"Ya worried at all?"

My gaze shifted from the folder resting on my thighs to Zombina, who was sitting across from me in the car with her legs crossed. She had a slight smirk on her face, not wearing her MON Squad uniform or the suit she had worn the other day, instead opting for a more casual look with a hoodie and jeans. It was likely that she had chosen this outfit to fit in with the company I was about to meet, I thought.

"Why would I be scared?" I hastily replied, not averting my gaze from the file. "It's not like his species is known for its aggression or anything."

"Come on; you know what I'm talking about," Zombina challenged, leaning closer. "It's understandable that you're a bit anxious, given it's your first day on the job."

Taking a deep breath, I anxiously rubbed my temples. Though I had helped people in the past and even talked a friend out of having suicidal thoughts, I still felt a sense of trepidation at taking on the role of a liminal counselor. I had no professional training in this field and now had to counsel a species entirely different from mine. The thought of it was daunting, yet I had to face it.

"Zombina," I began, gazing into her mesmerizing heterochromatic eyes. "What were Smith-san's reasons for entrusting me with this job? Was she trying to offload some of her workloads, or did she truly believe that I would be a good choice for the task?"

She shrugged, holding my gaze for a moment before turning away. "I'm not sure. It might be a combination of both. But I think you're overanalyzing it."

Of course, Zombina would think that. I chuckled awkwardly and ran my fingers through my hair. "It's something I do fairly often," I confessed. "In case it wasn't clear, my answer to your question is yes, I'm a bit concerned."

She flashed me a wide, toothy grin. "Don't worry about it," she said confidently. "I'm sure it'll all work out. Plus," she added, jutting her thumb at herself and winking, "you've got a pretty awesome zombie looking out for you."

I chuckled. "I guess I do. Thank you for that. Will you be joining us in the room or not?"

Zombina shook her head. "No, I don't think that would be the best idea. His species tends to be timid, which might worsen matters. Let me know if you need any help, though."

The car came to an abrupt halt, abruptly ending our conversation. Zombina turned to me, her gaze more severe than usual, and her unspoken question hung in the air.

With a deep breath and determination, I opened the door without hesitation. There was no point in overthinking the situation, and I feared that further deliberation would only make things worse. I stepped outside, greeted by the sight of the home of my first case as a counselor. It was a considerable distance from town, on the cusp of the suburbs and the surrounding woods.

"I was expecting Smith-san to be here today to guide me on my first day," I said to Zombina as we walked towards the door. "Do you know where she is?"

"Ah, something came up," she answered with a nonchalant shrug. "Some influential VIP is in town, and she's taking charge of that entire venture. What, am I not good enough for you?" she asked with a playful smirk.

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "I was just curious. Alright, let's get this show on the road," I said as I rang the doorbell.

After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing an older woman who squinted at me through her thick-rimmed glasses. Upon seeing the official Cultural Exchange nametag hanging from my neck, a warm smile spread across her weathered face.

"Ah, you sweethearts must be from the Exchange," she tilted her head delicately, her movement appearing somewhat uncomfortable. She moved away from the door and beckoned them in. "Please, come in."

"Thank you for having us, Oosawa-san," I said with a smile, stepping inside with Zombina following shortly after. "I'm Akihiro Bando, the counselor you requested, and this is my associate, Zombina." I could feel the MON Squad member's judgemental gaze upon us, but I ignored it and continued. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise, Bando-san and Zombina-san," Oosawa guided us through the cozy yet small house, the walls lined with old family photos and knickknacks that had collected dust over the years. Most of the pictures featured a family of five, which I assumed to be Oosawa, her husband, and three daughters. "Would you like to see Mandroot now?"

"Do you have any advice or information that could be useful for me to know before I begin working with him?"

Oosawa paused, tapping her finger thoughtfully against her chin. After a few moments of contemplation, she spoke, "Mandroot has barely said a word to me since the coordinator dropped him off at my doorstep last week. I've done my best to make him feel welcomed and comfortable, but he never leaves the garden and only rarely emerges from his burrow."

I nodded sympathetically, understanding why he was so timid. Although this was common among dryads, it was particularly pronounced for mandrakes - their intense shyness and piercing shriek made it difficult for them to be around others. It was clear why he had such difficulty interacting with others.

My mission was to break through the anxious barriers of one of the timidest liminals—no pressure - just the courage to succeed.

Despite this, Smith offered helpful advice over the phone earlier today, alleviating some of my worries.

"No one expects you to perform miracles," she said. "You will have more opportunities to discuss each case in detail, so don't be in a rush to get results. Just have a conversation with them; the rest will come naturally."

She abruptly hung up on me before I could comment on how unusual that was for her.

"I see," I said to Oosawa, nodding in understanding. "That doesn't come as a surprise to me, given my knowledge of mandragora."

"Have you had any prior experience working with them?"

I shook my head. "No, I did some digging once I found out who I would be dealing with. I'm assuming he's in the garden now?"

"Yes," she pointed towards the door at the end of the hall. "Just go through there," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. Oosawa hesitated for a moment, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Bando-san, when I agreed to participate in this exchange program, I knew there would be some difficulties," she said softly. "But I never expected to feel still like I was the only one living here."

