"Upgrading Process is 100% done, Upgrading Process is 100% done", a mellow, female robotic voice released an announcement throughout Zero's all-white secret base. A blue line on the very right of the room created a door-shaped laser that exhaled a calming smoke throughout the room as it slowly opened the science project from inside the interior
The specimen of the recent science project was none other than Zero who flicked on the menacing, crimson eyes within his head and pushed the metal body away from the magnetized wall with ease. The new result was Zero appearance changed drastically especially with the lack of silver armor and most of the parts of his new armor were transparent or glass-like similar to a containment suit.
The differences were its head was covered with a jet black, faceless knight helmet with pairs of enlightened, angelic wings on the rear parts with ocean blue as the chosen color pick. While his containment-like body was covered by thick pieces of raven-black armor from bottom to top and the arms parts were only shielded the upper parts were crossed by the string-like neon blue lines on the peak.
His rusty greyish boots had a circular part that illuminated a neon blue light brighter than the disco light. A tiny, rocket-shaped spike was planted on both of the armor on top of his arms and the leg part with each side had 3. Even his hands were significantly different than the former due to the right side being covered by a dark blue, fingerless goal made of bold metal and the left side was planted through a silver bulky gauntlet with an overwhelming, white knuckle.
Moreover, his knuckle had a neon light symbol on the middle top of the bulky knuckle as Zero lifted up to his wandering gaze. Then, The Ozmonian tilted his head and safely put down his gauntlet near his legs.
Afterward, an embarking, blue light gloriously shone through the containment suit like a dawn sun started to arise as Zero shut his menacing-looking eyes. A couple of memory fragments of him spending quality time with Hatoshi such as watching TV together on Akarui's comfy sofa, observing his friend that went into the drawing process, and lastly the moment when he patted his friend before he went to school all smoothly invaded his steady minds.
"As much as I wanted to feel human like you, Hatoshi, but 90% sure couldn't grasp that kind of feeling" Zero bittered in a chilling tone, "Therefore, I accepted and embraced my fate."
"As an Ozmonian and I would not let my conquest be destroyed by that peasant Distrunian," Zero added in a firm, yet harsful tone.
Then, The Ozmonian gazed to the white interior above that in less of a second spawned a holographic blue rectangular field that was shaped similar to a blanket. The holographic could levitate the sky above due to each of the edges planted on the white wall.
Zero sighed in relief and cast out a hundred blue sparkles from the new boots that slowly made his body floating up. With more sparkles widely scattered around the room, The Ozmonian floating body flew faster to the portal as if there was a magnetic force.
"How's the progression for the device to counter the Distrunians?" Zero asked with eagle eyes.
"40%, done, 40% done, 40% done." The female robotic voice foretold Zero with her soothing tone that echoed throughout the room.
Zero winced his eyes with a sense of solace, "Good progress."
Afterwards, The Ozmonian gazed up to the above interior in steady lock as he was now near the bluish gate that remained patient waiting for him. Especially for the swift, launching process that would be initiated.
"Next, where is the exact coordinate of Hatoshi?" Zero asked with a stoic voice.
"On the white rented house in South Azagin." The female voice quickly had the answer.
A deep chuckle was let out by Zero and shut his red eyes for a while as his body was now inched closer to the gate. Furthermore, The Ozmonian mind began to play out memory pictures 6 years ago. More specifically, the time when he, Hatoshi, and Yuna laid down on the clean grass field to watch a warming sunset.
"Thank you for the information." Zero mumbled in a pleasant demeanor.
When The Ozmonian metal body touched the blue gate, the surface became intangible, especially the more he heaved up. Moreover, a blinding blue light soared through the whole Zero body in an instance.
In less than a second, Zero's enlightened body finally freed itself from the clutches of the gate by vanishing into million blue sparkles that roamed the whole white room. Hence, the next mission of The Ozmonian was successfully initiated.
A bright orange light soon outshone through the clean, blue sky with ease and projected the warming light towards the whole Neo Tokyo. One of the objects included by the late afternoon light was Yuna's rented house that spread out a serene atmosphere as there was no unpleasant noise detected.
