AN: We are coming in a more serious point here, chapter 11 to 13 will be posted every week. I hope you like it, more characters are coming!
Chapter 11: That little boy who smelled differently
Saito slowly awakened, his eyelids fluttering gently as the morning breeze caressed his cheeks. He sat up slightly and felt a slight chill bite his skin. The days were getting shorter and the cold season was gradually setting in. However, he was pleased to have a few moments before he had to become Rockman again. His eyes rested on the little boy who was sleeping next to him, wrapped in his cape to protect himself from the cold. They had spent the night under the stars, not having had time to find a city with a hotel. Instad, they had settled for this ruined city where they had found shelter for the night. The place was rather quiet, but a strange atmosphere hung in the air. The city had been abandoned for a long time and had probably been destroyed by a Cybeast.
The preteen sat up, looking at the child who was making little noise due to the dreams he must be having. He adjusted his cape, making sure the child would be warm during his absence and sighed. Saito looked up at the sky, noticing that dawn was approaching. He turned around and silently walked away, wanting to transform without being seen, being careful not to make any noise that could wake the child.
After a few minutes of walking, he felt a strange sensation on his back. As if someone or something was watching him.
"Wouldn't it be easier if you told him the truth?" an unexpected voice echoed in the air.
Saito quickly turned around, scanning the area with narrowed eyes. Standing before him was Colonel, his usual neutral expression on his face. The boy felt his face burn and his voice tremble in his throat, but he clenched his teeth, struggling to keep his composure. He recoiled as the Navi waited for a response from him.
"What are you doing here...?" he asked in a low voice, trying to control his anger.
Colonel slowly took a few steps closer, still showing no emotion. His icy gaze never left the young boy's.
"I am here to observe you," he stated soberly. Then, without warning, he turned his head towards where Saito had come from. "But I wonder why you insist on hiding the truth from him."
Saito clenched his arm, his muscles contracting under his skin. He struggled to hold back his anger that boiled inside him, letting his animal side take over. With gritted teeth he turned to Colonel, his eyes fixed on him with an intensity that could have made anyone else falter.
"That's none of your business!" he spat, his voice echoing. He immediately continued, trying to control himself, "And you? Why did you bring us here? You didn't do anything to stop Duo!"
Colonel didn't move, face impassive and gaze fixed on Saito. This immobility exasperated the boy, who felt his annoyance rise with each passing second.
"I cannot directly involve myself, I can only observe," Colonel finally replied. "But I'm curious to understand why you don't tell him the truth."
Saito growled, his fists clenched and his muscles stretched to the extreme. "You don't need to know," he snarled in a dark voice. Then, raising his voice, he continued, "I trusted you and now you've abandoned us here!"
Colonel remained silent, his piercing gaze still fixed on Saito. The latter lowered his head, his heart heavy. He sighed sadly.
"What does Duo expect from us?" he asked, raising his hands in the air, his eyes filled with trembling emotion. He then lifted his sad face and looked at the Navi again. "If Duo can't accept my nature, then it's up to me alone to do this trial! Netto doesn't have to be involved in this!"
"You and your brother share the same DNA, Saito," explained Colonel. "Duo sees you both as an extension of each other. That's why Netto is involved, because you are from the same egg."
"But I don't care about that! Netto is normal! I'm the anomaly between the two of us!" Saito replied angrily.
"Then why is there a link between you two that has been removed?" asked Colonel in a still calm tone.
Saito closed his mouth, unable to answer. He shook his head, feeling the first itch announcing the start of his transformation.
"Leave Netto out of this! Let him go home and I'll continue the journey alone," pleaded Saito, his voice breaking.
Finally, Colonel approached Saito, his gaze now filled with a new emotion of compassion towards him.
"Hikari Saito, Duo expects a lot from both of you. And for the journey to be easier, you must tell him the truth," he declared firmly.
Saito tensed up, gritting his teeth. He lifted his head and Colonel slowly noticed that the boy's eyes were turning red.
"This is none of your business, these are my problems," he replied in a deeper, darker voice.
He growled shortly after and charged at the Navi in front of him. As the boy lunged at the Navi, Colonel raised his arm while stepping back on one leg. Saito grabbed Colonel's sword to parry the attack, his arms transforming into a combination of claws just as he had when he was Rockman. His emblem appeared on his chest as he breathed heavily, then took a step back, allowing his body to be engulfed by the black texture of the Navi armor that appeared in a rain of data.
Rockman's eyes narrowed in anger beneath his black mask, letting out a fierce growl. Colonel, unperturbed, patiently waited for his opponent to finish his roar before resuming his defensive posture, brandishing his sword in front of him. The beastly Navi lunged at him with uncontrollable fury, attacking with claws. Colonel deftly parried the blows, moving with agility to avoid Rockman's assaults. Suddenly, Colonel found himself behind Rockman, whispering almost in his ear.
"You have chosen a path that will harm you. Keep carrying these weights and you will eventually fall."
Rockman turned around abruptly, activating his buster with a deafening noise, but Colonel had already vanished. For a few seconds he stood still, his eyes frantically scanning the surroundings. Then, consumed by rage, he began to scream and to strike everything within reach of his claws. The birds, frightened by the beast's cries, flew away in a cloud of feathers. He finally struck the ground and then calmed down when he heard a familiar voice.
Netto abruptly woke up, a scream echoing in his ears. His heart was pounding in his chest. He looked around, scanning the environment carefully. He was alone. Worried about not seeing anyone by his side, he jumped up, grabbed his bag, and began walking quickly, calling out Saito's name at the top of his lungs in hopes for a response. But nothing. Just the heavy silence of the ruined city around him. He tried to contact his Navi, but nothing.
Rockman remained hidden, concealed in the shadow of the trees. He was still furious about the confrontation with Colonel and had a hard time controlling his rage. He knew it was dangerous to approach Netto in this state, that he might hurt him. So he contented himself with watching him, like a beast stalking its prey.
Netto frantically searched for his friend Saito in the abandoned ruins of the city where nature had taken over. He ventured further, climbing piles of metallic debris covered in moss and vegetation. The atmosphere was oppressive, only the sounds of nature keeping him company. A noise caught his attention; it was likely Rockman. He headed towards the noise, weaving through the carcasses of various rusted piles and found two figures. Without knowing what was happening, he hid behind a concrete wall and watched the scene without making a sound.
He recognized Saloma and her Navi Woodman who seemed to be examining some kind of bronzed stone that she held in her hand. The child looked at them warily. Even though she was someone he knew and was very kind, she could be an enemy in this world. It was then that he noticed Woodman's emblem, which was normal. He relaxed slightly, seeing that it was not a Zoanoroid. Nevertheless, he remained on guard, never knowing what could happen. The young woman, on the other hand, dropped the stone she was holding in her hand and continued to examine the other stones she had left on the ground. She looked at them attentively with her hands on her hips.
