My face was blank and confused.

"W-What the Kami is this...?" I mumbled to my companion, whose face was the epitome go confusion.

"Believe me, that's a question I want answered too..." he murmured back.

I just sighed in response before my woody eyes looked at the object of our scrutinising.

Standing proud and tall, yet so oblivious to the harsh reality outside its sanctuary, was a bright pink flower, surrounded by soft white roots.

It looked so aesthetic, to be purely honest. The roots circled the stem, not choking it, but using it as support for it to go up, alongside the roots of a nearby tree, winding itself around it to get more air. The bright pink flower glowed under the warm sunlight, which just made it so beautiful.

And scientifically impossible at the same time.

"How is this possible, Aaron?" my companion inquired once more, his Mariana Trench eyes staring deep into my soul, trying to drown me in the metaphorical abyss of the trench.

"I don't know, Piko," I chose to reply, rubbing my short chocolate hair in a failed attempt to soothe the thoughts jumping around my head, turning it into a literal war zone.

"Well, we should probably take it back to the laboratory," Piko suggested.

"Good point..." I nodded.

With that, the two of us slowly approached the plant, being careful so as to not step on any living thing. Our steps were purposeful and deliberate, ready to get this plant to study it. Taking out thin rubber gloves, I gently knelt before I carefully put the gloves on and reached out to it.

Time slowed down. My gloved hands My gloved hands were shaking as they dug into the soft moist earth. Sweat fell from my forehead. Nervous energy circulated throughout my entire body while my hands moved to separate the roots from the tree. I felt a pained PANG! as I did this, feeling like I was forcing a child away from their parent during a hug, but I still went on.

Finally, I managed to get it into a container that Piko had prepared beforehand, causing me to sigh in relief once I was done.

"Phew..." I smiled slightly as I took off my gloves.

"You did great, Aaron," Piko congratulated.

"Thanks, Piko. Now let's go back to the lab!"

"Yeah!"

With our purpose in mind, we turned around to leave.