Astro Boy: Core Collision

Episode 10: Hiding

Both boys went into the school the next day, and Candace rushed up to Cobalt as usual. Astro gave Cobalt an annoyed stare.

"Why don't you go hang out with your girlfriend?"

"She's not my girlfriend."

Cobalt hesitated. He sighed and clenched his fists, clearly filled with anxiety.

As soon as Candace reached Cobalt, he ran as fast as he could through the school. Both Astro and Candace looked shocked to see Cobalt run so fast. Candace looked over at Astro.

"Is he okay?" She asked him.

Astro shrugged and smirked at her. She narrowed her eyes at Astro as he walked by her. "Guess he finally saw your true colors." Astro said as he walked away. Candace clenched her fists angrily. How could her new friend leave her behind like that? Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cora walk by and smiled.

Marionette entered the school through the back. She hid her face in her hair as she ran through the crowd of kids and accidentally bumped into Cobalt, who was also on the run.

"Sorry!" They both exclaimed in unison. They both looked up at each other.

"Marionette?" Cobalt asked.

"Hi, Cobalt. Nice seeing you again."

Cobalt helped her up.

"Thank you." Marionette said once she was back on her feet. Cobalt rubbed the back of his neck. "It was nothing." He replied. "Oh, and it's nice to see you again, too. I'm sorry about the other day with the whole...thing."

"Oh...yeah." She looked away and bit her lip.

"You really didn't hurt that guy, did you?"

"No! Of course not, but I'm over it now." Marionette smiled. Cobalt smiled back and looked around for Candace.

"Are you okay?" Marionette asked.

"Yeah. Just on the run from Candace."

"You're on the run from her?"

"Yeah. She's nice, but she's a little too nice."

Marionette smiled even bigger, trying desperately to hide her anger.

"Oh, really?"

"She can just be really clingy, and I don't like it, but anyway. What were you running from?"

"I was on the run from Candace as well."

"Why?"

"Cobalt! Where are you?" Candace shouted from a distance. Cobalt pushed Marionette into a bush and hid inside of it as well.

Marionette looked at him, dissaprovingly. "We can't hide from her forever. We go to the same school."

"I know, but right now, I can't stand her. Anyway, what were we talking about again?"

Astro went home alone once the day ended. He decided to hang out with Cora after school that day, but she started talking about how Candace was being so nice to her. Something didn't feel right. How could Candace act so nice to everyone all of a sudden?

He left Hamegg's place early and decided to go to bed. He knew it was early in the evening, but he grew tired of hearing about Candace.

On his way home, he noticed Cobalt walking around Metro City with Marionette. He smiled at the sight and continued flying.

Astro was completely ready for bed. The thought of Cobalt hanging out with Marionette made him very happy. He knew Marionette deserved a friend like his brother. He went to sleep soon after thinking about the two robots.