Please don't kill me, really! I haven't had a lot of inspiration lately, specifically after the last update. I was going through a rough time and now I have to work during the summer, I've been looking at schools (mine shut down yay!), I have to read All the Pretty Horses and I bought "Animal Crossing" and I realize that I'm making excuses, so here's the date!
-
女らしいプログラム!
The Feminine Program!
ChapterTen
Of Ferris Wheels and Stuffed Toys!
-
Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep!
"I hate that alarm clock…" groggily groaned Netto as he sluggishly pulled the covers down his face. Blinking twice to adjust to his sunlit room, he yawned loudly, stretching his body and trembling sleepily as he did so. "Man… I hate waking up early on Sundays…"
"Netto-kun! Netto-kun! Get up now! We only have an hour! Searchman expects to meet me at the gate at ten! Now get up!" came a scolding voice from his computer's speakers and he gave out another groan in annoyance. "Geez, Rock-chan, you know how I am in the mornings!" he retaliated, slowly sitting up to stare at the computer screen, which had an image of a flustered Rock.
"And you know how I am in the mornings; uncaring because it's your fault you don't get enough sleep! Now, I've let you sleep longer than I wanted, so get up, get a shower, get dressed, and plug me in!" hissed Rock as she accentuated her fury and irritation with her peridot glower.
Huffing, the teenager threw off the covers off of him before swiftly standing and stomping over to the computer. "It's not like you can't do it yourself! Besides, isn't the last thing you want is to have me around for your little date? It is, after all, between Searchman and you!"
"Well… I…" Rock stuttered for a moment, now at a loss of words and clearly showing it. She blinked several times, the white of her eyes reddening slightly and the skin becoming ruby as she sniffled a little, but as quickly as it came, it dried up and the boy's guilt dissipated. "Nē, Rock-chan… Why don't you plug in while I take a shower and get dressed? That way, you won't be late and I'll be out of the way, all right?" offered Netto as he leaned in front of the computer screen, smiling as if forced.
The blue Navi took a moment to think about the plan, and she nodded timidly. Trying her best to put on a smile with thoughts of the day ahead, Rock eyed Netto with an uncertain gaze. "All right then… Ja ne, Netto-kun," she murmured mutedly before plugging in to the Net. After she had left the homepage, Netto's smile faltered and his head met with the wood of his desk, causing a loud thud to echo in his head.
"… Ow…"
-
When Rock had stepped out of the port for the Yokohama's Fair Page, she was met with an almost heavenly array of colors and rides. Strangely enough, though the Network had been simulated for autumnal backgrounds, the Fair Page had changed their displays to spring time for the festival. But she didn't notice too much with the dozens of game booths were set up and the toys that were on display moved with the 'breeze,' creating a jovial scene that made her eyes glitter with excitement. As she continued to examine the fair, she saw different vending booths along with rides that included roller coasters, carousels, and, of course, the Ferris wheel.
"Ā-aaaaaa!" Rock breathed sweetly, bringing her hands together as her peridot eyes glittered with the thoughts of romance that filled her dazed head. "Oh, there it is; the Ferris wheel! Āa! I can't wait for Searchman to come!" Fortunately, as if on cue, the port activated again, and Rock turned to find her date (with a blush) walking out to her. Giggling excitedly, the blue Navi leaped gracefully closer to her tense companion, noticing his timidity.
"Searchman!" cried out Rock as she threw her arms around his neck, causing him to stiffen and cough slightly. "Oh, look at it! It's so beautiful! Ārigato!"
"D-dō itashimashite… Rock-chan… Um, so… er, how have you been?" stammered the camouflaged NetNavi as he flushed more in her arms. "Oh, very well… and you?" inquired back the now placid female. "F-fine…" He glanced away from her shimmering eyes to stare at something less beautiful before he fell over from bashfulness. Usually, he found, she was the one that tended to be shy, however, the roles had reversed, and now he knew what it felt like to be a teenage boy on a date.
'I hate it for the girl who dates Laika-san…' thought the red-eyed sniper as he thought how cold and aloof his Operator was to many people. He hoped that maybe the cold exterior would melt away one day, but it seemed that it would take a miracle to cause so dramatic a change.
"Searchman?"
Looking down, he managed to pull of a shaky smile that was met with a responsive, joyful one. It seemed almost improbable that this small Navi could even look at him with kind, empathetic eyes… Even before all this change happened, Rock would smile understandingly at him, a soft hint in those emerald orbs that told him that it was all okay.
