Hello again everyone. Welcome to the second act of XBLAZE: A New Start. Last time, Es finally confessed her love to Touya and everything is starting to look up for everyone, but there's still the matter about Ishana's Gate of Sheol in addition to the Metal Man's appearance. The answers to these subjects will be answered soon.
Now than, let's get back too it! Shall we?
Shin Yokosaki Hospital [Sunday Morning]
It was around 9:00 AM when Touya arrived at the Hospital. He primarily came to visit Ren after saving him from death at his own Drive crystal. According to Yuki, Ren will be kept at the Hospital for the weekend to make sure he's healthy to be released Monday morning or if he needs to stay longer to rest more. Touya walked to the Hospital by himself as the staff gave Yuki an extra day off to make up for the hectic events from yesterday as they believed it was not a good way for a doctor to spend their time off from work. Meanwhile, Kiri was staying in the spare room Es normally uses, but according to Yuki, he has stayed in good physical health and they are currently trying to get things set up for him, including living arrangements.
Touya walked into the building and went up to the receptionist.
"How may I help you sir?" The receptionist asked Touya.
"Hello. I'm here to visit Ren Kaito. Can I see him please?" Touya replied politely, hoping he can see him. The receptionist looked through her book until she found the patient Touya wished to visit.
"Ah, yes. Dr. Himezuru has set up an appointment for you to see him. Please follow me." The receptionist said, while gesturing Touya to follow until they were at room 606.
"Here we are. Please, try not to take too long. While he might be able to return home tomorrow, he still needs his rest." The receptionist told Touya as he nodded. It was understandable considering what Ren went through.
With that, he opened the door to Ren's room. There he saw the young man watching a martial arts movie on the TV, apparently not noticing the door being opened. He was now wearing a Hospital gown, his hair is now neatly cleaned up and his eyes are more calm now.
'He's looking better now, that's good.' Touya thought to himself as he walked up and sat on the open chair next to Ren's bed. It was than that he noticed his visitor and muted the movie as he already seen it.
"H-hello there. You're the young boy from Yesterday, Touya Kagari, right?" Ren asked Touya, slightly nervous.
"Yes, I am. Are you feeling okay, Ren?" Touya answered back to Ren, hoping he recovered at least.
"Much better now. My mind is finally clear. Dr. Himezuru told me about the Unions and these Drive Powers. It's like something straight out of sci-fi movie..." Ren joked slightly.
"She said it was best my family didn't know. I can't blame them considering what happened. I'm just glad no one died. I couldn't forgive myself if I killed someone." Ren continued, as he admitted how he felt about nearly losing himself to madness and darkness of his crystal like that.
"Well, you don't need to worry anymore, Ren. I'm just glad you're safe." Touya said, before a twinge of guilt built up and he continued.
"Ren, I'm sorry about yesterday." Touya bowed as he apologized to Ren, prompting him to be confused.
"What for?" Ren asked, as if he didn't know.
"For what I... nearly did to you..." Touya said as he remembered losing his rage over Es being harmed by Ren, despite knowing that he wasn't to blame. Ren immediately understood as when Touya went berserk, the voices and hallucinations cleared up and when he saw Es snap him out of it, he realized he must have severely hurt her and it caused Touya to go into a murderous rage. While it saddened him that he would try to kill him, Ren couldn't blame Touya. If someone he cared about got hurt or nearly killed like that, he would've done something he regret too.
"I don't blame you for feeling that way, if someone I cared about got hurt by someone I didn't know, I'd probably lose it and resent that person too. I heard that if I went further in that crystals madness, you would've had to put me down and I understand that." Ren said with maturity and understanding as Touya raised his head up.
"It... must not be easy, having to... kill people... who can't be saved..." Ren said softly, surprising Touya that he was able to get an idea so quickly.
"H-how?" Was all Touya could let out as he listened to Ren. He's taking all this news surprisingly well.
"When you play as much games and anime as I have, you get a few things. I would never take a life, but I can understand why it happens. The world isn't as black and white as people make it out to be." Ren continued as his extensive knowledge of fiction taught him a lot apparently. Even more than Akira and Yuki, who are also huge gamers.
"Even so, what I tried to do to ypu, I'm so sorry." Touya once again apologized as Ren put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay, I've already forgiven you. However, I hope you can forgive me for hurting the girl who was with you. I can tell that she means a lot to you." Ren said, bearing no ill will toward Touya while her also asked for forgiveness himself. Touya managed not to blush as he believed Ren must have saw Es pour her heart out to him.
"It's not your fault Ren, as I know it wasn't you who did it. Besides, I've forgiven you too." Touya smiled to Ren as the two came to an understanding.
