Taro: The plan and the scarab walker

After the initial shock of having an international superstar in his house had worn off, Taro was now sitting on the couch beside Tomomi, while star Airi was standing in front of them. Kokoro was seated on her wheelchair on Taro’s other side, with his hand resting on top of her lap as she played with his fingers. The rest of star Airi’s entourage were all outside, with only a few bodyguards remained standing in the corners of the living room.

“So, the reason I decided to reach out to you, is because I want to help. In any way I can.” star Airi said, addressing all three of them as they sat in front of her.

“It was unfair what they did to you at the audition venue.” the superstar continued as she turned towards Kokoro. “Not giving you a chance to explain yourself, or your situation.” There was a slight pause and for a moment, Taro noticed as Kokoro stop playing with his fingers. A memory from that night must have flashed in her mind, affecting her in the present. But after shaking it off and collecting herself, Kokoro picked up his hand again and continued counting his fingers. Taro was glad she was able to recover so quickly from the memory.

The speaking aid this young man made for you does not qualify as a contraband. But simply walking up to the government and telling them that, is not going to work. That is why I want to help battle your case in Court. The government won’t listen until they are forced to, and this is the best way to make them listen.”

Taro, Tomomi, and Kokoro all widened their eyes in surprise. Taking on the government by themselves in court was something Taro was certain they would have never even thought about. But with an influential person like star Airi on their side, not to mention the resources in her disposal, they might just stand a chance.

“Now. It goes without saying that it is obviously not going to be easy.” star Airi said, standing like the supermodel she was and crossing her arms. “But I believe we have a chance. Mikasa?” she suddenly called out, and a woman standing in the corner hurriedly walked into view.

“Yes Miss Airi?”

“I want you to contact my lawyers, and let them know about the situation at hand.”

“Okay Miss Airi.”

“Also, setup a meeting between them and these three, so the kids could have a chance to explain themselves better.”

“Of course, Miss Airi, I will do that right away.”

“Thank you Mikasa.”

Star Airi then turned her attention back over to the three of them.

“There’s just one more thing I am going to need you to do Miss Takahashi.” she said, turning to face Kokoro. “I’m going to need you to come out and share your story to the public. The people need to know who you are, they need to know where you come from, and they need to know you are the voice behind Music and Metal, which is an incredible title by the way.” the superstar added, glancing at Tomomi and nodding in her direction.

Tomomi clutched her heart in glee and fainted on the couch. Kokoro however, was suddenly taken aback by star Airi’s request. Taro guessed she was still hesitant from how she was treated at the audition ground. if people knew who she really was, and how she really sang, would the world still accept her.

Taro suddenly remembered how the staff at the audition venue was quick to suspect them of cheating with a contraband. If the woman who had seen the neural link on Kokoro’s head, and the speaking aid on her chest, had immediately came to the conclusion that Kokoro was trying to cheat her way into the music festival by using illegal technology, then there was a good chance a lot of people were going to suspect that Music and Metal was nothing but a fake. Which simply wasn’t true.

Kokoro took in a deep breath and exhaled before replying.

“Can I think about it?” she asked, her lips unmoving, while her voice traveled out the speaking aid on her chest.

“Of course.” Star Airi replied in a gentle tone. “It’s your call.”

The superstar then reached a hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out a card. “Here.” she said, taking a step forward and giving the card to Kokoro.

“I made it special for you.” star Airi explained as Kokoro collected the card and inspected it. “It has my personal phone number, as well as the number to my assistant Mikasa in case you are unable to reach me for some reason.”

Taro watched as Kokoro flipped the card over to reveal more numbers at the back.

“And that part was made especially for your boyfriend.”

Both Taro and Kokoro sat up straight and blushed at the same time, while Taro noticed Tomomi rolling her eyes at the two of them.

“Those are numbers to one of my personal accounts, with an unlimited spending rate.” star Airi said. “Your friend over there, told me your boyfriend is trying to seemingly pull off the impossible by helping you walk again.”

In that moment, Taro turned to stare at Kokoro at the same time Kokoro turned to stare at him. Yep, Taro thought. Her eyes were definitely much larger and beautiful than the star herself.

“So, you can go ahead and spend as much as you want for what you need. You can even go ahead and spend on your selves if you want.” star Airi said, causing the eyes of the two girls sitting to either side of Taro to glimmer with endless shopping possibilities. But Taro suddenly had a thought, and he excused himself before heading to his workshop.

***

Taro was now in his workshop and looking at a drawing on one of his monitors. The sketch was of the device that was meant to help Kokoro walk again. He labeled the device as the scarab walker, as the thing resembled a metal centipede attached to a person’s back.

When it came to walking, the body did this by receiving instructions from the brain, which is sent down the spinal cord through nerve fibers called motor neurons. Then the person starts walking. But in Kokoro’s condition, some of these nerve fibers were damaged in the accident she was involved in as a kid, and that was why she could no longer walk.

The connection between her brain and her legs were severed. And the plan now, was for the scarab walker to meld with her body and spine, and serve as the new bridge in which motor neurons are sent from the neural link on her head, down to her legs.

It was simple and straight forward, plus, most of the work with the neural link had already been done. But why was he starting to have second thoughts? Why was he starting to hesitate and doubt himself when in the past, he had always remained confident in all of his projects?

The scarab walker was his first ever invention that was going to integrate with the human body, on a level that was closest to a contraband. The tiny pin like legs of the device was going to sink deep into Kokoro’s flesh, and was going to deliver small jolts of electric shocks into her spinal cord. And what did that specialist tell him again?

“This idea of yours could work, and it has a high probability of being completely safe. However, there is also the danger and possibility of unforeseen consequences. You are dealing with one of the most essential parts of the human body after all. There should be no room for errors, not a single one.”

“Knock knock.”

Taro was suddenly pulled back from his thoughts by a voice that came from behind him. he turned, and found Kokoro in the open doorway on her wheelchair.

“Can, I come in?” she asked.

Taro nodded in response, and Kokoro rolled in on her wheelchair.

He went to take his seat so that they would be at eyelevel when they spoke. Also, he was tired of standing.

“So, whatchu doing?” Kokoro asked him as he sat down.

“Looking at that.” Taro replied, pointing at the monitor he was staring at.

Kokoro rolled towards the screen.

“Is this what will help me walk again?”

“Yeah.” Taro responded in a tired voice. “Or at least I hope so.”

Kokoro rolled back to him, not hearing his last sentence.

“So, I’ve decided.” Kokoro said. “I’m going to do it. I’m going to tell my story to the world, and revealed that I am Music and Metal.”

Taro stared at her in shock.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“I mean, the truth is still going to come out anyway, when we go to court.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s true.” Taro replied while he briefly scratched the back of his head, embarrassed that he hadn’t thought that far ahead.

“I just hope they accept me the way I am.” Kokoro said, with the expression on her face starting to shift into melancholy.

Seeing this, Taro immediately reached out and held her hand in his.

“Of course they will.” he replied, looking into her eyes. Her big beautiful eyes. “They already have.” he added.

The following few seconds were quiet and undisturbed. Nobody said anything. Taro didn’t speak, neither did Kokoro. They just sat there. staring into each other’s eyes. Then Taro lifted a hand up to touch Kokoro’s hair. It was just as he imagined. Soft and light, despite having so much volume. Then he placed his hand on the back of her neck, and leaned forward to press his lips against hers. Kokoro did not flinch or shy away from his advances, and they remained like that for what felt like an eternity.

A really good one.