A HUNDRED MILES UNDERGROUND,
AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - ?
Beneath the surface, where restless eyes have forgotten the shape of the sun, a vast electrical network that stretched hundreds of meters in twisting, steel labyrinths that slept below the population held one dream: glory among few, and triumph above all. In the center of this decrepit neural mess lies an extraordinary, massive hole with hundreds of thousands of connecting mechanical ridges, responsible as one piece to a gate that would lead to a new world. The spirals of fate, whose dozen groups of dense teeth wrapped around each other in a carefully crafted blanket, awaited for their chance to turn and rewrite this story, correcting it to the author who shall bend this abomination until it breaks. Past the barren remains of the old spine, a new body to host a world of the King's desire shall be crafted in darkness, and from their ruler's eyes, a grand light shall shine into such hollow windows, and life will rise once more.
Perfection requires sacrifice, and it is a burden the King is willing to uptake. The world desires a King, but this world is fit for none. So, it must end. Anything new must take the life of its predecessor, to make way for the successor. Someone had to do it. After all, who else had the right to come this far?
"Alaka," A sharp, and dangerously inviting voice of a woman echoed throughout the chamber. "You appear impatient."
"Of course I am." Their voice was like a blade grating against stone, and cackle resembling a hyena suffocating between breaths. "What else did you expect, I sit around and do nothing?"
"Someone sounds impatient." The woman teased. "Tell me, has your malice only grown since you awakened to your power?"
"Heh, why wait to change the world?" The magician snickered. "I have the power. We have most of what's needed. Why are you stopping me?!"
"You are a child who wants nothing more than to flash their toy."
"What do you suggest I do?! Sit around until opportunity strikes again? It's tiring… Besides, why not have some fun before the party starts?"
"You speak when we allow it. You move when we allow it. You breathe when we allow it. If you have a request, simply ask the King."
The King spoke.
"Our ruler is quite generous today. Go ahead, satisfy the malice in your heart. Oh, and Alaka – be a good boy."
SEITO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, CYBERBRAIN ROOM OFFICES - THAT SAME DAY
"Whaaaaat?!" Several leagues beneath an unsuspecting teaching medical hospital, a strawberry haired, multi-coloured and multi-faceted bugster screeched at the top of her lungs, her chin strikingly pressed up against the doctor's coat. "What do you mean you're leaving me behind?!"
"S-sorry, Poppy…" Emu Hojo, top doctor in the Cyber Rescue division and pediatrician (you wouldn't know that though, since we rarely see him performing his public duties) scratched the back of his head, hoping to find some space between him and Poppy, but to no avail as she had him up against the wall; his body scrambling to find balance over a set of desks. "We wanted to tell you earlier, but–"
"It's a conference designed for licensed doctors." Hiiro Kagami, genius surgeon and son of Haima Kagami, director of the Seito University Hospital. Also, one of their closest friends and partner on most operations alongside Emu & Poppy. A few rough spots here and there in his direct 'no excuse' attitude, but a kind man nonetheless who has brought them both back down to reality on several occasions. "Hojo, we need to leave within the hour. Are you packed?"
"Yep, I was worried about searching for one last thing, but…" Emu held up a portable game system. "Turns out I left it down here."
"You're bringing that to a conference?" Hiiro sighed. "These things require our full attention. It's an opportunity for us to improve our skills as doctors by staying up to date with medical advancements."
"I'm more than aware of that!" Emu defended. "Besides," he continued with a smile. "This is only for the trip and our downtime. It's a long drive."
"No way…" Poppy let go and proceeded to sulk by her cabinet. "What a pipopredicament."
"We'll be back in a few days." Emu said, trying to reassure her. In spite of his genuine attempts, it didn't seem to be working. "Besides, it's been a long while since we've had trouble, and I'm sure if it arises you can handle it."
"She has to." Hiiro crossed his arms. "If you can't, you aren't fit to be a part of the CR."
"Wow, how rude!" Emu gulped, glaring at Hiiro with a surprised look on his face. Even after all these years, he still took his position just as seriously. It was something to admire, but a little off-putting. His social skills still needed some work. Consoling a patient was just as important as treating their illness, Emu knew that very well. "Can't you see that Poppy's in distress?"
