Emma woke up with a grumbling stomach. He sat in a sitting position with his body aching from the previous run. He began to whimper in pain when he tried to stand up.

[How’s your body]

Emma rolled his eyes. if Lily was not an Ai, he would have knocked some senses into her. ‘Do you need to ask?’ “What does it look like?” He snorted, looking through the window.

The blue clear sky illuminates the glory of the sun. He could hear the noise of the city activities from a far distance. Though the junkyard was quiet, the buzzing of the city life could still be heard far away.

Emma reminisces on his previous lifestyle. He would already be in a luxury place causing havoc. Besides, instead of his stomach complaining about the food. He would have eaten two to three times today. Though it wasn’t afternoon yet.

[Are you done?]

Hmm

Emma realized he had already been lost in thought for a while. “Am I done with what? What do you mean?” Emma feigned ignorance.

[tic-tic]

Emma’s stomach producing another disgusting sound. Hearing the sound, Emma crooked his nose, putting on a stern expression, behaving as nothing happen. He was thinking for an appropriate answer for Lily’s nagging.

However, Lily’s nagging never came. He was quite surprised. Though he hadn’t known the Ai for too long. He knew the Ai won’t let it lose to rub salt on his wound. “Are you ok?” Emma whispered.

[Why do you ask? Can anything happen to me in your brain? Dimwit.]

Hmm!

Emma rolled his eyes. ‘Why do I have to ask? I won’t mind you dying’ He furrowed. Emma cleared his throat. “I want to get something to eat.”

[And so….]

Emma raised his brow and slammed the wooden bed. He stood up, ignoring Lily’s comment. ‘Is it a problem for just a small conversation…’ He complained inside.

Emma dragged his aching body to the junk site with great difficulty. Every step he took was like a mountain was placed on his body. Cries and groans escape his mouth frequently. Besides, he had to look out for people not to discover his whereabouts.

After waiting for a few minutes of hiding beside a dilapidated building not far away from the junk site. Emma came out, walking with a large stride toward junks. He had to be quick not to be discovered by the gangs. ‘I had to be quick. Some gangs come here for their evil deeds during the day.’

Emma quickly scavenges the freshly dumped junk. Shortly, he found some food that he could still eat. Quickly, he got a small carton and place some of his loots inside. Emma widening his eyes, looking around for anything out of place. Seeing that everything was green, Emma wanted to depart when Lily asked him to stop.

[Take that small bottle.]

“Why!”

He was already on the run for his life. He couldn’t afford to become negligent of his surrounding.

[Just take it!]

Emma rolled his eyes and shook his dejectedly. ‘when they caught me, both of us would be dead anyway’ he went back and took a small black bottle, dumping it into his carton box.

“Is that all? Or do you need me to park all the junk sites for you…” Emma asked sarcastically.

[…..]

Emma did not wait for Lily’s response. He dragged his excess weight out of the junk site, looking back frequently for not being followed.

[Will you stop all this charade? If they have followed you. What can you do with this your useless body?]

Emma ignored her comment. He hastens his pace while looking back now and then.

[If you behave like this. Anybody that sees you know that you’re hiding something. Behave like you normally do.]

Hearing this, Emma took a deep breath. He realized his previous behavior was suspicious. He calmed his raging heartbeat and walk casually without looking back. Shortly he was back to his half-collapsed room. Sitting on the wooden bed, Emma could finally relax.

All the adrenaline that kicks off during his mission of hunting had worn off. The pain was now in multiple of the previous ones. But his love for food overcame his current pain. He struggled to pick some of the food and wobble everything in haste.

[…]

After a few minutes, Emma had a satisfying smile on his face. He had almost diminished all the junk food inside the carton. He parted his tummy with an elated smile. Though the food was not the best, it was better than none. Shortly he realized his aching body. He whimpered in pain while he tried to lie on the wooden bed.

[Is this how you want to spend your life.]

Hmm!

‘What did I do now…’ He raised his brow not standing from his sleeping position. “Why do you say that.?”

[You ate food that was meant for five people and you could still smile. Now you lie on the bed ready for another sleep. You’re totally hopeless.]

Hmm!

‘Shouldn’t I eat again’

“I haven’t eaten any good food for the past two days. That’s why I had to eat a lot. Besides is there any crime in eating much food?”

[….]

“Moreover, I’m not hopeless. Though I rest now, it’s because of the pain am feeling right now. I don’t have any medicine to use, the only drug is to rest. In the afternoon when my body is good for me to walk again. I’ll execute my next plan.”

Hearing his explanation, Lily was quiet. His reason was quite justifiable.

[What’s your next plan?]

“Secret” Emma grinned, closing his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

[You remember that there shouldn’t be any secret between us.]

Emma sighed. He opened his eyes.

“I want to explore a building”

[Where]

“At the center of this area.”

[Is that your next plan?]

“Yes.”

[I had my hope up, thinking you’re going to use your dummy brain for once. Tic-tick, Dimwit.]

“Oh! What do you expect? A grand plan on how to reach the peak. Hmm?” Emma raised his body, adjusting to a sitting position.

[….]

“I’m not some delusional kid you found out there. I have seen little of the dark side of human nature. So, sorry if I don’t show that enthusiasm.”

[Then what is your next plan.]

Emma smile.. “First, I need a hideout.”