[My first weekend in this world started with the same good old training, but supplemented with stretching exercises from the book I bought. Stretching correctly really is not easy. And a little painful. But not much more than working out after a day full of manual labor, as always.
This reminds me. Today is the first time I haven't had to run around all day trying to get things done since I came here. Finally, I have some time to think more carefully about my future plans, as well as learning to cook. But there is another big problem. I won't be able to work on the construction site today, which means I only have the leftover money from yesterday after buying the books. It was just enough for the necessary ingredients for cooking this weekend. Hopefully I don't mess up too much, or I will go hungry until my Sunday evening shift at Lucky Pizza.]
Ryu sits at the dining table while seriously studying the cookbook. In the end, he decides to make himself a breakfast dish called "Joke", a kind of rice porridge. The first hurdle is prepping all the ingredients, which takes some time as he is unfamiliar with using kitchen knives. The next hurdle is controlling the heat while cooking the rice into porridge. At this stage, the first try fails, as he manages to burn it somehow. Undeterred, he continues until he finally achieves a relatively presentable result on his third try.
"It is quite delicious, but I still don't know if something like this is healthy to eat in the morning after my workout."
Ryu even takes a stroll up to Heidelberg Castle, trying to find the location where the gardener Ivan Kürten attempted to confine Nina Fortner in the original work. He is trying to find a spot to hide from which he could intervene at the right time, so that there is no chance of her being in danger. Just because she was able to subdue Kürten unharmed in the original work, it does not mean the reality will also be as easy. Especially with him meddling and potentially causing a butterfly effect. After his little excursion, he goes back to his apartment, training and cooking some more until the end of the day.
[The day was relatively uneventful, and I managed to cook some dishes, although not on the first try. Still, I am happy about the outcome. In the following weeks, I have to raise my cooking level. It may even show up as a skill with Lv. 1 on my character page. There is still much to be discovered about the mysterious diary.
While strolling around town and enjoying the good weather, I thought about what would happen if I directly eliminated the main culprit in this world. But after some thinking, I realized it would not work. The system told me to change the plot points of the story. Thereby, I can steal the opportunities of the protagonists from the "Will of the World", which often manifests as Fate, luck, or plot armor in stories. If we follow that line of thought, the protagonists' strengthening Fate keeps increasing until it overcomes the Fate value of the main antagonist, through which he can finally be defeated. This way even if I manage to come up with the perfect scheme to stop the evil guys in one go, somehow through sheer bad luck or "Fate" induced by the "Will of the World", the floor beneath me will crumble so I fall to my doom, a meteor falls on top of me or some other shenanigans.
Which made me come to a depressing realization. Even if I try my best, I will not be able to save everyone. In the sequel novel "Another Monster: Investigative Report" a reporter claims this murder spree involves more than 200 victims, the largest ever in modern Germany. Two hundred victims, and I only know details about those mentioned in the original work. Therefore, as I can't destroy the evil at its roots, a lot of people will still be killed even when I try my best. This doesn't mean I am going to give up, of course. I am determined to minimize the damage as much as possible.
Some things can be accelerated. I want to move Elsa out of Ruhenheim as soon as possible, once I have a stable income that can support her. But there are more pressing matters for now. Following today's realization, I need to plan in even more detail. Also, some things are inconvenient not to know. For example, is Eva already under surveillance by the culprit after he spotted her on the eve of Adolf Junkers murder? Will she be in danger if I contact her? How do I even contact a wealthy lady without any credentials myself and meet her in person?
Luckily, there is still a month until I receive my first paycheck to consider my approach to helping Eva Heinemann. Also, what if I am noticed by the antagonist while trying to shelter Elsa? Would it be better to leave her alone until the last moment and then sweep her away without warning? My only advantage is knowing future events, so when I save someone, I won't know if they will still be a target or if I successfully thwarted the attack on them.
For this, I need help from Heinrich Lunge, the BKA Inspector I mentioned before. But he alone can't arrange everything. I need to arrange for some witness protection, which includes changing identities and relocating to a different area. But are there enough trustworthy people in the agencies, so that I can rest assured concerning the safety of the people I have already rescued once? Or will I always have to watch my back, keeping an eye on them? The real hard part for me is to keep those victims safe after the first attempt.
So much to think about, but I still have too few resources to work with. I wish I could steal most of the money in the money laundering business I know about. But sadly, that would throw too much chaos into the plot.]
Lotte's eyes almost bulged out of her head reading this evening's diary entry.
'Will of the World? Unable to change because of Fate or luck? 200 victims?! Ryu, I did not expect you would be up against such a massive wall of problems. I said I would help you to the best of my ability, but suddenly I feel pretty small in front of all that. No wonder you nearly broke down the day before yesterday, shouldering all this pressure alone.'
