Chapter 18 an interview

(Iris POV)

Iris could hardly believe she was about to conduct an interview with Anna Oria, the youngest judge in the city's history. Under normal circumstances, she'd never have had the chance. And what was even better was that it was Anna who had proposed the interview.

"I think we're far enough away now, and as lonely as we're going to get," Anna said as she sat down on a bench. They had walked for almost 10 minutes before arriving at a place that suited Anna. The park they were in was pretty and well-kept, with an air of serenity about it. Anna had asked that they do this interview just the two of them, and Iris hadn't wanted to contradict her.

"Thank you again for agreeing to this interview," said Iris.

"Oh don't worry, it's no big deal. It gives us both a chance to talk face to face," said Anna.

Iris had already got out her notebook and pencil and was starting to take notes.

_"So, if I understand correctly, you want to talk to me and you've found the excuse of an interview to do it," _said Iris.

_"Yes, do you mind?" _asked Anna.

"Absolutely not, but it's always good to be clear. It will allow me to paint a more accurate portrait of you" said Iris.

"Is it important?" asked Anna.

"Of course it's important. When I publish my article on this whole story, people will be interested to know about the different protagonists." said Iris.

_"Iris, I'm sorry to say, but you won't be publishing your article," _said Anna.

Iris's blood ran cold.

"What are you talking about?! Of course I'll publish my article! There's no way a newspaper would turn down such a sensational article," protested Iris.

_"That's exactly the problem. It's just unbelievable. Nobody will listen to a story like this. It's like an erotic script written by a teenager on the Internet," _said Anna.

"But what do you do with your testimonies, my notes and especially transformations of all kinds? How are your rabbit ears not proof enough that this show exists?" shouted Iris.

"Oh of course transformations what am I stupid how could I not have thought you'd try to use this. Ok I'll tell you what I think. Assuming we get home with these transformations, there are 2 possible scenarios. In 1 our transformations go unnoticed. The fact that I now have bunny ears seems odd at best, but there's nothing to suggest magic. This is by far the preferable scenario," says Anna.

"And the second scenario?" couldn't help but question Iris.

"The second option is that our transformations are noticed. The state will intervene quickly - we probably won't be dissected, but we can expect to spend a good deal of our time in laboratories. We'll be seen as freaks and scientists will spend their time trying to figure out how this magic works," says Anna.

"But we're in a state of law. They can't do that, can they?" says Iris.

"Oh, naivety and innocence are beautiful. With my job, I'd almost forgotten what it was like. Almost every democratic state on the planet has already violated its own laws an unimaginable number of times. Of course, we're not in totalitarian or dictatorial regimes like China, Russia or Iran, so they'll probably let us have a minimum of living conditions. We'll probably be able to call our loved ones or even do a bit of sport or read a good novel. But when it comes to our fundamental freedoms, such as being able to move around freely, say what we want or have a private life, they won't hesitate to take that away from us," says Anna.

"Isn't there a scenario where the changes will be noticed but we won't end up like guinea pigs?" asked Iris, who was beginning to despair.

"That scenario is so unlikely that it would take a miracle to make it happen."

A miracle? That's it. The wish. With that, she could publish her article. With that, Iris smiled again. Now she knew what she had to do.

"Okay, I'll go with that scenario," Iris declared with a smile.

"I knew you were an optimist, but I didn't think you were that optimistic," laughed Anna.

"I have to be optimistic if the world is pessimistic like you. I have faith in the future. I'm sure we'll have fun. Of course everything won't be perfect, but if we put our minds to it and believe in it, I'm sure we'll be satisfied," says Iris.

"Ha, Ha, Ha!" laughed Anna.

After a few seconds, the judge pulled herself together.

_"Excuse me, I must have been a bit tired and on edge, I really needed a laugh," _said Anna.

"And was what I was saying really that funny?" said Iris.

"In a way, yes. The substance of what you said is understandable, but it's more the fact that you were lecturing me that made me laugh. It's been so long since I've been confronted so head-on that I couldn't help laughing." explained Anna.

Iris didn't know what to make of this answer. It was both reasonable and annoying.

"I see. Can we still have this interview?" asked Iris.

"Of course we can. I'm not going back on my word. Just because I doubt you'll be able to publish your article doesn't mean I'm going to stop you from writing it." said Anna.

"How do you know Master William, or Mr Hamon as Hélène calls him?" asked Iris.

"William for my part, Mr Hamon is his father from my point of view, I never had to call William once by his surname." said Anna.

_"So how do you know William?" _repeated Iris.

"Our parents were friends, and we lived a few blocks from each other. We were the same age, so it was only natural that we became friends," explained Anna.

"I can see that we've been friends since the cradle, but are you just friends, or was there something more between you?" asked Iris, who was asking a question that many people had already asked themselves.

