12

During lunch hour the next day, Kenji was still in the classroom. Airi came looking for him and found him eating his rice at the desk.

'Come on, it's so much better outside, Kenji,' she said with a radiant smile.

Kenji wanted to smile back and join her, but a look at his bandaged finger reminded him of the danger that ensued such a careless action. Airi was nice, that was sure, but he wasn't who she thought he was. How would she react the day she found out that he had been lying to her? That he was not even human!

He remembered the day she had defended him — what would she think when she found out that he was, in fact, different from them all; in human language, an alien, a freak. While he didn't think she would be particularly unkind upon finding out who he was, surely she would not want to be friends with him anymore; she would be distant from then on and disappointed in him for his trickery; angry at him, even, when she found out what he was here for.

He couldn't bear the thought. It was better, then, to keep a distance from her as much as he could so that there wouldn't be any risk of her discovering anything — he had to ensure yesterday's mishap was the last of such incidents.

'I'm all right,' he said. 'Too much sun, you see!'

'But it's so pleasant!' pouted Airi.

'I know, you go ahead,' said Kenji.

'How's your finger now?' she said, walking up to him, surprised at how he immediately flinched at the question.

'I'm fine!!' he said, and the words came out cold and alarmed.

Airi stopped in her tracks. 'Um... okay, I'll be out then...'

Kenji nodded and continued eating in silence, actively averting her gaze.

Airi frowned and went outside. Ever since he'd been hurt by that splinter, Kenji had turned rather distant again. Unlike last time, though, she didn't think he was cold and indifferent; rather, it seemed as though he was hiding something from her. But what? Had his blood really been green? She shook her head at the bizarre thought. Of course not! It was something else entirely, and when he felt comfortable, he might tell her eventually. For now, it was better to leave him alone.

Kenji felt rather guilty when he exited the school building without saying goodbye to Airi. What must she think of him? But surely this was for the better — any friendship between them was bound to end in pain and distress, especially on her side. He didn't want her to be hurt. He walked on with strengthened resolve.

When he opened the door of his tumbledown home, he sighed in relief as he thought of tonight's dinner (tomatoes and rice!) and a good night's sleep ahead. However, his relaxation was shortlived; when he lit the candle, he found someone already waiting for him on the rickety table.

'Shen-ja!' he exclaimed.

'Xiennan!' he replied with a cold smile, getting up from the table and walking up to him. 'I have been waiting for you!'

'What for?' said Kenji, as all the previous warmth in his manner vanished and was replaced with an icy-cold disposition that rivaled his fellow.

'Come with me,' he said, going towards the door.

'I said, what for?' said Kenji, unmoving.

'Your father wants to communicate with you,' said Shen-ja, looking at him sharply.

'My father?' said Kenji, his expression softening a little.

'Yes, come with me,' said Shen-ja. 'He will send signals via my ... what do we call it in the human language... radio, is it?'

'That's the closest word,' nodded Kenji, and he followed his companion outside.

They walked on in silence until Kenji spoke up in alarm. 'What if someone sees us?'

'Do not worry,' said Shen-ja, 'almost no one comes by this road, especially at night. But just in case, I brought these.'

He held up two umbrellas and Kenji looked at him, confused.

'If we hold these above us,' explained Shen-ja, 'no one will notice how we look.'

Kenji raised an eyebrow. 'Well, in case you didn't notice, it's not raining!'

'That is all right, I have observed some humans holding them up on clear days as well!'

Kenji sighed exasperatedly, and shook his head before grinning. 'That's to block out the sun, genius! You're impossible!'

'If I made a mistake, why are you calling me a genius?' said Shen-ja, confused.

'Um... well, it's a human thing,' said Kenji.

'To call someone foolish a genius?'

'No, to say the opposite of what you mean for laughs — and you do realise you just called yourself "foolish", didn't you?' said Kenji snarkily.

Shen-ja looked at him coldly. 'I am sorry, I will work harder and learn human customs properly.'

'No, don't say "sorry",' said Kenji. 'Just laugh!'

'Laugh? You said that before, too. Why?'

'That's the point! We Xeljari people are way too serious all the time — humans like to laugh and joke around!'