Elsa can not contain her excitement.
"So he does know me! He even plans to come and get me, how wonderful! Obviously, now I understand that being in proximity to Ryu, who opposes dangerous murderers and corrupt police forces, is not at all secure either. I always wished for a more exciting life, but the most important thing is not to become a dead weight, dragging Ryu down. If I want to live beside this mysterious and handsome young man, I need to be able to pull my weight. I'm just a rural cashier with limited skills, but I could start memorizing more family recipes to cook and maybe start running in the morning, like Ryu does. Even though I may not be able to fight, I should at least be able to run away without needing others to cover for me, right?"
Eva: "If I could just tell him that I can see his diary or was not forbidden to act in ways alarming him of the copy, he would not have to think so much just to meet me. Sadly, now some part of the person trying to save people is occupied by planning how to make a connection with me. It's touching, though, that he's willing to go so far for me. It has been a long, long time since anyone genuinely cared about my well-being. Thank you, Ryu, for not despising me like those other people."
Rung: "Ryu is shouldering all this knowledge alone, not knowing that I, and most likely Nina Fortner, can read about it in the copy of his diary. I am impressed by his courage and determination in taking on such a daunting task. Hopefully, he can save as many people as possible. Knowing your diary entries, I am convinced you are a good man, fighting for what you feel is right. Even if no one else does, I believe in you and support you from afar."
Nina lies in her bed, feeling overwhelmed by the information she just read, and tries to connect the young man smiling brightly at her with the diary entry full of determination, fighting alone against all odds. This left her with a weird feeling in her heart.
Nina knew all along that Ryu was getting close to her to prevent a murder. But never did she think he was already planning for the victims, how to live on after the immediate survival. Suddenly, she felt pathetic for being angry at him because of a little misunderstanding.
"I should talk to him more than before. He was so happy with just a little compliment, maybe I can at least not be in his way and stop him from feeling like he is all alone in this world."
Ryu Seiya, while savoring his self-cooked dinner, reviews today's posts. Tapping his chin, he murmurs to himself.
"Not bad at all, exposed some of my theories and a little bit of future events without revealing too much. Still, the biggest hurdle remains with Nina. The moment I write too concrete facts concerning her lost memory, such as the protagonist being Dr. Tenma and the situation surrounding Eva, she will probably remember something. So, I have to skirt around certain topics and keep referring to people as protagonists and culprits, until I can "awaken" her in a safe setting. I should try to contact Dr. Geitel and ask him to be present at that crucial moment. He is the psychiatrist she trusts and a professional with high standards, after all. Today is the evening of February 18th. I will allow myself until March 4th to continue building trust between Nina and me. Anything less won't be enough time to arrange measures for dealing with her birthday on April 7th."
Patting his stomach, Ryu loads the dishwasher and goes to bed.
On the morning of the 19th of February, the rural town of Ruhenheim is graced with an unfamiliar sight. A young woman, without make-up, letting down her normally bundled-up hair in a ponytail, can be seen sweating heavily behind her long bangs. While stretching after the run to cool down, she is approached by an older woman walking her barking dog. Looking at Elsa with interest.
"Little Elsa, why are you suddenly running in the morning?"
Elsa's bright blue eyes sparkle at the question, and with a face that spoke about her absolute determination, she replies in her most serious voice, "When someone comes to kidnap me, I need to be able to run away!"
Looking at the serious response from the girl, the woman is startled.
"Did you watch too much Tatort again? Here in Ruhenheim, everyone knows each other, so there won't be something like this happening."
"But Frau Hillman, look at how cute and beautiful I am. What if someone from out of town hears about the local beauty and comes to snatch me away? The risk is great! I better be prepared."
The old lady can only watch on with an open mouth as Elsa walks back inside her home.
Equally surprised is a butler in Düsseldorf, after receiving the order never to let Frau Heinemann see alcohol while eating breakfast. Although the struggle is visible on her face, Eva tries her best to cut down on her alcohol intake. It still only holds until 10 in the morning, when her hands start shaking and she experiences nausea. But it is at least a few hours of fighting against her addiction.
"I wonder what prompted her reaction? Is it Dr. Tenma again?"
Ryu, not knowing how much his diary has already changed the mentality of the women reading it, spends another fruitful day. Exercising, cooking, and planning. Until it is time for his Sunday evening shift at Lucky Pizza.
"Sunday should be quite busy for a restaurant, right? Maybe I should arrive a little earlier than normal to make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned."
As Nina arrives at work, she fails to spot Ryu.
'Is this guy unwell? He did not update his diary at all until now and is neither to be found in the kitchen nor the dining area.'
She greets the staff as usual and asks Giuseppe, who has already seen her looking around the restaurant.