"How is the girl doing? Es was it?" Ren asked Touya for Es' condition.
"She has a few cracked ribs, but she'll be fine." Touya told Ren, causing him to look down a bit.
"Wouldn't be the first time..." Ren grumbled to himself in annoyance, but was relieved to know he hadn't caused Es any life threatening injuries.
"What do you mean?" Touya asked out of concern and curiosity about what Ren meant by that.
"Well... I study and practice Martial Arts. The reason I did so was to become a great fighter by improving myself and challenging what the best has to offer." Ren explained as a fiery passion lit in his eyes. Touya realized why Ren fought the way he did and why he was watching that Martial Arts movie in the room.
"However, there were two times during my training that I punch too hard. My right punch is really strong, so I accidentally hurt both a fellow student and my mentor too hard, cracking their ribs. I apologized to them both and they didn't hold anything against me, so when my master healed, he taught me to reign it in and save that strength for when I really need it." Ren continued as he recalled that incident. Sure, in fighting, people will get hurt, but it's all in the spirit of the competition, not for bloodshed.
"I just hope she'll be okay." Ren said, expressing remorse for harming Es the way he did. Sure, he fought female fighters before, but not with the intent to kill of course.
"She will be. Es is stronger then she looks." Touya said with complete confidence. That strong will is another reason why he loves her.
"You must really love her, don't you?" Ren asked Touya as he blushed a little.
"Y-yes, she's very important to me." Touya admitted embarrassingly, blushing a little while scratching his cheek with one finger.
"D-do you have a girlfriend?" Touya asked Ren out of curiosity.
"Can't say that I do. Not that I intend to get married. Don't get me wrong, girls are pretty and I had a crush or two in the past, but I just don't think I'm cut out for it." Ren admitted to Touya as he recounted.
"Maybe someday, you might trust someone with your heart." Touya said to Ren in the most encouraging voice he can say.
"Maybe that might change..." Ren said to Touya as maybe being with someone wouldn't be so bad. The receptionist soon entered.
"I'm sorry, but it's time for you to leave. Mr. Kaito needs to rest." The receptionist said as Touya understood.
"I'm glad we got to talk Ren, I hope everything will be better for you going forward." Touya said to Ren, happy that they are now good with each other.
"Me too, Touya. I hope we can meet again someday, wherever it leads too." Ren said confidently. He was definitely a true fighter in heart and spirit.
"Sure. Until we meet again." Touya replied as he and Ren bumped fists with each other. With that farewell, Touya walked out of the room before Ren fell asleep to rest.
Touya than left the Hospital, happy to get that feeling off his chest as he prepared to head over to the Mitsurugi Agency HQ as he planned to meet up with Es and Mei. Hopefully, Nu will appreciate the interaction they have with her. Meanwhile, on top of a building from across the Hospital, the man in the black hooded poncho was observing the young man he met before.
"Well, he seems to be doing well. I wonder if he's seen the target my client told me about..." The man said to himself as he still found it strange about who his new target is as it wasn't a Union.
"Metal Man? I can't believe I'm pursuing robots now..." The man said as he left where he's at to wait until nightfall before continuing his search for his latest target.
Mitsurugi Agency HQ [Outside - Grave Markers]
After Es and Mei ate their breakfast and took a bath, they headed over to the Mitsurugi Agency HQ and arrived at 9:45 AM. They decided to skip training for today on account of Es' ribs still healing. Es was still a little tender, but Mei used a healing talisman to lessen the tenderness and hopefully speed up the healing process. Upon arriving, the two girls stopped near by two makeshift wooden crosses that acted as grave markers.
One marker read "Ryouko Kagari" and the other read "Sui Amanohokosaka". They are Touya and Mei's mothers respectively. They were involved in the Wadatsumi Incident as they tried to stop Unomaru's plans to use the Embryo to brainwash mankind. They were also close friends around that time, something that Touya and Mei would inherent from them.
While Mei's father was given an official burial, her mother, who was officially stated as missing didn't get such a treatment. Es, out of gratitude for Touya and Mei, as well as wanting to honor the two people who raised them, made and erected two grave markers for them. While Touya and Mei were surprised that Es would do this for them, this doesn't change the fact that this made them both happy that they now have a place to pay their respects too.
The two girls stopped by and kneeled before the graves with Es laying fresh flowers near Ryouko's grave while Mei lit some incense sticks and placed them in front of her mothers grave before the two closed their eyes and silently prayed for them.
'I hope you're still watching over him, Mrs. Kagari.' Es thought to herself as she was hoping Ryouko continued to watch over Touya. Yes, he was not the original Touya, but the current Touya still thought highly of her, so in a since, he was still her son. At least, that is what Es believed.
