Chapter 24: While the Earth Spun Seven Times
Upon return, Rockman learned that the news channels were most perturbed and agitated, and consequently, the public opinion also, which always seemed to be formed by people who believed that they were better informed than the broadcasted journalism, habitually denouncing it as controlled by nefarious yet hidden agenda of the state (or corporations), yet it was precisely these people who, without realizing, parroted the official statements as if they were their own assessments, eagerly regurgitating what they heard most proudly... However, even such people must have been hard-pressed on this day, for every news outlet was like a shaken wasp hive or a school of piranhas on a feasting frenzy. Every minute, everyone had something to say, something to repeat, something to speculate; there was no end to the inundation of analysis, both amateur and professional, regarding what had happened, what it meant, and what would happen in the future as the inevitable consequence. So much so, that even Rockman had a hard time parsing through the media and grasping what had happened in his absence.
In the chaos weaved by reports and speculations, Rockman was able to see that the shock and awe gripped the nation. Interestingly enough, however, it was not from the attack on the Den City Traffics server (Department of Transportation, Traffic Signal and Operations Division) that Rockman witnessed first-hand, or from the resultant disruptions to the traffic lights that caused some disorder in the afternoon, though it was the beginning of all narratives. Sure, there was a newly discovered sense of national vulnerability due to the deeply penetrating attack on the government network WWW was able to conduct, but it was wholly obscured by what WWW did after that. The sensation was from the hacking of the largest national TV broadcast and the releasing of some information that was the most incriminating to the recent superstar of politics. Yes, indeed, WWW had hijacked and proliferated some shocking information, repainting the image of Senator Akira, who rose like a morning star through his denouncement and hard-line approach against WWW ever since the Waterworks incident, as one of the most deplorable individuals, just like what happened to Ecce Homo, that fresco of Spain (Borja, Zaragoza, Sanctuary of Mercy church)—once an awe-inspiring masterpiece portrait of Jesus—, reduced to a mockery, even called 'Ecce Mono' (translates into 'Behold the Monkey').
According to the reports, a netnavi of some immense strength that was capable of manipulating the electrical currents of the system spearheaded the attack, though no footage to back the claim was available. Once the hacking was complete, the information (of claims, of evidences, of footages) was released to the public in lieu of the economy report that was due that afternoon. The superimposed broadcast was then continued for thirty minutes, looping at least three times, before everything was under control again. It was said that the culprits had fled the related scene, both physical and virtual, long before the response team made it through the suddenly installed security locks in the network.
What did the exposé contain? Most horrendous secrets that were too fantastical and well-supported to be false. It was one of those cases where the story, despite being wilder than the fever dreams, had just enough plausibility, as well as lack of self-contradiction, that it approached all who considered it as remarkably true. In summary,
1. The money laundering accusation that had been tailing him was claimed to be true, with WWW as the key participant in the scheme.
2. Allegedly exchanged messages between the senator and WWW, associating the man with other deeds.
3. Evidence of the 'cordial' relationship between the senator and WWW, which was particularly hypocritical given the senator's singular and publicized antagonism against that crime organization.
4. Evidence that WWW had a helping hand in the senator's previous election cycle, showing how the organization had put pressure on the key figures of the opposing camp.
5. Suggestions that Senator Akira was the one who wanted the daughter of Senator T. to be abducted, which was a scandal of many years ago that ended up in the crackdown and disbanding of several suspected Yakuza groups in the aftermath.
A scandal of inconceivable scale for a rising political superstar! It was a situation that even the most naive of journalists deigned to dream of, for then it would be too good to be true. That impossibility just became reality; it seemed, despite the feeding frenzy the journalists were having on this new development, the politics departments of all news organizations were set for at least a month. There were so many discussions to be had: why was the government network so vulnerable? Was netpolice not doing its job? Or was it the case in which the netpolice was underfunded and understaffed, and that this is simply a natural result of the half-hearted funding compromise made in the last budget cycle? Is it true that the standard issue netnavi for netpolice is grossly outclassed? Will the idea of making a new team of netpolice equipped with highly expensive custom netnavis be pushed? Are the allegations true? Was Senator Akira lying to the public all the time, and that his hatred towards WWW was to either cover his tracks or due to a fallout between him and WWW? Did the senator violate election rules? What will the prosecutor's office say about all this? Is it lawful to begin an investigation when the plaintiff is a criminal organization? Why is the senator being quiet when everyone is expecting a prompt response from him?