"Of course I can." He replied so casually, checking his watch. "We don't have much time to stick around." So straightforward! Poppy pursed her lips and continued sinking deeper into her depression. Recognizing this, but also the reality of the situation, Emu left her with parting words imbedded with his signature positivity that could make a deep abyss grin ear to ear with light. "We'll leave it in your hands, Poppy."
Burying her sadness a 1000 leagues deep, Poppy jumped to her feet in a flash with a bright grin and struck a pose with her legs planted apart and fist raised high to the sky. "I'll protect the city with my life! That's a pippo-papo-promise!"
"We sure picked the right person for the job." Emu smirked back, proceeding with a fist bump that transitioned into a pinky promise.
"If any trouble arises, call us." Hiiro said, pocketing his hands and exiting the hospital; his suitcase lagging behind him as smoothly as his shoes shuffling down the blue toned, vanilla hall.
"Oh, Emu, hold on!" Poppy said, chasing after them. As eyes blinked, she appeared in front of the two. "You aren't bringing along Last Paradise X, are you? I thought we were finishing it together."
"W-well, I…" Emu shot her a toothy grin. He couldn't resist, it was just too fun not to bring along. The characters were just as engaging as the world itself, and the soundtrack was to put it bluntly: a banger and a half. Still, he did state a few weeks back that he and Poppy were going to finish it together. Despite Poppy being a physical representation of a woman spawning from a catchy (and frankly still very popular) rhythm game, she actually didn't play games much herself, so Emu had been helping her catch up to date on a lot of classics. A conjoined effort was a great way to beat backlogs and motivate you to move forward in a franchise. "That's my fault, I apologize." He reached into his pocket and took out the system once more, Poppy being handed the game. "Let's finish it together, OK?"
"OK." Poppy was alone. Although she had planned to finish Last Paradise X with Emu, the truth was that day is far from rising over the sun. It's been weeks since they got the chance to play. She couldn't be mad at Emu, it wasn't his fault – the world needed him, now more than ever as a doctor, and a brilliant doctor he was, Hiiro too, but… she couldn't help the fact that the walls of the Cyberbrain Room were growing larger with each day. She wasn't a doctor, and not fitted for more than assisting patients with the game illness. To put her up on the stand towards saving lives would be a legal disaster!
The bugster sighed, sitting by her cabinet once more with her legs coiled up to her chest. Asuna Karino, even her own name cemented her position in the world: a nurse who couldn't make the cut for a permanent position. What was the point of a game if there was no one to share it with? "Ooh!" Poppy gritted her teeth, pounding at the sides of her head with a scrunched up nose. "I can't stay all poppin' day down here pipo-papo-prying!" She wiped her tears with a yellow coloured tissue. Where did she obtain that? Who knows!
Yes, Poppy Pipopapo was alone, but it didn't mean she had to be lonely. If she couldn't rely on her friends, how was she ever going to be able to rely on herself? The day where it was time to take responsibility over her own life and build something outside of the CR was long overdue!
"Oh, Poppy!" A voice called to her while the bugster passed by. It was Dr. Haima Kagami, the director of this hospital. He was looking as chipper as ever, carrying a cup of coffee as he strolled through the halls without a care in the world. Some say ignorance is bliss, but Dr. Kagami takes the bliss part and ignores the rest. As long as peace was flying through the sky, he was content and happy. A kind man, but was someone like him fit to carry the weight of a hospital upon his shoulders? Maybe only someone who held such an easy, opinion-shifting attitude aimed to please people could be qualified to run a place like this. "Where are you off to?"
Planting her foot firmly onto the ground, Poppy turned to him with a stern glare and spoke in a deep voice. "To rediscover the definition of fun."
"Ahh, I see." Dr. Haima said, nodding his head as she skipped off. It took only a moment before his eyes widened past what most people were able to achieve with his jaw dropping.
"HUUUUH?!" With no regard for his own strength, Dr. Kagami crushed his cup of coffee and spilled it all over his coat! It was his favourite one as well! He hopped around on one foot, trying to bear the pain of the scalding hot beverage being nothing more than a terrible black stain. Before he could manage to recuperate and chase after her, Poppy had already left the building. So much for a full team of doctors at the ready…
How this hospital ever managed to live another year was a mystery he knew not the answer to.
