Transmission 8: Broken Arrow, Broken Soul
Somewhere, in an unknown location, a single tv screen lights up a dark room. Then, a furious Teen Ninja appears on it. "You told us we could take back the high school with that hunk of junk! It didn't even last 20 minutes!"
"The Really Really Incredibly Destructive Machine was more than capable of doing the job you asked, but you didn't use it to it's full potential." an eerie, composite voice answers.
"Quit talking crap! The TND made fools of us again! You promised us if we let you be our leader, we'd kick those TND punks out of our old turfs!"
"And we will. You seek revenge just as we do. However, you must be patient. It wasn't a complete disaster."
"Bah, whatever. The only reason we're letting you order us around is because you give us S.I.N."
"Yes, and without it, you don't stand a chance against those meddlesome traitor teenagers. So I suggest you focus on the new orders we gave you and stop bothering us."
"Hey, we ain't done ye…!" the screen turns blank as a pair of glowing yellow eyes appear from above it.
"I do agree that you didn't supply them enough weapons this time." a second eerie voice says.
"We know, but that's not the point. The TND know we gave them a bloody nose and next time, we'll break their necks."
…
In downtown Cleve, inside a tall office building, Genki Sanban, head of the accounting, is working in her office when she receives a phone call. "Genki Sanban speaking…WHAT?!...She has? In the hospital? Thank you very much." she stands up, drops her work, takes her coat before leaves her office in a hurry. As she walks through the corridors, she makes a call.
In an IT-firm not far away, Kani Sanban, head of the department, is buried in paperwork when his cell phone rings. "Huh, why are calling me while I'm…SHE'S WHAT?!...Okay, I'll pick up Mushi and meet you there!" he jumps up and rushes out of the building, towards his car.
In the same building where Genki works, Sydney Beetles, an simple office worker, gets a phone call while he is having a coffee break in his cubicle. "Sydney Beetles speaking…HE'S WHAT?! Is he…No way…Thank you, I'll head to the hospital right away!" He takes his briefcase and jacket and runs to the office of his superior, Mr. Fullbright.
"Uh…Boss, I need to speak to you!"
"Come in." Sydney enters the office in a hurry. "Ah Beetles, is something wrong?"
"My…my son had an accident in school and he's in hospital right now…I need to…"
"Then what are you waiting for? Get moving. I just got a call about this incident from my daughter, you see."
"Thanks Boss!" But before he can dash out of the office, his superior stops him.
"Oh, and Beetles, as a fellow father, I won't be docking your pay for this."
"Tha…Thank you Mr. Fullbright!"
Making his way through the maze-like corridor, Sydney calls his wife.
At the outskirts of town, in the Beetles residence, Helen Beetles is sitting on a sofa, reading a book when her phone vibrates. "Ah, hello honey, what is…WHAT? They've taken him to hospital? Right, I'll call a taxi and see you there. Joey? Oh, right, I'll pick him up on the way. Bye." she gets up, puts on her shoes and coat and calls a taxi.
Back in the office, Genki boards an elevator on a higher floor but to her frustration, it stops two floors below, where Sydney gets onboard. Both are only thinking of their children, so they don't acknowledge each other. They leave at the same time and exit the building at the same time and get in their cars. Sydney manages to leave first but Genki drives the whole way to the hospital behind him. Arriving on to the parking lot, they dash out of their cars and rush through the door, stopping at the reception counters. "I'm here to see my son/daughter!"
"Name of the patient please?"
"Wallabee Beetles/Kuki Sanban."
"Ah yes…Sanban…just a second…3rd floor, room number 5."
"Beetles, 3rd floor, room number 6."
"Thank you!" Suddenly, a raving Kani Sanban with Kuki's little sister Mushi enter the lounge.
"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"
"Kani, stop making a scene and let's go." Genki says firmly and leads her family to an elevator.
Then, Wally's mother Helen and younger brother Joey arrive. "Sydney, is he here?"
"Yeah, come on. We need to go the 3rd floor." The trio board another elevator and reach the 3rd floor and enter the waiting room, which has six beds and to their left, in the middle bed lies Wally and in the room next door is Kuki. Her bed is covered by a curtain and her family is beside her, along with Abby, who has removed her hat and is sitting on a chair close to Kuki's bed while Hoagie is standing on the right side of Wally's bed in the other room
"WALLABEE!" his mother screams and runs to her son's side, followed by Sydney and Joey. Wally has a large bandage over the bruise and gauze wrapped around his entire abdomen. "Wallabee, are you alright? Speak to me!"
"I'm sorry mom, dad…I did it again…"
"What do you mean son?"
"I…it's all my fault…I'm such a…idiot…" Wally bites his lip, trying to hold his tears.
"You're fault? What did you do?"
Behind the screen, Genki has taken Kuki into a tight hug. "My beautiful daughter…how could they this to you?" Kuki does not respond but continues to weep.
"WHO DID THIS TO MY DAUGHTER?! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON HIM, I'LL…"
"Don't bother Mr. Sanban. The guy in the room next door already mauled him with a locker door." Her comment stuns Kuki's parents and Kani, out of curiosity, leaves the room and peeks into other room and his eyes widen as he recognizes Wally and quickly runs back to Kuki's waiting room.
"Tha…that is the same young man who brought Kuki home that one day, remember?" he says to Genki, who is still holding her traumatized daughter in her arms.
"She did beat the crap outta eight guys before they got her." Abby says silently, stunning Kuki's parents. "Good thing she had her tennis racket with her at least…"
"You…you fought back? Oh Kuki!" Genki almost breaks down herself as she hugs Kuki tighter, who is unable to do anything else except cry.
Just then, a nurse and a doctor enter the room, who Abby immediately recognizes. "Daddy?"
"Abigail! I didn't expect to see you here. Is everything alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
"No Daddy, I'm fine…" Abby bites her lip as her father pats her head.
"Don't you worry, Abigail, your old man's gonna make sure your friends will be all right."
"I know Daddy." her father then turns his attention to Kuki. "Afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Sanban." Dr. Lincoln says and walks to the Kuki's bedside. "Even though your daughter only had minor injuries, it's best if we keep her here for a while at least. She did go through a horrible experience after all."
"O…of course. She can stay here as long as she wants. I'll stay here as well."
"Alright, I'll get a room prepared just for your daughter, so she doesn't have to rest in this waiting room."
"Thank you, Dr. Lincoln. Thank you so much." Genki bows her head to Abby's father and Kani does the same.
"Don't mention it, just doing my job. Now then, let's go take a look at our other patient." Dr. Lincoln then turns around and heads over to the room next door and introduces himself to Wally's family.
"You must be the Beetles? I'm Doctor Lincoln."
"That's right." Sydney shakes hands with Abby's father. "How badly is he injured?"
"Well, the bruises on his face will easily heal but the injury on his lower ribcage will require more procedures. The bone is fractured and we'll need to run some more tests, to make sure there isn't any internal damage. So, if you don't mind, I'll be taking him to another room for examination."
"He's a tough kid, he'll pull through…"
"Alright, let's move him to room number 9." The nurse moves Wally's bed from the room, followed by Doctor Lincoln. As Wally's parents walk out in to the hallway, Abby leaves Kuki's room and approaches the Beetles.