Over the dinner, in which Dr. Yuichiro was absent as so often happened to be—and though by no means was the doctor not missed by his family, his absence was frequently accepted and then forgiven—Haruka maintained the channel on the television and let the passionate conversations by the 'experts' fill the air. At first, she seemed quite interested, even sharply commenting at them with intellect that was not expected from mothers of ACDC town.
[At the moment, it is too premature to say that any of the allegations are real, especially given the source of these materials-]
A guest speaker, a professor of some sort, was speaking with the driest tone known to mankind—the kind that puts even the most determined students to involuntary slumber—as if doing so would lend him more credibility to his most cowardly assessment of the situation. It was obvious that the man was somehow trying to defend the position of the implicated senator; did he truly believe what he was spewing forth?
"Of course, it is true. Of course! The rat was cornered and has bitten the cat!" Haruka exclaimed in exasperation, or it was more accurate to say that the exasperation of having to hear such an opinion pushed her to the uncontrolled exclamation. But what was the point? Her sound would not reach those inside the screen, and she was not the only one with such a feeling.
[Yes, indeed, one would be inclined to say so, but we must remember that some of these allegations have been presented before, and that they were dismissed by the high court when brought to attention by-] another speaker continued the discussion as soon as that dreadful professor finished his comment.
"And that whistleblower died three months later! Suicide! With a will that tries to vindicate the senator! How convenient, how convenient! What kind of a man kills himself and has nothing to say to his family in his will? Disgusting, absolutely disgusting... It seems that everyone who has a thing to say about that senator sooner or later died out of some great regret or in some most unfortunate accident! And then the prosecution drops the case trying to respect the honor of the man who has committed the 'seppuku' ... It's like we are still stuck in the era of daimyos and shoguns! Unbelievable, simply unbelievable... Well, good luck to that wretched man trying to escape this snare. I never thought a day would come when I would cheer for a criminal organization. Oh, how unpredictable the life is!"
And in this manner, Haruka continued to refute the guest speakers on the news channel throughout the dinner. Netto meanwhile dined quickly and quietly, a bit nervous at the fact that he had been, even though unwillingly, a part of the WWW incident that shook the day. He feared an outcome in which his near-criminal involvement was uncovered; he really did not know how Haruka might react. Thankfully, Haruka, absorbed in her righteous fury towards the state of the nation and the craven panel, seemingly never noticed the cautious haste that was present in every movement of Netto. Then, as the boy stood up with the customary "thanks for the meal," Haruka glanced at the boy and then at Rockman.
It was truly a brief moment, less than a second, yet to Rockman, it seemed like a minute. Their eyes met. Then, he understood, in the way how Haruka's countenance shifted, how her eyebrows were very slightly raised, and how a hint of shock emerged in the glint of her eyes and then disappeared, that she realized something that he hoped she would not. Of the exact nature of that realization, he had no idea, but to the truthfulness of the impression, there was no doubt. Indeed, Haruka then said to Netto, so naturally, as if she was speaking about something harmless and routine,
"Netto, there is a bento box on the kitchen counter. Can you take it to Mayl? I had almost forgotten about it."
"Ah, Okay," Netto complied without much suspicion.
"Wait, no need to take Rockman with you." added Haruka as she saw the boy trying to pick up the PET.
"But-"
"It will give you an excuse to come back quickly. Won't it?"
"...That...that is true. Alright, mama, I'm off."
As Netto went outside, bento to deliver in hand, persuaded by the undeniable logic, the air changed. The smoke of deception disappeared. Haruka turned quickly and then held the PET by grabbing onto both sides, with trembling hands, with unmistakable tenderness, like she was holding the very cheeks of her son.
"My son, Saito, my son! What is wrong with you?"
"No-nothing-"
"Nonsense! Saito, nonsense!"
Haruka almost shouted; her voice of accusatory admonition came out louder than what Rockman expected, and it shook him. Well, to men, the voice of their mothers is often stronger than the pain of whips, for in their unconditional kindness, which is the first kindness they experience in life, they feel a sense of divinity. It is for this reason, or perhaps for reasons even more intimate, that men seek their mothers while drawing last breaths due to some hopeless injury, or visit their mothers' graves when regret liquefies their hearts in old age... For similar reasons, Rockman was shaken, for Haruka was still his mother, and he was her son.
"Saito, it is okay to expect me to act like an idiot out of my kindness, but it is wrong to expect me to be an idiot! Do not try to tell me that everything is okay with that face... Oh, it's okay, Saito, it's okay, it is not your fault; I should've noticed earlier..."
