Chapter 107 – Rafisol's First Emotional Experience
Ally's POV
"NO! FREAKING! WAY!"
"IS THIS REALLY TRUE?!"
"Yep. It's all true. Right, Sis?" I then turned to Rafisol, whose only response was a simple nod.
After school had ended, Sis and I (along with Ayumi, who was hanging out for a bit) went home for the day. It was there that I told both her and Ami (who had finally been discharged from the hospital) what Rafisol told me during lunch today.
And like me, they were completely blown away with shock and utter disbelief.
"Wow! Rafisol's in love with Feli! That's so sweet!" Ami cheered.
"Even with how much you two spend so much time together, I totally didn't see this coming." Ayumi said.
"What made you fall in love with her, Sis?" I asked.
"I just want to make Feli happy."
"Make Feli happy?"
"She's been really sad recently. She even said that she was jealous of my happiness. So, I want to make her happy again."
"I get it." Ayumi said. "And while trying to do so, you ended up gaining feelings for her. Is that right?"
…
"Y…Yeah." Rafisol replied with a faint blush on her face.
Oh, my God! She's actually blushing! My soulless twin sister is finally acting like a girl!
"*giggle* I see. You're a really good friend then, Rafisol."
"Yeah." Ami said. "Feli's really lucky to have someone like you. I hope she returns your feelings."
"Y-Yeah." Rafisol said with a small smile. Then she got up and headed for the front door. Which left us confused.
"Uh…Sis? Where're you going?" I asked.
"To tell Feli I love her."
"W-WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH!" We all shouted as Ayumi and I ran up to her and slowly brought her back to the living room.
She's definitely still as gung-ho as a boy…
"R-Rafisol, I admire your courageousness…but you can't just drop something THAT big on someone without any kind of warning." Ami said.
"I can't?"
"Ami's right, Rafisol." Ayumi said. "Telling her right this minute is WAY too sudden."
"But how am I supposed to tell Feli I love her?"
"Easy, Sis. You just gotta take a more relaxed approach." I said while wrapping my arm around her. "Take your time and REALLY think these feelings through. I mean…the same thing worked for me and Lidelle. And Amitie and Raffina."
"And Sig and Peruvis…k-kinda." Ami added.
Yeah, that one's on a whole different level…
"So, I should…take it slow?" Sis asked. "How do I do that?"
"Well, you…uh…" This was actually harder than I thought. Normally, a girl would just do a "flirt test" to see how the person she's interested in would respond. But with Rafisol not really known for being…uh…emotional…and Feli suspended from school, such a thing can't be done.
"Yuna may have some advice on the idea." Ami said.
"Yuna? W-Wait, who's that?"
"Yuna Mizutani. She's on the basketball team."
Ayumi and I just gave blank-as-hell stares.
"She played with me during the exhibition match."
The stares continued from there.
"She's the girl who never opens her eyes."
…
…
…
"O-Oh, yeah! That girl!" We both shouted after finally realizing who she was talking about.
"Geez, you two…" Ami gained a huge sweatdrop. "…she went to the same middle school as us."
We didn't really KNOW her, though…
"You really think she can help, though?" I asked.
"Of course, she can. She was a romance nut back in middle school. If anyone can make love happen, it's her."
"Well, it's worth a shot, I think." Ayumi said. "Maybe we can try asking her tomorrow at school."
"I still have my doubts…but what do we got to lose?" I said. "We'll ask her before classes start okay, Rafisol?"
"Okay." Rafisol replied with a small smile. "Thank you…Onee-chan."
*squeal* Oh, my God! My sister is acting so cute right now!
"Aw~! It's so sweet that you found someone to love, Rafisol." Ami said. "Now if only someone else in this group would finally do the same…"
"Oh, yes, Ami. If only she would finally grow a pair…"
…
…
…
"Wait…the hell do you mean by that?!" Ayumi yelled after she realized we were talking about her.
"Oh, come on, Ayumi. You know exactly what we mean by it."
"You being so tomboyish that the concept of love just flies over your head like a malfunctioning drone." Ami added.
