Here's the next chapter~ Thank you to all who reviewed~ Please read AN at bottom
I do not own Dramatical Murder. It is the property of Nitro + CHiRAL.
-line break-
I shut the door leading to the veranda and return to the room, lower Ren to the bed and lay down next to him.
"Rhyme... huh."
Did I encounter a Drive-Byer after all? When it happened, Ren appeared in his online mode form. He also fought according to my instructions.
"That is what happens in Rhyme." Noiz commented. He couldn't believe that this ignorant guy was the undefeated Sly Blue. Though the outcome of their fight wasn't show, he was sure he had won. Especially if this was how the guy was.
"Nobody asked you, brat." Aoba snapped back, giving the guy a glare. Who did he think he was anyway!? Who was he anyway, is the more important question. He knew he'd eventually find out, since the guy was here. But that didn't give the guy an excuse not to introduce himself like the guy sitting next to him; who was extremely intimidating. Best to ignore him for now.
Noiz glared back at Aoba, unbothered by his attitude. Aoba continued to glare for a moment before going back to the game.
"...Something, set... What was it?"
During the Rhyme, my mouth moved on its own like somebody had taken over my body. What was that? But that feeling... I feel like I know it. I don't know why I think so but, it's like... It resembled a feeling that I have when I invite customers to the store... That feeling when I know what to say to make the other do what I want. Have Drive-Byers always appeared so frequently? Let's do a little research. Although I don't want to get involved too deeply...
*a beep is heard*
... A message.
*Coil screen appears, showing messages*
"That latest Allmate models, huh?"
It was a direct message. New Allmates appear one after another.
Aoba lightly scratched Ren between the ears from where the dog was laying on his lap. He knew, despite the new Allmates coming out, he would never ever replace Ren. It would be like asking him to give up one of his limbs.
Ren wagged his tail happily at the attention.
*screen closes*
I briefly look over the contents then close the Coil screen. I've always been so attached to things that I never want to give them up, but not everyone else is like that... That's right. I have to check Ren's condition. I'm worried about the damage he took in Rhyme. I get up and reseat myself on the bed, put the blue lump on my knees, and start him up.
"Aoba."
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
"I'll examine you a bit now."
Because Ren is an old model, restoration would be trouble if full-scale malfuction appeared. He has to be frequently maintained and checked. I hold a long cable starting from the desktop computer and push aside Ren's neck fur to connect the cable to the port.
*Coil screen showing Ren's system stats appear*
I start up a touch browser wtih the Coil and the interface that supervises Ren's engine is displayed.
*more screens pop up*
"Hm... Maybe the reaction speed of the reflection's decreased a bit."
I grab a tool box that I'd thrown on the floor, remove the lid, take out a 10cm square scredriver, and push aside Ren's fur again. Although Allmates can fundamentally be fixed through the touch browser's control panel, Ren is an old model, and I need to look inside of him too. I take a stock of new chips out of the tool box and use tweezers to replace Ren's old chip with a new one.
"Oh, Aoba-kun. That reminds me. I found some more parts for Ren for whenever you need them." Haga told him. He knew how important the dog was to his employee and always kept an eye out for the parts. Though they were getting harder and harder to find.
"Thank you, Haga-san!" Aoba responded.
"Thank you, Haga." Ren parroted.
"It't no problem." Haga told them.
*screens close*
"This should be enough."
I close the lid and control panel, remove the cable and lift Ren into my arms.
*screen shows Aoba holding Ren in front of him*
"How is it? Any place you're not feeling well?"
"..."
"Hm?"
"There is some sense of incongruity. However, it's within the allowalbe range."
"I see. Well, I only changed the chip. Tell me right away if any malfuction appears."
"Understood."
*screen shows Aoba resting his forehead against Ren's*
Koujaku couldn't help but smile slightly at how adorable Aoba looked like that. But then again, he was always adorable. He just seemed to get more so as they got older.
I stroke Ren's back as he answers me, and i place my forehead to his tiny one.I forget how long its been since we started to do this, but I make sure to do this every time I do maintenance on Ren. It's like a charm.
"Thank you, as always."
"The pleasure is mine."
"I'll count on you in the future, too."
"The pleasure is mine."
*screen shows Aoba leaning back, looking at Ren*
"...You always answer like that."
"Is it strange?"
*screen changes back to showing Aoba's room*
"No, not at all. I think it suits you, so it's good."
"I wonder if I should thank you for that remark."
"You should. I was complimenting you."
"Thank you."
"Ahahaha... The pleasure is mine."
"You two are weird." Mizuki commented.
