AN: Hello everyone, a new week, a new chapter! I'm glad you guys are still continuing here! And I hope the little OCs still don't annoy you hehe. We are still at the house with Netto being sick, here the poor child will have another problem.

On my side, my twitter has raised the 500 followers! I'm really happy, if you still don't follow it, remember it's KARORUKI! Thanks everyone!
Also a little game, do you know which movie I was inspired to make the chapter's cover ?

Chapter 16: All the angriest people are the saddest ones

"Sakurai Meiru..." Rockman's voice resonated.

Netto leaned back, sitting at his desk and was startled by the sudden voice of his new Navi. "The girl we helped today, you seem close to her," he added.

Netto looked at him as he pulled his head back, surprised that his Navi could point out something like that.

"Oh..." he started with a slight blush on his cheeks. "I didn't have time to introduce you to her, but she's my best childhood friend."

Rockman almost opened his mouth but instead he smiled, pleased to see that his operator had someone close to him for a long time.

"Could you tell me a little more about her?" he asked, full of curiosity. "I would like to know more about the friends of my new operator."

It had been exactly one day since Rockman had entered the life of the eleven-year-old boy. As Rockman was the reincarnation of Netto's deceased brother, he was curious about the life he had without him. Although their father had given him some details about his little brother's life, especially his academic level, Rockman was eager to rediscover everything about this boy. Catching up on lost time was what he wanted.

Netto, not knowing the truth, looked up and crossed his arms behind his head. "Well... We've known each other since kindergarten, and she's always wanted to get closer to me, me who..." He interrupted himself and frowned, looking in a corner of the room. Rockman noticed that he was thinking about something. He could sense that Netto was hesitant to talk to him about this old period. "I used to protect her a lot." He blurted out suddenly.

Rockman wasn't expecting that, he burst out laughing without even realizing it. He laughed so hard that he had to cover his mouth with his hand. The boy on the other side of the screen didn't seem to appreciate the Navi's reaction at all as he frowned in displeasure. "Hey, what's so funny!?" he almost shouted.

"S-sorry!" the Navi tried to say between several chuckles.

Rockman couldn't help it, the memory was so sudden. Netto in his lifetime had always been a scared child, unable to defend himself and always hiding behind his mother's legs. He remembered those times when Netto would come to visit him in the hospital, telling him how many problems he had and how he cried all the time on his big brother's bed. At that time, he had promised him that once he was healed, he would come to defend him and would always be there for him... And after he "left," the child started defending little girls?

"I'm sorry..." he continued, trying to stop laughing, but it was too much.

"I don't like that you're laughing about that time... Meiru-chan is a very important person to me!" Netto resumed while being just as demanding.

Upon hearing this, he finally managed to stop laughing. He felt a little ashamed as he was not the type to mock his little brother, except when it was really worth it. Rockman also felt a slight twinge of jealousy as he never had the chance to meet this girl. She seemed like a nice person to have become so close to him, and had probably indirectly helped his operator grow and become who he was today. The Navi nodded gently and smiled.

"Well, let's get back to Meiru-chan... You've known her for a long time," affirmed the Navi.

"She has a strong character. She can show some aggressiveness but she can also be as sweet as cream," commented Netto, looking away.

"I see," noted Rockman.

"She also has a passion for piano," added the same boy.

"Piano?" exclaimed Rockman, placing his hands against the screen, as if this information was crucial to him.

The human boy turned his head towards him. "Yeah, she takes piano lessons," he replied.

"Have you ever heard her play?" asked Rockman, still curious.

"Very rarely," replied Netto, shrugging. "She doesn't really like playing in front of others. But from what little I've heard, she's pretty good."

Rockman strangely blushed, closing his eyes softly to concentrate better, trying to imagine the sound of a piano coming from a conservatory. Netto looked at him strangely, not understanding his Navi's behavior at all. "Maybe it's a bug," he murmured, raising an eyebrow.

Rockman opened his eyes, having heard him. He immediately sat up, regaining his Navi seriousness.

"She has a pretty nice Navi," commented Rockman, trying to change the subject while still staying on the same topic about the girl.

"Oh, you mean Roll? Yeah, she's nice. Sometimes she can be a bit of a pest to me, but she's generally kind," replied Netto, turning his gaze away and slightly puffing up his cheeks.

Rockman found the story fascinating. The pink Navi had been programmed to adopt the personality of her operator, and that seemed to include traits of a young girl. Yet he found it curious that the Navi felt so close to him, given that their situation was critical: saving the young girl was their top priority.

"Maybe I could try talking to her and sympathizing with her. If I show myself friendly and calm, she might like me," Rockman thought, thinking of that particular Navi. If their operators were close, there was no reason why they couldn't be too.

"What do you mean by that?" Netto fidgeted, increasingly annoyed by Rockman's enigmatic words.

Rockman felt the tension rising, raising his hands trying to calm him down. "Nothing at all!" he said, trying to make himself understood. "I just thought it would be best to be nice. Who knows, maybe with your strong personality, you may have annoyed her about something."

Netto almost got up abruptly, confirming Rockman's suspicions. "Hey!" he exclaimed in frustration.

Rockman chuckled, now knowing he was right about Netto's personality. "Calm down, Netto-kun! I'm just joking with you," he said, trying to smooth things over.

The boy sat back down, grumbling. "I'm beginning to think you're just a joke sent by Papa," he muttered.

Rockman smiled gently. "No, I'm not!" he reassured him. "Is there anything else I should know about Meiru-chan?" he asked, curious to learn more about the same young girl.

Netto crossed his arms, trying to look serious, which was unusual for Rockman. "Um, yeah. It's best not to talk about her parents," he explained in a rather monotone voice.

Rockman blinked, the mood had become much more somber. "What do you mean?" he asked, even though he could sense that something serious had happened.

"They died in a car accident a year ago..." explained the boy, staring into space. "She has no one left but Roll and her grandmother. I think that's why Roll is so defensive," he added in a sad voice.

The Navi slowly widened his eyes. In a sense, the two children were alike—both had lost a loved one, even if one didn't remember it. And for the other, it was so recent. He felt very sorry for the young girl. He grabbed his arm and nervously rubbed it, looking at the ground, searching for an answer. "I see..." was all he could say.

Neither of them said anything else, it was dark enough for the moment. Rockman bit his lip and had to drop the subject on Meiru to avoid such a grim atmosphere for the evening. He began to force a smile, raising his head. "What about this Dekao?"

Saito slowly opened his eyes, feeling a slight headache. Looking around, he saw Netto lying on his side. He got up slowly so as not to wake him, then took a closer look at the sleeping boy's face. He noticed that his cheeks were still red from the fever and sighed, hoping it would go away quickly. The preteen gently wiped a drop of sweat from the child's forehead with his thumb, but there was no reaction; he was still in the arms of Morpheus.

He left the room discreetly. Yesterday's evening had at least reassured him, pleased to have some kind of accomplice who could undoubtedly help him...if he only gave her an opportunity to stab him in the back. Saito knew that the chances of Meiru betraying him were slim, but if she was like the one he knew, he knew she would be of good help. In any case, all that mattered was that she could take care of Netto until he recovered.

