Genow's short stories

If you've ever seen the show "Bank of Hollywood", you'd know it is a show where people can try top plea with three celebrities to gain money to fund their dreams or projects they couldn't otherwise. While the show has it's emotional and serious moments, the funny thing of the show is seeing outrageous claims like installing a Jacuzzi in a treehouse, or money to spread "Laughter Yoga". Well, while watching this show I got the sudden idea in my head, "What would this show be like with Blazblue Characters?" so I decided to give it a go.

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"WELCOME, MY DEAR AUDIENCE, TO BANK OF KAGUTSUCHI! I, YOUR HOST, BANG SHISHIGAMI, WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST WHILE YOU WATCH THIS SHOW! *cough, cough, cough* Ahem…Excuse me, I got carried away."

As Bang said this, a giant disco ball came out of the ceiling, possibly to create a more…lively atmosphere? Bang seemed satisfied with this. The audience of Kaka Kittens, Carl Clover, and some of the members of Orient Town seemed to enjoy the techno that suddenly engulfed the room. The judges' panel seemed uncomfortable.

"Speaking of the judges' panel, MYSTERIOUS NARRATOR MAN, Let me introduce the hosts for those who've never watched this show! One of the 4 richest of Kagutsuchi…an applause!"

And so, the judges began introducing themselves one by one.

"My name is Rachel Alucard. While charity has never been one of my favorite activities, the little money required for the amusement this show brings me is worth it. Please try not to bore me."

"…My name is Jin Kisaragi. I am the obligatory cynical bastard that probably hates you."

"My name is KOKONOE, PROUD SCIENTIST! Muahahahahahaha! Today better be good!"

"My name is Hazama. I honestly just entered this show to say No to various people, the faces they make!"

The crowd let out a roar of applause, and disgust, as Bang took out a small card from his pocket.

"VERY WELL. The first guest for today is a kitten from the Kaka clan! Give a round of applause to TAOKAKA!"

Bang's throat must've been incredibly strained, Carl could swear he saw -something- come out of his throat…and his clothes seemed to be suffering somehow. But nevertheless, a yellow blurb of light dashes across the room…and then hit the floor. All that could be seen was a laughing Taokaka doing snow angels in the concrete floor. The kittens in the audience roared in approval, and Taokaka, somehow, made the peace sign with her paws.

"Enough of this frenzy, kitten. What brings you to Bank of Kagutsuchi?"

"Well, you see meow. Because the guys above our town have been building SO MANY GREY THINGS MEOW, there is like NO SKY in our town! Only a napping stop, meow. I would like to request 5000$ to pay the law guys and the construction guys to open up some holes so that sun can enter our homes meow!"

The Kaka kittens did an standing ovation.

"…Hmph, so let me see if I get this. You want MY money to smash up holes in the floor?"

"…Well, yes, mew."

"…Given that I fancy smashing things, you have a Yes from me."

"THE KISARAGI-MAN HAS DECIDED! THAT'S ONE YES!"

"Don't call me that or I'll fire you."

"JIN KISARAGIIIIIII"

But that was a story for another time, it was now time for Madam Alucard to decide. She seemed to be pondering something…but what?

"Hmm, you would be using our money to change the infrastructure of the entire city…Which could cause some commotion and change the status QUO severely due to more open access to the Kaka Town…"

"Meow? I didn get what'cha said meow!"

"Sounds entertaining, I approve of your request."

"MEOW! THANKS BUNNY LADY!"

And now, it was time for Hazama to vote.

"I hate kittens, so no."

The entire crowd roared in disapproval, and some even threw tomatoes at him. But nothing they did changed his demonically evil smile of satisfaction at complicating the wishes of the well-intentioned glutton. So now, the fate of this project depended on Kokonoe.

"Hmm…Jubei would like this, and at the same time this would disrupt the NOL…but at the same time…I dislike the Kakas so much…But…but…Taokaka is my…my friend…"

"Cat Lady? Are you okay?"

"YOU HAVE A YES! CRUSH THAT shoe DOWN!"

The kittens from the audience went into a frenzy, leaving their seats to hug Taokaka for making their town a better place. All of the audience seemed to be happy with the result. Bang even shed a manly tear at the scene, and Carl was very happy for his feline friend. As Taokaka left the stage, it was time for the next contestant.

"AND NOW! A GRADUATE FROM THE NOL ACADEMY , NOEL VERMILLION!"

Noel walked shyly across the panel, with her head towards the floor.

"I…I want to request money to open my own Restaurant…"

Bang and Carl suddenly felt like throwing up after remembering her "Pufferfish with peppers and spices."

Hazama, in a first for the show, stood up.

"Yes. Yes yes yes that Wagoon was delicious you have a yes!"

"FOR THE WOMEN OF IKARUGA, IN THE FIVE YEARS THIS SHOW HAS BEEN RUNNING HAZAMA HAS NEVER GIVEN A YES!"

"T-Thank you, Captain…"

But then Jin stood up.

"You all know what I am gonna say and it's a No."

