Chapter Text
SHIRO stares at the headmaster’s monitor hoping that if he blinks hard enough what he’s seeing will disappear and he’ll wake up from his dream. Sadly all he’s doing is blinking strangely and seemingly making the headmaster uncomfortable.
HEADMASTER:
Are you going to be okay? You’re blinking an awful lot, sort of like those meme things on the internet.
SHIRO:
W—Where did you…
HEADMASTER:
Ah, but does how matter at this point? I have it, and that’s the biggest issue, no?
SHIRO:
Touche. Though I’d really, really like to know how you got this.
HEADMASTER:
And I really, really, have no reason to tell you. In any case Shiro I’m denying you entry into the base. Something like this would set a bad precedent you see.
SHIRO growls, helpless to retort.
HEADMASTER:
Normally that’d be it, but you’re a smart boy....doesn’t something seem…off?
SHIRO crosses his arms.
SHIRO:
Yeah, why call me all the way up here to show me this and then kick me out?
HEADMASTER:
And?
SHIRO:
Why show me that at all? You could have just told me I’m denied for reasons, and that would have been it. It’s your academy after all. This reeks of blackmail….
SHIRO stops pondering and turns his head slowly to the headmaster who’s face sports a healthy sinister grin.
SHIRO:
….You’re blackmailing me?
HEADMASTER:
Shaking head.
I wouldn’t call it that, more like “negotiation.”
SHIRO:
…So blackmail.
HEADMASTER:
Call it what you want, but you have something I want and I have something you do. Do you want to negotiate?
SHIRO glares and heaves his shoulders with a sigh.
SHIRO:
Considering what I have to put up with at home, and what I went through to get here, it’d be a big waste if I didn’t at least try to get into the base, plus blackmail is something I understand pretty well so why not.
HEADMASTER:
That’s what I like to hear. Let the negotiation begin.
SHIRO:
Though wait, what exactly do I have that you want?
To his surprise the headmaster fidgets in his chair and steeples his fingers nervously.
SHIRO:
Um, are you okay?
HEADMASTER:
Yes, I’m fine. It’s just it’s difficult to deal with matters of the heart.
SHIRO’s eyebrow rises.
SHIRO:
Explain.
HEADMASTER:
You are the key to getting me closer to someone precious, Shiro.
SHIRO:
Huh?
Opening theme: As long as I am me….
Is it because I am me, that I know powerlessness and loneliness?
If I were someone else, would I still have experienced misfortune?
Would shooting stars in the sky and the moon in the skies look different from another’s point of view?
The dreams and wishes I’ve embraced hard enough to break –would they still be as meaningful?
The little things; my height complex, stubbornness, and how I wear my heart on my sleeve,
Are all a part of me. Light at times, heavy at others, but never more than I can shoulder.
I know I face forward only because I don’t want others to see these tears of frustration,
And I run forward --I’m too stubborn and prideful to give up, because until the end I will be me.
Tripping and falling along the way only means I have a new starting point to begin.
The soil I kick up as I run is the only time I’ll stop and smell the flowers.
As long as I am me, even if others snicker under their breath, I won’t stop, and won’t be stopped.
Episode 3: Dirty Deals
The headmaster leans back in his chair and rests his hands on his stomach –his eyes (as far as Shiro can tell with his thick lensed glasses) seem to fade back in reminisce.
HEADMASTER:
Shiro, have you ever been in love?
SHIRO’s expression is somewhere between a scowl and blush.
SHIRO:
I don’t see how that has any bear—
HEADMASTER:
It’s part of negotiations!
SHIRO:
….Maybe, and if you ask me any more than that I’m leaving.
The headmaster nods approvingly at this and sighs wistfully.
HEADMASTER:
I have many achievements in my life –my inventions, the breakthroughs in bombology I’ve made, heck, even this base! Yet, one thing has always eluded me.
SHIRO rolls his eyes, which the headmaster seems to ignore and instead grips his fist passionately.
HEADMASTER:
And that is love!
SHIRO:
Monotone
I see.
HEADMASTER:
What are achievements if you have no one to share them with? Nothing I say, nothing!!
