IV. The bigger the peephole, the greater the problem

Kyrie

Modern Earth, 20xx+3

“Humu.”

I’ve asked him to accompany me here. But I don’t really have a plan. Well my plain old running brain could come up with something later, but for now I have to keep him accompanied.

“What would you like to get? Come on it’s my treat.”

We have just eaten so Fred must have been wondering why I’ve asked him at the diners. Still, he committed treating me to another dinner set.

Walking around the town even if it’s just a few minutes to the town center should still burn what I’ve eaten. Besides I’ve been working for ages so some additional calories to burn in replacement to my lost brain cells.

I looked at the menu.

One of the random thing I’ve been wondering on my life was the difference between fast-food chains that makes people want to eat on one more again and again. Well it’s random, but it still counts. Taste might differ. Still, it would be the same junk being stored at your stomach, later to be grinded as toxins that spread towards your system.

But don’t get me wrong.

I have no issues whatsoever, eating at a fast-food chain while having that way of thinking. As long as it’s being moderated it should be fine. Besides, I’m attending Landlady Ingrid’s physical activities during weekends too so it should be considered as fat being burned.

“Well, it’s the usual burger and fries, large iced tea and a slice of apple pie as a dessert.”

“Heh, as ruthless as ever for a rich girl like you. Did you even asked my wallet for permission to spend that much?”

“Come on, you get used to it. I won’t order that much if you haven’t offered a treat anyways. You reap what you sow.”

“I’m not even complaining. Please stop teasing me already.”

It was not a daily routine. Most of the days, either Fred, Ara or Landlady Ingrid will cook for the team (Ingrid was really not included). I haven’t touched the stove that much but if I put my brain to function I’m sure I’d come up with something served at a 5-star restaurant. But that might trouble Landlady Ingrid’s pride so I’d rather not cross that line and cook something above her standards. She might get real out of place if that happens.

Besides, this was a special occasion which I’ve dedicated a portion of my whole free days’ time. For the first time in a long time Fred broke free from Landlady Ingrid’s watch. Our meeting with Seria finished early too, so I’ve asked him to accompany me at the nearest diner at the town center.

It was not much. I just wanted to discuss something with him.

---

To be honest this was an act of spying, or to simply put: sticking up my nose on wherever it should not belong to.

Ingrid’s Apartment complex was a mix of both concrete and wood. It followed the standards for safety and hazard measurements so I’ve wondered why there’s a wooden portion on my unit at a certain corner of my living room that might crumble anytime there would be a huge-scale earthquake. It was only a small portion so it didn’t really bother me regarding my safety as a tenant.

What really won’t leave my mind was its practical usage. Maybe it served as a small dent due to construction error or Landlady Ingrid tried to punch a hole on her noisy tenant at the middle or the night.

Still, a hole is a hole. So a quick solution was to cover it with some scrap wood.

She just never knew she made a fatal flaw on the structural build of her prized apartment complex.

I’m used to sleeping at the floor with just a blanket on me to slightly keep me from the coolness of the concrete ground. I’m fine with it anyways. It was that weekend morning after Little Annette’s awarding party and I woke up with the faint voice.

“Humu… A dream?”

No. I’m sure I’m awake already. So where does that sound coming from?

Those were voices coming from two of the three people I’ve been closest to ever since I’ve decided being alone, well considering there were only four of us that lived under the same complex for years.

Fred and Ingrid.

“Humu. So early in the morning. They’re already having a lover’s quarrel.”

But Ara and I knew they were not really dating. It was more like, Fred won’t allow it so easily. It seemed that he had a though wall to break that even Landlady Ingrid at her finest couldn’t break. Even still, both of us support her quest to win Fred over.

So much for that, this scenario where Fred would rush over at Ingrid’s that time of the morning was something new. He must have come straight from the after party. He must have something to talk over with Landlady Ingrid immediately.

I knew it.

Something was fishy right from the start. Although it’s just my speculation, I wanted to at least be aware of what’s really happening between the two. Fred’s sudden appearance, his unclear origin, his character background. It was really shady that Landlady Ingrid had to process his legitimate citizenship in order for him to settle down here.

And why suddenly give an all-out support to a very mysterious person who wouldn’t even talk about his past or where he came from? The answer was obvious: The two of them were hiding something.