Noel didn't even flinch, she saw it coming since she saw he was a judge. But now, it was time for Rachel to vote.

"You child, I would never say no to someone trying to pursue a better lifestyle…however…I have had the "Honor" of eating your Wagoon…and it is definitely exotic. I will give you a yes…but promise me you will improve on your culinary skills."

"Y-Yes, I have been doing so all this time!"

"AND IT'S A YES! ALL DEPENDS ON KOKONOE NOW! WILL MISS VERMILLION MANAGE TO PURSUE HER DREAMS? OR WILL THE JURY GO INTO A DEADLOCK?"

"Okay like, I don't know what the shoe I'd be giving money for. Vermillion! Do you have like a sample of the things you cook or something?"

"Y-Yes! The receptionist said this could happen, so I prepared my improved Pufferfish with Peppers and Spices!"

Carl, Bang, Jin, Taokaka who was now at the audience, and Rachel instantly flinched.

"K-Kokonoe…I know we do not have the best of relationships but I am telling you, do not do it! It is not worth the experience!"

"Oh shut your trap rabbit. It can't be that bad."

Kokonoe took a piece of the dish and bit it….

*BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH BLA COUGH BOOM KERPLASH BLAEAAAAAARGH*

After the smoke vanished…Kokonoe was gone.

"K-Kokonoe!"

"HYAAARGH! KOKONOE HAS SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!"

Bang's clothes suddenly exploded, leaving only his underwear in plain view. People's eyes began to bled.

"MY EYES! M-Y-E-Y-E-S!"

"You child! What have you done! I withdraw my Yes! Your Restaurant is a nuclear hazard!"

Noel couldn't believe what she had done, and left the show crying. With a judge now nuclear dust and everyone's (Barring the judges') eyes bleeding, it was only natural that the show had to be temporarily canceled.

"I-I APOLOGIZE TO THE OTHER CONTESTANTS! THEY CAN COME BACK NEXT WEEK! THE SHOW WILL BE CONTINUED LATEEEER!"

As fire burst from behind Bang, the camera exploded. The fate of the show's audience unknown.

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"…Hmph, useless."

"Well, it was certainly entertaining."

"I said Yes for a reason, you know…"

"M-MY CLOTHES!"

We met three years ago. I had just gotten my new job at the university, and that alone was more than enough to make me feel at the best age in my life. Being a literature teacher...that's what I had always wanted since I read some books at my school's library a few years ago. I decided to indulge myself in the vast study of literature, only in that way could I achieve my goals. I won't deny I may have missed out on some of the good things of life by trying to over-achieve, but regret is not one of the emotions I like to have on my mind. Ah, but that doesn't matter now. Back to how we met.

Every afternoon, after my last class of the day, I would be utterly exhausted. But it was okay...because I always saw him when I went to the cafeteria. How interesting...I never imagined me, and if you knew how I was you'd agree, falling for the cashier of a cafeteria. But they say love has no age or race restrictions, so why count profession and gender as well? But that is not the important thing here. Going to the cafeteria and seeing him there always felt refreshing, a routine I never got tired of repeating. It was sometimes even the thing that kept me from despairing when work suddenly piled up in my face...

Why did I fall for that man? Sometimes I don't know. I never had a thing for tall people, or people with black eyes, nor black hair (nor the color black in general). He didn't seem to be as sophisticated as I thought the one for me would be. In fact, he was completely the opposite of what I thought I wanted...the complete opposite of me. But maybe that's not a bad thing. On retrospect, maybe it was rather narcissistic to want the person I'd spend the rest of my life with to share so many of my traits. Variety is the spice of life, correct? Everyday after handing me my coffee, he would get that sparkle in his eyes, and we would both smile at each other. I lived for that moment every day.

Gosh, that smile of his.

I was never one for initiative, waiting to receive my orders before acting. During work, at sports, at life in general I could be described as a tool that was waiting anxiously to be commanded...but as I realized that man wouldn't take the first step, I forced myself to change my way of approaching things and decided to ask him out on a date. I am quite ashamed...at 24 I had never been in a relationship, I had never felt the urge to want to take someone out for a nice dinner despite my almost obsessive hobby of reading romances. I didn't even know if he leant that way on the sexuality scale, I'm not rather sure what I was expecting to hear when I asked to accompany me to this one restaurant I fancied so much...

But to my relief, I got the one thing I really wanted to get. That sweet, heavenly smile of his.

I was sure he had flaws, like everyone else. But he was so perfect in my eyes. So upbeat, happy, he could make my usually serious self crumble into heaps of laughter even when his jokes weren't the most funny of the pile. And when he smiled and looked at me, I didn't care if his eyes were black or red, they were the eyes I loved the most. There was a two year gap between us, he went to the university at night, and wished to be a veterinarian. We spent a good deal of time looking at pictures of his pet, that he head dearly named...Fido. A pet doesn't need an amazing name to be amazing, I suppose?