He then turns to SHIRO, who can swear he sees something akin to mini flames in his eyes.
HEADMASTER:
And that’s how you’ll help me!
SHIRO:
I’m still really not clear on how. I mean, are you asking me to find you a girl?
HEADMASTER:
Oho, you say that as if you can.
SHIRO:
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar…..sir.
HEADMASTER:
I suppose you have a point. Though no, I do not need you to find me a lady as you already know her!
SHIRO’s brows furrow in confusion until it dawns on him.
SHIRO:
…Y-Y-You want to date my grandma?
At this, the Headmaster slumps in his chair and plays with the buttons on his open labcoat nervously, a silly grin plastered on his face.
HEADMASTER:
D—Don’t put it that way, it’s embarrassing.
SHIRO puts his face in his hand and shakes his head.
SHIRO:
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. So my educational future depends on you scoring?
The Headmaster give him a dirty glare.
HEADMASTER:
Keep in mind what I have on you is enough to send you to prison for a long while.
SHIRO’s eyes narrow and he turns away from the headmaster.
SHIRO:
Maybe I’ll just do my time then. You can’t treat my grandma like some sorta bargaining chip, old man. The way I see it, you need me more than I need you. I’ve actually been to jail once, so it’s not like it’s a thing that frightens me.
The Headmaster slouches back in his chair and taps his fingers on the desk as a pregnant silence unfolds between the two of them.
HEADMASTER:
You don’t mean any of that, do you?
SHIRO:
Not a word.
HEADMASTER:
I know you’ve been away from home for a while, and the last thing you want to do is antagonize your Grandmother any further. Momo—er, she’s been through enough because of you as is, right?
SHIRO:
Growls.
Yeah, yeah. I get it okay? Going to jail would probably make our already strained relationship worse. Probably being “Most definitely” in this case. I don’t want to help you, but in all honesty---
HEADMASTER:
You don’t have to, of course. I am a very reasonable man. You could very well walk out of here and I won’t turn relinquish this to anyone, but then your dreams of joining the base are over. I mean, on principle I’m doing you a favor by hanging onto this.
SHIRO:
Flatly.
Gee, thanks. So Mr. “Reasonable man”, what exactly do I have to do?
HEADMASTER:
Just put in a good word for me!
SHIRO blinks and turns to the headmaster.
SHIRO:
That’s it?
HEADMASTER:
Tilting head.
Should there be something else?
SHIRO:
I was er, no. No there shouldn’t. Yeah, sure I can talk you up around Grandma, --that is if she even wants to talk to me.
The Headmaster takes a breath and leans forward in his chair.
HEADMASTER:
I only know a little bit of your situation, and yes you really did screw things up badly, but that’s the wonderful thing about family…they forgive--- provided enough time. I’m sure if you give it time then she’ll find it in her heart to forgive you.
SHIRO finds his words oddly relieving despite their lack of any grounding basis. When he thinks back on it, POMMY was really the only one who’s been a source of anything besides harsh reality, and he had been asleep for most of their return. He’s normally not fazed by a nice word or two, but this conversation reminds him that he really doesn’t have any close friends that he can talk to aside from KURO who he’d have to track down before leaving the base today.
Maybe coming here was for the best.
SHIRO:
Thanks, sir.
HEADMASTER:
Smiles.
No need to be so formal, Shiro. Ein will do. Dr. Ein.
SHIRO:
Got it, Dr. Ein. I guess we shake on this deal?
EIN:
Sounds good to me.
They reach over to shake when the door to EIN’s office flies open and a woman with long mauve hair and hazel eyes marches over to EIN’s desk. She’s dressed business casually with a white blouse top, black cropped pants and blue slip ons. What SHIRO notices as she pushes past him is the odd curled hair at the top of her head that springs upward. When she gets to the desk she places her hands down upon it firmly enough to shake the monitors slightly, but from EIN’s reaction –or lack thereof this much be a normal thing for him. She speaks with an authoritative tone, inclining her head at SHIRO as she does.
WOMAN:
Professor, you can’t possibly mean to let him enroll here after what we saw can you?
