VIII. Ara’s Decision III

Uwaaaah… where did Kyrie-chan go?

That might be the end of line for her assistance. Trying to remember what she really said when she told me she would help me wasn’t really going to help.

I knew she could handle being at the city pretty well. Even though she got separated from me she would be able to get back at the apartment complex in one piece. But I still felt the loss of trust when she suddenly broke herself out of the commotion a while ago.

“I’m really sorry… But it seems like you really got the wrong person…”

“No, no no. Don’t try to fool us. Actually you can’t fool us! Actually are you trying to prank us?”

The one I was directly talking to was called Miri. She seemed to be close to Aneki when she was still working at the pub since she was the one trying to talk to me too much. She and three others were the ones talking to me, while the other three were cleaning the establishment as it was about to open.

Miri… Yuki… Sarah… Errr… Jane? And the others… Uh… Uwaaaaah!!!

Those were the names I recalled. Perhaps it was not their real names, but rather aliases. I tried to recall all of them but I couldn’t. There was really no point in introductions anymore. I was supposed to know them all anyways since aneki and I shared the same body. Aneki might be bad at names too since there were only few I could recall.

“Say, can you tell us about your new work?”

“I’ve heard you are now working at some kind of press company!”

“No it’s a publishing company, get your facts straight dummy.”

“So, how is it? How’s your new boss? Are you being well?”

“Are you being treated well?”

“Are you eating well?”

“Are you married already?”

“Are you still a virgin?”

The continued and continued to swarm me with questions from about the time I spent away from them. I’ve been working with Fred already for two years already and that was already a lot of time away from them.

And that’s how far my mind went. After that my eyes swirled due to the massive questions. I went to auto-pilot mode, staring at them as they kept on squeeze out stories from me.

“Say. What happened to you? Rather, who are you?”

The one that killed the auto pilot mode in me was the girl in the name of Miri.

Oh god she’s sharp! Kyrie-chaaaan heeeeeelp!!

Perhaps she was really close to Aneki when they were still working. I could only give a blind guess about how close they were. Or perhaps could she be a close rival?

“Come on Miri, quit teasing on her too much. Or wait is it the other way around? Are you the one that’s giving us a prank here Ara? It’s not fun anymore.”

“Yeah Ara, seriously, what happened. The way you look don’t seem like you’re joking on us. Also, talking to you now feels a bit different… What happened?”

The air inside the pub took a 180.

SLAM!!

“Hmmm. You arrived too early. I was still at the station when the girls called me. Sorry I was late.”

A manly figure appeared at the door. For my situation was already took a turn for worse, a knight in shining armor arrived at the most convenient time. But that knight wasn’t really as knightly looking as I expected. He’s more like a chieftain or a platoon war veteran with a century’s worth of experience.

“Now, now girls, quit pestering on her. Our poor little Ara here went through a lot these past years. I’ll talk with her. Shoo, Shoo!! Opening time’s almost here and you haven’t finished preparing the pub yet! Get to work!!”

“Aaaaaye.”

---

The other girls stopped swarming me right after the man’s direct order. He’s not called a manager for no reason at all. He asked me to accompany him at his office.

The office didn’t look as grand as other manager’s office would. It was just a perfect fit for an establishment that could house about twenty people per night. It was even smaller than Fred’s studio, maybe nor even half of it.

What awaited when the manager opened the door was a dark room. He pressed a switch near him and the room was lit by a very small bulb, semi-dim. But was actually clean, organized and maintained. He then approached his small desk and strangely pulled out an electric coffee brewer.

“Do you want some coffee, dear?”

“Ah—no… I’m fine, really… I just had tea.”

“Sorry if it’s a bit cramped in here. I got the smallest room at the establishment. I’d rather leave the biggest room as the girl’s locker room.”

“Ah—no… It’s fine, really… I don’t mind it.”

If the manager wouldn’t lead me, I would really think that the room I saw at the very back end of the establishment would be just a toilet.

The manager then walked towards the window. The blinds were down so he raised them up.

Then suddenly, the dim-lighted room became brighter. It was the street lights that lit the whole room bright. Those colors were a mix of white, green, yellow red. Those were the several city lights from the view. There was a very long street across the window’s view which led to the main road. It was the same street that led Kyrie and me to this establishment.

