My spirit animal is a F–Rank gecko-Chapter 59: Bar investigation (4)

"Dream, please stop!" Zara came bursting out from the dark. She quickly rushed toward the pastel equine and picked him up.

The zebra thrashed in her embrace while barking at her.

"Dream, stop! He’s not one of the police!"

They wrestled for a while, but after a moment, she managed to calm her zebra and set him down. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The zebra glared at Jaster and Purple, then proceeded to stand straight beside Zara.

Jaster was still on the ground until he realized that Purple was lying on the floor.

"PURPLEBERRY!" Zara’s eyes widened hearing him say that name. She covered her mouth, trying to contain her laugh.

"Oh gosh. I told you not to initiate anything!" He carefully scooped up Purple and put the poor gecko in his pocket where it was safe.

Realizing what she’d done, Zara snapped out of her laughing fit and repeatedly bowed her head to Jaster.

"I’m so sorry! I’m very sorry! My spirit animal can be a little overprotective from time to time!"

Jaster waved his hand.

"No, it’s fine really.... Actually, I came here to look for you."

Zara’s whole expression froze. She fiddled with her hands while stuttering over every word.

"You’re.... looking—for me?" She pointed at herself.

"Yes. I know exactly what your problem is!"

Zara’s face immediately went blank.

"What.... do you mean by that?"

"You’re being framed, right?"

Zara’s face dropped after Jaster said that. She lunged forward and covered the boy’s mouth.

Jaster staggered back, taken aback by her sudden action.

The girl looked frantically around her, and only when she was sure no one was watching did she let go of his mouth.

"How do you know?" She whispered in his ear, her face full of anticipation.

"Well...." Jaster was about to speak, but his eyes glanced at the corner of a building and saw a figure watching them. As soon as he looked, the figure immediately disappeared.

Is someone watching us?

Jaster grabbed Zara’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper.

"Don’t turn around, but I think we’re being watched."

Zara’s eyebrows perked up.

"Is it the police, What should we do?"

Jaster shifted toward the pipe he’d dropped. He grabbed it and drew his arm back.

"Move." He pushed Zara to the side and threw the pipe toward the corner of the building. It flew through the air and finally struck the wall with a loud clang, bringing down bits of cement.

"OUCH!" Jaster was surprised when he heard a girl’s voice near the spot he’d hit.

He walked toward it, expecting either the cops or someone he knew.

Turns out, it was the latter. A girl lay on the ground, wearing a Bondspire uniform. Her long, dark-blue hair flowed down her back, a small braid tied neatly along one side.

"Ugh, where did that come from?!" Still unaware of Jaster’s presence, the girl rubbed her head while complaining to thin air.

Jaster, however, was frozen in place. His mouth dropped when he realized who the girl was.

Is that.....

"STELLA!" Zara screamed her name at the same moment Jaster said it in his thoughts.

She rushed forward past the frozen boy, her eyes trembling when she saw Stella.

"Stella..... What are you doing here?!" Her voice was weak.

The girl didn’t answer directly. She looked away, as if guilty.

"Wait, you know Stella?" Jaster asked Zara. She nodded repeatedly.

"Yes. Stella is my roommate, and also my classmate."

Jaster’s face immediately shattered. He couldn’t believe such an important character was related to Zara—he didn’t remember the game ever mentioning her.

"Hold up. Why are you even here?" Jaster turned to Stella, and Zara followed his lead. Stella was taken aback by the question as she saw the two people waiting for her answer.

"Well... It just so happened that I was...." She looked down while saying the last words. Jaster and Zara couldn’t hear her clearly.

"What? We can’t hear you?"

Stella mustered up all the courage she had and swallowed the nervousness inside.

"I was stalking you." She said it with a straight face toward both of them. Her voice was flat.

Jaster and Zara’s mouths gaped so wide they almost hit the ground. They both screamed in synchronization.

"WHAT?!"

---

The three of them decided to talk in the nearest café. Being exposed on the sidewalk where everyone could listen wasn’t ideal.

Jaster and Zara sat together while Stella sat on the other side of the table.

It was awfully awkward and silent. Stella looked at the two before finally opening her mouth.

"So—"

"Do you guys wanna order something?" She quickly got cut off by a waitress asking what drinks they wanted.

"Uh...." Jaster looked at the menu. He wasn’t really interested in any of the drink options they had, but he spotted a section for drinks made for spirit animals.

5 bosan for a blueberry-flavored drink that Purple would love? Deal!

He ordered the drink, and soon Stella followed, ordering a black coffee. Zara, however, didn’t order anything.

"Are you not thirsty?" Jaster asked the bob-cut girl. She repeatedly shook her head.

"No, thanks. I’m good." She said while lowering her head. Jaster simply said okay and didn’t bother her further. Stella, however, noticed the sign.

"It’s okay. Get anything you want. I’ll pay for it." She slid the menu over to Zara. Zara, however, didn’t want that. They kept playfully pushing the menu back and forth.

Jaster watched with a confused look, then glanced at Purple.

"Are they okay, Purple?"

"Krrk." Purple shook his head.

"Fine. If you don’t want to, I’ll order for you!" Stella looked at the waitress.

"She’ll have a combo milkshake with all the extra toppings and all the pastries on the side."

The waitress was taken aback by all the extras. "Oh, okay...." She wrote down everything Stella ordered and walked away from their table.

"Stella, why?!" Zara said, frowning, while Stella looked at her calmly, completely composed, as if ordering half the menu was the most normal thing she’d ever done.

Jaster observed the two bicker for a bit and thought to himself.

Wow. Stella is really nice upfront. Well, that’s not really a surprise, considering she’s the female lead in this game.