I'd be honest…
I don't know why I am here…
They told me to get here…
I don't know who they are…
I have a tower for myself…
They asked me to sleep here from now on… inside a clocktower…
Sounds cool, doesn't it? It's like that one kid and robot thingy… I don't remember the details…
It's an old clocktower…
Dusty… webs all over…
Zero gears and metal…
But they didn't bother to renovate or reuse the building… they just abandoned…
Even the clock pointers are still intact… forever stuck at six o' six with snow and cold…
It's January 10th… holiday season…
Yet here I am alone writing this…
. . .
Sigh…
What am I doing?
It's 1:23 for goodness sake…
I should sleep…
_____________________________
Still January 10th…
8:07 now…
I still feel eepy…
"Hey, kid? You good?"
Are you blind…
"Yeah I'm good…"
"Alrighty then! Here's your uniform. It's perfectly measured, don't ask how we know~"
Uhuh…
"What?... You want me to change now?"
"I mean if you wanna. The game is about to start in half an hour. We can introduce you while wearing that sick ass coat for the effect. How does that sound?"
. . .
"I'll change…"
"Oh, great then! I'll leave you in my office while you do. Don't worry, I'll guard the pervs away~"
. . .
He's annoying… but at least he's gone.
_____________________________
There he goes yapping about the game… why even make this whole thing into a game? I don't see the point…
I mean… it does help keep me on a low profile… maybe it's for them instead of me… that sounds right…
Them journalist would spawn immediately and kill for a photo of me… which means they'd bother everyone on this island for a spill…
Didn't they have military or soldiers for that? I do remember them on TV some years ago…
This is just delaying the mobs… once I debut, there's going back…
My face would be plastered on every corner… screen… billboard…
Ugh… can't wait for that…
. . .
But again… we are playing a game now…
Wait… no. They're the ones who're playing…
My role is to just adapt… maybe some friends? I doubt that part…
Unless they're extrovert fakers or too kind for this world…
I don't mind hanging around the theater kids, they're fun at times, unless they're masochists in humiliating themselves…
The latter is… probably common here, but I can already hear the rumors and shit…
All because I have balls and a tail…
. . .
Hmm…
The cosplay route doesn't sound too bad… meh… who am I kidding…
They'd burn me alive once they found out… wouldn't be surprised if they throw something once they see me…
Speaking of which…
Why is this guy still yapping about the game? He sure loves the sound of his voice…
Why is he gassing me up like I'm some royal blood or celebrity? They don't even know what I sounded like…
Why is he the one with the mic? Where's Director Aikawa? Don't tell me she let this guy do what he wants just because they're related?
If she's the one in here, this would be over in 5 minutes…
It's 12 minutes and he's still explaining the game, ay caramba…
. . .
You know what? Screw it…
He talks too much…
Belt.
Tie.
Shoes.
Hair.
Good.
Let's get this over with…
. . .
"And– oh? Almost forgot everyone but here's the one I'm talking about! The face of the game itself! V-I-V-I, Vivi! My boy, The Uma Musuko!!!"
Murmurs… whisper… it starts now…
Don't look at them yet… stare straight to this fucker Rei…
"Come here, my boy! Stand right here!"
I'm sick of hearing his voice…
Let me just…
"C'mon Vi–"
Thank you, shut up please…
"Hi…"
I finally stared at them…
They went silent…
Eyes all over…
Ears twitching…
Gaze wide open… ohh, most of them are flattened now…
Yeah… they're scared…
I'm probably like a UFO to them… but breathing… walking… with hooves…
Still frozen, huh?...
Sigh… here comes nothing…
"Hi hi hi, anyone hear me?"
(Why did I say it like that?)
Nobody reply…
I blamed Rei.
What about this?
*Stomp*
Everyone flinched. Good.
"Testing testing testing. You hear me or not?"
Still no word.
"Just nod for now, you can do that, right?"
Some nodded, some still froze, some just blink.
"That's good enough…"
Make sure to thumbs up, give them encouragement.
"I won't waste anyone's time, so if you have anything you want to ask, go for it. Just go for it. I don't care how wild it is. Just ask."
. . .
"If I may interu–"
"Leave…"
I give him the stare.
He put both hands up and walked backwards backstage. At least he's not stupid.
I glance back at them again.
Oh shit… did that scare them?
"Okay, how about this…"
I turned the mic off. My voice should be loud enough.
"Can you hear me?"
I see some nods.
"How about the back row?"
Only one nodded.
"Fine, I'll just sit at the edge so everyone can hear me."
. . .
Just sitting there for a moment…
Looking around the auditorium…
This place is pretty cool…
They all still cold though…
Sigh… how should I do this…
I'm no mind reader…
. . .
"Can I just… look around? I've never been to an auditorium before."
Nods nods? Okay…
Just walk slowly around… let them stare…
Act curious… flick your tail…
They might notice my right ear ain't working… let them wonder…
. . .
Huh…
They're really staring…
Can I just…
*Stop, turn left immediately*
They still follow…
Why aren't they saying anything?
Would they even react if I do a musical break? Would they?
*Whistling*
No reaction…
Are they even alive?
Are they dead?
Alright, who am I gonna jumpscare?
Hmm… who's the most innocent looking here…
How about… the pumpkin-head with crutches?
