The Perfect Run

Felix the Cat didn’t say a word on the way home. Not a single one.

Ryan drove the two of them back to the Optimates Tower in the early evening. Their group and Enrique had decided to leave the gathering separately, to avoid raising suspicion before tomorrow’s operation. Eventually, the courier parked his car in front of the tower’s gates, but Atom Cat made no move to exit it.

“Hey, kitten, I know it must feel terrible,” the courier said. “Believe me, I understand what you’re going through. So, uh, how about we go watch a Star Wars movie with Yuki and Timmy to cheer you up? Think of the memes!”

Felix briefly looked at Ryan, his gaze completely hollow, before he opened the car’s door. The young hero walked towards the Il Migliore tower in awkward silence, head down and hands in his pockets.

Yeah, he wasn’t feeling well and wanted some alone time.

Ryan couldn’t blame him. Learning that Lightning Butt had murdered his adoptive sister’s parents, before turning her into a drug wizard and spitting on her birth mother’s legacy must have been… harsh.

The courier wasn’t sure how to reach out to his friend. At least, not until he was ready to open up.

Ryan watched Felix disappear into the Optimates Tower, before driving away. He still had a few errands planned before tomorrow, including dealing with a constant annoyance. “Shortie?” the courier called out while putting on the Chronoradio. “Shortie?”

“I’m here, Riri,” she answered on the other end of the line.

“We’re getting rid of the Meta tomorrow,”Ryan said, as he drove south of the city. “Il Migliore and the Carnival agreed to attack them together.”

“Good.”

“But something bothers me. I have the feeling the Manada are after you specifically, and not because you want to overthrow the bourgeoisie.”

Len remained silent for a brief moment. “I… I did attack one of their facilities. Though they deserved it.”

“I can’t explain why, but I have the intuition it was about something else.” Alphonse was clearly pissed Enrique had released Len from custody, and Blackthorn still kept the Genius under close surveillance afterward. “They were also under the delusion I was your brother, and I think it factored in their decision to hire me.”

“You think…” Len cleared her throat on the other side of the line. “You think it has something to do with Dad?”

Ryan couldn’t confirm it, but his gut told him so. “Maybe. I get the feeling the company has skeletons in its closet.”

“Of course they do Riri, their wealth is built on blood and suffering,” Shortie replied with anger, before calming herself. “What about the brain-duplicating tech?”

“I have an idea about how we can get it,” Ryan said, his fingers tightening on the driving wheel. He had left the northern neighborhoods for the southern ones, closer to Augusti’s territory. “But it’s risky.”

Len marked a short pause, but seemed determined to help. “I’m listening.”

“We know from the recording that Hector Manada lent the technology to Psypsy for research purposes,” the courier reminded his best friend. “Which means it’s probably in the bunker.”

She quickly guessed his plan. “Which has access to the sea, and will be under siege tomorrow. The Meta will be distracted.”

Len could slip inside the bunker, grab the technology, and leave. Ryan had the intuition Hector’s sons would destroy it should they get their hands on it, if only to remove a threat to their inheritance. “But it will be very dangerous, Shortie.”

“I can... I can take care of myself. I will do it, Riri.” Another pause. “And… after it’s done… after it’s done, you should come.”

“Shortie, are you inviting me to your place?” Ryan teased her.

He could almost see her flustered on the other side of the line. “Y-yes, but not like that. I… I set up a room for you down there. You will be safer with us than at Dynamis. I just don’t trust them.”

Neither did Ryan, but for now, the road to the Perfect Run demanded he take the risk. “I appreciate the offer, Shortie,” he said from the bottom of his heart. “I can tell you’re better. You sound more… confident?”

“I’ve… I’ve been following the treatment,” she admitted. “Reduced the antidepressants. Pace them better. It’s… I don’t feel better, I don’t think so. But I feel less worse.”

“Good. It’s good.” Maybe… maybe he could find a way to help deal with her depression across the loops? If he could carry her consciousness across time, so would the treatment. Hopefully.

“I… I’ll be in touch.” And with these words, Len abruptly cut the communication.

Progress was slow, but it was still progress.