That thought came on me ever since I’ve started as his assistant.

I knew I shouldn’t try to pry too much on things that doesn’t concern me but still, being left out kind of stung my pride. So at the end, I still tried. But lady Ingrid was hiding it almost perfectly that I haven’t got progress investigating the two for a long time.

“Where is it. I have to find it fast.”

I didn’t care if I just woke up. My head still hurts from lack of sleep and my vision was still blurry. But it didn’t matter.

Chance!

I’ve trusted my sense of hearing and direction to work in unison to find where the sound was coming from, and it led me to the small wooden part of the floor. There was a carpet covering the area. Now that I have seen it, it became clear to me why stepping at that area sounded differently from the rest of the floor.

The faint voice was now clearer and I could already hear the exact words they were saying.

“Humu. Call me a peeping tom whatsoever. If it’s for the sake of the thing I’ve put my interest in, then I’d gladly accept. Regardless of how low I obtain it.”

I’ve uncovered the area and pressed my ear to overhear their conversation.

“Giving you a copy of my keys doesn’t mean you could just barge in at the very short notice. You know… I’m still a girl and you’re still a boy.”

“Shush. That’s not the issue I wanted to tackle right now. Besides. I was so spent a few hours ago since I’ve arrived so climbing the second floor would immediately take my life. Your unit was the best safe haven.”

“Ugh. You’re still drunk.”

So you’re that willing to give yourself in as long as it’s Fred, huh? As expected of Landlady Ingrid.

They continued to talk.

“What time did you got back?”

“Some time past four.”

“Ah, yeah, I’m already asleep at that time.”

“Not expecting you to be awake though. I’ve rested quite a few minutes here. I think I’m already fine.”

“But you don’t look like it. You really shocked me there. I though you’re really a ghost of my dad.”

“If only ghosts in this world are being treated as a lump of free-roaming energy or mana like it was back at Mytherion. Then that would solve every mystery behind Anemone.”

“I see…”

What’s with the painful tone Landlady Ingrid? Also why talk that way Fred? You’re not a shounen protag.

All of a sudden the conversation took a topic which was out of this world. The sounded like children talking about fantasies which was out of the norm.

“Anemone… She’s from another world too…”

“Eh?”

That was the very last I heard from Fred. He maybe fell asleep due to exhaustion of he left. It was a conversation like a television show climax which left me hanging after cutting the episode to the next premiere date.

They were not ones who would setup a prank on me that’s way too planned up to this extent. I stared blankly into the vast morning horizon as I lifted up the curtains of my unit to let morning sunshine pass.

“Humu. What in tarnation was that.”

I also took note that Little Annette(now called Anemone-sensei) was also mentioned. What in the world was her connection with Fred? And what did coming from another world meant? I’ve only known her as a normal and a very normal person if I’m not mistaken. Unless…

“This is not fun. I’d rather confront him about this or I won’t be able to sleep.”

---

“Here’s your order.”

The waitress handed the bunch of calories disguised as food which was mainly my order. I noticed Fred was not much of an eater lately. He just ordered himself a burger and cold coffee. Quite a weird combination if you would ask me.

We started eating. But the silence killed me. It hadn’t beed almost a minute since we started but it felt like a holy being passed by and casted silence spell on us two.

Munch munch munch. –I could just hear both of our mouths chewing the same food we ordered.

“I didn’t come here to commit silent eating with you.”

“Whash. Dwo you ekshcpect me tcho inishiiate the thalkhing? You’re tshe wun who invhiteshd me.”

“I think you should swallow first. Yea, I’ll get to the point now.”

Fred somehow built up resistance upon having a normal conversation with me. Either way, I continued to the main topic so we wouldn’t spend too much time at the diner. We have to get back at the complex before Landlady Ingrid noticed I snatched Fred for a few hours.

“Humu. You see I’ve happen to overheard your conversation with Ingrid. That’s the morning after the afterparty held on Little Annette’s awarding ceremony.”

“Oh…”

He went silent but he continued to eat his burger like he’s trying to stall for time while thinking of something to say to get away from the topic.

“Up to what part did you hear?”

“All of it.”

