As I got home, I put my bag on the rack and slacked on the couch. The faucet runs continuous water, and this bugged me. Mom was conservative of saving resources, putting water and electricity by turning them off when not used. Curiosity pulled me out of my seat to check who was who. To my surprise, I've witnessed a certain elf washing dishes.
Shizu-sama Dishwashing Arc!? Maintain your calm composure, Kou! This isn't fanservice! You don't want to be seen fanboying by this stranger.
I approached with a high chin and exposed neck. While watching her, I nodded crisply, a sign of utmost satisfaction. As a praise, I said, "You did well on your first day. You're getting a hang of this."
"Thanks," she responded flatly, with no energy at all, like she didn't want to work… or was she still feeling down from what happened? "I only did what Mom asked me to do. She said I need to be careful since most of these so-called dishes are brittle, and it may be problematic if they get broken."
I nodded and chuckled, "Real. When I broke dozens of them, I got slapped by a paddle in my but hundred-twenty times…" The conversation fell off. How can I ask her to become a cosplayer and the model of my works? I don't have any opportunity to open the topic.
After washing the dishes, Sera noticed that I spent the whole time staring at her and tilted her head like a dog. "What's wrong?"
Not responding, I stared at the door that leads to the cosplay workstation. "Do you still feel lost?" I didn't hear a response, but my gut tells me that she nodded. "I don't want to brag, but I'm lost in some way too. I've gone through countless directions and neverending intersections to find the right path. But what I didn't realize before was that… I'm stuck… I'm waiting, until the guide appears.
"Not until now, though," I smirked. "It seems that I have found my path. I still don't know where I'll end up, but my instincts tell me that this feels the right way to follow. You will know it once you never feel tired of the journey."
"I'm too glad that I'm able to live in this comfortable place, even if I'm a stranger. My needs are all satisfied, but my mind bugs me that I shouldn't linger in this place longer. I need to go back. My father needed me."
Reality just struck hard when I just thought of having a career with her. Suddenly, those hopes crumbled. Anytime soon, she'll vanish without a trace to a faraway place no one ever heard. I'm not showy to show how excited I am when she loves this place, but nothing is permanent. Life always leaves us hanging, a big question of who will say goodbye first.
I clenched my fist, closed my eyes, and bursted out a quick breath. Without even asking, I knew the answer and somewhat felt I'm lost again. What would be the point of creating costumes when I know no one who'll wear it? Those plans, those hopes, it's all… pointless.
Pivoting back at her, I responded, "Fine… I'll help you find your home later. We'll also be glad to accompany you there. However, if we're unable to find it soon enough, this place would be the safest place for you."
"What are you two talking about?" Mom peeked at the kitchen with her widened eyes, like she was trying to jumpscare us… Though my heart jumped a bit, none of us reacted. Mom felt the awkwardness from our slacked mouth as we stared at her without any response. The imaginary weights on my arms pulled my shoulders down.
"Nothing, Mom. Where did you go?" I asked, not being able to open up our conversation since she might feel lonely. Though my chest lightened, warmth spread throughout my body.
Hopes filled my day before it started. The liveliness of the sun made it seem so bright. Whenever I jumped, the gravity was divided into two. The passion boiled my blood into doing the things I cherish the most. I had hope… However, that only existed within my mind.
The energy to talk about costumes left my body after my conversation with Sera. There are too many questions I would like to ask Mom earlier. The materials on Shizu-sama's clothes, the techniques on using 3D printed materials for accessories, extracting the correct measurements visually; the excitement vanished into a frown.
I found the right bridge towards my dream, but before I knew it, it was already destroyed underneath. One step, and I will fall into the endless pit of despair. This same fear held me back to avoid any risks, caging myself in my comfort zone. I'll be stuck like this again, forever.
It was difficult to become a man. So many vulnerabilities, weaknesses, suffering, yet I need to hold these feelings back so I appear strong to them. I couldn't be emotional and cry in the corner of the room.
With a smile, Mom responded. "I'm looking for Sera's tutor, and I found a candidate nearby. She said she can start next week."
My lips pursued in thought. I tilted my head and paused. Before asking, I cleared my throat. "Next week? That someone might be too available. Who is that 'she'?"
She smirked and replied. "I found the best one! You'll find out soon."
I sighed. "You like leaving others hanging, Mom. Can you spoil me a little bit?"
"You're already a spoiled child, Kou." Mom chuckled and pulled out a hoodie from our hidden view. "Would you like to take her for a walk?"
"She wasn't a pet, Mom!"
"Are you alright?" I asked the hooded Sera as we walked through the road. Fidgeting her fingers, she only stared down at the ground while walking. She might still seem nervous about what she experienced in this neighborhood, and I completely understand that. She'll move on immediately.
"This is the nearby convenience store," I introduced and pointed my open palm at the building as we reached our first tour stop. "This is where I bought Chinese meat buns and other convenient products. It is open the whole day. In Japan, this place is respected since there are no beggars hanging around the doorway."
