RPG-The Hoshie Files; Have we met before?

[Prettywitchiusaka]

He turned around to face a giant, towering robot, in fact the one from earlier. Astro just stood there, horrified while the man continued to smirk

A; Wha...What's going on?

Man; I'm sorry Tobio...But you see, in order for you to fulfill your destiny, you must become stronger...Even if it means by force...

The robot soon lunges for Astro. He doesn't have much time to react as he punches the little boy, causing him to fly into a nearby mountain

[Astro Forever]

Astro: If this is how you want to convince me that I shouldn't listen to my longtime friends...

He didn't get to finish his sentence, the robot was coming towards him at a seed Astro didn't except from such a big robot. This time, he dodged the attack and went after it. But the robot was so solid that Astro quickly understood it was going to be hard to stop. He looked around to see what he could use to help him, but no idea came to mind, so he resisted the attacks and counterattacked with no winner for some time.

[Prettywitchiusaka]

Astro turned around just in time to see the robot attacking with a giant hydro blast. Quickly, he counteracted with his arm-canon, but it only managed to defend him from the blast, for soon after the robot came back at him with as much force. This time however, Astro dodged before the robot could do anything to him.

From the sidelines, the man just stands there, a huge smirk on his face as he continues to watch from afar

Off-screen; Well, you certainly look satisfied.

Surprised to hear another voice from behind him, he turns around. His eyes widen upon seeing who it is.

Man; Hoshie?...

H; Hello Tarou-chan. It's been awhile, hasn't it?

T; It has...How have you been?

H; What?

[Astro Forever]

Tenma: How have you been?

Hoshie: I'm surprised you would care...

Tenma: Don't say that!

Hoshie: How have you been, yourself?

Tenma: Better than ever, as you can see...

Hoshie: I'm not sure of that...

Tenma frowned. "I'm not sure there is room for you on this path I am following, unless perhaps you change your mind..."

[Prettywitchiusaka]

H; Unless I change MY mind!? Look at what you're doing to Astro!?

T; I am simply testing Tobio, that is all.

H; How!? By making him fight to the death!? Good strategy.

T; (sighs) So not even you understand what I'm doing.

H; What do you mean?

Hoshie then sees Astro slam hard into the rock just underneath them

H; Astro!

Hearing his name, Astro looks up to see a horrified looking Hoshie

A; Hoshie?...

Before he can say anything else, he dodges out of the way as the giant robot goes to attack him once again

H; Astro! Tarou-chan, call off the match, now!

T; I'm afraid I cannot do that.

H; What?...

T; Take a look.

Hoshie does as he asks, and sees that Astro is able to defend every attack the robot throws at him straight in one row, before punching the robot himself

H; But...He couldn't do that before...

T; Exactly; Tobio must keep fighting, it is necessary for his evolution.

[Astro Forever]

Hoshie: His evolution, and why does he need to evoluate in the first place? I think perhaps you're the one who should evoluate...

Tenma: Hoshie, don't talk to me like that!

Hoshie regretted saying what she had just said. It was never a good idea to confront Tenma like that.

"Look, for whose good would he need to improve?"

Tenma: I have aspirations for him.

O'Shay: For him? Really? Or for somebody else...?

[Prettywitchiusaka]

T; (chuckles) Why, whatever do you mean?

H; You know what I mean.

He remains silent for a moment

T; Well, I must admit I have plans in store for myself...But those plans take a backseat to what I have in store for Tobio.

Hearing this, Hoshie just stares at him with very distraught eyes. Tenma notices this as she looks away. With a regretful look in his eye, he takes her hand into his

T; Please...don't look at me like that...

H; Maybe if you'd just come home, then I wouldn't...

T; You know I can't do that...

[Astro Forever]

Hoshie: You could. It was your choice to leave...

Tenma: Have you missed me that much?

Hoshie wasn't sure what to reply. She was missing him... but not the craziness of the last months they spent together.

Hoshie: I miss the old you, and I'm sure it's still within you...

Tenma looked away. "No, I didn't know what I was doing back then. Now I do."

[Prettywitchiusaka]

H; Do you really?

Tenma merely sighed as he put his hands on Hoshie's shoulders. She didn't look at him however.

T;Please try to understand Hoshie; robots are superior to us, I'm simply trying to ensure their future.

[Astro Forever]

Hoshie replied in a low voice, so Astro wouldn't hear her, not realizing how great his hearing was.

"That wasn't what you were saying in your last days with Tobio..."

Tenma: That was a mistake. I failed to recognize his greatness, but now I do.

Hoshie: His greatness... also comes from how great the people surrounding him are.

Tenma didn't expect a reply like that.