“Jeez, it was just late afternoon and the street’s already this lightened up.”

“Its…”

I looked at the scenery of the busy street. I lost track of the time I spent inside the establishment and didn’t notice that it was already dusk.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yea—”

“But it’s not the kind of beauty a pure girl like you would want to get exposed to.”

“Bu—but…”

The way he talked made me confirm that he knew of the existence of two Aras inside of this body. At first I thought aneki was just fooling around and needed me to talk to the manager at her stead. But it turned out that the one the manager seemed to really want to talk with me, the younger one.

“This is a red light district. Thing you couldn’t even imagine happen in these kinds of area. It’s better for you not to know. It was really a short notice but did you had a hard time to get here? Did you get in any trouble? Just tell me, I’m going to talk with the other managers in this area.”

“N-not really. Rather, it felt nostalgic, the way they looked at me. They know me. Those aren’t the looks of people looking at a newcomer. Good thing we didn’t get in any trouble. Oh, by we, I mean, there was someone that escorted me here.”

“Good to know then. But how about my sweet pea? Is she resting well?”

“Y-yeah…?”

The sound of the kettle pot interrupted us. The manager then pulled out a cup and started pouring coffee to it. He signed me if I wanted some and I refused politely.

“S-sorry… I’m not really good with these kind of talks.”

“It’s fine. I was the one who asked her* though.”

“Uh… if I may ask, how long have you known my existence? How did you manage to accept that I… she was telling the truth by that time?”

“Of course I’ve known for a while. Maybe a few months after she joined. Not that I’m bragging but, how old do you think I already am? Silly. Try me then.”

“S-Sorry, I wasn’t really thinking.”

“It’s fine. Now, about the other you… She seemed to always have something she wanted to protect. She always worked diligently while keeping her chastity protected. That’s how she’s got her title and made a name at this area. It’s a ton of hard work, you know.”

I’ve known how hard aneki worked herself out when it was just the two of us. She had always been reluctant to tell me everything that’s happened. But sooner or later I was bound to know it.

But the manager vaguely gave away the specific details. He just wanted me to have the idea. I’ve been told not to pry in too much with aneki’s past work experience anyways. It’s already good to know some general knowledge.

“There would be tons of stories about her. She really was a handful during her first weeks. It was like taming an agitated lion. Literally.”

He opened a bit of his polo there at his chest he showed me a twin scar about a finger’s length.

Now now, that’s just to spice up the story. I doub’t aneki would—

“You did this.”

“UWAAAAH… Please don’t feed me with some absurd events from the past.”

“Her very first customer was a disaster. Just remembering the event sends chills down my spine. I’m somebody that runs an establishment. Imagine the fear of having to close down upon the very first year of operation. I wouldn’t go down to each and every details but that’s just how it went.

Even though she was very set onto her decision and strong-willed. She was just still a girl that failed to finish high school. Having to rely on such a way of living; and having to compare herself to my veteran girls who live and breathe as a pub’s hostess, her very first customer became a trigger to an immediate mental breakdown.

You starting to understand what I’m saying?”

I just gulped. Being unable to answer, he continued his story.

“Even though the other you might have created a story that I am a father-like loving and kind figure. Business is business. I need to be strict enough with policies so that the business won’t get bankrupt. So I kind of forced some discipline upon her. A discipline fitting of our line of work here.

Then this scar happened.

Back then, when I was looking at her, her eyes were telling me that she needed to make a living and keep her chastity. At any cost. She really needed to hit two birds with one stone. Failure is not an option. So I, the ever-balanced decision maker, put her to the cleaners first. Then so the story went. She climbed steadily and slowly.”

“You took a shortcut at story-telling again.”

“But it’s for your pure untainted mind. You don’t need to hear the rest. At least I’ve put in the parts that’s important for you to have a general idea.”

“It’s unfair. Everybody always treat me like this—”

“Girl.” –his voice sounded very whole, just like telling me to stop for my own good.

I stopped and straightened up my posture, as if to obeying an angry commander as he was about order me to give him 50 push-ups.

“Say, little Ara. What do you think of us?”

“What do you mean?”

“This kind of work?”

