Chapter 11

Anemone

I. Annette Monica Side A: With Kyrie

“Kyrie-senpai!”

The winter was ending and spring was about to begin.

The snow covering the road had completely thawed. The coolness of the window glasses formed dew as the heater from inside the rooms still ran. The plants were growing healthy in green and the flowers should bud soon. The breeze from the outside was starting to get warmer, but anyone should at least still wear their winter uniform.

It was already late in the morning but the warmness of my breath was still visible due to the coldness of the surroundings.

It was not practically sunny, nor was it raining too. I did not know which type of clouds it were but they were scattered at the sky, making rays of sunlight pass through open gaps in them. In my honest opinion it was not my typical atmosphere for farewells because I promised her not to get melancholic over anything that seems so trivial.

The graduation ceremony ended early. The senior student who just handed over their diplomas were now gathering at the front of the school entrance taking pictures. Some of them were walking out of the school with their groupies. Others were crying with their friends too.

My eyes were clouded and nearly swollen.

I was panting due to the distance I’ve ran from the second floor down to the entrance.

The girl walking a few meters away from me headed for the exit.

She was one of those alone students who would want to just straight home after graduating. But it was not like she’s alone because she had no friends or anything. There was this mysterious aura around her that would make someone not wanting to just casually stand by her side.

Mysterious

Beautiful

Stunning

Majestic

I could just say whatever good quality anyone could have but all of them still wouldn’t be enough to describe her character.

Her straight silver hair lay down lightly got blown away by the cool wind. A ray of light suddenly shone down from us, making it look like a scene from those fantasy-genre mangas I had been reading for the past few weeks. A cliché scene where an angel descended towards a mere mortal like me.

She was holding the diploma which she supported at her shoulder like holding a baseball bat in a fashionable way. She turned her head a bit which should be enough to be able to see me at a distance while still not being fully turned towards me.

As she tried to hold her diploma on a fashionable way and looked at me and acted like wiping a runny-nose delicately which supposedly look ‘zero’ but went to ‘hero’ because she was the one to do it. She gave a good old smug before talking.

“How do I look, Little Annette??”

“Jeez.. Stop acting cool already and be like the others!”

I started hopping towards her until I reached her front and stopped.

“I know you’re quite sad inside too. I’ll be here, and I will lend you a shoulder to cry on.” –I’ve delivered a form of teasing, only privileged to those junior students to say to their closest seniors who just graduated a few minutes ago.

THUD!!

“Ouch!”

“Hmp. Don’t get cocky, you being the new club president won’t get you in any position ahead of me.”

Wait… Did she just declared me as the new club president?

She seemed agitated over my statement. Her pride really was something. She would not want to get her pride wounded over a silly argument so she would try to find and find a way to win it over. It’s not like I’m in a contest with her or something anymore. She’s on her final days at school already. I just want her to spend those being the happiest.

If I would’ve been a boy I would have fallen in love on her for countless of times already. What I felt was a great attachment, or rather, an obsession. I just wanted to be just as special one to her like nobody ever had before.

I looked at her again and question myself

I mean, why wouldn’t I be obsessed with something created by God to be so close to perfection?

“It seems you’ve made your decision already. Oh just one thing, you just make sure to keep the club running. I’ll try to visit you at times.”

“Yes, Kyrie-senpai.”

She was about to leave and I still had no idea how to continue her legacy at our school. I wondered why she had passed the baton over to me. There had been some students notable and worthy to succeed her throne as the president of our club.

As I followed my train of thought I did not realize that time went on and it was now a few minutes since we started standing at the same spot.

THUD!!

I was hit again at the forehead with the rolled diploma.

“Ky-ky-ky-kyie-senpai!! I-I-I’m sorry I dozed off!”

“Jeez, how would you be able to do the job I left you if you would always be like that? Keep your act together! Now I’m really worried.”

“I… If you would just give me permission to ask you a question.”

