“Oh... so that’s why.”
“Yeah. So you don’t need to be worried about Rosa. The one you need to worry about is yourself.”
“Which is why I’ll go to the police. That’s the only option I have.”
“You’re wrong. I gave you another option.”
“What option?”
“Sell your soul to me and I’ll make sure the end result will be one you can be happy with.”
“Haaaah. You were being serious about that? What sort of nonsensical proposal is that supposed to be? Sell my soul? What even is a soul? You’re getting scammed if you believe a soul is real.”
“I don’t believe it’s real, but I still want yours anyway.”
“This is ridiculous to the point I can’t even try to play along. Since you’re playing pretend devil, why don’t you hand over some of that legendary immortality devils often hand out like it’s growing on trees?”
“Immortality? Hmm… that’s a tough one…”
“Then forg-”
“I can make you unaging, someone who can live forever if you really want, but immortality as in being incapable of dying altogether, would be outside the scope of my abilities.”
“Hah? You’re seriously keeping this act up?”
“Sure, why not? You interested in signing a contract to make it official?”
“Sure, sure. If you’re so confident, go ahead and try. What do I care about a soul? If you’re fine getting scammed, be my guest. Let’s see what you can do, Mr. Play Pretend Devil.”
I’d been joking around and hadn’t expected she’d seriously agree.
But as it was a rare chance to acquire another soul I figured I might as well strike while the iron was hot. If I delayed she probably wouldn’t sign it.
I slowed to a stop and pulled over near the curb.
“What are you doing?”
“You said you’d sign a contract, so give me a sec to write one up.”
“What? You’re really going all the way through with this little act of yours?”
“What? Are you getting cold feet? So you do actually believe in a soul then and are scared to sell it? How cute. Taking it so seriously.”
“I’m not scared. Do it. Write up a contract and I’ll really sign it, see if I care.”
“Haha. I doubt you’ll really sign it. You like to play it cool, but below the surface, you’re actually pretty scared about a lot of things, aren’t you?”
“Tsk. I’m not scared. Put your money where your mouth is and write up that stupid contract already.”
“Haha. Alright, as you wish.”
I took out a pen and folded-up piece of paper from my pocket then quickly wrote up a contract under the illumination of the street light directly above us. Five minutes later I stuck the pen and paper over my shoulder and said, “Here’s the contract.”
“That was faster than expected. Are you used to doing this sort of thing?”
“Not at all.”
“Let’s see… haha, you’re seriously promising to make it so I don’t age anymore? Are you stupid?”
“You’re the one who asked for it, not me.”
“Now that I think about it, I should also ask for a lot of money while I’m at it.”
“Ask for that and I’m ripping this contract up on the spot.”
“Cheapskate. It’s my soul you know, my soul. It’s super valuable. Don’t you think you should offer a bit more?”
“Coming from the person who was treating her soul like it was water a few seconds ago, that doesn’t sound convincing at all.”
“Damn, I should have done a better job. Well, it was my mistake.”
“You signing or no-”
“Here you go.” I was cut off when my vision went white. While her left arm was still around my waist, she’d suddenly wrapped her right arm over my shoulder and stuck out the signed contract in front of my face between two fingers. The exact same instant she did that my body had simultaneously reacted. The sour taste at the back of my mouth and the usual resultant heart abnormalities. I was more or less accustomed to them by now though so they came as no surprise.
“What’s wrong? You taking it, or not? Or are you panicking because you thought I wouldn’t really sign it and you’re having second thoughts now that you have to take responsibility? If it’s the latter, I don’t mind if we rip up this contract now and act like this agreement never happened.”
“I’m not second-guessing anything. Your soul has been received and I’ll naturally deliver on my promise.” I retrieved both my pen and the signed contract, folded the paper up, and stuffed them back into my pocket.
“Alright, so let’s hear it. What sort of plan do you have that can solve my problem and lead to a better result than going to the police?”
“...” I still hadn’t actually thought of it.
“What? Not saying anything?”
“I’m still thinking about it now.”
“Huh? Still thinking? You sure sounded confident before like you already had a plan. Haaaaaah. It seems I’ve been scammed out of my soul by a swindler playing pretend devil. I’m such a fool, I should have clarified what your plan was rather than letting you goad me on.”
“Relax, would you? I’ll think of something.”
“What? Is your current plan to ride around with me all night on your motorcycle?”
“Sure, if you want to, I don’t mind.”
“Your girlfriend’s going to think you’re cheating on her if you do that.”
“I just need to show her the video I took earlier to prove my innocence.”
“How convenient of you to have that video.”
Before I took off again, I sent a text to Rosa to let her know I’d probably be late because something unexpected came up. She’d let the others know for me so I didn’t have to inform everyone.”
“You’re still in high school, aren’t you? Now that I think about it, are you even allowed to drive this late?”