"I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Abigail Lincoln. Me, Hoagie and Kuki are in the same class as Wally, we're friends."
"Pleased to meet you, Abigail."
"Call me Abby..."
"Do you know what happened to our son?" A distraught Helen asks.
"Yeah, we'll tell ya." Hoagie and Abby explain the background and the day's events, leading up to the attack on Kuki and Wally's subsequent rampage while the Sanban's are also listening silently from Kuki's room. Once they finish the story, Wally's mother begins to weep while his father has a tear in his eye.
"That's just like our son…always standing up for his friends…even when he gets hurt…"
"Sorry I'm if being too direct but did this happen before?" Hoagie asks cautiously.
"In Australia…he stood up against some bullies in his old school…there was a big fight and he…was expelled right before the last semester ended…" Hoagie and Abby are both startled by this revelation but then, Helen breaks down crying and Sydney has to calm her down. "Sorry, we'll go somewhere else." But before they leave, Sydney turns around towards Hoagie and Abby. "Thank you for being his friends…he didn't have any friends in Australia…"
"We've known him longer than you think Mr. Beetles. He's a great guy."
"Thank you…" as the Beetles head down the hallway, Abby and Hoagie look at each other dejectedly.
"I think we should go as well. Abby needs to sit down."
"Agreed…"
As the teenagers leave, Genki stands up. "Kani, let's go."
"What? Where are we…Mushi, stay with your sister." Kuki younger sister nods and sits on Kuki's bedside while Genki and Kani quickly walk out of the waiting room.
…
Down the corridor, the Beetles are sitting on a bench as Sydney tries to calm down his grieving wife. "It's happening again…he's going to be expelled for standing up for his friends…"
"Now now, they can't expel him just like that…"
"Yes they can! If what his friends said is true, our son inflicted horrible injuries to that…that…monster…" Then Sydney notices Genki and Kani approaching them. Both have very stenr expressions on their faces as they introduce themselves.
"Excuse me. We are the parents of Kuki Sanban. My name is Genki and this is my husband Kani.
"Greetings."
"Sanban? Ah you're the head of accounting at work!"
"Oh? Your surname does sound familiar…you must be…"
"Just a lowly office worker on 21st floor Mrs. Sanban. The name is Sydney and this is my wife Helen."
"Do call me Genki. Could we talk, the four of us?"
"Ah…well of course…uhm…though I don't think my wife is in any condition to talk."
"I completely understand. I too am devastated about what has happened to my beloved daughter. However, there's something we wish to discuss about."
"Oh yes…Joey, why don't you call some of your friends and tell them to pick you up? You can stay over with them for the day? I'll give you money, in case ya get hungry."
"Uh…okay!" The boy nods, takes the 10-dollar bill and leaves, cell phone in hand. As he runs down the hallway, he takes a device made from a pipe out of his pocket and puts it against his ear. "This is Numbuh 4.4, calling Sector CL, I need a ride!" he shouts as he runs into the elevator.
"Now, shall we?"
"Right, let's go, honey." The four adults sit down on a crescent shaped sofa opposite to the elevators. "Ehm…so what is it that you want to talk about?"
"It's about your son and our daughter." Sydney panics and bows his head, surprising the others.
"Sydney, what are you doing?" Helen ask as Sydney starts apologizing.
"I'm so sorry this happened Mrs. Sanban. It's because of…
"What are you saying? There is no need to lower you head like that. And like I said, call me Genki. I despise being called by my surname all the time."
"Eh?" Sydney looks up and notices that there isn't a speck of animosity on the Sanban's faces.
"We are not blaming your son for anything, and you shouldn't either. Isn't that right Kani?"
"Absolutely." Kuki father nods sternly as Sydney cautiously lifts his head.
"I admit, his methods were definitely excessive, but I can't say I didn't satisfied when I heard that he had hit that fiend in the face with a locker door."
"If anything, he should've done more!"
"Kani." Genki gives her husband a sharp look.
"Oh…"
"No, it is us who should bow our heads to you."
"Huh?" Wally's parents look at Genki in stunned silence.
"Your son has had a great influence on our daughter."
"What, really? Well, that's great…" Sydney is taken aback by Genki's compliment.
"You see, she has gone through very hard times. Back in elementary-school, she had a tight group of friends but when she entered middle-school, she was alone. All of her friends had left and she was bullied for two years and she…" Genki's voice begins to fade as she struggles to finish the sentence. "The bullying got to the point where she…she started harming herself and then…she tried to commit suicide." Wally's parents are horrified by this revelation.
"That's horrible…" Helen puts her hand on top of Genki's hand.
"Yes…it was like a nightmare. Thankfully Mushi managed to stop her and call an ambulance before it was too late. When I received the call today, I immediately thought back to that day and thought I was going to lose my daughter again..."
"Then, last year, she met Abigail, Hoagie and Nigel Uno. I believe he is the Student Council President at our children's school." Kani says as he places his hand on his wife's left shoulder, who takes a deep breath and continues.
"But then, Kuki started to change after that, little by little. She would smile more often and spend more time with her friends, but it wasn't until this school year started that she truly changed. When your son transferred to her school, Kuki got excited about going there again and she would be so cheerful from dawn to dusk. It's as if a piece that was missing from her came back and that, I believe, is thanks to your son. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts." Both Genki and Kani bow their heads to Sydney and his wife, making them speechless.
"Well…we appreciate your gratitude but…truth be told, Wallabee never really talks about these kinds of things. We didn't even know had female friends…"
"Yes, he seems quite the complicated character."
"Have you met him?"
"Yes, once. I believe it was…the first week of school…Thursday. I was supposed to pick Kuki up after school, but I had to cover for a co-worker and forgot about Kuki. When I realized it, I tried to call but the phone had run out of battery and I had to use the company's phone and she didn't answer so I drove to the school but then, I saw my daughter, sitting in the back of an orange motorcycle. I followed it to our home, and I was so surprised. I felt horrible of course but when I apologized to Kuki, she just smiled. She said she had fun riding on his bike. Thanks to your son, she came back home safely. Oh, and when Kuki thanked him, I could tell he was embarrassed because he looked away from her before he drove away. You know, riding that bike had such an impact on her that she has begged us to let her get a motorcycle licence when she turns 16 next spring." Genki explains and the four parents start laughing.
"Looks like giving him that bike really paid off." Helen says as she nudges her husband.
"Yeah, I guess it was."
"Kuki is quite fond of your son. She speaks about him a lot at home, almost as much as our Mushi talks about her own boyfriend."
"Heh, I never knew there was a girl in this world that could make our Wally act like that. He's always had problems with girls."
"Well anyway, it has been a pleasure speaking with you two. Truth be told, we've never spoken about our daughter like this to anyone. It was like a heavy weight has lifted from our hearts, right Kani?"
"Yes, I am grateful."
"Well, that's great to hear. Glad we could be of help."
"Oh, and before I forget, could I have your numbers? I would very much like to speak to you again."
"Oh…uhm it would be our pleasure."
"And of course, we can always talk at work. Everyone at the accounting is so formal it drives me crazy sometimes. I'd much prefer casual talk."
