Thirty-Year Old Men Still Burn Their Tongues

“Just days after the break-in causing a large herd of monsters, intended for domestication, to escape. The MaMA is now experiencing yet another break-in. Causing the Association to rethink and revamp its security protocol. And also, the public to rethink the authority of such a place that would allow this to happen in such frequency.”

The monotone of the morning news caster filled Kei’s apartment which was also filled with more people than it had in years. Okame was snuggled upstairs in Keisuke’s bed with her brother, the monsters keeping out of sight of Meika. Who was snoring in an arm chair in the corner of the room, the low morning sun, slowly rising up her body to eventually hit her face. 

Keisuke and I had slept next to each other on the couch that pulled out into a bed. Ms. Hiyori who had went home, was now back and making coffee. She handed me a plate with some stale baked goods from my mother, and a cup of coffee to Kei. The news went on.

“An official statement has not been released by President Sukimoto or the Association, but inside sources say it might be foreign operatives taking advantage of the association in a time of weakness. Many who oppose the Associations monopoly on monsters and relics have tried to use this to leverage enacting guilds or independent essence based companies. Anti-monster groups are calling for the complete eradication of monsters within the city after the damages the breakout has caused in neighborhoods close to the Association's building.”

Kei sipped his coffee. As we watched the television switch from the newscaster reporting in front of the building and security footage of three mice blasting the security guards and Vice-captain Kirigaya with fire and dessert.

“None of that will ever happen. Unless you can take away people’s chants the essence will continue to accumulate, monsters will manifest. It’s like asking people not to breathe. Essence also forms naturally from the environment and animals. Ahh hot!”

One of the foremost authorities on essence had burned himself on his coffee.

“And asking the association to allow guilds to form is like giving permission to have private militaries. This is Japan not America. That’ll never happen, these people are stupid.”

“At least they can leave their house.”

I took a bite of the stale Full-moon festival coffee-cake. He side-eyed me, but based on the information I learned yesterday. I was going to be dunking on him with any insult I could every chance I got, and he deserved that.

“Who’s stupid?”

The sun had risen to hit Meika in the face and she was stretching and yawning. Wearing her clothes from last night, she had crashed when we had snuck back to Kei’s house, taking the long route home.

“Not you, who’s the best friend I could ever ask for.”

I got up and threw myself over her, using her sleepiness to sneak in a hug.

“Hey quit it! Stop, I’m all gross I haven’t showered yet!”

She wriggled underneath, slipping out of the bottom of the chair to get away from my love.

“I didn’t do it for you, I did it for WhitePurple tickets.”

She straightened her clothing.

“Also, for your dad. I hope you guys found what you were looking for.”

“I hope so too. You better get going. Thanks for your help, but we can’t let you get in any further with this. Who knows what we’ll find in those files.”

Meika twisted her face, and gave me a look.

“Oh come on, after breaking into the association and getting on the news, you’re not going to let me see what I risked my life for!”

I stared at her, with my mouth kind of twisted. I couldn’t say anything more.

“You’re really not going to say anything more.”

She knew me well.

“Alright, well they better be front row tickets, and I want a meet and greet pass!”

“Done. You’re the best you know!”

I gave her another hug which she accepted.

“Better than all the rest.”

Kei stood up to see her out.

“Really Meika, thank you a lot. I’m glad Rei has a friend like you.”

She went to the door and gave him a look up and down.

“Well with a brother like you she kind of needs one. Get better okay, it would solve a lot of our problems.”

What did that mean? She was being awfully hostile, but I guess I did spend a lot of time complaining about Kei to her. Oddly enough that got him to laugh.

“Yeah, I’ll work on it. I promise. Hopefully you won't have to make the long trip out here much longer.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“It's not long, but see that you do anyway. Call me if you do another break-in! Bye!”

She closed the door, and a large cat leapt away across the rooftops. I wished she could stay but I couldn’t let her get any deeper into our criminal activity than she already had. Her shadow essence would hopefully meld into the natural shadow essence in the building, I was hoping the arch-monster we were traveling with would be enough to cover up our tracks. I had avoided using my essence as much as possible for that reason.

Kei looked a little more at ease once she left. He didn’t ask Ms. Hiyori to leave, but I guess she already knew about our dad staying in the other room. She had also been with me in front of President Sukimoto when Hyottoko has passed me the dodo. 