Eventually, Ryan reached his destination, a classy, overwhelmingly fashionable bistro located near New Rome’s strip; from the outside, it looked like a carbon copy of the famous Parisian brasserie The Fouquet’s. A valet offered to park the car, but the courier would never let anyone drive it; his Plymouth Fury was too good for the plebe. It forced him to reach the restaurant’s entrance on foot, where his date awaited him.

“Finally!” Fortuna complained, hands on her waist. She wore the same lavish, scandalous golden dress that she did at Jamie’s party. “You were almost late!”

“But I wasn’t,” Ryan replied, taking the spoiled brat’s hand and kissing it like a true gentleman, much to her surprise. “I could never make a goddess wait.”

Since he needed a distraction and she kept pestering him, Ryan finally agreed to a date with the luckiest woman in the world; though it was only a smokescreen for his devious plan to kill her romantic interest in his person. His goal was to be as unbearably perfect and affectionate as possible, until it became suffocating.

But no plan survived contact with the enemy, and Fortuna had brought a third wheel.

“Ryan.” In contrast to her friend’s outrageous outfit, Livia Augusti wore a modest, sleeveless crimson dress and golden bracelets. While Fortuna breathed glamour, the mafia princess embodied refined nobility. “Good to see you again.”

“Oh, I didn’t expect you,” Ryan said, trying to hide his unease while he glanced at Fortuna. “I thought we were having a date?”

“We are, but you will also make it up to Livy for leaving us stranded the first time we met,” Fortuna replied with haughtiness. “You will spoil the both of us.”

“Of course, a divinity like you only deserves the best,” Ryan lied while offering his arms to both women, “and that’s me.”

Livia smiled in amusement as she took his arm, while Fortuna took a little more time to touch his sleeve. “Oh, it’s cashmere!”

“You like it?” Ryan asked, surprised. “It’s genuine cashmere wool.”

“There is no such a thing as budget cashmere,” Fortuna replied, as if he had said something stupid. “Either it’s perfect, or it isn’t.”

Damn, they actually had one thing in common, taste! Who would have thought?

The trio walked into the restaurant, guided by lackeys through wooden double doors. The deco was in the purest 18th century French style, with flattering candlelight illumination and exquisite decoration. It truly deserved its name of Le Parisien. Ryan had reserved an isolated table near the window, so Fortuna could look down on people outside. He knew she would appreciate the gesture.

He also noticed that each of the tables were separated from the others by walls, to maximize privacy. The guests could speak without worry of being spied on.

“I am glad you finally accepted your place in the universe,” Fortuna told Ryan, as a maître d'hôtel invited them to sit and distributed the menu cards. “You have a lot to make up for.”

“And I truly apologize for it,” Ryan lied through his teeth. “I saw you, Fortuna, but until you talked with your brother, I hadn’t seen you.”

He took Fortuna’s hand into his own by surprise, much to her shock.

“When I saw your passion at trying to reconnect with your brother, I… I was moved to tears.” Through skills honed through countless restarts, Ryan seemed about to cry for a moment. “Your heart of gold, it blinded me!”

“I’m glad you finally noticed,” she replied, utterly flustered. Meanwhile, Livia hid her face behind the menu card, clearly struggling not to laugh.

towards you?” Ryan asked with pleading eyes. “Because I can

regaining her composure. “If it goes well,

said, before calling the closest waiter. “Darling, an Assiette de Fois

I

smile. “I just wondered what the perfect woman would want,

no longer resist and let out

smile before

Livy.” Fortuna put a hand around Livia’s own in a sisterly way. “I’m glad you agreed to

smile turned sadder. “I need a

mission for the night is to cheer her up,” Fortuna all

my best,” Ryan replied with a smile. “You’re quite close

were very close,” Livia explained. “We

her own joke, but not

menu planned for you,” the courier said. “On one

your taste, but I’m surprised you invited us here,” Fortuna said while waiters left to prepare their orders. “I thought you were

well-off,” Ryan

kept asking

various banks,” Livia said, causing Fortuna to gasp. “I’ve tracked down some of his bank accounts at

would pay off. He even found

the euro, but with a wildly different exchange rate; and a few warlords had started minting their own coins. Dynamis also spoke

