———Jeff———

  <1: 02 pm>

  “There isn’t even anyone here to prevent us from entering!” Qyunda bitterly said, looking at the area surrounding the dungeon being covered in barrier tape as we walked past the site and continued trailing them.

  “I mean there is the CCTV camera, right?” I said while scratching my cheek.

  “You know what I meant!” She snapped back. “Seriously. I don’t think anyone even saw an official ever going in. They didn’t even bother using it for themselves!”

  “I mean at least they practice what they preach for once.” Gregori snarked.

  “It’s always only when they do the dumbest shit!” She snapped back at him as well. “Anyway, what were we doing again?”

  “I believe it has something to do with what Jeff has been seeing, regarding Karra.” Jass chimed in, looking at me like I’m some kind of weirdo.

  “Why do you keep looking at me like that?” I asked, starting to feel a bit bad, making him feel… whatever he’s feeling.

  “Because you’re stringing everyone along to be stalkers, that’s why.” He said with an uncharacteristically combative tone. “Why are you so armed with Karra being with someone? Last I check, you have zero interest in romance, be it your own or anyone else’s.”

  “Armed is a strong word…” I said to start defending myself. “More importantly, she’s a complete stranger that no one ever saw before. Can’t I be curious about the new neighbor?”

  “...You know. If I realized answering your question would turn you into a creepy stalker, I would’ve kept my mouth shut.” Qyunda said, deciding to not be on my side. When did everyone become so antagonistic?

  “Can’t say I’m not curious, but I feel like there’s gotta be a more graceful way to do this.” Gregori chimed in, also not being charitable to me.

  “What do you mean? It’s not like we’re pressing our face on the gss wall or something.” I said, looking through the gss wall to see Karra chatting with a woman with fox ears and tail.

  “I’d be surprised if she didn’t notice.” Qyunda remarked. “The hell are we supposed to make of this? They’re talking and having a dinner date? We don’t actually eavesdrop or anything, like we’re getting anything out of this aside from standing around arguing!”

  “I’m still confused, I thought she has a crush on Wiina? Didn’t we talk about that?” It’s the one thing that’s nagging me.

  “Maybe because it’s merely puppy love? Who knows?” Jass snarked. “In the first pce, are we even sure they’re dating? Karra and this unknown woman?”

  “If I didn’t make everything up, they definitely were. It’s pretty clear they’re annoyed at me being the third wheel.” Qyunda answered confidently. “Can’t say I know how far this whole thing goes though, I found them together by chance. She was not happy, that’s for sure.”

  “Can’t imagine why…” Jass sarcastically said. He has been quite talkative.

  “Anyhow. If we’re seriously just gonna stare at them, I’ll take my leave.” Gregori said, getting impatient already. “What’s stopping you from just walking up to her anyway? It’s not like she’s going to run.”

  “Isn’t it kinda rude to interrupt someone’s date?” I at least know that much. You guys are making me sound like someone with little to no standard.

  “And this isn’t?” He retorted. I feel like it could be a lot worse, at least.

  “A gang of idiots stalking someone? Not quite what I’m expecting to see today.” Someone walked over and interrupted our conversation, wearing a dark hood that concealed her face. “Aren’t you all supposed to be the most talented kids they could find around here? Why are you all acting like fools right now? Were those guys just ft out wrong?”

  All of us are pretty damn bewildered, able to make out the distinctive face underneath. What the hell is Wiina doing here!?

  “You all look like you’ve seen a ghost. So? Are you going to tell me what’s been happening to keep all of you so occupied?” She nonchantly asked, not caring as to why we’re so shocked. “Seriously. Do all of you forget how to converse? How to talk?”

  “Of course not!” Gregori is the first to speak up. “The hell are you doing here anyway?”

  “Just getting some fresh air. Walking into all of you making fools out of yourselves was merely happenstance.” She said in a condescending tone, before shifting her gaze towards the pair inside the restaurant, still conversing. “Nothing interesting, from what I’m seeing. So?”

  “Look, we’re just going along with Jeff here who wants to know when did our friend score a date, but he managed it in the worst way possible.” Qyunda quickly tried to throw me under the bus.

  “Seems rather personal.” Wiina remarked. “But if that’s the case, I think it’s best for all of you to disperse before either of them catches sight of you and gets the wrong idea. It could easily ruin the mood of the date.”

  “Dammit Jeff, because of you I’m getting scolded!” Gregori quickly compined as Wiina walked away, leaving us still uncertain of what to make of that conversation.

  “Let’s go somewhere else if you are going to continue talking.” Jass said, wanting us to act on Wiina’s advice.

  I mean… I guess we might do that, it’s not like I have that much of a pn in the first pce.

  “I think I’m going to take my leave, actually.” Gregori said, clearly tired of following us around, began walking away before turning to look at us one more time. “Also, remember, no snitching.”

  “...Well that was something, at least.” Qyunda said while we walked away from the restaurant. “I was going to force us to move anyway. Considering how mad she got st time with just me, I think she might contempte murder this time around.”

  “Why is she so secretive about this?” That’s the thing that’s kinda confusing.

  “Because love life has always been quite private and personal?” Jass rhetorically asked. “As far as I remember, we never intrude on anyone else’s retionship, do we?”

  “But this one feels kinda special!” I retorted, giving my reason as to why I want to know more. “A mysterious woman coming into her life from nowhere! Jass, don’t you think it’s almost concerning?”

