It all began two months ago.
The time then was February.
Winter — that is probably something only people living in the North pole can talk about. For Hal, who is in a ocean town in Australia, the weather was undoubtedly summer. Looking up in the sky, one could see the deep blue sky and the ever so eye-catching clouds glimmering in the sunlight.
Even if the whether is blistering hot, it only add to the feeling of liberation that only summer can provide
Plus, there is also the sea. The transparent clear blue sea of Australia, together with the pristine white beach…
A town that fills one up with the flavor and taste of summer just by a laying foot on its beach. A town that, even if it is not a city, captures your heart.
A town that is peaceful, a town that is comfortable to the soul.
However, for Hal, he did not came here to enjoy the scenery. He came here for work.
—In recent years, incidents where Dragons orbiting the moon and satellite attacking cities are becoming more akin to a natural disaster than anything. Unavoidable.
As such, like a natural disaster, countries came out with a plan on how to deal with such incidences.
To be ready for such incidents, exercises preparing one for a dragon attack has become as commonplace as a fire drill.
Yet, even if this method is effective, it is not enough.
For example, this town without a military installation nearby could only rely on TPDO, Trans-Pacific Defense Organization patrols for early detection and safety. However, even TPDO has its limits. One could not rely on them for everything.
As such, there are people who want greater “insurance” against such attacks. Against the "possibility" that exist.
And Hal is the person who will be “insuring” them by selling his “information” and “knowledge”.
For Hal, when he was first assigned here by his organization, it was still winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
It was only until Summer that he, like a famous archeologist once did, traversed Australia to finish his assignment.
Rejecting assignments to relay his “information” like a archeologist give up his finds to the public, he still have not manage to figure out how his “information” relates to the creation of a magician girl from a suitable female candidate [don't understand what this mean -_-]
But none of this is Hal’s business.
It is time to rest and relax — it is time to enjoy life.
As such he when to newly opened cafe and savored a fruit cocktail in leisure, enjoying his live as it is now. That is until he received a call that threatens to destroy his “peace”.
“It is Alice…”
Hal said while touching the panel displaying the caller.
Alexandria Lamperogue.
Born in Georgia, with the nickname Alice, she is a childhood friend of Hal. For a loner like Hal, she is one of the few female acquaintance that remain in contact.
Touching the LCD screen, he enter a conversation with Alice.
“How are you Hal? How long has it been?!”
Her voice was cute as ever.
In actual fact, her appearance fits her voice quite while (meaning they are both cute as ever).
However, it was really hard to treat her as a girl, especially with an memory of her demolishing a 2kg steak even when she claims she is “have not appetite”.
No matter what it may be, Hal repiled to this beautiful childhood friend of his.
“No bad, I just finish my assignment.”
“That is great. Now, I want to discuss—“
-Bib- Hal terminated the call.
It was a instinctive reaction.
“Mind telling me why you terminated my call?”
Alice, who called again, spoke with a voice carrying a sense of doom.
“Sorry. I mistook you for a monster trampling on the paradise I am in. It was a instinctive reaction.”
“That is not a excuse. By the way, please don’t refer to a young lady as a monster.”
“Sigh..I believe I have said it once, but my dream is to safe up money, retire, and go live in a peaceful town where no one knows who I am.”
As Hal spoke, a series of dejected sighs came from over the phone.
“…that? I remember you said something about accomplishing it before you are 35.”
“Yup. After that, I will enjoy my life to the fullest, not working at all.”
“Well, I believe your dream is fatal for a 10+ young man. Deadly fatal.”
“Really? I think that for a future plan, this is actually quite dream-like. I think anyone would agree.”
“Most of them will agree, but amongst them there will definitely be young man like you.”
Was it sarcasm? No, it is an demeaning tone.
Hal, irregardless of how she felt, continue to speak.
“I don’t care about how you think, my dream is my dream. Wait…this place seems suited for my retirement. The town is quite and looks as livable. Aside from that, there is also the ocean…”
“In the end, you are still…”
“Puaa…this place is flawless for me. Alice, I just finished a assignment, so in preparation for the future, letting me take a break should be normal, right?”
