Author's Note: I am so sorry about this. This is probably my worst chapter… you have no idea how many times I had to erase and write and erase and write and simply gruel over this. It's not as funny or romantic… ugh. Someone please shoot me. I really hope you'll still continue to read this even after this horrible chapter…

I promise you the next chapter will be better.

"How long are you going to keep that jacket, sis?"

Natsumi was lying on it while she was on Fuyuki's bed, playing with the long, dark red sleeves. "When he asks for it. It's not like I know where he lives."

"True…"

Natsumi flipped open her phone and answered another text from Rio. She smiled as she pressed 'send'. She rolled to her back and gazed up at the ceiling. "Hey, Fuyuki?"

"Yeah?"

"How can you tell if a guy likes you?"

"Huh?" Fuyuki cast her a horrified glance. "Why should I know?"

"'Cuz you're a guy. Duh!" She rolled back to her belly. "I'm asking from your point of view."

"Oh." Fuyuki grinned, embarrassed at considering such a thought. "Umm… I dunno."

"Right, you're clueless," Natsumi sighed dramatically. "Geez, Fuyuki! What am I ever gonna do with you?"

"So I'm not that interested in girls yet. Sue me."

"I wish I had a normal brother."

"Normal brothers are annoying."

"You are annoying."

"But not as annoying."

"Okay, okay, you win."

"Isn't this fun, Giroro?" Dororo asked cheerily. "Doesn't it feel like old times?"

Giroro grunted. He unfolded an extra sleeping bag he was fortunate to keep around and laid it carefully on the ground a few inches away from his own. Thankfully there was just but barely enough room for a roommate. All he hoped for was that Dororo's coming over to spend the night wasn't going to be a habit.

"Hi!" Dororo greeted the little white kitten as she stepped inside. He kneeled down to pet her. She purred and rolled her head under his hands. "Who's a cute cat! Who's a cute cat!"

Oh brother. Giroro patted the mat down. "Here's your bed."

"Thank you once again for letting me sleep over."

"Don't mention it. Seriously."

"She likes you," Dororo affirmed, watching Ms. Furbottom take her place near Giroro. "It's really sweet the way you two are so close-"

"Mention this to the others and you'll find yourself waking up very confused in a hospital bed in a faraway section in Keron."

"My lips are sealed."

Giroro pet the cat gently until she gradually went to sleep. He turned to Dororo. "You turning in?"

"To what?"

Giroro didn't bother. He returned to his ongoing text conversation with a certain Hinata. They were random things, mostly, one subject bouncing off to another. The best part was that choker on his neck only shocked him with words coming through his mouth, so the messages were like a breath of fresh air. He never experienced so much freedom at once.

"Still continuing on with the mission?"

Giroro closed his cell phone, sliding it beside him. "I'm not involved with the invasion, if that's what you're asking-"

"No." Dororo brushed off the topic of invading and whatnot. "I mean… is Keroro technically forcing you to do this? Are you planning on stopping anytime soon-?"

"Not… technically." Giroro didn't want to admit that he actually liked the plan… that required a lot of humility. And the last time he checked, Giroro wasn't the humble one. That was Rio. "I don't want to talk about it."

Dororo held up his hands defensively. "Alright. I hope you sleep well, Giroro."

"You too, I guess."

Dororo was always a good sleeper as a kid, and even now. He hit dreamland as soon as he hit the pillow.

But Giroro knew it was going to take a while before he went to sleep again. His nightmares pecked at his thoughts like hungry, vicious crows. They flooded in like memories, even though the experiences never appeared in his life, and hopefully never will. He sighed, exhausted.

He was too tired to fall asleep.

"What?" Giroro asked, shocked. "You want me to abort the mission?"

"Briefly," Keroro corrected him. "I want you to abort the mission briefly."

"Why?"

Keroro grinned. "And here you didn't like the plan at first…"

Giroro snarled. "Why do I have to stop now?"