"Yes, well, if you don't mind coming down to the 21st floor. That floor is such a maze."
"Heh, I'll keep that in mind. Take care, Sydney."
"Well, you take of yourself, Genki! And we hope your daughter recovers from this."
"We hope the same for your son."
As the Sanban's head back to Kuki's room, Sydney let's out sigh of relief. "What's wrong?"
"No, it's just that I never knew Mrs. Sanban had a side like that. At work, she is scary."
"Heh, you can't judge a book by its cover."
"You're right. Come on, let's go see if the doctor will let us meet Wallabee!"
Down in the lounge, Hoagie and Abby are sitting on bench. Hoagie is hunched forward, and his head is hanging low. "Is it okay to say I feel like crap?"
"Hmph, trust me, you ain't the only one. How could I let her go alone like that…?"
"I know Wally blames himself for this, but I feel totally useless. We should have done more…" Hoagie straightens himself and looks towards the roof.
"Thinking about that ain't gonna help. Let's just hope those two get better."
"And hope Wally doesn't get expelled…" Hoagie's comment causes Abby's heart to sink. She pulls her hat over her eyes and leans on Hoagie's right shoulder, startling him. "Huh? What are you…?"
"Don't move a muscle. Abby wants to stay like this for a while…" Hoagie nods and the two teens stay still, in total silence.
…
Back in McClintock Highschool, the police have already arrived and are investigating the events of the afternoon. Nigel has been called to the principal's office where to his surprise, the vice-principal, Mrs. Wilson is sitting behind the principal's desk.
"Hello Uno."
"Mrs Wilson? I thought the principal was here."
"Unfortunately, the principal has been taken to the police department for questioning. The police are suspecting him of gross neglect and…bribery."
"What?"
"So I will be performing his duties until further notice."
"And why was I called here? The Student Council are very busy at the moment."
"I am aware, but there's someone here who would like to speak to you." The door behinds Nigel opens and a police officer with a glass left eye and wearing a beige fedora and a light brown trench coat enters the room. "This is Inspector MacArthur. He is in-charge of the investigation here at the school."
"How do you do. You must be the Student Council President."
"Nigel Uno of Class 2-A. And yes, I am the Student Council President. What do you need from me?"
"Well, considering that almost everyone directly involved is either in custody already or in the hospital, I thought I could ask your assistance on this. Mrs. Wilson says you've got quite a lot of evidence on the…culprit."
"Yes, me and my Council have gathered a vast amount for half a year. Of course, I'll help in any way I can."
"Good. Then why don't you show me the things you've uncovered so me and my deputy can take a look at it."
"Absolutely, follow me." Nigel then leads the Inspector up the stairs, towards the student council room.
"And before I forget: Gossip doesn't count as evidence."
"Don't worry, there is no gossip involved here. Only witness reports from our hall monitors and students."
"I see…and just between you and me, we've been trying to nail his dad for years now. He's been involved in some shady business for some time now. Your evidence might prove useful."
"I certainly hope so. This has been personal for me too. My friends were among those Ernest harassed and hurt. Two of them are in the hospital because of him."
"That's sad to hear. I hope they pull through."
"Thank you, Inspector. Now follow me, the Council room is to the right. Though it's only me and Fanny Fulbright here at the moment. Our vice-president and the head of hall monitors are still speaking with witnesses." Nigel says and MacArthur lowers his beige fedora slightly while a faint smile appears on his face.
"That so? Well, good to know they're diligent." but as they enter the council room, his smile fades. "Sorry kids, this is also the AND's fault for not covering all the bases. You guys already got enough to worry about as is…"
…
However, unknown to Nigel, Patton and Rachel are nowhere near the school. Instead, they've gone to Cleve Sector's base, where the wounded agents and their salvaged ships have been brought. The Kid is also there, observing the Sector's Armory Section's frantic attempts to get as much ships repaired as possible. "Ai, ai, ai, what a day…" he says to himself as he leaves the hangar, his head hunched forward. While he and the rest of the air units had managed to shoot down and drive away the Ninjas, their victory feels hollow at best. In the hallway leading to the Switchboard, he sees a worried Kimberley approaching him. "Yo."
"Hi Kid…" she replies solemnly as she walks past him.
"Heard what happened to Tau-6. Sorry I couldn't stop that thing before it got him."
"He's alive and that's all I care about. Though knowing Tau-6, he'll say a broken arm and a broken leg aren't a big deal. Sorry, I need to go check on how the crews are doing in the hangar."
"Not gonna check up on him?"
"Later…" Kimberley lowers her blue baseball cap slightly and walks away, leaving The Kid with a bad taste in his mouth.
"Dammit, they really got us this time…" he mutters as he enters the Switchboard, which is filled with frantic agents running in and out, trying to establish the big picture. Standing on the observation deck with Angeline and Numbuh Nu-5 are Patton and Rachel, all four looking at the large composite screen, showing satellite footage of the wrecked RRID Machine, which is being inspected by the Armory Section. "Looks like things ain't going so well here either." The Kid says as he joins them on the observation deck.
"Agent Halcón? I thought you were resting." Rachel asks, prompting The Kid to shake his head with a frown on his face.
"Nah, can't really do that when everyone's working their butts off. So, what's the situation in there?"
"Chaotic. We've lost about half of our air units and 40% of our Combat Force are injured, including Numbuh Tau-6. How he survived that battle is beyond me." Angeline replies while Patton crosses his arms.
"That whole battle was just a diversion so they could sneak S.I.N. into school."
"Damn…did anyone use it there?" The Kid's question makes Patton and Rachel to exchange looks.
"…Ernest…"
"Huh?! Wait, what happened at the school?!" Seeing the worry in his eyes, Patton puts his hand on The Kid's shoulder and starts explaining the Sports Festival's events to him. "Oh you gotta be kidding me! That puta attacked Kuki?!" Despite having given up on his feelings for her, The Kid is still enraged beyond belief at the thought of Kuki getting hurt.
"He wanted to get back at Numbuh 1 and Numbuh 4 no matter what. He did drink S.I.N., but the vial was so small it must've only made him more aggressive and a bit stronger. That's the only possible reason Numbuh 3 ended up in hospital."
"Hmph, without that, Kuki would've beat 'em all by herself." The Kid huffs angrily and lifts his head. "So, where is he now?!"
"In hospital after Numbuh 4 beat him with a locker door. Trust me, it wasn't a pretty sight." Patton says and shakes his head while The Kid calms down.
"…heh, even with memory loss, that guy is still sticking to his promise."
"We don't know the exact details of what happened after the dodge ball match, but we managed to capture a few Ninjas and a member of the Rockets who we think gave Ernest the S.I.N. vial."
"Hmph, that's good news I guess." The Kid replies to Rachel, who clenches her fists and looks at her feet.
"That school's under my jurisdiction and I couldn't do anything to stop the Ninjas." she mutters as Angeline tries to console her.
"You can't blame yourself for everything, Numbuh Epsilon. We all feel the same way."
"But…"
"Instead of worrying about what ya didn't do, why don't ya figure out how we can fix this? Yeesh, I sound just like Miss Commander…" The Kid's comment makes the other chuckle slightly but Rachel can't ignore the fact her Sector suffered many casualties against a much smaller force of Ninjas, who also managed to get S.I.N. into McClintock.
