Another World
Summary : A man found himself in another world. Can he survive and go back to his world?
Rating : T
Genre: Adventure
Disclaimer: I don't have Ar Tonelico series, its characters, anything, duh.
Chapter 36 = Parents
"Talks"
'Thoughts'
*Sound Effects*
07:00 Luca's House
"Gilbert, wake up..."
'Urgh...'
The man open his eyes, and he finds his girlfriend on his side, trying to wake him up.
"Yeah, I'm getting up. What's the matter?"
"Your PDA... It's shaking," she points to the device on the small table. He immediately takes it then access the chat room.
"This is Ghost," Gilbert says in English. "Finally, I've tried to contact you yesterda-"
"Gilbert, we have some bad news," Billy cuts him with a serious face, and he uses his real name. "I'll let Hans explain."
"Thanks. Gilbert, remember when hibernation hits Metafalls before? You remember the moment after you inject the drug?"
"I don't know... I only remember that I have to find Lady Cloche and Luca to treat my wounds."
"Quick recap; Frelia used hibernation, sending people minds to Infel Pira, but stopped by Luca. What we didn't expect that the song effected here as well."
"Really? How bad was the effect?"
"Imagine half of the population on the state turned brain-dead. The effect is temporary, but it still causes chaos everywhere," Hans explains. "Anyway, since there will be another song magic with similar effect, the organization decided to make some fail-safe. Today is the last day we can support you. After that, they'll cut all connections to our world... temporary. "
"What!? But I can't survive without-"
"You can. You have survived until now, and you'll survive without our help," he tries to motivate him.
"Anyway Gilbert," Billy speaks again. "Your parents call. They want to talk to you directly. I thought you might want to chat with them while you can. Should I-"
"Connect them to me," Gilbert responses. Billy nods and routes the phone call to him.
"Hello?"
He can hear a woman calls. He knows who owns that voice. He really miss that voice.
"Mom?"
"Gilbert! Me and your dad tried to call you several times, your call always busy. What's wrong?"
Billy send a text to his PDA that says he told them that their son has gone on vacation to other country.
"Sorry mom, we're taking a vacation to... Japan. I have to change my numbers for a while since it doesn't work here. Billy has told you about this, right?"
"We'll appreciate it if you tell us sooner. I mean, we can help-"
"He doesn't need help darling. He's a man, he should be able to do everything by his own," his dad starts to talk too. "Enjoying your holiday, son?"
"Yes dad. It's really refreshing."
"Good for you. Don't forget that you still have your college, come home as soon as you can."
"Gilbert, who is tha-" Cocona talks before Croix holds her down.
"Cocona, don't disturb him, he's talking now!"
"Hm? I hear a little girl's voice," Gilbert's dad notices the voice.
"Uh... My friend's little sister. Really energetic girl."
"Heh, reminds me of my old school trip... I don't recognize her language though."
"It's Japanese dad, did you really expect me to speak English while in Japan?"
"Don't mind your silly father," her mother talks again. "You're eating well, right? How about money? You're not fooling around with the girls-"
"Hey, stop it, we're checking his condition, not interrogate him," his father stops her wife's questions. "Well, we're going to end the call soon, otherwise we'll receive a massive telephone bill for the international call, hehehe... Anything that you want to say?"
"Hum..." Gilbert looks at Laura. Should he introduce her to his parents? She's serious about getting along with him to his world. He doesn't want to surprise his parents by silently bringing a girl from other 'country' home. "Well, there is one... Promise that you won't get angry, okay?"
"It depends. Did you got into trouble or what?"
"I... I have a girlfriend here..." He slowly says it. There's a silence for a while.
"Hihi...HAHAHAHA!" Gilbert's father laughs hard. "I thought for a moment that you got into some crime organization or something like that! You don't have to nervously tell us about it! Well, who's the lucky girl? Is she with you right now?"
"Her name's Laura. Yes, she's with me now," Gilbert hands the PDA to her.
"Huh?"
"Sorry, that's my parents on the line. Please say 'hello' to them."
