- Episode 6 -

It’s too early. Haruko get your elbow out of my back. No Noogie Noogie.

A truck passed by, the back-draft ruffling Naota’s hair. Haruko flip-flopped beside him in the sleeping bag they were sharing. They had covered themselves in cardboard boxes for extra warmth. But park benches were always uncomfortable and Harkuo had wriggled her way on top of him again.

Haruko, not Raharu. We already have this kind of relationship. Shinkon Ryokō

A horn blared and Naota ignored it. It had been a week of this. Traveling with Haruko. Seeing the countryside. Sleeping on park benches and eating convenience store noodles.

This is better than school. This is grownup stuff. Haruko needs me. We have to fight robots. And Aliens.

Steam billowed out from the Medical Mechanica plant on the hill.

The steam hasn’t stopped for a week. When you are in a town like this covered in steam, it’s easy to forget there’s a world out there. A world that isn’t boring and stagnant. A world where amazing things are happening all the time.

People walked by. The sidewalk was not more than 10 feet away. Everyone ignored them. The bench might as well be invisible.

I’ll sleep in a little longer, nothing ever happens before Haruko wakes up anyways. She can be such a slacker.

-

“Wake up sleepy head.” Haruko said warmly.

Naota snuggled back in to the sleeping bag trying to remember his dream.

A red light blinking in the dark void of space.

She watched the commuters passing by and saw Ninamori across the street. Haruko gave her a catty grin.

“Naota-Kun! Wake up!” She moaned melodramatically and pawed at the sleeping boy.

Ninamori turned and walked away in a huff.

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“I’m awake!” Naota said smiling. “You can be such a child.”

“You are the grown up then. Find me some breakfast.” Haruko said and picked at her nose.

“Lets just eat noodles again.” He said. “But no spicy ones this time.”

“But you like the spicy noodles.” Haruko whined. “You eat them every time.”

Tingling lips, burning my throat. Kansetsu Kisu.

“That’s because you always buy them and trade with me!” Naota said. “You never listen to me.”

A red light, blinking, floating in space. Was that a dream? Is that what is in my head?

A siren blared, and people stopped everywhere. The pedestrians, the drivers, everyone stopped to listen as the Medical Mechanica Plant erupted with more steam.

Haruko smiled then turned her foxy grin on Naota.

“Its time to go Naota-kun.” She said.

-

Two blocks down the street a small Yellow Fiat with tinted windows was parked on the curb. The female government agent inside rolled down the window to get a better look at the traffic on the street. Everyone was frozen in place as the sirens wailed.

“Activity at the plant.” Kitsurubami said. “Agents at points 12B and 19C hold your positions. Confirm line of sight.”

Amarao rushed to the window, holding two Marukyu coffees.

“I got your coffee.” He said, handing her one of the cups. “Can we see them? Are we ready to move in?”

“Field agents are in position. They won’t get away this time.” She said, taking a sip and grimacing at the too-sweet pumpkin spiced drink.

Amarao popped the top off his coffee and dumped two more packets of sugar in.

“Send in everyone, they can’t get to that hand.” He said coolly. His eyebrows snapped sharply.

He pulled out some binoculars leaning on the roof of the little car. The giant stone hand haunted the city. It had been a giant robot until the boy and that red robot knocked out its central core. The agents were being very careful how things were handled so Medical Mechanica wouldn’t activate the plant.

“Any word from the search team? Have they found the terminal core?” He asked.

“No update yet. There have been reports of missing vehicles downtown last night. Agents are scouring the neighborhood for a trail, but it’s moving erratically.”

A voice called in on the radio, a man urgently yelling.

“They are on the move!”

“All agents move in. Move in! Lethal force authorized!” Amarao shouted.

A scuffle came over the radio, gunshots, a large spring was sprung, cars crashed, people screamed, what sounded like a goat bleated.

“What’s happening? Did we get her?” Amarao shouted.

Kitsurubami opened the sunroof and brought out her rifle. Sighting down the barrel, she got a look at the chaos. Haruhara Haruko was a whirling dervish, dodging bullets and slamming agents into the air left and right with her guitar.

“She’s a monster.” She said and lined up her shot, and fired.

Naota stepped into the line of the bullet and swung his guitar. He connected firmly with the bullet and knocked it up and over the city where it collided with a skyscraper.

“Nice job Takun! Lets get outta here!” She cheered and scooped him up onto her vespa.

“They are getting away!” Amarao wailed.

Kitsurubami wiped a drizzle of nosebleed from her nose.

Amarao jumped in through the car window.

“Get in here lets go! Lets go!” He shouted as he stomped his feet on the floor of the fiat.

Kitsurubami dropped into the drivers seat and turned on the car.

“Which way did they go?” Captain Amarao whined.

Haruko blew past them on her vespa, Naota holding on for dear life.

“Nyahh.” She gave them a stink eye.

“They are getting away!” He shouted.