"Wh-What does being a tomboy have to do with finding love?! I'm just not interested in all that crap!"
"You say that…but once you see all of us couple hanging around, you'll definitely change your mind. Like you do with everything else."
"Everything else?"
"Like the time you claimed that you had no interest in the new lip gloss set featured in that magazine. But when everyone else had one, you caved in and got it yourself." I said.
"I…I-I didn't want to be left out, you know?! People kept bragging about how cute they were…I only bought it to shut them up!"
"You ended up eating it…"
"It said "Raspberry Flavored"! So, I wanted to see if it tasted like raspberries!"
"*sigh* A tomboy AND dense as hell. You really aren't a normal girl, Ayumi."
"Oh, WHATEVER!" Ayumi pouted in anger. "Arle was freaking right about you guys stereotyping everything."
"Wh-What?! She said that about us?!" Ami yelled in shock. "We don't stereotype everything!"
"Yes, you do."
"Stay out of this, Mom!" She then yelled at Melody as she walked into the house at that specific time.
"You don't think we stereotype everything right, Sis?" I asked Rafisol.
…
"Sis?"
…
"Where'd she go?" Ami asked.
"Oh, yeah…I saw her talking to her reflection again." Melody said. "It looked like they were real deep into a conversation."
"Aw, geez…" I said with a facepalm.
"You know…I've never met this "alternate dimension" Rafisol yet." Ayumi said. "Now might be a chance to see her in person."
"I've seen her twice and I still don't understand her existence…" I gained a huge sweatdrop.
And so, with the thought in mind, the three of us went to our room to see if Rafisol was still talking to her "other self". Sure enough, she was. And as Melody said, they were really deep into a conversation.
"You have found someone to love? I see…so, this "school" place really is the source of love."
"I guess." Our Rafisol said. "Though I still see it as a place you go to and do stuff. Nothing really remarkable."
"I see…"
Of course, only Rafisol would think such a thing…
"Well, it's been a while since we've seen you." I said to my sister's mirror doppelgänger. "What have you been doing this whole time?"
"I have been doing quite a bit of research. Visiting other dimensions and gathering information…all to attempt my plan of escaping this mirror barrier."
"Huh? You want to get out of the mirror?"
"But I thought the whole point of you being here was to talk to Rafisol." Ami said.
"That was the original request. But with this "school" place showing more and more promising to learn about emotions, my desire has been finding a way to enter this dimension fully."
"We were talking about a possible way to get her out of the mirror." Our Rafisol added.
"Okay…so, what's this "possible way"?"
"One possible way is to have this special gem in front of the mirror. Once the two are paired, the gem will supposedly turn the mirror into a dimensional portal. Allowing me to come and go as I please."
"A gem turns the mirror into a portal? *sigh* This is starting to sound very familiar…"
"Isn't that the exact same way Arle and her friends came to this world?" Ayumi asked.
"The very same." I said. "A Soul Ruby got near the Dimensional Mirror and opened a portal connecting our world to Arle's."
"So, if this is strangely similar to that…" Ami mumbled to herself. "…MOM!"
"What? What's with the yelling?" Melody asked as she came into the room highly annoyed.
"We need to borrow your Soul Ruby for a sec."
"Wh-What? Why? You know this thing's the only thing keeping me alive, right?"
"We're not gonna destroy it. We just want to see if it can get Rafisol's reflection out of the mirror."
"But doesn't that defeat the purpose of a reflection?"
She has a point…
"Wh-Whatever! Just…get in front of the mirror!"
"*sigh* Fine. But if this gem breaks, you're paying for my funeral."
"That's a dark-as-hell thing to say…" Ayumi said as she and I gained huge sweatdrops.
Melody stood in front of the mirror and took out the Soul Ruby hanging around her neck. It glowed for a bit…giving Ami and I specifically the same exact memories of the discovery of the Dimensional Mirror and having Arle come out of it.
