Finally, Reiko decided to take him to various places in Tokyo. Even though they hadn't fully recovered.
Starting with an art house, located inside Tokyo's largest mall, Shinjuku Mylord.
One of the largest in Tokyo.
When Ace entered for the first time, he felt he was being given a complete shopping experience with a department store, electronics, restaurants, and luxurious, futuristic entertainment.
His first steps were greeted by several exhibitions of extremely advanced and varied robots.
There were many adults as well as young children there to see what intelligent and principled science could do.
Every corner was filled with glimmering lights, shops with high-end brands.
Ace breathed in the cool air inside, his gaze unable to stop looking at everything.
Until at one point, Reiko invited Ace to eat at an upscale steak restaurant.
However, Ace just silently stared at the restaurant filled with people in formal, neat attire. He took a step back and asked Reiko to eat somewhere else.
Reiko closed his eyes and took a slow breath. Then, he agreed with Ace and took him to find another place to eat.
While searching for a suitable restaurant, Reiko saw Ace's eyes darting around, unable to stop looking at everything.
Reiko grabbed Ace's head and pointed it toward a restaurant called "Nusantara Food," which served Indonesian cuisine.
Ace winced in pain as his head was suddenly turned, revealing the restaurant.
When Ace read the restaurant's name, he just smiled shyly and nodded.
Reiko looked at him flatly and immediately hurried toward the restaurant.
. . .
Once they had ordered inside the restaurant, the food finally arrived, its aroma filling every corner of the room.
Ace's eyes sparkled, his hands gripping his fork and spoon, ready to devour everything.
Reiko, who had his eyes closed while wiping his palms with a tissue, whispered, "Oi, wait a second."
Ace's enthusiasm faded as he looked at Reiko with a disappointed squint. "What now, old man?" Reiko, seeing that annoying and dumb look.
He shot back, his tone cutting. "Getting bold, are we?!" Reiko leaned in with a furious glare, making Ace's face flood with cold sweat.
"Anyway, for Indonesian food, they use three fingers." Reiko picked up his fried rice, which contained fragrant beef and egg.
Ace examined his own dishes carefully: there was sate padang, sweet Oreo cheese martabak, and Indomie noodle soup.
To him, all of this food was new, and he asked innocently, "Umm, what's that meat on a stick with the pale yellow sauce called?" He picked up one skewer.
Reiko, who was eating his fried rice, paused. Then answered, "That's sate padang, one of Indonesia's hidden yet incredibly delicious specialties." He fed himself a spoonful of rice.
"Try it... with the plain rice too," urged Reiko.
Then, Ace grabbed the hot plain rice with three fingers. He mixed it with the sate padang sauce and ate it together with the meat.
"Umm..." His pupils dilated like a cat's, his body still as if not responding. "IT'S SPICY!" He searched for water to put out the fire in his throat. "WHERE IS IT, REIKO?!" His face was red, his arms flailing as he searched.
"BE PATIENT!" Reiko handed his own glass of water to the frantic Ace.
Quickly, "GLUG.... GLUGG... GLUGGG... ahhhhh~" Ace downed the glass, his face now calm and relieved, adorned with a satisfied smile.
"Tch... Greedy brat—" Reiko muttered while eating his fried rice.
"Tek tek tek tek!"
"Munch! Munch! Munch!"
"Slurp—!"
"CLANG!!"
"Done... Burp!" Ace let out a burp, but then... "WHAAAAAT?!!" Reiko's eyes widened, his face half-dead with shock seeing all his food gone just like that.
Suddenly... Ace stared blankly, his voice heavy and flat. "Uncle Reiko..." Instantly making Reiko take a step back with a frightened expression. "Wha... What..."
Ace's hollow gaze looked at Reiko like a ghost. "It seems... I could eat ten more plates..." His voice was empty, making Reiko frustrated as he grabbed his head with both hands. "NOOO!! MY WALLET!"
. . .
Finally, they left the mall with full bellies, completely exhausted.
As the sky began to darken, Reiko decided to take Ace to one more place.
He walked on the very crowded sidewalk with Ace, who was stuffed. "Where are we going?" asked Ace.
Reiko quickened his pace before answering. "A museum."
Ace, seeing Reiko walking ahead, whispered loudly, "Wait up!" He sped up, trying to match Reiko's pace.
. . .
A large door opened; it seemed Ace and Reiko had just finished visiting the museum of Japanese—and even world—history.
However, they didn't walk far from the entrance. The two of them stood in silent contemplation, gazing at the sky.
"So they were real?" asked Ace, his voice low and vulnerable.
Reiko took a candy from his bag, popped it in his mouth, and answered. "Calm down—"
Ace cut him off. "So where are they?" Hearing that, Reiko looked slightly annoyed. "Where are what? They? They're dead, Ace." He took the candy out of his mouth.
Ace argued back, his gaze firm on Reiko. "I know... But why?" Ace clenched his fist. "Why are there traces of their existence, but no proof that they actually were!"
Reiko let out a slow breath. He turned to face Ace, full of meaning. "History... History is always rewritten by the victors... Ace."
Reiko lowered himself, one knee bent while the other leg supported him. "You don't have to always understand the what, why, and how of history."
His gaze turned serious, and somewhat frightening. "Honestly... I hate the victors."
Ace asked, confused by what Reiko meant. "Why do you think like that, Uncle? What does that mean?" Soft, like a breeze blowing on a bright, quiet night.
"It means we have to endure. The world has gone mad beyond what you can imagine." Reiko stood up again, looking out of the museum.
Reiko looked back and gestured to leave the museum. Ace nodded in agreement and quickly followed Reiko.
. . .
"WEE-OO!... WEE-OOO!!" Two ambulances and three security vehicles sped through the streets of Tokyo, instantly silencing the road.
Reiko and Ace, who were walking toward the train station, flinched upon hearing it, their hearts pounding with curiosity.
"What's that... The reports today said crime rates weren't increasing!" Reiko stared, then motioned for Ace to come with him. "Ace." He hesitated at first, but finally nodded in agreement.
. . .
During the taxi ride, Reiko's pocket vibrated.
He took out his phone; there was a call from someone, and he answered quickly.
Reiko: "Hello?"
Someone: "Reiko... Where are you?"
Reiko was startled; he recognized the voice.
Reiko: "Swan... What is it?" Ace's eyes widened upon hearing the name.
Swan: "The central defense headquarters... It's under attack. I don't know, Fallen already went there. But—" Reiko cut in.
Reiko: "But what?!"
Swan: "Tch... They're moving together like a wave." Her voice grew higher and more worried.
Swan: "I'm still in China, damn it, the situation has us all trapped here."
Swan: "I'm sure our enemy... one of them isn't human."
The call ended.
His heart pounded hard, his breath uneasy. Ace's pupils dilated, his gaze filled with motivation. "Who are they?" His voice was flat and smooth.
Reiko put his phone back in his pocket. "I'll explain later, just as I promised to tell you about your parents." His worried gaze looked out the car window at the bright moon.
Reiko felt the heat inside Ace's body intensifying. He sensed something igniting, burning. "Ace, calm down."
"You're staying at my apartment tonight, then tomorrow I'll take you home," said Reiko, his worries clouding his thoughts again.
"Listen to me, Ace. Starting tomorrow and for the next week, I won't be around." Reiko still watched Ace, who was clearly struggling to suppress something.
"While at home, I want you to train physically for a full week." His eyes traced the moon through the window.
"After that, I will train you... We need resilient young people." His frown deepened, his hands clenching tightly.
Inside, Reiko thought to himself. "I have to face this."
End.