"Huh?" (Ren)

Who was that? even though all of my recent nightmares were connected to Rin, in this one I saw a man with no face.

Does this masked man have some connection with my sister?

I turn my head and gaze at the cactus.

...Did you give me that dream as revenge for me making you listen to that unbelievably loud heavy metal music?

...I can't help thinking ridiculous thoughts like this.

I'm sure the cactus was thoroughly annoyed.

Come to think of it, is this cactus male or a female? Or is it a hermaphrodite?

Some plants have certain characteristics that can help distinguish them as a male or a female. But a lot of them don't.

Why is it that humans and a lot of other animals have genders?

I get it's just natural selection at work here, but wouldn't the world be an easier place to live if these sort of things didn't exist?

When talking to girls, you could interact with them without your heart pounding.

You wouldn't have to groundlessly question things, like what happened last night.

But if that were the case, then what about love?

Is the feeling known as loving someone generated from your DNA?

Perhaps, its influenced by your Personal Reality, then...

In the end, is it all just an overrated program for the sake of breeding?

If that's true... then, how many of my feelings and impulses are my own, and how many of them are manipulated by my genes?

Does the concept known as 'me' even have actual substance...?

*Beeeeep* *Beeeep* *Ringggg*

My phone's ringtone invades my mind.

An invader I didn't call for.

My head rejects it, and I feel a splitting headache coming on.

"Hello?" (Ren)

"Oh, you were awake?" (Rinko)

"Good night..." (Ren)

"Ah, wait wait wait!" (Rinko)

"What? Is disturbing people's peaceful slumber a hobby of yours?" (Ren)

"You say that, but you haven't been able to sleep peacefully lately, right?" (Rinko)

"..." (Ren)

Why is it that these creatures known as women can be so incredibly sharp at times?

"I'm coming over later." (Rinko)

"Why?" (Ren)

"It's finally break, so I thought we'd at least eat together." (Rinko)

"Haven't we been eating together all the time at school?" (Ren)

"You're nitpicking every little thing I say... But maybe that's proof that you've cheered up a little, right?" (Rinko)

"That's probably because you called me so early in the morning. You woke me up from my sleep, so of course, I'm in a bad mood." (Ren)

To be accurate, I was just going back to sleep, but I'm under no obligation to tell her that.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. Ricchan apologizes from the bottom of her heart, so please forgive her. Yep, yep." (Rinko)

"I have no clue what you're saying." (Ren)

"Anyway, I'm coming over. I don't care what anyone says, I'm going. I'll get ready." (Rinko)

Who would "anyone" constitute in the first place?

"If you'd already decided everything, you didn't need to make a phone call, did you?" (Ren)

"I didn't want to come over with you being all slovenly in your pajamas. Y'know, since we're a young man and woman and all that..." (Rinko)

"..." (Ren)

"Ah, were you just imagining something indecent just now?" (Rinko)

"I'm hanging up." (Ren)

"Ahh, wait, wait!" (Rinko)

"What? You told me what you wanted, right?" (Ren)

"Well, that's true, but-" (Rinko)

"Then later." (Ren)

"Ah, Ren-" (Rinko)

After hanging up the phone, I find that I don't feel satisfied in the slightest.

Even though I didn't ask for it, Rinko is just intruding on my life as she pleases. What's her game?

To be honest, I could do a whole bunch of things, like trying to go to sleep for a third time or leave the house before Rinko gets here. But...

When I come to my senses, I've opened the blinds and have begun changing my clothes.

At any rate, I don't want to be seen in an even worse state than I am now.

There's no school today.

But a new day is beginning.

The morning scene outside my window tells me that much.

"Sorry to keep you waiting~" (Rinko)

"No one was waiting, though." (Ren)

"Now now, no need to get embarrassed." (Rinko)

"...Say, Rinko?" (Ren)

"What?" (Rinko)

"Were you always this proactive in the past?" (Ren)

"Huh? Wh-What do you mean, 'proactive'...?" (Rinko)

"It kinda feels like your existence has deviated from the Rinko I knew. Like a part of you is different." (Ren)

"W-What's with this all of a sudden?" (Rinko)

"It's just that you seem completely different from what I remember. Weren't you a lot more timider in the past?" (Ren)

"Well, you know... people change." (Rinko)

"Hmm. That's true... I guess." (Ren)

"They say people who don't change can't grow up, right?" (Rinko)

"I..." (Ren)

"Huh, what?" (Rinko)

"I haven't grown up at all. I've always been nothing but a bother to you and everyone else..." (Ren)

"Huh? Hold on, what's wrong?" (Rinko)

"...I don't know. Today, I just feel completely helpless." (Ren)

"...Ren." (Rinko)

At that moment, Rinko suddenly grabs my arm.

