Chapter 8:

G.O.

MinDivers


The next morning, Masuyo’s preparation began. First, he took a picture.

“Don’t you think we should call an actual photographer?” Yoko asked Hisoka.

“Don’t worry about it! I can take a picture!” Hisoka replied after his tenth attempt to capture Masuyo’s profile.

“Let me do it.” Sute said as she swiftly took the camera off of Hisoka’s hands, “Say cheeese.” her bland voice ordered Masuyo as she took his picture.

“Wow, Sute-chan, you’re a natural.” Yoko said while analyzing it, too bad you couldn’t take yours.

“I just didn’t want Hisoka-kun to fail one hundred times as he did with mine.” the girl said while handing Yoko the camera.

“C’mon, Sute, it was only ninety-nine times.” Hisoka tried to assuage his problem.



Masuyo passed through several examinations with the rest of…

“Team 7!” Hisoka said, “Since we’re in unity 7 you can call us team 7! Although, that’s not the best name in the world…" the man pondered for a minute, "Anyway! If you think of a good name, let me know!”

“Okay, but why are you passing through these exams as well?” Masuyo asked.

“Hisoka's superiors ordered him to check on the team, there’s nothing we can do about it.” Yoko answered.

“Hmm... so why are you the only one doing nothing?” Masuyo turned to Yoko.

“Well, my job is a little different than yours, I stay behind the screens most of the time. I'll obviously have health problems! But don’t worry about it.” Yoko smiled and gave the boy a thumbs-up, “I checked everything last week and I’m fine!” she then stared at the ground with terrified eyes: "For now..."

“Okay…”



They had breaks for breakfast and lunch. It was the time for Masuyo to run to the restaurant of the place, leaving a crestfallen-looking Sute behind.

“Don’t be like that! Let him enjoy some of the restaurant food.” Yoko said to the girl while they observed the boy running to the restaurant again.

The exams ended at nightfall, when Masuyo asked Hisoka to take him to see Kisho’s files.

“Perfect timing, Masuyo.” Hisoka replied while rummaging his pockets, “Your card is right here.” he handed an A.M.A. card to the boy.

“Wow, that was quick.”

“Yeah, those guys are monsters.” the young man crossed his arms and smiled, “I’ve already given you access to that room; you can go there by yourself now.”

“Hmm…” Masuyo looked at the card with the picture Sute took, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Hisoka patted the boy's shoulder.



Masuyo ended up reading through Kisho's files until Sute appeared to call him: “Masuyo.” she stared at the boy, who was lying on the couch, almost closing his eyes. “You should go back to your apartment.”

"Hmm? What are you doing here, Sute?" the boy murmured.

"You should go back to your apartment." she repeated, "You can't sleep here, it'll be bad for you." 

"Oh... okay..." Masuyo rubbed his eyes as he slowly got up to follow the girl back to their building, where he took a bath and collapsed onto his bed, having the impression of smelling a nice scent, and hearing someone knock on his door.



Knock, Knock, Knock.” the sound made by Sute woke Masuyo for another day.

The next few days were very similar to the first, Masuyo did his mandatory exams, then went to read Kisho's files, and ended the day falling onto his bed after Sute ushered him home from the file room.



“Do you know why your sugar level is so high?” Yoko asked in one morning, “Have you been eating too much chocolate or something?”

“Hmm…” Masuyo was considering that possibility.

“No, Yoko-san!” Hisoka chimed in, “It is saying that the sugar level is below what it should be.”

“Oh! That’s right.” Yoko looked at the results again, “How can someone have a low sugar level at your age?” she questioned Masuyo, who just shrugged his shoulders to answer the question.

“Anyway.” Hisoka started, “Are you ready for my insert?”

“Huh?” Masuyo took a step back.

“Please don’t phrase it weirdly.” Yoko flicked Hisoka’s forehead “You just give it a name already.”

“Okay, okay ma’am!” Hisoka rubbed his forehead, “But coming up with names is too hard for me. Using simple letters is much easier.”

"Don't be stupid." Yoko frowned at him.

“I'm sorry, but what are you two talking about?” Masuyo raised an eyebrow.

“Today is the day you'll receive the chip attachment." Sute explained.

“Don’t you send him the schedule for the day?” Yoko was about to flick Hisoka's forehead again.

“Of course, I do!” Hisoka protected his forehead. “Even though I don’t care if he sees it or not…” he murmured while diverting his gaze.

“What did you say?!” 

“Oh! I was asking Masuyo why he didn’t read the schedule!” Hisoka grinned at the woman.

“He is lazy.” Sute answered for Masuyo.

“I just get too tired at the end of the day...” Masuyo gave his answer.

“I see…” Hisoka stared at Masuyo with a serious face, “But don’t strain yourself too much, man.”

“Yeah..." "But I have to look through those files, that's the only reason I'm here."

“Anyway.” Hisoka smiled, “Today you’ll receive your 'chip update' with the attachment that I talked about on the day you arrived. I just call it 'G.O.'.

“And you know this isn't a good name, right, Hisoka-kun?” Yoko gave a forced smile to Hisoka, her eyebrows twitching.

“But I like the sound of it, Yoko-san.” Hisoka smiled back.

“Aaargh, whatever.” realizing the man wouldn't give up, Yoko sighed and turned to Masuyo: “So, today you’ll receive this 'G.O.', be sure to be ready. You'll have to rest after it.”



A few hours later, Masuyo was lying down on a bed, waiting to receive the G.O.

“It’ll be over quickly.” he heard a gentle voice saying, “You don’t have to worry.”

The boy was sure to have seen some type of pistol being held beside him. Not clearly understanding what that was about, it was difficult for him to stay completely calm. But it didn't matter, soon after that, his consciousness started to fade.



