"I reiterate: shouldn't you be resting?"
Lasa glanced over her shoulder, catching her son staring at her seriously, leaned against the corner of the wall.
"Ah, there you are. I thought you'd gotten lost upstairs, darling."
"Don't change the topic," Kisshu snorted, "Come on, leave it…"
He moved her aside decisively and finished tidying up the kitchen in her place, with the woman rolling her eyes:
"You guys worry too much, I'm fine."
"Do you know what you had?"
He asked critically; Lasa put her face on her hand:
"I have yet to confirm it, even though…"
"Even though?"
She shook her head and smiled comfortingly:
"Nothing... Good heavens, since when are you so anxious?"
"You're the one who makes me anxious."
He mumbled by closing the cabinet door above his head. She laughed softly, wiped her hands and looked at him an instant:
"So... Ichigo, huh?"
Kisshu stayed a few seconds with his hand holding the clean mug in mid-air and then stored it away without answering.
Having three sons taught to move cautiously when it came to matters of the heart, and Lasa had learned it better than many others; she was never intrusive with her boys and didn't dispense judgments if unsolicited, merely acting as a confidant. Perhaps for that reason she was the only one to whom Kisshu had clearly expressed – excluding the directly interested – his feelings for the mewneko.
"Yup."
"Is that why you preferred to stay here and help me?"
"Can't a son help his elderly mother?"
He answered theatrically; she did not react, merely raising an eyebrow.
"It's more entertaining to make fun of Taruto."
"I don't question that," she smiled, "Is it because of what happened in front of the Council?"
Kisshu didn't answer her again and clasped his palms on the edge of the sink, letting out a bitter laugh:
"It's not just for...! Whatever comes out of my mouth, even the most innocent, she doesn't listen to me."
He sat down angrily and pressed his hands hard against his forehead; Lasa joined him without saying anything and sat next to him, hands on her lap.
"You never gave up on her."
She ascertained slowly. Kisshu watched her, waiting for the criticism, but she did nothing.
"I can't."
Was his simple answer as he stretched out against the seatback. Lasa sighed and rubbed his shoulder:
"Just try not to go beyond what you can stand."
Kisshu peered at her from behind his bangs, flattening over his eyes, catching her melancholic smile; he knew that the topic worried her, but she would still let him make mistakes freely, if he wanted to.
"And if you want to bore your elderly mother," she reminded him, parroting him, "You know where to find her."
She made to get up, but he preceded her and planted a kiss on her cheek:
"Thank you."
"Don't be clingy."
She laughed.
"And you don't be Pai."
Lasa shook her head, amused, and he stretched, regaining his usual mocking grimace on his face:
"By the way... I'd better go help him and the senpai."
"Take pity on your brother's nerves, you will give him an ulcer."
"It's his fault that he can't be funny!" he justified himself with a smile, "He should take his head out of a screen and relax a little, think about some girls…"
Lasa put on an ambiguous smile:
"Yes. He should."
"… What do you know that I don't?"
"Me?" she asked innocently, "What should I know?"
She continued to smile at him enigmatically and he shrugged, going out; Lasa sighed:
"I don't know anything," she reiterated, seemingly harmless, "And I'm afraid neither does Pai…"
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Taruto had taken the girls back to Earth, with Purin not stopping her hammering him with chatters about what she had seen – what she had forced him to show her – at the brown-haired boy's home; he was a little exasperated, not least because the blonde seemed to have completely gone crazy for Lasa.
"Your mom is fantastic! She's so sweet… and so beautiful!"
"I get it, man, you're stressful! Do you wanna start dating her?"
"You're so obnoxious!" she muttered, "You never change!"
She pouted for about five seconds, pretty much a record.
"Listen, Taru-Taru!"
"Here we go again…"
"Do you think I could come back to see you? I'd love it!"
"W-well... MoiMoi-san and Pai said it will take a while to find the other Drops, so I don't think we'll see each other for a few days..."
"Whaaaaaat!?"
She complained, widening her dark irises:
"But MoiMoi nee-chan said that the portal stays open! Isn't it true?"
She sought support from her companions who did not know what to answer and simply looked at her with half smiles.
"Yes, it's true," Retasu politely told her, "But we should only use it for emergencies…"
"And then there's the barrier raised by the senpai to avoid other people getting in by mistake," Taruto clarified, "It might be invisible, but I fear they would notice you if you began to vanish and appear in nothingness."
Purin groaned disconsolately again and returned to stare at him wide-eyed. Taruto tried to ignore her by looking elsewhere and grimacing, uncomfortable: in all honesty, he wouldn't have minded seeing the mewmonkey again, but admitting it would be as embarrassing as having her in his room again.
"Uff…"
If she had had her animal ears, Purin would have lowered them until they'd disappear in her hair:
"Alright…"
She made such a disappointed face that Taruto couldn't resist and, trying to keep his cool, crossed his arms and blurted as dryly as he could:
"If you stop whining like a brat, I'll see if you can come for a short while, someday."
"Seriously?"
"If it's possible!" he clarified sternly, "I will have to help the senpai too. This is not a game!"
Purin nodded about ten times and threw her arms around his neck, bouncing euphorically: a confirmation, according to Taruto, that she was planning to make him die of shock.
"In short, stop being clingy!"
He struggled to push her away and lifted himself in mid-air, just to prevent her from gripping his neck again:
"You have the transmitters," he grunted, trying to stop his blushing, "Try not to get into trouble."
"See you Taru-Taru!"
He replied by sticking his tongue out and teleported away. Minto sighed dryly:
"I don't know why, but I think the opposite is more likely..."
"What do you mean?"
"That we never look for trouble, Reta-chan. It's trouble that looks for us."
.
.
.
When she finally arrived home, Ichigo was so tired that the only thing she could do, before falling into a semi-coma, was throw herself fully clothed on the bed with a sigh worthy of a steamer.
"What a life, that of a heroine…!" she whined, "Masha, I'm exhausted!"
"Exhausted! Exhausted! Pii!"
It was obvious, with the day she had had… She and the girls had returned from the alien planet when it was already morning and, to avoid problems with her parents, she had had to run home, where she had not been able to lie down for even ten minutes; by the time she had sneaked in through the window, her mother had come up to knock and tell her to get up, so put away the Yakori's uniform and put on the usual one, straight to school. There, of course, every attempt at a nap had been thwarted – the Japanese professor had struck her head so hard with a book to wake her up, that she had almost broken her nose on the desk – and had to struggle to scramble to the catch-up classes for the days of absence while she had been undercover with the others.