Sera raised her head towards the store made of glass walls and vibrant LED sign board. When she only paced at it, I moved forward and said, "Let's go inside."
Being surrounded by shelves of plastic packaging, she grimaced. With an uncertain tone, she asked, "Um… What are those things?"
"They're supplies, either food or other personal things. If you can read, you'll know which is which."
Her eyes widened, accompanied with a gasp. "Food!? How long are they storing it inside that container? Won't it taste spoiled?"
"In what tribe did you come from? Do you have any idea of what astronauts are?" She paused then shook her head, in which I sighed. "Never mind. These are what astronauts usually eat, but it is sold to us for convenient food. These won't expire until a certain date. Why don't you try one?"
"T–Thank you very much…"
I opened the nearby freezer, took two packs of ice cream sticks, and bought two buns and drinks at the cashier. While the transaction was happening, Sera asked, "Are they for free?"
"There's nothing free in this world, Sera. You might not see it, but this card was used for currency, depending on its balance or value. We can also trade using paper bills or coins. That's why if someone offers you something free, decline it, no matter what," I responded while the store woman packed the things I bought.
"Why decline it? Wasn't it a grace or a blessing given by the divine? In our kingdom, we appreciate the gifts given by other citizens as an offering for a bright future."
"That's very Illuminati. The modern world is made through equality. Everyone is working hard not only for their needs, but also to progress the development of the economy. Am I right, Miss Store Woman?"
After giving my packed packages, the store owner responded, "Though I hate capitalists, I appreciate how my work helps everyone for their needs. I always wished to work at this store, and look at me right now. I feel very content in what I do. But if another dream makes me want to pursue it, I would be willing to."
What a sudden change of topic. How do dreams get involved in this conversation? I lost my pace while darting my gaze at the floor. My shoulders dropped as reality hit me again. Sera wrinkled her brow at me and asked, "Are you alright?"
I blinked, took a deep breath, and carried the plastic bag with me. "Let's go, Sera," I said, leading her out of the store. Unluckily, I passed through a familiar face who entered the store.
Izumi welcomed me with her dilated pupils, a look once widened, turned sullen. It was the first time I saw her body become stiff. Though I ignored her eye contact and pivoted my head out of the store, I noticed that her movements slowed down while fixing her glare at Sera until we left.
"Do you know that girl?" Sera asked as I unpack the contents of the store bag so we can eat. We both sat on my favorite bench in the nearby park. Since it didn't rain, a group of children played at the playground, containing the atmosphere with their laughter and positive energy.
"Izumi? She's just our neighbor."
"She was pretty… Why is she glaring at me… like she hates me?"
"That's just how she looks at others. Pay no mind." I gave her the bun and slightly opened her bottled iced tea. "Way to go, Miss Bun. Just eat it quickly, else you may not enjoy the ice cream."
"Ice creams? Now I'm curious…"
As she said 'thanks' repeatedly, I could still see the appreciation when Sera ate her signature bun, but now… she wasn't shedding any tears. Her relaxed smile made me think of peace, even when it hid sorrow underneath. My chest lightened, wishing there were more moments like this.
I just want to savor this moment that she was enjoying her stay before she went home. Wanting to protect this smile, it felt like I'm his older brother. Though my dreams may revert back to being stuck, as long as she finds her way back home, it was worth more than my career. I have all the time in the world to invest in my dreams, and her urgency took far more importance.
She removed the cap of the battle, drank it, and released a hearty sigh, a refreshed body. "What about ice creams, Kou? Is that what's in the pack?"
Smiling gently, I picked a pack of ice cream, removed it from the plastic, and placed its handle on her grip. When I did the same, I showed her how to eat it. Mimicking me, she bit the crisp crust made of chocolate together with the freezing cream inside.
At her first bite, she pulled out her tongue with the cream over it and rapidly breathed like a dog, a feeling when someone's mouth was burning. Soon, she chewed it slowly, letting the cold disperse, before swallowing. Witnessing her reaction, I chuckled, holding my abdomen.
Staring at her ice cream with a slack mouth, she exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell me this was cold!? I should've prepared for this coming."
"What does 'ice' in ice cream mean? Did your brain suddenly freeze?"
She nodded with a grin. "It's just amazing… knowing that we can just get food conveniently. Also, I've never tasted chilly food before. It's too sweet."
"Really? What did you usually eat before?"
"Fish from the nearby lake, boars hunted from the forest, or sometimes meat of monsters outside our forest barrier, though I'm not proud of how they all taste compared to the food here…"
I coughed while the ice cream I swallowed got stuck at my throat. "Monsters!?" My eyes widened, thinking if she was delusional? Did the 2D world eat her spirit?
"Oh! And also, we have wheat farms even though our place was covered by trees! The sunlight falling between the gaps of dappled leaves was enough since our people help cultivate it with mana. We do have a variety of vegetables due to the knowledge we copied from humans, but we do lack spices. It would take us two weeks to reach the ocean, hence we're having difficulty getting salt. But really, I wanted to see the ocean with my own eyes."
