Nothing exciting every happens here.

[hammerspace_head]

Character Name: Naota Nandaba
Character Series: FLCL
Tamer Class: Soul Tamer
Post Type: Log
Player Name: Tsumi

Naota was walking along the streeth, the Kokuwamon that followed him everywhere close behind. He felt like the taser bug was his babysitter or something. He didn't need anyone there to protect him. What was the worse that could happen here? It wasn't like anything interesting was going to happen. He went to school, went back to the apartment, did his homework, watched TV, went to bed and repeated the same cycle day after day.

There was the occasional difference. He'd post on the network, someone else would post and he'd answer. Tiny deviations at most. Again, nothing horribly interesting. He hadn't even gotten his digimon to digivolve yet and he didn't care. What would happen anyway? It'd be different for a while and just turn back into the same bug-taser thing it always was. Nothing interesting would ever happen here for him. Just like it was back home.

Comments

[sakedrinking]

Rather suddenly, there was an umbrella over the boy's head.

"It's going to rain, you know," a sweet, almost motherly voice said from behind him. Haku had seen him recently, walking the same route every day, and though she'd never made to bother him until today something about the boy had caught her attention almost right away. It wasn't that he seemed lonely or anything. Just... not all there.

But with the storm clouds from Neon's coast rolling in, she figured today might be a good day to try talking to him.

[hammerspace_head]

Naota stopped when he heard the voice and slowly looked up at the woman holding it. He'd heard of her and seen her around on the network. They'd never talked and he hadn't really had a need to talk to her specifically. Though his eyes moved to the sky and then to the umbrella.

"Looks like it. Don't you need the umbrella though? You're going to get wet if you just give it to a total stranger. Isn't that a bit irresponsible?" It came out like most of his dialogue did, aloof and kind of distant. He wasn't really trying to be mean or critical but he had to ask. It really didn't make much sense to him if that's what she was doing.

[sakedrinking]

"It'd be silly to not be prepared for that, wouldn't it?" she said, handing over the umbrella insistently. If he looked down, he might actually notice there was already another folded one in her hand.

"The weather's been a bit odd this year. Probably because of the reset a few months back. We just haven't quite gotten warm enough for true spring."

The way he spoke didn't bother her at all, and she simply kept making small talk, waiting for him to take the umbrella just as a few droplets started to fall.

[hammerspace_head]

It was slow but his hand moved up and took the handle. He looked down and noticed the umbrella under her arm too. She came prepared but why? Why have two umbrellas? Maybe she was just a concerned person? He'd had a few people say they were but he wasn't just going to buy it at face value. This place was a bit strange and he wasn't about to fall for anything.

"Thanks. I heard about that over the network. The world ended huh? Had to be interesting." In some part he was disappointed he didn't get to see it. It had to be exciting to live through the end of a world. He stopped Medical Meccanica from flattening the Earth right before it all started so in a way it was crisis averted before the iron could even be grabbed. He did wonder what it would have been like if a part of the Earth had been ironed flat. Now he'd never know.

[sakedrinking]

Concerned and prepared! If he hadn't noticed the motherly vibes from her yet, it would become apparent soon enough.

"Interesting?" Haku echoed, looking thoughtful. "I suppose in a way it was... terrifying, though. Even people who weren't involved in the battle got wrapped up in chaos."

She paused to pop her own umbrella open, stopping the raindrops from hitting her with it.

"Are you here alone? You don't have to answer any questions if you don't want to. I'm only curious."

[hammerspace_head]

"Alone...?" It was his turn to echo. He looked away for a moment, his mind wondering to one person. The robot-taser-bug digimon sighed slightly and was about to answer when Naota cut in, his voice having a bit more of an edge to it.

"Yeah, I am. There's one person here from back home but she's unreliable and a complete idiot. Might as well not count her at all."

[sakedrinking]

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that..." Haku said quietly. She could relate, with everything that had gone on with her brother. Idiot wouldn't have been what she'd call him, but what he'd done certainly was stupid, and he'd pretty much proven to be unreliable and selfish to boot.

So much for family, right?

"Well... I can't help you there, but I can at least offer you a warm meal and maybe a dry place to wait the rain out, if that's alright?"

[hammerspace_head]

That got the boy to blink. He stared up at her for a moment, his eyebrow raised. She was offering to take him in until the rained stopped? Why? They help him when they had just met. She didn't even know his name. Though she did seem genuine overall. Maybe it couldn't be such a bad idea. He opened his mouth to answer when his stomach growled loudly, obviously impatient with his mind. He blushed and chuckled a bit.

"I guess I am a little hungry. ...Okay. My name is Nandaba Naota, nice to meet you." He gave a bow to the woman. He knew to mind his manners, unlike the rest of his family.

[sakedrinking]

That earned a smile in return, along with a bit of a giggle. She returned the bow as well, as much as she could with the umbrella and the grocery bag on her arm.

"Onizuka Haku. It's very nice to meet you, Nandaba-kun."

