AN: Hi everyone! New chapter! Can you believe the first part is almost over ? Cause i can't lol. A little more effort!
Chapter 17: Don't forget to smile, but don't forget to be brave.
Hiding in the shadows, Futenroshi observed inside the fortress belonging to his enemies, the Variety group. He could hear the anxious voices of men and Navis as they seemed to be facing a huge problem for three days. The children, accompanied by their Navi, had mysteriously disappeared. Roppo expressed his dissatisfaction repeatedly, even resorting to psychological torture of his subordinates. He made no effort to hide his cruelty, claiming that everything they did was for the glory of their Grand Master rather than for themselves.
The Grand Master. Futenroshi thought, this man whose identity was unknown was the famous president of this government. He had never been able to physically see, let alone have photos of this person. Other people like Roppo were much more talkative, unlike the Grand Master who wanted to remain more discreet. What was he hiding after all?
"Shouldn't we ask the assassins to find them?"
"For now, only one is truly interested in that and it's the one who warned me!"
He heard Roppo shout again, expressing his burning desire to find the missing child's Navi. The search had to continue without rest! The old master with the long beard realized at least one thing: Netto's Navi was not a creation of Variety. Perhaps it was a creation of another sect? All of this was so confusing and bewildering. He too had something so special, so where did he come from exactly? He swore at least that he would find them well before those dogs of Variety.
Sota had his hands against the window, looking sadly at the pouring rain outside. His face was marked by his usual worry. He turned to Meiru, who was putting away the dishes. The other children were at the table, having breakfast.
"Meiru-Onee-chan, please don't go out. It's raining outside!" Sota pleaded.
Meiru looked up at Sota's call, but instead of giving in to the little boy's worry, she offered him a reassuring smile.
"It'll be okay, Sota-kun! It's just rain, and I'm working inside," she replied. She held a bowl of food that she gave to Rockman. The Navi took the bowl from Meiru's hands and started eating like a dog. Meiru frowned at first, but quickly turned her gentle gaze back to the child.
"Don't worry, and you won't have to fill the house with glasses of water!" she added optimistically.
The young child nodded slowly, but he still wasn't reassured. Meiru turned to the table, looking at the other children sitting there. They were all there, including Netto, who was eating slowly but refused to take his medicine. Akane looked up, her face marked by worry.
"And Saito? Is he okay?" she asked.
Strangely, Netto lowered his head and tightened his chopsticks while Rockman tilted his head, looking worried. Meiru approached Akane and gently stroked her head to reassure her.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine," she said softly. She looked up at Rockman with a mischievous smile and half-closed eyes. "He's doing great, don't worry."
Rockman grunted slightly when he felt Meiru's gaze on him, then continued eating his food. Netto, on the other hand, said nothing, but it was clear he was upset that Saito hadn't told him anything when he woke up. He felt like Meiru was always better informed than he was. Netto was left in the dark again.
Netto felt jealous. He had made a new friend who took care of him attentively, even though he sometimes seemed to forget that he was a boy his own age. Yet he didn't confide his "big" secret in him and only gave him warnings not to meddle in other people's business and keep his secrets to himself...only to share his with someone else. Netto was questioning the trust that Saito had in him.
Netto discreetly shook his head without attracting attention. Meiru had come closer to him without noticing his lost gaze.
"Netto, you still haven't finished drinking your medicine!" she exclaimed.
He jumped, biting his lip and forcing a smile.
"Come on, finish it!" insisted Meiru, frowning.
The child tensed up as he looked at the glass, sticking out his tongue before taking the glass and bringing it to his mouth to drink the rest of the liquid. Netto swallowed and tensed up before slowly opening his eyes and mouth, taking a breath. Meiru applauded while Akane and Yusaku congratulated him in their own way, and Kohaku rolled his eyes and chuckled.
Finally, Meiru got up, walked to the coat rack and put on her coat, also taking an umbrella before approaching the entrance and putting on her shoes. "I'm going now," she said, almost opening the door. "As usual, I'm locking the door. And don't open it for anyone, after all, this house is supposed to be..."
"Empty!" the other children replied, except for Netto who didn't know the end of the sentence.
Meiru smiled, bidding the children and Navi farewell before turning on her heels and leaving the house. The rain was pounding hard against her umbrella but she didn't hurry, taking her time to walk on the now muddy path. Luckily, the journey to her work wasn't long, just a ten-minute walk. She was lucky to not live in the city but still be close to her workplace—a konbini in the city center. Her job wasn't particularly stressful, except during the lunch hour when customers flooded in, but she had managed to get more favorable hours that allowed her to come back home to eat.
Arriving at her workplace, Meiru entered cheerfully, warmly greeting the few colleagues she met along the way and heading straight to the back where her locker was. With impressive efficiency, she quickly put away her things before putting on her apron, ready to start her workday.
Throughout the morning she checked the stocks of different products, arranged freshly prepared bentos, and managed the cash register from time to time. Customers were sometimes surprised to see a young pre-teen working in this store, but Meiru paid little attention to them. She had a reason to work at such a young age, a reason that pushed her to persevere, no matter the obstacles.
There was only an hour left before Meiru could go home to eat. She continued scanning the products diligently, wishing to finish quickly so she could enjoy her free time. Then she felt a presence looming behind her. At first she thought it was a customer, but when she blinked, she realized with a hint of concern that it was her manager. He had a cap on his head and a dark expression, as if he were upset. Meiru felt a drop of sweat trickle down her temple as she saw that he had his hands on his hips.
"Sakurai-chan, come to my office," he said before turning and leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She froze, he looked too dark. Had she done something wrong? She followed him without hesitation, closing the door behind her. Her manager crossed his arms, but despite his dark expression, he also seemed uncomfortable.
"Sakurai-chan, I'm sorry to announce this news in these circumstances," he said, raising his head. His gaze expressed a little more compassion this time. "I'm receiving less and less budget, and I won't be able to pay you in the near future," he continued in a low voice.
Meiru gasped with a dull noise. She began to tremble slowly, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"What? I don't understand," she muttered weakly, desperately searching for an answer.
Her manager looked embarrassed as he replied, "I'm going to have to lay you off. I chose you because...you're still a child and from what I understand with the insurance, you'll still have a scholarship to go to school." He swallowed his saliva and lowered his eyes. "I don't want you to also destroy your future by working here. You're lucky to do better."
Her heart leaped in her chest as panic overwhelmed her. She had wide eyes and a lump formed in her throat, preventing her from speaking clearly.
"No, you can't do this to me! I need this job!" she exclaimed, desperate.
"Don't see it from a bad angle, Sakurai-chan. You're not losing anything at all, just your house, but you'll be housed in an apartment. You can't imagine how lucky you are," her manager tried to reassure her.
But she shook her head. "No, you don't understand! I can't lose this house!"
Her manager didn't immediately respond but sighed before speaking, "I know it's hard. Your situation is very difficult, but I have to lay you off. I'm doing it mostly because I know you'll have a better life elsewhere. You're a young girl with your whole life ahead of you, do you understand that?"
