Beneath the gentle sunlight, cherry blossom flowers cast beautiful shadows. Two high school students in their school uniforms sat facing each other, their hands united, expressing love. Their eyes were fixed on each other in a daze. It marked the 100th day since William proposed to Claire, and they decided to seal their love with their first kiss. As their heads drew closer, the space between their lips reduced to almost 1 centimeter.
This was the moment they had been eagerly anticipating. It would be a memorable day in their lives.
DING DONGGG!!!! DING DONGGG!!!!
They abruptly halted upon hearing the doorbell.
Wait, a doorbell? Where did that come from?
"Whose..." William sat up, his hair disheveled from his bed.
That's when he realized everything had been a nightmare.
"Haaa! I don't even have the luck to kiss Claire in my dream!!!" William grumbled in frustration.
His trained hands frantically searched for his cell phone, only to realize it had broken not long ago.
He then glanced at the alarm clock by his side. The hands pointed to 3.
"Who the heck comes at 3 in the morning?" William threw off his sheets, quickly descended the stairs to answer the door. Meanwhile, the doorbell rang five more times, annoying him further.
He even considered if his mom had returned or if that weird person (Norman) from that one night had appeared in his house.
Clank! The door opened, revealing someone unexpected.
"Officer?"
"Hello, is there someone named William here?" asked the police officer who was accompanied by two others in uniforms.
"Ugh... that would be me," said William, confused.
[Did Mom report that robber?] he thought.
"Do you know anyone by the name of Norman?" the officer got straight to the point.
[Ha, it's him again. What problem has he created now? Whatever, I'm not going to be involved with him anymore.]
"No! Not at all, Officer. I don't know anyone going by that name. Then I will be going back to sleep. Have a good night," said William confidently, ready to retire to his house.
"Hey, wait." The officer stopped William.
"We checked the cameras; he was indeed in your house. Why don't you call the adults of your house? I will talk to them."
[Jeez! They even checked the cameras?]
"Ugh... There is no one except me here. My mom's gone on a business trip."
"Oh! Give me her number; then, I will give her a call," said the officer, determined, taking out his phone.
"Ha ha... Officer, now that I remember. Yeah, right! There was someone named Norman in my house a few hours ago. Haha, how did I forget it?" said William, scratching his head.
It was better to deal with the problem himself.
"You remembered just now?" the officer asked, giving William a doubtful look.
"Oh! So, Officer, may I know what is the problem?" asked William, diverting the situation.
"Come with us to the station. Our chief would explain," said the officer, opening the vehicle door.
William could not protest anymore. He locked the house, grabbed his wallet, and jumped into the vehicle, cursing Norman all the way to the police station.
As they entered the station, he could hear the agitated conversation of Norman and other people.
"I tell you from my heart that this is the truth. I can even vouch in the name of the goddess Shira. It was the fight with the demon king that has put me into such a miserable state. For now, I am the majestic king whom everyone looks up to. You should look at thee the hero symbol of mine..."
Before Norman sat a police officer in his 40s, probably the chief, with a tired look on his face, as if he had already given up on life.
William already guessed why he had been called out. He just wanted to know how that musclehead ended up in the police station.
"Chief, he is here," said Paul, the officer who brought William.
"What's up with him?" was the first question the chief asked William.
Norman immediately became too happy upon seeing the familiar face.
Norman started talking already. "Come on, boy. Tell them the truth. How I appeared in your chamber. They ask me, a famous hero who is renowned worldwide. Tell them my identity, for they will be surprised."
"See, this is the problem," said the chief, slumping. "This man wanted to rent a room in a hotel. When asked for his identity card, he started blabbering nonsense. He even swung the decorative sword put on display, claiming himself to be the hero and stuff. The hotel authorities got scared and called us. We had no way than to arrest him for disturbing the public at midnight. What's even the problem with him?"
[Dammit, you nutcase.] cursed William in his mind.
"William, why are you in silence? Do not fear, these measly guards. Even if I don't have my magic, my strength is enough to put some sense into them," said Norman, making the police agitated.
[I should not let him talk anymore.]
"Sorry, Officer. He is a bit loose in the head," said William, making Norman shut up in silence.
"Oh, that's why. We guessed. Anyway, what is your relationship with this person?"
"He... he is my uncle."
"Your uncle? How?"
"Yeah, a distant relation... brother of my mother's brother's cousin... yes, right. Not much familiar, but he has come for treatment. He is an avid fan of fantasy movies, you see. Those with kings, demons, and heroes. He becomes like this sometimes. I am really sorry that he bothered you officers," said William, bowing.
"Anyway, it will be a problem if this happens again. Write a letter stating you will be responsible if he disturbs the public again."
"What? Me responsible... for him???" "Yes, who else? If you cannot, ask your mother to sign instead of you."
"No, no! I mean... yes, I will sign. I will take full responsibility for him from now," said William with a forced smile.
Soon, the procedures were finished, and Norman was released without a fine.
"I am in charge of the patrol for your area. Remember, my eyes are on you," warned Paul as William exited the station with Norman.
Norman kept silent all the way, following William.
"You kept talking on and on. Why are you silent now?"
"What is there to talk more after you labeled me to be a fool?" said Norman, anger visible in his tone.
"Then what do you expect me to do? Do you think they will even believe the truth? Wait, why didn't you do that?"
"Do what?"
"You did that, bringing weird drawings all over my room... yeah, magic. You could have shown them that. At least I wouldn't have been involved."
"That... that... my magic seems to be halted."
"???"
"Well, since your world has no magic, I cannot fill up my magic energy. It would take time."
"Wow. So, in short, I am stuck with you for the time being?"
Norman shrugged, walking silently.
"Hey, wait. Tell me how do you plan to return. I can't deal with you for long."
Silence.
"Hey, at least go away before my mom comes, alright?" William walked quickly, chasing Norman.
It was a leisure walk to the house for Norman, at least.