Chapter 8: HoloHQ

"Are you sure you want this?" Kiara asked as she fixed Haruto's hair for the fifth time, "We don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"It's okay," Haruto nodded with a determined expression on his face, "I can do it."

"Alright," Calli cracked her neck, "If you think you're ready, then let's go."

-

"Mama, are you okay?" Haruto asked.

"Of course, sweetie. I'm just nervous," Kiara assured her son despite not looking okay at all.

"Here we are," Calli declared as the three stopped. They stood before what looked like a normal office building with the word "Hololive" written on the wall in sky blue.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Calli?" Kiara asked while shuffling uncomfortably.

"It's not like we have a choice," Calli replied.

"You're right," Kiara sighed before looking at Haruto. "Are you ready?"

"Un," Haruto gave his mother a determined nod.

"Alright, let's go," Kiara nodded back before opening the doors.

"Oh, they're here!" A girl with long, brown hair and a woman with glasses and indigo hair were waiting for them at the entrance.

"Hello! My name is Tokino Sora," the girl introduced herself while running up to Haruto, "You must be Haruto, right?"

"Yes…" Haruto nodded shyly. He still wasn't used to talking to strangers.

"This is your Auntie Sora," Kiara gestured to Sora, "A-chan is the woman over there."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Haruto," A-chan bowed politely before pushing her glasses up.

"It's nice to meet you too," Haruto bowed in kind.

"Come, let's continue this in the office!" Sora cheered excitedly before skipping off, A-chan not far behind.

"Don't worry. They're good people," Kiara assured her son. Haruto nodded before following.

-

"I've heard a lot about you, Haruto," Sora said as she opened the door to reveal a normal looking office, "How is it like with Kiara and Calli?"

"Mama and Papa are really nice to me," Haruto replied. Calli smiled in response while Kiara placed a hand on his head.

"Kiara's very protective of you," A-chan added.

"Er… feel free to take a seat," Sora gestured to the chairs as if she were desperately trying to change the subject.

"He's my son, after all!" Kiara exclaimed proudly as the three took a seat.

"So do you know about Kiara and Calli's job here?" A-chan asked.

"No," Haruto said while shaking his head, "All I know is that Mama runs KFP."

"I see," A-chan furrowed her brow, "When were you planning on telling him you two weren't human?"

"Considering I pulled my scythe on him the first time we met, I feel like he already knows," Calli cringed at the memory.

"So did you know?" Sora turned to Haruto.

"I always knew Mama and Papa were not normal but that's okay. Mama and Papa are Mama and Papa, and I love them," Haruto said.

"That's…" Sora trembled, her eyes squeezed shut, "That's adorable!"

"Awh, I love you too sweetie," Kiara pulled Haruto into a tight hug which knocked the wind out of him.

"Can't… breathe…" Haruto managed.

"Ah, I'm sorry!" Kiara, startled, pulled away from her adoptive son with a guilty expression on her face.

"Mama, can I go to the bathroom?" Haruto, embarrassed, tugged on his mother's shirt.

"Of course. A-chan, can you show Haruto to the restroom?" Kiara asked.

"Of course," A-chan stood up before waking up to Haruto.

"May I?" A-chan asked as she extended her hand towards Haruto. Haruto nodded and timidly grabbed A-chan's hand. A-chan smiled softly while tilting her head before leading Haruto out the door.

-

"Thank you, A-chan," Haruto meekly said before closing the bathroom door behind him.

A-chan pushed up her glasses before looking around to see if anyone was around. When she confirmed that she was alone, she took the opportunity to delve into her own thoughts.

Haruto's definitely not a human, A-chan thought. She could at least sense that. What she couldn't determine was what Haruto was. The aura he was emitting was small and immature, much like any twelve year old who doesn't know about magic.

As much as I want to find out, I guess I have to wait, A-chan concluded. She trusted Kiara and Calli to parent Haruto properly. Although it wasn't the best idea on paper, A-chan really had no right to butt in.

"A-chan!" A sudden voice snapped A-chan out of her stupor. She turned to see Towa panting at the end of the hallway.

"What's up?" A-chan, slightly alarmed at Towa's worried expression, perked up.

"Mio's trying to eat Watame again!" Towa exclaimed.

"Not again," A-chan instantly forgot about her thoughts and focused her attention to the problem at hand, "I told them not to spill blood on the carpet."

A-chan shook her head with an irritated expression, "Lead the way."

-

Haruto wordlessly opened the door as he finished using the restroom.

"A-chan?" He called out. He looked around to realize that A-chan was nowhere in sight.

Where could she have gone? Haruto wondered to himself. He took another look around. Nothing.

What should I do? The young man thought to himself. Countless ideas flashed through his mind. Should he wait? Should he go back?

I think I remember the way well enough to retrace my steps, Haruto concluded. He turned to the left and started to find his way back.

