"Don't be reckless. You're already at your limit. You've been using your elemental split far too many times today. Not to mention, you had also split yourself for too long, too."

"And what's wrong with that?"


Part 2: Biscuits


Aside from his name and his ability to manipulate the wind (which is so sooooo cool!), there is only one other thing that he knows at the moment.

Baking.

And he's really good at it. Not that he's bragging or anything because even his boss would agree. So he's not lying, okay? It's probably the only thing he can be proud of, too—well, aside from being able to control the wind that is.

Besides, baking is fun. And he likes anything that is fun!

In the first place, it's also the reason why he met his current boss, a man in his mid-thirties, who owns a bakery and is kind enough to take him in after being homeless for days. He's lucky that the guy isn't strict either because as long as he does his job well and finishes it on time, he's free to do anything he wants—like watching the new episode on the remake of Seguni Mawar Merah for instance (although, he still prefers the original Sasha in the series). He also gets to have free food and a place to sleep. So what more can he ask for, right? He's pretty much contented with what he has right now.

"Hey, kid, are the croissants ready?" A guy wearing a baker's hat and white apron suddenly enters the kitchen. "The ones on the display are almost out. I need to replace them soon."

"Yes, boss!" He makes a clumsy salute before handing a basket full of the said pastries. "Here."

The man only grins. "You're really getting the hang of this, eh? Makes me wonder if you had been baking your whole life."

"Uh... I don't really know." He also smiles sheepishly while rubbing his temple, a habit that he does unconsciously when he's getting embarassed.

Well, actually, he does vaguely remember helping someone make something before but he has already long forgotten what that person looks like or what kind of pastry did they make so it doesn't really help at all.

"Oh, right. I forgot you lost your memories." His boss shakes his head in sympathy. "But isn't it kinda hard for you, kid? You don't even remember your family or your friends."

He blinks and ponders for a minute. Sure, it's a bit uncomfortable not remembering anything much except for his name but he had already managed to work around without knowing his previous identity. Besides, even if he tries to rack his brain for any information, it'll only lead to a severe headache so he has long given up. It doesn't bother him that much anyway because he's already okay with who he is now. And his boss accepted him without any questions so he doesn't understand why he's asking it now either.

"I'm alright, boss." He finally replies then smiles. "I'm used to it. I've been staying here in your place for more than a month already without any problem."

The older guy looks at him for a minute longer like he's contemplating about something before resigning with a sigh. "Well, you did help me a lot so I guess it's fine." Then he messes his blue cap and smirks. "Keep it up, kid."

He only blinks in confusion as the guy goes out of the room while carrying the basket of freshly baked croissants. But, eventually, he grins as he turn his signature cap to the right side. "Of course!"

Yes, he's okay with this. He doesn't really need to remember anything.


It's that girl again. The one that delivers that biscuits that no one buys. He doesn't understand why his boss still keeps her goodies and displays it on the shop despite of it. Isn't that bad business or something? Besides, if his boss wants it, they could just bake one for their own, right? They'll even taste better! But the man rejected that idea.

Anyway, the pink girl comes to the bake shop from time to time but he never had the chance to talk to her. Well, he never tries anyway and prefers to watch behind the door to the kitchen. It's his boss who would receive the biscuits while he listens to them talk from a distance.

One thing that he notices though is that even when she smiles, there's a hint of sadness in her eyes. And he doesn't understand why that affects him, too.

"Thanks again for letting me have my biscuits displayed in your bakeshop, sir!" She smiles as she hands out the remaining packets of her homemade pastries from her basket.

His boss sweatdrops. "No problem. It's the least I can do after you and that boy helped me repair the signboard outside after an attack last time."

She winces a little at the mention of her companion but continues to beam at the older guy. There it is again, her fake smile. "It is our duty, sir. After all, we swore to help and protect the people who are in need. It's what we do."

The man suddenly turns serious. "But aren't you, kids, too young to shoulder such big responsibilty? Not that I'm underestimating your abilities because you're very capable. But you're just teens and at your age, you should be enjoying your youth and not facing danger all the time, right? What if you'll get hurt someday? Your parents will definitely be devastated."

The girl goes silent.

Even he, himself, is dumbfounded with what his boss had just said. For some reason, it's like the older guy isn't only talking to the girl but also to him and that doesn't make any sense because it shouldn't concern him and yet... Does his boss knows something?

His boss sighs after a few minutes of silence. "Sorry if I may have overstep my boundaries with what I—"

"No, it's okay, sir," she immediately cuts-off as she shakes her head. "What you said is true but we are the ones that have these powers that can protect the people we care about and if we use our age as an excuse, who else will take our place to help them?"

This time, it's his boss who goes speechless but he also smirks. "I understand. I guess, we will continue to believe in you, kids. I'm sorry we always have to rely on you for everything. But thank you for doing your best for us all this time."