The boy carefully descended the stairs, the creaking steps making him shiver. Downstairs, he saw that the kitchen was lit, emitting a soft light that flooded the room. He noticed that Meiru was already awake, holding a steaming cup of tea in her delicate hands. He approached her timidly, clasping his arms together.

"Good morning," Saito said timidly.

"Good morning," she replied in a more composed tone.

The former Navi felt uncomfortable in the silence that had settled between them. He now understood why Netto could be intimidated by this girl. After their long conversation the night before, he didn't know how he was supposed to behave in her presence. The best thing to do was to act as if everything was normal.

"I'm going out... I'll transform and come back anyway..." he said, carefully choosing his words. He looked down at the floor and headed towards the door. "See you later..."

But before he could leave, Meiru called out to him in a slightly louder voice that froze him in place. "Wait. You still have time. The sun won't come up for at least ten minutes. Can't you eat something?"

Hesitant, Saito eventually nodded his head. He approached the girl as she cracked eggs into a pan. He watched her every move with great attention, impressed by her dexterity. The mouth-watering smell of cooking bacon only increased his hunger. When breakfast was ready, Meiru placed the fried eggs and bacon on a plate and brought it over to Saito. Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she watched her guest enjoy her home-cooked meal. She gave him cutlery so he could eat cleanly, which made Saito smile.

"I hope you can eat with these," she said.

"Of course, it's chopsticks that I have the most trouble with."

Meiru nodded and gave him a cup for him to drink tea. Without waiting any longer, he launched himself at the food, almost eating like a pig. The girl grimaced as she wrinkled her nose.

"I can see that some of your beastly characteristics manifest even in your human form..." she said.

Saito blinked, suddenly realizing what he had just done. He hastily grabbed a towel to wipe his face.

"Sorry... I'm still in a bit of a rush... It would have been better if I ate as a Navi."

Meiru blinked in surprise at Saito's response. "You can eat as a Navi?" she asked, intrigued.

Saito nodded, looking a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, I know it's weird... I can eat, sleep, bleed..." he trailed off, squeezing his arm as he remembered the wound that had quickly healed.

"I see... I'll see if I can find something for you to eat for lunch," she replied, taking another sip of tea.

"Really?!" exclaimed Saito, almost too excited. He cleared his throat and spoke more calmly. "Really?"

Meiru tilted her head as she watched Saito and sighed without ulterior motives.

"Of course, it's been two days since you've had lunch, and you could lose strength," she said compassionately.

He gritted his teeth. "And I could be in a bad mood," he added, almost muttering.

Saito eventually sighed, but at least he was thrilled to be able to eat something. "You don't mind?" he asked.

"Not necessarily," she simply replied with a smile. "I have plenty of leftovers that the kids don't necessarily like, I hope your beastly side won't have a problem with it."

"Ah..." He immediately understood that she was using him as a garbage can, but he couldn't afford to be too picky. He sighed softly and looked at the door. "I have to go... I'll finish as a Navi," he said, scratching the back of his head.

The young girl looked up at Saito and put a finger on her chin, thinking aloud. "About yesterday... I've been thinking... But I think it would be best if you told Netto the truth."

Saito gasped in surprise, not expecting this conversation. He grimaced and replied, "I'd rather not talk about it. Take care of Netto!" Then he quickly left the house.

"I hope you're doing the same..." Meiru murmured to herself.

With a determined step, he walked outside, letting the transformation take over and his instincts weave a web in his mind.

A shadow suddenly fell over Netto, accompanied by cool hands pressing against his temple. He tensed up and slowly opened his eyes, turning his head to see Meiru's face, gentle but obscured by the sunlight.

"Hey, how are you?" she whispered with a soft voice.

Netto squinted and slowly sat up, wiping his eyes to see better. He looked around him, then felt Meiru's hand on his forehead again.

"Ah, you're still warm," she commented before quickly pulling her hand back. "Here, put this in your mouth," she said, handing him a thermometer.

Without a word, Netto slid the thermometer between his lips, trying to ignore the cold sensation of the device. He looked up and saw Rockman at the door, wondering if he could come in. He hesitated to react but decided to do nothing to disturb the reading. The thermometer started beeping and Meiru removed it, looking at the result with concern. She almost blushed at the high temperature displayed.

"Oh yes...it's still that high," she murmured before lowering her hand and handing him a glass containing medicine. "Here, drink this now."

Netto grimaced as he took the glass, drinking noisily. Meiru observed the guest at the door, frowning while keeping a smile. "Well, what are you waiting for to come in?" she exclaimed.

Wide-eyed, Rockman approached and stood beside Netto, facing the young girl.

"You look better," the boy commented, finishing his drink.

Rockman tilted his head. "He does," Meiru answered for him.

"Good..." Netto's eyes slowly lit up.

Meiru sighed softly with her eyes closed. "I still have to go to work today, but I know I can count on Rockman to take care of you and the kids," she explained. "After all, he proved it to me yesterday." She finished her sentence with a sort of smug smile.

Rockman almost growled, but he choked his voice in his throat. Netto nodded slowly and looked at the other empty futon.

"Where's Saito?"

Meiru opened her mouth to respond, but quickly closed it, searching for an excuse as she looked at the Navi in front of her with a similar expression. "He...left for the same reason as yesterday, he hadn't finished... But he will come back tonight, don't worry!" she explained, stroking Netto's hair, who did not react and looked off into the distance.

"Why doesn't he tell me...?" he murmured. "I know... He's hiding something from me..."

Meiru stopped, almost overwhelmed. She looked at the Navi and furrowed her brow, causing a shiver to run down his spine. She didn't like the boy feeling excluded from this secret.

"I'm going, Netto," she said, getting up. "I'd rather you rest, but if you want to play with the others, you can, just don't go outside."

Rockman nodded in response while Netto remained silent, not showing any particular reaction. She finally left the room, closing the door gently behind her. Once alone, Netto spoke up, "I'm glad you're feeling better."

Rockman stared intensely at him as Netto slowly raised his head. The boy seemed surprised by his own words. "I think you were a little stressed about my health," he continued, biting his lip. Then, he reached out his hand to Rockman. "But I don't blame you, you know?"

Rockman observed Netto's outstretched hand and eventually lifted a finger to gently touch it with the inside of his palm. "It's not your fault," the same child replied in a soft voice.

Netto tightened his fingers, trying to grasp Rockman's hand. The Navi felt a comforting sensation wash over him, urging him to slowly close his eyes. He lay down on the futon next to his operator, staying close to him as the child gazed at him tenderly.

Sitting on a cushion, Akane held the remote tightly in her hand, pressing all the buttons and switching channels without really paying attention to the content on the screen. Yusaku came up behind her and snatched the remote, causing her to let out a high-pitched scream.

"Give it back to me!"

"Then stop flipping through all the channels! You're going to break it!" Yusaku retorted.

"But there's nothing that interests me!" complained Akane.