'Mom... I hope you and dad are still watching me... and... I hope I'm making you both proud..." Mei thought to herself, trying her best not to cry. She missed them both dearly and still wished they could still be with her.
About five minutes passes before the two girls heard footsteps and some plastic rustling as the two open their eyes and turned to the left of Es to find Touya putting flowers near Ryouko's grave next to the ones Es brought before praying for his mother like Es and Mei have been doing. Es and Mei then resumed what they were doing before.
'Mother, I hope you and the other me are happy up there and... I hope I'm making you both proud.' Touya thought to himself as he prayed for his original self and the person he calls mom. He may not be her son, but he still felt obligated as he recalled her vividly despite not having any memories of her. The three silently prayed for a while until they all got up and went inside the building.
Mitsurugi Agency HQ [Laboratory]
Es and Touya sat near where Nu's capsule as Mei was working on getting her ready.
"Es, I know I said this before... but thank you for honoring our mothers." Touya said as he once again thanked Es for the kindness she showed to him and Mei.
"You're welcome Touya. I just wish I could give them an official burial." Es said, as she wished she could give Sui a grave next to her husband as Sui is still considered missing instead of deceased. Granted, there was no definitive proof that Sui died, but at this point, there is no evidence to prove otherwise
"Don't blame yourself Es. Besides, I know mom and dad are together up there, watching over me." Mei said tenderly as she knew the truth, even if other people didn't. Hopefully, they can reveal the truth behind the Wadatsumi Incident someday and clear Ryouko's name, which was tarnished by Unomaru out for spite for her ruining his twisted schemes.
"Anyway. Rise and shine, Nu!" Mei said after wiping her misty eyes as the capsule opened revealing Nu, with the Mechanical Maiden's visor lighting up as she climbed out of her resting place and floated nearby as she turned her head toward Mei.
"Mei... Amanohokosaka... good morning..." Nu replied in a mix of broken speaking before saying a complete set of words. Mei kept calm despite being caught off guard by the improving communication and grammer.
"Good morning Nu. Hey, you remember Touya Kagari and Es Mitsurugi?" Mei replied and asked Nu while pointing as her friends. Nu then turned and analyzed the two as she recalled them from the many times she worked with them, before and after developing a will.
"I do." Nu said quickly as she continued to stare at them. Es and Touya's love confession kept repeating in her head over and over again as she couldn't get it out of her mind. Was this what it meant to be human? Nu didn't know for certain.
"Hi Nu. I know we worked together before, but I hope he can be friends starting from today." Touya said as he held out a hand for Nu, causing her to cock her head before turning to Mei for clarification.
"It's called a 'handshake' Nu. You grab his hand and then you shake up and down. It's a greeting." Mei explained to Nu calmly and slowly. Es was a little surprised as Mei would normally not explain things like that. Granted, Nu's mindset is forming to be fair, so the Shrine Maiden had to be a bit more patient with her. With that, Nu grab Touya's hand and mimicked his action.
"Hello Nu. My name is Es, I hope we can get along." Es replied as she and Nu shook hands as well. Nu felt a sense of familiarity with Es as she looked similar to her.
"Why... do you... look... like me?" Nu asked Es curiously, causing the Azure Maiden to find herself at a loss. Technically, they are sisters considering Unomaru created them both, but what could she say? However, just as Es was trying to figure out what to say to Nu.
"Well Nu, you could say Es is like your big sister. She's family." Mei explained as the tension left Es instantly. Again, Mei's not wrong as Es and Nu were made by the same person.
"Understood." Nu replied as she silently observed Es. The silence was a bit awkward, but eventually Es and Touya began to teach Nu some gestures and explained what certain things meant. They even told Nu about themselves and even though the Mechanical Maiden didn't show it, she was learning and understanding everything they told her.
"So... what are these... things called... emotions...?" Nu asked after Es and Touya finished talking about themselves. As they didn't have anything to hide from Nu, they explained both of their origins to her, with the only thing they didn't explain was the fact that Es and Mei had a hand in putting down some of the other Es-N Units that came before her. Hearing about emotions caused Nu to become curious about herself, especially since she started feeling strange in her chest cavity recently.
"It's... kind of hard to explain. Do you have something that makes you happy, Nu?" Es replied as she wanted to know if Nu found something she liked before continuing her explanation. After Nu thought about it for a moment, she recalled her late night excursion and recalled two things.
"I like... the cool air at night... and the light of... the fireflies..." Nu responded as Es, Touya and Mei, who was off to the side trying to find a new power source for Nu to use for her, looked on in shock. The cold night air and fireflies? When?
