They finished their meals in a few minutes, much to Freya's disappointment. However, her eyes were bigger than her belly. She leaned in her chair, taking a few moments of rest.
When Rigaku got up, she collected the dirty plates, placed them on the trolley that she had left outside their apartment. The room service would pick it later.
As they returned to Rigaku's room, he noticed a wrapped object on his night table. "What is that?"
Freya picked it and revealed the pear inside.
"Oh, this." The boy adjusted his glasses. He opened his mouth to add something, but he stopped, seeing she was writing on a note-paper.
She showed it. "Can you tell me more about this pear? It keeps returning."
"Right. I don't know if I can answer your questions, but I shall try." He sat on the bed, two steps from her. "Before we enrolled in your school, our father gave it to us. He claims whoever gets it, becomes the next CEO of his company."
'What?' Freya's eyebrows gestured her question perfectly.
"I also don't understand what it connects to be a CEO. I suspect there is something else in the play."
Freya knitted her eyebrows, looking at the fruit. 'Like with the apple?'
"He instructed we have to pass it to a girl and let her pick one of us. Again, I see no reason for a random person... My apologies."—She rolled her eyes—"should decide this. Our Father emphasized we must offer something in return."
She nodded, remembering the offers.
"So, he's sent us to find a young woman who makes that decision. Until that happens, the pear shall stay with her."
The red-haired girl unwrapped the golden fruit in its entirety. Its surface shone like a small sun, and the engravings of The Best had no rough line as if the laser drilled them.
The girl scribbled another observation. "But I gav... flung it at you. But it returned." Below, she added. "Sorry for snapping."
"Don't worry about that. What Aoi Ueno-san has done was unforgivable. I will talk with School Coun-Ugh!"
A big pillow landed on his head. He put it behind himself, seeing Freya finished the third note. "Don't care. She is a bully. No time to waste. Got better things to do."
"Wakarimasu, and I shall respect your decision. Tadashi,"—he pushed his glasses up again—"If she goes too far, I'll stop her. Cushion in my face or not," he added with a gentle smile.
Freya returned it.
"Regarding how the pear is returning to you, I don't know. It defies all physical laws. I'll try to investigate. And about the choice, it seems you have to give it without being forced or under pressure."
"How about the Trojan War? There was an Apple," Freya wrote.
"Hai, I've read that myth. It's well known." He crossed his arms with a small frown. "But that is just a legend." He caught his chin. "Wakarimasu. Perhaps our Father was inspired by this story. Tadashi, that doesn't explain why or how this pear returns." He eyed it.
He pondered in silence. "Freya-san, may I ask you to keep it with you for a bit longer?"
She nodded.
"Domo arigatou gozaimasu. Unless I know more, I would like to play it safe. Let's assume there is magic, despite all odds and common sense, and you and the winner get something from it."
Freya gestured to him she was following his explanation.
"Tadashi, what happens to the other two?"
Her eyes shot open, and her fingers curled around the pear.
"I don't think it'll lead to war. That would be absurd. Which sides would fight and what for?" He stood up, marching in the room. "Let's go with something simple. I have no backing for this, but it's a possibility."
An icy shiver ran down Freya's back. 'A penalty... for losers?'
"Here is an example,"—Rigaku lifted his right, index-finger—"I don't get the pear. My punishment could be losing what I've offered, thus becoming weak-minded." He turned towards her with a deep frown.
Freya, in a panic, wrapped the golden fruit and hugged it.
"Sumimasen, for frightening you." The oldest Kamini returned to the bed, and she shook her head. "I think it's better if we don't talk about this for now. We have no additional information."
Freya sighed with a nod. With this, the room filled with an eerie silence. It crashed into them under its invisible weight.
"Is there any subject I can help you with?"
Freya stared at him.
"If you need my aid, that is." His fingers fidgeted, so he moved his hands behind his back. "Or if there is an errand I can assist you with. I was thinking fresh air would benefit both of us."
She gave him the thumbs up, following him outside once they picked their school stuff. There weren't many people in the park, so they had a lot of places to pick from.
Tables with benches near a small pond with a wooden bridge over it screamed their reservation as Freya sat there without thinking. Koi carps and ducks inhabited the water, with water lilies growing over it. It was a pleasant place to relax or study.
She let the gentle breeze rustle her hair, listening to its quiet song. The sun filled her with warmth as no bed could. She stretched herself, glimpsing Rigaku staring at her. He quickly masked it by looking away.
'Why does he keep staring at me?' She tapped her burned skin. 'Do I look pretty to him?' She shooed that thought. No way. She came to terms with her face. 'Do I need dating?' For years, she had never thought about it.
Getting back on her feet, moving to her mother's birth country, adjusting to a new school system, and basically restarting her life preoccupied her mind. There was no time to think about finding anybody special.
'Not when you remember the pain of losing loved ones.'
Wakarimasu – I understand
Tadashi – But/However
Hai – Yes
Sumimasen – I'm sorry
Domo arigato gozaimasu – Thank you very much.