'Eri, breakfast is ready.' I called out from the kitchen.
'Coming, my dear servant.'
Eri waddled in like a tiny emperor and took her seat at the table as if it had been reserved for royalty.
'Hey Eri. I will be busy after school, so for dinner, you can either eat leftovers or I can leave you money.'
'Um-yum… mm…'
She froze mid-chew, rice still in her mouth, eyes unfocused like she was consulting an ancient council.
Then she swallowed.
'This lord shall dine within her own kingdom.'
'Got it.'
I nodded.
'Oh, if Saki comes, can you tell her I'm out?'
'To make this lord work.' She crossed her arms. 'Very well. I guess this lord can do her servant a favour every now and then.'
'Thanks.'
I sat down across from her.
While I was devouring the food, Eri asked, 'May this lord inquire on what her servant will be doing after school?'
'I'm going out with a friend.'
'Oh.' She rubbed her chin, eyes narrowing. 'Is it my knight?'
'No.' I shook my head. 'Someone you haven't met before.'
'I see…'
'Girl or boy?'
'Girl.'
'Hohoho.' She adjusted her glasses. 'To think my servant walks such a forbidden path….'
She sighed, shaking her head in disappointment.
'Very well. If you must pursue such desires…'
She raised a finger.
'Ensure it benefits the empire.'
*Bonk*
'Ow!'
'I have no idea what goes through your head.'
She rubbed her head and glared at me.
'You dare strike your master?'
She raised her tiny hands…
*Bonk*
'Hmph. Now we're even.' She continued to eat.
That felt more like a massage than anything.
Maybe I should open a massage parlour and let her train the staff.
Yeah, that business would thrive.
With breakfast done.
I helped pack Eri's bento into her bag and got changed.
We left for school.
—————————————
Class ended and lunch came with it.
I handed her the bento and she accepted it with a small smile.
'To think I'll see you paying attention in class.' Kasumi said.
'But I didn't.'
'Then why were you wide awake, hmm?' She leaned in with a cheeky smile.
I reached over and pinched her cheeks.
'Whas are u doinsh?' Kasumi tried to speak.
'I get why Saki likes touching your cheeks. They really are like dumplings.' I released her cheeks.
'Seems like Saki has been rubbing off on you.' She rubbed her cheeks. 'Let's see if you like it.'
She reached for my cheeks and pinched them.
'Hmm. Not good to touch.'
'Are you done yet?'
'Mm.'
Her fingers stayed on my cheeks a moment longer than necessary, as if she was inspecting them.
'You're staying too still.'
'Because you're still holding my face and don't you think we're kinda close?'
Her face was inches from mine. I could feel her breath.
Mint toothpaste.
She froze, then jerked back, blushing.
'So-sorry.'
'Why apologise? Nothing happened. Except for the fact that now I might know what toothpaste you've been using.'
'Hey!'
She covered her face, clearly more flustered than before.
'What? I didn't say your breath sinks.'
That did not help at all.
She peeked through her fingers.
'… You really don't react normally to things, do you?'
'What do you mean by that?'
'You just… stand there and say things.'
'Isn't that how it is?'
'No!'
Before the moment could develop into a rom-com.
'Hehehe.' Eri appeared. 'The return of the Dark Lord.'
She struck a dramatic pose and began her slow, theatrical approach.
'Reaching this place was no simple feat. I studied the guards' patrol times… mapped my route… evaded countless minions…'
'Even when discovered, I vanished into the shadows, leaving only confusion in my wake. Blessed by the stars, I arrived, unseen.'
She lifted her glasses.
'For everyone, this was an impossible task, but for me, the Dark Lord, it was a walk in the park.'
*Clap clap clap*
Kasumi, still slightly red, applauded.
'Hehehe. At least someone recognises greatness.'
She sat down and opened her bento.
'It has been a while, my knight.'
'Un.' Kasumi smiled. 'I'm glad you two made up.'
'Hehehe. As if this Dark Lord would ever fall into despair.'