Anna sighed and replied, "We're friends. I think of William as my little brother. Of course, a lot of people have already thought we're dating, but that's just schoolyard nonsense. A boy and a girl can be friends without there being any romantic feelings or a hidden relationship."

This was both unfortunate for her article and reassuring because it meant Iris would have a better chance of winning the wish to publish her article.

"Okay so you're not even sexfriend?" insisted Iris.

"No." replied Anna without further comment indicating to Iris that she should change the subject.

"Okay, never mind. Let's get back to simpler questions, what were you doing just before you were teleported to this show?" asked Iris.

"I was reading the preliminary investigation report on the attack that took place at Elisa's restaurant where William was injured." replied Anna.

"Ah yes, the attack. I was planning to write an article about it but I guess it's not a priority. How did you feel when you heard about the attack in which William was seriously injured?" asked Iris.

"I was naturally worried about my best friend, he's the person who means the most to me. Then I got angry at him for his absurd risk-taking," replied Anna.

_"The person who matters most to you? He's more important to you than your parents, your eventual siblings and your eventual boyfriends?" _questioned Iris, who hadn't missed this nugget.

"My work is my life. So I have little or no outside relationships and therefore no boyfriends. Then, in terms of family, my transformation has already been said. My parents are dead and I have no siblings. If you must know, I don't even have any living relatives, except for a 5th cousin on my maternal great-grandmother's side. So yes, William is the person I'm closest to," Anna explained.

It was sad. Iris could hardly imagine what it was like not to have a family. She had 2 older brothers, an older sister and two younger sisters and countless cousins. She couldn't imagine not having a family anymore.

_"I'm sorry," _said Iris.

_"You don't have to apologize. It's not your fault. It's just life. It's cruel and unfair. It's a battlefield where the law of the jungle reigns. We're all alone in the end. We reassure ourselves as best we can that we have people who care about us, but when the time comes to make choices, your friends, your family, your loves turn their backs on you and abandon you, or worse, betray you and stab you in the back. All in all, I think I'm pretty lucky not to have anyone close to me, it saves a lot of trouble and the risk of ending up betrayed and abandoned in the dark in the rain," _said Anna.

Iris didn't know what to say. Anna's description was dark and distressing. It went against everything Iris believed in, but seeing Anna's far-away gaze, Iris preferred to change the subject rather than get into a confrontation.

"Speaking of your transformations, could you describe to me what it's like to have bunny ears as well as a tail?" asked Iris, forcing herself to smile.

The question brought Anna back to her senses. It took her a moment to answer, and she took the opportunity to touch her ears.

"It's both strange and natural. I don't notice they're there unless I pay attention. I think I hear better with them, but it would probably take further study to find out how much. As far as the tail is concerned, it's the most annoying thing, especially when you have to sit or sleep. I can't sleep properly on my back any more, for example. It's far too uncomfortable. I imagine the other girls with animal transformations have the same problem," says Anna.

"I see, I'll ask them. And as for your second transformation, what can you say? I know you've only had it a short time, but I imagine you already have some impression of it," asked Iris.

_"I haven't noticed anything in particular. I wanted to have children before, but that hasn't changed, and I'm certainly not some degenerate who just wants to get knocked up," _Anna replied.

_"Now we're talking. What do you think of this show? Is the idea of being part of your best friend's harem that unpleasant?" _asked Anna.

"This show is a way for the powerful to entertain themselves. It's well known that sex sells. When cinema was invented, we started by filming a train, then quickly thought about what else we could film. As for the idea of the harem, it's as old as the hills - traces of it can be found in ancient Egypt. Indeed, being in your best friend's harem would no doubt have been an attractive idea centuries ago, when women were less valuable than a horse. But this is the 21st century, and I can't imagine being part of a harem, even if it is William's," replied Anna.

"So if you're not going to be part of William's harem, what are you going to do?" questioned Iris.

Anna's response was surprising. "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" insisted Iris.

"I don't want to be part of William's harem, but at the same time I'm **** to admit that Nezoko and the producers have abilities beyond our understanding. Supposing I decide to try something, what could I do? And what would be the consequences if I failed?" says Anna.

"I don't know," replied Iris.

"Yes, that's the problem. We just don't know. William now has a transformation to punish us himself but is it worth tempting the devil?" asked Anna.

"So, you're planning to become part of William's harem? Are you going to sleep with him tonight?" asked Iris.

"No. Yes. I don't know. I don't know if I'm going to get out of William's harem. If it's inevitable, I just haven't figured it out yet. Anyway, I'm not going to sleep with William tonight. If by chance I do end up going out with him then we'll do things my way, slowly and surely." said Anna.

"Okay. Last question. Are you planning to chase the Matamune cat?" asked Iris.

"What do you think I am, a dog?" replied Anna.