"Choir?" Raika asked, perplexed.
He and Searchman had come back from school and were still ever wearing their school backpacks, when his mother had made the request for their next curricular in school.
His mother nodded. "You used to sing, both by yourself and with family when you were younger," she explained happily. Daniil, held by her and who was unusually in a quiet mood, made an "ahhh" noise, and she bounced him up and down a bit on her hip, making him laugh. "Are you trying to sing?" she then asked, smiling at the young boy.
"No," Daniil then said next, shaking his head.
Dinara laughed, then turned back to Raika and Searchman. "And I know you still can sing- I hear you and Peter with the young ones," she added.
Raika frowned. Randomly singing ancient Sharian songs with the sextuplets was quite a bit different than singing in front of others in school. He had hoped the next curriculum to be something more academic, though.
"It would be something good for you to do," Dinara coaxed, smiling hopefully.
Raika inwardly huffed, then excused himself and Searchman to start their homework. They reached their room, thankfully without any random mishaps along the way, such as a small toddler attempting to grabbed the dangling straps of their packs or otherwise. They did have to step over several toys and other objects along the way, but that was fairly common.
He closed- and locked- the door, only to hear a gurgle from the room near the beds.
"Again?" he muttered.
He and Searchman went to the lower bunk to find Nadia happily playing with a few plastic dolls on the rumpled covers.
"I suppose that our mother had left the door open again," he guessed.
Searchman nodded. "It could be that she was after something in this room."
Raika sighed and shortly surveyed the small room. At least there were no food messes this time, like there had been two days ago when there had not only been a whole bunch of cracker crumbs in the lower bunk (and in the crevices between the covers and the wood), but smashed steamed carrots in the corner by the closet.
He stepped closer to Nadia, who was bouncing one of the dolls up and down. "Hi," he greeted her, hoping that he did not sound too exasperated.
Nadia turned toward them and laughed. Raika was glad that she was in a good mood, instead of instantly wanting to attempt to "hide" by the wall by the bed like Henry had done two days ago before screaming.
He picked her up, Searchman following him with the other few toys- obviously she had come into the room with more than one trip- and deposited her by a few village girls.
"She comes with the royal brigade and her loyal subjects," the oldest girl commented, obviously referring to him and Searchman and the fact that the dolls happened to have somewhat fancy plastic dresses.
Raika thanked them for helping, and assured that he and Searchman would help again soon after doing their homework, which was actually much less for the day.
"Homework away," the girl commented, waving her arm, smiling a little bit. Hilyna, then Henry imitated her, laughing a little bit.
Raika and Searchman returned to their room. Raika sat down to his homework with a short huff, but he was smiling a bit.
Later after the helpers had left, his mother and father were helping to bathe some of the younger ones, with the other four in bed already. Raika sat in his chair again, hoping that Daniil would actually stay asleep this time. The toddler had attempted to "sneak away" (come straight to their bedroom door and giggle, and run a bit in the hallway) twice already.
"I really don't know why our mother insisted on choir," he stated resentfully.
Searchman frowned from his own desk. "It is an unusual option, especially considering your interest in excelling in academics," he agreed.
Raika nodded. Gym, though required, had been bad enough- for Searchman, at least. Both of them were fit enough, with Searchman having kept up exercising even though he had been patterned after Raika, so that was not the issue. The actual issue there had been that Searchman had still been used to his navi reflexes and speed, and so in an environment where both were required a bit more by human standards, he had floundered a bit, including a time where a very rude boy had thrown a basketball so hard that his former navi had been knocked unconscious for a few hours.
Choir was something different all together, though. "Of course I'm used to singing," he acknowledged. "But this would be for school. It should be something more challenging."
Searchman nodded. Raika frowned, but he did not really know quite how to get out of the request without seeming ungrateful. It had been due to his older uncle's intervention that he and Searchman were always together in all of the same classes. He was not sure if refusing his mother's request would eventually cause the decision to reverse it for the school they were currently in, since she and Grigory had agreed to it.
