AN: Hello everyone! New chapter!
We are entering a new arc and this one will be the last one of this part. After that, we will enter the second part of this story. This arc is the longest one and mostly chill, it didn't take the same formula as all the other chapters I used to write, still it's a really important arc for one character. Also we will have some OCs, not that they will be really significant, but they will appear only in this arc and are really important for Meiru, see them as support characters!
(This is also my longest chapter hehe)
Chapter 14: I never thought she smelled so good
Saito had barely slept a wink that night; his stress was palpable. Thinking back to the previous day, he wondered if those people would find them now that they had become a potential target. He really didn't need this right now. His headache was unbearable. He turned his head to the little boy on the other side of the futon. No noise came out of his mouth, only moans and coughs. Saito got up and carefully placed the blanket over the child, noticing that he was still damp, but this time with sweat. He tried to wipe his forehead with a towel and noticed his bright red cheeks. He was really sick. The previous day had been the worst of his life, filled with pain and fear that Netto would ultimately succumb. For Saito, it was worse than getting shot in the chest.
He looked at the closed window. The rain had stopped, and in the distance he could see the sky clearing up. It was time for him to leave. Saito took one last look at the young child in front of him. He wiped his cheek with his thumb and brought his face close to his ear.
"I'll come back tonight, I promise," he whispered softly, although Netto didn't open his eyes.
He finally got up and silently left the room, holding his shoes in his hand. He carefully crossed the lower room, avoiding paying attention to the details around him. Saito sighed before opening the door and leaving. He wondered how he would manage to come back as Rockman if Netto stayed here. That's when he noticed that their room had a small balcony. Maybe he could go through there and reassure Netto without being spotted. He would have to stay outside like a stray dog, watching his master inside, but he didn't care. He took a direction without looking back, making sure not to run into anyone on his way.
Netto groaned, feeling pain throughout his body, but he was relieved to be in a safe bed. He heard noises, including the sound of a door opening.
"Eh?" exclaimed a disturbed voice. "He's gone?!"
Netto twisted his mouth, his pain becoming more intense. He tried to open his eyes, but everything was blurry and he quickly closed his eyelids.
"Can I see him?" Another voice rang out, much younger this time.
"No, no, Akane-chan!" the older voice retorted. "You stay outside!"
He couldn't understand what was going on, his pain was too intense for him to focus on the voices he heard. He groaned again, feeling pain throughout his body.
"Mama..." he murmured as he continued to suffer.
He sensed a benevolent presence approaching him and sat next to him. He felt a hand rest on his face.
"Oh... He's too hot..." he heard.
"Mama..." he groaned again.
Netto felt a wet towel applied to his forehead and cheeks, bringing some coolness to his skin. He slowly opened his eyes, his vision still blurry, but he managed to distinguish a silhouette.
"Mama?" he murmured, still confused.
Netto slowly opened his eyes and his blurred vision began to clear up, allowing him to discern the silhouette of the person sitting next to him. He noticed brown eyes, and under the light, the person's brown hair seemed to have pinkish highlights.
The child gradually regained consciousness and realized that Meiru was leaning over him, a tender smile on her lips. The girl's long hair had disturbed him a little, but he quickly realized that she was the same person he knew. As his cheeks began to redden, Netto tried to sit up and speak, but fatigue and a sore throat prevented him from doing so. Meiru noticed his condition and stopped wiping his forehead, gently placing a hand on his forehead.
"Are you okay? Hey!" she exclaimed as Netto slowly tried to lift his head.
"I..." his voice was very weak, and he cleared his throat several times. "I hurt... I'm thirsty... I'm hungry..."
Meiru made a noise with her mouth as she wiped his forehead, removing the hair that covered his eyes.
"I'll get you something to drink and bring you breakfast."
She got up, making sure he stayed lying down, and left the room, closing the door behind her. Behind the door, he heard her voice speaking to someone else, telling them not to come in. He did his best to sit up, feeling a weight on his chest and something stuck in his throat that he tried to cough up. Netto coughed several times, his forehead becoming hot. He then felt a presence nearby, and as he raised his head, he saw the door open with a head sticking out.
A child stood in front of him, reminding him of the boy he had met during his encounter with Saloma. It was a little girl, as young as he was. Her skin was a grayish-green and her hair, or what was left of it, covered the right front part of her head, hidden by black strands. She stared at him with one red eye, the other hidden behind a bandage. Netto noticed her hands gripping the door with long nails and twisted fingers. It took a moment before the situation seemed real to him, and he widened his eyes before finding the strength to stand up and back away against the wall despite the pain in his chest.
When she noticed him, the girl opened the door a bit more, a childlike smile on her face. Netto could then see that she was wearing some sort of pale pink nightgown and holding a stuffed animal that looked like a rabbit, but its left arm had been torn off. She approached him, her steps as silent as a cat's, while the boy recoiled, trying to sink into the wall. He gritted his teeth, unable to bear the sight of this girl with her shining red eye and her...deformed body.
Finally, she knelt in front of him, still with her mischievous smile. "What's your name?" she asked in a very young voice.
Netto didn't answer, his throat was bitterly itchy and his chest almost screaming in pain. He couldn't calm down, and another person entered the room. This time it was a boy, a little older than the girl but younger than Meiru. He had the same appearance as the young girl, having grayish-green skin and a bright red face. He was half-bald, with black hair and shining red eyes. Netto was breathless at the sight of him.
The strange boy almost screamed, "Akane! You must not come in! Leave him alone!" He approached the little girl, trying to take her in his arms to keep her away from Netto.
"But..."
A new wave of discomfort washed over Netto as he noticed a second boy, slightly younger than the first, observing the scene from afar. His skin was a reddish-gray, similar to the boy he had met with the rebels. The boy stood by the door, his fingers in his mouth, hesitating to enter the room.
"Yusaku...he's like us!" exclaimed the little girl, who was still being held by the older boy as he tried to get her out of the room.
"What are you talking about?" Yusaku asked, his eyes blinking.
He observed the boy who seemed to be terrified by the presence of the other children, an understandable reaction given their strange appearance. Suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching quickly and heading towards the door. It was at that moment that they saw Meiru arrive holding a tray in her hands. She opened her eyes wide when she discovered the children in the room.
Meiru approached the children, shouting, "What are you doing here? I told you not to disturb him!" The boy who was holding the little girl backed away as Meiru put her tray on the floor and knelt beside Netto, trying to reassure him as he couldn't take his eyes off of what he was seeing.
"Hey." She gently reached out her hand, caressing his face to try and calm him down. Eventually, he slowly turned his head to look at her, but his expression did not change. "It's okay," she reassured him softly.
Netto didn't respond, but he gradually began to calm down. He felt his cheeks heat up again when Meiru's warm hand rested on one of them. She had never made such a gesture towards him before. She gently took his head and brought it close to her chest, comforting him with a hand on his back.
"Don't worry, they won't hurt you," she said in that reassuring voice, then she turned her head, squinting at the little girl in the other boy's arms who continued to smile. "They can be surprising at first, but they're very kind," she added in the same voice, even though her face was the opposite.
Netto's heart calmed down and his breathing returned to normal. He felt a certain shame as he remembered the child among the rebels, seeing the deformed limbs of the other children in front of him. He realized that his fear had simply been caused by their different physical appearance.
"They're..." He looked at Meiru. "Deformed?" he asked in a small voice and a look that spoke volumes.
Meiru did nothing but eventually nodded. "They're children like you, they're humans above all," she explained while gently stroking his head.
Netto looked again at the people present, and the taller boy let the little girl fall. She crawled closer to him, mouth wide open.