“So what have we learned?”

“He’s on house arrest. He’s been on house arrest for two years.”

Kei had gone through the Kawaguchi folder that Meika had made away with. They were placed on the table next to the couch, since the coffee table was broken by a certain somebody yesterday.

“He’s on house arrest why? Till when?”

“It reads indefinitely. He’s charged with hoarding government assets, and Insubordination.”

Well, that was a lot of big words. I could only guess what the government asset was. The timeline matched with when he stopped visiting Kei. If it was the relic related to helping our dad, that meant he had been locked up for two years trying to help our family. He had been locked up on behalf of his friend’s father.

“So he’s been stuck inside his house this whole time for trying to help you. And you’ve been inside your house this whole time with no clue.”

“I get it Rei. Okay, you don’t have to spell it out for me. I’m a bad person, and a worse friend.”

I was not going to be throwing a pity party this morning. At least not for someone else, I was first in line.

“You’re not a bad person. You’re a sad person. You’re a smart person, acting like a stupid person. But you haven’t given up yet, you’ve been fighting in your own weird little way. If you had given up then you would be a bad person.”

He looked up at me holding back his tears.

“When did you get so grown up?”

“Like a year ago, trust me this is new and uncomfortable for me too.”

We both laughed.

“So are you giving up.”

“No, never.”

“Well then I guess we have to go make a home visit.”

I laid out the snow globe and the picture frame I had stolen from Dr. Kawaguchi’s office.

“Let’s see if we can’t get any more information.”

I began chanting and with a flourish of essence.

“ANIMATE”

The snow globe and the picture frame came to life.

"Oh what a change of scenery, you would not believe how boring it gets being in that office.”

The picture frame had a nice voice, I’d say female around mid-twenties. Very homely.

The snow globe of Tokyo on the other hand.

“Nǐ hǎo!”

“Oh come on.”

I flipped over the snow globe, in the plastic it read “Made in China.”

“This one’s a bust. Sorry buddy, but I’m going to have to un-animate you.”

The snow globes eyes got wide, as I undid the chant on it.

“Uhm Picture frame, how are you?”

The picture frame stared at the now still snow globe, but didn’t seem too bothered by it.

“I’m doing well, nice to meet you.”

“Very nice to meet you, I’m doing a picture frame review. To see if we want to place you in a different office, can I ask you a couple of questions?”

“Oh I’ve been waiting for this, yes of course.”

“Lovely. Now how do you like Dr. Kawaguchi, your current owner.”

“She’s fine, I do miss Daichi though, I don’t really understand why his sister took over his office. I would’ve thought he would bring me with him.”

“Yes that is strange.”

“I mean the picture inside me is of the two of them, but you would’ve thought she had her own.”

“Yeah, you can make more than one picture.”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

“How long ago was this that she took over.”

“Two years ago. After Daichi had brought a beautiful flower into the lab. There was a lot of fuss over it.”

That matched up.

“Has Dr. Kawaguchi ever mentioned going on a date or a relationship with the president.”

I pointed at Kei, who was now digging into her love life.

“She is on the phone frequently, but it’s weird because she talks about having a man and a woman at home. Like come on lady, save some for the rest of us.”

“A man and a lady?”

“Yeah, it’s like no judgement, but it’s going to be tough to convince a fourth person you know?”

“Oh yes definitely. Ummm any more information on her or weird habits.”

“Could you tell her that dental hygiene is very important, I know she comes in in the morning, but like mints aren’t that expensive.”

“Oh yes, I’ll be sure to tell her that.”

“Thank you, did I pass the review.”

“We’ll be getting back to you.”

With that I dispelled the picture frame. Hyottoko who had come downstairs with a sleepy Okame in his arms, looked at me.

“So this time we’re doing a prison break?”

He was a crafty one and a monster, an arch-monster. So why had he become one of my most trusted side-kicks.

“Looks like it, get all your jokes ready.”

My dad was in a box, morals were out the window. We were now all criminals. Except for Ms. Hiyori, she was perfect. This poor guy had been rotting away in his own home because he might have an answer. Kei definitely couldn’t be a bad person if he had a friend this good. I couldn’t just let him sit there. I turned to Kei.

“You better think of a way out of this house by the time I get back with a way to get dad out of that box.”

Kei looked serious, like I just asked him to climb Everest, but nodded.

“Deal.”