Saloma stopped examining the large stones and then went somewhere else under the nod of Woodman who accompanied her. Netto, who had observed them with curiosity, approached the spot where they were before. He hit one of the large stones, tilting his head to get a better look. But the loud noise he made echoed, making him panic. He let out a small sound that betrayed his presence and immediately covered his mouth with his hands. Saloma stopped and turned around, her wood-shaped Navi doing the same. Netto, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment, timidly raised his hand to greet her.
"Hi!" he said in a small voice, his chin tucked into the collar of his sweater.
Saloma didn't know what to say. She first looked at her Navi and then approached, offering a warm smile. "Hey! Are you alone?" she asked in a friendly tone.
Netto, still with reddened cheeks, looked away while trying to appear innocent. "Nah, I have my Navi a little further away. I'm going to go find him," he said, waving his hands.
Saloma stopped smiling, still examining the child. She found his answer strange from her point of view. "How come you're in this abandoned city so early with a Navi?" she asked curiously.
Netto gulped, she had found a flaw and he had no answer without seeming suspicious. All he did was shrug and purse his lips, sealing his mouth. Saloma leaned forward, hands on her knees, understanding the situation very well but ultimately sighing.
"You know, I'm not going to harm you," she said calmly and friendly. "But it's better if you don't stay here alone. There can be dangerous viruses in the surroundings."
Netto shook his head, irritated by Saloma's offered help, and quickly replied, "I'm not alone, my Navi is not far! We're just traveling and stopped here!"
He froze when he realized what he had said and his eyes widened. Saloma opened her mouth about what he said as Woodman approached, making Netto realize how gigantic he was and causing him to step back.
"Kid, a Navi won't fully protect you, and if the Beast Factor comes across it, you'll be in terrible danger," Woodman said sternly.
Saloma stood up and frowned at Woodman, "Woodman, don't say those things to him!"
Netto recoiled, biting his tongue and looking away with a pained expression. Talking about Rockman and the Beast Factor made him extremely uncomfortable due to past events. "I...It's okay, I trust him and I know he'll never harm me," he replied in a more confident tone and regained a bit of courage. "I'm going to go find him now, bye!" The child turned abruptly and started walking in a direction. Saloma, caught off guard, widened her eyes and ran after him. She couldn't let this child wander alone in this deserted city. "Wait, kid! What he said is still important! I can't leave you alone!" she cried, trying to catch up with him.
She finally caught up to him and grabbed his arm to stop him from going further. Netto turned around with fearful eyes, caught off guard. Even though Saloma seemed very sincere, he couldn't afford to stay with her. He needed to stay focused on his journey and nothing else.
"Please... Let me go... I'm not alone," he begged with a trembling voice, struggling like a trapped animal.
The young woman tightened her grip on his arm, refusing to leave him alone to face the looming threat. But as she scanned the surroundings, a chill ran down her spine. She felt an unknown presence, something that was watching her from afar. She looked up and saw a Navi she didn't recognize. However, the Gregar symbol on its head left no doubt about its identity.
"A Zoanoroid!" she exclaimed, frightened.
She had unconsciously released the boy's arm, who also noticed his Navi. While he was happy to see him, he turned to Saloma and stood between her and the Zoanoroid.
"Wait! Rockman is my Navi! He's not a Zoanoroid!" he shouted.
Woodman and his operator were shocked by this revelation. They had a hard time believing it.
"What? He's your Navi?!" exclaimed Saloma.
"Saloma, the Beast Factor emanating from this Navi... It's terrifying," added Woodman with a somber look.
She observed the Zoanoroid carefully. Its red eyes shone with wild fury, and Saloma knew that this creature was far from harmless.
"Kid, listen..."
But Netto instinctively stepped back. "No! I swear he's not dangerous! We're traveling together!" he quickly said, raising his hands and trying to show that there was no threat. "Please, I swear he's not a Zoanoroid!"
He turned to Rockman, who seemed less hostile.
"It's true," he said in a softer voice as he slowly approached his Navi, a smile that could easily break on his tense face. "Rockman, prove to them that you're not a bad guy..."
Despite the distance between them, Rockman growled louder and louder, making Netto's heart race. The child struggled to understand why his friend had suddenly become agitated. Then, the Navi's head dropped heavily and he began coughing violently. Netto quickly approached to see what was happening, but could only watch as Rockman spit out a ball of strange residue. The two humans and the wooden Navi stood frozen in front of this unexpected reaction. No one expected this. The wild Navi had let out a sound from his mouth that even a human could make, and then he walked away.
The wind blew gently around them and Netto remained silent, shocked by his friend's unexpected reaction. He expected everything but this. He turned to the green-haired girl, trying to smile despite the blush rising to her cheeks and the trembling of her fingers.
"Well... You see? There's no problem!" he said, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Saloma opened her mouth like a fish. She looked where the Navi in question had been and then became more serious as she realized what had happened.
"Your Navi... He spit something out... He..." she started, but couldn't finish her sentence. She fell silent, searching for her words, while Netto looked at her with a tense face. Saloma had seen enough Navis to know that this kind of behavior was not normal, and she began to fear that this "Rockman" was not just an ordinary Navi.
"Oh..." Netto replied, visibly uncomfortable. "Well, it's very rare, but it happens when he starts eating pieces of leaves when he's upset."
Saloma was stunned. She was about to ask for an explanation when Woodman suddenly intervened, his voice echoing in the space. "He...eats?!" he exclaimed, incredulous.
Netto, who already looked embarrassed, stepped back even further, pretending to be childishly shy.
"Um... well, yes, but it's not a big deal! Anyway, nice to meet you, I have to go find Rockman!" he said hastily before running away, quickly waving goodbye to Saloma and Woodman.
Saloma was torn between curiosity and concern. She had sensed something strange about Rockman, something she couldn't quite describe. She wanted to follow Netto and ask him questions, but she knew it wouldn't be safe. Yet she couldn't just let a child go with a potentially dangerous Navi. "Hey, kid, come back!" she shouted after Netto, but the child was already too far away.
Netto ventured deeper into the ruins in search of his best friend, but also to escape Saloma and Woodman. He knew they weren't members of the sects that populated this world, but he couldn't afford to be followed. His goal was to get home and protect Rockman from people who would never understand his unique nature.
As he made his way, Netto heard Rockman's labored breathing and hurried to get closer to him. "Rockman, are you okay?" he asked with concern. But to his surprise, his friend turned to him with eyes filled with madness and began to scream incoherently.
"Rockman! What's going on?" the child exclaimed as he stepped back quickly, shocked by his friend's reaction. The Navi was in the grip of a sudden madness, screaming and scratching the ground with his hands while his tail was stretched backwards. Netto tried to speak calmly to his friend to bring him back to his senses. "Rockman, we almost succeeded in overcoming this... We're going backwards!" he said with concern.
