21

'I don't care if you're a colonel or a general or whoever! You can NOT control the press like this!' exclaimed Sandy.

'Hold your tongue, lady, before we show you and your friend how far we can go to control you,' snarled the colonel as he glared at her and Ryan, who looked equally indignant.

'Are you threatening us!?' he said passionately.

'It's only a threat if you take it that way,' said the general smoothly. 'All we want is for you to get an exclusive no other news outlet has published yet!'

'What's in it for you?' snapped Ryan. 'We publish only the truth! Not some nonsense propaganda to appease you or anyone else!

'Mind your language, young man!' barked the colonel, but the general held out his hand.

'It's not propaganda,' said the general softly, a hint of sadness in his voice. 'It's the truth... and since you two seem to be so fond of this topic, it only makes sense that you have the first right to publish what we have to say... it's not like anyone else would even believe it, but...'

'Fine,' said Sandy, relenting and taking out a pad and pen. 'So, what is this new discovery that you want us to write about?'

The general and the colonel exchanged a knowing smile.

'Well...'

* * *

'What is this? Aliens again!' exclaimed Airi's mother over breakfast, as she pored over her daily newspaper.

'Isn't that NHK? Why would they write about aliens?' said Airi, puzzled.

'Beats me! They'll publish anything these days... it looks like it's originally by the same reporters as last time...'

Airi wanted to read the article herself, but she was getting late for school and she had to leave. She went outside and stalled a little on the road as she watched Kenji climb out of the window and into the backyard before joining her as they walked together.

'I slept so well last night,' said Kenji. 'I hope so much comfort won't make me lazy, though...'

'Of course not! It's necessary!' said Airi. 'I'm so glad you're not there anymore!'

'Thanks for having me,' said Kenji.

'Anything for a friend! Hey, how come you're different in the day?' said Airi.

'I drink a special concoction that temporarily makes me this way,' said Kenji.

'Ooh! If I drink it, will I become an alien?' exclaimed Airi.

'Ssh! No, silly! I don't know what exactly would happen to you, but you probably shouldn't try it. It's painful enough for me as it is.'

'Does it hurt too much?'

'One gets used to it.'

'So, why don't you use it at night?'

'It's more dangerous to use it when one is sleepy. And besides, to use it more than once on the same day can cause problems.'

'I don't think I like this concoction very much,' said Airi.

'Neither do I!'

They both smiled and walked on until they reached the school building. The hours passed by in pleasant harmony, until noontime arrived and the school bell rang.

'My gosh, I forgot completely, today's a half day so we can go home now!' said Airi happily.

'Really? Let's go then, I'm hungry!' said Kenji.

'I'm show you how to make an omelette!' grinned Airi. 'Race you to the house!'

'Wait up! Hey!' said Kenji, running after her in protest, but enjoying every bit.

'Just like I thought,' said Airi, when they entered through the back door and discovered a note stuck on the table.

Out on some errands. Make your own lunch.

'How long do we have?' said Kenji.

'We're safe for an hour or two,' said Airi. 'Come to the kitchen!'

'Wow, it looks nice!' said Kenji, looking at the gleaming utensils and the neatly organised jars of spices, as well as the green sprawling climbing plant propped up against the window.

'It's my favourite part of the house,' beamed Airi. 'The climber was my idea, by the way — I wanted to put flowers there originally, but Mom said it was too much and a leafy plant was more than enough!'

'You have good taste,' nodded Kenji.

'Thanks,' said Airi, wondering why she was blushing at such a simple compliment, and hoping he wouldn't notice. 'Well!' she continued briskly. 'How to make an omelette, step one, take an egg.'

She tossed him an egg and Kenji barely caught it.

'Hey, careful, they could break!' he said.

'Well, a chef always plays with the food he cooks,' said Airi, and she raised her chin with a mischievous expression on her face, making Kenji burst into laughter.

'Now, you could just crack it, OR, you could... crack it in a cool way,' said Airi.

'What's the "cool" way?' grinned Kenji.