"Nē, Searchman?" began his companion with a jocular oratory that would brighten anyone's day, "can we see if we can find chibi dolls of Ritsuka-kun and Sora-kun? Āa, and Koushirou-kun, too? Oh, but we have to make sure it's from the first season because Koushirou-kun is so kawaii when he's a little boy! Oh, and maybe…"
"Rock-chan… when did you start watching so many animes?" muttered the Navi to himself as his date went on about how 'cute' this 'Koushirou' character was. Truthfully, Searchman was just guessing about all of her 'favorite characters' being from animes… He actually did not have a clue about any of them…
"Bakaaaa," sweetly chimed Rock as she sugarcoated the sting in the insult before reaching up and rapping her fist lightly of his head. "Kingdom Hearts isn't an anime."
Sweating, the camouflaged NetNavi tittered fretfully, unsure if he was going to be safe from this female's 'wrath' or not. "Gomen, I didn't know…" Grinning brightly, his comrade patted his large shoulder, relieving some of his worry. "Aw, it's all right! You didn't know! I just want to find all those cute little characters!"
'I wonder if she thought they were cute before all this…' wondered a shaky redheaded sniper. 'Anō… how does one get these dolls?"
Turning abruptly, the hem of her skirt twirling about with her movement, Rock beamed at her date with a smile full of sunshine and honey. It was perplexity to the camo Navi that he didn't melt right there on the Fair's home page. "Silly… that's where you come in."
"Pardon?"
"You play games and get them for me!" laughed the girl as she made a grab for his arm and began to drag him to the gate. "Simple enough, right?"
-
The sound of fingertips tapping angrily against the wood of a desk filled Netto's room as he seethed at the scene of Rock dragging Searchman into the Fair to find some 'chibis' she had gone on about. Gritting his teeth against each other as he saw the sniper Navi's mouth tilt into an uneasy smile, Hikari Netto felt fury rushing through his veins.
"Oh, I thought I could handle this!" Netto hissed to himself, infuriated that Rock hadn't noticed the open link on his terminal yet. "That jerk's NetNavi better not screw up today or I'll delete them both!"
…
Blink.
"Wait… how on earth could I accomplish that?!" spurted out the brunet despairingly as he started to tug on his limp, wet locks. "Oh, great… I have one's demise down, but that still leaves me with… with-!" Sighing dejectedly, the teenager pulled out a calculator and began to punch in numbers.
"Le'see… two… minus one… leaves me with… aw, why do I have to be so bad at math?!" bellowed the boy as he dramatically tugged his hair again. "I'll never be able to figure this out without Rock-chan!"
Silence leaked into the blue-painted room before the teen's ears picked up on the conversation his NetNavi was having with her date…
"Nē, Searchman… you would be good at shooting games, right?"
"Well, I would suppose… I am programmed to be a top-notch sniper… Why do you ask? You know that already…"
"Oh, you don't remember about me talking about you playing the games and getting the prizes? Luckily, most of the booths are shooting games!"
"… Yes... I suppose my skills would be adequate for that type of… leisure activity…"
"Give yourself more credit! You would be amazing! Now, come one, I see a booth right now…"
The brunet groaned before letting his head fall onto his desk again, hands still fisted in his brown tresses. "Oh, come on, Searchman, I know you're not that oblivious!" he yelled to no one since he had turned off the microphone on the computer. "Even I knew that she was going to make you win her a chibi by shooting at some wooden ducks or something like that…"
Seconds later, the screen showed Rock dragging Searchman to a booth where one of the dolls she wanted sat, confirming his words. "Ha! I'm good!" Netto victoriously stated before pumping his fist into the space above him. "Ah, I knew forcing myself to watch all those corny lovey-dovey animes with Rock-chan would pay off!"
Bing! Bing! Bing!
Glancing downward to find source of the sound, the brunet saw that his female partner had already obtained three of the dolls the vendor offered as prizes and the sniper was still winning them, much to the vendor Navi's chagrin.
Bing!
"That one, onegai!" squealed an ecstatic blue NetNavi as she reached out for the newly-won plush and tucked it under her arm with the Sora, Kyo, and Shuichi dolls. "All right, I think that's all I see at this one! Ārigato Searchman! Now, sir, can you tell me where an Izumi Koushirou chibi would be?" inquired Rock happily as she bounced a bit, making her seem to be on a semi-sugar high.
"I bet you there won't be one…" Netto grumbled, folding his arms over his huffing chest. He knew that the Koushirou Rock was prattling on about was from an anime in the 90s, so the chances of--.