"Numbuh Nu-5! There's a message to you from the Deciphering Room." an agent shouts from the computer terminal below the observation deck, prompting the French Intelligence Chief to walk down and answer.
"This is Numbuh Nu-5, what is it?" Hmm? Really? Alright, keep us updated." she puts down the headset she used and returns to her superior's side. "Ma'am, the Intelligence Section intercepted a message during the battle between two Ninjas. It was sent from McClintock."
"What was it about?" Rachel asks.
"The RRID Machine attack wasn't a diversion, they were really planning to attack the school."
"You're kidding me! They would've need at least twice the amount of Ninjas to do that. I mean sure, they had the RRID Machine but still…"
"Either they underestimated us or they're just that dumb." The Kid says while Rachel and the others can't comprehend the Ninjas intentions.
"Argh, none of this is making any sense…I'll need to contact TND Global Command and discuss this with them. Numbuh Nu-5, come with me. Numbuh Psi, you're in-charge for now."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Oui, Commander." Rachel and Nu-5 leave the Switchboard while Angeline sits back down on her large chair, her eyes glued to the large screen.
"Uh…so what do we do?"
"I'm gonna go get a drink. After what happened today, I need a soda."
"Count me in, hermano." The Kid joins Patton as they leave the Switchboard but as they walk towards the elevator, Patton notices The Kid frowning angrily.
"If looks could kill, you'd be a mass murderer with that glare."
"Not in the mood for jokes. I'm so damn pissed about today."
"Same here. Our friends got hurt after all…honestly, can't blame Numbuh 4 for nearly killing Ernest."
"Would've done the same if it was me. I thought that guy went hiding after the beating he took from Beetles a year ago, what the heck was he doing at your school?"
"You're asking me? Huh, I wish I knew the answer to that." Patton replies as the boys board an elevator that takes them to the cafeteria as a general feeling of defeat falls on the base.
…
It has been a week since the events of the Sports Festival. The TND have managed to recover some of their losses from the battle with the RRID Machine, which to their shock was remotely operated and wasn't manned like they had thought. The battle however has widened the rift between the TND and the KND, who have placed the blame for the disproportionate casualties squarely on the TND's shoulders, despite Numbuh 81's attempts to calm down the KND. However, Ninja activity did see a dramatic drop after the battle but this has only raised more questions for Eliza and the TND Global Command. "Argh, these meetings are going to drive me crazy!" Eliza shouts as she storms out of a briefing room with Herbie, who is holding a folder in his arms.
"Honestly, me too. The more we try to reason with the KND, the less they want to cooperate. We share the same foes for pete's sake."
"And the next thing they'll say is 'we have our own problems to deal with'. Gah! Why do kids have to be like that…"
"Mind your words, Supreme Commander, they'll latch onto that."
"*sigh*, I know…" Eliza's shoulders slump as they board an elevator back to the TND extension of the Moonbase, where they part ways. As she wonders dejectedly through the hallway, she see a familiar face talking to Bartie Stork not far ahead. "Hm? Kid!" she shouts, prompting the aloof pilot to look over his shoulder. "It's about time you came to visit the Moonbase." an exited Eliza says to The Kid, who turns around.
"Just came to pick up some recon targets, that's all."
"I guess I'll head back to the hangar. There's a shipment of junk we're expecting from Earth." Bartie salutes Eliza and leaves the two teenagers by themselves.
"Uhm…got a minute?" Eliza asks The Kid, who raises an eyebrow.
"Hmm? Who me? Eh, sure, whatever. Wasn't in a hurry anyway." Eliza leads him to a large window in a nearby hallway, from where they can see Earth. "So, what's up?"
"…tell me, am I doing a good job as Supreme Commander?"
"Huh? What kinda question is that? Of course ya are."
"With the way things are going, I'm not so sure…it's like we're in the middle of the ocean without a sail. The TND is being tucked into every direction and I don't know which direction to take…" Eliza laments as she puts her hand against the window.
"Wow, never thought I'd hear you say something like that." The Kid is surprised by how defeated Eliza's demeanour is compared to how she normally acts. "I'm guessin' the meeting didn't work out, right?"
"No. I know there are plenty of kids among the KND who wanna work with us but lately, all I've been hearing from them are complaints and finger pointing, saying 'we aren't doing our jobs well' or 'teenagers are unreliable'…*sigh*…I thought we agreed to work together to fight against adult tyranny…"
"Things ain't going any better down there either." The Kid points at Earth as Eliza frowns. "Sure, the Ninjas are hidin' again but S.I.N. still keeps poppin' up. One guy nearly blew a hole into my plane yesterday. Must've had a big sip of that stuff, he was totally on fire."
"And we can't do anything about it…maybe we should've stayed hidden after the war ended…"
"It's kinda late for that."
"I know…" Eliza lowers her head while The Kid leans his back against the glass with his hands in his jacket pockets.
"One thing I can say is, we gotta keep movin' forward. If ya sit around, feelin' sorry for yourself, you aren't gonna get anything done." The Kid lowers his aviators slightly and gives Eliza an encouraging look.
"*chuckle* Now I'm getting encouraged by you of all people."
"Ey, what do ya mean by that? I was being serious."
"Yeah, I know, dummy." Eliza smiles mischievously and straightens herself. "That's why I'm glad you're on our side." The Kid notices a faint blush appearing on Eliza's cheeks as she smiles at him before turning around with her hands behind her back. "I just wish I could pay you back somehow…" she mutters as she walks of quickly.
"He…hey! Where ya…argh, whatever." The Kid huffs and stays behind, his eyes following Eliza as she disappears into the hallway. "Man, why's she the only girl who I can't figure out? Always making me lose my cool…"
…
It's now Friday afternoon, first week of October. Kuki's been released from hospital after spending a whole week there and has been allowed to study the following weeks at home, giving her time to deal with the trauma.
As she lies in bed, Kuki is wistfully reading photo album she had under her bed. "Why did we have to lose our memories? We look so happy in these pictures…" While she scrolls through the pictures, her thoughts go back to her time in the hospital:
For the first few days, she had trouble sleeping as any time she closed her eyes, the image of the assault would pop up in her mind. She was also very sensitive to any sudden noises and her mother stayed with her for the whole weekend. Initially, she also had panic attacks. However, by the start of the week, she started to feel better. Abby, Hoagie and Nigel visited her almost daily, but Wally did not as he was still going through treatment for his injury. By the time she was released, Wally had already been sent home. Kuki however did not want to leave the house as she was still very worn out. Abby had visited her at home earlier in the day but was very vague about Wally's situation.
Suddenly, Kuki's new phone begins to vibrate, and she picks it up from her nightstand. "Abby?" She quickly answers the call. "Evening Abby."
"Hey baby, whatcha doin'?"
"Reading…you?"
"I'm at Hoagie's. I promised to help him with some literature homework."
"Oh okay…"
"…Listen, I gotta apologize about something…"
"What do you mean?"
"Today, when ya asked about Wally I kinda…dodged the question…Look, I agreed with the guys that we would tell ya about Wally before you'd gotten better but…Abby felt too guilty…"
"I thought so…is Wally, okay?"