"Then stop watching TV!" Yusaku insisted.

"No, I want to play!" retorted Akane with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

She tried to grab the remote control from Yusaku's hands, struggling against him as the older boy did everything he could to keep it. The two children fought for several seconds under the jaded gaze of Kohaku and the worried one of Sota.

Suddenly, the image on the screen stopped appearing, the television emitting a crackling sound before completely shutting down. Akane became scared, thinking it was her fault, especially since some lights in the room also went out. Sota huddled against Kohaku's shoulder, who grunted in annoyance.

"Did I break everything?" asked Akane with a trembling voice.

Yusaku approached the lamp and turned it on, then went to answer the phone, which he could hear crackling on the line.

"Are there ghosts?" asked Sota, completely terrified.

"No, you idiot!" replied Kohaku, making sure the other boy moved away from his shoulder. "It's just a power outage!"

"Is it my fault?" the little girl asked again, hugging her arms against her body.

"No, it must be a problem probably caused by the wind or something like that," Yusaku replied, putting the phone back. He headed towards the stairs, "I'll check the circuit breaker to see if I can do something."

Akane raised her hand. "I'll come with you."

The two children went up the stairs as Sota began to tremble.

"Kohaku... Do you think..." he started, feeling the cold invade his body.

"If you're so scared, go up to stay with Shinobu!" replied Kohaku, exasperated.

Sota abruptly stood up from his chair without saying a word, rushing up the stairs to reach the upper floor. Kohaku breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he would have a moment of peace for himself. He resumed his drawing, adding details with a bright-colored marker. However, he was distracted by a strange sound coming from the television. He heard crackling, which made him assume that the electricity had been restored. He shrugged and continued to draw. Then, a shrill noise made him jump. He widened his eyes, uncertain of what was happening. Curious, he carefully got up, grabbing his crutch to move around. Limping, he headed towards the source of the noise, which seemed to be coming from the television.

The boy felt an electric shock run down his spine, bringing back a painful memory that he had buried deep in his mind. He tensed up as he saw the television emitting that strange and familiar sound frequency, reminding him of a Navi coming out of the screen. He remembered the violence of that creature, the pain and fear that had engulfed him. It was so long ago, before his life was turned upside down by that tragic event. He saw the terrifying appearance of the Navi again, and felt the intense shock of that moment once more. His heart was beating so hard that he suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.

Kohaku slowly opened his eyes, becoming aware of his surroundings. He was lying in his futon in his room, surrounded by the other children of the house who were looking at him with concern. He noticed Rockman sitting next to Shinobu's bed, playing with the latter's hands. Initially disoriented, he became grumpy as he sat up, rubbing his head and feeling a throbbing pain.

"What happened?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

"We found you lying on the floor," explained Yusaku, who was the closest. "Did you hit your head when you fell?"

Kohaku grunted as he rubbed his head. "I just fainted, no need to panic."

The other children seemed divided, except for Rockman, who looked particularly alarmed. Netto was the only one standing and looked worried.

"Eh? Are you sure you're okay?" he instinctively asked.

Kohaku frowned at him. "What are you doing here?" he said accusingly.

Netto jumped. "I was worried about you," he explained as if it was something normal.

"I don't need your sympathy," Kohaku retorted in a harsh tone.

Netto frowned and puffed up his cheeks.

"Stop being mean to him!" Akane intervened, finding him unfair.

"I've already said it, I don't want to be nice to a kid like you who reminds me of harmful sensations," Kohaku replied in a harsh tone.

Netto groaned slowly, almost making Rockman react. A flashback of Futenroshi came to the latter's mind, the word he had used to describe the boy resonating in his head and this kid was also thinking the same thing.

"What did you say?" he growled in a low voice.

Kohaku stood up to face him.

"Kohaku, please stop!" Yusaku pleaded, standing up as well.

"I said you're harmful!" he replied, ignoring his elder. "And I would even say that you're more than harmful, that you're...unnatural!"

The words pierced Netto's heart and he almost lost his footing. Rockman growled on his side, but he couldn't really react. He had to control himself or he would risk fatally injuring the child, and Meiru wouldn't like that. He tightly held the little girl's hand in the bed, who was unaware of what was happening. This strange sensation kept him grounded.

"What makes you say I'm unnatural? I'm a normal person!" the boy retorted.

This time, Kohaku chuckled.

"Tss, you have a lot more in common with people like us! Anyway, you were abandoned by your parents so they could tell you to go to Hokkaido. I'm almost sure they consciously gave you to a sect! You have everything to be a freak!"

"Stop it, Kohaku!" Yusaku intervened, holding him by the shoulder. Akane was eating her fingers, feeling the tension, and Sota was shivering in a corner of the room on the other side of Rockman.

Netto was boiling. The word used reminded him of very bad memories from his past. Thousands of flashbacks echoed in his head, dating back to when he was six years old or less. He didn't let his tears flow and clenched his fists.

"No! I know who I am and where I come from. I know where my parents are! The real freaks are people like you!" he almost shouted.

His voice echoed like a reverberation and no one made a sound, except for Shinobu who tried to nibble on Rockman's hand. Netto froze, realizing what he had just said. He stepped back, looking at the ground, his eyes wide open. His breathing was too heavy and his mouth trembled.

"You... You don't know anything about me," he said before turning around and leaving the room.

Rockman watched Netto leave and decided to follow him to his room. Kohaku made a sound of disgust and sat back down cross-legged. Yusaku looked at him angrily, his fist clenched.

"I hope you're proud of yourself!" he said sarcastically, filled with anger.

"I only told him the truth," Kohaku simply replied, keeping his eyes closed.

"Is that true?" Sota timidly asked, approaching the other boy. "Are we really freaks?"

"No, Sota! He didn't mean it!" Yusaku intervened, trying to excuse Netto.

Akane made no noise, simply staring at the door in front of her, her eye trembling. She hugged her plush toy close to her, breathing silently.

In the other room, Netto lay in his bed, his eyes dry and burning with pain. Kohaku's hurtful words had deeply wounded him, even though he knew his own family had not spared him either. He wished he could disappear, or even better, go home. But he was stuck here, forced to wait for his body to recover. A sound was heard in the room, and he immediately knew who was there upon seeing a shadow looming over him.

"Rockman... I mean it," was his only response.

Under the covers, Netto felt a hand placed on his body, and turned to see his Navi kneeling beside him, an oddly pained look on his face. The child stood up abruptly, his eyes shining with tears.

"What's so different about me that everyone can see it?" he asked, stifling a sob. "Is it because this isn't my real body?"

Netto placed his hands on his chest, feeling his heart racing. "Before, the only strange thing people saw was the bond we shared, you and me. And in the past, it was just because I was...a coward," he added, recalling childhood memories that made him grimace. "Why are things so different since I came here?"

Rockman tilted his head towards Netto, eyes fixed on him. He slowly raised his finger, pointing it at his own heart. The child followed his gaze, but shook his head dismissively. "No, Rockman...it's not that," he contradicted, not believing in his theory.

