That night, Aerith couldn't sleep.
In the dark bedroom, she tossed and turned, trying to close her eyes. But every time she did, the image of her furious mother's face returned. The sound of the snapping comb. The threat of the kitchen knife.
And her mother's question: "Accountability."
Aerith sat up, hugging her knees. Tears began to flow down her cheeks. She felt dirty. She felt she had disappointed the only parent she had. And worse, her ignorance of human biology began to haunt her.
The romance novels she read never explained the details. They only spoke of "embracing in the cold night" and "the union of love."
What if... what if just by sleeping and hugging like that, I could get pregnant? Aerith thought in panic. I don't know! No one ever taught me!
With trembling hands, Aerith reached for her PHS (Personal Handyphone System). She pressed the speed dial for number 1.
Ring... Ring...
In Sector 7, Johnny jolted awake, shivering. However, seeing the PHS screen blinking with the name "Aerith," his drowsiness vanished instantly, replaced by a bad feeling.
"Hello? Aerith?" Johnny answered quickly, his voice raspy but alert. "What is it? Is there a problem?"
Silence for a moment. Only the sound of stifled sobs came from the other end.
"Aerith?" Johnny pressed, starting to get out of bed. "Answer me. I'm coming over there right now."
"N-no need, Johnny..." Aerith's voice sounded small and fragile. "It's just... Mom is really angry today. Morning... This morning, Mom and I are coming to your house."
Johnny wiped his face roughly, trying to assess the situation. He weighed the day's events. Fighting G-Copies? Running off with her daughter? Everything sounded bad. But there was one thing that was fatal.
"Is this because..." Johnny swallowed hard. "Because we slept together, Aerith?"
Aerith's sobbing grew louder. She bit her nails in panic. "Yes, Johnny... Mom said we went too far. I'm scared... I don't really know about things like that. Mom said she wants to demand accountability."
"Johnny..." Aerith's voice trembled violently. "Can... can I get pregnant because we slept hugging like that? I don't understand, Johnny. I'm scared."
Johnny was stunned. His heart sank hearing the girl's innocence. Guilt hit him hard. He knew Aerith was innocent. Yet, on the other hand, there was a strange warmth in his chest—this girl loved him so much she was willing to break her mother's rules.
"Aerith, listen to me," Johnny said gently but firmly. "You won't get pregnant just from hugging and kissing. Calm down."
"Really?"
"Really. I promise," Johnny answered. "But about your mother... let her be angry. That is her right. I was the one in the wrong."
"Mom said we're taking the train tomorrow morning," Aerith sobbed.
"No," Johnny cut in. "Don't take the train. First thing tomorrow morning, I will pick you up. I'll bring the car. It's big enough for the three of us."
"But... Mom said she's bringing the kitchen knife..."
Johnny felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He could imagine Elmyra Gainsborough sharpening a knife with a cold stare.
"Then let your mother bring it, Aerith," Johnny replied resignedly. "If she wants to cut me, I'll accept it. I will take responsibility for whatever happens. I love you, Aerith. And I won't run away."
"Sleep peacefully tonight. I will be at your front door when the sun rises."
Hearing Johnny's voice so sure and gentle, Aerith's crying slowly subsided. "You promise?"
"I promise."
They continued talking on the phone. Discussing random things, about flowers, about stars, anything to distract Aerith from her fear. Until finally, Aerith's breathing sounded steady on the other end. She had fallen asleep.
Johnny hung up the phone. He didn't sleep again that night.
4:00 AM, Sector 7 Slums.
The sky was still pitch black. Johnny was already busy in his garage.
He was warming up the engine of a small, boxy black hatchback. This car might look ordinary to the people on the Upper Plate, but in the Slums, owning a private car was high-level luxury. Its small, boxy shape was perfect for maneuvering through the narrow alleys of the lower sectors.
After ensuring the car engine was ready, Johnny walked into the house, heading toward his parents' room.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Dad... Mom..." Johnny called softly.
"Yaaawn..." a long yawn sounded from inside. "What is it, Johnny? The shop doesn't open for another hour."
"There's something important."
