One-Eyed Cat

~Chapter 1~

I nudged the brunette to my left.

"Ren, look!" I pointed towards the city of Vienna. "We're almost there!"

Draped over the ship's railing, she only groaned.

"Ren, is seasickness really that bad?"

"Ugh... how do you do it, Fuyi?"

"Do what?"

"No seasickness! The dizziness and nausea! I wanna puke..."

I scooted away from Ren, and she puked over the side of the ship.

"Ugh..."

~Time Skip~

The city of Vienna is quite grand.

Too grand, in my opinion.

All of the tall buildings and fancy lampposts make me feel tiny and insignificant.

Which I am, anyway.

This city is renowned for music, but I don't see the point of having buildings fifteen meters tall.

Taki Ren, who I met in kindergarten, is a very excitable fifteen-year-old girl.

I'm the same age, however, am a noisy person of average height with blonde hair that ends at my cheekbones.

I wear an eyepatch over my right eye socket, making me all the more conspicuous.

Just then, Taki took the map out of her kimono.

We both stared at it.

I turned around, looking at the towering buildings.

Behind us, there was a rather chubby man.

He looks suspicious.

He approached Taki.

"Hey there, miss. Is something bothering you? If you don't mind, care to share it with me?"

I immediately distrusted him.

Which stranger is ever this nice without an ulterior motive?

Taki spun around, surprised.

"Umm..."

"Hm? You don't understand what I'm saying?"

"We can understand what you're saying. We're looking for the Melite Conservatory of the Arts."

"Melite? That means you're both artists! What a coincidence! I'm one too, but I'm just an amateur."

"I never would have guessed."

"Yes, it's true! By the way, what are your names?"

"I'm Fuyi, and she's Ren"

"Fuyi, what a nice name for a man. Alright then, I'll show you two the way!"

I'm a girl. Not a guy.

As he "showed the way", the streets became filthier and more of the homeless were there.

I stopped before him.

"I really don't think that an academy would be in this sort of rundown place."

Taki pulled me back.

"Fuyi, stop it!"

I hesitated. After seeing her glare at me, I stepped back.

This "artist" led us to a bar full of young women.

Taki was dumbfounded. "...What is this place?"