Unexpected Friends
Chapters 6. The Bridge

What happened to Alice? Why did you come - and leave? How could the first person to accept my opinion run away from us.

I, who was checking the wardrobe and saw some shirts, was surprised by Alice's door slamming out of the room. Leave me and Eliz in the damned room. "I told you this was a bad idea!" Eliz grumbled, I knew it might be dangerous but this was just the beginning and nothing happened.

I was confused, wanted to ask Eliz because he was his 'England Friend', definitely better know Alice's condition. "Why did he leave?"

Instead of answering, Eliz, panicked in the eye, pulled my hand out the door, closed it tightly, then continued to pull my hand somewhere. Who must have stayed away from the dorm.

The uncomfortable me immediately brushed off his grip while we were in the wide corridor. "What is this?! Answer my question Elizabeth!" He choked with my babble, immediately turning his body to face me. "I'm sorry. But we need to hurry up and go find Alice."

From the answer, I can only think of 1 possibility. "Because his room was proven cursed?" Eliz insisted, he shook slowly. Then continued, "No idea, all I thought Alice might see was 'something', her wild imagination. Did he bring the cure?"

Wait, I just heard something sensitive. "This is all because Alice used to have childhood friends. But he's mean and a little weird. I don't know if I don't believe my memories either." Eliz said hesitantly. Highlight his eyes, index finger touching his chin, while Eliz avoids eye contact with me.

My curiosity is growing. I want to know more about this secret. "Eliz, please tell me."

I looked doubtfully from Eliz's eyes. Of course, as a friend, he does not want his best friend's secret exposed. But I dismissed his doubts by saying, "Elizabeth, as the leader of this unofficial investigation I must know the circumstances of my friend, otherwise I will be the worst chairman."

"Keep why?" Eliz crossed his arms. His eyebrows interlocked the sign he remained firm on his stance. But I kept trying to pull over, "Eliz! I feel guilty for being too pushy. Please, tell me what happened."

At last Eliz looked me in the eye, his body's proposition being held up making him appear taller when facing me who was clearly short. Eliz luluh, "Huh, all right. But promise me not to tell me who. Because Alice's problem was unnatural, it was arguably abnormal to the standard of a friend's imagination."

What's the matter? From Eliz's explanation, it looks like this is worse than my shadow.

"This story starts from the 3rd grade Elementary School, when we were on a Field Trip to London Bridge,... ".

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"At that time, it was a normal day for schoolchildren. Playing, joking, and walking with friends is a habit. Alice wasn't my only friend, there were 3 more. His names are Alex, Abigel, and Maria. We're best friends from day one in SD."

"One day we were playing 'London Bridge', suddenly our upperclassman stopped his playing. He said that what we do is taboo. Not the 'game', but the 'song' of the game. But we don't mind it."

As the story unfolds, Eliz and I walk in search of Alice. We suspect he's in the room. After Eliz set his voice, he continued to tell stories,

"A few days later, we were Field Trip to Big Ben. Before going there, we have to pass 'The London Bridge'. I still vividly remembered my upperclassman's warning yesterday. I got scared. Open your mouth too tight."

"But from the front I heard a song. Of the many songs, this person chose the forbidden one. 'London Bridge Is Falling Down' on London Bridge. You've definitely guessed the man who sang this Alice, and it's true. Alice sang that song."

"After he sang it, a lot of strange things sprung up. As Alice often disappears - appearing suddenly, the appearance of white light is in her window, Alice becomes somewhat paranoid. And worst of all, he often speaks for himself. Because of his changing attitude, over time we were fed up and left him one by one. But I'm the longest to last.

"Said Okaa-san Alice, she has a skiing illness.. What a scheme is that."

'Skis'? What might it mean, "Sybernia?"

"Yes it!" Eliz snapped his finger at the sign that my guess was correct. Holy hooch! I can't believe Alice has such a sad past.

"I believe that theory, although much Alice explains to me that her imaginary friend is real. But I finally believed in Alice, even though it was too late.

"How can I believe it? At that time, the mother got a call from Okaa-san Alice. He asked if Alice was in our house. At once, my mother replied Alice was not there."

"Okaa-san and Alice's Father's panicked voice sounded even from the phone.

'How's this?'

'Why don't you trust him?'

'You said Alicia was crazy! Now look!'

'WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE CAUTION?'

'I don't know!'

"That conversation is all I remember. Then mother like a panic attack. He asked what they meant. Okaa-san Alice replied in a soft tone. Said:

"Say Goodbye To Your Daughter.

We Will Be A Good Friend Forever."

"With the color red as blood, the writing appeared. I was 9 years old and was surprised not to play. I remember how Alice told me her experience while crying. And I, I couldn't believe it and turned around to leave him. Alone."

"I was hysterically screaming on the phone of the mother who was still talking. 'Alicia on the Bridge!'. Of course the mother was angry, but was evaded by Alice's Okaa-san's phone. He asked 'Where is the place?'. I took the mother's phone and told them Alice was on London Bridge, because she used to be there."

"Matsu(wait), who's Alicia?" I asked when Eliz saw the view of Balcon 2nd floor, still in the male dormitory building. Eliz, conscious of her daydreams, replied, "That's Alice's name in England. Alice is short for Alicia not to be stiff." All right, my simple question has been answered.

"Wakarimasu(i understand), please continue." I let Eliz continue.

But because of the tired effect, Eliz asked me to rest a while at the balcon while looking at the 12-planted clouds right here. Yeah, 12 o'clock based on the park's clockwork.

"Short story, we hunted to the London Bridge that I called and found Alice who was on the edge of the bridge barrier. Alice looked at us, but I saw her. The black silhouette of a long haired girl. I'm thinking this is 'Imagination Friend'."