But why the extra homework?! I was trying to save Earth, I don't deserve these bad things, nyaa-ah!
To crown her exhaustion, for the umpteenth time she couldn't hear from nor see Masaya, if not for a couple of minutes as she had walked home from the train station: the boy had been very hasty, but had hinted at big news coming, for which he had seemed very excited.
"A big surprise... What do you think it could be?"
"What, what? I don't know, piii!"
"Maybe something special for the two of us...!" she started to fantasize, "We can never be alone in peace and quiet, maybe he is arranging a trip…"
"Trip! Trip! Piii! Romantic weekend, piii! "
The redhead laughed delightedly and took the robot in her hands, rubbing it against her cheek:
"Wouldn't that be great?"
"You're happy! It's great, it's great, pii!"
She gave it a peck and pushed herself to get up, yawning:
"Well, I couldn't cope with good news, tired as I am! Come on Masha, let's take a nice nap!"
"Nap! Yes, yes, pii!"
.
.
.
"You're cheerful today."
Retasu said with a smile; Ichigo nodded carefree, singing as she swept the floor.
"She's had the same face for two days," sighed Minto with superiority, "I would really like to know what you're so happy about."
"Your sarcasm doesn't touch me," the redhead replied triumphantly, "So you can save your breath."
The other looked at her skeptically, but shrugged her shoulders and continued to drink her tea calmly. Ichigo, meanwhile, got done with the floor and went to polish the tables without failing to whistle cheerfully: the news – or rather the half news – given to her by Masaya on "big updates" had energized her for a whole day and, finally, the black-haired guy had told her that that afternoon he would come to the Café and reveal everything to her. She was so excited that she wouldn't stop going from one chore to the other, even stealing them from her companions; her mind had already embellished every possible variation of a sentimental surprise, going from probable but banal afternoon outings to proposals of paradoxical romantic getaways.
"Are you done thinking about Aoyama? You're smiling like an idiot."
She turned, stunned, to look at Ryou without taking off her stupid chuckling grimace, topped by a trickle of drool; when she realized that, because he was giving her his best smile of self-importance, she blushed at once and looked at him surly:
"W-w-what makes you believe I'm thinking of Masaya-kun?!"
"Because now you also have red ears, not just hair…" he said wickedly, "You're still drooling."
The mewneko's skin blushed of a deeper tone, and she turned her back to him angrily, poorly hiding as he wiped her lips:
"You're unbearable, Shirogane!"
"You, on the other hand, are strangely efficient," he had to admit, "Why all this energy?"
She must not have grasped the subtle caustic tone with which he asked the question, because she returned to look at him inebriated with joy and didn't answer him, laughing like a fool.
Ryou surprised himself, he never thought he had such a murderous instinct.
Kami-sama, how much I hate that little amoeba boy!
"You know well I'm not going to grant you any permissions of any kind," he pinpointed sternly, "And I remind you that you have made a commitment with certain aliens, you know... For the salvation of the Universe?"
"Ah. Ah. Ah," she replied acidly, "Listen, I don't…!"
There was a jingle and the door opened. Within two seconds, Ichigo smiled radiantly again, leaving Ryou where he was and dashing to the entrance, continuing to hug the broom. Ryou could have sworn with horror he could see flowers and hearts coming out of her head.
"Good morning."
"Masaya-kun! Welcome!"
The other girls greeted back the black-haired boy enthusiastically. Only Zakuro merely nodded her head, casting a sideways glance at Ryou; she had to admit it, had she been the blond, at a similar sight even she couldn't be sure she could remain so stoic.
"Pardon me, could I steal Ichigo for a second?" Masaya politely asked," "Promise, I'll bring her back to you in five minutes."
The last part was for Ryou, who limited himself to a very quiet as you please and returned to the kitchen to Keiichiro, trying to stifle with all his strength the resentment for Masaya's satisfied air. Purin, Minto and Retasu, on the other hand, giggled mischievously and nodded as Ichigo dragged her boyfriend to the back exit, blushing like a lobster.
"Damn them…" she mumbled, closing the door, "I'm sorry, you know how they are."
He smiled with his usual sweetness.
"So!" the girl exclaimed, her eyes shining, "What did you have to tell me?"
Masaya acted aloof for a few more seconds, then his face lit up:
"It's great! They accepted me!"
Ichigo's eyes widened, she didn't understand:
"Accepted…?"
"There's a course, you know, in England...!" he kept explaining, excited, "The professor told me about it at the beginning of the year, telling me that with my average and my English I could participate."
She didn't change her expression, the half-smile frozen on her cheeks:
"And…?"
"It's is a course to assess the potential of foreign students in various fields, which could allow me to get a scholarship to university!"
Ichigo still didn't react. She could hear him speak, she saw him so exalted that she couldn't find a suitable moment to stop him and ask what she had to do with those chatters, while the romantic castle that she had built in her head crumbled faster and faster.
"And they accepted me!" he reiterated, on cloud nine, "'ll be able to leave in a week!"
"You'll… what!?"
The confused hum of her thoughts came to a sudden halt and the question came out almost like a scream.
"Leave?"
She repeated like a parrot.
"Can you imagine? Six months at Oxford! It takes years of study and I don't know how much more to get in there, and I can experience it for six months."
Six months...?
Six months?!
"Six months…"
"I'll finally be able to do the research on Red Data Animals. Now... Baby, what's going on?"
At last he had noticed that she was staring at him with the glassy eye of a stuffed animal; she didn't answer him immediately, unable to focus on a logical thought that wasn't the few, focal points of his speech.
England. Leave. Six months.
Leave.
England. Europe. A continent and a half away, or a continent and two oceans, depending on the point of view; nine thousand kilometers, or so.
Six months. One hundred and eighty days.
"You… hadn't told me anything…"
Masaya suddenly seemed to turn off and became sad:
"There was nothing certain until the last moment," he justified himself, mortified, "And since only the students with the best grades in the last trimester would pass, I…"
"Yes…" she nodded mechanically, "You focused on studying, of course…"
"Honey... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I thought that was good news."
Ichigo looked at him still inexpressively, marveling at how such an intelligent and caring boy could turn out to be such an insensitive idiot.
Happy?
He was announcing to her that for six months he would be almost on the opposite side of the world. Without her.
And he hadn't said a word to her all that time.
Of course, she was gushing with joy!
"I'm sorry, you're right," he murmured him, his voice broken by guilt, "I should have told you something."
He looked like a child who had brought the first perfect test to his mother but had not received the right praise.
