Ch1

The sun sank below the horizon of Akihara as Hikari Netto skated lazily toward the NetPolice Headquarters at Scilab. The day had been grueling with another mission complete and another crisis narrowly averted. But the cost weighed heavily on him both physically and emotionally even if he knew it was for a good reason.

"Man what a day," he muttered as he stretched his arms. It's been a long day but I'm just glad that I can help out.

"Netto-kun don't forget about your homework tonight," Rockman said.

He nodded as they approached the building. "I know I know. I just want to check in with Dad before we head home. Why don't you rest a bit?" Rockman smiled at him and nodded as he powered off the PET.

The corridors were quiet, except for the sound of various people in meetings and computers running. He navigated the labyrinthine halls until he reached the research facility where his father often worked with the other people in the net police. I can't wait to tell him how fast we completed this mission. The countless accomplishments he had in life were all a badge of honor to him and he hoped his father would noticed his efforts. However, as he approached he began to hear some voices.

"We can't let Netto take this mission," Commissioner Kifune said firmly.

He paused, taken aback by the harshness in the commissioner's tone. Come on I can handle a few more missions. His gaze drifted to the crack in the door where he saw his father, Commissioner Kifune, and Meijin-san in what appeared to be an intense meeting.

"I agree," Meijin said"Netto is talented, but let's face it, he's unreliable. Too impulsive, too immature for high-stakes operations."

What? His grin was replaced by a growing knot in his stomach. He knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but he couldn't pull himself away. What are they saying? I'm one of the best operators around?

"Enzan and Laika are leagues ahead of him in terms of professionalism," Kifune continued. "Netto's more of a liability than an asset at times. How many missions has he succeeded at because of sheer luck rather than skill? Honestly Rockman could do better"

He froze. What? It took him a moment to process what he had just heard as everything seemed to freeze in place.

A nervous laugh echoed from his father. "Well, Netto does have his moments, but you're not wrong. Honestly, sometimes I wish Enzan were my son instead. Can you imagine how much easier life would be?"

The room erupted into laughter yet he felt a knife in his heart. His heart stopped. His own father? He felt a cold sweat break out as the conversation continued. Why would he say such a thing? His body shook as he felt a tear hit his hand. What did I do wrong? He had done everything he could to be a good son and had fought against countless terrorist organizations. Suddenly the weight of all the fighting he did weighed on him as he staggered back.

"It's true," Meijin said, chuckling. "Enzan is everything Netto isn't. Focused, disciplined, a true professional. At times Netto's just a kid playing at being a hero."

"Laika, too," Kifune added. "He's older than Netto, more disciplined. Netto might mean well, but he'll never measure up to their level." The commissioner sighed. "Imagine the possibilities if Rockman had a serious operator like them?"

"At least Rockman has the patience of a saint," Dr. Hikari said. "Imagine if he were paired with someone more suited to his potential. They'd be unstoppable." His father sighed. "I love my son I really do but at times I question why he does things the way he does."

"Now there's a thought," Kifune said. "Maybe it's time we found Rockman an operator who can actually do him justice."

He covered his mouth his body shaking as the tears fell down his face. He could hardly process the words as they stabbed into him. The people he looked up to, the people he trusted, saw him as nothing more than a joke, an obstacle.

Quietly, he turned around and walked away, his face pale and his chest tight as he ran down the corridor. The laughter and voices faded into the background as his thoughts spiraled. They're right, aren't they? I'm just a burden. Even Rockman would be better off without me.

As soon as he exited Scilab he let the tears fall along with a laugh. Am I just a burden to everyone? His body shook as he arrived at a crosswalk. As the various cars passed by he thought of all the times he and Rockman put their lives on the line, all the times he did the right thing in part for his father to see him in a better light.

I guess I am just a reckless kid to them? His gaze drifted to his PET and his heart froze. Does Rockman feel the same way? His navi always was there for him even when he was frustrated with him. Why wouldn't he? His heart sank as doubt crept into his mind.

As he crossed the street and returned home a shiver went down his spine. Am I really holding him back? He didn't want to think about it but after what he had just heard he was doubting everyone, including himself.

As he approached his house he took a deep breath and cleaned the tears off his face. I did so much for them and this his how they feel about me? He shook his head his anger rising. If they want Enzan and Laika so much they can go ahead and work with them. With a deep breath he forced a smile on his face and entered his house.

As he walked in, he greeted his mother as if nothing was wrong and headed up to his room. Taking a deep breath he set his things on the ground and his PET on the charger and turned it on out of habit before starting his homework; it was the least he could do to not burden Rockman anymore.

"Netto-kun you're back so early," Rockman said.

His body froze. "I-I uh just wanted to do my homework right away." His heart raced as he put a smile on his face for Rockman.

His navi looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm sorry," he said quickly. "Just tired." I shouldn't burden him with my concerns anyway.

Rockman looked at him with concern but said nothing as he did his homework. His navi tried to engage in conversation a few times but he brushed him off, he didn't want to bother Rockman anymore.

He's a saint to deal with a knucklehead like me. He flinched as he forced himself to continue with his homework while brushing off Rockman's questions.

The next day he awoke on time as soon as heard Rockman's alarm. "Netto-kun you're up early," Rockman said in surprise.

He only nodded and turned away as he got ready for the day. "Netto-kun are you sure you're ok?" Rockman asked as they headed to school. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," he said quickly.

Rockman remained silent but his gaze betrayed concern. With that he went to school without complaint and ignored the questions and stares from his navi and friends. However, when school ended he decided to return home.

"Shouldn't we see if there are any missions we need to do?" Rockman asked.

