Hearts to Hearts

Yumi: Hey, Ulrich!
Ulrich: Yes?
Yumi: You speak Japanese! Why do you speak Japanese?
Ulrich: Oh! Ha ha, well… I took some summer courses on Japanese.
Yumi: And why have you taken Japanese courses?
Ulrich: Well, same as always, right? Anime series are trending nowadays, and I've always wanted to watch them in their original language and understand what the character says. Fortunately, my dad though it was a good idea for once.
Yumi: I see. It's a good reason to learn, I guess.
Ulrich: Well, thanks to those classes, I've learnt some things about Japanese culture, and it's pretty fascinating.
Yumi: (chuckles) We could highlight some things, for sure. But not everything's so marvelous.
Ulrich: Yes, of course. I suppose that's why you and your family are here now and not over there, I suppose.
Yumi: You hit the spot. Mi father couldn't take more of the stress that his work gave him. Fortunately, he found something more suitable for him, but only after he looked outside the country.
Ulrich: Well, he looked really far. And how's the change been for you?
Yumi: At the beginning, pretty bad. Changing your whole lifestyle is a nightmare for any ten-year-old girl. Besides, I had friends there, and thanks to the change I was forced to distance myself from them.
Ulrich: I see, that's unfortunate. But have you been able to communicate with them from here?
Yumi: I talk to them once a month. It's not enough, I can assure you. I'd love to talk to them some more.
Ulrich: For sure.
Yumi: We actually went to Fukuoka at the beginning of this year, to go visit our family. I took the chance to get up to date with them.
Ulrich: Ah, that's cool.
Yumi: Yeah… Anyway, I could already feel what the distancing did to my relationship with them: they had their own inside jokes, they remembered many recent moments that didn't involve me… But I think the worst part is… (holds her head with both hands) They went on with the band, without me.
Ulrich: (eyes wide open) Band?
Yumi: Yeah, we had this rock band with two of my friends. We went to instrument classes together and everything, to learn how to play decently. We managed to learn one full song as a group before I left.
Ulrich: Wait, wait… And what was your instrument?
Yumi: I played the bass. I'm not that good, but none of us was really good at the time.
Ulrich: (calm, but evidently surprised) You played the bass?
Yumi: Yeah. They also wanted me to sing back vocals, but it was honestly too much for me. Kazuki, the guitarist, usually sang alone.
Ulrich: (nods slowly) Wow…
Yumi: Anyway, looks like they found a new bass player: an older kid from Kazuki's school. He also did back vocals, so I guess they'll keep moving forward.

Silence for a couple of seconds. Odd snores.

Yumi: I think when they told me that, and just then, I was able to digest what moving out of there really meant.
Ulrich: I believe you. Huh, and in addition to all of that, it's been hard for you to make friends here… I'm sorry, Yumi.
Yumi: Thanks, but don't worry too much, I'm at peace with it. (smiles) Besides, I'm making friends now, right?
Ulrich: Ha ha, sure. Hey, by the way…
Yumi: Hm?
Ulrich: From what I've seen, I think you're, uh, you're a really good friend.
Yumi: Aww, thanks! You don't need to make me feel better, you know.
Ulrich: No, I mean it! You worry about us, you're not resentful, you look for instances to hang out… I dunno, I don't think everyone's like that. I know I'm not like that.
Yumi: (giggles and blushes) You're making me blush, Ulrich! But, if I'm honest, I also think you're a good friend.
Ulrich: You sure? You've seen me at my bad times, you know how competitive I am.
Yumi: It's true, but I've noticed how you worry for our integrity in general. Also, Jeremie has told me about instances where you've stood up for him. That's a quite honourable thing to do for a friend.
Ulrich: Hm, I'd never thought of it as an act of friendship. To me it's more of a duty, I think.
Yumi: I get it, but not anybody does that.
Ulrich: But maybe it's because they can't because they'll get bullied too.
Yumi: C'mon, stop rejecting the credit! I can assure you Jeremie would agree with me.
Ulrich: Okay, okay, fine. Thanks for telling me, I guess.
Yumi: You're welcome! By the way, (points at Odd) how have things been with him? You know, being your new roommate and all.
Ulrich: Honestly, it's gone a lot better than I'd thought. Sometimes he talks a bit too much and tells jokes that aren't funny, but we have several things in common. Also, he suggested that we study together, so he could help me with my grades.
Yumi: That's nice! And have you spent all this time together?
Ulrich: Most of it, but not all. He also sometimes wanders off to do his own thing; take his dog for a walk, for example. (in a lower voice) He's also been hanging out with Heidi. He told me he has a thing for her.
Yumi: (also in a lower voice) The short blonde girl from your class? (hands on her waist) Well well well! Do you think he has a chance?
Ulrich: No idea, I don't really know about those things. He's determined to try it at least, and he's confident about it.
Yumi: Ha ha! Let's hope it's not too much confidence.
Ulrich: We'll see how it works out.
Yumi: We'll see.

