The Enemy Beside Me + The Liar Beside Me (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 4

WATANABE FUMIHIRO STANDS in the middle of the class as he reports about Sulasa and Sattuka. Alasdair finds it amusing how his friend can't hide the fact that he doesn't appreciate reciting the folk tale at all.

Watanabe is one of those Zone 1 citizens who detests things that do not concern their country and culture. He believes they're superior and the world must follow their lead.

Fumihiro's mother, Watanabe Himari, had become concerned about her child's xenophobia. With much reluctance, she enrolled him at the Yamato International School. Watanabe had objected, but as soon as he met Kaito, he calmed down and eventually agreed to spend his junior and senior years here. That's the power of Kaito. He may not have an extraordinary ability like Alasdair, but he can make anyone bow down to him.

Their eyes meet, and together, they gaze up at the wall clock. It's almost lunchtime. It's unlikely that Noritaka will come. And tomorrow will be Eien's last chance. With a smug expression on his face, Watanabe overly pronounces each word like Mister Williams and looks at him as if to tell him, I told you so...

Alasdair sits back in his chair, folding his arms. Perhaps it was his astonishment and fascination with Eien that drove him to challenge him in this nonsense. He wanted to see how a dead person could persuade someone who's been paranoid these days. Nonetheless, he won't give up on Noritaka. He has no choice anyway.

'And that concludes our first folk tale,' Mister Williams says, earning groans from the class. 'Now, now. Asian literature is filled with unforgettable folk tales. We can't just focus on your culture. Or in our case, this country's culture.'

Aside from being a walking corpse, it seems Eien has nothing else to offer. But then again, his entrance examination results tell a different story. Perfect marks. Perfect penmanship. There was only one student who had accomplished perfection. Him, Alasdair, of course. His father had insisted that he should take the examination. From an observer's point of view, it was the right thing to do. Everyone must be treated fairly in their school. But truthfully, his father had tested him.

Fourteen seconds...

Divakar and Falan say, 'For real! We need more folktales!' in the background.

Jake and the other students from Zone 2 glare at the two. 'Zone 2 has great folk tales too, ' he protests.

'For example?' Williams challenges.

Knowing that Jake won't be able to give any answer, Alasdair concentrates on the door, his pen tapping against his desk. He hears Declan telling him to 'Shut the hell up.'

Ten seconds from now...

Watanabe goes back to his seat, still wearing that punchable smile. 'As I've said there are some risks not—'

'Hi, everyone. Sorry, we're late! I'm okay now! And look who's with me!' Jaxon slides over to reveal Noritaka—even though there is no need to—who's standing behind him. 'So, lunch?'

Alasdair blinks, and when he registers that this is real and not the product of his imagination, he chuckles, standing up. He shakes Jaxon and Noritaka's hands. 'Welcome back, welcome back,' he says. He leans forward to Jaxon and whispers, 'And Uchiyama-kun?'

'He'll attend his first class tomorrow, right?'

He nods. 'Right.'

'Good. It was a great honour doing business with you,' Jaxon pauses. 'But not really.'

Alasdair lets it pass (for now) and bows his head to Noritaka as a form of welcoming him back rather than respecting him. His decision to drop out was stupid. No one should praise him for that. 'It's good to see you again.'