CHAPTER IV. BACK

"Riko-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure you will not regret it you have bought me?" He looks at her. "It would be the last thing I'll regret, Mizi. That answer will do, won't it?" She blushes, clings his arm.
"Do not be so sweet... you know I am not used to it, I will crash..."
"Please, get used to it then." She looks at him astonished, sees his smiles. "Come on, Mizi, let me show you my apartment."

"So, this is the guestroom," he says, showing her the last room. "Would you mind staying there?" She shakes her head quickly. "No! No, I love it... I think..." She gazes at him blankly, suddenly collapses.
"MIZI! Mizi, wake up!"
"Mm..." She gently opens her eyes, finds out she's lying in his arms. "Riko... What... Who..." She looks around. "Where am I?" She sees Riko's expression, glares shyly at the floor. "Oh, gees... I crashed again, did I not?"
"Guess so," he mutters, "you shocked me, that's all I know."
"I am very sorry..."
"Come on, like it's your fault! Now, let's get you up..." He lifts her up, pushes her against him. "You're alright, girl? You're trembling."
"I am fine," she whispers, smiling weakly at him. "I am okay, Riko-chan... Must be my so-called 'heart' again..." He smiles, caresses her cheek.
"I'll take care it won't happen again, okay?" She nods gently.
"Okay..."

"Riko-chan, wake up! Sun is shining, time to get up!" He opens his eyes sleepily, looks suddenly in Mizumi's face that's hanging above his.
"Ehr... good morning!" She giggles.
"Sorry, did I scare you? I would not be surprised, I sure am creepy!"
"No, you're sweet," he smiles, sitting up. "I do prefer a calmer way of waking up, tho'. But you're sweet, Mizi, not creepy at all."
"Oh..." Her eyes turn blankly once again, and Riko grabs her shoulders quickly.
"Not again! Sorry, I'm sorry girl! Don't crash!"
"Uh..." she gently opens her eyes, glares at him. "That was close to crashing, but I did not this time," she mutters, "I am sorry..."
"I'm the one who should be sorry," he says, "I should have known... however, did you have a reason to awake me this early? It's seven o'clock and Sunday morning!"
"Ehm... I made us breakfast," she says shyly, "Meari, the persocom with the short orange hair, has taught me some of her recipes, so I thought... Maybe I could make something..." He smiles.
"That very sw... Eh... thank you very much, Mizi." She giggles.
"That sounds really weird! You nickname me and you are so polite in the mean while! Come on, Riko-chan! Get up, get up! Rise and shine!"

It's a few weeks later, and again they're sitting at the breakfast-table. Riko's glaring at her as usual. "You're unbelievable, Mizi."
"Oh, you mean because I am able to eat as a persocom? It is because I..."
"No!" He grabs her hand. "No girl, I meant... your cooking, your kindness, your... just, everything." She blushes.
"Beware, before I crash again..." She suddenly looks straight in his eyes. "Riko-chan? Could you... could you take me to Crystal Dragon tomorrow? I miss my friends... the twins..." She lays her hand against her chest. "I can feel them right here, that is fine, but I..."
"I understand." He lays his hand on her other hand, which is resting on the table. "We'll go see them tomorrow, I promise you."
"Thank you..." She closes her eyes happily. "Thank you, Riko-chan..."

"Hi, Riko-ku... You brought her with you!" Hideto says when they arrive at the restaurant. Mizumi hides herself behind Riko scaredly, and he looks at Hideto kind of pugnaciously.
"Yes, I did, why? Do you have a problem with it? She's here as my guest, y'know."
"Welcome, guests!" An unknown voice suddenly says. "Welcome to "Crystal Dragon"." A persocom appears, but her face isn't a known one. Mizumi glares at her.
"And who might you be?"
"Oh, I am Neko," the girl smiles, "I am new here. You are a persocom too, right?"
"I am the one who worked her before you replaced me," says Mizumi coolly, "and I do not like to be replaced like this, Neko!"
"Miz! MIZ!" A voice calls; the persocom Herindera appears in the door's opening. "You are back! Oh, please tell me you are going to replace that stupid Cat! She does not know a thing about this place and she is SO annoying!"
"Shut up, Herindera!" Neko calls. Herindera points at her.
"That is what I meant."
"I actually came to see you, guys," Mizumi interrupts in a whisper, "but you obviously do not need me anymore." She runs away, unfastens herself from Riko who tried to stop her.
"COME BACK, MIZI!"