// Companion(s) Equipped! //

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"So, Ike, Shu- how is the portal's progress?"

Mysta would ask that to you as well, but then you're now busy at the moment. The time machine has been doing well, no more sudden object teleportation, no more extra holes, and no more sudden heat-ups on the engines, nada.

"Well, we have some good news! The time traveling machine has been showing no errors... It already shows that it can transport more than a big object to different places in specific order!" Shu says as he reviews one of the result papers Ike wrote down before.

"We're going to this time have to give it a try, there may be some bigger improvement that the time machine won't commit into another loop time traveling that keeps us stuck in distorted timelines." Ike explains.

"To be honest, I don't know why we're trying to fix the machine when Shu and Ike know how to transport all of us back home." Luca points out as he eats his pringles.

"Well, you might have notice portals suddenly appearing in front of you, even when you were not even linked into the machine in the first place, right." Ike explains to the Mafia Boss, who nods in understanding.

"If you notice that the portals have been stopping from appearing out of nowhere lately, that was the machine being improved. The machine was the cause of us being frequently teleported into different timelines nonstop. So in order to break the loop, we have to rebuild it, and fix the timelines."

"Wow... Are you trying to say- other more people have been moved around too as we were talking???" Mysta says, now realizing how big the situation is. "Well sh*t, glad that issue was reduced for now-"

"Yes, and if the machine is concluded as ready, we must go back to our original timeline- except Shu, he's pretty much isekaid rather than being bind into the machine. So he pretty much has to stay in the present timeline." Ike adds, remembering the story of the poop, the "I'm burning hotter than your mom", and modern internet God giving the blessing to Shu to be reborn into the present.

"D*mn it... I really want to stay with Y/N so bad, it was like a plan B for me if the machine never worked- until I realized how of a big deal it is..." Mysta gushes.

"The thing is, who know what will happen to us if we stay here for too long- we might possibly... get turned into nothing eventually." Ike theorizes, not sure if it's right to stay in a new life in a such illegal nature of life, time, and being. "We can't take the risk."

"At... At least we can visit her???" Luca hopefully asks, now looking at Shu and Ike intently.

Ike silences for a moment.

"...Right...???" Mysta asks too, growing more nervous.

Shu gets silenced as well along wearing with an unreadable look. He then looks away to gaze at the Luxiem Lounge's big windows.

"We're just... not sure." Shu finally spills. "And that's when the bad news are introduced."

"???" Both Mysta and Luca think.

"I noticed that my books' spirit energies are dying over the times I use them, and Shu's mana and magic keep draining whenever he over uses himself with the time portals.... We're not sure if we can have all of us visiting Y/N at the same, and within few days of stay as limit." Ike seriously informs, growing more solemn.

"...Really?" Vox says quietly as he walks out of the kitchen along with you, meal dishes resting in your hands.

Mysta looks away once you look at him, not sure if it's the right moment to tear up suddenly in front of you so he keeps his tears from falling. Luca just silently looks at you with a blank look, as if thoughts are right now running into his head.

"So... We really can't visit each other...?" You say, "...There must be some solution- W-We can build another duplicate of the machine in the past timeline and-"

"My älskling..." Ike quietly pleads, he just used a different nickname you've never heard of before. "No, no... That won't do... We can't abuse timelines like this." He warns more. "It'll mess up the timeline all over again if we keep abusing a small engine machine... we don't have enough spare resources, nor time..."

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...You can feel your heart cracking slowly.

That's when you decide, tomorrow is something to never be missed. It's now or never...

So without hesitation, you just quickly place the dishes on the table, and walking to the nearest boys you can have a hold on. You don't have to wipe a sweat to give Luca and Mysta a big, passionate embrace. Full of love, care, and sadness....

Luca simply tightens the hold as Mysta hides his face on his shoulder, trying to hide his crying as he quietly sniffs and his shoulder trembling lightly. The others join into the group hug as well, not liking this kind of news either.

Is just too hard to say goodbye... When what you all need is already here.

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"Okay... Portal ready."

You and the boys find yourselves at your home, you just checked every file and circuit pattern in the engine to make sure it is as functioning as possible. "Get ready."

"...Ready." Vox says as he makes sure Oni Giri is still in his waist belt.

"Ready..." Mysta says as he puts his glasses and magnifying glass into his pocket safely.

"..." Luca is silent as he stares blankly at his fedora hat that is in gloved hands.

"Luca...?" Shu asks in a concerned tone as he places a hand on his homie's shoulder, "You okay there...?"

"O-Oh!" Luca finally snaps out as he clears his throat, now placing his fedora back to his head. "Yep! I'm always ready!"

Luca....

"Ready." Last but not least, Ike replies as he holds on to his book.

"Oh right- almost forgot...-" You say as you come to your basement closet, taking out a big box and pushing towards where the boys are standing. Which makes the boys look at the boys curiously. "Open this please, there are gifts in it..."

The boys seem to pause for a moment to take a look at the box, either with hesitation or curiosity.