But Rockman didn't seem to hear him, obsessed with his fit of madness. Netto felt panic set in as he begged his friend to calm down. "Please, don't ruin everything... I know it's hard, but talk to me, I beg you!" he expressed in a trembling voice.
Netto thought that Rockman was going to yell at him again, but to his surprise the Navi suddenly calmed down. His eyes returned to normal, but the child noticed that he was looking around as if he had heard something. The Navi closed his eyes and sniffed loudly before turning in a direction and started to walk, following an invisible trail for Netto. The young boy was stunned by his friend's sudden change, scanning the surroundings for a potential enemy.
"Rockman, did you sense something?" he asked anxiously.
The Navi made a strange and unsettling noise, a cooing sound that seemed to come from his throat. Netto was perplexed by the sound, but could only follow Rockman as he navigated with his heightened senses. Every time the Navi went the wrong way, he stopped his cooing. Eventually, they arrived at a temple in ruins. Netto stopped to observe the facade, fascinated by the ancient architecture. Rockman, on the other hand, stared at it with eyes as round as billiard balls, saying nothing. They heard a high-pitched noise that alarmed Netto, causing him to hold his breath. Without hesitation, he entered the interior, even though it was dark and lacked light. The noises they had heard sounded more and more like moaning. The operator and Navi looked at each other at that moment and walked slowly to try to understand what they might be looking for.
"Is anyone there?" Netto asked in a calm but tense voice.
He approached slowly with Rockman hopping around him, searching for the source of the noise he had heard. His heart was pounding as he had the feeling that something sinister was going on.
Suddenly, a strange and weak, yet childlike voice was heard. The child was frozen in place. "Who's there?" he asked again, this time with a slightly louder voice.
Rockman, on the other hand, had jumped into a dark corner on a pile of rocks in order to see what was on the other side. Netto noticed that his Navi's eyes had widened, which meant that he had found something strange.
The child's heart was beating rapidly, the sounds he was hearing seemed to be those of a distressed child. As he approached the corner, his eyes widened in terror, his mouth opened but he couldn't say a word. His brain was overwhelmed by too much information, and he was unable to comprehend what he was seeing. His heart was pounding as he put his hands over his mouth to avoid screaming. Despite this, Netto couldn't look away from this thing that was hypnotizing him. The horror was growing in his mind.
There was a creature…that could be a child boy. His eyes—bulging and of a strange red—seemed to overflow with sadness, and he could see small tears flowing down his cheeks, one of which was mixed with a streak of blood. The "child's" mouth was open, but he had an abnormal shape, as if his jaw was broken. Netto could see a few scattered strands of hair on his head. His skin had a reddish-gray tint, reminiscent of a zombie. The fingers had retractable nails—like claws coming out of his fingers—and his knees were folded backward. Additionally, Netto noticed that what looked like branches were protruding from the creature's skin on his back.
Netto, disgusted, slowly backed away while keeping his hands over his mouth. The "creature" deeply disgusted him, but despite that, he also felt pity for the thing that seemed to be suffering. Every little sound he heard was just agony. Netto wondered what could have possibly happened for such a thing to exist.
"Kid?" called out Saloma, trying to get Netto's attention, but he didn't seem to hear her. His gaze was fixed on something that left the young woman perplexed, only Rockman had noticed it. "Kid, please listen—" Saloma tried again but abruptly stopped upon seeing the creature. She held back a cry of surprise and disgust.
"What the heck is that?!" almost exclaimed Woodman, who was finally the first to react.
Saloma didn't answer him, she lost all attention on Netto and approached the thing on the ground. Woodman observed her, intrigued, and refused to let her get closer. "Saloma, wait, I can feel something emanating from that thing!"
She heard him but didn't respond. Her attention was fixed on the creature's face. Suddenly, something lit up in her head; she remembered something and knelt down in front of him.
"You are... Shinji-kun... One of the little boys who disappeared a few months ago, right?" she asked, her eyes wide open.
Woodman almost jumped at the sound of the name while Netto slowly calmed down. The only response Saloma got from this "child" were the same syllables she had heard before.
"Oh my God, what have they done to you?"
Netto began to slowly realize, his heart beating fast and terror still visible in his eyes. Saloma reached out to touch the strange child's face, but Woodman stopped her.
"No, Saloma, don't touch him! I don't know what might happen to you!"
Saloma bit her lip, hesitating to touch the child. She kept eye contact with the child and eventually swallowed, wanting to reassure Woodman.
"Don't worry, Woodman, it's just a child," she finally said.
Saloma touched the child's face and to their surprise nothing happened, except perhaps that the child stopped whimpering. The green-haired young woman smiled tenderly. She withdrew her hands to grab him under the arms and bring him close to her.
"Come on Shinji-kun, we're going home," she said softly.
Netto then noticed that the child was wearing a T-shirt completely stained with blood and mud and that he was naked underneath. He lowered his gaze, not wanting to see any more. Saloma rocked the child in her arms, trying to calm him down, and Woodman approached to look at him more closely.
"We'll take you back to your mommy, Shinji-kun. Everything will be fine," Saloma said gently.
"If you don't mind, Saloma, I'd like to take the child. He'll probably be more comfortable," Woodman announced.
She nodded in agreement and carefully placed him in her Navi's arms. She took a towel from her bag and wrapped it carefully around the child to keep him warm. Woodman moved away and Saloma noticed that Netto had moved to a less illuminated corner and was frozen in horror. She understood that he had been traumatized and wanted to reassure him by showing a comforting smile.
"Kid—" she tried to say.
"I found him like this!" Netto cut in, shouting and defensive, his voice filled with panic.
"I believe you, but listen to me..." Wanting to reassure him again, she stopped when she heard a noise above her. Standing up, she saw Rockman still on the same rock, watching the scene menacingly. Netto understood where she was directing her attention. "It wasn't Rockman who did this to him!"
"Listen to me..." she insisted again, noticing that the child had curled up on himself. "Kid, we're going to my village. Maybe it's better for you to come with us. You can eat and rest there."
Netto didn't reply; he stared at the wooden Navi who still held the strange child. Then, he lowered his gaze to the ground. He knew he had to continue on his way, but he was seized by a morbid curiosity to know what this...Thing really was and what had happened to it. Saloma didn't reply either. She turned around with disappointment and looked up at the Navi above her. She clenched her fists, clearly not trusting him, but she decided to move away to see if the Navi would try to do something.
Rockman began to move, jumping on the ground and going to his operator who hadn't moved. He tilted his head and, with a swipe of his "paw" (hand), he lightly hit the child's back, making him react. Netto looked at him in surprise, then Rockman gave a glance towards the green-haired young woman. The boy followed his gaze, but then looked back at his Navi, frowning sadly.
