Out of water

The waves crashed above me as I stared at the thin rays of sunlight the sea allows to enter.

"Look, I know I said today for sure… but it is an emergency, I can't do a thing about it but I promise I'll-"

She hangs up before I can finish.

I hold the shell with regret. I don't have one second to process as it immediately starts ringing again. I open my palm, letting it sink to the bottom of the ocean.

"God... She's right. I really do have to resign."

"So, let’s see... You mean to tell me that, besides the 2 villages burnt to ashes, 3 forests stomped, and the couple hundreds of other casualties... None of you two have a SINGLE CLUE of where this dragon is?" I say, staring down at Hero and Hiro as they tremble for their lives.

In the two decades these two have been with me, the situation only got worse and worse, escalating until the point it's absolutely unbearable. I'm willing to give them one more chance. One last chance to prove me they have true potential.

“You know, I got there first. Me and my guys had everything under control unti--“

“Nothing was under control before I arrived. I managed to control the victims damag--“

“The victims I asked you to save--"

They don't let the other finish a single sentence.

I take a deep breath. They are never going to change.

The meeting is insufferable, the swim home is long, the new shell I got already won't stop ringing.

"What. What is it." I pick up almost screaming.

"Hero and Hiro have already been localized. They're both in a coma."

It takes a good while for my brain to process this information, but eventually, it does. And the way it does it, is by immediately turning off my body from exhaustion just from hearing the news.

The same ringing that drove me to the point of passing out was also the ringing that woke me up. I find myself on a couch, with the biggest headache as I look around, trying to confirm this house really isn't mine.

A dream. Perfect.

The apartment was small and cozy, it really did look like it belonged to me. Being able to walk on legs without worrying about magic... It truly is something. It is by far the biggest change, and right after, comes the lack of weight of my entire hair being gone. At least I won't be sweating all the time when on the surface. I actually kind of like it.

I get up, following the ringing until I found a cellphone.

"Hello, Miori. Finally, we've been calling for hours. The new economic--"

"I resign."

"--Model of batte-- ...Pardon me?"

"You heard it! Find a new boss... Or something... Good luck!"

"No, listen, you CAN'T do this to--" I hang up.

I always wanted to hang up at someone's face.

"Not my problem, not my problem, completely out of my reach."

The phone start's ringing again. Instinctively, I reach for it, about to pick up, but instead, I turn it upside down so I can't even look at the screen. It keeps on ringing. I place two pillows on top of it so it's minimally bearable.

"How many centuries has it been since I had an entire day just for myself?"

Judging by the window view, the city seemed to be a nightmare... But as soon as I step outside, I feel something I never felt before: walking around unrecognized while everyone doesn't take their head out of their cellphones. The good part? We can do anything we want, no one bats an eye. Precisely, my eyes wander around the windows, the parks, the crosswalks... They seem to have it so good. I don't know how often they're worried about destruction in here, but I pretend I don't have a single worry as I roam through the center of the town.

I can't walk for more than 5 minutes without stopping to check out some store's windows. First dresses, then art supplies, but what makes me get inside is an electronics store.

"Good mor--"

"What's that?" I say pointing at what looks like a hat.

"Oh, what do you mean? The headphones?"

"Ooh." I smile, staring at them through the glass. I've seen more of those than I can count on my way here. It must be good. "I'll take it."

I make the entire way back home to fetch the cellphone so I can se what it is all about. There's over 30 missed calls, I don't allow myself to even look at who called.

I wished this worlds smartphone was a little more challenging to use, it's way more simple than mermaid's conchs.

I put on the new hat, laying on bed, and plugging it in...

"I guess I'll need to find good music first." I start the search, but I already know it: Tomorrow, to the music store. If I can get myself a way to use this without needing the phone, it would be perfect.

It turns out to be so good I quickly fall back to sleep. The entire day walking around was tiring, but the quiet music in the dark of the room was what pulled the trigger.

I wake up back in reality by the end of the day, my head still hurting... But at least the phone isn't ringing. "Oh how I miss that dream already..."

I can't believe I'm doing this, but even though no one's calling, I pick up the conch. I hate working the first thing in the morning... But I don't think this can wait more than it already had to.

 I dial, and I wait... And wait... And wait... She doesn't pick up.

"...So this is how it feels, huh?" I smile shyly at the phone. My heart aches. "So this is how you feel..."

I don't give up and I call again. After the third attempt, she picks up.

"Miori!" Bunny says like she hadn't been ignoring the calls, but rather just notice the ringing and was terrified of me not picking up again.

"Hi. How are you doing?" I giggle, holding the conch with both my hands.

"...What do you want...?" She sighs. Not talking as excited as she usually does.

"...I was really asking, but..." I take a deep breath too. "Remember I told you I promised if you have patience, I'd have good news?"

"Yes?" She sounds a little happier. "...You didn't finish it, on that case. You just said you promised and I hung up."

"...Yeah. That, exactly... So, I need you to capture this stone dragon for me and bring--"

"So after cancelling on me and not saying anything for two days.. You show up to talk about work...?"

I freeze.

"T-that... That was not what I was trying to do..."

"...Where's the dragon?" She asks already.

"I'll send you the coordinates as soon as I find it. But hey, look."

"Mm."

"...If you can do it, I'll most probably have even better news. Thank you so much. I'm so sorry... I'm working on something so I have more time to see you."

She stays silent for a while, I can't tell what's her reaction and it makes me shake. I stop holding my breath as soon as I hear a giggle.

"Okay, okay... Stop that, you know how weak I am. I'm fine, okay? As long as you're fine it's... Fine."