"He…uhm…well, ya know he's already out of the hospital but…"
"He wasn't expelled?!" Kuki stands up and starts to panic.
"No, no he didn't get expelled! Calm down Kuki."
"Oh…thank goodness…" she lets out a sigh of relief and sits down on her bedside.
"But…he has been suspended for a month." Kuki freezes and her mind goes blank. "Kuki? Kuki?! Hey, you there?!"
"I'm here…sorry I spaced out…" Kuki looks dejectedly at the wall in-front of her.
"Abby understands how ya feel. Nigel fought tooth and nail not to get him expelled. He told us about it yesterday, but we didn't want to break the news yet…"
"It's okay…I understand…have you guys talked to him?"
"That's' the problem. That guy hasn't answered any calls or messages. Hoagie asked his parents about it, but they told him they didn't want to rush him. He's still recovering from the surgery."
"Right…I wish there was something we could do…I don't want him to be alone…"
"I feel ya Kuki…How about you try calling him? If it's you, he might answer."
"Me call him?! Uhm…but I've never talked to him on the phone…"
"You guys were friends when you were kids."
"Yeah, but I don't remember anything…Nothing! I want to remember all the things we did together, but I can't…It's all a blur…"
"You're not alone on that…Look, just try calling him. It might work. Okay, Abby's gonna go. Hoagie's losin' his mind over poetry analysis. Talk to ya later."
"Bye…" As the call cuts, Kuki falls onto her bed. She's confused about what Abby said but her worry for Wally finally gives her the courage to call him. "Please answer Wally…"
However, there is only silence at the other end. She gets up and look out of the window, into the orange, windy October noon sky, towards the direction of the outskirts where Wally lives. "Oh Wally…please be okay…" She then turns around towards her bed when she notices something next to her pillow. An orange Rainbow Monkey that she has kept in her bed as long she can remember but doesn't know why it's so special to her. In middle school, she gave away almost her entire Rainbow Monkey collection to relatives, collectors and kids but this orange one was one of the few still remaining in her room. She takes the plushie and looks at it with a sad expression and somehow, it reminds Kuki of Wally. "If only I could help him…" She says to herself and leaves her room, walks downstairs and slumps down on a sofa. Her mother, Genki is sitting on an armchair, typing on her laptop when she notices her daughter come in
"Kuki, were you on the phone?"
"Yeah…Abby called me…"
"Hmm…is something wrong? You seem troubled." Genki turns off her computer and joins her daughter on the sofa.
"I…uhm…"
"Kuki, I know that look. Your face is very easy to read."
"It's…it's about Wally…"
"Oh really?" Genki smiles slightly and puts her hand on Kuki's shoulder.
"He…he's been suspended for a month and…he's not answering his phone…I…want to help him…"
"Hmm…I see. Don't worry. Why don't you leave this to your mother? I have an idea."
"Really?!"
"It might work…I'll have to make a call first." Genki stands up and makes a call on her phone.
Meanwhile in the Beetles residence, Sydney Beetles is sitting dejectedly on the sofa in the living room, having just tried to talk to Wally but to no avail. "Any luck?" Mrs. Beetles asks and Sydney shakes his head.
"No. He's still blaming himself for the whole thing…"
"But didn't they already expel the real culprit?"
"Yeah, but you know how he is. I just hope he won't completely isolate himself, like he did in middle-school and last year…" Suddenly, Sydney's phone rings and he is surprised by the caller. "Ah…good afternoon or should I say evening, Genki."
"Hello Sydney."
"How…how's your daughter?"
"Well, she's still recovering but they released her yesterday. She is much better now."
"That's great to hear…"
"And how is your son doing? Did they send him home already?"
"Well…the doctor said he's not allowed to do anything that would aggravate the injury. No sports or riding motorcycles, or any heavy lifting…"
"That's not all I presume?"
"Yeah…he's refusing to leave his room! We've tried everything but he keeps blaming himself, saying he doesn't deserve to have friends and such…it's not the first time he's done that, but I think it's worse this time…"
"That's terrible! Hmm…has he spoken to any of his friends?"
"They came to visit yesterday but he told them to leave him alone…"
"Don't worry Sydney, I believe I have a solution that might help your son. I'll be there in 30 minutes."
"Huh…what do you mean?" The call cuts off and Sydney is wondering what she meant but then realizes it. "OH CRUD! Honey!"
"What's wrong Sydney?"
"Mrs. Sanban just called! I…I think she's bringing her daughter over!"
"What! Oh no, I need to clean the bathroom and the kitchen and the living room…!"
"And I've got to put my bowling trophies on their right places!"
…
Back at the Sanban house, Genki puts her phone into her pocket as a confused Kuki looks at her. "Mom, who did you call?" she asks as Genki stands up.
"Go and pack young lady, you'll be going to have a sleepover at a friend's house."
"Huh?"
"You said you wanted to help him, so you are going to do it, face to face."
"…EHHHHH?!" Kuki stands still in total shock but then she shakes her head and runs upstairs, empties her gym bag and fills it with extra clothes and other essentials. Before she closes it, she stuffs the orange Rainbow Monkey and her album into it. She then runs downstairs where her mother is waiting.
The drive to the city's outskirts is silent but then Kuki speaks up. "Mom, are you sure about…?"
"Don't worry. I think you'll do fine."
"It's not that. I…I've never gone to a boy's house like this…" Kuki starts to blush slightly, amusing her mother.
"Oh, you're still so young Kuki."
Eventually, they arrive in-front of the Beetles residence. Kuki's nerves start to kick in as Genki rings the doorbell. "THEY'RE HERE!" Is heard from the inside and after a few seconds, an exhausted Sydney opens the door. "Ah…good evening…Genki…"
"Good evening, Sydney."
"And…this must be your daughter?"
"Yes, this is Kuki, my eldest daughter." Genki gestures towards Kuki, who bows cautiously.
"Hi…"
"So…what gives us the pleasure to have you here?"
"Kuki here has been worried about your son I thought it would be for the best if she talked with him."
"Huh…oh that's a great idea. Though, Wallabee's been down ever since he came back…"
"That's exactly why I've brought her here. Now, you better behave yourself young lady. I'll come and pick you up tomorrow."
"TOMORROW!" Both Kuki and Sydney shouts at the same time.
"Yes, tomorrow. Now, enjoy your stay." Genki walks quickly to her car and drives away, leaving a dumbfounded Kuki on the Beetles doorstep.
"Well, there's no point standing around outside. Come on in."
"…Thank you…" Kuki enters the house and immediately, the small size of the house and tight spaces catch her eye.
"I hope you don't mind the accommodations…We're not from the…ehm…richest end if you know what I mean."
"Oh no, I don't have a problem with it. I think this house is…cute." her comment instantly melts Sydney's heart.
"Why thank you. Well, I think you'll want to see Wallabee…just take the stairs and turn left. It's the second door to the right."
"Thanks." As Kuki heads upstairs, Sydney runs to the kitchen.
"Honey, you're not gonna believe what Genki's daughter said!" he says excitedly.
"What?"
"She said our house is cute!"
