CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164: BY THE FIRE (2)

"Where’d the two of you go?"

"Stop it, men need to have their own alone time with their... mancave or something. I swear. You men are all the same."

"I’m... literally here with you."

Ed was the only adult male there who stayed in the sand pit while Bernard and Prophet were gone, and yet Lisa still pointed and accused him of something he hadn’t done once in his life. But of course, now that Bernard and Prophet were back, all eyes of suspicion were on them.

But of course, typical Bernard, he just chuckled and waved them off.

But of course... the adults have their own world, and the children have their own too.

"Is it truly wise to send her like that?" Tomoe whispered, her eyes focused on V, who was on her way to Riley, who was sitting alone and looking at the endless, dark horizon of the ocean.

"You and I both know that Riley is different."

"Why, you jealous?" A wide smirk crept onto Bella’s face, nudging Tomoe with her elbow before she wagged her finger in front of her face. "Give a chance to others, girl. You already spendin’ too much time with the double R. He gonna wife you up at this point."

"We’re minors."

"Some cultures, they marry at twelve, girl. Don’t the Japanese like marry during childhood?"

"I... I think those are royalty?" Pauline, who was just listening to their conversation, finally joined in."

"Well, ain’t Tomoe here royal?"

"Are you drunk?"

"Not if this drink ain’t alcohol. What even is this?"

"That... I think that’s rum with Coke?"

"Aw. Shit."

And while half of the Baby Crew were being unsupervised by the adults, V sat beside Riley in front of the ocean. The sparks of green electricity coming out of her eyes, trickling wilder as she drew closer to him across the log.

"Can... I join you, Riley?" V hesitantly asked.

"You already have, Victoria." Riley didn’t even bother glancing at her, his eyes only at the dark horizon in front of him. "But yes, I do not see any reason for you not to be allowed to join me. I do not own the beach."

"Right..." V squinted before softly giggling, scooting closer to Riley as she glanced at his face. "...Even at night, it’s so beautiful, isn’t it?"

"Is it?" Riley tilted his head. "I do not see anything in front of us but the stars and the ocean, Victoria."

"Exactly..." V sighed. "...It’s endless. You can see all the stars and their reflection on the ocean. You... can’t see these in the city."

"You can, Victoria. You just need to fly high enough."

"Pft." V once again giggled, showing her teeth. She stretched her legs in front of her, wiggling her toes before taking in a deep breath. "I... wish we could just live here. It’s just so... beautiful."

"Hmm." Riley blinked a couple of times before finally glancing at V, staring at her glowing green eyes and hair. "I think you are much more beautiful, Victoria."

"S...stop it!" V looked away. "R...Really?"

"Yes, conventionally speaking. I believe I have already told you that a couple of times before, Victoria."

"Do you... do you really mean it?" V covered her face, her tiny voice seeping from the cracks of her fingers.

"Why would I not?" Riley tilted his head, seemingly confused at her words. "There are a lot of beautiful things on this planet, you just happen to be one of them, Victoria."

"Really...? Thank you."

"Do you want to see something else beautiful, Victoria?"

"Hmm? Yes?"

"Please, wait for a moment." Riley turned his focus back to the shore ahead. He closed his eyes, his head slowly tilting again to the side. Victoria wondered what he was doing at first, but she waited.

Not for long, however, as the thing he was doing slowly showed itself to her—no. To everyone there.

The shore, it soon reflected the glow in her eyes and hair. It started with one, and then a hundred, and then thousands... and perhaps millions.

The tiny creatures of the ocean, now gathered by the shore and glowing like an aurora beneath them.

"This is..." V’s breath stuttered, but she soon held them with what came next.

Riley slightly raised his hand, and the water from the shore slowly drew closer and closer to them until it was under their feet and reaching to their ankles.

"Wow..." V covered her mouth again, not being able to stop the tears as all sorts of emotions danced inside her chest. It wasn’t only her.

The people who were in the pit saw the shore aurora, and even Hannah and Gracey, who were destroying the karaoke, stopped to stare.

Riley stood up, and with him, several orbs of water followed. Dozens at first, but then the orbs of water turned into hundreds—all of them carrying the glowing creatures of the ocean.

