Three of Us II

"Trust each other?" I scoffed. "With a brain that's floating around? Hell no."

"I SWEAR I WOULD KILL YOU!" the brain yelled, its voice booming in my head.

I looked at it with narrowed eyes, a cold fury rising within me.

I could kill this brain easily, I thought, the image of its destruction flashing through my mind.

"E-Eh! S-sorry! Please don't kill me!" the brain stammered, its light flickering nervously as it bobbed up and down in a frantic apology.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "So, you just want me to be careful with my power?" I asked.

"Y-Yes..." the brain stammered, still clearly shaken.

"So, how can I get stronger?" I asked, a new determination in my voice.

"Stronger...?" the brain echoed, then brightened. "Ah, yes! To use your power more freely? It's easy! Just kill a lot of ghosts!"

"Okay then," I said, standing up straighter. "Now, get me out of here. I need to wake up."

My eyes snapped open, and the world rushed back into focus. The harsh sunlight of the courtroom blinded me momentarily, and I groaned, shielding my eyes with my hand.

Geez... I sat up, disoriented, and found myself on a bench outside the courthouse, surrounded by my family. They were all looking at me with a mix of relief and concern.

"Already awake?" IM asked, a warm smile on his face.

I nodded, my mind still hazy from the sudden awakening.

"Great job, Xian," Dove said, her voice filled with pride. "We didn't even need to lift a finger to deal with Asmar. You handled it with just your thoughts."

I smiled weakly, a sense of satisfaction warming my chest despite the lingering fatigue.

"How long was I asleep?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"Long enough," Yolan replied from the bench behind me, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Yawn... I stretched my arms, still feeling a lingering exhaustion.

"Ah, IM..." I began, turning to him.

"What's up?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I had a weird dream," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was talking to a giant brain."

"Oh, the brain," IM chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. "Yeah, I know him."

"Is he really... my power?" I asked, still a bit bewildered.

IM nodded. "He's a part of you, just like I am."

"What brain?" Aca chimed in, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Dove explained, "It's kind of like our Harbingers, Aca. What form does yours take?"

"A bird," Aca replied, a fond smile on her face.

"Right," Dove nodded. "Since Xian's power is Imagination Manifestation, his Harbinger is... well, a brain." She paused, a puzzled expression crossing her face. "Wait, how can you have two Harbingers?"

"No, The brain said I was split into three because my power was too strong." I corrected her, a hint of pride in my voice.

"He's right. We are three separate entities. First, there's Xian, the body, a human who can interact with the physical world. Then, there's me, the Harbinger, who can communicate with the spiritual realm, as you've seen. And the third is the brain, the source of our power. It can't communicate with Xian directly while he's awake," IM confirmed.

"That's..." Dove trailed off, her voice filled with awe and confusion.

"Complicated," Vill finished, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Let's head back," Dove announced, leading the way towards the parking lot. "I need to get to Comifuro."

"Comifuro?" I tilted my head in confusion.

"It's a comic and cosplay festival," Dove explained. "I have an endorsement deal there."

Everyone followed her, IM and I trailing behind.

"Can I come with you?" I asked. "I don't have anything else planned for today."

"Sure," Dove replied, "but try not to attract too much attention. I don't want any rumors starting."

I nodded, taking in the scene before me.

When we finally arrived at Comifuro, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. The parking lot was packed, and a sea of colorful costumes filled the convention center. It was my first time attending such an event, and my eyes darted around, taking in the sights and sounds.

I looked around the car. It was just the four of us now: me, IM, Dove, and Irune. The others had gone back home in the other SUV.

"So... what are you cosplaying as?" I asked Dove, who was driving towards a nearby parking garage.

"Just something from a manga," she replied vaguely.

"Yeah, but what manga?" I pressed, my curiosity piqued.

Dove hesitated for a moment, then replied, "RedGirl, from Chainsaw Girl."

I blinked, surprised. "Red Girl? Really?"

I had read the manga, and Red Girl was a complex and controversial character, to say the least.

"Yeah," Dove said, a hint of defiance in her voice. "I know she's not the most... popular character, but I find her fascinating. And besides," she added with a smirk, "I think I can pull off the look."

We pulled into the parking garage, the concrete walls echoing with the sounds of car engines and excited chatter. As Dove turned off the engine, she leaned back in her seat and sighed.

Irune, who sat beside her, smiled. "Just remember not to use your power accidentally~" she teased.

"Yeah, I know..." Dove chuckled. "I hope my wink power doesn't go off without warning..."

We all piled out of the car and made our way towards the entrance of the convention center, the air filled with the excited chatter of fellow attendees and the thumping bass of anime theme songs.

As we entered the main hall, I was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the event. The space was a maze of booths and displays, showcasing everything from handcrafted figurines and manga volumes to elaborate cosplay costumes and gaming accessories.

Irune, her eyes sparkling with excitement, grabbed my hand and dragged me towards a booth selling adorable plushies. "Look, Xian!" she squealed, pointing at a fluffy creature with big, round eyes. "It's a Tuturo! I want it!"

Dove chuckled, shaking her head at Irune's childish enthusiasm. "Go ahead, have fun," she said, giving me a reassuring smile. "We'll meet back here in an hour."

< Chapter 097 > Fin.