Unexpected Friends
Chapters 21. The People Changed

[Eliz POV]

Kriiets. Decitan the teacher's room door when I opened it. I came out without success so that my face became disappointed.

When I asked one of the teachers at random, "Did you see Bu Ochari?" The teacher named Tanaka replied. "Oh sorry, Mrs Ochari is on leave. Just tell me what you want to say, I'll tell Bu Ochari in SMS."

I'm also aware that Mr. Tanaka is on our suspect list. But I didn't have the courage to ask. It feels too heavy.

Finally I took a walk in search of the lost Alice for quite a while. If Fumika asks what I got, I'll answer, "Ochari's mom is on leave." Only.

She'll be pouting all day, but I'm more worried about Alice. Why does that kid like to run away? He still remembers if this school had a killer on the loose? Alice Yamada Henkis! Look if I find you.

Alice always worried me because every time she stepped in, trouble always followed her. It's the Mandora, it's the Rokurokubi, it's the Cursed Room, tomorrow he'll meet the Unicorn maybe. Ughhhh!

It was a hassle but I still loved him. She once called me his adoptive mother, by the way.

"She is Weirdo. Get away from her!"

Sometimes everyone around me tells me to stay away from Alice, even our Ex-bestfriends.

Selfish. He said friends, accompanied by our vows to always be together? Now you deny it for fear of Alice.

I am the same, because you.

***

A person changes because of his environment - Anonymous

***

But now I will no longer be a hypocrite. Blind as an excuse to turn, deaf when there is a cry please. I will stretch out my hand to reach those who will fall.

The world, it seems I have changed. My heart feels relieved.

Now let's focus on finding Alice!

🌸🌻🌸

Huh, exhausting.

Just be right! I know it's an elite school but I didn't expect to get out of the school building it was like walking a few kilometers. Right now I'm in the front yard of the school leaning against one of the pillars.

I rearranged my breath that was congested due to the long walk. The sunlight that suddenly came into my eyes ached so much that I rubbed it. Ah, the more painful. I had to move to an area that seemed to be shaded by trees.

Passing through the street for a short while, I entered this area of many trees. From the board in front of the area, the name of this place is East Park. Tree areas and shortcuts to the local bazaar.

The sound of the breeze and the chirping of birds is a typical instrument of the forest that is almost silent. Heart-cooling tranquility plus tranquil scenery. Suitable for solitude.

I know if I pass a few streets here can go to the laboratory building of both schools based on the floor plan in MaDing. Okay, let's try my luck.

A few minutes later,

Isn't this the tree I met before? Ahk I don't know anymore!

Every time I walk it feels like I'm going around in circles because of the appearance of the same tree continuously. There are even shrubs that are almost the same color. I don't know where I am now. I was lost, alone.

"Chi."

My hair stood up and my hands shivered. My neck feels uncomfortable, anyone help me. "Chi."

This horrible laughter was terrifying. But I try to be brave. "Elizabeth! Calm yourself." I said to myself.

"Hihi, hehe."

First, find the source of the sound. I had to turn from the main line to satisfy my curiosity and eliminate my fear. The sound of laughter grew closer each time I passed through the trees.

Finally, I found a large pine tree. The sound is here because it sounds so clear. "Haha, hihi. Haha.." I want to check if it's not a laughing ghost.

So I went around the pine tree and found a man laughing while reading a book. There was a pile of books strewn about in the mattress that he had a title for. His lunch was a half-bitten bread and guava juice.

This man seemed to be unaware of my existence due to being too focused on his book. And FYI¹, the book she holds turns out to be Comic Shin-chan. Another stack of Shoujo² comics that I don't know the title of. "Otaku³." Mumamku. "Eh?"

We both got carried away in shock. Moreover, I mocked him Otaku without knowing his identity as Enji's brother! "Y!!!!" Shouts us at the same time

Huhoo. Between anger, sadness, and embarrassment I look stupid in front of my Crush. Just burn me out.

Still in shock, Enji accidentally threw his comic near me. Never mind, I'm being expelled. Better just run.

Just a few seconds I turned around suddenly the sound of brother Enji calling me. "Oi, oi. Wait." Wait." My reflexes were immediately silent on the spot. "I'm sorry about that. I accidentally threw it."