Meiru clasped her hands together and squeezed them against her chest, lowering her head. She grimaced bitterly, doing her best to hold back her tears and avoid letting her manager see her cry. Her jaw clenched as she growled in frustration, gritting her teeth forcefully.
Meiru left the konbini feeling completely drained of her energy. She had to hold back her tears in front of the customers, but now she had to maintain her smile for the children she was about to meet. The dark clouds that had covered the sky finally gave way to the sun, but Meiru didn't care. She used her umbrella as a cane to walk, staring at the ground and avoiding any eye contact with the passersby. The rain had left puddles on the sidewalk, which she clumsily tried to avoid while walking.
Meiru heard voices coming from ahead and slowly lifted her head. She saw two burly men surrounding a young woman, probably a young adult. The strangers seemed to be annoying the young woman with their intrusive attitude. They were flirting with her in a crude way while she was busy sending messages with a small antenna on her PET. Meiru found the young woman's appearance a bit strange. She had long black braids and a red heart on her face. Meiru wondered if she was a goth or worked in a circus.
Meiru hesitated for a moment about what to do, knowing that she was not yet twelve-years-old and facing two tall men. But she was pleasantly surprised to see the young woman defend herself brilliantly. With a quick elbow strike to the stomach followed by a skillful rotation, she knocked down one of the men. The other tried to belittle her, but she delivered a powerful punch to his face. The two men groaned on the ground like helpless children.
"They're trying to play tough, but they're just idiots," commented the young woman in a high-pitched voice.
The woman with long black braids noticed that Meiru was watching and jumped slightly when she realized she had been noticed. She smiled and squinted an eye in Meiru's direction.
"Impressed?" she asked, jokingly.
Meiru didn't answer immediately, preferring to remain silent while observing the two men on the ground.
"You know, you could learn to do all this!" she added, approaching Meiru. "You could knock them all out if they give you trouble!"
Meiru shook her head slowly and forced a smile.
"No thanks, I'm not interested..."
The other woman continued to smile, a hand on her hip as she approached the young girl.
"How old are you? Twelve? You're young! It's time to start training!" she declared.
Meiru frowned, trying to understand what the woman meant.
"What?" she asked, noticing the confusion of the young woman. "You can request Variety to work as a Swallow. I'm sure you would have magnificent training and become a sweet young woman as dangerous as me!" she explained, boasting.
Meiru breathed loudly, feeling the atmosphere becoming more and more uncomfortable as the woman mentioned Variety.
"Oh, but don't tell anyone, okay? It's our little secret!" she added before turning away to walk off. "You know, you have potential! Don't waste it!"
The woman with the heart on her face turned on her heels and walked away, leaving the young girl lost in thought. The release she felt was palpable, as if a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. However, this feeling of relief was short-lived when the previous events resurfaced in her mind. Frowning, Meiru bit her lower lip and continued on her way home.
Upon arriving at the door, Meiru hesitated for a moment before touching the wood with the tips of her fingers. She sighed softly, letting out a slight smile before inserting the key into the lock. The door opened slowly, revealing a dim light that illuminated the main room.
"I'm home!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
"Meiru-Onee-chan!" replied Akane, who was right next to Rockman, seeking rest.
With a bright smile on her lips, she looked at the children and noticed that they had all stayed almost exactly where she had left them. Yusaku was sitting in front of the TV with Rockman and Akane; while Sota, Kohaku, and even Netto were all gathered around the table, drawing.
Curious to know what Netto had created, she approached the table with a smile. "So Netto, did you not stay in your room this morning? What did you do?" she asked, still smiling, radiant like the sun. Meiru only had time to see three silhouettes drawn side by side and a fourth silhouette on the ground before Netto quickly hid his drawing, becoming red as a tomato. She raised her eyebrows, surprised by his sudden reaction.
Kohaku retorted with a sneering smile, "He certainly doesn't want you to know how interested he is in you."
"Shut up!" Netto rushed to respond, still embarrassed.
Not knowing how to react, Meiru began to laugh softly. "I suppose I should take it as a compliment," she said, smiling. She then headed towards the kitchen. "Today, we're going to eat...spaghetti bolognese!" she added, opening the fridge to check what she had left.
Meiru heard Akane's exclamations behind her. She took out her utensils and ingredients to prepare the pasta. That's when she felt Rockman's shadow fall on her. She turned around to see him standing at the entrance to the kitchen. Not understanding his presence, she tilted her head.
"Did everything go well?" she asked, fearing that something serious had happened.
However, Rockman's face was rather simple, very calm and relaxed. He raised a thumb and pointed it towards his mouth, lifting it slightly. Meiru raised her eyebrows, taking a moment to understand.
"Drink?" Meiru responded, affirming that it was what he wanted.
Rockman nodded. It was quite strange. She looked at the child behind him who had not moved from the table.
"Are you thirsty, Netto?" she asked, thinking that Rockman was asking for water for the child.
The latter turned around in confusion and shook his head.
"Yusaku already made me tea," he replied politely.
Meiru noticed the cup on the table, realizing that she had not paid attention. She looked at the Navi again.
"So it's for you, right?" Meiru understood, observing Rockman who nodded silently.
Meiru breathed a small sigh of relief, realizing it was just a small misunderstanding. She headed towards the sink and grabbed a ceramic bowl before turning on the tap to fill it with water. She then handed the bowl to Rockman, who took it with both hands and brought it up to his face, spilling water on the side. Meiru grimaced at the sight. When he was a Navi this boy was a real slob, but even as a human he tended to eat in an unseemly manner. Netto was more energetic and ate cleanly in comparison. But could she really blame him? After all, he had never eaten before in his life.
She turned around, focusing now on her cooking. She couldn't help but think about what had just happened. Her job had given her enough money to live with the children she cared for, but now she had nothing. Especially if she couldn't live in her own home anymore. But it wasn't her own situation that worried her the most, it was the children's. She couldn't take them outside, she could only keep them at home and take care of them until they died. The mere thought of it made Meiru shudder, biting her lip as she thought about it. The first child she had lost had left a deep scar on her, one that didn't seem to want to heal.
She was cursed, doomed to watch those she loved die.
The young girl didn't notice the small burnt cloud coming out of her bolognese pot; only the strange squeaks from Rockman and a frightened cry from Sota brought her back to reality. She realized she had burned her bolognese. Meiru desperately tried to salvage what she had done while the children approached in silence, watching the scene.
"Oh no..." she murmured, turning around, trying to smile. "I'm sorry, I was too lost in my thoughts to do anything!" She expressed as if everything was normal.
The children looked at her, perplexed.
"You forgot to give Shinobu-chan her bottle," commented Yusaku. At this remark, Meiru started hiccupping loudly.
Everyone was sitting at the table, staring at the blackened bolognese pasta on their plates that was prepared by Meiru. Only Rockman didn't wait and started eating like a hungry animal, even disgusting Netto. Meiru, with her elbows on the table, held her head in her hands, seeming overwhelmed by the situation. She let out a sad sigh as the children tried to eat what was in front of them.