Kuki climbs up the narrow staircase and enters a tight corridor, only fit for one person at a time. The first door is covered by caution-tape and has a large sign saying: "Teens and Adults not allowed!" After that is another door without any markings or tape. However, the frame is slightly cracked at the same height as the handle.
Kuki takes a deep breath and knocks on the door gently. "Wally? Are you there?" At first, she doesn't hear anything but then she recognizes the sound of footsteps approaching the door and it opens slightly.
"Kuki? Wha…what are you doing here?" an empty-eyed Wally peeks out of the door.
"Hi Wally. I…uhm…want to talk to you."
"What's there to talk about…I…"
"I'm worried about you, Wally! Everyone is! I heard from your dad that you've locked yourself in for two days."
"…" Wally looks away but Kuki refuses to back down.
"We're friends, right? Friends help each other." Kuki's pleading gaze is too much for Wally to handle and after a bit of hesitation, he relents.
"…fine…" he leaves the door open and goes back to his bed and sits down, looking out of the window.
Kuki walks in and looks around the room. The light is not on and only the window illuminates it. She puts down her bag and slowly approaches Wally, who continues to stare out of the window, his hollow expression strengthens Kuki's resolve as she sits down next to him. "I…uhm…Abby told me you were suspended…"
"Heh…too bad they didn't expel me…"
"Don't say that! You know Nigel worked really hard so you wouldn't get expelled!"
"But this whole thing was my fault…"
"What do you mean by that? Ernest was the one who bullied everyone! He brought that brass knuckle to school and…!"
"I should've never tried to stand up to him…"
"How can you say that?! Hoagie would've lost his van if you hadn't been there!"
"But he hurt you!" Wally lashes out at Kuki, and she notices tears forming in his emerald-green eyes. "He…said he'd hurt you if I didn't agree to come to the changing room that Thursday. But it got to my head! I thought if I beat him in that game, he'd stop but no! He went after you instead!" Wally collapses to his knees between the bed and the window while leaning his head against the windowsill. Kuki then kneels next to him while placing her hand on his back and to her surprise, she notices that in his hand, is her emerald-colored four-leaf clover necklace.
"Oh Wally…"
"When I saw you in that closet, I totally lost control and went after him, even though I should've stayed there. But when I got to the changing room, I heard that bastard laughing…LAUGHING! He said that if nobody found you before the end of the festival, he was gonna…take you to his home and…" Kuki is horrified by this revelation as Wally grits his teeth, trying to hold back his tears. "I couldn't stop myself. Everything went blank! The only thing I had in my mind was that I wanted to make him pay! I'm a cruddy idiot!" Wally punches the floor in anguish as he starts shaking. "It's always the same thing! People get bullied, I stand up to them and somebody else gets hurt!" he starts to weep while clenching his fists. "Everyone gets hurt because of me!"
"Wally…I don't blame you for what happened."
"But I couldn't protect you…"
"You did! Remember when those bullies grabbed me in the cafeteria? You were there to stop them. And when Ernest threw that ball straight at me? You blocked it. You've helped me more than you know!" Wally lifts his head and looks at Kuki who is smiling warmly at him. Then, Wally breaks down and begins to cry as Kuki embraces him. "I could never blame you, Wally. You've done so much for me even though we only met two months ago. You're my hero."
…
Downstairs, Sydney and his wife hear Wally's crying all the way to the living room.
"Is he…crying?"
"When was the last time he's cried like that?"
"I can't remember but I'm glad he's letting it all out."
…
Up in Wally's room, Kuki continues to hug the distraught boy. "Can you promise me something?"
"…huh…?"
"Don't try to face everything by yourself. If something like this happens again, please, tell us. I don't want you to get hurt because of me or anyone else."
"Sorry…"
"Don't be sorry. Just promise me, okay?" Kuki looks deep into Wally's tear-filled eyes, and he nods weakly.
"…I promise…"
"Thanks. Now come on, you don't have to be on the floor, silly." Kuki helps Wally up and they both sit down on the bed. After a moment of silence, Wally cautiously speaks up.
"…how are your…injuries?"
"Oh those? They were just light bruises and the cut healed already but…I'm still recovering."
"Yeah, thought so…"
"What about you? Abby told me they had to put you in surgery."
"I guess his punch did more damage than the doc thought…I'm fine now but I can't do anything with a broken rib…So ya won't get a ride on my bike anytime soon…"
"That's okay. But hey, I came over like we agreed."
"Oh yeah, that…" Wally scratches the back of his neck and looks out of the window. The sun is already setting, and streetlights begin to glow one by one. Then, Wally opens his closed fist and offers the necklace to her. "I uh…found it on the ground while were lookin' for ya…I forgot to give it back."
"It's okay, Wally." Kuki takes the necklace and clutches it warmly.
"I guess that's pretty important to ya?"
"Yeah…it's my lucky charm. I don't remember when I got it but somehow, I feel like it's really important to me…I don't know why…but thanks for keeping it safe, Wally."
"Eh…no problem…" Wally looks away and the room falls into silence. Then, Kuki fidgets slightly and then turns towards him.
"Wally, can I ask a question?"
"Sure…"
"What was it like…in your old school?"
"Hmph…nothing special…it just felt like I was drifting…"
"Did you have any friends?"
"No. I didn't belong there and nobody wanted to talk to a guy with a scar on his face…"
"Where you bullied?"
"They messed with me, yeah but I…tried to ignore it…but then it got worse, so I fought back…I sent 5 people to the hospital…"
"No way…"
"I was expelled this spring…I did graduate but I was pretty much banned from all the other schools…I'm glad dad got his job back…"
"Me too. I'm really happy that you came to our school." Kuki says as a warm smile appears on her face but her comment makes Wally's face turn red and he looks away.
"Well…uhm I'm glad you think that way…hey, did ya really beat up those guys with your racket?"
"I tried…Abby taught me self-defense last year but there were so many of them…"
"But those punks ain't gonna try that again."
"I'll just have to train a bit more I guess…hey, can you teach me how to fight too?"
"Ah…I uh…" Wally puts his hand over his cheek and looks away, but Kuki notices his reaction and she lowers her head.
"I have something to tell you as well…This is something only Abby and my family knows…" Kuki hides her eyes under her bangs as Wally eyes her.
"What do you mean?"
"I…was bullied a lot in middle school…I don't remember much about it but…I know it was…really bad…" Now Wally turns towards her and notices that she is shivering.
"…guess you had it tough too…"
"Yeah…they kept calling me names and stealing my stuff…when you get called a "freak" enough times, you start to believe it yourself…"
"Wait, you don't mean…?"
"Like I said, I don't remember middle school well…but I do remember doing this to myself…" Kuki removes her sweater, revealing her purple top underneath and Wally immediately averts his gaze.
"Hey, what are ya doing?!" But as he takes a small look, he notices that now Kuki is on the verge of crying. He's then sees something else: she has revealed her wrists which are both covered in scars. Suddenly, he gets an odd sense of de ja vu by what he is seeing. The sight of Kuki revealing her scars causes a memory to flash by eyes. It's blurry but he knows that this is not the first time he's seeing her like this. "No way…you…"
"…the pain was too much and I…tried to commit suicide…" Wally shutters as guilt begins seeping into his heart, but he doesn't know why. He moves closer, puts his right arm around her shoulders and gently presses Kuki against his side.