"You... You want me to..." he started to say.
He couldn't continue his sentence as Rockman nodded his head. Saloma, who was observing them, was astonished to see the wild Navi giving him advice. Netto lowered his head and thought for a moment before slowly heading towards the young woman.
"I... I'll come with you..." he declared, avoiding looking her in the eyes.
Saloma offered him a gentle smile and extended her hand towards him. Netto hesitated for a moment, blushing slightly, before taking her hand. They began walking but he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten something.
"Please! Tell Saito where I am! You won't forget, right?" he asked Rockman, turning to him.
The Navi gave him a reassuring nod. Netto finally smiled then turned to Saloma, tightening the hand she had offered him.
"Who is Saito?" Saloma asked with curiosity, intrigued by the name.
Netto lost his smile and hesitated before answering. "He's a friend. He travels with me but sometimes he goes scouting in different places."
Saloma blinked, a bit disturbed by his answer. "Is he your age?" she asked, trying to learn a bit more about this mysterious friend.
The real answer was yes, but Netto hesitated for a moment before answering. "He's older than me, about six years..." he admitted bitterly.
Saloma didn't ask any more questions, but she could sense that Netto was a bit troubled. As they left the ruined city, she glanced at the child next to her.
"By the way, what's your name?" she had asked with a friendly smile.
Netto looked at her, realizing that he had not yet introduced himself. The fact that she was someone he knew from his world, like Yaito, had confused his mind, thinking that she already knew him.
She waited for his answer. Thinking that he didn't have enough trust, she spoke first. "My name is Saloma. Some of my friends call me Sal, but I suppose you'll call me Saloma-san, right?"
His mouth twisted and he shrugged. "I'm Netto," he replied in an almost inaudible voice, looking away.
"Netto-kun..." she repeated, gazing into the distance. "How do you feel now? You didn't look very well," she asked with compassion.
Netto looked back at Saloma, uncertain. He bit his lower lip. "I feel better," he said then looked up at the child in Woodman's arms. "And him, will he be okay?"
Saloma followed his gaze and looked sadder, but still tried to reassure him. "We're going to return him to his mother, and we'll take care of him. He'll be safe."
Netto continued to stare at the child hidden in the towel, his spine shuddering as he remembered his face. He could feel something disturbing emanating from the other boy and it frightened him.
"Will he recover?" he asked in a small voice.
Saloma tightened her grip on Netto's hand and bit her lip. "I don't know... Someday, I hope," she replied softly, her eyes fixed on the child.
They continued their walk in silence except for the sound of their steps on the dusty ground. Netto could sense Rockman's presence a little further behind, and he was relieved that Saloma had not noticed him. When he turned his head slightly, Netto didn't see Rockman. He must have been hidden, which was perfect for him. They walked for a while longer until they arrived in a new village. Netto was surprised to see humans and Navis coexisting without any problem; they even seemed to be friendly with each other. Some people turned to look at them, happy to see them arriving.
"Look, Saloma and Woodman are back!" exclaimed a woman.
"That didn't take long!" added a man.
"They have children with them?" asked another person, surprised.
As the crowd drew closer, Netto felt increasingly uneasy and sought refuge against Saloma's protective body, who put a comforting hand on his shoulder. The adults around them seemed fascinated or curious about the little boy. The young woman shielded him by asking people to calm down, using her free hand to calm the crowd.
"Please, you're scaring him! He's not from here!"
"Aww, poor little thing..." they heard a sympathetic woman resonate.
Netto blushed while puffing out his cheeks, burying his face into the clothes of the green-haired young woman. All he wanted at that moment was to be forgotten for a few minutes. Suddenly, he lifted his head when he heard a piercing scream.
"Oh my god! This...thing!"
Woodman stepped back, holding the child tightly in his arms. Saloma moved closer as well, trying to calm the situation. Eyes fixed on the creature hidden in the towel, some whispered while others exclaimed.
"What is it?!" cried out another woman who had just seen the child's face.
"I feel something terrifying..." commented a female Navi.
A man approached, glimpsed at the child, and immediately recoiled in fear.
"Oh my god! He looks like the child in the photo that was circulated!" he exclaimed.
Saloma blinked and widened her eyes, moving closer to him. "The photo? Like the one that was on TV and then deleted from the archives?" she asked.
He nodded. "A deformed child."
"A…deformed child…?" repeated Netto, murmuring in surprise.
A woman had approached Woodman closely. If she was originally very intrigued by this child, the sight of his face made her take on a different expression.
"Shinji!" she exclaimed, launching her arms against the little boy, grabbing onto the child's face. "Shinji, is that you?! Shinji! What have they done to you?! Oh my God..."
She burst into tears and almost fell to her knees. She still held onto his face, but the strange little boy finally looked at her and his lips moved to produce a strange sound.
"Ma...ma!" he managed to say in a distorted voice.
"It's me, I'm here..." The mother started to cry even harder, overwhelmed with emotion. She couldn't even breathe properly anymore, but she still rested her head against her child's.
"Saloma!"
A loud and strong female voice interrupted the scene. All eyes turned to her. She was a woman wearing a red bandana in her hair and knives hidden inside. She wore a green t-shirt, thick black pants, and a large brown knife attached to her belt. Her presence commanded respect and her pride shone through her gaze.
"I see you have found some children, I'm glad to hear that." She then turned to the mother of the child. "Yui, don't worry, your son will be safe and we will do our best to save him. Woodman, you can take him to the infirmary."
Woodman nodded and carried the child in his arms, followed by his mother. The woman with knives in her hair noticed the child hidden behind Saloma. Netto recoiled more and more out of intimidation.
"This child..." she began.
Saloma flinched and placed her hand on the child to reassure him.
"Oh, he's a little boy I found in the ruins with Shinji-kun. He's not from the village..." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, looking alternately at Netto and the woman with knives. "He was lost."
The woman remained still, staring at the child with particular attention. Yet, despite her impassive expression, Netto could detect a hint of compassion in her gaze.
"Well, even though he's just a child, you know the procedure, Saloma."
The young woman with green hair nodded. "Yes, every newcomer must go through the interrogation room," she replied.
At the mention of this term, Netto jumped. He released his grip on Saloma's clothes and began to look around, searching for a way out. He felt his heart racing in his chest. The boy's reaction did not escape the green-haired woman, who lowered her gaze to him, displaying a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't worry, everything will be fine!" she said in a soft voice.
Netto remained silent. He didn't really believe Saloma's reassuring words, but he was being held here and Rockman had abandoned him. He had no choice but to deal with it.
Following Saloma, he passed through a door that led to a staircase. He suspected they were probably heading towards an underground area. Descending the stairs, he noticed a large number of other children. Some were in groups while others were accompanied by their parents or grandparents. There were so many that he couldn't distinguish them clearly before being pulled elsewhere.
