VII. Ara’s Decision II

Ara(imouto)

How would somebody define being normal?

The girl named Ara that acted as a host for the three of us: her split personalities, was in no doubt, not normal. But considering the different personalities, I could consider myself the most normal. I mean, the third would be one, but she’s too normal to be considered one. She’s way too qualified that it’s already bugging me.

For me I still consider myself just as an average normal imouto persona. I could be both cute, cuddly and klutz at the same time. Being that character that couldn’t accomplish most of the tasks given to her without assistance; being the one to worry the most about the slightest things; and most of all being the cute childish-like character despite the age, should be the set criteria to be one. These criteria shouldn’t be forced or acted out. It should just come out natural.

It had always been that way since I was swapped out after being asleep for a long and met Fred at a certain night at Ingrid’s apartment complex. As time passed by I gradually accepted what meant to be a ‘normal’ imouto.

HMMMMM???!!!!

I stared at the door of my apartment unit. It was the third unit at the first floor beside Landlady Ingrid’s unit.

I stared at the door, feeling threatened due to the object that’s pressing at my lower back.

I put on the key, unlocked the door, and slowly entered.

“Uwaaah… Kyrie can you stop picking on me already? I still got stuff to do…”

“Humu. Yeah that’s why I’m here, because that stuff you need to do. I’d get bored easily at Anemone’s anyway.”

“No… please… Just let me be at peace already… uuu…”

I was just a normal imouto that wanted to live a normal day before I got swapped out.

I could’ve screamed for help from Landlady Ingrid but she might be busy too and I didn’t have the guts to do it. It was really a 50/50 gamble where my supposedly savior could turn out to be another threat instantly.

But I just wanted to have this day pass without any more events other than the pending task aneki gave me. So I tried to plead for Kyrie to shift her boredom relief goods from me to another one.

“O-Okay… Okay, just put down the harisen, and I’ll listen to everything you want me to do for today so just please let me be after this… uuu…”

“Humu. Better.”

After being released from impending critical hit from her harisen, I lay down my restless body at the couch at the middle of the living room.

There I say from the small table at my front, a small folded note which should be what aneki was talking about. It should contain some instructions and guides for talking with the ‘manager’ from her previous work.

I never really had any solid information from my previous work since the people around me who knew it refrained from talking too much. They wouldn’t want a pure imouto like me to know.

I might be an airhead most of the time but I could at least think that it’s not something one could proudly talk about.

Jeez… Aneki…

CLACK!

I suddenly heard the sound of some glassware-like materials hitting each other.

I was too focused at looking on the paper that I didn’t noticed Kyrie setting up a tea-set at the mini table. She was already helping herself with preparing some tea. But most importantly…

“Where did you even managed to pull that tea set?!!!”

“Humu. I have stored one at your storage closet. Haven’t you ever noticed?”

“UWAAAH!!! Don’t sneak up your things at my unit! I don’t even cook!!”

“Humu. Too bad. Maybe I could teach you next time.”

I scratched my head.

Every act she was bringing up had a tendency to scare me even more. I’m being too scared of her that It wouldn’t even let me muster up courage to ask her why she suddenly wanted to use me as a ‘today’s subject to ease boredom’ instead of either Fred or Anemone.

UWAAAAAAH… just please leave already…

“Hmmm… Why are you so scared? To be honest you can drive me away by force if you could only try.”

Eh? Really?!! Am I really that strong? NO-NO-NO!! Don’t get fooled. I’ll just be whacked with her harisen!!

“Th-then why are you even here? I just want to rest already.”

“If only that’s what you’ll really do after this. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. Humu. Where’s aneki? Why are you the one that’s out?”

She was always so sharp about things. But still she didn’t have to be so straightforward about it. She could have let me gather up my thoughts to answer. She should know that I wouldn’t be able to come up with answers immediately.

“Uwaaaah. Kyrie-chan you’re scaring meeeeee…”

She pursued no longer, or so I thought.

I heard the sound of the electric kettle. She finished heating up water. She stood up and approached it. She then preparing the tea and waited for a while. After it was ready she then started pouring it at the two cups at the small table. It was like about five to ten minutes of silence between us. I could only watch her a she did her routine at my living room.

“Siiip… Fuuu-haaaa. Humu. It tastes better, every day. So. Aren’t you going to read that note?”

UWAAAAH SHE KNOWS!!

“Eh… Heeeh? What would you be talking about?” –I failed to dodge her successfully.

“Humu. I knew something was up already right after your statement at Fred’s.”

Ah. Crap. I messed up.

It was just an excuse I made in attempt to copy Kyrie. She didn’t need to take it seriously.

