PHASE 53 - PLEASE LET ME EAT MY YAKISOBA BREAD!

“Hey… Heeeeey…”

When I blinked, I went back to reality. I find myself in the bus station’s waiting seats, with the led lights shining brightly upon us. It was already dark, and the clock in the station says that it’s already seven.

“Are you okay?” Mister Alaric Eisenhower waved his hand at me. Right now, he is sitting beside me, as if we are having a deep conversation.

“Ah! Uh… I’m fine, Rikkun.” I muttered.

“Rikkun?” Alaric tilted his head.

“Ah! No! I mean, Mister Alaric.” I blushed as I shyly covered my mouth. I’m so awkward that my tongue just mutters some random words I come to think of.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mister Alaric’s face drifted a little closer.

“I-I’m fine, don’t worry about me! Ahaha!” I made a disgusting fake laugh as I waved both of my hands. “S-So, where were we?”

“About the Gate Guardian and Eidolon and Yami stuff. I think I already get it, more or less.” Alaric held his chin. “You’re a Gate Guardian who fights monsters called Eidolons, and the Yami is the dimension where those monsters appear.”

I nodded.

Alaric was about to talk again but when he gazed upon the clock, he slightly panicked. “Oh shit. Tiara, it’s time for me to go now.”

“Eh? Oh, okay.” I made a genuine smile at him. I waved my hand once again and tried to look as positive as ever. “Take care, Mister Alaric!”

“Will do.” Alaric slightly blushed. “Thanks for saving me.”

As soon as the arrogant prince boarded the bus, the terminal made an announcement. Several seconds thereafter, the bus departed, leaving me alone in the rows of waiting seats.

<>

I walk alone on the lonely dark road towards my condo unit. There are flickering street lights everywhere that flash unto me, which would make kids freak out. I mean, I’m a literal witch, and seeing me in the darkness would always scare away people.

I succumbed to deep thought as I walked slowly.

The moment I touched Alaric’s hands, I saw a vague flash of memory. I had an ambiguous flashback of Alaric dying with some sort of weapon; a dark obsidian blade stabbing his heart. I can still remember his final look on me; an assuring smile with blood on his lips. His passionate emerald eyes stuck my soul to the core, and I only feel sorrow upon seeing that scenery.

I can still remember what my mother Yukiko told me. It is about the curse of the Hikari bloodline, which is passed through generations after generations since time immemorial. Our blood is the curse itself, as I am a Brightmore Witch.

I don’t have any concrete memories yet, but I think the curse has something to do with my flashes of Alaric dying. Those imaginary scenes may have happened already in the past timeline, and I may have used the power of the Brightmore Witch: The to reset every happening.

“Ah, what am I thinking?” I knocked on my head. Everybody knows that I’m bad at using my brain. Even the readers and the author knows. If I stress my brain out, I might explode.

I reached for the key from my shrine maiden sleeve and then opened the door to my condo unit. Apparently, the doorknob spun easily and I didn’t hear the knob ticking so it appears that the door is not locked at all. Maybe I forgot to lock it this morning.

When I opened the door, I saw that the lights were on. I can also hear some light footsteps that went closer. A petite blonde woman with her hair tied in a twin ponytail with white ribbon ornaments greeted me with an empirical glare.

“At last, you’re back. Tiara.” Jeannette said as she held her hips. Her expression looked like a mother who is slightly angry for having her daughter violate the curfew.

“Ah! I-I’m sorry I’m late!” I bowed apologetically.

“Whatever. Just get inside and let’s get done with our business.”

I removed my shoes and then entered the condo unit. Jeannette led me to the living room and then she sat on the sofa. She crossed her legs and then stared at me as if she’s waiting for me to settle down and explain.

I also sat down on the other sofa and we looked at each other, with only the glass table in between. There was yakisoba bread and some cola drinks on the table which urged me to eat.

I was about to grab the bread when Jeannette slapped my hand.

“Auuuu!” I cried like a puppy.

“Hey, your report first!” Jeannette sermoned.

“R-Right…” I held my reddish wrist. “Mister Alaric Eisenhower is really targeted by the Eidolons. But we have no evidence yet that indicates that he is one of us. I never saw the cross-sigil.”

“Is that so…” Jeannette held her chin.

While her guard is open and she’s distracted by her own thoughts, my hand sneakily crawls on the table, trying to reach the yakisoba bread. But then…

Slap!

“Auuuu!” I cried once again.

“I need to remind you that you will have to protect him until we confirm that he’s a Gate Guardian!” Jeannette says as she pointed her hand at me with a smile on her face. “Get it?”

“Y-Yes, Necchan! I will do what you want me to do!” I sulked.

“Huh? Necchan?” Jeannette cocked her head.

I ignored her as I tried to reach the yakisoba bread once again, but my wrist became the subject of a quick painful slap once again.

“Auu!”

“Wait…” Jeannette made a doubtful glare at me. “Did you just say Necchan?”

“Oof!” I gasped for air as I covered my mouth. I never would have thought that my mouth would utter some nonsensical word. I just gave out a weird nickname, didn’t I? What does Necchan mean anyway? Why does it sound so familiar?

“You…” Jeannette glared at me furiously. “You remember something? About Necross? Hades? Esperia?”

“Necross? Hades? Esperia?” I tilted my head. Those words seem a little bit familiar but I can’t draw any knowledge from those words.

Jeannette made a deep sigh as if she’s disappointed in my reaction. I couldn’t help much since most people see me as a disappointment anyway.

I haven’t gotten my dinner, so my hands slowly drifted to touch the yakisoba bread. Alas, I got found out again and my wrist is now red.

“Auuu!”

Suddenly, Jeannette held my hand with a tight grip. She pushed her face forward and locked eyes with me. It is as if she has thought of a ridiculous idea.

“I can’t blame you if you can’t remember those three things. But…” Jeannette made a smile as if she’s declaring a win. “Does the word ‘Rikkun’ ring a bell to you?”

My eyes became round and wide upon hearing that word. “Rikkun” is a word that feels many things for me for some unknown reason, but I couldn’t be sure why. Maybe Jeannette knows something about it.

“Gotcha~” Jeannette cheered. “Your expression says it all. I can finally proceed with the plan without doing something drastic.”

“Eh?” I uttered. “Y-You already lost me.”

“No, I finally retrieved you!” Jeannette laughed. “Come with me!”

Jeannette gently grabbed my hand, driving me out of the room. Meanwhile, I was left in despair as I saw the yakisoba bread and the cola drift out of my vision.

“N-Noooo! I haven’t even had my dinner yet!” I cried out loud as I helplessly got dragged away by an adorable blonde girl. "Just let me... let me have a bite!"

Then the doors of my condo unit shut.