"My goodness, that's a difficult major! It must've taken you quite a while!" Fujuju said as he climbed off of the bike and helped Pururu to dismount it. They had driven back to the alien alleyway again, and had parked out not too close from Mora's shop, which was now shut up for the night.
"Well, it was worth it," she answered with a smile. "And I do so much good helping my platoon and others, too. It's like every day I get paid back for all of the studying I had to do! So… Why did you go into what you did?"
Fujuju gave a smile, and thought for a moment, "I liked science from an early age, I suppose. There was just something wonderful about chemistry… It was a shame when I couldn't work as a chemist anymore…"
"Why was that?"
"Fuju? Well… There were…. Legal things that got in the way, and—Well this looks like our stop here!" he looked down at the card Tamama had given him, and back up at the large white building. "My, it does look… Higher-end."
"Are you going to be all right here?"
"Certainly! I couldn't think of anything that could stop this!" he opened the door for her, allowing her through, and then he got a look at the inside, doing a double-take at the inside. "…I spoke too soon."
"Come on, pick up your heels, Giroro Goucho!" Keroro shouted, waving to the corporal.
"I hate this! Why am I still in this?!" Giroro snapped as he rushed down the street with the others. Kirere was clinging onto Haruki as they ran, and Maggie and Oliver were at the side of the other Keronians. There was deep guilt in Tamama's face as he looked about for the scholar Keronian.
"Poor Fujuju-san!" Tamama said to himself. "I think I see it up ahead!"
"Did you hear something?" Pururu asked, and turned back around toward the restaurant.
"I don't think so…" Fujuju answered in a mutter, and looked back ahead. He still looked frazzled from the few moments he had been inside the restaurant, "…I'm very sorry for this inconvenience…"
"No, it's fine! No one's perfect, and you're just trying to work through a problem is all!" she smiled understandingly. He tugged at the scarf around his neck and Pururu glanced at him. "Fujuju-san, are you hot in that?"
"Not usually… I'm not sure why all of a sudden now though," he admitted, loosening it a bit more. An old photograph flittered out of it, and Fujuju gasped as it took off toward one of the fountains. It was saved, mere inches above the fountain's water, by Pururu, who had rushed over and nearly fallen into the fountain.
"Eh? Who's this?" Pururu wondered aloud as she looked at the photo of the pretty long-haired teenage girl, sitting as though it were a studio portrait. The photo was in black and white, and she was dressed in a 1930's style European dress.
"That's… An old friend of mine," Fujuju answered, taking the photo and shoving it back in the scarf. "Really I need to take better care of that if I want to keep it safe!"
"Was she to you like your Pekoponian friends now?"
"She was a special girl, with a lot of talent. I was the only one who could see it though…" Fujuju answered, shutting his eyes and thinking back.
"Are you all right? I didn't upset you, did I?"
"No. No, not at all," he smiled and shook his head. "I was just thinking back to her, it's been a while, after all! I'm sorry, I keep going on about myself…"
"I don't mind, Fujuju-san. What was her name?"
"It was Eliza," Fujuju answered. "It was a long time ago, understand. A very bright girl, like I said. She taught me most of what I know about literature, and Pekopon's oftentimes confusing ways."
"She sounds like she was really great."
"Oh, most certainly! She gave me a reason to go on for a time!" Fujuju answered. "…I still have her memory, that's what's important."
"…What happened to her, Fujuju-san?"
"I wish I knew," Fujuju answered. "We lost one another about seventy or so years ago, and that's a long time for a Pekoponian… Oh! I'm killing the mood, going on about all of this! I'm so very sorry… Please, allow me to make it up to you! I think I saw a Ramen stand ahead, I know it's not the fanciest, but…"
"It works just fine," Pururu said with a smile, and Fujuju looked relieved as they walked over to the stand.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Maggie asked as he tied the white apron about his waist and looked up at Oliver, who was dressed as a waiter.
"Sure! This way when he shows up we'll be able to watch and make sure he doesn't get too carried away… He's been doing well, but… This is a heck of a lot!"