"It's okay, mama. It is not your fault either. If anything-"
"Not my fault! Saito, it is none of our fault. At the same time, it could be that we are all at fault here. But none of that matters now... Oh, Saito, but why? Why did you hide yourself so well from us, me and Yuichiro? Why did you deny us your company? Why be so harsh? What were you afraid of? Had I not seen you today and then realized, I can see that you would've left us without a word, and you look like death! Saito!"
"Mama...I..."
"Please tell me, Saito, honestly: how...how much longer?"
"...I am sorry."
Haruka collapsed onto the chair. She did it in such a way that was like an inanimate object obeying the law of gravity. She understood that the apology meant the end could be the next second or the next week; indeterminable but close; they were already inside the time range specified by the margin of error.
"...Truly?"
"...Yes."
"...Saito...what were you afraid of...? Why did you hide this all from us, until...until..."
"...I did not want you to separate me from Netto."
Rockman looked down. He could no longer bear to see his mother in the eyes.
"Like we did to you by putting you in the hospital? You thought we would separate you from Netto's daily life to prolong your suffering? Saito..."
"..."
"But that does not make sense, Saito. It is an impossibility. Had Netto known, and he must know how terrible your condition is at the moment, he surely would've asked your father to prolong your existence, even at some great cost... Though he no longer considers you as a replacement for Saito, you are almost an equivalent, and he would not stand losing something of such value twice. And you, who is ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of Netto, would surely consent to what more suffering you need to endure if he wanted you to stay a little while longer... Then why would you be afraid? And why would Netto be afraid, too? Why is the separation of you two must be the only logical response from us? It's...but you won't...however, given your Netto-centric viewpoint, you would have assumed that we would share a little bit of your sentiment, because we are parents. This means..."
After a brief silence of contemplation, Haruka erupted with epiphany,
"You are planning something dangerous, and you are convinced that should we know about your plan, we would stop you, because your plan involves taking Netto to a dangerous place! You thought we would not tolerate the risk of losing both of you at the same time! That we would be perfect players of the game theory and choose to save Netto, because one is still better than zero!"
Having solved one part of the mystery, Haruka laughed. There was no sadness, no acceptance, no freedom, and no bitterness in that laughter. There was only a hint of madness. If the serpent of the Garden of Eden had laughed at Eve for taking the fruit of knowledge, then it would have been similar. It was that kind of laugh—the kind that endlessly reverberates in the mind of the hearers.
"Saito! Truly our son! Truly after your own father, who is a genius! You are right! You are absolutely right! Also, now that everything is too late, we cannot separate you!" Then, Haruka continued in the most soothing tone he had heard in his life; so soothing, so exceedingly soothing, that it only felt like a venomous centipede crawling inside his heart, "Oh, but my poor poor son...do not worry. Not at all. The little details, in the end, do not matter. Your father had tried his best, but it seems that he has lost to time and fate again, forced to helplessly watch you wither right before his eyes... And I had correctly guessed that things would come to this. Maybe you are given and then taken twice from us because the failure of your father is like nectar to God. Oh, but what does it matter? What if it is true, and what if it is false? What if God is cruel, and what if God is most loving? In the end, this torment comes from him, and it is his fault, his design... Your mother and father have already prepared a proper farewell for you. If you must have a last adventure with Netto, then do it. Have fun; let the world be the playground for you and him. No matter what happens, however, I promise you won't be lonely..."
"...Won't be lonely? How? Mama, what do you mean?"
Right after posing the question, Rockman came up with the answer himself, and he gasped. The only remedy to loneliness was company, and to make sure that he wouldn't be lonely, there had to be someone following him. And that someone had to be-
"Saito...God has tested us. In your return, we are tested. No one should be allowed to return; that has been one rule that was never broken in this world. However, with you, the rule has been broken by God himself and we were found to be worthy of a test! Know this: every test requires an answer...and an answer we have decided. You are our everything; so, in our everything being taken away for the second time, we decided that something of relatively equal value must be put on the scale...otherwise it would not be fair, don't you think?"
"...Everything? Everything of whom? God? But...what? No way! Mama! This is not something-"
Everything—the world!
"Shhh...you might be right. But at least a country, or a city, for a soul that was given and then taken away twice. A righteous trade, don't you think?"
"But...but...mama..."
"Yes, Saito, we will all fly away. Fly with you."
Fly? If hell existed, then it was precisely for people like her. She was not to fly upward, but fall downward.
"But...what about Netto? What about his future?! He still lives!"
