Fooly Cooly...Again
'Nothing ever happens here, not anymore. Not since she left and took my life with her. "Mabase," just another word for ordinary. The ordinary town that I live in. When she was here, though, this could have been considered the weirdest place on Earth, second to Tokyo at least. When she was here, it was a town of giant robots, falling satellites, interstellar pirates, and guitars. Guitars... her guitar, that's all she left me with to remember her by. Her Midnight Blue Rickenbacker 4003 bass guitar to be exact. That and her memory, was all she left behind.'
"I lost him again because of you Ta-kun: we couldn't pull it off... Wanna come along..? Know what? Forget it. 'Cause you're still a kid, Ta-kun. Save it for next time."
'For three years I've analyzed the last thing she said to me for a clue, something for me to hope for. But still, I can't figure it out. "Save it for next time?" What did she mean by that? Would there ever be a "next time"? Three years have gone by and I'm pretty sure there hasn't been one. You know what? Whatever. Nothing ever happens here. I guess... I'll just have to live with it...'
Naota woke up to the same sound he woke up to every day: the repetitive beep of his alarm clock. The boy sat up, rubbing his eyes. He'd did it again. Staying up too late watching TV and messing with his guitar. If he remembered correctly, he went to bed sometime around three. Normally this wouldn't really matter... until it hit him that he had band practice today.
Naota face-palmed, running his hand down his face with a sigh. He jumped to his feet, pulling on his dark, tan shorts over his red plaid boxers and slipping into his navy blue hoody. Naota threw the strap of his Rickenbacker around his back before dashing out the door and down the stairs.
'Nothing much has changed around the Nandaba household since she left. Canti is still the housekeeper. Cleaning the dishes, washing the windows, and beating the carpets. My dad still works as a freelance writer, though still not much success with his "Kamon Mabase." (What a stupid pun. Something only my dad could think of. And, yeah, he's just as "mature" as three years ago.) Miyu-Miyu, my cat, is still just as lazy and fat as ever, though he's got the occasional white hair here and there. The only major difference is the absence of my Grandpa. He died about a year ago. Apparently choking on curry that was just wasn't mild enough. But I guess it's okay, he lived to be 83, so he had a long run. And about my brother... I'd rather not talk about it now...'
Naota ran through the kitchen only to be grabbed by the head and lifted into the air by Canti, his legs still in "walk mode" even though he'd been lifted off the ground.
Naota struggled, trying to break free of the robot's grip, "Canti! Not now!"
Canti responded with a picture of a plate with eggs and bacon flashing across his face-err, screen.
Naota continued to flail his legs, "No! I'm going to be late for practice!"
Even though he'd grown since she left, Naota was still no match for the "Lord of Black Flame".
Canti continued to flash the picture of the eggs and bacon.
"Fine!" Naota agreed, "A piece of toast and that's it!"
Naota ran through the streets of Mabase stuffing the toast in his mouth as fast as he could without choking. Canti had forgotten to put butter on it again, great. However, his eyes soon fell upon the huge, yellow, iron-shaped Medical Mechanica Plant.
'The MM Plant. It's just sat there since she left. Sitting in its slanted stature. No longer does smoke blow from it, no longer does it use my N.O. channel to send its robots into Mabase. It just sits there like an iron that somebody absentmindedly left on the ironing board after walking off and waiting for it to cool down. It just sits there as a reminder, a symbol what this town once was... Prison.'
Naota soon found himself standing in front of a pair of large, metal gates, centered in the middle of a high, yellow wall. On the wall to his left, a plaque that read: "The Ninamori Residence" and a speaker with a button below it. Naota pressed it.
"State your name," the speaker promptly ordered.
"Nandaba Naota," Naota replied, speaking back into the speaker.
The man behind the speaker started to reply, only to be interrupted, "Where have you been! We've been waiting for two hours!"
"Sorry, Eri. Overslept," Naota replied, scratching the back of his head.
"Really? But that's so unlike you, Naota," She mused sarcastically.
"Look, will you just let me in?"
She sighed, "Okay, hurry up."