"Manager, did Ryu not come to work today?"
He looks strangely at the girl, who just last time asked him to make sure no rumors are spreading about her liking the new hire.
"He came earlier today, talking about how he must put in more work because the Sunday crowd should be bigger. I told him to just work like normal, but he cleaned the dining area with even more focus and is now scrubbing the restrooms as if his life depended on it. I don't know what got into him today."
Amused, Nina chuckles, "He seems like quite the reliable guy."
"Sì, mamma hiring him was an excellent decision. I disagreed when he approached us and asked if we needed a part-timer for cleaning duties. After all, we managed to scrape by just fine until now. But with all our hands freed up, we have more time and energy left for our core work, while he supports us silently from the back. That kid never complained and took over all tasks we asked of him."
'Silently supporting from the back, never complaining about hardships to anybody. Shouldering all the pressure and expectations set upon him. This is just like you, Ryu, isn't it?'
Nina gazes softly at the sweating Ryu emerging from the restroom, walks over, and takes a mop from his hands.
"You worked hard, let me help you put some of the stuff back."
Stunned, Ryu looks at Nina helping him.
'Did my diary already foster that much goodwill for me? Or did she really fall in love with me at first sight?'
'Just look at you. Who is standing there in a daze now, huh?' Nina chuckles to herself.
Ryu soon overcomes his stunned state, smiles, and thanks her for her help.
The other kitchen staff watch this interaction with interest, while Giuseppe feels betrayed.
'Does she like him now or not? Why else is this girl suddenly so attentive to Ryu? It looks like even at my age, I still don't understand women.'
[I did not update my diary today until work started in the evening. I continued to exercise, cook, and plan. I also decided to go to work early so that everything is spotless for the Sunday evening guests at the restaurant. After a particularly exhausting session of cleaning the restrooms attentively, I was greeted by the sight of Nina Fortner standing in front of me, helping me put the cleaning tools back into the cabinet.
To be honest, I was amazed. After all, this is only our third meeting, but I guess this is just how she is. A caring and kind woman committed to making the world a better place. Even more reason for me to work hard to try and protect her smile.]
Nina feels her face heating up and her heart beating a little faster after reading this new entry, while getting ready for her first delivery of the day.
'I often get compliments about my appearance and character. But to read it from someone who most likely knows even more about me than I do, a man who knows all about my psychological flaws that I keep hidden from the world, yet still cares so much and tries his best to protect me, feels totally different. It has only been a week since this diary appeared in my mind, and I only met Ryu three times in person, yet he still moves me.'
Between deliveries, Nina sits at her usual resting place, holding a book and studying for her next exam. Although she is concentrating, she still finds that her gaze often wanders to the broad, muscled back of the young man scrubbing furiously at the kitchen sink.
As the business starts to wind down, Nina approaches Ryu, who is still working hard.
"Do you need some help? There are no deliveries right now."
"Thank you, but this is what I am paid for after all. I can still keep up with the amount without a problem. Thanks for the good intentions, though." he smiles at her and keeps concentrating on his work.
Somewhat unwilling to stop the conversation at this point, she tries to keep the talk going.
"Well, that's okay. You're name is Ryu, if I remember correctly? Why did you decide to start working here as a cleaning staff?"
At this question, his hands pause for a short moment before he starts cleaning the plates again.
[Right now, she asked me why I started to work as a cleaning staff at Lucky Pizza. I don't want to lie to Nina, so I can only tell part of the truth. I am sorry, Nina, for not being entirely truthful.]
After seeing the diary being updated and having a quick read, she realizes she had asked a sensitive question. Still, Nina is interested in whether Ryu would lie to her or speak truthfully.
"There are many reasons, of course. But the most obvious one is that I need the money. I am an orphan and only graduated from Hauptschule. To be honest, I don't have any friends who can refer me to a better-paying job. So here I am, trying my best and working hard. In my downtime, I can also watch the cooks work and maybe learn some cooking techniques from them."
Nina is satisfied that Ryu did not lie to her directly.
"So you are an orphan, and you don't have friends. That sounds lonely. Are you okay, Ryu? If you want to, we could talk more often. Although you are younger than me, we are still pretty close in age."
Staring at his hands with a melancholic look for a while, he looks at her and smiles shyly.
"That would be nice. Thank you so much for your concern. By the way, I noticed you are quite athletic and fit, do you do any sports?"
"Yes, on the days I am not working here, I often go to the Aikido class of Suzumoto-sensei. Part of the reason I work here is to cover the cost of the lessons."
"Aikido? Interesting, is that a martial art? Are you good at it?"
"Yes, it is! Very much so, the only one in the club who may stand a chance sparring against me is Suzumoto-sensei himself."