"Huh?" (Ren)

"There's no way you're going to feel better struggling with all this alone here. I've decided: you're coming with me outside." (Rinko)

"Huh? But what about all the food you brought?" (Ren)

"It's fine. I'll put it in the fridge properly." (Rinko)

"Really?" (Ren)

"Where should we go?" (Rinko)

"We don't have to. I'm not feeling that great anyway." (Ren)

"Which. Is. why. I said we should go outside, right?" (Rinko)

"This is absurd." (Ren)

"Sickness and health start with the mind. You're just overthinking this. I know, why don't we go to a place where you don't have to think about anything?" (Rinko)

"..." (Ren)

At this rate, am I going to end up at Rinko's beck and call?


"So in the end, we ended up here..." (Ren)

"Huh? You say something?" (Rinko)

"Nothing really." (Ren)

Rinko was relentless, asking over and over "Where's that family restaurant you always go to alone?". So we ended up having breakfast at Joseph's.

Rinko was all smiles the whole time, downing cup after cup of tea. The whole time, I sipped my coffee and thought about nothing particularly interesting. Much like right now.

"This city that we grew up in kinda seems to have a different feel to it when the two of us are out like this, huh?" (Rinko)

Really...?

"What does it look like to you, Rinko?" (Ren)

"Let's see. The city itself seems kinda cheery. See, like that signboard and billboard." (Rinko)

"That's just because it's using holograms, right?" (Ren)

"Oh geez, I forgot that you don't have any delicacy, didn't I?" (Rinko)

Delicacy? Come to think of it, I heard someone say that recently.

I wonder who I heard it from.

Right, there's always Saten-sensei.

Then there's that girl, too. Tsuchimikado Natsuki.

A lot of people have said that to me, it seems.

"You don't think I have any?" (Ren)

"Of what?" (Rinko)

"You said it just now, didn't you? Delicacy." (Ren)

"None whatsoever. A complete lack of it. Zero. Zilch." (Rinko)

"..." (Ren)

Well, I guess that settles that.

"Oh, did that hurt? Sorry. But while it's true that you're normally oblivious, you can be really thoughtful at times when it counts." (Rinko)

"Really?" (Ren)

"After all, I still treasure Nene even now." (Rinko)

"Nene..." (Ren)

That was the name of Rinko's rabbit.

And it was something that happened ten years ago...


*flashback*

"Waaah, waaah..." (Child Rinko)

She was crying all alone, as if she were a child who had lost her way. She walked with swollen eyes, as red as a rabbit's.

Her chestnut-brownish hair all messy, she looked lonely, sad, heartbroken.

I couldn't leave her alone.

It was very dangerous times, with both the Great and Civil Wars going on.

At that time, however, I was brazenly juggling a soccer ball by myself while playing.

By chance, the one I usually played with wasn't there that day.

"What's wrong, Rinko?" (Child Ren)

I dropped the ball and instinctively ran over to her.

"Rin...ko?" (Child Rinko)

Although she still had tears welling in her eyes, she looked at me curiously.

It was the expression of someone very young as if she were a baby.

"That's right. You're Shirai Rinko-san, right? I remember you." (Child Ren)

I hadn't seen her for quite some time, but I had memories of her being led away by the hand of her kind-looking mother.

That was way before they moved somewhere else.

The next time I saw her in town, things were a lot different.

Her mother had passed away.

That woman with an ever-smiling face... she once gave me a candy-apple.

I didn't know at that time, but she was apparently one of the top espers from Japan.

And as expected, during the Civil War, she had given her life for the country just as any war veteran was expected to do...

Rinko moved back here just three weeks prior.

This was her maternal home, and it seems her grandfather took her in.

A sour man, unlike her mother- I remember that whenever "she" and I played, Rinko would always enviously watch us.

"Rinko. Shirai Rinko... is that right?" (Child Rinko)

"Huh, did you forget?" (Child Ren)

At that time, Rinko looked at me as if I were a complete stranger.

It might have been one of the cases of amnesia you hear about all the time on TV shows.