As for singing, he was certainly not expecting to do any sort of musical career, though, so taking a choir class seemed an odd choice. He and Searchman had even considered eventually getting a job in something in either programming or something else in the computer science field. He was not certain if Searchman would still be a human by the time that they would graduate (or rather, he hoped that he would not), but it definitely did not hurt to consider their options, especially since "net saver" was currently not available.
"Even gym was more profitable, though," he said, remembering the strange, almost slow (for him) class.
Searchman nodded. "It was, especially for you with competing with others desiring to beat you in a somewhat combat-like place."
Raika smiled slightly. "They tried," he stated. "But for most of the time, they did not succeed." It had almost seemed too easy, sometimes, though, but he had remembered that none of the other classmates had scored high in physical abilities in a military school. There had surprisingly been a few classmates that had proven to be more difficult to beat, though.
"Unless I or another team member slowed you down," Searchman corrected him.
Raika then frowned. "That was not your fault," he chided his navi.
Searchman's face saddened a bit, though. "I just wish that I had been more helpful as a partner to you there."
"It's fine," he said, as he had many times before. "Really, Searchman."
Searchman nodded. "Thank you, Raika."
Searchman was trying so hard in school, with his limitations far from what he had been as a navi . . . With effort, his navi had eventually improved in gym, though.
"With choir, if we do take it, it will most likely not be as challenging," Raika stated. "If anything, it will be up to the other students to ensure success."
Which of course, was something that he did not quite like as much. Raika was definitely used to working with others, as he had during missions, and knew that without them, he and Searchman could not have been victorious in many missions,. However, he still liked for him to be able to depend on himself and Searchman for completing tasks.
"It could also be up to the choir director," Searchman added.
Raika nodded. "I have no idea if the director has a good reputation, or even if they can handle a class strictly enough. Even the timing of when music is introduced and how challenging it is could prove to a hindrance for many students."
"It would also depend on how well they can read music, or recall it well enough in the first place to sing their part with others around them singing other parts."
Raika nodded again. "I don't even know how that type of class would be graded," he admitted. "Would it depend solely upon how well at least the bulk of the choir performs, or the analysis of individual students?"
"I don't know," Searchman stated. "I know that if you would take the class, though, you would certainly not perform less than you are able."
"The same for you, also."
Searchman smiled ever so slightly. "Of course."
Raika then heard a small thud from presumably two small hands on their bedroom door again. He frowned, standing up, with Searchman following him. Raika opened the door to see not Daniil, who he had been expecting, but Nellie.
Raika smiled slightly when Nellie immediately clambered over to Searchman, who picked her up. The small girl hugged his former navi, closing her eyes. It almost seemed like she was ready to sleep then and there.
"Perhaps we could be with her for a while?" Searchman suggested.
Raika nodded, as he had been thinking the same. They went back to their desks, Searchman still holding Nellie. However, when they sat down, she instantly demanded to let down.
"Perhaps she did not run enough today?" Raika suggested, watching as she ran to the closet and back to Searchman.
"It seems that she wants something," Searchman corrected him, as the small girl repeatedly patted his right arm.
Raika saw that his former navi seemed to be correct as Searchman stood and followed Nellie to the closet, where she raised her arms after Searchman opened the door.
"Does she want something in the closet, or is she just stalling for time before bed?" he asked. Several of the sextuplets had done the latter before, but not Nellie most of the time.
"I am not sure," Searchman replied.
Raika looked at Nellie. "Do you want something in there?" he asked, wondering how foolish the question was. Nellie had proven to be one of the more serious minded of the younger ones, though.
Nellie nodded, though Raika was not sure if she was actually answering the question, or just nodding as an acceptable answer for her behavior.
She raised her arms again, and Searchman lifted her while Raika pointed out some of the small storage containers there. He had gotten to one on the middle right when Nellie nodded.
