Chapter 13 - Carnival

Bob turned on a television that was inside the barn. With its volume set to high, the reporter's loud voice has caught my attention while he was delivering the news, my eyes and ears focused on it.

Rebels huh? Now that is something that needs to be put on mind. Currently, there are a number of groups present in the main land. Each of it already has records of assaults and encounter on different places in the past, especially during in this current year, and most of its results were bloody.

I only heard news about it before and had just ignored it, but this time, it got me real scared, considering that we are near from the likely danger.

"Oh dear, that is near to us."

"No worries, the government will be dispatching soldiers to guard the place. And besides, when that happens, the place will be heavily guarded."

Rosalie was really worried about this. It seems this news can't be taken lightly.

"But still----"

"I think things would be dangerous for us now. I might as well train to fight if anything dangerous might happen here." I tried cheering up my co-workers' mood with my humour, but afterwards, it got me dead serious about it as well.

Maybe the incident that happened in the supermarket before is connected to this. I had my suspicions from the start.

"Nah, it can't be."

"Hmmmm? Hey kid, what are you talking all about there by yourself?" Bob exclaimed as he probably heard me mumbling.

Oops… I was being loud too much.

"Whelp~ Anyways, we are all going home, so that would be a good coincidence for us, don't you think? And oh, how about you Hanzaki?" Bob added.

"Huh?! Well, I think I'll stay."

"What? Why?"

"Uh, no particular reasons. Well, no one is guarding the place you see, hehe."

"Kiddo, I salute you!"

It looks like Bob has taken my words in a wrong way, in a humorous way.

"It is going to be dangerous Hanzaki, be sure to be safe all times."

"No problem. I can handle myself, Thanks Aunt Rose."

Rosalie was still disturbed by the info we just got, still having that worried face of hers.

[Ringtone on]

[♪Dakara itta ja nai ka, yowasa o URI ni shittate mae ni nanka susume ya shinai'n da ze...]

I haven't still moved on yet about our conversation and was wondering about the whole 'rebel' news.

[♪nee hakanai jibun...]

Looking back from ending my thinking, Bob and Rosalie were staring at me. I get curious as to why, but when I have just realized, I notice the music that was playing the whole entire time.

"Ah."

"Someone's phone is ringing on the table." Rosalie pointed at the direction.

The phone was obviously mine because of the ringtone, and hurriedly I rushed towards it to pick up the call.

"Oh sorry. That's mine"

When I realized that it was mine, I feel like jumping off on a cliff once again in keeping the embarrassment to myself while heading to end the playing ringtone.

Tch. I had forgotten to change it into vibration mode, how careless.

"Eh? So you like that kind of stuff kid, huh."

"None of your business." I strongly exclaimed at bob, annoyed of his teasing.

[♪hajimeru'n da yareru MON sa---]

"Hello?"

"HELLO CUZ! WHERE ARE YOU NOW!?"

"What the—" Abruptly, Kenneth's loud voice has painfully pierced through inside my ears, bringing me into static, and especially that my phone was also set to speaker mode.

Before I could even pull the phone away, I get to hear mechanical sounds, and the phone was making strange feedback noises because of the people that were loudly talking with their sketchy voices in the background.

As I switched off the speaker mode, I then put the phone back close to my ears to continue the call. I wonder what the catch is.

"What's up Kenny? Uh, I'm at my place, why?"

"Today's the first opening of the carnival bro. Kevin, Francis and Romeo are with me now. You're the only one that is lacking here!"

"I--- I'll have to ask permission about this."

"As you say, but we will be expecting you here!"

Call Dismissed.

"That was quick."

"A friend of yours Hanzaki?"

"That's right Aunt Rose. And, uhmm---"

Pretty much large adjustments were implemented because of my conditions, and it is quite difficult to ask for more favours now. I already owe them a lot.

Trying to say something to them, I've suddenly gone silent while lowering my head, being shy and having a hard time telling them.

I guess it doesn't hurt to just try and ask, right?

"You can go kid."

When I was just about to make a move, Bob surprisingly said it out of the blue, has made a step ahead of me.

"Eehh?"

It seems that he caught up and had understood what was going on in my side.

"Heh, don't give me that face. It's fine for us."

