Unexpected Friends
Chaptre 39. Recalls

"Gomae Brother Naoki!!"

I don't know how many times I've mentioned that phrase over and over again. I bowed in shame and could not return Naoki's sharp eyes. "I'm..." Even until my words were cut off from the fatigue of saying it. But it could not assuage Naoki's anger that spread throughout the room. Even the uninvolved Enji came down with me.

Buahgh!

Suddenly Naoki throws a pillow right into Akbar's face. Akbar accepted the throw in surprise so he took a few steps back.

The incident made me shocked so unable to move and sculpt. "If you're really sorry," Naoki's face, which had been focused on the front while throwing pillows, slowly looked at me. The look in his eyes was intimidating and his facial expression frightened me. The atmosphere continues to gain weight as the seconds go by. I can't do anything but be silent like a criminal being judged.

"Forget that name, and never call it." I know Naoki doesn't like that nickname, but I don't know the truth until it's this sensitive. He had never yelled at me before for calling out his nickname. And again, I accidentally called it while thinking maybe this was just a little joke to cheer up. But the Naoki I'm currently dealing with is a different person. He's more serious.

"Yes-Yes."

***

Confusion, distress, and sadness must be the feelings he is now feeling. But why am I being claustrophobic?

For years I have been used to this even though I feel guilty. All so that they obey me, no less and no more. But now it feels so strange.

... "But I think your nickname is unique. Describe your kind and gentle self. I like."...

Where did that memory come from? I never remember anyone praising that damned nickname. Hmh!

Even though he lowered his face, I could still see the look in his eyes. His gaze looked sebam and very depressed. I hated that gaze even though I had seen it so often and left so easily while ignoring the thing behind me. Cruel indeed, but better than having to empathize and let my heart break with my image.

"Sir Naoki, I'm sorry." It's the 17th time you've said that. Every time I hear it, I feel guilty. "Here you go!" I had to drive him away because I couldn't stand it.

Then slowly he stepped back. After bowing respectfully, he bade away. An alarmed Enji followed him out of the room. I could hear the door screeching.

Should I be happy about this departure?

Buagha.

The pillow that was supposed to be soft suddenly felt hard when it hit my face. "Hey!" Of course it was the Black Gorilla Akbar who threw it. I wanted to continue my words, but I haven't had a chance to catch my breath, with Akbar violently jerking in front of my face. "Oath. Lo. SO-SOH!!"

I was quite surprised, but also very angry. How dare he blame me for driving him away. In fact, "Kisane started it first!" My words defend. Finally my precious minutes ran out for nothing due to a fight over this trivial matter. It should be done quickly because Akbar knows my nature on this one.

But he keeps defending the girl we just met. "What is this girl special about? I mean, you know me. Why would you prefer it?" I tried to calm myself down and lower my voice so that the sisters would not come to nag us for making a fuss.

Akbar let out a rough sigh, then rubbed his two eyes slowly. "This girl, that girl, you think she doesn't have a name? Alice just told me her name! Inget, A-L-I-C-E." Akbar crossed his hands while spelling out that name.

I don't care who he is or what his name is. Just answer my question! I want to state it but it will definitely make the atmosphere worse. Moreover, the current Akbar suddenly became stubborn. I had to say his words. "Yes, yeah. Her name is Alice, satisfied?" Akbar shook his head violently while closing his eyes dissatisfied. Cih, so what do you really want?

"You've really forgotten?"

"Huh? Just to the point!"

I'm getting sick of this conversation. 'Forgotten'? Have I ever forgotten what?

"Well... It's pretty complicated, you won't believe it either." Tired of standing, Akbar approached me to sit on a round bench next to my bed. Then intensely looked at me from top to bottom so I felt uncomfortable. "Tell me." My words are impatient.

After taking a deep breath, then slowly exhaling it, Akbar began to say, "So this is Naoki, during..." Suddenly Akbar's voice was cut off. Then with round eyes he looked straight at the window. Curious, I followed him.

"YAHOO!!!" Surprised, I fell from my bed and hit the floor. The pain in my back and tailbone was not worth the horror I was experiencing. A terrible Youkai¹ figure stuck to the window glass while staring at us with a look in the eye that I could not explain. His eyes were over 2 and all of them focused on me like I was staring at my soul fixedly. It was pitch black and its large body with slender arms covered almost all parts of the window.

It seems like a nightmare, but it feels very real. "A-Akbar, I-you saw it, didn't you?" To ensure my sanity, I asked Akbar who was now up from his stool to help me stand up. He held me in his arms, then put me back on the bed without saying a word.