Next to him, Sei let out a quiet laugh. Hearing it, MIzuki gave the boy a small smile, please with himself for getting him to laugh.
"We're not weird..." Aoba defended.
"You are a little bit." Koujaku added in a teasing voice. He laughed when Aoba glared at him. Though it looked more like he was pouting.
I put our foreheads together one more time and lower Ren to the bed. Ren is always the same. No matter what, he'll be by my side. After that, I place my tools in order and leisurely spend time talking with Ren about everything.
*screen fades black before going to Heibon, a bell ringing*
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
The next day, when I go to work at Heibon as usual, Haga-san is organizing the stock. I leave my bag behind the counter and put down Ren before going over to Haga-san immediately. I have to properly apologize for yesterday...
"You don't need to do that, Aoba-kun." Haga told him. "It wasn't your fault."
"Doesn't mean I should apologize." Aoba stated, still feeling bad about what happened though he couldn't really control it.
"Boss."
*screen shows Haga*
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry about yesterday's delivery."
"Eh? Aah, no no, don't worry about it anymore..."
As he says that, his expression clouds. I'm surprised to see him do that. Maybe after I lost the package he was yelled at by the customer...? If so, then it's all my fault.
"Um, I'm really sorry. I'd like to apologize to the customer too if possible..."
"Oh, yes. About that."
Haga-san pushes up his glasses with a troubled face.
"Since yesterday's delivery was done with pre-payment, I wanted to ask if he wanted a refund or a re-delivery, and tried to contact him in various ways. I even tried to contact the control center, but it was completely useless."
"Useless?"
"Yes. I couldn't contact him at all. Since the sender and recipient were the same I tried checking the address, but a person with a completely different name lived there... And he said he didn't remember ordering any goods."
"That's odd... Why would someone send an order to the wrong address like that?" Yoshie asked, confused.
"It's it obvious?" Noiz asked. Though it came out more like a statement.
"What?" Aoba asked, his tone annoyed as he glared slightly at the guy.
"Someone clearly did it to draw you out there to pull you into Rhyme." He responded. No need to mention that he was the guy who had done exactly that.
Aoba opened and closed his mouth for a moment, thinking about that. "Are you saying that it was a trap?"
"That's what I said, isn't it?"
"...Brat.." Aoba muttered, going back to the game.
"In other words, was it a prank?"
"It is very likely. But I don't know why anyone would want to do such a thing."
Maybe... Even if I suggest it's a prank, it was already paid, and it would only be a loss for the other party. Why would anyone do something like that? I tilt my head together with Haga-san.
"It's fine as is... but it still doesn't feel right."
"Yeah..."
*screen changes to show the rabbit-head guy*
More importantly, I... was pulled into Rhyme during that delivery.
*screen goes back to Heibon*
Suspicion drifts through the air, and it suddenly becomes time to open shop.
"Oops, have to get to work."
Haga-san hurries out of the shop. I feel somewhat unpleasant... and no matter how hard I think about it I don't understand it, so I'll have to give up for now.
"All right. I have some work to do too."
I decide to change my mood and return to the counter.
*screen goes black for a moment*
The morning passes with no incidents in particular, and after finishing lunch break, the afternoon shift starts. Since Haga-san went out, I'm the only one in the shop.
"Yes... Yes. Well then, we look forward to hearing from you again."
After finishing an incoming call from a customer, I take a breather. Since he reacted to my voice with the usual pattern, I was able to sell just as many things. It seemed like hwas one of those who had called before, and he was reluctant to hang up the phone, so it was a little troublesome.
"That must be annoying." Clear stated.
".. It is." Aoba told him.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be.. It's not you're fault."
Clear was silent. He wished there was something he could do to help his Master. Maybe he could track these people down and make them back off? But how would he go about doing that? Hmm.. This required more thought.
*bell rings*
While I feel disgusted by the excited voice that still lingers in my ears, the doorbell rings. Oh, a customer? I take my elbow off the counter and straighten myself up.
*Screen shows Kio*
"Hiya, Aoba."
*shows Nao*
"Aoba, we came to plaaaaaay."
*shows Mio*
"Hmph."
"... It's you guys."
I thought it was a customer, but the only ones that come in are the evil brat siblings. I let out and exaggerated sigh, rest my elbow on the counter again and give the kids a sharp glare. Whenever they come in, it always spells bad news.
"you just came to do stupid stuff again. Go home already."
"Aoba, you're annoying." Kio
"Annnoyiiiing." Nao
"You just stay quiet now, all right?" Mio
"..."Aoba
Those brats...The brats find Bonjin-kun and immediately start chasing him.