Here, Saito tried to perceive what was stirring inside Haruka's soul by looking into her eyes. He only saw a pair of unfathomable abyss. Weren't the eyes supposed to be the lamp of the body? Where was her soul? Was...'that' her soul?
"Do you believe so? Even after he finds out that you were Saito after you are gone? Saito, my boy, my son, my saint... In your ever-forgiving broken heart, it seems that you can only imagine the world to be as gentle as you are. You underestimate the world, and the evil inherent in everyone... He will be angry, Saito, very angry...at you? For a while, I think, but then against the world, and everything that he perceives as the obstacle that barred you from revealing yourself to him. Maybe we will let the world breathe for a few more decades so we can let Netto reap it for himself...but the end will be the same. Exactly the same."
"...Mama! No!"
Saito was forced to face the reality that he had not the faintest idea about the nature of his own mother. To him, she was always so kind, so patient, so wise, so strong, like a castle on a high ground of steep slopes and picturesquely precipitous cliffs—a place of absolute invincibility and safety. No matter the insanity of the world around him, there was always a deep sense of normalcy in the house, sustained by Haruka, and in this normalcy Rockman was always able to expect a normal future for Netto, and in that expectation, he also sometimes got a glimpse of a future that he could've had... It turned out that the castle was made out of the finest sand, and the cement of integrity never existed in the first place.
"Yes, Saito, it shall be so. It shall be..."
Saito hurridely inquired; he had to know before Netto came back. There was not much time.
"If...if...just if...Netto kun decides to live on..."
"...If he decides to live on with your memory...if he decides to forgive everything...then for your sake and for his sake, we will relent. We won't be able to do anything, for Netto decided to live... But it is a meaningless conjecture, don't you think?"
"No... Mama, I believe in Netto kun. He won't...he won't..."
Haruka only smiled. It was apparent that she found the naivete of her son amusingly lovely.
"We love you, Saito."
Love?
Netto came back, and everything went back to normal as if that conversation had not happened at all... Had it not for the fearful impression that lingered in his soul, Rockman would've believed that everything was his terrible hallucination wrought from his exhaustion.
"Rockman, I thought we were crashing the WWW base on Sunday?"
In their room, after the delivery, Netto asked, and he was right. The military doctrine dictated that an advantage, once obtained, must be pressed vigorously and hastily to maximize the gain, lest the enemy reorganize and the attacker, despite the initial success, finds himself in an unfavorable position. It was only sensible, then, that they press on to the WWW base while the organization was still unaware of the compromise in their security.
"...No... Netto kun, next weekend."
"Why?"
'Because I need to figure out how to say a proper goodbye so that you won't destroy the world.' Rockman did not vocalize this. He said, instead, "Because the next week is-"
"Rockman...no...I...I don't believe this..." Netto was agape with terror. "You are going to see me through the finals? You absolute..."
"Ehem. Absolute what? Continue, Netto kun." Rockman put his hands on his waist, assuming that admonishing look that Netto came to be so familiar with, letting the boy know that negotiations were off-limits.
"...monster."
"Boo. Is that all you have to say? The last adventure is to be reserved for the days after the last exam. I am not going to give you any excuse to skip your responsibilities, and I am going to make sure you become a proper adult... You should've seen this coming, Netto kun."
"Noooooo..." Like a dejected puppy, Netto slumped onto the desk, looking up at Rockman with his big eyes. "But you are going to help me, right? Rockman?"
'Yes' expected Netto. Despite all the troubles his netnavi was having, the idea of their separation still did not impress him as realistic. In seeing Rockman today, it seemed that he would be there for him tomorrow; then, in seeing him tomorrow, the same impression would bewitch him that there would be yet another day between them. One day at a time, to the infinity. At least that was how his subconsciousness entrapped his consciousness.
"...No. I won't be able to, this time, Netto kun." Rockman's hands slipped behind him, apologetically, making them hidden from the view. "I'll wake you up in the mornings, but I won't be with you for...the days."
From his expression, it was clear that he was greatly troubled, even guilty.
"...Why?"
"Because, if I am to prevent the moment of amnesia from happening again...I, I need to minimize the information input, so that my current system stability can be retained. To do that, I concluded that the best course of action is to minimize my exposure to the outside...which is where the new information comes from...and...and...stay inside. You won't see me, but don't worry...I will be in the PET. I promise."
And spending time with Netto was a lot of information input. Every second, every minute, so preciously recorded, so painstakingly remembered; Netto's every expression, every emotion, so carefully reviewed, so meticulously observed.
"Rockman!"
"I'm... I'm sorry, Netto kun. See you in a week."