"It's me. Mitsubachi Ren." (Child Ren)

"Mitsubachi... Ren-kun?" (Child Rinko)

I could see Rinko's small eyes swaying as if she were desperately searching the depths of her memories. But...

"I-I don't know..." (Child Rinko)

Not surprising: we weren't close.

She had other friends to play when she was with her mother.

And now, her grandfather was incredibly strict, so he wouldn't allow us to play together.

I tried inviting her once, and then I could hear him grumbling...

"Where's your Ojii-chan? Isn't he always with you?" (Child Ren)

"I don't know, I don't know. Waaaah..." (Child Rinko)

That didn't calm down Rinko at all.

On the contrary, she just cried even harder.

"That's troublesome. Do you not remember anything?" (Child Ren)

"...Nene's gone." (Child Rinko)

"...Nene?" (Child Ren)

"I raised her so carefully this whole time, but now Nene's gone." (Child Rinko)

"Who's Nene?" (Child Ren)

"My bunny, Nene. She's the last and only friend I had left..." (Child Rinko)

Even now, even after so many years, despite all that's changed, I can still remember the heavy sadness I felt at that moment, like a weight pressing against my stomach.

Her rabbit was her only friend left?

"Then, I'll be your friend, Rinko!" (Child Ren)

"Huh? Mitsubachi Ren... you'll be Rinko's friend?" (Child Rinko)

"Yep, that's right. I'm Ren, and you're Rinko. The two of us are friends now." (Child Ren)

"You know, you know, all this time, I've felt like a lost child. That's why I forgot who I am or where this is. That's why..." (Child Rinko)

"It's all right. This is Shokuchou Residential Complex... Look, you used to play in that park a lot, didn't you? that's why you came here, right?" (Child Ren)

"I... played there?" (Child Rinko)

"That's right. We did the same too, but whenever we tried to get you to play with us, your gramps would yell at us, saying 'Go away!'. I wonder why, though..." (Child Ren)

"Hey, hey, Ren, you won't leave me behind and go away, will you?" (Child Rinko)

"Of course not!" (Child Ren)

Those words erupted from my boyish sense of justice.

"But, Nene's... *sniff* *sniff*." (Child Rinko)

"Huuuueeh? Guess there's only one thing to do..." (Child Ren)

I decided to give her a present to distract her from her many worries.

Said present was...

"Welcome!" (Clerk)

I took her to my favorite department store.

"Oh, good, it's still here. Please give me that!" (Child Ren)

"Oh, is this a present for your girlfriend, little man? But it's expensive. Are you alright with that?" (Clerk)

In my arms was a giant stuffed rabbit.

While the size was normal for a stuffed bear, it was quite large for a rabbit, so it was quite expensive.

"It's alright. My allowance should be enough." (Child Ren)

"Wooow~ how admirable. She'll definitely love it. I want a boyfriend like that too..." (Clerk)

"That's a big Usagi-san..." (Child Rinko)

At that time, I didn't realize what that clerk meant when she said "boyfriend" and "girlfriend". At that time, I didn't have much time to think about it.

"Thank you very much!" (Clerk)

It was all perfect. That stuffed animal proved effective in the past when girls were feeling troubled.

The only problem was that I'll have to give Rin another bunny since she had her eyes on this one.

It'll be a real problem if I didn't find a replacement for this stuffed rabbit for her.

"I'll give you this, so don't cry anymore." (Child Ren)

Deciding to put it to use right away, I took it out of the package, removed the tag and seal, and left a ribbon on.

"*sniff* *sniff*... That's not Nene..." (Child Rinko)

"...Hueeh?"

"That's strange... A promise to buy this moon-bunny ended up solving "her" crying..." I thought.

Is there something that I'm missing?

"Mmm... Mmm..." Being the kid I was, I remember wracking my brains over what to do.

And then...

"Well then, think of it as me." (Child Ren)

"Huh?" (Child Rinko)

"When you're scared, lonely, or in pain, you should think of this as me, and squeeze it tight." (Child Ren)

"This bunny is you, Ren...?" (Child Rinko)

"Yep, that's right." (Child Ren)

"So this bunny is Nene and you...?" (Child Rinko)

"Huh? Yea, yea..." (Child Ren)

"We're friends now, so you won't leave me, right?" (Child Rinko)

"No, of course I won't. As long as you've Nene with you, I'll be with you forever." (Child Ren)

"...*hug*" (Child Rinko)


"Ah, now that you mention it, I remember something like that happening..." (Ren)

"Oh geez... Why did you pretend you forgot about it, then?" (Rinko)

"Why?", you ask... Because it's incredibly embarrassing, isn't it?

