Now taking ideas for ways to write this line creatively: I do not own Rockman.exe. Never did, never will. Though Rockman and I do have the same birthday. No joke.
Chapter 25: A New Friend
Rockman stretched as he awoke, feeling more refreshed than he had in a long time. That was before he looked at the clock, and when he did, he nearly had a heart attack: 10:21! He NEVER slept in that late. And with Netto-kun sick…how could he let himself sleep in so much!?
"Good morning, Rockman-san," a gentle voice said. Rockman whirled around and sighed in relief when he saw it was only a nurse navi. "Sleep well?" she asked.
"I've never slept in like that," Rockman said embarrassed. "I shouldn't be slacking off like this."
"You're not slacking off," the nurse reassured. "You've never been under so much stress and I know you haven't been getting the rest cycles like you should have. And don't worry; Netto-san is still asleep."
Rockman smiled sheepishly. "Thanks for watching him," he said.
"No problem. It's my job," she said. "And if you ever need to rest, just call me. I know you don't like letting other people take care of your net-op, but you need your rest cycles."
"Thanks," Rockman said to the nurse navi.
"Well, now that you're charged, I'll head out," she said. "Remember to call."
Rockman nodded and projected himself into the real world. The nurse navi had been correct about Netto being asleep. Rockman smiled to himself, comforted by the fact that his brother was lying still because he was sleeping and not because he was in a coma. Who knew he would ever be glad at the fact that Netto was sleeping in?
Rockman's head perked up as he heard small footsteps run into the room and barely caught a glimpse of brown hair ducking under Netto's bed.
"Hello?" Rockman called out. There was no answer. "Hello!" Rockman called again, this time louder but not loud enough to wake Netto. Not that waking the him should have been a big concern—that boy could sleep through an atomic bomb; but Rockman always had been on the cautious side, especially where his twin brother was concerned, so therefore he still maintained his voice at a decent level. "I know you're under there! Come on out," Rockman continued, putting authority into his voice: "If you surprise Netto-kun, he'll probably have a heart attack."
The head of a boy about 10 years of age popped up. "Really?" he asked shyly. Rockman nodded. The boy sighed and stood up. "Sorry." He then looked around and put his finger to his lips as if to keep the blue navi quiet. "I'm trying to hide from the nurses," he said in a hushed voice.
"Why?" Rockman asked.
"Because I don't want to be poked with a bunch of needles," the boy confided.
"It's for your benefit," Rockman said, feeling a slight sense of déjà vu.
"But it hurts," the boy whined.
"You get used to it after a while." The boy jumped and looked at Netto, who had apparently woken and decided to join in the conversation. "It's the getting to the 'after a while' that's the hard part."
"How are you feeling this morning, Netto-kun?" Rockman asked.
Netto grinned. "Great," he said but after a thoughtful pause added, "well, comparatively anyway. You? Sleep well?"
"Uh..er yeah," Rockman said, turning slightly red from embarrassment at having slept in.
"Why the face, Rock?" Netto asked.
"I…it's nothing," Rockman said. "Just had a startle when I woke up. That's all."
"What kind of startle?" Netto asked curiously.
"Nothing, Netto-kun. It doesn't matter," Rockman insisted.
"Come on, Rockman," Netto complained. "I'll find out sooner or later."
"Okay, fine," Rockman said, turning even redder. "But don't laugh. I don't want you to have a coughing fit or worse, a heart attack. But I slept in on accident."
Netto's eyes went wide. "You? Sleep in!?" Netto covered his mouth as if to hold back a chuckle but let out a couple of painful coughs instead.
"Netto-kun!" Rockman cried in alarm.
Netto-kun took in deep breathes and then turned to Rockman forcing a smile. "Sorry. Are you really that tired, Rockman?"
"Uun," Rockman shook his head. "I feel really good now."
"But that's now…" Netto frowned.
"Don't worry about me, Netto-kun," Rockman reassured.
"Still…" Netto said sadly. How could he not care about his brother and best friend in the entire world? The one who he feared the most to leave if he died?