"Oh brother, I should be sorry." I couldn't see her again until I covered my face with my palm. "I'm not the Otaku brother." Elizabeth Van Hose! Don't continue!

My tongue doesn't seem to synchronize with my brain, which makes me this sad. Oh My Lord, why did this happen to me?

"That's okay. Everyone knows it." Even though brother said so, my heart still hurts because of this incident. My face is hot. While I was silent, Enji continued his sentence. "So you wanna sit down?" Bargainly.

Huh, "All right." I had to sit in the theater with Enji. It should have been the happiest thing, but the atmosphere was very awkward. Enji put his comic back in his bag. While I'm still staring near him, not knowing what we should talk about.

Elizabeth, chill up's. Now let's open the topic first, "Son't you want me to?" You idiot! Of the many people he met, how could he remember me? Especially his status as Chairman of OSIS.

"Ehm, Eliz-chan? Who is Alice-Chan and Fumika-Chan?" It was a miracle he recognized me, the wound in my heart suddenly healed itself. "So right, brother." Okay, let's continue the chat.

"So, my hobby is reading comics?"

"Yes, I also have a special wardrobe for these Comics. Tired of not doing anything at school ."

Brother Enji is funny. Schools like this can get bored quickly. I almost got lost. "Btw, what are you doing here? That's Shin-Chan's comic right, isn't it?" I caught a glimpse of the comic that Enji had previously held. On the cover was a little boy with his puppy. "Sorry, this is called Manga. Comics and Manga are 2 different things."

"Oh, so." I hesitated. It's up to brother, the important brother happy. "This is my favorite place at school. Only here can I relax to be myself."

While speaking, Enji offered me new bread. I accepted it with pleasure and felt strawberry jam in my mouth. "It must be heavy?" I said after swallowing the piece of bread. "Very." He said while arranging his Comics-ehem-Manga in the press.

After he finished entering the Manga, Enji Kak again finished his bread, while I finished eating it. "The sound is delicious. Definitely wear love~" I said spontaneously to brother Enji. Uh, s-stupid! Even though I said in a low tone he must have heard it. "Arrigato." Reply to Enji while smiling at me. Well at least not too bad.

Enji laughed and stood up. I stood up and helped her fold the mat. "Put it in the hole of this tree." He said while showing a large hollow tree in front of me. Then we put it there according to Enji's orders.

"Hup, he also raised this brother." I said while cleaning my hands of dust. "Yes, rather than taking it straight out of class." Reply brother Enji while tidying the position of the mattress in the hole of the tree. "Do you want me to go to your class? Get lost again."

Enji's offer made me want to fly to the sky. I am glad to accept it. We walk back to the path I passed, but this time I will not be afraid because there is a brother Enji who knows the way.

On the way I sang Taylor Swift - Blank Space to entertain myself.

"*Nice too meet you, where you been?

I can show you incredible things."

"Magic, Madness, Heaven, sin

Show you there and I thought*."

Not unexpectedly Enji sis back with me. His wide smile made my heart beat fast. But I tried to calm down while continuing to sing together.

"Oh My God, look at that face

You like my next mistake.

Love's a game, wanna play, hey?"

I waited until Enji replied, but the perpetrator even looked nervous while silent because he did not know the continuation of the song.

"By the way it was yesterday, please forgive me." Said Enji suddenly. About yesterday must be Fumika's question about the cursed room. And at that time, Enji even ran away from us.

I don't know the reason why he escaped, but there must have been a traumatic incident there that made Enji's sister slumped. "Yes, brother." Reply, then continue. "What's there, brother?"

The look in Enji's eyes turned to fear. His body trembled, and his mouth was puffed out from almost vomiting. My reflex was to hold his shoulder and tell him to sit while on a pine tree until his condition improved. Enji said and sat there quietly. Our trip was delayed.

"Gomae. But please, I don't want to talk about it." Said Enji while supporting his head. I sat on the left side of Enji's brother leaning in the tree with him. "Yes brother. I'm just curious."

Silence, Enji is still daydreaming while I wait for him to get better. Hah, I why the hell? A traumatized person is of course mentally unstable. I should have explained slowly.

Then, I tried to explain my point slowly. "Sister, actually me and my friends were investigating a murder case a year ago."

Even though Enji didn't see me right. I continued, "We need my brother's help in this case. But if Enji doesn't want to, that's okay."