"Don't worry, now... I'll talk to the professor. I'll explain to him and – "
"No."
She grabbed his arm to prevent it from going on and smiled at him, tense and at the same time as sweet as she could:
"Don't worry. Well I admit it..."
She tried laugh light-heartedly and an unidentified gasp came out of her:
"I'm a little angry...! But I can see why you didn't tell me."
Something, in the deepest recesses of her head, was shouting at her all sorts of known insults.
Understand?! No, she didn't understand why he hadn't told her!
He wasn't saving her life from an alien threat; he wasn't stopping her from being killed by fanged and scaly monsters or oxygenated lunatics! He hadn't done anything similar, telling her nothing!
He had simply lied to her about a possible six-month absence!
"It's your dream, isn't it? Research Red Data Animals to save them from extinction."
Was it possible that she was so cowardly, so frightened at the idea of hurting her beloved boyfriend – who had to have a very good reason, excluding the aforementioned, not to tell her anything about that trip – that she couldn't yell against him how much that silence hurt her?
"Isn't it wonderful?"
She heard his voice waning of several tones and looked down, unable to hold her act of good, compliant girlfriend. She heard the rustle of Masaya's shirt and felt his arms clutching her, wrapping her with his scent:
"Forgive me!" he whispered in her ear, stroking her nape, "I swear! I'm going to make it up to you…! I will ask if it is possible to reduce the length of the stay… And I'm going to call you every day! All the time! Oh, Ichigo...! It's all my fault, I didn't want to make you so sad!"
She let herself be held while she felt the lump in her throat press harder and harder and the corner of her eyes moistened. She let herself be lulled while taking big breaths for her whole being to regain its composure.
Yes, he hadn't told her, but...
Besides, it was so important to him! Such an occasion...!
And how could she hurt him again? He was already so mortified that he had made her sad…
At that moment, she wasn't able to understand it, but in hindsight she would give herself an award for her self-conviction. And for her stupidity.
She moved slightly away from him and wiped her eyes, smiling at him just so:
"We'll talk, won't we?
"Every day, baby."
He answered her with the warmest and kindest smile he had.
"And you're not leaving right away, are you?"
"In a week," he said gravely, "But these days I will be exempted from training to prepare for the trip: we will see each other every day, for as long as you want."
"And will we go where I want to?"
She asked with a chuckle; he winked:
"Even to the Moon, love."
She smiled and nodded. Masaya gently wiped her cheeks and kissed her without leaving her for a moment, brushing her hair gently. They stayed like that for a few minutes until a confused chatter and the noise of a lot of chairs raised from the Café, a sign that the clientele was starting to fill it.
"I have to get back in now…"
"Of course," he stroked her face again and looked at her caringly, "Do you want to talk a little more? I'll explain to Shirogane-san..."
"No, don't worry. And then it's better to avoid that!", she replied, forcing a crooked smile, "Shirogane has already threatened me, if I ask for more days of leave, he'll cut my salary in half!"
Masaya let out an amused sigh, gave her another tender kiss on the cheek and unconvinced let her go back without telling her anything else.
When Minto saw the redhead come back, she sighed half annoyed and half relieved, perhaps because of the two trays laden with orders she was carrying:
"At last! How long did you – "
"Uh? What is it?"
Ichigo saw her lay the trays on an empty table and scurry towards her:
"Is everything okay? You're pale and your eyes are red."
"I'm great!" she smiled cheerfully, "My eyes….? You know, I sneezed so hard before that I teared up."
It was one of the most pathetic lies she had ever told, but a new order prevented her from adding more and forced her to return to work, glossing over the mewbird's concerns. That afternoon, the Café had filled up like never before and soon any trace of the red's discontent was replaced by her professional smile and the weariness of the day.
The hours passed so fast and full that none of the girls noticed the time until they saw Keiichiro put the CLOSED sign on the door of the Café:
"Very good, ladies," he announced cordially, "Great job, as always."
All five smiled.
"You can go," he concluded, "I'll take care of the kitchen and the inventory."
"Wait," Ichigo lit up, "You said you ran out of sugar, didn't you?"
"Ah, it's true!"
"If I remember correctly, we still have some in the stockroom," she smiled, "If you want, I can take care of it."
"I would be very grateful to you, Ichigo dear."
The redhead slid away and quickly vanished down the stairs, nodding to her friends as they went to get changed; too quickly to realize the infinitesimal glance that Zakuro and Ryou had exchanged.
If Ichigo willingly does extra unpaid work, I'm black-haired and green-eyed.
Ryou waited to run after her to ask for explanations, ignoring the curiosity – or concern? – he had, like Minto, since he had seen the redhead's face after her chat with Aoyama.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Twenty minutes.
Either she was going to personally collect the sugar in the fields, or she was buried under some sack of flour put in the wrong place.
The blond quickly went downstairs, trying to convince himself that what moved him was the irritation for Ichigo's likely clumsiness and not, as the itching in his chest suggested, the fear that something was wrong, and he found himself in front of a door partially closed onto darkness. He snorted and opened it, groaning:
"Can you tell me what you hope to find in the dark? I don't think…"
The light from the corridor first shone on Ichigo's back, crouched on the floor; then, before Ryou could ask her anything, she turned to the light, showing a face flushed and swollen with tears.
The tingling in the blond's chest became a jab in seeing her in that state; the moment she realized that he was looking at her, she leaped to her feet, cruelly rubbing her already puffy face, unsuccessfully wiping tears that weren't keen on stopping.
"Hey, hey!"
Ryou took her hands and listened to her breathing in spurts and sobs.
"What's going on?"
"N-no... No, nothing... Only..."
She sniffed and almost slapped her eyes in an attempt to dry them; and to say that she had run downstairs to avoid questions from the girls... But she had to have the misfortune of being seen by Ryou as she cried like a fountain. She shook her head hard and a dry hiccup escaped her mouth, and then again large tears; Ryou took her hands again to stop her fidgeting, but she insisted on keeping her lips tightened and shaking her head without talking to him.
"Ichigo, what's going on?"
It was enough for his tone to be slightly sweeter than usual and Ichigo gave in, returning to moan uncontrollably:
"Not… told… six…"
"Oh my God, Ichigo, calm down. I don't understand a word."
"He's going to… E-E-England... Six months…"
"In England for six months?" he asked, and she nodded confusedly to confirm, "Are you talking about Aoyama?"
One more acute groan and another yes with her head.
"He'll do... A course of... I don't know," she continued, more intelligible "And he's going to be there for… Six months..."
