Delusions

Utensils clattered and the familiar scent of dinner wafted throughout the repair shop's kitchen. Kono’s famous stir fry lay on the table, Nari salivating in her seat. Kono smiled, clicking his utensils twice in the air. “Eat up yall.”

Before I could even react, Nari was shifting food onto her face faster than my eyes could see. Truly an amazing sight had presented itself in front of me.

“Well, someones hungry.”

“You’re just mad I got all the good stuff. Should've been faster Makoto.” True to her word the carrots and mushrooms were now few and far between, chunks of lab grown meat and noodles covered in soy sauce making the bulk of the remnants.

“Oh, just you wait Nari. Tomorrow you're going to be begging me for scraps.”

“Pffffft. In your dreams. The Truth proclaims it!” With a grin, Nari snatched up a carrot with her chopsticks and plopped it in her mouth. The nerve.

“Both yall gonna be begging for shit tomorrow. It’s hot pot day.” Kono revealed a mischievous grin as he poured the remainder of the stir fry onto his plate.

Nari grinned. “Who knows Kono. You’re getting up in years, reflexes aren't what they used to be. Me and Makoto's younger bodies may simply be too much for you.”

“HAHAHAHAHA. Those are some fighting words right there. You want to have a bit of a bout then, with your oh so young and strong bodies?” Kono placed his elbow on the table and held his hand out, a classic arm wrestling challenge.

Nari’s face turned pale. “You know, I just remembered I had a thing tomorrow-”

“Oh, what's the problem? Can’t your youthful body destroy my old withering arm? My bodies getting up in years after all, I truly stand no chance in this bout.”

“Really need to save my strength for tomorrow. As easy as a win would be, I need to save every bit of strength I can.”

“Ah, what a shame. For Real. Makoto, you’re up!”
Crap. “Yea… You know what, I got a thing tomorrow too. Truly is a shame.”
“Come on y'all; Too chicken to face an old man like me? What about those youthful bodies of yours? Surely I ain't much of a challenge.”

“Fine, I'll take a shot.” I stretched my arm, laying it on the table. Kono would keep this up for the next week if we didn't follow along. Better to take the loss now.

“There we go! Surely Makoto will obliterate me into dust here, right Nari?”

“It’s Makoto. He couldn't beat a fly in a bout of strength. Nari shrugged, the relief evident on her face.”

“So I’m at least stronger than a fly in your eyes? Damn these old man arms may have some stuff.”

“Let's just get this over with.” I sighed, gripping Kono’s Iron fist. Best case scenario I came out of this with my bones intact.

Nari hurriedly leaped to her feet, moving to watch the massacre waiting to happen. “Start when I give the signal. Oh also, don't go too hard Makoto. Your feminine arms may be a bit too much for this gray haired geazer.”

I stared Kono in the eye, his gaze confident and steady. Please go easy on me please go easy on me.

Nari smiled and held three fingers in the air. “Start in three… two… one… Fight!”

Before I could even react, the cool wood of the table slammed into my knuckles. Literal steam was rising from our elbows, still tight against the table.

“You right Nari. These hands can't compete with yalls youth and vigor. This old man should give up any attempt to keep up with ya.” Kono laughed and kicked back in his chair.

I shook my hand, anything to relieve the pain. Worst part was Kono went easy on me. Nari was going to get a little payback one of these days.

“Nari, can ya toss me the remote?”

“Got it.” With a smooth flick of the wrist, Kono’s arm flew through the air like a snake; catching the remote in midair before I could blink.

The familiar hum of the tv filled the room as the thirty year old tv in the corner of the room slowly came to life. A familiar map covered with temperature filled the screen as the sound of the weather report came into focus.

“And now onto our next report. Breaking news, legendary researcher Daichi Umahina was found dead in Taito just minutes ago. According to a statement just released by The Fides Corporation, the perpetrator is theorized to be the same as the Ebisu murder just days ago. They warn of cryptic messages the culprit leaves, and remind everyone to report anything suspicious to them immediately.”