Netto noticed Meiru sighing. He took a bite of the burnt pasta, struggling to swallow it, but could only grimace because of the burnt taste. "I'm sorry..." Meiru said for the umpteenth time.
Netto and Rockman looked up, both sensing Meiru's sadness. "It's okay, it's still edible!" Netto said, trying to reassure her.
But she simply replied with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I... I'm tired," she said, searching for an excuse.
"Meiru-Onee-chan probably needs a good nap!" suggested Akane.
"But she has to work..." Kohaku replied, making it clear to the girl that her excuse was not very credible.
Finally, the girl looked up and looked at each child at the table. "Actually..." she said, biting her lower lip. "I'm staying here this afternoon. They don't need me..."
Akane and Sota instantly lit up, delighted to spend the afternoon with Meiru. "Awesome!" exclaimed Akane. "You can take a nap!"
Meiru nodded, adopting a serious look that caught the children's attention. "Yes, but if I go take a nap...everyone will go take one too," she declared firmly. The children sighed and groaned in discontent while Netto shook his head, looking disappointed. Seeing Rockman watching her, she tilted her head, a smirk on her face. "That includes you too, Rockman," Meiru said. The Navi's eyes widened in surprise for a brief moment, then he grumbled like a disgruntled kitten.
After the meal, Meiru accompanied each child to their room and carefully tucked them in, taking care to watch over their sleep. Sota expressed his concern for her, while Akane wished her a good nap. Kohaku and Yusaku simply lay down without a word. After caressing their faces one last time, Meiru stood up and left the room to find herself face to face with Netto. The latter was sitting on his futon, holding his blue bandana that he hadn't worn for several days.
"Netto," said Meiru with a smile as she knelt down next to him. "Are you going to sleep?"
Netto slowly turned his head, tightening his bandana. His gaze suddenly became serious. "Meiru-chan, what's wrong?"
The young girl stopped smiling, remembering that Netto was not like the other children, but was supposed to be older than his age. Other six-year-old children wouldn't notice, but Netto was different. She swallowed, aware of the role she had to play because of Saito.
"There's nothing wrong, Netto! Everything's fine with me!" she tried to reassure the boy.
He lowered his head, fixing his blue bandana while frowning.
"I know you're lying," he retorted without even looking at her. "Every time you smile like that it's because you're trying to hide your tears."
Her heart jumped in her chest. Meiru had also forgotten that this boy had already met a different version of her in another world. She had probably played the same game.
Netto lifted his head, his sad gaze fixed on Meiru's eyes. In his memory, a scene played out: he was sitting, dressed in black in his normal body, next to the same girl with shorter hair also dressed in black and crying against his arms. He had tried to comfort her as best as he could.
"Meiru-chan... I'll always be there with you to protect you, as I promised."
"But my parents...they'll never be there again!"
"I won't abandon you... If you have a problem, you'll confide in me, won't you?"
Netto felt like it was a moment like that. Since Meiru had lost her parents, she hadn't cried anymore, just fake smiling like she was doing today.
"Meiru-chan, you can confide in me," he said, raising his hand to grab her sleeve. "I won't abandon you," he murmured.
Meiru trembled as she met Netto's worried gaze, but finally placed her hand on his head while trying to smile.
"Netto, don't worry, there's nothing wrong," she concluded.
He let her go, equally sad, and she stood up. Approaching the door, she turned to him again. "Rockman isn't here?" She sighed. "I'm going to get him, it's out of the question that he doesn't take a nap like the others!"
She closed the door, leaving him alone.
"Meiru-chan... Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Netto! I have no reason not to be okay! You have to save people, go!"
"I noticed, but... Every time I have to leave to do my NetSavior duty, you always have that same look..."
"I have nothing to tell you."
No matter the world, she wouldn't tell him anything. He tightened the fabric of his futon and sniffled for a moment.
Descending the stairs, Meiru saw Rockman—who usually had a lazy expression with the children—wearing a serious expression on his face. She bit her lip, feeling that he was waiting for a conversation, but decided to ignore him.
"Rockman, Netto is waiting for you in your room. Go join him," she said in a dry tone.
He didn't move an inch as she approached to close the shutters. He emitted a soft growl without violence. Meiru got angry seeing him react like that. She understood perfectly what he expected of her.
"What's wrong?" she snapped. "I have nothing to say."
Rockman shook his head slowly and looked at her intensely. Meiru groaned before putting her hands on her hips.
"Gosh..." she exclaimed, wiping her hands. "You may have different personalities, but you are indeed twins," she added, remembering what Netto had told her earlier.
Rockman tilted his head and Meiru sighed heavily. "I won't be able to avoid it anyway," she admitted. "We'll talk... But when you get out of the armor," she added firmly.
Rockman's hard gaze softened, then he closed his eyes to think.
Suddenly, a ringing sound echoed throughout the house, making Meiru's eyes widen slowly. She turned slowly towards the front door, feeling fear rising in her. She approached the door and looked through the peephole to see several men waiting on the other side, including one she already knew. She quickly turned around, gritting her teeth, and saw that Rockman was scrutinizing her strangely.
"Rockman," she began in a low voice, trying to make sure the men couldn't hear her behind the door. "You have to go out to the garden, please!"
Without making a sound, Meiru took Rockman by the arm with determination, almost making him growl. She opened the glass door leading to the garden and implored him to immediately hide.
"Please, stay hidden in the garden!" she told him urgently.
Meiru let him go and quickly closed the door, watching him through the glass. She then lifted the carpet and opened the trapdoor leading to the basement of the house. She quickly ascended the stairs and arrived in the children's room, where some were already awake due to the ringing, including Sota and Yusaku who seemed worried.
"What's going on?" asked Yusaku, trying not to stress out about the situation.
"There are men, way too serious, who are going to come in. We need to leave right now!" Meiru replied hastily.
Everyone nodded before starting to descend. Sota took Kohaku under his arm to help him down while Akane was the first to arrive at the trapdoor. Yusaku took Shinobu with him and headed towards the stairs, followed by Meiru who was trying to hide any evidence of the children's presence.
"Meiru-chan, what's going on?" Netto asked, watching the scene from his door.
She shuddered, worried about him. She wondered how these people had ended up here this afternoon when she had been fired that very morning. She furrowed her brow and realized that there must have been a whistleblower who had reported that the Sakurai girl was living with someone. And that whistleblower could only be the doctor.
"Listen, Netto, you don't move from here. You stay lying down and pretend to sleep," she told him urgently.
She made him back away and closed the door behind her before helping Yusaku down with Shinobu. Once downstairs, she reminded them to make as little noise as possible and promised to get them out quickly. She closed the trapdoor and hid it with the carpet. She sighed upon hearing the front doorbell ring again and ran her hands through her hair, pretending to wake up. She finally headed towards the door and opened it, yawning.
