Chapter 105. The Promise with Luna Kindred
"Mr. Homu, you finally came~"
In a dessert shop inside the virtual world, Luna Kindred sat on the sofa, kicking her legs, her voice delighted and cute.
This shop was on a commercial street beside the amusement park, and after nearly half a year of testing, this area had already expanded to about the size of a small city.
Xander was still in that same Homu costume.
At first it was because Luna Kindred liked it, but later he slowly got used to it, and even felt a bit embarrassed to take it off.
Also, Luna Kindred had said at the beginning that she was a bit shy around strangers, and dressing like this made it easier to talk with her.
"Sorry.
I suddenly got notified last week that the equipment needed maintenance, so I couldn't join the test."
Propping his chin with those thick arms, Xander leaned his body on the table.
By now he felt very used to this suit.
Aside from not having fingers, moving around felt no different from daily life.
"I see.
When I didn't see you last week, I thought, 'Is Mr. Homu not coming anymore?'"
"How could that be."
With a light chuckle, he stretched out the soft arm and tapped Luna Kindred's little head once.
"We made a promise, so I won't suddenly disappear."
Luna Kindred covered her head and puffed her cheeks adorably.
"What if I suddenly disappear?"
"Then I'll go find you."
"Mm… f—fine, you pass."
Mr. Homu's almost without-hesitation reply made Luna Kindred's gaze suddenly a little evasive.
Her cheeks turned hot.
She lowered her head and hurriedly scooped a spoonful of cake into her mouth.
The cake was so sweet.
She scooped another spoonful, took a quiet breath, then mustered her courage and lifted her hand to offer it.
"Mr. Homu, say 'ah~'"
"Did you forget I'm still wearing a mascot suit?"
Waving his hand, Xander spoke with a bit of a laugh.
"Right… but I want Mr. Homu to taste it too."
"You can't open your mouth when you're in a mascot suit."
"Really not possible?"
Seeing Luna Kindred's persistent look, Xander crossed his arms and asked, "Are you sure?
Then I'll have to take off the mascot suit, you know?"
"Mm-mm!"
Hearing Luna Kindred's rather excited voice, Xander asked, puzzled, "Why do I feel like you're really looking forward to this?"
"Of course!
I still don't know what you look like, Mr. Homu!"
Her small hands clenched, and Luna Kindred widened her eyes at him, anticipation mixed with nervousness.
"Uh, with you staring at me like that, I'm actually getting embarrassed to take it off."
"Eh?!!"
When Xander put his hands back down, Luna Kindred's heart—strung up high—fell down at once, her little face full of indignation.
She drew the spoon back and stuffed it "fiercely" into her own mouth.
The more Luna Kindred thought about it, the angrier she got.
Then she simply stood up, scooted over to the opposite sofa, and flopped right onto the Homu mascot.
"Let me see!!"
"No!"
"Let me see!"
"No!
Didn't you say you were shy around strangers?!"
"That was months ago!
If you keep saying that, Mr. Homu, I'll get mad!"
"Still no!"
After some fussing, Luna Kindred finally gave up on making Xander take off the Homu suit, but she nestled against him and sat there, refusing to move.
As "punishment," she even brought the cake over and had Xander feed her.
Looking at Luna Kindred lifting her adorable little face, opening her mouth, revealing her neat white teeth and pink little tongue, and asking him without any guard at all, Xander suddenly felt a stir in his heart, and a desire to put something other than cake into her mouth.
Punishment?
Reward!
After finishing the cake, he picked up a napkin and helped Luna Kindred wipe her mouth.
Watching her rest against him contentedly, her two little hands secretly reached out and, little by little, hugged his arm.
"We've got a little over three hours left.
Anything you want to go play?"
Glancing at the time, Xander tilted his head and asked.
"Let's skip today."
"Hm?
Why?
Didn't you say last time you wanted to stroll around the new district?"
"This…"
After a pause, Luna Kindred's voice turned a bit low.
"After a while, I might not be able to come play with Mr. Homu for a long time."
His raised hand froze for a moment.
Xander kept his tone calm.
"Yeah?
Did something happen?"
"Mm.
Grandpa said my gene adjustment is about to enter the final stage.
Because of my physical condition, I can't do it directly like others.
I can only sleep in a nutrient pod, and I'll probably be asleep for a long time."
Xander immediately let out a breath.
From Luna Kindred's tone just now, he had thought something had gone wrong.
He raised his other arm and patted her head, speaking gently.
"Isn't getting your body better something to be happy about?
Why be sad?"
Luna Kindred hugged the arm in her embrace a little tighter.
"But then I won't be able to see Mr. Homu, will I?"
"There's plenty of time ahead.
We're not short on this bit.
When the gene adjustment is over, being able to hang out in real life will be even better, right?"
"That's what you say… but what if it takes too long, and Mr. Homu forgets me?"
Noticing the worry on Luna Kindred's face, Xander put his mascot arm in front of her.
"Then let's pinky promise.
We promise not to forget you, and when your body's better, we'll go play together."
Looking at that thick arm and the Homu head lowered down, Luna Kindred suddenly couldn't hold back a snort of laughter.
"How am I supposed to pinky-promise like this?"
Rubbing her eyes, Luna Kindred sat up and happily pounced onto the Homu.
She buried herself in the roomy Homu suit, giggling as she nuzzled around.
"Then it's a promise, okay?
Mr. Homu mustn't break his word!"
"Don't worry."
Supporting her weight, the mood returned to normal.
Luna Kindred began chirping away, sharing all the topics she'd saved up over the last half-month, things she'd especially wanted to tell him.
"Oh, right—Mr. Homu, you're with Anti-Entropy too, right?
Have you heard of Pokémon?"
Xander blinked, then smiled.
"Of course I have."
"Really?
Th-then… is Pokémon fun?
I watched the trailer before, and it looked so interesting."
"Fun.
Very fun.
Absolutely the most fun in the world!"
To this, Xander answered with rock-solid certainty.
"Really?!
Then, when the time comes, let's play together, okay?
Mr. Homu will be in charge of catching, I'll be in charge of raising, and we'll make a big, big yard with all our Pokémon~"
Planning to open a Day Care?
Smiling as he patted Luna Kindred's head, Xander replied, "Sure.
When your body's better, I'll teach you."
At this moment, Luna Kindred glanced left and right, then suddenly acted a bit sneaky.
She leaned to his ear and whispered, "Since Mr. Homu is with Anti-Entropy… can you secretly play early?
My big sister taught me that this is called… called 'go… go through the back door'?"
"Nope~"
"Eh?
Is it because Mr. Homu's rank is too low?"
Her expression turned a little enlightened—then, as soon as she'd said it, Luna Kindred hurriedly covered her mouth, her eyes turning cautious, like she was afraid she'd hurt his pride.
"What are you thinking!"
The hand on her little head lifted, then tapped down lightly.
"I'm the game designer of Pokémon!"
Upon hearing this, Luna Kindred's eyes immediately went wide.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ chapters ahead of webnovel
Paid member can read 150+ chapters ahead of webnovel
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts