Chapter 4: Inner Clockworks

Running through the street is more exhausting than I thought. I try my best to regulate my breathing, adrenaline spiking—I wave through the somewhat deserted traffic passing through curious few bystanders all the while carrying an unconscious and de-transformed Rena. The helicopters had already quickly caught up to us in just a few seconds, despite Rena’s jumpstart at the beginning.

Less said even more on those people who had the idea to chase after us just to get a closer look at Rena. It's a good thing my concealment works within a small radius rather than just concealing or blurring a specific spot, so I don’t have to worry too much about Rena’s face being revealed as she’s slung on my back.

And my shouting too.

“I don’t know if I should be happy or annoyed! When I said to go easy, I didn't mean to push her until she passes out!” I exclaim angrily, sweat and fatigue riddled across my entire body. Rena is really heavy! I can only run half as fast; carrying someone is really awkward, I don’t know exactly what is the best way to do it, and I’m definitely not like those on the track team that can run as fast as bicycles!

“It wouldn't be a test anymore if I didn't. If you desire for any consolation, she sustained injuries amounting to none.” Her voice sounds almost smug, not at all repentant.

“That is not any better and you know that!”

I don’t have the time to re-adjust either, so I’m stuck with a shoulder carry that looks like she might fall off. Not to mention all the shaking and thrashing around, good thing she’s not awake for this; I really do not want her to vomit all over me.

“Ugh… Tale, how much longer!” My body is already protesting, the fatigue and strain amplified severely when carrying someone. Who knew. I thought sarcastically.

However, we do have a plan—a solution when the need to escape arises. And that’s escaping through a pocket dimension, through Wonderland.

“Just a few more seconds. I still need to calibrate the mirror field regulator, it won't be able to maintain the stabilized hold on the anchor to Wonderland without it. My, it's certainly quite the challenge when you're on an intensive time limit.” Her voice from within my pocket, calmly replies.

“What about the Looking Glass!? Can’t we use that?” I need to get off the road, but I can’t find any building to hide that isn’t a store or a small isolated area.

“No can do. I’d already finished the implementation for it to function as a spatial gateway; and the Vorpal as a modular console mainframe. It's only a temporary solution for energy allocation for now but—”

“Then what do I do!? And in simpler terms please!!” Helicopters are right above me now! The Surroundings as far as I can see are the few empty cars on the street and dozens stories high office complexes.

None of which can help me escape nor hide me once the agents of the GPC come crawling down.

“Take a turn to the left, after you pass the next building, head inside the subway station up ahead, then go towards one of the restrooms and hide yourself in one of the stalls. That should give me enough time to coordinate and stabilize the worldline, then I’ll be able to open up a rabbit hole to Wonderland.”

“I have several questions. Out of all the names you could’ve used, why is it another one based on Alice in Wonderland? It's really starting to get ridiculous now—and what do you mean rabbit hole?” Passing under the shelter of a building, I took a shortcut and noticed the underground subway station right away.

“A mere name placeholder as we go along. You can’t refer to something without a moniker can you? We can think of a better one later on.”

“It’s a terrible name.” I remark. The subway station is completely deserted, only a matter of time before that changes when the evacuation protocol is called off.

I can imagine her snorting in response. “I’m not for one to simply name things as is—Doorway to another world as “Doorway.” Where's the flair in that? The meaning, the nuance, the symbolism, the passion for one’s creation? Lacking in all of those is just excuses for vanity.”

“It's still better than calling the clockwork squirrel we have at home Dial o’ Ding.”

“It’s a perfectly normal and splendid name! It makes a ding whenever it detects—”

“...Terrible name still.”

She sighs. “Fine, let's just say we're both lacking in regards to the naming department and leave it at that.”

I try to argue. “I think I can—”

“Hey! Stop right there!” A fierce voice calls out. I flinched, almost losing my grip on Rena, catching myself at the last moment. They must be from the GPC.