Raika frowned at the authenticity of the reply, but humored the young one and took the lid off of the box. He then began taking out some items before putting them back, with Searchman asking if it was what Nellie was after.
It was not until the second to last item in the box that Nellie finally nodded. Raika frowned, perplexed, only half-wondering if it was a "trap" of the definitely not too-tired one-year-old.
"A castanet?" he wondered aloud.
He was glad that at least Nellie had not pointed out the recorder, which would of course be much louder. Of course he would not play that at night, though.
The castanet was wooden, and had a loop for inserting around the middle finger and playing with the other hand. Nellie nodded, then, pulling one arm out from Searchman, she reached out for the box again. Raika pulled out the other castanet, and Nellie nodded.
"Sorry, Nellie, we're not going to sing right now," he said gently to the small girl.
Nellie visibly slumped, obviously disappointed. There was a knock on their bedroom door, and Raika opened it to see his mother with a mostly dry Henry.
"Did you see Nellie- Oh, there she is," she said, when Searchman came nearer the door, still holding the one-year-old. "I suppose she escaped, then, huh?"
"She did, yes," Raika replied.
Dinara smiled. "Could you sing a few songs to her- not too wild of ones where you move a lot and run, though- and maybe read a short book, then put her to bed again soon after that?" she suggested. "She could use the attention."
Raika nodded, not daring to refuse- he was still new to this strange new household, anyway, and he was not used to resisting orders. As his mother closed the door, he wondered if it was his mother's idea to for them to want to perform in choir more, as she had suggested singing instead of just reading a book. He and Searchman could certainly do both, though.
Nellie reached out toward the closet again, and so, humoring her again, Raika pulled out the other castanet. The small girl instantly grinned as they sat down on the floor near the bed and handed the other castanet to Searchman.
They proceeded to sing some simple songs in the family's ancestral language, with fairly easy rhythms. Nellie even clapped her own hands to the rhythm of the small musical instruments. It was soon after more rhythms started, though, that Raika noticed that not only Nellie was following their exact rhythms, but was also attempting riffs and longer passages of faster notes, though her fingers could not move that fluidly. Instead, she either gently passed slid her hand against her other palm, or clapped a bit for only the entire duration that the tremolos and otherwise lasted.
After a slow song without the castanets (they had put them away, with thankfully only minimal reaction from Nellie), and a picture book from the small pile they purposely kept in their room, Nellie was fast asleep on Searchman's lap.
"Is what she did typical for a one-year-old?" he asked Searchman quietly, referring to Nellie and the castanet rhythms.
Searchman shook his head. "I would assume not," he replied. "It seems that they might clap a bit in somewhat of an imitation, but perhaps not generally keep up with the exact rhythm."
"She certainly seemed to actually know them," Raika agreed.
He looked, perplexed, at the sleeping one-year-old. Raika then shook his head slightly.
"Let's get her to bed again," he said, and Searchman followed him, still carrying the slumbering Nellie. Certainly they would do a more direct routine the next night.
The choir director, Mrs. Burgenty, looked seriously as him and Searchman in the front office. "Could you two sing a duet in the small concert coming up?" she asked. "You two have such talent that I really don't think that it would be too difficult for either of you, and you both sing so well."
The choir teacher had sent them a note via their last teacher, asking them both to come to the office after school ended. They had not taken choir after all, due to a surprisingly friendly comment from Chief Malenkov. However, the choir teacher had seen both of them sing for the younger ones in their home a few times in a visit to their village, and apparently, somehow, even in the home environment, she had been impressed.
The teacher smiled. "You both should talk with your parents about it," she urged.
Raika inwardly frowned. "We can ask them," he replied, knowing that unfortunately his mother would definitely not be opposed. Most likely, his father would not either.
They left the office, still holding their books. Raika did frown then.
"I had not expected this," he admitted.
Searchman nodded. "I also," he agreed. "However, if our parents agree, then we should perform."