"Well, there are several things," Keroro pointed at his calendar, which was now empty of ideas. "First of all, we still need to go over what exactly you'll do and where you'll do it. Of course there's the kiss, but that puts us behind since some Mr. Macho Frog didn't bother to carry it out."

Giroro blushed and glared at the floor.

"Also, watching Natsumi squirm because 'Rio' didn't text her was a lot of fun!" Keroro said happily. "It only means our plan is working! Oh, and Kururu said that the Animal Animalizer may have some side affects on you, so he wants you to stop using it for a bit."

"Wh-what?" Giroro asked, shocked.

"Ku-ku-ku-ku~ Should I explain in Layman terms?" Kururu turned toward the corporal in his swivel chair. "You see, the animal animalizer was not designed for continual use. You may or may not have noticed, but each time you became 'Rio', your time as a Pekoponian increased each time. First, it started out in let's say two or three hours; then it became two or three hours and a half, and then three or four hours in a half, and so on and so forth. Your body is, let's say, accepting the gun's transformation and is slowly preparing your body to stay that form-"

"So what he's basically saying," Keroro interrupted. "is that if you keep using that gun without a break, you won't be able to change back."

"Wh-what?"

"Chillax!" Keroro patted his back. "We caught it just in time! You just need a break from being 'Rio'. You still have the cell phone, don't you?"

"…How long?"

"Pardon?"

"How long do I have to wait before I can be Rio again?"

"Mm, about a week," Keroro said. "Right, Kururu?"

"Ku-ku-ku-ku~ that's right."

Giroro was silent, pondering.

"That won't be a problem, will it, corporal?"

Giroro sighed. "No."

"Good. You can still text her. And when she asks if she can see you, just tell her Rio's at Brazil or something."

Natsumi, 5:06 pm
hi! wanna come ovr?

Rio, 5:09 pm
cant- brazil.

Natsumi, 5:13 pm
o thats rite. ur brother.

Rio, 5:15 pm
yea.

Natsumi, 5:18 pm
hope u hav fun … ill miss u

Giroro put down the cell phone, clicking his tongue.

"Natsumi again?"

He cast his guest a rather irritated look.

"No offense, but when are you going to leave?"

Dororo smiled apologetically. "Soon, maybe."

"Maybe?"

Giroro's phone buzzed.

Natsumi, 5:22 pm
wen r u comin back?

Giroro held his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing." Giroro began the text, 'in a week', but thought beforehand. Rio was gone- out of the picture- as far as Natsumi knew. Maybe he could stop before the relationship went too far, maybe. Or maybe he was too late. Maybe. He released a sigh, something he felt he was doing a lot lately, and sent the message anyway.

"Is something bothering you?"

"No."

"Are you just saying that so you don't have to answer me?" Dororo folded his arms and cocked his head slightly to the side. When Giroro turned his attention back to the phone, the ninja gave up, throwing his hands up the air in an over exaggerated fashion before finally folding his arms. "It's been fun having this conversation with you."

"I'm glad you feel the same way."

Giroro never really thought much of school days until he was given his- Rio's- cell phone. Their lengthy conversations would last for hours, but they had to be cut short when Natsumi went to her classes. He was thrilled to learn so many new things about Natsumi, but felt… conflicted when he told her about himself. What he was interested in, what he hated, even the important aspects of his life were altered when he was Rio. Giroro loved guns- Rio adored cars. Giroro hated sweet stuff- Rio despised bitter foods. Giroro was a soldier- Rio was a student.

At least the nightmares were gone, and the dreams too. But it wasn't like they didn't affect him. Images still played in his mind, tugged at his conscience, exposed the guilt, much like an evil spirit who refused to leave its host alone.

Yet, he replied to her texts. Every single one. Please let this be worth it at least to Natsumi.

The whole week flew by without much leisure- it was so fast that by the time it was Friday, he was surprised when Keroro dropped off a new mini calendar, one he was supposed to study over the night.