"I'll say," Maggie looked back out, and Haruki dashed in, also dressed as a waiter.
"We have two number threes, easy on the daikon on one, and one iced coffee!" he called out, and placed the order on a clip alongside a group of others.
"How's the happy family doing on the lookout?" Oliver asked in a whisper.
"Ehhhh best it can be…" Haruki answered, and now poked his head out the door. There was Kirere sitting, looking lost and terrified. Tamama was there, looking about continually for any sign of Fujuju, Romama also keeping an eye out, and then there were the "parents" of the family; a haggard looking red mother with a lop-sided wig and an anxious-looking father.
"Looks like Pururu-chan's still not picking up…" Keroro sighed and hung up the phone once more.
"They could have decided not to show…" Romama suggested as he looked up at the large flame-lit chandelier. "…Who's footing the bill for this, anyway?"
All were silent and looked at each other across the table.
"Order up!" Haruki chimed in happily, and began to lay down plates in front of the group. Kirere looked at the large slice of cake, baffled, and Romama looked instantly ill and Haruki laid out before him a large steak.
"Idiot! What makes you think I would want this?!" shouted the Major, and Haruki flinched.
"Now, now, Ojiisama, no need to lose our temper…" Keroro said, easing Romama back down from where he stood on the wooden chair.
"You didn't order the steak rare?" Haruki scratched the back of his head and looked down at the notepad.
"No! It's the last thing I'd want! The very last thing!" Romama shouted, pushing away the plate and still looking sick as he did so.
"Kiichi, are you going to eat that?" Tamama asked, spoon already in hand.
"It's bigger than my head…" Kirere muttered.
"All right!" Tamama said with a wide grin as she pushed over the chocolate cake to him.
"Jeeze, you don't have to have such a fit, I'll take it back, I'll take it back!" Haruki lifted up the plate from Romama, and at this same time Oliver rushed out, a flaming plate in his hands.
"Hot! Hot! It's hot! How do I put this out?!" he yelped, and crashed right into Haruki. The steak went flying onto another patron's head, and the flaming dish landed on Giroro's. The corporal gave a scream and immediately tossed off the wig onto the table; the fire spread to the tablecloth, and Haruki took a pitcher full of liquid and tossed it at the flames to allow them to die down. The pitcher was full of wine; the flames flew up only higher.
"Come on, let's get you home…" Rokiki placed a few bills down on the counter of the stand and hopped down from his seat, helping Mora to do the same.
"Rokiki-kun, I had too much to drink… I'm seeing him again now," Mora muttered, holding her head and looking up ahead of them.
"…I didn't even have anything and I'm seeing him…" Rokiki added, stopping and watching Fujuju happily converse with the medic beside him.
"So then Keroro-kun, me, and everybody else involved were grounded for a month!" Pururu giggled, and Fujuju joined in the laughter, taking a seat beside her at the stand and not noticing a bewildered Rokiki.
"That sounds like quite a bit of trouble! The children had something similar happen with them involving pure sodium, a case of bottled water, myself, and one unforgettable afternoon!" Fujuju added.
"Did you do things like that with that other girl, too?" Pururu asked, and Fujuju fell silent for a few moments.
"Not quite the same… It was a different time, then. I haven't had to speak of her in years. I believe you're the first person," Fujuju admitted, and grinned. "You know, it feels nice to talk about this with someone! I think I know why exactly everyone was making such a fuss about this dating thing now..."
Pururu gave a giggle at this, and Fujuju looked puzzled, "It's all right, Fujuju-san! I'm not laughing at you; it's just that you seem so old-fashioned! It's something you don't' see a lot nowadays! It's like you're from a different era."
They ordered, then Fujuju became quiet, and Pururu became concerned with this.
"Fujuju-san? Are you all right?" she tapped him on the shoulder, and he nodded.
"Yes, I just… I suppose part of me hopes that this… This…."
"Eh?" in between them floated some debris, falling on the table like dark snow. Fujuju picked it up with a finger and studied it for a moment.