"Wow, not bad! It sounds interesting, but as you said, it is also costly. Certainly, there are uniforms and other equipment that cost a significant amount of money, such as in Judo. Do you know how much a set of clothes and beginner lessons would cost?"
Looking at Ryu's forearm muscles contracting and relaxing while scrubbing a particular resilient stain, Nina answers absentmindedly.
"For the first three lessons, you can just come by and see if it interests you. After that, you can decide whether to invest in your own equipment. It is pricey after all, and you just mentioned that you're tight on money."
Ryu sighs helplessly, "Yeah, that's true. In the end, everything comes down to having enough money, doesn't it? But maybe you could take me to a lesson with you sometime. Even though I manage to keep my body in shape, I don't have any skills in defending myself."
"How about this Wednesday then? On Wednesdays, there is always a lesson for beginners, mostly kids, though. But it still teaches the fundamentals so that you can observe on the same skill level."
"Sure, where is the studio? And should we meet there or meet up before? I live not far from here in the Fischergasse, by the way."
"Really? Then we are practically neighbors! My house is only two streets from yours. The studio is close to Heidelberg University."
"We live this close to each other? At University, huh? No problem, just tell me the time when we see each other at work on Tuesday evening."
"Alright! I'm sure you'll like it. Aikido is a lot of fun."
With that, the conversation slowly winds down, and Nina leaves for home.
Christiane observes her daughter eating dinner while humming happily.
"Did something good happen at work today? You look happy tonight."
"Well... To be honest, it's a bit awkward after what I told you the last time. But I talked a little more with Ryu. You know the new guy at work? From what I and other coworkers observed, it turns out he is a hardworking and reliable guy. He also has a pretty athletic body, and when he asked me how I kept in shape, I told him that I practice Aikido. He got a little interested because he does not know any self-defense techniques, so I invited him to come with me to the studio on Wednesday afternoon."
Her mother looks at Nina with a knowing look.
"So that's why my daughter is happy today. She secured a date with the handsome coworker. But didn't you just last time make it clear to your manager that you don't have feelings for Ryu, and to stop rumors from appearing? Now you're suddenly meeting up with him outside of work?"
"To be honest, Mom, after watching him and talking with him a bit more, I am a little bit attracted to him. Just a little though!"
"Did you hear that, Erich? Our daughter is finally blossoming!"
"Moooom!"
A displeased voice comes from behind the newspaper.
"What blossoming? I'd better spray her with bug spray before leaving the house, to keep those flies away!"
Happy laughter echoes throughout the Fortner home on this evening.
[This day at work was enjoyable. Nina and I talked when her work slowed down, and we got a little closer. Or at least I think so. I don't know why she suddenly started approaching me. I still planned to stay more distant until we get to know each other better. But maybe she really fell in love with me back then? The thought makes me a little guilty inside, knowing that I approached her with an objective in mind. Also, I only wanted to approach her as friends, but now suddenly there is this possible situation? I'm a little confused about how it came to be, but looking in the mirror, maybe I am just too handsome? That has to be the only plausible answer.
Another interesting point is that I will be introduced to her Aikido lessons on Wednesday. I obviously know how good she is at this martial art. The funny thing is that her teacher does not dare to spar with her, because he knows he won't stand a chance. To keep his dignity, he comes up with all kinds of excuses, like suddenly calling for a break. Also, he has a massive crush on Nina. I'm curious to see how he'll react when she brings a handsome guy to the lesson.
But what's most important to me is learning some martial arts there. Going up against those criminals will sometimes require combat skills, which I sorely lack at this moment. I bet that if I were to go against Nina right now, in 10 out of 10 rounds from first contact to defeat, she would kick my ass in 5 seconds every time.
The problem is to save enough money for the lessons and the outfit. Maybe I can loan one or buy an older set for cheap from other students.]
Nina snuggles into bed, tiredly closing her eyes and reading the diary in her mind.
'Isn't it because you care so much about me that I unconsciously started caring about you too? Ryu always goes on about how it's all because he's handsome. Well, at least this is a good reason to help me cover up my behavior, not raising suspicions about the diary copy. And you're right, we're only acquaintances. Let's see what will happen in the future.
Suzumoto-sensei has a crush on me? Ugh, why is it always like this? Only Ryu thinks differently. He is the one who believes I am in love with him, while trying to maintain a little distance. It is kind of funny.
So this is the reason I can't spar with Sensei. He is too scared to be beaten by his crush. Pathetic. At least face me like a man! Now I am also looking forward to his reaction when I show up with Ryu.'
Elsa: "Isn't this too fast? They are practically going on a date already! Nina seems to be my biggest rival."
Rung: "I wish I had time and energy for activities outside of work. Still, a girl can dream, right?"