"I wish I had a navi like Rockman," the boy said. Both Rockman and Netto looked at the boy who they had forgotten was still waiting by Netto's bed. Now he was leaning on Netto's bed, looking longingly at the blue navi hologram.
"Do you have a navi?" Netto asked.
"No, not yet," the boy answered. "My parents said I could get one when I turned 12. But that's so far away!"
"That is a long time to wait," Netto said sympathetically. "By the way, my name's Hikari Netto. What's yours?"
The boy beamed brightly. "My name is Kon Botan."
"Nice to meet you, Botan. So are you staying at the hospital for awhile?" Netto asked.
The boy shook his head sadly. "Dunno. I had a heart attack last night so my parents brought me here. The doctor's don't know what's wrong, especially since I'm too young to have a heart attack."
"I'm sorry," Netto said.
"Me too," Botan said. "I've never even been in a hospital before."
"Lucky," Netto said. "I manage to end up in a hospital quite a bit, both for others and myself. I hate them."
"Do you get sick a lot?" Botan asked.
Netto shook his head. "Nah. I rarely get sick. I just end up getting hurt a lot."
"Well considering," Rockman added, "I'm personally surprised you don't end up getting hurt a lot more than you do."
Netto rubbed the back of his head. "That's true."
"What did you do that you got hurt so much," Botan asked.
Netto brought his hand down. "I was a Net Saver before I got sick."
Botan's eyes went big. "Really? A real Net Saver?" the younger brunette asked excitedly. Both Rockman and Netto smiled.
"Yep," Netto voiced.
The PET rang. "Ah, Netto-kun. It's Enzan." Rockman quickly scanned the sent message before continuing. "He and Laika are headed over."
"Who are they?" Botan asked.
"They're a couple of friends of mine. They don't have lives so they visit me everyday. At least Enzan anyway. If Laika did I'd be concerned since he lives all the way in Sharo," Netto explained while Rockman rolled his eyes at Netto's description of his fellow Net Savers.
Just then three people walked into the room: a nurse, a man and a woman. Netto eyed Botan as he quickly ducked under the bed.
"Ah, Netto. How are you this morning?" the nurse asked.
Netto shrugged. "I feel pretty good today."
"That's good to hear. Have you by chance seen a boy about ten with brown hair and brown eyes? His name is Kon Botan and he's been dodging the nurses all morning. He's been avoiding tests," the nurse explained.
"Sounds like someone I know," Rockman said glaring at Netto. Netto shrugged and smiled at his navi in response who returned the smile.
"Haven't seen him," Netto said.
"Netto-kun!" Rockman scolded. He then turned to the nurse and pointed down. "He's under the bed."
"Ah, Rock. Just trying to help the fellow victim," Netto teased.
"Haha, very funny," Rockman said sarcastically.
The nurse stood confused looking at the pair, unable to decide if she should be mad at the patient or to take Netto's cover-up for the other boy as a joke. The only Netto she had dealt with before was the unresponsive, still figure of Netto when he had been in a coma. No one had prepared her for the awake one. In the end she decided to take it as a joke, even if an unpleasant one, and knelt down to look under the bed.
"Hello, Botan-kun," she said softly. "Ready to take the tests?" Botan vigorously shook his head. "It's not that bad, Botan," the nurse reassured.
The man, presumably Botan's father also knealt down: "We won't know what's wrong if you don't let the doctors do the tests. Besides, I think we've bothered this boy enough."
"I don't mind," Netto said.
"You're not helping," Rockman admonished.
"Is everything okay?" Enzan asked as he and Laika came into the increasingly crowded room.
"Yeah. There's a kid under my bed who's afraid to take the tests," Netto explained. "Can't blame him though. They are boring."
"Presuming they are the same ones," Laika pointed out.
"They are," Ueda said as he now joined the room. "Good morning, everyone. How are you feeling, Netto-kun?"
"Good," Netto said.
"Good to hear. Now, Botan-kun, please come on out," Ueda said.