“Humu… go...”

She did not have any second thoughts before giving me permission. That would be a great proof that I was one of her closest friends.

“Why me?”

I did not need to prolong the question. I wanted to avoid confusion as much but Kyrie-senpai was not someone who needed to have the situation explained to the very last of details for her to understand.

“Hmmm… Let’s see…”

She paused for a long while. It took a minute or two or I didn’t know. That moment I had forgotten how time on Earth goes. It’s just that the way she rack up her brains were too cute to be even compared to the boundaries of human cuteness. She was just way too cute.

After a few more moments she came to a halt, then looked at me and gave a sly smile.

“No matter how much I think of it I just can’t find any reason. I just wanted to pick you, that’s why. Maybe a hunch. Besides, you did not just landed at the clubroom by mistake.”

That again…

“…I see…”

She was not the type of person who would lie and joke around at the same time.

“…Well I hope that hunch of yours turn out right. In any case, I’ll do my best on my end.”

It was about then that I made my very first promise with her. I’ve been with Kyrie-senpai for my very whole first year, and I think she’s the only one who knew me as a whole, and accepted me the way I am.

With all’s that said and done, she gave me an honest smile and started walking towards a long black car that was waiting at the front of the school gate.

Please don’t go…

Words wouldn’t go out of me. I just have to say those words and everything will reach its conclusion.

“I—I—do—” –I stuttered silently, silent enough to not let her hear my pathetic attempt to ask her to stay for a little while longer, like she usually did.

Please stay for a little while. I don’t want you to leave me. Please don’t leave.

Yes, it was just like a mother going out for shopping while leaving her little kid at a daycare center.

She stopped and turned towards me. She then headed towards me slowly. The succeeding few seconds of my wish becoming true went longer than the months we’ve been together. It was the longest few seconds of my life where I had to wait for her as she approaches me. It had been very long that I did not noticed she’s already at my front.

“How pathetic. Look at you. How unsightly.”

She crouched and leveled herself towards me. I did not realized that I was already slumped at the ground, a truly unsightly scene I could offer to her as a graduation gift. She reached out a handkerchief at her pocket and wiped my snot-covered nose first, then my swollen eyes. I did not even realized I was already crying.

I did so much just to have her turn back, return, and console me at my worst.

“I—hic!—I’m sorry—hic!—Kyriee-senpaaaaai!!!—UWAAAAH!! Don’t goooo!!!”

I was just childishly wailing in front of the most nearly-perfect person that ever existed at our school. When did I went through such extent? Did I subconsciously made myself look pitiful just to get attention and delay her inevitable farewell with me? My mind was all blurry and jumbled.

At least I said what I needed to say.

“Siiiigh… You’re such a kid, you know? Is this the unique ‘you’ that you have found out the remaining time we’ve spent together?”

Just like a mother, she patted my head and tried to calm me down before fully leaving.

“You think I won’t know what you’ve been doing these past month? I knew you’ve been trying to make a manga by yourself. Was it because of that time that I’ve piqued my interest on it?”

“How did you—”

“I expected it from the start. It’s not something you could hide from me.”

It was supposedly one of my secrets but she have known it from the beginning. Of course I would be flustered and embarrassed to the fullest extent.

“You could continue it if you’ve found it as a passion. I wouldn’t want to fully influence your do’s and don’ts.”

“Kyrie-senpai?”

“Yes, today, I’m freeing you of the shackles that had been binding you from this world. Come, liberate yourself.”

She was referring to something. It should be my other self, that one whom everybody knew of that was the real me. The clingy and pathetic side of me that moment was only known by her, so it made no sense to show it to everybody else. But what could I do. My greatest senpai was about to leave the school. And we might not be able to meet again.

“…Trust me, we will meet again in the near future. I will only be gone for a moment. But I least I want to trust you to take care of yourself while I’m gone, okay?”

“Sniff… Okay… sniff… I promise to.”

