Z pointed at the computer. Laika get up from his seat and allowed Z to sit in his chair. Z moved the chair to the desk and began typing on the keyboard. Everyone gathered around him to read the computer screen.
Rumor said after the murder, the authorities give up the case. Even scientists did not have an explanation about the monster and they left too.
"But why didn't the town people tell this to anyone?"
Enzan agreed with Netto, "Yeah it doesn't make any sense to me either. The monster would attract the tourists' attention and the town would be in business."
Z shook his head no.
There is no proof that the monster exists and it is dangerous. After the authorities gave up the search, many people moved out feeling it is unsafe to live here anymore. Those who remained don't want anyone else to be killed. To make money over this creature is not worth the risk of losing our integrity and lives.
"This stinks," Netto said, kicking a pebble down the path as they left the library.
"Netto kun, don't be sad. Look at all this information and clues that we found," Rockman said.
"I know," Netto grumbled, "But the monster or that person is still out there." The young boy clenched his fists tightly, "and it got away," he said between gritted teeth. "Nobody gets away from me when they hurt my friends! An' that freak is gonna pay for that."
Enzan sighed. He admitted to himself that Netto always embarrassed him. But like Netto he wanted to know who and what that thing is and why it attacked them. He also wanted revenge on that person who is responsible for this.
"Why don't we talk about this somewhere else?" Pride suggested, "It's almost lunchtime anyway." She laughed as three stomachs growled in agreement with her.
"Hey Z! Do you want to eat with us?" Netto asked their new friend.
Z's eyes brightened at the mention of food. He nodded. "Yay!" Netto cheered.
Enzan sighed wearily to himself. Netto always get excited over small things.
If you can't beat them, he thought wirly. Join them. Out loud he asked, "Since you helped us find the store and the library. How about a place to eat?"
Z grinned at him and gave him a thumbs up sign. True to his word he led them to a Chinese restaurant called the Jaded Isle. Once they were seated, Z ordered the choicest food for his new friends through sign language. After they finished eating. Netto leaned back in his chair with a sigh of content, "That is the best meal that I ever had," he said. "You always say that after every meal Netto kun," Rockman teased him.
"Shut up."
"I agree with Netto," Pride said, she turned to Z, "Thanks for the meal, it's great."
Z looked very pleased and he smiled at her.
The waiter served them desert of oranges, red bean ice cream and gold cookies in funny shapes.
"Hey these are fortune cookies, why don't we take one and read our fortunes out loud?" Netto suggested.
"Okay," Pride agreed.
"Humph! Do you expect me to do that?" Enzan scoffed at him.
"It is fun," Pride said taking a cookie from the plate and passing it to Enzan. "You should try to have a little fun anyway."
Enzan wordlessly took the cookie from the plate and pass it to Netto.
Soon everyone has a fortune cookie and broke it open.
Laika read his fortune first.
"'Ignorance never settles a question.'"
"'Romance is waiting for you out side of your door.'"
Enzan read his fortune out loud.
"'Kiss the person sitting next to you.'"
Netto, who happened to be sitting next to him, read his fortune.
"'You are in for a big surprise.'"
Their faces looked aghast; they looked at eachother and turned their heads away, "Yuck!" they muttered.
Laika smothered a grin as Rockman laughed out loud, Pride giggled, and Z snickered.
"What did your fortune say?" Laika asked Z.
Z gave him his fortune. Laika read, "'A sound mind and healthy body bring many happy events to your family.'"
"Aw man, I could have gotten that one," Netto pouted.
Everyone laughed.
"Z," Enzan said turning his attention to their new friend. "You have been here long enough. Do you probably hear a lot rumors around here to know what the monster looks like. Right?"
Z's face turned grim. He borrowed a pen and paper from the waiter and wrote. Yes.
"What does it look like?" Netto asked him.
Well for one thing is obvious, it has long claws like a bear just as Laika san said it would. But some people also claimed it has a scaly hide, long green fur, white fangs, a mastiff's face, and pointy ears, and yellow eyes.
"Whoa! It almost sound as if you have seen one before."
Z wrote, That is one of the descriptions though. There are other varieties such as a mutated gorilla; others would claim the monster has a baboon's face, a werewolf, or a humanoid lizard. But none of them can adequately describe the monster because it only comes out at night.
"Hm," Laika mused quietly. "So the best time to hunt the monster is at night."
Z grabbed Laika's arm firmly. Don't go out at night.
Netto flashed him a grin. "Don't worry we will be fine," he said confidently. "Right," Rockman said confidently.