SOMEWHERE, ON THE LINGERING STREETS OF TOKYO, 3 MILES OFF FROM TORIISAKA - AFTERNOON
"Today will be the greatest day ever." Poppy proudly pippo-proclaimed, her hands placed on her hips and with a grand grin rising past the corners of her lips. It's been ages since she had a day off. Come to think of it, actually, did she ever have a day off? Not that she could recall! Has the hospital been overworking her?! Examining herself, Poppy did feel a little worn out through the arms, and her feet were tired of walking around in these colorful, but high and high maintenance boots. Every other step she took now, since Poppy had become so focused on them, seemed to have her knees writhing in pain. She remembered once, what Kiriya, the coroner, had said.
"The best part about work is not working at all." He stated, making himself at home in the CR. "Every day, I look forward to coming home and winding down without worrying whose feet I'm stepping on."
"What if you don't get to go home?" Poppy asked. Outside of the CR, she didn't have a home. Aside from Genm Corporation, but going there wasn't an option currently, and she was certain that she wouldn't be able to get past the front door without an executive arranged invitation. Plus, the building itself was a little fear inspiring the further you went. Didn't help that such a seemingly innocent game design office held such dark secrets that kept her from fleeting freely with her usual bubbly compassionate self.
"Easy." He smirked, placing his legs up on the table. He did it ever so casually, without regard for dignity. "Wherever in the world I am, that is my home. Aren't we all allowed a bit of luxury?"
"Wherever in the world I am…" Poppy muttered to herself, standing before a never-ending labyrinth of alleyways, roads and adventure. "That is my home." Confidence brimmed ear to ear from the bugster as she pressed on forward. Usually, she didn't venture this far out. Poppy had decided that if she was going to make the most of this trip, then she was going to travel beyond those limits that were only set in her mind! Although the woman had absolutely no clue where she was currently, a process taken from hopping between buses, Poppy held no fear. Danger brings opportunity, and so the more thrill there was the more fun, right?!
"First off, I'm going to try all those sweets Hiiro never shares!" She shouted, throwing her fist into the air. People were staring at her strangely. That wasn't unusual, but in this case she didn't really stand out. At the moment, Poppy was dressed in formal attire to which she only opted to wear on special, official business, but for this excursion she was going to make an exception! Why? Because it was her day off, that's why!
Marching straight down the street, Poppy approached a bustling cafe out on the corner of an intersection. It had bright, neon lights with cool colours. Rows of people were lined up, waiting impatiently to enter. Loud, obnoxious pop music was peeping out from the tightly closed door, and inside was like a wonderland taken as a piece from a fantastical fantasy book! The baristas had rollerblades and carried their orders with such magnificent grace she had never seen before! Plus, all the food looked like a delight to eat! Sinking your teeth into that was like dipping your legs into a chocolate fountain and having a blanket of caramel coat you with its savoury warmth. Whatever could this paradise be named?!
SWEETS, TREATS & BEATS!
"Not a chance." She said with an intense scowl. If she wanted to spend the day sipping on a cherry smoothie in an establishment brimming with enough colour to make a sea of rainbows jealous, Poppy would have just stayed at home! No, today was an adventure, and in an adventure you don't settle! Settling is the opposite of opportunity. It reminded her of Hiiro. After all, he hated sweets, and seemed to much prefer his work as a surgeon than a CR resident, but he stepped outside his comfort zone every day to bask in the beauty that life had to offer that took form in the matter of choice. Just because you can choose your favourite doesn't mean you should all the time. Sometimes, to appreciate one's freedom you have to allow yourself to reach inside a magical hat and leave your fate to the luck of the draw!
Instead, Poppy kept going and made her way to a… steakhouse? Well, it wasn't a fluffy cake to shove down her throat, but she had never tried steak before! In some games food was the source of returning your health, and DoReMiFa Beat relied on rhythm more than tastebuds to maintain your status, so she didn't often indulge in a meal aside from stealing a snack or two. A whole banquet dinner was a new venture for her preferences. Hesitantly, she entered the restaurant. Was it going to be a regret? No, because it's her choice to take a different road, and even if there was trouble on the way to her destination, at least she knew. To her, knowledge was never going to be a burden. It's time to eat some steak!