'After she left, I took up her guitar. I didn't expect her too, but Ninamori did as well. She took guitar and bass lessons, along with me. I usually played bass, with the Rickenbacker; but, if necessary, I could play guitar and Eri bass. Gaku took up keyboarding and Masashi took the drums. And so was the birth of: Medical Metallica. Yeah, it's a dumb name, but whatever. I don't really care. Back on the subject of Ninamori. We practice in her garage. She supplies the amps, speakers, and basically everything so we've got to use them on her terms.'
The garage door in front of Naota lifted, revealing Gaku messing with his keyboard, Masashi tuning his drum set, and Ninamori tapping her foot impatiently, pouting.
Ninamori had changed her look, she wore a vanilla colored hoody, which looked almost identical to my old blue one. A short, plaid skirt with some yellow details and light, tan tennis shoes, with yellow details as well.
Naota grimaced, knowing all too well what was to come next.
"Your late again!" Ninamori shouted, poking his forehead firmly.
"Sorry. I forgot to set my alarm," Naota sighed, but he knew that wasn't going to cut it.
"Is it really that difficult for you? How are we ever going to go big if we don't practice enough!"
She continued to shout, while Masashi leaned over to Gaku, "They're fighting again..."
"Almost like an old married couple," Gaku sighed.
"Think we should stop them?" Masashi asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms behind his head, "I mean it's already getting late and we've already missed a lot of practice time."
"Nah. If they decide to apologize, maybe they'll kiss and make out," Gaku replied, pushing his glasses up so they gleamed in an odd fashion.
Masashi cocked an eyebrow, "Dude... you need a girlfriend."
"I'm sorry, Eri. It wont happen again. I promise," Naota swore, his hand over his heart (somewhat facetiously).
Ninamori stuck her face in Naota's, her angry expression melting to a warm smile, "No. It's okay. I guess we just can't expect so much from you. After all, being on time for something is so difficult."
Naota was ready to argue, but realized... you can't. Not with her.
"Yeah, I just don't know what's wrong with me," Naota lamented, no longer caring to hide his sarcasm, "I'm ever so sorry, Eri. I swear it wont happen again."
Ninamori smiled, "Good. Now, let's get to practicing."
Ninamori turned, grabbing her vanilla colored Gibson Les Paul off its stand and slinging its strap over her shoulders, "Let's get to work."
Naota rolled his eyes as he removed his Rickenbacker from his back.
'Mamimi left around the same time she did, she said she was going to Tokyo to become a photojournalist. I haven't heard from her since, I hope she's doing alright. No... she's probably doing fine. After all she went through in this town, tackling the big city wouldn't be a problem. Speaking of the robots, I've given them all names to identify them by. The first robot to attack Mamimi and Canti at the burnt down school, I've named him: Fire Starter. The balloon on stilts that came out of Ninamori's head: Cat's Eye. The huge gun slinging hand that trashed Mabase: Brittle Bullet. You're probably wonder why I named them. Honestly, I don't know. I guess to make an attempt and hold onto my sanity (and at least to know who I was talking about during interviews with the government). That reminds me of that guy with those... eyebrows. I haven't seen him since she left. I heard rumors floating around that the department of the government he worked for was closed down. I don't really know why, but I don't really care.'
Ninamori snapped her fingers in front of Naota's face, snapping him out of the daze he was in.
"Hello? Anyone home?" the violet hair girl joked, "Practice is over. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."
"Ha-ha," Naota muttered sarcastically, pulling his Rickenbacker onto his back.
Ninamori flicked Naota in the forehead.
"What was that for!?" Naota shouted annoyed.
"You wanna do something later?" She quickly responded.
"Huh?" Naota replied dumbly.
"You and me. You want to do something tonight?" She asked simply, staring at him innocently with her violet colored eyes and a small smile spreading across her face.
Naota's eyes widened, as did Ninamori's as she realized what he was thinking.
"Not that you pervert..." she huffed, flicking him in the forehead again.
"Me the pervert?" Naota smirked, rubbing the spot on his head that she's managed to flick perfectly a second time.
"Look, do you want to do something or not?" She asked, once more sticking her face in his.
Naota looked at her for a moment, before averting his eyes to the side, "Sure..."
Ninamori grinned, clasping Naota's hands in her own, "Great! There's this rebuild of the Eva series showing at the theater now. You want to go see it?"
Naota shrugged, "Sure. What time?"
"I've got tickets for the five O'clock show," she said smiling.
"Then I'll see you at five then," Naota replied.
