A number of years ago, this would’ve been considered strange. But in today’s climate, this only slightly deviates from the norm.

I raise my eyebrows.

“You’re not just a baker, are you?”

Eikichi lowers his hand, the cup coming down with it.

Our eyes meet, and those red eyes…

What was once an intense warmth and curiousity, is now a steely gaze.

“So what?"

All that playful attitude and those stumbling words… gone. They are replaced with something vaguely sinister, instead.

“How public are you with your abilities?”

I click my tongue.

“My family knows.”

How curt.

“Have you been formally trained?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

I challenge his stoic expression with one of my own.

And to that, he smiles.

It’s childish, joyous…

… menacing.

Mocking.

His blue hair whips around him in the quickening breeze. “In that case then, no. I, Eikichi Baker, have not been formally trained as a mage.”

“Interesting,” is all I can say. I lace my fingers together, to stop them from shaking.

There’s a feeling in my gut all the sudden… apprehension?
Guilt?
Fear?

“I’m interesting, am I?” he snarls.

On instinct, I square my shoulders and lean back a little.

He notices, and laughs.

I better get this over with quick.

“You’re an expat, Eikichi?”

“My family wanted to be in the world’s new magic capital. So yes, we are… from across waters.” And he purses his lips. “Does that change anything?”

“No, not at all.”

Yes, yes it does.

If you move here with purpose, it’s different from just being here and everything happening around you.

Being a child of the 90s from the States is different from being a child of the 90s in Malaysia. Yes, you came into existence at the same time, but your experiences differ to a degree. You could’ve been munching on hot dogs, you could’ve been munching on popiah. You could’ve been playing with Tamagochis, you could’ve been playing ‘Spot the Vampire.’

There’s a difference.

He notes my silence. “We are of this dimension, if that’s your next question. This Earth, this realm, this dimension - however you all call it.”

I gulp.

He’s human at least.

With that thought, we are left with more silence.

“...hey,” he walks his hand across the table.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”