Raido, Shadows of Depression… de arimasu.

That afternoon, the group cleaned up after the fight with the Gamama Platoon. Since the battle, Raido hadn't spoken a word. He remained rather reserved in contrast to his usual perky character. Hikiki cleaned at the wound on his arm where Giroro's bullet had struck him. Tamama watched them as he rubbed a wet paper towel against the scratches on his arms and legs from where he had been tackled over by the deranged Eddodo. Hikiki tried talking to Raido.

"You were really brave," she said quietly, "Thanks for everything you did." He didn't even meet eye contact. He continued to blink slowly. Kururu walked in and slammed his laptop down on the counter, plopping down into a chair. He typed at the keyboard rapidly. Keroro walked up to him with an almost irritated expression.

"So, Kururu… what were you doing when you left the yard?" he asked.

"Yeah, you didn't really help at all. Except for the feeble attempt you made to beat up Eddodo after he threw Hikiki," Giroro added. Kururu typed a few last things on his laptop before turning around in his chair and pressing a button on the mouse. All of the stolen documents had been recovered.

"You got the documents back!" Keroro exclaimed with his usual grin back on his face.

"Kukuku, it was as easy as slicing butter," Kururu snickered, "Their security system is weak. What kind of security system did you put up, Hikiki?" Hikiki frowned at him.

"I didn't get the chance to put one up, dingbat. Do you really think you could hack into any computer of mine THAT easily?" she snapped. She finished tying a bandage around Raido's arm. He didn't do as much as say thanks.

"Hey, you put up a really good fight, Raido," Dororo said. Raido stared at his feet. The others gazed at him quietly. Keroro walked up and made an airplane noise.

"Hey, Raido! The plane's back! You should go try and beat it! I'd say after the way you pulled off that deathblow, you have a good sporting chance!" he exclaimed. Raido didn't even look up. Keroro began to realize how bad the situation was.

"Raido…?" he asked. Kururu slid off his chair and walked up to Raido.

"This'll get him," he said, yanking Raido's hat off. Raido made no attempt to get it back. Kururu frowned.

"Hey, dingbat. Wake up," he snapped. Hikiki slapped Kururu over the head and took Raido's hat back.

"YOU'RE the dingbat, you dingbat," she snarled, placing Raido's hat back on his head. Raido straightened it and got up silently, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

"Yeah, that didn't help at all," Keroro sighed. Hikiki lowered her head.

"I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't want them to hurt any of you," she said quietly.

"Well, I'm fine. Thanks for your concern," Kururu said. Hikiki snapped a dirty look at him.

"Except you, dingbat. I would've been rejoicing if they had blasted you to Kingdom Come," she hissed.

"Ah, you don't mean that, Kukuku…" Kururu snickered, walking back to his computer.

"This isn't any time to be laughing like a loon, Kururu," Giroro snapped. He looked at his gun for a moment. He sighed, "It still intrigues me that he would pull something so stupid to save a friend that betrayed him."

"It isn't like we wanted to…" Hikiki said, starting to get upset, "We didn't have a choice…"

"You did! You could've run like Raido did!" Giroro exclaimed, "Of course if you DID, you could call yourself a coward!" Hikiki's eyes started to fill with tears.

"I DID RUN!" she cried, "AND IT WAS HARD, BUT I DID! I WASN'T BEING A COWARD! TO HAVE TO CHOOSE LEAVING YOUR BEST FRIENDS BEHIND IN ORDER TO GET AWAY FROM THE PERSON YOU HATE MOST IS HARDER THAN ANYTHING!" She choked on a sob and left the room.

The Keroro Platoon all stood silently. Suddenly a small round object struck Giroro in the back of the head.

"OW! What the heck?!" Giroro shrieked. He looked at the object and noticed a spiral on it. He snapped a glare at Kururu.

"What the heck, man?!" he snapped. Kururu merely glanced at him, feigning innocence, before looking back his computer screen.

"Guys, enough," Keroro said, "We've fought enough for today..."

"Agreed," Dororo replied, "I don't think we need to cause any more trouble." Tamama bowed his head.

"I hope they'll be okay," he said.

"Well… Raido should be okay, Hikiki might take a little extra talking to. You know how dramatic girls are," Keroro said.

