Ever since Haruko left, it's been an ordinary world. Nothing amazing ever seems to happen around here anymore, and I guess that's a good thing, but I still find myself looking back on those few months when life was exciting and missing them...

No robots. No aliens. No guitars...

Now... Now, smoke doesn't even flow from the Medical Mechanica Factory anymore....

*****

It's a beautiful morning, even if it's a bit chilly.

The perfect time of year, whenever the colder winds from the mainland are making their way over to island shores of Japan, but still just warm enough for people to go out and enjoy autumn breeze.

it's not uncommon to see orange and red leaves growing on the local Momiji trees during this time of year, Whenever the local moon festivals are in full swing, and the shrines are packed to the brim with dancers, stage actors, and painters.

What is one thing I might expect to see on a day like today, you may be asking.

Well, one thing that you probably wouldn't expect to see would be robots...

would you?

Well, then you might be interested in knowing that seeing robots has become an ordinary occurrence for the inhabitants of Mabase, where a blue robot could sometimes be seen guiding traffic, saving kittens from trees, and helping little old ladies across the street.

Crazy, you might be thinking? Well, the locals might call you crazy for thinking such a thing, and they would probably suspect you of being a tourist too, since you clearly know nothing about Mabase.

Canti has been the most valuable member of society in the last ten years, they might say.

So, who is Canti?

Canti is the lord of the black flame, you fool. Do you know nothing!?

Though, in Mabase, the locals simply know him as Canti.

Okay, so, what is Canti?

I shall only give you an answer if you can answer me three riddle- Wait, where are you going?

Never mind, I'm bored now.

No, wait! Hold on a minute! Let's not be too hasty! Fine, I'll tell you who Canti is.

Canti is...

*****

Canti is a blue robot with a television for a head, the back of which was shattered by Haruko's Rickenbacker years ago. Now he walks around with a long metal protrusion sticking out of there.

He also wears a flight jacket on most days, which does shockingly little to cover up his surprisingly rotund torso, as he towers over most people with his extremely long legs.

Canti could be doing anything on a day like today. He could be volunteering at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter. He could be picking up litter and helping to protect the environment. He could be teaching underprivileged children how to read.

All of that sounded good to Canti, but today the only thing Canti would be doing is laundry.

Canti flaps a towel off of the balcony edge until all of the wrinkles are out. He then folds it up neatly and sets it aside into a small wicker basket. He then repeats the process with the rest of the clothes hanging from the balcony.

Canti always enjoyed laundry day, because it allowed him to slow down and enjoy the finer things in life. He enjoyed being able to go at a slower pace, even if he did enjoy being a contributing member to society even more.

He continues folding clothes but stops for a moment whenever he hears the sudden sound of beeping coming from inside.

It must be Naota's Alarm.

*****

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The sound of an alarm clock reverberates through the bedroom, and someone stirs to life underneath the covers. Though they don't immediately move to stop the incessant beeping, a hand eventually reaches from the sheets and hits the snooze button.

Beep! Beep! Be-

The beeping stops.

The hand rests on the clock for a few seconds before falling away as if all the life had been sucked away at the last moment.

The person underneath simply rolls over and sinks further into the covers. A few minutes go by before they even think of poking their head out of the sheets.

Another few minutes go by.

Finally the sheets are pushed aside and from them rises a young man named Naota. He had short, dark-brown hair, and blue eyes.

Waking up feeling groggy, he gets up in much the same way that one might expect to see a corpse rising from the earth; with a moan.

He rubs his eyes, as his mind starts trailing off, as it always did, to one person in particular.

Ten years ago, he met a pink-haired woman named Haruko who would forever change his life. She crashed her way into his life, figuratively, and literally, after crashing into him with her Vespa, and then hitting him in the head with her guitar.

Then pretending to be a housekeeper in order to get closer to him.

She toyed with him, seduced him, made him feel like he needed her to be whole. All in an attempt to get what she wanted, and whenever he wasn't useful anymore, she just left him.

He is now twenty-two.

Ten years ago, he fought giant robots and saved the world from crashing satellites, Nowadays, the only thing that seems to be crashing is him.

He still has a job. Has a roof over his head and on the surface it seems like he's doing pretty well.

But on the inside, he's still hurting.

He spends several more moments sitting in silence before even moving.

He turns his attention toward the electric bass guitar leaning against the wall on the other side of the room; a blue Rickenbacker; scratched up and a little faded, but still in good condition.

His thoughts dwell again on the past.

Fifteen minutes go by...

Naota takes his first step out of bed. He shivers whenever he feels his foot touching the cold floor.

He puts on some socks.

Puts on some pants.

He puts on a shirt and then over that, a grey hoodie. No work today, so he's free to go casual.

Then he heads out into the hallway.

He sees Canti taking care of Laundry. Canti turns his head to face Naota and gives him a wave. Naota waves back and gives him a brief nod of acknowledgement before moving on.

Naota stares at the metal protrusion sticking out of Canti's head. He has been meaning to get him fixed up for years now, but just hasn't had the time or money. Though he noticed that Canti doesn't really seem to mind all that much.

Heading down the stairs, he is reminded of that annoying creaky floorboard that needs to be replaced whenever he almost steps on it while in his sleepy stupor.

In the bathroom, Naota goes about his normal morning routine. Brushing his teeth. Washing his face. Showering.

He then takes a single look at himself in the and realizes that he needs a shave. It's been a few days, and it's starting to show.

So he Shaves. Rinses off the shaving gel. Puts the razor away.

Then he looks into the mirror again.

Looking into his own eyes makes him realize that it isn't the chin stubble that's bothering him. He just couldn't stand to looking at himself on a day like today...

*****

Canti is just finishing up with laundry whenever he sees a young woman approaching. Wearing a nice fur coat and matching boots. She has chin-length purple hair and bluish green eyes.

She avoids the glass door at the front, since she knows that's where the bakery was, and that it's been blocked off for a while now, anyway.

She walks over to one of the screen doors on the veranda, and takes deep breath before knocking...

*****

The smell of coffee is what gets Naota out of his morning daze for the moment. In the kitchen, he finds a freshly brewed pot waiting for him on the counter.

He quietly acknowledged Canti in his head, since he knows he wouldn't have bothered with brewing his own.

He yawns. Pours his first cup of the day.

Adds the sugar. Pours the cream. Stirs well.

Sits at the kitchen table.

Just when the first drop of coffee is about to touch his lips is whenever he hears a knock at the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sudden loud noise startles him, and he almost spills the coffee all over himself, but thankfully he got by with just a little bit on his face.

He gets up. Wipes the coffee from his cheek, and heads for the living room.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Still groggy, and now just a bit annoyed. Naota shuffles his way over to the door.

"Be right there..."

Whenever he opens the door, he's not hiding how miffed he is. That is, until he sees who's at the door, and his expression changes.

"Oh, hi, Ninamori."

On the other side of the doorway was Eri Ninamori. A young woman who is the same age as Naota. Twenty-two. And also one of his closest friends.

They had known each other since grade school, and had only grown closer over the years. Especially after Haruko left.

Naota was especially glad to see her on a day like today, and couldn't help but to smile.

"Hi, Naota. Could I come in...?"

"Yeah, sure. Please, Come in..."