Chapter 7

Hiro's week passed as usual. His parents worked during the day, so most of his days were filled by his caretaker, a nice lady with hazelnut colored hair. In the mornings she would tutor him with arithmetic, reading, and writing. After eating a quick lunch, the afternoons consisted of her dragging him around town running various errands, like buying groceries, getting the latest fancy technological gadget, or prancing around the clothing store as she gushed about him "Growing up so fast!" and leaving the place with four new pairs of jeans and a new shirt for every day of the week. Upon returning home is mother was usually back from work, lounging on the living room sofa watching the 5 o'clock news, a cup of tea cradled in her hands. His caretaker would put away the various things they had bought while they were out, and after a cheerful "Bye!", would leave. When the 5 o'clock news ended at 5:30, his mother would proceed to make dinner, and right as she finished, around 6:30, his father would walk in the door, yelling "I'm home!" and Hiro would run to the door to greet him and give him a hug. After setting down is briefcase he would pat Hiro on the head and ask how his day was. Hiro told him what he learned from his caretaker in the morning and where they went and bought in the afternoon. They would then walk to the dining table together where his mother was finishing setting the table. Over dinner his parents would discuss the news and engage in general small talk. Hiro would take a bath, go to bed, and then the next day would start.

When the weekend arrived, Hiro jumped out of bed as soon as the sun peeked above the horizon first thing in the morning, ready for something different. He grabbed a granola bar for breakfast and started for the door.

Before he could leave his mother yelled from the kitchen, "Wait!" She came out, apron still on, and asked, "Where are you going?"

Annoyed, Hiro said, "I'm going to play with my friends again, like I did last weekend."

She sighed and said, "Wait here a minute." She disappeared into the kitchen for a few seconds and came back with a small backpack in her hands. Smiling, she gave the bag to him and said, "I packed a few things for you. There's lunch, some of your toys-"

Hiro hastily interrupted her, "I've got to go mom, I'm gonna be late." Swinging the bag over his back he opened the door and started off toward the park.

He heard her yell from behind him, "Bye! Have fun!"

He yelled back, "Bye!" and broke into a run.

When Hiro arrived at the sakura tree, Zero Two was already waiting for him. He sat down beside her, once again out of breath. He heard someone call from above, "You're late!" and looked up to see Enjo sitting on the lowest branch of the tree.

"You guys must live closer to here than I do, I seriously came as fast as I could!" Hiro complained.

Zero Two chuckled, and looked around, "Anyways, what should we do today?"

Hiro shrugged.

Enjo pointed down at him and said, "What's in the bag?"

Hiro took the bag off his back and unzipped it. He listed off the items as he examined the contents of the bag, "There's a small ball, a frisbee, my lunch, a few books, and not much else."

Zero Two pointed to the books and said, "Read those! Like you did last week."

Hiro looked up at Enjo to ask if she was okay with that, but the enthusiasm in her eyes told him all he needed to know. He reached into his bag and pulled out one of the three picture books his mom had packed for him.

By the time he finished, Enjo had climbed down the tree and was watching intently over his shoulder, and Zero Two was sat directly beside him, lost in the vibrant colors of the pages. When he closed the book, the girls said in unison, "Read the next one!" and Hiro obliged.

Soon Hiro had finished all three books, and everyone's faces were full of wonder, their minds engulfed in the stories and the pictures that danced across the pages. As he returned the books to his bag the three resolved to play catch with the frisbee and the ball.

The park was now starting to host people talking morning walks or those on their way to the museum. The sun cloaked the city in a pleasant spring warmth, and birds sang to welcome a new day upon the world.

The toys flew between the three of them until late in the morning. People started bustling down the sidewalks, and the expanses of lush grass became filled with people having picnics or enjoying a day off. When the park became too crowded, Hiro, Zero Two, and Enjo decided to once again walk around the city, Enjo once again in charge.

When they left the park the city was already awake, adults all in a hurry to be somewhere else. The streets were much the same as they were the week before, and Enjo led Hiro and Zero Two on a walk up the river. The rich blue waters seemed to come from another world next to the sullen greys of the city streets and the immense towering buildings.

When the sun passed its midpoint in the sky, Zero Two sat on a bench and said, "Hey, aren't you guys hungry? We should get something to eat."

Hiro nodded in agreement and Enjo's stomach grumbled. "Lets go to Enjo's hideout and we can all share my lunch," Hiro suggested, "my mom always packs me too much food so there should be enough for the three of us."

Enjo and Zero Two agreed and they started to walk back towards Enjo's hideout. When they reentered the depths of the city, they came upon a boy their age who looked up and immediately locked eyes with Enjo. She stopped in her tracks, turned around, and pulled Hiro and Zero Two in the other direction.

"Hey, where are we going?" Zero Two asked.

Enjo retorted sharply, "We're taking a detour."

Only when they turned around they found two more boys standing in their way. Enjo once again grabbed Hiro and Zero Two and this time led them into a nearby alleyway.

"Enjo, what's going on?" asked Hiro.

