Naota found it difficult to wake that morning. His head was still in excruciating pain; he could still feel those tuning keys seethe under his skull. Canti entered his room and pushed him out of his bed, definitely stirring him away from slumber.
"Wake up!" His screen flashed, rolling Naota out of his bed.
"Okay, I'm up now. I'm up-" Naota grunted, his head much heavier than it had been, thanks to Canti's rumble. He went on with his morning routine, except of course that goodbye cheer Haruko had composed for him. Grabbing a cap from his closet, Naota headed downstairs and opted to walk for school.
Outside, a woman mumbles at her radio.
Station 15, do you copy over?
"Yes, Kiribami speaking, over."
Agent Kiribami, state your status.
"Target locked and sighted… over and out."
-
"What are you hiding in there?" Naota heard the moment he opened his class' door.
"Ah, Ninamori. Good Morning."
Ninamori watched him as he silently walked towards his seat. Naota entered school wearing a baseball cap. It was unlikely for him to wear one, and now that Ninamori has full memory of who this Haruko identity was, she knew, something indeed was growing out of Naota's head.
"She hit you with the guitar again, didn't she?" Ninamori asked as she approached Naota.
Naota pretended not to hear what Ninamori just said. Truthful as it was. "Where's everyone?"
"Idiot. You're letting her use you!"
"This is none of your business Ninamori!" Naota's blurted angrily, lifting his cap to prove he was hiding nothing. No cat ears, nor horns that protruded out of his head. Ninamori stood, shocked, disappointed, and rather humiliated by her rash conclusions. The least she wanted was Naota angry; but that was much too late now. Ninamori found no solace in Naota's eyes. Before her tears even fell, Ninamori stormed out of the room, leaving the infuriated Naota by himself.
Naota cared less what Ninamori thought. This was his life, and no one's him but himself. Not Kamon. Not Ninamori. Not even Haruko. Never Haruko.
-
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING HARUKO?" Naota screamed from the top of his lungs, soothing his aching head with a cold towel.
"Haruko's instinct made me want to hit Taro-kun's head."
"I am not Taro-kun!"
Haruko hopped around Naota's room in her playboy bunny suit. Not a little too long ago, Haruko had swung her guitar to Naota's forehead. Although Haruko's presence was highly appreciated, Naota never thought she'd return for this reason. Was she back to use his head again?
"IYAAAA~~~~ MIU MIU~~~!!" Haruko screamed in pleasure as Miu Miu, Naota's cat, purred under Haruko's chin. Naota searched his scalp for any protruding bump. There must be one, he thought. The excruciating pain he's experiencing in his head was similar to those when he grew robots out of his head.
"Haruko! Where's the bump!?" He asked, thinking already of ways he could hide it. Not unless if they were cat ears again. Haruko looked at Naota with sad puppy eyes.
"Ta-kun doesn't have a bump." She said like a 5-year-old child, smoothing Naota's hair with her fingers.
"Haruko's here because Haruko misses Ta-kun." Haruko wrapped her arms around Naota and gave him a kiss. Naota found himself in a dream; almost in a hallucinogenic state the moment Haruko's lips touched his. It was good. This was good. This was the best.
"Ta-kun's got sweet lips. Curry tastes better." Haruko spoke, looking at him with gentle eyes.
"Haruko. I-"
"WAH! CANTI!!!!! IS IT TIME FOR DINNER!?" Haruko screamed, interrupting Naota's sentence. Naota looked at the mirror and stared at his forehead.
"You're the maid. You should be the one to know if its dinner."
-
Ninamori stared into the sky, wondering when her tears will come to a stop.
"Idiot! You Idiot!" she screamed loud in anger. She had given so much of herself to Naota, in the end to find herself being despised once again. Heartbreak, definitely, that was what she was experiencing. Ninamori kicked the fence in anger.
"NAOTA YOU JERK!"
"Niyaooo~~ Eri-chan ERUPTS!"
Ninamori looked behind her to see an outlandish woman, standing with an arrogant smile.
"Ha-"
The woman's smile became wider as she grabbed the handle of her guitar and pointed it at the shaken Ninamori.
"wh…what-"
"Eri-chan's got a pretty head."
