II. Comic Panic: Side Ara

“I feel bad leaving Ingrid alone in there. She might wake up in the middle of her sleep.”

“Come now, she’s the landlady. You have no idea how many nights she’s spent suddenly waking up and is all alone.”

That might be true, but things are quite different now. Ingrid had grown fond of her tenants especially Fred. If it was before, she could just act normally if she wakes up without someone besides her in a room. Lately there are times where she’ll sleep at Fred’s studio rather than her unit while the others are draining themselves from work.

Ingrid got used to the scene where she will see her tenants on the same room as she wakes up.

“In any case, I’ll just explain it to her if worst comes to worst.”

“Hooh~~. Tell me, are you two going out already?”

“W-what?! N-n-no!! Besides, I promised—with—Yuusha!! No!!”

Fred lost his sense of speech.

A lot has happened between him and Ingrid these past two years and anyone who will be able to know their story will only think that they really fit each other. Ara’s intent really was to tease Fred and she’s not knowledgeable on most of these stories yet.

Also, Fred slipped out Yuusha’s name which he tries to avoid talking with Kyrie and Ara as much.

What are you talking about Ara?? In any case what do you know? What have you seen? Did she heard me about Yuusha?

Fred was too shaken. He’s used to Ara teasing him but Ara teasing his romantic relationship with others was a different scenario.

“Now, now, that’s was only a joke, don’t act like there really is something to hide. Wait—Is there really something? Tell me! Come on.”

“There isn’t!”

“Tsss, spoilsport. Cheapskate.”

They continued to walk alongside the road in the middle of the night. They could feel the crisp cool air as the wind blows. Along with the breeze is the smell of the fields which basked under the afternoon sun. The only things they could hear are their footsteps along with their voices, sound of nocturnal insects, and vehicles, if ever one would pass them.

Being a small town, the total number of vehicles doesn’t even exceed a hundred, of course tractors not included as no one would ever try to use them during this time of the day.

Having no topic at all after that, they both became silent for a while. The came across a short bridge that connects the roads between an irrigation. Ara stopped and rested herself on the bridge’s parapet.

“Say, what’s your basis regarding this draft? What made you write such a plot?”

Ara showed her third persona to Fred which she rarely shows to anyone. Ingrid and Kyrie might not know much but Ara’s split personalities already fused within a single one.

To give an overview of how Ara’s personas worked before this, during that time on her grade school when her mother died in an accident, her protective persona have triggered due to her shock. This persona was soon branded by Fred as ‘aneki’ while the sweet little sister which is supposed to be the original Ara was the ‘imouto’.

Every now and then she’ll be switching personalities based on which is more appropriate based on the situation. Each of the other persona’s memories are not shared so swapping, the memories being gained by the Ara at the surface could not be remembered by the Ara that was swapped out.

A few months ago she told only to Fred that the way she’s swapping out has changed. This was due to her first meeting with Fred. Ara met Fred at first while she was on her long aneki mode while protecting the original imouto Ara. Something has triggered within her which led to whenever she swaps out personalities, memories are being retained for the other.

Who knows what might have caused this. To Ara, she considered the first thing as a defensive mechanism of hers that could protect the imouto Ara at all times. Something within her must have acknowledged that Fred is a tenant of Ingrid’s too and she could trust him and triggered the change. Fred could be a reliable and trusted friend, was her thoughts that time.

“What’s with the question? Haven’t you taken notes of our discussion earlier with Old Man?”

“That’s not it…”

Ara looked up towards the night sky. It was filled with bright, shining stars. It was unlike the sky at cities which dense smog covers most of the stars that should be visible with naked eye. In a way one could consider it as a perk of living at a rural community.

She gave a calm smile.

“What you told Old Man a while ago are just part of your real reason.”

“And what would be?”

“How would I know? Don’t answer my question with another one. That’s a bad habit of yours. You only handpick those who you wanted to share stories with. That’s kind of unfair.”

At that time Fred realized that he’s been treating Ara and Kyrie differently than Ingrid. He wondered if it’s because Ingrid was the only one who he have told about his past. He became silent for a few more seconds thinking.

Fred summed it up:

Well I’ll try to talk my way out of this while giving away too limited info. I’m sorry Ara but it’s not the time yet to know much about me. Don’t worry I’ll be treating you and Kyrie as much as I treat Ingrid too…

“You see, writing is not that easy. If it came from your past experiences you should not try to write everything in detail. You do not give away your slam book to anyone. You should try to mask sensitive information with fictional scenes as much as possible. That’s what I think.”

“Hmp, evading again. Well I’ll be persistent and change the question: What ending do you have in your mind?”

“Of course I’ll try to make a happy ending as much as possible.”

A happy ending has been a norm for shoujo mangas. There have been good stories too that ended the other way around but there are only few notable titles. Most of writers try to write happy endings for both the male and female lead characters. Also Fred’s basis on this decision is as what he had just told Ara. You try to mask sensitive information with fiction. There are also people that uses writing as a form of escapism.

“What about Shirogane, Ria? What are your plans for her?”

This is a new question to Fred. This topic has not been tackled a while ago by Old Man. He asked himself if Old Man already knew what would happen or if he just let it off the hook because Fred himself declined the offer of a serialization. In any case he needed to answer.

Though Fred already had laid Ria’s character progression up till the end of the story, he was hesitant of answering Ara. He first weighed Ara’s understanding and ability to read between the lines.

“Ria graduates without Mae snatching away the Takane no Hana title from her. Chieri led the top rankers and claimed the Takane no Hana after battling the very first time with Mae who have made it to the top twenties. Of course they battled again and Mae claimed the top popularity at the end of the story.”