Raika sighed a bit, as he really had not wanted show much musical interest outside of the home or other private places. The military school, while it did have a few musical classes, including for theory, did not have music as the main focus, after all. He did like to sing some, and Searchman had admitted to the same, at least somewhat, but being known for musical success was not particularly the reputation he wanted, especially as a former military school student.
"At least it is not actual choir," he relented as they neared their lockers.
Searchman nodded again. "Yes, that is fortunate," he stated. "I would not enjoy taking that class as much as something else more profitable for our educational expectations, such as our current elective."
Raika smiled. His former navi definitely had the same sort of reaction as himself for having "missed" taking choir. His mother was a bit disappointed, but had agreed to their chosen elective.
They began walking on the path again to their home. Raika half-hoped there would be a dimensional area needed so that he could show his worth a bit more, but berated himself. He knew that he did not need to wish for destruction, for that was what darkloids generally caused. He had even been asked for a "special assignment" of the song duet, which he should feel grateful for.
Yet a random duet was nothing compared to finishing another victory in a net saver mission. They could not battle anymore without assisted devices- but at least Searchman was definitely still near him.
Nadia, in a foul mood, had completely demolished an entire tray of napkins, purposely dumped milk on part of her father's work papers that he had brought home the day before, as well as thrown a complete tantrum when Henry had stolen the toy she had been holding and managed to hit him with another toy so hard that a bruise shown on his face.
According to Raika's mother, she had done it all in one hour.
"I wonder who left out our father's papers?" Raika asked Searchman after they had finished their homework.
Searchman frowned. "I don't know," he said. "It seems that most likely, it was an accident."
"I would assume so."
Raika then looked toward the lower bunk where Nadia lay sleeping. Like her sister Nellie had several times before, she had managed to sneak there with no one noticing earlier, and his mother, fed up with her earlier antics, had just left her there. Nellie herself was happily cooing a bit with a plush bear on Searchman's lap.
For a moment Raika thought about seemingly almost a long time ago when he was finished with homework, would either look up information about subjects related to incoming tests, or work on another net saver assignment. He pushed the dismal thoughts aside as he turned to Searchman again.
He then started another internet search engine to look up information for their English class. Raika then heard his PET beep for an email alarm.
Since he rarely received emails anymore, it certainly was not too often that he heard the distinctive sound, and most were from either his chief uncle or reminders teachers. Searchman received those same emails, and Megaman and occasionally Protoman would send a few notes here and there.
He opened up the email, seeing it was from Chaud, with a short note- 'I didn't know that you could sing.'
Raika instantly felt utter humiliation burn through him. When he had agreed to the duet, he had not thought about who would be recording it, though apparently he should have. At least the first video had not been the media this time, but the parent of another student (it had been an award ceremony for some students), or even another student themselves.
Raika put a hand on his hand, wondering how much of his life would permanently be displayed on social media. He was just not used to it. He was used to being just part of a military academy, in a position that was unknown to many civilians. He would be required to help many, but would most likely not be specifically remembered. That had even been an order in the military school- act only as one is supposed to, and not bring undue attention. Ever.
"Raika, what's wrong?"
Raika turned to his left to see Searchman looking worriedly at him. He sighed, closing his PET.
"Someone apparently recorded us," he admitted.
Searchman frowned. "At least you know what the truth is," he said finally.
Raika nodded glumly, hoping that at least anyone of the military academy that had known him would not be as derailed by utter strange posts like many others had.
The doorbell then rang. "Raika or Peter, could you please get that?" his mother called.
Raika sighed and with Searchman, went over to the door- only to have a bright light flash in his face. Blinking fiercely, he managed to see the shape of something large and panicked slightly. He was really not supposed to be in the sight of any cameras, ever-
He felt a determinedly strong arm shove him down from behind, and the door shut firmly. The bright spots soon faded from his vision, but persistent knocks barraged the wooded door.
"Thanks," he muttered, turning to Searchman, embarrassed that he had been temporarily unsettled by mere cameras, of all things.