"Wait-"
Rockman did not wait. He relocated himself, in one swift step, as if any more inaction or conversation would result in the irreparable dissolution of his resolve, into the prepared place of perfect isolation, where nothing was to penetrate to him—no sound, no light, no update, no sensation, no communication... There was only himself and the digital clock that stared at him harshly like a jail guard who had enough of an inmate playing the victim card, or an old German neighbor whose only hobby was to espy and judge everything in the vicinity of his property. In this new habitation, the stillness brutally embraced him, while the solitude crowded and suffocated him. It was the solitary confinement of no stimulus, not even that of eating, for the netnavi body had no need for such bodily functions. So, in this way, he inadvertently, but also voluntarily, exacted a form of punishment on himself; solitary confinement is indeed a form of punishment imposed on prisoners exhibiting unrepentant behaviors. Then, what was the crime that led to his self-inflicted torture? Could it be true? That Rockman was not guilty, but simply had been forced into this situation through a series of bad luck? No; to every event, there is a cause; to pronounce Rockman's crime, it would be dishonesty. So much could have been different had he been honest to Netto, yet he conscientiously paved his way to hell with good intentions...
Rockman watched the clock, and the clock watched him back. In solitude, there was only oneself, and the merciless time—oh the heaviest of burdens! It was a state in which a subdivision of every second could be felt, a minute elongated like an hour, an hour like a day, and a day like an eternity. Could he have made a different decision? Did he have an option? Well, maybe it wasn't so bad. Maybe he could make friends with the clock. Maybe Mr. Clock was not as terrible as he appeared. Maybe Mr. Clock was a wise and compassionate being, and the mercilessness of time was simply his misunderstanding.
"...So, Mr. Clock, what am I going to tell Netto kun at the end? Got any ideas?"
What a load of nonsense.
.
Day 1
Rockman did not believe what Haruka said about Netto. 'Netto kun, my strong Netto kun. You will live on. You will learn to live on. In time, all will be diluted, all will be forgotten, and all will heal. There are many people in this world; it does not have to be about me or you...' was what he thought. In this sense of optimism, he contemplated on the happier subjects such as when he should let Netto know about his true identity, and how touched his brother would become at the realization. Oh, happy dreams...happy expectations that never come true...
.
Day 2
Netto tried to hold him back after being woken up in the morning. Thank heavens that he was not corporeal, lest the boy would have captured him and never let him go! Rockman simply accepted this as a propitious sign showing that in Netto was still much desire, activity, and energy, all of which were indispensable elements in overcoming grief.
.
Day 3
"Rockman..." called Netto, in a sleepy voice, in the morning, after waking up. It was a beautiful morning. Sunlight that constantly shifted between gold and canary-yellow illuminated the room. Rockman thought that such heavenly light complimented his Netto very well; in the overwhelming hue, the boy's brown hair donned the color of the light, making it similar in color to that of the field of wheat on the day of harvest. Rockman, enchanted at the sight, looked at the boy with an intensity that was similar to a longing gaze, just like how a stray cat tends to do at a person when it tastes the first kindness of its life, having been thoroughly harassed and constantly betrayed by its own kind and children alike, losing all faith in the concept of goodness...until it is saved incomprehensibly by a strange and gentle giant. Then, noticing that the boy was also looking at him, but not out of some enchantment, but in an emotion that Rockman could not pinpoint, he suddenly came back to reality. He hurriedly said,
"Good luck on the tests today!"
"Un..." returned Netto.
For the next 24 hours, Rockman thought about Netto shining in the light of the morning again and again. The beauty of the moment, burned into his memory, sustained him through the day and the night.
.
Day 4
"Rockman-"
Unlike the previous days, something in the voice of the boy made Rockman stop in his tracks. Well, that was an unfair assessment... It was Rockman's growing need for more Netto that made the voice all the more appealing. To an empty stomach, crumbs of an expired cracker are a celestial delicacy; to a full stomach, fillet mignon topped with bearnaise sauce and served with a side of salade lyonnaise is a burden.
"Yes, Netto kun?"
"..." Netto stared at him silently.
"...Netto kun?"
"...Nothing. I just wanted to see you. I'll do my best today, so..."
"I know you will."
"...So..."
"I'll be here."
"...Right."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"...Yeah."
"See you later."
"...See you."
.
Day 5
Netto looked dark...not physically, but almost visibly dark, like a shadow had been cast over him. It was as if some thoughts had gathered over him, like a storm cloud, even covering part of his face. Inside his eyes, his soul, the heart of the storm where everything was dreadfully still and quiet, Rockman was able to read what the boy was suppressing:
'Netto kun, you...you feel...alone...because, because...because you have accepted!'