'What's a joke?' said Shen-ja disapprovingly.

'Something that makes you laugh!'

'But why?'

Kenji held up his hands. 'I give up, my friend! Forget it! Oh, there's someone walking up ahead!'

'Quick, the umbrellas!' said Shen-ja, giving him one, and they both opened them at once.

'Oh no, we look so eccentric!' groaned Kenji.

'Better that than be caught!' warned Shen-ja.

They walked on silently with their heads turned downwards and the black umbrellas close and tilted over their faces.

The passerby whistled as he walked on, before he caught sight of the two boys. He stopped whistling and looked up, as though looking for rainclouds, but he was met with a starry sky. He then looked at them again and began to laugh heartily before moving on and out of sight.

'What was he laughing at?' said Shen-ja with a frown. 'There was no joke!'

Kenji closed the umbrella and handed it over. 'Because we were the joke, Shen-ja!' he said, before breaking into a laugh himself.

'I do not understand!' said Shen-ja. 'And I do not think I like these "jokes" very much!'

'It figures,' said Kenji. 'Oh, we're here!'

And indeed, they had reached the open clearing where Shen-ja's spaceship lay. Shen-ja led the way and opened it, then gestured to Kenji to step in, which he did.

The interior looked almost the same as the last time Kenji had seen it, except that the roof reflected a dark and starry sky, and the diamonds now shone with a strange white light that illuminated the room.

'Where is the human?' he asked, while Shen-ja tinkered with some knobs and dials.

'Oh, I let him go,' he replied.

'Let him go?' Kenji repeated doubtfully, fearing the worst.

'I erased his memories and let him go free. There, now wait for your father's signals.'

'Is he all right now?'

'What, your father?'

'No, the human!'

'Oh, will you forget him, for Saturn's sake! He's all right — I think. I may have erased a little too much, but it could not be helped, I was in a hurry. He will reorient himself eventually.'

A whizzing sound from the nearby radio-like device made them both turn towards it. 'That's your father; sit down, Xiennan!'

Beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep-beep, beep!

Kenji hastily converted the beeping code into their language. Are you there, Xiennan?

He responded slowly and carefully, tapping the letters one by one. Yes, Father.

Beep-b-b-eeep! Report, short.

Kenji thought for a moment. How was he to summarise everything he had learnt and experienced so far in just a few words?

How about a simple good or bad? No, he couldn't be sure yet. He had met people like Rei, but he had also met Airi. Surely she wasn't the only good human being on this planet? Humans could be equally kind and cruel, and he had, frankly, been unable to access them properly yet.

He began tapping slowly but determinedly. Survey incomplete. Humans not what we expected. Unsure of true nature. Need more time.

There was a long pause, and then a series of beeps came back. Kenji converted them quickly. Okay. Two more weeks. Then wait for pod where you landed. End.

Kenji got up and nodded at Shen-ja. 'Thank you. It's done. How is your mission so far?'

'I have been preparing uptil now,' said Shen-ja. 'Tomorrow — no, after the weekend is over — humans have this strange concept of holidays! — I will attempt to be recruited as an officer in the 42nd Unit.'

'I have come to like the holidays,' smiled Kenji. 'We should have them, too.'

'Are you not learning a little too much from these humans?' said Shen-ja. 'Your task was to access them for our clean arrival, not to become like them and make our planet like theirs!'

'Like you once said, focus on your side of the mission, please,' said Kenji.

'Oh, very well,' said Shen-ja with a sigh.

'Shen-ja?'

'What?'

'Please be careful when invading the unit...'

Shen-ja looked at him and saw the concern on his face. His expression softened. 'Yaaa, guxya ja lin!' Hey, I'll be fine!

'Tux la jatana vou lixpu maya...' said Kenji, placing a hand on his shoulder. You're one of the few friends I ever had, so I don't want to lose you.

'Oh come on, I will be fine!' said Shen-ja, pressing his hand once before pushing it away. 'Better go now before our emotion weakens us!'

'Does emotion weaken us or strengthen us?' said Kenji thoughtfully, before walking towards the door. 'Goodbye, Shen-ja, my friend.'

Shen-ja stared after him in silence, only remembering to wave back at him when he was already gone.