“Of course not, I only have my learner’s permit still, but who’s going to snitch on me?”
“If I wasn’t relying on you right now I’d definitely snitch.”
“Then it’s a good thing I have your soul now.”
I picked up speed and drove off again.
“Hey, aren’t you going to keep hiding the license plate as I asked you to?”
“Isn’t it fine now?”
“Well… I guess we’re far enough now that it shouldn’t be as much of a concern. But… do you plan to stay in this position?”
“Is there a problem?”
She hadn’t removed her right arm hooked over my right shoulder and it was dangling down in front of my chest. Her left arm was also positioned around my waist. Overall, I couldn't help but feel it was an overly intimate position.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit iffy?”
“Maybe… but… just let me stay like this for a bit.”
I felt much more of her weight on my back than before.
While stuck in this position, I lost track of time as I drove carefully through the city thinking over a way to get through this whole gang ordeal when the loud rumble of an engine came from behind as a girl screamed out in irritation. “Move outta the way ya stupid lovey-dovey couple!”
A bit started by the outcry I changed lanes.
As she passed us by she continued spitting out her complaints, “Seriously, all couples should just go and die! I can’t even get a boyfriend, meanwhile, stupid couples are drivin around like this! Damn it! The world is too unfair to unladylike girls like me!”
I was shocked when I finally recognized who it was through the loud sound of their engine. It’d been hard to make out the bike at first, but when it passed under a street light, I got a better look at the motorcycle and the figure of the girl in front of us. It was the Faceless girl.
When thinking about gangs, it’s not like this person hadn’t popped into my mind, it was just that I didn’t know her very well. Besides, why would she help me if I went to her? There was no reason to.
I… had the card she gave me… but would going to her mechanic repair shop help in any way?
“Hey!”
I called out to her but she raised her middle finger above her head in the distance and cut me off, “Shut up! I don’t want to hear complaints from stupid couples! Go die!”
She sped off before I could say another word to her. There was no way I could catch her.
She must be… really desperate for a boyfriend…
“Hey, wasn’t that girl the one who made a scene at work earlier today and hugged you outside?”
“Uh… yeah. Pretty sure that was her.”
“Haha… she misunderstood and incorrectly assumed we’re a couple.”
“Yeah, that seems to be the case.”
“Hey, if you really can’t think of anything, maybe I should just stay at a hotel tonight and use the chance to think things over.”
“Can you afford it?”
“If it’s just one night I should be fine...”
“Oh... so that’s why.”
“Yeah. So you don’t need to be worried about Rosa. The one you need to worry about is yourself.”
“Which is why I’ll go to the police. That’s the only option I have.”
“You’re wrong. I gave you another option.”
“What option?”
“Sell your soul to me and I’ll make sure the end result will be one you can be happy with.”
“Haaaah. You were being serious about that? What sort of nonsensical proposal is that supposed to be? Sell my soul? What even is a soul? You’re getting scammed if you believe a soul is real.”
“I don’t believe it’s real, but I still want yours anyway.”
“This is ridiculous to the point I can’t even try to play along. Since you’re playing pretend devil, why don’t you hand over some of that legendary immortality devils often hand out like it’s growing on trees?”
“Immortality? Hmm… that’s a tough one…”
“Then forg-”
“I can make you unaging, someone who can live forever if you really want, but immortality as in being incapable of dying altogether, would be outside the scope of my abilities.”
“Hah? You’re seriously keeping this act up?”
“Sure, why not? You interested in signing a contract to make it official?”
“Sure, sure. If you’re so confident, go ahead and try. What do I care about a soul? If you’re fine getting scammed, be my guest. Let’s see what you can do, Mr. Play Pretend Devil.”
I’d been joking around and hadn’t expected she’d seriously agree.
But as it was a rare chance to acquire another soul I figured I might as well strike while the iron was hot. If I delayed she probably wouldn’t sign it.
I slowed to a stop and pulled over near the curb.
“What are you doing?”
“You said you’d sign a contract, so give me a sec to write one up.”
“What? You’re really going all the way through with this little act of yours?”
“What? Are you getting cold feet? So you do actually believe in a soul then and are scared to sell it? How cute. Taking it so seriously.”
“I’m not scared. Do it. Write up a contract and I’ll really sign it, see if I care.”
“Haha. I doubt you’ll really sign it. You like to play it cool, but below the surface, you’re actually pretty scared about a lot of things, aren’t you?”
“Tsk. I’m not scared. Put your money where your mouth is and write up that stupid contract already.”
“Haha. Alright, as you wish.”
I took out a pen and folded-up piece of paper from my pocket then quickly wrote up a contract under the illumination of the street light directly above us. Five minutes later I stuck the pen and paper over my shoulder and said, “Here’s the contract.”
“That was faster than expected. Are you used to doing this sort of thing?”
“Not at all.”