"He's like us!" she exclaimed while pointing her finger at the brown-haired boy.
Meiru blinked, then forced a laugh. "No, Akane-chan, he's not like you," she said, turning to the child who was looking at her with a strange expression.
"But he doesn't have a family," she added.
Netto gasped at these words. His eyes narrowed slowly and something rose in him, causing him pain. He clenched his hand against Meiru's fabric, who noticed and frowned at the little girl. "That wasn't nice, Akane-chan. You don't know him," she said firmly. "Apologize immediately."
Suddenly, the young girl lowered her eye, a little ashamed. She had just realized that she had made a mistake and that it could be serious. "Sorry," she murmured in a very small voice.
Meiru nodded her head and Netto eventually looked at her. She reassured him gently, "Akane-chan is just a little girl, probably younger than you. She didn't mean to do it," she said.
Netto didn't answer, but he felt strangely comforted by her. He wondered if he would have felt the same way if he were his true size.
"Meiru-chan..." Netto began, clasping his hands over his chest. "It hurts," he said.
Meiru almost jumped at hearing that and looked at the children with wide eyes before returning her attention to the young boy. "H-how...do you know my name?" she asked, surprised.
Netto tensed up again, realizing he may have made a mistake. He didn't answer, but he felt his throat itching and a needle-like sensation.
"I'll call a doctor this afternoon, we'll see what's wrong with you..." Meiru replied, rubbing her hand against Netto's back. She then turned to the children, trying to give them an explanation. "He arrived last night, his older brother was completely at a loss," she explained.
Netto blinked, surprised. "My...older brother?" he repeated.
Netto felt Meiru's gaze on him as she turned back to him. "Well...the boy who was with you? He left when I entered the room, I don't know why..." she said.
His heart began to beat faster as Netto lowered his eyes. "Saito...is not my brother," he admitted without looking elsewhere.
"Eh? But he introduced himself as such? Besides, you have a family resemblance..." Meiru was surprised.
"He's not my brother!" Netto repeated loudly, making Meiru's head recoil. Even the boy at the door was scared by his voice. He cleared his throat several times and put his hands on his neck. "Thirsty..."
Meiru didn't waste a minute, she took the glass of water and handed it to Netto. He took it and swallowed it quickly. Even if it didn't help him feel better, it eased his throat.
"Your... The boy who brought you here; you were in bad shape and since you were both outside in the pouring rain..." began Meiru, looking at the spot where the other boy must have been sleeping. If that boy had abandoned this child, she didn't know what anger she would feel towards him. "I hope...he comes back," she finally said.
"He'll come back," murmured Netto between sips. "He always does..."
"Why does he do it when you're sick?" asked Meiru, curious.
He shrugged, annoyed by the question. The pink-haired girl sighed and brought the food tray closer to him.
"Here, you have breakfast just for yourself," she said, smiling.
The child looked at the tray, won over by a breakfast he hadn't eaten for days, and here he was getting it now. He took his chopsticks, ate the rice and slipped the fried tofu and salmon into his mouth.
"It's good," he said, even though he had a hard time swallowing, then started drinking again to help himself.
"Be careful, you're eating too fast!" Meiru said, a little panicked.
But he started coughing again, his chest worsening in pain, and his mouth smoking from the heat.
"I..." he began to say.
"It's okay if you can't eat...at least eat the soup, it will go down better," Meiru said, offering him the bowl of soup.
Netto nodded and took the spoon to slowly drink the bowl of soup. The young girl, Akane, watched him with some curiosity. She approached him even more as he noticed her and leaned back against Meiru.
"What's your name?" she asked with a small smile.
Meiru tilted her head, the child already knew her name. However, neither she nor anyone else knew the name of this child or the other boy who had left them. Softly, Netto looked at the little girl and then at Meiru, who was looking at him with confusion. He really expected the older girl to say his name to introduce him...but there was no sound.
"...Netto..." he said in a tiny voice with a tinge of sadness.
With a sparkling smile, Akane quickly stood up and introduced herself, "I'm Akane!" She then pointed to the boy behind her. "He's Yusaku! He's the tallest!" Then she pointed to the other boy who was hiding behind the door. "And over there is Sota! He's afraid of everything!"
Yusaku waved to greet Netto. He found him quite friendly. As for the other boy hiding behind the door, he seemed to match the description she had given of him: shy and not inclined to approach.
Akane continued her introduction. "Oh, and there's also Kohaku, but he's downstairs! And then there's Shinobu, but she has to stay in bed!" she said in her childish voice. She went around the group and then approached Meiru to hug her from behind. "And this is Meiru-Onee-chan!" she added.
So there were many people in this house, and Meiru was surrounded by children. But not just any children, for these three children were deformed just like the one with the rebels. Netto moved away from Meiru, lowering his eyes to his bowl of soup, which he finished. He sighed while the girl remained beside him, looking at him with such kindness that he had rarely encountered until now. His cheeks reddened once again. Then she approached him and brought her head close to his. At first Netto was taken aback, but he blushed even more when she pulled back, embarrassed, looking at him.
"I think you're going to take a good bath too!" Meiru declared with a shy smile.
Hearing this, Netto bit his lip, it was a situation he hadn't imagined: having his childhood friend telling him to take a bath. "But... Meiru-chan..." he tried to reply, uncertain of what to say next.
This time, Meiru squinted her eyes as she used to do, which gave the child a shiver down his spine. "Chan?" she repeated in an inquisitive tone.
Netto felt very bad. It was true, he was no longer the older boy now. From the girl's point of view, he was the younger of the two, and half her age. His face became increasingly red, and the boy felt like he was turning into some sort of tomato.
"O... Onee-chan..." he said with great difficulty, his pride taking a hit. "I showered three days ago..." he tried to find an excuse.
But Meiru frowned even more, which didn't help his condition. Once breakfast was over, she quickly took him to the bathroom, which he dragged his feet towards. The bathroom was small, and the girl turned on the water in the bathtub, trying to adjust the temperature for the child. She turned to him.
"Well, now undress!" she almost ordered.
Netto recoiled, his cheeks even redder than they already were.
"I..." he began to say.
"It's going to be complicated if I want to wash you," she remarked.
Netto jumped. "I know how to take care of myself! I can wash myself like a big boy!" he almost shouted, held back by his frustration.
Meiru recoiled her head while blinking her eyes, then sighed. "Alright, I trust you on that," she said. She turned around and turned off the taps when the bathtub was full. "I'll leave you alone for a while, and make sure to clean your toes properly! I'll prepare new clothes for you." She finally left the bathroom, leaving him alone. "Akane-chan! Don't stay in front of the door, go downstairs!" he heard from the other side.
Netto sighed, wondering why everything had to be so complicated. As he undressed and slipped into the bath, his thoughts drifted to Meiru. She was different, more mature than usual, even though she was still the same age. It was strange, but he couldn't deny that it made her even more admirable. He couldn't help but think of all the children she took care of, who were potentially targets for bloodthirsty killers like the one they had recently encountered, or even Chirol and Miyabi. Netto shook his head, telling himself that these criminals would never find them here. But he also remembered the case with Variety and the prosecutor who was now after Rockman. It had all become so complicated, and he wondered what they had gotten themselves into.
Netto had finally finished his bath, but he was still a bit stressed by his thoughts. He took the towel and dried himself off, then heard the door open again. He blushed again when he saw Meiru sticking her head into the room. He crouched down, facing away, while still keeping the towel on himself.
"Oh, sorry! I thought you were finished! I'm just dropping off your new clothes, and I'll clean the ones you took off," she said as she reached her arm into the bathroom.