"Ash…" he muttered, and looked ahead. There was an orange glow coming from a corner. "That's from…"
"Fujuju-san, wait!" Pururu yelled out, but Fujuju had already taken off. She went to reach for her phone, and her eyes went wide. "Keroro-kun called… Twenty-three times?!"
Fujuju stopped short of the blaze, his eyes wide now. There were others surrounding the blaze with him, other diners, employees, and various other people from around the area. There were also aliens attempting to quell the blaze that had been the restaurant moments ago.
"…It's beautiful," he muttered, his eyes wide and glowing orange against the blaze. "It's… Gorgeous…" He then turned his head at the sound of a cough, one familiar to him, "…Ollie?"
He rushed over to the boy, who was laid on the ground and covered with dirt and ash from the blaze. Haruki was leaned over him, helping him to breathe, and Giroro was knelt down beside Kirere, who was coughing wildly. Romama was tending to his uncle, who had a wrapped up hand from a slight burn he had suffered.
"Fujuju-san!" Tamama exclaimed at the sight of the Keronian scientist. "We knew you were here!"
"….It's not big enough yet…" Fujuju muttered, turning his attention back to the blaze.
"Where…. Where's Maggie?" Oliver coughed and clung onto Haruki to sit up. "Where's Maggie at?!"
"Gero!" Keroro exclaimed, and looked to Giroro, Kirere, Romama and Tamama.
"She was in the kitchen!" said Tamama with a gasp. "I didn't see her come out!"
"We've got to get back in there! She's still in there!" Oliver yelled, but fell as he tried stand again. Haruki eased the boy back down, and looked worriedly at the blaze.
Fujuju, too, looked at it. It was swirling, beautiful… Asking to engulf more. But something else came over him as he approached the fire, unfazed at the heat or the flames, and disappeared into it.
Rokiki and Mora were still there as well, "I've got to help!" Mora yelled to Rokiki, who nodded as she floated away from his side and went to help with the blaze.
"Keroro-kun!" Pururu called out, and stopped by the group. "What happened?!"
"It was an accident… I shouldn't have dropped that plate!" Oliver yelled out. "I shouldn't have—"
"They'll be fine!" Giroro snapped to him. "You have to believe that!"
"They?" Pururu repeated.
"Fujuju-san is in there, attempting a rescue," Keroro answered, and Pururu gave a horrified gasp, and placed a hand over her mouth. This didn't last for long, however, as she saw more aliens in need and rushed to help them, her face still drawn over with worry.
There was a loud popping noise, signaling the structure bending and breaking. The fire was dying down now, however, from the effort of the aliens who were putting it out. There was still no sign of Maggie or Fujuju when the flames had totally died out.
"Maggie… Fujuju… This is all… I did this all… It's all… It's all my fault…." Oliver cried out, and Haruki placed a hand on Oliver's shoulder. Kirere reached out and grabbed onto Tamama's hand gently; the black Keronian was stunned, silent.
"That idiot ran in there!" Rokiki said to Mora as she floated back to him, looking exhausted. Rokiki started towards the ashes and the blackened framework, while Mora took a seat on the ground.
Then there was a bit of shuffling, and Keroro, Romama, and Giroro ran to it, and began to move away the blackened beams and wood along with Rokiki. Soon a few other stronger aliens joined in, removing rubble until they reached the bottom of it. There was Maggie, a red and yellow scarf wrapped around her mouth and nose, and beside her, laid out and barely conscious, was Fujuju.
"The flames… Were so brilliant…" he muttered, then passed out atop of the young girl.
"Neh…. Eh?" Maggie blinked a few times, allowing her eyes to focus and for them to grow accustomed to the bright lights hanging over her. "Am I alive?"
"Either you are or we all went!" Oliver answered with a grin as he stood over her.
"…Ollie?"
"Hey, she's awake!" Haruki said happily, and turned to the purple Keronian nurse.
"Terrific!" Pururu nodded. "That means only one more to wake up!"
