Chapter 123: The Fish Bites Back (Part-1) (1/2)

Currently, I am on my way to my house. The heavy feeling that I got after meeting Maya is still lingering in my mind, refusing to disappear no matter what I do or think. I am not sure, but maybe it’s because of the deadline of my glitch. It kind of makes sense, considering that death is dancing on my forehead.

Fuck! This is making me really uneasy…

[You’re just worrying too much, buddy. Clam down and throw your tension away. You will feel much better.]

Calm down!? Seriously!?

I will die in a couple of days and you want me to fucking calm down!?

[Well, worrying about it won’t change anything either, will it? And don’t say “die” like it is bound to happen. We still have some time.]

Bullshit! Nothing happened until now even though I am trying so hard! You expect me to believe that a miracle will happen in just two days!?

[Well, there’s nothing wrong with hoping for a miracle, is there?]

Oh, shut up. You’re useless.

[…]

[I can say a lot of things in reply to that. But well, given your current situation, let’s just say that you’re being harsh on me.]

No, I’m not. Black would’ve thought of some solution by now. And where is Black anyway!? It’s been days since we last spoke! I thought both of you take turns!

[No, not really. We try to suppress each other and at the same time, try to force our way out. It depends upon who’s more powerful at the moment.]

So, can you not just let Black come up!?

[No. Black’s not even trying to come out, I cannot do anything about it. And anyway, I am tired of telling you this, but don’t evaluate Black too high. Wasn’t Black the one who suggested you to use your Skills and Point-earning Methods to fix the glitch!? That didn’t work, did it?]

No, it didn’t…

Damn it! Then just what should I do!?

I don’t want to die! I am only seventeen!

[Let’s just calm down for now, okay? Take a deep breath. I know the situation is really bad and being calm is not easy, but at least try. You will be able to think more clearly.]

…

Fine.

I stop walking for a moment and take a few deep breaths. To my surprise, I start feeling better immediately. The heavy feeling is still there, but not as prominent as before.

[How was that?]

… unexpectedly good. Thanks.

[No problem. You’re my buddy. I am glad to help you.]

Yeah, and… and I am sorry for calling you useless. It just came out in anger. I didn’t mean it.

[It’s fine. I’ve called you a lot of worse things. Like needle-dick, un-girthy boy, instant women-repellent, ultra-micro—]

Okay, okay, that’s enough!

[Fufufu… anyway, let’s change the topic. So, how do you plan to make Maya meet Rebecca, huh? She won’t be able to get close to her, remember?]

I am not sure about that. I mean, how did that harpy, Nina, get close to Rebecca? It was probably because she made contact with me, right? If so, then Maya should also be able to meet Rebecca.

[Man, I don’t know how Nina came close to Rebecca, but I have the feeling that only your permanent women should be able to do that. Maybe it’s because of the glitch?]

[Anyway, what if Maya won’t be able to come near Rebecca. What will you do then?]

Oh, I have a plan if that happens as well.

Rebecca and I will sit in the living room and Layla and Maya will be in a room upstairs. After Rebecca deploys her barrier, I will explain my system to Maya through the phone and then afterward, have a face-to-face conversation with her.

[Hmm… That might actually work. Consider me surprised.]

Why are you surprised?

[Fufufu… Never mind. Look, I can see our house!]

What the hell!?

The moment I get inside the house, a low sniffling sound reaches my ears. It’s coming from the living room and not just from a single person.

“Layla? Rebecca?” I call out with a frown, taking off my shoes and putting down my bag before moving towards the living room.

The next instant, the sound stops coming abruptly. Entering the living room, I find both Layla and Rebecca standing right beside the sofa, facing me.

Fuck…

Their eyes are bloodshot, their cheeks are red, and I can even trace the white marks of tears that were hastily wiped away. But still, contradicting all this, there is a smile on their faces— a forced and really twitchy one, but there is.

“You guys were crying…” I say in a faint voice.

“N-No, we weren’t. How was school?” Layla asks, her voice heavy and shaky.

“Y-Yes, how was it? Did you win your mock duel today? A-And what about Aria?” Rebecca asks, her voice the same as Layla.

…

For a moment, I feel like telling them to stop pretending and changing the topic and just tell me why they were crying— but I stop myself. It’s a stupid thing to ask, to be honest. I already know why they were crying. It’s because of the fact that I will be dead in two days.

And it’s obvious that they don’t want to break down in front of me. They understand that I will also break down seeing them in that state.

Sigh…

“Yeah, Aria and I both won our duels. It was a good day at school,” I say, forcing out a smile as well.

“Congratulations! You must be really tired, right? Sit down, I will bring you a glass of water,” Layla says.

“No, it’s fine. I am not thirsty,” I say, moving to the sofa and sitting down.

“Come on.”

I pat the sofa, urging both of them to sit down as well.