Then he asks me of this now?? Ugh…

“I—I think the girls are gorgeous… and very pretty.”

“I see. Well, do you think they’re happy?”

The immediate memory of their faces as they greeted me a while ago flashed on me. I also work in due pressure, both Kyrie and I. I knew the faces of those who’re being stressed by work and those light expressions that were able to balance their work and life. I’ve also seen Landlady Ingrid came home from her office work with a face of ‘why am I still in this line of work’ like wanting to quit and just focus on being a landlady. I’ve seen Old man’s grumpy face tons of times.

But the girls employed under him, none of them were really wearing any of the described above.

“OF COURSE THEY ARE!!”

I instinctively jumped out to him when I answered that. That was an honest answer out of reflex. Anyone who would get swarmed with a warmest welcome would think so.

“Is that’s so… I’m glad then…”

Then suddenly there was a smile of assurance from the manager. It seemed though as if my reaction was everything he needed to hear for the rest of the day. It made his day.

“I’ve loved Ara like my own kid.”

He then continued to talk.

“In fact, everyone working here too. I’ve loved them as if they’re my real family. You see… I’m really too old already to get married, have kids. I’ve been in this industry for a very long time already. There had been ups and downs. I’ve settled down here and had been blessed with these fine youngsters under my care. It would really make me feel sad to hear from others that they’re not really looking that happy.”

He somehow reminds me of father.

“You somehow remind me of my father.”

And I burst it out without thinking properly.

But he had an even greater shock than mine when he heard it. Then he gave a little smile.

I wondered why. That time I asked myself what might being called a father meant to him.

“My little Ara. The other you had a reason why she wouldn’t show up even now.”

Everything was just an introduction. It was a mix of a mellow happy feeling and a grim premonition of a sad main story.

“I… I was aware. She told me on this note that you need to talk to me.” –I then showed the paper aneki gave to me.

“Then that makes things easier.”

Both of us came upon an agreement. We couldn’t just sit there all night talking and laughing about other topics. I would need to go home because I wouldn’t want to worry Fred and Landlady Ingrid. Besides I still needed to find Kyrie too.

Uwaaaah. Here it comes… I hope what he would ask me to do is not as hard as Fred’s tasks. What if I forget his instructions? And what if I wouldn’t be able to deliver his message to aneki well? Just let this end already…

There I watched his expression slowly shifted to a bitter one. What came after from a happy and satisfied face was a face full of sadness.

“Little Ara. Have you asked the other you about this?”

“…” –I wasn’t able to answer the questioned.

Looking back, I really haven’t got any idea about what they’re talking about. It’s just that I know that aneki’s talking about him about having to help him with something. That something…

~~~

“Err… You’re still up?”

“But I like to keep watch here.”

“Jeez. If you don’t take a rest, then you’re already exhausted when it’s your time out. Sleep for a bit. I’ll keep in watch here.”

“But I’m just enjoying this new feature here. Before this big screen here it was just too dark that anyone who gets swapped out would be forced to just sleep.”

Thud!!

“Ouchie! What’s that for?!!”

“Sleep.”

“O-okay… Uwaaah… just don’t hit me again.”

~~~

A memory flashed within me.

It was the very first time that aneki seemed to have a call with manager. That very exact moment I remembered Ara-ara asking me to sleep and take a quick rest.

Then it occurred several instances after that. She always asked me to sleep to and take turns watching what’s happening outside. It had always been like that until the previous time I got swapped out.

But I noticed a thing about those instances. They coincidentally occurred each and every time aneki would get a call or would need to talk to manager.

Were those instances not really coincidences?

If one among us would sleep in the small room we’re being kept, then we would have no way of knowing whatever events happen at the real world. It’s just like back when it was just the two of us, where everything would be darkness and it felt like hibernating while being submerged underwater like those sci-fi experimental characters.

It was planned. Ara-ara kept me from knowing what manager’s business with aneki was.

If that’s so then why would Ara-ara keep me from knowing what they were talking about.

But then a straight fact came upon me.

Ara-ara, or the third, came a bit late. She just suddenly showed up when the two of us went through a big change after we met Fred. Despite being new, she never intended to catch up with us two’s experiences, but rather, respect our personalities like very professional colleagues. She would not stoop so low as to hide very important events like these from either of us.