  “Not as much as you getting invested in this, no.” He firmly said.

  “Heck, I’m nowhere near as enthusiastic as that. Don’t lump me with this guy.” And now they’re really killing my curiosity with so much scrutinizing remarks thrown at me.

  “I know you don’t mean any harm, but I don’t think Karra is going to be so easily convinced if she finds out.” Jass said, warning me about the possible conflict. I mean, I’m not gonna spill the tea at this point, if I’m gonna end up looking like a massive jackass.

  “She’ll probably put you six feet under in no time if she finds out!” Qyunda jokingly said, before turning to Jass. “Say, didn’t Karra go to your house a few times? Has she told you anything?”

  “You’re going to ask me that now…” Jass said, clearly exasperated. “She hasn’t conveyed that much private matters with me, you know?”

  “Then why is she even there? We tried to ask that before and she remained tight-lipped.” Qyunda kept asking. “We thought you two had something, but clearly that’s not true.”

  “...Really? Talking about this again?” He responded, sounding rather hurt.

  “Ah! Umm… Sorry.” Qyunda awkwardly replied. Now what is this about? I don’t feel like I’m part of the club right now.

  “It’s fine…” He said, sounding rather defeated. What am I missing here?

  “So! About those two…” Qyunda then quickly tried to steer the conversation back on track. “The stranger’s name is Navi. Heard that name anywhere?”

  “Never heard of someone around here having that kind of name.” Jass answered. “You’re seriously still looking into this?”

  “Oh shut it. I’m not gonna go stalk her like this guy.” Qyunda said while pointing at me. “Just entertain me for a bit and we’ll drop the case here. Sounds about right?”

  “That’s fine, I guess.” …So is it just me or does the atmosphere feel way more hostile than it should be.

  “...Ah right! I just figured something out!” After a small pause Qyunda quickly excimed as if in panic. “Navi’s voice sounds quite like Wiina’s! I was pondering where I heard her before…”

  “Huh?” This is news to me, and I’m confused if that actually meant anything. Some people sound simir even if they aren’t reted, let alone the same person.

  “The heck are we supposed to make of that?” Jass asked, echoing my silent opinion.

  “Uhh… It’s just more about figuring out something nagging at me. That’s it.” She replied with an embarrassed expression. “I guess… Actually. One more thing I’m thinking about, I need your guys’ opinion on it.”

  “What?” Jass is the one to reply, still looking rather irritated. He seems to be in a bad mood today.

  “It has nothing to do with the current mystery, actually.” She prefaced before asking the question itself. “So here’s the thing. With so many unsolved mysteries with no clear lead in mind. Do you guys think these are life-threatening?”

  “...What?” His irritation turned to confusion quickly. I’m also confused. Where did that question come from?

  “It feels like everytime we look into something, there’s this sense of dread. Am I the only one who got it?” Now that is a little bit more understandable of a question.

  “Beats me. I didn’t look into them as much as the rest of you.” Jass answered before I could. “But here’s the thing. The fact that I could run into something dangerous in the first pce is why I don’t do these things. I’m not looking around or stalking people like you two.”

  “I wasn’t stalking! Like I said, I just ran into them!” Qyunda quickly protested. “Only this jackass did something like that!”

  “Hey! Stop with that!” I really need these guys to erase this incident from their memories or I’m gonna get a bunch of bad rumors. “Also, to answer your question, of course I feel a little bit afraid when thinking about whatever the hell is going on in the world and the massive amount of conspiracies obviously happening in the background. I think everyone is gonna feel that way!”

  “...Why are you two trying to be philosophical?” Jass said, clearly bewildered at whatever conversation is happening right now. “Can you two just cut it out and go do… whatever you guys do as hobbies. If it seems like these things can get you in trouble, then don’t do it.”

  “I think the previous topic is at least not on that level.” I said to crify something. “I don’t think wanting to know more about my friend’s date is that dangerous.”

  “It does have the same sense of something being… weird, at least.” Qyunda chimed in. “Again. A stranger no one knows, getting chummy with our friend with absolutely no signs previously. Even you don’t know jack despite talking with her multiple times. It’s all at least a little bit fishy and has that conspiracy feeling.”

  “You two are starting to sound like nerds instead of muscle heads.” Jass remarked. He’s really quite antagonistic, and vocal. It’s odd, he’s never this combative.

  “Did you get possessed or something? You rarely mock anyone, us included, even when you are in a bad mood.” Qyunda said, having the same observation as I do. “Your attitude has been a bit different these past few months… Why is that?”

  “Who really knows.” He gave a non-answer. “More importantly, I need to dip.”

  “Why-

  *Shackle* *Zap*

  ““Gaaah!”” What the hell!? Who just-

  “Caught you.” Karra’s voice rang out with malice dripping through. Both Qyunda and I got chained up in some sort of energy chain that also shocked us!

  “Have fun.” Jass said before making his escape, that slippery bastard! When the hell did she get here!? I thought we made sure to leave the vicinity of the restaurant! And in the first pce, I thought she didn’t notice us!

  “You two got a lot of expining to do.” Karra said while giving us a look that… Well. You know how the saying goes, if a look could ki-

  *Zap*

  ““Aaah!”” We both screamed out in shock, in more than one way!

  “Well?” She gred at us, clearly not willing to let us go while looking at us like we’re unsophisticated crooks.

  Oh boy, this is gonna be difficult…