"Humph, I'm not afraid of any kind of monster. For all I care it could be a hoax." Enzan said.
Z frowned at them. For people who have that kind of determination and personality is either very brave or very foolish. He thought.
"Hey Enzan, why are we here?"
"Because Netto, we are on a vacation. And we are supposed to relax and explore this area since we are going to be here for some time."
"And?"
"And because Pride wanted to come here."
Netto, Enzan, Pride, and Laika are standing in the middle of the court of the outdoor mall, and eating ice cream. It has been three days since they met Z and now they are visiting the local mall. "What are you looking for Pride?"
"Oh I was thinking about exploring this area. Grandma said that this is the only place where the town has their own Net City. I have been thinking that our Navis could do some exploring on their own. There is an outlet here to plug-in our Navis."
"That is a great idea Pride. Are you ready Rockman?"
"I am ready Netto kun."
"Pff," Enzan muttered.
"Enzan, plug-in Blues. You too Laika. After all it is their vacation as well." Netto urged them.
Enzan sighed in defeat. "All right."
"Fine," Laika muttered.
Four lasers hit the outlet. In the Internet, four Navis appeared in the computer world.
"Well," Blues said, "this doesn't look different from the real world."
Searchman hummed an agreement.
The Internet mall is an imitation of the outdoor mall with stores attached to each other, the ground is paved with bricks, and there are some trees dotted all over the place with birds roosting in their branches. The Navis are currently standing in the "courtyard" which is similar to the courtyard in the real world. The irony is that they are standing in the exact spot where their NetOps are standing it.
Isn't this cool or what? Netto asked his brother.
This is cool, Rockman agreed with him. Now we get to experience what humans do in the real world.
"Well we will see you guys later," Netto said out loud, "So try to enjoy yourselves."
"OK."
"Enzan sama?" Blues looked at his Op questioning.
"It's OK Blues, you go ahead and enjoy yourself."
"With all due respect, Enzan sama. I am more worried about you being with Netto."
"I'm fine, just as long as Laika and Pride are with me."
"I heard that!"
"Searchman, I'll contacted you if I need you."
"Hai, Laika san."
"Princess, please let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you Knightman."
Netto looked up from his PET. "Hey! Isn't that Z over there?" He pointed at a familiar boy walking pass the shops.
"Yes and Netto don't you dare run off again," Laika said irritably.
"What is wrong with saying hi?" Netto wanted to know.
"Because we have to chase after you. That's why."
"Well can't we all go together?"
"No, we bothered him enough. Now let's go."
"Jeez Laika! Why are you so cold? Z is our friend; we can't pretend he isn't there."
Laika inwardly growled. "Alright."
"Oi Z!"
Z paused to see Netto and his friends walking towards them. He greeted them with a smile and a wave.
"Hey Z what are you doing here?"
Z grinned and shrugged.
"Are you shopping here too?"
Z smiled and shrugged again.
Enzan poked him hard. "Netto!" Enzan hissed. Netto noticed that Z's clothes are very worn out and ragged. He realized his mistake and he felt terrible that he did not notice it sooner. Feeling embarrassed he looked at the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry."
Z rubbed Netto's head affectionately.
"That's alright, in fact you gave me a great idea."
Everyone stared at Pride. She ignored them and continued, "Z, you have been a great help to us and we would like to thank you by buying some new clothes."
Z looked aghast.
"Uh Pride?" Netto said hesitantly.
"But you have to come with us because we don't know what size you wear. Is that a hole in your shoe?"
Z blushed, as everyone stared down at his feet.
"Besides, you are not the only one getting new clothes. Laika also needs some new clothes as well."
"EH!" Laika gasped, his face turned pink. "P-P-Pride!"
Netto understood what she is doing and he played along. "Yeah Laika, after all you do stand out in your uniform. Right Enzan?" He said elbowing him in the ribs.
"NETTO!" Laika snapped, "This uniform is the pride of my country and it means a lot to me."
"Well, we are not in a war. We are here for vacation so you do need to blend in."
"ENZAN!"
Pride grabbed Z's hand and Laika's shoulder. "Then that is settled. Come on you two, there is a clothing store not far away from here. Are you two coming?"
"Yeah!"
"Fine."
Laika's face flushed. "You guys are not serious are you?"
In the Internet world, the Navis watched the scene from the big screen and sweat dropped.
Searchman groaned. "I was afraid of this."
