And that was the first time I took the initiative and kissed Miko. I had to gather all my courage to do it, but to tell you the truth, I was already overwhelmed by my feelings, which I did not think about at all.
I thought Miko would stop and back down, but instead she kept kissing me, but at least she was actually blushing.
That was guaranteed to be the best moment of my life.
After that, we both blushed all over again and stopped looking at each other.
"Oh yeah, Miko, I forgot to mention it, but I am wearing a mask now. This is not my real face."
"Oh, you are wearing it because you are wanted now?"
"Yeah, this is my real face now," I said, deactivating the mask.
"Oh, you are so cute."
"Th-thank you."
"You know you do not have to wear the mask, right? I mean, no one will recognise you as you are now."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, your whole face has changed. Even I had trouble recognising you. And besides, you are much prettier without the mask." She said with a smile.
"O-ok." said I, blushing even more.
After dropping Miko off at her house, I went back to Ryu. Now it's time to see his mother.
I arrived at his house and went inside. He was sitting in the living room watching a movie on TV.
"Oh Shinji, you are back? How did it go?"
"Everything is fine, do not worry."
"But I never said I was worried."
"Hm?"
"I-I mean, I was not worried at all because I knew you would succeed."
"I see. Good, then get ready, we are going to visit your mother."
"Oh, okay."
So he went to his room to get ready, and I had a chance to look around the room. The TV was so old I wonder how it still works. I think these TV models were around as early as 2112? Honestly, I do not remember. And let us not even talk about the rest of the furniture. In general, the house looked a little... dilapidated. Well, I think I need to fix that up. As soon as I get a chance, I'll make some changes here.
"Alright, Shinji, I am ready."
Ryu was wearing the same clothes he wore back in the park. Where I met him for the first time.
"Alright, let us go then."
We left the house and made our way to the hospital. Luckily it was not the one where my mother worked, because if she sees me like this now, I do not know what will happen.
The hospital was the ⅓ of the one where my mother works. I guess that was to be expected, after all, it is the biggest hospital in NeonDown.
We went inside and Ryu walked in front of me and talked to the receptionist. She told us where Ryu's mother's room was and we followed her directions.
When we arrived, Ryu knocked quietly on the door and said, "Mom, it's Ryu, I am here with a friend of mine. I am coming in now."
We walked in and I have to say that this is not what you call a little sick. She was lying on the bed with two serums in her right arm.
"Okay, now I guess I can not hide it from you. As you can see, my mother is not in the best shape. She had a stroke three days ago and now she's in a coma. But the doctors say she will recover soon."
Coma, huh? I know what that feels like. Hoyo... I need to find a cure as soon as possible.
"If you say so. I believe you."
At that time, someone in a doctor's coat came in and, without saying anything, tried to pull the plug on the machine that was providing oxygen to Ryu's mother.
"Hey, what are you doing? Stop it!" said Ryu, dragging him away from the machine.
He fell down, but as soon as he got up, he slapped Ryu with all his might.
"Stop it right now. Do you want to tell us what you are doing here?" said I, a little irritated by the scene.
He shook the dust off his robe and said, "These two have not paid for treatment yet. That's why we can not keep them here any longer. There are other patients as well."
"So your hospital is only interested in money?"
"You know, little girl, that all these machines cost money, right?"
"So if it's all about money, take me to your manager and I'll solve the problem right away."
"Hah, what can a poor girl like you do?"
"No one asked for your opinion. Take me to your manager quickly."
"Ts, as you wish."
So we left the room and walked through the corridor until we were in front of a door with a sign 'Manager'.
I went inside while the man stayed outside.
The manager was a little different than I had imagined. I thought the manager would be an old, ugly guy, but instead there was a beautiful middle-aged woman standing in front of me. She had orange hair and brown eyes.
She was busy doing something on the computer, but as soon as she saw me, she raised her head.
"Hmm? What can I do for you?"
"I, um, I am here about Ry... (Shoot, I do not know Ryu's mother's name)... The patient in room 164."
"How can I help you?"
"Um, how much money do they own?"
"Let me check... They own two thousand vilrs."
*Vilrs are the global currency on this planet. Two vilrs are equal to one dollar.*
"And for such a small amount of money, you were going to stop the treatment?"
"What do you mean? I never ordered anyone to stop the treatment."
"There was a man earlier who came into the room and tried to turn off the oxygen machine."
"WHAT? Who did such a thing?"
"He's outside, I think."
"I will speak to him immediately, thank you for notifying me."
"I would like to pay the amount that belongs to them, and generally the money necessary to continue treatment as long as necessary."
"I do not want to judge you, but are you sure you have that kind of money?"
"Yes, do not worry about it," I said, taking the credit card out of my jacket pocket.
I handed it to her and she swiped the card between a hole that emitted a green laser beam.
"Ok, your transaction was successful." She said and handed the card back to me.
"May I ask where you got all that money?"
"Let us just say it came from my work," I said and grabbed the card."
I left the room and saw the guy still waiting at a corner.
"What happened? Did not you have enough money?" He said and laughed.
"You should worry more about yourself." said I smiling and walked away.
But out of the corner of my eye, I saw the manager open the door and bring the man in.
I went back to Ryu and explained what had happened, and he thanked me again.
Now I can finally focus on the most important thing I need to do. I need to find a cure for Hoyo.
Looking at what happened at the hospital when I left there, I do not think they will find a cure anytime soon.
The only chance to save Hoyo is to meet Araya, who is on the other side of the gate.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention it. In 2098, the central space station orbiting the planet received a message from space. From a planet about a million light years away. It was about the plans for a gateway that could form a passage from our world to theirs and in the opposite direction.
It took us thirteen years to finally build the gate. But finally we were able to meet these alien beings. At first we were cautious because their civilization was much more advanced than ours. But after twenty-one years, we established a friendly relationship with them. So both we and they can travel to each other's planets.
At first, when I first heard about them, I thought they were like the aliens from the horror movies. But when we took a field trip to their planet in our first year of junior high school, I was surprised. They looked like normal humans, but with one small difference. They had ears and tails like the beastmen in the novels. That's why we called their race 'beastmen'. Yes, I know the name sucks, but our president does not have good ideas when it comes to naming.
So on this trip a few years ago, I met a fox girl whose parents are researchers. But that's a story for another time.
Anyway, they are more advanced than we are, so they will probably be able to help.
But I need to find a way to get through the gate. Now that I think about it, I actually do not think that will be difficult.
I mean, Miko was right. Who can recognize me as I am now? As much as I hate to admit it, being a girl has its advantages.
Well then, let us go to Voherj.