"Ah, there it is!" Mio
"Wait up, wait uuup!" Nao
"Catch it!" Kio
"C-Cleaning!"
The confused Bonjin-kun quickly moves to escape. Bonjin-kun is quite clever for an Allmate, so he can move unexpectedly fast and his evasion ablility is also high. It's not so easy to catch him. But that's probably what keeps the brats chasing after him, anyway.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, don't run!"
"Ah, come on-!" Nao
"Wait!" Kio
"Catch it already!" Mio
"Come oooooooooooooon!" Nao
"C-Cleaning! Cleaninining!"
Ah, the shelf is wobbling now... That cardboard looks like it's about to fall...
"..."
It should be fine to just stop this by force... I thought I could, but I'm one step too late.
*crash is heard*
"Aaahhhh!" Aoba
"No waaaay! Something broooooke!" Mio
"It broke!" Nao
"Don't you 'it broke!' me! You brats!"
"Waaah! Aoba got angry!" Kio
"Angryyy!" Nao
"I hate quick-tempered men!" Mio
"Shut up!... You! Hey! You too!"
I catch the trio by their necks, drag them to the door, and throw them out.
"Should've just done that in the first place." Aoba said.
"Maybe if you do it more often, they'll stop coming in." Koujaku suggested, sure that it would work if it happened often enough.
"Maybe..." Though Aoba knew he probably wouldn't do it. They were just kids, brats, but still kids.
*screen shows outside Heibon*
"Uwah!" Kio
"Ouch!" Nao
"How cruel! You're awful!" Mio
"Shut up, shut uuup! When you make an adult angry, it can get scaaaary."
I put my hands on my hips and make an "intimidating teacher" pose while glaring at the brats.
"Geez, you're always causing trouble. Try reflecting a little. And go home already
"So annoying! Shut up, stupid!" Kio
"Stupid Aoba!" Nao
"You're so lame, you old geezer!" Mio
"... You little...Just listen to me alreadyyyyy!"
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!" all three
The instant I finally snap and yell at them, the brats make a break for it. Ah, dammit. Even I don't think I'm all that popular, but... If those kids just had the capacity for even a tiny bit of cute in them... And not I have to clean the mess they left... Sheesh...
*a noise is heard*
...Hm? What? I thought I heard something just now...
*A crash his heard and screen changes to show aoba flinching back as Clear lays on the ground*
"There's me~" Clear said happily.
"Why did you fall from the sky!?" Aoba exclaimed.
Clear just shrugged, knowing he had probably jumped down from the roof.
"Whoooa!?"
S-Something just fell all of the sudden!
"..."
... What fell from the sky was apparently a person. But... A human... from the sky? From the physique, it appears to be a man. I can't see his face because his head is facing the other way. Is he... He isn't dead, right?
"U-uun..."
"!"
*screen goes back showing outside of Heibon*
The man moans and stands up. He's alive... I'm relieved, but soon find myself frozen in place again... He doesn't have a face? No, that's not it. He's wearing a gas mask
"What's up with the mask anyway?" Mizuki asked, looking at the guy.
"Hm? This? My grandfather told me I had to wear it." Clear responded.
"Why would he do that?" Koujaku asked.
Clear shrugged, not really wanting to get into detail about it. That and thinking about his grandfather was making him sad. But he was sitting next to Master! So that made everything better.
*screen briefly showed Clear as above text is shown*
"...Ah, that surpised me."
The man scratches his hair and looks around frantically. He seems to be fine, but... Isn't he injured or anything? And why is he wearing a mask? Falling down from above is really weird, and no matter how you look at him he seems obviously suspicious.
*screen shows Clear*
As I stand petrified, the gas mask guy turns and faces towards me.
"..."
I reflexively stop blinking and breathing. Don't come over here... Please ignore me and go somewhere else...
*sound of footsteps*
... But wishing that was futile, and the gas mask guy briskly approaches me.
"Master, I'm okay."
"Master!?" More than one voice asked.
"Yes, Master~ I am here to serve you~" Clear sang out. He was leaning slightly towards Aoba, his hands clasped in front of him.
"Um..." Aoba wasn't sure how to respond to that. How should one respond in this situation? He glanced around, but everybody seemed as confused as he was. Except for the two nameless newcomers who's faces were both blank.
"...Huh?"
Master?
"I heard Master's voice, so I came."
...What's this guy talking about?
"Is something wrong?"
"No, um... I think you're mistaking me for someone else."
"Mistaking you for someone else?"
"I'm not anyone's Master."
"No, Master is Master."
"No, you're wrong. I don't even know you."
"That's not true. I'm Clear, the one who carried you here yesterday."