Aoyama in England? For six whole months the hateful perfect guy out of the way?
Christmas was early.
"And he didn't...! Didn't…!"
"What?"
"He didn't... Say anything...! He goes... He goes away and... He wouldn't tell me... Anything!"
Ryou's enthusiasm waned a little, if he had understood the topic well, he could no longer fathom how Ichigo could love that guy.
"He... he's going to England for six months, and he wouldn't tell you anything?"
She shook her head, slapping his nose with her headband:
"He told me... Today…" her breath was cut by a disproportionate tremor, "And he's leaving in seven days!"
Did anyone still have the courage to support Aoyama and tell him he wasn't an idiot?
"Ichigo, I understand, but now calm down..."
"It's… It's his dream! I know!" she continued stubbornly, "It's fantastic… but…! But…!"
Another strong whine and she couldn't help but sob. Ryou stared at her, immobile, unable to understand why she was still defending the guy: yes, he could only be glad that the amoeba wouldn't be within range of the redhead for half the year but... To see her in similar conditions, he would have endured even having him working at the Café again.
Instinctively, he hugged her and was astonished not to receive resistance. Ichigo barely twitched at the blond's embrace, but relaxed almost at the same time; unceremoniously, she curled her hands on his chest and sank her head into his shirt, crying without any control.
Ryou let her, slowly stroking her hair with one hand and her back with the other, wondering what was preventing him from yelling at her and telling her that "her Masaya" was an imbecile, who didn't deserve her tears; wondering what allowed him not to say "leave him", what had not yet made him bend down to kiss her and make those tears stop.
Perhaps the same reason he would have done it with all his heart, the same reason he was now trying to console her.
.
.
.
The city of Jeweliria was now wrapped in darkness and in every house the windows shone with heat or sent subtle rays of light through the shutters. Just outside the Council Palace, seven figures were walking in a tense silence, dark faces that did not hide the disappointment just received; MoiMoi eventually burst out surly:
"I don't like this story."
"Me neither."
"But we can't refuse, Kisshu."
Pai added sternly. The other glared at him, and Eyner sighed:
"Those who are under scrutiny, however, are not us, but them," he specified, "And it doesn't feel right to me to just show up and force them to do it."
"Do you prefer they send someone from the Council to pick them up?"
"Sando, don't start too," MoiMoi scolded him, "The point is that it's not right to drag them here by force. That's what Ebode wants."
"Yeah," Kisshu clicked his tongue, "Forcing them to perform in front of everyone, as in a circus: obedient little beasts under the orders of the councilman!"
"No one wants this, Kisshu," Teruga interrupted him, "In fact, I was proposing you, at least, to warn them."
"But it's not that they have a choice."
The elder looked at Kisshu without answering.
"If it's inevitable," he sighed, "Then it is better to tell them as soon as possible."
For a second, MoiMoi looked at Pai, with the typical expression of when he was looking for a solution, and was certain that his kohai was mulling over it: he knew well when something did not convince him.
"What if we show your fighting on Earth, Pai-chan?" he suggested, "You should still have some data, right?"
"I'm afraid that would not be enough," he replied dryly, "They would think they are counterfeits."
MoiMoi sighed; then suddenly he turned to look at the boy again, and he widened his eyes: after years of working side by side it was easy to understand each other, at least when it came to get the brain to work.
"Senpai, you're a genius."
"It's perfect!" MoiMoi muttered excitedly, "We would turn Ebode's plans against him!"
"MoiMoi-san, would you mind explaining yourself better?"
A confused Teruga asked, and MoiMoi smiled cunningly:
"That if they want to see them, it will be on their terms, not those of Ebode."
.
.
.
Ichigo lay her head on the pillow and pulled the soft strawberry-colored blankets up her nose, sighing melancholically; she had cried so much that her eyes were burning, and her head throbbed so much that she just wanted to sleep. Little Masha was looking at her worriedly, but wasn't even emitting its usual piis not to annoy her and just fluttered close by with a sad air.
"Hey, don't make that face," the mewneko whispered softly, "Come here."
The little robot leaned against her cheek and she smiled at it:
"You don't have to worry, I'm much better now... I'm just tired."
Masha studied her for a few seconds and then smiled and, convinced as always by his owner's words, enjoyed a few scratches behind the ears, squealing delightedly. Ichigo continued to cuddle it until it closed its pink eyes and began to emit a rhythmic and slight metallic scratch; she kept studying it for a few minutes, snorting resignedly.
My little one was built by a genius who didn't bother to even teach him how to do math… But on the other hand, it can snore.
She sighed, blushing slightly:
"Today I did something embarrassing..."
When Ryou had hugged her that afternoon, she should have pushed him away; she knew that the boy had done it to comfort her, but she should still have refused such care. Instead, she had clutched to the blond-haired boy with despair, staying there until she had vented all her sadness and frustration.
The truth was that she had felt totally safe in his arms; in the moment her heart seemed to drown in her chest, Ryou had been a lifeline and she had clung to it with all her might.
She sighed for the umpteenth time, not only had she been unfair to Masaya by hugging another boy, but she had also certainly embarrassed Ryou by taking advantage of one - strangely - emotional gesture of kindness.
"Uff, why do I always find myself in these situations?" she cried in her pillow "I can't stand it anymore!"
She rubbed her face against the pillowcase until her bangs became all static, and then she surrendered disconsolately; the only solution she saw now was to apologize to Ryou and ask him to pretend like nothing had happened, besides obviously not saying anything to Masaya: being apart for six months would have been even more difficult if they had said goodbye by bickering. With that idea in my mind Ichigo closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.
Ichigo...
Ichigo.
"... This voice...
Is it you again?"
She saw the figure indistinct in her eyes give her an imperceptible nod.
"You..."
She knew who he was. She knew, but...
Something's bothering you, Ichigo.
"... How do I know it's you?"
You can't.
Was the sad answer.
She sensed him take a few steps further.
Not yet.
"I don't understand."
He made an unconcerned gesture and came close enough to gently take her arm.
Ichigo, listen.
I'm running out of time!
There's not enough strength yet...
Like the first time she could only agree to listen to him.
Remember what I told you the first time?
"That you're not him, nor Him."
She felt him smile.
He nodded.
"I don't understand."
It doesn't matter now. But you have to keep that in mind.
Don't forget that, little Ichigo.
She nodded again, though more annoyed.
She heard him laugh.
I know you don't like these things.
But I can't tell you more.
They could hear me.
"Who?
Who could hear you?"
He didn't answer her, and his voice barely cracked with concern.