"I don't think it's Hikiki you need to worry about!" Kururu snapped.

"Man, what is WRONG with you?! You're awfully testy for someone who didn't even get all that involved in the fight!" Giroro pointed out. Kururu frowned at them and turned back to his computer quietly.

"I-I've worked with Hikiki for a few weeks now," he stuttered, "She's not like… other girls. She's got a backbone. So… I don't think it's her we need to be concerned about… that's all…"

"Jeez, he speaks fairly nice words about her behind her back; go figure," Giroro muttered.

"I heard that; shut up, it's none of your business," Kururu barked.

"So, are you saying that Raido's in a worse state?" Tamama asked.

"I guess, Raido's not my concern," Kururu said bluntly.

"Funny how Raido didn't bother him until AFTER he met Hikiki," Giroro said with a smug grin. Kururu picked up a large gun sitting under the table and aimed it Giroro.

"Harass me one more time," he dared.

"Would you take it easy?! Sheesh!" Keroro snapped. He sat quietly in contemplation.

"Tamama… you seem pretty close to Raido; why don't you go talk to him?" he asked. Tamama nodded.

"Hai, desu," he replied. He turned towards the door and left the room.

He reached the living room and saw Raido out the window. He sat on the grass with his skateboard. Tamama went outside and sat next to him.

"Hey, Raido…" he said quietly. Raido didn't even acknowledge him. He knew already this was a bad start, "Are you gonna be alright…? Everyone is worried about you… Hiki-chan is worried about you…" Raido looked over at him a bit. He stood up and went back inside. Tamama sighed and got up, heading back to the base.

"So? What happened?" Keroro asked as he walked back into the room.

"Well… I asked if he was okay, but he didn't answer, then I told him that we were all worried about him, and then he got up and left," Tamama explained.

"Oh, yeah… this is pretty bad," Keroro sweatdropped. He turned to Dororo, "Well, you're Raido's other best friend! You could give it a try!"

"I will try as hard as possible," Dororo replied, standing up from his kneeling position and leaving the room.

(Dororo POV)

Dororo walked upstairs and found Raido in the living room, lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He went to him.

"Hey," he greeted. Raido stopped looking at the ceiling a moment to acknowledge Dororo's presence before continuing to stare upwards. Dororo got up on the couch.

"We're very sorry about what happened today. We'll do whatever it takes to help you through it, you can count on it," he said. Raido sighed a miserable sigh. He rolled over and faced the inside of the couch. Dororo felt a bit hurt by the gesture and got up to leave.

"What happened to you?" Keroro asked as Dororo walked in. He could tell that the others sensed his trauma switch.

"He doesn't want to talk to me… somehow that seems equivalent to how I'm treated by the four of you," he replied quietly. Tamama patted him on the shoulder.

"You tried," he said optimistically. Keroro looked over at Giroro and Kururu.

"Okay… Kururu, you're an irritating one, maybe you can pry some words out of him!" he said.

"Glad you think that, but whatever," Kururu sighed, getting up to try on his own.

(Kururu POV)

If there was anything Kururu didn't feel like doing at the moment, trying to help Raido was probably top on the list. Irritably, he located Raido on the couch and walked up to him.

"Alright, what's your problem? You've set off Dororo's trauma switch and shunned Tamama, aren't they your boyfriends or something?" he asked. Raido looked over his shoulder at him and frowned slightly. Kururu rolled his eyes.

"Don't be such a princess, Hikiki wouldn't like that about you," he said. Raido cocked an eyebrow. Kururu sighed, "I know more about her than you think. Example: She has an attraction to men who are… intelligent." Raido rolled his eyes and threw a pillow over his head, drowning out Kururu's voice. Kururu left without saying much else. What was the point? Raido wouldn't listen anyway.

"Surely, you got to him?" Keroro asked as he came through the door.

"Don't call me Shirley, and no, I didn't," Kururu replied, going to his computer and continuing his work. Keroro sighed.

"Okay, Giroro, you need to help him then," he said.

"Fine," Giroro replied.

(Giroro POV)

"Lazy idiot can't just talk to him by himself," Giroro muttered to himself as he climbed the ladder upstairs. Raido was getting off the couch.