Then walk up to the window and cover it with curtains. Now I can no longer see the Youkai, but this shudder still lingers.

"just ignore. So many prayers when you're alone." Without the slightest fear, Akbar casually said so. Of course, he could also see the 'it' thing'. But I didn't think I could see it with my own eyes.

"YYAAAAA! K-Sister i-it... The nurse!!!"

"YYYYYYY!! Head missing!"

I recognize this ringing and screaming. And not long after, there was the sound of footsteps and slammed doors. Then suddenly there was a falling sound that was loud enough for me to flinch. "Hey! What's up?" Akbar said worriedly as he turned his body to see what was going on. Out of curiosity, I approached the source of the sound and found Enji and, ... Alice fell on the floor.

Then they got up and worked on their dusty clothes. I saw terrified expressions on their faces that looked pale.

No, no, no. Strange sounds came from behind them. Simultaneously, someone opened the door loud enough for the sound of his impact to be heard. My reflexes closed my ears in surprise.

I could see the figure slamming the door limping away walking over. Her appearance may be that of a nurse, but she is not human. His head was missing with all four members of his movement already broken. Blood splattered on the clothes and floor as he walked. His legs are getting worse at moving because of wearing high heels while maintaining his balance.

"Go!" Staring at the ghost sister, Alice said a useless word. You idiot! Youkai cannot be expelled that easily. "Don't come any closer!" The continued shout from Enji. Oh, my God, he's being stupid like this.

Although they told the ghost to leave, he ignored the remark and kept walking closer. "Go away. Please." It's just free for you to say that Alice. You're the one who should be leaving!

The distance between the three is getting closer. I wonder why Akbar did not block the Youkai and drove him away. He just stayed in place and looked at them like, a spectator. Enji and Alice are the same. Stay put while begging to chase away ghosts who can't negotiate.

I watched behind the curtains of my place and wished they could turn the atmosphere around. But until the distance between them remained a short while there was no meaningful change. "Akh!" Alice held her neck while trembling. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open. He grimaced while whispering, "It hurts." Repeatedly until his body seemed to weaken and finally fell in a fainting like Enji.

Just be right! Can there be someone who acts just this once than me. Akbar was useless, he was still pecking on the spot while holding his neck trembling. I can't help because I'm stymied by a big ego. And if you can, what should sick people do?

"Ki... Naoki's..." His voice suddenly sounded calling my name. I opened my ears again and looked at Akbar who was looking at me. "You can, please."

He asked me to do what I had been avoiding all along. Showing empathy, helping someone. It was even aggravated after I scolded them earlier. Where do you want to put my face?

Huh.., stupid.

"Go fuckin!" With quick steps I ran towards the sister who was bending over to pull Alice's hair. My sudden arrival took him by surprise plus my reflex kicked his fragile body until it bounced out of the room and disappeared like smoke.

"Amazing out! I think your ego is bigger than your conscience. I'm proud of you Naoki." The annoying tone Akbar made in his speech made me turn the eyeball lazily. "As far as you go." I'm irritated. Although I wanted to create an image like a dictator, there was no way I could be that cruel to let my sisters be miserable.

"Hey, are you all right?" I knelt in front of Alice and Enji's fainted head. I forgot my right hand in the cast so I replaced it with my left free hand. I slowly turned Enji's head down on the floor until I could see her face covered in hair. Looks like he's got a haircut, I thought that ironically my hair is longer than Enji's. Maybe I should also ask Okaa-san for a haircut.

"Enji!" I called his name. But there's no response. My worry is growing. Akbar who can see her walking over to me to just accompany her. He didn't try to wake Enji or Alice, probably because he was confused as to what to do.

Leaving me still trying to wake these two. "Alice? A runny? Awake up!" The ghost sister wasn't a grim reaper, but I was still thinking about the worst possibility. Deaths.

"alice, Alice! Please wake. I'm sorry for scolding you." I don't want this to happen again. Like death separated me from Nero. Even I don't know if I'm a good owner, it seems like I'm the worst for not knowing the illness he's going through.

"I won't do it again. Promise!" That's why you need to be conscious again.

"Do you mean it?" I heard a British accent. When I looked at him to confirm my guess, it was true that he said it. I mean, Alice said it.

He looked at me with a smile behind his blond hair that had broken down covering part of his face. "You promised me I'd call you MP, you won't mad again. Okay?" To be honest I wanted to get angry again because the fact he - or they - was playing me. Plus Akbar and Enji were laughing behind me. But it was pushed aside by my promise and happiness because everything was fine.