Listen to me.
They found the Ways, but they lost the Key.
You have to find the others before they reach you.
"Ways? They? Are you talking about the Ancestrals?
Please! Be clearer, I don't understand!"
You will understand.
For now, listen, and remember well.
When in doubt, follow your second instinct.
"My second...?"
She understood that he must have jolted, frightened.
As the previous time, he gave her just a barely perceivable smile, brushing her forehead with soft, cold lips.
Be careful, Ichigo.
"Wait...! Please..."
"Wait!"
She sat up in bed so suddenly that Masha rolled down from the pillow slamming on the floor with a sharp lament.
"Ichigo!" it protested, getting back up, "That hurts! That hurts! Piiii!"
She took a few seconds to focus on its rosy figure fluttering in front of her nose:
"Masha... Excuse me, baby..."
"Did you have a nightmare? Nightmare? Piii?"
The redhead did not answer him. She looked out of the window for a moment, it was not even dawn.
"Why? Again..."
She rubbed her forehead, worriedly; she believed that the night she had dreamed of the MewAqua, she had only had the impression of seeing him, but it had happened again.
"That's not possible!" she murmured, "He was…"
"Ichigo. Ichigo. What's wrong, piii?!"
She only smiled at it and patted it over its little head to reassure it.
After all, it could very well have been just a dream, even if the recent experiences had shown her that she had quite the prophetic ones.
But if it was true...
How could he still be alive?
.
.
.
She arrived at the Café at ten o'clock, for her average strangely on time for the Sunday shift. She crossed the driveway yawning like a hippopotamus and in despair, after that dream with the mysterious evanescent figure she had no longer managed to sleep, and since not even the rest of the night had been very restorative, she was so sleepy that she could fall asleep on one of the bushes next to which she was walking.
"What a bore… Work on Sundays too, all day long!" she complained, opening the door, "Ryou is a slaver…"
She jolted, noticing that the American was just behind the threshold and was staring at her inexpressively: if he had heard her, she was doomed.
"Ichigo."
"Y-yee-esss ?"
"Strangely on time."
He ascertained dully; she laughed nervously as she finally entered:
"Yes, see?" she spoke in a high-pitched voice, "Every now and then I... Masaya?!"
There.
She could expect anything, except seeing her boyfriend calmly standing in front of Ryou.
A cold chill ran through her: what if the blond had said something about what had happened the day before and so Masaya was ready for the Holy Inquisition?
She was proved wrong at once, had that been, the black-haired boy would not have been smiling at her as he was doing.
"Masaya... What...?"
"I promised you we'd go out together every day before I left," he winked at her, "Today, however, you were at work, so I came to ask your boss for permission."
He smiled warmly at Ryou, who answered with a flat grunt of assent; he had not yet been able to understand whether Masaya's was actual politeness, or mere arrogance hidden by civilized ways. Ichigo looked at the two, finally stopping on the American, studying him hopeful:
"And…?"
"I want you here for the afternoon shift. Early." he added, "And of course you'll only receive half the pay."
The redhead hopped on the spot joyfully.
"For real?! I... Thank you!"
She ran like crazy to the locker room to leave her bag and then back out dragging Masaya behind; she stopped after a few yards, however, and excitedly said:
"Wait, one second, Masaya-kun. I... I'm coming, one minute!"
She trotted back through the open door and tackled Ryou on the entrance where he had remained motionless:
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" she rattled, "I swear, I will be super on time!"
"You better."
He snorted annoyed; he granted her a hint of a smile as he basically pushed her out the door:
"Come back in shape."
She nodded and hopped to her boyfriend, walking away towards the park; Ryou instead closed the entrance door and went up to his room without considering Keiichiro who, from the kitchen, had looked out to see what was going on.
"As they say, shooting yourself in the foot."
Ryou convinced himself once and for all, there must have been a masochistic trait in his genes. There was no other reason to hurt himself so badly.
Ichigo decided that she would take back all the nasty things she had always said about Ryou.
Okay, not all of them, but... A good portion, yes.
With that morning off, she felt like she was reborn. Masaya had taken her to all her favorite places, making her relax and spoiling her in every request – he had even accompanied her to that stall she liked so much, where they sold her favorite crepes – and he had done nothing but explain to her every small detail of his trip, finally making her part of the event he cared so much about. The more she heard him speak enthusiastically and at the same time distressed by the awareness of their distance, the more Ichigo felt less close to being abandoned, less sad, and above all, the six months seemed less long and less lonely.
"... And maybe," Masaya continued, "During the summer holidays I could come and see you. Or you could come! England must be wonderful in the summer."
"What a great idea! It would be fantast –"
She heard a slight electronic noise repeating syncopated and stopped, instinctively taking her phone. No message.
"Ichigo, it's still ringing."
She turned pale: if it wasn't a text message, it could only be something else.
She rummaged through her pocket, troubled, and pulled out the alien transmitter, which emitted stifled rhythmical beeps, and she brushed it, not too convinced, with her index finger:
"Erm… hello?"
"Ichigo-chan? Hello!"
The mewneko sighed relieved by the cheerful tone that came out of the device, perhaps there was no bad news:
"MoiMoi! Tell me."
"Sorry to bother!" the alien trilled, "A quick question... How long until you and the girls will meet at your base?"
"You mean... the Café?" she asked, confused, "The others should be there already, I'm going in an hour or so… why?"
"Just to know," he chuckled, "See you later then!"
And he stopped the communication without giving her time to reply.
Ichigo looked confusedly at Masaya, who gave her an uneasy half-smile and she murmured:
"Am I wrong, or did she say later?"
Nervously, she looked for the umpteenth time at the clock that now marked that five had passed. She sighed, served another table, delivered a check, greeted the customers, and looked back grimly at the wall, sighing again.
"I mean, could you stop that? You're like a steamship!"
She glared at Minto and insisted on her increasingly nervous checking of the dial.
"Are you sure about what she told you?"
"Of course I'm sure!" Ichigo blurted, "What I don't know is the reason, she didn't say anything."
Retasu looked at her worriedly, but she didn't know what to reply and distractedly watched the now almost empty room.
"Considering what happened in front of the Council," sighed Minto bitterly, "I fear nothing good."
Ichigo scowled at her, but couldn't reply and grunted an affirmative answer.
Just at that very moment, the door opened with its usual jingle. The Mew Mews were about to receive the new clients with their typical singsong, but the Welcome died in their throat at the first syllable.
"Oh, please Ichigo, finish the sentence!" begged Kisshu with an adoring smile, "Tell me welcome!"