"Yes, what can I do for you?" she asked, noticing the man in the middle. He was a representative from the insurance company under which she was covered, ensuring the maintenance of her home in case of job loss.
"Sakurai Meiru, we need to come in," he declared in an authoritative tone.
Before she could even say anything, the men pushed her to enter the house. There were six of them in total, including the one she knew, and each began to search everywhere, looking for something.
"What… What is going on?" asked the young girl, worried about what she was seeing.
The man she knew approached her, his face expressionless. "Nothing, they're just checking that there's no problem," he said in a monotone voice. Meiru lowered her eyebrows, even more worried.
Then, the man asked her a question about her dismissal. Meiru gasped, wondering how he could know. "I… I wanted to earn more money for my studies..." she replied, before being interrupted by the man. "I know what you must think...but unfortunately..."
"Please, give me another chance!" Meiru pleaded. But the man didn't respond, interrupted by another of the men who had just found something. He showed a drawing.
Meiru recognized the drawing immediately. It was the one Netto had shown her earlier, but now she could see it in more detail. It depicted a character dressed in orange and black with a blue bandana. He was surrounded by a blue being and another with pink hair like hers. In what seemed to be a bed behind them was another boy dressed like the first, but without the bandana. Meiru frowned, trying to understand what Netto had tried to express, but she was brought back to reality when she saw the man holding the drawing.
"Beautiful drawing," commented the man who had been communicating with Meiru from the beginning in a flat voice. He turned to her, hands behind his back. "I'd like to know, are you taking care of a child?"
Meiru gasped at the man's question.
"It can't be you who drew this," he said, looking at the drawing once again.
Meiru began to furrow her brows, twisting her lips, and quickly took the drawing from the man's hands. She folded it in three before simply answering, "Maybe it is!" even though she knew her answer might seem suspicious.
"It was the doctor who alerted me. He was very surprised to see you with a child," added the man.
This vulture. Meiru knew someone had reported her. Even though she hid the other wanted children very well, what would they do to her just because she was taking care of a simple child?
"Meiru-Onee-chan...?" A small voice was heard.
Meiru groaned in fear, alerted by the child's voice. Everyone turned their heads to Netto, who looked half-asleep, but Meiru understood it was a performance.
She opened her mouth to ask him why he was there, but the child spoke before her, "Who... Who are they?" he asked, looking at each man present in the room.
She bit her lip as another man silently approached the child and grabbed his hand to inspect it. Netto furrowed his brows and quickly pulled his hand away before heading towards Meiru and holding onto her dress.
"N-Netto! Why are you awake?" Meiru asked, worried.
"I heard a noise," he replied, giving her a discreet wink. He probably had a plan in mind to make the child look innocent and help her.
Meiru bit her lip, wondering if showing that she actually had a child with her could make her more believable. "Who is this child?" asked the inspector who had been the only one to speak since the beginning.
"It's... Netto! He's...my cousin! The poor child just lost his parents, so I'm taking care of him. That's how it is in the family, you know!" she said with a hint of mischief in her voice.
The child nodded, agreeing with what Meiru had said.
"I didn't know you had family. Your father never mentioned it to me," replied the inspector, not seeming entirely convinced.
"That's because he's my mother's brother's son!" added Meiru, knowing that the man knew her father well, but not her mother too much.
"Right..." he responded, feeling like he shouldn't believe her. "So, this is the child you're taking care of," he said, looking more closely at the young boy.
Netto raised an eyebrow, wary of the men accompanying him. He didn't feel comfortable with the situation, and it was clear on his face.
The man turned his gaze towards the stairs and asked, "What's on the upper floor?"
Meiru jumped again, caught off guard. She then remembered that the other children's room was not perfectly organized. She started breathing quickly, her teeth clenched. Finally, she hesitantly replied, "Just rooms, there's nothing special."
Silence settled as Netto waited for the man's response. He observed his hands tightening behind his back, a sign of his growing irritation. Finally, the man said firmly, "Well, let's see that."
Without even waiting for Meiru's response, the man quickly headed towards the upper floor of the house with some members of his team, under the desperate gaze of the young girl.
"Wait!" she cried out, trying to stop him. She stood in front of him, hoping to change his mind. "What exactly are you looking for? If it's about my dismissal, we can talk about it in the dining room!"
The man gently pushed her aside, ignoring her request. "We're just checking the premises," he replied in a dry tone. "We'll be finished very quickly."
Meiru blinked, panicked at seeing the men going up the stairs. Netto followed, intrigued by the situation.
"Wait!" she cried, catching up to them. She saw them stop in front of Netto's room, scrutinizing the area carefully. She felt her heart race as she heard the man's question, "Whose room is this?"
Meiru gently took Netto's shoulder, trying to reassure him. She forced a smile, "It's Netto's room!" she quickly replied.
One of the men stepped towards Netto's bag, ready to search it. Netto frowned and rushed towards him, clutching his bag tightly.
"Hey! No!" he exclaimed as the man grunted.
"It's alright, it's just a child's bag," said the man who had spoken first, trying to calm the situation.
"What about this room?" asked another man who had gone elsewhere.
Meiru tensed up as everyone headed towards the room she feared the most. She took a deep breath and cold sweat dripped down her forehead as the man asked again, "What is this room?"
Meiru took a moment to respond, pursed her lips, and clenched her fists. She desperately searched for a convincing answer.
"It's my playroom," Netto said innocently this time. "I play and nap there."
Meiru looked at him, relieved that he had found a plausible answer, but she knew it probably wouldn't be enough. "A playroom?" the man asked, confronting Meiru. "Why give him a second room?"
Meiru felt the tension rising in her. "And why not?" she replied, a bit annoyed. "Do you have children? Do you know what they need?"
He strangely did not answer. He just looked at her out of the corner of his eye, making her feel uneasy. She then noticed another man from the group heading towards one of the futons in the room and noticing Akane's rabbit plushie, examining every detail carefully. He seemed concerned to see that the plushie had lost an arm. Neither of them answered, they could only watch.
The leader of the group turned towards the empty hallway and decided to check the pink-haired girl's room himself. Meiru could only watch, unable to do anything. She seemed unbothered by the thought of someone searching her room, but her gaze eventually landed on her feet, a sign of her discomfort.
The man eventually returned to them and waved his hand. Everyone nodded and headed towards the door. Meiru and Netto watched as each man left one by one. Only the man who had checked Meiru's room remained in front of the door, looking at them with a neutral expression.
"Meiru-chan, you need to know that I once made a promise to your father." He began with a sorry voice. "I agreed that you could keep the house if you had a job, but now that you have been fired, you have no choice but to go back to school and you will have to live in the promised studio."
Slowly she approached him, her hands joined together.
"Wait, please. Give me one last chance," she pleaded.
"Meiru-chan, you have worked hard so far." He continued, "You deserve more than to become a child worker from a young age. You deserve a good education. Your father had long dreamed of seeing you shine on stage."
The young girl sadly lowered her eyes, looking at her feet.