"Hey, you," Giroro said. Raido stopped in his tracks. Maybe there was a chance? Giroro went to him.

"You're pretty good if Kururu can't even get you to talk," he said. Raido frowned irritably and continued walking. "Hey! I'm not through!" Giroro barked. Raido stopped and turned around. His expression was impatient. Giroro wondered if a gentle approach would be better, "Look… I'm… sorry about what I did. I know it was wrong to try and shoot at your friend. And I'm sorry that you were wounded from my mistake. I… I apologize." Raido gazed at him a moment. He didn't smile, but he merely nodded and slowly continued to walk off.

"Please be positive, please be positive, please come bearing good news and cookies!" Keroro begged as Giroro walked into the base. Giroro frowned.

"Why would I have either, idiot?!" he barked. He plopped down on the floor. He heard the door open behind him. He and the others looked back; Hikiki walked into the room.

"Hikiki, are you okay…?" Keroro asked.

"I'm… I'm doing better, yes," she replied. Giroro heard Kururu reply in words that almost sounded like "That's good." …but… this is Kururu we're talking about… he couldn't have said that… right?

"Have you talked to Raido?" Hikiki asked.

"Well, most of us have," Tamama replied, "But he won't talk back."

"Oh no… I don't think I've ever seen him that upset before… I'll go talk to him," Hikiki said, turning back around.

(Hikiki POV)

She went back up the ladder and looked around the living room, Raido wasn't there. She looked around the house and the yard and still couldn't locate him. Natsumi walked into the kitchen as Hikiki went to leave.

"What are you doing in here?" Natsumi asked irritably. Hikiki frowned.

"I was looking for my friend, chillax," she replied. Natsumi loosened up a bit.

"Oh…" she said, "Is that all?"

"Yeah, why?" Hikiki asked. Natsumi shrugged.

"Well, usually when one of you guys come in here it has something to do with a stupid invasion plan. Then someone makes a mess and if that stupid frog doesn't clean it, then I do," she replied. Hikiki loosened up as well.

"I apologize for their behavior," she said, "Back on my Platoon, I felt the same way…"

"Okay, now I know that since you were gone for at least two hours that you spoke with him," Keroro said as Hikiki walked into the base.

"Actually, I couldn't find him anywhere. I had a rather long talk with your Pekoponian girl, Natsumi," Hikiki replied. Then she glared at Keroro, "Now I understand why she calls you 'Stupid frog'."

"Lovely, you just had to talk with her didn't you?" Keroro sighed, "Augh, no matter. So you couldn't find Raido anywhere?"

"I searched the house I don't think he's here," Hikiki replied. As she answered, she felt sick. If Raido wasn't here… where was he…?

(Tamama POV)

"He's not… anywhere?" Tamama asked, beginning to feel worried.

"No, I don't know where he is, and I should but I don't!" Hikiki replied, starting to get panicky. Kururu left his laptop and went over to Hikiki.

"Hey, settle down," he said, "We'll find him alright?" Hikiki seemed to relax herself forcefully.

"H-Hai, Kururu-senpai," she replied. Tamama had never heard Hikiki address him like that. It was almost a little weird.

"Let's see… Giroro, what was he doing when you talked to him?" Keroro asked.

"He was going to another room, but I don't know what for," he replied. Keroro sighed thoughtfully and crossed his arms.

"Hikiki, why don't you check for him at Masaru-dono's house? I'll send Kururu with you. Tamama, you and Dororo go check the streets and see if he's skateboarding around there. Giroro, you and I-"

"No, I will go by myself," Giroro interrupted angrily. Keroro rolled his eyes.

"Fine," he sighed, "You go check the yard. I'll check the base and around the house. Move out."

Tamama and Dororo went out of the house and watched for Raido in the streets.

"Where do you think he could be?" Tamama asked.

"No idea," Dororo replied, "I imagine somewhere quiet and remote. Perhaps he wanted time alone?" Tamama thought over what Dororo had said.

"You're probably right… maybe we got on his nerves trying to help him so much…" he sighed. The two became quiet after that. They scanned the streets for hours. The sun began to set. Dororo noticed.

"It's getting dark. We should return to the base… someone probably found him," he spoke up. Tamama nodded and they turned around.