"Nu? How do you know about that?" Mei asked as she was curious about how and when Nu learned about that.
"I was... wandering the... Restricted Ward... last night... that was where... I discovered those... two things..." Nu explained as she recalled how the air felt nice and how the luminescent insects were so captivating to her.
"No wonder you're capsule said you awoke twice yesterday. You must have gone out after recharging." Mei replied in amazement as once again, Nu left her own capsule without her or the soldiers waking her up. Her self awareness is growing just as well as Es' did before her, not to mention her wanderlust...
"What did you mean by the air and fireflies, Nu?" Touya asked curiously as he wished to know about her exploration from last night.
"The air was... cold and brisk... but it felt... nice and the... fireflies shone... brightly like the moon..." Nu explained the feelings she felt from last night, but she hasn't explained her sadness at trying to remove her visor to look up at the moon. The three listened as they had a good idea what she was saying. Cool air does feel nice, although too much cold air is... well... chilly, so they can relate to that and the sight of fireflies, while rare to see, is something to behold at least once. With this, Es can now explain properly to her sister about emotions.
"Those things made you happy, right? It means if you have that, you are happy." Es explained recalling what Touya explained to her when she first tried pudding. That was how she was able to contextualize future emotions she felt as her friends explained the other emotions to her, well aside from love that is.
"I see... those things... made me happy... but I also felt... sad..." Nu replied honestly in regards to her newfound happiness and her newfound sorrow, causing the three to worry.
"What where you sad about Nu?" Es ask out of concern for her younger sister as Nu tried to once again remove her visor, only for it to remain stuck on her face. This was something Es, Touya and Mei didn't even think about before, but after a minute of seeing Nu struggle to remove her visor, it clicked with them; she can't remove the object from her face.
"I wanted to... see the moon... with my... own eyes... but I couldn't do so... as my... optic device can... not be removed..." Nu explained as she revealed this saddening revelation. The three never thought about if the visor could be taken off or not. Unomaru must have designed her and the other Es-N Units that way. Touya then looked at her and proceeded to ask her something.
"Nu, is there something you want? Something you desire?" Touya asked Nu as trying to remove her visor is giving him an idea of what she wants. Nu than scanned the three before replying.
"I wish to be human." Nu said in a complete sentence, once again surprising everyone, but in more of a way that pulls on their heart strings, causing the three to think about this wish Nu had shared with them.
Es knew what that it's like to be human both in body and soul as while she originally didn't care about emotions, as soon as she began to feel them, Es desired to stay and be with everyone, which made her feel more alive then she could have ever been while under Unomaru's hand.
Touya felt touched and was deeply happy about the idea of a robot forming a heart along with the desire to be one of them, even though Touya had never viewed Nu as a tool a single time. He'll have to make it clear to her when he gets a chance, that she is no different from other humans in that regard.
Mei however, felt a twinge of both joy and guilt. While it's true that she is supportive of Nu's newfound humanity, it doesn't change the fact she used her as a familiar for a few months and now she desires to be human? It made the Shrine Maiden feel bad as she believed this made her no better then what Unomaru has been doing with her and everyone else. With that said, Mei walked up and placed a hand on Nu's visor with a look of sympathy.
"Nu... someday we will grant your wish... I don't know how... but we will... right guys?" Mei said as she turned to Touya and Es.
"Yeah, we'll help you out anyway we can Nu." Touya said as he got up from his seat and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You won't be alone Nu. I promise that we will find a way to make your wish come true." Es said as she placed her hand on her head with Nu looking Es in the eye while she placed a hand on Mei and Touya's hands each.
"Thank you." Nu said sincerely. Although she wasn't smiling, her mechanical heart felt warm at hearing these words of encouragement and kindness.
The three continued to interact with her until 12:00 PM before Nu returned to her slumber, with Es and Mei heading back to Mei's place and Touya going out on a stroll before he headed home. The three took the time to reflect on Nu's growing words and emotions as well as her desire to become human. While most people would call them stupid for growing attached to a robot, they would happily wear that label if it meant giving Nu what she wanted.
Amanohokosaka Residence [Mei's Room]
It was 12:30 PM when Es and Mei got back, with the two girls having lunch before sitting down in Mei's Room. Es decided to open up a video chat with Kuon and Elise to see if they were available and hopefully get an update on the Gate of Sheol in Ishana while letting them know on current events, well minus her and Touya becoming a couple that is. Like Mei said, it was best to hold off telling people out that until the Metal Man is taken care of. Maybe with permission, Kuon, Elise and maybe even Zwei could help out with this new threat.