-

I'm completely lost, Haruto concluded. He was certain at least five minutes had passed since he left the restroom and he found himself in a completely unfamiliar place.

Maybe there's someone here who could help me, Haruto reasoned. He looked at the many doors that lined the hallway he was in.

Maybe I'll start with the first one, Haruto, ready to knock, walked up to the first door.

"NEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" The loud voice made Haruto jump before he could knock the door. The voice was followed by several banging noises coming from the other side of the room.

I don't think it would be a good idea to knock, Haruto thought. He then made his way to the next door. He hesitated slightly, just to make sure that there wouldn't be another loud scream coming from the room.

When he confirmed that there were no loud noises coming from the other side of the room, he timidly knocked on the door.

"Coming!" A woman's voice was instantly heard after the knock. Haruto stiffened before taking a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.

"What do you-," A woman opened the door before cutting herself off when she looked at the boy. She had short, white hair and wore what seemed to be a knight's outfit.

"Ah! It's Haruto!" The woman, her face brightening, exclaimed. She pulled Haruto into a bone crushing hug. Haruto's muscles instantly locked. He still wasn't comfortable with unsolicited physical contact and the sudden hug caused him to freeze up.

"Oh it's so nice to finally meet you!" The woman's voice felt like a distant echo to Haruto as he started to breathe faster and faster. Haruto's heart pounded in his chest to the point where he could hear it.

After what seemed to be like an eternity, another voice chimed in, "Noe-chan, let go of him!"

Haruto could feel the grip on him loosen as he fell back onto his feet. Now that there was no one touching him, Haruto had a slightly easier time breathing, but it was still hard.

"Noe-chan, how many times do I have to tell you, don't tackle strangers into a hug!" The voice chastised the woman apparently named Noe-chan.

"Are you alright?" The voice then turned her attention to Haruto, "My name is Shiranui Flare. I apologize for her. She's Shirogane Noel."

Haruto nodded almost out of instinct. He was raised never to cause problems so he always answered yes to these types of questions.

"It's okay to not be okay," The voice, Flare, replied.

Haruto didn't reply. Although his panic was subsiding, he didn't know how to respond.

"I'm sorry for scaring you. Call me onee-chan, okay?" Noel piped up.

"S-sorry," was all that Haruto could manage. He finally looked up to look at the two. Flare looked like what Haruto imagined a dark elf to be.

"There's no reason to be sorry," Flare gave Haruto a gentle smile.

"Haruto!" A familiar voice caused Haruto to turn. Kiara was rushing to him. Instead of tackling him into yet another hug, Kiara just knelt down in front of him.

"Are you okay?" Kiara asked. Haruto, remembering Flare's words, shook his head.

"That's okay. Do you want to go home?" Kiara asked. Haruto nodded in response.

"Alright. Follow me," Kiara said. Haruto turned to look at Noel and Flare. Although he was still shaken up a bit by what happened the past few minutes, he didn't feel any hate towards them. He gave them a polite nod.

"Feel free to stop by anytime," Flare said to Haruto.

"If you don't, onee-chan will be sad," Noel offered Haruto a sympathetic smile. Haruto nodded again before turning to follow Kiara.

-

"You dolt!" As soon as Haruto had turned the corner, Flare pounded Noel on the head.

"Sorry Flare," Noel rubbed the spot where Flare had hit her, "I just didn't know."

"It's okay. I didn't expect it either," Flare said while pinching the bridge of her nose.

"I wonder what happened to him," Noel pondered.

"It doesn't matter what happened to him," Flare said as she looked down the hallway, "All I know is that I will protect him with my life."

"Agreed," Noel smiled at her genmate.

-

"I'm so sorry!" A-chan exclaimed as Kiara and Haruto entered the reception area. Haruto saw that A-chan was with both Calli and Kiara.

"It's okay… just don't do it again," Kiara heaved a sigh.

"Are we going?" Calli asked. Kiara replied with a nod.

"It's sad to see you go so quickly. Feel free to stop by again, okay?" A-chan smiled softly.

"Ah, I just remembered!" Sora perked up. With a snap of her fingers, a teddy bear appeared in her hands. She walked up to Haruto and offered him the bear.

"This is Ankimo. If you keep him close, he'll protect you, okay?" Sora said.

"Are you sure?" Haruto asked shyly.

"Of course! He's yours," Sora reassured.

"Thank you," Haruto gently took the bear.

"Now let's go home," Kiara looked down at Haruto with a smile.

"Okay Mama," Haruto said before following Kiara and Calli out the front door.

-

Meanwhile in an alleyway, two men dawning suits confronted each other.

"You heard the news, right?" One of the men said.

"Yeah. Apparently the boss has taken interest in a kid named Takanashi-Mori Haruto," The other replied as he took out a picture of a small boy with brown hair and brown eyes.

"Just making sure. You know what to do if you see him," the man said before walking away.

Why are you so interested in a kid, boss? The man thought to himself before walking away from the alleyway.