16. Blooming

Early in the morning of the next day, Kazuki arrived at the office, sat on his desk and already called the operator:
- "Good morning, Operator-san."
- "Good morning, Kazuki-kun!"
- "Any news on Raikubo-san?"
- "Well, yes, she is well, but still on the hospital."
- "What?" - Kazuki raised his voice.
- "Don't worry, Kazuki-k..."
- "Shouldn't she be already discharged? Her wounds didn't seem too serious."
- "Yes, but listen to me." - the operator heard his sigh - "if Haruka-chan was a common civilian, she would have spent one day at the hospital and then one week or more at home, to fully recover. With her, we are testing a more sophisticated treatment, she has to stay two days at the hospital, but then she will be discharged and just need a single day at home to be fully recovered."
- "Well" - he sighed - "Hm, I guess it is fine then." - he paused - "just tell me if there is anything out of the ordinary, okay?"
- "Sure, I will. And" - the operator paused - "please do focus on your report today, the Colonel is already asking me about it."
- "Alright, sure thing, Operator-san."
- "Great. Anything else on your end?"
- "No, that will be all, thank you Operator-san."
- "Alright, operator handing it over to Kazuki-kun, over and out!" - Kazuki spent the rest of the day focused on his report and other minor tasks. He again trusted the process and the operator's words.

The next day, Kazuki again arrived early at work, but didn't even go to his desk, he went directly to the training grounds. On the Colonel's orders, he was to spend the day practicing his new found pyromancy ability.

The first test challenged Kazuki to cook rice using exclusively his fire. He worked on his concentration and stamina in order not to overcook the rice and to stand the entire process. His result was fine, he was unable to finish, but didn't burn the rice. It later became part of his lunch. The second test presented Kazuki with a myriad of matches and then stove burners. His objective was to light only one at a time. Kazuki concentrated well and surpassed expectations, making very few mistakes. On the next and final test, Kazuki was taken to a special room. It was maintained at 5 degrees Celcius and had a low amount of oxygen. He had to use a scuba equipment to breathe normally. His objective was to make fire and burn a large tree log in this unfavourable environment. On this test, Kazuki gave his all, tensed himself and channelled all the magic he could. Unfortunately, he barely burned anything. Tired, he got some rest before lunch.

During lunchtime, Kazuki ate rations very quickly and slipped away from the office. He had one objective on his mind, check up on Haruka. He left the NUMO's secret lift and went straight to the building where she lived. There, the elevator was under maintenance. So, he left the internal area and went to the external emergency ladders. The ladders were metallic, hollow and firmly attached to the building's pale blue side. Kazuki climbed the stairs and as he went up, his eyes widened listening to sounds that got stronger. Slow, tender guitar chords, then a soft delicate voice in a ballad rhythm. As he continued, the sounds became clearer, they were not perfect or polished but felt delicate and caring. As he reached the beginning of the sixth floor, he looked up and saw near a window the source of the sounds. It was Haruka.

Haruka was sitting on the edge of her window, she was wearing jeans, a white blouse and a towel over her pink hair. Her eyes were closed as she sang and played. Kazuki simply stood there, admiring her. Then she opened her green eyes and looked at him with a smile:
- "Hi."
- "Hi, Raikubo-san" - he stopped. - "It's good to see you well."
- "It's nice to see you too." - she got up - "please, come inside, make yourself comfortable." - she returned to her apartment and he followed her inside.

Haruka sat down on her couch with her guitar, while Kazuki got her chair and sat in front of her. He was looking down and up and said:
- "So, Raikubo-san, are you feeling better?"
- "Yes, much better" - she smiled with relief - "I got really hurt and scared that day, I must thank you for saving me."
- "It was nothing!" - he talked quickly - "it is what I needed, wanted and had to do." - then he paused - "I'm just glad everything went well."
- "Kaa-chan, you seem nervous. What is upsetting you?"
- "Well I... I guess I was worried about you, and I am feeling better" - she smiled inquisitively - "but something is bothering me indeed. Raikubo-san, isn't it dangerous to play guitar on the ladder? You know it is forbidden." - she replied smiling with relief:
- "Don't worry Kaa-chan. Everyone here leaves to work everyday. Also, I play softly when I'm outside." - she looked at the window - "it is really good to play feeling the sun and the breeze, but I rarely am able to do that." - Kazuki sighed and relaxed before continuing:
- "That's great to hear!" - Haruka leaned her head and looked into his eyes:
- "You really do seem worried about me, Kaa-chan."
- "Yes, of course" - he was flustered - "we are partners and have been friends since we were kids, I cannot help but worry about you. That's only natural of course!" - he lifted his finger. Haruka replied, laughing:
- "I like to hear that." - he got more flustered:
- "You just wanted to feel good."
- "Let me enjoy that" - she was content.