She laid a pile of clothes for the little boy and quickly took the ones he had removed to clean them. She closed the bathroom door, leaving Netto alone once again. He slowly stood up and turned to the door, still feeling a bit embarrassed. Netto wasn't particularly private in general, but he was a little shy when it came to showing himself in front of a girl, especially Meiru.
The boy finished drying himself off and quickly put on the clothes Meiru had left him, a simple t-shirt and shorts with a small jacket. He stepped out of the bathroom and came face to face with the long-haired girl who was waiting for him outside.
"Well, are you feeling better now?" she asked for the first time, "Do you want to rest, or do you want me to show you around the house?"
Even though he still felt heavy, he couldn't imagine falling asleep in a house that he didn't really know. He nodded in response to her proposal, but when she reached out her hand, he instinctively recoiled. Meiru stopped smiling, a little surprised by his reaction. Netto felt bad being treated like a child by his childhood friend, and the fact that she wanted to take his hand didn't help.
"Well... You're the complete opposite of Sota-kun, who can be really clingy sometimes..." She commented, looking at him. "Well... Netto-chan..."
Netto flinched and grimaced upon hearing that.
"Huh? You don't like that honorific? Okay, Netto-kun."
"No! I don't want any from you!" He quickly replied, almost annoyed.
She blinked, finding the child strange for a moment. "Well..." She turned around in the hallway and waved to him. "Come on, I'll show you the rooms."
Meiru walked past several doors, then pointed out the room where he was going to sleep, which was originally an office and a guest room. She also showed him the door to the other children's room, but couldn't show him the inside because one of them was sleeping. Finally, Meiru showed him her own room, explaining that if he needed anything during the night, he should knock on this door.
Once they had finished visiting the rooms, they went downstairs and directly into the dining room. Netto noticed two children sitting at a low table on cushions on the floor, facing an open kitchen. One of the children was the gray-red-skinned boy who had hidden behind the door earlier while the other child was like him, but completely bald. Next to the latter was a crutch and one of his legs, hidden under the table, was clearly in bad shape.
"That's him..." murmured...Sota if that was his name, to the other boy, who glanced at him without really flinching.
Meiru approached them with a smile, and Netto followed her slowly to the table. "Kohaku, this is the little boy who arrived last night. Say hello!" she said to Kohaku.
The boy, Kohaku, looked at Netto for a moment, then silently refocused on his drawing. "Hello..." he said without even looking at him.
Kohaku's behavior made Netto uncomfortable, and he bitterly remembered two people he had known in the past, one represented by red and the other from Sharo. He sighed heavily, which caught Meiru's attention.
"Sorry, Kohaku isn't very sociable, but I'm sure you'll get along eventually!" she said, trying to reassure him.
Netto carefully observed the other children in the room, passing by Kohaku, who didn't seem interested in his presence; Sota, who looked at him timidly; Akane, who held a cushion against her; and Yusaku, who watched television. Meanwhile, he also examined the house, which seemed very different from the Meiru's house he knew. He noticed that the house was almost empty with very few pieces of furniture, as if it was being furnished or they were in the middle of moving. What worried him most was that she hadn't mentioned her parents, and they didn't even have a room.
But most importantly, where was Roll?
Was Meiru still her operator in this world? He wondered if it made sense, but he had to know. However, he had forgotten that they weren't supposed to know each other and that his question might seem strange. Meiru turned to him, noticing that he was starting to get his bearings.
"What do you want to do now? Do you want to play a game? Watch TV? Or take a nap?" she asked him.
Netto felt his throat knot again and he put his hand over it. "I'm thirsty," he finally murmured.
Without a word, Meiru headed to the kitchen and took a glass, which she filled with fresh water before giving it to him. He drank noisily, then sat down at the low table opposite the two boys. She sat next to him, but he felt awkward. Kohaku noticed his reaction and looked at him closely. Netto lowered his eyes and wondered where he was exactly, how he had ended up there, and why Meiru was living in this house.
"What city are we in?" he asked in a small voice.
"We're in Gohaya! A small countryside town," Meiru replied.
Netto looked up, surprised. "And where is that?"
The boy who was drawing frowned upon hearing the question. "Do you want me to show you a map?" Meiru asked this time with a caring voice. Netto nodded silently and watched as the girl got up to search through the drawers of her only furniture. Finally, she came back with a large map of Japan that she laid on the table. The two boys leaned in to examine it, soon joined by little Akane who was in awe of the impressive size of the object. Meiru pointed to the southwest of the country, "We are here!" she declared, but this statement made the child grit his teeth. "Oh no... We went back!" He pointed to the last place where Saito had given him instructions, "We were supposed to go here!" Meiru was curious, as were the other children, except for Kohaku who didn't care about what was happening.
"Why do you want to go there?"
"I...have to meet someone." Netto hesitated to continue but sighed because he was facing Meiru, a girl he could never hide all his secrets from. He pointed in the direction of the north. "My friend and I have to go there!"
The child's declaration caused a gasp of surprise from Meiru. The other children continued to observe the scene with curiosity, but Kohaku frowned again at seeing the destination. "The Hokkaido region?! But it's dangerous there!" she exclaimed in a louder voice.
This remark piqued Akane's interest, who put her head in her hands, elbows on the table. "Why is it dangerous, Meiru-Onee-chan?"
"Well... From what I understand, that's where the Dimensional Area Generator is located, and it's where the Cybeasts were born. It's said that there is a much higher Beast Factor rate than the average. Many viruses are dangerous there, and above all, there will be many people with bad intentions..." she explained. She raised her head, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at the brown-haired child. "Why do you want to go there?" she asked with concern.
"Because my parents are waiting for me there!" announced Netto firmly.
"Hm... That's probably the worst way to get rid of your children," Kohaku suddenly commented without even looking at the child. This remark made Meiru squint while Netto began to get angry.
"What are you saying?!" he exclaimed, indignant.
Kohaku continued, unperturbed, "Who would wait for their children in the Hokkaido region? No one, unless it's to get rid of them."
Netto's anger boiled up in response to Kohaku's careless reply. "I know I'll come back home once I'm there! I know better than anyone!" he snapped.
But Kohaku just shrugged. "We'll see. And besides, followers of Falzar or Gregar could get their hands on you, or worse, you could be killed by Beast Viruses," he added in a calm and cold tone.
Netto was about to shout, but Meiru cut him off well before he could do so. "Kohaku! That's enough!" she exclaimed firmly.
Despite this, Netto tried to respond, but was interrupted by coughing fits that Meiru gave him some pats on the back to help him through. Once the coughing subsided, he looked up at the boy who was still teasing him, even though Sota was looking at him in a very strange way and Akane was playing her cards.
"You don't know...my story..." Netto said while rubbing his throat repeatedly.
"And I don't want to know," the other boy retorted disdainfully.
Netto was so furious that he almost slammed his hands on the table, but Meiru managed to stop him before he did. "Stop it, Kohaku! If you can't behave properly, you'll stay in the room!" she reacted firmly.
Kohaku simply rolled his eyes in response, which only infuriated Netto even more. Meiru turned him towards her and reassured him, "Don't listen to him, Netto. The best weapon is ignorance." She offered him a comforting smile, "Now, where does it hurt?"
Netto gradually calmed down and just opened his mouth, indicating that the back of his throat was sore. Meiru looked inside and pulled back with a grimace.
"Well...it looks white... We'll see what the doctor says," she said before getting up and heading to the kitchen. "I'll make you some tea with honey, it'll make you feel better."
Netto nodded and Akane looked at him gently, even though it didn't bother him. Although Kohaku continued his drawing, the brown-haired boy frowned, he definitely didn't like this boy.
