#ch 18

[scene opens inside the Mystery Diner]

Lucas: It’s dinner time, but we’re the only customers here. That’s odd, isn’t it?

Kaito: …So this whole diner is actually an anomaly. Darkwick’s letting it operate while they research it.

Lucas: It’s an anomaly…? Is this really the best way for it to * managed.

[tn: typo, be*]

The first-year from earlier seemed to be the only employee, and he was sitting at the counter on his phone.

It certainly didn’t seem like there was all that much management going on.

Kaito: Don’t say ominous crap like that…! I mean, this whole campus is an anomaly, right?

Kaito: One or two inside it can’t make *the much of a difference.

[tn: typo, *that]

Luna: Wait… You mean Darkwick Academy is an anomaly?

Kaito: Yeah, that’s why it’s bigger on the inside. And it’s–

Ren: …Are you gonna order or not?

Kaito: Crap, I got distracted… All right, stomach, what’s the vibe today? I’m gonna say burger.

Kaito ran his finger down the menu, reading out the unusual names beside the pictures.

Kaito: “Poppy Seed Pasta”... “Monkey Ice Cream”... What’s with these names?

Kaito: Ah, here we go! Verme Burger! Verme? What’s that?

Ren: No idea. It’s my first day.

Luna: The picture looks kind of like a cheeseburger, doesn’t it?

Kaito: Um… Ren? Would you mind asking your supervisor what the Verme Burger is…?

Ren: Can’t. The owner’s an anomaly. The no talking kind.

Kaito: Oh, I see! No problem at all, we understand!

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out just as Luca did the same with his.

Lucas: Our investigation permit has been granted. We can finally start the mission.

Kaito: Hurray…

Ren: Could you decide already…?

Kaito: S-Sorry! I’ll have the Verme Burger! How about you guys?

Lucas: I’ll have what Kaito is having.

Luna: Okay, then so will I.

Having finished ordering, our conversation naturally shifted to the topic of our first mission.

Lucas: This may be a low-ranking mission, but the subject of the investigation is shrouded in mystery.

Lucas: It’s already late, so let’s go tomorrow after classes. We should start with careful reconnaissance of the site.

Kaito: Do I really have to be there for that…?

Lucas: You want Luna and I to go without you? If you really don’t want to come, I won’t force you, but…

Kaito: (Right… If I don’t go… that means Luca will be alone with Luna…)

Kaito: I’ll go! I was just asking!

Kaito looked down at his phone, and I followed suit.

Luna: This place is near Yoyogi Station, right?

Kaito: Seriously? That’s right near Harajuku! I haven’t been there in ages. We should go on the way back!

Lucas: I’m quite sure private errands are not permitted on missions at Darkwick, Kaito.

Kaito: Come on, they probably wouldn’t even notice…

Lucas: Let’s get ready after classes and meet at the Galaxy Express Station.

Kaito: You really need to lighten up, dude. No one wants to date the fun police.

Luna: The Galaxy Express Station is the one where I couldn’t get through the ticket gates, isn’t it?

Lucas: Yes. We’ll depart campus at 3 PM. I would appreciate it if you could both be there on time.

[comic sequence begins]

Panel 1: A close-up of Ren’s face, looking extremely uncomfortable, the top of the tray with the three burgers is visible.

Ren: Here you go…

Ren: Three… Whatever Burgers…

Panel 2: Ren sets the food down on the table, and Kaito is looking cheerful.

Kaito: Thanks, man!

Kaito: Whoa, looks–

Panel 3: The middle part of the burgers is blurred and wriggling.

Kaito: Why is it moving?!?!

Panel 4: Luna holds her phone in her hand. The screen reads: 

Italian-English dictionary

verme

n. earthworm.