I glanced at the photos of her family, and I got it. She didn't explain further, so I didn't ask for more details.

"I promise to do my utmost, ma'am," I said. "I'm hopeful that I can assist in some way..."

She must have heard the uncertainty in my voice, for she gave me a subtle, understanding smile. "It is what it is," Oosawa said reassuringly. "Shall we go and see him?"

"Lead the way."

Zombina and I were guided through the door, bringing us to the backyard. We met a vast, fenced-in garden with a cobblestone path winding through many vibrant plants and flowers. Every rainbow hue was visible, with petals dancing in the breeze. I was familiar with the tomatoes and peppers growing in my dad's garden, but many other unfamiliar vegetable plants were growing here. At the heart of this paradise was a small pond, with tiny fish gliding through the still water.

I took a deep breath and smiled as the familiar scent of dirt and life filled my nostrils, returning memories of days gone by.

"It's such a beautiful garden," I remarked, hoping to garner a more positive reaction from Zombina. She looked somewhat disinterested, her hands resting against her head as she surveyed the garden with a glazed expression.

"Thank you, Bando-san," Oosawa said, her face lighting up with appreciation as she guided us to a corner of the garden. "It's never looked this beautiful since Mandroot arrived. I've heard of the dryads' affinity with nature, but witnessing it is a remarkable experience. Ah, here he is."

Oosawa paused as she approached a lush fern in the corner of the fence, surrounded by a wall of white flowers. At the center of the fern, two delicate purple buds were beginning to bloom. She turned towards us and asked, "Oh dear, I should have asked in the house. Do you two have any form of protection?"

It took every ounce of my self-control to refrain from saying, "Phrasing!" I could feel Zombina suppressing a giggle from behind me.

"We do," I answered, already grabbing my earplugs. Zombina followed suit, and after we had put them securely in our ears, I gave Oosawa a nod to go ahead.

The older woman slowly raised her hands to her hearing aids and switched them off before kneeling in front of the fern. She whispered, inaudible to my ears, and the fern's fronds quivered before settling in place. As she finished speaking, she stepped back, her eyes still on the fern.

The earth around the fern trembled as if in anticipation, and to my amazement, the white flowers seemed to recede as if to make room for the larger plant. Suddenly, a large, thick, root-like limb slowly rose from the ground, its knobby fingers gripping the dirt firmly as it pulled itself upward. Once it had a secure grip, the rest of the body followed shortly, with it, a blood-curdling scream.

"SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Mandroot let out an earsplitting screech as he hauled himself up. I reflexively clapped my hands over my ears, wincing at the intensity of the sound despite having earplugs in. Zombina joined in, scowling, but Oosawa seemed unperturbed. After the shriek died, I cautiously removed my earplugs and inspected Mandroot.

If I had to choose one word to describe the first mandragora I had ever seen, it would be "rotund." Smith's binder had only included a picture of a female mandragora, but the male had a similar build. His bulky frame slumped back against the ground, belly wobbling as he moved. His arms and legs were stiffer than the rest of his body, making him look more like a plant than an animal. He also didn't seem to have any toes. A thick, tough root extended from his backside like a tail, and he adjusted himself constantly to find a position that wouldn't be uncomfortable.

Mandroot kept his gaze low, avoiding the spotlight by covering his face with one of the large leaves atop his head. It was clear that he hated the attention.

"Hello," I said, kneeling to his level. "My name is Akihiro. It's a pleasure to meet you." I smiled warmly, even though he could not see my face.

He remained silent, seemingly paralyzed in his seat.

"Would you like to join me for tea, Zombina-san?" Oosawa asked, already starting to move away. "I'll go brew it up while you have some privacy."

"Sure," Zombina answered with a shrug, about to follow the elderly woman before pausing. "Are you gonna be okay?" she asked, looking down at me with concern.

I wasn't sure if the concern was sincere, but it still caused the corners of my lips to turn up in a small smile. "Guess I'm not the only one who's anxious," I teased.

She let out a snort of amusement. "Touché, Hot Pink-san," she said with a mischievous glint in her eye. With a cheeky grin, she spun around and strolled away.

Once the door had closed behind her, I took a deep breath and ran my hand through my hair. "I'm sorry; I should have realized you would be uncomfortable with so many people. Would you like to show me around the garden? I'm sure you know it better than anyone."

Mandroot paused, glancing around to verify that I was speaking to him. Upon confirming my presence, he gave me a quick nod of acknowledgment.

"Great, thanks!" I replied warmly, offering him my hand. "Would you like me to give you a lift up?"

For the first time, he raised his head, and I could finally see his face. Plump brown cheeks framed his youthful features, and in his coconut-colored eyes, I could see the same curiosity that often crossed Papi's and Suu's faces. Then he gently lifted one of his trunk-like arms and clasped my hand. The texture of his skin was rough, but not in an unpleasant way.

He kept silent as we started to traverse the garden, yet he maintained an arm's length distance. Even so, Mandroot stayed with me as I slowly strolled through his kingdom, seemingly content to wander. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

To be continued!