"But...it's my house..." she murmured before looking up to gently stroke the head of the child next to her. "And then there's Netto..."
"It's just a house," the man replied impassively. "As for your cousin, unfortunately, he is too young to be taken care of by you. We will not be able to do anything other than place him in an orphanage. You can still keep in touch with him if you're worried, but you won't be able to take care of him."
Her eyes began to tremble, especially when she realized that the other children might not be placed in an orphanage and that they might never be accepted by anyone.
"I'll give you two weeks to find a job. If nothing happens, I'll have to seize the house and make you move," he said before leaving. Meiru closed the door behind him and stood there for a few minutes, her hand on the doorknob, eyes narrowed, and head leaning against the wood of the door. Netto was worried about her and tilted his head.
"Meiru-chan..." he murmured.
The child had observed the conversations she had had with this man, it was a very difficult situation. So Meiru was fired and she was going to lose the house? He heard a noise and noticed that the carpet was lifting, revealing Yusaku who was sticking his head out to look at Meiru.
"Meiru-nee, are you okay?" he asked, worried.
With a sob, she eventually fell to the floor, sliding down the door. She covered her face with her hands, unable to contain her tears. The other children who were trying to leave were equally saddened to see her like this, but no one dared to approach.
"Meiru-Onee-chan, why are you sad?" Akane asked in a small voice, almost on the verge of crying with her.
Meiru didn't answer right away, she just cried warmly and wiped each of her tears while trying to catch her breath.
"I'm sorry... I failed," she finally said in a broken voice.
Rockman quietly entered through the garden door, watching the scene unfold before him without drawing attention. Meiru's sobs interrupted the silence that reigned.
"I wanted to work hard to give you a better life... And now it's all going to end..." she murmured between sobs.
Netto's eyes widened, realizing the importance that the young girl placed on their well-being. He searched for a solution to this difficult situation.
"But...didn't he say you would have to live somewhere else?" he asked hopefully.
She shook her head, distraught. "I would have to live in a studio. I wouldn't have the time, the money, or even the space to take care of you."
Each child remained silent, lost in thought. Rockman clenched his fists, and an idea suddenly came to mind. He quickly climbed the stairs under Netto's surprised gaze, wondering how he could have reappeared so quickly. A few minutes later, Rockman came back down with his operator's bag in his arms. Netto widened his eyes when he saw his Navi rummaging through his bag.
"Hey! What are you doing?" asked Netto loudly without shouting.
Rockman didn't answer and continued searching until he found the small bag of chips that Netto had stopped using since their arrival here. Without a word, he let it fall to the ground, causing hundreds of chips to scatter on the floor.
"Hey! This isn't the time, Rockman! I had them stored properly!" exclaimed Netto, annoyed.
The Navi searched among the scattered chips on the floor and finally found the one he was looking for: the Roll Soul chip, which he had created thanks to the Soul Unison. Although he couldn't use it right now since his PET was broken, he held it firmly in his hand and placed it against his emblem.
He slowly approached Meiru, who had not stopped crying, and knelt down in front of her. She noticed him and he showed her the chip he held in his hand, which made her emit a small sound. Rockman took one of her hands and placed the chip between her fingers, pressing it against his own emblem. Their heads touched, and Meiru breathed heavily.
"Meiru-chan...be brave..."
The girl was taken aback by what had just happened. It was Roll's voice that had resonated in her head, and she quickly realized that Rockman had something to do with it. She began to cry even harder, letting herself go into the arms of the Navi. Meiru managed to calm down a bit, and Rockman's wide eyes relaxed as he gently rubbed her shoulder. When she let go of him, the other children were still around her. Meiru looked at each of them in turn and tried to smile.
"Thank you," she said softly. She looked at each of the children who were around her and tried to smile. "I'll try to get my life back on track. I'll find another job to continue taking care of you!" she declared, showing her determination.
Netto smiled softly. "That's the spirit!"
The children gathered around Meiru as she asserted, "I'll never abandon you." She kissed each one of them, embracing those she could. Netto lost his smile and lowered his head while Rockman stood up to observe the scene. The boy stood gently at his side.
Meiru sighed and raised her head to look at each child. "I'm sorry for today... I don't really have the strength to play with you this afternoon..."
Some shook their heads, happy to hear it. "It's okay," Yusaku replied calmly.
"You should rest!" Sota remarked, a little worried.
Meiru nodded. "You're right... I should take that nap..."
They all nodded in agreement.
Netto was lost in thought as he stared intensely out the window. The early afternoon situation had given him terrible cold sweats, especially since the men who had come were not really there for Meiru. He was certain they were looking for something, perhaps the deformed children who he understood were being hunted down to be killed by these inhumane individuals. He couldn't imagine Miyabi being among them, but he couldn't rule out the possibility that they were looking for him, following what had happened with Roppo. The man had shown a strange fascination for Rockman, and Netto knew that put him in danger. However, the men had shown no reaction towards him, apart from their desire to scrutinize his hand and search his bag, which they had eventually abandoned. Maybe it wasn't him or Rockman that interested them. Netto thought about all the possibilities, searching for a clue that would allow him to understand their true intention.
The afternoon was calm. Meiru had not left her room since she returned, apparently wanting to be alone to ease her worries. It was understandable, she had the right to take time for herself. The other children were quiet, under the watchful eye of Rockman. Netto had spent his time drawing, playing with the other children, or watching television. Evening had fallen, but Meiru still hadn't come out of her room, worrying the other children as she was supposed to prepare dinner. As the children began to stir, the Navi got up and headed towards the door, leaving the children behind. Even though Akane was sad to see him go, Netto was used to seeing him disappear every night, Rockman had taken to leaving at that time.
They waited for a few minutes before hearing a knock on the door. Initially wary, Akane approached the door with a smile while Yusaku tried to stop her.
"Akane-chan, no!" he called out.
Despite that, she opened the door.
"Rockman?" she asked, but blinked when she saw Saito instead, who gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Uh... No, it's me..." he stammered.
"Saito-Onii-chan!" the little girl exclaimed this time, hugging him. He reacted with surprise, especially hearing the honorific she had just used.
The other children sighed in realization that it was just the boy.
"Saito?" Netto asked, looking up.
The older boy entered the room, looking around and greeting all the other children.
"So, everything okay?" he asked. "Rockman let me know that Meiru wasn't feeling well..."
The children looked at each other and pouted.
"Yes..." Yusaku answered. "Some weird people came here and told her that she'd lose the house if she didn't find a job!"
He crossed his arms, trying to think, then looked around.
"Where is she?" he asked, though he already knew the answer, he had to appear credible.
"She's in her room, resting," Netto replied.
Saito lowered his arms and then put his hands on his hips, looking around the kitchen. He had an idea, took off his shoes, and walked into the middle of the room. He slid one foot against the floor and smiled as he looked around.
"You know what?" he declared with a big grin. "We'll let Meiru rest and we'll be the ones to work."
The other children opened their eyes wide upon hearing him, some even with their mouths open.
