Track 7

…Oh, um. Wow. I thought I could see right through you for a moment there.

Ahaha… It’s been quiiiite a while since I’ve taken any adaptation factor after all.

…! Then we’d better hurry…!

It’s not like something’s gonna happen right away.

…Really?

Yep.

……

Don’t just stand there. Come here.

…Okay.

Oh, you can see… the city from here.

(Hm. The sharp pain in my chest seems to have eased up a tiny bit.)

—Netaro, were you trying to make contact with your home planet?

You mean the whole Ventura thingy? No way! It looks stupid.

So, have you been keeping in touch with Suisei-san…?

Me and him?? Why would I?

I just thought the two of you would be best of Aliegos.

Aliegos. Is that a subspecies of flamingo?

It’s short for “Alien Amigo”. I was torn between that and “Aliami” though.

Siiigh, so hard to say…

(…Gii’s the one that’s like an Aliego to me though.)

Suisei’s got a preeetty strong personality~ Aliens aren’t always buddy-buddy with one another, y’know.

Huh, really? But you were having so much fun earlier.

It’s eat or be eaten. Though I suppose we can get along when we’re on a full stomach!

Aliens are so mysterious…

More importantly! You’re my teacher and Aliego, so pull yourself together!

……

…You know, I thought you might be heading back to your home planet.

Hoh.

You came down with this strange illness after coming to Earth, causing you to be out of place among us humans…

I figured you might be getting homesick, so I thought maybe having some alien friends would help with that.

Which is why I asked Raito-san if he has any ideas for a study trip location, and that’s when he mentioned there’s a place in Fukushima where aliens gather…

Hoooh—

(So Gii was trying to become the main host for my sake.)

Were you worried about me?

I’m both your teacher and friend. Even if things work differently for humans and aliens, I want to cherish our bond.

…

Mm…?

(The sharp pain in my chest earlier turned into little thump-thumps.)

You’re half right.

A part of me wanted to go home, but there was a part of me that didn't want to.

You felt both…?

For example, I’m here with you right now. But since I have to return to HAMA tomorrow, there’s a set future where I’m not here anymore.

I wonder how to define this feeling when I start to think like this…

Ohh… If you coming to Earth is sort of like going on a trip, I think I kind of get it.

You do??

It’s the same feeling when you’re on the last night of a trip, right? I do miss the things back in HAMA, like Sonia and my own bed, but it’s also kind of sad to know that the trip is going to end tomorrow.

There’s nothing sad going on. In fact, I’m having a great time… but I still feel lonely.

Especially looking out over city lights like this. It just feels… well, you know.

…I know that well.

(Gii and I are sharing the same feeling right now. Even though we’re two different specimens from two completely different planets… I’m finally able to reach for the answer I’ve never been able to digest—)

(That warm fuzziness is spreading through me again…!)

Huh, what’s that sound—

HOGYAAA—!?

SO BRIIIIIGHT!! MY EYES!! MY EYEBALLS!!

Oh! That’s right, the organiser did say they’d shine lights into space during the UFO Fes…! It’s the moment of the century…!

Why are humans so desperate to get aliens to notice them!? Every single one of you Earthlings are a bunch of lonely idiots!

Take this light as an example, and the Golden Record too… No wonder why my planet has its eyes set on you humans.

Hmm. I’m not really worried about that.

Here you go again with your baseless feelings—

After all, you told your home planet not to invade Earth at the first tour’s afterparty, right?

I’m sure that as long as I have a donor contract with you, you will continue to do a great job of protecting Earth.¹

…Hoooh.

(So that’s why Gii was playing along all carefree when we were talking ‘bout D-Day at the hotel. He assumed nothing bad would happen…)

Maybe you’re not just some airheaded idiot after all.

(That being said…)

Hey, have you ever met one before, Netaro? A bad kid.

Are you reaaally sure it’s okay to trust me that much~? I am part of the ‘Harvesters of Galactic Civilization’, y’know.

You’d finish harvesting in seven days, huh?

Suisei told you, didn’t he? To report to him if you ever come across a bad kid.

Ahh, he did.

Surely, you know what that means! Go ahead and proudly report me!

Tell him that there’s a bad alien right here! I’m right here!! HELLOOOO~~!

But I didn’t raise you that way, Netaro.

I’ve been teaching you to be a good kid on Earth.

…!

(How strange. This wasn’t forced upon me at all. It resonates with me in a way that feels natural now.)

(That warm fuzziness keeps spreading… all the way to the tip of my pinky.)

…Gii.

Hm?

The other day, I said that if the Earth were to ever end, I’d stay by your side.

Mm.

A promise without some strings attached can’t be trusted, ya? How ‘bout we seal the deal with a pinky promise instead of a contract? And if one of us breaks it, we’ll swallow a thousand needles!

…

…… *not happy with the idea*

WHAAAAT?! You’re supposed to blush and hold out your pinky in a scene like this! Gii, you’re an absolute DUMMY!

Well… the ‘pinky promise’ and ‘swallowing a thousand needles’ don’t really sound like metaphors with you…

Whaaa~? After I went out of my way to do this—

(If we continue to follow the contract…)

(But when I think about it, I’ve been imposing all these terms on him this whole time… So maybe this time, I should take it upon myself…)

As long as you promise to remember, that’s enough for me.

Hmph.

Well… a promise is a promise!

Mm, I promise.