Poppy spent 70,000 ¥
"Excuse me, miss…" A waiter hesitantly approached her, his face drenched in sweat. "W-we're going to have to cut you off here." His voice was trembling while he directed his gaze towards the mountain of empty plates. "P-please under-r-stand our position here!" Violently shaking, for a moment Poppy figured that his signs of completely overblown stress were the result of the bugster virus, but maybe he just didn't have much gall to begin with.
"I have more money though." She frowned, holding up several stacks of bills. Call it an unused remittance for the work for containment on the bugster virus and its continued strains. Although she wasn't a licensed doctor, Poppy was still on their payroll! Dr. Kagami ensured of it the moment she questioned her own salary!
"A bugster can't be compensated, you don't require money!" Dr. Kagami stated with a firm voice, pleading to her emotions.
"I won't be short changed!" Poppy said, poking her finger right up to his nose.
"She won't be short changed!" Dr. Kagami agreed, turning towards the board of directors.
All you can eat steak wasn't all you can eat. What to do next? Oh, a bookstore! The only books she read were the ones Emu and Hiiro left by their desks during break. The content wildly varied from official medical textbooks to magazines promoting upcoming games, or new dramas that featured names she didn't recognize, and a team of people in vibrant suits fighting against monsters. Kind of reminded her of her own life, but Poppy didn't need a reminder of a normal day in the CR.
"Cook books," Poppy muttered, flapping through a book in the cooking aisle.
"Horror… Oh, no!" Poppy was now in the horror section, and shivering.
"So many words about how to live," Poppy sighed, now in the philosophy section. She knelt over with her fist planted against her chin. "People should live a little more instead of reading about how to live!"
"This is perfect!" The bugster cheered as a bright, golden light emanated from the pages of this book. It was exactly what she had been looking for. "I'll take it." It was a journal. A simple, cream coloured book with a vast mountain of pages. These were stories meant to be written. There was no starting point, and no end point, and a whole undiscovered middle in-between. This was the perfect thing to buy!
A blank page means a million paths.
Half the day had gone by, and Poppy had practically explored most of the district. Every nook and cranny was touched! Each inch and mile, bit by bit between the corners, none were a match for Poppy Pipopapo! It was exhilarating, and exhausting! To think everyone did things like this on their day off. Maybe she should ask for some more time to herself. That wouldn't be a bad thing, right? Everyone else had lives outside of the CR, except for her. It wasn't really the bugster's fault; she was created for this purpose. Finely crafted by a wicked genius whose ambitions soared beyond the stars. She hadn't seen him in quite a while. Last she knew, he was still around here and there, but nothing regarding the game illness had come up in quite a while, so there was no trouble. No trouble equals no worry.
There was a great distance between them, always has been. Why was she thinking about this right now? Perhaps, with all her friends gone, and nothing more to do, Poppy was retreating back to where all hearts will inevitably pluck their roots: family. Strolling through the park, Poppy held her head low to the ground. Parks were somber when you had no one to walk with. Gandering at the flowers, sticking your nose deep into their buds, joining hand-in-hand along the lined path with no care for the time. When all was said and done, resting your feet by a bench with floating legs muscling through the cool, gentle wind.
The cool wind was cold when there was no one by your side to warm it up. Poppy let go of a breath she wasn't aware to have been holding. "I did so much today." She muttered, slumping back in her seat. The occasional jogger passed by, paying her no mind, even when they stopped to take a break themselves. Dogs ran freely through the field, many times with their owner side by side. Children played using every last bit of passion in their heart while their parents relieved their stress by opening their own hearts towards the odd, and never-ending complexities to everyday life. A park was a sweet, pretty portrait of a memory you may only recall long after, whose emerald blades of grass kissed your ankles, providing the only sweet release from the hardships of humanity – the transgressions to which each and every one of us are responsible to bear.
This place wasn't suited for a somber painting of a woman who sat on this bench, she who sat alone, and she who didn't understand why she was sitting here in the first place. "Are days off supposed to be so lonely?"