"This plan will definitely win her heart," Keroro assured Giroro, who sped-read the contents on each date. "Seriously, Giroro, man up. The audience wants to see you two kiss already!"

Giroro's face flushed. "What am I, some sort of movie you guys could watch?"

"Are you kidding me?" Keroro asked. "I think it's sad you think so low of us! You aren't like a movie! You're better than any movie I've ever watched!"

"And this is supposed to help me… how?"

"It isn't. Now read up! Tomorrow you got a big day!"

Giroro gazed at Ms. Furbottom, who seemed to understand the situation herself. She hissed at Keroro, who shrieked and ran out the door.

Giroro laughed. "Thatta girl!"

"Beach?"

"It was Keroro's idea."

Aki and Keroro reveled in the adoring stares her children gave them.

"Momoka agreed to take us to her private island again- don't you guys want to go?"

"As long as I don't have to swim," Fuyuki piped in cheerfully, "It's alright with me."

"My, aren't you excited to go," Natsumi grinned.

"Momoka normally invites me when there's something suspicious in that island!" Fuyuki explained, absolutely exhilarated. "There's probably a mystery just waiting to be discovered!" His eyes shone so brightly, like he could already feel the adventure around the corner.

"Ugh, you're such a geek."

"Anyway!" Aki interceded, gesturing to the empty bags around her. "If we want to go, we're going to have to pack. We're leaving early tomorrow."

"Tomorrow…?" Natsumi asked slowly, frowning.

"What's wrong?" Keroro questioned, although he knew the reason why.

"My friend's coming back tomorrow."

Keroro clicked his tongue sorrowfully. "Tsk! I'm sorry! At least he'll still be here when we get back, right?"

"'We?" Natsumi repeated. "What do you mean by 'we'?"

"Aki?"

"Keroro did suggest the idea," Her mother said happily. "And he managed to warm up Momoka to the plan. Why not?"

Natsumi groaned miserably. "Are the other frogs coming too?"

"Yeah, if they want to- but not Giroro."

"What? Why not?" She perked up, irritated. "Why do you get to go, but not him?"

"He has to report to Keron personally for a medical exam," Keroro responded, examining his fingers like it was no big deal. "They were concerned about his well-being… you know, from last week. His cold?"

"Oh, that's right," Natsumi mumbled. "He's gonna be missing out… I'll get him a souvenir."

Not that he'll need one, Keroro thought to himself evilly. Especially if a certain someone else is coming on this trip too…

"Can we invite Koyuki too?"

"Kero?"

Natsumi was looking at her mom expectantly. "Can we invite Koyuki too? I feel bad that I haven't been hanging around her that much anymore."

"Of course," Aki said sweetly. "I'll tell Momoka."

This isn't going as planned…!

"A-are you sure you want her to come too?" Keroro asked.

"Yeah! Why not?" Natsumi folded her arms, a no-nonsense gesture. "If your friends get to come, why not mine?"

"It's just-"

"Momoka said yes!" Aki confirmed, hanging up. "Koyuki can come."

You just had to make it more difficult!

Keroro backpedaled from the scene. I'm gonna have to make the plan more flexible if it's going to work…!

"The beach?" Koyuki cried out joyfully. "Yay! That sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't D?"

"Certainly," Dororo agreed.

"But here's the thing," Keroro continued, "Rio is going too."

"Rio-? Oh, Giroro!" Koyuki said, acknowledging the name with the nod. "Yeah, I haven't seen him around lately…"

"We have our reasons," Keroro waved his hand dismissively. "Anyway, that's not the point. The point is Natsumi is going to invite you, so you'll have to decline."

"What?" Koyuki and Dororo said in unison. "Why?"

"Because then it could jeopardize the mission!" Keroro replied haughtily. "Don't you see? We're trying to inv…. help Giroro so that Natsumi could fall madly in love with him! It's not going to work if you're there too, Koyuki."

Koyuki and Dororo shared a look of uneasiness.

"That doesn't sound fair," Dororo said, frowning.