"Any luck?" Hikiki asked as they walked into the room.

"No," Dororo replied. Hikiki was obviously disappointed. She sat on the floor, hugging her legs. Kururu sat next to her. Giroro was lying down on the floor.

"What is taking that idiot so long?" he asked. The others looked over at him.

"What?" Hikiki asked.

"Keroro, why is it that he's taking longer than Tamama and Dororo. He had to search the house; they had to search the streets!" he pointed out.

As he spoke, Keroro walked into the room.

"So…? Did you guys find him?" he asked.

"No! And what have you been doing this whole time? Taking a nap?!" Giroro asked.

"…THAT and searching the house," Keroro replied reluctantly.

"Keroro, this is serious! How can you take a nap when you know full well that Raido is gone?!" Hikiki asked, getting up, "I don't understand that! Let me tell you, I will not sleep until we have found him and he is okay! I already lost him once!" The others stared at her. She sighed; she seemed to want to cry, but didn't want the others to see. She turned around and held her arms like she was cold.

"I can't lose him again…" she said quietly, "I can't live my own life without him." Kururu stared at her awhile. He got up finally and walked away from her, almost with a bit of emotional hurt. Tamama went to her and put his arms around her.

"We won't let you down, Hiki-chan," he assured her, "We'll find Raido-san."

RaidoRaidoRaidoRaidoRaido…~

"Hey… do you hear that…?" Giroro asked. Tamama listened carefully.

RaidoRaidoRaidoRaidoRaido…~

"It's Raido-senpai!" he exclaimed. They all looked around for his location.

"His resonance is very faint, how unusual…" Giroro commented.

"Kuku, that's because he isn't screaming his head off. I guess he learned a thing or two," Kururu said.

"But where is he…?" Hikiki asked. Keroro listened intently. Tamama waited.

"He's on the roof…" he said finally.

"How can you tell that from the basement…?" Hikiki sweatdropped.

"I've lived here a few years, I think I know Fuyuki, Natsumi, and Mama-dono's house by now," he replied, "I'll go see him."

(Keroro POV)

As Keroro reached the roof, he noticed Raido standing up and looking up at the sky.

RaidoRaidoRaidoRaidoRaido…~

He sounded his resonance off at the moon. Keroro smiled slightly and walked up to him quietly.

KeroKeroKeroKeroKero…~

Raido spun around and faced him nervously, his cheeks red with embarrassment. Keroro chuckled.

"I'm sorry! You have a nice resonance when you're not overdoing it," he complimented, "Have you been up here this whole time? We've been looking for you all afternoon." Raido looked down and nodded. Keroro sat on the edge of the roof, dangling his feet, "Come, sit, sit." Raido looked at him a bit before sitting next to him.

"I know Tamama has already told you, but we've all been concerned about you. We weren't trying to be a bother," Keroro told him. Raido stared out at the stars. Keroro watched him curiously.

"Raido-dono… we're your friends too… you can tell us anything. …you know that right…?" he asked. Raido was quiet.

"I'm so weak…" he said finally.

"Gero?" Keroro asked, "Raido-dono, no! You're not weak! You put up such a fight this morning! You even put Gamama in his place with that totally awesome deathblow!"

"Pfft. Big deal. So what if I have a deathblow? It's not like it actually helped anyone. It made me vulnerable, it wasn't strong enough to stop Gamama from sending out an attack order, it couldn't help bring my old friends out of danger… and…" He began to grow upset as he spoke; small tears streaked down his face, "…did you see the way Hikiki looked at me…? It's like I was… a monster…" Keroro gave Raido a comfort hug.

"Raido, it's okay," he said, "We'll help you bring them back. There wasn't anything we could do this time, you aren't weak…" Raido had broken into silent sobs. Keroro felt a bit better that Raido was finally speaking, though it still bothered him that Raido was in so much pain. Raido wiped the tears from his face shamefully.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't burden you guys like that," he said quietly, pulling away from Keroro's friend-hug.

"No, no, it's fine, are you gonna be okay?" Keroro asked. Raido nodded and got up.

"I should talk to the others. I've kept quiet today… but that doesn't mean I had nothing to say…" he replied. Keroro looked up at him. Raido turned around and went back inside. Keroro smiled; out of all of the ones who went to talk to him, only he could get through him.