Eri started eating.
'Now then… what were my servants discussing?'
Kasumi glanced at me, then quickly answered.
'Nothing important.'
'Cheeks.' I said.
Kasumi turned red again.
'That was not the topic!'
Eri narrowed her eyes.
'Explain.'
'We were talking about how he paid attention in class!'
'Like I said, I didn't. I was watching a fly.'
Eri stared at me.
'Servant… are you an idiot?'
She said it so innocently I couldn't even argue.
'Did you hear that, Di-ran?' Kasumi grinned. 'You'll stay an idiot if you don't pay attention.'
'Fine.' I sighed. 'Then let's make a bet.'
'Oooh.' Eri leaned in. 'What kind of bet?'
'Whoever gets the highest mark on our next test wins.'
'I like the sound of that.' Eri nodded. 'And for our wager… we will wager our souls.'
'Maybe not our souls, maybe something less.' Kasumi chimed in.
'Then how about a favour?' I said.
'That sounds better.' Kasumi nodded.
'I don't mind.' Eri lifted her glass. 'Because this Dark Lord will win anyway. Hehehe.'
And just like that… our souls were absolutely not on the line.
————————————————————-
After classes, it was club time.
Which meant, I went to fulfil my duties.
'Bye bye, Di-ran.'
'Bye, Kasumi.'
I made my way to the train station to meet Maria at Otemachi.
I opened my phone.
[Marie: Let's meet at 4.]
[Dylan: Ok.]
[Marie: Can't wait. ✧ ─=≡Σ((( つ•̀ω•́)つ]
'Now where is the train station?'
Since I have never used public transport here. I had no clue where the station was.
I opened the GPS and looked around for the closest train station.
'About 10 minute walk.'
That sounded survivable.
————————————-
'That's a lot of people.'
The station looked like humanity had decided to gather in one place for a very urgent meeting.
'Okay…' I hyped myself up. 'Time to go.'
I stepped forward and immediately got absorbed into the crowd.
At this point, I wasn't walking. I was being legally transported by the crowd pressure.
Most of my view was blocked by a businessman's bald spot, reflecting the overhead lights like a distress beacon.
I trusted the bald man.
Eventually, I reached some gates where people tapped cards and walked through.
'This looks like the right place.'
I tapped a random passerby.
'Umm… excuse me. What are those card things?'
'Ahh, sorry, me no engurish.'
He spoke in English before quickly fleeing the scene.
'My guy, you didn't even try.'
I looked around, searching for any saviour that would save this foreigner.
It was then that I spotted what appeared to be a staff member.
'Excuse me.'
The worker looked at me.
'Hello.'
'Can you tell me, what those are?' I pointed at the cards.
'Ahh, IC card. You must be new to Japan.'
Finally.
She explained everything, how to use it, where to go and what to do.
It sounded more complicated than it needed to.
Why couldn't we just go back to horses?
'Do you have a passport? I can help you make an IC card for you?'
'Passport?'
I did not bring that, I foolishly assumed trains were simple.
'I have a student ID.'
'Student ID?' She tilted her head.
But when I pulled out the ID, she saw that it was Japanese.
'Ahh, so you live in Japan.'
'Kinda, I am an exchange student.'
After a lot of explaining and her carrying 90% of the conversation.
'Here is your IC card.'
She handed me the card.
On the card, a small penguin waved at me.
'You can top up at those machines or through the app.'
'Thank you.'
She bowed.
'I hope you have a wonderful stay in Japan.'
Wow.
Back in the fantasy world, you'd need to throw gold at someone to get that level of service.
I tapped the card.
*Beep*
The gate opened.
'Finally made it.'
I looked up.
Signs.
Everywhere.
Numbers. Lines. Symbols.
'How do I get to Otemachi Station?'
Back in my first life, Australia had a timetable which showed which platform went to which station.
But here?
Nothing.
Just vibes and suffering.
*Ding*
I pulled out my phone.
[Marie: Are you there yet?]
'I am not cut out for this world.'