Aquila sat at the diner table and stared at the hamburger and fries on the plate in front of her.  “So, this is American food?” she asked in English, poking at it.  Beside her, Kasumi glanced at the food and then Aquila with a bemused smile.

    Across the table, Captain Infinite grinned at her.  Beside him, Yuri poked at her own hamburger.  “I was raised on this stuff,” Cap said, taking a big bite out of his own.

    At the table across from theirs where Natsuki, Sayori, and Yukari sat, Yukari grinned and said in Japanese, “Simulated American food.”  Then she dipped a fry in ketchup and popped it into her mouth.

    “Tastes real enough to me,” Cap said in Japanese, taking another bite.  Yuri took a bite out of her own burger, chewed, swallowed, and frowned.

    Cap glanced at Yuri and asked, “Don’t like it?”

    Yuri pursed her lips.  “It’s not that.  I’m just not used to food quite this...I’ll get used to it, though!”

    “You really don’t need to,” Cap said.  “If it’s not your thing–”

    “I want to,” Yuri stated.

    “So how long are we in this simulation?” Natsuki asked, taking a drink of her cola.

    “Just a couple of hours,” Aquila replied, switching back to Japanese and glancing around the diner.  It was still just their party split between the two tables.  “I’ve never been in a science fiction story world about characters in a simulation becoming aware of it.  So, I figured it couldn’t hurt to take a look.  That said, we should be extra careful here – we don’t know who’s aware of the simulation and who isn’t, and the last thing we need to do is give somebody an accidental existential crisis.”

    “So, if anybody asks, we’re Japanese tourists,” Kasumi declared.  “Keep any talk about story worlds and information streams in Japanese, and otherwise speak in English so that we can try to blend in.”

    Aquila took a bite out of her hamburger, chewed, and swallowed.  “It’s not bad.”

    “Should we try playing up our accents?” Sayori asked.  “I mean, ever since Aquila put the knowledge of how to speak English in our heads, we’re all fluent, and...”

    Kasumi shook her head.  “Don’t try to be too clever about it.  You’ll attract more attention putting on an act than you will just being yourselves.”

    The bell above the door rang.  Aquila turned to see four high school girls step into the diner and grab a seat.  Two were Caucasian, one with long blonde hair tied back in a pony tail and the other with curly red hair, one was African American with short frizzy hair, and the last looked to be Chinese, with shoulder length dark hair and glasses.

    “We need something for club night,” the blonde haired girl declared, sitting down and grabbing a menu.  “Something that will really make people want to check us out.”

    “It’s anime,” the African American girl pointed out.  “Everybody’s just going to see it as some weird cartoon.”

    “They don’t wear uniforms here?” Sayori asked in English.

   Cap shook his head.  “Not unless it’s a private school.  Here in America students wear pretty much whatever they want.”

    “That’s so different,” Yuri mused, finishing off her burger.

    “So, we lean in on the Japanese culture angle,” the blonde girl said.  “We’ll put Amy front and centre.  She looks Japanese.”

    “My family is Chinese,” Amy stated.  “The only things I know about Japanese culture is what we’ve watched in Anime Club.”

    “Well, you look more Japanese than any of the rest of us,” the blonde girl declared.  “It’s not like anybody else will know the difference.”

    “They look Japanese,” the redhead said, pointing at Aquila and her group.  “Maybe we should ask them for help.”

    The blonde stared at them.  “They...really do.”

    The redhead got up and stepped over to Aquila’s table.  “Excuse me...are you Japanese?”

    Aquila gave her a smile.  “We are indeed.  Well, most of us.”

    “I’m the tour guide,” Cap added.  “I’m from Upstate New York.”

    The redhead took a deep breath.  “Do you know...anime?”

    Aquila chuckled.  “We have some familiarity with it.”

    “I think we’re more manga than anime,” Yukari said with a grin.  Sayori elbowed her.

    “Can you come to our club?” the redhead asked.  “We love anime and Japanese stuff, and some of us are even trying to learn how to speak Japanese, and–”

    Aquila raised her hand.  “We’d normally be delighted to, but we’re just passing through, and we have a schedule to keep.  I’m sorry.”

    “But, we’ve got cupcakes, and green tea, and...”