"Promise or not to?" Alice got up and sat in front of me, still taking her promise. I tried to take a breath while holding back my annoyance. But finally with a wry smile I said, "To promise." Now I won't care anymore about the imaging bullshit. I'm retired to OSIS anyway. So there's no meaning anymore.

"Thank you, my Mellow Prince."

Suddenly Alice hugged me tightly so that I could not dodge. Moreover, I was still in shock because his last sentence made me blush red. "Y-Your welcome?" I stammered and just mentioned the words that came to mind. My brain path became chaotic because of this moment and there was nothing I could do about it. Does time slow down or does Alice not want to let go of me?

But on the other hand I feel like there's something weird, like, De javu?

***

"What the hell?!"

I saw that sweet girl blushing red. She's getting cute. If only I could recall her blurry face in my memory. Without me noticing, I let the emotions overflow and hugged her warm from my affection.

I heard the commotion around me but I ignored it. I've had less time, I have to go back but I want him to know where I am. "Please look at me at the hospital..." My words are cut off.

My surroundings turned dazzling white. I don't know where I am now, but I feel like I'm falling and everything goes black instantly. Slowly I felt life and took a breath. When I opened my eyes, the first face I saw was Okaa-san. "Naoki! Thank goodness." Okaa-san cried on my hand and held it tightly like she didn't want me to leave again.

So, I'm waking up? I wonder what my dream was before.

***

"W-You're the girl in my dream?" I don't know why that word came out of my mouth. Alice who heard my words loosened her embrace and looked at me confused.

"Sore ha hontou desu ka(Is that true)?" The first sentence Enji said when he woke up from his stupor. His little smile even more confused and frowned because of his words.

"We went back to where Naoki used to be."

"Alice, you don't have to call me 'Sister'."

For some reason now when Alice called me with the addition of 'Sister' it felt very strange. So I let him take off the formalities.

"Then I don't need to call brother Akbar and brother Enji with additional kak dong. Technically, you are older then Enji." I saw Alice getting nervous at once because of my request. When I saw her I tried to hold back a smile because she looked funny.

"Yes, let's just say we're careless. We're only a few years different anyway."

"Again, I'm also 15."

Akbar and Enji successively agreed to my statement. Alice gave a small nod and then we all stood back up and went to my bed.

After that Alice started telling me something that made me choke while drinking mineral water from thirst. "Ohuk.., uhuk. Y-You're not kidding, are you, Alice?" I don't believe what I hear.

'Before we met when you were a ghost and we worked together to catch your killer and it worked.' From the point alone it is frontal once, how can I believe a story that almost resembles this fantasy. Apart Alice who looks like the girl in my dreams.

Alice pouted and looked at me fixedly. It's a little creepy because it reminds me of Youkai in the window. Then turned towards Akbar and Enji. "Akbar, Enji, he doesn't believe." After Alice said it, I heard them say, 'ck ck ck' in a condescending tone.

I who was offended replied, "There's no way I can digest this well!" I personally am a rational-minded person, so in short, I don't believe in fantasy things like those in movies and comics. While watching anime I was still aware of the world of reality. Soshite afternoon wa kanashidesu(And that's sad)

The faces of those around me were disappointed. They know I won't easily accept the 'reality. So Akbar as a representative said, "Alice, show me the bracelet." A bracelet? The timing...

"Remember didn't you give me this bracelet? To my friend." Alice showed me a bracelet she was wearing on her right wrist. My eyes were not being deceived, the bracelet Alice was wearing was the real one because I was the maker.

Just a minute of looking at the bracelet in Alice's hand carefully made me speechless. The people around me got a little overwhelmed by this and probably guessed what was on my mind. Finally after a long silence I said, "So all those dreams are..."

"Remember."

And if true is memory, then I'm so happy to have the most beautiful memory of my life and so grateful I still have the opportunity to make happy memories again. And all that was seen today when my friends came to visit by giving me the most terrible surprise I've ever met. But on the other hand they helped me break down my biggest ego.

I held my breath. But still trying to say a word. "Thank you, guys." Everything looks so relieved. They smiled and occasionally Akbar's laughter sounded. "And Alice." It was me who made the person I called chuckle. "Never call a ghost again." Though faint, I remember Alice could summon a ghost if she, read? I don't know, maybe I'll remember something again.

"Haha, do you remember?" Alice giggled and looked awkward. She briefly played with her hair child and avoided eye contact from me.

"Promise or not to?"

"Huh, you turned it around. Maybe later."

[The End!] 🎉

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¹Ghosts