We Are Not Alone chp. 5

Chapter 5:


“Romama?” Natsumi called out, and the boy turned his head at the sound of his name. She took a seat next to him and smiled, looking down at him and then at the beach out in front of them. “What’s wrong, don’t you want to be with your friend?... Oh… I guess you couldn’t tell me even if you wanted to, huh? Sorry, I forget…Stupid Frog and his friends never shut up, it’s weird having one that doesn’t talk for a change.”

She kicked her feet back and forth, and Romama answered with nothing, only silence. He glanced up at her and back out at the ocean, and she sighed, and brought her legs to her chest, and rested her chin on her knees.

“You just want to find your friends, don’t you?” Romama looked stunned at this, and she smiled and gave a laugh. “You can tell you’re related to Stupid Frog, anyone can read you like a book…. At least you don’t talk as much as him. It’s still got to be frustrating though, not being able to say anything at all… Eh? Oh, I’ve got an idea! Wait here!”

Romama watched, curious, as she bolted up from the porch and returned, crayons and paper in hand, “I know it’s kind of a kid’s thing, but… Maybe we can talk like this.”



“You don’t seem that concerned about your superior missing from this meeting,” Giroro said as they sat on the back porch, and Mahihi gave a shrug.

“That’s how the Boss has always been… He’ll join when he feels like it, and somehow know what’s been going on the whole time. I guess some of us never change, but others of us….”

“H-hopefully not your fighting prowess has remained intact, Mahihi Chui,” Keroro folded his hands and smiled, and Mahihi looked a bit confused by this.

“Yeah, hey, I was the best hand-to-hand fighter on Keron, time was… Things might be different now, though… You guys are probably a lot stronger than I am, I mean, they must’ve raised the bar for fighters at this point, right?”

Keroro broke the silence that followed this, “Gero… Well, perhaps you could give us some more information as to how you survived so many years!”

“I only woke up about a hundred years ago, slept through everything else… No complaints there, I got to miss dinosaurs. Have you seen those things? Anyway… So, yeah, I woke up, and there wasn’t anyone around… Turns out I was hundreds of miles away from Japan, the original destination. So I bummed around here after losing hope of anyone finding me, pretty much… Then I met Daisy, and… We met when she was scared by me and attacked me with a frying pan. I still have the knot on my—”

“Why didn’t you invade yourself if you’re so strong?” Tamama wondered aloud.

“That wasn’t the job, we went to research and see what we could bring back, to see if it was worth invading. Plus who would want this place? It’s all salt water, and Pekoponians are ruining it themselves, anyway. I can name a dozen better planets a galaxy over.”

“………………………….” Keroro remained silent. Giroro went pale. Kururu laughed. The rest had nothing to say.

“Woah…. You’re invading? Dude, that explains why my symbol kept flashing… …Well this is awkward.”

“Keroro. A word,” Giroro gripped onto the Sergeant by the back of the head and pulled Keroro out before Keroro could give a single word of protest.



“He’s an idiot!” Giroro growled as he pulled Keroro away from the meeting. “We might’ve found someone, Keroro, but his brain’s been corrupted by this place! And—What?!”

He heard laughing from the front porch; he snapped his head over to the sound, and stormed out of the living room and onto the porch, pulling Keroro along with him.

“Ta… Te… Ti… To…” Natsumi wrote out, and Romama followed shakily.

“You’re doing great! Your handwriting’s better than mine, Romama-kun!” Kirere chirped, now outside with the duo and drawing her own picture. She had managed to slip out of the grasp of Mahihi’s children, who found her a novelty and badgered her until she managed to slink out.

“Eh, Giroro? What’s wrong?” Natsumi looked up as both the red Keronian stomped out of the house and onto the porch, Keroro still in his grasp.

“He’ll be of no help to us in the invasion!” Giroro snapped. “I was right! This was a waste, after all!”

Giroro continued, while Mahihi watched from the sidelines with the rest of the Keroro platoon, “…He always get this riled up this easily?”

“That’s just how my Papa is…” Kirere sighed, watching Keroro and Giroro go back and forth and allowing her shoulders to slump a bit as she sat up. “…He’s usually not this bad, though.”

“Eh? That’s your dad? …Yeah, that’d explain why you kept calling him ‘Papa’, then…” Mahihi said with a nod.

“…He’s an airhead….” Tamama said to himself with a groan.

“Hehehe, not always… Time was I was a pretty good soldier, but five kids will really change a guy… I’m happy for the change, myself… I was such a nag before; I’m embarrassed to admit it… It was research this, mission that… Like a broken record! Then I found love and… Yeah, who’d have thought that would do me in?”

“Wait… S-so you mean you were like…?” Dororo looked out the window to Giroro, and Kururu gave a laugh.

“Ojiisama, make Giroro stop!” Keroro yelled at Romama and pointed to Giroro.

“What?! Don’t go to him for help! Fight your own battles!”