“Bu-but how?”

“You see, aneki really have always dealt with this matter carefully. Even Fred and Landlady. If you would only remember that moment Fred and I have given your aneki some time to think about it before making her decision…”

I remembered seeing it from the room. That moment when Fred talked to aneki personally about the matter with manager. Aneki accepted their offer and got all the time herself to think about it.

That moment I found it unusual for Kyrie not to talk that much. But now it’s entirely different.

I’ve only known her as the person who’s really quick on the uptake and wouldn’t want to get out of the loop. She would do anything to meddle with other’s matters as long as it piqued her curiosity or she needed to cure her boredom.

The way she talked to much scared me more. That’s how she worked. The way she had been talkative showed she was about to do things the way that suits her style.

“I just find it way unusual that she let you handle things at the most crucial time. Tell me, did something happened?”

“Uh…”

She looked like she was willing to wait for an answer however how long it took, even though I kept being silent.

And she waited for me. That’s precious time given for me to recollect my thoughts. She was probably waiting for an explanation as to why I, the imouto, was out to deal with the matter instead of aneki herself.

“She’s resting. She’s sick.”

“Hoooh… I see. Then the folded paper must be some instructions prepared for you.”

“H-how did you know?”

“Humu. You practically gave away your situation.”

GASP!!

“I-i-impossible!”

“Don’t get startled too much. Don’t worry. I won’t , I’m actually here to help.”

How did she find out? Does her brain know no bounds? Is she actually an esper? Hmmmm… eh?—

“Eh?”

She actually stated that she’s willing to help.

I was delighted and felt so blessed. All of those thinking (not really) that worried me earlier vanished when I realized I will be getting a full-hands assistance from the so-ever-great Kyrie. So shivering with excitement, I smashed the teacup at the desk and crawled up to her with glittering eyes of relief and attempted to hug her.

“KYYYYRIEEEE-CHAAAAAAN”

“Fine, fine. Keep your distance or I’ll smash that face with this weapon(harisen). Just a single tap on the X-button could send you flying back to your couch.”

“Hiiiii!! Okay, okay. Just please…”

“So. Aren’t you gonna read it?”

“Ah, yeah!”

I grabbed the paper lying at the desk and unfolded it. It was folded so many times that it shrunk that size.

I was amazed that aneki have the strength to shrink this paper to a size you could hide with your palms. Wait it’s my body too at the first place so I could also this too. Well so much for that useless thought…, here it goes.

I checked on what’s written on the paper:

My dearest imouto,

Nothing much. Just visit Manager. Here’s the address:

…

…

It would just be a train to the city. Go there and talk to the manager. He’s got a lot to say to you.

PS, your resting aneki.

“Please don’t make it sound like you’re going to disappear. What would I do without you.”

I murmured it at a low volume but was quite sure that Kyrie heard it.

“Ah… About the letter. Really, nothing much was written, just an address. Also it seems like who the manager wants to talk to was actually… was actually me?”

“Humu… Then?”

“Then what? I don’t know. I’ve never even met him in personal. How would I know what to do?”

“But you just host the same body. Don’t you share the same memories too?”

“That… uh…”

I hesitated for a bit, but it’s no use hiding everything from Kyrie, now even more that she’s shifted her interest into our situation.

“I guess… Bu-but in any case, this would be my very first time meeting him in person. Never did I know what kind of job aneki had for these past years before we became Fred’s assistant.”

“Humu. Seems like you’re not lying too. I guess we’ll just have to go check it out.”

“Excuse me?”

---

Kyrie suddenly pulled out a tumbler out of nowhere. She was like a magician that’s way too ridiculous with her tricks.

“Would you mind to have some tea?”

“I-I’m fine… Really, I just had one a while ago…”

“Humu. Okay then.”

Eeeh? Is she gonna be okay after drinking that much tea? I wonder if she has a bottomless stomach.

Wondering how she was able to handle drinking tea like water, I also wondered how was she able to do it with the very limited time we had at the train we’re riding. It was not like the trains that travels for days. Would she be able to finish it until we reached our target station? Also what if she suddenly had the urge to pee?

It was a weekend so there really weren’t much people riding the train. Inside the cabin it was just us two, a lone male at the corner, and a granny sitting near us, sleeping.

“Granny, you want some?”

“Oh why, thank you.”

Kyrie suddenly asked the sitting grandma besides her instead. What’s even more surprising was the grandma accepting it. Now it was the two of them sipping a late afternoon tea leisurely.

