Chapter 31

Dolly- Ohashi Trio

"Hey there!" Aoki opened an eye and saw a lady looking at her. "It's rather strange to find someone just sleeping in my garden." The lady said.

Aoki instantly stood up and looked around. "Oh! Um.. I'm sorry?" She said, worried.

The lady laughed. "You aren't from around here, are you?"

"I... I don't remember." Aoki scratched her head.

"Where are your parents?" The lady asked.

"Parents?" Aoki's eyes turned big. She put her hand in her pocket searching. "I.. don't have any."

"Oh dear! I'm sorry. I know what it's like not to have parents. I was adopted. If you want I can help you find someone to take you. You can stay with me for now if you'd like."

Aoki stayed quiet for a second trying to process everything she had just said.

Considering I don't remember anything, it's good to have somewhere to stay, right?

Aoki smiled then nodded.

"I'll show you around. Come with me." She said, heading into the house. "By the way, my name is Kiyo. What's yours?"

"Aoki."

Kiyo smiled. "I live alone but I have guest rooms. You can stay here if you'd like. This room gets the most sunlight so it looks pretty in the morning. Unless you'd prefer a darker room?"

"It's good." She smiled.

"You don't have to be shy, ok?" Kiyo pet Aoki's head. "You wouldn't mind doing a few chores would you? To get a hang of this place and get to know people."

"Chores?" Aoki tilted her head.

"Just buy stuff and things. Not that hard actually. I'm just getting kind of old and taking care of the garden shop and going places is starting to get a little heavy for me. You wouldn't mind?"

"Oh! Yeah. I can do that." Aoki smiled.

"Perfect. I'll get you started. Come with me."

Kiyo headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge. "Let's see... I ran out of eggs... pork... and miso... you like miso right? Oh! I should also get sushi..." She closed the fridge then opened a cabinet. "Since you'll be here we should get more green tea. I hope that's not a lot to remember!"

"I can remember" Aoki said. "Will I find everything in the same place?"

"The store is close by. Just turn left and keep going until you find a store. It's a village so there really is only one store. You can take my bike."

Kiyo gave her the bike and Aoki stared at it.

"You do know how to use a bike... no? Kiyo realized the surprised look Aoki had.

"I... don't."

"It's really easy. Watch how I do it and I'm sure you'll be able to use it right away." Kiyo climbed the bike and took a small circle around the street. "..and this is how you stop."

She got off the bike and handed it to Aoki. "Think you can handle it?"

Aoki smiled. "Yup!" Any new challenge was a step closer to being a normal person.

"Ok. Here's some money. This should be enough. I'll be in the shop if you need anything."

Aoki looked at her bike that was a mint blue. It fit perfectly with what she liked.

This is easy! She thought as she drove it the same way Kiyo had driven. She stopped in front of the store. There were bikes lined up. This is probably where I should put it. She parked it by a black bike.

She walked in and started walking around... there were so many options and finding the food was more challenging than she thought. She skimmed through the aisles reading the labels.

Miso... check.

Green tea... check.

Pork... check.

Merli?" A voice said, and someone poked her. Aoki turned around to see a guy with glasses.

"OH! I'm sorry! You looked like my sister Merli for a second." He said. "I could have sworn nobody else in this village has purple and blue hair like my sister. I guess I don't know everyone here!" He said, embarrased.

Aoki grabbed some of her hair with her hand and giggled. "It is blue and purple."

He looked at her a bit strangely. "Uh.. I'm going to continue shopping. See you around" He said with a friendly smile.

Aoki nodded. What do I have left? She turned around and saw the sushi from far. She walked toward it and grabbed it, dropping the green tea box.

"Maybe you should have grabbed a basket. Here, take mine. That will make your life much easier." The guy said, picking up the green tea and handing her the basket.

"Oh! Thank you!" Aoki said. She grabbed the basket and put the things inside.

"No problem. What's your name by the way?" He said, taking a look at some fish.

"Aoki." She turned to look at him. "And yours?"

"Kiyoteru."

"Nice meeting you." Aoki said. She stood sileny for a second trying to remember what else she needed.

"Forgot something?" Kiyoteru said.

"Yes.. No, I just remembered! I need to buy eggs!" Aoki and walked to the other aisle.

"They aren't there." Kiyoteru said with a laugh. "Come with me, I actually need to buy some too now that you mention."

Aoki followed him. She found herself with a variety, but the blue carton appealed to her the most.

"I've never seen you around.. where do you live?" Kiyoteru said grabbing a carton of eggs.

"With Kiyo." Aoki said, and walked toward the lady that was counting money.

"Ah, Kiyo." He said thinking then went to the cashier.

"659 Yen is your total." The cashier said, handing Aoki a bag with the groceries. Aoki took out the money Kiyo had given her and handed it to the cashier.

"Here's your change." The cashier said. "Thank you for shopping with us"

Aoki walked out and put the bag on the bike's basket. That's what baskets are for... they make your life easier. She remembered.

"There you are!" Kiyoteru said. Aoki turned to look to someone with blue and purple hair.

"I confused you for someone else." He said to the girl.

"Who? Nobody looks like me here." She said. Kiyoteru pointed at Aoki. Aoki's eyes widened.

"Oh?" She turned to look. "Her hair is kind of like mine. Except mine is darker."

The girl looked at Aoki for a few second. "We need to be friends so that you can pretend to be twins! It'll confuse everyone!" She said.

"Uh, are you sure about that?" Kiyoteru said. "Aoki doesn't look like the person who would go along with your crazy schemes"

"Aoki? What do you say? Will you be my partner in crime?" The girl winked. "It'll be fun."

Aoki smiled. Fun was good, right? Aoki nodded.

"Awesome! I have a twin now! This is super awesome!" The girl said running to Aoki and hugging her. "I didn't even tell you my name! I'm Merli. Where do you live by?"

"She lives with Kiyo" Kiyoteru answered.

"Eh! Let Aoki answer." Merli snapped her fingers. "I have to head somewhere with my brother but I'll be bothering you soon, ok?"

Aoki giggled. "Ok!"

"Awesome! See Kiyoteru?" Merli said with a smirk. "I have to go but I'll se you later ok!"

Aoki nodded and they waved goodbye.

"Back!" Aoki said parking the bike. She took the bag and went in to the garden shop.

A/N: Too many updates in a row! Wooo I might just finish this story! Or maybe It'll still take me forever... Ok, yes... I know this author note was unnecesary.. lol. Anyways, stay tuned for the next chapter...