toad, but you

form,” the courier replied with honeyed words. When in doubt, he would flatter her shamelessly! “If you wish for a coach,

you, but I already

that this was a silent invitation from Fortuna to ask

you must be extremely talented to purchase something like that at your age,” the courier stated, though she probably won it from the lottery or something. “If I were to guess, you have the soul of an

to his surprise, Fortuna seemed quite embarrassed, adjusting her hair with her hand. “I actually sculpt

do?” Ryan

as he knew only corporate managers and affiliates could pay

incomprehensible sculptures, but instead her work took inspiration from Renaissance artists. She had crafted multiple lifelike sculptures of angels and mythological figures, with a statue

amazing,” Ryan said, and for once he was entirely

Livia said

to Ryan’s surprise, she was quite sensitive about this

reassuring her. “I’ve seen a lot of self-proclaimed artists, but

said with an embarrassed smile, a hand in her hair. “I’m considering making it

already had a job for the

Fortuna said quickly. “I fill in because my

you for the

made her frustrating, she was also completely

the starters, without saying anything. Fortuna looked at her friend with concern, and Ryan realized that the two were a lot closer than he thought. He had never seen the Lucky Girl behave like that

walk into a Dynamis facility to try and convince her brother to return, but Ryan wondered if it was entirely on behalf of her family. Maybe

self-centered. She rose up in

you don’t advertise your sculptures,” Ryan changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood. “I mean, this is the first

I know they will be popular.” Though she tried to sound confident, Ryan could tell she wasn’t from the slight hesitation in her voice. “But I don’t want my

his surprise, Fortuna hesitated to say it out

to her

admitted. “I mean, even

explained a few things. Ryan immediately zeroed in on the problem. “You don’t want the only thing that’s really yours to be ‘commodified’ by your family?” he guessed, as they started enjoying the starters. “Otherwise they will say

that. And that’s the only thing

love your

turned a bit hesitant. “I love them, and they love me

bit too much?” Ryan

you should work harder to take over our branch of the family!’ ‘Fortuna, you need

they were so close. They

I said no,” Fortuna told her date. “She still thinks

your sculptures anonymously?” Ryan suggested. “I mean, all good artists

Girl didn’t sound so confident when

hobbies, Ryan?” Livia asked, trying to steer the conversation somewhere

adopt lost cats,” the courier joked. And blow stuff up too, but it might kill

cat,” Livia

straightened in

chased when we first met belongs to you?” Fortuna asked, astonished.

to have an uninvited guest, but the cat won her over,” Livia said with an amused smirk. “As

could read between

any more awkward, Fortuna received a phone call and loudly sighed. “Trouble?” Livia

the phone kept ringing. She put a hand on Ryan’s arm. “I’m sorry,

Ryan smiled.

rising from her chair and leaving for an isolated private booth. Leaving Ryan and

Augustus’ daughter

us to talk again,” the courier

the princess replied with a strained smile. “You dated her in the previous loop,

point in denying it.

asked with a frown. “To date her. This time,

his eyes glancing at his champagne glass. “I don’t want to see it

eyes softened. “I… see. That’s what you said before, about people forgetting you

“I try not to get too attached to anyone,

What is she for you?” There was a

annoyance. “It’s all part of my diabolical plan to make her give up

raised an eyebrow in skepticism. “By being the

more Ryan gave Fortuna the cold shoulder, the more she harassed him! Ergo, the opposite should make her stop! “I

longer friendly. “Fortuna is my best friend, and while she looks otherwise at first glance,

did. “I admit I like

to protect me. So I do not feel alone. I owe her for this. Even if you think there will be no consequences for hurting her feelings due to your power, I guarantee

serious. “Why are you here,

“The Carnival, Ryan,” Livia said, her tone

for her presence. “I suppose this is why you wanted us to meet in a

the Carnival in New Rome lately, fighting the Meta-Gang,” Livia said. “It’s them, right? The people who asked you to blow up the Bliss

it’s the Carnival,” Ryan admitted. No point

would let you be as long as you didn’t target my family,” Livia reminded him. “And I have. But you are willing to collaborate

was an accident, from

grew angrier by the second. “Do you