His former navi nodded, not showing any sign of shame of Raika's actions. He felt his cheeks burn slightly as he heard a few calls of "Let's hear a song- just one! Come on, already! We know you can do it!" and otherwise.
"How would they be so interested?" he muttered, backing away from the door.
Searchman shook his head as they went toward their room again. It was not too much of a safe haven from the calls outside, but at least they would be away from the door.
"I don't know," Searchman stated as he closed- and locked- their bedroom door. "It could be they find it strangely fascinating to discover that the family with sextuplets has musical talent, and hope that the younger ones will eventually show it, also."
Raika grimaced. "If anyone, even the helpers, sees and records Nellie . . ."
He was speaking softly so that most likely, even perceptive navis would not be able hear what he said, no matter what program they used, especially with the uproar outside.
Raika then heard a familiar sound somewhat nearby- and the crowd outside the window hushed. He then heard more clicks again.
"A dimensional area," he muttered.
Of course, with the crazy reporters, he could not get close enough to be in range for his battle chip gate without being seen by the reporters and their cameras.
"At least it did not seem to be in the direction of the village," Searchman stated.
Raika nodded. Searchman had gotten more used to his limited hearing, among other things. His former navi was certainly correct- at least the village would not be in danger.
"I would assume either someone's vehicle, or something else transportable," he said quietly.
Searchman nodded. "It may lure at least some of the reporters away for now, but most likely, they will be back."
Raika peered behind the window blinds- and quickly shut them at another bright camera flash. A persistent knocking on the back door made him also wary of going outside from the back way- but of course, as Searchman had pointed out, there would be reporters near the dimensional area, also.
Twenty minutes later, he heard the sound of the dimensional area dissipate. Raika grimaced, hoping that some darkloid had not finished their random "business" of destroying something again.
He then heard the email alert from his PET. Raika pulled out the device, hoping that his uncle would know better how to get past the reporters. Instead, though, he saw an email from Lan. Generally he would have ignored it, but the heading . . .
Raika berated himself for not remembering the option of net savers that could reverse cross fuse. He tapped the email, very obviously labeled "WE'RE IN SHARO!" The message did not say much else besides heading, but less than a minute later, there was a video call message.
He opened it to see Lan astride a snowmobile- not moving, though, with Chaud behind him. Both of them were dressed in heavier clothing. Raika assumed that either Megaman or Protoman had done the actual driving.
"Hi, there, Raika!" Lan greeted him. "We just demolished a darkloid, and we did it without even going on an airplane! Isn't that cool?" He then shivered, betraying his physical coldness. "Uh, so could you give us your address? I'm kind of freezing, here. Chaud said you live around here somewhere."
Raika frowned, still hearing the commotion of the reporters outside his window. "This truly is not the best time," he admitted, even though he was slightly looking forward to their company, even in a civilian atmosphere.
Predictably, Lan made a face. "Oh, come on," he urged. "If it one of those babies yelling or something, I'm pretty sure they won't yell all the time. You would have to have enough practice for that already."
"It's not that," Raika stated.
He then heard Chaud's voice. "There were a few people with cameras over here," the boy said. "I would guess they went back in the direction of your house?"
Lan gave a big smile. "Yeah, pretty much they were over here, but they soon ran off after the fighting was over." He then frowned. "So Megaman, how do you get past crazy reporters, anyway?" he asked.
"Uh, good question," came Megaman's voice, sounding confused. "I don't really know."
Lan winced. "Just thanks, Megaman."
About an hour later, his father had called the police three times, and the reporters had finally dispersed. Lan and Chaud stood in his living room, taking off their coats in the closet that Raika had showed them.
Lan looked around the somewhat small room. Raika winced, knowing that Lan (and especially Chaud) could call their house much fancier. Generally he did not care too much about such thing, but he still was not completely used to his more "civilian" status yet, including with those that were definitely still net savers.
The brunette boy then broke out into a big smile. "Hey, cool place," he said cheerfully. "Can you give us a tour?"