“Now, where’s the Little Brand-new Annette that you’re supposed to show?”

Was she sad too? Was she feeling the same way as I did? Her facial expression were too blank with a matching monotone voice. Of course I wouldn’t know. She had been an expert on hiding her real self. But at least she’s talked to me one last time.

I knew she were graduating, and I promised her too that I wouldn’t cry, but I can’t suppress my emotions. I could only blame her for turning me into someone like this.

But I guess there’s nothing I could do.

I just looked up to her face which was being shone upon with the ray of sunlight peeking at the clouds. But for some reason I could not remember the face she made that time as I answered, “Heh! I was just acting. I might not be able to surpass you in this life, ‘Queen Kyrie’. But I promise at the next life(next meeting) and we encounter each other, I will make you eat my dust.”

“That’s better.”

That was what I remembered she answered me.

It was a scene from my distant past. The clouds were starting to leave, giving a good afternoon sunshine that would be best for spring sakura viewing. A girl with straight long silver hair headed towards the school exit. An end. A beginning.

---

Modern Earth, 20xx+3

A dream? Urgh my head hurts…

A faint ray of light woke me up from my deep sleep…

And I could hear a faint voice from a middle-aged man near me.

“She— … acts like … —from Fred’s team, but the difference is she’s quite alone.”

Oh it is Old Man, and not some shady intruder, nothing to worry about.

God I dozed off. What time is it? Did I missed my deadline? How long was I asleep? Why wasn’t I wearing anything?

I get up like a high school girl that woke up earlier than the sound of her alarm clock.

“GOOD GRACIOUS! OH GOD NO!!”

“No nonononononono!! I’m sorry Fred.”

“Trust me, whoever you are… I’m most probably not a burglar and I’m most probably nooooOOOT a molester. I’m not a pedophile. Please. I’m just a humble editor.”

What is he talking about? Oh that was the fake camcorder I’ve installed. Fufufu he fell for the trap. So Stupid.

“Quick… Put on some dress, gal. You don’t want to add fuel on the fire that’s incinerating me right now.”

So stupid…

Good thing my editor, or rather ‘Old Man’ because he wanted to be called by it so why not, was someone I could trust, so him entering my apartment wouldn’t be a problem, I think.

I mean, look at him getting flustered for nothing.

I murmured silently, “…well at least I needed to do something about my naked body. I’m starting to feel cold.”

“Quick… Put on some dress, gal. You don’t want to add fuel on the fire that’s incinerating me right now.”

I got a whole blanket wrapped around my whole body and it’s not like I’m totally exposed. I just hoped he did not saw my whole naked body accidentally. It would feel like I won’t be able to marry anymore if that happened.

It doesn’t look like it anyway, I guess I could play with his stupidity for a while longer.

“yaaaaaAAAWWN! Oh, Old Man you’re already here. I told you to always knock before you enter.”

I said as I stretched my body as if I’ve been asleep for a week.

“Knock, you say?” –The nerves started to appear through Old Man’s forehead as he hear the words ‘knock before you enter’

I looked at the materials near me and checked to see if I could act like a royalty which had just been woken up by her most loyal butler. At least I got a blanket with me.

Well this should be enough.

“Oh, wait I’m not on fully awakened speech yet. Let me adjust quite a bit. My loyal servant! What brings you so suddenly at my Royal Palace? Come tell me, and the queen of darkness shall reward you appropriately.”

Then after that exact sentence I’ve received a long scolding.

I think I’ve made him snapped. I’ve never seen him that angry before. Was he always like that even for the past authors he’s managed? I tried to cool him down as he just ranted his stress. I also started to take account the things that must have happened on his way on my apartment. I’ve always kept a spare key under the potted plant at the very corner of the apartment in front of my door, which only he and I knew. What if the tenant next door have seen him and took him for a suspicious person. That would mean a lot of trouble for him.

Well, what’s done was done.