“Let’s see… haha, you’re seriously promising to make it so I don’t age anymore? Are you stupid?”
“You’re the one who asked for it, not me.”
“Now that I think about it, I should also ask for a lot of money while I’m at it.”
“Ask for that and I’m ripping this contract up on the spot.”
“Cheapskate. It’s my soul you know, my soul. It’s super valuable. Don’t you think you should offer a bit more?”
“Coming from the person who was treating her soul like it was water a few seconds ago, that doesn’t sound convincing at all.”
“Damn, I should have done a better job. Well, it was my mistake.”
“You signing or no-”
“Here you go.” I was cut off when my vision went white. While her left arm was still around my waist, she’d suddenly wrapped her right arm over my shoulder and stuck out the signed contract in front of my face between two fingers. The exact same instant she did that my body had simultaneously reacted. The sour taste at the back of my mouth and the usual resultant heart abnormalities. I was more or less accustomed to them by now though so they came as no surprise.
“What’s wrong? You taking it, or not? Or are you panicking because you thought I wouldn’t really sign it and you’re having second thoughts now that you have to take responsibility? If it’s the latter, I don’t mind if we rip up this contract now and act like this agreement never happened.”
“I’m not second-guessing anything. Your soul has been received and I’ll naturally deliver on my promise.” I retrieved both my pen and the signed contract, folded the paper up, and stuffed them back into my pocket.
“Alright, so let’s hear it. What sort of plan do you have that can solve my problem and lead to a better result than going to the police?”
“...” I still hadn’t actually thought of it.
“What? Not saying anything?”
“I’m still thinking about it now.”
“Huh? Still thinking? You sure sounded confident before like you already had a plan. Haaaaaah. It seems I’ve been scammed out of my soul by a swindler playing pretend devil. I’m such a fool, I should have clarified what your plan was rather than letting you goad me on.”
“Relax, would you? I’ll think of something.”
“What? Is your current plan to ride around with me all night on your motorcycle?”
“Sure, if you want to, I don’t mind.”
“Your girlfriend’s going to think you’re cheating on her if you do that.”
“I just need to show her the video I took earlier to prove my innocence.”
“How convenient of you to have that video.”
Before I took off again, I sent a text to Rosa to let her know I’d probably be late because something unexpected came up. She’d let the others know for me so I didn’t have to inform everyone.”
“You’re still in high school, aren’t you? Now that I think about it, are you even allowed to drive this late?”
“Of course not, I only have my learner’s permit still, but who’s going to snitch on me?”
“If I wasn’t relying on you right now I’d definitely snitch.”
“Then it’s a good thing I have your soul now.”
I picked up speed and drove off again.
“Hey, aren’t you going to keep hiding the license plate as I asked you to?”
“Isn’t it fine now?”
“Well… I guess we’re far enough now that it shouldn’t be as much of a concern. But… do you plan to stay in this position?”
“Is there a problem?”
She hadn’t removed her right arm hooked over my right shoulder and it was dangling down in front of my chest. Her left arm was also positioned around my waist. Overall, I couldn't help but feel it was an overly intimate position.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit iffy?”
“Maybe… but… just let me stay like this for a bit.”
I felt much more of her weight on my back than before.
While stuck in this position, I lost track of time as I drove carefully through the city thinking over a way to get through this whole gang ordeal when the loud rumble of an engine came from behind as a girl screamed out in irritation. “Move outta the way ya stupid lovey-dovey couple!”
A bit started by the outcry I changed lanes.
As she passed us by she continued spitting out her complaints, “Seriously, all couples should just go and die! I can’t even get a boyfriend, meanwhile, stupid couples are drivin around like this! Damn it! The world is too unfair to unladylike girls like me!”
I was shocked when I finally recognized who it was through the loud sound of their engine. It’d been hard to make out the bike at first, but when it passed under a street light, I got a better look at the motorcycle and the figure of the girl in front of us. It was the Faceless girl.
When thinking about gangs, it’s not like this person hadn’t popped into my mind, it was just that I didn’t know her very well. Besides, why would she help me if I went to her? There was no reason to.
I… had the card she gave me… but would going to her mechanic repair shop help in any way?
“Hey!”
I called out to her but she raised her middle finger above her head in the distance and cut me off, “Shut up! I don’t want to hear complaints from stupid couples! Go die!”
She sped off before I could say another word to her. There was no way I could catch her.
She must be… really desperate for a boyfriend…
“Hey, wasn’t that girl the one who made a scene at work earlier today and hugged you outside?”
“Uh… yeah. Pretty sure that was her.”
“Haha… she misunderstood and incorrectly assumed we’re a couple.”
“Yeah, that seems to be the case.”
“Hey, if you really can’t think of anything, maybe I should just stay at a hotel tonight and use the chance to think things over.”
“Can you afford it?”
“If it’s just one night I should be fine...”