“Oh no, the agents are here already. Tale, what do we do?” Adrenaline going overdrive, my awareness and reflexes sharpens. Heading down the elevating downward stairs, I can hear more voices coming from behind me. We have about ten seconds or so before they get us, definitely not enough time to make it to the restroom’s stalls!

“Looks like I’ll have to cut corners then. Five more seconds, then hide yourself behind a wall—we need to be hidden from the eyes for this to be flawless.

“I’m removing the equidistant spatial waypoint; so be careful, I have exactly no idea where we’ll be landing, chances are we might be falling from above.”

“Stop where you are! This is an order!” Another voice echoes behind me, I did not dare to look. A distance I estimate about three meters away from catching us; so close yet so far. As Tale would say.

My arms scream in protest from the strain, just a few more steps until I reach that corner! if I even hesitate for even a moment, they’ll definitely catch me!

Once I made a snap turn to the left—checking the surroundings all the while—making sure that the subway station was completely empty, I brought out the pocket watch and called out. “Tale! Whenever you’re ready!”

In an instant, the ground below me gave way to a gaping hole—as if the floor had decided it had a mouth and wanted to eat me.

I fell into that hole.

“T-Tale! Uwah—!!” Momentary freight consumes me and I scream.

Darkness blinds my vision. Falling into the void, my distress cry makes itself known as the only thing that exists here.

“Calm down, I got you.” A moment later, an arm reaches out, encircling—and then grabs a hold around my abdomen.

Breathing a sigh of relief, that was easily the most terrified I’ve been in a while. A burden was also lifted off me, both metaphorically and physically. Tale separates Rena’s body from my hold and easily carries it instead in an under arm carry.

Now both of us dangle underneath each arm of Tale’s even while free-falling.

Tale falling like the force of a missile, the air sounds like it's almost screaming as we tear through it, making me slightly dizzy. Until a small and soft thud sound is made, meaning we have apparently landed. Yet not a single tremor or recoil to be felt as we hit the ground; as if all that momentum and gravity was just a mere suggestion.

Cheshire’s grace. The phenomena that recreate how a cat survives a fall in an instant before we touch the ground. It’s a special ring that disappears once used. Only Tale has figured out how to make one, and I still had mine in my pocket, which means it's Tale’s own personal ring she used, as hers doesn’t disappear and can be used indefinitely.

The whole place lights up in an instant; blue skies and clouds shining from above, like the sun was switched on like a light bulb. Stretching as far as my eyes could see is an empty field with nothing but grass.

A horizon that ends abruptly—an imagery project of the sky. Like there’s a barrier that’s keeping us in, like a cage. It's quite a distance away, about a few laps in the trackfield long… so about a kilometer or so away?

The grass is tame and vibrant, swaying from side to side from the cooling breeze that came from… somewhere. But on a closer look… the grass looks to be more artificial.

“...Tale, what is this?” Now standing on my own two feet, bending down to softly graze the fake grass with my hand.

It feels like carpet. but at the same time, It feels strange. It isn’t like those artificial grass that could be bought from stores, no. Strange as in, this is exactly how I would imagine grass would feel like—flaky, springy, free and ever-flowing like the wind. It was perfect. Too perfect. No flaws, no blemishes despite the fact it’s not actually grass.

A weird contradiction.

Something that is but isn’t.

Something that can only exist in fantasy.

Something that can only belong in Wonderland.

Lost in my thoughts, I mutter. “So this is Wonderland…” I didn’t really have any expectations, but I knew that whatever Tale is working on for the past few years, would be amazing.

Knowing is one thing, but experiencing it is another. Tale did often say that, and I can’t help but find myself agreeing.

This place is magical.

Though… a part of me is disappointed that, in the end, it is all an illusion. Which makes the experience and this place quite underwhelming… but still, it is a place where one’s dreams can be made true. Tale would definitely say that if she were to respond.