Damn…to think that was a little over 5 months ago. Time really does fly by…
"And…nope. Doesn't look like it works on here." Melody said after the Ruby stopped glowing. Clearly uneffective in getting Rafisol's reflection out of the mirror.
"Aw, geez…" Ayumi said. "…well, it was worth a shot."
…
…
…
"Well…I do have another gem."
"Another gem?" We all asked Ami.
She then rushed to her room and came back with a dark blue orthorhombic-shaped gem in her hand. It had a black orb in the center, an eerie-as-hell hue around it, and tiny sparks of electricity spewing out.
It was one of the most unnerving things I've EVER seen.
"A-Ami…what IS that thing?" I asked.
"To be honest…I have no idea. My hat just spawned it the day I woke up in the hospital. It gave me the creeps…so, I kept it hidden in my room. Thankfully, it hasn't done anything since."
"Okay, but…why'd you keep it? I would've tossed the damn thing if it was creeping me out."
"Because it came from the hat itself, Ally. If I were to get rid of it, who knows what damage it could cause. Or worse…someone who finds it."
"*sigh* Yeah, I get you there."
Still would've tossed it, though…
"So, it gives you the creeps…but yet, you want to use it on this mirror?" Melody asked. "Are you trying to make your life crazier?"
"Well, do you have any better ideas? Your Soul Ruby didn't work. So, now we're stuck with trying this out."
"*sigh* I've got a bad feeling about this…"
"For once, Melody, I agree with you." I said with a worried look of my own.
Ami raised the weird gem in front of the mirror. And like the Soul Ruby, it began to glow. Unlike the Ruby, though…it kept glowing. And it had an effect on the mirror currently keeping my sister's doppelgänger reflection inside.
…
As in…it actually got her out.
Holy crap! It actually worked!
"Yes…I am free. I am finally free." The other Rafisol cheered (I-I guess).
"Congratulations." Our Rafisol said.
"Woah…now that I'm getting a full look at you, you really are an EXACT doppelgänger of Rafisol." Ayumi said.
"I would not say "exact". For I am older than the Rafisol that resides in this world."
"Huh? Older?"
"I'm 15. She's 18." Our Rafisol said.
"Wh-What?! H-How is she 18?!" I asked in pure disbelief.
"Different rules for different worlds, I guess." Ami said. "It was the same thing for Arle when she first showed up here."
"*sigh* I don't freaking see it…" I gained a huge sweatdrop.
"So, now there are two Rafisols roaming around this one world." Melody said. "How the hell are you girls gonna pull this off?"
"We'll have to think of something." I then turned to the recently freed Rafisol double. "But until then, you can't just walk out all will-nilly and roam around the place. You'll have to stay here."
"*sigh* From one prison to the next. Such is a fate I cannot escape."
"Don't feel too bad." Our Rafisol said. "It's only for a few days."
"I suppose." The mirror Rafisol then grabbed her parallel version's hand with her own as she stared at her with…a serious mood, I guess (?). "But for now…you must keep me updated about your own love situation. I wish to know how it all concludes."
"I-I…" Rafisol began to blush again. Which, in turn, made me giddy with excitement again that my sister is finally expressing her romantic emotions.
Girly Rafisol! It's like a dream come true!
Rafisol's POV
These feelings inside me…ones of unrest, nervousness, and embarrassment…especially with Onee-chan teasing me last night…are these what emotions are like? They've been dwelling within me for a while…
…
Ever since…I fell in love with Feli…
…
…
…
Feli…seeing her sad all the time… hiding it behind a fake smile…it hurts me. So, I guess…this is what feeling sad is like?
…
Why does being sad hurt so much? I hate this feeling! I wanna feel something else!
…
…
…
Is hungry an emotion?
"Rafisol…Hello! Rafisol!"
"Huh?" I came out of my mental trance. "Oh. Hey, Ringo."
"Rafisol, I know you like to space out at random moments, but you were really going for a new record just now."
"Was I?" I went silent for a bit. "Huh…sorry."
"Hey…are you still sad about Feli's suspension?"
…
I didn't respond vocally. But I did give a slight nod. Confirming that she was right.
