"So what now? Are you going to go home straight from here?" Natsumi-san asked me as the both of us were standing at the entrance of the building.
"I think I will go and visit Ida-san. I did not have enough time to make myself lunch today so I will eat outside," I said checking the time and there were also a lot of messages from Ai.
Right then, Natsumi-san’s phone vibrated and she quickly reached for it. Picking it up, she scrolled through it and a disgusted look formed on her face.
"What happened?" I asked her and she looked at me.
"It’s the church again trying to get back in alliance with us," Natsumi-san said with utter disgust. "Sometimes I don’t even understand why we let those bastards in back then in the first place."
"Did they do something?"
I don’t really know what she was implying but by the look on her face and her tone, I can only guess that what the church did was nothing pleasant at all. Natsumi-san lets out a sigh and types something on her phone and place it back in her pocket.
"About three years ago, The Church came here to "help" us with the vampire extermination. We agreed to it but they kept rambling how the wrath of God will come down and punish the vampires and how their holy water and cross can destroy them all easily," Natsumi-san and clenched her fists. "In the end, they just wanted to manipulate us and use us for their own advantage. It was soon found out and we cut our ties with the search. Honestly, every single one of them was so passionately speaking about god that it was really annoying. I had been holding back to punch them in the face but I did get that chance later."
"Seems like you really enjoyed it when you finally did that," I said chuckling.
"I think this world would be a lot better if there were more sensible than religious people here. The power of God? Don’t make me laugh," she scoffs. "There is no god in this world and even the ones who believe in god just don’t want to believe the fact at the end of the day, he just someone most of us remember when we need something. I-"
"You hate god and don’t like people rambling about it, I get it. Now please don’t say anymore since we have discussed this topic multiple times," I said interrupting her. "Well then, I’ll be off."
"Be careful on the way," Natsumi-san said with a soft smile on her face.
"Nah, I feel like jumping in front of a truck and get reincarnated to another world," I said and walked away.
I ordered a cab and set the destination to Ida-san’s diner and went to the messages seeing ten messages from Ai. I opened it and there were many images attached and opening it, I saw Ai and her friends hanging out which was nice to see. They went to eat at a café, to the mall and why did she send me a picture in different underwear?
I quickly checked the time and it sure flies by, it had already been 2:30 PM and my stomach is killing me right now. It wants some food in it or I am sure I will starve to death soon. Luckily, the cab finally arrived and I entered it. I did not pay any attention to it before but this taxi was different from others. It was a lot comfier for some reason and that was when I noticed.
"I just got a sakura taxi, huh?" I muttered to myself.
"Yes you did young man," the old man at the driver’s seat said to me without looking back. "By the look of it, it seems this is your first time sitting in one? Well, it is pretty rare since there are only 5 of them in the greater Tokyo area."
"Wow, you are a lot more talkative than my other taxi drivers, sir," I said.
"Haha, I know taxi drivers don’t say much other than what is important but if the passenger is willing, I don’t mind exchanging few pleasantries," he said and I was a bit happy that I got to talk to such a lively old man.
"I don’t mind talking to you at all, rather I really enjoy it but please keep your eyes on the road," I said to him as I leaned back and started getting devoured by the seat. "Wow, these seats are a lot more comfortable. I might get swallowed by it, I think."
"Everyone says the same thing, young man. It is honestly surprising that all the passengers I boarded till now had the exact same reaction but you are a lot more…calmer about it. I don’t know how to feel about it."
"It’s just that I am really exhausted and also really hungry so I need some food to show my actual excitement," I said and my stomach growled loudly.
"Hahaha, looks like your stomach also did the talking. Well then, sit tight and see how I take you to your destination in record-breaking time," he said and I saw him grabbing the steering wheel tighter.
"Just don’t break anything else."
"Hahaha, I can’t really ensure that."
Oh no, this driver might be a mad man.
Nah.
I leaned back further in the seat and the driver sped up but not by too much. I checked my phone for the destination and I saw him taking a different turn every single time which honestly kind of worried me. Is he going to charge extra for this? I hope not.
I remember the time that I had seen a sakura taxi right in front of my eyes before and I was just intrigued by how it looked. It looked a lot different from the normal taxies. I asked mom about it and she said that we all would go in this taxi once. I really looked forward to it.
I really did.
"Here we are," the man said and I looked up seeing Ida-san’s diner right in front of me.
I checked my phone and it had only been ten minutes while the route showed that it would take twenty minutes to get here.
"I know the streets better than these apps young man," the driver said and laughed out loud. "I won’t be taking any tip by the way."
"How did you know that was what I was about to do?" I asked him and he laughed again.
"Because every single of my passengers do the same but I take the amount that was decided before. Nothing more, nothing less," he said and I handed him the money. "Good."