A feminine voice answers from behind me, bringing me back to the present. “The malefic field. Turning mere thoughts and desire into tangible physical existence; similar to something like projection.” Tale, with a snap of her finger, a soft flash of light in the shape of a sofa appears before fading away to reveal a conjured large gray cotton sofa bed.

She lays Rena on its soft mattress.

“Only existing within Wonderland. You can take things here but you can't take those that belong in madness and delusion.”

Wonderland. Supposedly a pocket dimension that only me and Tale have access to—a place where it's entirely cut off from the rest of the outside world.

A space that can store memories with Wonderland as our capsule. A space that allows my wildest dreams to exist with just a thought. A space where we hold domain over.

Our own safe haven.

Our Ark.

Our Home.

“Why do you call it a delusion?” I ask. A chair pops up out of existence, right next to the sofa, I sit in it.

Tale begins pacing around me. “To see what others can’t see—what others would consider insanity. We proclaim to bend the laws of reality to what we want it to be, forcing our ideals onto what’s considered normal, remaking the world into what we consider just and fair…”  Her eyes meet mine, a smirk grace her face.

“If that isn’t called a delusion, what is?” She finishes.

“...If you mean it like that, I guess it isn’t necessarily wrong… Then what about madness?” I only understood about half of what she said, most of it went over my head but I was still able to understand the gist of it. I think.

“Oh, that’s because this is going to be fun.”

I deadpan, giving her the stink eye. Somehow I feel like that most of the problems in the future will be coming from Tale rather than the monsters and criminals we’re conspiring against.

She smiles at me. “Now then, let's get down to business.” Snapping her finger again, the scene before us changes.

The once bright and sunny view turned into a clear night sky, the moon high above shining below rays of gentle moonlight; sitting at the epicentre was now a tree, a tree that literally shines and glitters with luminescence of golden starlight.

“Woah.” Awe spills from my voice, no words can describe how beautiful a tree can or could be right before my eyes. Even more so, it's young.

Standing just barely over my height, the trunk is bulky, spanning the size of my spread out hand. It has multiple curves on it like veins you can see on the back of a hand; branches that stretch far and wide from one another and the vibrant violet purple leaves—that look almost like sakura flowers—drooping down on it like grapes on a vine; swaying gently in the wind.

“It’s a Wisteria tree, if you were wondering.” Tale spoke up. The silence was stretching as I gape in awe for a few seconds.

“...It’s glowing—with golden light. Why?” I ask. Usually such a question is pointless and an oxymoron when a place called Wonderland is exactly living up to its name, Wonderland; a world devoid of logic or reasoning and randomness is its identity.

Even so, I questioned anyway. Because clearly Tale wanted to show me something.

“The heart of Wonderland,” She took out a pocket watch from inside her coat, and returned it to me. I must’ve dropped it during the fall…

“And also the terminal for the console mainframe. It might not look like much, but appearance can be deceiving. I pride myself that you’ll find this no doubt evolutionary. The apex of technological marvel combined with thaumaturgy.”

Her chin rose haughtily. “My magnum opus cordis. A singular thought is enough to ignite the spark to operate it.”

“A single thought…? Wouldn’t that be disastrous?” My brows furrowed, that sounds like a terrible idea. Also she spoke latin again, what's a magnum opus cordis?

“If you mean if one were to have unconscious or off-handed thoughts, yes. That would normally be the case.

“Hence why there's only two methods to properly operate the terminal. Now, come over here, I'll show you one of them, it’ll be rather easy to do.”

“Okay.” I left my chair, walking up to Tale, leading me to the Wisteria.

“Now place your hand on it. Yes, it includes touching the leaves, it works just as well.”

“...” She answered the question before the words could even leave my mouth.

My hand tries to grab a hold of one of its branches—one with the least amount of fluttering leaves, but instead my hand passes through it.

“What—” The sensation was queasy, like digging through wet sand on a beach.

She interrupts. “Now concentrate, your focus should be purely on opening a doorway to our apartment. Imagine yourself with intent—opening the door to our home.”