They ended up in a long corridor filled with people coming and going, each going about their business. Netto was taken into a room, and then finally led into another room that was empty except for a table and two chairs that were placed facing each other.
"I'll be back, I'm going to get a notebook," said Saloma as she closed the door behind her.
The child was left alone in the room. He knew this place well. It was the room where the commissioner or Manabe conducted interrogations. He remembered all the suspicious looks that had been exchanged in this room, but there was something magical about this place: the mirror. He knew it wasn't an ordinary mirror, but rather a disguised glass. He approached the glass and frowned, imagining the people who might be behind it watching him. He then made a face and stuck out his tongue, as if challenging those who might be hiding behind it. He heard the door open and Saloma entered, holding a notebook in her hands.
"No need to worry about that, there's no one behind it!" she said in a playful tone.
The child didn't respond and the woman with green hair gestured for him to sit, which he did. She sat across from him, opened her notebook, and pressed her pen to activate it.
"Okay," began Saloma in a calm but serious tone, "I'm sorry Netto-kun, but I have to conduct an interrogation. We do this for every outsider who might stay here. If your friend were here, he would be under obligation to do this interrogation."
Netto nodded, understanding the situation. He knew it was for security reasons, but he was still nervous. After all, he was just a young child, what could they expect from him in such a serious interrogation? He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and not say too much.
"Let's begin!" exclaimed Saloma enthusiastically, her eyes fixed on the child. "First, Netto-kun, can you reveal your true identity, please?"
Netto opened his mouth to respond, but then closed it, furrowing his brow.
"I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say..."
Saloma hiccupped slightly before feeling embarrassed. "Well... I need to know your name just in case, so we can find you if there's trouble...and for several other things."
Netto hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to reveal his real name for fear she might mistake him for his family in this world, as Saito had suggested. But he thought that there could be several people with the same name... Right?
"Hikari Netto..." he reluctantly admitted. "I come from Akihara Town."
Saloma froze upon hearing those words, lifting her head towards him, her eyes widened.
"Akihara... Like the town near Densan City?" She almost asked with a weak voice.
Netto was taken aback by this change in tone, but didn't ask any more questions and simply nodded in response to her question. Saloma put down her pen and dropped her arms on the table.
"But... How is that possible?" she asked incredulously.
"I live there," replied Netto, as if it were normal.
"No, I mean..." Saloma continued. "I thought no one lived there anymore after the destruction of Densan City and Akihara, that it was just a pile of ruins!"
Netto felt his breath catch in his throat upon hearing those words. His eyes widened as his heart beat faster and he felt cold sweat running down his back. He swallowed hard and tried to find a solution to not appear suspicious, even though his emotions easily got the best of him. "I know...but we live there," he finally admitted while trying to control his emotions.
Saloma lowered her head and crossed her arms against herself. She took a deep breath and looked at Netto with compassion. "I'm from that town too... I was one of the few survivors when the Cybeasts came and destroyed everything twelve years ago."
Netto lowered his head once again, sharing in Saloma's pain. He felt his heart tightening as he remembered why he had such a hard time reaching his home at first. He softly thought about his version of this world, was it...okay?
"Let's move on to something else..." Saloma resumed, perhaps hoping to lighten the mood. "Why were you in that ruin this morning?"
"I... I was traveling with Rockman and Saito," he vaguely admitted.
Saloma, curious, lifted her head and blinked. "But why? Where are you trying to go? Do you want to go back home?"
Netto looked away and furrowed his brow. "I need to go to a town in the Hokkaido region," he answered softly.
Saloma almost jumped, her eyes widening in surprise. "Hokkaido? But why?" She blinked several times. "It's a dangerous region, why would you want to go there?"
Netto's eyes shone with excitement as he answered quickly, "I have to find my parents, I know they're there!"
Saloma calmed down a bit, although she still gasped. Pretending to grimace, she frowned, not understanding how Netto could be so sure of himself. "But you said you live in Akihara Town," she insisted.
"I..." Netto felt the stress rising in him as he continued to fidget with his fingers, not wanting to talk about a portal to another world. "They're in Hokkaido right now! I can't tell you why," he replied firmly.
Saloma took a deep breath, finding this story more and more absurd. "But...how do you know?" she asked, perplexed.
Netto felt his throat tighten as he quickly thought of a response. "I just know, that's all," he finally said in a weak voice.
Saloma lowered her head, taking note while biting her lip. She eventually raised her head, a slightly darker look in her eyes.
"And how did you get separated from your parents?" she asked.
Netto hesitated for a moment before coming up with an answer that didn't reveal the true reason for his situation. "I was kidnapped by someone... And somehow, I woke up in the middle of nowhere," he explained.
Saloma opened her mouth, inhaling sharply, seeming close to tears. She leaned back in her chair, looking exhausted by what she was hearing. "Did... Did you feel any pain? When you woke up?" Her voice was weak as she waited for his answer, which would decide whether she would be comforted or not.
The young boy shook his head. "No, I didn't feel anything at all," he replied.
The green-haired woman closed her eyes, as if trying to find some comfort within herself. She was troubled, like something was tormenting her, but she didn't want to let go. She squeezed Netto's hand in a gesture of comfort. "Listen, I don't know if I can convince my superiors, but I'll try my best to get you to Hokkaido," she said with a tender smile that she forced because of the grief that was beginning to well up in her.
Netto felt his heart leap with hope at this news. Even though he didn't want to admit it, he realized how much he had appreciated being listened to and understood, even if he had partly lied. Finally, he smiled, happy to see that this Saloma was just like the one he knew, always there to help and be empathetic. She continued to stroke his hand in a soothing gesture, then finally let go and focused back on her notebook.
"What about your Navi..." she began, knowing full well that the tension would return. "Has he...always been like this?"
Netto was surprised by the question but he smiled. Memories of his time before coming to this world came flooding back to him. "No!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm. "He was a blue Navi, very kind...though a bit annoying about manners, but he loved doing NetBattles with me! He's my best friend!"
Saloma's eyes sparkled at how the boy talked about his Navi. She could feel that they had an unbreakable bond. But she twisted her mouth with the next question. "So... How did he become like that?"
Netto looked away while taking a deep breath.
"Well... I don't know... When I woke up that morning, he was like that."
At first, Saloma had noticed that the boy had retrieved his Navi very quickly, which was strange. She wondered if he had perhaps been kidnapped along with his PET. She began to imagine all sorts of scenarios in her head.
Then she asked a crucial question. "I really want to be sure, but...has he ever hurt you?"
Netto looked her straight in the eyes and answered sincerely. "At first, he was hostile, but he never did anything to me. He always protected me and even saved me from those mean people who want to kidnap me! He's always been there for me!"