Rockman continued to nod, insisting on his point of view. Netto twisted his mouth, confused, but simply placed his hand on his chest, where his heart was beating.

"I'm not...that different, it's just because of Duo," he realized.

The door handle creaked, catching Netto and Rockman's attention. Akane entered the room, dragging her plush toy behind her, trying to fake a smile despite the heavy atmosphere. Netto instinctively backed away, looking away, ashamed of the situation. "What do you want?" he asked weakly, feeling uncomfortable.

Akane stood in front of Netto, blocking his view and surprising him. She sat down in front of him and handed him her plush toy with a firm hand. "Here, Mr. Mustache is here to comfort you," she said with a big smile, offering her plush toy to Netto.

Netto took the plush toy hesitantly, looking at it strangely. He noticed the missing arm of the plush toy, wondering what had happened. Akane, seeing his expression, took the lead and explained, "Meiru-Onee-chan gave it to me, but Shinobu wanted it too, so we fought to keep it each! But she had a strong grip...so she ripped off its arm, and since then, she only keeps the plush toy's arm."

Netto looked up, puzzled as to whether the story was sad or funny. He scrutinized the plush toy again, noticing how worn out it was over time. "I've never been a plush person..." admitted Netto, staring at it fixedly. "But I remember having one in particular..."

Akane tilted her head, interested in what Netto was saying, while Rockman felt intrigued. "It was a small beige teddy bear plush, but over time it darkened in color," Netto recounted, smiling softly as he remembered his early years and how the plush toy had accompanied him for so long. "I remember he was always there for me, even when others made fun of me for having him."

"Only Mei-" Netto paused, remembering that Akane was still listening attentively. "Only a good friend never made fun of me with that teddy bear," he quickly said, wanting to avoid any suspicion.

Netto then remembered Meiru, who loved to pamper her own plush toy when they were kids, whether they were at her house or at the park.

"I remember when I got that teddy bear, it was actually sold with another one, a black bear. They were attached to each other... And my dad separated them," he said, furrowing his brow as he tried to remember. "I don't remember what happened to the black bear..."

It's true, there was a second stuffed animal with the one he had always had. But it was impossible for him to remember where it had gone. Searching through his memories, he tried to remember who it had been given to, but to no avail. He bit his lip, trying not to dwell on it too long.

"And what about your teddy bear?" Akane asked, still curious about his story.

Netto immediately tensed up upon hearing this question, recalling painful memories. "Some jerk threw my bear into a tree, and it got stuck there for months," he said, shuddering at the thought of the experience. "I would visit it every day, hoping it would fall, even though it was hard to see it in that state. And once we finally got it out of the tree, it was all torn up. Eventually, I had to bury it in a flower pot. Mama told me it would be reincarnated as a plant, which sort of happened," he said with a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

Turning his head, he saw that Akane was on the verge of tears as she was too moved by what he was telling her. With her little hands, she brought the rabbit closer to Netto's chest.

"Here, I'll give it to you!"

Netto gasped, almost falling backwards. "No, don't give it to me! It's yours, and honestly, I don't need it."

Akane shook her head and tears were streaming down her cheek. "But you lost yours!" she said, in tears. "And it's not mine either, it was Meiru-Onee-chan's!"

Netto remained speechless for a moment as he looked at the stuffed animal, finally realizing why it looked so worn. He gently grabbed it and held it tightly against him, feeling all the emotion it represented for him. Then he smiled at Akane, returning her stuffed animal.

"No, keep it. You need it more than I do. I've said goodbye," he said calmly, handing the stuffed animal to Akane.

She took her stuffed animal back, hugging it tightly in her arms as Netto smiled tenderly. Rockman hadn't reacted to the whole story. But deep down inside him, his heart was beating; the human heart was there in the depths of his chest, his real emotions. The human side called out in his head, what happened to his black teddy bear since then?

Unlike yesterday, Meiru opened the door without a sigh. She took a deep breath before announcing that she had arrived, but before she could even finish her sentence, Sota rushed towards her and hugged her. She could immediately sense Sota's disturbed state. Glasses of water were scattered here and there, but that didn't seem to be the only thing troubling him. He was shaking slightly, and his voice was almost hysterical.

Concerned, Meiru placed a hand on Sota's head. "Sota, what's going on?" she asked gently.

"Kohaku and Netto had a fight!" he almost shouted, his body shaking with sobs.

Meiru froze upon hearing that, but before she could respond, Yusaku emerged from behind Sota, furious.

"I told you not to talk about it!" he hissed in a harsh voice.

Meiru frowned at hearing this. "Are you trying to hide something from me?" she asked, sounding quite cold.

Yusaku swallowed loudly, feeling chills run down his spine. He knew that Meiru was not easily fooled and that her instincts were often right. He knew he had to tell the truth.

The house was different than usual. Kohaku was not sitting at the table drawing as usual, and Netto was probably locked in his room. Akane must be somewhere in the house, but Meiru wasn't worried about her.

Meiru lowered her eyes to Sota, trying to appear calmer, and made him lift his head. "Tell me what happened, please," she said in a gentle voice.

After hearing the story, Meiru went upstairs with a determined step, heading straight for Netto's room. She knocked on the door without waiting to be told to enter. The door opened and she saw Akane playing with her stuffed rabbit. Netto and Rockman were watching her as if it was a show.

Everyone stopped abruptly upon seeing Meiru enter. She smiled tenderly at Akane as she approached her. "I was doing a play!" she exclaimed, showing her plush toy.

"That's great! But now you need to leave us alone for two minutes, I need to talk to Netto," Meiru said in a firm but kind tone.

Nodding, Akane left the room. Netto had frozen upon hearing her, expecting the worst when he realized she wanted to see him alone... At least she hadn't asked Rockman to leave.

Meiru approached him and knelt down beside him. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, trying to keep her tone neutral. "Sota told me everything," she said calmly.

The child grimaced as Rockman tilted his head. He bit his lip, trying to appear more stable than he actually was. "I didn't mean it!" he quickly replied, worried that she might get angry.

Meiru opened her eyes and stared straight into Netto's eyes. "I know you didn't mean it, but you still have to apologize," she spoke firmly. Netto lowered his head and gripped the fabric of his sheet. "I'm relieved that you didn't start fighting. I know Kohaku wouldn't stand a chance against you," she said with a smile. He gasped at hearing that, but he knew it was true. He had the advantage over Kohaku because of his disability.

"Why does Kohaku have a problem with me? I didn't do anything wrong..." Netto asked without lifting his head.

"Kohaku doesn't like changes too much, I guess. He's a very withdrawn person. Don't worry, I'll also give him a lecture," Meiru replied.

She got up and headed for the door. "I'll bring you your meal. I think it's better if you're not in the same room for now. But I want you to apologize this afternoon," she said before leaving.

She looked at the Navi, who had not said anything during the conversation. He looked at her, hoping she had nothing to blame him for. "And you, Rockman, do you want to come down and eat?" Meiru asked before leaving.

