The door opened to reveal a girl with a healthy pale complexion and jet-black hair tied messily. She was wearing sports clothes and shorts. Her gray eyes looked drowsy, as if she had just woken up.
'So this is my sister? Alice… (that's her nickname, it just popped into my head) She's really, really pretty!'
"You're home?" she rubbed her eyes, and for some reason, she suddenly seemed a bit more energetic.
"Y-yeah."
"Come in." She walked inside.
I entered and closed the door, then suddenly a golden retriever dog pounced on me, licking my robe.
"Waa…" I almost screamed in surprise.
"What's wrong with you? That's just Debby." Alice watched me.
'Oh right, I just remembered that Adrian has a dog.' I then bent down to pet this dog, stood up, and said, "Alright, that's enough, Debby."
I took off my robe and hung it up.
I followed Alice to the dining table. She was already sitting, her feet moving excitedly under the table.
Before I sat down, I looked at the food on the table; it was complete with meat and vegetables. And it seemed she was the one who cooked all this because she was the only one at home.
"Whoah, you cooked all this?" I finally broke the awkward silence.
"Huh? Don't I always cook when Aunt Maya isn't home?" Alice raised a confused eyebrow.
Oops, I need to fix that.
"Right. I mean…" I took a spoonful of meat and ate it like a critic. "Your cooking is delicious—it always tastes like I'm eating it for the first time. Hmm, did you use new spices?"
She smiled. "How did you know?"
I replied with a nod and a smile, then said, "I'm your big brother."
Then we fell silent again for about half a minute, and I broke it because I was uncomfortable with this awkward silence only I seemed to feel.
"How's school?"
"Fine." Alice swallowed her food. "This Monday, I'll be taking my final semester exams."
"Have you studied?"
"Yeah, I was studying while waiting for you, but you took so long that I accidentally fell asleep. Luckily… this food isn't cold. If it were, you'd be responsible."
'She waited for me until she fell asleep?' I felt touched and couldn't speak.
"Oh, right." She suddenly became enthusiastic. "There's going to be a party at school soon, and I have to bring someone… But I… don't have anyone, you know? Can you come with me?"
'Does she mean she doesn't have a boyfriend and wants to take me instead?' I nodded and said.
"Of course, when? Date, month, year?" I joked and also wanted to find out the date.
She laughed. "You can be funny too, it turns out. Of course it's this year! It's on June 12, 2150! You can come, right? Right?"
I nodded in acceptance and then said, "What's today's date?"
"May 21st," she said with a wide smile.
'If today is May 21st, then this is chapter 1 of my novel.' Then I suddenly realized.
"June 12th? Isn't that three weeks from now?" I was slightly surprised. If it's three weeks from now, why is she talking about it now?
"Hehe, I'm telling you now on purpose so you can put it in your busy schedule."
'I didn't expect her to say that. Does that mean Adrian is always busy?' After a moment of silence, I finally said dramatically, "Alright, I'll put it in my schedule."
Even though I just met her, it feels like I've known her for a long time. Is it because of this body's memories?
We finished eating, and I helped clear the plates and wash them with her. That action seemed to confuse her, but she ignored it.
After finishing, I walked upstairs to my room. My current plan is to find out where Lucas's city is located so I can anticipate events that might happen.
"Alice, I'm going to my room," I said to her, who was lounging on the sofa, and she nodded.
For a moment, I thought this was a dream.
I reached my room and opened the door.
Then I was amazed by the contents of my own room. The room wasn't big but also not cramped. The walls were a dark bluish color reflecting the light from decorative lamps, and there was a white bed that looked softer than my old apartment bed that always made me sore. There was also a computer on the desk.
But that wasn't what amazed me the most; it was the rows of trophies and medals in the transparent cabinet.
"Hmm, so is this what I'm like if I get what I want?" If this is truly a parallel version of myself, maybe it's true!
I sat in the swivel chair, swept the desk, and found a photo frame. In the photo, there was a picture of me as a child (maybe seven years old) wearing baseball gloves with a ball in the middle, while Alice, still small and cute, posed with a very stiff peace sign. Then there was Erickson, whose face resembled mine but looked older, his hand resting on my head.
They were all smiling broadly.
'This is something I never had in my previous life…' Unconsciously, tears welled up in my eyes.
I put it down gently and then found a brown box shaped like the word 'Love'.
That immediately triggered my memory, it was a gift from Sierra.
'Wow, so we were that close? No wonder…' I moved it aside and went back to focusing on my goal: finding information about where Lucas's city is located.
–POV ALICIA HALE–
–Click
Adrian's room door closed.
Meanwhile, I was still on the sofa.
Seeing his face with a red mark on his cheek and his very dirty robe, I became worried about him.
I mean, why is he so foolish? We already live comfortably thanks to Erickson being a Rank-S Hunter… Why does he have to be a Hunter?
I've told him many times since long ago, but he's so stubborn about his goal, whatever it is, and finally I got tired and stopped discussing it.
–Sigh
What I'm actually more afraid of is if Adrian could become a great Hunter like Erickson.
He would definitely leave me like Erickson, who is now busy and rarely comes home—almost a year now.
'I'm afraid of being left again.'
I hugged my knees and buried my face in them.
I wanted to scream but couldn't.
Then suddenly I remembered I had to bring lunch to Aunt Maya, who is in Defier City!
I got up, prepared the food, and changed clothes.