"Work?" Sota asked with fear.
"Yeah! Meiru probably has to do the cleaning and prepare meals for you! It's time for us to do it for her once, to help her!" Saito replied.
"But we often help her when she asks us to!" Akane retorted.
"Well, this time, you're doing it for her on your own initiative! It will make her happy!" he added enthusiastically.
The children started to think, but Sota didn't seem convinced. "But it's late! It's almost 7 pm! We're not going to clean so late in the evening."
Netto felt a strange chuckle stuck in his mouth, having a mother who wouldn't agree with that.
"My mother used to say there's always a time to clean!" Saito continued, raising his finger. "So, we're going to do it at this time!"
Netto calmed down upon hearing him, realizing that Saito's mother and his own had some similarity. The children nodded reluctantly, but the older boy approached.
"Yusaku, you'll take care of the floor! You use the broom first and then you mop it!"
The boy who was supposed to be the oldest of the children started to nod, taking the mission with joy.
"Akane-chan and Sota-kun, you're going to clean the dust off every piece of furniture. I want it to shine!"
Akane was thrilled, but Sota nodded with difficulty.
"And you, Netto," Saito continued, pointing at the youngest child. "You'll be with me in the kitchen, we'll prepare the food."
"But..." Netto tried to say, thinking it was a bad idea.
"And you, Kohaku..." Saito stopped, seeing that the boy wasn't moving and that he was still sitting at his table because of his leg. "You...will take care of the timer."
Kohaku didn't react, in fact, he didn't care. Saito forced a smile and looked at everyone.
"Well, I'm counting on you!"
Yusaku and Akane raised their fists, ready to start. They both headed towards the cupboard, dragging Sota with them to grab what they needed to work.
"Alright Netto, you come with me," said Saito, heading towards the kitchen.
"But..." protested the child, clearly disagreeing with Saito's idea. "Saito!"
The boy did not respond and frowned as he looked at the stove. He searched every cupboard to see what was available.
"Saito!" the child reminded him with a softer voice so as not to be heard. "You've never cooked in your life!"
Saito was not discouraged by this comment. He searched again in every cupboard.
"It's okay, I've watched enough cooking shows to understand how to do it!"
Netto blinked. "I'm not sure that will work..." He squinted his eyes. "What made both of you think that watching cooking shows would make you gods of cooking?" he muttered.
Saito stopped and looked at Netto curiously.
"Both of us?"
"I learned that Rockman likes to watch cooking shows. He said that if a miracle happened and he could come to the real world, he would cook everything he learned..." Netto replied, shrugging with a bored expression. "What an idiot."
Saito raised an eyebrow at Netto's remark. Was that really what he thought of him all this time, even though he hadn't judged him? Well, he was going to prove him wrong! He was going to show his determination.
"And so what?" retorted Saito. "I have to do something!" He turned around completely to face the child, hands on hips. "Meiru-chan is not doing well, and I don't think she'll be in the mood to cook tonight! Can you imagine if we forced her and she messed everything up?" he explained.
Netto looked down. He knew it was true—this morning she had burned her bolognese while lost in thought. He nodded slowly.
"And besides...you know Meiru-chan. Even if it's not the same Meiru-chan you know, you would do the same if it was her!" insisted Saito.
Netto raised his head and realized he was right. He couldn't abandon a dear friend. He clenched his fists and nodded with determination. "You're right. We have to do our best to help her!"
Saito's smile widened, he had succeeded in reigniting the boy's old flame. He took out different pans and pots, searching for what was left in the fridge. He spotted meat and realized it was beef. He also noticed there were enough eggs and vegetables. He saw the rice cooker on the side of the kitchen and searched for the rice, which was in a drawer. Meiru used a kind of scoop to get it. A smile appeared on Saito's face when he had the idea for the meal.
"We're going to make a donburi!" he announced enthusiastically.
Netto swallowed nervously, feeling a bit intimidated by the task ahead. Although he had eaten donburi prepared by his mother, he had never made it himself. He nodded reluctantly, but regained his determination. He took a deep breath and watched what Saito was doing. He saw that the boy was lost in thought, trying to figure out what he wanted to do. It was true that making a recipe from memory could be complicated, but the tall boy regained his composure. He took several buckets of rice and put them in the cooker, letting the machine do its job.
The preteen then took the meat and vegetables, his hand trembling as he tried to hold a knife, but he managed to cut them into small pieces to cook in the pan. He also took the eggs and put them in hot water. He asked Kohaku to count to a certain number of seconds, which the little boy strangely agreed to do.
During the cooking process, Saito had underestimated how quickly the food could cook. He should have stirred more quickly to prevent the ingredients from burning. Fortunately, Netto was there to help, having inherited his mother's culinary expertise. The two boys worked in harmony, even having fun noticing their own ways of cooking and laughing together. They were a true team.
"Oh, by the way..." Kohaku announced. "Did you forget Shinobu-chan's bottle?"
Saito blinked, realizing that he had completely forgotten. He opened the fridge, desperately searching for the bottle but to no avail. Kohaku sighed, "You need to mix some vegetables with a little ham so she can drink it since she can't eat!"
Saito quickly found the blender and nodded to show that he understood. But just as he thought everything was going well, Kohaku added, "Oh, by the way, the eggs are done cooking."
The two boys panicked upon hearing this. They had left the eggs cooking for far too long!
Meiru groaned softly, wondering how long she had been locked in her room. She had just wanted a moment of solitude, away from this stressful world that she loved so much. She had barely been able to sleep, waking up several times in a sweat, her brain boiling. Despite Rockman's efforts to bring her back to normal, she still felt fragile. She looked up and saw a dresser in the corner of the room. Her gaze fell on a pink PET that was turned off, its symbol reminiscent of her hair clip. Curious, she approached to examine it more closely.
Meiru remembered that terrifying moment when Roll had started to transform into a Zoanoroid, begging her to erase her data before she lost control and caused damage. Putting it in the drawer and closing it, she bit her lip as she thought about it all. Looking up, Meiru wondered what time it was, and then realized that she had left the children alone for too long. Panicked, she ran out of her room, almost slipping on the floor to quickly go down the stairs.
"I'm here!" she exclaimed as she finally arrived in the living room and dining room, where she was relieved to see all the children gathered around the table. Saito was serving a large bowl of food to each of them.
"Oh, there you are!" said Saito with a smile. "Don't worry about the meal!"
Meiru remained silent for a few seconds, her lower lip trembling. "Is... Shinobu-chan..." she began.
"Shinobu-chan has already eaten, don't worry! Yusaku gave her the bottle," replied Saito, followed by a nod from Yusaku.
Meiru stared at Saito as he served a bowl to Sota, the last one to be served. Once he finished, he straightened up and turned to her.
"Don't you want to eat?" he asked, surprised that she hadn't joined them yet.
With some hesitation, Meiru approached the table and took the only remaining empty chair. Saito went back to the kitchen and reappeared shortly after with another bowl, which he placed in front of her before taking his own seat.