'Crack it against the bowl with one hand, like this,' said Airi, demonstrating the movement as she spoke.

Kenji gasped. 'Wow, that is really impressive!'

'Now, it's your turn!'

Kenji tried, but the shell crumpled in his hand and the egg barely slipped into the bowl. 'Phew!' he said in a nervous sweat. 'That was close! And not so cool!'

'It was a great first attempt!' said Airi assuringly. 'When I tried that, I broke the egg on the counter instead!'

They both laughed heartily, and continued to hold light, pleasant conversation as they merrily made the omelette together.

'Wow, this is delicious!' said Kenji fifteen minutes later, as they ate together at the table. 'I could eat this day and night!'

'Well, be careful, too many eggs are bad for the health,' warned Airi. 'Hey, should I turn on the radio?'

'Why? Who are we communicating with?' said Kenji in sudden alarm. Why did Airi have a radio?

'It's not that kind of radio, for Heaven's sake!' said Airi with a laugh, and she switched it on. 'It's for music!'

A fast pop song began to play and Airi drummed on the table in sync with the rhythm. She then began to sing along while Kenji watched open-mouthed, almost forgetting his manners as he stared at this strange spectacle.

'Well? Didn't you like the song?' said Airi at the end.

'I... uh...' said Kenji awkwardly, wondering if there was a more polite way of saying it.

'Don't worry, it's okay if you don't; everyone has different music choices!' said Airi reassuringly.

'You mean, it's okay if you like that song and I don't? Won't that create disharmony?' said Kenji in surprise.

'Not at all! Why would you think that?'

'If something creates disharmony on our planet, we either change our opinion or get rid of the thing in question entirely.'

'That sounds a little extreme...'

'But if it's for mutual peace, isn't it all right?'

'Hmm, if you think so. Sometimes, though, one can just let those sorts of things slide and focus on the things one does agree on. That's how we do it, anyway. How's this song, by the way? It's my all-time favourite!'

A series of soft piano notes signalled the beginning of a famous slow pop ballad from the 80s, its strong beat and soulful vocals luring them both into its magic.

'Wow, what is this?' said Kenji, during an interlude with a lush synth and a saxophone.

'It's magic. That's what I always feel good music is like,' said Airi, smiling as she enjoyed the song. 'Do you want to dance?'

Kenji looked at her questioningly. 'Dance?'

'It's not hard, just feel the music and dance, like this...' said Airi, taking his hands and moving gently from side to side.

Kenji stood stiffly and awkwardly still. He hoped he wouldn't look foolish emulating her, but she didn't seem to feel that way. He held her hands and stood up, but he still wouldn't move.

'Close your eyes and feel the music,' said Airi softly.

A string section in the song ushered in a dreamier atmosphere than ever, and Kenji could feel the magic Airi had talked of as he closed his eyes and temporarily
forgot the world around him. He stepped slowly and awkwardly towards the left, and then the right, trying to mirror Airi as she danced perfectly, a visual representation of everything he loved about the song: beautiful, soft, magical, carefree... filled with love.

'I like dancing with you,' said Airi happily, when the song ended and they stood still, looking at each other.

'No, I'm sorry I'm so bad at it,' said Kenji sheepishly.

'Don't be sorry. I like you better for it.'

'Really?'

'Really!'

'I always thought that humans were a flawed race and never saw beyond that,' said Kenji reflectively. 'But now I see that they are a race that accept each other's flaws — and that's a completely different, beautiful thing. I wish our people were that forgiving.'

Airi smiled. 'I like the way you take everything so seriously, so sincerely. Honestly speaking, I really think we should all take a page out of your book. You always work hard and stoically, regardless of your circumstances, and excel in whatever you do. Sometimes I envy the control you have when things get tough or when people say mean things. If others on your planet are like that, I'm sure they really live up to being "the calm race".'

Kenji smiled, his expression warmer than she had ever seen him before. 'Airi, you're really one of the nicest people I've ever met.'

'You, too,' replied Airi, touched.