-So you don't remember anything at all?

It was after Chris said he wanted her to stay with them. They were facing each other to talk about their actual situation.

-Yes, it just...happened. Before I knew, I was there with you.

Based on what the girl said, she didn't remember chasing him in the alleys nor attacking him. Her memories were of after she had caught the boy in the hour of the final blow.

-But, didn't you said to my mother you had slept in the streets?

-...To be honest, I don't know. As far that I know, the streets were the place I stayed the most during those times and never really had a home.

In the game, Midnight Pumpkin didn't have a hideout. It only attacked outside or, on some occasions, inside a location. Thinking like that, it could be said that the only place she could be was in the streets.

-...I see.

(So, it's pointless after all...)

There was one thing Chris wanted to make sure from their conversation: what is the cause of this situation. One of the most popular games of the year disappeared from everyone's mind and left him as the only one to remember it. Even if he wanted to know what happened, there was limited information an average high-schooler like him could get from a global event that no one remembers.

But there was one hope for him: that girl in his front. For as surreal that it was, she came from the game and Chris hoped that the girl could help him understand what happen, but fate wasn't kind for the boy.

-...Altho, there may be one more thing.

-Really? Did you remember something?

As he was feeling depressed, the girl said the glimmer of hope the boy needed to stay positive.

-Well, it's not big, but...

-At this point, anything is worth. Please, say what it is.

If there was anything about the game, it would be the base for what Chris could build theories and find the cause of it.

-...When I first saw you, I felt...weird.

(...Huh? She felt weird? What is she talking about?)

Confused, the boy continued to listen.

-It was something that...I can't say...don't know how to explain.

She was doing her best to recall it correctly.

-But, I think that...something was...controlling me...would be the most accurate.

(There was something controlling her...! It can't be!)

An ominous feeling was being created in Chris' mind. If she was being controlled, then maybe she wasn't in the real world but he was in the game world. Not only him but all the others as well, maybe even his whole world!

(If that is true, then-)

-No, that is not it...more like a...feeling inside me was...controlling me...forcing me to...act against my will.

(...So it was only a feeling...)

It was easily negated. The boy was feeling so embarrassed and stupid to believe in something so sci-fi as all his world got transported into a game. Even if she was from a game, there was a limit to how much fantasy he could think of the situation.

Still, it was not the time to be down with his premature theories.

-But how exactly you felt?

-I...don't know...it felt so normal to me that...I never thought of going against...it.

-And...you felt that way when you...attack me?

-...Yeah.

(So she felt normal trying to kill me...)

Normally, a person wouldn't just be fine killing another one. It would be against their natural instincts to do it. But for the girl, it was the contrary. Since she was from a game containing over the standard level of violence, maybe that would-

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

(That is it!)

-Pumpkin, I know what happened to you.

-...Really?! Do you really know?!

-Yeah, I think so.

(It's just a hypothesis but...)

It is better than nothing, Chris thought. With all of his confidence, he said:

-Maybe you were just following your character.

At the game, Midnight Pumpkin was known for being a ruthless killer that didn't hesitate in killing anybody. If that was true, then she was just doing what was normal for her to do.

-If that is the case, it would explain why you were trying to...kill me back then.

If it were really that, then it would be only less question for Chris' to have. It wouldn't be weird for her to kill somebody, but if it were true, then it would mean she didn't have anything against killing. That really made Chris worried about her.

-...Is that so...

And she wasn't excited at all to hear that. For her, then it would mean she was just doing what she did back then. And if that happened, the circle would repeat itself again, and again, and again, and again...

-...I'm never going to change then...

It was a loser voice that gave up trying. The girl knew that what he said made sense but didn't want to admit it. She thought this was her only chance of getting it, only for her hope to be shattered right in front of her eyes.

-That's not true!

The boy spoke with a firm tone for the girl to hear. She was getting depressed because she would never be what she wanted to be, but there was one thing he didn't say to her yet.

-Had you or had you not killed me?

If she was following exactly her character, then it wouldn't make sense for him to be alive right now. She had him on her hands and was about to deal the final blow but she stopped at the last moment.

-If you just followed your character, then I would be dead by now, no lies, but you spared me. Why had you done that?