Eeh seriously? She’s already this used to having tea with somebody to the extent that she wouldn’t be able to sip one peacefully without somebody to accompany her? Seriously??? Isn’t that… like… taking this tea-ceremony to another level?!!!

I looked at them enjoy their respective cups like they we’re seated at the balcony.

But suddenly Kyrie’s blissful face turned pale. She then shivered a bit and poured the contents of her cup back at her tumbler. She then stared blankly into the space like she wouldn’t be bothered even if a kaiju suddenly appeared out of nowhere and a battle between monsters and robot mechas stuff that took place near us.

Siiigh… That’s what I’ve been telling you from the get-go. Wa-wa-wait!! Isn’t this bad? How long are we from the next station? Does this mini train even have a portable toilet?

“K-kyrie-chan? Are you okay?”

“Humu. Auto-pilot has been enabled. Please refrain from distracting the vessel.” –a monotone answer.

“E-Eeeeh?... Fi-fine then… Just…— nothing. We’re near the terminal station.”

I didn’t finish the sentence because it was Kyrie. And for the sake of her and her reputation alone, I’ve kept the words within me.

Thankfully we’ve reached the station safely. Kyrie immediately rushed towards the nearest comfort room. I waited outside for a few minutes until I heard a faint flushing of water inside.

A few more moments and Kyrie popped out from the door.

“Humu. We’re already at the station? Since when?”

Hmmmm???

“Well anyways. Let’s go.”

---

If it was just me then I wouldn’t make it out of the big city unharmed. I would probably get lost, found myself in a dangerous place, lost some things, get ran over by vehicles or even worse.

But I found myself safe, being with Kyrie. Same goes with being with Fred or Landlady Ingrid.

“Geez, how did Aneki be able to work at this kind of environment? There are too many people. Uwaaaaah there are people everywhere!!”

“Don’t tell me you still have no idea how incapable you could be? Humu.”

“Hey that’s harsh! Hmp.”

But regardless, I felt safe with Kyrie being with me. I could follow instructions as long as it’s aneki’s. I doubt I would get lost even if I was just by myself, but having somebody accompany me made me feel at ease.

But as we strolled the city and get closer to our destination all that ease turned into anxiety. The place really had the dangerous ambiance and seemed like a place where we shouldn’t belong.

A ‘child-like incapable grown-up’ and an ‘actually capable but child-looking’ combination to walk at a street full of red lights. It would be like a mother and daughter deer lost in a lion’s den. Regardless, we still needed to reach the place whatever it takes. I needed to hold out until aneki finally wakes up.

“Hey Kyrie-chan… Hey… will we be able to apply Landlady Ingrid’s self-defense training just in case something happens?”

“Shush. Forget it. We make a run for it if things turn for worse. Don’t worry I’ll leave you behind.”

“Kyrie-chaaaaaan...”

I could feel the stare of the people. There were a lot of them. But rather than looking at the both of us, I felt like the gazes were just focused entirely on me. I confirmed that I was still walking with Kyrie by touching her shoulders, looking like the scaredy-cat kid.

But rather than the feeling of being hunted, it felt different.

Those gazes were something similar. And it felt nostalgic.

Ah… That must be it.

It took a while to sink in. Little did they knew about how the girl named Ara worked inreality. What they were seeing was ‘Ara’ regardless of whether it’s the one persona or the other. The Ara that aneki built was a known figure within the district. She must have constantly crawled up her reputation within the area even though her line of work wasn’t really something worth bragging.

Now I felt like I need to apologize to her when I get back…

BUMP!!

“Ouch!”

“Humu. We’re here.”

I looked at the establishment and confirmed with my very own existence the occupation that aneki previously had with this body when she forcefully swapped me out to rest and become unaware of everything.

“So… It was true…”

“Humu.”

It was then we both heard a lovely voice of a woman that approached us.

“Oh my… Ara… Is that you??”

I jumped at Kyrie’s back and forcefully hid myself. Yes, I forcefully hid my huge still-growing body behind a girl that’s size wasn’t even close to my build.

“Oh my god! Ara it’s really you!! GUUUUUYS!!!”

And just a bit of a call all these daring-looking ladies swarmed us in an instant. There were seven of them, including the one that called. They sure gave us a grand welcome, enough to get the attention of everyone outside the street.

UWAAAH Aneki, how did you even manage to be like a public figure here?

“Ah- wait! Wait!! I’m not… Please, don’t swarm me!! UWAAAAH!! Kyrie-chan? Where are you? Don’t leave me like this!! Kyrie-chaaaaan help!!! WAAAAAH!!”

And just like that I was immediately swallowed and taken away by the crowd towards the establishment.