Saloma remained silent, but she could see that Netto was lowering his head and his mouth was slowly twisting. Emotions were rising within him and she could feel it.
"He's not a monster, Saloma-san... He may look like a Zoanoroid, but he's not one! I know he's still there, somewhere deep inside him, and he's still watching over me!" Netto continued, tears in his eyes.
He let out a sigh that sounded like a sob then sniffled loudly.
"Believe me, Saloma-san... I beg you, I swear he's not bad!" he pleaded.
Saloma fixed Netto with a neutral expression, trying to pry any secrets through his eyes. She quickly wrote in her notebook while keeping a watchful eye on Netto. When she finished writing, the green-haired woman put down her pen and closed her notebook. She sighed, realizing that she would now have to report the events as Netto had described them. She glanced quickly at her notes before smiling softly.
"Okay, I believe you, Netto-kun... But I would like to see him again...if possible."
Netto blinked his eyes, drying them gently, before answering. "You won't hurt him, right?"
Saloma nodded. "I just want to understand him."
Netto's response swelled her heart and he eventually smiled back. "Thank you," he said.
She repeated the same gesture, recalling one last thing before ending the interrogation. "Oh! One last question!" she exclaimed, opening her notebook again. "How old are you?"
It wasn't a question he appreciated. He just gritted his teeth, not wanting to admit the answer. "I'm...twelve minus six!" he sighed.
Saloma gasped once more, the child's answer truly surprised her. Seeing that she was not reacting, Netto sighed. "Hey, it's one of the few times I do math!"
The green-haired woman chuckled nervously, almost instinctively, upon hearing Netto's response. Twelve minus six, she easily knew the answer, but she was surprised to see that a young boy of that age could be intelligent enough. They left the room to return to the long underground corridor, lined with several doors. The place seemed to be bustling with several people going about their business. Saloma gave Netto an affectionate pat on the head before walking away.
"Well, Netto-kun, stay here and start getting your bearings. I'm going to give a brief report to my superiors and I'll be back. I'll take you to the cafeteria so you can eat something!" she announced with a smile. "But don't go outside without permission."
Netto watched the young woman walk away before turning his gaze to the people around him. He noticed that each person was quite diverse with people of all ages. On the wall, he noticed a symbol repeated several times, which could be the emblem of a family or a Navi. The village seemed to be a large community where mutual aid seemed to be the norm.
Netto walked away from the direction Saloma had gone, continuing to observe the surroundings. He felt reassured to see that Navis and humans were peacefully coexisting without apparent fear of each other. But what touched him the most was seeing the children playing together, each in their own way, with their families.
A man walked past Netto without even noticing him, heading towards a woman accompanied by her daughter. The little girl joyfully called out to her father and threw herself into his arms, the man embracing her tenderly. The boy smiled as he watched them, happy to see a family together and happy.
However, his smile quickly faded as he thought back to his own family. His parents...they must be worried about him right now. He took a deep breath to try to reassure himself and continued on his way, ignoring the happy family next to him.
The child listened attentively to the conversations around him. He heard Navis expressing their fear of going outside and catching the Beast Factor. He then understood why they felt safer in this dark and confined place. It was sad to have to deprive themselves of natural light, but he couldn't blame them. Netto came across a sign indicating the location of the infirmary. He then remembered the "deformed" child he had seen earlier and decided to go there. He clenched his hands, trying to go unnoticed. He passed by several open doors, some rooms were empty while others had patients. The majority of the patients were adults and the nurses were all Navis.
Netto arrived at a partially open door where the child was located. He observed the little boy lying on a bed, motionless and with a blank stare. His mother was trying to straighten his head while a Navi nurse examined an analysis panel. She looked at the child's two legs, which the other boy hiding behind the door began to grind his teeth at. One of the legs had the knee bent backwards while the other had the ankle twisted in a worrying way. She touched the sore ankle of the child, who let out a groan of pain while his mother tried to calm him down. After a short observation, she noticed something unusual.
"These injuries... The knee is due to some sort of deformity... And the ankle is due to physical trauma."
"They...did this to him...?" asked the mother, sobbing, ready to burst into tears at any moment.
The nurse didn't answer but observed the mother holding her child close, desperate.
"I don't know if we will be able to bring him back to his normal state... But what's certain is that all the deformed parts, they will remain..." she added, looking dark and concerned.
The mother burst into tears, burying her face in her son's. Netto couldn't bear to look at them anymore, the images of the child's deformity swirling in his head. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes, but he pulled himself together, leaning against the wall next to the door and sliding down to the floor. He curled his knees up to his chest and hugged them tight. He sighed, trying to keep his emotions under control, and rested his head against his knees in an attempt to escape the reality around him.
A little later, as he waited, listening to the mother's cries from the next room, Netto was interrupted in his thoughts by a shadow looming over him. As he rose slowly, he noticed it was a Navi staring at him, arms crossed. The more he looked at the Navi, the more memories flooded back. It was the Navi he had met on Shisa Island when they had accidentally ended up there. He also remembered the miko—his operator—who had accidentally gotten drunk, and Rockman, who had gained a new Soul Unison.
Windman.
Netto avoided saying the name out loud, trying not to reveal that he knew him. However, he wondered where Windman's operator was and if he was alone. Windman noticed Netto's discomfort, tilted his head, and fixed his yellow eyes on him before finally asking a question. "Do you know who I am?"
Netto looked at him again, bit his lip, and shook his head. The blue Navi didn't react, except for looking at the door, then back at Netto. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Netto jumped slightly and glanced at the door. He took a small breath before answering. "I found this boy this morning... I just wanted to know if he was doing better."
Windman looked at the partially open door again before taking the handle to close it, which surprised Netto. "Well, you see, we don't know what happened to him, but for now, we have to respect the privacy between him and his mother," explained Windman.
Netto looked at the floor, feeling ashamed again. He had been wrong. He nodded and kept his head down.
"Well, my boy," said Windman, gesturing towards the exit of the infirmary, "let's get out of here. This isn't really a place for you."
The child walked slowly, followed by the sky-blue Navi. He remembered him as a polite and fair Navi, even though he often apologized for his operator's mistakes. But now, he seemed much more mature, stronger.
They emerged into the main corridor and Netto saw Saloma coming towards him, trying to hide her worry. "Where have you been? I told you it wouldn't take long," she asked with a smile.
He didn't answer. Instead, Windman stepped forward towards her, and she immediately took a stricter pose. The other people present in the corridor did the same, looking at the Navi with respect.
"I..." Saloma tried to explain, visibly intimidated by Windman's presence. "I've been looking for you. I've already explained part of it to Paxi-san."
He stared at Saloma intensely before glancing towards the child. Raising his hand, he addressed her in a grave and measured tone. "You will explain everything to me later, Saloma. For now, I want you to take care of this child."