Time had passed and Netto was still drinking tea with honey, the only thing Meiru had to soothe his throat before the doctor's intervention. Sometimes his head would spin, sometimes not, but the now older girl had offered him several times to go to her room, which he had refused. He wanted to stay with Meiru, he didn't want to feel alone.
The presence of his childhood friend comforted him greatly. Even if she wasn't the same person, he felt like he was home. Her hair was longer, and she was very different, but Netto admitted she was much cuter. The other children seemed scary at first, but it wasn't their fault. Only Kohaku annoyed him. Akane was just a little girl acting like any other her age. Sota was a bit fearful but curious about him, although he was always sticking close to Meiru. Yusaku was the oldest, nine years old, and a great help to the young girl.
The absence of the pink Navi had a disturbing effect on him. Netto didn't hold Roll in his heart, the two bickered whenever they communicated, but the fact that she wasn't there made him realize that nothing was the same. Nothing was the same in this world anyway.
A piercing scream, like that of a baby, pulled Netto out of his thoughts. Everyone in the room was alerted, and Meiru rushed to the kitchen as if it were an alarm to go cook.
"Yusaku, go comfort her, I'll prepare her bottle," she called, preparing her ingredients.
The boy nodded and went upstairs. Netto began to panic, he slowly got up and went to see the young girl, his eyes reflecting all the questions he had in mind.
"Don't worry, Netto, it's nothing..." Meiru tried to reassure him as she chopped several vegetables to put in a blender.
Netto didn't respond, and Akane approached him, her hands behind her back with a rather thick smile. "It's Shinobu! When it's time to eat, she screams!" she explained in her own way.
Netto remembered that they had talked about a fifth child, but he had no idea it could be...a baby? Wasn't it strange that Meiru was preparing a bottle of pureed vegetables with a few slices of meat inside? All of this was a mystery. When the pink-haired girl had finished, she took the bottle and climbed the stairs, followed by Akane and Sota. Only Kohaku didn't move from his place—being physically disabled, he wasn't going to follow them. Not wanting to be alone with him, Netto frowned and followed everyone else to arrive in the children's room.
He saw that Meiru was sitting by the bedside of a bed, the only piece of furniture in the room. Futons littered the floor. And the person he saw was...beyond the other children he had seen. It was a little girl, if he understood correctly, and she seemed to be in the same state as the child he had met the other day. Like the other children, she had black hair, a large part of her head was bald, and her skin was the same color as Yusaku and Akane. Her eyes were bulging, giving the impression that they could fall at any moment. However, what was most frightening was her mouth, or rather her jaw. It was wide open, part of her cheek seemed shredded and broken. The little girl was breathing loudly through her mouth, without looking at any fixed point. Her eyes seemed to be moving in all directions.
Netto's nerves paralyzed his whole body. A look of horror took hold of him. He was terribly afraid, but above all, he felt a throbbing pain. He was horrified by what he saw and wondered what could have happened to this little girl. He leaned against the door, watching Meiru try to feed her with the bottle. Suddenly, the girl's eyes moved, fixing on him all at once. It made him step back, as if he had been struck by an arrow in the heart. Meiru noticed her gaze and, instead of being concerned, she simply laughed.
"Don't worry, we have a simple guest," she spoke in a soft voice. She adjusted the little girl's head to a better position so she could easily drink from the bottle. "I added a bit of ham to give it some flavor, you should like it," she added.
The little girl in Meiru's arms began to emit small, rather calm but high-pitched moans. It was not unpleasant to hear, one could understand that she was relaxed. These sounds had the effect of calming Netto's fear, who began to understand the situation. He began playing with his fingers to reassure himself.
"Shinobu is still in bed..." explained Akane next to him, still in a very childish voice. "She can't get out of bed because she can't walk... But she's very kind and she always listens to us!" The little girl finally turned her head towards Netto, her face lighting up with joy. "If you have a problem, go talk to her!" she added.
Netto nodded awkwardly in response to Akane's comment, but he understood what she meant. He continued to observe Shinobu, who ate like a real baby. Finally, he lowered his eyes, cursing this world that could bring children to such a state.
It was mealtime, and Meiru had prepared an unappetizing meal consisting of mashed potatoes with a little ham and steamed vegetables in order to facilitate Netto's digestion. As he touched his plate limply, Netto thought again of the little girl, and especially of the other children. He had understood that they had a name, "deformed children," but he did not yet understand why they had undergone such transformations. When he had been with the rebels, he had not had time to learn more about this subject, and had simply understood that even if they returned to normal, the physical damage would be permanent.
"I was wondering..." began Netto, lifting his eyes from his plate, spoon in hand.
Meiru looked at him while the other children, except for Akane who was fascinated by her meal, also watched him.
"Yes?" Netto bit his lip and scanned the faces of everyone present before finally settling on Meiru. "How did you end up like this?"
Netto's question was so direct that Meiru gasped, and the other children had varied reactions. Kohaku frowned while Sota widened his eyes in fear. Only Akane lifted her head from her plate, a big smile on her face, and raised her fork. "I met candy vendors who said they would give us candy if we went into their truck!" she exclaimed.
"That's enough." Meiru's firm voice took over. "I'm sorry, Netto, but I'd rather not talk about it, especially at the table. It's not something you need to know."
Netto silently swallowed his saliva, realizing that he wouldn't be able to get an answer today. After all, they had just met, and it was normal that they didn't feel obligated to explain their past immediately. But Akane's explanation piqued his curiosity. Although she distorted part of the truth, it could give him clues.
"You know..." began Akane, a little calmer. "Before, there were six of us! There was a boy named Chisao with us! He was very funny!"
"Akane-chan..." Meiru began.
Netto's eyes widened at Akane's words. The name Chisao was not unknown to him, but he couldn't say for sure that this person was the one he knew.
"But since then..." the little girl continued, "he left us. Now, he sleeps under the apple tree in the garden!"
"Akane-chan! That's enough!" intervened Meiru.
Netto almost choked on the water he was trying to drink. Did he understand correctly? Could this Chisao be the same person he knew? It was a mere coincidence, he thought, although his heart was pounding in his chest.
"I miss him... I liked his little 'chu' at the end of his sentences..." Akane continued in a very weak voice that Netto heard clearly.
Netto's heart broke upon hearing Akane's words. Someone he knew from this world...was no more. He felt a similar feeling to the one he had when he learned that Barrel and Colonel had disappeared forever in this world. However, a part of him tried to reassure himself by repeating that the Chisao he knew was still there, helping his older brother in the curry restaurant. But what about Dekao in this world? How did they get separated? Netto shook his head to push away all the questions that haunted him. He wanted to forget them, he had to forget them.
All his reactions were observed by the same girl who had noticed his behavior from the beginning. She could only sigh sadly for him.
When they finished, Netto felt cold and tired while Meiru brought the dishes to the kitchen. She noticed his condition and gently asked him to go to his room. Despite his initial protest, the young girl insisted, so he went up to his room without saying a word. A few seconds later, she joined him. Once in his room, the boy lay down on his futon. Meiru closed the curtains, leaving him in the dark. She approached him, knelt in front of him as he lay down, and placed the back of her hand against his forehead. This action made him tremble.
Meiru withdrew her hand, noticing that Netto was red, but she did not realize that he was blushing for another reason. "Hm, you're quite warm," she commented. "The doctor will be here soon, I'll have to wake you up, so don't be difficult if I do," she added.
Netto nodded heavily. He knew Meiru's cold side, he knew she could easily calm him down, and he did not want to experience that method. She tucked him in gently, making sure he was comfortable. But he startled when he realized something important. "My bandana!" he exclaimed, almost sitting up.
Meiru forced him to stay lying down. "I'll find it for you," her voice was reassuring.
