss." Ike responds to the most darkest voice you have ever heard, wearing a blank look at the wall. (Ike and his metal voice go brrr hehe-)

You just look at Ike with confusion. What did he just say???

"Come on in." The same radio voice answer, cueing Ike to hold your hand so you both can go through the force field together, unharmed.

You take a look around, the space that is surround the stage is huge.... Ike places the snacks he bought on the nearest table but still kept a few and your snack on the bag with him. He motions you to follow him, so you quickly walk towards him.

The massive stage become more clearer, as you then see a tiny figure in the middle of it. He looks like he is working on that big composer set(?).

A DJ?

"Yugo!"

Young, blue-haired man wearing headphones was zoning out by the music until the Novelist calls him out. He lowers his headphone so he could hear his sensei clearly.

"Good afternoon, Ike-sensei?" The young man who was known as "Yugo" replies. Ike enters the stadium where a big party will be organized and hosted by the said, great DJ. He smiles at Yugo before nodding as a greeting who bows back. Behind Ike, you also follow as your appearance is then revealed to the DJ. You merely wave shyly, who also waves in return as a friendly gesture,

"Hello! Who is this gal?" Yugo asks politely, while still maintaining a fresh, cool demeanor.

"Yugo. This is a friend of mine, Y/N, or Yin. Y/N. This is my another friend and apprentice, Yugo~" Ike introduces you both to each other.

"Cool, we have the Ike-sensei's friend privileges." Yugo comments as he grins at you. Ike can only roll his eyes his a gentle, joking manner by the comment.

"Wwwww." You quietly wheeze behind your hand before nodding, amused in return. You both seem to start getting along and vibing together in your own conversations. So it is now Ike's cue to leave for now and start exploring the time traveling's spawn points, so you both get to have more space to chat freely. For safety and emergencies, Ike lends you a phone so you can communicate with him. You made sure to wave goodbye to Ike along with a big hug-(Which Ike secretly found it super endearing...-)

"So, you time travel as well like Ike." Yugo exclaims excitedly as you talk with him about how you just met Ike.

"Oh by the way, you can take off the coat now, the stadium is safe from the air outside the bubble." Yugo assures, so you carefully take off your hood, revealing your head.

"Yeah.... Also, it's impressive how Ike found a way to time travel smoothly thanks to his book- but I'm still trying to figure how to control my situation here-" You scratch your head, thinking about the two time machines you worked on but both of them have failed somehow.

"I'm surprised how these kinds of failures I got are very different from my mistakes and successes- but I'll still try and working on how to improve them!" You assure, you might have said this before many times, but you're really trying your best to improve the time machine.

"Ah, I admire your determination, Yin! You're on fire." Yugo compliments with a sincere smile. He may seem intimidatingly handsome and fearless, but he is actually pretty wholesome after a few hours of talking with him-

"Hey, my party is starting very soon- would you like to keep me some company as I play my DJ part?" Yugo offers with a cheerful smile.

"Oh- sure, why not!" You are quite nervous at the idea of seeing a big crowd in front of you but then the idea of seeing all the awesome lights turning on and the good music vibrating in the stage makes you feel much more comfortable sometimes.

"Sick! Can't wait to show you my musician skills!" Yugo slightly boasted, leaning his chin on his palm with a enthusiastic grin. You merely chuckle, making Yugo's heart beat much faster than before-

There are times you want the peaceful silence, and there are time you just want to go feral- hehe.

However, you feel like something fishy will happen afterwards.

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.

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"Woah- how many buttons are these-" You've seen a few composers before in your original timeline. But the ones in the future are PRETTY different....

"Yeah- this section can give you sound effects, this one lets out a bang noise, this one-"

Despite that you both could have tried out the sounds before the party starts, Yugo is still alright with showing you most of the controls while still smoothly keeping the audience well-entertained by the music. Good for him that you!re the type to be able to memorize which button is which in just one glance and label.

Yugo's skills slap at this point,,,,

*BANG BANG!*

'Wait- Yugo didn't click the bang button this time-' you realize as you see the button Yugo showed you before still intact, along with Yugo's hands are technically away from the keys. You could see Yugo's brows furrowing and eyes widening in horror as he looks up with a scoff.

What's that...?

As if Yugo knows what you wanted to ask, he mutters with a derogatory tone.

""

Something huge just landed on Yugo's composer, breaking it in half.

*BOOM!*

"...!" You weren't prepared for the impact, neither did Yugo. Yet, he still quickly holds you close to him to cover you from any flying object out of instinct.