"I think maybe the vendor a ways down from here had a couple from that show. An Izumi Koushirou, a Yagami Tacihi…"
"Āaaaa, he had a Taichi too? 'Waai! Searchman! Ikuzo!" laughed Rock as she grabbed her date's arm with her free hand, tugging him along. "We have to get all the chibis before it's time to ride the Ferris wheel!" Giggling happily and staying oblivious to the awkward stares she was receiving from the crowd of Navis as the sight of a blue and white smiling female dragging a camouflaged and blushing male ran past.
Netto sighed drearily at the sight before inhaling an indignant breath and turning away from the screen. "Man, I'm glad I'm not him! I don't think my body would last from all the running around! I didn't know that NetNavis could suffer from sugar-highs!" joked the brunet to himself with a tight smile across his face. "Who would have thought that dating could be such a workout! I'll never date! Nope, no girl will get me! Hahahaha… ha… ha…"
Deep chocolate eyes slowly turned to the colorful computer screen, a deep spike embedding itself somewhere in his chest and creating an ache that he somehow, someway had become accustomed to. Ever since the beginning of this stupid, miserable lesson, he had experienced nothing but mood swings, heated fights, and jealous swirls in his heart.
Tanned skin tautened, causing a tiny glare to form around his darkened orbs.
'Why do I keep feeling like this?' he asked himself deep within the safety of his mind before breathing outward and picking up his manga from the night before, halfheartedly reading the black and white panels.
"… Stupid Rock-chan and her stupid date…!"
-
Bing!
"Is this the one, miss?" the orange and blue Navi asked as he pointed to the doll hanging on the side of his booth. "Un!" Rock jubilantly answered, plucking the redheaded chibi from the kind vendor after he unhooked it. She bowed slightly after he began to lean forward before standing straight and grinning at her red-eyed companion. "I can't believe how many you won for me!" mentioned as Rock as she placed another won plush into the box the prior vendor had given her. Searchman eyed it, mentally convincing himself that these childish games made for good practice and that his wins put a glowing smile on Rock sweet face. "
It was a juvenile way to win a girl's heart, but worth it all the same.
"Most people say that these games are rigged… It's amazing that they're so fair here!" stated the female flatteringly as she shifted her arms around the large box before she noticed the camouflaged male bending down to carry it for her. "Searchman, I-."
"No, I've got it. You shouldn't have to carry something when I'm here…" retorted the sniper matter-of-factly while giving her a polite stare. "But I can carry just fine on my own!" countered Rock as her face inflated and reddened slightly, peridot eyes leering back at a blank countenance before he turned away from her to hide his blush. "Is there anymore… er… dolls… that you wish for me to acquire for you?"
Her prior bad mood gone instantly, the blue Navi stepped in front of the green one while cheerfully laughing. "You know… just a minute ago… I thought that you had gained a bit more of a personality…" she said with her hands cutely behind her back and a beautiful yet mischievous smirk on her pinkish façade. Searchman warily noted her 'happy mood' and wondered what on Earth should he not do to cause another switch in emotions. "Na… ni?" he inquired a bit befuddled. The adorable eyes on the chibi dolls stared up at him, briefly creeping him out.
"Well, I mean… um…" Rock murmured softly as she brought up a lone finger to her chin while glancing down to the simulated concrete, "… it was the way you said 'I've got it'… and it was extremely informal… It was like… you were showing more of yourself and not putting up the whole 'work comes before play' façade…"
…
"I… like it when you show more of yourself… You shouldn't have to hide yourself…" whispered the ruby-flushed Navi to her taller date.
Searchman's crimson eyes blinked once in shock before an equally red blush lit along his cheeks. "… Th-thank you… I'll remember that…" hissed back the male.
Risking a glance, emerald irises met red ones for a brief moment before a thought trailed along the back of her memory, igniting a wanted moment.
"… And then he'll win me a whole bunch of a stuffed nekos and chibis and I'll get balloons and then I'll put flowers in my hair and everyone will just be so jealous of us and…"
"… And then, when it's 'nighttime,' we'll go on the Ferris wheel and the lights will be like the stars and he'll hold my hand and…"
"… And maybe, just maybe… he'll kiss me!"
"Searchman?"
"Hai?"
…
"We need to find balloons and flowers…"
"Are?"