[hammerspace_head]

Naota shook his head and held up a hand. "You can call me Naota. It's fine. Can I ask...why you're being so nice though? I don't get it. I mean, we've never even talked to each other before today. It just doesn't make sense."

[sakedrinking]

"Alright, Naota. You can call me Haku then."

The question took her off guard a bit, and for a moment she actually had to think about it. Funny... hadn't Ratchet had a similar reaction?

"Ah... well... I suppose I remember what it was like, those first few months in a new world. Even if you're not scared, it's still nice to have a friend, isn't it?"

[hammerspace_head]

Naota swallowed and went quiet again. He really hadn't tried to make any friends here so far. He was just wrapped up in his routine. It kind of just became a habit. Maybe breaking it wouldn't be so bad. She hadn't come out of nowhere and smacked him after all. He gave a nod finally.

"Yeah, I guess. Friends aren't a bad thing to have."

[sakedrinking]

"See? Even better if they're experienced in the ways of living in a new world," Haku said, motioning for him to follow her. "We're not far from where I live."

[hammerspace_head]

"I guess." Naota followed behind, his partner keeping close to him so he didn't get wet. Taser had to admit that this was kind of rare. Any of the kids at school who spoke to Naota and invited him over got shrugged off with the usual 'I'm busy' excuse. Maybe he was finally making a friend that wasn't that crazy pink haired alien.

[sakedrinking]

There wasn't much else she could say to that, so she simply lead the way to the Hyperion, humming a song to herself cheerfully. She didn't expect him to instantly cheer up, but his reaction was encouraging none the less.

[hammerspace_head]

Once they got to the Hyperion, Naota looked over the courtyard leading to the inside of the hotel. It was one strange looking place. He had considered staying here until Taser had said they could stay at his old apartment. The rent was good and with his part time job the boy could help pay rent.

"How long have you been here, anyway? In this world, I mean."

[sakedrinking]

"Three years, this past April," Haku answered, moving for the elevator. She waved to a few tamers and digimon as she passed, showing that she was clearly a familiar and welcome face around there. Walking in with some one new? That was hardly a surprise either.

[hammerspace_head]

Three whole years in this world and she was one of the people to see it end. He wondered just how long other people had been here. Who had been here the longest? What was it like to be here for that long? Did you eventually just get used to it and this became your home? The thought of being in this world forever really didn't sit well with him. He didn't want to be here forever. Sure his Dad and Grandpa could handle themselves for a while but anything over a few months and things were bound to go bad. At least he was still in school. That was something, right?

Naota kept following Haku, his eyes shifting to the other tamers and digimon though he didn't say anything. He wasn't here for them. He was here to get some food and wait for the rain to stop. That was it.

[sakedrinking]

"Ah, Naota, what kind of food do you like?" Haku asked once they were on the elevator and going up to her floor. "I can make just about anything, so don't worry about asking for something strange or complicated."

[hammerspace_head]

He looked at the elevator buttons as they moved, his eyes observing the floor numbers as they went up. Only five floors. Not too many at least. He looked back to Haku when she asked her question. What did he like? Easier thing to answer was what he didn't like.

"I don't like bitter things, or spicy things. I'm not good with sour either. As long as it isn't bitter, spicy, or sour I should be okay."

[sakedrinking]

"Hmn... eto... not bitter, spicy or sour..." Haku echoed, finger to her lips. "And something warm is better on cold days like this... ah! I know!" she exclaimed suddenly, putting her fist in to her open palm as she lit up excitedly. "Sukiyaki! I learned an amazing recipe from a young chef here! It's wonderful!"

[hammerspace_head]

Sukiyaki. He hadn't had that in forever. Not since his Mother vanished as she was the cook in the family. After that the food consisted of instant food in boxes and break. Lots of bread.

"Sukiyaki sounds good."

[sakedrinking]

Haku smiled, catching how Naota's demeanor changed at the mention of it. It was slight, but there, and it made her happy in turn.

"Then Sukiyaki it is!" she said with an excited note to her voice, almost sing-songing it as she stepped off the elevator. A few more feet down the hall and she was unlocking the door to a cozy, if not a little messy apartment. It was clearly lived in, with children's toys scattered about as well as a large TV with several game systems attached.

"I'll get started! Just make yourself at home!"

[hammerspace_head]

Naota took his shoes off at the door and walked over to the couch. He sat down and Taser joined him shortly. He looked around the living room, his eyes falling on the toys several times. If there were kid toys, that meant there was a kid, right?

"Do you have a child, Haku-san?"

[sakedrinking]

"Mhm. A daughter. Hanako," Haku answered, turning and pointing to a family portrait on the wall next to where Naota was sitting. There was a blonde man in a fairly nice suit, though still with a slightly punkish air about him, and a little girl who was almost an exact clone of Haku right down to the red eyes and pale white hair were sitting with her.

"And that's my husband, Eikichi. He's a teacher, and she's at school right now. They'll be home later tonight."