“Ah, I see…”

It was only a single conversation. I didn’t have any hard evidence to support what I heard. But still I’ve pushed the fact onto him that I’ve heard his conversation with Landlady Ingrid that morning.

Those were things that were not usually being talked into public unless you’re too drunk to create your own fantasies. I didn’t want to get a reply like ‘what are you talking about kyrie’ or ‘are you out of your mind?’ even though I had the point and Fred knew of what I was talking about. I had to sum it up in general.

I didn’t know if Fred got what I was talking about. But I put faith in him that we’re talking about the same thing.

“I told you I’ve heard everything but up to that conversation only, for only God knows whatever you’ve been talking with Landlady Ingrid about.”

“I’ll leave that up to your imagination.”

“So it’s something you couldn’t even talk even with me and Ara. It’s just Landlady Ingrid, huh?”

“Yes. And I’m sorry. But it’s not like that. It’s just not yet the proper time.”

I don’t see any difference with talking to us about it and now and later on. But if he would have a better reason to say then it would be fine by me. I won’t force it out of him.

“What does my junior… No… Anemone have to do with it?”

“…”

That was a line-breaking silence.

“No confirmation yet. But at least she’s living at Ingrid’s now so…”

Little Annette is a normal person. That’s what I’ve been wanting to tell him. But what if she really was hiding herself even from me from the start?

No. I’m 100% sure and I put my trust on myself.

“Humu. I’m telling you, Little Annette—Anemone-chan is just a normal ‘not normal’ girl.”

“Still it won’t hurt to confirm what I need to confirm.”

The topic’s lid was ready to be placed. There’s nothing much I could do if Fred really didn’t want to tell the whole story to me and Ara. I’d gladly lay down for the time being.

Humu. Just for now.

“Humu. Well then.”

I pulled out the bunch of papers that piled up and hid from inside my slim Gothic Lolita dress from within my breasts. I’m flat so I wouldn’t have any difficulties pulling it that way (curse my genes for being flat lol). There were only a few people dining by that time so it lessened the risk of getting seen. Fred was a different case. I would just have to hit him with the harisen later as we got home for the fanservice.

I looked at him.

He was looking at me dumbfounded.

“Humu. Let’s proceed to the next agenda. Because it seems like I wouldn’t be getting anything out from you anymore regarding this topic.”

The pile of paper I’ve shown him was the initial draft of the series we’re currently working on. It’s the draft we’ve worked on after Mae-SUF that was rejected by our previous editor.

“Why do I started feeling like this already happened. But this time it’s with you, not with Ara.”

“Because you’ve made Mae-SUF with Ara as a character reference.”

That’s what I’ve summed up. I knew Ara slipped a chance to talk with Fred alone. That’s as far as I could remember. That was around the night Old man rejected our draft.

“Wha-What would you mean by that?”

Of course he would deny. And he’s looking sideways like a kid denying he’s the one who stole the cookie from the jar, so it’s really way obvious. Besides, it was one of the reasons I could think of when I saw them that night went out for a walk. But that’s not really the point.

Everybody who loves reading somehow at some point on what they read, tries to relate themselves to the characters and their character background and progressions. It’s a part of a reader’s main purpose on reading. Ara must have felt that way when she’s read the whole draft after being finished.

But what about me?

I just looked at him, trying to get my point across without saying a thing…

“Did you actually asked me here to talk to me about using you two as references on my works?”

“Humu.”

He quickly caught on. As expected of someone who talks to me every day.

“Did I somehow crossed the line?”

“Not really, but you should have asked us or told us a thing.”

“Uh… I guess that’s a mistake on my part. Sorry for that.”

So he really used us as references.

Using references from people you usually live in or interact with could be considered a technique when building up a story. May it be someone really close to you, your lover, family, closest friends, up to then the acquaintance of your acquaintance. It’s should be on the writer on how he would write a fictional story that does not depict what really happened.

As for the second draft that Fred…

“There were things spot on about me, but there were also misses.”

“I thought so… It’s you we’re talking about.”

“Humu. Nobody would know me better than myself. It’s me of course.”

Yeah sure he’s not trying to deny it anymore. But it was a lie: everything Fred saying was a lie that moment. It should be me. It should be Ara. But it’s really neither.