-
A couple hours later, the sun began to set and Netto looked up from his spot on the bed to see what was going on. Though he had wanted to hear all that was going on, the chatter between Searchman and Rock as she instructed him to put the white flowers in her midnight blue hair was too much for him to take and he had muted the sound about an hour ago. It had been eerily quiet since then and with the silence came such an ennui that the student didn't quite know what to do. He organized his manga collection, moved his furniture around, vacuumed his carpet, ran up and down the stairs nine times and hit his head with his soccer ball to knock out all the evil things he would do if Searchman made Rock cry.
His eyes met the sun-soaked scene and he scoffed slightly. Rock had her balloons and the flowers while Searchman carried the box of plushies as the walk hand-in-hand towards the Ferris wheel…
Netto turned away, chuckling marginally at the absurdity of the scene and began to walk away.
…
"THEY'RE HOLDING HANDS?!" screamed the teen as he ran back and slammed his hands onto the sides of the screen, and sure enough, there it was, a too-happy-for-words blue Navi holding the hand of Mister Anti-fun… who was smiling back…
Grinding his teeth together much like he had twenty-some times already, his fingers began to try to break the monitor, hoping to destroy the super sweet sight of the boy's NetNavi and her… her date.
'I'll kill him, I'll kill him, I'll kill him, I'll kill him, where the heck is Laika?! Is he even watching this?'
As if on cue, a second, smaller screen popped up with a ding and a sour, familiar face appeared. "Hello there, Hikari…" sneered a sky-blue haired elder that Netto knew all too well (and he had overridden the 'mute' program… much to his dislike).
"L-Laika?!" a surprised teen stuttered out finally after getting over the initial shock of having his older rival just come out-of-the-blue. "Um, er… wh-what's up? Heh… heh…"
The slits that were Laika's eyes narrowed even more and the tanned brunet knew he was about to be cussed out, threatened, or something even worse… mocked when his skills were just as good as the 'tormentor's.'
"You act so surprised to see me… Well, here's a good question for you: why has your NetNavi entranced mine into such weak and frivolous emotions? He skipped out on a whole day of training! Searchman was programmed not to ever miss a training session?! What did she do, Hikari?! Did she reprogram him just to show him off or something like that?! You better tell me or I'll--!"
"Look, darn it, I'm just as surprised as you are about it! And just for the record, he asked her out! He probably just bypassed his own programming, I don't know! You shouldn't make it out like they aren't capable of doing typical human things!" Netto bellowed back, now infuriated, hurt, and appalled. Rock had had that much of an affect on Searchman that he would miss out on something like training?
This lesson was getting way out of control…
"… I realize that Searchman and all NetNavis are more than just pieces of complex data, but before you call me out, call yourself out! You were the one who so 'cleverly' put himself in this whole 'lesson' situation! It's sad when your father has to change the gender of your Navi just to teach you a lesson that is just a part of life? Are you that pathetic?!" Laika slandered even more, linking his arms across his chest while the main screen showed Rock leaning her head on Searchman's arm while he beamed at her.
"I wish you and Enzan would stop calling me pathetic when I'm not! I didn't ask for this lesson, all right? Besides, it looks more like your NetNavi's benefiting from it more than I am!" Enraged, Netto began hitting the screen with the tip of his right pointer finger, fire flaring up in his orbs. He was beginning to shake from his anger, and his mind was becoming more aware of the pain once again forming in his chest.
'Just go away…'
"That's because she's become nothing more than a little siren!" bit back the adult as he smashed his fists against the desk he was sitting at, his own fury filling up his face.
Biting his tongue to keep from cursing at him, the brunet stiffened and began to growl back once more. "Don't you dare think that I don't know what that is, because guess what, Commie, I do! Rock-chan is not some of seducing witch or something like that; she's just a girl that wants to find love! Yes, she's been forced to change her gender, but you know what, I have a feeling it was supposed to be this way this whole time! Yeah, she has mood swings, yeah, she cries a lot, and yeah, she's flirting with male Navis, but you know what, whatever makes her happy makes me happy and if--! … If…"
He couldn't figure why he couldn't say the rest and he trailed off, leaving the words stuck in his throat in a lump that he couldn't quite swallow. His hands fell to his sides and he stood straight up, trying to gain the nerve to say it.
"'If' what Hikari?" Laika pressed on, fully aware of the change in his reluctant comrade.
As if burned, the boy looked up, unable to form what he wanted, so he lied anyway…
"If she's happy with him… then… I guess… I'm happy for her…"
Unwillingly, Netto felt tension creep along his bones and for a few moments, he felt like a statue before a hearty guffaw rang in his ears. Watching him in an almost shocked fashion, the teenager watched as the elder male gazed at him with amusement. "So truly pathetic! You don't even realize how in love you arewith your NetNavi!"