Saloma silently acquiesced, watching as the Navi slowly walked away. She was left alone with the child, and everyone else resumed their usual activities. "Where is he going?" asked Netto, his eyes fixed on the Navi's back as he walked away.
"He's going to pray," Saloma replied calmly and reservedly.
"To pray?" Netto exclaimed, surprised that a Navi could have a religious practice.
Saloma smiled gently, understanding the child's confusion. "Oh, yes, but he's not really praying to a god. Just for someone dear to him," she explained in a soothing voice.
Netto thought for a moment, amazed. He realized that even the Navi were moved by this practice when someone had passed away. This discovery deeply touched him, and his heart skipped a beat.
"When I will be on the other side, will you pray for me?" A voice echoed in his head, causing him to gasp in surprise and abruptly raise his head, searching around him to see if anyone had spoken those words, but there was no one. He had clearly imagined the voice, but it had sent shivers down his spine and cold sweat was running down his forehead. His heart was pounding fast as if he had just run a marathon. A hand landed on his shoulder, making him almost jump. He turned his head and saw Saloma, who was looking at him with a gentle and benevolent smile.
"Come on Netto, I'll take you to eat something. You didn't eat this morning, did you?"
At the mention of "eating", Netto's stomach growled. His face twisted into a hungry expression, and drool almost dripped from his mouth. He nodded in approval and Saloma gestured for him to follow her. Netto followed her like a little duckling, curious to see where she was taking him. They arrived in a large spacious hall with several tables and chairs arranged around the counter. Behind the counter, Netto saw a Navi busy cooking. The child approached quickly, fascinated by the chef's agile movements as he sliced fish and vegetables, tossing ingredients in pans and pots on the stoves. The Navi was green with long claws attached to his arms like sharp knives, a long braid down his back. He noticed the child.
"What can I do for you, little one?" asked the Navi, undisturbed by the little boy.
Instead of answering his question, Netto looked at everything the Navi had accomplished with admiration.
"Are you...a chef?" he asked enthusiastically, examining every detail of the culinary activity.
The Navi went back to looking at what he was cutting, resuming his work.
"I'm just the sous-chef, my operator is the one who directs me. She's much better than me, she has taste like any human after all," he explained without looking up.
Netto watched in fascination at the Navi's culinary talent, working so skillfully that his hands seemed to move with a life of their own. It was then that Saloma approached the counter and sat on one of the chairs, inviting Netto to sit next to her.
"Slashman, let me introduce you to Netto-kun. I met him this morning in the ruins of the city next door," Saloma announced, introducing the child, to which the Navi responded with a nod. "Netto-kun, this is Slashman, Paxi-san's Navi."
At first, Netto was impressed, but then he realized something.
"Who is Paxi-san?"
"She's the woman you saw earlier. She's our cook and she's the right hand of our chef," Saloma quickly replied.
He nodded in response. Slashman, still focused on his dishes, asked, "Well, what can I do for you exactly? The meal doesn't start for another hour."
"This little boy has a very empty stomach; can you make him breakfast?" Saloma intervened.
Slashman nodded and quickly began working on each ingredient. The young boy watched Saloma while the Navi cooked, his face filled with curiosity and many questions in his head.
"Tell me, Saloma-san, where exactly are we? What is this village and who is your leader...?"
Saloma tensed slightly and a bead of sweat rolled down her forehead, indicating her discomfort. "You really don't know what we are?"
Netto shook his head, intrigued and impatient to learn more about this strange community. "I guess I'll tell you later..." the same woman replied.
Before he could respond, the green Navi had handed him a bowl of soup with a plate of fish and rice, which made him groan with happiness. "Wow, thank you!" he exclaimed. He picked up his chopsticks and tasted a piece of fish. "My first real breakfast in days! Thank you for this meal!"
The little boy ate voraciously, happy to fill his stomach. Saloma was delighted to see that he enjoyed the meal so much. Once he was satisfied, Netto turned to the Navi chef Slashman to compliment him. "You're a really good cook!" he said.
But Slashman didn't seem too affected by the compliment. "It's a meal I'm used to making," he simply replied.
"My Navi—his name is Rockman—used to watch cooking videos!" Netto announced between bites. "I just discovered it not long ago, you two could get along!"
Saloma stopped smiling and focused on this somewhat strange information. She rested her arm on the counter, showing her interest.
"Has your Navi ever cooked before?" she asked.
He slowly shook his head. "No, never, but I'm sure he'd love to learn!" he replied with enthusiasm.
"Why isn't he with us then?" Slashman asked in turn, looking at him with indifference.
Netto froze and Saloma grimaced. He lowered his chopsticks and looked at his meal.
"He's...outside. He didn't want to come in," he admitted, trying to sound convincing.
Slashman remained silent, focusing on his task. Netto continued to eat quietly, lulled by the quietness of the room. Suddenly, a panicked voice interrupted the calm of the room.
"Where is Paxi-san?!" a young woman screamed, looking totally panicked.
Saloma turned around, alerted by the tone of the voice. She noticed the young woman in a state of panic and the three friends went on alert.
"What's going on?" Saloma asked, approaching the young woman.
"There's a strange boy who arrived in the village! He's heading straight for the restaurant!" she exclaimed, gasping for breath.
Slashman moved closer to quickly go outside upon hearing this, and Saloma also followed, her face becoming more serious. Netto, too, was curious and followed the green-haired woman, knowing he would find the answers he was looking for. Approaching a large gathering of people, they saw several TVs displaying scenes from outside, each monitoring people's activities. One of the screens showed a boy sitting at a counter in a restaurant and Netto could tell he was the same original age as him, if not older. He had never met this boy before, but he felt there was something suspicious about him. The whispers around him confirmed this suspicion as people wondered where the boy came from and what he was doing.
"Oh, Paxi-san!" he heard as he turned around.
The woman with knives in her hair approached the TV showing the boy, and for the first time Slashman noticed a certain expression on her face.
"Paxi, can I go in your place?" he offered.
But she raised her arm and did not take her eyes off the TV.
"No. You will stay in my shadow, I will go."
Slashman nodded and then she headed off in one direction, followed by her Navi. As she disappeared from their field of vision, every person, including Netto, refocused on the TV screen. Paxi then advanced, having climbed up to the kitchen of the outdoor restaurant. She caught sight of the strange boy while staying hidden in a corner. He was sitting on the side, his arm resting on the counter and a sarcastic smile on his face. With his curly blue hair and purple outfit, he looked rather sinister. She frowned, not letting this preteen intimidate her. She walked towards him, staying behind the counter.
"We don't serve alcohol to minors, I'd advise you to leave." She said with a stern tone while heading towards the glasses near her sink.
"Oh..." the boy replied, looking at her from the corner of his eye, "I'm not here to order alcohol. Actually, I would have preferred grape juice. Can you give me one, please?"