In any case, that evening was the beginning of truly the best part of my life. Every evening I went for coffee became even more special to me, and he seemed to enjoy his job more as well. I specially liked that, when no one was around, he would lean over the counter and kiss me. I could truly ask for nothing more. The days kept on like this. Christmas came and went (I had dinner with his family, you could see where he had gotten his cheerfulness from. His mother even knit me a sweater...), We celebrated New Years staring at the fireworks together. He got his title at the university, and began working at a clinic not too far from the University.

I won't lie, I was happy for him for reaching his goal...But every evening wasn't the same, because I wouldn't see his smile when I got my cup of coffee. But he was doing what he loved, and I'd always go work on my papers at his office, watching him work. His love for animals and children was apparent, he always treated them gently, as if each patient was his own son. At this time, I wasn't sure how to proceed. When you're a "normal" couple, you have your stages laid out for you. You can have children, get married (which wasn't legal for us in this state), and then proceed to raise the kids and grow old together. But what step were we supposed to take next?

About one year ago, he announced to me that he was moving out to an apartment...and invited me to move in with him. I was completely excited to an almost childish level to move in with him. Even though it would change nothing more than us seeing each other after work daily (and having a house to ourselves daily, if you catch my drift...that kind of slang is used by him all the time, must be rubbing off on me). It felt like progress, like there was still more to this relationship after all. I gladly accepted, of course.

He was, and is, such a mess. In the kitchen, in the drawers, in everything. I completely pity his parents. Now, I am not the best cook in any sense of the word. I could probably use my dishes as a secret wapon for the USA Army, so I am really glad he can cook breakfast so well. I put up with his mess and clean it up because those omelets are just that good. I did have to teach him the basic principle of filing paperwork in folders and keeping a well-organized cabinet, or how to fold bedsheets and clothes...but it doesn't matter to me that much, his messy behavior is part of him.

We've been three years together...and I won't lie, we have had our fair share of lover's quarrel just like every other couple, I just didn't wish to taint this small reminiscence of the best three years of my life with such trivial matters. He and I, I think it will work out no matter what. Some say that's called being naive, but I just think it's called "Love."

As long as I see his smile I know we'll keep being as well as we are now.

I can't remember how I met you, and it's not like I ever cared. I know the one thing in my life that has really mattered was you. Loved you since I can remember. But since I remember, you've been such a homophobic person. Always making fun of those people whose only "mistake" was to love. I knew if I ever told you, you'd never forgive me. That's why all of my life, my love for you was a secret. I tried to indirectly make you change. Even if you couldn't love me, to at least become more tolerant of others. But it never worked. I even got the slightest feeling that every time I tried to make you more accepting you just hated them...hated us more.

When you began telling me about this girl you liked back in Ninth Grade, I was there to hear all of it. You never knew how every word of praise you gave her was a dagger cruely pointed at my heart. How I wished all those nice things you said about her were about me...That you'd love me. But I never let my resolution falter, I always listened digilently and gave you the best advice as a good friend would. It doesn't matter if at night sleep wouldn't come, because of how jealous I was. And eventually, you did get into a relationship with her.

"I did it man, we're going out! And it's all thanks to you!"

And, faking the best smile I could, I congratulated you. Wished you the best, became the third wheel in your relationship. Even then, when I was sure you would never love me, I decided to keep being by yourside. I decided I would be happy if you were happy, even if it wasn't with me.You and many others questioned so many times...why had I not gotten a girlfriend? You offered me your help, that you'd make me get any girl I wanted. I just shrugged it off and told you I "hadn't found the one". But I had. I could just never bring myself to act on it. Even at the prom dance, I went alone. I drank punch as I saw you and your girlfriend dance, you were so happy together...and I felt nothing.

We graduated, and even though we went to different universities, you never stopped talking to me. After classes we'd always hit up the arcades, or walk around. You never stopped being such a great friend to me, and sometimes I hated you for it. Because of you, and your amazing self, I could never move on. I wanted to move on, find someone else...But you were always there. I was so lost.

As the master I was at faking emotions, and at the pressure from my parents, I got myself a wife. She was pretty, I won't deny it. But I don't love her, never loved her. Always loved only you, I think you can understand. It felt horrible, having to lie to this woman every day, how much I loved her. In all our years of marriage, we've never had kids. "I'm not ready for children yet" I told her. And as the great person I won't deny she is, she understood. I wanted to adopt kids, and raise them with you. To see them grow together, along with you.

A year or two later, you were getting married, even. As you said yourself, I was the first person to find out about it. "I wanted you to know first!" Those words...While to a good friend might have meant everything, to me they were yet another taste of the cruel dagger that never stopped stabbing my heart, not one day. I was your man of honor... I saw you and her walking proudly to the altar, and kissing each other. I said they were tears of joy at the scene, but it was just a part of me dying once again. And the years passed, you had children. I was there alongside you when they were born...I've always been there when it mattered, but never a part of it.

...And now, you've died.

I walk along the streets, the place where the arcade used to be, the cafe we always used to visit...And even now that you're dead, all I do is think of you. Why did you have to die? Why couldn't you drive more carefully? Didn't you get that you were the only thing that kept me going? What...What am I supposed to do now that you're gone? I...I...

...I'm so lost. So lost...