Humu. Fred’s getting really good at lying. It felt almost real.

Just like the way he talked everything of he’s being with Landlady Ingrid. There should also be things he couldn’t say to us. He must have accepted us talking about finding something relatable to ourselves on the drafts we’ve been created. That was the easiest way to cover up for the real story behind his works.

The story he wanted to get across to his readers.

I made it look like I took the bait of believing the prior case. That’s for the better. Everything should fall in place once he’s ready to tell us everything about him.

I decided that there’s no need to rush. It might spoil the fun. I decided it should still be fun for now.

“You won’t be surprised if I tell you Ara did the same thing as you did with Mae-SUF.”

“Yah, I won’t. I’m aware she asked you to go out with her one night to discuss something about the first draft.”

“Ugh… Just how much do you know? It’s always getting me goosebumps just thinking how aware you are of everything going on inside Ingrid’s apartment complex.”

“I’d only know everything if you would just tell me your complete story. Even my great brain has its limitations.”

I gave my burger a big chomp. It’s getting cold and I would not want my stomach to burn cold grease from cold junk food.

I noticed Fred reached out to the draft that was lying at the table. He took a quick read at the pages while I was finishing my food. I only did most of the talking so he was left with time to eat his little food. And now he was finished it must have given him more time to think things over.

Will he realize my bait?

“I’ll be telling you the same thing I’ve told Ara. That would be to leave it to your imaginations to whether how you would interpret the story. But after re-reading it… I guess some points hit the mark. But of course those were points from when I already met you. I wouldn’t know anything from way past that.”

He’s trying to match up the way he was thinking with mine. I really saw no need for it. He could just have shrugged off the very idea of the character references and continued the way he does things which I found confusing at some point. He could have feigned ignorance.

But then he continued talking, which I’ve anticipated already.

“At times I wondered why Seria accepted this draft. I really was certain that Old man would have rejected this. Might it be because she’s trying to gauge up how much I would grow under her guidance? Or it might be because she saw something in here which even I don’t.”

“Humu. I’m not one to give you some counselling but all I could say is it certainly for your growth.But you can pay me for counseling service if you want.”

“Siiigh… You know…”

Humu. Wait for it… Here it comes.

“I was a lot like you. From where I came from. But here I came to a realization that I’m reverted to a most normal human being with normal capabilities and limitations. I was really frustrated at first. But Ingrid was the very first person by my side. She’s helped me recover a lot during the hardest of days. That’s why I treat her quite differently. I wanted to treat everyone nice and fair too, and I want both of you to know my story too. But for the sake of everyone it’s better to have less people involved. I’ve made a promise with Ingrid that I should not get you involved with this as much as possible. Please bear with me on that.”

He suddenly became more talkative than expected.

“What I’m really trying to say is… it must be nice, living normally in a peaceful world like this… Isn’t it? Kyrie I know you’re already more than capable of yourself, even more so than helping a friend. But for mine and Ingrid’s sake, can you please leave us older and experienced people to handle this? I’d really be grateful if you do.”

Now I was the one that’s unexpected. But I tried to hide it as much as I could.

“Who are you. No, where did you hide Fred? Who are you and where’s my toy manga artist.”

“Now, now… The way you talk really scares me. I know that’s how you view me as a human, but let me ask you again: is that really how you view me as a human?”

“Humu. Just kidding. Fine. Just please grant me this last request.”

“That makes talking with you now even more scarier.”

“I’ll play as a character reference for the rest of this serialization, so please let me help you on writing your story. It’s a win-win-win situation for you, me and Seria. Don’t worry, I won’t try to influence the flow of the story to fit my liking. What would you say about that?”

I played my last card. I didn’t expect I’d get pushed by Fred to the edge on an argument. But this method was carefully thought of so that Fred would find no other choice but to accept my offer.

I didn’t expect Fred to grew up so much from the wimpy kid dressed up as an adult way he was a few years ago. I guessed his roots have trained him to be a being that with 140% boost on adaptability rate.

Fu Fu Fu… Must be nice… having him as a toy to cure my boredom.

Of course my initial plans for him still didn’t changed. What changed considerably was how I should handle things from now on. I looked at him, quietly thinking.

“Sounds like a good plan to me. Count me in.”