Dos Noches

Rolling sunlight between the curtains kept me distracted.

Our fancy carriage strolled along through the streets of Dos Noches. Bump. Bumping. Every so often I'd peek outside and see a bustling, teeming city that'd harnessed an industrial revolution. Smoggy skies blurred from cocktails of coal smoke and clouds; just enough light pierced to show crowded sidewalks where factory men trudged towards work. Even with sunken eyes and oil-stained shirts, those men weren't bothered. Their resolve clashed against the dresses of aristocrats walking down the same street.

This was a melting pot culture mixing peasants with the upper-class.

I turned away from the window to face Tsukino sitting ahead. She was bored, cross-legged, wearing an elegant red dress that hugged her curves and left a slit for her leg. This was the first time I'd seen her wear high-heels willingly—since the occasion demanded it.

"Something just isn't adding up," she said, pensive. The glossy red of her lips made them more alluring than usual.

"What's wrong?" Has she deciphered our secret plan?

Tsukino pulled out a letter from her purse and read it through. "It's odd that Nuri the Hero would suddenly invite journalists to a lavish dinner party. She's never done something like that before."

I tried looking coy. "E-Erm, didn't that letter say you all would get exclusive interviews? Maybe Nuri is opening up more?"

"Exclusive interviews, yes. But for some reason, only women journalists can attend the party. So you'll have to do busywork today."

"Yeah. We already agreed I'd just snoop through town for stories while you're away. Dos Noches is a big city after all."

The answer didn't seem to satisfy her. Though she had no choice but to nod and accept it.

That was how Nuri and I crafted our plan: presenting an opportunity Tsukino couldn't refuse, while creating an excuse for me to sift unabated in town. I'd need all day for evidence gathering.

After I straightened my trench coat, Trixie buzzed out into the air.

"Weeee! Hehe! Me and Aizawa are gonna have so much fun today!"

"You're going to watch him so he doesn't get in trouble," Tsukino said. "He may have ulterior motives."

"N-None at all!" I said. "I just didn't wanna be stuck at our inn all day."

She took a second to reply, biting into her thumbnail (kinda hot). "That was also suspicious—why did Nuri send a fancy carriage to pick me up specifically? I doubt she's doing this for everyone else attending the party."

"Aren't you both close acquaintances?"

"True, I like her company more than other Heroes'. But this is all out of the norm for her."

Nothing had made sense to me either. Though after I'd heard Nuri's plan in Besos Rojos, the pieces all fell into place. There was some drama with Vagera before we left—a confrontation where he taunted us one last time. Nuri got involved and a scuffle between them broke out. The aftermath let us escape the city until we ultimately arrived here in Dos Noches last night.

This place where nights once lasted twice as long.

The carriage ride continued. I'd pulled back our curtains so we could admire the passing scenery. Brick factories outside were spewing smoke towards clouded skies. It was almost afternoon, and the climate felt stuffy, hot and cold. Gentlemen loitering on the sidewalks were reading newspapers or smoking pipes, dressed to impress. We'd entered a nicer part of town lined with pastry shops and fine boutiques.

"They say Dos Noches is this country's economic powerhouse," Tsukino said, peering outside. "But there's rumors some strings are being pulled to make all that happen."

"What kinds of rumors?"

"It doesn't matter. Just don't poke your nose in things you shouldn't today."

"I'll make sure he's good!" Trixie on my shoulder said. "I've visited Dos Noches before, so I sorta know directions here."

"Mm. Good. Watch him. You're technically his superior."

"Yay! I'm a bigshot, hehe!"

Tsukino pulled out a mirror to finish putting on makeup. While she pampered her face, I couldn't help noticing—

"You look really nice without glasses," I told her.

"Huh?" she said, annoyed. "Don't be cringe."

"I'm serious. But can you see fine without them?"

"It's not an issue. They're just fake glasses after all."

"Wait, fake glasses?"

She stashed away the cosmetics before clamping her purse shut. Her transformation into the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen had finished, and I couldn't look away from her.

"Those glasses were a gift from Kuroki," Tsukino said. "He mentioned glasses suited a secretary, so I decided to keep wearing them even when I'm away from headquarters."

You know what, that sounds just like her . . . I remembered her confession about not being able to reject gifts from anybody. It was her cute quirk that I'd tried taking advantage of with no success. Though maybe one day I'd get her to accept a wedding ring.

We kept chatting until Tsukino looked through the window and hailed to stop our carriage.

Horses outside neighed as the driver tugged reins, halting the wagon in place. We'd parked on the curb of an idyllic street lined with cafes. Curious passersby tried peering into our carriage, like they were wondering if we were royalty.

"This part of town should be safe," Tsukino said. "Don't go wandering where you shouldn't."

"I'll babysit him good!" Trixie on my shoulder said. "No misbehaving on my watch!"

"Hey, I'm not a problem child or something."

"Even good kids can be naughty, hehe."

Yup. Might lose some sanity today . . . I just sighed and let the pixie have her laugh.

The chauffeur came around and opened our carriage door. He was well-dressed, a butler basically, but hadn't talked much on the way here—the complete opposite of Cowboy.

"My friends will be getting off here," Tsukino told him. "Let me tell them some last things."

"What's up?" I said.

"Just—be careful." Her eyes wavered. "I'm worried. I know we argued the other day, but I still care about you."

"Honestly, hearing that gives me all the reason to live."

"Don't talk like you're going to put yourself in danger."

"Nah." I gave a thumbs up. "Have fun at that party; take your time."

Trixie buzzed out from the carriage first, enjoying sunlight outside. But when I trudged towards the doorway, Tsukino poked my back.

"Hmm?" I looked behind.

"Remember to meet up at our inn before sundown," she said. "And Amila will be hosting a gender-neutral ball this weekend. We can attend that one together."

"Sounds good." One last reassuring smile and I hopped off the carriage. The hardness of concrete greeted my shoes—a resounding thud that reminded me of the real world. But now, who knew what was real anymore?

"Yay! Let's go exploring, Aizawa!" Trixie zoomed around in the air. "We'll have fun playing spies again!"

"Maybe. Let's not go too crazy today."

I glanced over my shoulder. Horses neighed when the chauffeur whipped the reins and they all set off. I could see Tsukino's worried face in the window, peering towards us, as her carriage departed away down the road.

She's got good instincts, that's for sure. Crowds kept strolling by while Trixie and I tried blending in. It'd be a long day. Standing out too much would just work against us.

"If you need sleep," I told Trixie buzzing around my head, "just rest in my trench coat like usual."

"Nuh! I wanna be awake so we can have lots of fun!"

"Well, this will technically be our first 'solo' mission together."

"Give me grapes if I do good!"

"We'll see. Come on." I gestured for her to sit on my shoulder. The little pixie got comfy as we both paced along the sidewalk where a whole new town awaited us.