Comic Frontier II

The stalker nodded weakly, tears welling up in his eyes.

"We're going to call the police," IM announced. "You'll get the help you need."

The stalker looked up in alarm. "No, please don't! I won't do it again, I swear!"

IM tightened his grip on the stalker's hair, his voice hardening. "You don't get to make that decision. You've crossed a line, and now you'll face the consequences."

"There's no forgiving that you even tried to kill us," I said.

"H-How can you even not get hurt...?" the stalker stammered, confused.

"I'm not human, fool," IM replied.

"Not a human-" he started, but was cut off.

Thud! IM punched the stalker in the face.

"Great job. Also... what should we do with him?" I asked, looking at IM.

He just smiled.

After a while, we finished what IM wanted. Instead of handing the stalker over to the police, we decided to have a bit of fun. We tied the unconscious stalker to a street lamp and placed a sign on his chest that read, "I am a stalker and got caught."

"What happened to him?" a passerby asked.

"A stalker!" IM replied.

I watched the stalker tied to the street lamp and couldn't help but laugh. "This is funny," I said.

"Right?" IM chuckled.

"Let's go back to the car. Dove and Irune are waiting," I said, turning around.

IM took a picture of the stalker before walking back to the car.

***

"Geez… where are they?" Dove leaned back in the car seat, feeling tired and waiting for both of them.

"There they are!" Irune pointed her finger at the car window.

Dove got out of the car and saw us walking towards it. "You guys are late! We've been waiting for 20 minutes!"

"Sorry, sorry! Hahaha!" IM said.

Dove sighed, "Where did you guys go?"

"Doing something," I said, not revealing anything.

As we got inside the car, IM and I leaned back in our seats. Dove started the car. "What are you guys actually doing? I'm intrigued," she said as she looked in the mirror and drove the car out of the parking lot.

"Nothing much, just getting some fresh air," IM replied.

I chuckled, "Yeah..."

The car eased out of the parking lot, the hum of the engine a low counterpoint to the soft chatter of the radio. Dove's eyes flicked between the road and the rearview mirror, her curiosity piqued.

"Fresh air, huh?" she repeated, a playful lilt in her voice. "At this hour? Seems a bit... mysterious."

The car was quiet. Neither of the girls knew we had saved them... though they didn't need to be saved. They were already strong enough to protect themselves, but still, IM and I had saved the day.

"You guys want to eat some burgers?" Dove asked as she continued driving.

"Sounds great, but you're willing to pay, right? Hehe," Irune teased.

"Of course, of course... I would pay for my cousins." Dove started driving towards McDonald's and pulled into the drive-thru.

Stopping at the board, Dove opened Irune's window because it was on her side.

"Welcome to McDonald's, what would you like?" a girl's voice came through the speaker.

"Hmm... I think I'll go for a cheeseburger and a Coke..." Irune said and looked at us, "You guys?"

"Anything with meat," I said.

"I'll just follow Xian," IM said.

Dove looked at the menu board, "Is there any sandwich available?" she asked into the microphone.

"Yes, we still have it," the girl replied.

Dove looked closer at the board, "Alright, I'll have the double bacon sandwich and one soda."

Irune spoke up, "Also two double cheeseburgers with meat and two more Cokes!" she added.

"Alright, one cheeseburger, two double cheeseburgers with meat, one bacon sandwich, and three Cokes and one soda. Please drive to the front."

Dove drove to the window and handed the cashier her card. After a few minutes, they received their order.

"It would be 300,000 rupiah, but we actually have a discount tonight for couples. Are you guys by any chance a couple?" the cashier asked.

The four of us looked at each other. For the sake of a discount? We would fake it.

"Yes, we are. I'm her boyfriend, and he's her boyfriend," I said, pointing to myself, Dove, and Irune.

The cashier nodded. "Alright... that would be... 195,000!" The girl gave them the bag and card. "Enjoy!"

We nodded, and Dove drove away.

As we drove away, the silence in the car was replaced by stifled giggles.

Irune broke the silence first, "Did we really just pull that off?"

Dove, still chuckling, replied, "For a discount? Absolutely."

We unwrapped our food, the smell of greasy goodness filling the car.

Dove took a bite of her sandwich and let out a satisfied moan. "This is exactly what I needed after an hour of standing in that booth, like, ugh!"

Irune, her mouth full of cheeseburger, nodded in agreement. "You must be tired from cosplaying and smiling, right?"

"Yeah..." Dove sighed while continuing to drive and eat with one hand.

"But at least everything is done, right?" I said.

Dove looked in the rearview mirror at the back seat. "Yeah... we finished off the killer, Asmar. Now the Hana Ghost can finally rest... and so can we after such a long day."

The three of us nodded.

I had finally helped the Hana Ghost find peace because her killer was now dead.

The night ride was quiet. Irune was sleeping, while Dove turned on some music from the radio to keep herself awake while driving.

IM and I just stared out the window.

"Xian," IM called.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"When you talked with the Brain, what did he say?"

"He was just yelling that the three of us are connected, like a trinity. You are me, and he is him, and him is me... something like that..."

IM chuckled, "Bad explanation, huh? I guess..."

I just continued to look out the window.

A comfortable silence fell between us. The city lights blurred past the window as Dove skillfully navigated the streets. I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over me. It had been a long, eventful day, but for the first time in a while, I felt a sense of closure.

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