Meiru stood up and went to his bag, where she quickly found a large blue cloth with a Navi emblem on it. She handed it to Netto with a smile, and he took the square of cloth, holding it against his face as if it were a comforting stuffed toy. Meiru then headed towards the door.
"See you later," she whispered before closing the door behind her.
Netto turned over in his bed several times, still holding onto the cloth, and then...he finally burst into tears. The fatigue, the illness, the side effect of being a six-year-old; it was probably the reason why he couldn't hold back anymore. Learning about the death of a little boy whom he had grown close to due to the time he had spent taking care of him while his brother was absent had been a shock to him. He had felt a blow to his stomach. In addition, all these deformed children whose reason for their condition seemed unhealthy only added to the weight of his sadness. He also thought about Shinobu and the suffering she must have endured, and the suffering she was probably still enduring today.
This world was...cruel.
The doctor had arrived and Meiru had hidden the other children in their room so that he wouldn't see them. The man was focused on Netto, using a tongue blade to examine the inside of his throat, which made him uncomfortable. Then, he examined his ears, followed by his eyes. The last time the boy had been examined in this way was during a medical check-up at SciLabs. It should be said that he rarely got sick since he got Rockman. Although the doctor's examination of his body—including his chest to check his pulse—did not bother him, Meiru being there, watching them, did. Like during his bath, he felt a little shy in her presence.
The man continued to look into the child's throat despite this little awkward moment. Although he seemed cold, he eventually understood and finally released Netto before packing his things into his bag. Meiru approached him, a little worried.
"So...?"
"Strep throat!" he declared, which made the young girl jump. "He'll have to stay at home for the duration of his treatment."
He took a sheet of paper and began to write. After finishing, he handed the paper to Meiru who read it in one go. "He will need to be on medication for a week."
"It's...an antibiotic..." she understood.
"Exactly," he replied. "Take good care of him." He got up, put his things in order, and took his bag to go down to the exit of the house. "Make sure he doesn't go out and that he also eats food that is not difficult to swallow."
Meiru nodded as she watched the man leave, but he turned around before leaving, "And if his fever goes up, you can give him acetaminophen," he added before finally leaving the house. She bid him farewell and closed the door behind him. The young girl sighed, knowing that she was going to have a child under her roof for longer than expected.
Then the other children came down to join her. "So?" Yusaku asked directly.
"Strep throat," she explained. She went upstairs, followed by two of the children, and arrived in Netto's room, who had not moved since the medical examination.
"I'll go get your medicine, so in the meantime, Yusaku will take care of the house," Meiru continued, pointing to the boy. Yusaku nodded. "If you need anything, ask him," she added, approaching softly. "But it's best for you to stay in bed and rest."
Netto weakly nodded at Meiru's recommendations, then she walked towards the window to close the curtains. "No! Please!" exclaimed Netto in a loud voice. "Don't close the curtains, I like having some sunlight."
She nodded and left the room, followed by the other children. She gave them other instructions, and of course, increased her confidence in the eldest of them all. Finally, Meiru left the house and locked the door, heading in a direction that could lead her to the village.
Netto sighed as he looked out the window. He was alone with children who were very different from him. The boy eventually yawned and fell onto the futon, although he didn't really feel like sleeping. He was bored and felt like he was wasting his time. Who knows, if he wasn't sick, he could have made it to Hokkaido. A noise coming from the window caught his attention. He turned around and saw a person he knew very well, which brought a smile to his face.
"Rockman!" he exclaimed weakly.
On the balcony, the wild Navi had placed his two hands on the glass, observing his operator calmly as he got up and approached him. Netto opened the window and Rockman slowly entered, crawling on all fours like an animal. The young boy knelt down, looking at his best friend, his face illuminated with joy at seeing him again. He tried to get closer to him, but was interrupted by a small growl coming from the Navi as the child tried to get closer. Netto froze, but that didn't stop him from being thrilled to see his friend again.
"Rockman... You look great!" Netto spoke, his voice joyful, but his friend didn't react immediately. He just carefully observed every detail around him, scrutinizing the closed door. "You know, with everything that happened to you yesterday, I was so scared... I'm really relieved that Saito saved you!" the same child continued.
Rockman watched Netto closely, but had no other reaction. After all he had been through the previous day, the young boy was relieved to see that his Navi was still alive. The child's eyes became slightly moist, and he discreetly wiped them before placing a hand on his throat.
"Rockman, I'm sick. I caught strep throat! I have to stay here for a week!" explained Netto, dropping to the ground and crossing his arms in a sullen manner. "We're losing so much time..."
Without realizing it, he felt a small tap on his back and turned around, surprised. Rockman had closed his eyes, and his mask had disappeared to reveal him yawning with his mouth wide open. He could feel that he was just as tired. Netto forced a smile and then understood.
"You're right," he said. "We should rest during this time."
After what Rockman had been through, he also deserved some rest. He had to see this as something beneficial and take advantage of a moment for themselves. They stayed still for a moment, Netto stretching his arms while they lay down, but they were interrupted by footsteps heading straight towards his room. Before he could react, the door opened quickly.
"Netto!" exclaimed Akane, abruptly entering the room without even waiting to be invited. She had something to tell him, but she stopped short when she saw the Navi.
Rockman and the little girl's eyes met and they stared intensely at each other for a few moments. At first, Rockman snorted loudly like a cat and his eyes deformed slightly, but he quickly calmed down and his gaze returned to normal. Fearful of a disaster, Netto moved closer to Akane who was still frozen.
"Please, Akane-chan, don't scream! He's not mean, I promise," begged Netto.
Finally, the little girl let out a cry, but it was rather joyful, and she pointed at Rockman. "He's a big cat!" she exclaimed.
Hearing Akane's reaction, Netto flinched inwardly, and afterwards she ended up wanting to get closer to the Navi who was still on all fours in his corner.
"No, Akane-chan, don't get close to him!" continued Netto in fear.
Unfortunately, the little girl had already joined Rockman and started rubbing against him, ignoring his growls. She even grabbed his arm and rubbed against him. If the Navi had wanted to push her away, he suddenly froze when he felt something. The girl stared straight into his eyes, a smile on her face. Their red eyes locked intensely for several seconds that seemed to last for minutes. Netto was there, facing them, trying to understand what was happening. Finally, the two did nothing but Akane leaning against the same Navi, laughing. Rockman had no more aggressive reaction, just a confused look as he watched the two children.
"Akane?" Yusaku asked, who had arrived at the door of the room, followed by Sota who was hiding behind him, and behind Sota, Kohaku held fast thanks to his crutch.
Netto gasped, widening his eyes, suddenly realizing the mess he had gotten into. Reacting slowly, Sota was the first to realize the situation.
"It's...! It's...!" he stammered, unable to finish his sentence.
"A Zoanoroid," Kohaku concluded with a dark look towards the Navi.
"No!" Netto replied, standing in front of them. "He's not a Zoanoroid, I swear! He's my best friend!"
Kohaku stared at Netto in the same way. "So that's your secret? You're hiding a Zoanoroid?"
Netto didn't answer, but he frowned. Yusaku, who had been silent until now, approached the Navi without him reacting. Only the girl against him looked at the other boys and raised her hand. "He's so nice!" exclaimed Akane with a big smile.
Netto felt comforted by Akane's support, but the fact that Sota was shaking his head in disapproval and that Yusaku was approaching the Navi dangerously didn't reassure him. The older boy knelt in front of the Navi, looking him straight in the eyes as he remained motionless. Instead of speaking, the Navi made a sound that sounded like a purr. Slowly, Yusaku placed a hand on his chest and began to breathe softly. He then turned to the other two boys with a smile, but none of them were reassured by his reaction.