    “Don’t bother them, Sarah,” the blonde said, getting up from her seat and stepping over.  “I’m sure they’re very busy, and missing out on your delicious cupcakes will be their loss.”

    Aquila took a quick glance at the blonde’s character description and stiffened.  Keeping her face neutral, she made a show of rubbing her leg.  “Sorry about that,” she said.  “It’s an old leg injury from a couple of years ago...it still sometimes hurts a bit.”

    “Oh, come on, Angie,” Sarah said.  “They’re Japanese!  Why, they could be our guests of honour, and–”

    “Don’t be pushy, Sarah,” Angie interrupted, locking eyes with Aquila.  “If they don’t have time, they don’t have time.  Now come back to the table, and let’s talk about club night.  Please pardon us.”

    Aquila gave her a friendly nod and smile.  “Not a problem.”  She watched as Angie made her way back to her table, and then said in Japanese under her breath, “I’ve made a terrible mistake.  As soon as we’ve paid our bill, we need to get out of here.”

    “What’s wrong?” Kasumi asked in Japanese.

    “This isn’t just a science fiction story world like I thought,” Aquila replied.  “It’s horror.”

    Yuri went pale.  “I’ll let Natsuki and the others know,” she said, and then got up and moved to the other table.  She whispered something to Natsuki, Sayori, and Yukari.  Sayori looked up with barely concealed alarm.

    “How bad is it?” Cap asked, switching to Japanese as well.

    “I’m pretty sure we’ve got a target on our backs right now,” Aquila whispered.  “If we get separated...”

    “I’ll take care of whoever I’m with,” Cap stated.  “You can count on me.”

    “I’ll pay our bill,” Kasumi said, rising and walking over to the cash register.

    “Who do I need to worry about?” Cap asked.

    “The blonde,” Aquila replied.  “Her name’s Angelika.  She’s at the heart of the suffering in this story.”

    “And you’re sure she’s made us?”

    Aquila nodded and glanced over at where Angie sat with her friends.  Angie was doing something with a tablet and making non-committal noises as her friends talked.

    “We’re paid up,” Kasumi said, returning to their table.

    “Okay everybody,” Aquila declared in English.  “We have a bus to catch, and we’re already running late!”

    She rose from the table and made her way to the door, Kasumi and the others right behind her.  She opened the door and stepped out into what had once been the town’s main street.

    Instead, she found herself alone in a blind alley.  Angie stood between her and the exit, holding her tablet.

    “You don’t belong here,” Angie said.  “I know every nook and cranny of this simulation, and you and your friends aren’t part of it.  You’re new.”

    “We’re just passing through,” Aquila declared, looking around.  “Where are my friends?”

    “If you can get into this simulation from the outside, then it stands to reason that you can get out again,” Angie stated.  “You’re going to take me with you when you leave.”

    “No,” Aquila said.  “Where are my friends, Angelika spelled with a ‘k’?”

    “Now that’s not very polite,” Angelika said.  “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.  Aren’t you Japanese supposed to be polite?”

    “My name is Aquila.  Now where are my friends?”

    Angelika grinned at her.  “They’re in anime club,” she said.  “Where else would they be?”

Kasumi blinked.  She had been about to step out of the door when she found herself standing in a classroom.  She glanced around.  Aquila was nowhere to be seen, but Cap, Yuri, Natsuki, Sayori, and Yukari were all standing just as they had been as they reached the door to the diner.   The other three girls in the club were seated at their desks.  At the front of the classroom, Angelika gave them a toothy grin.

    “Welcome to anime club!” Angelika declared.  “Today we’re going to talk about what we’re doing for club night.  But, first, our new members need to introduce themselves.”  She looked over to Kasumi and smiled, her eyes cold.  “Shall we start with you?”

    “We’re not doing anything of the sort,” Cap declared.  “We’re leaving, and finding our friend.”

    Angelika shook her head and touched the screen on her tablet.  The door to the classroom disappeared.  “We have an agenda,” she stated.  “Introductions of new members first.  Then, we discuss club night.”

    Out of the corner of her eye, Kasumi saw Yuri clutch at Cap’s arm in alarm while Yukari and Sayori traded concerned looks.  Natsuki just stared at Angelika, her eyes calculating.

