-76- **Long note at the bottom of chapter discussing how I'm doing now. If you saw my post on my message board, you know what I'm talking about. Sorry for disrupting, I'll let you get to it. Feel free to skip note** 

I look around the CR and smile.

Everyone is full of happiness these days. Walter is happy not being here at the CR right now, which is because he is still dealing with his issues about being here. Also, he's looking for an actual job. Hiiro doesn't think he should work here at all. Rude, right?

"Sigh..." Oh, there's Parad doing a fake sigh for attention and to break my thoughts up. How nice.

I look over at Parad. "What is it, Bugster?" 

"What is it, Elkie?" he responds, stealing my question. "Whatever. I just want to complain to you about my issues in my personal life. Do you care to hear about it? Of course you don't care to hear about it. You're my best friend for life."

"And we slept together. So, yeah, I have to hear about all of your woes." I roll my eyes. "Is it about that woman, Sakura the Gamer?" 

"Can you two not talk about your sexual escapades?" Kuroto asks, entering the CR. "I don't want to hear about it at all. It isn't my business to know about that kind of thing in the first place. Who sleeps with a Bugster in the first place?"

"Kuroto, that's racist," I state. "Seriously, you have some racist issues going on inside that head of yours."

"It is just called being completely honest because no one wants to bang a living virus." Kuroto is just pissed Parad murdered him in cold blood ages ago. "Also, it is called disliking that virus for killing me."

"My hand slipped," Parad says and I look at him, glaring. "What? It sort of did."

"By that, Parad means he is sorry for murdering you in cold blood. You know he didn't know the meaning of human life, right? He saw it as an oppurtunity to get his hands on the game you were making." Kamen Rider Chronicle. "As I see it, Kuroto..." I look back at the game making genius. "You two are equal."

"How so?" Kuroto asks, staring at me in confusion. "How am I even with that Bugster?"

"You made a game that took human lives away, which caused issues when the Bugster got his hands on it. So, you're responsible for the deaths that came from it. Also, you raised Parad a bit. You're the reason why he was a murderous evil Bugster." He taught him bad things only. "So, you have to take responsibility for his actions as well as your own."

"Yeah, what she said," Parad says, agreeing with me. "Anyways, I am truly sorry for murdering you. I can't apologize enough and I hope you do not tell the gaming girl all about it. Sakura will hate me if she finds out I murdered a ton of people."

"It really wasn't that many," I state. "And they're back now. It doesn't make it better, but they are back officially." It sort of negates what he did since they are alive, but they probably have to go through therapy now and have missed out on years of their life they cannot get back.

"And I'm sorry for killing all those people. I am," Parad states, probably frowning. "Is there anyway I can make up for it other than just volunteering here?" 

"Make Bugsters legalized citizens so you can get an actual job?" I suggest.

Kuroto laughs. "Him? A job? He'll be terrible at it."

"I got it! I can do e-sports, right? Gaming is a career these days, right?" Parad is really looking forward to living the good life. "I used Emu's body before as the Genius Gamer M. I can totally get a job that has to do with gaming."

"Gotta be legal first, buddy," I tell him. "If not, they'll take advantage of you and pay you less than you're worth. Trust me, it happens." 

"Yeah, what she said," Kuroto says, heading over to where the cake is. 

Kuroto picks up a piece of cake as Parad lies down, back against the table top. Of course the Bugster is all over the table. Where else would he be at being miserable as heck? Also, why does it have to be near the precious cake? 

"Sakura is going to hate me for being a Bugster. I didn't even have the nerve to tell her about my true nature yet. What if she only likes humans? She could be racist against me and my people," Parad says, sounding upset. What a sad little man.

"Your people killed humans. Tons of them. Of course she should be a bit concerned about them," Kuroto states, not helping the situation. "Like I said earlier, you're a murderer." 

"Kuroto, let the past go. It does no good to hold it against him. Besides, you're the one that started that crap with your evil father. Well, semi-evil father. He's a good little CEO now isn't he?" Even though he isn't a CEO right now. "Hey, I got an idea! You two should make a company that helps people fight against variants of viruses. Like new medical technology with the help of Saiko and Genm Corporation."

"That's a good idea!" Kuroto exclaims. "But I love making games."

"You know it'll be hard for you to break back into the gaming market, right?" I roll my eyes. "You have to find something new to do. You can't go back to your old ways right now with what you've done to this world. Admit it, you did something really wrong."

Kuroto takes a bite of his piece of cake and nods. "Mmhmm...right."

