3.2

A new home, a new world

Despite the threat facing them, none of the summoned decided to return, at least not just yet. A fact that greatly intrigued Jim. Of course, the dead couldn’t return and he could see why Haruka wouldn’t want to either, considering the conditions the kid arrived in. Doraemon and Eikichi, meanwhile were more than capable to take care of themselves.

That left Fleur and Mara, and they had been cagey about their decision. But the beautician was always on edge, looking like she would break down any time soon. Perhaps the situation back home for her was preferable to the threat of death.

Thinking back reminded Jim of the girl that blew her brain out.

Doraemon paced into the room. The girl had been restless lately, especially after the meeting with the stranger. Mara looked at her worryingly.

“Come, sit with me for a bit, these cookies won’t eat themselves”

Contrary to what Jim expected, Doraemon begrudgingly accepted the offer. As she took a bite, a strange expression appeared on her face “Who made these?”

“Well, it was mostly Fleur, but I think that one is mine” Mara admitted.

It was rather painfully clear as the beautician’s cookies were all neat circle while… well, let’s just say baking wasn’t Mara strong suit. Then there was Eikichi, who was on another league, but this time they weren’t graced by his talent.

“Well, this is… good” Doraemon finished the cookie.

Jim wondered if the girl was actually being nice for once.

“So… how is your day” Fleur tried to strike a conversation.

“None of your business” Doraemon answered coldly. Her kind streak stopped there.

The four just sat there eating cookies silently as they watched the raindrops beating on the glass windows. Normally Jim would find a moment like this calming but not today. He couldn’t help but think how the rain was going to mask the enemies approach.

The teenager wanted to help, perhaps he could stand guard or something. But Eikichi shot that down immediately.

“If they managed to sneak in without me noticing then you won’t be able to do anything. Just kick back and relax, until you hear the alarm that is”

That was reasonable, but it was also so cold.

Jim could feel himself starting to wallow in his own emotions and the teenager would rather that not to happen. Luckily, Fleur hadn’t given up on her wanting to strike a conversation yet. After visibly racking her brain for a topic that would interest the punk of the future, it looked like a light bulb appeared on her head.

“Doraemon, so you write book right”

The girl immediately glared at Fleur, her gaze full of murderous intent. But as she peaked at Mara, Doraemon seemed to let that slide. But Fleur, either being braver than Jim had given her credit for, or simply ignorant, continued “So, what is it about?”

“You want to know huh” Doraemon sunk into the sofa “Well, it’s about a girl journey around the world to avoid a stalker”

“I… didn’t expect you would write about something like that…”

“It wasn’t me, a woman named I once knew called Rita first wrote that series. But after her, heh, ‘unfortunate’ passing, I took over the work anonymously. For some reason, it was a big success” Doraemon words were full of murderous intent, aimed straight at Fleur.

“Enough to be turn into a movie?” The beautician continued, ignoring all the alerts.

“Yeh, but it was absolutely garbage”

“I guess they have to cut out a lot of details to fit into a feature movie”

“That’s not it” Doraemon leaned back, gazing at the empty roof “They simply added their own nonsense in, like how the two are somehow in love but circumstances and all that sort of craps. Can’t blame them really, that’s a popular interpretation”

“Um… How did that even come about?”

“I wonder, well maybe because the stalker is a murderous monopolizing bastard. That thing would obliterate anything between him and his target and sometimes it includes some unsavoury elements. But what do I know, perhaps all the brainless idiots who read the book find his ‘dedication’ endearing… Good on them”

Doraemon tried to contain it, but the bitterness in her voice was still loud and clear.

“I will make another round” The girl said and left with a cookie still in her mouth.

Jim was also feeling rather restless, maybe he would also patrol around for a bit. While it was useless at least he would feel better about himself… Let’s not think about that, what if he encountered something? He would never know just by sitting around doing around.

With that thinking, Jim tried to find anything suspicious and that he managed.

There was someone in the attic, the teenager could hear a light footstep. Was it the enemies? Probably not, from how much they were hyped up by Eikichi, they wouldn’t be heard this easily. But what if one of them slipped up and Jim might be the hero of the day?

In case like this, the teenager should call for Eikichi. But that would mean he would be off from his patrolling, what if the enemies used that opportunity to sneak in?

… Why was he thinking as if the bald man himself was the only the bulwark against the enemies. Jim wanted to find a reason for that not be the case, but he didn’t come up with anything. That Johann guy was always so serious, a reliable sort. And yet, he seemed to resign with the fact that Eikichi was simply superior.

Even Doraemon, who was from the future. She could turn invisible, enhanced her strength to ludicrous level with nefarious substance. And yet, her fascination for the bald man in white suit was clear as day.

… you won’t be able to do anything…

Jim opened the attic trap door as quietly as he could. The teenager didn’t know if he wanted the enemies to be up here or not.

Up there was Haruka, who immediately hid something behind his back.

“Um, what are you doing up here?” Asked Jim.

“No… nothing” Haruka answered as his eyes looked to the side.

Could it be more obvious than this… Jim climbed up and looked around the attic which was completely empty. Maybe it was better that the enemies weren’t here after all. The teenager still wanted to keep his life, this one at least.

He pretended to look around for a bit and immediately took the item behind Haruka’s back. Only to receive a bite to his hand. The kid did drop the item and it was a book.