He almost got up when Netto's eyes widened. "How do you know he can eat?" he asked, perplexed.

Meiru winked at him. "Saito let me know this morning. They had breakfast together!" she replied with a smile.

Rockman, who had been silent until now, almost jumped up, eager to eat as well. The two taller people left the room, leaving Netto alone. He fell onto his bed, lost in thought.

Meiru closed the door behind her and walked away from the room. She turned her head slightly, trying to see out of the corner of her eye the Navi following her.

"I guess in that form, you couldn't do anything," she said, as if it were a statement. "I don't blame you."

Rockman looked at her strangely, puzzled. He moved towards her to go down the stairs, but paused for a moment, looking at his claws. He wondered what he could have done if he had decided to do something at that moment. He would certainly have taken Netto's side, but what could he have done against Kohaku? He preferred not to think about it, not wanting to imagine the consequences of his actions.

Kohaku was alone in the large ground-floor room. All the other children had gone to bed for naptime, but he had refused. After all, he considered himself more mature than Yusaku and didn't like being treated like a child. Meiru had spoken to him privately, explaining that his behavior towards Netto was unacceptable and that he needed to apologize in the afternoon. But he didn't care. He didn't want to talk to that kid.

The boy was absorbed in his drawing. He held his head, concentrating on the paper, drawing a strange character that seemed to be coming out of a television accompanied by another smaller person who looked in terror at what was happening. The character coming out of the TV was very different from anything he had drawn before. He had strange tentacles on his head, and his eyes were two bright light bulbs. Kohaku frowned as he noticed the colors he had used. It wasn't really like the ones he remembered.

Kohaku heard a noise from the stairs, looked up disinterestedly, and noticed Sota coming down towards him, rubbing his eyes. The seated boy did nothing except look at his drawing again. He didn't care why he had finished his nap earlier.

"Kohaku?" called Sota softly, seeking his attention. Kohaku didn't respond and went back to his drawing.

The same boy sat next to him, trying to break the silence. "Don't you want to sleep?"

"I'm not a baby anymore," Kohaku replied more sharply.

The shyer boy lowered his head, nervously rubbing his hands together.

"Are you going to apologize?" he finally asked.

Kohaku chuckled slightly in response. "Of course not. I don't have to apologize for telling him the truth."

Sota couldn't help but protest. "But...that was mean..."

Kohaku shrugged in response. "So what?"

"And if you don't, Meiru-Onee-chan will punish you..." reasoned the more fragile child.

Kohaku laughed. "What do you think she's going to do? Kick me out? Knowing that's the worst she could do, I know very well that her punishments don't affect me."

Sota was visibly upset. He frowned sadly and gently clenched his fists. Unable to find the words, he looked away, searching for a way to say what was on his mind. He tried to speak, "You… You..." But he had trouble articulating and his shoulders began to tremble.

Kohaku finally looked up at him, giving him a mocking smile. "Me?" he asked almost jokingly.

Sota eventually found his words, although they were laden with emotions. "You're really...despicable!" he said in an accusing tone.

Kohaku turned to him, almost amused.

"Oh, stop it, I'm going to start crying," he replied sarcastically. "And why are you defending him? You don't care about that kid. He has a Navi that scares you every time."

Sota immediately defended himself, "If I'm saying this, it's to help you!" he retorted, tears in his eyes.

"It's clear that it's going to help me for the few weeks that are left..." Kohaku replied sarcastically.

The other boy gasped, almost terrified. "What are you talking about, Kohaku?"

"Nothing, there's no point in telling you, and I promised Nee-chan not to say anything," he replied in an extremely calm tone.

Sota kept his mouth open, his eyes filled with sadness. He knew he was keeping a secret he didn't want to reveal. Everything could have been different if the lights hadn't suddenly flickered, making the fearful boy let out a sigh of fright. Kohaku looked around him with disappointment, his fingers nervously clenching. A noise was heard again, coming from the television. This time, the boy who had learned to hide his emotions under a shell was caught off guard and his eyes widened.

"Kohaku...?" Sota timidly asked, afraid to see the lights flicker again.

Sota panicked at Kohaku's reaction. He tried to shake him again but Kohaku remained in a catatonic state, his vacant gaze fixed on an invisible point. A deafening noise rang out, so loud that Sota had to cover his ears to avoid losing his hearing. Kohaku, on the other hand, began to scream almost hysterically before backing away suddenly and falling backwards.

The noise from the television didn't stop and the screen began to crackle. A hand emerged from the screen, followed by a second, which clung to the edge of the screen in an attempt to pull out an entire body. With terrifying strength, the creature managed to get out of the television and fell heavily onto the floor under Sota's horrified gaze as he started to cry. He rushed behind Kohaku, who was trying to get up painfully, still in shock from what he had just seen.

The creature, trying to stand up like a zombie, was wearing a yellow suit and fluorescent green tentacles. Light bulbs in place of its eyes made its gaze terrifying, and its evil smile portended the worst. The children recognized him as a Zoanoroid, marked with the symbol of Falzar on his chest. He was scanning his immediate surroundings, searching for something.

"So...do we have any brats who aren't at school?" he growled. Sota's heart racing, he cracked and made a small noise that drew the Zoanoroid's attention. The creature turned his head and saw the two children staring at him with horror. "What...is this?!" he exclaimed in disgust, looking at them with contempt.

Kohaku remained still while Sota retreated quickly, hiding on the other side of the table. "Are you viruses or bugs?!" the Zoanoroid asked disdainfully, but no one answered him. Kohaku, on the other hand, slowly stood up, leaning on his arms, teeth clenched.

"You..." he muttered, looking at the Falzar soldier with palpable hatred. "It's because of you..."

The Zoanoroid tilted his head as he observed him, curious. "Oh? Have we met before?"

Kohaku let out a nervous laugh tinged with sadness. "You're that dirty Zoanoroid who appeared in my living room, killed my mother while she was defending me, and abducted me... You filthy bastard, Brightman!" His voice trembled with contained rage and sorrow, but he held on, determined to attack to the end.

Sota was shocked, his mouth wide open. He had never imagined that Kohaku knew this Zoanoroid. Brightman, the Navi, licked his lip and put a finger to his cheek. "A kid I kidnapped by killing his poor mom..." Suddenly, two light bulbs lit up above his head. "Oh, now I remember!" he said with enthusiasm.

He approached Kohaku, full of fascination. "Look what you've become! So this is how our gifts for Falzar end up? I thought you'd be dead..."

"I survived...to find you and destroy you, you filthy bastard!" Kohaku said, his eyes filled with hatred.

The Zoanoroid was fascinated, his mouth opening slowly, almost drooling. "I'm curious...I need to know what they really did to you," he said in a guttural voice.

He raised his hand towards Kohaku and grabbed him by the shirt, dragging him violently to the ground. The boy struggled, but with a broken leg he could do nothing. Sota was shocked by what he saw, unable to move.

"Kohaku! Kohaku!" he cried, but it was too late. Brightman opened the door with force, electric and luminous wings appeared on his back. He flapped his wings and flew out of the house, taking Kohaku with him.

