NORMAL END

Just another day. - Teo

I decided against staying in one place, even if..something, was clutching at my heart and wouldn't let go. I had to get back into routine. Surviving was better than dying. Surviving was better than dying. Surviving was better than dying. 

Surviving was better than dying.

Yes, right, surviving is better than dying..anyway, I now found myself looking for leads. The Gold Town party was a bottom-of-the-barrel idea, and I didn't really have much to do after that, so I was now looking for a new job.

I sighed, wandering the streets of this strange, pink-peach town. I hadn't paid much attention to it, but I at least knew that it was called Rose Town and that apparently nothing was going on. Even so, that made me more interested in what this place actually had to hide. 

I...I wonder what Efi would have thought about this place. 

Thankfully, those thoughts were interrupted by an overheard chatter. Two women bickering, one with floppy, dog-like ears raising her voice more than she should have. 

"This is YOUR fault! All of these disappearances are from none other than that thing you keep around!" The other, also seemingly in her mid-twenties, looked around as if to make sure no one had done exactly what I just did-listen. I stopped at the corner and tried to get anything else. People disappearing. Doesn't that sound charming.

"He hasn't done anything wrong! I promise you, Lucia!" The defendant, it seemed, had beast ears of her own-though if it was a pair of pointed cat or dog ears I couldn't quite tell. There was no tail showing from her outfit, so she must have been purposefully keeping it hidden. Or I just had a bad angle.

"I promise you I will find out what exactly he brought to this town. Whether you make it easy or not is the only question." The definite-dog, Lucia, made sure to get right into the other's face before stomping away. That was quite an interaction. And had they never learned to check around for eavesdroppers? I recognized this town was fairly small, but damn.

Either way, what I'd heard didn't really matter. Unless I found a definite source of income for this, I'd ignore it. If I did, however, then I would have hit an early lead. Maybe it would be one good thing after my last outing.  I had to hope it was, considering the lucky break that loudmouthed woman gave me. 

As I committed the quickly-leaving dog? cat?-woman to memory, I started walking, and my phone began rumbling. 

"You really do have great timing, Feathers," I mumbled, picking it up and pretending I was still taking a casual walk when I felt the defendant's eyes quickly look me over in response to me being near the argument. I answered the phone and prepared my best casual voice, in case someone nearby was listening and picked up on me not acting naturally later. "Hey, Feathers. What is it this time?"

"I heard about Efi from Levin.. I.. Sorry. "

"..is that all you're going to say? Plus, it's a little late for you to be busting out the grievance card. "

"It's never late when you haven't done it yet. " 

"That doesn't make sense.. " I had a tone of annoyance already.

"A-Anyway, I have another..let's say, case for you, if you don't mind."

"Fine, what?"

"I've heard about there being a dragon in the neighboring town to the one you pretty much just left. It's called Rose Town, have you seen it?

"I'm there right now, Feathers. " For some reason, when I was about to pass this town, I felt like I had to go in. I wonder if this is why.

"Oh! Good! And.. They say he causes people to run away into the forest. Permanently. It's weird. "

"That sounds..kind of stupid. "

"That's what I have, okay?" Feathers sounded defensive as ever.

"I'll look into it since I'm here. Same as usual?" I mumbled, making sure it was hard to hear.

"Same as usual."

Once again, I felt like something was leading me to this. Ever since Efina...nevermind. I'd just have to find that kid and be done with it, and I'd get my payment soon enough.

It'd just be another investigation, something I do almost every day.

It's just another day.

It's just another day, I promise.

It's just another day, and I miss you.

(once again shorter than usual but I felt like it ended where it should have. I am sincerely sorry.

-Hiro)

(Don't mind the edit just removing the time time time time time mistake and adding some she-said he-said as suggested by mah boi