Indeed, in the darkness was acceptance, just as Rockman found his acceptance in his personalized darkness also. In that darkness, Netto's mind was already in the future, though he was still living through the present. Netto was already missing Rockman, despite the presence of the blue navi in the PET.
"Good morning, Netto kun!" said Rockman, as cheerfully as possible (but definitely not cheerful enough to convince anyone).
"...Good morning, Rockman." returned Netto, dreadfully.
Ah, it was no use. Rockman could see very clearly: the boy was already alone.
.
Day 6
Netto had a terrible nightmare. They—he and Rockman—were, in the dream, at the playground near their house, one of the favorite places of Saito Hikari, and they were watching a sunset, also Saito Hikari's favorite hour of the day. Rockman was on a swing, and Netto was standing next to him. Rockman in the real world! That was certainly a very strange detail, but in the dream, he did not find it strange at all, for the normalization of such strange facts is what defines a dream, and from such strangeness the shameless desires of the dreamers are relentlessly revealed, sometimes even granting happiness...and the boy never questioned it. When the sun had dipped just below the horizon, so that the sky still remained flaming red while the sun itself became invisible, Rockman stood up, looked at Netto, and said,
"I need to go."
Rockman placed his hand on the boy's cheek, gave an incomprehensible stare (of pity? of regret? of freedom?), turned around, and walked away. Netto could not say anything. He could not respond. Not out of petrification but because dreams tend to be unfair to the dreamers. The dream, somehow, for some reason, did not allow him to do anything. Perhaps he was indeed petrified, and Rockman stared at him as Medusa did to all her victims. Perhaps he was just not strong enough, and it was all his fault. Perhaps he was just not motivated enough, because Rockman was not Saito, and Saito had already left him-
The boy woke up in sweats and to the drumming of the ferociously beating heart, and because the heart was beating so hard, he clutched onto his chest in slight discomfort. It was as if the heart was trying to shatter the sternum and come out, like a captured bird, like a betrayed beast, like a sinner asking for forgiveness... Then, abruptly it slowed down, as if it inevitably shattered after repeated failures of breaking out. When the heart quietened, he checked the PET, hoping for something that he dared not articulate. The screen was empty. The dream was real! Real! Netto grabbed the PET. The plastic casing of the device creaked under the pressure. The clock on the screen—Rockmanless screen—indicated that he had woken up half an hour early.
"I...I don't want to be left behind anymore...Rockman...please...please don't leave me...please..."
Shattered whispers. Shattered words. Shattered hopes. Shattered soul. Shattered night.
.
Day 7
A perfect morning of rosy light, and a clear sky without a single speck of cloud it was, as if the world itself was blessing them and all that was to happen in the day. Superstitiously minded would have considered this observation as a good omen, as it could be said that Eos, the goddess of the morning (the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, and also a sister of Helios), was blushing at the good fortune that she has delivered to all under her wings, even touching the waters with her fingers and transforming them into her colors. Hikari brothers, on the other hand, were not struck by the stunning touches of Eos. No, not at all. They simply looked at each other, for they both knew that the day of days had come. The last day of their silly adventure. The day where all their hopes led, and all their hopes were to end.
"Good morning, Netto kun."
"Un, Rockman."
Netto smiled faintly yet discernibly, like the veiled smile of Mona Lisa, relieved that the day had come at last, freighted that the day had come at last. Netto knew what this feeling was called: peace.
"DR. YUICHIRO!"
Sharp shout of officer Enzan Ijuiin filled the place, as he stormed his way into Yuichiro's place. Fiery wrath dwelled upon him, like a wild Rhino that had been greatly offended by the presence of something non-self. Everything he touched made equally loud noises: the door slammed open, a few chairs that got in his way were removed from his path through kicking, each and every one of them nearly toppling in the process (but none of them actually toppled, suggesting that Enzan was rather experienced in this kind of behavior), and finally the cheap coffee table that Yuichiro used so much made screeching noise as it slid on the floor, pushed away by the officer. Enzan charged straight at the doctor.
"...Officer? At this hour? My, my, what a surprise!"
The doctor put down his cup of coffee on the desk. He had obtained this freshly brewed dark-brown aromatic infusion of roasted Ethiopian delicacy less than thirty seconds ago, and was about to take his first sip; the fact that he had forgotten to introduce to his body the first portion of his morning caffeine fix attested to how bewildered he was.