That was such a conceited thing for an elementary schooler like me to do.

Back then, I barely even knew what I was doing, unlike now.

"Dunno..." (Ren)

I look away from Rinko.

"I was happy. I'll never forget it for as long as I live." (Rinko)

Now that I think about it, she said something like this at school too, didn't she?

"After that, my gramps found us on the way home, and he got really angry at you, saying, 'You were trying to kidnap my granddaughter!', right?" (Rinko)

"Yeah, that's right." (Ren)

It was as if he had a grudge against me.

"But you said, 'Ren is my friend. Stop being so mean to my friend, Jii-chama! I hate you!' or something to that effect." (Ren)

"Yeah. Ever since that day, his attitude has changed a little." (Rinko)

"You're right. when we played together after that, your gramps would give me a death stare, but he stopped asking me to stay away." (Ren)

"Ahaha~ sorry about that. Oh geez, he's such a blockhead! Y'see, one day I'm gonna run away from home!" (Rinko)

As far as I could see from those bento boxes, Rinko's probably cooked for her grandfather as well. From that, I can sense a feeling of intimacy between them that I can't comprehend.

"When I do, please shelter me, okay?" (Rinko)

"But my place would be the first place he'd check in that situation, right?" (Ren)

"That's fine! Just hide me properly!" (Rinko)

"...Right." (Ren)

Things are different now.

Rinko and I aren't kids anymore.

I'm sure that the situation Rinko's talking is purely hypothetical: it would surely never happen. So I just give this response.

Even I'm not sure if it's a meaningful response or not...

"Well anyway, you saved me when I was more troubled than I'd ever been in my life. So this time, it's my turn to repay you."

"I'm not troubled about any-" (Ren)

"Stop lying to me!" (Rinko)

"Whoa." (Ren)

She looks really angry for once.

"I know all about it, okay? I know that you never got over what happened with Rin-chan." (Rinko)

"Ugh..." (Ren)

"It's been two years, right? Despite what happened, you need to look ahead and start walking your path again." (Rinko)

"I'm not..." (Ren)

"Back then, you used to shine like the sun. But ever since Rin-chan disappeared, it's like you've been nothing but endlessly raining clouds..." (Rinko)

"Rinko..." (Ren)

"When we entered high school, I thought your mood might improve, but you didn't try to get friendly with anyone in the class, and rejected everything in this world. That's not you, Ren." (Rinko)

"You're wrong. This is my true self." (Ren)

"That's not true. That's not true at all... That can't ever be true..." (Rinko)

"H-Hey..." (Ren)

Were those tears in her eyes?

Did she really care for me so much she'd burst into tears in the middle of a busy road?

"The real Ren is kinder, perceptive, level-headed..." (Rinko)

"I-I get it. Stop crying. Hey, Rinko..." (Ren)

"...Brave, cool, has a stronger hear that anyone... You were always my hero..." (Rinko)

"Rinko..." (Ren)

I instinctively start to reach out for Rinko's shoulders as her whole body shakes...

"What do you know... Here you are in a place like this, doing something as despicable as making a woman cry." (?)

I hear a very unfamiliar yet a strangely familiar voice.

"What?" (Ren)

I turn around to see...

My entire body freezes immediately.

It's her... That woman...

Even if she seems to have her hair cut short now, I can't ever mistake someone like her...

"You were the driver of that Diablo..." (Ren)

"Huh? Wh-Who's this?" (Rinko)

As she says this, Rinko begins to wipe her tears.

Fortunately, Rinko doesn't wear makeup, but if she did, her mascara would be a complete mess right now.

"Hmph. You've got a good memory, huh?" (?)

...How in the hell can you expect me to forget an encounter like that?

In the first place, where did you even come from just now?

"I cannot forgive a man who hurts a woman that way. Especially, not...if it's this girl." (?)

"Huh? Huh?" (Ren)

The instant she says that, I hear something loudly snap within me.

I knew she was dangerous, but... there were things even I can't let slide.

"Just what's your game, speaking out against other people when you don't even know the circumstances? You did this today and the last time as well. Who are you, anyway?" (Ren)

Just like that my rage exploded...

"It doesn't matter. All that matters is that I won't forgive you." (?)

Such an absurd rejection...

"You're insane..." (Ren)

She kinda reminds me of Rinko's grandfather.

Right then...