"Don't worry about it. I know my NetOp will find something suitable for him to wear. She isn't that ignorant. In fact, she did this because she wanted Z to feel better," Knightman said.
"You ought to be grateful that Yaito is not here," Rockman said helpfully. "She would make you wear weird clothing from a chip called a fashion chip."
Searchman looked at his friend curiously, "A fashion chip?"
"It's a computer chip programmed for you to dress up. And believe me you do not want that!"
"I see," Searchman said, not actually seeing.
"Well, let's go. Coming Blues?"
"I would like to stay here a little longer."
"Blues!"
Blues sighed, "Alright."
The Navis have been wandering around in the mall for some time.
"Hey! There's an arena over there!" Rockman said excitedly. "Let's go check it out!"
Knightman and Blues already agreed. Searchman merely shrugged.
But there is someone already in the arena.
A dapple colored Navi is facing a big Navi that look like a metal gorilla. 'King Kong' tried to punch the Navi, but it keeps missing because the Navi keeps ducking and weaving its attacks. Finally the Navi's arm turned into a blaster and fired at the gorilla and hit it in the chest. Causing it to log out.
"Hey it's X.," Rockman said. He waved at his friend. "Hoi, X!"
X waved back at him in acknowledgment. He climbed out of the arena and walked towards Rockman and his friends.
"Hello Rockman, I didn't expect to see you here."
"Neither did I." Rockman admitted. "X, I would like you to meet my friends, Searchman, Blues and Knightman. This is X, the guy that I was telling you about."
"Hi and welcome to the neighborhood," X said. "If you could please excuse me, I need to go now."
"What?" Rockman said in surprise, "why?"
"Well, my NetOp and I have been here for sometime. She is done shopping right now and I have to go see her."
"Oh," Rockman said, trying not to sound disappointed.
X laughed and patted his head. "Don't worry Rockman. This is a small town where you meet the same person twice."
"Yeah," Rockman smiled wistfully, "and maybe we could battle sometime too."
"Sure," X said, "See you later." With that he logged out.
"There is something strange about that Navi," Blues said.
"Huh?" Rockman looked at his friend.
"X only approaches you and talks to you only. But whenever we are with you he sort of runs away."
"I don't think so Blues," Rockman said, "he's just a busy person. You are probably acting a bit paranoid." Blues didn't say anything. Maybe he is acting a little paranoid, and maybe he isn't. Blues decided to stay close to Rockman just in case.
"You know, I wondered how the others are doing right now," Rockman said.
"So do I, Rockman. Heh, I bet they already found something for them to wear already," Blues said.
"Well what do you think?"
Everyone stared at Z and Laika. Z wore a pair of black dress shoes, a pair of sand colored khaki pants and a buttoned up white tee shirt. Laika wore a white bucket hat, a pair of thronged sandals, a pair of white shorts, and a green limed Hawaiian shirt with yellow flowers all over it and an annoyed look on his face.
"Um Pride," Netto said scratching his head. "I think it's not their style. And Laika looks like Gilligan's evil clone."
Enzan remained silent.
Pride frowned, "Well," she huffed. "I thought it would be interesting to give them a new look."
Laika scowled at them. "You know I can choose my own clothing."
"But if we do that then you would be wearing your uniform all the time," Netto pointed out.
"Better than wearing this!"
"I think," Enzan interrupted, "That Laika and Z should wear clothes that are more stylish, but in subtle color."
"That reminds me," Pride turned to the boys. "Did you two get the underwear that I ask you to get?"
"Yep." Netto opened the bag and rummaged his hand inside of it, "Oh, while we were looking for some underwear for Z. I thought that Laika needed a new pair of underwear too. There are two of them that caught my attention. At first I couldn't decide which one to get so I decided to get both of them. See."
Enzan turned around as Netto pulled out two pairs of boxers. On the back of one boxer it has a red bull's eye target that said "Kick Me," while the other one said, "This Space for Rent."
Laika's eye twitched.
Z's eye twitched.
Pride covered her mouth with her hand.
Laika's face turned red. "You," he managed to say. Pride giggled.
"You two," he extended his hands out to strangle Netto and Enzan. He lunged forward.
"Ack!" Netto squeaked, he dropped the boxers as he and Enzan bolted out the door.
"YOU ARE DEAD MEAT!"
Pride and Z burst out in laughter as they collapsed on the ground clutching their sides as they continued to howl in laughter.
"GET BACK HERE!"
"AAH! RUN FOR IT HIKARI!"
"I AM! I AM!"
