And when I think it'll take me a short time to upload this chapter, it takes me two weeks... sigh... Short chapter, I know. They should get longer in the future.
As I removed my hand from the scanner and the doors to our headquarters hissed open, I nearly jumped for my gun when I saw a figure inside. As my fingers brushed against the holster, I was greeted with a soft "Good morning." I relaxed.
"Good morning, Haruna" I muttered back. I was still mistaking new recruits as intruders. I sighed.
"Is everything alright?" Haruna asked, gazing up at me with her soft, wide eyes. She pushed her bangs away from her eyes so she could see me better. It was the only part of her hair that was long enough to obstruct her vision.
"Yeah, yeah, it's fine" I said, shrugging her off. "Where are the others?"
"They're on their way to the mine already. We got a message about something urgent happening down there and they left just a few minutes ago. I remained behind to tell you."
"Thank you, Haruna. If it's urgent, then we have no time to waste. Let's go." I started to walk away, but then I felt Haruna's hand grab my shoulder. I turned back to her, puzzled.
"Are you sure you're up to this, Akira?"
"Yeah," I took a deep breath. "Yeah, don't worry about it. I had told this lie a hundred times, it was no harder to say now.
"You had another dream again, didn't you?" she asked, but I saw it in her face that she already knew the answer. Somehow, in just a split second, I was overcome with anger.
"Yes! Yes, Haruna, I did! It was another fucking stupid dream about that unknown kaiju again! What more do you want me to say? We talk about this issue over and over again but we never figure out a solution!"
"Then maybe you should ask someone else for advice instead of me…?"
"Who? Who, Haruna? Goro? Oh yeah, that's right, he's fucking gone! The last I ever saw of him was in a dream a while ago, right after…"
"You got the spores of Biollante in your back?" Haruna asked.
Realization passed between us like a burst of sparks. The anger vanished from my mind. "My god… how come I never thought of this before? Could that be it?"
"Uh… from a scientific point of view, it's highly improbable, unless chemicals in the spores were triggering memories and fears that are in your mind."
"But maybe it's not a scientific thing. Maybe Erika is trying to tell me something! The spores are hers, after all."
"But Akira…" she said hesitantly, as if she were afraid of speaking her mind, "Spores aren't vessels of thought or emotion, it's just a plant. I mean…. Spores are seedlings. You can't possibly believe…"
"I can't believe, Haruna. But I can hope."
Haruna was silent for a while. She then said quietly, "I think you need to move on, Akira. You need to let it go. That's why the dreams you experience are so terrifying. If you don't think these thoughts, they will vanish. The past is gone. Please just look into the future and continue with your progress in life. Please don't stress yourself Akira; I'm starting to get really concerned."
I tried to look up at Haruna, I really did, but I just couldn't do it. I felt the corners of my eyes wet with small tears. I opened my mouth to say something, but then my watch-like device which was around my wrist (it's not really a watch per say, this isn't a spy movie) buzzed, displaying an incoming message from Hayato. I lifted the watch to my mouth to speak, but I was still chocked up to say anything. Slowly, Haruna stepped over to me. She gently lifted my wrist and spoke into the device. The conversation was a blur to me, but I made out a few things about us meeting the rest of the team down in the mines.
When the two were finished, she looked at me and said "C'mon, let's go meet them there. Be strong, Akira. You're a great leader, you just need to clear your mind."
Listening to her, I took a few deep breaths and sighed. Haruna gave my wrist a playful tug and started to walk away. I looked up into her bright, smiling face and for the first time in a while, I smiled, too.