"'Harrou?'" She slowly says to the PDA.
"...Yeah, that'll do." Gilbert rolls his eye. His father tries to communicate with the girl.
"Hello? Can you speak Engli- uh, never mind. Gilbert, you still there?"
Gilbert takes the PDA back and speaks again.
"Sorry dad, she can't speak English... For now. I'll teach her the language, hopefully she'll be fluent using it when we're going back to state."
"Yeah, that's goo- Wait, 'we'?"
"...She insists to come with me to the state. Mom, dad, listen... Both of his parents recently died in an accident, and her extended family disown she and her parents for reasons that I don't know, so they refuse to take care of her. I have to help her, I can't let her alone!" he lies to both of his parents. He hates to make excuses, but they won't believe him if he tells them the truth.
"Gilbert..."
"Please!" He pleas. Both of his parents look at each other, before his father starts to talk.
"Son... If you think this is the right thing to do, then we can't stop you. Although I never heard a Japanese called 'Laura'..."
"That's not her real name dad, I'm calling her with that name because her real name is hard to pronounce," Gilbert quickly throws another excuses. "Anyway, about the phone bill-"
"Oh, right! Don't forget to buy some souvenirs for us when you get back! Hey honey, I'll close the call now, do you want to say goodbye to him?" He passes the phone to her wife.
"Have fun at there Gilbert... We love you."
"I love you both too mom, dad..."
*Click!*
He looks at the PDA, makes sure that the call really ends. Tears starts to fall from his eye. Laura hugs from behind to comfort him.
"Gilbert... Did something bad happened?"
"Nothing bad, but... I don't know... I'm glad I've heard my parents voice again, but... I never missed them this much... I'm afraid that's the last time I'll ever hear their voice... "
"Sssttt, don't say that... You'll meet them again eventually. We'll help you back to your home, right guys?" She turns to the crowd behind her.
"Yeah Gilbert, don't be silly!" Cocona glares to him. "I mean, you can always call them if you like, right?"
I can't... Billy, please explain the situation to them," he gives his PDA to Cocona.
"Uh... Well... Hans?"
00000
"... So the higher-ups decided to close all connections between two worlds until indefinite amount of time, probably forever if we can't replicate the teleport device," Hans explains.
"What!? You can't just abandon him-" Laura protests.
"Listen, as much as they want to return him to our world, risking the safety of millions of people to save one person is..."
Laura can't deny that. She's angry because he wants to sacrifice and abandon her beloved one, but he's right...
"Is there any way that we can do to help with the teleporter?" Croix asks.
"Well..." Hans starts to talk. "If only someone know how the teleporters in your world works..."
Croix stares to Jacqli. Maybe she knows-
"What?"
"Jacqli, do you-"
"No, I don't know how it works. Ask the tower administrator, she should be more knowledgeable than the rest of us combined," Jacqli suggests.
"You're right. We'll go to Grand Bell Palace anyway," Croix taps Gilbert's shoulder. "Hey, you're okay?"
"Yeah... Sorry," he wipes the tears from his own face.
"Remember Gilbert, you're not alone in this world. We will help you with your problems, just like how you helped us," Luca tries to cheer him too.
"... I agree. You've done much to help us, even if you're from a world that we don't know. We have to repay the favor by helping you too," Lady Cloche also tries to cheer him. "Although, I'll appreciate it if you and Laura not showing your affection in public..."
Laura immediately breaks her hug, and her face along with Gilbert's turns red.
"Awww... I think that's fine, he needs that hug!" Amarie pats Laura's back. Croix gives a hand to Gilbert so he can stand up.
"Thanks. I don't know how to repay-"
"Don't mind it. We're friends after all," he turns to Ms. Reisha. "We're going now, please take care of yourself."
"Mom, don't do anything stupid again, okay? No matter what happened to us, we'll be fine," Luca slowly says, then hugs her, followed by Lady Cloche. They seem... closer now. After a while they let go her and walks out from the house, followed by the whole party. Cocona runs and yells their next destination.
"Next stop, Grand Bell Palace!"
END OF CHAPTER 36