Estimated reading time: ±8 minutes
After 2 hours on the road, I have to refuel the bike. I sigh and settle down to fill up at the first gas station I meet on the road. There was a family car that was also filling up, the father seemed tired and the two girls in the back bickering. I looked at the man, he was looking at me.
Saeko: They look great.
Man: They've been bickering for four hours.
Saeko: How old are they?
Man: Fourteen and twelve.
I look towards the back seat. And I get a little closer.
Saeko: Say, girls.
Both heads turn towards me.
Oldest: What do you want?
Saeko: So much attitude, you sound like me at your age.
Oldest: You are old then?
Saeko: Who cares how old I am, I want to know if you love your daddy.
Oldest: Um, I... yes... no... sometimes.
Youngest: I love my daddy.
Oldest: She doesn't talk to you! Hush!
Saeko: Hush both of you. If you love your father, I advise you to calm down and when you get home, you will go to bed without making a fuss. Do you understand me?
Both girls nod their heads. I move my finger in front of them.
Saeko: I want you to say it.
Younger one: Got it.
Older one: Got it too...
The older one crosses her arms. I smile a little and go back to my motorcycle. The father looks at me, I feel that he thanks me with his eyes. I remove the gas gun and put it back on its base. I check that the payment has been made. I put my helmet back on and get back on the road. The two little girls watch me pass by while their father settles down to get back on the road as well. I still have five hours left on the road and I'll have plenty of gas to get there. The sun was starting to set. It would soon get cold. Fortunately, my leather jacket keeps me warm.
The roads seemed deserted, a car was coming across the street from time to time, I take the opportunity to go a little faster, I'm going to get there quite early. Maybe Edwin won't sleep yet. I slow down when I arrive in town, after crossing the various roads, I finally arrive in front of Edwin's store. I park and take off my helmet, shaking my hair from left to right.
Saeko: Damn helmet that flattened my hair.
I look towards the door and press the doorbell. I wait for a while. I hear the little click of the intercom.
Edwin: My beautiful! You've finally arrived! I'm coming up to open the door for you!
Saeko: Not even time to say hello!
I wait a little and Edwin comes to open the door, still as well dressed as ever. I enter and follow him.
Edwin: The road went well? Not too many police on the road?
Saeko: Yeah, if there were, I didn't have time to see them.
Edwin: Ahah always going over all the laws.
Saeko: Well yeah, at my age, you don't give a damn about the laws, do you?
Edwin: Indeed.
Saeko: So, did you have time to finish or not yet?
Edwin: I know I'm fabulously good at what I do, but I haven't finished yet.
Saeko: I know, I'm a bit last minute.
Edwin: Don't worry, I was a bit bored in this off season, but your outfit is finished and so is the cute one, the big guy and the last one, not yet. I'll show you everything and let you try on your gear.
Saeko: Come on! Show it to me!
I rub my hands together with a smile on my face, I can't wait to see the result. He takes me to the back room and we go down to the workshop. I follow him wisely, once down there, he puts a suitcase in front of me and opens it.
Saeko: Oh that's so cool! Can I go and try it on?
Edwin: Do you really need to ask my permission?
I just stick out my tongue and go. I undress and put the clothes on, it's quite light and comfortable. I don't know how he does it, but he's a pro at it. For a simple human being, he has a lot of talent both for giving a style and for having a resistant and practical outfit.
Edwin: As usual, for your outfits, I don't put the signature.
Saeko: It goes without saying! I don't want my ennemies to find my favorite little stylist!
Edwin: You've gained weight, haven't you?
Saeko: Sorry?
Edwin: Did you hear me, have you been drinking a lot of blood recently?
Saeko: A little...
Edwin: Be careful, my outfits aren't made for you to show off your belly~.
Saeko: Fuck you!
He laughs, I laugh too. For some reason I don't know, I like him, he's got a good head and I'd rather take advantage of his talent than bleed him dry, I must have known him for 40 years and he doesn't look his age, despite his pepper-salt hair that betrays him a little. I put my clothes back on after taking off the outfit. I go back to him after putting my jacket back on.