"Everything's fine, he's not bad, I can sense something good in him," Yusaku said defensively. Sota remained unconvinced, shaking his head while Kohaku sighed. "Tsk, as if feeling is more important than what we can see..." he commented.
"But you can see he's not hurting anyone!" Netto retorted, once again on the defensive.
"We'll see...only time will tell," declared Kohaku as he made his way to his room with the help of his crutch. Sota followed him, his body trembling. Netto noticed that Kohaku's leg was bent strangely and there was something sticking out of his knee. His foot also had an unusual shape. He stopped watching them leave and turned to the two other children who were with Rockman.
Rockman was in a strange situation. It was rare to see him in this form being accepted by other people. Yusaku stayed close to him, observing every detail of his armor, while Akane had her head against him. Netto really wondered how it was possible for the Navi to accept two children he didn't know while he had always rejected his operator, even though they had known each other for so long.
Deep down in his heart, Netto felt jealous.
Their little moment of peace couldn't last. The front door made noise and Netto and Yusaku jumped together. They looked at each other, searching for a solution.
"We have to hide him!" exclaimed Netto.
"I'm willing, but I don't know where! And with those two snitches, you won't be able to protect him!"
Netto froze. It was clear that Sota and Kohaku didn't want to be on his side, after all, Kohaku seemed to not care about Rockman and telling Meiru would just be entertainment for him, while Sota would probably tell out of fear. Netto heard noises coming from the stairs, but he didn't know how to react. All he could do was watch the door open.
"Netto, I have your medicine, you'll be able to..." Meiru began, but she almost dropped her bag upon seeing the creature in the room. She let out a piercing scream.
Netto, shocked by her scream, didn't know how to respond. He slowly raised his arms to stop her from screaming further.
"Meiru-chan..." he said, forgetting that he wasn't talking to the same Meiru, but he couldn't help it.
At first, Meiru's face displayed terror as she felt someone cling to her. She saw that it was Sota, crying and holding onto her.
"It's a monster, Meiru-Onee-chan, I'm scared!"
Netto frowned, but his eyes sparkled. He was joined by Yusaku, much calmer than him.
"Meiru-nee, he's not a monster! I promise he's not malicious, I can feel it!" Yusaku said.
"Meiru-chan, this is my Navi! He's not bad, he helped me during my journey!" added Netto with more conviction.
Meiru still didn't answer, but she observed the little girl who was next to him.
"He's purring!" she said, looking up at her with a big smile.
Meiru swallowed and fixed her gaze on the red eyes of the beast in front of her. She saw him blink, then get up and gently push the little girl who was next to him. The Navi's eyes narrowed as he approached the young girl with pink hair. The child holding her moved away in fear, wanting to return to his room. Meiru stepped back slowly, and Netto feared the worst. He moved closer to them, wanting Rockman to focus on him and only him, but he completely ignored him.
"Rockman, I beg you!"
Meiru stopped, and Rockman looked up at her before lowering his head to sniff at the young girl's neck. She heard a strange sound and blinked while the Navi seemed to be smelling her. Eventually, he gave her a gentle nudge to back away and got down on all fours, allowing Akane to cling to him once again. The Navi's reaction was strange, and even Netto couldn't explain what had just happened. Since he had entered this house, Rockman's behavior had inexplicably changed. Meiru put a hand to her head, wondering what was really going on.
"He sniffed me..." Meiru said, looking at the creature.
"He...uh..." Netto tried to explain. "He's not bad...I promise you..." he continued, wanting to get back to the original topic.
Meiru narrowed her eyes a little more seriously as she looked at the little boy and Yusaku who saw no issue with him, and Akane who wasn't afraid of him. She thought about Kohaku and Sota, especially Sota who was afraid of anything. She shook her head, got down on her knees and faced him with determination.
"If you ever harm my children, I warn you, you will have to deal with me!" she threatened, causing Netto to grind his teeth, wondering who would really win between the two's anger.
Rockman ignored Meiru and gave her a gentle nudge against her forehead without causing any pain, causing her to step back. Irritated, she wiped her forehead. Netto approached her, making sure to calm her anger.
"Meiru...Onee-chan?" he tried to say correctly.
"He can stay here...if he's your Navi...but as I just said, if he ever harms them—"
"I promise he won't do anything to them!" interrupted Netto, wanting to avoid making her angry.
She sighed and looked into the eyes of this creature. Should she trust him? Especially since he looked like a Zoanoroid. However, that hadn't stopped her from having a childhood friend. There was a secret between them, and she would eventually discover it.
Suddenly, a loud noise caught everyone's attention. Even Akane, who was in a cheerful mood, cowered against Rockman in fear. If even she was scared, it must be serious. Meiru approached the window to look outside, and panic overtook her.
"Yusaku, take Shinobu-chan. Akane-chan, all of you go to the basement!" she ordered.
Yusaku didn't hesitate for a second and rushed to the children's room. The two boys hiding inside quickly came out, with Sota helping Kohaku down. Akane was the first to arrive downstairs, followed closely by Yusaku, who held in his arms a bundle of sheets that enveloped the body of little Shinobu.
"What's going on?!" Netto almost yelled, seeing Meiru's panic as she followed him down the stairs and grabbed something.
She headed towards a hidden trapdoor under the coffee table and opened it. The children went in one by one, and Meiru turned to Netto.
"Netto, get in there right away!" she ordered in a very serious tone.
But Netto didn't listen. He wanted answers. Before Meiru could say anything, another noise rang out. She went to the window and saw a huge virus approaching the house, flames engulfing its body. It was the BigBrute, a very complicated virus to defeat. Netto could see it and panicked. If he had his PET, he would have been sure to come up with a very effective strategy against it, but he had none of that.
Rockman was coming down and didn't seem to really take into account the situation around him. He looked at Meiru's panic when she saw him and saw that she was trying to push Netto into the trapdoor where everyone else was. The Navi tilted his head and looked out the window, then growled.
"Please, Netto, go inside. I don't want you to be in danger!" she ordered again.
"But what about you?!" he retorted, just as worried.
"I'll be fine, I'll try to distract it so it won't destroy the house!" she replied.
"Are you crazy?! You could get killed! Meiru-chan, please don't do this!" he cried.
"I don't want anything bad to happen to you, please!"
Netto's mouth was trembling, he felt offended, even angry. Yes, this Meiru was much more daring than he had ever seen before. He couldn't let her go like this! Rockman closed his eyes and headed for the door, which he opened wide. He stood facing the virus that was approaching dangerously close to the house. The two turned around when they heard the Navi advancing. Netto almost screamed at him to be careful, fearing that his injuries from the day before had not healed enough.
As he approached the door, he was held back by Meiru's arm, who did not want him to go outside. They watched the wild Navi walk towards the giant virus. Not understanding his enemy, the strange virus took a deep breath and blew a torrent of flames towards Rockman. But the agile Navi avoided the flames and charged straight at the virus, delivering a devastating uppercut to its head. The deafening sound of the impact reverberated throughout the room, but Rockman did not seem affected by the noise. However, he received a violent paw strike that sent him rolling on the ground.
Feeling the pain, Rockman expelled something from his mouth, then his gaze filled with hatred towards that thing. He invoked his buster on his right arm and stood ready to charge at the virus. He waited a few seconds to give the biggest charge possible as the virus sent a burst of flames towards him. With a leap, Rockman jumped high in the air and sent the buster charge, piercing through the virus's body. The latter slowly transformed into data powder that flew into the sky.