EIN is nonplussed, nodding with a smile.
EIN:
We have a gentleman’s agreement.
WOMAN:
Irritated.
Who cares! He’s clearly bad news, and will bring down the image of the entire base!
EIN:
Shout, you’re not wrong per se, but…
SHOUT:
Then why? And if you answer “Because he’s Ms. Momo’s grandson”, I swear I’ll…
EIN surprises her by lowering his voice.
EIN:
If you know that much, then you should understand how significant this is.
SHOUT:
What? What are you---
She blinks twice and turns back at SHIRO, examining him for a moment before her features soften.
SHOUT:
He looks just like his Dad….
SHIRO finds his own expression slackening.
SHOUT shakes her head and turns back to Ein with a slightly (read very slightly) less irritated expression.
SHOUT:
Okay, so he’s Mighty’s son. So what? He’s still got a problematic reputation!
EIN:
I’m not denying this, but to keep him from trying to overcome that reputation would be against the very existence of the base itself. I say that we give him a chance –and put him on probation. We owe it to Mighty to give his son an opportunity.
SHOUT’s lip quivers and she stands up straight, crosses her arms and gives SHIRO a glare.
SHOUT:
I suppose. I’ll tell you this now kid….the Professor might be a big softy, but I am not, and I supervise most day to day operations! You can ask your uncle, I don’t play games when it comes to official business so if you screw up even once, you’re out on your ass…got it?
SHIRO:
Shaken.
Yes ma’am.
SHOUT smiles and nods.
SHOUT:
You’re at least more agreeable than your uncle was, that’s a good sign. I’m Shout, and you’re Shiro, right?
SHIRO nods.
SHOUT:
Good, good. We weren’t expecting you so I don’t have the time to give you a grand tour right now—
EIN:
Under his breath.
But you have enough time to listen in on my conversations via intercom despite me telling you not to…
SHOUT glances back at EIN who busies himself with something on his computer.
SHOUT:
So we’ll have to postpone that to later this week, but the cadets here at the base are really friendly so if you have any questions you can ask anyone!
SHIRO:
Thanks, I will.
SHOUT:
Report back here tomorrow, and we’ll at least get you acclimated with your classmates and homeroom instructor.
SHIRO:
Nodding.
All right, looking forward to it.
What surprises SHIRO is that he actually means that.
He walks out of the office feeling oddly renewed, despite nothing of note happening. Still it was a start! He’s now into the base, and despite an auspicious beginning, the future is looking hopeful at least…though he still has to go home and deal with how tense things are there, and there’s something that still nags him…
SHIRO:
Thinking.
How the heck did they get that to begin with, and usually isn’t there associated paperwork with enrolling in a school? So why didn’t that lady ask me to fill anything out –or bring something home to Grandma to do?
The whole thing bothers SHIRO, but as there’s not much he can do about it so he shrugs and heads down and then outside where he looks back at the Base’s facilities one more time, considering where he should leave or try to find KURO today.
SHIRO:
Thinking.
Ah, I’ll have a look around for him when I head back tomorrow. I should head back and let Grandma know I’m in and…I guess fulfill my end of the deal I made with Dr. Ein, but…what exactly do I say?
MOMO:
Tell that old coot to shove it.
SHIRO shirks back.
POMMY sits at the end of a table with a fork in his mouth chewing thoughtfully. SHIRO is now back with his Grandmother MOMO and his friend explaining how things had gone at the base as she busies herself making dinner. Not knowing any other way to fulfil his contract with EIN, SHIRO simply stated that he is interested in her, and well…
SHIRO:
Y—You know him?
MOMO:
I do, and I’m not interested in him or his idiocy.
SHIRO:
Ah. Dammit, he could have at least have told me that you two are acquainted.
MOMO:
In any case, it’s a…auspicious occasion that you were allowed in the base.
SHIRO:
I’ll take whatever I can get. More like, where were you all day cheesebrain?
POMMY:
Chewing fork.
Pommy was keeping Ms. Momo company, myu! Pommy got to see lots of the country side!
MOMO:
Smiling.