"Here, I hope you'll like it!" he announced.
The children responded in their own way by thanking Saito for the meal. Meiru examined the donburi in front of her. Although there was a hard-boiled egg, the overall dish was quite successful. She blinked as she looked at it, surprised to see such a dish appear.
"Who... Who made this?" she asked.
Saito slowly blushed and picked up his chopsticks.
"It was me! Netto helped me, of course," he replied.
The young boy nodded, just as red as Saito.
"I hope you like it, the egg was just a little overcooked," Saito added, pointing to the hard-boiled egg in the bowl.
Meiru touched the egg with the tip of her chopsticks before taking a bite. She opened her eyes wide, surprised to find that the dish was delicious.
"It's...good," she expressed softly.
"Yeah, it's really good!" exclaimed Akane, followed by the several other boys who agreed. Saito and Netto looked at each other with a triumphant smile after seeing the expression of satisfaction on Meiru's face after tasting their dish. However, after a few bites, Meiru had a smug smile.
"I suppose this isn't the first time you've gotten such a result?" she commented, taking a piece of meat with her chopsticks.
Saito, understanding where she was going with this, began to stutter gently, tightening his chopsticks in his hands and scratching his temple.
"Uh...actually..."
"It's Saito who learned to cook by watching cooking shows," explained Netto, taking his glass to drink.
Saito frowned, wondering if this was a help or a stab in the back.
"Really?" added Meiru.
"I have a very good memory."
"That's not surprising," she continued, taking it as a game.
Saito's lips curved into a slightly provocative smile, but he understood what Meiru was trying to do. After all, he wasn't really afraid of her.
"We also cleaned up!" Akane added with a smile, which Sota and Yusaku nodded in agreement.
"Huh? But why?" Meiru reacted, looking worried and serious.
"I asked them to do it," Saito began in a slightly softer tone. "I thought you weren't feeling well and wouldn't be able to cook. So I decided it would be better to clean up now so you don't have to do it in the next few days. You need to rest."
Gradually, Meiru began to blush, lowering her eyes to her bowl. "That's too much...you shouldn't have asked them to do that..."
"But we did, Meiru-nee," Yusaku intervened. "We also did it to make you happy."
She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it with a smile, her eyes shining with joy. "Thank you."
Meiru looked at the tall boy in front of her, silently thanking him for everything he had done for her. He seemed to accept her grateful expression, although he blushed slowly.
"It's funny..." Akane began. "Since Saito-Onii-chan is here, I feel like I also have a daddy."
Surprised, Saito spewed out what he had in his mouth, not having anticipated the little girl's words. Netto, on the other hand, frowned.
"What do you mean by that?" Meiru asked, blinking several times.
"You're kind of like our mom, Meiru-Onee-chan! And since Saito-Onii-chan is here, he's kind of like our dad!" explained the happy little girl.
Meiru looked at the boy wiping his mouth with a napkin, carefully avoiding any eye contact and blushing more and more.
"Really?" muttered Netto, perplexed.
"I don't really agree," Yusaku said, refuting Akane's claim. "Meiru-nee is more like our big sister than our mom. Saito can be a friend of the family since he just arrived and he's only here at night."
Saito nodded in agreement, wishing not to be involved in this discussion.
Saito was waiting on the bench outside. The children were asleep for the night, and Meiru had left him there for something. He played with his fingers, waiting patiently. The day had been stressful for her, and he had tried to help her as best he could, whether as Saito or as Rockman.
He finally saw her coming, her arms occupied with her synth that she had difficulty closing the door. He stood up to help her, but the young girl refused and simply placed the instrument on the bench before heading towards the small wooden house. She turned on the lights to plug in the keyboard.
"Meiru-chan?" he called out to her.
"A promise is a promise!" she replied proudly, hands on hips.
Saito looked at her perplexed. "Why don't we do this inside?"
She sighed. "I don't want the children to hear us. They're still awake at this hour, after all."
Saito bit his lower lip as he watched the young girl kneel in front of the keyboard, preparing her fingers. He approached her to observe more closely the way she placed her fingers on each key. Meiru began to play slowly, producing a sad but sweet melody. Her hands moved away or closer together, and she seemed absorbed in the music.
"That's just the introduction," Meiru commented without continuing her melody.
"It's quite a sad start... What exactly do you want to do?" Saito asked.
The young girl looked briefly at him, then turned her attention back to the keyboard, touching a key at random. "I want to create a song that reflects our despair, but also gives us hope to climb back up... Actually, I only have the beginning."
Meiru started playing again, still at the same slow pace, and so she opened her mouth.
"For whom weeps the storm
Her tears on our skin
The days of our years gone
Our souls soaked in sin
These memories ache with the weight of tomorrow"
Meiru's voice was very different from the one she used to sing lullabies to the children. This time she sang slowly, with a tone imbued with loneliness and sadness. Saito could feel the strong emotions emanating from her music, which deeply touched him. He could also see that the young girl's hands were trembling slightly as she played on the keyboard.
"Who fights?
Who flies?
Who falls?"
Meiru stopped playing, still staring at the keyboard, not saying a word. Saito frowned bitterly and knelt down beside her, looking at the keys on the keyboard. The words she had sung seemed to express a heavy sense of loss after a long battle. For Saito, this song was much more than just a melody. It was an expression of the pain and suffering that Meiru felt deep inside.
"Meiru-chan, you know..." he began softly, trying to break the heavy silence.
"Once, a Cybeast came here when I was little," she began. "Mom wrapped me in a sheet and with Dad, we hid in this cramped basement. We heard the giant destroy many things, but miraculously, our house survived its destructive path. When we came out of our hiding place, the monster was still there, but it was gradually moving away. I had never felt such terror in my life. To it, we were just mere ants."
She delicately removed her fingers from the piano and lowered her head, lost in her frightening memories.
"Five years ago, when the Cybeasts were destroyed, we thought a breath of fresh air would finally blow through this world... But instead, we remained trapped in this cage," she declared, looking up at the sky. She gazed at the lights of the dimensional area that were forming in the air.
"After all the suffering we endured, this world is not really free. The Zoanoroids continue to sow terror among people, the sects pick up where the Cybeasts left off, and children are kidnapped and horribly tortured!" she continued, her tone full of emotion. She concluded her sentence with a sobbing sigh.
"This is not just my misfortune... It is the misfortune of many others," she added, her eyes filled with sadness and bitterness.
Her shoulders trembled under the weight of the emotion and she bit her lip to hold back her tears. Saito, powerless, placed a comforting hand on her back. He turned to the piano and delicately placed a finger on one of the keys, producing a note.
"You're right, this music should remind us of the pain and despair we have experienced... But it must also help us to rise up," he said, brushing another key.
"But I don't know what to write after all this..." she finally admitted, her gaze fixed on the piano keys.
He gently stroked Meiru's back as a smile slowly appeared on his lips. "If you want, I can help you. Don't be afraid to ask," he declared. "Everything will be okay, you'll see, you just need to be brave."