-...What...well...it was...

The girl was also confused about it. If she was just following the character, then why didn't she killed him? There was only one answer she could think of.

-It was because Chris is important to me.

The first and only one who had chosen her. The one player that didn't make sense. The one that made her go against anything that she was created for. And, without hesitation, she told him clearly her true feelings.

-If...if I lost Chris...then...then I didn't know what I would do...so I fought back and...and now...I'm here, with you.

-I-I-I se-see!

It was too much impact on the boy. A beautiful girl was saying that he was important to her right at his face. Of course, he would blush and be embarrassed to be told that.

-D-Did you get it now? Here, you don't need to be what you were, so you can just be what you want! Like a doctor or a lawyer or open a flower shop...

(What the heck am I saying?!)

To take his mind off the embarrassment, Chris started to say anything that came to his mind but that only made it worst and it kept saying. At least, the only good thing he could brag about all this was the fact the girl was laughing.

[][][][][]

-...But this is really a problem, isn't it?

Remembering what they talked yesterday, the boy sighed. After finishing with the kitchen, the girl's pajama was very dirtied and he asked her to change to any of his mother spare clothes. Since she already prepared some for the girl to use, there would be no problems, or so the girl said to him.

While he waited in the living room, Chris was relaxing on the couch for the little time he had of silence but he just couldn't stop thinking about how to solve this problem. He needed to make sure she learned common sense very soon and he only had one week for it. If not, then...

(...There is no use thinking about it. After all, this is only the beginning.)

Still, it was just the first day. There was no need to rush and explain to her each and every stuff. This would come with time and he had some of it.

And then, a bit after he thought that, his phone rang. Without any delay, he picks it up.

-Hello?

[Hey, Chris! Enjoying the vacations?]

It was a friendly carefree voice he knew since middle school.

-They are awesome, Max. Just woke up not about an hour ago and now I'm relaxing on my couch.

[You lucky bastard, I also wanted to have a broken shoulder to miss school!]

Listening to his friend's being mad at him, Chris laughs.

[But, for real now, how are you? Are you fine?]

-...Yeah, mother said it wasn't grave but asked me to lay down for a week to recover. To be honest, I'm lucky it wasn't my good arm.

While they were talking, a knock was heard from the front door, grabbing the boy's attention.

-One moment. Who is it? - He shouted at the door but there was no response back.

[Glad to hear it, man. By the way, David also wants to talk with you.]

-Sure, pass it to him. - He said returning to the phone.

[Here you go, big guy...Chris, how are you feeling?]

-David, I already told Max I'm fine, really.

[But are you sure? There isn't an infection on it? Did you drink milk today? How much milk had you-]

-Man, you need to stop being a worrywart. I'm telling you I'm fine.

And the knock happened again, stronger than the first time.

-One sec. Who is it?!

Louder than before, he shouted again but there was no response.

(C'mon, the door is very near the living room! You need to have heard that!)

[But, when the teacher said you were run over by a car, I almost had a heart attack, you know?]

-Just who was run over by a car?! I'm really fine!

[...Ok, man. I believe in you. Hey, later on, we gonna pass you the homework of today, ok?]

He thought a bit before answering back. If they come here, they could encounter the girl alone with him and it would complicate all of his plans. But then again, if he said for them to not come, it would be weirder.

-Sure, but tho, can you come over another day? I'm really not feeling well and wanted to rest today.

[Ok, man. Rest well, see ya.]

-See ya.

And the call ended. It was a good thing for Chris. If it were another day, he could teach the girl more and it would be a good thing for her to talk with his friends to learn how to interact with other persons. If they met today, it would really mess his plans up.

But while he was feeling satisfied, the knock came back and now it started to make the boy angry.

-Ok, ok, I'm coming!

Standing up from his seat, he went to the door. Furious, he opened the door and said:

-Really, why don't you answer befoh...aaaannnddd...

And, for his surprise, he meets his two friends from school at his entrance.

-Sup, Miss "Wanna-Rest-All-Day"! Are you happy to see us?

-...Max, I told you we should go back and return another day. Look at his face, he is definitely not feeling well right now.