"What brings you here? How can I help you?"
Yuichiro wheeled around in his chair to face Enzan while maintaining his majestic calmness in his actions. The way Yuichiro moved reeked of confidence, surreptitiously suggesting to the subconscious of all who faced him that he was in total control, was aware of everything, and had all necessary solutions. An act, no doubt, for he was neither a god nor a devil, and therefore the privilege of omniscience was not with him, but there was indeed a certain demonic smoothness in his demeanor that tended to disarm all feeble-minded creatures that confronted him, which was the majority of encounters he endured in the Scilab, allaying them into an enslaving compromise or a contract. Enzan, of course, disliked the doctor for precisely this quality. The officer still did not believe that he signed the deal with the doctor out of his own volition, but out of some bone-chillingly subtle manipulative techniques that relied on the domination of the ego.
"What brings- seriously?"
"At least, to expect you at this hour is not a reasonable one. Officer, surely you have your duties to tend to?"
Their meetings usually happened in the evenings.
"At this hour- you are surprised to see me this early- incredible, incredible!" said Enzan, in his feigned surprise, his voice dripping with bitter sarcasm.
"What's going on, then?"
"Playing dumb and coy, too!"
"Officer!"
"Doctor, you very well know what brings me here!"
Yuichiro tried to remind his brain that it was the time to get to work, and that it would have to do so without the aid of the caffeine. He was truly out of ideas, and to be invaded so rudely in the morning was not a happy occasion; however, he found that his current inability to deduce what precisely the problem was annoyed him more than the combative tone from the officer that he had to suffer through. Yuichiro spat out his best guess, even though he was rather confident that it was not the right answer.
"...Senator Akira? The case is mounting against him, and he is practically done for. Well, long overdue, I say! That scum had it coming...and I don't think I've seen a more entertaining spectacle in years! Now, contrary to some opinions, I do not think netpolice will be affected by this scandal in a way you fear, nor will your position within the organization be in jeopardy-"
"Senator Akira? Doctor, you think I would barge in like this because of that maggot?"
"If not, then for what are you here? What could require such an expedited confrontation?"
"Ha! Ha! So it is! So it is!"
"Ijuiin kun, I truly, truly am clueless on what could possibly be the cause of all this."
"So you insist!"
"Insist on what?"
"At being told! Very well. Since you insist, I'll happily oblige!"
Enzan drew out his PET from the holster as if it was a gun (one would imagine in the way Enzan handled it that he was ready to shoot the doctor with the device), like a sheriff of the wild lawless American West handing out a judgment, loaded the message he received this morning, and shoved it in the doctor's face, as closely as it was physically possible, until the screen of the device nearly touched the glasses of the doctor, all the while exhibiting rebellious jubilance in the process. Yuichiro did not know whether he was to become stung at this unjust treatment or be merely amused at the theatrics of the officer. Then, with profound patience, and also not wanting to make an altercation with the officer who was so much younger than him, which was beneath his dignity, decided to not take offense at the way he was being treated. He squinted and read the message, which the officer presented so triumphantly as if it was the ultimate evidence for the culpability of the doctor. It read,
[WWW base located. Address attached. Requesting support. Heading there first. Sent by .]
As Yuichiro was thus occupied and tried to make sense of the words he read, which initially came to him as astonishing, and then its implications even more astonishing, Enzan continued,
"See, doctor? If you are truly my ally, you cannot treat me like this! Why are you keeping me outside your circuit, not communicating anything? I'm not one of your lackeys who goes if you tell him to go and comes if you tell him to come!"
Enzan retrieved his PET back to his holster.
"First, you break into the police archives without warning, and do you even know what kind of troubles I have to go through to cover that shit up? But that I overlooked, because I was partially at fault for trying to dig up information about Saito Hikari, and never did I think that it would be accepted by you as so unpleasant...and I still cannot understand the secrecy attached to that name and what his name has to do with all of this WWW shenanigans. Fine, that was my fault, fair and square. But then it turns out you have been working alone in tracking down WWW! Doctor, you had the police communications tapped, didn't you?"
Yuichiro looked mildly terrified, and deep in thought. Whether the accusations were terrifying or the thought precipitating inside his head was terrifying was unclear, but Enzan continued, confident that the doctor was listening to him somehow, and also convinced that now was the time to press with his attack. It seemed to him that a little bit more and then he would no longer be subordinate to Yuichiro.