Meiru slowly raised her head and a sad smile formed on her face. "Be brave..." she repeated as her hand closed in front of her. "That's what Roll used to tell me..."
A shy smile appeared on Meiru's face as she turned her head towards the boy. "How...did you do that earlier?" she asked in a soft voice.
Saito took a deep breath before raising his hand and fixing his gaze straight ahead. "When I was Rockman in my world, my father created a new form of power called Soul Unison. It allowed me to copy the abilities of other Navis with whom I had a strong bond. Roll-chan was the first and the easiest to copy," he explained, smiling gently as he remembered the day he obtained that power. "And since I have her chip, I also have a part of her emotions."
"I see," Meiru simply replied, looking away.
"Roll-chan never really left..." Saito assured her, looking at her with compassion, even though she didn't look at him. "She's still here."
Meiru turned slowly, sporting a strange smile on her face. "But the one you know isn't my Roll-chan..." she said in a soft voice.
Saito was taken aback by her response. "I… What do you mean?" he asked, perplexed.
"Just like I'm not your Meiru-chan..." she continued, quickly turning her head to prevent him from looking at her. Saito was even more confused.
"Meiru-chan… I'm not that close to the one in my world, I mean..." he tried to explain.
"And yet, you've managed to make a promise to each other, one that will require effort from her," she said, lowering her eyes.
Saito was stunned by her words and didn't know what to say while Meiru looked at him with a sad smile on her lips.
Tension mounted as she scanned the windows of the house. A strange noise made her rush towards the house, leaving her keyboard behind. Saito followed her, perplexed.
"Meiru-chan?"
Meiru quickly silenced him, her breathing quickening as she saw something blocking the outside light from the windows. She approached slowly and suddenly, a light burst out.
"Hide!" she cried out.
Saito, alert, crouched behind a wall to try to see what was happening. In the distance, a monstrous creature was approaching. Its gigantic body snaked along the outer wall, blocking the windows. The fluorescent glow emanating from it filled the space, bringing the beast's eyes to life. It was a Big Snake, a virus of considerable size. Suddenly, the lights went out, leaving Saito free to come out of hiding. As he approached Meiru, he noticed her petrified look. He approached her and ordered firmly, "We need to hide the children!"
She nodded and the two of them went upstairs, trying their best to get back to the children's room, each waking up the children. Sota trembled with panic—Meiru doing her best to calm him down—and Yusaku, in absolute calmness, helped Kohaku to come down. Meiru took Shinobu in her arms, followed by Akane and Sota clinging to her.
Saito rushed to Netto's room. He knew the boy was a deep sleeper, but he couldn't leave him alone in that room. He took a quick glance out the window and saw the Big Snake knocking on the door with its big head. Saito knew that as long as the snake didn't get up, they would be safe.
He vigorously shook Netto, hoping to wake him up. "Netto! Netto!" he shouted, gripping his friend's shoulders.
The child slowly opened his eyes, but he turned away upon seeing his friend's face. "Leave me alone... I want to sleep..." he grumbled.
"Please, Netto, we have something important to do! You need to hide!" Saito insisted.
Meiru quickly arrived at the door of the room. "We need to hurry!" she said, seeing that Netto still hadn't gotten up.
Saito nodded and forced Netto to get up by picking him up. The child grumbled, then lifted his head and stared at Saito. "Stop it!" he protested.
Meiru made a sign of silence to Netto before a light appeared, sticking to the window. She hid behind the door, and Saito held the child against him, pressing against the wall near the window, hoping not to be seen. Netto finally realized what was happening, his eyes widened.
The light finally disappeared, and Saito resumed his walk towards the hallway, still carrying the child against him. Meiru had already descended and moved away.
As the two boys tried to leave the stairs, the light from the serpent appeared again in the living room. Meiru hid behind a piece of furniture, trying not to move, while Saito held the other boy close to him. He could see the girl on the side and sent her a look, trying to get her attention.
"Meiru-chan..." he said softly.
She gave a slight nod.
"I need a kitchen knife... And some tape," he asked.
She frowned upon hearing what he had said.
"It's not the time to do arts and crafts!" she exclaimed in a low voice.
"I need it!" he insisted.
The girl groaned, but managed not to be seen as she crawled to the kitchen. She found a much larger knife and brought it back the same way. As for the tape, she found a brown strip which she took with her and brought it to the boys. None of them had moved, except for Meiru who raised her head and suddenly, the virus saw her.
The massive-headed serpent dashed forcefully against the wooden door, making everyone in the room jump. Meiru dropped the knife she was holding, her eyes wide with terror. Saito gritted his teeth as he looked at her, determined despite the deafening blows of the virus against the door.
"Meiru-chan!" he called out louder, ignoring the monster pounding from the outside. "I need this, please!"
She shook her head, overwhelmed by fear as the monster intensified its violence, almost shattering the window panes.
"Meiru-chan, be brave!" encouraged Saito with a lively voice.
Her eyes snapped open, fueled by Saito's words acting as a catalyst for her courage. She bit her lips, determined to act, and quickly grabbed the kitchen knife and roll of tape, sliding them across the floor to the bottom of the stairs. Saito took the two items and ordered the child to stay put before rushing up the stairs.
The boy arrived in his room, opened the window, and observed the Virus, which seemed not to have noticed him. He looked at the knife he held, its reflection visible on the blade, and sighed as he tightly gripped the handle with his right hand. Earlier, when he had been cooking, he had been uncomfortable using a knife for its intended purpose. He was even less at ease with using it to attack. Saito took the roll of tape and wrapped it around his hand and the knife handle, creating a solid grip to prevent him from dropping the weapon.
He took a deep breath, imagining himself back in his blue Navi form. Jumping off his balcony with courage, the preteen plunged the knife into the Virus's head. In one swift motion, he pulled the blade to the side, causing a shrill cry from the serpent-like creature. He continued to strike multiple times, causing data shapes to burst from the creature. He jumped to the side while firmly holding the knife in the Virus's head, shattering it until it lost an eye.
Once on the ground, the serpent reared up and Saito, gritting his teeth, charged at the virus's long body, striking it repeatedly until new data flew off. Quickly, he made a cross with his arms, marking the end of the battle as the monster fell to the ground, not having had time to attack a human. Pieces of data flew off into the sky, then the virus disappeared. The boy smiled, proud of his victory, his Navi combat instincts still intact. Behind him, Meiru opened the door, observing what had happened.
Meiru and Netto watched the scene, but their reactions were different. Meiru smiled seeing Saito had succeeded in destroying the threat while Netto felt a strange shiver, a sense of déjà vu, something all too familiar.
The girl approached the boy and gently took his hand, a sincere smile on her face. Saito didn't really know how to react, but the younger boy was looking at them strangely, feeling a breath escaping from his mouth.
"For a thousand times... Thank you."
To be Continued...
AN: Enjoyed it ?
I might ask you but does the Meiru and Saito's relationship bother you ? Cause I really like to write it hehe.