"Kisshu, you're a jerk."
Taruto grumbled disgusted. Behind him, Eyner laughed ironically, closing the door behind him and leaving MoiMoi to make a triumphant entrance:
"Hello girls!"
They didn't answer, their eyes wide in shock. Ichigo stammered:
"M-M-Mo-Mo…?!"
Aliens. There were four aliens who were calmly entering the Café. Perfectly recognizable.
"MoiMoi! Are you crazy?!" she whispered, breathless, "Coming in here, the people…!"
"Ichigo."
The redhead stopped at Zakuro's call and turned to her, bewildered.
"Look,"
She followed the brunette's nod and noticed that none of the customers was interested in the arrival of four out-of-the-ordinary individuals. Retasu put a hand on her mouth and murmured:
"You're not invisible, are you?"
MoiMoi chuckled and pointed to a decorative mirror hanging on the wall, in which he was reflecting: on the shiny surface, however, Ichigo didn't see the alien, but a terrestrial girl with MoiMoi's hair and wearing a ruffled Waloli style dress.
"Unbelievable..."
Ichigo went looking for the right spot to see the reflection of the other three aliens and spotted three normal terrestrial boys, wearing banal T-shirts and jeans. No diaphanous skins, no pointed ears; only the eyes and hair were their usual shades, even if they had lost that alien something.
"But how did you do that?"
Minto asked admiringly, and Eyner uncovered the shielding bracelet:
"It's a new special version. We can avoid even the changes of clothes," and whispered amusedly, "I think someone was traumatized by the tie."
Kisshu grunted and didn't pay him attention.
"They are wonderful!" Retasu exclaimed, "MoiMoi-san, you're brilliant!"
"I don't take all the credit," he blushed delightedly, "As always Pai-chan gives my ideas that touch of class. My kohai is a genius!"
Retasu was certain that if Pai heard him, he would seriously consider freezing him.
"What... the hell is going on?"
"Shirogane!"
Hearing that name, Kisshu became alerted and dark in the face, looking at the earthlings blocking their boss before he could flip out.
"Them? Here?"
Asked Keiichiro surprised.
"Yes, but don't worry!" Ichigo blurted, "Others cannot see them, they look like normal earthlings."
Ryou said nothing and glanced surly at the green-haired boy, who reciprocated with equal joy. Eyner looked at them for a few seconds and thanked the reason preventing them from killing each other, whatever it was.
He couldn't fathom how Kisshu could find someone everywhere to be at loggerheads with all the time.
"I congratulate who has created such ingenious devices."
Was saying Keiichiro in the meantime, bowing slightly to MoiMoi to greet him:
"I don't think I've introduced myself yet... I'm Keiichiro Akasaka."
"The pleasure's mine, I am MoiMoi. So, if you are Akasaka... " he smiled smartly and pointed to the blond, "You are Ryou, uh?"
He nodded without getting perturbed.
"It's nice to meet you! And, speaking of my toys..." he rummaged through the pockets of his skirt and pulled out five more identical bracelets, "Ta-dà! Brand new for the girls!"
"Well... Thank you."
Ryou said, stretching a flat smile; MoiMoi left the devices in his hand and chuckled:
"One each. But… Purin-chan isn't here?"
"She's running an errand."
Retasu replied quietly, but MoiMoi seemed not to like that:
"What?! We came on purpose for something very important!"
"A very important thing?"
"Yes," Taruto mumbled, "For which our presence was not necessary."
"MoiMoi-san has already been attacked," Eyner pointed out, "And since we're here in secret, it's good that she has support in case of trouble."
"And it's only the third time we explain it to you..."
"I know, Kisshu!" the brown-haired boy snapped, "Doesn't make it less of a drag."
"Come on, Taru-chan!" MoiMoi chuckled, "I'm happy, I have a group of very cool bodyguards!"
He and Retasu laughed, with Kisshu behind him muttering something about the stupidity of his senpai.
"MoiMoi-san," Zakuro asked, "What did you come to tell us?"
She didn't care much about the presence of the aliens if they didn't wreak havoc or if they didn't have to fight them, but MoiMoi's previous sentence had put her on edge. It was time to cut the pleasantries.
"I need to talk to everyone," he replied firmly, "When do you think she'll be back?"
"The store is far away," Keiichiro pondered, "If it's urgent, I could go pick her up."
"Why don't you send them?"
Said Ryou and pointed at Kisshu:
"With your little trick, you should go and come back in a couple of minutes."
The other did not appreciate his tone and studied him with a mocking grin:
"If you ask me politely, blondie."
"Nice idea, Ryou," MoiMoi interrupted them before they started a battle of digs, "You go, Taru-chan?"
He, feeling suddenly consulted, looked at him without answering and then frowned:
"I said it's a torture… Why the hell do I have to go?!"
"She's your girlfriend, not mine."
At Kisshu's joke, Taruto went from pink to red to scarlet within fifteen seconds, but insisted on staring at his brother with the most menacing and indifferent expression he could manage:
"Are you completely stupid?"
"Please, Taruto…"
Eyner sighed, evidently holding back from punching Kisshu in the teeth in order to shut him:
"Could you go?"
The brown-haired boy mumbled other complaints but nodded, even though it was as if he had been asked to move a stone.
"Don't waste too much time making out."
His brother yelled fuck you at him, marching out the door and teleporting away. Eyner rolled his eyes glaring at Kisshu, who was laughing:
"If he killed you one day, I wouldn't blame him."
Kisshu answered with a grin and the friend grabbed his forehead between his fingers, exhaling.
"Well, while we wait, what are you guys doing? There's still customers, or am I wrong?"
"What?!" asked Ichigo scandalized, "But Shirogane…"
"No buts, especially from who took half a day's vacation," he pointed out, "Come on, table five's calling you."
Ichigo, annoyed, put her hands on her hips:
"You really are a slaver! Greedy, despo –"
She suddenly changed her grimace at the customer's new call, put on her best smile and ran away, abandoning her protesting.
"Wow… Tell me what's the trick to make her change her mood like that."
Ryou looked at Kisshu with a cynical smile:
"Be called Masaya Aoyama."
.
.
.
Taruto appeared over a street crowded with people, looked around and, verified that there was no sign of Purin, he teleported away cursing. It was the third time that it happened and he was starting to get really fed up; he wondered why he had listened to Kisshu's stupid teasing, if he hadn't been distracted he would have thought to ask the terrestrial beanpole where the mewmonkey had gone.
"Where the hell did she go?!"
