Chương 42: Chapter 11 The Day the World Learned the Truth(Part 3)

I had expected interrogation rooms. Harsh lights. Metal tables. Maybe even one of those cliché scenes where someone slammed a folder onto the desk and demanded answers. Instead, I got a helicopter. Then a plane. Then Tokyo. And finally— A luxury hotel. I stood in the middle of a suite that was probably worth more per night than my monthly mortgage and stared at Chiyoda.

"... Did you arrest the wrong person?"

"No."

"Then why am I in a five-star hotel?"

"Because you are considered a person of national interest." That sounded alarmingly close to "national threat." I wasn't sure I liked the distinction. Chiyoda ignored my expression and continued.

"You will remain here until tomorrow's interview."

"Remain here?"

"No leaving the premises."

"So house arrest."

"A temporary security measure."

"That's house arrest with better marketing." He chose not to respond. Professional, this one. Very professional.

"Anything you require can be provided. Clothing, toiletries, food. Speak to the security detail." I glanced around. Two men stood outside the room. Two women remained inside. One positioned herself near the door. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The other watched me carefully. Definitely house arrest. Just with room service.

"Then I'd like a change of clothes," I said.

"And cigarettes." The woman nearest the door took out a notebook.

"What brand?" I gave her the name.

"And my phone."

"That will have to wait." Of course it would. I sighed.

"At least tell my family I'm alive."

"We already have." Well. That was one less disaster waiting for me. After Chiyoda left, the room became strangely quiet. The two women remained. One introduced herself as Mochida. The other didn't bother. Government people really were built differently. Eventually I ordered food. A lot of food. More food than any normal human should reasonably consume. Which wasn't my problem anymore. Because technically speaking, I wasn't entirely human. The meal arrived. I ate. The agents watched. I kept eating.

They kept watching. By the time I finished, one of them looked genuinely concerned.

"Do you always eat this much?"

"I'm mostly hollow inside."

"... What?"

"Long story." Not one I intended to explain tonight. Afterward, I showered. The dust from the Gate was gone, but the habit remained. Unfortunately, I had no spare clothes yet. Which meant I ended up wearing nothing but a hotel bathrobe. I settled beside the window with a cigarette and looked out over Tokyo's nighttime skyline. The city glittered beneath me. Beautiful. Fragile. Completely unaware of what was coming.

"Is that magic?" Mochida's voice interrupted my thoughts. I glanced over. She was staring at the small flame hovering above my fingertips. Using magic as a lighter had become second nature surprisingly quickly.

"Yep."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." The flame danced lazily. Mochida stared. I couldn't blame her. A floating fireball tended to attract attention. For a while neither of us spoke. Then she finally asked the question she'd clearly been holding back.

"The stream." I raised an eyebrow.

"What about it?"

"What was the purpose?" There it was. The real question. Mochida folded her arms.

"You released an enormous amount of information with almost no warning."

"True."

"The government phone lines were flooded."

"Also true."

"People are demanding explanations."

"That sounds like a government problem." She looked genuinely offended. I took another drag from my cigarette. Then exhaled slowly.

"Tell me something, Mochida."

"What?"

"Before the stream, how much of what I said would you have believed?" She opened her mouth. Then closed it again. I smiled.

"Exactly." The room fell silent. Because we both knew the answer. Very little. Maybe none of it. A mysterious Gate. Monsters. Magic. Other worlds. It sounded insane. Until thousands of people watched it happen live.

"How much of it has been verified?" I asked.

"The investigation is ongoing."

"Then your people are having a very long night." That earned a tired smile.

"Tachibana certainly is." I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. The clock crept toward three in the morning. Exhaustion finally caught up with me. I stood.

"I'm going to sleep." Mochida nodded.

"We'll wake you if necessary."

"Please don't." She smiled.

"No promises." Government employees were cruel. I collapsed onto the bed. My final thought before sleep took me was simple. I wanted my phone back. I wanted to call Rina. And most importantly— I wanted someone to tell her I hadn't intentionally disappeared into another dimension. A hand shook my shoulder.

"Kuroe-san." I groaned.

"Kuroe-san." I opened one eye. Mochida stood beside the bed.

"What time is it?"

"Eleven." I stared at the clock. Then at her. Then back at the clock. I had slept like the dead. Appropriate, considering recent events.

"The interview starts at one-thirty." Plenty of time. I sat up and stretched. The bathrobe slipped. Mochida immediately turned bright red. Then furious. Then somehow even redder.

"Could you be more careful?!" I blinked.

"You know I don't have underwear."

"That's not the point!"

"It feels like the point."

"It absolutely is not the point!" Government agents were strange creatures. I escaped into the shower before the argument could continue. When I emerged, fresh and clean, my replacement clothes had arrived. Black blouse. Black skirt. Comfortable. Practical. Mochida took one look at me and immediately grabbed a brush.

"No."

"Yes."

"No." Five minutes later I had twin tails again. Defeat was inevitable. Some battles simply couldn't be won. With nothing else to do, I ordered another mountain of food. Mochida watched in horror as it disappeared.

"You really do eat a lot."

"Hollow inside, remember?" She still didn't understand. Probably for the best. Around noon, coffee and cigarettes replaced breakfast. Then the door opened. Chiyoda had returned.

"It's time." I sighed. The break was over. The real battle was about to begin.