Saeko: So, you still have a lot to do?
Edwin: The outfit for the big one, I just have to make sure the fabric manages to keep its elasticity, it can be twice as big and the fabric should hold and return to its normal size.
Saeko: What about the kid?
Edwin: Nothing special, right?
Saeko: Come to think of it, can you get his fingertips out in the open for his gloves?
Edwin: Easy to do, don't worry, so tell me, what are their powers?
Saeko: The cute one as you say is Drake, super speed power, sometimes I can be faster than him, but he must be out of practice. For the big guy it's Keran, super strength power, he arrived today. And the kid is Ray, when he touches someone's forehead with his fingers, he can control the person.
Edwin: Where you want him to have his fingertips free, I understand, the big guy, I thought I understood and the cute guy, I understood from his hairstyle.
Saeko: Stop playing with the finer points, you didn't know about Drake, he has a beautiful hairstyle!
Edwin: You see that you like him?
I cross my arms and turn my head, blushing a little.
Saeko: All right, shhh...
He laughs and continues to work. I watch him do a little after sitting on a table next to me.
Edwin: I'm going to spend the night there, if you want, go to sleep, the guest room is still there if you feel like it.
Saeko: Thank you old friend.
I'm going, the next day Edwin had finished all the outfits I saw when I came down from the guest room.
Edwin: Already in the morning?
Saeko: Yep, you've been up all night, man.
Edwin: I understand that.
I smile at him and look at the outfits on the tables.
Saeko: And how do I carry all that?
Edwin: I've got suitcases, and we'll put that on each side of your bike.
Saeko: Okay, so what do I owe you?
Edwin: Hm, you contact me for the next outfits.
Saeko: Deal!
Edwin: Perfect then.
I'll make him a high five and we'll put all the outfits in suitcases. We put everything on the bike.
Saeko: Good to go, I have a few hours of road to return with the guys.
Edwin: Have a good trip, crazy about driving.
Saeko: Thanks, my friend. See you next time.
I put my helmet on and get on the bike. I start off and head back to the HQ, finally to the hangar where we hide. After a few hours of driving, I finally get back to the hangar. We are at the beginning of the afternoon, I park myself and Drake arrives towards me.
Drake: How was the trip?
Saeko: We have clothes.
Drake: All four of them?
Saeko: Well yeah.
I take off my helmet and shake my head to put my hair back on, Drake watches me do it.
Saeko: What?
Drake: You're showing us the outfits?
I get up and pick up the first suitcase.
Saeko: This one is Ray's, yours, and the slightly bigger one is for Kellan. The last one is mine.
Drake: Okay, I'll get the others.
Saeko: As you wish, I'm going to get some rest.
I'll put my helmet on my bike and take my suitcase to my room. A little later, someone knocks.
Saeko: Can't I rest in peace? Drake: What's that outfit? I look like a clown!
I'm going to open the door and look him in the eyes.
Saeko: Did you try it on before you said that?
Drake: No, and I don't like the colors.
Saeko: Red and black? You don't like that? We all have similar colors. Besides, I'm sure it'll look just as cool on you as it does on the model.
Drake: Tss, okay, I'll try it on...
Saeko: Perfect, let's move from here~
He leaves and returns in an instant with his outfit.
Drake: Yeah, well, it's comfortable. And it's not warm like other clothes. It's as if he put on a fabric that doesn't create heat with friction.
Saeko: My guy's a pro in his field! Never doubt me~
Drake: What's your outfit like?
Saeko: Hm, 2 minutes.
I close the door and change. I open the door and Drake looks up and down at me.
Saeko: Careful, you'll drool on the floor~
Drake: Oh come on, you look cool.
Saeko: Stop being so flattering.
Drake: It's still true.
Saeko: Thanks then. Anything else?
Drake: No, that's okay.
I smile a little and close the door. I close my eyes, why is my heart beating so fast. I promised myself that I wouldn't fall in love again, and it's happening again.