Miles... we're here."
"Where? There's no other place to eat except this fancy-looking, pocket-emptying restaurant."
"Miles, we're here!"
Eh?! We're eating here?! No way! She must've gotten the wrong place! That place looks like the type of cafe only available for high-ranking government officials or filthy-rich old men.
If she, out of all people, can eat there, then there's something wrong with this world!
"Are you sure that's the right place?"
"I told you to tru-"
"Fine! Okay! Let's eat."
That's if we can eat! The way she's gripping my hands is like she's dying to pull me. And that eager face... I can't say no to that! I'll just go with the flow.
It'd be best to switch personalities, so I can handle any more predicaments. I know I said I can't switch to it anymore because my self-confidence is drained, but my time with Ria brought it all back.
It's been nothing but tragedy since they died, and meeting her is the
I'm... losing consciousness... and what's... that voice? ... melancholy.. tomorrow?It's dark... I can't move... What happened? ...Did I die? No! Please... I haven't... granted their wishes yet! And Ria... I have to... go back. Don't die, Miles! You bastard! You're the scum of... society! Don't die... asshole! I don't want to... die... I don't... want to die. I don't want to die!"It's okay... I'll let you see."It's the voice... before I... passed out... and... the door... she's the... voice."I'll let you see... I'll let you see... I'll let you see."Shut up! I don't want to die!"I'll let you see... I'll let you see... because... it's my fault."Her... fault? I'm losing... consciou-..."It's okay... this is... you'll see... because... it's my fault..."I'm... back..."Miles... you'll help me, right?! You're alive, right?! Liar!"I'm standing next to Ria... and she's crying... over a dead body?! We'
A gunshot! The gunman is here! But I'm prepared! The location of my death is outside the restaurant. I'll take not a single step beyond that door!"Miles..."Her fingers are trembling as if they were freezing. I see a chilling cloak of fear blanketing her body. I'm usually too embarrassed to ask, but..."Ria, give me your hand."Even if my hand feels like a swamp, it should be enough to warm her."W-What do we do?"We could just relax here, savor our food, and relish your attractive stupidity, but-"Somebody call the police!"The random man said it... We could take the back exit behind the toilet and enter a dark alley, but that could be the gunman's escape route. Remaining as an inanimate object in this palace should be anything but the worst possible outcome, so that should be our cho-"Somebody call an ambulance for the old man!"Old man?! Surely he's jesting, right?! The old geezer is a... neat human being, I'
If the word "fucked up" was a place, it'd be what I'm currently witnessing. I may have just found my answer to a preceding question. Is this world nothing different from the previous one? It's like comparing ice to a block of frozen water. I'd say this place is a cheap knock-off of my former world."*15 minutes earlier."|...|"Judging from what happened earlier, you lot are no ordinary customers."A compliment? Trying to sweeten the pot, aren't you? Unfortunately for you, I don't bite those words, unlike this adorable idiot I'm with."I'm humbled by your compliment, but back to the offer... so what do you want?"Pretty sharp, aren't we? You suddenly switch to a cocky tone... I was right about you.""Please cut the crap, milady... you're offering us a mountain that we may not be able to climb. Surely, you have a tall order!"The next card she'll probably play is something like, "seems like you don't want to, then I'll look for
What the... we're suddenly in a carousel on a bridge! We were elevated earlier... about second-floor level, and now we're on ground elevation. The slums in front of us and a gigantic wall behind us?!What the hell is wrong with this city?! So they're separating the pitiful and the blessed, I assume?! That's next-level human atrociousness! The level of bullshit with what I'm currently witnessing is equal to that of the Atlantic slave trade... I may have transmigrated to an extreme version of my previous world."Sir, are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost.""I-I'm fine!""You don't want to be moving too much, sir. Your girl's asleep...""Who... oh."Again? I kind of like it this time! So I'll let it be."You two seem too close to not be dating.""Seriously, we aren't!"Then is she you're sister?""Do we look alike?""Figures... Seriously though. If you aren't lovers, then I don't know what you two
What is... this soft sensation... Am I in... a bed? I was... on the... floor with Ria... losing... consciousness-"Grahhh!""Don't startle me, peasant!""Ria! Where is she?!""Relax! She's next to you!"I made it out... Damn it, Francis! You clever bastard! And Ria... She seems to be well...Hahaha... Don't start crying now, bastard! You couldn't... protect her... you have no right to be this relieved.I can still hold her hands. I can still see her smile... Ah! Fuck it! Might as well let my tears fall."D-Don't start crying n-now. It's making me feel guilty.""I-It's not your fault, Ms. Alice. But tell me... who did this?""That's why we brought you in, to find who did this. It's been one of Equipoise's most dubious problems. The Kuroi Katen gang."How long is she asleep?""Eh?""She's in a coma, right?""Y-Yeah, for a month... How'd you-""She told me she'd only take a nap, so
"Why won't you pull the trigger? Too afraid of the consequences or the crowd? You want me to swallow the gun for you? I'm just an ordinary elf visiting his lovely uhh... g-girlfriend."Lesson three of Uncle Jerry's classes. If you want to attract attention, fuck with the police, legally. And the best way to do that is to be a "victim" of racism. If I were downtown, I would've died on the spot, but that won't be the case If I'm near a government facility with a fair amount of people. The police corps cowers in the presence of crowds or government officials, so what happened to the old man of the toilet was a freak accident."C-can you prove you're just visiting, and you're not a member of the gang? T-they've been rioting for a whole week!""And whose fault is it that they're rioting? If the police corps didn't murder an innocent man and his daughter, we would be living a peaceful life!"Good... he's trembling and stuttering. Dissecting him would be child's
That should be enough marveling at her face. It's 'bout time I patch up the cracks."So uh... how do I get to the lobby?"Where's a teleport enhancement when you need one? I've practically made this hospital home for the past week, but I still don't know how t-"*Thud."Ouch! Someone crashed into me..."S-s-sorry.""I-it's fine... here you dropped this...""T-thank you."How peculiar... This man, who appears to be a dwarf, has ambiguous behavior. Sweating, stuttering, adrenaline-like movement, and eyes full of... wrath. Could he be Hitoshi? He has the same frame, but I doubt that a leader of a notorious, world-recognized gang operates in such a sloppy manner, so I have to investigate."Excuse me? Can you show me where the lobby is?"Lesson fifteen of Uncle Jerry's classes, if a citizen of Midway is kind to you, they're up to something. To alleviate suspicion, they'd do anything to make them appear "kind.""
"Not to be rude, but can I decline that offer?""It's your choice, but I suggest you get familiar with them first.""Neh! What's your name? Tell me, dead eyes! What's your na-""Miles..."That's one lively kid! And why is Ms. Alice recommending a mere CHILD to join me in hunting a NOTORIOUS GANG LEADER?!"I apologize on behalf of my brother's behavior, so you must be that guy who tried to intervene with the corps last week?""Uhh... Have we met before?""Y-you don't remember me? After I gave you a wonderful date?"Date? I don't remember going out with anyone! And if I did, then it has to be Ria!"I think you have the wrong guy?""I'm the waiter who set you up before!""Now you're getting your identity wrong... The waiter who set me up was a guy!""No, it's me!""How?!""Oi! Don't leave me out! What are you talking about? Neh? Don't leave me o-""Will you please stop be being obno