Rockman landed back on his two feet, gazing with satisfaction at the virus data scattering in the air. Meiru was impressed by the power of this Navi. She was almost entranced by this spectacular scene. However, she had been so absorbed in the showdown that she hadn't noticed the child she was holding had run towards Rockman.
"Rockman!"
The Navi turned around to see Netto running towards him with a radiant smile on his lips. Before Rockman had time to react, the child jumped into his arms. The Navi had no choice but to receive him and hold him close.
Netto's hands were behind his back, happy to touch the Navi he had loved so much. He didn't want to let go, and Rockman tightened his grip on him in return. Through the purring of the Navi, Netto understood that maybe Rockman was slowly becoming like before and finally accepting him. After all, that was why he protected him.
Meiru also ran up, watching in wonder at the scene that had just unfolded. Rockman gently let go of the child, fixing his gaze on the girl. Netto's beaming smile testified to his happiness.
"You saw it, Meiru-chan! You see, he's not bad!"
Meiru looked at Rockman for a minute, their gazes met again, but this time, there was something strange. She tightened the folds of her skirt before finally smiling.
"Thank you," she said.
Rockman tilted his head, he must have accepted her thanks.
"I know I can trust him," Meiru continued.
"Really?" Netto asked.
She nodded before frowning.
"And you, you're going back home immediately! The doctor said you shouldn't go out!" she exclaimed while pinching Netto's cheek. This gesture was familiar to him.
"Yes... Meiru... Onee-chaaaan!" he replied, with a tear in his eye.
Rockman shook his head and followed the other two inside the house. Meiru explained to the other children what had just happened and decided to let the Navi stay with them, knowing he did not pose a threat. Although Sota disagreed, all the others accepted this decision, except for Kohaku who couldn't care less about the Navi. Only Akane and Yusaku seemed happy to see that Rockman could stay with them.
During the afternoon, Meiru wanted Netto to go back to his room, but he didn't want to. She forced him to have a blanket on him and also to start drinking his medicine. It was a medicine that had to be diluted in water, which the child hated. He put it in his mouth and immediately wanted to spit it out, but under Meiru's insistent gaze, he did not dare to do so. Finally, he had to swallow it all, despite his reluctance.
Meanwhile, Rockman had leaned against a wall, seeking tranquility and wishing to go unnoticed. This was complicated when he had a little girl who kept sticking to him. When Netto finished taking his medicine, he placed his glass on the table and looked at his Navi. He still did not refuse the presence of the little girl against him. So he got up, wrapped in his blanket, and without saying anything, he leaned against him to rest his head on Rockman's knees, which surprised him. Netto did not make a sound, all he wanted was to stay like this. Since Rockman had been in this house, he was more open, so why shouldn't the child be allowed to feel the warmth of his own Navi? With some timidity, Rockman lowered his hand and placed it on the child's head, stroking it slowly, which made Netto smile.
The afternoon passed quietly with Netto and Rockman not moving from their spot. Sometimes Akane came to see them and immediately went back to join Yusaku in front of the TV. Kohaku, on the other hand, was drawing on the table. Meiru was busy sewing something and had little Sota with her. The latter was not comforted at all by the presence of the Navi in the same room. Despite the hundreds of times Meiru had reassured him, trying to make him understand that he would not do anything, Sota was still frightened.
After a while, the Navi lifted his head, attracted by something outside. Without making a sound, he got up, letting the child fall to the ground. He headed towards the door and went outside, much to everyone's surprise. Meiru approached and Netto raised his head, rubbing it.
"Where... Where is he going?" Meiru asked, intrigued.
"I don't know...but it's the time when he secures the area... He sometimes does that."
Meiru lowered her head and realized what he had just said, then she slowly began to smile. "Your Navi seems so loyal to you...even in this strange form," she commented.
He nodded, happy to know it.
Outside, Rockman walked slowly, feeling his suit dissipating little by little. When everything disappeared, Saito put his hand against a tree and breathed heavily. Why did his transformations after a fight exhaust him so much? He tried to catch his breath, then headed back towards the house.
Arriving in front of the house, Saito hesitated to knock on the door. It seemed too suspicious. He finally sighed and decided to knock. Behind the door, he heard several noises and Meiru's voice whispering. The door opened partially, hiding a part of the inside. The pink-haired girl wondered who could come at this hour and narrowed her eyes in recognition of the boy from the day before.
"You..." Meiru replied with a venomous voice.
Saito forced a smile and raised his hand to greet her. "Hi..."
Beside her, Netto approached and joy spread across his face. "Ah! Saito!"
Without a word, Netto took Saito's hand and led him into the house, despite Meiru's objections as she couldn't hide the children behind her. Saito stopped when he saw each child, shocked to see them. Netto covered himself in shame, realizing his mistake. Saito, however, did not react and just stared at them. Each one tried to hide, especially Sota, but Akane approached him gently.
"Aren't you scared of us?" she asked in a small voice.
Saito lowered his head and raised an eyebrow, a little panicked at the thought of not being able to fake a false reaction of fear, but he refused to lie. "Why should I be afraid of you?" he replied, pointing at a door and making a scared face. "Are you...the ghost of the closet?"
At these words, the child jumped. "No! I'm not a ghost!"
"Then everything is fine, I have no reason to be afraid!" rejoiced the boy under the astonished eyes of the others.
The little girl's eye twinkled and she jumped up and down.
"Meiru-Onee-Chan! He's too cool!"
Meiru didn't smile, still expressing doubts. Netto approached Saito, taking him by the sleeve.
"How come you're not afraid of them?" he asked in a low voice.
"When I was in the hospital, I saw similar people," he replied, using an excuse that was not false.
Hearing this, she blinked and approached him, hands on her hips, showing her desire to know more while looking a bit haughty. "By the way, since that night, you still haven't told me who you are," she said to him.
Saito froze as he looked at Meiru who had approached him, which strangely made him blush. He could smell the perfume she was probably wearing in her world. Netto then spoke up to answer for him, "He's Saito, he's my friend!"
"Oh..." Meiru looked at the child and then Saito in a more vicious way. "Then why did you tell me he was your brother?"
Saito jumped so hard that even his hair reacted to gravity. Netto looked at him with a strange expression. "Yeah, why did you say we were brothers?" he asked.
Saito cleared his throat, the real reason being the panic he felt for the child. He knew the boy was getting sick and his big brother instincts kicked in. He was lost in this reality that he couldn't share with others.
"Well, it seemed odd for a boy with a child to ask for help... So I thought it would be more believable to say I was his brother," he explained, the stress mounting as Meiru circled around him.
"There's nothing wrong with taking care of a child who isn't related to us!" Meiru retorted before stepping back towards the other children. "None of them are part of my family after all."
"Yeah!" Akane chimed in, hugging Meiru. "She takes good care of us! Like a mom!"
The girl blushed at hearing this, not knowing how to respond to the compliment. Netto nodded, although he found it a bit strange, he was happy for her to have so many responsibilities to manage alone. Saito took what she said into account and accepted it bitterly. It wasn't the same for him.
"I guess...you'll stay with us...until Netto recovers here," Meiru concluded.
The boy nodded and Netto called out to him. "I caught strep throat! I have to stay on treatment for seven days," he explained with dismay, and then he opened his mouth wide. "See?"
Saito looked away, not wanting to see any more. "Y-yes..." He looked around. "A week here..." he muttered to himself.
Meiru headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner, leaving Saito with the opportunity to observe the details of the house that he couldn't notice as Rockman.
"Tell me..." Meiru asked from the kitchen. "How old are you?"
He turned to the kitchen where the children were looking at him. "I'm...twelve years old," he honestly replied. Saito could see a mischievous smile forming on Netto's face.