He no longer knew where to look for her; after all, there weren't many places he knew on Earth, he never bothered to learn any, and by now he had almost finished his list.
He teleported again and popped over the park where he and Purin had often collided.
Me and the Earthlings.
He corrected himself shaking his head abruptly. He fluttered around there peering at all the benches, paths, trees and bushes, but there was no sign of the blonde; snorting, he also checked the nearby streets and luckily spotted a ruffled straw-colored mane over an affected orange and white uniform. He breathed a sigh of relief and landed in an alley just ahead of Purin's way.
"I found you, pest of a monkey."
She, her face hidden behind a gigantic shopping bag, tilted her head to the side to see at least with one eye:
"Taru-Taru? What are you doing here?"
"Still that Taru-Taru?" he snorted, "Anyways, I came to get you. The senpai needs to talk to you."
"MoiMoi nee-chan? Did something happen?"
Taruto shrugged:
"More or less... What's that you have?"
"Groceries."
She smiled radiantly.
"For an army," he pointed out, unconvinced, "That thing must weigh a ton!"
Purin lifted the huge bag over her head and chuckled:
"Don't worry, I'm strong. You should know that."
"Yes. Besides, you're a monkey, aren't you?" he teased, "What was your DNA….? A gorilla's?"
"I'm a golden lion tamarin!"
She blurted offended, and he laughed:
"Come on, strong woman... I'll carry it. Now let's go."
.
.
.
Ichigo lifted the trash and put it in the bin, grunting so much that one might have thought she was moving an elephant. With her bare hands and on gravel.
"Couldn't we close, since MoiMoi came here?" she mumbled, getting the lid, "Shirogane is impossible!"
"You're always complaining, kitten. It's not good for your health to get angry like that."
She closed the garbage bin in a deafening clanging of tin, turning frightened:
"Kisshu! Damn you and your love for popping up behind people!"
She pressed her hand to her chest and sighed tiredly:
"You gave me a heart attack!"
He laughed and went nearer, smiling mischievously at her:
"I remembered this uniform well. You know, it looks amazing on you."
She stared at him for a second, unsure about encouraging him:
"Thank you…"
She simply murmured.
"With your hair... And your pretty face as red as you have it now, you really look like a strawberry," he whispered provocatively, "It makes me wanna eat you."
"Imbecile!"
She exploded, praying that the itch she felt springing on her head was just an itch and not her feline ears trying to poke out; she couldn't certainly get palpitations for Kisshu's joke. She passed him disdainfully, making to get back inside, and heard him laugh:
"It was a compliment, kitten, don't get angry."
"Well, I don't like it!"
"Ah, no?"
He studied her in silence, with a lascivious glimmer in the golden eyes, and Ichigo felt her stomach twitch pleasantly, but she stood frowning at him, imploring herself not to blush:
"No."
"All right."
The surrendering voice clashed with his smug smile:
"I, instead, accept them willingly. How do I look, as an earthling?"
"Kisshu, to me you look the same."
He made a disappointed face and began to tinker with the bracelet on his wrist; Ichigo heard a clink, saw the image of the boy shaking for a second and suddenly in her eyes Kisshu appeared dressed as a terrestrial.
"So? How do I look?"
She stared at him, confused:
"How did you do that?"
"New optional," he winked and showed her an invisible wheel on the bracelet, "We can increase the shielding level. At 1, only the people it's calibrated on can see who's really under the screen; 2, as it is now; at 3, the camouflage is complete and there is a physical mutation."
"Physical?"
"Let's say that if I put it on 3 now," he continued, "I would be completely human."
"That is," Ichigo asked hesitantly, "Even if I looked at you?"
"Even if you touched me, I would have all the characteristics of a terrestrial", and whispering exciting, he added, "Do we wanna try?"
He kept himself from laughing in her face as she turned red so quickly that she went from lovable to ridiculous: he saw her look for an insult effective enough to retort, but she didn't seem to find it and mutely gasped, looking at him with the complexion of a shrimp.
"Then?" Kisshu insisted, taking advantage of her confusion, "How do I look?"
Ichigo studied the slightly worn out skinny jeans and the fitted black t-shirt with a round neckline, simple and perfect clothes on the alien's lean and strong figure. She felt her heart accelerate sharply and the temperature of her face rise, while the boy smiled allusively:
"I guess I'm a pleasant sight."
With a jingle, the redhead's ears and tail sprang out, while she stared furiously and purple-colored at Kisshu and yelled:
"YOU'RE JUST A MANIAC!"
She left him there, fleeing to the back of the Café, but Kisshu didn't care: the black tail turning around the corner was enough as a more than affirmative answer.
.
.
.
"Mmmm! So good!" moaned MoiMoi as he fidgeted on his chair, "Akasaka-san, it's so yummy!"
"Thank you," the man smiled at him, "The gateau au chocolat is one of our best-selling products."
"Senpai, don't get so excited... Even if it's just us now," Eyner pointed out, "Maybe you're exaggerating."
MoiMoi took another forkful of the cake and rejoiced louder, heedless of his protests.
"Kei, you can't always make everyone freeload like this!"
"Don't be rude, Ryou," Kei coaxed him, "MoiMoi-san and the others are now our allies, and there is no way I won't offer something to such an intelligent and graceful guest."
"You and I will become very good friends!"
MoiMoi chuckled and Ryou sighed deeply:
"A slice of cake," he looked disconsolately at the now-empty cake stand, "Not a whole one."
"A healthy appetite is a sign of good health."
Keiichiro smiled.
"It's with this excuse that you allow Ichigo to wolf down at least one cake a week, isn't it?"
Retasu, standing next to the alien with Eyner, chuckled politely.
"This place certainly…"
"Is it a little too feminine?"
The green asked; Eyner stretched a crooked smile:
"Let's say it's not my style."
She smiled amusedly.
"By the way, Retasu-chan."
The brown-haired alien took a cloth bag which she only noticed at that moment:
"I had to bring it back to you."
It was the bento that Retasu had prepared on the first day at Yakori. The girl took the bag and smiled:
"Thank you. Was it good? I'm sorry, in the end you took it with you…"
"Are you kidding? You made the effort to prepare it, I couldn't waste it."
She nodded and smiled again. When she had found the boy, that day at lunch, she had discovered that she had worked unnecessarily and that he had eaten on his own; she would have brought back the bento without any problems, but Eyner had insisted to have it anyway so as not to frustrate her effort.
"And to answer you, it was delicious," he said politely, "Sury loved it."