-
The soft glow of the fair's lights created a romantic ambiance that Rock took in and stored away in her memory, unable to get rid of the need to bask in the moment forever. She felt lightheaded and the warmth filling her form made her feel slightly selfish that she was having such a good time while her Netto-kun watching in his world, probably bored out of his mind and hurting himself while trying to do his math homework (which he had promised to do while she was on her date). Her hand tightened its hold on the sniper's gently and he looked down at her while they stood in front of the fountain. "Is something wrong?"
Nuzzling his arm while she slowly shook her head, Rock tittered in her throat before her emerald gaze fell on the Ferris wheel, and her smile grew. "The Ferris wheel…"
"Hm?"
"We have to get on the Ferris wheel. It's the last thing we have to do!" muttered Rock excitedly as she began to pull him towards the line through the crowds. "Then, this day will have been perfect!"
Searchman felt a swell of pride in his chest at her praise and he figured that whatever punishment Laika had waiting for him would be no where near enough to keep him from disobeying for her again.
-
"I am not in love with her! I'm a human and she's Navi! It's not even possible!" Netto screamed as a blush crashed along his face, making it so obvious to Laika, who was eating every bit of it up.
"So? That doesn't mean anything! All that matters is that you are so head over heels with Rock that you can't even stand the thought of her with some other Navi! Admit it, Hikari!"
"I… am not… in LOVE WITH HER!" He almost couldn't control his voice and he knew his parents would be hearing the volume of his words. Knowing them, they would be running up soon enough to see why he was even screaming in the first place.
"Ha! I've haven't seen you look so hurt and mad in a while! I guess Rock must be more important to you than curry, huh?" Laika was apparently going to keep pushing his buttons and sure enough, the predicted sound of footsteps on the stairs signaled him that his parents were coming up…
'Great…'
"Netto?" came the muffled, worried voice of his mother through the door before he heard her begin to turn the doorknob. The door creaked as she opened it, revealing the soy sauce that she had spilled on her apron. "Why are you yelling, sweetie?"
Shaking his head, the tanned boy tried to console his mother with a snidely smirking Laika still on the computer with a shaky grin and a full turn towards her. "I'm fine… We're just fighting over something stupid…"
"He says it's stupid…" Laika muttered maliciously.
"You shut up!" interjected the victimized teen over his shoulder.
"Netto, dear, don't yell at your friends like that!" chided Haruka as she stepped forward to begin apologizing for her son's rude behavior.
"He is not my friend, Mama…"
"That's right, Hikari-san. We work with each other, but I wouldn't say that we're on 'friendly' terms."
"Oh… Well then, what are you fighting about?" she asked firmly.
"Mama!"
"My NetNavi is enthralled with his NetNavi and they are currently on a… how should I word this…? Ahem, they are on a 'date,'" Laika simply answered as he nodded his head once in a precise motion.
"Laika-san, this is none of Mama's business!"
"Of course it is, sweetie, you're my son! Now why are you so upset with Rock-chan going out on a date?"
"Because he is so utterly jealous that he can't even stand it, ma'am,' briefed Laika so professionally that it made Netto cringe.
"Jealous…? Netto, dear…" Haruka began to twist herself to her son, eyeing him with a curious stare. "Are you really jealous?"
Netto felt that now he knew what it was like to be thoroughly interrogated, much like a criminal, because he felt so awful and sweaty at the same time.
Glancing back at the monitor, he saw Rock and Searchman board one of the Ferris wheel's compartments, and his heart sunk deep into his gut.
Everything was out now… and with the shut of the compartment's door, he figured that Rock was too far in love to even turn away…
'If she's happy with him… then I'll be happy…'
It sure didn't feel that way, he reminded himself sadly.
-
The sight below her astounded and made her speechless as the metallic-like wheel turned them slowly, prolonging the ride for couples and Navis galore. The flashing lights danced across the bulbs, brightening up the whole fair to an almost day-like light. She glanced up and much to her dislike, the automated stars were not visible, but then a hand laid itself on her shoulder when she frowned.
"I'm sorry that you can't see the sky clearly," Searchman mumbled quietly as he sat beside her, the box of chibis having been placed on the seat opposite them. A content smile slid across her smile-worn lips as she gazed heartedly at the different characters that filled the parcel. He had won them for her with almost no complaint.