Ike is just about to question something until Luca just decided to be the first to open the box, revealing 5 objects.

"OH MY GOD- A BIG PACKAGE OF PRINGLES?! POOOOOGGG!!!" Luca gushes as he takes out a big square formed by many tubes of pringles that is tied with a yellow ribbon that says "Poggles for Boss :D".

Luca's self seems to have came back for just one moment.

"THANK YOU, JEWEL, THANK YOU!!!"

Aaannnnd he pounces on you into a big hug,,,-

You're starting to like his booba hugs, ngl,,,-

"Oh...-" Shu kneels beside the box and takes out the object with the purple ribbon that says "Shubert Jr., Noot Noot :>".

"A penguin,,, penguin plushie!" He chuckles softly, "He even has the yellow bangs!"

He starts to put the penguin plushy in front of his face before turning to Luca with it, "Noot Noot~!"

"Hehe...~" You giggle softly once Shu noot noots his way towards you with the little object. He pushes the plush's beak into your nose, booping it.

"Boop,,,~"

Your heart just stopped-

"Hehe, eeeyyyyy~ weowoeweoweoeeo-" Shu cheers as he continues gibberishing his general spell phrases.

"Presents for us? Oh, I wasn't prepared for that to my irony..." Ike says as he sighs, ashamed that he couldn't buy you a present.

"But Ike,,,, You literally bought me too many snacks along with 2 black and white sheeps."

You point out with a tiny pout, remembering the many things the boys have done for you.

"It's my turn to be the one who pampers this time!"

Your statement merely makes Ike chuckle back softly, before taking out the object with a blue ribbon that says "Ikey Wikey!".

"Can't believe you have to put this nickname on me,,,-"

Ike mutters, slight embarrassed. You just giggle, knowing that he actually likes it when you call him that, especially when you're both vibing alone.

"This book cover..." The Novelist trails off, "The artstyle- you drew this?"

"Mhm!" You nod with a happy grin,

"We have done many fun things together as the artist and the writer... I can lend you my paintbrush, as you lend me your quill... I did my part, so it's your turn to do your part; write your own story." You say, now giving Ike a quill that has a tiny, white floofball with a blue-white feather on the top of it's head as its keychain. The floofball has a tiny, cute smile on it.

"Oh, my darling ...."

Ike says quietly, trying not to sniff too noticeably as he gazes into your eyes. Yet, he eventually comes and holds you so gently, afraid that you'll disappear in front of him before he knows. You can only hug back as you lean your head into his chest, memorizing his heartbeats bit by bit.

"That keychain... It reminds me of you." Ike comments through your hair, holding the quill in his hand while twirling with the keychain.

"Is a cute floofball like you."

"H-Huh????" You lightly exclaim as you face up from Ike's chest with a surprised, flustered look. Which makes Ike's heart getting warmer and warmer.

Vox becomes the fourth person to approach the box as he slightly kneels to the box to pick up the object with a red ribbon that says "For Milford"

"This..." Vox starts as he raises the object to the ceiling, a new katana holder waist.

It wasn't an ordinary one, as it has a couple of spider Lily adorns on it along with a pretty rope bow hanging on the base of it. Vox makes his demonic katana appear from the embers before using the rope bow on the katana instead.

"This is a beautiful gift..." Vox praises with a speechless look. "Such beauty to behold..."

"Yet,,,"

The Voice Demon pauses before leaning on you to get closer to your face, looking deeply into your eyes before planting a long kiss on your temple with a strong adoration.

"It's not as beautiful as your smile.. Nevertheless, I'll cherish this with the remainings of my undying life.. as your demon in your heart."

"Vox..." You softly reply before holding his face and peppering him with lots of kisses on the cheek. "Come here you all-" You did the same to the rest of the boys who were also going bashful-

That's when you stop to see Mysta, who haven't moved from his position the entire time.

As if the silence is obvious, the rest of the boys decided to give you space for you both to fix with what's between you... Mysta still seems to not like the idea of leaving you.

"Mysta..." You softly say, tugging his sleeve gently so he can look at you. "Oh, Mysta..."

And when he did, his eyes look swallow red as his mouth looks dried... making him look like he have been crying not long ago..

"Here..." You gently say as you hand the detective the gift with the orange ribbon, it doesn't say anything.

"..." Mysta just looks at it for a moment, before looking away

"Mysta... Baby-"

"... Shut up." He weakly barks back, now trembling.

"Shut up... I don't want to think this is our last goodbye...-"

Mysta...

No matter how hard it is for you to not cry as he says this, you just weakly him before placing the gift into his own hands.

A white fox with orange and black ears.

"I want you to remember me through this white fox... It'll keep you company, as I keep you in my heart." You say to your dear crybaby in a heartwarming manner.

"..."

Mysta couldn't think straight anymore, so he just let his tears fall like slow waterfalls from his eye sockets as he looks at the white fox plushy that is under his gloved hands.

Part of himself wants to rip it in half out of anger and frustration on himself- but then the plushy is just like you...