His posture turned rigid. "No!" He said sharply causing Rockman to recoil. "I mean I have homework, besides they don't need me," he said softly. Why should I help them? They have Enzan and I'm such a burden to them.

His navi stared at him in concern but said nothing. The next few days were the same he woke up on time, went to school, and returned home to do his homework; all without complaint. Rockman continued to ask him what was wrong but he would always brush him off and would reject any attempts to go on any virus busting missions.

Yet he himself was growing tired of holding in what he had heard. A part of him considered telling Rockman but he didn't want to bother him. Meiru-chan would know what to do.

He stood up from his desk. "I'm going to see Meiru," he muttered.

Rockman looked at him with concern and nodded from his PET. After freshening himself up he exited his house. The streetlights flickered faintly in the evening gloom as he approached Meiru's house, his steps slow and hesitant.

He nodded. "Thank you Sakurai-san. Is Meiru here?"

"Oh yes come on in. If the three of you need anything help yourself to any snacks, I'm going out with some friends tonight" Ms. Sakurai said as she let him before leaving

The three of us? Is Yaito here too?

As he headed towards Meiru's room he heard some strange sounds. For one she was giggling and laughing while speaking to another person who sounded very familiar.

As he opened the door he was shocked to see Meiru with her arms wrapped around a very familiar guy in a red vest, black shirt and camo pants. her lips pressed against his. He froze his body shaking as he watched his crush kiss his rival. "M-Meeiru-chan!"

Meiru stopped kissing the guy and turned to him in surprise. "Netto-kun!" She quickly withdrew her arms her

"Enzan." His mind began to spin as he processed the scene in front of him while a dagger pierced his heart. It's always him.

Enzan stared at him in shock his gaze betraying unease before avoiding his gaze. "Hey."

"N-Netto I was uh " Meiru she began to stutter but he wasn't in the mood to hear it.

He quickly turned and ran tears falling down his face as he exited the Sakurai house.

"Netto-kun!" Meiru ran after him but he ignored her calls as anger and sorrow filled his body.

I thought we had something? They were always friends, maybe more but now his heart ached from the pain. How could she? Especially with him.

He eventually reached the park and sat on a bench next to the squirrel his body shaking as he forced himself to not cry. It's always him. Of course why would I suspect anything else. Everyone loved Enzan better, why would Meiru be different?

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked once he heard her footsteps approach.

"I…" Meiru stuttered her gaze teary.

"Why didn't you tell me this at first before you went any far Meiru?" His anger was rising as he clenched his fists. "I thought we had something?"

Meiru grasped her pendant as she whispered. "I… I didn't know how you would react. But me and Enzan-"

"THEN WHY KEEPING SECRETS FROM ME?" His anger bellowed inside of him as he got up, Meiru flinched under his gaze. "I THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING!" His anger was boiling inside of him was boiling up.

"Sorry it's just that we started talking and going out and one thing led to another." Meiru's body shook as tears fell down her face. "But you never made a move but Enzan did and-"

"DON'T TALK ABOUT HIM!" His body shook as Meiru flinched under his gaze. He was done hearing people praise him, he was done with people putting him done and putting Enzan on a pedestal. He was done helpng people. "I never could stand him, everyone always cared about him. I was never good enough for Mr. Perfect was I?" It may have been a lot of things but the pent up frustration he always had with Enzan was slowly bubbling up and he was done with it all.

Tears fell down Meiru's face and he didn't' care. "N-Netto-kun I-I didn't mean to-"

His posture turned rigid as he turned away. "Forget about it. So let's just say like nothing happened between us." He took a deep breath and turned away. "Stay away from me, both of you."

With that he headed back home and didn't look back even once

Am I really just some reckless burden to everyone?

As he walked towards his house he cleaned the tears from his face as something broke inside of him fully. It was as if a mental shelf had been building up in his head. All the times he helped others, all the times Enzan and Laika put him down and mocked him, all the times he was not given credit.

"Netto-kun are you ok?" Rockman asked softly.

His posture turned rigid. Taking a deep breath he walked up to the porch of his house.

"Netto-kun what's wrong?" Rockman asked. "You've been acting strange, are you ok?"

Taking out his PET and met Rockman's concerned gaze. "It's me isn't it? I'm always the problem? I'm just some reckless idiot aren't I?" His words were sharper than he intended, he didn't mean to yell at Rockman and the way his navi recoiled hurt him.

"What? No! Netto-kun I'm worried about you I really am. Please tell me what's wrong," Rockman begged.

He paused as he felt the tears form in his eyes. "Can I ask you something? I want you to promise you'll keep this between you and me."

"I promise," Rockman said softly.

He paused on his porch step. "Would you rather have another operator? Someone more serious, someone like Enzan?" He asked softly.

Rockman stared at him in shock, as if he had just slapped him. "What? How could you ask that! Netto-kun I would never choose another person to be my operator, why would you ask me such a thing?"

Tears fell down his face as a flicker of hope fluttered in his heart. "Then I'm not a burden to you?"

Rockman stared at him with concern. "Of course not. What's going on?"

He cleaned the tears off his face. "I-I'll tell you when I'm ready. Just promise me you'll stay from Enzan and Laika along with their navis. Please promise me you'll do that."

His navi stared at him with concern but nodded. "I promise." His navi stared at him with concern. "I'm always here for you."

A smile spread across his face. "Thank you." For the first time, he felt untethered from Meiru, from the expectations of others, from everything he thought mattered.

And for once, he didn't care. As long as Rockman was by his side he would never be alone.

AN: This story is based on an unfinished fanfic I read years ago where Lan/Netto overhears people talking crap about him. It was never finished so I decided to write my own with my own personal flair. So please let me know what you all think in the comments.