CH 8: Tokumei: Pursue Youko's Heart!
Setting: Country side
Hiromu and Nick shared the afternoon in their usual spot at the country side. Nick had his enetron with him while Hiromu chose to bring a canned coffee. During vacation, the seashore is crowded with people, but Hiromu and Nick could only count a few.
"Hmm, vacation eh" Nick muttered while lying down as Hiromu did.
Hiromu didn't reply. When Nick looked at him, Hiromu seemed preoccupied.
"Hiromu, oi—daijobou?"
He was answered with a small nod from Hiromu. Hiromu sat up, his back facing Nick.
"Nick, I think I messed up today"
"You sometimes do, when you're too straightforward" Nick chuckled, "When we returned with the buster machines a while ago, I saw Youko –chan covering her face—"
Nick continued, "She may be a good match to you, but Youko is a girl, Hiromu. Girls are sensitive"
Hiromu turned to face him, "Why would she cover her face when I told her that I like her?"
Nick's enetron almost fell from his grip. "What?! I've been with you for fourteen years and I never had a single idea! Way to go Hiromu! I told you, you can do it. What happed then?"
The sea looked very peaceful. Its atmosphere cooperated while Hiromu recalled what happened a few hours ago.
Youko turned to face him,
"CB-01 is important to you" she said, her hands on her hips, "I'm just protecting what is yours"
"So you really like me" Hiromu said straightforwardly
"HUH?!"
Hiromu cleared his throat and looked straightly at her, "I like you too"
Youko reacted, "Uzo! (no way!)" She covered her face and ran inside the base.
Nick tilted his head to the left. He'd wanted to say that Hiromu had been too straightforward. But he thought that Hiromu's confession was genuinely from the heart. "let me just say this Hiromu—the formula of your confession is an amiss—but the content is genuine. You just have to reiterate the content properly—and you have to consider Ryuuji, Commander Kuroki and…Usada"
Ryuuji, Commander Kuroki and Usada were top three of Youko's overprotective guardians. Hiromu thought he had to revisit his logic before seeking the chance to talk with Youko again.
Setting: Youko's Home
The next day, Hiromu found out that Youko went out to shop. He thought that it would be a good opportunity to talk with the three overprotective guardians while Youko wasn't around. Ryuuji, Commander Kuroki and Usada were there at the command room, befuddled at Hiromu's sudden request for a meeting. When Hiromu entered the command room, he seemed resolved and tense at the same time. But he masked the tension well enough before Usada can sniff it out from him.
"Commander Kuroki, Ryuu-san, Usada" Hiromu began, "I deeply apologize for the inconvenience."
"just say it already" Usada said
Hiromu cleared his throat , "I ask for your permission to date Youko—" He bowed very low at once, "onegaishimasu! (please)"
The three guardians looked at one another in bewilderment. Usada was expected to complain foremost, especially that he taught Youko to call Hiromu "siscon". But Usada was the first one to give permission to Hiromu, since he knew Youko's feelings very well. He just warned him that he'll tie him to the ferriswheel once Hiromu breaks her heart.
It was Ryuuji's turn to speak, "Youko-chan is free to go out with any person she likes" He took a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose. Hiromu couldn't hide his laughter seeing Ryuuji as teary-eyed. Gorisaki, who was eavesdropping from afar, commented, Ryuuji sounds like Youko's otosan (father).
Hiromu looked at Commander Kuroki and waited for his reply.
Commander Kuroki twitched his lips in his usual fashion. "Since it's you Hiromu, I wouldn't doubt it. Permission granted. Tokumei (special mission)—Pursue Youko's Heart!"
Hiromu decided not to react when Commander Kuroki associated the whole thing with a special mission or operation. He bowed low again for the second time, saying "Arigatou gozaimasu!" with a big smile on his face.
Youko Returns
Youko returned with a bag full of snacks. She took a pudding and put down aside the other contents inside her locker. While eating her pudding, she thought of Hiromu. Hiromu was too blunt then, she said to herself, remembering his confession yesterday. A smile appeared on her face. She took a handkerchief from her pocket. It was the same handkerchief that Hiromu handed to her when her face was dirty from crying. She examined it while eating her dessert. She couldn't help but to smile so widely.
"I have to return this to him, it has been in my possession for a year" she said
"Youko"
Hiromu appeared from the hallway. Youko scrambled in her seat. She kept the handkerchief inside her pocket.
"What is that?" Hiromu asked
"pudding, chocolate-flavored" Youko said awkwardly
"Chigai (no)" Hiromu said, "the one that you put in your pocket just now"
Knowing that she was caught red-handed, Youko took out the handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him. Hiromu laughed while looking at it.
"Do you bring this everyday?" he asked
"You're being cocky, siscon" Youko said, making a face
Hiromu returned the handkerchief to her. "You can keep it." He said. Youko made a face again and returned the handkerchief in her pocket. Suddenly, Hiromu had an idea. He neared himself towards the entrance.
"Doko ni? (where are you going?)" Youko asked
It was Hiromu's turn to make a face. "I'll get your diary. I remembered when you muttered my name while you're writing something in it. I bet I'll see my name there." He made an exit without using his superhuman speed. "chotto!" Youko called and ran after him. "Oi Hiromu! That's invasion of privacy!"
Hiromu was looking back at Youko while he was running. He didn't know that two employees were pushing a cart in the hallway. When he made a full stop, Youko crashed into him. They both fell down with their faces flat on the carpeted floor. ("itaii!" Youko exclaimed, rubbing her forehead)
Ryuuji and Usada were watching from afar.
"tsk tsk" Usada said
Ryuuji just crossed his arms and grinned, "so that's how young people express their love to each other eh?"
