Ch 18: Fastforward

A/N: This chapter shows what have been materializing in Hiromu and Youko's respective careers. The chapter after this might be the conclusion.

Testing Center

Eyebrows furrowed and her head tilted a bit to the right, Youko gestured a hand to Hiromu and said: "You don't have to walk me to the testing center, Hiromu. I'll be fine."

Hiromu shrugged and returned the same frown at her, "What are you talking about?".

"I thought you're sending me off for my college entrance exam?"

"My work for this day is in that building, Youko". He replied. He pointed the building where Youko's test will be held. It also had a sign which labeled: EMC Tokyo Subfacility 2.

Youko's cheeks went pink. She felt embarrassed and infuriated at the same time but she won't be defeated by her emotions. She had to focus herself in order to pass her entrance exam in a university affiliated by the EMC. In this way, she'll be closer to her dream of becoming a scientist-pilot like her mother.

Youko had months of preparing herself for this day. Usada and Hiromu were both obstinate in giving her mock tests almost daily (to her frustration, of course). She and Hiromu had been dating for more than five months now—and in those five months, Hiromu made sure that Youko was able to study smoothly.

Youko had her cheeks puffed for more than 30 seconds now. Hiromu chuckled. "I'm just kidding, you don't have to be serious." He moved closer and held her in tight hug. "Ganbatte, Youko. Do your best."

"Err—Hiromu, Ryuu-san and the others are looking" Her eyes pointed to the figures inside a black van which contained Ryuuji and the buddyroids.

I know, Hiromu thought. But instead of saying that, he muttered teasingly, "do you want me to kiss you infront of them?"

"Huh?! N—no!" She thought of their first non-accidental kiss at the shooting grounds in EMC. This thought made her lose her focus on the impending exam.

Hiromu pulled away from the hug and grinned. Then he made a quick kiss on her cheek.

Youko turned red as she motioned a palm on her face.

The black van was shaking, as if Ryuuji and Usada were complaining.

Newly Re-Established Teleportation Facility, Dainan

"I want to thank you for helping me." Youko held a white envelope to his face and grinned.

Hiromu opened the envelope and read the content silently. It read that Youko successfully made it to the science & engineering department of the school of her choice. Hiromu tried to contain himself from screaming in delight, so he just managed to smile widely.

"Congratulations, Youko" he said freely.

Youko read Hiromu's id. It was labeled: Hiromu Sakurada, Center Chief-in Training.

"Uzo! You reached that far?!" She exclaimed.

Hiromu looked at the white gown that he was wearing. Truly, he was living the dream now. And Youko herself was on her way of becoming who she wanted to be. Any senior from the EMC could be the Center Chief at Dainan, but nobody was willing enough to apply for the spot (A/N: Since Dainan was known to be the place where Messiah first materialized). Since Hiromu was known for his outstanding theoretical and practical performances (and for being former Center Chief Sakurada's son), he was trusted to be up for the job. Youko wanted to work at the Dainan too, because it contained memories of her late mother and Jin Masato. But she had to spend two years in college first before working as intern at Dainan.

"So where are we going?" he asked, since Youko hinted that she'll treat him for helping her study for her college entrance exam.

"Let's eat hotpot" she replied and clutched Hiromu's arm lightheartedly.

Youko's College Years

At the age of 20, Youko seemed to grow more matured and independent. Her childlike tendencies were still intact, but she managed to be more serious in her academic load and in her psycho-emotional well-being. Her arguments with Usada were lessened and she gave her utmost respect to Ryuuji's marriage interviews.

Meanwhile, Hiromu was just as successful in being the Center Chief at Dainan. With Nakamura-san and Morishita-san (and the copies of classified research left by his parents), they were able to discover both dimensions and subdimension in the hyperspace. Hiromu was also successful in creating vaccine programs that will prevent any of Messiah's kind from appearing. This was coordinated with Ryuuji, who was working alongside with him at Dainan. Ryuuji was able to form megazords, buster machines and buddyroids that have skills in land, air and water, with the help of his buddyroid Gorisaki. Since Youko was not working at the Dainan yet, Hiromu and J took turns to test Ryuuji's newly-made machines.

Youko was doing notes under a tree when she noticed a small commotion from the rear part of the college grounds. Since it's only natural for her to act whenever necessary, she grabbed her things quickly and ran to the place where college students (most of them from the science and engineering department) were growing in number. She looked up high in the sky to see an eagle buster machine (or E-06) flying towards them. It's only Hiromu or J piloting that, she thought.

