Haruto

The touch screen lit up and showed a small picture of a man peering out. His face grew into a smile and the door opened.

"Hello Princess!" Haruto was slightly shorter than Astra. He wore a loose, buttoned down flannel shirt and black leather trousers.

Astra embraced him and kissed him full on the lips. She looked him in the eyes and stroked his lively black hair. Stacy felt sudden knot in her stomach. Is she like this with everyone? Have I misread the signs?

"Hari, I want to introduce you to someone very special," said Astra breaking her embrace. "This is Stacy. And Stacy this is Haruto."

Haruto smiled, held Stacy by the hips and kissed her gently, once on each cheek.

"What a lovely welcome," said Stacy. "I didn't expect the Japanese to be so... hands on."

"Oh," said Haruto laughing and clasping his hands together. "Perhaps once upon a time. Astra, from what century did you pick up this beautiful lady?"

"2017," said Astra.

"2008," said Stacy simultaneously. She looked at Astra and then laughed. "Oh, yes 2017."

"Well come in, come in!"

They followed him into his spacious studio apartment which had a huge panoramic view over the city through a floor to ceiling window that curved around the room.

"Oh, you've redecorated," said Astra. "I don't like it."

"So what brings you to Tokyo?" asked Haruto.

"I thought we could go out somewhere tonight," said Astra. "Somewhere special. Is Machiko around?"

"No, she's on Solidarity One!"

"Solidarity One?" asked Astra.

"It's a space station. The first step on mankind's journey to the stars. These are exciting times we are living in!"

"But Hari, what about our work on REAL world? Isn't that the true exciting frontier?"

Haruto appeared sad now. "I think that's a dead end. A dream too far. Machiko and I decided to focus on this world. To make the most of it."

"But we need you both! Machiko's code was really working."

"Really?" asked Haruto. "It really worked. And I mean not just a reponse from some ephemeral ghost but an actual physical way through?"

"Yes! Stacy managed to open a gateway."

"And what was on the other side?"

"Err, we don't know," said Astra. She exchanged glances with Stacy nervously but Stacy just shrugged. "Well Stacy tried going through..."

"And..." said Haruto.

"And she got transported to a random location and lost her memory."

Haruto crossed his arms.

"But I'm convinced we can get it to work," said Astra. "I just need to get some help from you and Maruko."

"I see. And there I was thinking this was a social call."

"It is. We're having a break from it. Stacy deserves a holiday given what she's been through."

"And you just happened to be in the area."

"Yes. Come on Hari. Let's just go somewhere nice. Get a drink, just like the old times."

Haruto brightened up. "Milliways," he said with a glint in his eyes. "Let's go to Milliways."

"Ah, Milliways," said Astra nodding and pointing at Haruto. She smiled at Stacy. "We're going to go to Milliways."

"What's Milliways?" asked Stacy.

"Oh you'll love it," said Astra.

"I'll order a taxi," said Haruto. "It's a 5 minute flight from here."

1. A Short Taxi Flight

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