Just then, a familiar ringtone came from my pocket. The one time I carry my virtual lens it rings, what are the odds?

With a tap of the frames I accepted the call as Rei’s voice appeared. “You see the news?”

“Just a second ago.”

“Can’t say I didn't warn you. The aura of death was clear over the horizon, a reaper plain to see.”

“That Rei? What's up, my favorite edgelord.” Nari peaked over my shoulder and snatched the glasses from my hand.

“Hey Nari…” I could swear Rei’s face was turning red from the embarrassment. “Anyway Makoto, check your messages.”

I snatched the glasses back and put them on, digital screens popping up around me. Rei’s message popped up with a single swipe.

Another bloody scene awaited me. I threw the glasses off and gagged. Crap, why didn’t Rei warn me about these? Not all of us had the same iron stomach he loved to boast about.

“Makoto, what's going on?” Kono’s rough voice shocked me back to my senses.

“You know those messages the murderer leaves?”

“What those fuckers call gibberish?”

“Well according to Rei, they’re more than that; Messages left for Fides and the people.”

Rei spoke up. “Exactly as he said. First one was ‘There is the truth, and nothing but the truth. But what is truth, and who decides the truth? Is it God? Is it man? But if man fails at his own truth, is there any truth created by man?’ and the seconds in that message.”

Part of me didn’t want to know, to completely discard the message. Back when the first message came out, it was gibberish to me, nonsensical. Yet this time I saw it in a different light, a dangerous one.

Who decided the truth? What made the truth accurate? It all tied into that rebel's message a few days ago.

No, I was just delaying the inevitable. Sooner I clicked on the message the faster I could get this over with.

I swiped on the gruesome scene, revealing a zoomed in shot of the scene. Written in that same crimson color was a message similar to the last.

“If man creates truth, how is it defined? For humans are masters of their own soul. Truth runs about, an infallible device that approaches every end. Where's the balance? Where's the proof? As man can not prove his personal truth to be infallible, it can not be alone as man.”

“What the hell…” Nari muttered under her breath. It was clear to the naked eye that gears were turning in her brain as she stood stock still.

“You really don't understand?” Rei’s taunting voice came from the frames. “It’s rather elementary if I say so myself, proof against Fides if you have the required knowledge, something they know very well.

“Proof?” I asked. None of this made sense to me. Sure the last one took a minute to comprehend, but this? This was the definition of nonsensical!

“You'll understand in due time Makoto. As I said, plans are in motion and gears are turning on a national scale. I’m not one to place my bets, but either Fides’s downfall is near, or a new age is on the horizon with them at the helm.”

“If you say so. Sounds like something to stay clear of if you ask me.” I sighed. Rei was already too deep into this, I intrinsically knew it. No way he would have got the photos otherwise, and I’d be dragged in next.

“Well, have fun with the info. Don’t think the grim reapers' next visit will be in your vicinity, so enjoy the break, because a new era is upon us.” And with that Rei was gone.

None of us said a word for a few seconds, the silence deafening.

“Well, whatever. With Rei who knows how accurate his stuff is.” A lie. 

“Half the time I swear he lives in his own delusions.” A lie. 

“Honestly I just go along with him for fun half the time.” Another lie.

“You really will do anything to defend Fides to the point of deluding yourself.” Nari’s quiet words felt louder than the blast of a megaphone.

“Deluding yourself? What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean Makoto.” She sighed, then stared straight into my eyes. “And I’m tired of your delusions controlling your life. Let's look at those messages, shall we?”

She snatched the virtual lens out of my hand and planted it on her face. “There is the truth, and nothing but the truth. But what is truth, and who decides the truth? Is it God? Is it man? But if man fails at his own truth, is there any truth created by man? If man creates truth, how is it defined? For humans are masters of their own soul. Truth runs about, an infallible device that approaches every end. Where's the balance? Where's the proof? As man can not prove his personal truth to be infallible, it can not be alone as man.”

“So what? It’s gibberish, all of it! The deranged words of a serial killer.” Another lie.

Nari grinned. “Let’s take a look at this so called gibberish, shall we?”