PRETTY SOLDIER SAILOR MOON: FUTURE
Chapter 18: Testing Resolve
Shougo and Midori found the other three in the living room, and Midori blinked in mock surprise, "Chibi-Usa? When did you get here?"
"Ah, Midori! Sorry 'bout that! I was nearby, so I called PallaPalla and she sounded really spooked about the bird that just flew in Ami's study. She wanted the three of us to go home together."
"I see," she replied, impressed that Chibi-Usa and Shougo could corroborate their made-up stories so quickly.
"The nights get kind of dark and lonely too. I'm super happy that Chibi-Usa and Midori are going to walk me home now!" PallaPalla held the others' hands joyfully.
"Hey, that hurt's! You're squishing my hand!" Chibi-Usa exclaimed.
"You like it! Go on and admit it!"
"I do not! It really hurts!"
"Now, now, don't bicker with each other," Shougo stopped them. "I should make something warm for you three to have on the way home."
"Yaaay! Zap some cookies in the microwave for me please!" PallaPalla pleaded.
Ami chuckled at the playful scene while absently picking up Midori's thesis outlines and reading them over carefully. She was still bothered by how Midori was going into the same grade as Chibi-Usa and the others despite her advanced intellectual curiosities. The paper she held only seemed to confirm this worry. She kept reading the hypothesis over and over again:
"Utilizing GPS satellites to track wanted criminals based upon forensic DNA submitted to an international database."
Using a satellite to track a criminal… Based upon DNA... In a database… Ami thought deeply.
Something seemed to click in her head. Could she expand on this idea to combat the problem of the mysterious enemies who were sending Apples of Discord upon Tokyo? She remembered the apple seed she picked up from the battle site – she originally wanted to analyze the Erisian's energy, but could she use it so that remote satellites would recognize the energy signature and destroy the apples before they even left the stratosphere? If the theory worked, then the Sailor Soldiers could thwart Erisians before they could even be born in the first place.
Ami felt a surge of excitement within her. She couldn't wait to get back to the palace and try this out!
"Excuse me, doctor," Midori's voice interrupted Ami's imaginings. She extended her hand and muttered, "I'm going to need those."
"O-Oh, right…" Ami noticed the younger girl packing her books in her bag and getting ready to leave. "Actually, Midori, could I photocopy these notes? They look really interesting."
"I'm not sure about that. I don't think you would be interested in some elementary school child's fantasy technology."
"That's not true. Maybe I can offer some input to it if I think of anything."
"So you're not considering the idea foolish anymore?"
"I never thought of it that way to begin with," Ami said, although she felt like she was half-lying. She brought Midori to the photocopier in another room and began making copies of the thesis papers. However, Ami also wanted to lure Midori away from Chibi-Usa and PallaPalla so she could ask her some serious questions in private.
"Midori… I understand you're going into grade five, yes?"
"That's correct."
"If it's all right with you, can I ask you a few test-based questions?"
Midori wasn't sure what to make of Ami's change in attitude, but she assumed it had to do with the whole 'entering the wrong grade' issue from earlier. She folded her arms and answered, "Go ahead."
"All right. According to the periodic table, what number is given to the element of gold?"
"I believe that is..." Midori thought for a moment, imagining the chart in her mind. She then answered, "It's 79."
"Good. Next, please write the kanji for 'candle' on this paper for me."
Midori spent a minute writing, then returned it to Ami. She blinked in surprise, recognizing the characters from her own studies.
"Very good. Now for a history question. Which historical event happened first in the 15th century – Columbus discovering America, Joan of Arc leading the French, or Ivan the Great ruling Russia as Czar?"
"That would be…" Midori pondered again, trying to attach years to each of the events. Then she responded, "Joan of Arc."
Now Ami looked more concerned. She abruptly changed the subject. "Midori, if you don't mind me asking, do you think it's necessary for you to enter grade five?"
The younger girl's eyes narrowed. "Again with these pointless concerns. Is there a problem with that?"
"I don't think it's a problem, but I'm just worried that you might feel intellectually constrained. Most people wouldn't know the answers to those questions off the top of their head without engaging in some serious research first, and PallaPalla told me you were attending cram school every day. I think you're very smart, and I worry that you might not be entering the appropriate grade for your IQ level. I could always arrange for you to take some aptitude tests and see if-"
Midori stopped her with a blunt groan. "Is IQ the only thing you can think of? Then again, you being Japan's first and foremost medical researcher is proof enough of such narrow thinking."
Ami was astounded by the roundabout insult. "What you mean?"
"PallaPalla told me that you've had the highest IQ possible for many years, but you still attended junior high and high school like regular students did. Didn't you consider the same thing?"
"I did," Ami mused. "But my mother wanted me to be surrounded by people my age, those who I could be friends with more easily than if I went to a university- Ah!"
"Well, there you go," Midori affirmed plainly. "Everyone around me recognizes my intellectual talent, but my parents worry that my ability to interact with others has been stunted as a result."
"I see…" the doctor gasped as she made an epiphany: Midori was in the same situation that Ami was back in junior high.
Ami thought back to her days as a teenager in the 20th century, hanging out with her fellow Sailor Soldiers as regular teenagers with typical worries of that age group; before those happy days, she was always alone in some studying room always preparing for the next national exam. She managed to overcome the isolation of being 'different' from typical Japanese convention, and now her intelligence was being embraced by Japan's society everywhere. Now Midori was starting to follow such a legacy, needing to go through the trials of challenging the country's ideology and her fellow classmates' enmity in order to become a successful woman.
It all made sense to Ami now. How could she question Midori's way when her own upbringing was nearly the same? Perhaps her worries were actually stemming from her own experiences so long ago. She was afraid of Midori enduring the same isolation, but now she felt assured that the girl was capable of handling any challenges ahead of her. Midori wasn't like Ami anyway – she was tough, blunt, and clearly wouldn't take any bunk without a fight. Besides, she already met Chibi-Usa and the Yoeda sisters. If anyone could help Midori through the toughest times, it was them.
"All right. I'm sorry for asking you so many questions," Ami bowed her head. "I should have thought about that first."
"It is a legitimate reaction. I'm sure I will have to explain myself to others in a similar fashion in the near future as well. At least you could emphasize with my situation."
"That's fair enough. But if I could give you a piece of advice before you take PallaPalla home…" Ami murmured in a hushed whisper and leaned in next to Midori's ear. "Try not to sound so stuffy. Using so many challenging words in such a curt tone will make you sound like a snob to others."
"Hm… It is a rhythm of speech I have adopted over the years. Breaking such natural quirks will be difficult at best," Midori muttered in an equally quiet voice.
"Try practicing in front of PallaPalla. If she doesn't understand what you're saying, you need to use simpler words and explain things clearly."
"I will attempt to heed your advice."
"No, no, no. Say, 'I understand'."
"… I understand."
With that conversation settled, Midori rejoined with Chibi-Usa and PallaPalla as they bid Shougo good night. The trio left the Mizuno Clinic, and the other two chatted about PallaPalla's studies with Ami. Midori noted that they made sure not to talk about the battle that just occurred. She kept quiet and walked alongside them, thinking about her reasons for willingly entering grade five.
It had nothing to do with her fictional parents being concerned about her. Midori was a total stranger in this world, after all. Rather, she was entering to remain by Chibi-Usa's side – as her silent protector. It was also the reason she was living in the very same apartment complex as her. Midori would continue to watch over Chibi-Usa, witnessing her resolve against Eris while making sure the Silver Crystal was safe.