Places and People

“Now then!” says Akihiko and dials the number that called on his phone when he was asleep.

The phone rings.

The number connects and then he hears a voice which he hadn’t heard before but was really familiar.

“Hello. This is Ito.”

“Ah, yes. I’m well-informed. You wouldn’t call back without knowing the details of the call… Or would you?”

“Details? I just heard something interesting about what you told me.”

“Hahaha. That’s the only reason. Are you sure…?” says the unknown voice and he feels a chill down his spine.

     Meanwhile, Ayame was getting ready for classes so she picks up her bag and says-

“I’ll be leaving then. If anything just text me.”

“Yeah, sure. See ya.” Says Akihiko anxiously.

     The front door closes and their conversation continues.

“Now that the obstacle has disappeared, let’s move on to ‘the details’ I was talking about earlier.”

“I’m ready.”

“Woah. Hold on. It’s nothing like what you’re thinking about.”

“But if that’s the case then how do you know about that?”

“…(sighs)… Like I said earlier… I’m well-informed.”

“Then I guess you would probably be some kind of underground mafia who hunts Yokai?”

“Mafia…Hmm, wrong word. It’s not even an organistion.”

“Then…?”

“Let’s just say we’re a small hunting group.”

“Hunting? And what does it have to do with me?”

“You’ve died once just recently. Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not.”

“So, you’ve seen the spirit realm?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Then, it’s all good. I’ll send you an address and just drop by when you’re free.”

“Wait a second…! Are you perhaps…”

“By now, you should’ve caught on already. That’s right, I am…”

“A salesman scammer?!”

“A… Just drop by sometime.” And the unknown voice hangs up.

     Akihiko keeps his phone down and starts to think of the various things the person could be.

‘He’s not a mafia. First of all, is it even a male or a female? Could he be some kind of murderer. Not possible from their way of talking. Then what else…?’

     He turns on the T.V and takes a seat on the couch. He changes the channels while thinking hard.

[Kei? You ready? it’s the final boss of this world!]

“Hm… Hm? OH, THE NEW EPISODE IS OUT!” he says and while leaving the thinking aside he continues to watch the anime playing on the T.V.

“So, what did he say?”

“He said he needs some time to think…” says an unknown woman while leaning on the chair.

“Did he say that though?”

“He called me a salesman scammer.”

“Typical of him. But, I can’t stop worrying.” Says the unknown boy who was eating some candies from the table beside her.

“The worries regarding the dead?”                 

“Yes. He wasn’t even hesitant, was he?”

“No. Not a shred of fear. I think we’ve hit the jackpot actually.”

“Also, you should stop talking like some main villain since you’re my boss. I’ll leave your run-down company.”

“Company? You’re exaggerating now. It’s just the two of us. Did you forget?”

“…”

     Akihiko wastes the entire time playing games and watching T.V. Ayame’s sister comes down after a few hours while yawning and sees his on the couch.

“Oh, Aki. You were here?”

“…” Akihiko continues to play.

“You listening to me?”

“…” being immersed in the game he doesn’t hear her.

“When someone… is talking to you…” says Ayame’s sister while approaching him and continues, “HEAR THEM OUT!” and punches him on his head.

“OWWW!” says Akihiko after dropping his phone and holding his head in pain.

     Her sister takes a seat on the couch and changes the channel.

“You feel like hearing me out now?”

“Yeah…” says Akihiko and sits up on the couch next to her.

“S-so, what’s your name?” asks Akihiko hesitantly.

“That’s not how you ask a girl her name?”

“You’re not even a girl…” mumbles Akihiko to himself.

“I heard that.” She says while watching the weather report and Akihiko shakes up.

“Um… No. I didn’t say…”

“Alright. I got it. So go bring me my breakfast.”

“…” Akihiko without uttering a single word does as he was told.