"Wait… We'll go back to the 'Monsters' part. What kind of monsters do you mean?"
"The typical monsters existing within the forests, don't you know them? Goblins, orcs, wyverns, sometimes there are dragons flying within the breeze."
"THEY'RE REAL!?" I exclaimed, leaning my head towards her, my face compressing out of shock.
Her eyes dilated; her head tilted to the side. "Didn't you see one before?"
After seconds of realization, I pulled back, leaned my back against the bench, and sighed. "That's so much fantasy stuff." I'm still not convinced about what she was unrealistically saying. I could also craft those stories too by watching too much Anime. I couldn't extract any information about this girl. Was she a product of some scam multimillion-dollar company's brainwashing?
After another bite, she pivoted towards the kids playing on the slide. Her smile gave warmth across her face, her eyes glimmering and filled with inner glow. With a bubbly voice, she uttered, "Though I'm lost, I adore this place. Everywhere I go, I smell peace. There are no conflicts and wars, and everyone respects one another."
"Look at how happy those kids are? There's a saying, peace begins with a smile, and it starts within you. I'm glad you're able to relieve those thoughts you're holding back."
She gazed at the sky, like I've witnessed a scene where Shizu-sama ended her first quest with the main character and talks about peace. "I hope this peace will also greet me once I come back."
Stunned, my pupils dilated while I yearningly looked at her. My pulse raced, my body tensed, and my legs weakened. I never imagined this scene would become real. I couldn't think straight, like inside me, I'm daydreaming a compressed day of her in that vision within a second. I couldn't deny it anymore…
She's the perfect Shizu-sama reincarnate!
The moment she pivoted back at me, her eyebrows raised, her mouth hanging open. She stood immediately and ran towards the slide while shouting, "Watch out!"
When I turned around, I saw a boy who lost his balance while sitting over the railings of the slide, a higher elevation. If he falls down on the ground, he will have a severe head injury. While Sera chased them, I wandered around before following her. WHY ARE THERE NO PARENTS AROUND!?
The kid lost his grip in the railing and fell down. Sera jumped forward and opened her arms to catch him. Both of them laid flat on the grass ground with no injuries. But instead of thanking her, the moment they recovered and stood up, the kid screamed.
"M–M–MONSTER!!"
Sera jerked back, her hand flying on her chest. With her other hand, she tapped her long ears, realizing that her hood was removed. I could see her chest expand and contract rapidly, synchronized with her bursted breathing. Even with her lips trembling, she still tried to comfort them. "I–I won't hurt you…"
"Get away from me! YOU MONSTER!" When other children also noticed her appearance, their screams filled the playground with terror. They all ran away from Sera, leaving trails of tears like they'll soon be eaten by a dragon. Though the screams still echo from far away, only the two of us were left.
Sniffing, Sera's quaking shoulder tensed, her fists clenching. Bending forward with a stooped posture, she faced me and showed her clenched teeth, catching her breaths like a hungry lion. Tears flooded her face. When I saw the sorrow in her eyes, she ran away, much faster when she tried to catch the kid.
"SERA!"
As soon as I got home, I told my curious mom what happened and that I'll handle this situation. When I went upstairs, I witnessed Sera sitting at the dark corner and covering her head. She buried her eyes on her arms supported by her knees. Her trembling resonated the unconscious shaking of my body, and her hiccups showed that she couldn't cry more than she wanted.
When my footsteps were too loud for her to notice, she asked with her teary voice, "Am I a monster?"
I pressed my lips and clenched my fists, giving a pause before responding, "... I don't see you as one, Sera."
"Then why did everyone look at me that way!? T–They all hated me! The civilians, the neighbors, the children in the park… It felt like… I'm… I'm an unwanted existence in this place… Where am I? W–Why is everyone different from me? I don't understand!"
I sat behind her; our backs sticking flat at each other. This way, I could feel how fast her heart raced, nearly exploding… I could feel fear. It also struck an imaginary knife through my chest, so flawed that this too intimate space made me exhausted… But I'm here not to add weight to her burden.
With a soothing tone, I whispered, "I understand that you feel lonely when they mention how different you are. But that's not how everyone looks at you. Like how Mom sees you, you're also one lost girl in my eyes. I don't care what everybody thinks of you. Even if you're a real elf, a monster, or someone whose hands are dirty, I will always accept you… Because you're you."
At this point, everything that she said made sense. She never lied. I just don't blindly believe in otherworldly fantasies. Mom might have already felt it. Sera's existence, her home, and her appearance said it all, and it was no coincidence. Reality was never decided by our eyes. There's only one conclusion why she was here, and I could never go wrong since it was what my instinct told me.
She was transported from another world… She was isekai-ed.
I always understood loneliness, since I was born that way. That intense longing made an inevitable ache that linger for years, in which I only built resistance from it. I always doubted every step, losing confidence within me. I don't want her to experience this pain… As her brother figure, I only have a thing to do to protect her peace.
"I promise I will get you back home soon, but while you're still here…
"I'll show you why you also belong in this world…
"So please grant my selfish request."