What was the point of a day off if you couldn't share it with anyone? If you were the only one on your day off, was there really a point? "Hnnng!" Poppy squealed, pressing her fists between her temples. People were beginning to stare again. "I can't be like this! I have to think pipositively!" A day hasn't passed and Poppy missed her friends. She missed Emu, how kind and thoughtful he was – how you could rely on him, and even when he let you down he did his best to make up for it. That kindness was one in a million, and his belief of the world always won, and not without a lot of effort. No, he fought tooth and nail for that good ending. The same could be said about Hiiro. Sure, he was far more reserved and tried his best to cut himself off from connections, but despite how uninterested he seemed to be with his emotions, he was a deeply personal man, and she admired that. There was a certain coolness to how well he managed to balance stoicism and wearing only his heart for a crowd to watch.
That determination for a good ending, and the wonderful balance were both attributes Poppy believed she was lacking lately. In their absence, she had to accomplish what they couldn't for her! Maybe happiness didn't equate to filling your stomach with a thousand steaks, or prancing around every inch of an unexplored neighbourhood. Strength comes with happiness, and happiness comes from within – so it must lie somewhere within herself, she just has to dig beneath all those layers and find out what it means! "I'll clear this puzzle with a smile!"
For the third time today, Poppy set out with a newfound determination. A new adventure burned through her mind – the quest for happiness, and to defeat this depression that etched itself into her loneliness! What Poppy was not aware of, however, is that the more you search for something, the farther you are from achieving it. "Oh!" Her eyes lit up, stopping straight in her tracks. "Taiga!"
How could she forget?! Emu and Hiiro may be gone, but Taiga was still in town! His specialty revolved around picking up the remnants of the game illness and curing them, so a weekend conference for standard medicine probably wasn't up his alley. That, and if he was a doctor under a conventional field, Taiga would refuse to go anyways. Social gatherings were the least of his worries, and he much preferred absolutely burying himself in his work until there was no room to breathe. She wasn't sure how he, as a human, could do it, but he managed!
"What, a picnic for a job well done?" Taiga scoffed, turning his back on them. "Who do you take me for?"
"Taiiiga!" Poppy had once called out. "Quit bringing down the room and join us!"
"Not a chance." He replied, shaving a smug grin off his face. "I have better things to do than hang out with low levels."
"L-low levels?" Emu, confusingly, would ask. Despite his best efforts to leave, there was one woman who refused to let him walk out that door. An opponent greater than Graphite, greater than Masamune Dan – Nico Saiba.
"Hey, who the hell are you to turn down that invitation?!" She shouted, standing her ground and shoving him away from that exit. "What are you going to eat tonight, huh?! What am I going to eat?! You didn't think of that, did you! No, you didn't! Who are you to turn down free food?!"
"I'm not your caretaker!" Taiga shouted back. Just like clockwork, they began arguing. Not a day would go by where there was clean air between the two, but they mattered more to the other than anyone could ever begin to. It was a strange relationship, one Poppy didn't understand herself. Though, it worked for them. After much prodding, and a little more shouting, Taiga caved and joined in.
Oh, Poppy was excited to see Taiga and Nico! They both acted like they weren't her friends, but all chances to have fun with the bugster were taken without much argument – at least not directed towards her! As she awaited by the bus stop, humming to herself, her feet tapped with excitement. Guess she wasn't going to be alone after all! There were a dozen things she was going to tell them today, Poppy isn't sure where to start! "My head's going to pi-pop!" Poppy squealed in a giddy voice. There it is! The bus that would save her from this boring day!
BRRRRNNG… BRRRRNNNG!
Oh, now who could that be?
AN: 7/21/23
Cliffhanger ending! Originally I was going to write a little more, but it wasn't working with the pacing of this chapter, so I've saved it for the next one! Don't worry, things are finally beginning to heat up, and no we won't be spending another chapter introducing one of our main protagonists, but keep an eye out, because our favourite witch is going to appear any day now!
Chapter 3 might take a little longer. There's quite a few plots I need to iron out, and Festival of Fate still needs its finale chapters, so those need to be written! At most, chapter 3 will come out within a month. Or, well, it could come out next week. I bet you never know with me. Either way, I hope you're excited as I am for seeing these three interact. I am very happy this idea arrived in my head randomly at night, and I'm happy to present it in the form of this story!
What I'm really hoping to get to is Kuroto Dan. #1 single father, woohoo! Until then, see you, and have fun reading! If you have any ideas, please comment down below for what you'd like to see our establishing trio do!