At this moment Fred started to question himself why both Ara and Old Man hadn’t discussed with him by the romance perspective of the story. Is it perhaps because romance is a given tag, that Ryuuji and Mae’s romantic progression is already that predictable? Or is it because Fred’s almost giving away the plot that it also gave hints about his past experiences?

“Of course I would like to know too the resolution regarding their love story too. I mean, who’s a female that doesn’t?”

Ah, I’ve been thinking way too much agan…

“You see…” Ara continued

“…I don’t want to jump into conclusion but… I really feel that Mae’s character was based on me.”

Fred tried to hide his shock. What caught him by surprise, was knowing that Ara had been comparing herself on his main character. She had a point. Anyone who reads a manga, any genre, at some point wanted to compare themselves to one of its characters, which they find themselves interested.

“What are your basis?”

“After thinking for a while, I arrived at this theory: After Ryuuji’s appearance on Mae’s peaceful life, she started to waver what path she would take. Of course her romantic progress with Ryuuji still remains the same.”

Fred had the thought but she still questioned Ara for clarification.

“What do you imply?”

“I could say that Mae, living a peaceful life is similar to my peace before mother passed away. Mother’s accident is similar to Ryuuji’s appearance which have led her to trying to balance out the two paths that appeared for her, if she tries to balance both. By me, it looked like my second persona which appeared.”

Point taken.

After thinking for a few seconds Fred nodded.

“Okay, continue.”

“Mae’s stuck to choosing between whether she would like to retain her peaceful life, or whether she wanted to trust everything with Ryuuji and follow the path that he have provided her.”

Ara continued: “You see, I really think that my elder sister mode existed to protect the peaceful life that I once had. After my mother’s death, nothing was left for me but to welcome the major change in my life. Aneki did nothing wrong, she just wanted me to live the way I used to be.”

“So, what have you picked? I might base the ending based on the answer you’ll give me right now.”

“Geez don’t tease me. But in any case, of course I’ll choose option three, which will be better for the both of us.”

“Option three?”

“Geez It’s an ending which you’ve had in mind already.”

Ah, yes, how could I not know my ending… But why…

Coincidence?

Fred has been hiding the real meaning behind his plot. Its origins go way back from his past experiences.

Fred initially had one ending before having the draft consulted with Old Man: Mae will have the ‘Takane no Hana’ title at the end of the story and she will disregard all the perks it has and will campaign to abolish the Popularity Ranking system within the school. Mae will accept Ryuuji’s proposal and they will live happily ever after.

This is every romcom shoujo’s ideal ending. A good resolution of conflict and happy romantic ending for both the lead characters.

Fred, at that point, could only compare it to Ara’s change recently. Ara seems to have finally found her peace back, while living at Ingrid’s apartment complex and being friends with us, the tenants.

So this is what Ara’s been talking about. How could I not notice?

“Heh, that’s for you to think. I won’t spill a thing.” Fred smirked, turned back and started walking. He wanted to go home, leaving Ara hanging behind.

“GRRR!! That’s unfair!! After all the talking I’ve done.”

With that the long walk they had have ended with Ara being left with hanging questions.

Fred wanted her to hold on her theory a little while longer. It’s not really the actual reason behind Fred’s plot but he’s still astonished with the coincidence that happened. He gazed at the sky as he continued walking the straight road with Ara ranting behind him.

…

“So that’s what happened when we left you that night.”

“That sly girl. I never thought your draft plot could be interpreted that way.”

Ingrid and Fred we’re sitting at a nearby park within the town proper. They went to the grocer to buy supplies for the team as they are about to spend another all-nighter for Fred’s second draft. They took a detour at the park to have some rest. Ingrid took out a box of cigar from her pocket and asked Fred to have some.

“Come on now, there are children here.” Fred refused as he pointed out at the children playing at the sandbar.

“Now, now, they won’t bother. Their parents are on standby in case they go towards this direction. Also, I don’t want to set a bad example for Ara and Kyrie at the complex anymore. This is the only time I could have a smoke.” Explained Ingrid then puffed.

“That you say, but you won’t bother about the kids here.”

“Come now… sigh… okay okay this will be the last one.” Then she threw the tip to the nearest trashbin.

Both of them sat at the swing as they let the afterglow pass by. The park was surrounded with houses but looking at the still orange sky at that time of late afternoon is also good to pass time. As Ingrid swings back and forth, a clanking noise of the chains and the rusty turning of the metal hinge could be heard at the park vicinity. Ingrid played like a little girl without any care.

As Ingrid played, Fred looked up with nostalgic feeling as he tried to remember scenes from past Mytherion which has been his true reason for writing Mae-SUF.

The sound of the swing stopped which made Fred looked towards Ingrid.

He was surprised to find Ingrid’s face right before his. It feels like the world stopped for a moment. Fred looked only and only at Ingrid. Her sharp, silver eyes, her semi-tanned skin, her wavy hair, the scent of her sweat and her pink lips.

“Geez Fred, you finally looked this way.”

“…”

“You know I could play as your Mae, Ryuuji-kun.”

“Are you jealous of Ara? I’ve told you, she’s a Narcissist.”

“Geez don’t tease me like that.”

“Please stop… Ingrid, I told you I have made a promise with Yuusha.”

“I’ve told you I’ll be your failsafe.” Ingrid grinned as she gets back to swinging.

“Now confess to me, you’ve been thinking about past-Mytherion again isn’t it?”

“Yes, It really is a story I couldn’t tell Ara. This story should be my basis of Mae-SUF’s plot.”

“Tell me…”

Ingrid’s tone was like a child waiting for her grandmother to tell her tales: stories from distant past. What Fred is about to tell Ingrid is not fiction, it is not something he made up and most importantly, not something that happened on modern Earth. This is a long story about his childhood days, as Fredericus Corralton Spence de Augustus.

---