“Okay, you two are making my four-year-old look mature… Cool it or I’ll call out my wife,” Mahihi stepped outside, “What’s going on here, anyway?”

Giroro turned away and huffed, “It’s nothing, we just made a wasted trip…”

“I… I think Giroro’s just a little disappointed… We were expecting someone….” Keroro began.

“Not me,” Mahihi nodded. “I think that’s a mutual feeling with everyone… I could kinda feel it…. The boss here could tell you himself that I wasn’t this out of shape, if he wasn’t out of shape himself.”

“You stupid frogs don’t go getting him in on this!” Natsumi snapped. “I have enough trouble keeping track of you as it is, the last thing we need is another one running around!”

“Mahi mahi mahi! She’s your real leader,” Mahihi laughed at the reaction Keroro gave. “…Don’t worry, I don’t plan on it. My place is here, but I do appreciate you checking in.”

“What about Kodada then?” Kirere stood on the porch with Tamama, Kururu, and Dororo. Mahihi was silent for a while, and looked away.

“Hate to disappoint you, but I don’t know where anyone is… I’m shocked anyone’s alive, after the crash we took… But, it is good you visit. I appreciate it, Boss.”

“But we need help with the invasion!” Kirere shouted.

“Then… Try Lupapa, she’s the warrior type. Maybe she still is. I’ve grown out of the military, thanks. I thought that was my life,” Mahihi answered.

“So you’re just as bad as your superior, an AWOL soldier,” Giroro snapped, and Mahihi stopped, and turned around. Natsumi thought it odd Romama stood and lifted up the wooden sword from his side. Keroro yelped as Mahihi turned around fully, facing Giroro and now walking over to the corporal, and the sergeant ran up the steps, using Dororo and Kirere as shields from the dark green Keronian.

“I’m not AWOL,” Mahihi said sternly. “I loved the military, it was my life. When my signal started flashing, I was actually excited for a few moments at the thought of being called back… But then I remembered I have something I care about more, and it’s here.”

Romama eased his tense position a bit, and Giroro let go of his hold on Keroro. He and Mahihi went their separate ways, neither saying anything.
Kirere hopped down the steps, and went to follow Giroro, but he stopped and looked back at her, and spoke sternly, “Kirere… I… Need to get my thoughts together. Keep playing with Romama.”

The young girl looked a bit hurt, and Tamama saw this, and went to her, “Come on, Kii-chi, we can go back to Momochi’s—One of the chefs can make us cake, we can even make a spicy one for you!”

“I’m okay,” Kirere gave a smile. “I’m gonna stay and color… Huh? Natsumi-san?”

“I’m going to go check on him,” Natsumi answered. “Make sure he doesn’t do something stupid.”

Romama watched Natsumi run off, then looked over his shoulder, through the window into the house. Mahihi was in his living room, seated on one of his couches. His eyes met Romama’s, and the tall Keronian sighed, stood, and trudged out of the room.



Giroro finally stopped walking a good distance away from the house, but still able to see it through all of the tropical forestry. There weren’t many lights around him. He looked up and through the brush could see a full moon, and not only that, but stars upon stars. There wasn’t a view like this back in Tokyo…. He wondered what was going on on Keron.

“You don’t seem to like me a whole lot, and I’m having a rough time figuring out why…”

“Eh?! When did you get here?!”

“Oh, I’m a big guy, but I’m pretty stealth when I want to be,” Mahihi answered, stopping behind Giroro.

“Hrm. We’ll be of no more bother to you,” Giroro muttered, and turned around to Mahihi. “You seem to have a nice… Family.”

“Yeah, they’re my world,” Mahihi nodded.

“Giroro?” Natsumi called, and came into view then. Giroro looked stunned, and Mahihi noted this, and watched the two with great interest.

“You hurt Kirere’s feelings, being cold like that,” she placed her hands on her hips.

“I… I what? Well, I....”

“Eh?.... We were just talking over a few things… Ya know, military talk,” Mahihi answered. “He’ll be back in no time.”

Natsumi gave a half-hearted sigh, then turned away from the two, “All right. Just not too long. I don’t like you stupid frogs out of my sight!”

“Stupid frogs? You take that?... Wait a second!” Mahihi pointed at Giroro and laughed after Natsumi was out of hearing range. “You and she—”

“It-It’s not like that!” Giroro’s face went bright red, and he was practically steaming.

“…I thought she was a little young to be your kid’s mom.”

“She’s not! Don’t even think that! We’re not like that!” Giroro stopped short, his mouth hung open as Mahihi began to laugh loudly.

“Dude, it’s okay! Looks like we’ve got more in common than I thought!” Mahihi patted him on the back with such force Giroro nearly fell on his face. “…If you mission isn’t successful, you don’t get to stay, am I right?”

“Y-Yes,” Giroro nodded. “And Keroro… Our leader… Is an incompetent. My soul dies a little more with each failed mission.”

“So you were hoping I’d help you, I dig,” Mahihi nodded. “Well, can’t say I’m for it, but I’m not unfair…”

“What-what’s that now?”