"Kohaku! Kohaku!" Sota's voice echoed in the room, waking Netto from his sleep. Rockman, who was asleep next to him, also woke up abruptly.

Netto stretched slowly and heard noises coming from the hallway. He got up and saw Yusaku running down the stairs.

"Sota! What happened?!" Yusaku exclaimed, worried.

Netto froze, realizing that something serious had happened. He left the room, the Navi following behind him. As he descended the stairs, he saw Akane standing and holding her stuffed rabbit against her. She looked perplexed and worried. Sota was crying uncontrollably while Yusaku tried to understand what had happened by shaking his shoulder. The child inspected the room and noticed no signs of a fight or violence, except for the wide-open door letting in the cold wind from outside.

"He took him..." Netto heard Sota say in a weak and hoarse voice due to his tears. "A Zoanoroid was there...and he took him. I couldn't do anything..."

Netto expressed his sadness by opening his mouth and furrowing his eyebrows, sighing deeply. "It's not your fault," reassured Yusaku, trying to comfort Sota.

However, the crying boy stood up, his eyes red from tears. "It is! Now he's probably going to be killed!"

Akane shuddered at the sound of those words, but Netto clenched his fists. He could see that Rockman had focused his gaze on the door, his eyes burning with determination.

"Go find him," Netto declared in a calm but authoritative tone.

The children's eyes were fixed on Rockman, who kept the same expression. Netto nodded in approval and the Navi did the same, but his eyes fell on the little boy who was trembling with fear. The Navi approached him but the child lowered his head, seeking protection from this strange being whom he thought was dangerous. Nobody spoke, not even his operator who had full trust in him.

The Navi gently raised his arm and placed his hand on Sota's head. Sota began to breathe quickly, but when he felt the touch of the creature that frightened him, he froze. He slowly raised his head and locked eyes with this strange Navi. Surprisingly, he felt reassured. Through Rockman's eyes, he had managed to calm down. He eventually turned away from the children and rushed to the door, casting one last glance behind him before setting off in pursuit of the kidnapped child.

Brightman violently threw the child to the ground when they were far enough away from the house. Kohaku painfully dragged himself along the ground, able to move only with his arms. The Zoanoroid crouched behind him, watching him with fascination as the young boy struggled to free himself without the use of his legs.

"Come on, tell me! What do they do to you once you're brought back?" he asked, head tilted, a cruel smile on his lips.

Kohaku slowly turned his head towards him, spitting on the ground and gritting his teeth, expressing all his hatred through his gaze.

"You can find out for yourself! If you care so much about your damn Cybeast, ask them why they're not telling you anything!"

"It's clear that we've never had precise information, even though the more offerings there are, the more Falzar could come back! I never doubted it!" declared Brightman, his teeth clenched in a smile.

Kohaku did not attempt to reply and began to crawl painfully on the ground again. Brightman chuckled, reaching out to grab the boy's foot and pull him towards him.

"Come on, tell me, kid, I want to know everything!" he ordered with a playful voice.

Kohaku shook his head, the memories of that moment haunted him and he had tried so hard to forget them. Now that his enemy, the reason he was in this situation, was in front of him and asking him what had happened, he didn't want to give him that satisfaction.

"I won't tell you anything!" he shouted with determination.

Brightman chuckled in amusement. "Oh, come on! Please? And then I can shorten your suffering and let you join your poor mother," he continued with a mocking smile.

But Kohaku did not let himself be provoked. Instead, he tried to turn the situation to his advantage.

"You can even cry in front of me to try to make me talk, I won't tell you anything!" he declared with a hateful look.

Brightman stood up, his face twisted with anger. His lips curled to reveal clenched teeth and his light bulbs shone with an unhealthy glow. He tightened his fists, causing sparks to fly between his fingers.

"Then you're going to spend a long time in torture until you tell me everything," he said in a cold voice.

Kohaku, terrified, opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He pleaded with his eyes, imploring his executioner for mercy. But he knew he would receive none. Brightman raised his arms and electricity continued to crackle between his hands.

"Now, you're going to tell me everything, or I'm going to make you scream!" he roared.

The child abruptly closed his eyes, feeling the static electricity intensify around him. He remained still, waiting for the inevitable. Suddenly, a savage scream ripped through the air. Brightman turned his head, but it was too late. Rockman had already charged at him with brutal force, violently hurling him to the ground. The Zoanoroid rolled over himself, his body crashing against a tree with a dull thud.

Before he could even get up, Rockman pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. The Navi's wild mask fell off, revealing his gaping mouth. In one swift motion, he sank his sharp fangs into his enemy's shoulder, causing him to scream in pain.

Kohaku slowly stepped back, aware that he was trapped but fascinated by the presence of the Navi standing before him. He watched in admiration as the violence emanated from every movement of Rockman as he faced the Zoanoroid.

Brightman clenched his fists and electricity shot out from his body, pushing Rockman back and away from him. The bulbs on Brightman's eyes lit up, sparkling like stars, while the tentacles on his back writhed. Electricity crackled around him, reminding of his power, ready to be unleashed.

"Soldier of Gregar, this is my prey! I suggest you leave before I unleash my wrath on you!" roared Brightman, defiantly staring down Rockman.

Rockman was not intimidated by Brightman's unleashed energy. On the contrary, he seemed to be drawn to the electric aura and plunged into it resolutely. Despite the power unleashed by Brightman, the Navi in the form of Gregar seemed almost invincible. With a swift motion, Rockman grabbed the Zoanoroid emblem, ripping it from his chest with brute force. Brightman disappeared in a flash, leaving behind a peaceful silence. The energy that had filled the air moments before gradually subsided, returning to its normal state.

Feeling the wind gently caress his face, Rockman turned to the young boy sitting on the ground, who was watching the scene with some apprehension. As the Navi approached him, Kohaku slowly backed away while dragging himself on the ground, avoiding eye contact. The Navi knelt before him, observing him with his red eyes. The child was still trying to stabilize himself, using both hands to stand. Finally, he turned his head towards Rockman, his eyes filled with tears. Small sobs escaped his throat with each tear that flowed down his cheeks.

Tenderly, Rockman reached out his hand towards Kohaku, who looked at it hesitantly. The young boy sniffed, bit his lip and eventually grabbed the hand that the Navi was offering him. Slowly, Rockman took him in his arms, hugging him tightly. At first, Kohaku was frozen, his arms hanging limp. But gradually, he rested his head on Rockman's shoulder, wrapping his arms around him. Tears continued to flow down his cheeks, and between sobs he whispered, "It's humiliating..."

Yusaku held Kohaku's hand tightly, trying to tend to a small cut on his palm. The grouchy boy sat on his futon, surrounded by the other children, but he looked elsewhere. He felt uncomfortable in this situation and would have preferred to be alone after the incident, but he hadn't dared to ask the other children to leave.

Netto stood timidly at the entrance, hesitating to enter the room. Rockman was also present, alongside Shinobu who was playing with his hand. Kohaku could feel that the other child didn't really want to interact with him, he just wanted to make sure Kohaku was okay. The boy on the futon sighed in frustration.