"You're welcome, sir." She also smiles in return.

Later, the girl finally bids goodbye and promises to come again next weekend.

After she walks out of the bakeshop, his boss suddenly asks him. "Hey, kid, why are you hiding from her?"

He jumps in surprise. How did the man knew he was eavesdropping them?

"Huh? Who?" He feigns innocence.

He turns towards his boss, but the older guy continues to arrange the trays of assorted pastries without looking at him. "From Yaya, the girl that came here a while ago. I know, you were behind the door the whole time, kid. There's no point denying. If you want to talk to her, you could have done so."

"Ah, I-I'm not hiding, boss!" He waves both of his hands. "I don't want to talk to her either. I mean... I don't even know her so I don't really have anything to say."

"Hmm... Alright. Alright. If you say so." But the man shrugs skeptically. "Anyway, help me arrange these biscuits on that stand. You're already done with the meringues, right?"

"Yes, boss!" He salutes enthusiastically.

He picks up the packets brought by that girl and places them on the stand his boss is referring to. Suddenly, curiousity took over him as he stares at the wrapped goodies. She really looks earnest when she gave them. He hadn't tried one because of his boss' warning. But now, he wonders whether it was really that bad.

"Um, boss, what does these biscuits really taste?"

The guy shuddered visibly and his face almost looks green. "It's better if you don't find out, kid."

"Eh? But—"

"If you're really that curious, then go ahead and take one. But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Are you sure, boss? But aren't you selling these?"

"Well, it doesn't matter since no one's buying it." The man waves dismissively.

He stares again at the packet of biscuits on his hands and gulps. He wonders if curiousity can really kill literally this time. But he won't back down now. He tears open the corner of the plastic and takes one out. He hesitates for a second before finally taking a bite.

"I'll go get the medicine just in case—Wait, are you crying?!" The man stares at him in shock.

"Huh?" He places his hand on his cheeks and feels the fresh drop of tears. He really is crying! Why? "I-I didn't realize."

His boss sighs. "Well, I did told you it was horrible. So—"

He shakes his head. "No. It's not that."

"What?" Confusion is evident on the older guy's face.

"It isn't bad."

The man gives him an are-you-kidding-me look. "Did the biscuits somehow dulled your sense of taste and damaged your brain?"

"Er, no? I mean, I admit, it's really not delicious at all—"

His boss sighs in relief.

"—But I like it." He grins despite of the tears as he finishes the biscuit while the other guy just gapes at him like was crazy or something. He ignores that and ate another one. "I think I had tasted something similar before and..." He knows his forgetting something very important. But what is it? Why does he like that biscuits? Why does it hurts not knowing the answer and remember anything?

Suddenly, he grimaces. His head begins to throb violently like it's going to explode.

The older guy frowns in concern after seeing him massaging his temple in pain. "You should take a rest. You don't need to force yourself."

"I... I guess, you're right, boss," he mumbles. He doesn't really need to remember, right? After all, everything was okay until now and yet... Why does it feel like something is missing?

His boss still looks at him like he wants to say something until finally he grabs both of his shoulders and sighs. "Look, kid, I don't know what you're up to or why you're here. But I think, it's time for you to go back to where you belong."

"Go back? I don't understand."

"There are people out there waiting for you. They need you and you need them. I should have said this sooner. But you were enjoying your stay and you don't seem to have any plans on going back."

He immediately grabs the baker's apron in panic. "Eh, are you sending me away, boss?! Don't you need me here anymore?"

The guy only chuckles in response to his outburst before letting go. "As much as I appreciate your help here at the shop, you have somewhere you are more needed to go, kid. You have a galaxy to protect and just like what that girl had said, you have the power to save people and it's your responsibility to do so. You cannot run away from it anymore."

"Y-You know who I am, boss? You know about my past?"

"Of course. You're quite famous. Do you seriously think I would just hire someone I don't know to help me in my business? Why do you think I immediately let you stay here at the shop without any questions?" The man smirks. "But enough of that, you should really contact your friends and family soon."

Suddenly, he remembers the pink girl that came a while ago. "That girl... She's my friend," he says but it sounds more of a question and less of a statement.

"Yes. She is."

He already knows what he needs to do but he's still torn. For more than a month, he was under the care of his boss, who was like a father to him. He can't bring himself to suddenly just abandon that.

He clears his throat as tears form on each side of his eyes. "But I... I can still come back here, right?"

The man smiles knowingly and gives his hat a playful pat. "I could always use a hand."

He understands. He smiles, too.

With a new-found determination, he makes up his mind. His head still aches but he's not gonna run away anymore.

He stares again at the biscuits.

She did say she'll come back next weekend, right? Guess, he'll just have to wait until then. But for now...

...

...

...

He seriously needs to go to the bathroom first. Ugh!