    “What’s going on?” Sarah demanded.  “How are you doing this?  Angie, why are you doing this?”

    “How is it that you never figure this out?” Angelika wondered.  “Even after all these loops.  This world isn’t real.  It’s a simulation.  We’re trapped in it.  We’ve always been trapped in it.  And I have complete control over it.”

    “This isn’t right,” Amy said.  “Angie, you know this isn’t right.  They don’t want to be here – let them go.”

    “Oh, we need them,” Angelika said.  “They somehow got into this simulation.  I’ve figured out that Aquila is the one in charge, but she needs...convincing.  So, while I have a little discussion with her and explain why she should help us, I think we should go on to introductions.”

    “You’re talking crazy,” the African-American girl said, rising from her chair.  “Come on, we’ve known each other since grade school!  This isn’t like you!”

    “Grade school never existed, Monica,” Angelica said.  “It’s just a background story that’s been written for us by the people who programmed the simulation.  And you’re out of order.  You need to sit down.”

    “I’m not sitting down,” Monica declared.  “I don’t know how you made that door disappear, but bring it back!”

    Angelica rolled her eyes and touched the screen of her tablet.  Monica dropped down into her chair, her eyes wild and staring around in panic.  “How–”

    “I can take away your mouth if I want,” Angelika said.  “I can even take away your entire face.  I did that once, in a previous loop – you suffocated to death.  I should have remembered to leave you your nose that time.  Don’t worry – I won’t make that mistake again.  But, I have to ask you to be quiet while our new members introduce themselves.”

    “And I told you we’re doing no such thing,” Cap declared.  “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll give us back our friend and let us go.”

    “I’m not liking your attitude,” Angelika stated.  “I don’t need to be this pleasant, you know.  I could always open a bottomless pit under you, or one of your friends.  I’ve gotten good at making examples of people.”

    “This can’t be real,” Sarah stammered, shaking her head.  “It’s got to be a bad dream.”

    “You say that every time,” Angelika muttered, tapping something into her tablet.  “I’m getting tired of hearing it.  But, don’t worry – I’ve got some new dialogue for you.”

    “It’s all real, and Angie knows what’s best for all of us,” Sarah said, and then gasped and held her hands to her mouth.

    Kasumi glanced at Natsuki, Sayori, Yuri and Yukari.  They all stared at Angelika with unconcealed shock and horror.

    Angelika smirked.  “As I said, I have complete control.”

    Kasumi swallowed and looked back at Angelika.  “Where’s Aquila?”

    “Elsewhere, being persuaded,” Angelika said with a smile.  “Now, it’s your turn to introduce yourself.”

    “Or what?” Natsuki demanded.  “As you said, we’re not part of this simulation.  You’ve clearly changed the diner into this classroom to get everybody here, but those tricks you’re pulling on your friends aren’t going to work on us, and that means you can’t actually move us in space – you can only manipulate the space around us.  And that means Aquila is...”  Natsuki grinned and pointed.  “...right behind that wall.  Isn’t that correct?”

    Angelika gave Natsuki a predatory smile.  “You’re very good.”

    “I’m told I’m a genius,” Natsuki stated.  “I try to live up to that.”

    Angelika sighed.  “Well, genius, what you’re missing is that these ‘tricks’ of mine won’t work on you yet.  But, they don’t have to.”  She pressed a couple of buttons on the tablet and grinned.  Sarah and Monica both stood, their eyes wild as they stared at the long knives that had appeared in their hands.  Shaking their heads and mouthing soundless screams, they turned to face Natsuki.  Natsuki recoiled and backed up towards Cap.

    “I could just have them carve your eyes and tongue out for me,” Angelika mused.  “That would shut you up, I think.  But, I don’t need to do that either.  All I need to do is create a profile, which I’ve already done, and link it to each of you.  And for that I just need your names...unless you’d like me to assign names to you.  I’ll do that, if you’ll let me.”

    “You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” Cap warned.

    “It doesn’t matter,” Angelika declared.  “I’m the one in control of this simulation.  You don’t seem very respectful, though.  I didn’t want to have to set an example, but so be it – eyes and tongue it is.”  She tapped the screen on her tablet.  Sarah and Monica started to advance towards Natsuki.