"You know you don't have to stand there in the middle!" he said loudly, making it clear that Netto was the target.

The concerned boy gasped before timidly entering the room. Yusaku frowned as he scrutinized the person next to him, fearing a new futile altercation. Netto looked down, trying to blend into the walls. Kohaku tilted his head and fixed his gaze on the intruder.

"You should be careful with your Navi. I don't know if you realize..." He closed his eyes and simulated a look of disgust. "But he's cool, so I don't understand how a brat like you can have a Navi like that!"

At first, Netto gritted his teeth in frustration at being called a "brat," but deep down he couldn't help but be flattered that his Navi was described as "cool" by the grumpy boy.

"Wow! Kohaku said Rockman was cool!" Akane exclaimed joyfully.

But the boy immediately rejected the idea, not wanting to admit that he agreed with them.

"That's true... But still..." he began, turning his eyes away, a hint of redness on his cheeks. "It's too bad, he should stay with Nee-chan to take care of us!"

"No way!" Netto quickly replied, increasingly annoyed. "We both have to go home!" He turned to his Navi. "Isn't that right, Rockman?"

He opened his mouth when he noticed that Rockman was not paying attention to their conversation. His Navi's eyes were closed, betraying a palpable weariness. Netto suddenly felt abandoned by his own virtual companion, as if everything that mattered to him was Shinobu and nothing else. He sighed in boredom, tired of this situation, but he knew he could not give in to Kohaku's provocation. He decided to leave the room.

"Netto," he heard behind him.

The boy stopped abruptly and turned to the boy lying on the futon. Their gazes met and Netto perceived a sad determination in the other boy's gaze. He carefully observed the slight twist of his lips, wondering if he regretted his actions.

"Sorry..." he finally admitted.

A heavy silence settled in the room. Netto did not react immediately but slowly raised his hands, which he squeezed against his chest. "Me too... Sorry," he said in turn.

The three other children exchanged knowing smiles as they watched the scene unfold before their eyes. Even Rockman seemed satisfied with the turn of events. Netto also smiled, happy that things had finally calmed down. But then Kohaku closed his eyes and raised his head, looking haughty.

"But you're still an idiot," he said disdainfully.

A collective sigh escaped the other children's mouths, all annoyed by Kohaku's remark. Netto, on the other hand, was boiling inside, on the verge of insulting him. Only Rockman made a slight noise, like a discreet laugh. It reminded him of good memories.

"Oh, really?" exclaimed Meiru, interested in the story Sota had just told. They were all sitting at the table, having dinner. Saito was present, eating his fill next to Netto.

"Yes!" Sota replied, nodding his head. "And then Rockman petted my head and went to get Kohaku!"

"Oh..." A half-closed smile appeared on Meiru's face as she turned her gaze to Saito. The latter felt the girl's gaze and quickly looked away.

The other children looked at Kohaku, who seemed indifferent to the conversation, preferring to concentrate on his meal in the greatest calm.

"This Rockman...thinks he's a monster when he's just too sentimental," Kohaku commented, mocking. Saito sighed lightly at the remark.

"Rockman has never been mean, you know," Netto replied. "He's always been nice to me, taking care of me."

Meiru rested her elbows on the table and rested her head on her hands. "Like a brother, right?" she asked, looking at Netto.

The two brown-haired boys froze, the older one looking unhappy while twisting his mouth. Netto, on the other hand, was thinking.

"Yeah, sort of..." he replied after a moment's reflection.

Meiru smiled, satisfied with Netto's answer, while Saito seemed to resent her and shook his head slowly. His gaze was very expressive, meaning that she shouldn't go any further on this subject. But Meiru quickly stuck her tongue out at the older boy, unnoticed by anyone else.

The meal ended in joy and good humor with Saito and the other children helping Meiru clear the table. Once everything was tidied up, the girl clapped her hands to get the attention of the other children.

"Well, I'll go get the synthesizer, it's time for the lullaby!" exclaimed Meiru enthusiastically. She headed towards a small, dark room that served as a closet. The other children followed her and formed a circle, arranging cushions around her. Netto and Saito, eager to join in, also joined the group. Meiru made her entrance with a large synthesizer in her hands, which she delicately placed on the floor before plugging it in. She then knelt down and smiled at the children.

"So, what song tonight?" she asked in a cheerful tone.

The children thought for a moment, but Saito seemed confused while Netto had no idea in mind.

"Can you sing us your version of Flying Lullaby?" asked Akane with an innocent little voice.

Meiru nodded her head with a smile. "Okay, let's go for that one," she replied, playing a few piano notes. Then, taking a deep breath, she began to sing softly, letting her voice envelop the room.

"For the love of a child, stop time

With only a tear as a weapon, and yet

The sorrows of the night have vanished

Happiness has blossomed deep in our hearts"

A shiver ran through Saito's body as Meiru began to sing. It was the second time he had heard her sing and it still troubled him. The lyrics of the song seemed much sadder than the one she had sung the first time. He looked around and saw that the other children also seemed affected by the melody of the young girl. With her eyes closed, she continued to sing, letting her voice blend into the music.

"The adventure leaves wounds with a taste of honey

When love, at the break of day, spreads its wings

A piece of the sky, a piece of the sky."

As he listened, Saito could feel that this song had something personal in Meiru's heart. Although he had never heard it before, he couldn't help but think that there was a personal touch in the creation of this music. The lyrics seemed to express a deep sadness, and Saito could feel that Meiru put her whole soul into it. He wondered if she had written this song herself and what could have driven her to write something so poignant? The music continued to resonate in the small room, and Saito felt more and more captivated by Meiru's voice, which seemed to express all the pain and melancholy of her soul.

"Friends have gone to live in paradise

Their silence is as dense as the night

Their story, in our memories, has made its home"

Saito let out a small sigh as he continued to feel the emotions of the song. He could understand where Meiru was coming from, but he also felt somehow involved...or maybe not at all, if no one remembered him. Finally, the music stopped and Akane was the first to applaud, quickly followed by the other children; even Netto seemed impressed.

"Thank you so much!" Meiru replied with a smile as she unplugged the piano.

Netto looked at Meiru with determination, but his face turned strangely red as he gave her a compliment.

"You have...such a pretty voice!" he said, admiringly.

Saito looked at him, feeling proud of him for giving such a compliment to the girl who was supposed to be his childhood friend. Or at least he could have been. She briefly looked at him before focusing again on the child.

"Thank you, Netto!" she replied with a warm smile.

Meiru grabbed the keyboard and carefully put it away before turning to face the children, who had stood up waiting for her return. She looked at each of them, trying to captivate their attention.

"Well," she declared firmly, "tonight, you can read a book before sleeping, but you must stay in your room!" She approached Saito, grabbing his arm. The boy blushed deeply, feeling the proximity of the girl. "I'm going to have a new discussion with this boy here!" She raised her arm and pointed to the stairs. "Now, go! To your rooms."