E-06 was as big as RH-03. It remained in the mid-air as the pilot emerged from its flap. It was J.

"J!" Youko called, "What are you doing here?"

Youko's classmates looked at her. They didn't know that she was once a part of the Gobusters Team. J introduced himself conceitedly like he used to. He received a whack in the head just as when more crowds were being pulled by his presence.

"What are you doing here, J?" Youko asked again.

"Center Chief Sakurada says you pilot this machine and go to Dainan straight away" he answered.

But I'm not allowed to pilot them, yet, she thought. J activated his marker system and his own buster machine appeared immediately. He rode the machine and said to Youko, "To Dainan, Miss Youko!" and vanished right after.

Youko gawked at the flying E-06. It was as if Hiromu calculated accurately that E-06 will draw a crowd (including her) and that only a superhuman with a remarkable jumping ability may effectively ride it in the mid-air without any use of the buster weapons.

"Ah, mou, what was he planning to?!" She didn't mind the restless crowd and jumped in the mid-air to the flap of E-06. The cockpit and the controls were different from RH-03, but nevertheless the machine was made to fly. She stared at the intimidating eagle buddyroid (named Aquila) and said, "I'm Youko, yoroshiku".

Youko arrived at the helipad of the Teleportation Facility's rooftop. Hiromu was there alone and Youko could see that he was sporting an annoying grin from his face.

"Doyu-koto?" She asked infuriatingly, "You're the center chief yet you made me pilot a first generation buster machine without approval from the engineering department."

E-06 looks like a ch—chick—Hiromu tried to suppress the thought of the similar features between E-06 and a chicken. He didn't want to tell Youko that it was a corroborating reason, either. But his primary reason was…

"I know you miss piloting them" he said. And true enough, Youko was not allowed to pilot buster machines unless she reinstated herself as pilot. Her pilot duties were gone right after they defeated Vaglass. Still, Hiromu made a bold move. And on the top of it, it was illegal. If the EMC knew about it, her dream of being a scientist-pilot may never happen.

"Daijobou, I've covered for you already." He showed a letter to her that said: Youko Usami, assistant to Center Chief Hiromu Sakurada in piloting newly buster machines made by Ryuuji Iwasaki.

Uzo, she thought. "Is that possible? Can you just hire a first year college student?—Hiromu, don't forget—most from the EMC knew that we're in a relationship."

He wanted to tell her that not many people would want to work at Dainan because of its reputation from many years back. But again, it was just another corroborating reason. The primary reason was to train her in advance of her duties as scientist-pilot. "Otosan and Okasan worked in the same department yet they were not separated from one another" he replied.

Youko puffed her cheeks. When he knew that she couldn't refute anymore, he chuckled.

She moved closer to him and grabbed the collar of his white polo.

She said, "It's not funny Hiromu."

Her face was only a few inches away from his. He leaned more, trying to close the gap in between them. But he gave her a chance to pull away.

She tried to back off for just a few centimeters.

Then she saw that he was smiling widely. Or was he grinning annoyingly again?

"Say it Youko. Say that you love me"

Without thinking or hesitation in her part, she closed the gap between them by placing her mouth on his. Hiromu was surprised. But slowly, he closed his eyes and placed his arms around her waist. Youko was still tugging on his collar but her grip became loose. They enjoyed every moment lingered for the kiss. Whenever he or she would try to pull away, the other one would pull him/her back.

"Youko…" he muttered between air. He smiled when she pulled his collar again for another lasting kiss.

"Youko…" he called again. But he didn't want to stop her. He was too absorbed.

And it seemed that she didn't want to stop him either.

Before his reason faded, he tapped her shoulder and Youko's eyes opened a little. She followed where Hiromu's hand was pointing. He was pointing to E-06.

"Ryuu-san's..watching..us" he uttered finally.

Youko pulled back instantly. "HUH?!"

"Gomen," Hiromu said in a chuckle, "I wasn't expecting this."

A/N: Preview

Usada and Nick were arguing over the word, "wedding". Youko remembered how she wanted one of her own. When she was in elementary, she thought of being wed to Ryuuji. And when she reached middle school, her imagination wondered to Hasegawa-sensei.

Nick was imagining things again. And that included being under one roof with Usada:

Usada: Youko, why would Nick be coming to us at the amusement park?

Youko: The three of us will have a bonding time together.

Usada: But you only spend time at the park with me! You always consider that siscon and not me!

Youko: Things change, Usada. We're one family now.

But he thought again, would Hiromu and Youko want their buddyroids to be with them when they start a family?