Inside the rented house especially in Yuna's room there was a sweet harmony created by the two of them. The high schoolers who sat on the wooden floor near the tidy mattress, glared at a wall of text paragraphs within the white tablet and the schoolgirl gave out an unsure expression. While the school boy who now wore a red t-shirt with a flaming knucled motif in the middle, gazed at the screen with a charming smile.
"Well, this is basically depreciation theory." Hatoshi mumbled with a smooth tone.
Yuna twitched one her eyes in confusion, "Depreciation theory?"
"Yup because this case is related to allocating cost based on the statement, "Delivery truck is purchased at a company cost."
Yuna hummed as she pondered the word "Delivery truck" till she softly pinched her chin and Hatoshi took a glance at the wall of text question once more. The schoolgirl remained to dig up for the answer as the soft humming got louder.
Eventually, Yuna broadly raised her eyebrows as she finally picked up the answer of figuring out this theory. Finding the logic of depreciation in this question was quite hard to understand by herself, but with the help of her close partner that possibility became easier. Hence, she sheepishly chuckled to prepare herself for a confession.
"I quite understand the logic." Yuna confessed before she let out a question, "So, if I have to answer that this case is depreciation, should I include the delivery truck statement as the proof."
"Of course, Yuna That's the strongest point why this question is related to depreciation," Hatoshi answered
"Thank you very much then, Hatoshi."
"You're welcome."
Afterward, Yuna grabbed the clean white pen beside her skirt and planted it right on the white, empty column below the wall of text and Hatoshi watched as a couple of letters popped out through the pen muzzle. Moreover, the school girl wrote her answer as if the tablet screen was paper.
"Anyway, Hatoshi, are you going to have another heroic activity again for today?" Yuna asked in an intriguing tone.
"To be honest, I am not sure about that." Hatoshi replied in a bitter tone before he presumed with a confident tone, "But, I would be ready if that happened."
Yuna could only giggle as she finished her writing on the table and safely put down her pen before Hatoshi pinned his sight towards the quiet short answer. As the schoolboy checked her answer with his scanning eyes, the schoolgirl let out a happy grin.
"You are pretty honorable and consistent even though…...you're just a mere human to those Superheroes." Yuna praised in a comforting voice.
"Thank you for that praise, I just wanted to honor my father," Hatoshi mumbled with a little bit of embracement, "Because, when I was a child, I didn't spend much time with him compared to mom."
Then, Yuna sheepishly giggled first for a start-up of resuming the conversation, "I see, I see, however, let's just continue with another topic about your work. Who are the other heroes you meet other than Zero?"
"Well, I met, The new hero Sparror, Chemistra, and the last one was quite shocking for..you." Hatoshi replied in an endearing tone, "Which is the mysterious Ice Warrior actually joined the team.
An amazed groaned was joyfully let out by Yuna either on the news of Hatoshi proven that he was not a rogue hero that is presented on the news or her close partner met the truth of Blue Winter presence. Both of that news brought a shimmering gladness to her eyes.
"That is pretty great Hatoshi and your theory is true about him. He was just a misunderstood person." Yuna exclaimed in a gleeful tone, "I said that because he willing himself to work with other heroes to stop this new threat."
"Or maybe….The Ice Warrior just tried to find a redemption path for his past crime." Hatoshi replied with a little bit of nervousness, "I guess."
"That could be possible, too."
However, their joyful conversation met its end when a lull bell echoed through the whole rent house. Yuna and Hatoshi widened their eyes in surprise before they locked towards one another in a wandering look of predicting who arrived at the front door in this period of time. Afterward, the high schoolers raised up their body from resting positions as they were ready to welcome their guest.
Around a few seconds later, Hatoshi opened the front door and his face was flabbergasted with his guest appearance. Yuna, who was behind him, immediately wrapped around his arm in a petrifying look towards their guest.
The guest who shocked them was none other than Zero with his new appearance and he tilted his head in uncertainty towards the high schoolers. The sweat of fear dropped on Hatoshi's forehead, his hand was trembling, and bit his lips. Nonetheless, Hatoshi managed to raise his courage by swallowing his saliva to the menacing look of his guest for getting further information whether it's good or not.