I doubt of it. I look at Rosalie, and surprisingly she nodded and smiled.

"But it is weekend, we got a lo---"

"You already did the fair share of work for today. It was finished about some time ago kid."

"Uhh, really??"

"Maybe you haven't noticed, but you already did the other jobs in advance. Really, you're such a workaholic one."

"Is that so?"

I guess I did have planned it during my early days here. I try to recall my action from before but my memory is too foggy.

Due to my busy priorities, I guess I hadn't noticed it myself.

"Yes, at most times we would always want to make you stop, but looking and judging from your eyes, it really seemed that you're into it, and we can't say no. But that does not mean we're taking advantage of you of the situation, okay? Hehe. Though what you did is really a big help to us older people. We're glad to have you here."

I've been touched by my co-worker's words, making me more embarrassed about it. I looked a bit away, hiding my face that was heating up.

Tsk. I hate scenes like this. Now I looked like a 'tsundere' girl trying to deny it.

"Well, I think I'll be going now."

Rosalie and Bob nodded in response with their faces telling me that everything would be just fine.

Thankfully I'm being surrounded by kind and understanding people. I'm glad I was brought here at this place. Well, time to go then.

-----*-----

Though I had some difficulties around, it was really heart-warming. I was in a good mood, but things turned out to be disappointing when I arrived at the place as to where what my friends had mentioned to me earlier.

"Now, now. WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY!?" Standing in front of the carnival entrance gate, I let out my frustration due to my shattered expectations.

For all that effort I had put from travelling here as quickly as possible, I was expecting that my friends would be waiting at the entrance, but the idiots weren't here waiting.

Instead of being idle at the moment, I start going inside the place. I took out my phone, trying to call them, but no one answered as the signal was off.

Then I move further to look around the area. On the other hand, more people are currently going inside the carnival which is making it difficult for me to find my friends.

"What's with all of these people?"

Despite the crowd, I wandered around in trying to look for them.

I went to the roller coaster, but there was no one there.

I went to the Ferris wheel, but there was still no one there.

I went from the smallest to the largest booths and rides in the area, yet not one of my friends were there.

I'm starting to get a little impatient with this search of mine.

"Tsk, those idiots. Where in the world could they be? I've been trying to call them this entire time but still they haven't answered."

I sigh. Seriously~ What to do with this?

KEVIN'S POV:

We were supposed to be enjoying non-stop inside the carnival since we got here--- but oh Lord, it turned out to be a disappointing start for us.

"Do you feel a little better sir?"

Inside a clinic, these two fools, Kenneth and Francis, had seriously gotten ill. Not because of a dangerous and serious disease or disorder, but the reason of our arrival here was due to the foolish and ignorant decisions of these two that brought a huge mistake upon their own selves.

Currently, a nurse was taking care on the both of them while Romeo and I were just standing at the side, watching them as they are being treated.

"No ma'am-- I-- I-- still feel sick and the--- surrounding keeps on spin-- spinning around---" said Francis, struggling in making a clear and full response due to his said reason.

Francis was holding his head using the both of his hands all the time while closing his eyes.

"Oh my." Despite what the reason was, the nurse resumes in planning on what to do further to cure the both of them.

"You guys are such a weakling, come on man!" Romeo suddenly exclaimed.

"Man-- this is on par with having to drink liquor-- Argh my head!" Kenneth was laying his head on the wall, bearing the sickness.

"You should've told us beforehand about this." I gently said.

"We just happen to know about this now too." Francis responded.

I doubt of Francis' excuse.

"I rode one before, but that thing was worse than before and---- *cough cough*" Kenneth tried explaining while pointing out a certain ride outside that we had took.

"Alright, alright. You two should just calm down and give it a rest." I obviously suggested.

I sigh. I don't know what to do anymore in the meantime.

"Hey Kevin." Once again, Romeo suddenly called out to me.

Looking at him, Romeo looks quite uneasy about something.

"Hmm?"

"Aren't we forgetting something important?"

Something important?

From hearing what Romeo questioned, I really don't have a clue of it, but somehow, it really ticked me off and it has gotten me doubly wondering about it.

"Really? Beats me." Yet at the end, carelessly, I answered back.