Chapter 23:

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#003333" FACE="Arial" ><B>Ultra Symphony</B></FONT>   </div> <div>  </div> <div> Chapter 23: Didn't I used to be your biggest fan?</div> <div> ***</div> <div> When Mikono ran straight into Dr. Hayashito, she was in a way glad he was standing haphazardly in the middle of the hall, because she was in such a frenzy she might have never stopped. He jumped a bit as Mikono hyperventilated into his chest. </div> <bR> <div> "Mikono-chan!" He said pleasantly. She looked up, her large eyes wide with panic. Her loose black hair fell around her and she slowly backed away.</div> <bR> <div> "Gomennasai, Dr. Hayashito." She whispered.</div> <bR> <div> He merely laughed. "Mikono, I said to go for a WALK, not a run. You still haven't got the strength for that."</div> <bR> <div> A couple of passersby looked up when he said her name, and whispered to each other on down the hall. Dr. Hayashito glared after them, and looked at Mikono, who was staring at the floor with shame.</div> <bR> <div> "This is all hard for you, isn't it?" He asked as he walked her back to her room. She didn't answer him; didn't really have to.</div> <bR> <div> She climbed back into bed, noticing her mother sitting in the chair next to the bed. She smiled gently, and Mikono felt bad for having thrown her and Jerry out earlier. </div> <bR> <div> "Don't worry, Mikono. Once you have the operation, all this will be forgotten and you can go back to your normal life." Dr. Hayashito said casually, reading the chart on her door. </div> <bR> <div> Mikono sat up, hearing the word "operation" made her tense again, for some reason. </div> <bR> <div> "You did know about the operation, didn't you?" Dr. Hayashito asked, seeing her reaction. </div> <bR> <div> "My mother mentioned it..." Mikono said.</div> <bR> <div> "Ah. Yes. I regret that we can't allow you to ingest any liquids or food for the rest of the evening, as the operation is first thing tomorrow."</div> <bR> <div> Mikono felt a surge go through her. <I>Tomorrow? By tomorrow.. how many more might be dead?!</I></div> <bR> <div> "Is.. is that alright, Mikono..?" He asked, seeing the look on her face.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Kakei.. Ikeda... they said they need me!</I></div> <bR> <div> "Mikono?!" Her mother asked, touching her shoulder.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Could I really have done anything?! Do I even have it in me to be anything...</I></div> <bR> <div> "Mikono?! Doctor, what's the matter with her?" Mrs. Hayagane cried, shaking Mikono, who could do nothing but stare into space.</div> <bR> <div> <I>BUT an Idol?!</I></div> <bR> <div> Mikono suddenly felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks and she shoved her mother away. </div> <bR> <div> "I won't have the operation." She said, her voice strong with an unfamiliar power. </div> <bR> <div> <I>I can do something...</I></div> <bR> <div> Dr. Hayashito frowned, and her mother screamed with rage. "Not this again! Mikono, they put something INSIDE you!! The doctor has to remove it!"</div> <bR> <div> <I>Something... inside me...</I></div> <bR> <div> "Mikono, I strongly advise that you listen to your mother.." Dr. Hayashito said calmly.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Something inside me that can stop all this..</I></div> <bR> <div> "Mikono!! Listen to me!" Her mother screamed.</div> <bR> <div> <I>All this pain!</I></div> <bR> <div> "Mikono, you're hurting me!!" </div> <bR> <div> <I>All this pain!</I></div> <bR> <div> Mikono looked at her mother with apathy in her eyes. </div> <bR> <div> "You have no idea what pain is." she whispered harshly and got out of bed. </div> <bR> <div> "Mikono! What are you doing?!" </div> <bR> <div> Mikono looked out the window at the smoke and heard sirens wailing. The mid-afternoon sunlight was overthrown by a frightening haze and an air of the apocalypse showered the city with its power.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm leaving, Mama." Mikono said quietly, her eyes shadowed by the light in her face. "Please, don't try to stop me."</div> <bR> <div> <I>I'm leaving...</I></div> <bR> <div> ***</div> <bR> <div> "Attention people of Tokyo! Please return to your homes immediately! Due to the riots, the city has temporarily been placed under mandatory curfew! Return to your homes immediately." </div> <bR> <div> In the midst of the chaos, a young girl, wearing ridiculous clothes, sprinted across the streets, across the riots and the smoke and the crying men and women. A young girl many fleetingly thought to themselves looked familiar. </div> <bR> <div> The city darkened with the low-power state the Electric company had placed it under, and across town, a woman who wasn't able to understand such things lay amidst a scattering of broken glass, flower petals and a scrawled "Get Well" card, crying and screaming.</div> <bR> <div> A man stood behind her, looking out at the city and chewing a piece of gum. His comprehension ran much deeper than he let on. </div> <bR> <div> "Ganbatte, Ultrachibi 85." He whispered, smirking coldly. </div> <bR> <div> *** </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 24: Midori no Tenshi"><U>Chapter 24</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultra Symphony"><U>Back</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>