Kokoro and Taro: Next steps.

After another school week, Kokoro was now hanging out with Tomomi at Taro’s house on a Saturday. They were seated in the living room, snacking on cookies and sipping iced tea. Tomomi had her head faced down on her tablet as she scrolled through the internet. Meanwhile, Kokoro was locked in a staring contest with Taro.

She was looking into his eyes, and he was looking into hers. She was smiling, he was smiling. Her life was turning in a whole different direction than she had initially thought, and it was all because of him. So how was she even meant to stop looking or thinking about him.

Just the other day he had made her a promise. She was going to walk again, and he was going to help make that happen. She had no doubt in her heart that Taro wouldn’t succeed, because at the end of the day, that’s just the kind of person he was. The person she fell in love with.

Tomomi spoke up as Kokoro took another sip from her cup, with her eyes still locked on Taro.

“And there you have it folks. twenty million page views.” Tomomi said, still glancing down at her tablet.

Kokoro almost coughed out her iced tea.

“What?” Kokoro asked, her voice now coming out of the speaking aid which was resting on the left side of her chest. The thing was small and circular, and resembled a really cool badge pressed up against her left breast.

“What are you talking about?” Kokoro asked.

“Your page.” Tomomi said, turning over the tablet so Kokoro could see. “You now have twenty million page views, only sixty million behind the star herself.”

Staring at the tablet, Kokoro became speechless. She was only sixty million views behind star Airi herself.

“Whoa,” Taro said. “That’s a lot of views. Congrats Kokoro.”

At the sound of Taro calling her name, Kokoro smiled and composed herself.

“Thank you.” she said, gazing at Taro and Tomomi who were seated on the couch in front of her. “None of this would have been possible without either of you. So, thank you.” As she expressed her gratitude from the bottom of her heart, Kokoro noticed the uncomfortable look on both Tomomi and Taro’s faces as she thanked them. Tomomi had a pained expression on her face and constantly shifted in her seat, while Taro had his brow furrowed in annoyance.

Kokoro already knew her friends didn’t process gratitude very well, and instead preferred not to be thanked so much. but she needed to show them that she appreciated everything they were doing for her. She couldn’t just not say anything.

Seizing the moment, Tomomi quickly changed the subject.

“The Tokyo music festival is coming up in a few weeks. Auditions are still ongoing in the Kanto region, so, Kokoro, what do you say? Like to give it a try?”

“What do you mean?” Kokoro asked. “I thought I can’t go out in public like this.” she added, gesturing to the neural link resting on her head like a crown.

“Yeah, but I’ve been talking to your boyfriend over here, and he might have an idea to address that.”

Kokoro blushed at the mention of Taro being her boyfriend, which Tomomi responded to by rolling her eyes.

“Anyway, go ahead and tell her what you told me.” Tomomi said, nudging Taro in the side with her elbow. But Taro was also unable to hide his emotions and was blushing like crazy. Was he excited because Tomomi called him my boyfriend? That’s so cute.

“Not you too.”

***

“Are you sure we shouldn’t take a bus instead?”

Taro asked Kokoro as soon as they entered his garage.

“Nope.” Kokoro replied as she navigated her wheelchair to stop by Taro’s hover-bike. “I want to ride with you today.” she added, crossing her arms.

“But…”

“Just shut up and go carry her already.” Tomomi said as she zoomed past Taro on his hover-board and headed outside. “By the way, I’m keeping this now.”

Taro’s mind didn’t even register the fact Tomomi had just strong-armed herself to one of his belongings. Instead, he kept his eyes on Kokoro, who was still waiting for him to come pick her up and put her on his bike.

The process was a bit awkward at first, but Taro was able to successfully carry Kokoro off her wheelchair and place her on the back seat of his bike. The entire time, their eyes never left each other. Once she was situated, Kokoro held onto him for support as he climbed into the driver seat, then she wrapped her hands around his waist and rested her head against his back.

“Alright,” she said in a soft voice. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Taro keyed in the ignition and waited as the large machine rose off the ground. Kokoro’s grip around his waist tightened in response.

Understanding she might be a little scared of falling, Taro eased the throttle forward, sending the bike in a gentle float out of the garage where Tomomi was already waiting with her phone in her hand.

“I just finished speaking with an employee from FlyBy, and they are going to send over a drone to pick up the chair and come meet us.” Tomomi said, nodding her head in the direction of Kokoro’s wheelchair which was still in the garage. “Just tell your AI to keep the door open. So, let’s go. We’re wasting daylight.”

Tomomi stepped on her hover-board and instantly shot upwards, leveling herself before shifting into a U-turn and shooting ahead into the streets. Taro glanced back over his shoulder to check on Kokoro, and he smiled when he found her still snuggled up against his back with her eyes closed as if she had fallen asleep.

“Permission to engage boosters ma’am?” Taro suddenly straightened up and saluted, while asking in his best butler voice.

“Permission granted,” Kokoro replied. And with that, Taro turned and locked his helmet on Kokoro instead of himself, before turning around and engaging boosters to the music festival auditions.

***

The government’s laws against cybernetic enhancements were stricter than any other set of laws in the society. So, when Tomomi said Taro had a way Kokoro can go out in public to audition for the music festival, Kokoro listened attentively.

“Yes, the government will detain people who utilize cybernetic enhancements.” Taro said. “As well as those who help develop the technology. I hear the minimum is forty years in prison.”

A lump suddenly formed in Kokoro’s throat at the repercussions they might face if they were caught. She didn’t want that for Tomomi, Taro, or herself.

“However, I have a feeling they won’t do that to us.” Taro continued. “We’re not using cybernetic enhancements. The neural link on your head doesn’t enhance anything. The device only helps you to communicate better, by interfacing with the speaking aid on your chest. By definition, we cannot be guilty of doing just that.”

Inwardly, Kokoro prayed Taro was right. Because if he wasn’t, then they were all about to expose themselves to the government with no form of legal protection.