"Thank you so much sir, I never knew I would say this but it was a nice taxi experience," I said stepping out.
"My taxi didn’t become a sakura taxi for no reason," he said and drove off.
I stood in front of Ida-san’s diner and I saw people walking out of it. Well, it is understandable that I came here so late but I do hope that they don’t close it yet. With the hope that it was still opened, I entered the diner and frowned seeing Ida-san wiping the tables of the empty diner.
"I’m sorry we are c- oh, Kazuki," he said seeing me.
"Looks like I was really late, wasn’t I? I forgot your times were from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM in the afternoon," I said.
"So what?"
"Huh?"
"I can always make an exception for you, you are like my own kid in a way so I don’t really mind make food for you in the off-hours," he said with a smile on his face. "Kazuto would always come at the off hours to eat and dad would always do the same. I am just carrying on the legacy. So sit."
I thanked him and sat down at the nearest seat and Ida-san went inside. I sat there and decided to check my phone yet again and a frown formed on my face reading a message from Ai. It really is going to be an entire day thing now.
"Hey Kazu-kun, I know this is sudden but we all will be having a sleepover at Haruka’s place so I won’t be coming home tonight. Please do not go out on your own."
I sighed and looked up seeing Aoi standing before me with a confused look on her face as she placed the glass of water down.
"Is something wrong Kazuki-kun? I don’t see Tsubaki-san with you today," she said looking at me.
"Really, what is with all the people pointing out that Ai is not with me today? Is it really that surprising?" I asked myself and Aoi nodded.
"The way she acts normally, she does not seem like the one who will even let you out of her sight and I can say it with just one interaction with her so it is really a surprise," Aoi said and then covered her mouth with her hand. "Don’t tell me t-"
"Nothing happened to Ai. She is out hanging out with her friends for the entire day," I said letting out a sigh and looked back up with a small smile on my face. "Now what is the chef’s recommendation today?"
"Oh, mom tried out making this pork dish which I can’t really understand what to call but it is amazing," she said the last part with stars in her eyes and I chuckled.
"I will be having that then."
"Okay, I will be back with you dish soon."
In short, the food was something which should not be found on earth.
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IT WAS SO GOOD.
"I am back," I said opening the empty apartment and a wave of silence was what welcomed me. "Shit, I think I really am missing her a little too much but it is nothing out of the usual. I think."
I had been living on my own for so long and this was nothing different. Then why am I missing Ai so much? I love her, yes but I feel like I am just being a little too desperate here.
I entered the house and closed the door and looked around thinking if there was something I could do and only one thing came to my mind, nothing at all. That or read some manga and light novels.
I will probably be doing that.
I did want to take a bath because I did sweat a lot in the training today and it was a good thing no one pointed that fact out. I quickly went and started heating the water and took my clothes out to change into and went back and started taking my clothes off.
I looked at myself in the mirror and as I thought, my body was even more toned and it seems like I grew an inch or two taller. My fore arms were a little bigger and when I clinched my fist tightly I could almost see my blood vessel underneath protruding out.
Ethan, I want to talk to you.
"You like what you see kid?" I heard his voice.
"Well, I don’t hate it really but seeing myself like this does feel weird. Especially when the change is not gradual but over nights," I said and he laughed.
"But there is one thing that still concerns me," he said and stayed silent for some time. "Do you really think it is best to hide some things from your woman? I am speaking by experience here kid but Sarah wouldn’t have ever allowed me to hide anything from her."
"There are some things that best stay hidden so let things be that way. Even though both Ai and I trust each other with our lives but there are still things we don’t know about each other and I am okay with it for now," I said and looked at my face in the mirrors. "Some things are best staying a secret."
I had still had not told Ai about why my transformation is really happening and my deal with James. I might probably not tell her about my talks with Ethan and Sarah not because I don’t trust her but because I know her well.
And because of that, I won’t tell her.
If she knows everything about it, she would stop me by all means. She worries about me more than her and I don’t want her to do that. I am letting her take care of my problem so I can take care of hers.
I might regret doing this in the future but let’s just cross that bridge when that time comes.
I still am still not able to wrap my head around with Ethan and Sarah being able to converse with me because I am the one who created them. I never knew that was possible.
No, I knew but I never believed it.
Ethan even said it back then.
It was MY mindscape.
Everything in that was created by me and me alone. Ethan, Sarah, me and even the information I am getting from them. All of it has been created by me. What I need right now is a way to access those memories further and use to our advantage. In a war, information alone can be the deciding factor of whether we will win or lose the war and I don’t want to be on the losing side.
Because now that I am able to get my hands on that information, there is no way I am going to let go of that opportunity.
I quickly went and took a shower after which I dipped myself in the bath relaxing my muscles. I don’t feel sore anymore but I feel really lonely honestly.
Just come back already Ai.
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