Story Reader / Affection / Camu: Crocotta / Story
...
Beep beep beep...
You wake up to your terminal beeping like no tomorrow. You open your eyes to see the bedroom ceiling. Strange. You have the day off as far as you can remember.
You connect to the device to hear Kamui speaking.
Commandant! Commandant! Are you busy?
Forget what you're doing, I've got something urgent here!
It's Camu...
You rush out onto the streets with just a jacket, Kamui's words still fresh in your head.
Yeah. I hadn't been able to get in contact with him since last night. He often disappeared out of nowhere like this, too, but usually he'd be back by morning.
If he were still with me, I wouldn't have minded, but...
It's the first time this happened... so I can't be sure where he is either.
It's rare to see Kamui look so serious, though he's beaming again the very next second.
Heh, you must be confused, huh?
I'm not sure how to explain it, but I just have a feeling... perhaps because of how you usually seem...
I just feel like it'd be better if you're the one who finds him.
Please, Commandant, bring Camu home.
You promised Kamui that you would find Camu, but Babylonia is huge... How will you find Camu without asking the Council for help?
The Council must know where he is, which means that he is not posing a threat to anyone right now. On the other hand, you also do not exactly want the officials to "capture" Camu and force him to return.
No choice but to start looking.
It is almost noon, and the sun is getting increasingly blinding. Squinting, you walk around for a while without finding anything...
...And then you are back to where you have started.
(Stomach growls)
You decide to sit down in a nearby park.
As soon as you enter the park, you see a familiar figure sprawled out on a bench.
—?!
What are you doing here?
I can tell you came looking for me. I'm not stupid.
What for?
So? Am I not even free to be gone for one night?
Tch. Well, now you know where I am. Get lost.
Camu grimaces, as if he just bit into a lemon.
I'm tired of repeating myself, Gray Raven Commandant. Listen, we have nothing to do with each other outside of our missions. You don't know anything about me and are in no position to stand here and talk about things you don't understand.
He speaks without emotion, gaze full of judgment.
Or are you acting all concerned because you want something from me?
...Do you want to die or something?
So what exactly do you want, then? To get to know me? Fine. I'll tell you what I think.
This world is despicable.
Babylonia... the Punishing Virus... the world itself... they're all the same. All filthy.
I'm just me. I'm not gonna change just because of a few pretty words you said, because I understand this world better than you do. It's not worth it, you know. Even without the virus, the world is just as corrupt.
If only the world would just end. We could start anew, then.
If I didn't know a thing, didn't have any of my past experiences... I might have ended up like Kamui.
But I'm not like him.
So don't waste your words and energy on me. Love... justice... those are foolish, selfish, self-righteous concepts.
I don't want to take responsibility for my powers. I'm not obliged to nor want to "save" this disgusting world.
Staying here is a temporary decision. There's no point in wasting energy on me.
Got it?
...
Are you an imbecile?
No idea why I just told you all that...
What for?
...?
...
Are you an imbecile?
No idea why I just told you all that...
...?
...Not a big deal. I was the one who shoved you to the ground by accident in the first place.
Wait, that's not the point!
Ughhhhh!
I told you all that... and you didn't even react?
Shouldn't you see me as a monster and want to steer clear of me?
What... what's in that human noggin of yours?
After all that I just said... nothing even changed. What a waste of my time!
Losing his cool, Camu grabs the collar of your uniform and practically hoists you up into the air.
What exactly do you want? To confuse me?
Out with it, now!
Camu looks shocked.
It is rare to see him like that... though you do wish he would let go of your collar already.
(Stomach growls)
You are starting to feeling lightheaded when your stomach growls at the wrong moment... or the right one, perhaps.
...
Hey, do you treat Kamui the same way you treat me?
Camu finally lets go of his chokehold and sighs... out of frustration or relief, you cannot tell.
The golden octopus balls in your hand smell delectable.
(Munch munch munch)
(Munch munch munch)
Camu munches on with calm nonchalance.
Yes, I like food. You have a problem with that?
"Like", huh?
The word just slipped out.
Got a problem with that?
Huh? You're weird. What's to be relieved about that?
Hey, I'll get another serving. Double the spice!
...One more serving, then.
Of course. Do you really have to ask about everything?
Carrying the street snacks he packed, Camu stands up from the chair and leaves the shade of the umbrella. He turns and glances at you, sunlight spilling over his face.
Let's go.
Camu turns away, impatient. You can see him headed for the building of the Babylonia Command Central in the distance.
Hey. Next time don't come outside looking for me.
It's not like I "ran away from home".
I know what I'm doing.
Enough with that creepy smile.
