[Claire]
THE party was a great success, with everyone enjoying both the food and the company. I also had a great time, mingling and getting to know everyone. I was able to see how each person compares to the image I’ve formed in my head of them based on my in-game knowledge. There’s so much you can only learn through conversation. Most of them were exactly the same as I expected, except for one guy. I haven’t had a chance to talk with Ektor yet. There’s a lot I dislike about him, but I won’t get anywhere without having a heart-to-heart with him. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, as they say.
It’s almost obvious how much I dislike him. And the way he hugged Miku without thinking about it earlier, his emotions as clear as day, really pissed me off. But I know how important it is to Miku that we all get along, and we won’t be able to work together if I constantly distrust him. I don’t think Ektor is trying to hurt Miku. I can tell he’s honestly trying to protect her. None of his actions make any sense, though, and I know they won’t until we have a chance to sit down and talk.
I’m done dancing around the subject! Let’s lay it all out on the table!
By the time we’d finished cleaning everything up, Rinny and Wells, who’d both drunk way too much, were splayed out on the couch, snoring loudly. The only two left sitting at the table were Marino and Angela, who hadn’t yet had their fill of ale. Ektor and Miku had both helped clear off the table, and Candice was nodding off. Macro and Kiefer had immediately retired to their rooms after stuffing their faces.
“I’ll take care of the rest, Miku, so could you get Candice up to her room?” I tell Miku. “You should get to bed as well.”
“But what about you, Claire?”
“I’ll be up after I have a cup of tea. I need some time to myself.”
I feel bad for making Miku take care of Candice, but I need to clear the room somehow. Oblivious to my intentions, Miku cheerfully says goodnight before going over to Candice’s side. She’s so sweet and adorable.
Thanks, Miku! I love you!
After watching the two head upstairs, I start boiling some water while getting myself mentally ready.
“Ektor… There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
I set two cups down and silently brew tea for both of us. Ektor shrugs his shoulders with a wry smile, as if knowing what I’m about to say.
“Sure. We haven’t had a chance to talk like this, just the two of us. Why don’t we take this outside? The night air’s refreshing,” he says while placing our cups on a tray. He’s a gentleman at the oddest of times. I grumble, annoyed, but follow him out into the backyard.
I immediately spot a small table with two rattan chairs on either side. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of tea or read a book. With no one around, the quiet atmosphere makes it the perfect place for a private chat. After settling down, I take a sip of tea. The hot tea pouring down my throat contrasts sharply with the cool night air, causing me to shiver. Or am I merely trembling with excitement?
“Allow me to cut straight to the point,” I say curtly. “You’re a Reborn…and you know all about the game, don’t you?”
He sets his teacup down with a loud clack. He doesn’t seem rattled by my question. Maybe he knew what was coming.
“…I am. I’m assuming you are as well?”
“You’d be correct.”
That went easier than expected. I guess we’d both assumed the same about the other for a while now. We’d have known this long ago if we hadn’t been so busy trying to feel out each other’s motives instead of talking about it, point blank.
“What do you want?” I ask through narrowed eyes.
“Most likely the same thing you do.”
Once I know what motivates him, I won’t have to tiptoe around him anymore, which is why I decided to ask him directly. I wasn’t expecting him to answer like that, though. There’s no way I can be on board with anything after hearing such a wishy-washy answer.
“What I want is for Miku to be happy,” I say firmly. “There’s no way I’ll ever let her succumb to such a tragic ending, like in the game. I’ll protect her with my life!”
“Which is all I want as well. I would also protect Miku with my life.”
“Liar! If you really meant it, you would keep your distance from her! You know that once she falls in love, her life is over!”
I know I promised I would support Miku wholeheartedly if and when she ever fell in love, but it would be even better if that never happened. Her very life being in danger is something that haunts every waking moment of my day.
“She will eventually fall in love with someone, someday,” he says coolly. “This world may resemble the game we know, but it’s also very different. Everyone has the freedom to live their own life the way they see fit. They’re real people, not characters, Claire.”