Soft... Warm... Sweet.... Fragile.

He just can't have the guts to hurt it, just like how he doesn't want to hurt you...

So he just accept it anyway, silently inspecting the plushy as you silently but patiently waited for some response from him.

Mysta then starts to grab both of the plushy's paws, until he feels something on its wrists... He stops himself before inspecting at the paws closely, only to find small bracelets. One on each paw, both hands and legs.

'my funny boi...'

'my darling fox...'

'my genius detective...'

'my sweet bottom...'

"... I'm not a bottom..." Mysta quietly protests at the moment he reads the fourth bracelet. You just giggle quietly, trying your best to muffle.

However, growing more curious, Mysta starts inspecting around the plushy until he finds a hidden zipper behind the plushy's back. He then slowly unzips it...

To see another bracelet, well-kept inside the plushy that is represented as you.

'my precious Mysta...'

The last letters that he found... Shatter him in away that he now starts crying more...

He just loves you so much-

How do you even make him feel this way...???

The fox can't control himself anymore so he just quickly pulls you into a hug, having his face hiding in the crook of your head while tears can be felt quickly staining your hoodie.

"I'm sorry, I don't want you to shut up- I love you..." Mysta quietly mutters as he breathlessly sobs, draining his energy despite crying nonstop. "I can't bring myself to hate you like this...-"

"Oh Mysta..." You say, rubbing your dear detective's back in slow circular motions to soothe him. "Everything will be alright... I'll always love you..."

Enjoying every second of the hug, you both eventually have to pull away.

"I think... I think I'm ready now..." Mysta slightly hesitantly says, but somehow has a determined tone at the end. "It's now or never... Let's do it right for our tomorrow..."

You can only nod before letting the other boys enter the room so you can start with the procedures. You quickly instruct the boys

Instead of a portal, the machine is in a shape of platforms formed from six circles of different colors, forming a flower. Ike steps on the blue one, Luca steps on the yellow one, Mysta steps on the orange one, and Vox steps on the red one. The other two, the purple and the white one, has been left empty as Shu and Y/N have to stay in the present timeline.

Shu can only squish the penguin plush gently as he sees his friends leave beside you.

"Guys... It has been a big pleasure to meet you all..." You start, breathing in. "I never knew you would be the gifts I've never thought I'll need throughout this journey with this machine."

"We'll say the same, Y/N..." Vox says, nodding in acknowledgement. Making you smile.

"Y/N," Ike starts, not taking his eyes off of you with a soft smile, "I'll won't stop writing thanks to you,,, I promise, I'll write the stories we have made together."

"Keep following your dreams Ike,,,!" You cry.

"Stay pog as ever, Y/N!!!" Luca smiles big, even if small tears are appearing from the corner of his eyes, "I'll miss you big! Don't cry if you miss me, just say pog if you do!"

"I will,,,, pog,,,!!!" You say as you really smile at Luca, nearly crying.

"Goodbye, Y/N... Even if time is slim, I hope we can one day cross paths again still." Mysta says, tilting up his chin to look at you, he now smiles as mischievous as ever. Replacing his solemn state, "Stay cheerful, creative, and loving as always!!!"

"I will!!!" You try to reply back with the same energy as his, making you all chuckle.

"Goodbye, guys..." Shu says, he doesn't have to say anything to you because from now on, he probably will see you often. "The past me thought I will never have friends who can accept me as who I am... But now I know I do have friends... Thank you for being part of my life."

"Shu..." Ike says, smiling grateful, "You're awesome... We love to have you as a friend, too,,,,!"

"GOODBYE, SHU!!! OUR SORCERER HOMIE!!! POG!!! Luca says as Shu chuckles by his Mafia Boss friend's energy.

"GOODBYE, SHU!!! Y/N!!!" The four boys say as they wave at you both, you both wave as well. Shu is more like waving through his plushy along with a heartbreaking smile, of course.

3 seconds after, that is your cue to move the puller...

A big light appears, shining in both of you-

And now, the four boys' shadow silhouettes are gone from the walls.

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It has been an awkaward silence between you and the Sorcerer, until he decides to break the silence.

"Welp... It's my cue to go back to the Luxiem Lounge...- I have a duty to check on the business." Shu says, now aware that he has to keep his lounge-disguised abode running despite being alone.

"Will you need help?" You ask, offering help since you don't know what else to do besides cleaning your house and working on other inventions.

"Nah, It'll be quick- And after that, we can hang out if you want or something." Shu offers.

"Sure! That would be cool...-"

"Oh hey, about the plushy..." Shu starts, "Did you make it yourself?"

"Yep! For some reason, a penguin pop off in my mind whenever I see you... I don't know why." You admit as you made the little shruggie gesture. "I hope you like it!"

"I love it!" Shu says happily, "I'll keep it safe...."

As soon as you a company Shu to the exit and seeing him leaving by the business car, you close the door behind you as you sigh. Now looking around your place to see that there are some dust around. It's not messy, but you don't like to breath dust too often.

"Alright... Let's start cleaning."