Who Is The Antagonist?
Episode 04's. Birthday Day (2)

Because of the long distance, I ignored him and was still in the car. I started the car engine, then drove back home.

My mother heard my voice from a distance. It just so happened to be in the garden. He came up to me and asked me how I was doing at school.

Actually I want to tell you about Carl and my problems. But I feel no need to do it.

”My school is ordinary.” That's what I told my mom. I couldn't guess his mind at all through the expression he made. The world of the elite is different from mine.

My mother took me inside the house and took a shower. He will prepare an afternoon meal for me.

I was happy to go back to my room and take a shower. A warm bath plus the refreshing aroma of the flowers is indeed the best. Having a lot of helpers who are alert even before being given orders makes things get done faster.

I thought of many things I could do while soaking. I closed my eyes and emptied my mind for a moment.

Remembering my notebook I forgot to take to school. I searched my notebook around my room. It was impossible for the notebook to go anywhere else.

Unfortunately, I could not find the book. Even in my hiding place. I'm pretty sure no one knows the place.

The last option I had was to ask my mother. It just so happens that it is time for lunch. I went to the dining room and found my mother. He also just finished cooking.

Basic manners at the dinner table, or commonly referred to as ’table manner’ in Alice's memory began to appear in my mind. One of them is ”Do not talk while chewing food.”

It made me unable to ask my mother when I ate. We only talk about things like my health, my circumstances and other little things.

I asked him about my notebook that I lost after I finished eating. It turned out that he saw my book open under the table while cleaning my room. He said he put the book in his desk drawer.

According to his calm reaction, it seemed like he had not read the book.

I put the cutlery that I have used on the plate with a straight 11. This attitude is considered to mean appreciating the food that has been given.

I went back to my room and opened the drawer with my notebook. There's nothing different in it. I added new information I got today about Carl, Riley, and Aretha.

[Carl, a famous artist who is still in school. Riley under the nickname Rey works as the manager of a famous artist, Carl.

’Just this soon..’ I kept my notebook back in the same secret place. I believe my mother gave me privacy by not reading my notebook.

I did not forget to tidy up my stationery again, also turned off the table lamp in front of me. The room was neat and clean, it seemed to have been similar to the real Alice.

I lay my body back on the bed staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow is my birthday. The exact same date and year of birth as Alice.

I wonder where I would be if the real Alice came back. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. The mixed feelings of nervousness and fear made me uneasy.

I constantly looked at the wall clock hanging on the wall of my room. The ever-silent atmosphere of my home allowed me to hear the moving clockwork.

[23:59:58]

[23:59:59]

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The sound of knocking on the door was accompanied by the subtle sound of my mother waking me up as usual. I gave her permission to enter my room. My mother immediately gave me a happy birthday with a smooth kiss on my forehead.

I used to be woken up by my alarm, but now my mother directly came to my room. He woke me up 45 minutes earlier than usual.

My mother clapped her hands twice. Lined some service went into my room carrying cake with candles forming number ’15’. Because my intelligence is slightly above average, I entered school faster than other students.

...----------------...

I opened my eyes slowly. ’Jeez, I'm where this is! That feeling I'm still lying in bed.’

It seems Alice's words are correct. His soul will return on October 12, his 15th birthday. My soul that is no longer needed bounces off to this place. Or maybe Alice's real soul was here before.

A shadow of a person at the end of my eyes. I put my feet up, walked closer to the place where the shadow was seen. Getting closer, I saw the reflection of light from the place.

”ASTAGA!” I was shocked not to play, to the point of unintentionally shouting. I saw Alice's body, which was my own in front of me.