I close my eyes and imagine exactly as Tale said. My thoughts focused, leaving the coarse feeling of my hand behind; my mind drifts, reaching out to envision the turning of a doorknob to our apartment—

Click.

The sound of a door unlocking and opening echoes throughout Wonderland. I look towards the source, located a bit far distance away, a portal sized door has rippled into existence, leading to our apartment.

The corners of the portal wobbles like its bending through space and time just to be here. Which probably is the case.

Tale’s lips curved upward. “Splendid. It worked wonderfully. Though the position would need some work, I’ll modify it later; but for now, I think you should handle your little friend.” Snapping her hand the portal wobbles and fades out, disappearing like breath on a mirror.

“Ugh… My head hurts.”

Right on time, the voice of a girl groaning groggily could be heard behind me. Withdrawing my hand, I quickly make my way to her side.

“How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?” I ask pensively, crouching down. My hand smooths over to hers.

“O-Oh, I’m just a little exhausted and light headed, that’s all.” She says, pulling herself up to sit up straight. I took a closer look at her physical state, her face is droopy, hair disheveled and sweat caked on her skin has mostly dried up.

Then a moment after, “Wait a minute, It’s night time already? How long was I out!?” she shouts. Her face slowly paling as she looks up at the sky.

‘Could be better.’ I thought.

“No, it's currently 12:46PM. You were out for less than ten minutes. And the night sky is only an illusion.” I say calmly, hand moving to take her temperature. “Must be because you used up all your mana.”

She furrows her brow, trying her best to remember. “I see…? Okay so, the last thing I remember… was flying through the air, and then you caught me right?”

“Yes, it was quite the remarkable last ditch. Though I recommend putting your strength at the ball of your foot rather than your whole. Too much wasted mana otherwise.” Before I could respond, Tale interrupts from behind, her hand holding out an energy drink. 

“Uwahh!!” she screams loudly in shock.

She darts a trembling finger at Tale. “Y-You! What-How-She attacked me! What—”

“Ah. Ah. Ah~” Tale interrupts, holding a finger up. “Take five seconds to calm down and look around before asking your questions.” She smirks, leaving the drink to stand by itself on the bed.

Rena is stunned in complete shock, going pale but once she considers my reaction—glaring at Tale with a deadpan—she starts taking deep and slow breaths; taking stock of the massive empty greenery of the field shaded in gentle moonlight.

“Do you really have to do that?” I say sharply.

“Nope. It was funny.” She has the audacity to smirk even wider.

Then again, what do I really expect from Tale? She's always annoying and likes scaring people now too apparently.

“Wait a minute. Was that the reason you packed an extra drink into my bento? You predicted—no, saw this coming?”

“There’s a saying—trouble doesn't come to find you; you come to find trouble. So it would be remiss of me to not be prepared for such?”

“You could've at least told me.” I say tirelessly.

“Now where would the fun be in that~ If I spoil the surprise, how would I know how your legs would run during an emergency?”

“I hate you.”

“I love you too sweetie~”

I let out an annoyed sigh; Rena watches the byplay in speechless confusion.

After taking a few moments for her to collect herself, Rena finally decides to speak up.

“Um, Alice, who is she?” she asks softly, the situation completely out of her depth.

In askance I look towards Tale. “Did you not tell her?”

“Pretend I'm the big bad you'll see in every Saturday afternoon. Not knowing anything about me adds to the fear and mystery factor. Great for the viewers at home~”

I did not deign a response to Tale’s nonsense reply, instead I decided I will do the explaining.

“She is Tale. She is my guardian and caretaker. And also the one who decided to assault you because she wanted to test you. I'm sorry about that, by the way. Tale just… does things.” I say simply, leaving it at that.

“Test me? Test me for what?” She asks, baffled.

Tale cuts in again. “Your capabilities. Your intrinsic knowledge on how to use your abilities are subpar. As expected; you had no mentors to guide you after all. And your ether regulation in your body is still not yet stable.”

