Unexpected Friends
Chapters 4. Bad Memory And A Case

Do you still remember?

The air over the bridge blows slowly ushering in the salty smell of the sea below, the beginning of our meeting?

Back then, I was so naive as to accept the offer of someone as lonely as you. So excited about my agreement that I jumped into the Thames.

Well, I'm just as lonely as you. I don't know why. I used to have a lot of friends, but they have stayed away from me and thought I was crazy.

In that difficult situation, there are you who accompany me every day, I am also happy. The hole in my heart is filled with a million beautiful memories that are made back. There was nothing saturated in my mind, even suspicious in my eyes.

But now I'm pulling my words.

You know why, right?

During the day, the sky of London is cloudy as usual. I ran away from home in frustration with the sheer number of taunts, scolding, empty grunts I received from my parents. "He's your imaginary friend! Not real!" Honestly, my heart is hearing it.

As a nuisance, I went to your place to prove all my words. All the.

So I waited for you on the bridge, you came later than usual and looked like a different person. What's with that face? And your dress? You don't usually wear a black Hyundai nightgown.

Unresolved from my confusion, you suddenly asked me something very surprising.

"Alicia, are you my friend?"

I was struck by the sudden question. It's not usually my best friend to question the obvious like we've never been friends before. Today he seems to be getting weird, he doesn't usually take me to play on the London side of the bridge. He himself forbade me.

"If you're my friend,"

I don't know. I was 9 years old and didn't understand the situation. Because of that strangeness, it was the beginning of the catastrophe that ruined my life.

"DIE!!"

Words - they say like they poked my heart. Like being between delusion and reality I'm on the spot. My body stiffened for a moment and was violently pushed back into the Thames.

My surprised self cannot fight. Time was short until the wind started to feel on my back. The blond hair I had tied was untamed because the ribbon was loose. Falling down, until the violent impact of the water drowned me.

Deepening into the endless darkness. The more black I see. "Please...A.li.lice." I tried to call for help only from those short words, knowing no one would listen to my utter rant of despair.

It's cold, it's cold. The water obscured the scenery and smothered my chest. The oxygen available in my lungs was depleting as air bubbles burst out of my mouth and nose.

'I'm going to die.'

Deaths like this are horrible. The calm water is not what I usually see. The ocean, or ocean in the form of this river becomes very deep. In one go. But that's not what I'm afraid of, but what's in it. Black Creature with piercing eyes. Watching me until I fall into the darkness.

As the water was about to enter my lungs, I said to myself, "No, I CAN'T DIE!"

Those few sentences reawakened an almost faded spirit. Like a chain reaction, I tried to rise to the surface with the help of small hands and feet that always hit the water. And succeed. I survived!

I called my parents who were on the bridge. My vocal cords were ready to scream, but my legs were like they were interesting. Not willing the plan to fail. All the effort I put in to hold out on the surface until help came.

Up to the last point, my body began to weaken, my skin was cold due to the temperature of the water. I gave up on myself until I was brought deeper into the endless darkness. The more black I see. "Please...A.li.lice." I tried to call for help only from those short words, knowing no one would listen to my utter rant of despair.

It's cold, it's cold. The water obscured the scenery and smothered my chest. The oxygen available in my lungs was depleting as air bubbles burst out of my mouth and nose.

'I'm going to die.'

The thought kept passing. Before my eyes blurred, I saw a black silhouette. Daddy. In that sad moment, I inserted hope into her, "Daddy, help me. Please."

Then my eyes closed. All of my senses were gone except for my hearing, maybe. Because I heard a voice, "ALICE!!" I felt a hug, and a heartbeat. I kissed the land again with his will. But fainted again. Me, not strong.

Deg, Deg, I can't see Dad. Where is Dad?

I looked around for her figure, but my body was too weak to just look. "Daddy!" I am afraid of my inability. But, I finally saw Dad who was smiling at me. His eyes are bright, but his smile is still as warm as ever.

I tried to reply with a smile, but in my heart I was still sad. "Dad, I love you. Thank you." - Thank you." A drop of tear down made a stray on my cheek.

Dad looked at me carefully, making sure his little daughter wasn't hurt. Afterwards he kissed my forehead lovingly, then said, "I love you too, my lil' daugther. Don't be naughty as long as Daddy doesn't exist." I blinked my eyes, Dad suddenly disappeared.

"Huhuhoo..." The sound of Okaa-san's crying is suffocating my heart. I know something's wrong. So I wholeheartedly awakened myself. Although still staggering, I managed to get up from the stretcher of this assembly.

I tried to get close to Okaa-san, very close. But he doesn't care about my existence. "Okaa-san?" My voice is soft. All my body was shaking violently. My heart feels torn. Heart's broken.

The sight I saw was like a dream. A real nightmare.

"Dad, why is your face covered? You can't breathe that way." I said it like a whisper. I try hard with myself. But, this horrible fact is like slapping me. I couldn't help but cry in front of Dad's body lying stiff. Dad, he's dead.

That day I realized 3 things. That is, the first reason why your family is called a witch and why you're always alone. Second, a creature like you is just a pesky carrier. Third, I lost the most valuable person in my life.

And I never forget today.

And the same feeling I had when I hated you.

***

It's been 6 years since Dad left. Although things are a little disturbed, but Okaa-san always tries hard in her job as financial management. Everything was smooth, except for the distance that Okaa-san made between us. Not even to say hello. We were like strangers after that. However, it's okay.

I studied very hard, harder than anyone else my age to get a scholarship to the most prestigious school in Japan, Hokkaido 45 as Okaa-san requested. At least, I can do something to get Okaa-san back to open up to me.