"We even made a visit to that cursed room." I tried to smile so that the atmosphere was not too heavy. But after I finished my sentence, Enji immediately looked at me quickly with an expression I could not explain. But from the look in his eyes, it seemed like he was shocked.

"That's impossible!" Hysterical speech. "I've warned you! Why not listen?"

I was surprised by his suddenly rising tone. I took a few steps back because of reflexes. "A. I don't want you guys to be okay." A thread of tears appeared from the corner of Enji's eyes. "He wants to kill us if he gets into that room."

Brother Enji cried without a sound, but his tears came out with a rush. It was only the first time I had seen such a gentle man cry that I felt guilty and unbearable. Spontaneously I wrapped my arms around her neck and hugged Enji's sister. I let her cry in my alma mater. "Pardon me, I ask.sorry." Said Kak Enji in the middle of his sobs.

"Se.all my fault...Hix.. Brother Naoki.. Hicks.."

Whahuh? The name Naoki is called. But I paused my intention to ask further. Instead, I said, "It's okay brother. It's not all Enji's fault. Brother Naoki never blamed brother."

Feeling Enji calmed down again, I just realized my spontaneous behavior hugging Enji. "U.. The uwah!! I-it's a habit of sticking around with Alice." I tried to deny that my pride did not collapse while retreating in order.

But it looks like Enji doesn't mind. Pluk, Enji's big hand rubbed my head gently. "Thank you very much." His words are still hiccuping.

But it's nothing, brother, I didn't do anything meaningful at all. I wanted to say it but my lips were locked tight. "I need support. But no one knows." Enji wiped the rest of her tears with her alma mater arm. Then tidied back his tangled tie.

I smiled to see Enji improving. "I also have friends like my sister. So, we can connect?" Reply clumsy.

Sis Enji smiled slightly, his eyes still flushed like his cheeks. It feels like deja vu⁴ when you see it. Where ya? Maybe when I saw Alice, but then she was sad not happy.

"I really hate that son of a bitch who hurt Naoki's sister!" Again, was he talking about the same Naoki brother? For that I have to make sure. "Who's Naoki's brother?" My toot.

Brother Enji looked up his head watching me. Then he replied, "Sister Naoki is my upperclassman and cousin. From mom's side."

"What's Naoki Furugawa called?" My question was answered by a nod from Enji. I flinched so that it made him shocked. Enji asked me about my condition, but I said it's okay. Then I explained what surprised me. "Actually, I've met Naoki's brother. And my best friend met him a lot, at school."

Enji's sister who listened to my explanation didn't believe me. "No way! Brother Naoki is still in a coma in the Hospital! I visit him often so it's impossible!"

"Unless it's just the ghost." It was me who made Enji reach into the pocket of his alma mater and took out his phone. Brand old blackberry. He tapped on his phone and typed in the phone icon.

Then Enji typed the contact number he recognized and click the phone icon again.

"Tip, tut... Hello, what's up, dear Enji?" The phone from there was heard on Enji's phone. Then without further ado Enji asked, "What is the condition of Naoki's brother, Aunt Furugawa-san?"

"Ouch, Enji. As usual, he's still asleep." Enji kept asking to convince me. "Auntie's with Naoki's sister, right?"

Then replied, "Auntie is always beside Naoki every day, Enji. You just focus on school."

"B-well," After he finished calling, Enji turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket. I know what he's feeling, confusion. I'm the same, too, but once I remember Alice's powers it all makes sense.

"Who's your friend's name?" Ask Enji suddenly. I said, "Alice Yamada." Sis Enji then asked me to meet Alice, "I want to talk to her." Obviously, Enji.

But I was just looking for him. So, I'm looking for another way. "If you feel guilty, please help us complete this investigation. Brother Enji wants the culprit to be punished as bad as possible? We'll also find Alice together."

I saw doubt on Brother Enji, yet he nodded steadily the sign of agreement. "I want to help you catch that son of a bitch!" He said, then we stood back up to continue the journey.

[To Be Continue!]🦋

____________________

¹For Your Information

²Gendre comics aimed at female readers.

³Japanese term for people who are really pursuing a hobby

⁴Deja Vu is a phenomenon of feeling a strong sensation that an event or experience that is currently being experienced has been experienced in the past.