“You seem like a pretty good fighter… You beat me, I’ll help you guys out. I might be a little rusty, but—Are you crying?”

“No. Shut up!” Giroro wiped his eyes after turning his back to Mahihi. ‘This… This is fantastic! Thank you, Romama…’

“Well, you better get back… I’m sure your kid’s waiting up for you.”

“What about you?”

“I’m gonna do some training, but I’m kind of embarrassed to in front of anyone. I mean, it’s been a while, I could be rusty. See you in the morning. Bright and early.”

“Bright and early,” Giroro nodded, and left Mahihi alone in the forest. Mahihi’s shoulders fell a bit, and gave a tired sigh.

“Man… I better remember to take it easy on the little guy…”



The platoon had made a decision to stay overnight with Mahihi after being told of his and Giroro’s wager, and they were all sprawled out along the couches, Tamama and Kirere having fallen asleep side by side on the edge of a couch, Kururu taking up the recliner, Keroro and Giroro on the loveseat. Dororo was asleep on a mat on the floor, and Mois took up the rest of the couch. The rest of the Pekoponians had decided to head back to Momoka’s for the night. Romama was the only one of the group awake in the middle of the night.

Romama jerked his head to the left as he heard something from the bushes, then stood, and gripped onto his sword. It was nothing, though.

The noises stopped after a moment, and he looked back down at his drawings, which still laid spread out on the ground. There was one in particular… An orange Keronian, with a red bandanna about her neck…. He picked this one up and hid it away safely.

Romama then looked out one more time, and then headed into the house.


Kirere gave a yawn and stretch as she arose early that morning, and yelped as one of her arms slammed right into Tamama’s face. She hopped down and away from her older brother before he knew exactly what had happened.

On her way to the bathroom, she caught a glint from outside. Her eyes sparkled, she knew just what it was.

Moments later, she was hugging onto the motorcycle as though it were a kitten or a puppy, a wide, happy smile upon her face. Christmas had arrived early.

“Some guys delivered it this morning,” Mahihi stopped at her and stood, his surfboard underneath one arm. “I don’t blame you, if I got a Suzuyama bike, I’d probably be hugging it, too.”

“Mm, it’s not just Haruki’s, it’s mine, too!” Kirere announced with a proud grin.

“No, that’s the name of the bike brand… As in the Suzuyama family. They’re famous for this stuff,” Mahihi shook his head, and pointed to the shiny silver letter on the side. “See? Suzuyama.”

“…Kire?” Kirere hopped off of the motorcycle and scanned over the letters. “Are… You sure it says that?”

“Yup… Hey, I gotta get goin’, but you have fun with that! Your Pekoponian will probably drop by later to pick it up.”

“…..Yeah….” Kirere nodded solemnly, and stood there, numb, not paying attention to Mahihi leaving.

“Kirere-channnnnnn~!” Keroro waved to her from the porch, his female Pekoponian outfit on, along with Dororo and Kururu. Tamama was there after a moment, too, an arm-shaped red mark going across his face and his eyes forming a glare. “We’re going to need some help today, we need all the hands we can get!”

“Kirere-dono?” Dororo called out, and the ninja’s voice snapped her out of her trance.

“You get to sell hats!” Keroro announced cheerily, holding up a cardboard box. “The extra expense was worth it to have these made and shipped over night! This battle of brawn between Mahihi Chui and Giroro is sure to be one for the ages…”

“Kukuku… Flyers went all in this morning’s papers, Teicho,” Kururu laughed, and tossed a compact to Kirere. She looked down at it, and then hopped up the stairs, a blank look upon her face.

“Eh?” Kururu looked over at the bike, and the shiny name ‘Suzuyama’ caught his attention. He then looked back to the door where Kirere had vanished. He said nothing of this, though, and merely picked up a box and headed down to the beach with the others.



“….Dude, what the heck happened here?! My wife’s going to kill me!” Mahihi stood beside Giroro, his cloaking device already on. He then looked down, and noticed the sand under his feet had become a sheet of glass. It was the heat of Giroro’s rage melting the sand into glass.

The banner that hung up high above the packed crowd read, “Japan’s Giroro versus Hawaii’s own Mahihi, a Battle to the Death!” There were booths set up all along the beach, selling food and wares. Natsumi and the other Pekponians walked about, as confused as Giroro and Mahihi.

“Giroro, what—” Natsumi started, but was quickly bumped out of the way by Pekoponian-suited Keroro.

“Ah, the competitors have arrived! Excellent!” Keroro clasped his hands together. “Come one, we’ve got to get you two ready! There isn’t much time!”

“…Keroro….” Giroro’s words seeped with hatred.

“Kirere, hey, did you like the—” Haruki, who was with the group of kids, stopped short, however. The little girl, now in the Kururuko suit, only looked back at him and gave him a Kururu-worthy death glare. “Woah… Did I… Miss something?...”

“I’m starting to think I did,” Natsumi muttered as she looked about at the decorations.