"That's life," Keroro shrugged. "So when Natsumi comes by to tell you about the beach, try to act surprised and stuff, alright? Don't forget to tell her no." He hopped away before the two could voice out any other disagreements.

"I wanted to go…" Koyuki murmured, disappointed.

"I don't see why not, either," Dororo tapped his masked chin. "Keroro's hiding something, and I don't think it's just for Giroro's benefit."

Koyuki gasped, delighted. "Hey, I have an idea!" She smiled sweetly, her eyes wide and pleading, at Dororo, who gave her a questioning look.

"What?"

"Koyuki said yes!" Natsumi announced as she came through the door, taking her shoes off.

"Kero?" Keroro poked his head from the kitchen. "She said… yes?"

"Yup. She said she'd be more than happy to come."

"You're… absolutely sure?"

"More than you are."

Frog! Dororo must've talked her into it! He made a sour face that didn't go unnoticed.

"Geez, Keroro, let my friends come too," Natsumi shook her head. "You don't want me to be bored, do you?"

Oh, you are going to be far from bored, my dear~

On the bottom of each date, in red bolded words, read "Goal: Kiss".

Giroro crossed each one out so hard that by the time his pencil reached the last date, it snapped.

"Bullfrog," He snarled.

"What happened?"

Giroro instantly hid his calendar. "N-Natsumi!"

"Hey!" Natsumi sat next to him. "I heard you aren't going to be coming with us on the trip."

"H-huh?"

"The medical exam? Keroro told me about it. He said you weren't coming with us to the island."

Giroro decided to stay quiet- who knows what else Keroro told her? Anyway, he didn't bother arguing. It made sense with his calendar- something about beaches and such.

"That sucks," Natsumi sighed, looking up at the sky. "I was really looking forward to having you come."

"R-really?" Giroro turned to her. "Y-you did?"

"Yeah. I mean, you're like one of my best friends, Giroro. And trust me, that's not something I say everyday."

Giroro blushed, looking at his little fire that was slowly dying.

"I promise I'll get you something," Natsumi told him. "A seashell or something. Or a starfish. Whatever I find on the beach."

"Th-thanks. I-I'd appreciate it."

"When are you going to come back from your planet?" Natsumi asked, curious.

"I-I dunno. Soon, probably." His lying didn't come as naturally as it did to "Rio". It actually felt odd to be doing it in this body.

"Hey, Giroro? Do guys like bracelets?"

"What?"

"I'm thinking about making a bracelet… with some of the seashells I'm gonna find on the beach on the beach tomorrow." Natsumi scuffed her shoes slightly against the cinderblock.

For… me?

"I-I dunno, it sounds kinda… girly to me," Giroro was determined not to let her see his face, which was now burning rapidly against the fire. "But I wouldn't mind, you know, keeping it in my tent or something-"

"It's not for you, stupid!" Natsumi rolled her eyes. "It's for my friend Rio."

Giroro's heart stopped. He stared at the ground.

"R-Rio? Never mind. Sorry."

"No, that was rude of me," Natsumi massaged her forehead. "I just want to make a special gift for him you know? And then you said that a bracelet was girly. I'm sure he wouldn't want something as girly as a bracelet." She smiled at him. "But I think it's cute you wouldn't mind one. I'll make one anyway- for you."

"Rio will probably like it," He muttered. "It's fine. Just make one for him."

"You sure?"

"Definitely. You don't see warriors treading the battlefields with seashell-themed bracelets."

Natsumi laughed at the thought, and Giroro smiled lightly.

"I'm sorry I don't have any sweet potatoes for you tonight."

"Huh? Sweet potatoes-? Oh, no, it's alright!" Natsumi's face flushed. "I don't want you to think that I only come by for sweet potatoes! And anyway, I have to go to bed soon. I haven't even packed yet." She stood up and gently brushed her skirt with her hands. She walked to the door and slid it open, "Good night, Giroro!"

Giroro rose his hand as a gesture of farewell without turning away from the fire.

Commercial Break~