♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢

Rogi went with Yona to the study room to solve his problem with “making a story.” The teacher welcomed them warmly. The study room was always a place where children came and went freely, a space that naturally belonged to them. The teacher set out drinks and snacks and joined them.

Rogi poured out everything—about the mysterious things that had happened since yesterday and his worry that he needed to come up with his own story right now. For a moment, he glanced at the teacher, worried she might not believe him.
“Teacher, it’s true! I’m not lying, really~”
But the teacher didn’t look surprised at all. In fact, she seemed to know more than Rogi expected.

“That’s right, it isn’t a lie. And right now, the real problem is figuring out how to build your story. I’ll help you.”

Rogi’s eyes widened. He realized the teacher already knew everything. But he didn’t even know what to ask. Just then, Yona pulled out a notebook and pencil, ready to write things down.

Yona: “Rogi, what do you like? Start with what you like.”
Rogi: “What I like! …”

The teacher watched them with loving eyes, finding their earnest sharing utterly sweet. While Yona was busily writing down Rogi’s answers, something slipped from Yona’s left arm—the glove-like cover she always wore. Rogi gasped. Beneath the glove, from the elbow down, there was nothing.

Yona: “Ah! Teacher, it came off.”
Teacher: “Yes, just a moment, dear.”

Calmly, the teacher checked Yona’s arm for scrapes or irritation. Then she gently wiped away sweat and fitted the prosthetic back in place. Seeing Rogi’s shocked expression, she explained softly:

“Yona was born without her left arm and right leg. That’s why she uses a prosthesis.”

Rogi saw the faint sadness in her smile. He was so startled he couldn’t answer.

“Thank you, Teacher,” Yona said quietly, picking up her pen again. The teacher kissed her forehead and cheeks several times.

Conversation flowed on, but Rogi still couldn’t find a subject for his story. Then the teacher asked:

Teacher: “Rogi, what’s something that felt really fun for you lately?”
Rogi: “Hmm…”
Yona: “Story games?”
Rogi: “That was fun, but… something else.”
Yona: “Oh—because of Dabi?”
Rogi: “Ah! Right.”
Yona: “The Dabi incident?”
Rogi: “No… it was ‘The Magic Child.’ That was the best.”
Yona: “Ugh…”

The teacher smiled knowingly. She already knew about Yona’s “Magic Child.”

“Oh, so the story Yona made was really fun for you, Rogi?”

Yona’s cheeks turned pink. “Haha… haah…” She was embarrassed, and Rogi stared straight at her.

“Yes! It was so fun. I wanted to touch things inside the story, to walk around and explore it myself.”

Yona blushed deeper, while Rogi fumbled to explain what he felt. The teacher suggested they continue the story of “The Magic Child” together. Rogi’s eyes lit up instantly. Excited, he started pouring out ideas to Yona.

Rogi: “I want to be able to talk with magic.”
Yona: “Talk with it? How?”
Rogi: “So we can have conversations, even become friends.”
Yona: “Ah! A magic that lets you talk to everyone.”
Rogi: “No—just me!”
Yona: “Ugh… that’s just like Pie.”
Rogi: “Pie talks to magic too?”
Yona: “No, Pie talks to animals and plants. But only Pie.”
Rogi: “Wow! I want to talk with animals too.”
Yona: “You’d need Pie’s permission for that.”
Rogi: “Then… maybe later.”

Now that they had a direction, Rogi and Yona scribbled and chattered without pause. Their pure excitement made the teacher’s heart glow with affection. They lost all track of time.

♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢

On their way home, Rogi asked, “Yona, who exactly is EAT?”
Yona thought seriously. “Hmm… EAT came from far, far away—from another planet. He said he was sent here under orders.”

Rogi’s eyes sparkled. “Eek! An alien, right?”
Yona tilted her head. “That’s right. But not a monster.”

She told Rogi everything she and her friends knew, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy him.

Rogi: “Why did he come here? Has the teacher seen him?”
Yona: “No, not yet.”
Rogi: “Why not?! If the teacher saw him, we could learn so much more.”
Yona: “Well… it hasn’t been that long since he arrived. Maybe two months?”
Rogi: “What?! Two whole months, and that’s all you know? Aren’t you curious? I’m bursting with questions!”
Yona: “…You’re right. I guess I was too busy playing to notice.”
Rogi: “Unbelievable. When did you first meet him?”
Yona: “Let’s see… it was late at night, when I stayed over at Dabi’s house…”

Yona began to recount that night in detail.

A couple of months earlier, Yona and Dabi were in Dabi’s room, the radio on, each busy with their own play. Yona had books scattered around her and was scribbling away on a white sheet of paper.

Meanwhile, Dabi had spread out blankets, piled every pillow he could find into a fortress, and turned it into his own spaceship. With fierce concentration, he prepared as a Space Hero to fight imaginary cosmic monsters.

They nibbled on snacks nonstop as they played, like little rabbits. Finally, ready for launch, Dabi turned to Yona with blazing eyes.

Dabi: “Doctor, launch preparations complete! Give the order!”
Yona: (without stopping her writing) “Very well, Space Hero. For the peace of the universe—launch!”
Dabi: “Then, Space Hero Dabi, deploying! Vroooom!”

Just as Dabi launched, the radio began playing a hit song by their favorite singer, T.z. At once, both children dropped everything to dance wildly to the beat. When the song ended, Dabi, laughing, returned to his spaceship—until Yona called out:

Yona: “Who are you? How dare you come here!”
Dabi: “Ah! (turning quickly) I am Space Hero Dabi, come to defeat the Dark Lord of the universe!”
Yona: “What?! You’re the one? To think someone like you would challenge the Dark Lord! Impossible! First you must defeat me!”
Dabi: “What? Who are you, to challenge me?”
Yona: “I am Poltzris, the general who serves the Dark Lord!”
Dabi: “Pol…chiss?”
Yona: “Not Polchiss! Poltzris! Poltzris!”
Dabi: “Come then, Polchiris!”
Yona: “Is my name too hard? Should I change it?”
Dabi: “No, just keep it.”
Yona: “Very well! Come, Space Hero!”

With invisible light-sabers, they fought a fierce battle. Dabi was losing. To win, he shouted for his spaceship to transform.

Dabi: “This foe is strong! Then—transform!”
Yona: “Ah! Don’t tell me… the legendary robot!”
Dabi: “Transform! Meteor Light!”
Yona: “What does that even mean?”
Dabi: “I don’t know! Transform! Huh?”

Suddenly, the room went pitch-black.

Yona: “The power’s out… I’m scared.”
Dabi: “A blackout?”

In the dark, as the children froze in fear, a figure appeared—a glowing being in a white coat. It was EAT.

-----

Later, under a tall willow tree on their way home, Yona and Rogi sat down. Yona asked, “Should I keep going? The story is really long.” Rogi thought for a moment and grinned. “Keep going. My dad’s out, so no one’s waiting. Go, go!”

Yona nodded. “That was the first time I ever saw EAT.”