Ninamori didn't say anything more, just smiled a bit wider and turned to leave. As Naota turned to leave, however, he thought of something...
"She already has tickets?"
The large bus headed at a steady pace towards the quiet town of Mabase. Upon it rode a passenger whom was very familiar to the small town.
Flash.
The young women sighed, sticking her head out the window and snapping a photo.
Flash.
She sat back down, running her fingers through her naturally mahogany colored hair, which now hosted a few faint black and blonde highlights.
She took a deep breath, breathing in the fresh air which was quite an improvement over the polluted city air, "It feels good to be back home..."
Naota sat at the bench across from the bus stop, tuning his guitar. Three things were running through his mind. 1.) Two hours until I meet Eri for the show. 2.) Why is there a bench across from the bus stop and not at it? And 3.) Why does he spend so much time tuning his guitar?
'Why do I spend so much time tuning this guitar? I heard countess people tell me its just a waste of time. Maybe it is, but I'd rather be doing something than not doing anything even if that something really isn't... well, anything. But whatever. Basically everything I do is just waste time anyway. I guess that's just my life. A waste of time.'
A bus suddenly rolled to a stop in front of him. As the doors opened, a crowd of people poured from the door. Each individual going off on their own personal directions. Naota looked up at the bus for a moment, before returning to his guitar. The bus drove off.
As the smog billowed from the end of the exiting bus, a young women stood there for a moment staring into the sky with her brown eyes. She wore a short, brown, plaid skirt with yellow and red details, a bluish black jacket which she wore unzipped, revealing the white undershirt she wore and her fair bust. She had a pair of long, black socks and a pair of brown shoes. Her only carry on was a large, heavy suitcase that looked like the kind you'd bring back after traveling the world and putting stickers from all the places you visited on it.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips, before she began announcing proudly, "Look out, Mabase! Mamimi's ba-"
She turned around, her eyes locking with Naota's mid-sentence.
They stood there, for what felt like an eternity. Each staring straight into the others eyes. Feelings welled up inside them, but neither knew how to express them. Just as fast as their eyes met, they found themselves in the middle of the street in a tight embrace. Each lost in their own euphoria to even notice the cars honking at them.
They finally broke the hug, both of them composing themselves after the sudden onslaught of affection. While Naota scratched the back of his head nervously, Mamimi clamped her hands behind her skirt and swayed slightly back and forth girlishly.
Naota was the first to speak and break the silence, "Mamimi, can't believe it's you! I didn't expect you to ever come back to this dull town!"
"It's a good retreat from the big city, it's nice out here. Besides, I had to come back to taunt all those old bullies of mine with my success," Mamimi said, smiling.
Naota was a bit disappointed, though her couldn't place why...
"Oh."
Mamimi blinked as she looked at him, but her smile quickly returned.
She patted Naota playfully on the head, "And I had to see my little Ta-"
She stopped herself and the young guitarist looked up for her.
She smiled returned, "Naota."
Naota smiled back, "Still the same old Mamimi I can see..."
The cars around them continued to honk, but both were far to lost in the moment to really care.
"Mamimi?"
"Hmm?"
"Let's get something to eat. My treat."
Mamimi couldn't help but blush, "Okay..."
"Oh! Almost forgot," Naota turned around, grabbing his guitar of the bench and slinging it around his back.
Mamimi raised an eyebrow, "Her... guitar?"
The red haired man found himself standing in complete darkness with nothing but a dim light shining down upon him. He wore a black suit. And upon his brow, two pieces of nori, acting as his "eyebrows."
A large sky blue monolith appeared before him. Upon it, a symbol of two M's, one over the other, and below that that number: 01.
"Amarao..." The monolith spoke, in a voice that could only be described as "booming".
"What do you want with me?" Amarao asked with a heavy sigh.
A second monolith appeared to his right. Identical to the first, except the number: 02.
"We have called you here because we have found new use for you..." 02 answered, with a voice slightly higher pitched than that of 01's.
"And... what might that be?" he asked looking up at the monolith before him.
A third and final monolith appeared to his left, this time with the number: 03.
"We require you to... look into somethings," 03 replied, it's voice lower than that of 01.
"Things?" Amarao cocked his nori-brow, "What kind of things?"
"The return of familiar faces," 02 answered.
"Familiar?" Amarao thought out loud.