It is very hard for me to part with Okaa-san. Until I'm willing to wait for his presence in the airport for a farewell. But let alone the hair, the nose is not there.

I began to despair, the guards at the airport also told me to enter. However, "Alice." Okaa-san's voice echoed in my ears. I turned and saw his face. It was still the same as before with a slight little smile on his lips. "Watashi wa anata o hokori ni omoimasu¹."

He still loves me because I am his son, Alice Yamada Henkis. No, Alice Yamada.

And at that moment we parted ways in the airport.

⏪▶️⏩

"Huwaaaaa~~" I overslept in class. It was worse when everyone was gone. "Hey, good sleep?"

'Almost' all gone.

"Huh?" The unexpected arrival of Eliz and Fumika made me fall apart. "Sleep on you." Comment Eliz. "Basic!" the 2nd comment from Fumika which actually continued Eliz's comments.

I was half conscious of just answering the Haters' innuendo with a deviant question. "Hey, can you see what Wakfu's mom wrote?" Then Fumika thrust her book in front of my face. I opened it and saw Fumika's note written neatly. Ok, I will say 'wow' for Fumika.

After reading the note, I wanted to write it in the room. So along with the others, I left the class.

By the way, is it just my feelings or, like someone's watching me?

\\*

[Eliz POV]

Some of you must know I'm Alice's best friend. And as a friend, I was as sensitive to the strangeness that was happening to him as I am now.  He was very moody, more moody than when he saw the school stairs. What makes you angry, my friend?

I tried to tell her, "Alice why is her face pouting? Soon old soon." He did not react until a few minutes. Then it says, "I won't get old faster than you like Auntie."

Gosh, it feels like pecking at her that tapered. "WILL BE! Who are you calling Auntie?! Before bed wear brand X mascara, Morning moisturizer O, lip gloss C, eye liner A,..." (And so until they are tired of listening)

🌺🌻🌺

[Back to Alice POV]

I've been wrong to answer Auntie's question and now I'm just fine. Can't stand the chatter, I'll take it. "Yes okay. I was wrong. Just thought of something."

Eliz stopped talking about his treatment. Then looked at me carefully while replying, "Alright, alright. What are you thinking about? The old?" His voice was lowered until he whispered. Eliz's answer was on target, I was thinking about my hatred for Dad's killer. The friend who stabbed me in the back.

Eliz approached me slowly, then embraced me gently. In her soft voice she said, "Alicia, I know how you have her. But, past is in the past. You have to forget it!"

"I made a mistake to leave you that day. So I will never leave you again, my sweet candycorn!"

The thick English logic poured out in every word. Eliz is very sincere. I replied, "Elizabeth Van Hose, your like kind of nice sweet heartwarming mother, Thanks."

Hearing my reply, Eliz's face flushed red. Between embarrassment and blushing, she pinched my cheek in anxiety. "I've forgiven you too." Even though I explained, Eliz pinched me even harder.

"Hello, you know I'm being cheated on?" Fumika felt neglected. He looked at us glumly with a slanted smile. He was obviously sad to ignore. "Pardon us Fumika-Chan. We didn't mean that." Entertain Eliz while hugging Fumika. "Yes, we still think you exist. We're friends~" Replace me who comforts by hugging and occasionally pinching her cheeks.

Fumika who gets too much attention feels uncomfortable. "Yes yes! Please let me go!" Fumika's red face was clearly visible and we released a hug from Fumika.

"Huh, my mood got ugly because of Wakfu's mom earlier." Fumika opened the conversation. I was the one from the class asleep, confused by what happened. So I asked, "What's the matter?"

Then he answered, "Because my book was confiscated and then shown to the whole class! Does he not know how dangerous it is?!" Fumika looks up the pitan when telling stories, it seems to contain important graffiti.

"What the fuck? Just a stick Man scribble, obscure boxes, and sentences I don't understand in question." Eliz who felt he knew everything underestimated what Fumika was saying.

Fumika was provoked by emotion and then bluntly explained what she meant until it was that important, "What is 'just a Stick Man scribble, obscure boxes, and sentences I don't understand' doang? Hey, that's a murder scene!" We who do not know anything are immediately shocked by what Fumika said. I can hardly believe it. How could there be murder?

"So this is." Continue Fumika slowly. "You know if this school is an elite school in the country, but as perfect as it is there must be a gap."

"Wait, what do you mean?" I was confused to cut the conversation. Fumika who was upset with the taste massaged her forehead while trying to be patient. "Eat him listen!" Fumika started to rise in blood. "So, look, my Otau-san said there's been a terrible incident here. People often relate it to a wayward boy who often insults everyone in his school first. But a few days later, his mischievous act turned into murder. He's called..."

"celebrity/Pureya'. (player)"

My heart was pounding and cold sweat was pouring out of my skin. What is this figure called Pureya? To find out, I looked more clearly at Fumika's explanation, but...

"That's how it used to be. Later in the room." Explanation Fumika actually hangs. "Nyebelin up! Not clear! Fumika no Baka!!" And I hate stories that are told.

"Baka, baka... Awh!". My cheeks are pinched until they are flushed. I was so upset that I snapped at Fumika without knowing her reason for doing that.

"Shut up, Alice! We shouldn't even be talking here!" Fumika's voice was lowered like a whisper. "Soally, Pureya' is still a student at this school"

Deg. My heart beats when I hear his last word. That means, Pureya' is still around us. Waiting for the victim to step aside. It could have been people around this being targeted, it could have been Fumika or Eliz. Or the.. I'm next.

"That's why I'm talking in the room." Fumika's voice broke my dark fantasy. I just agreed and went to the room with my heart still trembling. Is everything gonna be okay?

[To Be Continue!]