Meiru grabbed Saito by the arm and led him towards the glass door to go outside. The children watched the scene with curiosity.

"What are they going to do?" asked Akane.

"An adult discussion," replied Yusaku, eager not to dwell on the subject and to lead everyone upstairs.

"But they're not adults!" retorted the little girl stubbornly.

Netto didn't react to the children's words. In reality, he felt uncomfortable being excluded. Although he had nothing to do with it, he felt a strange feeling...that of abandonment. He didn't just feel abandoned by Saito, but also by Meiru.

Meiru took Saito to the same place as the day before and sat down, crossing her legs. She smiled slightly as she looked at him.

"So, what happened today?" she asked.

He tilted his head, surprised to hear that, not sure he understood.

"You're a bit of my spy now. If you don't mind, I'd like us to meet here every night to review the day," she explained, closing one eye.

"Oh..." reacted Saito, tensing his shoulders. "Well, not much... I mean, everything Sota told you was true..."

Meiru sighed, but looked relieved. "I'm glad nothing serious happened to Kohaku..." she said.

"Yeah..." replied Saito, scratching his temple. "It was so sudden."

"And you saved him even after what he said to Netto," Meiru pointed out.

He crossed his arms. "I'm not the kind of person to let others suffer, even if it's someone who has been unpleasant... But I feel like I'm betraying my words..."

"Oh?" Meiru replied, curious.

Saito stepped back, embarrassed. Now that he had opened up, she had to know what he meant.

"Well... I told Netto that in this world, we shouldn't help others and stay on our own so we can go back home faster..." He looked to the side, quite discouraged. "I guess I can make an exception to this rule here, since we're staying in your house."

Meiru took a deep breath, growled strangely, then sighed.

"How did you save him?" she asked.

"It was rather simple, I managed to find him thanks to the Beast Factor emanated by this Zoanoroid. And I erased him quickly, he was taking too long for nothing."

Meiru remembered the way he had destroyed a virus during their first encounter, and it was terrifying. Now, facing a Zoanoroid, she wondered what he was capable of.

"Thank you for saving him... It means a lot to me. What could I give you in return?" she asked, twisting her mouth in gratitude.

Saito stepped back once again. He raised his hands in refusal, his cheeks turning red.

"No, nothing! I don't want anything from you! Don't even think about buying anything!" he replied with an awkward smile. "You're already taking care of Netto, and I can't ask for more."

Meiru leaned back, sighing slightly as she held her hands against the bench. She felt Saito timidly approach her, his arms behind his back. She looked up at him as he spoke to her.

"By the way... Your song was very beautiful, but quite sad," he finally said, expressing his feelings.

Meiru blinked and sat up on the bench, crossing her arms in front of her.

"It's just a song whose lyrics I modified... I wrote them after the death of the first child," she explained, letting out a sigh.

Saito's smile faded. "I see..." he responded empathetically.

With hesitation, he sat down next to her without her saying anything.

"I've already told you this, but...the Meiru from my world also plays the piano. She plays just as well as you," he began, feeling a bit shy.

Meiru looked at him attentively and noticed him scratching the tip of his nose.

"But she doesn't sing... Well, she's much more shy than you are about singing in front of everyone," he added with a timid smile.

She noticed the way he spoke about her, with a fixed gaze ahead and a bright smile. He seemed to be radiating happiness.

"She promised me that someday she'd sing for me... I have the right to that privilege before Netto even!" he exclaimed with a soft laugh.

Meiru lowered her head, feeling something particular in Saito's words. She felt a little embarrassed, but her heart began to beat a little faster.

"Is there...a song you would like to hear from her?" she asked hesitantly.

Saito nodded his head gently, not daring to meet her gaze. "There's a song that I suggested for a party, but in the end... Roll sang it instead," he admitted finally. He finally turned his face towards her, making sure that mentioning the old Navi wouldn't hurt her. But she didn't seem to react immediately, absorbed in her thoughts.

"Tsubasa wo Kudasai... I would love to hear her sing it, at least once," he sighed finally, breaking the silence. She finally snapped out of her stupor.

"I know that song," she said suddenly. "We assigned it to those who died during the Cybeast attacks."

Saito's brow furrowed and he felt uneasy. He didn't know how to respond to this unexpected revelation.

A silence settled between them, with Saito not knowing how to continue the conversation while Meiru seemed lost in thought. Then, finally, she broke the silence.

"You know..." she began, "There's a song I'm trying to compose. Could I show it to you tomorrow?"

Saito's face lit up with an odd excitement. "Really? That would be great!" he exclaimed, enthusiastic about the idea of discovering a new creation from Meiru.

A soft smile spread across Meiru's lips. Without saying a word, she approached Saito's face, specifically his cheek. The boy flinched slightly as he felt the girl's lips on his cheek, almost as if she was sucking a small part of his skin. The sensation slowly climbed to his brain and he began to blush.

She backed away with a smile, her eyes closed. She stood up and stood in front of him, her hands behind her back, also sporting a slight blush on her cheeks.

"This is what I'm giving you... For saving Kohaku," she finally said.

Meiru turned abruptly and walked towards the door. Saito remained motionless for a moment, his hand still resting on the spot where she had just left a kiss. His heart was beating quickly, not from stress, but rather from a new emotion that fueled this strange flame in his chest. Never in his life as a Navi had he received a kiss, and as a human being the only kisses he had known were from his mother. As a Navi, Roll had never left him a kiss; and unlike Netto, who had already received kisses from Pride, for example. Saito smiled tenderly, he had really enjoyed that moment.

However, his thoughts were interrupted by Meiru's roar, who was standing in front of the glass door. "Hey, do you want to sleep outside!" she shouted, apparently annoyed by Saito's dreamy attitude.

Saito quickly got up and joined Meiru by the glass door. He smiled awkwardly, apologizing for being distracted. Meiru didn't seem to hold it against him, and they both went back into the room where Kohaku was sitting at the table. Meiru gasped when she saw him.

"What are you doing here? You should be in your room," she exclaimed.

"I wanted to talk to you..." Kohaku said and he glanced at Saito. "Alone."

Saito understood what Kohaku meant and apologized before waving to Meiru and the little boy, then he quickly left the room. Meiru approached Kohaku with her arms crossed.

"Well... I guess it's about today?" she asked.

Kohaku didn't answer and simply stared at the wooden table.

"I've thought a lot...and I think I understand..." he continued calmly.

Kohaku looked at Meiru with a sad expression before addressing her, "Nee-chan... I want to continue this life... But I want to end it by having fun with you."

Meiru, with her mouth open, abandoned her stern expression and knelt in front of him. "Kohaku..."

"I want to be happy...one last time."

A sincere and touching smile appeared on Kohaku's face. He couldn't say more, but Meiru understood perfectly what he meant. She rushed to him and hugged him, holding him as tightly as she could. He hugged her back, and they remained lost in their embrace, their tears flowing silently.

To be Continued...

AN: And again, a lil angst with fluff chapter finished, I hope you liked it guys, again thanks all of you for the return and the kudos!