I sigh.

"No, not okay. I already have a clue of what it is, but think about it and tell me what's on my reach to make you fine too."

"...Ok. Thanks." She say's taken back. "...A lot."

"Got to go, got to find that dragon." I chuckle. "I'll send you the place, please take care of it."

"You got it. Kisses."

"Mwah." I giggle.

Maybe... Just maybe... Work doesn't have to be so bad all the time.

I didn't tell her to kill the dragon... But good to know she can do it, really, really good. "Things went so well today. Bunny got the job, and I didn't even have to convince Hiro to take the dragon. If I had just talked to her, she would have asked me for her job back in exchange, if I know that little prick." I chuckle. "I'm glad she decided to break in. Made everything easier."

I don't remember last time I've been so excited to fall asleep.

I can barely think of ways to make it better.

When I wake up back on my planet, I remember I can make it better.

To celebrate the dragon being contained, I agree to meet Bunny after one of the meetings. at one of the rooms in the council. I bring strawberry cake and come in my best black silk dress, she opens the door like she just woke up, unkept, in a pink shirt and blue shorts, the most comfortable to receive me.

"You know what the best part of the promotion is? We'll get to see each other way more often." I giggle as I cut a slice of cake on the table. "Actually, I think the best part is just you finally getting your spotlight. It's been due for a long time, being as powerful as you are, isn't it? I couldn't wait anymore."

She laughs completely embarassed as she burries herself deeper into the sofa.

"...You're just saying that, stop." I can see her little smile.

"I'm not." I smile, taking two plates with cake and going to the sofa, sitting right next to her. "You know I keep track of all the great people around. You might not be known yet, but you are one of them. You can do so many things..." My eyes shine. She takes the cake from my hand very embarrassed, her red face looks like she doesn't know what to say.

"H...How are you? You don't seem okay on the past few days, Mio."

She says looking into my eyes as if she has been worrying for days. I hold my smile as sometimes, it's the only thing I know how to do.

"...I'm exhausted, I think the work is actually getting to me. I was pretty sure that I could take anything since I've been working on this job for 500 years... But it's like I've gotten worse... Not worse at the job, but like my body is finally noticing how much time I spend doing things for others and not letting me do a single thing..." The smile is gone by the end of it.

She looks at me really sad and puts her plate away. I can't help but to smile again when I see she comes in for a hug. All I ever wanted was to hug back, but she was hugging me over my arms so I take it as her request for me to not do a single thing. I take a deep breath.

"You really need to stop working so much. It's going to kill you." She sighs, the worry in her voice pains me.

"...I'll be fine. I'm wo--"

"You're working on something so you can work less. Do you even hear yourself when you say that?"

"Bonnie." I look into her eyes with a smile.

"What?" She says still just as worried even then.

"It's really promising... If it works, I'll resign. I promise you." I keep smiling.

She finally smiles at least a bit too.

"Okay. Okay I trust you. Just please, don't burn yourself again." She says pressing me tighter once more before letting go and grabbing the cake plate.

"Don't worry." I chuckle. "Talking about that, I'm thinking of firing both Hero and Hiro from the council." I say smiling as I start eating my cake too. "That would surely save me a lot of sanity. The two are terrible together, they can't ever stop fighting or agree on anything."

"...Really?" She says extremely confused.

"...Why?" I tilt my head sideways.

"...I don't know. I had the total opposite impression the times I saw them. They're really close and defensive of one another." Her words make my eyes open in wide shock.

"Is that so?" I look down thinking about it. It does make sense.

"I swear! I was sure they were at least best friends or something. They're perfect together."

I'm already dialing up my conch again.

"You're giving me the greatest idea." I say smiling with it on ear. "Hello? Please, don't come today to the nightwatch. Have a day off." I say with a smile.

"What is it?" She asks very confused but smiling.

"I'll tell you when it happens."

Sending Hero and Hiro on the same mission together sounded like a hilarious but perfect way to get what I want. I was mostly expecting it'd go terribly so I had reasons to fire them, but when the lizard man handles me the report on the next day, I almost pass out.

"Cursed slightly at the beginning... Then proceeded to focus for the entire shift while resting together at the end...?" I can't believe my eyes. "Are you sure it is right? Who wrote this?"

"I wrote it. It's true. I've never seen them getting so along."

At the next council's meeting, I'm a bit wordless to handle the news.

"...Hero, Hiro."

They both look nervous at me, as if they don't know the results of their own mission.

"...Congratulations, you two have done an excellent job at the nightwatch. Exactly what I wanted to see! ...I'm surprised."

Their eyes shine, but they look one at each other and their smile vanishes. They're the exact same, who knows what goes on inside their heads.

After the meeting is over, I don't notice everyone left the room except for Hero.

"Miori, busy?" I hear his voice down the podium.

"...Yes... I am." I'm not. "Why?"

He looks frustrated.

"Look, I really need a favor... It's a huge one. But I promise you it's worth it." He begs.

It is, at the bare minimum, interesting to see Hero get on his knees to compel me.

"...And it would be?"

"...Masao. I need you to talk to Masao."

My face tilts to the right.

"And what makes you think anything in me wants to talk to that complicated man?" I roll my eyes, offended by even being suggested of it.

"...Because you know him, he surely respects you insanely more than he respects me... I need you to ask him about the day I died for the first time."

My eyes turn at him when he finally cuts to the interesting part.

"I'll do it." I answer in a blink of an eye.

"...Seriously?" He says confused.

"Of course!" My smirk grows. "It's what friends do."

This is the exact chance I needed.