You’ve certainly made a very cute little friend, though I’m not sure of what he is exactly.
POMMY:
Pommy is the cutest hero in the gala—
SHIRO:
My cat.
POMMY is upon SHIRO in an instant, biting his head as MOMO returns to cooking.
MOMO:
So you’ll be following your father’s footsteps in the base, hm?
SHIRO remains unphased as he pulls at POMMY with one hand.
SHIRO:
Not so sure about following his footsteps, but I thought there’s a lot I could learn there, so I thought it would be best.
MOMO side eyes SHIRO without turning around.
MOMO:
Sounds very responsible –I’m surprised.
SHIRO:
Dad must have been a big deal there…even though he’s been gone for so long they seem to think fondly of him.
SHIRO bows his head.
SHIRO:
Quietly.
Even if I wanted to be like him, I don’t think I can, not with the things I’ve done….
MOMO:
I said “follow in his footsteps” not “become him”. Don’t be an idiot, you can’t be someone else, whether you do good things or bad things. I thought we raised you better than that, but then again…
SHIRO blinks and sighs.
SHIRO:
Grandma, I really am sorry. I know I made you worry, and for that I….
MOMO:
That’s enough. I also didn’t raise you to be a sniveling crybaby. When I was coming up, a man owned up for the decisions he made no matter how thoroughly stupid they may have been.
SHIRO:
Thinking.
“Thoroughly stupid”….
MOMO:
If you really want to apologize use your actions, not your words.
SHIRO:
Grandma?
MOMO:
Now, let us eat.
SHIRO:
Y—yeah, okay.
She serves them her home cooking, and despite the tension robbing them of any further conversation, the meal’s nostalgia is enough to fill their bellies and minds. Later after SHIRO takes a bath, he heads to his room where POMMY has set up a pillow fort in the corner, though at the present moment he looks at SHIRO’s walls filled with photographs. Now that he’s not asleep and the room not dark, he sees that SHIRO’s room while small has many pictures on its walls covering a sea scene painted on the walls, a big sun directly over his bed. When SHIRO enters the room, POMMY gives him a look and smile.
POMMY:
Bomber—er, Shiro! Look at all the pictures! They’re all so pretty!
SHIRO glances at them –all of different locales around Bomber Star, --his nearby surroundings –mountains, fields and greenery being mostly in focus.
SHIRO:
Oh, yeah they are nice.
POMMY:
Whoever took them must be really talented, myuu!
SHIRO:
Y—you think so?
POMMY nods.
SHIRO:
They’d be happy to hear that.
POMMY:
That’s why Pommy finds it so hard to believe Shiro took them!
SHIRO who had turned to go to his bed stops suddenly and breaks out in a cold sweat.
POMMY:
Is Pommy wrong, myu?
SHIRO:
I bought those, okay? I didn’t take them.
POMMY tilts his body and looks at the pictures again.
POMMY:
But they’re all taken around here, and look at the picture size, myuu! Why wouldn’t Shiro buy posters if he’s going to buy pictures?
SHIRO:
Because shut up! That’s why!
POMMY:
Confused.
Pommy is only complimenting Shiro, why is he getting angry…
SHIRO:
Just shut up!
SHIRO turns away from the bed and sits at a nearby desk with his head down as POMMY turns to continue to admire the pictures.
SHIRO:
Thinking.
Ahhh dammit, why am I so irritated....
He then thinks back to the base and how he felt upon EIN’s words.
SHIRO:
Thinking.
I suppose I can’t expect everyone to be as nice to me as him –even if it’d be nice.
Before SHIRO knows it, he has fallen asleep at his desk, and before long is in the hazy gulf between lucidity and sleep where he hears voices clamoring –familiar voices but the words are unintelligible. There are six of them all saying things that sound muffled as if they’re being censored by some audio filter. SHIRO is on his back unable to move toward the voices no matter how much he wants to, only able to turn his head listlessly to one side and listen to them continue to clamor on until one clear voice, rings out over the rest –quietly, but firmly.
ASHTARTH:
Gentlemen only get one.
SHIRO awakens slowly as the sunlight beams on his face from his window and another voice seems to be calling out his name from far away.