"Yes, one that you are much more than familiar with," 03 added.
Amarao's eyes shot open so fast his nori-brows could have shot off into outer space, "Y-you don't mean..."
"She is coming back," 01 stated with great solemn.
Naota and Mamimi laughed as they sat at a table at the Café Bleu. They had split an order of fries and were having a good time.
"So," Naota started, sipping from his soda, "how's life been to you?"
"Great!" Mamimi started, shoving a fry into her mouth, but continuing anyway, "After I left I went to Tokyo, I got my big break as a photojournalist. You may find this hard to believe, but that Tokyo is one weird place..."
Naota grinned, "How so?"
"There's always some giant lizard or big turtle attacking that place. But still... it's nothing compared to good ol' Mabase," she grinned.
"So, have you been anywhere else?" Naota asked, dipping a few fries into his ketchup, before shoving them into his mouth.
"Oh, yeah..." the redhead replied coolly, "I've been to New York, Hong Kong, Madrid, Paris, Moscow, Los Angeles, just to name a few."
"Really? New York? Is that where you got the new hairdo?" Naota joked.
Mamimi tugged on one of her blonde highlights, "Naota, no famous person has a normal hairdo. I mean look at Pink or Elvis."
Naota cocked an eyebrow, "How do you group those two in together?"
Mamimi brought her hand to one side of her mouth and leaned a little closer, "Well, they did both gain a whole bunch of weight all the sudden. Only difference is, one did because they were pregnant."
"But Pink was never pregnant..." Naota titled his head.
Mamimi giggled, tracing her finger around the top of her glass, "I never said Pink was."
Naota and Mamimi laughed.
Mamimi had proven to be just as weird as ever, but Naota shook it off wanting to ask a more important question.
"Umm... Mamimi? I was wondering... Do you have a place to stay?" Naota asked, trying his best not to sound like a jerk if she took it the wrong way.
Mamimi frowned, "I'd rather not go back to my parents... Not after leaving for three years. It was bad enough over there before I left..."
"You could stay with me," Naota said almost automatically.
Mamimi brightened, "You mean it!?"
"Sure, my Grandpa isn't around anymore and I doubt (know) my dad would mind." Naota replied, scratching his head, trying to hide his reddening cheeks.
"Great! Let's get going then," Mamimi said, reaching for her luggage, which Naota intercepted.
"I'll take this," he said bending down to pick up the bag.
"Well, well, quite the gentleman, aren't we? Maybe I should call you: Naota-san?" Mamimi chuckled.
"Well, I have grown up..." Naota's eyes inadvertently became fixated on Mamimi's smooth legs, "You've grown up too..."
Naota quickly stood back up, ignoring those stupid, boyish urges, "Come on, I'll pay at the counter."
'I'm such a pervert. I can count three times I did or said something that could be considered perverted. First, during practice over at Ninamori's house. "You want to do something tonight?" Only I would take it that way... Second, just now! Me looking at Mamimi's legs like I did. And what I was thinking... And third, when I woke up this morning. Well, that happens every day, so I'm not sure it counts. Anyway. I was never like this before she left. Whatever she did, I certainly am not the same little boy from three years ago.'
Far off in the hill countryside that surrounded the small town of Mabase, along a deserted and derelict road, a lone rider came to a stop over looking the vast valley that Mabase seemed to fit quite comfortably into. The engine of the small vehicle hummed against the otherwise quiet and silent starry night sky that hung just above. As the shadow looked over the town through its thick riding goggles, where a thick aura of urgency loomed. The rider quickly gave a sharp kick to the kick start and took off like a bat out of hell, its scarf flapping wildly behind.
Once more, within the darkness, the three monoliths stood.
"The time has come..." 01 started.
"It's time to activate the N.O.," 03 finished.
"It is time... for us to draw him out..." 02 exclaimed.
They spoke in unison, "It is time for Medical Mechanica to return!"
Naota stopped dead in his tracks. As the sound of the siren reached his ears, his pupils shrink to the eerie sound.
The two were standing in the middle of the sidewalk.
Mamimi turned to Naota, "Naota-san? What's wrong..."
Naota turned around, confirming his worst fears...
The Medical Mechanica Plant was back in business, the lights around it shining upon it and the smoke once more bellowing from its sides.