"Oh! Older than Meiru-Onee-chan!" Akane commented.
"Alright... From which month?" Meiru continued.
Saito scratched the back of his head. "June..." he admitted, not anticipating the surprised reaction of the brown-haired child this time.
"Oh...that gives us a five-month difference," she calculated mentally. Akane then intervened again, "In a month, it's her birthday!"
Meiru heard her and smiled, blushing. Saito, for his part, put his hands behind his back, happy for her. After this small series of questions, he continued to observe his surroundings as he had done before. He noticed a photo frame on a cabinet that was large enough for him to grab and look at every detail of the photo, which made him open his mouth in shock.
"What is it, Saito?" Netto asked curiously.
But before Saito could answer, the frame was taken from his hands, making the boy blink several times. Meiru had just retrieved it, and her face was dark, sending a shiver down Saito's spine.
"I don't like snoops...especially if they're older," she declared firmly.
Her voice was menacing; he had touched on something he shouldn't have, but he strangely wasn't afraid of her. As she turned to walk away, Saito tried in turn. "The girl in pink, she's your Navi, isn't she?"
At these words, Meiru froze, and every child was shocked by what had just happened. She held the photo frame firmly against her chest, while her mouth twisted in all directions.
"Yes...she was," she replied before returning to the kitchen.
Saito felt a leap in his heart. Roll existed in this world...but was probably not here. He just feared the worst for her. He looked at Netto, whose eyes were just as shocked. He had not been informed whether Roll was here or not, and now he finally had a certain answer. Saito sighed, realizing he had just made a mistake.
"Hey, the oldest one...come set the table!"
Saito jumped at the sound of Meiru's voice, which was different. He turned his head towards Netto, who was gesturing for him to join her before she got even more angry. Saito knew that Meiru had an explosive personality and didn't like stupid people, as he had witnessed with Netto who had already been on the receiving end of her punches. Now, it was his turn.
Saito swallowed his saliva before approaching her, checking that there were no children around them. "Listen... About the photo, I'm sorry..." he said sincerely.
Meiru had plates in her hands and placed them directly into Saito's hands. "I forgive you," she replied with a big dazzling smile that sounded a bit fake.
Saito didn't know how to react, but he took the plates and placed them on the low table, a little perplexed that they were going to eat on it and on cushions. Once the meal preparation was over, Meiru took a bottle filled with vegetable soup and went upstairs for the fifth child who was more handicapped than they were, as Yusaku explained to Saito. However, what he didn't understand was that Sota, the fearful boy, filled his glass to the brim and placed it against a wall, which even surprised Netto, who wondered why he was doing this. As he was about to return to the table, Meiru came down and saw the little boy.
"Ah, Sota-kun, you're still putting glasses filled with water everywhere."
Netto turned to Yusaku, seeking an explanation from him.
"It's because he thinks that by putting glasses of water everywhere, there won't be a fire. He saw his house catch fire..." explained Yusaku.
Netto and Saito gasped, feeling a little sad for this boy. Now they understood why he was so fearful.
The meal went well, even if it was simple. Meiru explained that if they were eating this, it was because Netto couldn't eat hard foods. Puree and steamed vegetables didn't satisfy the children's hearts. Saito tried to be discreet, not wanting to receive any questions about his day or their trip. The only thing he had succeeded in was making little Akane laugh, who had a good childish side. Once the meal was over, Meiru "kindly" asked Saito for help to clear the table, which he did without complaining. Afterwards, the children settled in a circle on the cushions, and Akane was strangely the most excited.
"A lullaby!"
Meiru smiled and turned her gaze towards her two guests. "You still have time before going to bed, don't you?" she asked. Saito wanted to reply that no, they didn't, while Netto answered yes.
"Meiru-Onee-chan is going to sing us a lullaby!" Akane piped up, lying on her back.
Meiru? Sing? First of all, it was something particularly surprising for the two boys. In fact...they knew she could sing, but she was shy. Netto felt a kind of excitement and also moved closer; he had always wanted to see her make music.
"Oh yes!"
Saito, on the other hand, felt a strange emotion rising within him. He felt like...a traitor. His eyes widened as he remembered one evening.
"One day, I will sing for you... Consider it a promise."
The words resonated in his heart, and he bit the tip of his lip. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice Meiru had taken a synthesizer out of a closet and placed it on the floor. She looked at the children, then at Saito, who was still standing with a vacant expression. She smiled and squinted her eyes, trying to get him out of his thoughts. "Hey, boy, I don't sing off-key, you know," she said, which made Netto furrow his brows.
Saito didn't reply and stood next to Netto. She turned on her synth and finally started a little song.
"Take a melody simple as can be
Give it some words and sweet harmony
Raise your voices all day long now
Love grows strong now
Sing a melody of love, oh love"
The music was strangely repetitive, but the children smiled as they listened, even Kohaku. Netto was happy to finally hear his childhood friend sing, and his cheeks turned pink with happiness while his eyes lit up. For Saito, however, it was a different story. He felt a deep melancholy, but a flame burned within him. That flame had always been there, but he no longer knew when it had been lit. He tightened the fabric of his shorts and grimaced.
"Meiru-chan... I broke my promise... But I have to admit that I love your voice terribly. I hope you will forgive me... And that you will sing a little more for me."
The two boys retired to their room. Netto collapsed onto his futon, exhausted, while Saito sat down on his. He thought back to the song he had just heard, stuck in time. His heart was beating so hard in his chest that he felt like everyone could hear it. He shouldn't feel like this, he had just cheated and broken his promise.
"You know, Meiru-chan, I know her! It's so weird to see her like this!" said Netto, then noticed that Saito had a vague look in his eyes with a slight blush on his cheeks. "Hey!"
Saito snapped back to reality, looking at the child who was waiting for a reaction from him. "Really?" he forced himself to say.
"Yeah... They still have the same personality, but this Meiru-chan seems to have more confidence in herself, it's strange," he commented, his voice light. "Sometimes the Meiru-chan I knew was shy but she wanted to prove that she was strong... And here, she has become a kind of big sister to take care of these children... I never thought I would see that from Meiru-chan."
Saito didn't reply, instead he looked away.
"And now she's older than me, when I used to be older than her!" he scolded himself. "Look at me... I have to call her 'Meiru-Onee-Chan'."
He nodded his head without saying a word.
"And her Navi isn't here... What happened to her?" Netto finally said.
Saito blinked and then Netto turned to face him properly. The older boy moved closer to him, wanting to put him properly in bed.
"We probably won't know... It's her private business after all."
"But it's Meiru-chan! I have the right to know!" Netto protested.
"This Meiru-chan doesn't know you, Netto. You're nothing to her here except a child she has to take care of," he explained gently, which made the child's heart tighten.
Saito also got into his bed, thinking back to his day and then Netto gently took his finger.
"Saito... You're staying here tomorrow, right?" he asked, which surprised the other boy. "You don't need to leave, I have to stay here, so there's no point in scouting around."
Saito gasped, looking for an answer but nothing came out.
"Please... Don't leave tomorrow, Rockman and I can rest and play together," he pleaded.
Saito forced a smile and then he took Netto's hand that had been holding his finger and placed it against himself.
"We'll see," was the only thing he replied. He let go of Netto's hand and turned off the light. "Good night, Netto."
Netto didn't say anything, he was just lost by Saito's answer. So instead, he turned to look at a point without any specific focus. Without realizing it, Saito had opened a door in the child's mind...one that should never have been opened and wasn't ready to be closed.
To be Continued...
AN: There is! Next chapter will be ready next week, until chapter 20, you will have one chapter per week! I hope you still appreciate this story and the OCs won't bother you.