“Why don’t we go on a trip of our own?” a gentle face smiled to a little boy, “Since your father and mother will take their time to come back.”

“I don’t like to go too far from home, but…” the little Masuyo looked up: “But if it is with my big brother, I can go!” he hugged his brother’s leg.

“I don’t remember where we went that time.”

“Hey, your bag has everything you’ll need?”

“Yes!”

“But I remember him… looking through the window.”

“What are you drawing?” the boy looked puzzled.

“I’m not drawing right now.” the older brother showed his notebook to the boy, “I’m just writing.”

“Writing? Why don't you draw those beautiful flowers?” Masuyo tilted his head and looked through the window of the train

“That’s right!” he cracked a small smile and followed the boy’s eyes, “They are beautiful... but I want to describe their beauty with words."

“Was he really looking at the flowers? Or was he looking at something further away?”

“Why don’t you use your cellphone to write?" the boy observed as his brother frenetically covered a notepad, "Why do you use this?” 

“Nothing can really replace paper.”

“Hmm…” the boy looked at the words, “And why don’t you take a picture? You could continue even after we leave the train.”

“Oh, that’s just because… I want to enjoy this moment as it is. I’ll be sure to note our adventures at the moment they're happening.”



“Huh?” Masuyo opened his eyes. He looked to his right and saw someone sitting on a chair, it was a girl with a sweatshirt playing on her phone. “Sute…?” the boy murmured.

“So, you’re awake now.” the girl paused the game and stared at Masuyo with her empty eyes.

The boy sat on the bed and put his hand next to his left ear, “Aargh.” he was feeling a slight stinging pain on that side of his head.

“C’mon.” Sute got up, “I'll take you to your room so you can rest properly.”

“There's no need for that.” Masuyo jumped out of the bed, “I have to go look at the files…” as soon as he hit the ground his legs faltered.

“Dummy.” Sute prevented him from falling, “You should rest for today.”

“I was resting until now.” Masuyo supported himself in the chair and tried to walk alone.

“I don’t think it was really resting for you...” she said, “... since you probably dreamt about sad things.”

“Sad? But it was a good memory.” “Hmm, so it’s normal to have weird dreams after getting the G.O.?”

“Uhum.” Sute nodded, “But your next sleep should be fine…”

“Okay." Masuyo agreed, "But I can do it lat…”

“No.” Sute shook her head, “You should leave it for today.” and then gazed directly at his eyes. They stared at each other for several seconds.

“Just help me get to my place.” Masuyo said after realizing that she wouldn’t give up.

Sute helped Masuyo walk until his body wasn’t as numb anymore, they headed to their residential building, where Masuyo took a bath and thought about his dream until:

Knock, Knock, Knock.” Sute knocked on his door right after he got changed.

“Here.” she handed him some type of bag, “It’s what you usually ask for.” with that, she bowed and left to her room.

“Huh?” Masuyo looked at the bag in his hands, it was apparently from A.M.A.’s restaurant. “What I usually ask for… pizza for one person?”



After Masuyo finished his dinner he suddenly realized something: “I’m not usually here at this time… or I’m not awake at least.” he was a bit sleepy, but not as tired as in the other days. It looked like the effect of the G.O. was wearing off, he only got dizzy if he moved too much. The boy ended up killing time by looking for something to watch, but since he didn’t usually follow a show, he gave up after some time. “Aaargh.” he heaved a deep sigh out of boredom.

Feeling that he had nothing better to do, Masuyo went to the balcony and tried to see if anything was going on in Sute’s apartment: “No signs of movement, but I can see some flashes of light…” he then looked down: “The view is still beautiful, but not as much as in the mornings…” after this, he went to the integrated door between his and Sute’s apartment and pressed his ears against it.

“Ooh!” a muffled sound could be heard, but it was difficult to see if it was from a person or the television.

...oooooooom, uuuuuuuuum, iiiiiiiiiiih, eeeeeeeeeen.” a bunch of different sounds could be heard, probably a mix of explosions and other sound effects.

“I must really have nothing to do.” Masuyo sighed, “If she notices that I’m here she’ll be totally creeped out, so I’d better…”

Bi bi bi, Bi bi bi!

“Aaaah!” the startled Masuyo jumped out of his stalker position and tumbled to the ground. 

On the other side of the door, the sound effects stopped, they were replaced by and a voice shouting from the balcony: “Masuyo, are you alright?! Did something happen??”

“Oh! Everything is fine, you don’t have to worry about it Sute! I have just finished eating what you brought to me and it was delicious, thank you very much!” Masuyo replied after quickly getting up from the floor and running to his balcony, he didn't notice right away that the girl wasn't wearing her usual outfit.

Bi bi bi, Bi bi bi!” the Utablet craved for Masuyo’s attention. The boy was sure it was louder than usual.

“I don’t know if you heard that, but apparently I have to check something on the Utablet! Good night!”

“Okay.” Sute nodded, “Good night.”

Masuyo darted out of the balcony to pick the device requesting his attention. He looked at it and saw that it was the schedule for the next day, from Hisoka, and another message, from Yoko. “Yoko?” Masuyo frowned, “I don’t use this Utablet often but I don’t think it’s common to have her send me messages.” 

Even with that, the boy ignored it. He just put the device on a desk and laid on the couch. “Wait…” he stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, “Was Sute wearing rabbit pajamas?” 

After trying to remember if that was really the case, Masuyo finally concluded it didn't matter. Getting up to go to his bead and rest, he decided to pick the Utablet once again and read Yoko’s brief message:

“We have our first case! So, be sure to do your best on the following days!”

Real Aire
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-june-
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Kerry Kamiya
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