"If we didn't have this cruddy amnesia, I'd know why I feel like this but…I'm sorry if I wasn't there when you needed someone by your side…" his words make Kuki feel warm inside and she looks up at him. Wally is hiding his eyes under his blond hair, but he tries to smile, weakly and Kuki smiles back, despite the painful, blurred memory filling her mind. She closes her eyes and leans her head on Wally's chest, making him flare up but he remains still. After a few minutes, he attempts to console her.
"I'm sorry…"
"Why…are you apologizing?"
"I just…felt like it. Seeing you like that makes me feel bad too…"
"Just you being with me is enough." Wally takes a deep breath and holds her slightly tighter.
"I…uhm…I can promise that uh…I'm not…gonna let you get hurt again."
"The I'll promise the same thing."
"Yeah…okay…"
For a good while, the two teens sit in total silence, enjoying each other's company. Wally's heart beats so hard it feels like it'll explode but he can also sense Kuki's heartbeat, faintly. "…I've never been this close to a girl before…"
"Yes, you have. We were friends when we were kids."
"That's not the same! And besides, I don't remember any of that."
"I'm 100% sure. The album has so many pictures of us."
"Right…Oh crud, I forgot!" Wally abruptly stands up and goes to the cupboard to pick up the box he found earlier and sits back down on the bed.
"What's that?"
"This got delivered to our house after we moved…take a look."
Wally opens the box and Kuki's eyes begin to sparkle. "Ohmigosh! That's a Limited-Edition Opposites Attract Rainbow Monkey! They released these in pairs with mismatching colors. Their tummies glow if you have both together. Is this yours?!"
"Uhm…it was a birthday present I never got. My uncle stuffed this box and some other things in to storage. That's why I asked you to come to my place back then…"
"I thought you hated Rainbow Monkeys?"
"It's not about that. This one had a note and well…read it…" Wally takes a small note from underneath the plushie and gives it to Kuki.
"Hmm… 'To my bestest friend. Happy birthday. I miss you.' Huh?!" Kuki realizes why the handwriting looks familiar.
"Yeah…it's from you…"
"No way…I don't remember sending this…"
"It arrived after I moved so…"
"That means we got our amnesia right before or on the same day you moved away!" Both teens realize how important this discovery is but before they can think about it further, Kuki stands up.
"What are ya doing?"
"Could it be…?" she says to herself and opens her beg, taking out the orange Rainbow Monkey she brought with her and puts it close to the green one. To their surprise, the Rainbow Monkey's bellies indeed start glowing and a warm smile appears on Kuki's face as she shows them to Wally. "Look, we match."
"Ehm…I guess we do…Wait, why does that orange monkey look like me?!"
"Oh…yeah it does…but don't they look cute together!"
"Right…"
"Now that you mention it, this green one has a mini version of the sweater I used to wear as a kid. We really where close back then."
"Yeah well…I don't look happy in these pictures at least…" Wally has taken the album from his nightstand and is scrolling it. Kuki joins him, with the Rainbow Monkeys on her lap.
"You looked so cute as a kid."
"I was NOT cute."
"Yes you were, and you can't change my mind!"
"No, I wasn't, I was handsome!…argh whatever." Kuki leans closer and begins pointing out her favorite pictures but Wally feels embarrassed.
"I really wanna know why we lost our memories…I can't stand not knowing the stories behind the photos. Sometimes I have these dreams where I'm somewhere with someone, but I can't tell who they are…sometimes it's more than one person."
"Me too…"
"Really?"
"I mean, they seem so real, it freaks me out…"
"Maybe they are memories, but we just can't understand them because of the amnesia."
"Stop, you're makin' my head hurt…what's the time?"
"23:16."
"Oh crud, it's late!" Wally stands up, goes to the corridor and realizes that everyone else has already gone to sleep. "We should hit the hay too…I'll sleep downstairs on the sofa. You can have my bed."
"Oh…uhm…" Kuki starts to fidget slightly. "Uhm…can't you sleep here too?" Wally freezes and looks back at Kuki, her puppy eyes getting the best of him yet again.
"…Fine, just wait a sec." He pulls down a ladder from the roof of the corridor and climbs to the attic. After a few minutes, he comes back with two sleeping bags sealed in plastic bags and a camping mattress.
"Heh, good thing my uncle kept these sealed. You can have this. I'll sleep on the floor." As he un-furls the mattress, Kuki rolls up Wally's blanket and puts it on the floor. She then opens her bag and takes out her green pajama shirt.
"I'll change in the bathroom. You can…do it here."
Wally leaves the room quickly, leaving Kuki alone to change her clothes. She then sits on the bed and snuggles the two Rainbow Monkeys. "He's really considerate…" Soon, Wally knocks on the door and enters, closing it behind him.
"Alright, I'll turn off the lights now."
"Good night, Wally.
"Ehm…you too." As the room becomes completely dark, Wally almost immediately falls asleep, snoring quietly. Kuki meanwhile lies on her back, staring at the sealing, but soon her eyelids begin to feel heavy, and she falls asleep.
The girl has a dream: She standing in a hallway when suddenly, one by one, like a reel of film, events start passing by her eyes. It depicts a group of kids who run together towards something big when suddenly, the ground cracks beneath them and the kids are separated and swallowed by darkness. Then, Kuki starts hearing voices that she can't recognize:
"You lost everything."
"You ruined lives."
"You lost yourself."
"You hated everyone."
"You didn't care."
The voices fade and then, she sees a pink crystal appear before her, calling her name. But when she reaches for it with her hand, her body is turned into crystal and the world burns around her, causing her to scream in terror, but not a sound is heard.
"…Kuki? Kuki, you gotta wake up!"
As Kuki slowly opens her eyes, she sees Wally holding on to her shoulders. Realizing it was a dream, Kuki begins to cry. "Wally!" She hugs him and presses her face on his chest, making him blush.
"Come on, calm down already. It was just a dream. You'll wake everyone up."
"It…was horrible…"
"Yeah, I could tell. Ya woke me up. Just calm down." Kuki lets go of him and wipes her tears on her sleeve.
"Everything disappeared…I…"
"It was just a dream! That's all!"
"You're right…"
"Now go back to sleep." Wally lies down on his sleeping bag, but he can sense Kuki staring at him from the bed.
"…What do you want?"
"Can you…come here?"
"Huh?! Both of us can't fit on that bed?"
"I can make room…I'm scared…"
"Oh crud…fine but keep your hands to yourself!" Wally puts his sleeping bag to the very edge of the bed's right side while moves to the left. Wally pulls up the bag's zipper and lies on his back. He can however feel that Kuki is still staring at him. Little by little, she moves closer and snuggles against his left shoulder. Wally freezes but does not try to move her away. Soon, both have fallen asleep.
…
The next morning, Wally opens his eyes as the clock strikes ten. He immediately looks down but to his relief, Kuki is not crushing his abdomen, instead, she is lying right next to him, her face close to his. Her sleeping form makes Wally feel odd and his eyes inadvertently stare at her.