While waiting for the Chat Room to include the mages, Es turned around and noticed that Mei was silent as she sat on her bed, distant and saddened.
"Mei? Is everything okay?" Es asked her friend, wondering why she's upset.
"It's about Nu. I'm happy that she wants to be human, but I guess I'm no different than Unomaru..." Mei replied to Es, prompting a confused and slightly irritated look from the Azure Maiden.
"You're nothing like Unomaru. Why would you say that?" Es said as she made sure not to get upset at Mei for comparing herself with that insane mad man. Before Es developed emotions, she always followed Unomaru's orders to the letter and respected him as her superior. However, when she broke out of that mindset, Es began to see Unomaru for the monster he truly was.
Yes, while it was true he was trying to bring peace to the world in his own way, it was not worth taking away the people's ability to think for themselves, in addition to the blood he spilled, not just through Es, Mei and the other Agency's soldiers, but with his own hands as he harvested the crystals of Unions they detained to power the Embryo and his Es-N Units, killing them in the process. These acts made Unomaru nothing more then a sociopathic hypocrite with a God complex. He was cruel and manipulative, so what could possibly make Mei think she was like him?
"It's because I used Nu as a familiar... a tool... because I thought she couldn't think for herself back than..." Mei admitted sadly as Es' flared temper immediately vanished. She must have thought about how Unomaru treated them. He saw Es as nothing than a tool to be used and thrown away while he saw Mei as a pawn that he would let go as soon as her use to him has ended.
"Mei... we couldn't have known that Nu would be different from the other Es-N. Besides, I think she may have developed a will because you were there instead of Unomaru. When she developed a will, you encouraged it and she grew. Not to mention, you always took care of her before her will began to form." Es noted as she recalled Mei was always making sure that Nu got fixed up after a rough battle and that Mei did the opposite of what Unomaru would do.
"That's what makes you better than Unomaru. You encouraged Nu to open up and you never once mistreated her, not even once before she developed a will." Es continued as she hoped to remove any doubts Mei has in her heart. The Shrine Maiden realized that Es made a point. She always took care of Nu and looked out for her, even if she didn't have a will back then. It was like when she looked out for Es back than and whatever worries she had began to melt away.
"Es... I'm sorry I said that..." Mei apologized with a look of gratitude toward her friend.
"You didn't do anything wrong, but I want you to know that you're nothing like Unomaru. Don't ever forget that. You are much better then you think you are." Es said as Mei, deeply touched by her words, gently brought Es into a hug, which she reciprocated.
Afterward, a chime beeped on Mei's laptop, meaning that Kuon and/or Elise was entering the chat room.
"Shall we speak with them?" Es asked Mei, as it was time to catch up on the situation.
"Yes, and Es? Thank you." Mei replied before following up with words of thanks to her friend for being there.
"You're welcome Mei." Es replied as she returned her friends words. She was just happy to remove any sad thoughts and troublesome worries from her mind before they spoke with their mage friends.
Shin Yokosaki City [Downtown]
It was around 12:30 PM as Touya decided it was time to head back to the Himezuru Residence to grab something for lunch. As he walked back, he wondered how life will go now that Nu strives to become human, a wish Touya hopes will be fulfilled. He just hoped that everyone else will welcome her with open arms. However, considering how Hinata and Yuki are, they would no doubt welcome her. As for Akira, he would just geek out over meeting a real life robot, so Touya most likely has nothing to worry about.
As he passed by an alley way, Touya noticed a can roll up to him. That was strange. Was it a cat or a thug? No, it couldn't be. He would have heard a cat meow or the thug would have come up to him. Could it be the Metal Man he heard about? While Mei told him to wait up on these things, Touya decided to observe this time instead of charging into danger this time, recalling what Es said about how doing that worries her and the others. With that, Touya walked quietly into the alley way until he got to a turn and before long...
'A dead end? Then who or what caused that?' Touya thought to himself as the man with the black hooded poncho landed behind him, prompting the young man to turn around.
"It's been a while... Touya Kagari." Said the man as he looked the young man, who's eyes widened as he hadn't seen the older man in a while.
"You!?" Touya said as he recognized the man in question, the bounty hunter he met during the Embryo Incident under the alias "Avenge"; Kazuto Kotetsu.
To Be Continued...
With that, the second act is now underway. The hooded man who spied on Nu and Touya is the infamous bounty hunter, Avenge, real name Kazuto Kotetsu.
What does he want with Touya? Does he know anything about the Metal Man? Will Nu's wish to become human come true? What new info will Kuon and Elise have? These answers and more qill come next time!
Catch you later until then!
Update: Grammer and spell check.