SHIRO:
Ugh, I fell asleep at my desk…what the hell kind of dream was that? …..and I swear that gentleman…was it….?
He turns back to see POMMY has made himself comfortable in the bed, which he fumes at for a moment, but then the voice calls out to him again.
SHIRO:
Wait…that’s…
SHIRO gets up and opens his window find the familiar visage of KURO down below waving his arms and saying his name.
KURO:
Shirooooo!!! You’re back home?!
SHIRO despite himself smiles and nods.
SHIRO:
Yeah bro! I’m back! Hold on a minute and I’ll be right down!
SHIRO gets up and with an evil glare at POMMY who simply turns over in his sleep heads out of the door, making his way downstairs and past his Grandmother who’s making breakfast.
MOMO:
Oh, Shiro. I was going to wake you up. Are you having breakfast here or with your friend?
SHIRO:
Ah, um…well….
MOMO offers him her first gentle smile of his return home.
MOMO:
Go ahead, I know you’ve been looking forward to seeing Kuro again.
SHIRO looks contrite for a moment, but nods.
SHIRO:
Thanks Grandma.
SHIRO exits and upon meeting KURO gives him a fist bump. KURO is dressed in a brownish-black uniform with a bomb insignia on the breast pocket, and black gloves on his hands. SHIRO quickly figures this must be the base uniform, and admits to himself that it doesn’t look half bad.
BOTH:
What’s up motherfleckeeeeer?!
KURO:
Dude, I didn’t think you’d actually come back like this! I thought I saw you at the base yesterday, but I was busy and by the time I had a minute you had already left! To think you’d come back home and be at the base...!!
SHIRO:
Yeah, stuff changed at the last minute, and I ended up coming back. Wasn’t it a lot of work to come see me at home like this, bro?
KURO:
Nah, no biggie, I don’t have much going on today so I thought I’d come here and make sure you got around okay –if you want me to that is.
SHIRO:
They weren’t really able to show me around yesterday, so actually that would be pretty nice.
KURO:
Sweet! Then just follow me! I’m actually really excited you’re here now!
SHIRO:
Thinking.
It’s nice to be here too, buddy.
To KURO
Heh, you were always the easily excitable sort.
KURO:
Well, after everything that happened, I never thought you’d be attending the base with me!
SHIRO:
Aww c’mon, don’t be like that. I thought about it once or twice….
KURO:
No need to be caught up in the past. Anyway, did they tell you what class you’re assigned in yet? It’s weird since you’re coming in mid semester…
SHIRO:
Nah, they didn’t. Actually, it’s weird since they didn’t ask me to fill out any paperwork either.
KURO:
…Oh.
SHIRO:
….Is there something I should know?
KURO:
Probably, but I don’t think I should be the one to tell you.
SHIRO gives KURO a look.
KURO:
Anyway, off to the base. All will be clear soon enough!
SHIRO:
Seriously, what the hell is going to happen, as my best friend you have an obligation to tell me.
KURO gives him a sly look.
KURO:
You abandoned me brother, are you sure you’re still my best friend?
SHIRO:
Harsh! I still answered your calls to a point…!
The two playfully argue back and forth as they head toward the base, where SHIRO’s first day of classes and unknown fate await him. Though if you were to ask him directly, he’d probably tell you that he doesn’t mind not knowing what’s coming next –as what’s in front of him right now is more than he could ever have hoped for after his exploits with the B.H.B army.
Ending Song: Passionate Orbit
Say, did you know, that heart beating in your chest…
Is a gift from the depths of this wide universe?
When we are born our guardian star breathes a silent prayer to the galaxy,
And in the break between dusk and morn, dyed silver-black hues it ends up in our hands.
As we experience our lives and are touched by the gentle but rusted hands of time,
Colors born from daily life drip from this gift from the galaxy yearning to be shared –to take orbit.
So when the time comes and your little universe yearns to orbit another’s –don’t be frightened.
Just clasp your hands together, and let those feelings bubble to the surface and become a star.
For each time two hearts intertwine and orbit one another,
A little more of the universe is filled with color.