"*sigh* Figured so."
"Ringo…I…I miss Feli."
"Cheer up, girl. It's only for 2 weeks. She'll be back in no time."
"Yeah…but…"
"And besides…we promised we would help her figure out what that power of hers is. Doing that will truly make her happy."
…
…
…
"Yeah. It will." I replied with a small smile.
Feli…being happy…it's all I ever want. I really want to make her happy…
"So, with that said…let's head over to the library and try to do some research. If Ecolo's on to something about that Project PARASITE thing, then I already have a few ideas on where to start."
"Oh…um…you can go without me. I have somewhere to be after school."
"Really? Well…okay, then. I'll text you later tonight if I find anything."
"Okay. Bye, Ringo."
Ringo soon left without me. And then I left the classroom shortly after. Heading to the school gym to talk to Yuna about my situation.
…
But on the way there…people in the hallway were looking at me. Staring at me, even. And there were some that were whispering amongst themselves, too.
"Look, it's that floaty girl."
"Isn't she friends with that purple-haired psycho? The one who almost killed Eriko?"
"Man, what a nutjob that girl was. I heard she got suspended for what happened."
"I hope she never comes back. Everyone would be better off without her."
"Amen to that."
These people…talking crap about Feli. Calling her a psycho and wishing she never came back…hearing all of that made me feel…
…
What's the word…mad? Angry? Pissed off?
…
Either way…I hate this feeling! Much more than being sad earlier! Why do emotions have to be so bad?!
…
…
…
"Why can't we all…just be happy?" I mumbled to myself as I wiped the small tears from my face.
I eventually made it to the school gym where the girls' basketball team was practicing. They were really going at it. All of them were sweating a lot.
…
They smelled bad, too. I wonder if nauseous is an emotion…
"*TWEET* Alright, ladies! That's good for now! 15-minute break!"
"*sigh* Man…Rui's as brutal as usual. I'm exhausted as hell…"
"If you want, Yuna…I can show you a special technique that gives you tons of energy. It has a chance of making you wet, too~. *giggle*"
"Get away from me, Asuka."
"Yuna." I called out to her.
"Woah…Rafisol?! I didn't know you were here, too! Well, I mean…I did see you sister once. What was her name again?"
"Ally."
"Oh, yeah. Now I remember."
Weird. Onee-chan didn't remember Yuna, either…
"So, what's up? Did you wanted to catch up, or…"
"Yuna, I…I need advice."
"Advice?"
"L…L-Love advice." I said with a small blush.
"S-Seriously?!"
"Oooooh~! *giggle* Rafisol's in love~!" Asuka said as she invited herself into our conversation. "The emotionless twin is finally losing her innocence~. About freaking time~! *giggle*"
"A-Asuka…" My blush grew even more.
*whine* Why do people feel the need to tease me?! I hate being embarrassed!
"Knock it off, Asuka." Yuna said as she pushed Asuka aside. "Love is too important of a topic for you to ruin with your pervasive teasing."
"Hey, I like love, too. I AM a girl, after all. I'll totally be serious with Rafisol's first love affair."
"Love affair?" I asked.
"Somehow, I feel like you won't, but…" Yuna then made an exasperated sigh. "…Fine. I'll let you give your input on this, Asuka."
"OH, GOOD!" Asuka cheered. "I can't WAIT to enlighten your mind, Rafisol! By the end of the day, you'll be a brand-new girl~! *giggle*"
"Hey…"
And for the first time in my life, I've experienced the emotion of fear…
Author's Note: The normally emotionless Rafisol is experiencing feelings new to her for the first time in her life. Will she be able to adapt to them? Or try to revert to her old self? Who knows…
It was originally never planned to give Rafisol any POVs. But with the original version of this chapter being rather short (at least the first part of it), I figured why not. After all, she is one of the main couples in this story.
Speaking of which, this story's going to receive less attention for a while. I want to put more focus on other stories at the moment. So, the next update for this one will be later rather than sooner.
Thanks for reading. Later.