The same night as the previous chapter, the interior of Mayumi's car felt intimate, the city lights painting streaks across her face.
"So," Mayumi's voice cut through the quiet, "what name will you conjure this time?"
I sighed, the sound heavy in the confined space. "I'll improvise, as always." A beat of silence, then, "You still have a knack for blurting out the unexpected."
A giggle escaped her lips, light and airy.
"You've moved, haven't you?" I asked, watching the streets blur past. "No longer a resident of Kaido Street?" My fingers traced the worn fabric of the seat.
"Technically, yes, but our new place is still on Kaido Street, just further down," she chirped, her enthusiasm a stark contrast to my quiet contemplation.
"Are we close?" I asked, a subtle itch forming under my skin.
"Impatient as ever," she teased, a sigh following her words. "Yes, almost there. Ten more minutes."
"Seventeen?" I mused, the question directed more at the distorted reflection in the side mirror than at Mayumi. Disappointment clung to me like a shroud, a constant reminder of what I'd lost. "My godchild is currently seventeen, right?"
"Yep, two weeks ago. And guess what? You missed it. Again," Mayumi teased, though a hint of genuine reproach colored her tone. "You really have been out of the loop."
"I'll make it up to her," I conceded, the words laced with a reluctant promise. My fingers fidgeted, tracing patterns on my jeans. "I've got time now, I guess."
The playful mask slipped from Mayumi's face. "How are you holding up?"
My jaw tightened, the simmering rage threatening to boil over. "They didn't just kill me, Mayumi. They desecrated me, stole my life, my dignity. They'll pay. I'll make sure they regret ever crossing my path. I'll take back everything they stole, and then some." My knuckles turned white as I clenched my fists.
The sudden jerk of the car brought me back to the present.
"We're here," Mayumi announced softly, her hand briefly touching my hair. "Let's leave this for later. Just... try to relax. I'll park the car."
"Whatever," I mumbled, the conflicting emotions warring within me. "Is your daughter still awake?"
"Probably burning the midnight oil on some school project," Mayumi replied, her voice regaining its usual cheerfulness. "She's probably in the living room. Go on, I'll be right there."
I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I pushed open the car door and stepped out into the cool night air.
The night air clawed at my skin, each breath a painful reminder of my altered state. "Damn, it's cold," I hissed, hugging myself tighter. "My old body wouldn't have even registered this. Now... I can barely breathe."
Mayumi appeared beside me, her laughter a warm contrast to the biting wind. "Complaining about the cold now? I remember you sweating bullets in this weather!"
"Seventeen," I snapped, the word a shield against the unwelcome vulnerability. Relief washed over me, a subtle tide against the cold. "And are you psychic now?"
"Same soul, different shell," she teased, rubbing her hand briskly up and down my arm.
"Inside," I urged, my teeth beginning to chatter. My hand instinctively went to the nape of my neck, scratching at the phantom itch. "Please."
"Alright, alright," Mayumi relented, her voice softening. She raised her hand and knocked gently on the door.
The door swung open, revealing a young woman radiating warmth.
"Mom! You're back! What took you so long?" Reiko exclaimed, throwing her arms around Mayumi in a tight embrace.
So, this is her. Reiko Kazumi. My godchild. The last time I saw her, she was a gap-toothed eight-year-old. Now, a first-year student at Kaido Nurturing Highschool.
Reiko pulled back, her eyes landing on me. "And... who's this?" she asked, her smile genuine and welcoming.
"Oh, this is a distant relative," Mayumi interjected, her voice a touch too bright. "She's seventeen, like you, and she'll be attending KNHS with you soon. She's staying with us for a bit until she finds her own place." Mayumi's hand landed on my back, a nervous pat that betrayed her anxiety.
"Welcome to our home, then! I'm Reiko Kazumi." Reiko extended her hand, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "And you are?"
Mayumi hesitated, her forced enthusiasm faltering. "Her name is..."
"Reika," I said, my voice steady and controlled. I took Reiko's hand, my grip firm. "Reika Higashihama. The pleasure is all mine." My gaze remained locked on hers, a subtle challenge in my eyes as I scratched the back of my neck.
"Reika! Our names rhyme! What a fun coincidence. It's so nice to meet you, welcome home!" Reiko beamed, her genuine warmth a stark contrast to the chill in the air.
Coincidence, my ass, I thought, the cynicism a familiar comfort. More like a last-minute, desperate grab for a name that wouldn't immediately expose me.
"Can we move this inside?" I urged, the cold seeping into my bones. My hand instinctively went to my neck, scratching the persistent itch.