"Otherwise, there is no way that Rockman could have arrived so quickly at the ACDC metro server, and the way he did that the moment we suspected it to be a WWW attack! The culprit turned out to be a WWW-inspired lowlife without any real connections, and I could maybe understand why you remained silent regarding that incident... I tried to understand, doctor, I really did. I even advocated you against myself, that all of this lack of communication was somehow practically necessary, and that should you stumble upon something critical you would be sensible enough to share it with me. At least that much I should deserve given how much trouble I was covering up for you... No, that's not what you did. No, not at all! Not at all! And what the f- was that stunt in the Traffics department server a week ago? What was the point? Why did you have to do that? Couldn't you just ask me for a copy of whatever was there? I even had to edit the server logs to get rid of 's footprints, and thank God there were no witnesses because I was out of ideas on what to say about that execution that almost burned out the server! Or was that planned too? Doctor, you said that you were going to help me, but all I see is you trying to fuck me in the arse constantly! There is a limit to, to, to- everything, doctor, and-"
"SAITO! NO!" Yuichiro ejaculated.
"-and I cannot...what?"
In a great panic, Dr. Yuichiro began to speak, quickly, not to Enzan, but to his hands in front of him, as if they were his son who should no longer be existent in this world. It was a bizarre sight, to witness the pinnacle of rationality—the chief of Scilab—being instantly reduced to a craze that can only be interpreted as a severe neurological disorder, or, to Enzan's delight, a glimpse of the truth of the world that had been fearfully hidden—the truth which had been beyond his imagination all this while. Truth and madness, after all, are only a hair's breadth apart, just like pain and pleasure, or love and hatred.
"Saito, you are going to kill yourself! It's not too late...oh please tell me it's not too late. I promised you that I would come up with something, and I have the solution! I have that godforsaken solution! Oh, Saito, please...not like this, not like this..."
"Saito? But you said he was already-"
"Already alive! Yes, yes you are! You forgave me! You vindicated me!"
"Already...? Vindicated...?"
Enzan had never heard such an expression, nor was he unsure of to whom the doctor was speaking to—to himself? To his hands? To the person in front of him? To Saito (was that even possible)? The way the doctor said the phrase 'already alive' with conviction left an unsettling impression on the officer, for he knew that the doctor had to say such an incorrect, strange thing because it was the only correct way of conveying the truth.
"Oh, Saito...Saito...my...our Saito...Do not worry. Do not cry. In the end, you will not be alone. You will not be lonely. It has been decided. Papa and mama will be there. We will follow you. All will follow you. The world will be offered before your catafalque, burnt as an aromatic incense. Even your Netto..."
Having muttered a terrible promise in the maddening realization that Saito was on the verge of being lost the second time, and understanding everything perfectly after piecing together what he knew already and what he learned this moment, Yuichiro reached out, as a panther in ambush, ferociously grabbing Enzan by the shoulders.
"Officer Ijuiin, you have to help me, I beg you, please, please!"
Begging pleased Enzan, but not enough to blind him from the advantage he just gained. The secret of the devil, almost at hand!
"Doctor...what crime have you committed?"
"E-everything... No, I did not murder, nor did I steal, but...but it makes absolutely no difference. Unforgivable. That's what it is...unforgivable heresy of life, something no one should be allowed to do..."
"What is that exactly?"
"What difference does it make, if the sentence is the same? Indeed, the deed is already done, and even I know how I will end...must end...whatever befalls me, I will have deserved all of it...but not him! Officer, please, it's not yet too late; you can save him! Save him, please, please, that innocent soul..."
"What does Saito have to do with all of this? You must tell me."
"You really want to know? It's all my fault, that's what it is! And Saito never deserved anything that happened to him! Yet he forgave me- no, that is incorrect. He made me be forgiven, by, by, perfecting my creation! By becoming the mimicry of man himself! My sin was transferred to his head, and he became the lamb of sacrifice...voluntarily! Voluntarily! Do you understand what this means? What this tells about his soul? About, about, how pure it is?...And...and...I've been naive...no...that is unfair...I've been, been...arrogant..."
"Doctor, I am not understanding any of this. It will be best if we start from the beginning. Let's do that. Can you do that for me?"
"There's no time, officer...please..."
"I refuse to work blind anymore."
"I'll tell you everything! I promise! But not-"
"Now. Yes, now."
In the determination of Enzan, Yuichiro found himself impossibly cornered. Well, every parent is quite easily cornered when the child is held hostage... So he crumbled, and began to unbolt the door to his secrets.
"If, if I tell you, then, will you, will you save him? Will you really save him?"
"...I'll do what I can."