Detective Niji

The letters print one after the other on the holographic screen, shaping into words. Over time their popping-up pace decreases until stopping.

     My fingers hover for a fleeting moment over the touch keyboard before lowering enough to brush against the keys.

     An incomprehensible series of letters pop, a vowel continuously printing as in a silent scream, attempting to wake me up.

     Barely noticing that I lose consciousness, I suddenly open my eyes. Slightly shaking my head, I softly tap my cheeks from the tip of my fingertips. The report I have been preparing is almost done, only an hour more and…

“Aurora!”

     Niji appears out of nowhere, popping its head through the holographic screen, crackling slightly as water troubled by a stone thrown upon its surface.

“You should stop now. Get some sleep!”

     It has been several days that the testing period is going on. The researchers asked us to write reports describing the different variations of scents they make us inhale and any change we notice concerning our behaviour. Especially if something happens outside their laboratories.

     During the day, we’re gathered in groups. The same as on the first day. I got accustomed at the cafeteria to Aki and Tenchi joining me, Tenchi Okakotai being the man with a gigantic beard.

     Aki has ended up sympathising with him.

     There are mainly two phases as for the tests. All along the first one they note closely our reactions, encouraging us to interact. Then, they make various exams on each of us.

“Go. Sleep. Now!!”

     A cushion splits the air until hitting lazily my face.

“…!!”

     Grabbing it, I lower the projectile. It is so smooth under my touch… I would like to bury my head against it.

     I take a glance at my report. Tomorrow I should have enough time to finish it before the next test session.

     Sending a faint smile of resignation to Niji, I finally stand up from my desk. Making light steps until reaching my bed, I sit on the edge of it.

“Good girl.”

     As my cockatiel lands on my lap, I softly brush his neck.

“You have been working hard for days now. Take some respite! Why don’t you go to seeing your director instead? You seemed interested in him, right?”

“…”

     It is true I haven’t seen him since the meeting. If I continue this way, I will not be able to achieve my goal. Though…

“I know. I have just got an excellent idea. You can already thank your brilliant Niji!”

     Casting an interrogative glance at the bird, I nestle against the snowflakes painted on the wall, holding my cushion against my chest.

“We are going to play investigators!” His eyes glisten with mischief at this prospect. “Let’s discover more about him! We can interrogate the staff and even! Even track him down.”

“This is stalking.”

     I whisper calmly. As much as Niji seems oddly excited about this idea, I have to reason him.

“Then, how will you do? You will not go and ask him directly, will ya’?”

“…”

“See? Come on! Don’t you want to discover his habits? The stuff he likes?”

     He may have a point… I hug the pillow tighter against me, burying partly my face against it. If I knew something he liked, I would be able to make him a gift that would pleasure Mr. Leafeyorb. And, this way, his affection for me will rise. This way, I will surely achieve to charm him. This strategy may work…

     After a while of hesitation, I nod.

“As long as we don’t track him down…”

“Oww yess!! This gonna be so much fu- I mean we’re gonna do a great job!” Getting excited, my cockatiel spreads his wings. “Let’s follow his every move!”

“This is stalk-”

“For the sake of love!!”

     He ignored me…

***

On the next day, as soon as the tests conclude at the end of the morning, I head to the exit of the room. I am about to reach the corridor when I hear the voice of Aki and Tenchi.

“W-wait!”

“Don’t you go to the cafeteria, Aurora?”

     I turn to face them, shaking slightly my head to Tenchi’s gentle yet rocky voice. Today, I will not have the time.

     As both of them exchanged wondering gaze, I let them and head to my bedroom. I promised Niji to go and retrieve him.

     Less than a quarter of an hour later, I walk along the corridors with my parrakeet perched on my shoulder.

“Let’s find our first witness.”

     Upon his head, he is wearing a miniature deerstalker hat. Brown chequered, it is adorned at its summit by a lovely black ribbon.

“Where did he find it?”

“Look, there!”

     Taking a look ahead of us, I behold the silhouette of one of the researchers taking care of our group. I still wonder if that is really a good idea, but nonetheless I slow down as we get closer to him, finally standing in front of him.

“You!”

     Surprised by Niji’s voice, the poor man jumps. Luckily, the shock has not made him lose the little hair remaining on each side of his skull.

“Yes, you!”

     The researcher points a finger at himself before taking a lost look at me, as if hoping I would explain the situation.

“Miss Andersen what…”

“Let my dear assistant, would you? I have a few questions for you if you don’t mind.”

“Ohh. Uhh… Sure? I suppose?”

     I have to admit I would never guessed someday I would end being the assistant of a cockatiel detective…

“What do you know about the director?”

“The director?” The man replaces his glasses on the tip of his nose. “Well, he’s a responsible man, much like his father was. Thanks to his sociability and sense of management, Amahara Corp-”

“Not these kinds of things.”

     The almost bald man blinks at Niji, unsure of what to say.

“What kind of things does he like? Any hobbies?”

“Well… I’m afraid I don’t know him that personally…”

     We don’t learn nothing convincing from him and soon move on to continue our investigation.

     For about an hour Niji keeps on asking questions to any member of the staff we encounter on our way through the corridors, though… no one seems to have frequent contacts with Marygold Leafeyorb.

     The only information we get is from a canteen-worker.

“The director? He rarely eats outside his office, we send him his meal from here.”

“Does he have any favourite treats?”

     Shrugging her shoulders, the middle-aged woman shakes her head.

“I don’t have an idea.”

     We stroll through the corridors for a few more minutes before taking a break. Leaning against a wall, I take out of my pocket an onigiri. As I hold it with the tip of my fingers, I take a small bite at the top of the rice triangle. So small I have to take a second one before reaching the fresh tuna filling.

     Maybe we should end with this detective thing. Glancing at Niji, I can tell he seems to be disappointed by the lack of results we got.

     At this moment, we hear enclosing footsteps. Slightly turning his head to behold who is approaching, he stifles an exclamation.

“There! He’s there!”

     As I lean to the side, holding my onigiri, I indeed see the director walking through the corridors.

“Let’s follow him.”

     Before I can even protest, my cockatiel flaps its wings and pursue Mr Leafeyorb as he disappears after an intersection. Hence going after Niji, I manage to catch him cautiously at the corner of a corridor, where he stopped. Gesturing at me, he wants me to follow his gaze.

     On the left, the director stands in front of a door. He takes a glance around him and I hide by reflex, leaning against the wall. When I gaze back, the door opens long enough to let him in. The only thing I have the time to notice is the pale bluish light bathing the room, reflecting on his features.

“It isn’t his office, is it?”

     I shake my head to answer Niji. We are far away from his office, we are not even on the same floor…

“Now, now… If that isn’t suspect! He clearly looked cautious. If you want my opinion-”

“What are you doing here?”

     A clear voice echoes behind us and makes jump my feathery companion. Taken aback, I slightly widen my eyes, turning to see… nothing. This, until I lower my gaze.

     There is a little creature, not bigger than a cat. His silhouette reminds me of a stuffed toy, except for the fact that he seems made of wood. His head is shaped as a candle flame, topped with a leaf. No mouth is apparent. His big eyes stare at us, of the same pastel blue that the nerves of the leaf on his head.