Raika smiled a bit. "Just don't expect the younger ones to like you on first sight," he warned.
"Nah, you don't have to worry about that," Lan answered, laughing. "I'm just glad to finally see where you live."
Raika inwardly winced, since he had not actually lived in the current house for most of his life. His parents were just there again, and nothing was really the same . . .
About ten minutes later, the "tour" was done and they were in Raika's and Searchman's room. Predictably, Nellie had run up to Searchman and he was currently holding her. Nadia had woken up finally and he had given her to his mother, with Nadia in a much happier mood.
"So do you have any video games?" Lan asked hopefully. Raika was glad that Lan had quickly gotten over Henry pulling his hair.
He shook his head. "No, sorry, unless you want to download one," he responded.
"Wow, really?" Lan asked. "What do you do all day?"
Raika rolled his eyes. "What do you think?" he shot back.
"Oh, right," Lan stated, looking toward the sound of a young kid laughing.
"Actually, I think that Raika would be someone that's not really interested in video games," Megaman added from Lan's PET.
Raika nodded. "That's true," he admitted.
He heard Nellie laugh, and saw her extend an arm toward Lan. "Ehhhh," she said, frowning some.
"What's she's saying?" Chaud said curiously.
"I think it's just a sound," Raika responded. He then turned to Nellie. "Do you want him to hold you?" he asked in ancient Sharian.
He was not sure how Lan would react to holding young toddlers, so he hoped that the young net saver would refuse. Thankfully, Nellie shook her head firmly, and reached out toward Lan again.
"Hey, I don't have any toys on me," Lan said, holding out his hands.
Nellie shook her head again.
"I don't know what she wants," Lan said, frowning.
"Me neither," Megaman agreed.
Raika saw Nellie suddenly reach a bit farther, but not so far that she was unbalanced. "Ehhh," she said again, more urgently.
He then suddenly realized what she might be after, though he wondered how the toddler had made the connection so quickly.
"Lan, show her your PET," he said.
Lan's face looked confused. "Sure, I guess," he said, pulling out the blue device.
He put the PET's small screen near Nellie's face, so that Megaman could be seen. "Hi, there, Nellie," Megaman said cheerfully.
Nellie laughed, pulling her arm toward herself again. "Nah-ee!" she chirped gleefully.
"Is she trying to say 'navi'?", Chaud asked, surprised.
Raika nodded, assuming that his younger sister had learned the word from one of the helpers, or from the video chats with Lan and Chaud, or even both. "I would assume so."
He smiled Megaman talked to the young girl some more, with Nellie smiling and laughing. Pretty soon, both Lan and Chaud received an email stating that would need to return to Netopia.
"And return the snowmobile from the nearby place we got it from," Megaman reminded his net op.
A wail sounded from one of the nearby rooms, followed by another one. Lan covered his ears.
"I'm glad that I'm leaving now, I guess," he said. He then uncovered his ears. "Besides that I got to see you again."
"And Searchman," Megaman added.
The two net savers soon left, Lan stating gladly that he did not have to wait in the "cold" any more than he had to.
The front door closed, and Raika locked it after he had made sure there were no reporters obviously nearby. He then turned to Searchman.
"That was . . . quite strange," he said quietly.
Searchman nodded. "However, it was good that they came when they did."
Raika sighed as they returned to their room. "Yes, it is, but this means that we would be asked to help even less than we have before." He would be less useful that he had pretended that he was . . .
Searchman laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "They can actually cross fuse," he answered back. "Therefore, they have a better chance of actually being victorious in the chance there is a powerful enemy."
"I know," Raika replied glumly. "I just wanted to be able to help still."
Surprisingly, Searchman smiled a bit. "We wouldn't still have the battle chip gates if there was a chance that we could not help in some way."
Raika then nodded, glad that his friend, his former navi, was still so positive after all that had changed, especially to himself in his new human form.
They then went with Nellie across the small hallway, and helped in another way they could currently- playing with their younger siblings, including singing a few ancient Sharian songs.