- "So" - Kazuki continued - "changing topics, what song were you playing? It was gorgeous."
- "It is quite an oldie. Not something you'd be allowed to hear these days, but let's not get into this topic. It is called Saturn Sea."
- "It is delicate and touching. I understand now why you smuggled some old records here."
- "Now you understand! You are always so straitlaced, I thought you'd never like these records." - he replied pouting:
- "Well, I admit I tend to be strict with rules." - he hesitated - "but I can recognize beauty when I feel it." - Haruka smiled and waited a bit before saying:
- "Do you want to hear it again?
- "Yes." - Haruka took a deep breath and played a few chords, intertwined with a melody, which preluded to the main verse:

- "Two agents" - Kazuki admired Haruka's playing.

- "Saving all the world" - Kazuki felt a shiver, was this about them?

- "Will they stick around?" - Kazuki decided to sit beside Haruka.

- "Forever?" - she sang, looking at him and smiling.

- "Raikubo-san" - Haruka stopped playing, put her index finger on his lips and said:
- "Haruka." - he looked into her eyes and said:
- "Haruka." - she looked into his lips. He leaned over and kissed her. She put her guitar aside and hugged him. He reciprocated and they kissed again. As they pulled apart, they gazed lovingly at each other.

Soon, however, this gaze became awkward. Kazuki leaned over to his side and said:
- "Darn it."
- "Yeah, bloody hell." - Kazuki put his hands over his face and continued:
- "We kind of messed up, didn't we?"
- "Yeah" - Haruka looked at him with a sheepish smile.
- "I don't know" - Kazuki said while he moved his fingers around. He was looking to a wall and panting when Haruka touched his hand. He stopped and looked at her, who said:
- "Kaa-chan, I have no idea of the future, but we have a choice." - she stopped - "Sort it out together" - she kept gazing at him - "or go separate ways." - he also looked into her eyes - "I have my opinions, but what do you think?"
- "Well, after all those years, I've always preferred to stay by your side" - he looked down, slightly blushing.
- "So do I, Kaa-chan. We will sort this out then." - she nodded and leaned over him.
- "Haruka" - he whispered - "I never noticed you were so gorgeous" - they embraced and kissed again.

After enjoying their embrace, Kazuki released Haruka, got up and took a deep breath. He said:
- "Well, we will sort this out then."
- "Yes" - Haruka looked serious. Kazuki looked around and scratched his head before saying:
- "I have to go back. See you tomorrow then?"
- "Yes, see you tomorrow."
- "Goodbye Rai... Haruka." - Kazuki left through the window. He felt his heart on his throat as he went down the stairs. Haruka spread herself on the couch, looked up and said to herself:
- "What the hell are we going to do now?"

Kazuki returned to his desk at the office and got the NCID before returning to the training grounds. The operator called:
- "Kazuki-kun, are you alright?"
- "Hi, Operator-san, yes I am, why?"
- "It's just that your signal stayed in the office during lunch." - he blushed, but luckily for him she couldn't see his face.
- "Oh this? I just... well you know... I returned to my apartment to sort some things out. I guess I removed the NCID out of habit."
- "Oh I see" - she hided her suspicion. - "well, be careful, remember the NCID may help us in case something unexpected comes up."
- "Sure thing, Operator-san, I will keep that in mind."
- "Thank you! Bye!" - Kazuki sighed in relief and went to the training grounds.

There, he underwent the exact same tests as he did on the morning, however the results varied wildly. Kazuki was now able to cook the rice, however he gave it some nasty burns. On the precision test, he failed miserably, unable to light less than 10 matches at once. And on the final test, he almost succeeded. He mustered enormous flames even on the harsh environment and was able to consume a large chunk of the tree. When questioned about the changes in the results by the testers, Kazuki said that he changed his approach mentally and was experimenting. One tester said that something "fiery" must have happened during lunch and he simply replied "Let's just say there was a Red Spark", blushing.