"Excuse me…...may I help you with something?" Hatoshi politely asked.
Zero furrowed his eyes, "Hatoshi, I am Zero and I recently changed my new appearance for an improvement."
A sigh of gladness was blown away from Hatoshi's mouth after the menacing guest revealed himself as his old friend. Even Yuna also let go of her wrapping hand as she witnessed her close partner grasping a relief atmosphere.
"Hellooooo, too, Yuna." Zero opened a welcoming greeting with his stoic tone.
Yuna sheepishly giggled before she let out a wandering eye with the unexpected presence of Zero. Moreover, the school girl softly hummed and pinched her chin as The Ozmonian switched his attention towards Hatoshi.
" Zero, are you going to ask Hatoshi out for the Superhero activity?" Yuna asked.
"For that question not yet." Zero firmly answered, "I am here for having….a conversation alone with him if you allow it."
"Sure, I allowed it."
Then, Yuna gladfully bowed towards The Ozmonian, "Anyway, thank you very much for always keeping Hatoshi safe, especially last Monday. Without you, he may not be here right now."
"You're welcome, Yuna." Zero replied with a chilling tone before he leered towards Hatoshi in nailing eyes.
Around a few seconds later, Hatoshi and Zero were now on the outside of the rented house and Yuna already left the ongoing conversation between her other friends. Furthermore, The Ozmonian crossed his hand with sharp eyes towards his close friends who slowly fell down in nervousness.
"After the last battle with Gunvalian, I realized that my motivation of becoming Sparror is …." Hatoshi mused, "Mostly related with creating a world where I and Yuna can live peacefully."
"As much I wanted to be a selfless hero, but my selfish idea still affected me the most," Hatoshi added.
Zero curiously pondered towards Hitoshi who now fell deeply to despair as the thought of living peacefully with Yuna invaded his mind. The Ozmonian tilted his head to take a good look at the schoolboy gloominess that painted all over his face.
"There is no such thing as an ideal selfless Superhero, Hatoshi based on my observation." Zero advised, "Even I still wanted to protect this planet for my supposedly, human mother figure."
"I see, but is it right away that I must separate myself from Yuna's life just like you did to your human mother?" Hatoshi bickered.
"You don't have to follow what I did because you are not an Ozmonian like me."
"Therefore, it's fine for you to have that selfish thought especially on doing your Superhero life Zero added with relaxing eyes, "Remember, those thoughts save your life especially on motivating you to fight The Distrunian even though you were drained out.
Afterward, Zero gently patted Hatoshi's shoulder with a comforting glare. A spark of confidence blasted away the gloominess within the school boy's eyes. Then, he lifted his head to get a closer look at his Ozmonian friend's before he delicately chortled.
A memory tape of him standing up in a powerless state against Gunvalian played within his mind momentarily. Confidence and felicity were mashed together through Hatoshi's grin. That memory may have given a tormenting reminder of facing The Distrunian alone, but it also gave a helpful insight into his bravery.
"Yeah, it's true, the thought of creating a peaceful world for Yuna….indeed motivated me to become a Sparror." Hatoshi bickered in a relief tone, "But, I guess I have to balance that though, am I right, Zero?"
"That's the correct statement that I wanted to hear when I visit you here." Zero replied with his gleeful tone.
Afterward, The Ozmonian let go of the encouraging pat as his friend already got a good mood, especially with his chuckling smile. The schoolboy exhaled all the burdening air away from his throat to witness the orange sunlight that gave him a shimmering hope of continuing his life as Sparror.
"After this you are going to The Ding Zui temple, right?" Hatoshi bitterly asked, "If yes, I can…."
A single wave of the metal hand prevented Hatoshi to speak further and The Ozmonian gave his friend a firm, yet calm look at the same time.
"You don't have to come for now. 15-year-old superheroes like you need more time to relieve the stress by spending time with their civilian life based on my research. Zero advice, "Therefore, I highly recommended you to stay with Yuna till The Distrunian appeared or possibly the sight of random criminal."
…
***