Netto frowned and then slowly got out of bed.
"NETTO!" Rockman, Enzan, Laika and Ueda all scolded. "Stay in bed!"
"Take a chill pill, everyone," Netto said as he slowly lowered himself to the floor. "Botan," Netto said softly.
"Yeah," Botan whispered, huddled under the bed.
"The nurses are only going to help you. I got through them, see?" Netto said. "They were boring and a little scary at first, but the nurse is right, they aren't that bad."
"You were scared?" Botan asked, looking up at Netto.
Netto hesitated then nodded. "Yeah. I…I still am. I don't want to die. But everyone's making sure that doesn't happen. They're doing the same for you too but you have to help them if they are going to help you. Besides," Netto gave the reassuring grin he was so well known for, "you family will be there for you. Rockman and I will too if you want."
"Really?" Botan asked.
"Really, really," Netto said.
Botan gave a small smile. "I'd like that." Botan then came out from under the bed. His parents hugged him.
"It's okay to be scared," his mother told him.
"Unless you're Netto," Enzan joked. "Right?"
"Right," Netto said as he struggled to get back up. Both Enzan and Laika rushed to his side and helped him up. It startled them how light he was.
"But I thought you just said…" Botan started.
"It's sarcasm," Netto said. "I really do get scared. But if it gets out of this room, I'll die and haunt the person who let it leak forever and ever."
"Netto!" Enzan scolded, "I told you you're death jokes aren't funny!"
"Now the question is, does Enzan get scared?" Netto teased, completely ignoring Enzan's admonition. "Or better yet, Laika!"
Ueda chuckled. "I see your spirits are up. But still, you need to be in bed. Nurse, will you help him back in while I take Botan-kun in to start the tests?" He looked down and winked at Botan. "Hopefully in won't take that long."
"Hai," the nurse said and then, with Enzan's and Laika's help, helped Netto back into the bed.
Netto glared at Enzan and Laika. "If you ever tell anyone you had to help me into bed, I'll make you pay," he said, but his glare immediately turned into a friendly smile.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Laika said.
"Though I do need something to pay back for that last blackmail," Enzan said coolly as if he was not making a joke. "But I guess it'd be too mean to pick on a sick kid."
"I'm not that sick," Netto retorted.
Enzan raised on eyebrow. "So you want me to tell everyone?" he asked, seemingly completely serious.
"You're twisted, Enzan," Netto said. He then turned to Botan as he left the room with the nurse, doctor and his parents. "See you later, Botan," Netto said, giving a thumb up. Botan returned the thumb up and gave a small smile.
"He'll be back later today," Ueda said. "If you don't know, you guys are roommates. Because of the fire at the other hospital, there aren't enough rooms for each patient to have their own room."
"Cool," Netto said. "Though I feel sorry for you 'cause I've been sleeping a lot these last few days."
"You've been in a coma for the past few days, Netto," Laika pointed out.
"I guess that's true," Netto said. "Anyway, see you later, Botan. Good luck."
" 'Kay. Thanks Netto-san," Botan said. The nurse then pushed Botan out in the wheelchair, followed closely by Ueda and Botan's parents.
"You'll have fun in that room," Ueda said to Botan as they walked down the hall. "Netto's really friendly. But you may have to be careful because I've quickly learned that Netto will act well even when he's not. Today he was in high spirits but he was still really tired and weak."
"He is really nice," Botan said smiling slightly; but, then the smile turned to a frown. "Is Netto dying?"
Ueda frowned and nodded sadly. "Yes." Again there was a pause as the group continued to walk down the hall. "But…" Ueda began, a small smile creeping onto his face, "but there is a lot you can learn from him. He has a very rare and deadly heart disease but because he's so optimistic he's already lived longer than was expected. Not only that, but there is a chance he will live. Netto-kun is probably one of the most optimistic person in the world and having a positive attitude makes all the difference in the world."
Botan smiled. "I'm glad he's my roommate. It'll be like having a brother." The adults all looked at each other and then smiled. There were sunny moments during rainy days after all.