"Stop. I don't know what happened, but please stop!" (Rinko)

"Rinko..." (Ren)

I saw the form of Rinko spread her arms as she faced the woman. Was she doing that to protect me?

"Oh?" (?)

"I was just crying on my own just now. Ren did nothing wrong." (Rinko)

Rinko's bitter plea pierced my consciousness like a needle.

If I could think to ignore it, I would. But that needle definitely struck a chord somewhere within me.

"Ren... Shokuhou? Mhm... there's no mistaking it, huh?" (?)

What was that?

For some reason, the woman looked utterly baffled, but before I could ask her "why?"...

"Don't get angry either, Ren. Conflict produces nothing." (Rinko)

"Unfortunately, that's where you're wrong, little lady. You can't protect anything unless you're willing to stain your hands with blood." (?)

Such a dangerous thing to say...

"Just what are you... saying?" (Ren)

"Shok... no, wait... Was it Mitsubachi Ren, now?! The next time I see you make "this" girl cry, I'll reduce you to rust on my blade. Y'see I really can't give a damn about any of your circumstances..." (?)

"Hey, you-" (Ren)

I felt my fists clench in anger...

"Oho~ you challenging me? ...Sure... Go ahead! Come, take a swing! See how that ends." (?)

I felt a slight amount of static on my skin...

The skies darkened. No, it really did... quite literally. There was a clear sky up until now, and now a thunderstorm manifested out of nowhere.

I knew she isn't your normal esper. But is she really some Level 5 Electromaster?

However, I couldn't care any less at this point...

I just had to get my point across...

"REN!" (Rinko)

Just before I could send my fist flying out into the woman's face, I heard Rinko's scream as she latched onto my arm.

Rinko's face looked incredibly desperate, and upon seeing that I could feel my will to resist fade away.

Still...

"Hey you, hold-" (Ren)

Even if I nearly pummeled the woman, I wanted to ask her something...

Or I wanted to.

Because she was gone.

By the time I looked back, she was already gone. Really, Electromasters can move that fast?!

Give me a break...

"... It's alright, Rinko. I've calmed down." (Ren)

"Hey, who was that just now?" (Rinko)

"I don't know." (Ren)

That's all I can say.

Is it a new method of stalking?

Either way, she was too dangerous.

Now that I calm down, had I tried punching her, who knows what would have happened.

"It'd be best not to get involved with people like that." (Rinko)

"Yeah. But she started..." (Ren)

I stop mid-sentence, my tongue feeling like it got stuck in my mouth.

Now that I think about it: didn't she talk as if she knew me and Rinko.

Even so, I knew nothing about her.

Has something been going on around us while I've been blissfully unaware?

Even though we just want to live a peaceful life.

Even though I just want to get back a life with Rin in it...

"Ren... I'm scared." (Rinko)

My childhood friend's eyes are beginning to gouge out my unconscious mind.

Am I stuck in the middle of some maelstrom of incidents?

If that's the case, then I absolutely can't let Rinko get involved.

"It's all right. It's all right..." (Ren)

I speak to Rinko with words full of determination.

So that Rinko, being as extremely perceptive as she is, doesn't think that I'm deceiving her.


"Whew." (Ren)

Rinko was opposed to the idea of splitting up until the end, saying "I'm worried about you, so let's be together".

But I managed to calm her down, succeeded in walking her home, and come back home by myself.

The plants in the living room seem to be wilting. Do I have to take care of them in Mom's place?

I already have my hands full as it is: taking care of the cactus.

Maybe I should give these honeysuckles to Rinko?

I think about this while watering the plants when...

Something gently falls from the table.

"This is..." (Ren)

It's Mom's letter, the one that was left on the table and the thing I've been doing everything I can to keep from entering my consciousness.

...I timidly extend my hand.

"Ah-" (Ren)

It seems it wasn't sealed, as something slips out of the envelope.

Of course, the white folded object is the letter, but there's something else with it...

"...A four-leaf clover?" (Ren)

Mom gave this to me?!

Those green pressed leaves lead my mind into confusion once more.

A molecular biologist in Paimont City: the very heart of a highly-advanced scientific civilization, believes in a childish superstition that this is a good luck charm?

I timidly try to open the letter and read its contents.

In it was written...


Author Notes:

That's it for the week. Hope you liked it. The story's slowly picking up pace... right?

Lemme know how you feel in the reviews, like usual.

And as always, thanks for reading.

Until next time...

Lex.