“Just wait there and I’ll dress up. Don’t you dare peek on me. I could sue you immediately if you try something funny.”

Well but I knew he won’t. It just felt like it. This Old man had the air around him of a sincere salaryman that would just stick to doing his job rather than having any distractions via lewd thoughts. But still, he’s a man at an age where he’s considered the one to be responsible of me. I would not want to add up to his pent up stress because who knows what might happen if he reaches a certain extent.

I quickly finished suiting up to my early morning gear. It was a tight suit I’ve ordered at an online shop. It was a sleek black leather tight suit with thin red lining stitches at the sides. It would get harder for me to breathe if I fully zipped it up to the upper part of my neck, so I left it half-zipped a bit above my chest. It revealed quite a bit of a daring part of my body but I really bet he wouldn’t mind. It would be just like as if he’s watching a spy movie. I really loved trying one of these dresses so I ordered one, considering I’m a working individual already. I just thought of it as a little gift for myself after all those hard work.

“Okay. I’m good now.”

He turned and went dumbfounded.

“What—Ugh! forget it!”

“Looks good, right?”

“Suit yourself.”

He sat at a free chair at the front of my bed.

The apartment complex was quite smaller to those I imagined way back when I was still at my hometown. But it could still fit in up to four people. But the space that was supposed to be for those other three had been occupied with various manga-related stuff, like the big table, some cabinets for stocking up supplies, lots of books, magazines, piled-up newspapers and other mangas for references and my bed which I just dumped beside my working table. The kitchen was quite small, and I eat at the free small space where I’ve put in a television, small couch and a mini table.

Besides all the indicated above, I still wondered how an apartment for four, became too crowded for just two.

I’ve got all the things needed already. We just need to get down to business.

“So, what does a loyal servant came here at my Royal palace for?”

“What do you mean by that? Did I not notice you of the event tonight?”

It seemed that Old man had gotten a hang of how I was and started to understand me.

We talked about it. It should be the awarding event he had been talking to after he got introduced to me.

Ah shit. That was tonight… I totally forgot.

The event Old man was referring to was the oneshot competition I’ve entered. It would be an event dedicated just to introduce me to their whole department. I’ve been meaning to ask what was it for. They could just let me work without even making an extravagant event like this which I didn’t really needed. But Old man might become too furious again.

I didn’t want to find myself wearing a neck brace because he snapped my spinal column in half.

I just had to get away with a “Yeah. The Royal Queen really did forgot about the grand event tonight.”, but he still gotten mad anyways.

At times I wondered if he’s just made of 99% hot gas like someone from a foreign cartoons I’ve watched when I was a kid.

He recovered from getting mad, but he still was not finished. He suddenly opened up about someone.

“As I’ve been telling you, I was the previous editor of Maou Spence-sensei. He would be there tonight, along with his new editor. I guess it’s about time to have you meet each other.”

And it came.

The thing that I’ve been waiting for the most.

This person was second to the most godlike existence I’ve referred to as Kyrie-senpai. He was the very only one who became my sole inspiration for completing my award-winning oneshot. If it was not for his work I would not be able to enter the same industry as his, which I’ve been pursuing ever since I was still at high school for the past two years.

He was an idol, a reference, a person I could get obsessed to, and most of all, my second savior.

“Fu fu fu…”

My laughter crept the whole room. Old man might get creeped out on me due to that but I still continued.

“It’s about time both of our existence cross each other.”

Besides all of the description I could give above for Frederie Spence, I could still give another thing to describe him.

“I as the Queen of Darkness. And you, as the Maou, my one and only Rival.”

I held my right eye with my left hand as if it was aching. I acted like someone writhing in pain. Old man in front of me had stopped reacting. More like he stopped caring at all. He must knew it was all an act. It was all a silly childish play.

“Maou Spence-sensei!! Aaaaaah!! We’re about to cross paths!”

“Fu ha ha ha!! FU HA HA HA HA!!!”