      Akihiko gets eggs from the fridge and grabs the bread which was kept outside. Then he puts on the apron and while holding the pan and the oil he says,

“Cooking mode…On!” and he starts to cook up. He breaks the egg elegantly and fast and with that same momentum throws the shells away. He puts the bread in the toaster and grabs some veggies from the fridge as well.

“Sunny side up?”

“Yeah. Sure.” She says while watching T.V.

     He completes making the ultimate normal breakfast almost as fast as a professional chef.

“Um… The breakfast is ready.” He says after removing the apron and placing the meal on the table.

“Yeah… WAIT, WHAT?! Already?!”

“Yeah. I mean… Breakfast, that’s what you wanted right?”

“Then let me taste test.” She says and comes rushing to the table. She grabs her fork and starts to eat. She finishes her breakfast just as fast as she started to eat it and after dropping her fork on the table she says, “You pass.” With a thumbs up and a proud face.

“WHAT IS THIS? SOME COOKING SHOW?!” asks Akihiko loudly.

“The name’s Rindo. No need to use any respect just call me that… Or if you wish you can call me onee-sama (dearest sister) if you’d like it.” And she smiles while thinking about it.

“Um. I’ll just go with Rindo-san then.” And he smiles meekly.

“Well, If I was as young as you, I would’ve totally fallen head over heels for you.”

“Because of my cooking?”

“Yeah, no wonder you were so famous back then as the complete perfectionist.”

“Old times are only to be pondered upon and not think about them forever.”

“You speak like some monk even though you’re so frail and weak.”

“S-shut up! I just tried to say that.” He says and then asks her, “Can I take a shower now?”

“Go ahead. I’ll only take one later.”

“Oh, ok then!” says Akihiko and heads for the shower.

     He takes off his clothes and puts them in a basket outside the shower room and heads for taking a bath. He turns on the shower and hot water falls on him.

“Humans really are amazing when they use their brains.” And enjoys his shower.

“You have everything in there?” asks Rindo from outside the shower room.

“Yeah. I mean everything is here.”

“Just know that staying too long in the shower will give you wrinkled skin.” She says and walks away.

“I’m not a child.” He mutters under his breath and continues to enjoy his steamy shower.

     After the shower he gets out and changes into the clothes that were kept there in the basket.

“These clothes…” he says while looking at the shirt kept in there and continues, “… They’re not mine?” and puts them on.

     After changing he goes to the living room and asks Rindo-

“Whose clothes are these?”

“Ayame probably… I just picked them from somewhere and gave them to you. You have some problem wearing women’s clothes at home?”

“No… It’s not that but.”

“But what? You’re sexist, is that it?”

“BUT IT’S A GIRL’S CLOTHES WHOSE HOUSE I’M STAYING AT!”

“Complete your sentences faster then. What a headache.”

“You’re the one who gave me these clothes, right?”

“No. It was my dead boyfriend. Of course I put them there. Otherwise you’ll just reek of sweat and stink the whole place.”

“Fair point.” Says Akihiko and joins her on the couch and watches T.V.

     After wasting another few hours of his time he remembers that he had to decide whether or not to go and then he says-

“I’ll be going upstairs then. She should be returning anytime now, right nee-san?”

“Yeah. I have to leave for work too. Go have a fun time you both… Also, have fun looking through her drawers.” She says and climbs up the stairs.

“I’m not going to do that so just leave me alone.” Says Akihiko and enters Ayame’s room.

“So this is her room. I envisioned it to be more pink….” And then he sees the pile of clothes lying around and a heap of trash collected in the corner in the dustbin.

“I envisioned it to be more girly so that my heart would feel uneasy and restless. What an idiot! Way to go. This is how you leave an impression on people.” He says and sits on the bed.

     He immediately lies down and thinks to himself-

‘The person who called definitely seems suspicious but he knew about that day and that thing. Maybe… Just maybe if I meet him, I can get my life…” he says and turns face down on the pillow.

“But still, If I’m going to meet such a suspicious person, I should go alone… endangering these two doesn’t seem like a very gentlemanly thing to do…”

“Now, whatever should I do…Hmm…”