Keroro followed Raido back to the base. As Raido went in first, he heard Giroro speak.

"So, what did he say, Keroro…?" he asked. Keroro walked in. Giroro had his back to them.

"Ask him for yourself," Keroro said. Giroro turned around and looked amazed.

"Raido?!" he gasped. Raido walked over to Tamama first.

(Tamama POV)

"Raido-san?" Tamama asked. Raido looked at him with a small smile.

"Hey, buddy," he said, "I'm sorry for cutting you short earlier. I'm glad you were all concerned about my well-being, but you don't need to worry. I'll be fine. Just take care of yourself, okay?" Tamama was surprised by the words.

"Uh, hai, Raido-san…" he replied. Raido went to Dororo next.

(Dororo POV)

"Dororo, I'm sorry for ignoring you. There was a lot on my mind at the moment; I hope you'll forgive me," Raido apologized, "Thanks for your support. I guess without friends like you I wouldn't be here, right?" Dororo stared at Raido.

"Raido-dono… you will always be my friend," he said. Raido smiled.

"Thanks, buddy, that means a lot," he said. Dororo felt himself grin. It had been awhile since someone had called him "buddy." Raido went to Kururu next.

(Kururu POV)

"Well, while you were probably no help at all to me, I do have some words for you as well," Raido said. Kururu didn't even look at him. After all, he could listen to someone ramble and type at the same time. That's called multi-tasking!

"I'll bet you do," Kururu replied.

"Look, just because I don't let things go as easily as you do doesn't make me a 'princess'," Raido said, "And… also I'm glad that you've made good friends with Hikiki. I mean… if I'm not around there has to be somebody to keep her safe… right?" Kururu couldn't believe that Raido said that.

"He's not my friend, he's an acquaintance!" Hikiki protested. Kururu giggled at the comment.

"Kuku. You heard her," he said. Raido chuckled.

"Hey, even a good acquaintance is a good friend," he replied. Kururu didn't understand… was Raido trying to say that… he was his friend? As he turned around to reply, Raido had already gone to Giroro.

(Giroro POV)

"What…? Me?" Giroro asked. Raido nodded with a smile.

"I want you to know that you're forgiven for shooting at Nozizi," he said, "And hey, a little bullet in the arm isn't going to kill me. It's fine." Giroro admired the words.

"You sure are a brave soldier," he said, giving Raido a small salute. Raido smiled and returned the gesture. Finally, he turned towards Hikiki.

(Hikiki POV. Last POV today. ...thank God.)

Hikiki felt herself blush as Raido spoke his first words to her.

"Even though we haven't spoken much today… I think I have the most to say to you," he said. He took her left hand, her cheeks burned.

"Y-Yes?" she stammered. Raido looked into her eyes with a small smile.

"I… I'm sorry for giving you a scare today. I should've told you about my deathblow. It's just… today was only the third time I had ever used it in my whole life… I used it to protect you guys," he said. Hikiki blushed harder.

"Raido-kun…" she whispered. He blushed back.

"I… also wanted to say that… after watching the way that… Gamama spoke to you… I just… I don't know how you lived like that for four years. And… if things don't work out for the others…" He broke off. Hikiki waited patiently for him to continue. At last, Raido threw his arms around her and cried softly onto her cheek.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, "I know you don't like guys that cry, and I hope that won't mess up our friendship. I just wanted you to know that if things don't work out for Daikiki, Nozizi, and Eddodo, that you'll be all I have left. And I want you to know that even if you are the only one I have, I would still be happier than anyone in the universe. Because… you… you're everything to me…" Hikiki felt her entire face burn as his tears fell down her cheeks. Could this be… a love confession?

"Aw, how sweet," Keroro smiled, "I guess that everything worked out in the end!"

"Tch, what a stupid ending," Kururu snarled.

"Getting a little TOO protective of our student, are we?" Giroro asked smugly.

"ALRIGHT, I'VE HAD IT!" Kururu yelled, grabbing out the gun and jumping out of his seat, chasing Giroro around the room.

"Eh, should we stop him…?" Hikiki asked.

"Nah, he had it comin'," Keroro replied.