"Oh crud, I never thought about this but…she's actually really cute…" his thoughts wander back to the previous evening and his face turns red. Wally quickly unzips the sleeping bag and sits on the bed but he can't get his eyes off of the sleeping Kuki and continues staring for a few minutes until she also wakes up, albeit slowly.
Kuki lets out a loud yawn and rolls on to her back. "Oh, good morning, Wally…" she says, still half asleep.
"Mornin'…did ya sleep well?"
"Yeah, the nightmare didn't come back. Thanks for staying close…"
"Ehm…no problem…" Wally stutters before he stands up and walks over to the door. "I'll go the bathroom. If ya need to take a shower, you can go there when I'm done. I think mom's makin' breakfast so come downstairs after, okay?"
"Okidoki."
"Oh, and don't waste the warm water. Dad's gonna lose his mind if the water bill's high."
"Gotcha."
"Right…uhm…well I'll go." Wally leaves Kuki alone in his room. She sits up and looks around. Yesterday, because Wally had no lights on, she couldn't see what his room looked like.
"Wow, I never realized how small this house is…" Kuki gets out of the bed and goes to her bag to get her towel, hairdryer and other essentials before she enters the bathroom, which Wally had vacated a few minutes ago. Again, the small size of the bathroom, which only has a sink, toilet and a shower, surprises her. Having been used to the giant bathroom in her own house, this is a new experience. Then, she remembers last night's events and blushes slightly as she turns on the shower. "I'm glad he's here…"
Down in the kitchen, Wally is sitting at the table with his head hanging slightly. His mother is making breakfast while Sydney is sitting across the table. Both of his parents are ominously silent. Then, Sydney tries to break the ice. "So uhm…Wallabee, how are you feeling?"
"I dunno…fine I guess…"
"Did you sleep well? We didn't want to bother you yesterday evening so we went to sleep earlier." Wally's mother says as she gives him a plate with two pieces of toast and a cup of coffee.
"It's okay. We managed…"
"That's great to hear son. Where is little miss Sanban?"
"Shower."
"Oh, of course." The kitchen falls into silence as Wally eats but his parents begin whispering with each other. "You think everything went okay with those two?"
"I'm not sure…" Their whispering is stopped by the sound of Kuki walking down the stairs and Helen immediately goes to greet her. "Good morning…Kuki, right?"
"That's right. Good morning to you too Mrs. Beetles." Kuki greets Wally's mother with a smile. She is wearing her new light green and white blouse instead of the sweater and her hair is not in a ponytail. She sits down next to Wally who keeps quiet. "I really like your house, Wally. It's so small and comfy. I wish I could live in a house like this."
"What's so great about it? This place is cramped and it's right next to a junkyard, the railyard and the powerlines."
"Yeah, but I like it here." Kuki ignores Wally's indofferent attitude with a cheerful smile.
"Whatever."
"Now Wallabee, you shouldn't talk like that. Don't mind him, he's always cranky in the morning."
"*giggle* Wally's cranky at school too!"
"I'm not cranky! Just tired…" Suddenly, Kuki's cellphone rings and she answers quickly.
"Hello? Hi mom. Yeah, I'm fine, I slept really well and I'm eating breakfast at Wally's kitchen. Yeah okay, bye."
"That was Genki right?" Sydney asks.
"Yup. How do you know my mom by the way?"
"Heh, we work in the same building. We talked with your parents when you two where in the hospital."
"Oh, okay. I hope they didn't scare you. My parents can be a bit…harsh."
"Not at all. They're really great people. Why, they thanked Wallabee here about being your friend."
"REALLY?!" Kuki is stands up in surprise while Wally becomes speechless.
"You're jokin', right dad?"
"Nope. They said that thanks to you, the little miss here has been a lot happier." Wally stares intensely at his lap to hide his reddened face while Kuki is touched by what she heard.
"Well…they're not wrong…he's been a good friend…" she says silently, making Wally even more embarrassed.
"Haha, you know I've never seen any girl make our Wally speechless like that. We'd like to thank you too, for keeping our boy company. He's never had a lot of friends."
"Do you have to tell her everything…" Wally says through his teeth.
"I'm not the only one. There's Hoagie, Abby and Nigel. We just recently learned that we were friends in elementary school."
"Well, that's just swell. It's always good to meet old friends. Aren't ya glad you've got such great pals Wallabee?" Both his father and Kuki look at Wally expectantly and after a bit of hesitation, he replies.
"…of course, I am…"
"Yay, thanks Wally!" Kuki immediately hugs him, surprising his parents who begin to laugh. Wally, however, is just barely keeping himself from pushing her off. The atmosphere in the kitchen becomes very cheerful as Kuki continues to converse with Wally's parents, who are enthralled that their son is friends with her. Wally remains quiet but does react to their conversation. Just as everyone has finished their breakfast, Kuki's mother arrives. "Oh, mom's here. I'll go get my stuff!" Kuki quickly runs upstairs while Sydney speaks to his son.
"You know son, I think you're really lucky to be close with a girl like that. She's a one in a million."
"Uhm…right…"
"We know you're embarrassed but ya should loosen up sometimes. Don't try to do everything by yourself."
"Yeah, she said the same thing…"
"Wow, really? I guess she really knows you well, heh-heh." Sydney pats his son on the back before Wally stands up and sees Kuki run down the stairs.
"Wallabee, since you're the host, make sure you escort Ms. Sanban to the door like a gentleman." Mrs. Beetles shouts from the kitchen.
"Yeah, yeah…" Wally opens the door as Kuki puts on her shoes and walks out. However, she turns around and walks up to Wally.
"Uhm…even though this was all mom's idea, I'm glad I got to come here. Can I come again?"
"Yeah, sure…and uh…thanks for talking with me…I really needed that…" Wally tries to look away as Kuki blushes.
"Heh, then I'll thank you as well. Can you…uhm…close your eyes?"
"Eh? Well…okay…" Wally does what he's told and shuts his eyes. Kuki fidgets and then, leans forward. She gives Wally a quick kiss on the cheek, startling him.
"Huh, what the crud?!" he jumps backwards while Kuki also takes a step back.
"That was for spending the night with me…you're…really important to me Wally." But Wally cannot respond as he is completely stunned by what she did. Kuki giggles and starts running towards her mother's car. "See ya later Wally!"
"…oh yeah, bye!" Wally snaps out of his trance and waves back at her, holding his left cheek. He continues standing on the porch as the car drives away.
"Oh crud…that note…was right…"
…
Inside Genki's car, a blushing Kuki looks out of the window with a warm smile.
"Looks like I made the right choice sending you there."
"Yeah…"
"I'm guessing everything went well?"
"Yeah…" Genki smiles and pats her daughter's shoulder, who continues to stare blankly towards the sky.
"I'm really glad you're feeling better already."
"I was able to help Wally. After everything he's done for me…" She thinks back to what they talked about and sighs.
"I guess I really do like him…"
End of Transmission 8
Note: I may have mentioned this before but I am a hardcore 3x4 fan so half of this chapter was dedicated to Wally and Kuki. Also, I have an announcement: Chapter 9 will be released within this week but 10's release might take a bit longer. I have it ready, but I need to finish 3 different concept arts before I can publish chapter 10. All my fan art and designs for both RETRIBUTION and Beyond can be found on Deviantart under the username Gettan49.