Freddy Benjamin:
"Where did she go?"
I look left and right for either Amber or Noon's bodyguard. As I search for the two, I think back to when I first met Amber.
I had just left the bakery with a bag filled with whipped cream-stuffed doughnuts. My Dad wouldn't let me eat, so I snuck out to buy some.
As I left the bakery with a mouth filled with whipped cream, I heard laughing. Something told me it wasn't the funny, ha-ha, laughing, but more like the pick on someone laughing.
Looking around at first, I followed the laughter and saw a girl with pale skin and short brown hair. She wore a pink shirt, long pants, and a green apron. While she was wiping down a small, silver table, another group of three girls was pointing and laughing.
They sat at a nearby table, and when the girl finished wiping the table, one of the three girls spilled her drink all over their table.
"Opp." She raised her hand to hide her annoying smile. "Uhh, excuse me, waitress. Please, clean this up."
The girl, the waitress, turned to look at the girl before looking at the mess. She sighed, entered the store, and came back out with a whole roll of paper towels. While she cleaned the spill, the three girls egged her.
"So, how does it feel? Cleaning up after us?"
"Ahh. Opp. My bad, sorry."
Another girl spilled her drink, but it was on the waitress's shoes instead of the table.
"Hey! My shoes!"
"Oh, so sorry."
The three girls laughed while the waitress looked at her soggy shoes.
"Okay. That's enough."
Looking at the half-eaten doughnut in my hand, at the whipped cream as it squeezed itself out, an idea sparked, and I took another big bite.
Watching as the third girl is about to drop her drink again, I rushed in with a mouth dripping with whipped cream. Slamming my hands down and roaring, drops of whipped cream hit the girls in their faces. They screamed and ran off.
"What in the world?"
The waitress stepped back when she saw me. Hitting my chest, I swallowed the mouthful of whipped cream.
"Sorry about that. I was just trying to help."
The waitress smiled and laughed.
"No, it's fine. Thank you for the help."
I opened my mouth to reply, but the thing that came out was a massive, sweet-tasting burp.
"Again. I am sorry."
Again, the waitress smiled and laughed. She brushed back some of her hair, showing me her amber eyes.
"Uhh, if you don't mind me asking, what's your name?"
"Oh. My name is Thomas Benjamin II."
"The second?"
"Yes, but please, and I am really begging you, just call me Freddy."
"Okay, Freddy. Hello. My name is Amber."
Amber extended her hand toward me. I took her hand and we firmly. However, as soon as we let go, my Dad and bodyguard pulled up behind me in our limo.
"Son!" My Dad yelled as he got out and walked over to me. "What are you doing here? Wait a minute. Are those doughnuts? Get them away!"
Seeing and pointing at the bag in my hand, my bodyguard moved toward me. He was frowning as he tried to grab the bag. I sighed. I didn't want to give up the doughnut, but at the same time, I also didn't want to get my bodyguard in trouble. Or waste food.
Looking back, I got an idea.
"Calm down, Dad. This isn't mine. It's her."
My Dad and bodyguard froze as I turned around and gave Amber the bag of sweet treats.
"Here," I said. "Enjoy."
"Wait. I can't accept these."
Amber pushed the bag back, but I stopped her.
"Yes. You can. In fact."
Searching my pockets for something, I turned to my Dad. Leaning toward my Dad, I swiped a pen from his pocket. Signing my name on the bag, I gave it to Amber.
"Here. Now this bag means a little more."
Taking and looking at the bag, I took the chance and returned home with my Dad and bodyguard. By the time Amber looked up, I already waving at her as we drove away.
"I'm glad you didn't eat those horrible things. They will make you fat and slow."
My Dad goes on and on, but honestly, I didn't care. Instead, I sighed and looked outside.
The memory ends, and I open my eyes to see myself back in the studio.
"I still can't believe Amber found me. That was over six months ago, and in a different state. Nemo called her a crazy stalker, but Amber isn't a crazy stalker. She is just a really big fan."
As I keep searching for the two, the wind starts picking up. It blows loudly in my ears and dries my eyes.
"Ahh."
Blinking and rubbing my eyes, I jump back when the wind picks up an entire folding table. The table flies toward me. I want to get out of the way, but I can't. My legs freeze, and all I can do is cross my arms.
"Freddy, watch out!"
Emica Kana:
Watching Noon and Nemo look around for Freddy and the strange girl, I notice something happening.
"Noon. Come here."
Nudging my head, Noon excuses herself and walks over to me.
"Emica. What's wrong?"
"Noon, you haven't noticed?"
"Notice what?"
"Notice the wind."
"The wind?"
As soon as I say it, Noon looks around and realizes something is off. The wind is picking up. It starts small, picking up things like Noon's hair and pieces of paper on the ground, but it's getting stronger and stronger. Immediately, heavier things, like nearby chairs and plants, are being pushed over.
"What's going on?" Noon asks.
"I don't know. This isn't normal."
"Not unless we're suddenly living in Oklahoma."
"Oklah--what?"
Before Noon can answer, a loud crash cuts her off. All of us, even Nemo, jump.
"That was close by," Nemo says. "Come on!"
Nemo waves his arm, and we follow after him. Running through a pathway between two buildings, we see many different furniture thrown against a wall. I see tables, chairs, lights, and even cameras in the pile. At least, I think they're called cameras. They're big, black boxes with buttons and a cylinder at one end.
"What happened here?" Noon asks.
"Look up there!" Nemo shouts.
Turning, Noon and I see Freddy floating in the air!
"Okay. Emica, for the record, that is also not normal."
"Noted."
"Freddy!" Noon yells, running up to him. "What's going on? Are you okay?"
For some reason, Freddy doesn't answer Noon. I take a closer look and see that Freddy's eyes are closed, and his arms and legs appear to be hanging. He also doesn't appear to be moving too much.
"Noon. I think Freddy might be unconscious."
"Unconscious? By why?"
This time, the wind cuts me off. A loud boom echoes with a massive windstorm. Appearing out of nowhere, Noon and Nemo cover their face as the furniture is thrown around again. Unaffected by the wind, I watch as it gathers around Freddy.
The wind spins at high speed before transforming. It grows a body, arms, and legs.
The wind stops suddenly. Noon and Nemo lower their hands. They look up and see the young flying girl with a large, straw kasa hat and long, flowing green and blue robes.
"Hello. Noon, right? My name is Furyoku, and I will protect Freddy from you."