Chapter 10: My Future Current【Part 2】
【言語に関するご注意 / Language Notice】本作はすべて、英語と英語の表現で書かれています。翻訳作品ではなく、オリジナルの英語ライトノベルです。あらかじめご了承の上、作品をお楽しみください。
See chapter one for the main author's note.
Jiro
“I suppose you haven’t spoken to her in a while… “
“No… I tried to give her some space after… well, you know.”
He inhales sharply, the words tumbling out of him. “Sasha didn’t make the selection process, she’s going to the high school in the nearby city.”
The world tilts on its axis. My chest tightens, trapping the air in my lungs.
“W-what? How… How is that possible?”
He rubs the back of his neck, his eyes darting away. “I called her earlier to check in. She doesn’t seem to—”
“Don’t give me that!” I snap, throwing a hand up to cut him off. “She’s all alone in some random high school up north!”
I drop to my knees before my legs give out. “She… She…”
He sinks down, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Calm down, man. There’s nothing you could do. This is just how the selection process works.”
“No! We… I…” The words dissolve into a choked breath.
He looks away, his grip tightening slightly.
“I…”
I know the selection process for incoming freshmen is random, but the feeling of it burns in my throat. Why of all “Of all people,” I mumble into my knees. “Why her? Why—”
Sayoko
“…him? Could you not have paired me with an actual monkey instead?” I tap the tip of my umbrella against the counter, glaring at the receptionist.
The young man doesn’t even look up from his paperwork, his expression a mask of bureaucratic boredom.
He sighs as he looks up from his paperwork. “And… do you have an actual emergency to report, or was that it?”
“What?”
I take a quick half-step back and snap the umbrella forward, weaving the tip in a menacing circle right between his eyes.
He doesn’t flinch, simply leaning back a bit out of striking range.
“I am only authorized to process room changes if there is a critical conflict that cannot be resolved otherwise. Not simply because you ‘dislike’ your roommate.’”
“’Dislike’ vastly understates the gravity of the situation. I can assure you, the man has committed truly heinous acts.”
The clerk pauses, he drops a silent yawn before pinning me with a deadpan stare.
“Like… what, exactly?”
“He exists.”
“Next person, please!” He calls out, looking past me as he taps his pen against the counter.
I let out a sharp scoff as I turn on my heel.
Arguing with an NPC is a waste of my breath.
It is time to call in a favor instead.
Nene
“Frank, you’re wringing me dry, literally!” I press my hands flat together, launching a desperate prayer right at his face. “Can’t you just do me a favor here?”
He draws his coat tighter, looking even shadier than usual.
“This is the best I can do, to be frank.” He starts hoisting the crate of bottles off the trash bin.
“No, no, wait!” I lunge forward and clap a hand onto his shoulder, anchoring him in place.
My most winning smile comes out. “I just… meant to remind you that doing business with a regular sometimes requires watering down your wine.”
He scoffs, dropping the crate back on the trash can.
“Nothing about you is regular. Why can’t you just order alcohol like everyone else? These Glacia-9 Prima bottles are already a hassle to smuggle in, and with the freshman rush, campus security is even tighter now.”
My hands returning to a praying position to bring out a miracle.
“Frank, when have I ever let you—“
“Many times, frankly speaking.“
I press my hands upward, digging the tips of my fingers right under my chin to physically stop myself from impulsively reacting.
“How about… I give you a great score on the next subjective exam, eh?”
“I may operate out of an alley, but even I know a single teacher can’t swing an entire grading council. I’ll just keep this stock in storage until you’re desperate enough to pay up.” He raps his knuckles against the wood. “Or maybe I’ll find another lunatic willing to take them off my hands.”
“Fraaank!” I raise my hands in a defensive peace offering. “There’s no need for drastic measures! Tell you what, I’ll throw in... um... my entire—”
Bzzz.
Bzzz.
Again?
I snatch my phone, maintaining intense eye contact with him.
He throws up his hands and rolls his eyes, letting his arms drop limp again.
I swipe the screen blindly and bring it to my ear. “What? Why are you calling me, can it wait? I’m kind of busy.”
“And a good afternoon to you too, Miss Kirishima,” a strangely familiar voice purrs out.
I pull the phone away to check the screen. A string of unfamiliar digits stares back.
My eyes narrow before I bring it back to my ear.
“Who is this, and how did you get this number?” I demand.
“Don’t you remember? That truly hurts my feelings… You can think of me as—”
“Fraaaaaank!”
“W-what?”
Frank catches my distraction and bolts, hoisting the crate against his chest.
I pinch the phone between my ear and shoulder and lunge after him, fingertips scraping empty air— he slips around the corner.
Fantastic.
It’s going to be a long night…
“Hello?” the voice chimes again.
“Yes. What.”
“Who is frank”
“No, who are you!”
“I already told you.”
My left eye twitches as my breathing turns heavy and fast.
A brief pause hangs on the line before the voice returns, tinged with confusion. “Are you… exercising?”
My eyes widen as the puzzle pieces snap into place.
“Argh! You’re the unhinged girl who doesn’t know the concept of personal boundaries!”
“I… I don’t think I like that nickname…”
I tilt the phone on its side, pressing it closer to my mouth.
“HOW DID YOU GET THIS NUMBER!”
I press the receiver back to my ear.
Silence.
Just a distant rustle and a muffled giggle before the audio sharpens again.
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Discover what happens next in: Chapter 10: My Future Current【Part 3】
Written by Limited_Infinity. Extras, official publishing platforms and updates are publicly available only on the Patreon page “_Limited_Infinity_”
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