“I see? ...I don’t get that last part.” Rena tilts her head.

“Tale calls ether as another form of mana or magical energy, or whatever you decide to call it that let us use and do magic.” I explained.

She nods slowly. “...I’m sorry but this is just too much and too confusing. Would you mind if…” She shyly and cautiously leans closer to me, not really noticeable unless you’re really paying attention. Reaching to my ear, she whispers. “...we just talk—us together?” She’s clearly still warily eyeing Tale—afraid that she’ll maybe pounce on her somehow.

“I understand.” I say simply, taking the energy drink and placing it in both her hands. ”Tale, can you leave us for a moment?”

She shrugs, leaving without a word.

Huh. That was simpler than I expected. I would’ve thought she would argue or say something cryptic before dramatically disappearing off somewhere. What is she planning?

“Just what is going on!?” Speaking frantically, her voice was hush but the sharpness and indignation was potent.

“...You need to be way more specific than that.”

She frowns slightly. “Okay. What is this place?”

“Wonderland. I’m leaving a lot of technicalities out but you can think of it as a special place located in a different world that belongs to me and Tale. You’ll be safe here, no one from the outside world can get in, and only through us that anything can get out.” I say simply. I don’t think I can explain independent pocket dimensional space on my own in an understanding way considering my last attempt at explaining things. So I think it’ll be better for Tale to do it instead. 

She perks up. “So like a pocket dimension?”

Huh. Nevermind. Looks like she already knows of spatial theory somehow. “...Yes, like a pocket dimension. How did you learn about pocket dimensions?”

Her expression immediately brightens up. “Oh, well there was an episode in Soaring Sky Sakura where Vilmore—The main villain of the show—tries to steal the Sky Garden. And the Sky Garden is a pocket dimension that exists to hold and maintain a seal of a dangerous weapon inside it. And—” Her words gets more and more enthusiastic as she goes on. 

“Okay, you can stop there. I got the gist of it.” I interrupt, I get the feeling she’ll never stop.

“Oh right, sorry. You were saying?” She rubs the back of her neck, appearing apologetic.

“This place will serve as a base where we’ll mainly use to discuss and operate anything magical or supernatural related.”

“I see.” She says softly, scanning and admiring the area. “There’s a beautiful tree over there, and this sofa… has it always been here?” Her eyes held a look of wonder, I think I even saw large stars sparkling in them...

“Nope. Tale made it appear. Speaking of which…” I turn to where Tale is working, her hands were buried deep inside the tree with her eyes closed, seemingly in deep focus.

Then I shout across the plain. “Tale! How do you make things appear?”

Tale didn’t react, staying completely still. After a moment of silence, her mouth opens to speak, but her eyes remain closed in deep concentration. “It’s simple enough. Like I showed you before, just imagine something with intent. A rabbit inside a top hat? Imagine what kind, what type, what size—all of the necessary details and traits. You don’t want to have a half rabbit to somehow pop up do you?

Rena brightens up excitedly “Wait does that mean—”

“Ah. and also, it only works for you. Alice. I’ll set up a system where we can key people in so that Rena can do so as well.”

“Aww. That’s a downer.” She shags back into the sofa; I shrug back at her and reply back to Tale with an affirmative nod.

“Is Tale always like this? One moment she tries to beat me up and then next… being kind and friendly and doing this? It feels too disorientating." Rena asks, fidgeting with the drink in her hands.

“Unfortunely, yes. Even for me, I have no idea how to deal with it. She’s completely unpredictable and erratic in the way she both acts and speaks. But I have learnt to live with it.” I shrug.

“That doesn’t sound reassuring at all…” She awkwardly chuckles.

“...Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, Tale will never do anything to actually hurt you. She just… uses really unconventional methods. That’s all.” I try to console. Though I can’t really tell if it is working or not. I’m really not cut for comforting people in these kinds of situations.