. . .
*Walk fast in her direction*
She blinks and throws her stick at me.
"Woah–!"
Almost hit my face, caught it midway. That was cute.
"What are you doing!?"
Oh good… someone normal at last.
"WHAT Y'ALL DOING, HUH!?"
I yelled at everyone.
They flinched again, some of them back away. Progress.
"I AIN'T TRYING TO EAT YOU OR ANYTHING!! WHY Y'ALL ACT LIKE MANNEQUINS?!"
Everyone's ears flattened.
"I HEARD THIS PLACE WAS UMA PARADISE! A PLACE WHERE YOUR DREAMS CAN BE REAL! YET SO FAR ONLY ONE GUY ACTUALLY TALKS TO ME AND HE'S A NEPO BABY!!!"
. . .
"YOU! WHAT'S YOUR NAME?!"
Pointing the crutches at the owner.
"E-eh!? U-uhm… I'm–"
"SAY IT WITH YOUR CHEST!!"
"IT'S SORA–"
She instantly put her hands on her mouth.
"Wait… was that your real name?"
Her ears went red. She glares at me.
"Oh shit… my bad."
Hands up in the air.
"H-hey.. what were you doi–"
"Yes?"
I stare at them. The words died in their throat.
Hmm… maybe I went overboard…
"Here…"
I give her crutches back. She reaches out slowly and takes it.
. . .
"I'ma just be real with y'all… I'm new to this." their ears perk towards me.
"This is my first time seeing this many Uma eye to eye…" I moved to the center, their eyes still following.
"Back in my town… I'm the only Uma there… well… my Mama too but…"
"I… sigh… like Rei said… I just moved here last night…" I'm in the back row, everyone glances back.
"Yes… I'm an Uma Musuko… and no… I didn't ask for it…"
"I'm not a lab Frankenstein… or nature's anomaly… I just… born here in Japan…"
. . .
"Well… I'm 18 by the way… I was born in December… I'm not sharing the exact date yet… we're still strangers…"
I hear one tiny giggle somewhere.
I'ma just sitting here in the back, it's higher than the stage.
"What else do you want to know? C'mon… I won't judge… except if you want me to?"
. . .
Still in doubt, huh…
Let's see what happens if I stay silen–
Oh? Someone raise their hand? Really?
"Yes?" I point at them, gesturing her to continue.
"U-uhm… w-what is y-your favorite food?"
"It's anything with chocolate. I love brown sugar." didn't want to say carrots, cuz chocolate is infinitely better.
"I-i like chocolate too!"
"Girl, who doesn't? But, I appreciate the effort. Next please." I see her ears getting red.
Five chuckles at that. Progress.
Another raises their hand.
"W-what's your favorite color?"
"I like pink."
Murmurs. They probably didn't expect that.
"I mean all colors are great. But pink just described me, you know?"
The murmurs get louder a little.
"What? Eyy, what are y'all whispering about?"
Some raise their hands immediately.
"You first."
"Do you like running?"
Ahh… this one…
"It's… hmm… I don't wanna say it's complicated but I like jogging everyday, morning and before sunset… but personally… I like music the most."
"What genre?!" Someone asked before raising their hand.
"Uhhh, the good ones? As long it sounds cool I'll vibe with it."
"What's your favorite song?"
"What artist?"
Oh, they're getting active now.
Wait… fuck… someone finally asked this…
Okay okay, Vi… you practice this moment… breathe in… breathe out…
"I… actually… write some songs myself…"
IDIOT!! WHY ARE YOU WHISPERING!?
I see their eyes lit up. Wait, did they hear that? Fuck why did I say that…
They gonna ask me to–
"Can you sing it right now?!"
"Yeah!"
"Pretty please!!"
"But there's no mic–"
They all pointed at the mic stand on stage.
. . .
"Fine…" I hate myself…
"Yayyyy!!!" Some of them started clapping. There's no escaping now…
Just bring your sorry ass to the stage… of course they get pumped up now… cuz I'm about to make a fool of myself…
"No recording. You girls remember the game, righ– hey, what are you doing?"
One brunette Uma is already recording.
"He asked me to." She points behind the stage.
I turned around and saw Rei smiling behind the curtain, waving at me. Of course…
"Sigh… with music or nah?"
"Wait, you produce the sounds too?!"
"No way!"
"Fine, fine."
Just jump to it, no need for stairs.
Turn on the mic. Pull up my phone.
"Where's your sound system?"
Rei approached me. Ugh…
_____________________________
There was a phenomenon.
A global blackout.
Nobody knew the cause.
No one even realizes what changes.
The world moved on like it never occurred.
They don't remember…
But I do…
I was at home…
Humming a familiar tune at home…
Mama asked, "What's that song?"
. . .
I asked if she's joking…
There's only confusion in her eyes…
_____________________________
The following scene is too hard to translate and might get me sued.
It's a pseudo musical break. Vivi singing on stage.
The hard part is writing this on page when this only works with motion, with sounds, with visuals.
The following tracks are:
Dawn FM
Gasoline
How Do I Make You Love Me?
Take My Breath
Sacrifice
Out Of Time
Unless I have superpower with prose, I can't see myself do this justice on paper, unless it's animated.
Thank you for listening.