Naota suddenly doubled over, clutching his forehead in pain (which was immense).
"Naota!" Mamimi screamed, running to his side.
"Ma-Mamimi... get out of... here! I...don't want you to... get hurt!" Naota stammered, trying his best to hold it in.
"No way!" she screamed, "I'm not leaving you here!"
"Mamimi... I-I'm sorry... I... can't hold it any-"
He could hold back the inevitable in any longer.
Naota screamed. The thing he tried so hard to hold back, bursting from his forehead. The long, slender horn, flesh around the bottom, but becoming metallic as it went, stuck out from the boy's forehead.
Naota stared in horror at the sharp metallic blade sticking from his head, "A... horn?"
The rest of the horn forced its way through the boy's cranium. Its long, thick arm following the long, sharp index finger. Alongside of which, were three not as sharp nor as long fingers. Naota struggled to keep his balance with the huge arm sticking out of his skull.
All Mamimi could do was gaze in horror, "It's fooly cooly... again..."
The arm of the machine placed its hand on Naota's head, giving the leverage it needed to force its shoulder and upper torso out of Naota, followed by its second arm. The robot then placed both its hands on Naota and with one good push, forced the rest of his body from the young boy's head.
Naota fell back into Mamimi's arms as the robot landed a few yards in front of them. The robot had a T-like shape. It almost looked like some sort of dinosaur. Its head was quite small compared to the rest of its body, but its neck was thick and powerful. The creature was slightly hunched over. Its pointed shoulders reached past its arms a few feet. Its arms contained two sections, the upper being a little more thick then the lower. Its waist had a hourglass-like shape. Its legs were long, but because of its crouched stature, it didn't stand as tall. It also had a long, thick tail which purpose was probably to counter balance the robots heavy upper body. It only had one weapon, it amazingly sharp index fingers. Sharp as a scalpel's edge.
Naota panted looking up at the machine, "Scalpel's Edge..."
Scalpel's Edge rose his huge arm, ready to bring it down on them both and end their lives. Which it would have easily done, if it wasn't for the bus that was rolling towards it. Scalpel turned its head, its eyes locking onto the threat of the oncoming headlights. With one swift turn he sliced the entire roof from the bus with a single swipe of its index finger. Even so, the bus rolled by, minus its roof.
Naota and Mamimi stared in amazement, "Oh shi-"
Scalpel rose its blade once more.
"Mamimi!" Naota screamed, throwing himself over her.
All the two could do not was what for the final strike, which never came. The two opened their eyes, finding Canti standing before them, holding back Scalpel's blade between his hands.
"Lord Canti!" Mamimi gasped.
Canti turned to them, flashing a thumbs up on his screen.
"Come on!" Naota said helping Mamimi to her feet and out of harms way.
Scalpel's eyes locked with Canti's screen. Scalpel then gave what could be considered the robot equivalent of a smirk. A question mark flashed across Canti's screen. Scalpel lifted his second arm. Canti's question mark morphed to a exclamation. Canti grabbed the other blade, seconds before it could reach him. Luckily, because Canti was made by MM as well, the blades weren't sharp enough to slice through the material of his hands. Scalpel continued to exert all of his strength upon upon the smaller robot.
Naota turned around, allowing Mamimi to continue forward to a safer place. As he watched the two robots struggle against one another, emotion after emotion began to well up inside him.
"Canti..." Naota began as helpless expression spread across his face, "He's fighting for our lives... and I can't do a thing."
Naota turned away from the fight, lowering his head in shame, "I don't have any powers... I can't even protect the ones I care about... My friends... The town... Mamimi..."
Naota clenched his fist angrily, "No, I'm not going to run away. I'm not going to be useless. Not this time."
He reached behind his back, removing the Rickenbacker.
"This time," Naota pulled the cord, the guitar starting up with a steady hum.
Naota turned back to the battle, a fierce fire burning in his eyes, "I'll fight."
Canti was reaching his limit, not even he was strong enough to hold off this monstrosity for long. As the MM bot's knees buckled, it seemed like the end was nigh. Naota's guitar collided with the side of Scalpel's head, sending the robot into the side of the building and bring down the entirety of the wall atop it. Canti stood up beside Naota, giving him a nod.
Mamimi gasped at the sight of the twelve year old boy she once knew successfully downing a machine ten times his size. "Naota?" she choked out sheepishly.