"So, what are we going to do about my issues?" Parad sits up. "I'm in deep crap right now."

Kuroto swallows and stares at Parad. "How about you don't tell her and just pretend to be human? You seem like one."

"He can't pretend he's not a Bugster! He'll have to live off me and Emu for the rest of his life to pull that off. And besides, Kuroto, we don't know if he can make his own babies with humans yet. What if that is possible and that surprises Sakura?" Ain't nobody ready for half Bugster babies!

Kuroto looks at me. "Right," he responds. "Forgot that we haven't looked into that yet. Why didn't you use yourself as a test subject for that?"

"Because I didn't want a baby at the time. Now I want one with Emu." It'll be a dream come true. "Parad, tell Sakura about who you truly are. You can't do what I did and have secrets you're keeping from those around you that you care for."

Parad frowns, nodding his head. "Fine, but I'll be sad if she hates me."

"She's not going to hate you!" I exclaim, sighing. 

"I don't think she'll hate you either," Poppy's voice says and I turn, staring at her as she stretches. "I just got up from resting! Kuroto was playing too much with me yesterday. He keeps turning on my game to play!"

"Poppy, he is just bored from having to work with us here at the CR," I comment, laughing. "Good day to you, Poppy! How did you rest?"

"Good until I heard of a little heartbroken Bugster whining. Seriously, just tell her about your true nature! Us Bugsters shouldn't have to hide any longer!" she advises, bouncing over to the table and picking up a knife. "Cake anyone else?"

"Leave plenty for Hiiro or else he'll throw a fit," I state. 

"I do not throw fits over cake," Hiiro's voice comments. "Elkie, you're needed upstairs soon. You have some work to be doing. And by work, I mean you're going to start doing your job properly up there."

I look at Hiiro as he enters the CR room, staring at us with the most bored expression in the universe. 

"Okay," I say, nodding. "I'll be right up as soon as humanly possible. Too bad I can't teleport like a certain person." I look over at Parad as he gets off the table, moving away from the cake.

"Where are you going, Bugster?" Hiiro asks. 

"To Sakura," he answers. "I want to tell her something."

"Like you need to be out and about right now. Did Emu tell you that you could leave the CR? Also, Poppy is in charge of you when neither one of us is around. The moment I leave, she's going to be able to boss you around." Hiiro is really on top of things today. Such a boss. 

"Parad is allowed to go and meet his gamer girlfriend," Poppy tells Hiiro. "He has to confess to her properly." 

Hiiro stares at Poppy, looking confused. "Does he really need to confess to someone? Doesn't he have enough on his plate at this time?"

"There is always time for love!" Poppy exclaims, giggling as she gets herself some cake. "Want some cake, Hiiro?" 

"No, not at this time. I just had something sweet in my office space," he answers. "Elkie, up above ASAP."

I roll my eyes. "Fine. Oh, how's my friend doing?"

"He's fine," Hiiro tells me, answering me quickly. "Now, work."

Always being such a bossy man. "Fine. Good luck, Bugster boy!" I turn my attention to Parad as he gives me a little wave.

"Thanks. Goodbye," Parad says, vanishing into a bunch of colors. I seriously wish I could be a Bugster right now. 

"I wish to have that ability," I mutter out, looking down. "Time to sulk."

"Head up. You have a job to do."

I'll show him a job to do.

A/n: Sorry for the long delay in getting a chapter out, but I was really sick with some virus. It wasn't COVID. My older sister, who I had contact with before I showed any actual symptoms, got sick and was tested. They have no idea what it was other than a virus. Please be careful around. I was careful, but caught it from my twin sister who I constantly have contact with. So, there was no avoiding it. If only people didn't let sick people come into work, then this would have been all avoided.

Anyways, I'm back now and doing a lot better! I feel bad for being sick yet again, but it is what it is. Hopefully I won't have a virus again anytime soon. There is something going around out there that is contagious as heck (and isn't COVID). I am relieved to know I didn't have COVID though. 

I still have an ear problem right now (it's like stuffy feeling), so I may go to the clinic and get something for that if it doesn't clear up in the next few days. The reason I want to is because my older sister has an infection there. I'll provide any further updates on my condition if need be. I am hoping for good health moving forward.

I'll sop with the boring details now! Thank you for reading and see you next time!

PS: My work place is heavily understaffed right now, so expect me not to update as much for a bit. We have some major stuff going on there, so I'll be pretty busy with that. I am hoping we get some new people on soon so things are less stressful and busy. <3