"Hey! Tone it down," Mayumi hissed, pinching my arm. "You need to act like a real teenager if you want to pull this off. Take notes from Reiko."
"I'm trying," I retorted, my voice barely a whisper. "It's not exactly easy being a teen... again... and dealing with them."
"Are you two coming in, or are you planning to become human icicles?" Reiko called out, a playful edge to her voice.
"Right, sorry!" Mayumi chuckled, a forced sound that grated on my nerves. "Let's go, Rei-... Reika!"
She almost slipped. I knew I could trust Mayumi, but even her best intentions couldn't erase the inherent risk.
I sighed, pushing past them and into the house, the scent of home a momentary distraction. Gently, I closed the door behind me, shutting out the cold and sealing myself into this new, precarious reality.
"So, Reika," Reiko began, tilting her head, "what's your story? What brings you here?"
I felt a jolt, the casual question a sudden spotlight. Damn, she's sharp. I needed an answer, and fast.
"Well," I began, forcing a confident tone, "the education in my village wasn't great, so my parents decided to send me here. Auntie Mayumi offered to help me out until I can get on my feet." Nailed it.
I could see the relief wash over Mayumi's face.
As expected of Rei, always the wildcard, always the smartest.
"That's great! You're passionate about your studies, that's awesome! We already have something in common!" Reiko clapped her hands together, her enthusiasm almost overwhelming.
"Y-yeah, glad to hear that," I stammered, forcing a smile.
"You okay? You seem a little tense," Reiko scrutinized me, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yeah, just still feeling the cold from outside, that's all!" I replied quickly, layering on the enthusiasm.
"Okay, well, I'm going to finish this up, then we can talk more!" Reiko turned back to her work.
"Oh, Reika," Mayumi interjected, "the guest room is still being renovated. Reiko, would you mind if Reika stayed in your room for a bit?"
"Not at all, Mom! I'd love to have a roommate! It'll be nice to have someone to talk to at night," Reiko giggled.
"Great, glad to hear it!" Mayumi beamed, flashing a quick, relieved smile.
Still no sense of proper etiquette at this age, huh?
I wandered around the living room, taking in the details, the layout, the overall feel of the place. I paused beside Reiko, my eyes drawn to what she was working on.
"Flyers?" I asked, picking one up carefully.
"Yeah, tomorrow's the first day of club recruitment week! It's when all the clubs try to get new members," Reiko explained, her voice bubbling with excitement.
"What club are you in?" I asked, a subtle shift in my focus.
"Detective Club," Reiko replied casually, adjusting her glasses.
"A detective club? What do you guys do?" I pressed, ideas already forming in my mind.
"We solve minor cases," Reiko said, then corrected herself, "I solve minor cases. Missing items, that kind of thing. Basic detective work. I also offer my services outside of school if anyone needs them." She sighed, her enthusiasm fading. "But honestly, it looks like the club is about to be shut down. I only have a week to find four new members. If I don't, the student council is going to axe us." Her voice was laced with helplessness, but I could see the determination flickering in her eyes.
"How important is being a detective to you?" I asked, my voice carefully neutral.
"It's my dream," Reiko confessed, her voice thick with emotion. "My passion. Ever since I was a kid, I've been obsessed with Hercule Poirot. I want to be a great detective, someone known for their skills and influence. But I'm just not good enough. I can't even solve a simple missing pen case. That's why the other members left, and why no one trusts my club anymore. I always fail." She buried her face in her hands, her frustration palpable. "If only I could be as good as Poirot, maybe then my dream would actually come true."
"I see," I said, my voice a low murmur. I covered my face with my hand, a flood of memories washing over me – Rei Otonashi, before the Elixir, before everything changed. I lowered my hand, my gaze hardening. "You only need three more members." I placed my hands firmly on her shoulders.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Reiko asked, confusion etched on her face.
"Tomorrow, I'll be a student at KNHS. And I'll be your first official member. I'll help you rebuild your club, and I'll help you become the Poirot you've always dreamed of being." A cold smirk played on my lips.
My eyes flicked to Mayumi, who was watching us from the sidelines, her expression unreadable.
"I know you're planning something, and I know my daughter's club will somehow be involved," she muttered to herself. "I just don't know what it is yet."
I winked at her, a silent promise hanging in the air.
This will be my first step in making it up to your daughter, Mayumi. And it will also be my first step in hunting down those Men in Black.
—TO BE CONTINUED—
—WE'LL FORMALLY START THE OFFICIAL FIRST CHAPTER OF THE SERIES AFTER THIS CHAPTER, THANK YOU!—