Yumi yawns and stretches.

Yumi: Okay, Ulrich, I think I'm beat. I'll go to my room.
Ulrich: It's okay, I guess it's pretty late.
Yumi: (stands up) By the way, you can lie on the sofa if you want. You don't have to be on the floor.
Ulrich: Okay, thanks. Let's hope Odd doesn't get mad when he finds out.

They both look at Odd, who snores inside his sleeping bag at the corner of the room.

Yumi: (leaves the living room, heading for the stairs) See you tomorrow, Ulrich. Nice chatting with you.
Ulrich: (blushes, smiles slightly) Y-yeah… Good talk.

Yumi smiles one last time at Ulrich, then looks away and heads for the second floor. Ulrich stays looking at the living room's entrance for a few seconds; then, he grabs his backpack and starts unpacking, in order to get ready to sleep.

Jeremie arrives at the factory and enters the computer room. He turns on the lights, connects the microphone and turns it on.

Jeremie: Aelita?

Aelita appears on the main screen. She's no longer in her elf clothes, and her ears are back to her usual ones.

Aelita: Hi, Jeremie. Had a nice travel?
Jeremie: Everything okay, thanks. The night's somewhat chilly, but in a nice way.
Aelita: Cool.
Jeremie: So, can you virtualize me?
Aelita: Are you sure?
Jeremie: Yeah! What difference is there otherwise?

Aelita giggles softly.

Aelita: Okay. Whenever you say.
Jeremie: Actually, gimme a minute.

Jeremie virtualizes his pillow and blanket.

Jeremie: Okay, now I'm ready.
Aelita: Thirty seconds, as usual. Leftmost scanner.
Jeremie: On my way.

Jeremie heads to the scanners. After thirty seconds, Aelita enters the proper command.

CONSOLE
IN: virt 0 jeremie

The scanner doors close. Jeremie rises from the floor a few inches and vanishes after the flash of light. He then appears in Lyoko's square. Aelita is in front of him, in her usual clothes, holding the boy's pillow and blanket.

Jeremie: How're you doing?
Aelita: Better now, thanks.
Jeremie: Good. (looks to the sky) Hmm, leaves a lot to be desired, but I guess it's enough for now.
Aelita: We need someone who knows how to paint better.
Jeremie: I think Odd mentioned that he knew about illustration. Maybe we could ask him.
Aelita: Good idea. Hey, (waving the objects in her hands) what do I do with these?
Jeremie: The pillow's for you. The blanket is so that we can have a softer surface to sit.
Aelita: I see. (giggles again) Thanks, Jeremie. I don't think we'll need it, since surface hardness is not uncomfortable here in Lyoko… But I guess we can use it anyway.
Jeremie: (scratches the back of his head) Uh, you're probably right. Well, do you wanna do something in particular?
Aelita: Honestly, no, It's enough to watch the stars for now, however fake they are.
Jeremie: That's more than fine by me.
Aelita: Come, I have a favorite spot.

Aelita heads to the cabin, followed by Jeremie. When she arrives, she throws the pillow and the folded blanket to the roof, which is not that steep. She then jumps and manages to climb up. She then turns back and extends her hand to Jeremie. He takes it.

Aelita: On the count of three, jump. One… two… (Jeremie bends his knees) three!

Jeremie jumps, helped by Aelita. Somewhat clumsily, he manages to climb up the roof.

Jeremie: (panting) You can be sure… this is not my favorite spot.
Aelita: Oh, c'mon, moving your muscles from time to time is good!
Jeremie: I guess you're right.

Once Jeremie pulls himself together, they extend the blanket over the roof and sit on it, looking at the sky.

Jeremie: Hmm, looks a bit static… I can think of a way to animate it so that it moves a bit more.
Aelita: Ha ha, stop it! As a temporary sky, it's more than okay. Besides, we should focus our energy on other things.
Jeremie: Yeah, you're right. I'll keep quiet.

The kids remain silent while watching the stars for almost a minute.

Aelita: I'm at peace with the thought now.
Jeremie: What thought?
Aelita: (sighs) It's been six years, and my father hasn't shown signs of being alive.
Jeremie: We can still find him!
Aelita: Yes, maybe, it'd be a relief to find him; but I doubt… we find him… alive.

Jeremie keeps quiet. Aelita starts to cry.

Aelita: I don't understand anything. I don't know what I'm doing here, I don't know what my father did here… I don't even have all my memories! Curse my luck!