"Adrian, I'm going to deliver lunch to Aunt Maya," I said as I passed his room, briefly hearing keyboard typing inside.
"Yes, be careful," Adrian's muffled voice replied as I went downstairs.
I was halfway there, maybe after walking for fifteen minutes.
It would actually be faster if I used transportation, but I don't like it because it's crowded and smelly. Besides, I also want to exercise.
My eyes then accidentally caught a news program playing on a large TV hanging on a building.
The news showed a four-legged monster whose body had merged with nature, walking gently. It looked like a giant turtle, maybe as tall as a four-story building.
The news caption stated that it was a First-Generation Monster that had been asleep since the Great Calamity first appeared, and it was in Altara City, very far from here.
But it looked gentle compared to the giant monster that was once in Havient City too.
Back then, Erickson hadn't Awakened yet, so he couldn't fight and just carried me away while running.
Luckily, at that time, there was a Hunter with white hair and glowing blue eyes who defeated it easily. I still remember how his blue magic adorned the sky and destroyed that monster.
However, I've forgotten his name.
After a few minutes, I finally arrived at the place where my aunt works: a company called Biogenic Corporation, quite famous for its innovations that have advanced civilization here.
Biogenic has many branches and fields in almost every city in the Safe Zone… And coincidentally, my aunt works in the agriculture department here.
Inside this building, there is a garden with transparent walls to let sunlight in.
I met my aunt, who was resting, and gave her the lunch. I chatted with her for a while and some of her colleagues who said I was getting prettier! Before I finally went home.
I'll spend my time at home studying!
…
–Ring! –Ring!
I was woken up by my alarm. I slowly turned it off; the clock showed half past four in the morning. Then, still drowsy, I sat up and stretched, then grabbed a towel to shower.
Why am I waking up early? The reason is that it's Sunday, and as usual, Adrian and I will do our routine: morning jogging.
I've put on my sports clothes and long black pants. Leaving my room, I headed straight to Adrian's room. You know? This is so annoying! He's the one who asked me to jog, but he's the one who's hard to wake up. Luckily, I'm a good sister; he's lucky to have a sister like me.
–Knock! –Knock! –Knock!
"Adrian, wake up, it's morning. You said you wanted to jog?" I kept knocking while calling his name in different tones so I wouldn't get bored waiting.
I heard footsteps.
He woke up quickly? This is unexpected.
After hearing the key turn, the door slowly opened—revealing Adrian, who now looked tired with slumped shoulders and red eyes adorned with dark circles like a panda. Did he stay up all night? What was he doing?
"Emm... what?" he yawned.
"Jogging..." I answered shortly because he should already know. But he seemed very tired. "You look tired, maybe I'll go alone this time."
"Wait, I can do it," he opened his eyes wide as if to show he could.
He went into his room, then came out again with a towel. "Wait for me."
I nodded, almost imperceptibly because I was surprised.
I went downstairs to put on my shoes, and after a few minutes, Adrian appeared, still with a sleepy face even though he had showered.
"If you're tired, you can sleep."
"I'm coming," he looked around. "Where are my shoes?"
Oh my god, he forgot his own shoes? Is he joking?
"Outside."
He went out, and I followed behind, warming up in the yard while waiting for him to put on his shoes.
"Ready?"
"Yeah," he stretched, then started walking past me.
We started running once we left the housing complex and, as usual, would follow our jogging route. But Adrian refused; he wanted to go to a different city. What does he even mean? I just followed him. We ended up in Esil City. This was our first time jogging here, and I noticed something: Adrian kept looking around as if searching for something.
"Are you looking for something?" I asked.
"Nothing," he answered briefly. "Want to race back home?" he added in a teasing tone.
I accepted by running ahead first, leaving him behind. But my stamina kept dropping as I neared home. I lost. He teased me!
Debby greeted me with her attack, then licked me.
We entered the house and were greeted by Aunt Maya's cooking! Adrian and I immediately sat down and ate together. This is our routine, but my brother today seemed different; he preferred talking and joking more than before. I don't know what hit him to make him like this, but I like it.
After eating, Aunt Maya told me to go to the market because the household supplies were running low. I'm ready now and headed to Adrian's room to say goodbye.
"Adrian, I'm going to the market."
"I'll come!" he said from inside. Then I heard a thud. Did he fall?
"Wait, I'll get ready."
"Oh, alright." Hmm, it's unusual for him to come to the market.
At the market, we walked around together looking for what we needed, like spices, meat, and others. I noticed Adrian; he was wearing a black coat with a white collar. Not to mention that, there was something strange about him. Throughout the trip, he kept touching his chin, his eyes kept searching for something, and he also kept asking about cities. "Scattern," "Elfier," "Blackbourne"—what cities are those? I've never heard of them. Why is he looking for those cities?
I didn't really mind that, actually. I felt stranger about his behavior today. He liked to play around, chat about trivial things, and joke; that's not like him... Hmm, maybe he's trying to make his little sister happy? Haha, but his antics always made me laugh; he was so awkward with me. But I like it; I prefer him like this.
We arrived home with all the supplies we managed to bring. Adrian seemed very exhausted; he immediately collapsed on the sofa. I put my bags in the kitchen, and when I returned... he was already asleep on the sofa. I knew he would be very tired.
I took a blanket from the drawer nearby and covered him. He frowned when I did it but fell back asleep peacefully.
I just smiled, then sat a bit away from him and turned on the TV. But my thoughts were anchored to him. He changed, and that made me even more worried that he might leave me…