Or not… there was an image of a young woman in bikini displayed on the two-page spread.

“Um… it seems like I am interrupting you there… Sorry” Jim retreated.

“What! Is there a problem with a girl to look at these things!”

“You are still too… wait what did you say?” Something wasn’t right here.

“Is there a problem for me to look at this” Haruka replied confused.

“No, the part before that”

“… Is there a problem with a girl…” The ‘boy’ said without a hint of deception.

“You are a girl!” Jim reacted appropriately, that meant quite loudly.

That seemed to touch on some nerve, Haruka started to pout “Of course, is there a problem”

“It’s not a problem per se… Anyway, why are you looking at that thing anyway?”

“Well, I am just wondering” The kid was still pouting.

“About what”

“Here, let me show you” Haruka picked up the magazine and shoved it at the teenager face.

While Jim was no way a conservative, to be suddenly confronted by a voluptuous figure so suddenly nearly caused him to jump back. Maybe this was actually the afterlife and it was testing him… Just a thought.

He pushed the magazine away, trying to hold back… well he was a teenager.

“So what are you wondering about then… It’s just a scantily dressed woman”

“Well, not just that, this belongs to Eikichi. And all of these women are Japanese”

“I am sure the standard about decency of your time is different…”

Still, was this normal, to have a magazine filled with what amounted to softcore porn. This world was truly a vast place… Not this world really, the place where they came from…

“No, I am just wondering, what do they eat to all look so plum. Here look”

Haruka shoved a particularly ‘meaty’ image in front of Jim. It was of a rather curvaceous young woman, showing as much skin as possible.

“Um… what is going here”

Jim turned around to see Fleur looking at them her mouth agape. From the woman angle everything was laid bare.

“I can explain” Jim said with a straight face.

“Well, Ji… Mr. Cross, there is wrong about you doing something like this. But you shouldn’t drag little Haruka into this”

“Hey, she was the one who found this thing!” Jim tried to defend himself.

“Wel… wait, ‘she’?”

It was mildly surprising that no pronoun about Haruka was ever used. But then she was never a hot topic and the kid was always too busy eating and constipating to notice anything.

… There was an awkward silent as Haruka looked like she was ready to slice all of them open with the broken katana. Instead, the kid pulled down her pants “I am a girl!”

Fleur immediately turned Jim head, he never knew the timid woman could be that fast.

“We get it, Haruka, please pull your pants back on” The beautician pleaded.

Jim, meanwhile, was rather amazed at how firm Fleur’s hold was. Actually, this was surprisingly strong for her figure. Now that he thought about it, none of the women he had seen here could be called curvaceous. The locals were very well built, actually there was no variance in their builds at all…

Meanwhile, Mara was… Jim didn’t really want his mind to go there. The others were all rather on the thin side. Then there was Haruka being anorexic. The kid had probably never seen anyone like the models for that magazine.

“Um…” Jim realised Fleur is looking at him staring at her body “Sorry”

The woman let him go and scurried away. But for just a moment, Jim felt like she was trying to crush his skull there.

At least Haruka had her pants back on now, but the girl was now on a crusade. Grabbing the teenager by his sleeve, the kid rushed down to the living room where Mara was enjoying her not hand-made tea.

“Do you know that I am a girl!” Haruka immediately asked.

“Of course” Mara answered casually.

From behind the door, Fleur peeked out “Wait you know? Then why did you keep calling her ‘him’?”

Jim could see Mara freeze for a split moment, the old lady continued to sip her tea “Well, I just find it funny that you thought Haruka was a gi… a boy”

The suddenly inquisitive kid pouted and moved on to bother Johann and Alva. The beautician seemed to disappear into thin air again but not before looking at Jim with cautious eyes. The teenager couldn’t even tell what she saw him as anymore.

His train of thought was interrupted by the front door opening.

At that moment, all of Jim paranoia returned only to find it to be Eikichi in a raincoat. The man was holding a giant sword.

“Wait isn’t this…” Asked Mara.

“From where we first got summoned yes. I decided to see if there are any weapon we can use. None of the masked guys and their gears are left. But I did find this and the owner body. After the immediate threat is gone, I will give him a proper burial later”

Eikichi held up the blade, the edges were all chipped.

“Well, this won’t be useful, too unwieldy” Or not.

Jim was not even looking at the sword. There was something that had been bothering him. The teenager couldn’t hold it back anymore.

“Eikichi, did you tell anyone about this, you going back there”

“No” The bald man answered without any hesitation and left to put the sword away.

Of course, it wouldn’t make much difference at all… Not at all.

Mara wanted to say something, but the teenager ignored her and retreated to his room. Why was he even here, why was he given another chance… Jim opened the door to be greeted by something truly unexpected.

It was Doraemon in his room, absolutely drenched, her head hung low. She definitely didn’t go with Eikichi, the man disappeared way before that. The girl must have chased after him later. And what was she doing here.

Before the teenager could ask any question, the girl grabbed him by the collar violently. His mouth sealed by her soft lips over it. Jim could feel her tongue intruding into his mouth, the taste was simply intoxicating.

Doraemon fell onto her back, pulling the teenager down with her, his mind was empty. If this was a test, Jim Cross had failed spectacularly.

Outside, the rain seemed to only be getting stronger, washing away everything, even traces of a rejection.