The door opened. Garrick appeared in a worn singlet and shorts, his eyes still half-closed. Behind him, Marilla sat on the edge of the bed in her nightgown, rubbing her eyes.
"Dad, Mom... I'm sorry for waking you up this early," Johnny said. His face was serious, more serious than when he said goodbye to hunt monsters. "There's something I want to discuss."
Seeing their son's unusual expression, Garrick's drowsiness vanished instantly.
The three of them sat at the simple wooden dining table. In the corner of the room, atop the refrigerator, Puck sat munching on an apple, watching this family drama with enthusiasm. He had listened to the phone call last night.
"Dad, Mom," Johnny began, his hands folded on the table. "This morning, I'm going to pick up Aerith and her mother. They want to come here. There is... something they want to talk about."
Marilla frowned. "Aerith? Your pretty girlfriend from Sector 5, right?"
"Yes, Mom."
"What's the occasion?" Marilla asked curiously. "It's nice that her mother wants to visit. Except Sector 7 is even more of a slum than Sector 5."
Garrick yawned widely, scratching his potbelly. "Maybe they want to get acquainted. This is actually good, Johnny! It means your relationship is serious. You just got back from a three-day mission, maybe she missed you."
Johnny looked down. His breath felt heavy. This was the hardest part. He never wanted to disappoint his parents.
"I did just get back from a mission, Dad," Johnny said quietly. "It's just that... I took Aerith with me."
Garrick grinned broadly. "Oh, that's great! You said she could use magic, right? You two must be a good match. So why is your face so tense? Did you sleep with her?"
Silence for a moment.
Johnny didn't answer immediately.
And his father started to panic. "Did you really sleep with her?"
"Dad... Mom..." Johnny looked them straight in the eye. "I slept with her."
Garrick froze. The smile was stuck on his face, but his eyes were empty. Marilla stopped pouring water.
"Huh?" Garrick blinked. "So... you slept? Slept slept? With Aerith?"
Johnny nodded slowly. "We slept in one room. One bed. One night."
Garrick covered his face with both palms, then slumped in his chair as if his bones had been removed. Marilla's eyes went wide, her mouth hanging open.
"OH MY GOD, JOHNNY!" Garrick shouted, stifled panic in his voice. "WE ARE DOOMED, MARILLA!"
"But we didn't do 'that', Mom! I swear!" Johnny hurriedly defended himself. "We just slept! Cuddling!"
Thwack!
Marilla's hand flew out, twisting Johnny's ear hard.
"Ouch! Ouch! That hurts, Mom!"
"IT'S NOT ABOUT 'THAT' OR NOT!" Marilla scolded, twisting his ear further. "YOU TOOK SOMEONE'S DAUGHTER! SLEPT IN ONE BED! WITHOUT HER MOTHER'S PERMISSION!"
"Mercy, Mom!"
"I thought you had grown up these past two years, Johnny! You work hard, you're smart with money, you're polite! But it turns out your brain is still short-circuited!"
Marilla released his ear, her breathing heavy. Garrick massaged his throbbing temples.
"We're finished..." Garrick muttered, pale. "No wonder her mother wants to come. Marilla, prepare my best clothes. Don't let us look like bums when the in-laws rage."
"Mother Elmyra said she's bringing a kitchen knife..." Johnny added quietly.
Garrick and Marilla turned their heads in unison toward Johnny with looks of horror.
"A KNIFE?!"
Marilla sighed deeply, then slapped the table. "Alright then! What's done is done! The rice has turned to porridge!"
The middle-aged woman stood up, hands on her hips, staring at her son.
"Johnny, get your best suit ready. Shower thoroughly. Use your father's cologne. Pick them up politely. If you get slapped by your future mother-in-law later here..."
Marilla pointed at Johnny's nose.
"...I will not interfere. If I had a daughter treated like that, I wouldn't just bring a knife, I'd bring a gun and a bomb too! Understand?!"
Johnny bowed his head deeply, feeling guilty but also relieved his parents weren't kicking him out. "Yes, Mom. I understand. I'll get ready."
Puck laughed with glee. This was the first time Guts, the Black Swordsman, had made a stupid mistake and gotten his ear pulled. This drama was incredibly entertaining.