Scalpel recovered from the blow, realigning his lower jaw. The robot turned towards Naota and Canti, activating his scanners.
Target 1: Nandaba Naota. Threat: Minimum.
Target 2: Medical Bot #0235. Threat: Medium.
Scalpel roared, bringing its blades up for battle. Naota gripped his guitar.
Naota leapt, swinging his Rickenbacker down at the dinosaur-like machine; however, Naota made contact with nothing but the street. Scalpel had leapt into the air and avoided the blow. With a mid-air flip, the hellbent MM bot brought his thick tail down over Naota. Canti grabbed Naota by the collar and leapt back, pulling him out of the way just before the tail made contact. Scalpel's tail blow landed in the street, tearing through the asphalt and making a small crater. Canti dropped Naota jumping towards the robot, ready to land a kick to its side. Unfortunately, Scalpel has anticipated this move and span around, knocking Canti away with his tail. With the momentum from his spin, Scalpel ensnared Naota in his claws. Naota dropped his Rickenbacker in the process, leaving him defenses and at the mercy of the robot before him.
Scalpel brought the struggling Naota to eye level and opened his jaws. He could only dangle lifelessly as the robot prepared to swallow him whole.
Naota shut his eyes tight, "Haruko..."
A gun blast filled his ears and forced his eyes open violently. Smoke rose from behind the machine. The creature fell to his knees, dropping Naota in the process. Naota acted quickly to move back before Scalpel fell on top of him. Naota looked beyond the robot on the ground before him.
At the end of the street stood a women. Beside her, a yellow 1963 GL 150 Vespa, which also hosted a white 1967 Gibson Flying V. In her hands, a red 1961 Gibson EB-0, which she held in the Shotgun position. Her hair salmon. Her eyes bright green. Her once red jacket now black with a few yellow details. A large, red ridding scarf was around her neck. Her sleeves from her undershirt, faint yellow, as well as her pants. Her tall boots were now black. Her gloves black with yellow cuffs.
"Lunch time," she said simply.
Scalpel rose to it feet, its eyes locking onto the women.
Target 3: Haruhara Haruko. Threat: Maximum.
Naota's jaw dropped, "She's... back..."
Scalpel charged the salmon haired women, its claws drawn and ready to strike. Haruko scoffed, grabbing the Flying V off her Vespa. The moped, by itself, hastily drove out of harms way. Scalpel lifted its claws. Haruko bashed her two guitars onto the ground, propelling her into the air and over the attacking robot. She delivered a kick to the back of the machine's head as it zoomed under her.
Haruko landed before Naota, who was speechless. Both remained silent. Naota could only gaze up into her lime green eyes. Haruko stood doing the same, staring down at him with her mouth hidden under her riding scarf. Naota finally managed to control his quivering lower lip and form the words that were so simple in theory, but so difficult in practice.
Naota spoke, "You came back..."
For the first time in three years, Naota bore witness to her signature, cocky smile, "I told you to save it for next time..."
Naota lowered his head, doing his best to hold back the tears, "I didn't think you would ever come back..."
Haruko gentle placed her hand under Naota's chin, pushing it up and allowing their eyes to meet once more, "I had to... for you, Ta-kun..."
Naota picked up his Rickenbacker, taking his place beside Haruko. Canti did as well, taking battle stance beside the alien woman.
Haruko grinned, "It's fooly cooly again."
Scalpel turned around enraged, it was ready to end this battle once and for all. Scalpel readied his scalpel-like index fingers and charged the three. Naota jumped into Canti's palms, the Lord of Black Flame boosting him into the air. Haruko slammed the ground with her Flying V and EB-0, sending a shock wave towards the charging robot. Naota flipped his Rickenbacker around, firing a shotgun-like blast at the shock wave. The two collided, causing the a mound of earth to burst from the ground and knock Scalpel's Edge into the air. Haruko jumped back, landing in Canti's hands. Canti boosted her into the air as well. The green eyed alien girl bashed her guitars together, once more combining into the mock red Gibson EDS 1275 Double Neck.
Haruko span around, Naota's feet landing on her double neck, "Let's finish this!"
She forced Naota forwards, his guitar ready to deliver the finishing blow. A red symbol started to glow on his forehead. Scalpel analyzed the target flying towards him.