He floated several next to V, letting her light blend with them.

"Riley..." V, however, was no longer looking at the lanterns floating next to her, but rather at Riley, whose white silhouette was reflecting the lights around him. "You’re... very beautiful too."

"Hmm." Riley nodded. "I know."

And with that, the Baby Crew and their first day in the Philippines ended quite... peacefully. At least for a moment, they completely forgot that they had watched several people turn into mush just several hours ago.

December’s day, however, was just getting started.

She was now on the shores of Indonesia, and it was completely dark there. The moon couldn’t even be seen.

She arrived there an hour ago, at the order of Riley’s clone, who just suddenly withered away into nothing. She was shocked at first when she saw that, but quickly got over it when she remembered how much she was going to be paid from now on.

She was told to wait here, but now that an hour had passed, she was thinking that Riley might have fooled her.

But he didn’t seem to be the type to do so—but then again, he might be on a completely different spectrum than her altogether.

"Should I leave?" she asked herself, only to be answered by someone behind her.

"Yes, we will leave in a few."

December quickly turned around as she heard the synthetic and obviously altered voice. And when she saw the figure standing close to her, her eyes widened to the point that her lashes almost hit the lines of her mask.

She might not concern herself with the news and whatever was going on in the world, but she knew exactly who this figure standing before her was.

Darkday.

"I was informed by the boss of your arrival," Darkday said. He snapped his fingers, causing December to back away as another Darkday suddenly materialized right beside him. "If you don’t mind, I still have business here. So, he will take you to our base instead."

December blinked, looking back and forth between the two Darkdays.

"Riley Ross is Darkday," she muttered. And both the Darkdays clapped their hands for her.

"Highly perceptive of you," the second Darkday said. "The boss did warn you that this is an evil organization. It’s not a villain organization, nor is it any organization with a cause, December. We do not have a goal, we do not have a mission, nor do we have any reservations. We are just here to... have fun. You can still back away if you want."

"Really?" December blinked. "But I was told by the boss that I am not allowed to leave."

"You’re not. We will kill you, and we will enjoy it. Honestly, we’d prefer it if you do turn back."

"No." December shook her head. "I’m already here...

...Take me to your base."

***

"Day two, baby!"

Soon, the morning came. And surprisingly enough, Gracey was the first to wake up and experience the sun as it rose—well, not exactly.

Riley was already there, and the two of them just stared at each other as Gracey had her arms raised in the air right in front of the shore, wearing her swimsuit.

Gracey waited for Riley to say something, at least greet her good morning, but he didn’t. He just stared at her, causing her to lower her arms... and to a certain degree, slightly cover herself in embarrassment.

"W-what’s up, Riley? You’re up early," she said, forcing out a smile. "That rhymed, huh?"

"Not exactly, Gracey."

"O-oh... that’s the first time you called me by my real name!" Gracey pointed at him.

"This is the first time I am seeing the real you, Gracey."

"S-sheesh..." Gracey held her breath. "You really should stop saying things like that. This is why people misunderstand you. You’re like twelve. I don’t really wanna see what sort of menace you’ll be once you go through puberty. You’ll be one of those young masters walking around with a harem. Wait a minute..."

"Hm?"

"If this were a dating sim..." Gracey squinted, placing her hand on her chin as she glanced at Riley. "...Then this is the time you’re going with the tomboy, right?!"

"The tomboy, Gracey?"

"Yes. Me."

"But you are not a tomboy, Gracey," Riley tilted his head. "I believe you said you only dress up because you are trying to prove something. You are, by my observations, still fully feminine."

"Okay. Now I think you’re doing this on purpose! Harlot!" Gracey pointed right at his face. "Anyway, since this is my episode, where are you taking me?"

"W—"

"Grace! Pack your bags, we’re going!"

Before the two could even continue their conversation, her mother’s voice suddenly screamed from the house. The two looked back, only to see Lorraine frantically running around with her laptop in hand.

"Mom?! What? What do you mean, go home?! We still have the entire day!"

"This is more important!" Lorraine shouted, and the others soon started waking up.

"It’s this Darkday person! He made a fucking website!"

"...Huh?"