Her lithe hand then reached up to touch the white flowers that beautifully contrasted with her loose hair. He had woven the stems and the blue locks together with such care that just his touch sent a shiver down her spine.
Was this what love was like?
"It's all right… Everything's made up for it… Today… has to have been the best day of my existence… I mean, you even acted as if you weren't… so… solemn."
"I am glad that I was able to project myself as other than serious, Rock-chan," the camouflaged Navi muttered warmly as she moved to lay her head against his shoulder pad. "… Have I truly made you that happy?"
"Of course, Searchman!" Rock perked up joyfully, laughing that he would always be so scared to let himself free because that was how Laika wanted him to be, but that for a day, she convinced him to have fun for once. "You were excellent at those shooting games, like I said you would be!"
"At the time, I thought that maybe you agreed to this date just so I could win you those dolls…" playfully said the male as he watched the scenery indicate that they were moving downward. Rock was intently staring outside also, hoping that it would go up again.
It did.
"Of course not! I agreed because I wanted to spend the day with you… outside of a training room and away from Netto-kun and Laika-san…"
"Are you speaking truthfully? After all, Netto-san and you are inseparable at times… are you sure it's well to leave him alone at times?"
"Oh, I see you've gained more humor than I thought, hm?" queried the pleased girl as she lifted her small hand to rest atop of his. The soft weight on his hand brought forth another blush from her date and, personally, no one could match his blushes.
"Well… Netto-kun is… getting older… He can't rely on me forever…"
"But he wants you around forever, correct?"
Pausing to ponder on the question, Rock wrinkled her tiny nose just a bit. Did Netto wish for her to stay by his side forever? What would happen after the lesson ended? Would they somehow be able to salvage their friendship, as absurd and awkward as it had become?
What would happen between Searchman and her? If she was reverted back, how would they feel towards each other?
She really didn't want to think about… Thinking just hurt, and she was on too much of a high to really want to dive into deep, gloomy subjects.
"I assume. I'd like that, you know… staying by him forever," answered the female finally as she twisted her lush gaze outside. "It's so beautiful up here… there's even cherry blossoms blowing!" she happily sighed as the light pink petals fluttered across the bustling fair, swirling about on the breeze.
"It seems rather odd to me that they have cherry blossoms tonight when just a few days ago it was autumn…" Searchman hinted with a small awe in the tone of his words. Rock nodded, still following the light-hearted trails of the blossoms on the zephyr…
"I think it was perfect… just like this moment… like this day…"
"You've made that quite clear, Rock-chan…"
"I know…"
And so the two sat their quietly, mutely hoping that the Ferris wheel would continue to turn 'round and 'round so that all they had to do was lean against each other's form and stare outside the window at the beautiful fairgrounds with its many lights, colors, and cherry blossoms. They soon shifted so that the sniper's arm curled lovingly around Rock's shoulders as she moved a leg up onto the plastic seat before he shyly pressed his lips against her creamy cheek before the Ferris wheel stopped.
It was the perfect end to a perfect day, Rock later chattered to an uninterested Netto.
-
End of Chapter Ten!
-
Japanese Lesson 101
(Now with half-cracked pronunciations!)
- Āa (aah - oh)
- Anō (ah-no - Well, Um)
- Ārigato (ah-ree-gah-toh - thank you)
- Baka (bah-kah - idiot or jerk – can also be seen as bakayaro)
- chibi (chee-bee - a cute, smaller version of a character, animal, etc.)
- Dō itashimashite (doh – ee-tah-shi-mah-shi-tay - you're welcome)
- Dōshita no? (doh-shi-tah no - What's wrong?)
- Gomen nasai (goh-men nah-sai - I'm sorry)
- ikuzo (ee-koo-zoh - let's go – can also be seen as sa iku)
- Ja ne (jah neh - see you [later)
- kawaii or 'wai (kah–wai - cute, adorable)
- nani (what)
- Nē (neh - Hey)
- neko (nee- koh - cat)
- onegai (oh-neh-gai - please)
- sugoi (soo-goi - [that's good)
- Un (uhn - Yeah/Yes)
- are (ah-ray - huh?)
- hai (like high – yes)
-
Yes, Searchman is so OOC in this, but the love curse makes everyone OOC if you ask me… Oh, and, yes, Netto-kun is jealous. Sorry for both accounts.
And there you go! I even went through a writing block on this chapter, if you can't tell, because it's rushed and repetitive… But about fifteen pages in this new chapter… Remember to R&R! We're getting close to the end, believe me! (Probably in the next two-three chapters!)