"Alice then walked towards us, but one.. Ughhhh!" Eliz was hesitant about what he said. His face was so hot that his eyes were closed. I tried to convince Eliz by all means. It took some time until he finally spoke.

"There are many hands, which attract Alice's body. Then he pushed it away before he could turn and in a second Alice fell into the Thames."

"I blame myself for not trusting Alice. I thought he'd die that day, but Mr. Henkis-Alice's father-rushed the plunge to save him. Alice survived but, her life was exchanged for her father. He was out of breath because he was drowning too deep."

I saw Eliz's tears fall. "I, hik. can't forgive myself, hik.. I failed to be his best friend." She kept crying while looking at the clouds. I know how Eliz felt. Guilt.

Then I tried to cheer her up, "Even if you don't tell her where Alicia is, she might not be with us. You'll be even more guilty because your best friend left first." Eliz. He blocked his tears and replied, "Thanks Fumika." It's not a big deal, but I reply, "Onaji (sama-sama)."

"But still! Shouting on the phone while the old man was still talking was disrespectful!" I feel Eliz's heroic actions are not appropriate. I became angry because of the way I acted. "Hehe," The person I call just a bitter laugh.

Hah, I asked them to help me, but did not know of their problem. I'm too selfish, right? Once we find Alice, I'll apologize to her.

I pondered and digested all of Eliz's stories while looking at the scene below. It turns out that in the dormitory building there is a beautiful small garden for sightseeing. As far as the eye could see, I saw brightly colored trees and flower plants adorning the neat, rocky streets. I also saw some benches or long garden chairs under the shady trees.

But I was surprised to see one of the benches that someone was riding, Alice. He seemed to be talking to someone. But, who? There's no one there.

I called Eliz who was daydreaming next to me. Then he said, "Elizabeth, it's Alice! He showed me talking, didn't he?" Eliz saw me slanting. "Alice? Whatchu mean? I don't see the interlocutor."

I don't know why I doubted Eliz's statement even though he was Alice's childhood friend. He seemed to be lacking in knowledge of Alice's true problems.

If I focus my eyes on Alice and the 'something' she is speaking to, I see a shadow beside Alice. It looks almost like a human. No, it really is human!

Instantly I realized something from Eliz's story.

"the appearance of white light in his window... And worst of all, he often speaks for himself..."

This clearly proves Alice can see 'something'! It is even reinforced by the section 'What Is Written Dikaca?'.

No human can do this strange thing except a creature. Ghosts. Why don't they realize it?

That's why I tried to prove my speculation by asking something, "Eliz, do people in your place believe in ghosts?" Of course he looked at me confused because of that sudden question. But he still replied in a confident tone, "The ghost is not real."

And my speculations are right, the person Alice lives in doesn't believe in ghosts! That's why Alice was exiled.

"Eliz, let's go! I saw Alice on the garden bench." I can't wait to face Alice. Many theories have sprung up in my mind as well as the guilt I wanted to solve.

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I, want Naoki to really believe me.

My words keep repeating in my mind. Making dilemma in the inner ocean. Solved in daydreams, I was made aware of the high-frequency soprano voice of someone calling my name, Eliz. And it looks like there's a Fumika next to it.

God, I just realized I ran away without worrying about their feelings. I got up from the bench and ran after them. I tried to apologize to them but Fumika interrupted, "Alice, I'm sorry! I didn't know you had problems of your own. I'm very selfish. I'm sorry" Fumika repeatedly apologized to me, but I was wrong.

Wait, did he say 'his own problem'?

What possible... Elizabeth Van Hose! How can you tell my tragic story!

I saw Eliz's face turned away, it was true! "Damn it, damn it" the word kept repeating in my mind. Now Fumika will think I'm crazy too.

"Em, Fumika.", I tried to explain 'my problem' which Eliz might have made him misunderstand. But, Fumika interrupted again. "I'm sorry for hearing your story without your permission. I'm just.curious,"

I gave up on a lot of apologies today. So I said, "It's Fumika, you don't have to apologize. After hearing the story of my best friend 'honey' you will definitely consider me a gi.."

"No Alice! You're right, I trust you, because a creature like that is real!"

Beyond a doubt, Fumika trusts me. We've only known her for a day but she believes me and even invites me to uncover a case together. Me, happy. But what does it mean 'such a creature' is real? Isn't that just wild imagination? Delusions? A tulpa?

"Thank you." That word can come out of my mouth. "Alice I'm sorry I told you about the past.." It was Eliz's turn to apologize, but I was still upset with him. "Spoiler People don't need to be forgiven!"

"ALICE!!! I'M SORRY!" Oh, my God, this kid is whining. I had to forgive him. "Yes, please stop Eliz. You emberess me."

"Well, since we've forgiven each other, let's go to the room. I'm tired."  Fumika said separating our hugs. We agreed with her opinion and walked into the female dormitory. But then I stopped because I remembered something, Naoki!

Since they have gathered, surely Naiko will be easily seen. I stopped their steps and said, "Hey, I met again with the same person as the toilet. Let's say hello to Nao... ki?"

My words were interrupted when I saw the bench I was sitting with Naoki was empty. Naoki's disappeared! He didn't even say goodbye. It went straight away as if, he had not existed before. Bizarrely.

"Naoki again? She doesn't have Alice." Fumika Syndir. Really Naoki, you embarrassed me in front of my friends for the second time. Next time I'll drag them to believe.

"That's Alice. Let's go to the room." Ask Eliz to shut me up and I follow him.

Huh, Naoki. Why did you leave so soon.

[To Be Continue]️