Without a word, Paxi grabbed a glass and took out a violet bottle. She poured the liquid into the glass, served it to the boy, and stood there, impassive. The boy, fascinated, watched the purple liquid filling the glass. He lifted the glass and examined it from every angle.
"Did you know that grape juice is like wine?" he suddenly said, breaking the silence. "It's just sweeter and without the alcohol so that kids can enjoy it. That way, everyone can have some…"
Paxi didn't reply, knowing he was going on a monologue. She let him talk as he continued to gaze at the liquid in his glass.
"Yet, it is said that wine is the blood of the Son of God." The woman raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the turn of the conversation. The boy continued, still focused on his glass, "The Son of God, with his blood, proves to us that he is not eternal like his father; that he is just a mortal like us."
Paxi felt a twinge of annoyance at his words. But she remained silent, listening to the rest of the story.
"So to cheat death, he found a stratagem," the boy continued, an enigmatic smile on his lips. "That no one should forget him and live through each one of us." Paxi furrowed her brows, not understanding where he was going with this. But the same boy seemed to guess her perplexity and paused, looking up at her.
"Never has the Son of God been more like the Son of Death," he finally concluded, a vicious smile on his lips.
Paxi arched an eyebrow, visibly annoyed by the boy's remark. "Where are you going with this?" she asked in a dry, impatient tone.
The boy, aware of Paxi's hostile attitude, adjusted himself on his seat and placed his glass on the counter before responding. "What I'm trying to say is that no one really dies," he explained in an oddly calm tone. "As long as a part of us lives on in memories, or an object linked to us traverses time, we will always be there."
Paxi furrowed her brows even more, increasingly puzzled by what the boy was saying. "But it's not the same for a Navi," he retorted. "When it's deleted, its data can be backed up somewhere. But if those backups are also deleted, the Navi will die for good."
"Yet...you just said that with memory, no one really dies. As long as they have Navis or an operator who remembers them..." Paxi interjected, concerned by this conversation.
"That's true..." the boy acquiesced. "But we can modify other Navis and erase their memories. If only an operator remembers a Navi, then when they die, no one will remember them. They'll disappear completely."
He caressed the glass with his fingertips, slowly spinning it between his hands. "That's the solution: for someone to die forever, all you have to do is forget them," he said in a detached tone. Paxi couldn't help but clench her fists on either side of her body, annoyed at what she was hearing. Who was this sinister individual and what did he mean by that?
"Who are you exactly?" she asked in a harsh tone.
He tilted his head slightly to the side, a similarly sly smile stretching across his lips. "I'm called many names, but for a woman like you, I'll allow you to call me Kirisaki," he replied in a smooth voice.
She remained silent for a moment, letting his name resonate in her head. She bit the inside of her lip as she understood the meaning of his name.
"And what do you want by coming here, Kirisaki?" she asked again, trying to keep her emotions in check.
The boy allowed himself to finish his drink, letting out a sound from his mouth before noisily placing it back on the wooden countertop. "I'm looking for a child," he declared bluntly.
Paxi looked at him harshly. Below them, in front of the TVs, Netto shuddered, listening attentively to their conversation. He took a few steps back, his heart racing. He thought he was talking about him. He lowered his head, wondering why he would be after him... Unless he was related to... Saloma looked at him, troubled, and got down to his level, wanting to reassure him.
"A child?" Paxi repeated.
Kirisaki's sly smile widened. "In a way," he replied. "Let's say he could be a child, but he's not really one anymore. We could say he's rotten...rather deformed."
The voices in the hallway fell silent, and everyone seemed to be hanging on Kirisaki's words. Netto finally understood. In a sense, he was relieved that it wasn't about him.
"Yeah..." the boy began again, his voice weaker. "He's not really a child anymore, just a horror."
"What do you want to do with this child?" Paxi asked, her anger starting to boil.
Kirisaki began to chuckle. "I may not answer that; my job is only to act and not talk. But with the pride I have, I wouldn't lie to you if I said I simply want to kill him."
Netto looked at the boy in disgust, unable to believe what he was hearing. Paxi was in the same situation and her eyes narrowed in anger.
"You want to...kill a child?" she asked incredulously.
Kirisaki nodded with an impassive expression. "I could also bring him back, but killing him would be quicker. I'm just doing him a favor; this creature is not meant to live among us."
Paxi clenched her fists, unable to contain her anger. With a swift gesture, she struck the countertop as a threat. But the boy was not impressed.
"You dare to come before me, a mother, and say that you're going to kill a child who did nothing wrong?" Her arm trembled, her eyes vibrating, hidden under her bangs.
Kirisaki started to laugh again, indifferent to Paxi's growing fury. "I'm just obeying Death itself. If it wants his life, I have to come and get him."
She was boiling with anger, her hands shaking and her eyes glowing with a malicious light. With a sudden gesture, Paxi grabbed the butcher knife she kept carefully behind her back and quickly approached the boy in front of her with it at his throat.
"I don't care about your morals or your vision, but I would kindly ask you to leave quickly," she spat with a venomous voice.
Despite the knife threatening his life, Kirisaki continued to smile. However, he lowered his gaze, fixing on something in particular. Then, in a calm and composed tone, he spoke, "Yet, if I were you...I would keep my head on my shoulders, rather than letting my emotions run wild."
As she gritted her teeth, both of them lowered their heads, looking at the boy's hand. The woman then saw that he had drawn a small dagger and held it in place under his chest. Concentrating all her attention on this threatening blade, she could feel the beginning of a point against her skin. Paxi silently growled as she felt the tension rise and lowered the butcher knife. Kirisaki did the same with his dagger, his smile triumphant as the woman breathed heavily.
"I know the child must be somewhere around here. But if you want us to let you do your activities, then it's better for you to give us the child." Getting up from his seat, he headed decisively towards the exit. "You rebels have no sense of discretion," he exclaimed, slamming the door behind him.
Paxi remained frozen, shocked by the boy's words. Slashman came out of hiding to join her, making sure she was okay. She lowered her head to notice some drops of blood on her t-shirt and sighed. He had only left her with a scratch but it annoyed her. She placed her fist against the edge of the counter and grimaced, almost exhausted, unaware that underneath, the panic was total.
To be Continued…
AN: You see, Kirisaki is one of the most potential character, sad in the game he is just a simple NPC that doesn't really impact in the story, and in the anime they just turned him in an Enzan-like (at the point that even the characters says it). I do appreciate Paxi, she is really nice in the anime, I made her a little bit cold here cause of what happened recently, she had enough of this shit, and finally here is Saloma, my favorite from the NetSavior trio! Saloma was the most normal one and fitted more to this role here, if it was Masa or Miyuki, it wouldn't work at all lol. And finally the introduction of the big piece of this story... the deformed children.
Remember that I have a Discord server, you can always DM me to come!