“Back to what I was saying, we can use Wonderland as a place to convene—to deal with anything magical related.

“We can also travel almost anywhere as long as we know and have been to the place before; food, water, and any other necessities we need or want would also be taken care of.”

“The more you describe Wonderland, the more it sounds like a paradise. You said you can imagine and create anything right?” She says with a hint of excitement, eyes sparkling.

“Yes, going by what Tale said, that is true.” I nod slowly.

“Then can you—”

“I would much prefer if you didn’t.” Tale says, popping right beside us. How did she even get here? I was just watching her a moment ago.

“Uwah!! Please don’t do that!” Rena shouts, jolting violently.

“Tale.” I frown at her, voice full of disapproval.

She smirks. “Wonderland is currently sustained by the ether I got from you. The meager core from a Hollow isn’t nearly enough as a power source to do anything else other than maintain what already exists here, like the sofa you're seating.”

“...You really are shameless Tale.” I sigh. Casually admitting to using her is quite low of you, but I feel like that's only the beginning.

I can already feel a headache coming along.

She has the audacity to smile politely as if the byplay from earlier didn’t exist. “Yes. Well, which is why I would like Rena to help keep Wonderland up and running by fueling it herself.”

“Tale.” I glare fiercely. She would never agree to it, nor would I honestly. And I especially do not want to pressure her.

Rena twists uncomfortably, making a baffled expression before her face twists into an inexplicable frown. “I know you would still try to fight me anyway—with or without the core, but couldn’t you have said all of this when you were taking the core?”

“Monologuing is fun in the face of an audience, but some things are just not meant to be known.” She says cryptically.

She furrows her brow, deep in concentration. “You mean to say… that all of that was a ruse? So that no one knows the true purpose of this—of everything?” Her eyes widened brightly in realization.

“Sharp. That is indeed correct.” Tale compliments.

Rena finally decides to drink, opens the can, taking a big gulp. “If so, why me? Is it because I’m the only one that can create mana—no, ether as you said?”

“Unfortunely so. Dependence on cores is simply unsustainable as of now, so the next best solution would be you.”

She contemplates, raising an eyebrow. “Is that even possible? This is just… too big for me to comprehend, I mean how is it possible just me alone be able to power something as fantastical as Wonderland?”

“Underestimating yourself is natural, but power is anything but natural. An adolescent magical girl alone is enough to power the whole of Japan for eleven hours. Granted, keeping in exception if she were to focus entirely on ether conversion itself.”

“Don’t magical girls always generate ether naturally? So what do you mean by ether conversion?” I ask, this is new. Even to me.

“Naturally only in the sense of walking, rather than breathing. It goes without saying that the body can still wane and tire even after small, short constant uses.”

“I see.” Both of us nod, understanding the analogy rather easily.

“To keep it simple, ether—while only conventional in magical means—is an extremely potent energy. It holds multiple internal properties that warps and defy reality as we know it, and is also rather eco-friendly—dissipating after exhaustion.”

“So, how much power does Wonderland need and how do I do it?”

“Oh? Already committed just after my explanation? Curious~”

She denies it lightly. “It's just hypothetically speaking, I don't really know if I want to… I don’t really know what Wonderland even is.”

Tale smiles in response. “Wonderland is a place where we have our secret slumber party. So make sure no one knows, only us~”

We both deadpan. Rena seems to be getting on the same wavelength as me when dealing and reacting to Tale. A part of me feels funny that we are sharing such a unique bond together.

Tale shrugs. “It won't be for my benefit anyway. My purpose is to maintain Wonderland and ensure it's operational. Alice over here, on the other hand, has the singular right and say so to dictate on how it's to be used—in other words, it's true owner.

She leans in closer to us, an arm distance away. “Rather fitting isn't it? Alice of Wonderland~”

“...I’m not going anywhere near anything resembling a blue apron dress.” I say with finality in my tone, my eyes blinking rapidly in disbelief. So that’s what Tale has been working on. I did not expect this at all. Even if my gut feeling says I should have. I didn't think the whole purpose of Wonderland was this...

