CHAPTER 55.5: MISSING: MINARO N' THE SHRIMP

Defei takes a deep breath and opens his room door. Right after doing that, he's promptly petrified as he catches the sick sight of Zizin eating HIS delectable, Deep Fried n' Salty Chinese Shrimps in the middle of the space; Right off HIS favorite blue plate, not only that, but HIS fridge had been absolutely defiled by him also.

Defei: … DUDE!

Zizin's also petrified but in guilt.

Zizin: … Sorry. I was really, really hungry.

Defei: … I'm gonna kick your ass! I have other stuff to eat in there but you just had to take the Shrimps! My favorite fuckin Shrimp, dude!

Zizin: I'M SORRY! There was nothing else I wanted to eat here!

Defei: You could have just ordered food, man!

Zizin: I- I tried to, but I couldn't find Minaro! He's missing!

Defei's arms are crossed, and he's quite stern.

Defei: … You know what? I'll help you look for him, cuz I need to get my Shrimp back.

Zizin: … Alright.

…

Now in stereotypical Detective attire, they're in a bare, dark room, the only light is on the only object, a big wooden board that has pictures of Minaro, random locations that have nothing to do with him, and dots, lines, and pins connecting everything somehow. The two are staring at it hard, trying to make sense of whatever they had, by some means, managed to come up with.

Defei: … What is this?... We made this?

Zizin: … I don't know.

Defei: … Okay, well, let's write down the stuff our witnesses told us.

Defei pulls out a notepad and pen from his pocket and starts scribbling stuff down.

…

The two had questioned Doa. She was wearing a Maya Blue oversized tee and shorts hidden under it.

Doa: … Minaro?.. The last time I saw him was in the morning. He ate a bunch of sausages and then went to the restroom and never came out.

Defei: … He- He never came out?

Zizin: … Perchance, did he give off constipated vibes?

Doa giggles a little.

Doa: No. He looked fine.

Defei: … So why hasn't he come out of the restroom yet?

Doa: He probably did, I just wasn't looking.

Defei and Zizin look at each other, dumbfounded, and turn around and huddle together right after. They whisper away, very poorly.

Zizin: … Is she playing dumb on purpose?

Defei: No, I think that's just her.

Zizin: There's no way.

Doa: You guys suck at whispering!

They turn back to Doa.

Defei: … You are the number one suspect in Minaro's disappearance.

…

The two had questioned Maya. She was sporting a Greener pajama with Strawberries all over it while sketching on a sizable book for it.

Maya: … Minaro?.. Rinka and him left a while ago, I dunno know where they went though… Probably to go do something stupid, like try to cook rocks. They were talking about that.

Defei: … O- okay… What are you drawing?

She shows off the sketch, a Strawberry.

Maya: It's a Strawberry! Cuz they're the best!

Defei and Zizin nod their heads a little in acknowledgment. Then they turn around and huddle together just like before, whispering awfully loud once again.

Zizin: She's gotta be lying, why would Rinka and Minaro try to cook rocks?

Defei: I'm pretty sure that was a joke, Zizin.

Zizin: We can never be sure, who knows what Rinka and Minaro are capable of?

Defei: … You make a great point, but I have a greater point… Strawberries symbolize purity, and she's drawing one, it means she's pure! She can't be lying!

Zizin: Oh. Wow. I didn't even catch that! You're right!

The two turn back to Maya.

Defei: … Well, you're off the hook. Keep up the good work.

Maya: … Okay?

…

Back in the bare room, Defei rips out the page he just scribbled on and tosses it into the trash; Even the pen is thrown, then the notepad.

Defei: … Case unsolved, Minaro's missing forever, and it's not worth looking for him… We should just go to the store and buy the Shrimp.

Zizin sighs.

Zizin: … Okay.

Defei muses for a moment.

Defei: … No, hold up… I know somewhere closer where we can get the Shrimp.

…

In the forest the Guardian base resides in, there's actually a pretty big lake around. Defei and Zizin are there now, a cheap fishing rod and cans of worms in the perpetrator's hands; The other guy's got a foldable chair and sunglasses.

Defei: Are you ready? You're not leaving here till I have every Shrimp in existence!

He opens out the seat, sets it down, flips his sunglasses on, and sits.

Defei: … I will be relaxing.

Zizin: … Um… I don't know how to fish though, and don't they use nets to get Shrimp?.. Does this lake even have Shrimp!?. Have - Do you even know what's going on!?

Defei: You don't know how to fish!? Also, I think so. I don't know. No. But none of that matters!

Zizin: … Oh my lord.

…

Zizin's idling, rod in hand, and his line in the water. It jolts and he begins to reel it in. It's a simple struggle that results in a Turtle being pulled out of the lake, confusing both guys slightly.

Zizin: Turtle.

Defei: Turtle. Cool.

…

The line's in the water again and it jolts another time, bringing the reeling. This struggle is a little harder but not too hard and results in an Ocean Sunfish being pulled out of the lake. Zizin holds it as best as he can.

Zizin: B- big fish.

Defei: Sunfish… Cool. What are the chances of that?

…

Line. Water. Again. Jolts. Again. Reeling. Again. But the struggle this time is absolutely insane, It's pulling Zizin with the strength of a tornado! It's a situation that instinctively calls forth his tentacles to help pull, and eventually, he wins the tug of war and what comes out of the lake is… A shabby water bottle. The puller and Defei are stupefied.

Defei: … Water bottle.

Zizin: … Wa- water bottle.

Defei: … How did you even struggle?.. How did you even reel that in?

Zizin: I don't know, ask the fishing rod, not me!

…

Defei is assisting with the fishing now; The pals are idle while their lines are in the pond.

Defei: … We've been here for 2 hours and haven't gotten a single Shrimp. But somehow, Crocodiles, Dolphins, even a hippo! What is wrong with this place!?

Zizin's eyes randomly widen and he points.

Zizin: Yo. Look!

Defei squints his eyes. Across from them, at the other end of the lake, can be seen Minaro, squatting and gently patting the head of a Moon Jellyfish swaying in the water and Rinka, also squatting, delicately stroking a Tomato Frog with his finger.

Defei: What the hell!? What are they doing over there!?

In an instant, Defei activates his Skill, flies off, and lands next to them.

Defei: Minaro! I've been looking for you!

Minaro gawks at him for a long while.

Minaro: … Why?

Defei: I wanted to ask if you could please summon some Shrimp for me. Please!

Minaro: … Sure.

His rift quickly appears over the water and a bunch of live Shrimps fall out of it.

Defei: … Uh. Cooked Shrimp, bro… Also by any chance, are you the reason there's so many random animals here?

Minaro: … I'm half the reason.

Rinka: Yeah, It was actually my idea! I wanted to pet some ones I never have and save them from shitty Zoos too.

Defei: Oh wow.

Minaro's rift moves over to Defei, who quickly puts his hands out and together like he's begging. Then a plethora of Shrimp falls out of it, so much, some spills.

Minaro: Is that enough?

Defei: More than enough! This could feed a family of 50!

Minaro smiles a little.

Defei: … Thank you so much, Minaro. You're a national treasure!

Minaro: … Thanks.

Defei begins to chow down on the Shrimp.

Defei: … Hey, on an unrelated note, would you guys cook rocks?

Minaro: … No?

Rinka: … Yeah! I've always wanted to!

TO BE CONTINUED…