People screaming, yelling, and running around. The bubble force field is still intact, but is now trembling violently by the unharmonious sounds roaring around the stadium and the sounds of red-colored, metallic figures breaking in and arresting people they could get a grip on.

'D-Don't tell me these red men are the po-pos,,,,' You internally think.

"Oi, Oi, Oi! What the h*ll are you doing here!" Yugo protests as he glares at the red man who just broke his tool set, keeping you behind from the invader's sight.

"DJ," A robotic voice starts. "We've warned you several times. And we also told you there wouldn't be a next time."

"Ha! I'm still following all your "rules", man!" Yugo scoffs as he takes one of his headphones' ears off, even though he doesn't seem to want to do so. "What's your problem?"

Answering Yugo's skeptic, the hand of the android made an hologram of words appear- a constitutional article??? A rule.

"A new statutory provision has just been established.———"

Wait, you're saying that is illegal to do more than a certain number of entertainment activities?! This place is a freaking dystopia-

"It has been determined that you are doing more than the regulated number. Therefore, you have been determined to be target of the purge."

"P-Purge....?" You whispered softly, more lower than a whisper with a concerned look- but it seems the red men can still hear you. They all nonetheless face back to Yugo, except one red man from the back who keeps staring at you longer than necessary. You just kept your concerned look displayed rather than your fear and anxiety... Be strong.

No matter the protests and strong pointers Yugo made of the signs that what the androids were doing to humans are wrong, they still order him to silence and given in to his execution penalty.

They even call him "human" in such racist manner...

Nonetheless, Yugo suddenly gets the guts to grab your hand and quickly threw some kind of neon tube on the ground, making smoke explode in front of the red men.

Smoke bombs...

Yugo then goes for a run with you trying to catch up to the opposite direction of the androids. He keeps running as he never fails to keep a firm grip on your hand. You were quick enough to wear your coat before you get out of the forcefield that protects you from toxic air, barely dodging the lazer bullets the red soldiers were shooting with. The DJ tries to turn and turn around many corners as a way to lose them. However, they still can catch up to you both as you end up in a border of the ocean.

It felt like an eternity

"Sh*tty Androids.... Always ruining everything." Yugo groans in frustration. You both stop all the way to the border before Yugo turns around you with a melancholic look. You could only look at Yugo with a saddened expression before caressing his hand, putting it on your cheek to nuzzle on it.

Ike's habit of making his hand nuzzling on your squishy cheeks is becoming your habit now...- even if this is a life and death situation, you somehow got the need and want to comfort Yugo.

"I'm sorry, Y/N..." Yugo whispers as he then gives a chaste kiss on your forehead after brushing your bangs away.

He then looks up from behind you and his eyes widen. Before suddenly, he pushes you away from him, making you trip on the floor- You yelp.

*BANG!*

...Yugo just got shot in his left eye-

It happened so fast, yet you could see the scene unfold at slow motion. You can't do anything but watch with fear as you scream for Yugo's name.

"YUGO!!!!!"

Yugo's body quickly falls from behind and goes down the ocean, drowning.

You are about to kneel near the edge and start swimming to save him. But guns are then quickly pointed at you.

You turn back to them with a feared look and tears threatening to fall from your eyes. Not knowing what else to do, you slowly raise your arms up. Going to the ocean to swim might lead them to shoot at you through the water, and you're not the fastest swimmer alive as far as you're aware....-

As if your internal pleads are now heard mysteriously, lazer guns where then pointed at the red soldiers from behind out of the sudden which kill them quickly for your astonishment.

Before you could see your savior's face, some familiar nonexistent force pulls you from behind- making you fall quickly into a dark void.

The same, black hole portal.

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___

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*SOBS*

*SOBS HARDERRRRRR*

After hours of being lost and confused from the black hole situation, Mysta was teleported to 2022- His brain decided to go to a bar and get drunk as he cried for everything he have left behind; his home, the 1920's tech, his job, his home,,,, and his beloved Y/N.

At the bar, the barman eventually shows Mysta his phone and introduces him to VTubers. Thinking it would help him find the thief and get back to his normal life, Mysta plans to become a VTuber-

But the questions is.... How?

"Hello."

Mysta turns back to see a young man wearing glasses and eccentric white and blue attire. The said man is holding his book as he approaches him with his usual serene smile, his aura is mysteriously friendly for unknown reasons.

"Ike....?"

"The one and only.... I'm here to lend you my ears now, my dear friend."

___

// Meet the New Companion! //

// A DJ from the future with a deep passion for music. He can put you in a trance with his voice and his beats. //