Jeremie starts to cry as well. He puts his hand in the girl's shoulder. She looks at him and then hugs him. He hugs her back.

Jeremie: I'm sorry, Aelita… I don't know what to say…
Aelita: (sniffles) You don't need to say anything.

The kids stop hugging. Aelita dries her tears with her sleeve. She smiles a little.

Aelita: Sometimes, I imagine my missing piece also has a life of its own, and that it's somewhere else having a better life.

Jeremie manages to giggle.

Aelita: Although, what's more likely is that it's encased in some hidden hard drive, maybe burnt. At least, mine's a nice fantasy.
Jeremie: Don't give up that easily, we still know too little to get to conclusions.
Aelita: Jeremie, I commend your optimism, but I think I have to be prepared for the worst. It'd be wonderful that my father would still be alive and that we could find my missing piece; but it's also possible that it never happens, and I must be ready.
Jeremie: …I understand. But there are still some things that are on our control: there's still a chance that we can materialize you with other means, and even though it might mean you'll never be the same as before, at least you'll be able to have a relatively normal life.
Aelita: If we manage to materialize me.
Jeremie: Aelita, I'm convinced that it's possible. I agree with you on everything else, but this is going to work out, one way or another. However you got in here, you'll get out.
Aelita: (chuckles) Alright, Jeremie, let's keep hoping for that.

Once again, silence joins them for a while. Both look at the clumsily-drawn stars. Then, they hear footsteps from a couple of creatures that wander close to the square.

Jeremie: I hear monsters.
Aelita: Don't worry, they can't enter or harm us while we're in the square. They generally just wander about.
Jeremie: I see.

Jeremie manages to see a couple of kankrelats at the north-west edge of the square. Indeed, they don't seem interested in him or Aelita.

Aelita: It's pretty nice to watch them in that state. Sometimes, I fantasize on making friends with one of them.
Jeremie: Sounds dangerous. Would you try it eventually?
Aelita: I don't think their programming allows it, to be honest. It feels as if it's purely declarative.
Jeremie: Yeah, you're right. Maybe, we could reprogram one of them to achieve it.
Aelita: Hm, could be. But we'd have to do it with one of the last remaining; otherwise, it'd last too little once the rest notice its desertion.
Jeremie: It's true. (thinks for a second) Would your missing piece make friends with a kankrelat?
Aelita: (chuckles) Yes! She wouldn't be in the computer, but the kankrelat would, and it'd accompany her from her PC's monitor.

Jeremie laughs softly. Aelita sighs. They look to the sky again.

Aelita: Jeremie, I want to thank you for coming tonight. You have no idea how good your company's been to me.
Jeremie: No worries, Aelita. I guess I have some idea, that's why I came here.
Aelita: It's okay. (sighs) I don't know what marvelous chance crossed you guys' path with mine, but I'm really glad it did.
Jeremie: Why do you say that? We're not that special.
Aelita: What are you talking about? The world is full of terrible, selfish, cruel people… I've no idea what sort of people held the conflict my father was involved in, but it could've perfectly happened that they'd be the ones to find me. Instead, I have to interact with a group of kids my age, who treat me like their friend and try to help me in an incredibly unusual circumstance. Come on, even one of them gives me the hope of getting me out of here!

Tears appear once again in Aelita's eyes. Jeremie's eyes moisten again.

Jeremie: Well, if you put it that way, you've actually been quite fortunate after all, haven't you?
Aelita: Seems like it, right?

Aelita lies down, laying her head on the pillow.

Jeremie: I dunno if it's worth something, but I'm really glad I met you. The reason I want to materialize you is precisely because I care about what happens to you, and I want you to have a good life.
Aelita: (smiles, eyes closed) Thank you, Jeremie. I'm also glad that I met you.

Jeremie smiles. He then looks to the sky once again. He stays like that for a few seconds.

Jeremie: What do you think about adding phases to the m…?

Jeremie looks back and sees that Aelita's asleep. He smiles once more, lies back and stays looking at the fake sky.

- END OF CHAPTER 21 -

A/N: This one's my favorite chapter so far. I hope you liked it!

Here ends episode 5, yet another short one. The two next ones will be longer, I promise.

As usual, I can't guarantee that the next episode will come out too soon, but you can be sure it will eventually. I always post an episode when I've written two more ahead, so right now there are two more episodes that have already been written. The reason I don't post them immediately is because I write them in Spanish first (my native language), and I need to translate them (which also serves as an editing stage). Also, as I've already mentioned, most of the main plot is already planned out, so you can be sure it has a defined direction. If you like the story so far, please be patient! The story will continue.

As always, thank you for reading! And thank you to the people who fav, follow, and/or comment, you don't go unnoticed!