A guy likes a girl because she is standing somewhere out of the ordinary. That’s what I thought about when Shin picked me. I wasn’t from here. A completely different and fresh breath of air I was to him. He hinted at this at times. How true and wrong it was all at the same time.

  My eyes looked downcast at my hands in my lap. My right fist lingered from the impact of punching Shin’s nose earlier.

  He sat inside the same car in the front passenger seat. Nose covered with white handkerchief that was bleeding through. Tilting his head upwards.

  I sat in the backseat.

  Reigen was the one by the wheel. His eyes were fully focussed on the road from time to time his eyes peeked in the front mirror to check on me.

  None of us spoke a word. The car was driving for what it seemed like a long time.

  Yukari Winters had disappeared again. Probably taking a different car. Yuji…that name never felt real anyways. I am impressed that he never broke his character in front of me until that class when the mid terms results came through.

  Shin disgusts me… Don’t make this wrong. I hate both of them but Shin feels more personal.

  Reigen was the one even worse than him because he just stood there asking reports on me. Never even trying to approach me himself. It doesn't matter now. They have laid their cards.

  I have many questions but I was not in the mood to ask any. I wanted to leave though resisting their persistence against me felt pointless so I will simply follow whatever they intend to do.

  We arrived at a big building that resembled a mansion. Looks like I am brought to the lion's den. I actually was here once a while ago but I never went inside. Shin had to drop something off here and I waited in the car that time. So long ago that feels like now.

  The car stopped by the front of the home.

  Immediately Shin jumped out without even looking at my direction. His priority was tending that nose of his.

  I did not feel guilty one bit even if it’s broken.

  Reigen opened his doors and exited. He didn’t wait but opened the doors for me.

  “Come on.” He urged me to get out.

  I silently followed him.

  We went inside the front door and the doors opened by one of their staff. The whole house's interior was impressive. Big hallway that has multiple doors, left and right and double door at the front. The double doors again were opened by the staff. Reigen walked through without even acknowledging their presence. I looked at each face of the staff I could see. I have not seen any of them but just in case I got to carve their faces into my memory.

  After going through the big doors we entered the traditional two way staircase in this big spacious room. We did not walk up but instead turned left. I was following Reigen closely. I did not turn my head to look at anyone directly but did actually look at them without moving my head. So far we have passed at least five people. Some just stood by the doors others seemed to polish and clean up. All were dressed in typical servant attire black and white. None of them spoke to Reigen or acknowledged my presence. In silence diligently they did their duties.

  We entered another corridor with different doors and Reigen stopped to the third of the left side. White doors. He pulled a silver card that opened the doors and held it looking over at me.

  “Inside.” He moved his hand motioning me to do as he says.

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  I followed him and entered this room.

  Reigen closed the doors behind him and I was left alone. He just left me there in this room. As the doors closed I heard a click sound which sounded like doors were locked. I turned slowly around to check. He locked me in here!

  I let out a big sigh and turned to look at the room. It wasn’t big but also wasn’t small. On the walls one could find bookshelves with different types of books about different subjects. In the middle of this room stood a table. A couple of locked cabinets behind. A big comfortable looking chair with two sofa chairs on the right side and left. One and another smaller chair on the opposite side of the table. The room smelled like wood and paper.

  At first, I simply stared around just looking at this room. One minute passed. Then two minutes…five and then ten minutes. Around this time I felt bored and a bit annoyed.

  Was this even legal? Did they kidnap me?

  I still had my phone with me. I reached into my pocket and pulled it out. Had a couple missed calls and unanswered texts from Athena. I did not open them but did open a message from someone else.

  ‘I will be waiting out there to get you back once they let you go.’ Itsuki

  Itsuki will be my ride home it seems.

  I did not respond to his message. Instead I put my phone away. I walked over to a certain section on the bookshelves. There seemed to be a lot of books that were about human research and psychology. Most of them were medical and anatomy and some were experimental essays. There was one book I remembered my dad gave me to read some years ago. This specific one took me back to a specific assignment I was on. As my memory traced for the moment back then my thoughts were interrupted.

  I heard a click.

  Doors opened behind me. Reigen was back and noticed me with this book in his hands but did not say anything to me. Instead he walked over and sat down in that big comfortable chair by the table. He put his hands on the table and landed his eyes at me.

  “You didn’t break my brother’s nose but this will leave his face impaired for a while.” He gave me a report of his brother’s condition.

  I only stared at Reigen. Not saying anything about my actions to punch him.

  He knew that this was provoked by himself. “You won’t be held accountable officially but I do have to give you this warning. Don’t do this ever again.” He gave me a stern warning.

  “If you want an apology you’re not getting one.” I said.

  “Well…this only happened because I pushed you this far.” Reigen acknowledged his part in this.

  “Do you enjoy psychology?” I raised a question looking at Reigen. I observed the many books in his bookshelves.

  “Something like that.” He answered me with his eyes peeking at the book in my hands. “That’s an old classic. I wouldn’t be surprised if that book was part of your training.” Reigen said to me his tone seemingly suggesting something.

  “Training?” I asked. Not understanding the meaning of his words.

  “The professor that taught you. Sano Aisaki or Evans. Not sure which name he has chosen to live by now.” Reigen spoke.

  “You know him?” I was surprised.

  “I don’t know if know is the correct term but this man goes way back. We need him to come back to Akasia.” Reigen said something that I found interesting.

  “Come back to Akasia?”

  “Isn't that why he sent you here to do his work for him?” Reigen eyed me very intensely staring at me.

  I stared back at him. I moved to put that book back where I found it and turned over to sit on that chair at the opposite of the table.

  “What work do you think I am doing here?” I asked him. I didn’t confirm or deny his interpretations.

  “I am not sure what he wants. You tell me!” Reigen demanded to tell him.

  I did not open my mouth to answer him. I simply stared at this guy. Whatever his relation with my dad. I was definitely not involved in this. My dad was not the kind of person who would make me deal with his problems. He won’t even tell me there is one and sort it himself behind my back. Anything that would upset me he will tend to fix. The only work I was told to do was study and find a path for myself. That’s the only thing Sano told me to do. Nothing else.

  “I don’t like you.” I said to Reigen openly.

  “I don’t care if you like me or not.” He responded.

  “Can I go?” I asked. “Boyfriends and girlfriends tend to be like this. I will promise to forget what act you have done against me. I won’t ask questions and move on. Can’t we agree to these terms?”

  “I can’t just let you go yet.” Reigen shook his head as he extended his body in the chair.

  “Why not?” I asked.

  “We need something from you. If you can’t tell me the location of Sano then perhaps tell me how you two spent your time together? Which people he was seeing when with you? Perhaps he took you on trips to meet people?” Reigen asked me a lot of questions.

  Again I stared back without replaying.

  “Use your research on me to find out for yourself.” I said after a moment of pause.

  “Well our researchers were throughout but that information won’t really help to find him or what he is up to right now.” Reigen said to me.

  “Hilarious. I would consider helping you out on occasion where you did not cross my boundaries. If you want people to be on your side next time try to approach them like a normal person would.” I crossed my legs looking at Reigen making my point that I will not cooperate with him.