CH 11: Phantom Thief (Pinkbuster) Strikes

Setting: Command Center

Nick had his own stock of enetron at Hiromu and Rika-san's house. With Vaglass defeated, he and the other buddyroids still get their own share of enetron as pension. Nick was busy restocking Hiromu's locker with his enetron cans when Usada and Youko entered from the hallway. He thought that both were fighting again over a homework.

"I'm tired already, Usada" Youko said, her face resting on the table, "let me just solve them tomorrow"

"ashita(tomorrow)?!" Usada replied, "but you have another set to solve tomorrow. You're lagging behind your homework Youko."

Youko stuck her tongue at Usada.

Usada turned his back from Youko and headed to the exit, "Oh well, I better tell siscon that Youko-chan is not doing her homework –"

"Chotto, Usada! Don't tell Hiromu about—"

"About what?" Hiromu asked, he appeared with his hands on his sides while looking straightly at Nick who was continuously putting cans of enetron inside his locker. Nick could only nod and mutter, "hehe". Nick didn't know that the music box from 14 years ago fell from the locker with a small thud.

Youko was delighted when she saw the music box. She remembered that it was a Christmas present from 14 years ago. She took the music box and played the sound of "Jingle Bells".

"Nee Hiromu, can I borrow this?" Youko asked gleefully. Hiromu beamed at her in reply.

Youko lost it

The next morning, Youko wandered off at the Plaza. She sat on a bench, stretching her arms to the full. Rest day at last! She said to herself. Apparently, she's been improving in her homework because she didn't want Hiromu to think of her as irresponsible.

She opened her bag and took out Hiromu's music box. She played the music over and over again until she noticed a small commotion a few meters away. In Youko's hurry, she left her bag and the music box on the bench.

The Saionji jewelry shop was in the process of being robbed. Youko barged in. The robbers looked at her and attacked her. Too bad for them, Youko didn't resist to fight. She took them blow by blow and tied their hands in ropes. She waited until the authorities came.

A couple of detectives came and thanked Youko for her help. When she went out of the shop, an elite-looking girl bowed at her.

"arigatou for saving my shop" she said

Youko couldn't believe that such young girl who was only a few years older than her can own a jewelry shop. She thought that the girl looked very familiar, but she couldn't guess who she is. The music box quickly appeared in her mind. She apologized to the shop owner and hurried back to the bench.

"Uzo!" she said, her expression worried.

The music box was gone.

Youko looks for the music box

Hiromu just returned at the plaza with the Street Performers group. They spent the whole day entertaining orphans from a shelter at the country side. While walking with them, Hiromu saw a yellow rabbit mascot afar. He thought he'd get the mascot's picture and show it to Youko. The group walked with him to get their pictures with the mascot as well.

A hand tapped Hiromu's shoulder, "Oi Hiromu"

Hiromu turned around. He saw Reika Saionji, the phantom thief (pinkbuster). Only that Reika wasn't wearing her pink wig and white mask.

"Saionji Reika" Hiromu said

"Reika" Reika insisted

Hiromu's former classmates looked at her. They made a sound teasing the two.

"Is she the one you're talking about Hiromu?" a guy classmate asked, "kireii (pretty)!"

Reika smiled and looked down, her cheeks blushing in crimson.

"Chigai (you're wrong)" Hiromu said, his voice firm. His morphin brace rang. He excused himself from the small crowd to answer a call from Usada. Reika bit her lip in protest.

"Hiromu. Is Youko-chan with you?"

"No. I told her I'll be performing with the Street Performance group for the whole day". Hiromu replied, his voice starting to get anxious.

"She's not answering my calls. She's supposed to be home by now. She told me she'll be at the Plaza"

"I'll look for her" Hiromu said, dismissing the call.

Hiromu returned to his group, bade goodbye and hurried off. His classmates who were left with Reika in the middle of the plaza were looking at each other. They thought they've never seen Hiromu so apprehensive before. Reika gripped her bag. A soft sound just escaped from her bag.

Youko was found

Youko thought her legs felt like jell-o. But determination wouldn't escape her conviction. She had to find the music box for one thing—it is very important to Hiromu. She looked at the bench many times. She even asked the plaza marshalls and tourists if they saw a music box. She looked at her time, it's already past 8. She's been looking for the music box for 5 hours already. She never thought of resting to eat dinner. She thought her snacks were enough fuel for her search.

Hopeless, Youko started to sing:

Boku wa na minna, ikiteiru

Ikiteiru kara uta unda…

Youko repeated the song loudly while looking under the benches. Because of her loud singing voice, Hiromu saw her easily. Hiromu called from afar, Youko froze from her position and muttered, "Uzo!"

Hiromu put his hands in his sides. He didn't utter a word.

Youko looked down. "gomen" she said.

Youko did it again

Youko continued her search for three nights straight. The same applied for Hiromu, who would search for Youko everytime she won't answer Usada, Ryuu-san or his calls. Hiromu thought that for three days, Youko seemed distant to him. Usada told him that Youko was able to do her problem sets, but she's always in a hurry to go to the plaza.

Youko was found sitting on the same bench where she lost the music box.

"Youko" Hiromu called, frustration ringing in his voice

She stood up, about to protest. But no sound came from her.

"Baka! (idiot)" Hiromu said, "What are you doing repeating the same procedure for three nights straight?"

Youko didn't answer. She was silent for 5 minutes. To Hiromu's surprise, Youko put her hand on her face and cried loudly. Hiromu's mouth gaped open in this gesture.

"Gomen, gomen Hiromu!" Youko said, her voice frustrated in between tears, "I lost your music box. I left it here with my bag and when I returned— it's gone." She continued, "The Saionji shop was being robbed and to my hurry I forgot to secure the music box"

Hiromu took out a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to Youko. "Forget about it Youko, let's go home". Then he turned his back from her.

"Chigai!" Youko said, "I've been irresponsible. That music box is very important to you. It's a memory from our families from the subdimension. I won't get away with it!"

"Youko," Hiromu said, his back still facing her "Lives have been protected for the loss of the music box"

"demo (but)—" Youko said, disregarding Hiromu's judgment

Hiromu turned to face her. He thought he should give her a good judgment.

"You said you're going to protect what's important to me—" Hiromu said, putting a hand under his chin, "but why didn't you protect yourself?" To Youko's surprise, Hiromu smiled at him.

Youko didn't protest anymore. But she thought it would be unfair to disregard the music box easily.

"If you insist, we'll look for it together." Hiromu said, as if reading her thoughts

Hiromu listened while Youko told her all the details. They retraced their steps from the bench to the Saionji jewelry shop. When they appeared in front of the jewelry shop, Reika was standing there.

"shop owner!" Youko pointed, "chotto—you're the phantom thief!"

Reika disregarded her. She turned to Hiromu and said angrily, "why did you forgive her easily? She lost the music box, didn't she?!"

Youko and Hiromu looked at one another. The shop was too far from the bench. Reika couldn't possibly hear their conversation. The word "music box" was enough to blow her cover. Even Reika seemed surprise at her irrational statement.

*to be continued :D