“Speaking of which, it still summer holiday over there right. Anyway…”
“Stop whatever you are saying. The reason I ended the call early is because it probably has something to do with work. I would not allow anyone to intrude in my paradise."
“DON’T USE SOMETHING LIKE PARADISE AS AN EXCUSE TO SLACK OFF!”
“Nope. I just want to be lazy being, so please go find someone else to do the work."
“I refuse.”
Looks like both of them are speaking in parallels.
Breaching the deadlock, Alice spoke up.
“Tsk…someone was just going to Tokyo later for personal research…I was even planning to stay there for a while…”
“Research? To Tokyo?”
“Yup. But I do not know the layout of the city at all. Plus, there aren’t many《S·A·U·R·U·》members there to help.”
The research organization Alice and Hal belong to, 《S·A·U·R·U·》.
A organization delicate to fighting against the dragons and replicating the metaphysical, before promoting such activities to the world — this kind of shady organization.
“Right now Tokyo is just another urban city. Plus, with the kind of depressing atmosphere, it would not have any use for us to sent large numbers of 《S·A·U·R·U·》members in.”
Hal spoke it out coldly.
“Dragon Revolution” and the initial attack twenty years ago was settle with terms heavily skewered towards the dragons. As of now, humans need to rent space from dragons to live. Over the world, there are 2000 such “rental” areas for humans.
Tokyo was one of them.
Right now, the capital of Japan was no longer Tokyo. Instead, it is shifted to the central area of Japan. Tokyo was abandoned.
“But…even having a reliable partner next to me would make a huge difference. Isn’t Hal born there? I heard you have a house there so I was hoping—“
“It has been three years since I when there, not did I have any desire to go back.”
Hal quickly rejected Alice before she asked.
“Come on…help your childhood friend a little? Please?”
“Are we even friends?”
“…Heartless.”
“I don’t give a damn if you call me a devil.”
“In that case…YOU ARE A DEVIL, A MONSTER! GO DIE YOU SCUMBAG OF HUMANITY, SHAMELESS LITTLE MAN!”
“Somehow getting insulted like this by my childhood friend makes me kind of happy.”
“Are you a pervert?”
“…………ahhh…”
“At…at least bother to deny it!”
After nagging at Hal, Alice coughed seriously.
“Well Hal, let us talk about our memories. Do you still remember the time where we got lost together in the city when we are young?”
“Wait…isn’t it you who lead the way?”
“If you want to say that, it is technically your fault for losing the map. Putting it aside, I still remember the scene of us hungrily walking around.”
“At that time, I remember suggesting that you try calling for help while shedding tears to attract some kindhearted passerby (or a lolicon) for help. In the end, we actually did it…”
“Yup, even when we know that is not appropriate to do something akin to begging.”
“Not akin. We ARE beggars then.”
“There is still more. Speaking of which, I remember somebody brought a burger with all the money she gotten which she split in half for you then…”
“Wait…according to my memories, you got more than me!”
“It…it is around the same! Is there a problem?!”
“According to your response, it seems you indeed got more…”
“Please erase that memory from your head. Anyway, isn’t it good that way? After the incident, we are fettered together by ties greater than gold. With that, isn’t it your responsibility to share the joy and pain with me, helping me in times of need? Shouldn’t you help me?”
“The reason seems kinda forced…”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Now that you have taken part in half of the food granted by me it is time you repay your debts!”
“Hmm…I remember we are in Luxembourg…”
Hal still remembers everything.
“A burger…that should be around 2 euros…”
“It is the heart that counts! Using money to measure something like that is a sign of a petty man!”
Well, that is how Hal got pulled back to Tokyo, 2 months ago.
Although Alice speaks of irrelevant things all the time, Alice Lamperougue is a still a precious friend of Hirigaya Hagarou.
Honestly speaking, he does have thoughts like “why should I have to go back to Tokyo” even now.
Even if never did he go back. Why? Because no one would be waiting for him back there in his hometown. It was a fact — one he is clear of.
But, he could not excuse himself with such reasons. His relationship with Alice goes too far, too deep for such petty reason to be of use. Shurgging his shoulders in resignation, Hal submit to fate.
His holiday ending with just 3 days, Hal made preparations to go back to Tokyo.