A New Generation: A ZoroMiku Story

7: Recruiting, Recruiting

Miku

Finally, a week had passed and Zorome and Miku were headed toward what the former parasites told them was called the Meeting Centre. It was a building that had been placed directly in the middle of the settlement and was the biggest place there. It wasn't anywhere near as big as Bird Nest, which was a building that massively towered over even the settlement from far away as if it were a mountain, yet it was still a decent size, especially for a meeting that involved a ton of former parasites. 

The two of them had been shown the Meeting Centre by Fifty on their first day there when he'd been showing them around but this would be the first time they'd get to see the inside of the building. 

It was still early in the morning and only the first streaks of dawn were showing in the sky. The tip of the sun hadn't reached the horizon. Zorome was walking with a skip to his step, which caused Miku to smile. It was so cute...so...teasable. 

"You seem pumped," Miku commented, shooting him a sly look. "You kinda look like a child with the way you're walking."

She giggled as he shot her an annoyed glare. His reaction to things amused her. "How can I not be excited about this? Aren't you?" His annoyed look vanished, instantly replaced with his former excited expression. "We'll get to meet future teachers! I'll get to show them how everything's done!" He puffed out his chest. 

Miku snorted a laugh, which caused them to bicker light-heartedly until they reached the Meeting Centre. It was a tall building that was as dome-shaped as the small houses surrounding it, though unlike them it was the same silver colour that most of the buildings Miku had grown up in were, aside from Mistilteinn.  It had a ton of windows and it was obvious that the place had at least two floors. A path led to the main doors, where two people were standing and talking to one another. Together, Miku and Zorome approached the doors. As they got closer, she realized that one of the people in front of the doors was Fifty.

"Oh, hey, it's you two!" The ginger-haired boy said cheerfully, waving his hand at them as he approached. "This is Kakeru, the person who is in charge of managing this building and all that." He indicated toward the other person, another boy. 

Kakeru was a tall boy with dark grey hair that he'd pulled into a bun on the top of his head. He had a pair of tired-looking hazel eyes and he seemed to have frown lines on his face, though he smiled as he was introduced to them. 

"Nice to meet you," Kakeru said politely. "We've been waiting for you. My friends and I have made sure the place is in order for you to hold your meeting. A few potential recruits who are curious about teaching have already entered the building and are in the main room, which you will see if you walk straight down the hall after opening the doors."

Miku and Zorome greeted him then turned to Fifty, who grinned widely at them in return.

"Are you guys ready to meet your helpers? I think they're all here."

Zorome

As Zorome and Miku followed Fifty down the hall that led to the main room Kakeru had told them about, he couldn't help but admire the building. It looked like something the adults would've built when APE had been in charge. And to think that we built this! Us parasites! We're amazing! He thought proudly. 

Fifty led them to a pair of doors at the end of the hall. He opened them and motioned for the two of them to go inside. "You two go ahead. I have stuff to do. Since you're spearheading this whole teaching thing, Kakeru told me to tell you to go to the stage in front of all the benches."

Zorome and Miku exchanged a delighted and determined glance before the sandy-haired former stamen decided to march on in first.

The room was rather large and lined with wooden benches that appeared to be handmade. Eight former parasites sat on the benches facing a large wooden platform that sat in the very front of the room. Zorome bounded on over to it and Miku came at his heels.

"Hello everybody! I'm Zorome the Great, here to see which of you-ack, hey!" As he spoke, Miku yanked him by the shoulder and gave him a stern look.

"You idiot," She hissed to him, her blue-green eyes flashing with annoyance. "Nobody's gonna want to listen to you if you act like that."

"Like what?" Zorome snapped in response, his voice echoing through the very empty room. He and Miku were used to bickering in front of others, so neither of them had any shame in doing so in front of their potential future comrades, all of whom looked surprised and nervous by the scene that had begun on the stage. 

"Like a bossy know-it-all idiot," Miku said, rolling her eyes. "Like you always do. It's childish, really."

"Shut up," Zorome scowled at her. He jerked his thumb in his direction, grinned, and lifted his chin. "Just let me do the talking here."

"You little-" Miku's growl was cut off by a shy voice speaking up from the small array of former parasites seated on the benches below the stage.

"Hello? Is everything alright up there?" Asked a shy and concerned voice that belonged to a girl with platinum blonde hair. She had blue eyes that glinted with worry as they flickered between Miku and Zorome. 

"Everything's fine!" Zorome said dismissively.

Miku nodded. "Yeah. Zorome's just...like that."

Zorome scowled at her but before the two could bicker, the girl quickly spoke again.

"O-oh, you're Zorome and Miku? Yeah, I, uh, heard about you guys and Argentea and stuff like that. My new name is Bella! M-my former squad leader named me that. He was my partner when we were in the FranXX. He still is!" She looked shyly over her shoulder as a silver-haired boy got up from one of the benches and joined her. "This is him. His name is Jasper."

Jasper gave Zorome and Miku a friendly smile, reaching his hand to shake each of theirs. "Nice to meet ya," He said in a relaxed and confident tone. "I heard about the chance to become a teacher and came as quickly as I could. Bella and I love children and we've briefed a few parasites in the past. We think we'd be cut out for this." He smiled, then added, "I've talked to everyone here. I think we all are ready for a new challenge."

Zorome felt excited, as well as satisfied. 

Things seemed pretty promising so far!