They reached the end of the alleyway, which was a dead end. Frantically, Enjo replied, "Uh, just some people I'm not on the best terms with."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Said Zero Two as they turned around to see the three boys walking in from the street.

The boys' faces were swimming with anger. There was one in front who seemed to be a bit older, or at least quite a bit bigger. The two behind him were scrawny kids that basically dwelled in his shadow. The lager kid in the front puffed out his chest and yelled, "Were you planning on giving those back?"

"Did she steal something again?" Hiro immediately thought. He looked over to see Enjo staring down at her feet, and he knew. Not wanting any trouble, he stepped in between the kid and Enjo and said, "Hey, can't we just talk it out? Reach some sort of agreement?"

The kid's angry face contorted even further, and he huffed, "You can go talk it out over there, punk." He put his meaty hand on Hiro's chest and shoved him to the back wall of the alleyway.

After standing back up, Hiro contemplated, "Should I really be defending Enjo if she stole something?" He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a scream come from Zero Two. She was pinned on the ground by the two smaller boys, and they had her arm around her back. Enjo had now been backed up against the end of the alleyway and stood next to Hiro.

Another painful scream from Zero Two clouded Hiro's thoughts. All he could think about was her voice ringing through his skull. His hands curled into fists, and one flew at the face that now stood in front of him. The large boy grinned, and put up his palm to catch the incoming punch, but his expression quickly turned to one of fear as the sheer power of Hiro's fist blasted through his hand and connected with his face.

Hiro knew the kid was out cold by the time his body hit the floor almost ten feet away. His comrades looked up in shock as his body flopped next to them. One pointed to Hiro and said with cowardice, "Look, his eyes are glowing! That kid's a monster!"

The other one looked and his face went pale. His voice trembling, he said, "L-lets get outta here!" They let go of Zero Two and scurried away, their buddy's limp body in their arms.

Zero Two stood up and brushed off her clothes. She yelled after them triumphantly, "Yeah! Thats right, you run away!"

Hiro only stood there and stared at his still clenched fist, not quite understanding what had happened. His mind was pulled back when he heard Enjo crying behind him. He looked at her, defeated and slumped on the ground. She looked up at him and sobbed, "I'm sorry. This shouldn't have happened, it's all my fault."

Zero Two came and stood beside her. With a smile she pulled her up and said, "It's fine, lets continue on to your place and forget this happened, ok?"

Enjo nodded and followed her as they left the alleyway and headed towards her hideout. The whole way there she couldn't bear to look at Hiro, who followed behind them with a blank expression.

The blazing sun above made it difficult for Hiro to arrange his thoughts correctly. He only pushed past the swarming adults on the sidewalks in silence.

When they arrived, Zero Two shoved the two large doors inward and led them inside. She lit the candle sat on the table, and they all sat down with grim a grim mood spread around the dimly lit space.

In the cool of the room, Hiro was finally able to process what had happened in the alleyway.

After some time Enjo finally looked at Hiro and said, "I'm sorry I got you mixed up in my trouble again," tears started to run down her face again, "It's just that-"

He cut her off, "Don't worry about it, we're friends, we help eachother out, no matter what."

"Friends...?" she sniffed, and dried her damp face.

Zero Two butted in, "And you'd better not forget it!" A smile spread wide across her face, joy emanating through her voice.

Enjo let a laugh escape and they all smiled. Soon the boys in the alleyway had all but faded from their thoughts; soon Zero Two rummaged through Hiro's bag, taking out the small ball and initiating a game of hot potato.

The game stopped when a grumble came from Enjo's stomach again. Holding the ball she complained, "Why couldn't this be an actual potato? I'm starving." It seemed once again that Enjo had nothing to eat for lunch.

Pulling his own lunch out of his bag, Hiro suggested, "Here, you can have some of mine." With a smile he split the sandwich and handed her his apple sauce.

Zero Two also offered up some of her own lunch, which consisted only of lolipops and honey flavored granola bars. Enjo shyly accepted, then ravenously consumed the food she was given.

The rest of the day passed without any other special occasion. They found their fill of entertainment from the other various toys that were found in Hiro's bag. Also, Enjo provided some music for the day, this time playing on a violin. Eventually the sun grew closer to the horizon and it was time for Zero Two and Hiro to depart.

With a wave, Enjo said "Thanks again, you two." as they left.

Smiling and waving back, they said "No problem." together and closed the door.

They walked back side by side in silence, the activites of the day exhausted them past casual conversation. And yet something still bugged Hiro in the back of his mind.

Lost in thought, he mumbled to himself, "Did I do the right thing...?"

"Huh?" Zero Two inquired.

"Nothing, I was just wondering if there was a way that I didn't have to hit that kid so hard... maybe we could've talked it out or something."

"The kid picked a fight and lost, not your fault he was too dumb to use his words."

"I guess so..."

It was time for them to part ways, so he pushed the thought from his mind and said his goodbyes.

"See you tomorrow Darling!" yelled Zero Two bubbliy as she bounced down the sidewalk.

Hiro returned to his house, and when prodded about how his day was from his mother he answered "Nothing special." He ate dinner happily with his family and went to bed, excited for the days to come.