>>5595269“C'mon, I know how to take your mind off all this.” she says, taking a couple steps down the stairs then stops, turning to look back up at you. “You coming?”
“Yeah yeah, I'm coming.” you say, turning your gaze away from the training students and follow behind your girlfriend as she walks down the steps. The two of you finish your desserts before leaving the urban area behind, returning to the central area. You see the central projection, again feeling a pang of sadness that Ace's image is no longer being projected, no longer watching over Conton City. Instead you see another up-and-coming Time Patroller, one who you faintly remember winning last month's tournament.
But that only serves to remind you once more that he's gone, bewitched and taken away from you all by one of Karn's spawn Chaya and that damned witch Towa. You sigh as you see it, lost in thought when Hyoka suddenly speaks up, snapping you out of your thoughts.
“You really miss him, don't you?” she asks, you looking down to see her concerned eyes.
“Yeah.” you reply, feeling down. When she grabs you by the arm, taking you from the hologram and lifting into the air. You follow her to the top of the dome overlooking the Parallel Quest time machines, landing in the small alcove there. A couple of people are talking, but seeing the two of you come alone they all share looks and dip without a word. Seems the rumors of what go on up here from time to time are true, will have to figure out something to handle this. Don't want people getting too familiar in public and causing a scandal when caught. But once they're gone she turns back to you, grabbing you by the forearms and levitating to your height, eye-to-eye.
“What's wrong? You've been down all day. No, no not just today.” she starts, you quickly getting the feeling this has been building up in her for awhile as she keeps talking. “Lately you've changed. You no longer seem excited or even content with anything. I can't remember the last time I saw you happy for more than a second or two. Talk to me Trunks, I can't help you unless you tell me what's wrong.”
“Nothing's wrong, I'm just-” you start, when suddenly Hyoka slaps you across the face! The sudden stinging sensation shocks you, you holding your cheek in stunned silence as she glares, now seemingly genuinely angry.
“Don't feed me that BULLSHIT!” she snarls, grabbing you by the collar and getting into your face. “I've known you too long for that to fly with me. Something's clearly wrong. I don't know if it's whatever the Supreme Kai of Time has you doing in secret that's gotten you like this or what, but this mopey 'woe is me' shit stops today! Got it?”
“I....” you start, then close your mouth as you see the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “Hyoka...”
