The Conference Begins

I saw Nori walk towards me like a zombie. With an exhausted voice and gasping for air, she yelled, "M-Master! I'm... here!"

Fukitsu turned his head around and asked, "Miles! Who said that?!"

Hmm... This is an intriguing chain of events. Nori and Fukitsu are meeting each other, but this time as allies... that should be amusing to watch!

|...|

Nori approached me like a sloth and asked, "Master... who have you... been talking to?"

I turned my head towards Fukitsu.

With lines on his forehead, Fukitsu yelled, "It's that Nori chick! The fuck you doing here?"

Almost mimicking Fukitsu's expressions, Nori replied, "M-Master! What is he doing here?!"

"I could say the same for you, bitch!"

Nori grabbed my right arm and exclaimed, "H-How dare you! Master, you can erase him right now!"

I knew it! This is going to be amusing to watch! Now, how should I make them get along? First of all, I have to inform Nori.

I placed my left hand on Nori's head and reassured her, "Nori, no need to get flustered. He'll be helping us from now on."

"Eh?! Master, you're teaming up with that devil?! Did he do something to you?!"

"No, Nori. It was my own decision."

Fukitsu joined in and said, "That's right! I'll be in charge of all the fighting and stuff!"

Hmm... What Fukitsu said stoked all my interest. How do entities in my mind fight?

"By the way, Nori. You and Fukitsu have been engaged in combat for a month. How do you guys fight?"

"Hmm... That's difficult to answer, Master. But to simplify, whoever stabs the other's core wins."

What the fuck?! That's intense.

Fukitsu added, "We entities survive on our host's life energy. Our core is connected to your heart, Miles."

"I think I get it."

I feel like the three of us are going to have a long conference. I have to make the environment suitable for meetings, so since this is my mind, I'll imagine a...

I closed my eyes in anticipation.

|...|

I opened my eyes, and it appears that we're back in the previous world. Fukitsu, Nori, and I are seated in my favorite cafe. This should be a suitable environment.

"Okay! Fukitsu and Nori! I have two days, so let's discuss plans. When I wake up in the real world, it'll be the day of the operation, and we're taking part of it!"

With a devil's smile and a sinister laugh, Fukitsu replied, "Hahaha! I'm in, Miles."

Nori looked at me with disbelief and asked, "Master, who's Fukitsu?"

I forgot! I haven't told her everything yet.

"So... I named the other Miles Fukitsu to make it easier to communicate."

Nori, still with disbelief in her eyes, asked again, "But Master... since you look the exact same, how am I going to distinguish the real Miles."

Oh, shit. I didn't think of that. So uhh...

Before I could think of a solution, Fukitsu proposed an idea.

"Miles, I can alter my appearance a bit, but not the body shape and facial features."

That's convenient. Well, I have an idea then! Hopefully, Fukitsu won't get offended.

"Fukitsu... can you add horns on your head? Like a devil?"

Fukitsu looked down on the ground, and with disappointment, he whispered, "So we're sticking to our characters, huh?"

Nori, without hesitation, giggled and said, "Don't be disappointed, Fukitsu. At least it wasn't bunny ears, but enough of that. Let us start the meeting."

Bunny ears? That's... yeah, no.

So what shall we discuss? For now, I need to ask Nori about my current state.

"To start the meeting, I have a question. Nori, how's my current state?"

"Since you've already dealt with the other Miles. Your Dark Elf Syndrome is cured, for now, Master. But... it's been replaced by a deadlier disease."

"Apysichos, huh?"

With widened eyes, Nori asked, "M-Master! How did you?"

Fukitsu replied to Nori, "A doctor diagnosed it."

"Fukitsu is right, Nori. I know how it works now. Do you have any ideas how I caught it?"

Nori stood up, threw herself on the floor and apologized, "Forgive my incapability, Master! It's only a hypothesis for now, but I think it's connected to 'Eric."

Eric, huh? I don't know how my childhood trauma somehow became an entity in my mind, but it's killing me.

"Lift your head, Nori. This isn't your fault."

"But Master. I-"

I raised my voice and shouted, "I said it isn't your fault!"

"..."

As Nori got up and sat down at her seat, Fukitsu joined in, "Miles is right, Nori. It's our fault."

Our fault? Again, what Fukitsu said stole all my interest.

"Fukitsu, what do you mean by our fault?"

He stood up and requested, "Follow me... I have something to show you."

"Master! Let me follow you." Nori interrupted.

It hurts to say this to you, Nori... but Fukitsu had worried eyes. It appears that he has yet another thing to inform me.

In a commanding tone, I exclaimed, "Stay seated, Nori!"

"..."

I hope you understand, Nori!

Fukitsu started walking towards the bathroom of the cafe. I followed him, but before he entered the toilet, he halted.

What he said next threw a dagger at my chest.

"Miles... Nori is dying."

"..."

I faced the ground, with my hands forming a fist and shivering.

A terrible beast is creeping behind my back. Fear is swallowing me whole...

I can't bear it! I don't want to lose another one!

With a jittery voice, I asked, "Fukitsu... w-what do you mean."

Fukitsu placed his right hand on my shoulder and told me, "As a fellow entity, I can tell her core is weakening. I don't know what she's going through, but if I had to guess, it's probably related to that devil."

With tears falling from my widened eyes, I barely muttered, "Eric, huh? It's hopeless... I can't even-"

Before I could finish, Fukitsu lifted his right hand and... slapped me.

"*Thud!"

With my cold hands pressed against my cheek, I whispered, "W-Why... Fukitsu."

While his head facing the ground, without any trace of emotion, Fukitsu replied, "You're the only one who can save her. Don't be Miles, Miles. Be a fucking man for once and face your past. You can't let somebody else do it for you."

"..."

"But Fukitsu... The opera-"

Finally showing his emotion, Fukitsu raised his voice and yelled, "Be a fucking man for once and face your past! Leave the operation to me... I'm you anyways."

I wiped my tears away and firmed my resolve.

How pathetic, Miles! If you don't want to lose another one, then prevent it, you piece of shit!

I lent my hand to Fukitsu and proclaimed, "I'll be counting on you..."

Fukitsu and I shook hands, and then he replied, "Let us get to the planning, shall we?"