“Disappointting. Anyway, happy birthday Alice~” She says cheerfully.

Rena gasps. “It's your birthday!?”

I say slowly, confused. “...But it isn't my birthday?” I really do not expect this at all.

“Eh?” Rena says, blinking twice, completely lost in the conversation now.

Tale smugly responds. “Anyday can be a special day if you desire it to be~”

“But it still isn't my birthday.” I deadpan, again. My birthday was two months ago, she clearly knew it because she did celebrate it. She's just doing this to mess with Rena.

“Either way, we're getting off track. Do you still have any more questions Rena?” I ask.

“What’s the deal with the GPC? What’s so bad about them?”

“...Multiple reasons. They think you are a ticking timebomb that needs to be in their control.”

“Wait… Huh!? Why would—”

I shrug. “No idea. The only reason I know about this is because of Tale. Which is why I’m staying clear of them as well. If they knew what Wonderland is about, it would be a disaster for us, and who knows what they would plan to use it for.”

“Usually the simplest explanation is almost always the correct one. You are a teenage girl with an immature underdeveloped frontal lobe that’s still in development and emotions prone to react to the slightest of changes—it wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, really, if you somehow blow up the city.” Tale explains, shrugging to herself.

“Due to that, the Tokyo Director of the GPC branch isn’t very keen on magical girls, making his opinion known with subtle hints of precariousness and the need to control them throughout the public interviews from what I’ve seen. Chances are, he’ll definitely try to put a leash on you if he could.”

Rena frowns heavily.

“Beyond that, they tend to violate your piracy, regardless of whether you wish to keep your public identity private, with or without contracts to bind to an agreement. Though, I don’t fault them for so, that’s how one usually with paranoia handles a ticking time bomb.

“While I don’t disagree with the benefits of joining the GPC, the coordination to deal with any disaster or crime would dramatically decrease if that were the case. That is, you wish to throw your life into altruism where the tracks are endless and without break. Or you intend to blend both your social and persona into one of a superhero.”

Rena sat there, dazed. Tale’s long rumble comes to an end that leaves us speechless. Not because it's shocking, but more like it takes time to process. Not for me however, Rena on the other hand… might take more than a while. Unlike her, I already knew how complicated things are, so I’m used to it.

Taking the now empty can from her hands, I decide to stick by her side for now. “...I think it's best we continue another time, we still have a lot of other things to go through and the school isn’t going to be happy that we’re somehow missing.” I say.

The teachers would be checking to make sure to account for everyone inside the bomb shelter. They should be finished doing a headcount by now, noticing two people are missing.

She freezes. “Ah! You’re right! Iruma-sensei should be done taking attendance by now, what do we do!?”

“Tale?” I look to her, maybe she has an idea.

She closes her eyes, jutting her lower lips exaggeratedly, rubbing her chin and humming to indicate she's thinking. I’m pretty sure she’s just pretending and not actually thinking. She just likes to make others think that she is.

I feel like I made a mistake here…

“We could stage a kidnapping.” Tale suggests directly with a smile on her face.

“Huh…?” Rena says blankly before slurring her words. “Wait, hold on. I’m feeling… rather light headed, I feel like I’m going to… pass…” Leaning back embracingly on the couch, she falls asleep rather quickly, completely out of it.

“Tale… what did you do?” Completely shocked, I turn to ask Tale in dread.

“Did you drug her!?” I exclaim, turning to look over at the object in my hand. When did she even dose her energy drink? It was unopened! It even made that hissing sound when you opened it!

When I thought she couldn’t do anything more outrageous, she does this… I feel like I won’t be able to sleep well at night for the rest of the week.

She smiles even wider, it almost looked demonic. “Well… the best way to fake a kidnapping… is to commit a real kidnapping.”