Retasu thanked him with a nod, blushing gently. It was pleasant to chat with Eyner, she felt very comfortable: he was kind and able to adapt to every person he met including her, to whom, she imagined, it wasn't easy to relate, introverted as she was; at the same time, he was determined and seemed able to cope in any situation, as he had shown by standing up to Ebode in front of the Council. She would have liked to be friends with someone like that.
"Sury," she asked curiously, "She's your little sister, right?"
She saw that he looked at her in amazement and just shrugged with a smile:
"Taruto-san and Zakuro-san told me."
He saw him ponder on the sentence for a second and smile:
"Ah, is that so, uh?"
"I'd like to meet her someday. She must be so cute!"
"She's a pest, but cute," he admitted, "Are you an older sister too?"
At her surprised expression, he winked:
"Intuition."
"I have a little brother who's in middle school."
"I understand. Does he look like you?"
"It's basically me with short hair," she blushed, "Glasses included."
He laughed softly and made to continue, but a furious Ichigo, black tail pointed, swooped in on the hall catalyzing everyone's attention.
"Ichigo, what's wrong with you?"
Minto scolded her; she answered almost by hissing:
"Nothing at all!"
And she finished cleaning up the last table without adding anything else. Meanwhile, Kisshu popped up from the back whistling, and, in seeing him, Eyner looked at him sternly:
"What did you do?"
"Me? Why does it have to be my fault?"
"Because I'm going to bet an arm that you were with Ichigo," he replied flatly, "Or she wouldn't be so angry."
"How's it possible that you all have such a low opinion of me?"
He said offended, but the smile painted on his face did not disappear. Ryou felt his knuckles creak as he squeezed his fingers in his hand.
"Just a maniac without any decency."
"Did you say anything, crow?"
Minto couldn't reply – fortunately for him – because finally Taruto and Purin arrived.
After preventing that the brown-haired boy added to Minto's fury – once again he was wound up by one of his brother's jokes – and making Ichigo regain her composure, MoiMoi stood in front of the Earthlings and crossed his arms, sighing:
"We have a problem."
"That we got," Zakuro commented dully, "More specifically?"
"You know Ichigo's small speech to the Council the other day?
"Don't recall it in that tone, Kisshu…"
Ichigo whimpered.
"It raised some issues."
"Really, Eyner?" Minto said bitterly, glaring at the mewneko, "I never would have thought!"
"Stop it, look, it's a serious thing," he insisted, "The Councilmen had some doubts about your abilities and Ebode seized the opportunity, fomenting it. Some who voted for us are no longer so convinced."
"Doubts about our abilities…?"
"Of course…" Ryou interjected thoughtfully, "I imagine a 17-year-old girl doesn't strike as Earth's heroine."
"As if I had asked to be hybridized with a feline!"
"The point is," MoiMoi stopped her, "That we risk having the task of searching for the Gift of the Forefathers taken away."
The blond looked at him confused, and MoiMoi answered hurriedly:
"That's what my people call the MewAqua."
"If the Councilmen don't consider you able to fight, if they believe you're only little girls and so on," Kisshu concluded, "We could no longer cooperate. We would have to do it secretly and we'd risk finding Jeweliria's entire army after us."
The Earthlings didn't respond.
"In what a fucking situation you set them up."
Ryou couldn't avoid hissing, and Kisshu glowered at him with fiery eyes.
"To be honest, Ebode suggested a solution, although not yet officially, " added Taruto annoyed, "But it's only his tactic."
"What do you mean, Taru-Taru?"
"He has proposed to summon you to demonstrate your skills in front of the whole Council," MoiMoi replied, "But to do as he says would mean that we have no freedom of decision, nor does Teruga."
"It is a full-blown political maneuver," Minto nodded, "If we decline, we will find the whole Council against ourselves; if we accept, we will be the obedient pawns of Ebode."
"I refuse to do such a thing."
Hissed Zakuro menacingly and MoiMoi winked, clever:
"Us too. That's why we came up with a plan."
The Earthlings went closer to him, listening curiously.
"The request to show your strength would come from the Council and we couldn't reject it, but if Ebode proposed it, we could not accept it. The solution is to respect the Council's request... Out of Ebode's plans."
Ichigo and the girls looked at him bewildered:
"What do you mean?"
"We will organize everything so that it looks like a fortuity. Anyways, you currently have free access to the passage between Earth and Jeweleria."
"We have some friends at the White Palace," Kisshu said, "Who could help us. We will make sure that you show your skills in front of all the Councilmen. We would take care of escorting you there and prepare 'the arena', Teruga will bring the whole Council where we want."
"Do you want us to fight?" Retasu asked, uneasy, "But…"
"I know it's not a pleasant thing, but there's no other solution," MoiMoi sighed, "Of course, if you don't…"
"But can't we just go in front of that bad guy, that Ebode, and show him how tough we are?!"
Purin protested, not at all enthusiastic about the web of subterfuge they were proposing to her; Ichigo stopped her by placing a hand on her arm and got serious in her face:
"No... As Councilwoman Meryold said, we must use the right tactic. In this case, I don't see a better one."
"That's right," Eyner smiled, "However, don't worry. Before you 'perform', MoiMoi-san and Pai have to solve some things with the Drop, it will take a few more days. Right?"
"Three days," MoiMoi replied, "We will come and get you. You also already have the screening devices; you won't have to worry about anything other than being in full shape."
The girls nodded softly, tense like violin strings. Near them Ryou, who hadn't spoken anymore, seemed to reflect and then said:
"Listen, MoiMoi... When you come back, would you bring one of those devices for me?"
Everyone in attendance turned to stare at him in unison.
"You're not going to come, I hope."
"If they have to evaluate the girls, it might be helpful to have with you who made them as they are now, Kisshu," he clarified coldly, "Also, in all truthfulness, the situation doesn't give me much confidence. I want to come too."
"As if you could do anything."
The other hissed poisonous. Ryou clenched his jaw, but didn't move nor replied, looking at him with superiority.
"Shirogane, are you crazy?" Ichigo whispered to him, "You c-"
"I think I'm free to do what I want, Ichigo," he blurted out, silencing her, and went back to look at MoiMoi, "So? Can you make one for me too?"
"Of course. And it's not such a crazy idea... Yes, having the creator of the Mew Mews with us can be very useful to us."
He smiled again to thank Keiichiro for the dessert and stood next to his companions, ready to teleport:
"I'll run to Pai-chan to finish the job."
The Earthlings looked at him, but he didn't say a word about what work he was talking about:
"See you in three days."