"I am so screwed." I mutter to myself. I can't believe I actually came back to the facility after everything that happened. I kidnapped two of Shens friends and have them unconscious in the cave under my house. Why am I in the library?!
"What'd you say?" Boba leans over the table in a way that can't be comfortable. It's actually been a little while since I've seen my friends. It's kinda weird.
"I feel like everything is falling apart." I say. I didn't really mean to say that but I think I've ironically gotten worse at lying since I got a secret identity.
"I know what you mean." Really? Did he also get beaten up by people who work for the equivalent of Pluto man? Gosh he was the best villain in mariner satellite. "Ever since instructor lady exploded it just hasn't feel the same." Well that's technically my fault but I can't exactly say that. "Plus with Shens friends being missing it's been a bit weird." Oh wait is everything just my fault? Of course it is. "And then there's the news that got him so mad." Oh is that why he looks so angry down there on the first floor. I thought it was because Lilith had been laughing at him for the last two minutes.
"What's the news?" I don't keep up with that stuff as much as I should. To be fair when a good chunk of it is negative towards you specifically it can be a bit of a turn off.
"Wait do you seriously not know?" He crawls over the table while his sister just watches silently. He falls into my lap an I throw my arms up because I have no clue what to do in this situation.
"Are you going to get off?" At least I'm not stuttering. Progress.
"Why would I?" He asks in genuine confusion. He then pulls out his phone and looks through it.
"Can you get him off me?" I asks Lola.
"Yeah. But I won't." Wonderful. Boba finally shows me his phone. It's just another report about me. Or my recreational activities at least. There is something that does catch my interest though.
"You see why Shens mad now?".
"Yeah. I think so." I re read it to make sure.
"After multiple encounters with the terrorist known as Kaiju boy, it has been agreed upon by researchers in the ranger force that his abilities would place him at number four in the Kaiju child rankings. This is of course while considering a bunch of boring factors blah blah blah." I don't think that last part was in there but I can't say for certain.
"It's so funny! He wants to take my spot, but he lost to someone not even in the race! Hahaha!" Lilith suddenly shoes up and tumbles through the air in laughter. I forgot how fast she moves.
"Is he um, ok?" I can't imagine this is great for his pride. He's always been hell bent on reaching the top. But now he fell down in rank. Unofficially but still.
"No." Lilith says through laughs. "Plus his friends are missing. Can't imagine that's great for him." She probably shouldn't laugh about that. "Honestly I'm not even sure why he cares. It's just clickbait.".
"He's going through it huh?" I stare off into space while strings wrap around Bona and toss him away. "Should we go talk to him?".
"After what the fairy said to him I doubt it." Lola quickly tells me. I can't tell them that I have two of his friends unconscious in a cave. What am I even planning to do with them? When they wake up I have some questions but after that? "So anyways, are you helping us Haruo?" Huh? Did she just use my name?
"With what?" Did I miss something?
"Did you forget to tell him sis?" Boba asks. I'm not sure why he's still upside down but with these two you never know.
"Maybe I dreamed it. Anyways, we need you to help us find whoever did all those lasers!" Oh no.
"No one like that is in the program. They might be another newcomer. Someone else to take Shens spot." That feels mean.
"Why though? That doesn't seem like something you guys would care about." Try and keep as calm as you possibly can. Where did Lilith go?! I need her or Misty to back me up on this. I can't let them get near Artemis in any way!
"Because these crazy outsiders aren't just popping up out of thin air! We need to find them and see how they do it!" Boba yells from the floor.
"I'm in." Howlett finally enters the conversation and takes a seat.
"Guys I love the initiative but there's no way we can actually do this." I do still need to find Artemis and Jormy but this is the worst possible way to do it!
"Say yes." You've got to be kidding me. I look down at the talking cat who just whispered that from my bag.
"Hush!" I yell at the bag. "Your not doing that. How would you even find them?" They look at me confused.
"Let's do it." Shens voice comes from behind me. I lean back to look up at his imposing figure. But my horns just end up poking his stomach. He places a hand on my head and pushes me back down.
"You can't be serious." He can't be right?
"I need to find Kaiju boy. He and that laser must be connected.".
"W-what are you gonna do when you find him?" I feel like I already know the answer.
"I'm going to show him what the instructor couldn't." He stares down at me intensely.
"But he saved you didn't he? Back when big turtle attacked." Please.
"He stole my glory is what he did.".
"Seems to happen a lot around here doesn't it?" Satoshi drops from the upper floor onto the table. It creaks under his weight but still makes a commendable effort.
"…why are you here?" I gulp. I haven't really seen him since I burned him alive.
"I'm your new instructor." Oh please say he's kidding. "Anyways. That's all i had to say. I'm not gonna coddle you though. Your trainings your own." He the backflips off the table to the first floor.
"Wait." And he's gone.
"That's your brother?" Howlett asks excitedly. Oh right, he wanted to fight him. Still can't let that happen.
"Could've fooled me." I whisper and rest my head in my hands. Because of course he would be here. Of course.
"I'm gonna fight him." There it is.
"No you won't." Shens wing presses down on Howletts chest.
"Why? A real man has to fight." Is there an actual rule book for this stuff? I stand up and put my bag on my back. I can feel Allister fidgeting around in there. I have no idea why he tried to make me go along with this but that's a long talk for later.
"Where are you going?" Shen asks.
"I need to talk to Satoshi. I'm not going to look for terrorists with you guys." I start to walk off.
"What about my friends?! They have to be connected.".
"…they'll turn up." The way everyone talks about them makes me think that it's all four. Not sure what's up with the other two but I'll edify it out later.
"Come on drug guy! Don't be like that. We need you!" Boba at this point is just balancing on his head.
"Then you won't do it. Good." I think I'm getting strong enough that I can sort these out by myself. The others are capable, I know that. But this isn't what we trained for. Shen is the closest but we've just established that I probably surpassed him already. I've been a liability throughout our entire time at the facility. Louhi said that this is how we justify our existence and I think this is one of those times.
"That was unexpected." Allister pops his head out when I walk down the stairs.
"I'm starting to think your not a very good ninja." He keeps doing stuff like this.
"Well how many ninjas have you met?".
"Good point." When I make it to the first floor I see Satoshi leaving the library.
"Hey Haruo." Misty calls when I leave. I don't answer.
"Satoshi." I call and run over to him. Even now he refuses to wear a shirt. I'm surprised no one brought that up.
"Not now sorry." He doesn't even look at me.
"No." I grab his arm and he finally turns to look at me. "We're talking now.".