"I'm awake," Fujuju said quietly. "…Please tell me that's not how all dates go."
He was in the sick bay unit of the Keroro Platoon's underground base, laid out in a bed next to Maggie's. The blonde girl rose up from the bed she was in and walked over uneasily, then lifted up Fujuju from his and embraced him.
"You were in there, weren't you? You came for me," she said shakily.
Fujuju smiled, and placed a hand on her arm, "My dear, of course I did. For you and your brother that was the least I could risk."
"Hey, you were in the middle of a bunch of flames and you didn't go trying to burn down more of it!" Oliver exclaimed.
"….I was, wasn't I?" Fujuju said with a bit of thought as he broke out of Maggie's hold. "You need your rest, Maggie. As do I."
"And I need to be getting back soon, I just got a message from my platoon," Pururu answered, setting aside a clip board and looking apologetic to them. "You should both be fine… Fortunately no one was injured too badly, and everyone got out safely."
"I'm very sorry for any trouble…" Fujuju looked down at the bed sheets, and Pururu walked over to him.
"It's all right, Fujuju-san… It was fun, actually! Definitely one of the more interesting dates I've had. You're very sweet."
Fujuju looked up from her to the humans in the room. Oliver and Maggie were giving him fiendish smiles, and Fujuju's face reddened a bit.
"I'll see you out," he slipped out of the bed and followed her out, leaning on the IV pole he was attached to.
They walked down the hall, and Tamama, who was on his way with a large bouquet of flowers, instantly lit up.
"Fujuju-san! You… You're okay!" he said cheerfully. "I knew you would be!"
"Tama-chan!" Fujuju returned with his toothy grin. "I'll be back in a moment… Keep Oliver and Maggie out of trouble for me, would you?"
Tamama nodded this, and he and his bouquet walked out of the hall and into the hospital room.
"So… I'd like to ask you next time you're here if you'd allow me to take you to a better dinner," Fujuju said as they continued to walk towards the base's exit. "I'm just sorry if there's to be any lighting it will have to be electric."
"Fujuju-san, I… I appreciate it, but…."
"Not to worry, I understand. I have a lot to work out yet… And we do have very different schedules. It would be impossible to work," Fujuju nodded knowingly. "Thank you… For at least taking a chance."
"Try anything once, I say!" Pururu answered as they walked out into Keroro's room. "And it's good to think I have such a nice new friend now!"
"As do I. That's a very good philosophy to live by…" Fujuju added as they left the room and stopped in front of the front door. "Perhaps for drinks another time, then."
"Sure thing!" Pururu replied. Neither were aware of the audience behind them. It included the Martin and Hinata siblings, Haruki, and the Keroro platoon.
"Please, allow me to get the door for you…"
"No, it's all right, Fujuju-san! You need your rest."
"It's perfectly fine, I insist," Fujuju went to hit the doorknob, and at the same time, tripped on his IV pole. He went falling moments later, right atop the medic. When he opened his eyes, they were straight across from Keronian woman's, their faces also pressed against one another. Pururu looked stunned, and Fujuju climbed back up, and leaned against the pole.
"I… I'm very sorry about that… I… Oh, dear…"
"I'll be going, Fujuju-san," Pururu said, still flustered, and Fujuju nodded, and watched as she left. He slapped his forehead and gave a small groan, and then turned around to begin the trek back towards the recovery area. He met with the stunned faces of his audience, and gave a yelp.
"It… I was an accident is all! I…. I…. I just…. I… I left my… I… I need to go sit down," Fujuju said, flustered, and he hurried past them all, again tripping on his IV pole along the way.
"Hehehe…" Oliver chuckled as he passed Fujuju in the Hinata kitchen, and Fujuju shut his eyes, and his mouth twitched. "….You're a dog, ya know that?"
"I was weak, and I accidentally tripped. I was on a lot of medication at the time, and I've already written her three apology letters since then, and I wouldn't be surprised if I'd terrified her out of ever speaking to me again. I'm lucky she didn't see fit to smack me," Fujuju answered as he pulled the cookies out of the oven. "Another batch finished!"
