Five Times Taka Didn't Text Mondo, And The One Time He Did
[ To: Mondo ]: I think something is wrong.
When Taka had woken up, he was scared. He didn't know where he was, and for a frightening second, he didn't know who he was. Hurriedly, he pulled out his phone—his very, very, very old phone—and typed a text to a name he didn't know. Everything came back before he could send it.
He erased the message and tucked his phone away. He would be able to find someone before long... Right?
[ To: Mondo ]: Mondo, please contact me. I cannot find you, and I'm worried.
It was just Toko and Taka, taking down the boards on the vaulted shut door of the school. The password to the vault was something neither of them wanted to remember. After coming up with a code, they'd split up to explore the school in hopes of finding someone. Taka ended up in the dormitory hallway, staring down at a pile of stars that clogged one door.
He pulled out the flip phone again and typed another message out, one to the owner of the room. He stared at the little pixel on the door before sighing and erasing he message once more. He'd find him. He had to.
[ To: Mondo ]: It is dangerous outside. I found Toko. Please take shelter, I don't want you to get hurt.
It was a silly text; no one could stop Mondo from getting hurt. He was just that stubborn. And yet, Kiyotaka couldn't help but type out the message as he waited alone in the cafeteria. Toko was in the library, most likely burning any files on Syo. He couldn't blame her.
He sighed, deleted the message, and buried his head in his arms. It was so quiet. So open. So... Alone.
[ To: Mondo ]: I don't know if you're coming back. Maybe it was just the victims who came back. Toko said she survived.
Taka stared at the blinking cursor as he lay in bed. It was waiting for him to type more, but he simply erased it all. Nothing. No sign of anyone. He was starting to lose hope. No, he couldn't do that. Not again. Not when there was some chance that Mondo was still out there.
There was a chance, wasn't there?
He shut the phone off and rolled over. He had a busy day tomorrow. A busy day... Walking down empty halls and making sure Syo and Toko weren't breaking any rules. Were there even any rules anymore?
[ To: Mondo ]: We've found a robot. His name is K1-B0, but has requested we call him Kiibo. We're not completely alone anymore... Mondo, I miss you.
Kiyotaka deleted the message within the minute of writing it. Why couldn't he find him? Was Mondo even alive? Probably not. Toko nudged him in the shoulder. He pocketed the phone.
"Hey, don't think about brick wall. If he's back, he's toughing it out."
"We came from all over. Maybe he's just taking his damn sweet time. Suits the guy well enough."
Taka shrugged. They'd shown Kiibo around, and then left him to do what he wanted. There weren't any rules anymore, Taka decided. Why implement them when there were only three to listen? And three who didn't even break them to begin with?
He shook his head. It was late. He should go to sleep. He'll look again in the morning. Like every morning.
It'd been a few days since Taka had found Mondo. Others had joined the school's safehouse area. There was a reason to walk the halls, now, people to protect. He was usually up in the camera rooms, making sure everything went smoothly, but right then he was in his room. It was way past curfew, but he couldn't sleep. There wasn't any particular reason why not, he just couldn't.
[ To: Mondo ]: If you are awake, would it be alright if I were to come over?
[ To: Mondo ]: I can't sleep.
He smiled at the small screen. It was relieving to see the little signal. That signal meant that all of his worries were really bogus. Mondo was safe.
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