In Which, A Weird Evening.

<Logical>

I sit in the class with many glances spared on me with fear. It's weird. Many people gazed at me at the same time. It feels like someone is stabbing me over and over in the span of two hours.

Kota and Inu try to ignore me, but sometimes I felt their gaze on me. It seems like what Monster did was well-known among all students.

Speaking of Monster, yesterday at the start of my meeting with the Queen of Queens, I felt as if Monster had given me access to the Switch with him.

But that's weird. Monster isn't the kind who's willing to work together. He's a soloist.

But when I took over, I felt no resistance. Is it perhaps because of that deal we struck?

Hmmm... It might be...

I've never struck a deal before in the Mind Conduit yet perhaps... there is some weird mental implantation that is ingrained in each of our personalities' consciousness.

Let's speak analogy. Let's imagine an A.I, built by one of the greatest programmers. Whatever the programmer programmed towards the A.I, the A.I will act as ordered.

In this analogy, all of us are the programmers, but also the A.I.

So, whatever happens; deals, actions, feelings, conversations-- that happens in the Mind Conduit will always be ingrained in one's consciousness. Forever implanting that rule or deal the personalities have made.

My deal with Monster is:

'If I shake your hand, the only time you appear is either there's a fight happening in the Outside World or if I ordered you so. Understand that, Monster?!'

Applying my previous theory, we can say that Monster is already under my control... That's... interesting.

*RING*

The recess bell rang, interrupting my parade of thoughts.

I'll give access to Goofy, I need to talk with Monster regarding this.

*CLICK* <Goofy>

RECESS! YAATAAA!

"Kota! Kota!"

Kota flinched and nervously turned around to see me.

"Wanna eat together?"

He nods hesitantly.

"OK! Let's goooo!"

By the time I reached the canteen with Kota and Inu, many students and teachers were staring at us with vigilance in their sight. It was unusual for me, but I know that whatever Monster has done can't be undone.

I just have to adapt to these new conditions.

"Kota, what are you eating?"

"AH! Um... T-tuna sandwic-

"Hey hey! Look at that. Hahaha! Kota and Inu, bitching on the new fighter."

A couple passed us to go to another table with a dozen bigger guys. They look at us with ridicule. Meanwhile, the other students look at Kota and Inu with pity in their eyes... As if I was holding them hostage.

"Kota, Inu... You know, you don't have to sit with me if you don't want to..."

They looked at me with shock but then smiled.

"Kenma, it's alright. We do this because we wanted to." Inu said to me. "Don't listen to those... DEMONS." She gritted her teeth while saying that.

"Yeah, Kenma, we're here cus' we wanted to," Kota said in between his munching. "By the way, what do you bring?"

That... is when it hits me. I-I-I forgot to bring a meal!

"If you forgot to bring a meal, you could buy from the stall, you know. This tuna sandwich is also bought from the stall." Kota said.

That... is when it hits me. I-I-I forgot to bring my wallet!

"Don't tell me... You forgot to bring your wallet too?" Kota suddenly reached into his pocket.

"Y- you don't have to, Kot-

"Stop! I don't care if you're a fighter or an athlete. Any homo sapiens have the needs to eat. You can pay me back tomorrow or something, I don't care." He said while giving me his last 450 yen.

"Thanks, Kota. I'll pay you back tomorrow."

Then, I zoomed toward the stall.

The rest of the school went normally.

At 3 PM, Kota and Inu said their farewell to me and went home. I walked in the opposite direction to my apartment.

As I open the door, an elderly man with an elegant monocle appears in my line of sight, sitting at the dinner table, sipping his tea.

"Wh-

He suddenly zoomed at me with speed my eyes couldn't bare to see and then, without warning my eyes suddenly closed, and my consciousness slipped away.

--

I open my tired eyes.

I see an ample bright light looming over a round table small enough to fit only two people.

I blocked my eyes from the light and blinked several times to finally gain my vision back.

"Hello, Kenma. We meet again."

"Ah. Umm... Who are you again?"

"Oh? You must be the third personality, Goofy. Nice to meet you. My name is Lesley Moriarty. Call me anything." She reached out her hand to shake mine.

I instantly jolted out of my stupor and shook hers.

New friend! NEW FRIEND!

"Hi, my name is Kenma. But you already knew that. You also know which personality I am. So I guess introducing myself would be a waste. Are you Logical's friend? Have you met Monster? I'm gonna call you Lesley." I shake her hand over and over.

She seems alright with it. In fact, she seemed delighted to meet me.

"Good to meet you, Goofy. As we wait for Logical to respond. Shall we talk?"

"Umu!"

"Good."

--

5 minutes later,

"Yeah! Then, I made this big sculpture of a dolphin-

*CLICK* <Logical>

Queen of Queens! What is she doing with Goofy? Why didn't he alert me about this?!

"Hello, Queen of Queens."

"Well- well, look who decided to show up late."

"I'm sorry for my absence. May I ask just what you were discussing about with Goofy?"

"We were getting into the good part. Goofy was talking about his passion for art. He seems quite good with it as well." She slipped a piece of paper to my side of the table.

On the paper, a drawing of a flower can be seen. It's not just any flower, it's the flower that used to bloom every year in the village and it was drawn... very realistically.

"This is Goofy's?"

"Mhm."

Hmm... Goofy is good with art? How come I have never noticed this?

"'How come have I never noticed this?' That is what you're thinking right now. Logical... You are too arrogant. Too... prideful. You only focused on yourself, further ignoring what others may desire."

"Tch. Fine whatever. What is it that you want from me?"

"Logical, join me."

"Pfft. Not happening."

Though, a part of me wants to.

"I've seen many such as you." She rolls her eyeballs to Otto and then back to me. As if she's implying that Otto is one of the subjects in her statement. "And all of them... Joined me. They have fulfilled their destiny. It's now your turn... to fill yours."

"I'm not one of your subjects, Queen of Queens."

"Yet."

"Why... Why do you have such passion for making me join you? I told you I'm not and will never join you."

"Hmm... Fine then, I won't push you anymore." A knock resonates from the door. "We should eat now, maybe it could clear up your head."