I don’t need him to tell me that.
“If she’s going to fall for someone, it’s better off being me,” he continues. “As someone who knows everything, I can swear I’ll never look at another and break her heart.”
Knowing what he does? It sounds as if he feels he can protect her by being her partner, instead of letting her go and watching passively as someone else potentially breaks her heart and leaves her to die. He would know himself better than anyone. He says he would never do anything to hurt her. But it’s still hard for me to swallow.
“How can I trust you when you could be saying anything simply to throw me off my game?” I ask. “The story’s different now, which means you have no idea what’s in store for us, or how you’ll react. Besides, there’s nothing more unbelievable than a man promising he’ll never fall for anyone else!”
“It sounds like you have some serious baggage from your past life. And whatever it was, it must’ve been pretty bad,” he mutters under his breath as he looks at me, a mess of emotions caught in my throat.
Don’t bother sympathizing! You don’t know me! And I’m not who matters right now, anyway!
“I understand where you’re coming from, Claire, but you know I can’t promise something like that. And it’s clear this conversation is going nowhere.”
With my cheeks blazing with fiery warmth, Ektor simply apologizes, saying he’s done discussing this with me. He’s pretty good at keeping others at arm’s length, which only succeeds in pissing me off more. I begin stroking my light pink tail in an attempt to calm myself down, my fur sticking straight up in obvious anger. I’ve become more accustomed to this body than I realized…
“I meant it when I said I want to save Miku, no matter what,” he says. “Which is why I think it’s in our best interests to cooperate.”
“I’ve got nothing to share with the likes of you…” I hiss back at him.
He’s serious. He might sound flippant, but I can tell he’s deadly serious. Thinking back, I realize he didn’t put down or make light of the situation this whole time. I can see that now that my mind is clear. Still, it’s not enough. Emotions are fickle. Those seemingly genuine feelings you have today might be gone tomorrow. That’s why you can never trust them.
“I’m assuming you’re only familiar with the version aimed at girls, right? Well, there was actually a bishōjo game spin-off released after.”
“What are you talking about?!”
Just as I feel myself sinking into despair, I’m snapped back to reality by this surprising information. You can’t just drop something like that so casually! The color drains from my face as he explains about that game.
I had no idea anything like that existed! So, in this other version of the game, the male protagonist saves our village? The original story hadn’t changed… We were playing through different versions of the same game…
“So, that’s why Candice has such a huge crush on you?” I ask.
“Yeah. Since I’m the male protagonist in the bishōjo dating sim version, it makes sense that might happen.”
Ugh! So, we weren’t able to divert the story after all!
“Hang on a second, I don’t feel anything for you, Ektor. In fact, I don’t feel anything toward anyone. And neither does Miku.”
Ektor only nods in response. “There’s a high chance the world we’re in is made up of the two different game scenarios. Then there’s the two of us to consider, the wild cards of the bunch. All of these factors mean, we have absolutely no idea which direction the story will go from here on out.”
“You’re right. We can’t let our guard down for even a second. Especially since the main heroine hasn’t shown up yet.”
The look Ektor throws me is almost piercingly powerful.
That’s right. Whether this is a game for girls or the racier male version, the heroine is still a constant variable.
“That naively devilish girl, Laura!!” we say in unison, our words exactly the same.
She has to show up, sooner or later, and there’s no doubt all of our fates rest on her shoulders. I glance over at Ektor and notice he’s still staring at me. Maybe this will work out after all. Although the forces that drive us may differ, our end goal, that of protecting Miku, is the same. Besides, it’s better to have as many allies as possible that you can call on whenever you need them.
“While I’ll never agree with what you hope to do, I still think we should work together,” I say.
“I agree. I’ll never give up on her, but I’m happy to help in whatever way I can.”
Rivals, working together toward similar goals. The dry clap of our hands slapping together echoes loudly in the quiet night air.
I’ll make sure you live happily ever after, Miku, and to hell with the story!