Unless…

That only meant one thing:

Aneki… But why?

“Is there a problem?”

“A-Ah!! Sorry I was deep in thought. Sorry I was not aware of the other’s circumstances with you.”

“I see…”

The way he looked changed again, now he’s worried.

“Very well then. My sweet pea tried so hard to hide it from you. I’ve tried to convince her to tell it to you sooner but she always kept on insisting to hold out just a bit longer. I guess she realized that she won’t be able to hide everything from you forever. Circumstances won’t let it be that way.”

“…”

I wasn’t able to respond properly due to thinking how important the issue was based on what he said.

Why would aneki bother so much to hide something from me? The what ifs came swarming on me and flooded my small capacity to think. What could have been so important that me knowing could have her vanish within this body?

“Say, are you currently having fun at your place?”

“Hmmm… If I were to say… It’s really fun! You see, I really had some rough memories when I was younger. Those events might also be the reason on our existence. I really tend to cry and be sad when I remember them. The memories from when I started living with my landlady’s apartment complex helped me forget those. Every day is full of events and are very exciting and fun.”

“I see… Then don’t you miss your place back at your family?”

For a second there I was carried away with explaining, but he then cut me off before we could get derailed from the main topic.

I then realized what he meant soon after.

For the very first time I was able to connect the dots of a matter so complex the usual me wouldn’t be able to understand.

Before I went on a deep sleep and aneki took over for almost two years, the very last memory I had from my family was my father: when he disowned me due to some events that happened from my high school days.

I’ve loved my parents very much for as long as I could remember. My mother died when I was young so I spent longer time with my father. But don’t get me wrong. I both love them equally to the point that losing the remaining parent I have triggered a defense mechanism on me. And that was to sleep deep within this girl’s subconscious while having the split persona take over.

But what happened after my sleep.

Aneki told me quite a brief story about it: She went wandering from town to town until she ended up at the front of Landlady Ingrid’s apartment. There aneki was offered a loan for a few months of rent which she could pay in installment.

But life wouldn’t be that easy for a dropout like her. Landlady Ingrid, at that point still wouldn’t care so much on her tenants for as long as they could pay (turned out she’s really not like that). But aneki couldn’t find a decent job at the town so she ventured at the city. But the situation was still the same. She exhausted her options until she ended up at manager’s establishment.

But was that really all that’s happened. How was she able to end up with a good manager and a pleasant work environment even though the line of her work wasn’t something to be proud about?

“I’m a friend of your father’s.”

And finally, the manager put the final piece in the puzzle.

But solving the puzzle didn’t end our discussion, it was merely an introduction to what he was about to tell me.

“Listen Little Ara. I’ve been contacted by your father by the time the other you had been wandering around the city to find a job. I don’t know how he knew, but it seemed like he was tracking you ever since he ‘disowned’ you. Or he might just know. How should I call it: father’s intuition?”

He continued to explain what happened

“I only needed a picture. I knew several shop owners within the city. I’ve asked them if ever they had a chance to meet with you and miraculously, you came across one of them. But even though I knew them I couldn’t impose on them to change their shop standards. I’m someone who runs a pub at the red lights. Who knows who I might refer to them. That left me with one option: to employ you under me.”

“Th-then…”

“Yes, everything then went as I arranged. I’m sorry. I’ve asked your father if it was really fine by him. But he just the same as you: devastated and sad that he lost the only family he had. He told me to take care of you, but as for your decisions, he left it for the other you to decide.”

“Bu-but…”

There something went amiss. The last memory of my father I had was the one where he disowned me. It should have been all my fault.

“It’s only natural that you would have a reaction like that. There’s were so many untold events about what acutally happened. After your father had contacted me the day after you left home, I had him explain everything. It seemed that both him and the other you made things happen that way. But don’t get me wrong. It was all to protect you.”

At first I only went there to follow aneki’s instructions and speak with manager. But now I was about to uncover the truth behind all of the happenings in the past. It would be too much for me to carry, but as the center of everything, I needed to muster up everything I got to accept it.

I would’ve wanted aneki to be the one to tell the truth to me, but the manager really had the trustworthiness that even aneki agreed to let him take care of what she couldn’t.