"Yum!" Tamama exclaimed, hopping up and taking a few for himself. He took a bite of one and gasped happily. "Fujuju-san's back!"
"I'm glad you think so, too, Tama-chan," Fujuju said. "I think it has something to do with the fact I realized I've been in love all this time and not known it!"
"Really?" Oliver was puzzled by this, and Fujuju pulled out from his apron a small book. Oliver took it up and gave a roll of the eyes. "You can't be serious!"
"Emily Dickinson. I just can't believe I didn't see it before!" Fujuju undid his apron and set it aside, then removed his oven mitts.
"You're unbelievable!" Oliver answered, and threw the book back to Fujuju, who caught it and smiled at the cover with a large grin.
"Ms. Dickinson wouldn't mind if I perhaps went out every once in a great while, I don't think," he said, looking down at the leather-bound book. He was taken aback as he felt something wrap around his neck gently, and he looked up; Maggie smiled back up at him as she adjusted his scarf.
"You don't look the same without it," Maggie said as she finished adjusting it. "Ollie and I found a photo in it… Who's the girl? Someone you liked and never told us about?"
"Nothing like that," Fujuju answered. "Let's just say there's a lot I owe to her. Oh, look at the time! We have to head back if your sister's not going to be worried!"
"I already think she will be when she sees the bandages," Maggie answered, holding up her bandaged arm "Don't worry… I'll just tell her it was some sort of accident."
"Normally I don't condone lying, but I can't see where there's a lie in that," Fujuju answered. "Tama-chan! I have to leave now!" he called out, and Tamama was in the middle of eating another large cookie.
"What, already?" asked the tadpole after taking a swallow of the cookie.
"Don't worry, like I said before, we'll be back again… Just… No more dates for me. I beg of you," Fujuju said with a worried smile.
"You got it!"
"And… I think you'll find a nice surprise for you in the living room," Oliver returned with the brooms now, and Fujuju gave a wide, satisfied grin as Tamama noted a large tin on the coffee table.
"Wowwww!" he gasped as he opened the lid and looked at all of the brightly colored cookies; dozens laid out on top of one another.
"The flashbacks to that awful humiliation of last night kept me from sleeping soundly, so I figured I'd do something constructive with my time while I recovered," Fujuju explained. "Hopefully they'll keep you until my next visit."
"You mean you're coming next weekend?" Tamama asked brightly.
"Ehhhhh…."
"We'll see," Maggie lifted up the Keronian and took her broom in the other hand. "Maybe if we do well on our papers."
"Bloody… I haven't done mine yet!" Oliver gasped in realization. "We better hurry!"
Fujuju gave a sigh and shook his head, but smiled all the same, "I suppose I'll be helping you with that… And now that I have a little experience under my belt, I can help you out with this young lady you've been speaking about…"
"Huh?!" Oliver's face went red, and Maggie laughed. "Just because you got one in doesn't make you an expert all of a sudden!"
"One more than you've had, Ollie," Maggie answered, and pulled open the glass door. "Say goodbye to everyone for us!"
"Okay! Come back soon!" Tamama waved to them, and Oliver took off from the backyard, followed by Maggie. Fujuju flew with the young girl.
"Pretty busy weekend for you, huh?" Maggie said to the Keronian.
"It certainly was… So many well-meaning people. I'm afraid to say I'm exhausted from it all," Fujuju admitted. "This is why I much prefer helping than being helped."
"Oh, it wasn't all so bad, now was it?" Maggie answered, and patted him atop the head.
"No… I suppose not…" Fujuju said with a bit of thought. "Still, I forbid all further discussion of my love life."
"Oliver's fair game?" asked Maggie.
"More than," Fujuju answered, then smiled wider at the boy, who picked up the speed on his broom as they spoke of him.
"You think you'll tell us about that girl in the photo someday?" asked Maggie.
"Someday, I promise. But as of now… I'm still quite exhausted from this story. And that is a totally different one," Fujuju replied.