Target: Atom-
The explosion filled the sky over the city of Mabase.
As the smoke cleared from the night sky, Naota stood in the middle of the street. The symbol on his forehead faded away as he looked into the clearing sky.
Haruko smiled, devilishly, as she looked upon the boy, "Well, you really have grown up..."
'And there it is. Just as I thought my life was returning to normal, it's fooly cooly all over again. Haruko's back and once more staying with me. I left the top bunk just the way it was since she left. I guess it was a good thing I left it the way it was. Mamimi is sleeping on our futon in the family room. I afford her my bed, but she turned it down, she said she was used to couches. Well, whatever. I guess this is just another day of my life. Though, I can't help but think I forgot something...'
Naota sat up in his bed, "Eri!"
Ninamori Eri stood outside the entrance to the Mabase Auditorium, leaning against the wall, with a grimace on her face. Eri looked down at her ticket, before pulling the second ticket out from her pocket and tearing it in two.
"You jerk..." Ninamori huffed.
Ride on Shooting Star
Orange no slide utusu sora
Sponge no pride burasagete
Spider
Iki touta sono yakan wa
kakusanaku tatte ii'n da
Iro no tsuita yume mitai na
Ride on shooting star
kokoro no koe de sandaijuu no you ni
utai tsutzuketa
Grunge no hamster otona bite
Revenge no logster hiki tsurete
Sniper
fuchi dotta sono sekai ni
nani ga mier'ute iiunda nerau mae ni
sawaritai na
Ride on shooting star
kimi wo sagashite kindan shojoujju
uso wo tsuita
Ride on shooting star
kokoro no koe de sandaijuu no you ni
utai tsutzuketa
Episode Trivia:
1.) "When she was here, though, this could have been considered the weirdest place on Earth. Second to Tokyo at least." This is a reference to that fact that most weird things happen in Tokyo in the Anime world.
2.) The death of Naota's Grandpa was based off a similar incident in Episode 3 of FLCL, where he almost choked on curry that was to spicy.
3.) Like sour, pulpy, and sweet drinks were part of FLCL, dark toast and light toast will be an important part of FLCL: 2nd. This will become more clear later on.
4.) Most robots from FLCL are named after their episode's, these include Fire Starter and Brittle Bullet. While Cat's Eye is a reference to its cat like eye.
5.) "There's this new live action adoption of Neon Genesis Evangelion." This is based off of the actual fact that Weta Workshop (Behind Lord of the Rings and King Kong), ADV, and Gainax are working on a live action adoption. In the second episode of FLCL, it is revealed that NGE exists as anime in the FLCL world. And thus, the characters of FLCL would exist in the "real world." That is, if you are to believe FLCL's already questionable logic.
6.) The look of the MM monoliths are based off of the SEELE monoliths of Neon Genesis Evangelion and are blue based off of what the world would have looked like if the MM Plant were to activate and flatten the world.
7.) Naota and Mamimi dine at the Café Bleu, which first appeared in episode 5, Brittle Bullet.
8.) "There's always some giant lizard or big turtle attacking that place." Referring to Tokyo once more, is a reference to Godzilla and Gamera.
9.) 'And third, when I woke up this morning. Well, that happens every day, so I'm not sure it counts.' While Naota is explaining why he is perverted is based on... ahh... Well, I think the guys reading this will no what I'm talking about.
10.) Scalpel's Edge is a guest from my upcoming book called: Machine. He looks identical, but goes under the name: Skalpell.
11.) The "This time I'll fight." line is the same one Kairi uses after obtaining her Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 2. (Expect a couple Kingdom Hearts references.)
12.) Canti's ID number seen while Scalpel's Edge is scanning his targets is #0235. These are the numbers of my favorite episodes of FLCL.
Author's Note: Okay, so, yeah I'm back. I've begun working on my fic again. There was a long set back due to my loss of my laptop, but I've over come that and I'm finally back writing this fic. So, a couple notes. I'm currently redoing each chapter I've made so far. By this I mean editing and rewriting to a degree. So if what you read now wasn't what you read before that's why. I'm basically cleaning it up and making it closer to what I want it to be. And I want it to be as amazing as possible. (;P) So, keep your eye out for rewrites of chapters 1-9 and for the upcoming 10-18.