“You… You seem to be a good man. I will trust you with this.”

I clenched up my fist to show my resolve.

“There would be two things I’d be telling you: First would be why your father and the other you chose to part ways years ago. Second would be why I started contacting you again recently. Are you going to be fine with it?”

“Okay…”

---

I was walking at a park by the riverside.

The place seemed familiar with me, but I really had no memories I could remember of being at the place. It might be aneki’s memories that were being triggered and not mine.

I didn’t know what time was it already because I don’t have my wristwatch with me. As long as I know that the public transportations were still working, I knew that I could still go home.

I need to get home.

But I wanted to sit for a bit. Even ten minutes would be too much. I wanted to watch the city lights across the other side of the river. It would be my fault if I will miss the last train. I’ll just check in a hotel to spend a night. I felt like I could manage too anyways.

It had also been way past the time aneki was supposed to swap out. Where was the “I promise I’ll catch up as soon as I get the rest I need” thing she was saying. I just accepted that she would swap out anymore.

For now… I just want to sit and relax.

There were too many bench across the long sidewalk.

That time of the day it would really be hard to find somebody at the park anymore. But thankfully I saw one with somebody sitting on one. I felt a faint sign of relief. I did not need to tell my story. I just wanted to sit there and let them know that I was there too. Just the feeling of a connection would be fine.

I approached and sat at the bench right beside the one that the person now I recognize in a form of a little girl was sitting. I was just supposed to stare at the city lights. I need not tell her my story, but I decided to anyways…

“I thought you already went home.”

…for the little girl coincidentally happened to be Kyrie, which went missing by the time I needed her the most.

“Siiiip. Humu. I knew you’ll end up wandering here.” –and she was having another cup of tea.

“But you left me alone back there. Talk about somebody who said she would help me today.”

“Humu. I thought I told you that I’d just accompany you until you get there. Besides, do you really think you could do all of that with me in there?”

“…”

Busy looking at quite the scenery, I noticed Kyrie cleaned up her tumbler and mini cup. She then stood up and sat at the same bench as I was.

“Humu… Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just too tired. All of the stories came overloading my very limited brain.”

“Humu. Don’t worry. We still have time.”

Kyrie knew what I need. She would gladly give me all the time I need. It was very annoying that she’s effectively providing me what I needed.

“Her Kyrie, you know you’re being annoyingly nosy right now, right?”

“Humu. That’s how I’ve always been.”

“Then can you give me a lap pillow?”

“No. You’re heavy.”

“I’ll do what you ask for a week. You can with my other self too, I’m sure they’ll understand.”

“Humu. Fair trade.”

I had no choice but to sell them out too. That’s the only way that could make me feel better that moment.

I lay down myself towards Kyrie. She had surprisingly soft and warm thighs, considering her build.

“Humu I know what you’re thinking right now. Quit it before I force you down.”

“Fine, fine. Just let me stay like this for a while.”

Sob… Sob… Sob…

I covered my eyes with my palms, but it still didn’t hide the fact that I’m already crying. Kyrie knew it. Some consoling would lessen when I was feeling.

“I… I did great, right? sob… sob…”

I couldn’t nor hear anything. She went silent to listen to my rant.

“They could’ve took their time to explain things to me. Why did they need to make me swallow everything in just one evening. So irresponsible!! sob… sob… I hate it!! Uwaaaaaah!! I hate it!! I hate everything… sob… But… But… it’s the truth and it was for my sake! Everything… sob… uwaaaaah!! I couldn’t get angry even though I hate it… So… So I did great, right???!!”

Kyrie gently stroked my hair without saying a thing.

I cried for minutes and I didn’t care if Kyrie would use it as a material to tease me later on.

It went on for a while, and when I died down, Kyrie asked me a question.

“…So? What decision would ‘Ara’ take?”

What she meant was the overall decision of the three of us. I should’ve expected less from Kyrie. Even though she was not there, the way she talked sounded like she knew everything. Or rather, it seemed like she was there all along. Was she an esper or something.

“I…”

Kyrie is a trusted friend. There would be no difference on telling her in advance now.

“Kyrie-chan. I’ve decided to be the pub’s manager.”