Start of Page 12: Operation A.N.O.H.A.N.A.

Jintan and Anaru entered the little shack and just looking around (with the holographic computer turned off), everything seemed as if nothing has changed, except that it had a table, a couple of mugs, a coffee maker, a world map, and many more things coming from Poppo.

"So, I don't understand a thing." Anaru said while still retaining the glasses. "Why can I see Menma with these glasses on my eyes, and even hear her? When did she return? Why is she here? How is she still alive?"

"Well, there is a lot of stuff that you might be surprised to learn if we continued." Jintan replied. "Let's just say that I became a shut-in for a reason and I hid it behind everyone else, until recently."

"Don't tell me you are a Flame Haze?"

"No. I belong to Teens Next Door Japan Chapter of the Kids Next Door organization, as the TND Heavy Assault Specialist." He told her as he looks at his hand bearing the C.A.P.S.U.L.E. of the recommisioning module while leaning on top of the nearby table. "The lifestyle I chose is a cover for it, especially during missions where I got injured, which happened most of the time."

"Yadomi, you idiot!" She yelled at him. "Why did you not tell me about that? The job you took is so dangerous!"

"As if you would care anyway…"

"I do, Yadomi! I do care!" Anaru begins to tear up again. "How long have you been involved in this? I never remember any of it!"

"Because you guys chose to forgot." He said with a straight look at him. "Ever since Menma's death."

"I- I don't get it. All I remember is that… is that…"

"The memories we have about Menma drowned in a river is just a false memory. The reality is that Menma died because of us, in a KND mission. We gave each other false memories so that we could at least feel less guilty about her death. And it was because of the circumstances about her death that Menma can only be seen via that glasses, because her Existence is still incomplete!"

"I- I don't understand a thing."

"It's OK to not understand for now." Jintan said to her. "Even I don't understand it all. Existence, Flame Hazes, Crimson Denizens, it has just been months since I learned about all of them anyway. I did die once, though."

"You're kidding right?"

"I was a combatant in the Battle of Misaki City. Tried to assault the front gate of Sereiden, but got blown up in my 2x4 Breakthrough Vehicle. It felt like I am being burned alive, you know."

"So how did you return?"

"Don't know… I just woke up again on the battlefield and everything is repaired, as if the war never happened. Several months later, Menma woke up beside me while playing some video games."

"You know what, what is important is that you are here, Yadomi." Anaru said, before pouting again and said "That is one dangerous job you have there. You better get paid well for all that."

"But I'm seriously going to ask you. Do you really care about me that much? You even cried."

Anaru began to blush and just yelled back. "You idiot, you didn't see anything!"

"Anyways… Naruko Anjo, you might be surprised, but you, along with the rest of the Super Peace Busters, used to be part of the KND…"

"Yeah, yeah, I got the point…" she said. "But why don't I have memories of it?"

"You've been decommissioned, and part of the protocol is a memory wipe of all KND-related stuff and to replace it with something else. I already said that before."

"Oh…"

"However, that includes the true cause of Menma's death… and even I am surprised that I did decide to remove it back then, and when I learned it…" Jintan is then seen visibly clenching his fist on the capsule of the recommisioning device, but Anaru decided to come near and hold his hand, and she then said "Jintan, don't fret about it. I don't know anything about what you are talking about, but Menma will sure forgive you."

"I think it is better to get your memories back." Jintan said while looking away. He gave a long sigh and pressed the capsule's top to materialize a DSLR camera.

"You might faint from this, I just needed to get a picture of you."

"Should I pose or…"

"It doesn't captures a picture, just flashes a light on you that causes you to remember."

"Oh… ok. Then, let's do it."

Meanwhile, outside, Menma is seen walking back and forth outside the entrance, with worry in her face and her constantly muttering the words 'it will be ok…' repeatedly.

After some time has passed, Numbuh 362 finally asked her, as her behavior and emotion is different from that much earlier.

"What are you worried about, Menma?"

"I'm just fine, Mam!" Menma replied. "I'm just worried that I might have another headache."

Before she could speak, Rachel, together with the group, noticed a bright flash from the inside of the base, and immediately Menma began to crouch to the ground and holding her head, seething in pain.

"It hurts… it hurts more than last time!" Menma cried out.

Yukiatsu and Poppo came near her and encouraged her to take a rest, but soon, Menma fainted in Yukiatsu's arms. This distraught everyone and immediately, the Professor, Nano, and Whilhelmina checked her.

"She's fine and alive." Whilhelmina told them.

"What happened?" Yukiatsu grew weary about her.

"This happens whenever her memories are restored." Rachel said. At that point, Anaru and Jintan came out and saw the unconscious Menma, and immediately, Anaru came in to assist them.

"What happened?" Anaru asked.

"This is the side effect of recommissioning of someone connected to Menma." Whilhelmina said. "She probably has very close memories of you prior to her disappearance."

"Quick, head inside, she has to take a rest." Anaru said. "There is more to the mission that I… failed to report."

END OF PAGE 12