*shows Clear's stats, all question marks*
"That's weird..." Mizuki stated. "Why is it like that?" He directed the question to Clear and sighed when he got another shrug in return. Can't this guy answer any question!?
"You carried me yesterday?"
Yesterday, now that you mention it... After being in Rhyme, I woke up lying here for some reason.
"Wait... Were you the one who pulled me into Rhyme?"
That rabbit head had his face covered, and I felt like his clothes were similar too.
"No, that was not me. But I thought that Master was Master and I carried you here."
...His story doesn't quite make sense.
"I heard Master's voice yesterday. Destruction and death."
"How could you have heard that? Unless you were the one who pulled me into Rhyme." Aoba accused, missing Noiz's quiet scoff at that.
"No! I would never do that to you, Master! I can't explain why I can hear you voice, I just can no matter where I am. Please believe me!" Clear exclaimed, looking upset, despite the mask.
Aoba was silent for a moment before lightly patting the guy on the head. Honestly, how could he stay mad at him. It felt like it would be kicking a puppy to do so.
"I believe you..." he told him, getting a quick, tight, hug in return.
"... What?"
I've heard that somewhere...
"Why do you know those words... Guh!?"
Suddenly the gas mask guy takes hold of both of my cheeks and pulls them right and left.
"Don't ever do that." Aoba warned him, giving him a look.
"Understood, Master!"
"Ow ow! Thah hurs!"
"Master seems different from yesterday. It's hard to explain what, but if I had to say something, I remember your face and voice being scruffier."
While pinching my cheeks, the gas mask guy keeps turning my head. Who is this guy!?
"Ih hurss! Leggo!"
"Okay."
The gas mask guy quickly releases his hands. Damn, that hurt... What's up with this guy!? He pinched my cheeks without holding back, and now it stings. While I rub my cheeks with watery eyes, the gas mask guy tilts his head.
"I'll ask again, but you really are Master, right?"
"I already told you, I'm not!"
"I don't think that's the case."
"..."
I stand silently irritated and take a deep breath in order to calm myself. Calm down... If you let him get to you, it's just what he wants. If this guy really is the rabbit head from yesterday, I have to catch him and question him. He seems like an idiot now, but if he gets angry won't his true nature come out? I can't do it in Rhyme, but if this becomes a fight in the real world, I'll manage somehow. I'll just try irritating him a little.
"...Hey!"
As soon as I finish my yell, I throw a kick at the man's behind.
Clear looked upset again by that. Aoba sighed and lightly petted his head again and he perked back up.
"...Sorry about that..." he told him.
"It's alright.." Clear assured him. Though he would prefer not to be hit, if that's what Master thought needed to be done, so be it. But the blue-haired man didn't seem violent, so he was sure it was just because of the situation.
"Ahhh!"
The gas mask guy leans back and holds his butocks with both hands.
"Please, Master... Stop it!"
"...Wha?"
The gas mask guy sinks to the floor.
"Please stop, Master... I can't... break any more than this."
"..."
...Yeah. This guy isn't him. Definitely not him. I'll just quickly finish up here and return to work.
"Anyway I'm not your Master. I have work to do so I'm going back. Bye."
"What should I do?"
"Go home!"
"Understood."
The gas mask guy nods obediently and digs through his pocket with his right hand. What he takes out is... Oh! A vinyl umbrella.
*Choices appear on screen*
-Why the umbrella?
-Are you a magician?
Aoba looked at the choices on the screen. He hesitated for a moment, unsure before he picked the choice 'Are you a magician?'
Koujaku gave him a look, thinking the other one made more sense. But Aoba was the one picking, so he didn't say anything.
"Are you a magician?"
"No, I'm not. As I said earlier, my name is Clear. Who is this person named Magician?"
"... No, whatever. Forget it."
"Well then, I'll be going."
Even though it still isn't raining, he opens the umbrella, turns around, and leaves.
"...What just happened?"
I stare at the man's back in utter amazement.
"...I'll just go back in."
For some reason... I have the feeling I've been made fun of bya a tanuki or a fox or something. I didn't see anything... Yeah, not a thing. I make up my mind and return to the shop.
-linebreak-
It's so hard to find a good place to have people say something. But this is the end of this chapter. We got to meet Clear~ Yay~ Let me know what you guys think. More interruptions or is this enough?
On another note, I am going to be taking requests for one-shots from anybody who wants one. It can be any pairing in this game that you would want.
Ones lined up: for musicaltigresa. Your one-shot, called Fixing What's Broken, will be out in a few days. I'm not good at making up titles, so if you don't like that one, let me know and I'll think of a different one.