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“Bon bon bonjour, Red Buster.”
Hiromu hadn’t heard that voice in a long time. Almost ten years, to be exact. He opened his eyes, and tried to sit up, and to remember where he was and what he’d been doing before this.
“I wouldn’t do that, ma puce. You’re not in good shape,” said Enter.
Hiromu felt fine, and when he opened his eyes, he saw he looked OK. No blood or bruises or obvious injuries. At least not as far as he could see, which was difficult, because the light was so bright. He’d been outside before, and he was fighting. Now he was in what looked like a space with white walls, enormous and empty except for himself and Enter. Enter was here; but Enter was –
“… Am I dead?” said Hiromu.
“Perhaps not yet. You can remain here if you wish, but I don’t think you will. After all, the Go-Busters would miss you,” said Enter.
“Yeah … I really don’t wanna stay in here with you,” Hiromu said, and then quickly added “No offence.” The idea of spending eternity in some kind of void with the ghost of his former enemy wasn’t exactly appealing. Was this what everyone’s afterlife looked like? There would be nothing for him to do for the rest of time. He’d quickly lose his mind. But then, maybe that was the whole idea, “Wait. Are we in hell?!”
Enter didn’t reply. He looked the same as ever, still with his goggles and bright hair. Almost attractive, if Hiromu were honest. He couldn’t believe it. It was weird enough he was here at all, much less that Enter was here, or that Hiromu was having any kind of thoughts about what Enter looked like, “How can I get back?” said Hiromu.
“You’ll have to wait until an ambulance arrives. That will take around onze minutes, but until then, Blue Buster is working to save your life.” Enter produced a remote control. What looked like a window opened in the wide, empty space above them. Hiromu could see the street where he’d been fighting only moments before. He’d collapsed on the ground, and sure enough, Ryuuji was performing CPR on Hiromu while Yoko and Nick tried to calm down a panicking Gorisaki Banana. Hiromu felt bad for Nick. He must be falling apart inside, but he was still trying to reassure Gorisaki.
“Until then, all I can do is sit here?” said Hiromu.
“Oui. I don’t doubt they will repair you to working order, and you will return to your body.”
This turn of phrase didn’t sound too certain, “You sure about that?” said Hiromu.
“As certain as is possible.”
“Still not reassuring,” said Hiromu. “So … is this it? If I actually died, would I stay here forever?”
“This exact space is more of a waiting room, but I fear you are asking the wrong questions. Did you not wonder why I am here to welcome you to the next world, rather than your parents?” said Enter.
“My parents?” Hiromu hadn’t even thought about them, but it made sense. If Enter still existed somewhere, that meant his parents did too, “Where are they? What about … Jin? Yoko’s mother?”
“You will be reunited someday. But you were very young when your parents left you. I am here because you have a strong attachment to me,” said Enter.
“I guess that makes sense.” Enter wasn’t wrong. They had always had a connection, even before Hiromu knew who Enter was. It made sense they would be drawn to each other because Enter contained data from Hiromu’s parents, but that wasn’t the whole story.
“Secretly, I am the person you most trusted to help you make this journey. When we last saw each other, you did not like my suggestion that we have a shared suicide together. And yet, here we are, just the two of us.”
Hiromu felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. The last thing he wanted or needed, now or ever, was for one of the most painful and desperate moments he’d ever experienced to be brought up all over again, “I don’t want to hear about that!”
“But you remember it, Red Buster.”
“Shut up!” Hiromu wondered if he really had gone to hell. He wanted nothing more than to get out of here, which seemed impossible, but he didn’t have the energy even to begin thinking about what would come next.
After a moment, Enter said, “You do not care to think about it. Eventually, when it’s time for you to stay, you will remember everything. But you don’t seem to have a desire to stay here. And I hope it will be some time before we see each other again.”
“I still don’t know how to go back,” said Hiromu.
“It will not be long now. Look.” Enter gestured towards the little window. Hiromu saw that paramedics had arrived and were gathering around him. He started to feel different. A little lighter, fainter somehow, as if he could drift. Did that mean his heart had re-started or something? He noticed he was beginning to feel pain again. That wasn’t going to be fun when he woke up.
“I guess this is goodbye,” said Hiromu.
“It is simply au revoir for now, Red Buster. I will see you again.”
“Yeah, thanks for reminding me of that.” Hiromu hadn’t meant that as harshly as it sounded. He was relieved to know that Enter had some kind of – soul? He was still around, and Hiromu would see him again one day, and his parents. Everything that had happened with Enter still hurt, and yet it didn’t seem to matter quite so much now.
“Try not to do anything too reckless, ma puce.” Enter smiled, and Hiromu found himself smiling back.
“Well … I’ll see you,” Hiromu said. “But not too soon.”
“Oui. Not too soon.”
--
“Hiromu!”
That didn't sound like Enter. Hiromu opened his eyes. Not a good idea, because every single centimetre of his body ached. He really just needed to stop opening his eyes today.
“Hiromu? Hey, he's awake!" The same voice; Yoko’s. She was running towards him now, and Hiromu tensed. He'd be in a whole world more pain if she tackled him now.
“Easy, Yoko.” Ryuuji grabbed her before she could reach Hiromu, “Hiromu, can you hear me? We’ll be at the hospital very soon. Hang in there.”
“Mr Sakurada? We’re lifting you into the ambulance now. Please wait a moment.” That was a paramedic. Hiromu realized he was already on a stretcher. Maybe that should have been obvious.
He closed his eyes and let his consciousness drift. He decided it would be better not to tell Ryuuji or Yoko about his brush with death, or about Enter. One day they would understand, and one day he and Enter would have a lot to talk about. Until then, Hiromu was going to be out of action for a while. He hated hospital food. He’d ask Yoko to bring him something decent.