(Aoba sobbing)

Ren:

Ao…ba…

Aoba:

Welcome back…

One year has passed since Ren returned to our side, our home. Even though he was a little uncertain for a short while following his discharge, now he’s completely recovered and can live out a normal life. Looking out for Ren as he’s slowly come to embrace an abundance of emotions as a person would has been incredibly fun. It seems like every day there’s a new discovery. Time has really passed in the blink of an eye. Going to the beach for the first time, going to festivals, visiting the shrine for New Year’s. For Ren there are lots of things that are a first. More than anything else, I’m glad that we’re able to spend that time together. But, it hasn’t just been fun and games. We’ve had to think deeply about the nature of the relationship that we share together. Plus there’s one problem that we have to overcome. That’s telling the close friends who know us well that the AllMate Ren has become the Ren he is now.

~interlude~

Aoba:

Um…thank you everyone for taking the time to gather here today. Haga-san as well, for letting us use the shop…I’m sorry.

Haga:

No, no. Closing the shop’s no problem for me.

Aoba:

Thank you very much. Then…the reason I’ve gathered you all here today is to say…up until now you’ve all supported me. First of all, there’s something I’d like to tell you. That’s…what I want to say…

Koujaku:

You’re pretty stiff, Aoba.

Mizuki:

That’s not like you at all.

Aoba:

Nngh–shut up! I’m at least trying to do this properly!

Yoshie:

Aoba-chan, you don’t need to hold back around us!

Aoba:

Uh…mmh…it’s not really something I feel like I can easily talk about in detail…then! I’ll cut out the formal introductions–ngh. (he goes in back) Ren? Come on out.

Beni:

Ren?

Clara:

Just now, he said Ren.

Yoshie:

Ren-chan? Now that you mention it I haven’t seen him recently.

(Aoba comes back out with Ren)

Haga:

Ah, Aoba-kun. Is this you friend?

Aoba:

Ah…um…that’s…(he sighs) Everyone, you probably won’t believe this. This is…Ren.

Yoshie:

Huh? Ren-chan? You have a friend with the same name?

Aoba:

Ah, that’s not it!

Koujaku:

Eh–hey, hey you’re not really–

Mizuki:

Huh–Ren–is–you don’t mean…

Aoba:

Mhm, yeah. It’s that Ren. My AllMate.

Yoshie:

Huh? Oh my. Is today April Fool’s Day?

Aoba:

No, it’s not a joke or anything like that.

Haga:

You mean to say that he’s Ren-kun? That fluffy little dog?

Aoba:

Yes.

Haga:

That dog is him…he’s that dog…

Yoshie:

Ah–uh–but–h-huh? What do you mean?!

Beni:

Ren turned into a human?

Clara:

Ah…

Aoba:

Ngh–about that…it’s a little hard to explain it…mmnh…I don’t know how to say it. I’ve been worried about it this whole time. In the end I couldn’t figure it out, but I didn’t think it was right to say nothing to all of you.

Koujaku:

It feels like I don’t even understand what’s going on in the world anymore. But of course, even if you say that he’s Ren…it’s a little difficult to believe just looking at him…

Mizuki:

Right?

Aoba:

Nnh…

Ren:

Ah…I’m sorry for shocking everyone.

Koujaku:

Oh–

Mizuki:

That voice…

Haga:

It’s definitely…resembles Ren-kun’s voice.

Mizuki:

What’s going on here? Is this a human model AllMate?

Aoba:

That’s–not quite it–he’s human.

Yoshie:

It’s someone with the same name and voice?

Aoba:

No, how do I say it…the consciousness of the AllMate Ren…went into…a human body…I guess…

Yoshie:

Ren-kun into Ren-kun–huh?

Beni:

Hey, wait a second! Then what’s that body? If it’s human then it won’t work like an AllMate!

Koujaku:

Right? It makes you wonder whose body it is…

Aoba:

Ah…that’s…um…

Ren:

It’s a certain precious person’s…body…

Aoba:

Ngh–Ren–

Ren:

That person gave me this body. For Aoba and myself we’ve been deeply confused and worried about that. But it’s the result of that person’s hope and wishes. That’s why…I accepted it.

Aoba:

Ah…

Ren:

I truly am sorry for surprising you by saying this so suddenly.

Koujaku:

Hm…no matter how you look at it there’s some complicated circumstances here.

Ren:

Mhm.

Koujaku:

Honestly, I don’t quite understand it yet…there’s parts of it I can’t swallow…but if it’s something you both decided after a lot of thought, isn’t that fine?

Aoba:

Koujaku…

Beni:

Eh, wait a second! Are you that easily convinced? An AllMate’s mind went into a person’s body! Plus, Ren’s…

Ren:

Ah…

Koujaku:

Well…for me I don’t think that Ren and Aoba would lie to us… They’ve gone as far as gathering everyone, they’re not the kind of guys to lie while acting so respectfully. You know that too, right?

Beni:

Well…I guess that’s true.

Koujaku:

Then there’s only one answer. Aoba, he’s without a doubt your AllMate Ren, right?

Aoba:

Yeah.

Beni:

Nngh…

Mizuki:

Huh…so you can do something like that? Putting an AllMate’s mind in a human body.

Haga:

That’s true…it’s not a very realistic story. You can align an AllMate’s consciousness to that of its registrant, but I think it’s rather difficult.

Yoshie:

Wait wait a minute what are you talking about?! I don’t understand this at all! Do you mean Ren-chan turned into a human?! You can do that?!

Koujaku:

Come now, Yoshie-san, calm down. We don’t understand the details as well, but it seems that’s the case.

Yoshie:

Is that true? Ah…I hadn’t seen Ren-chan in so long I was worried but somehow it’s unbelievable…

Ren:

Ah…

Koujaku:

Regardless of the circumstances, if he says that’s the case that’s how it is. Well, there’s no need to understand it all at once. There’s things we can take in as time passes.

Aoba:

That’s right. I didn’t think I’d be able to explain it to all of you today. I was thinking if there’s anything you want to ask later on, you can ask.

Mizuki:

Got it. Anyway, honestly I was worried about what happened to Ren this whole time as well. I hadn’t seen him at all lately.

Koujaku:

Me too. I thought that I wouldn’t see him again.

Aoba:

Ah…

Haga:

It was on my mind as well. Even though I’m obviously surprised by what you’ve said. But if Ren-kun’s returned to us in this way, in the end I’m quite happy.

Aoba:

Haga-san…

Yoshie:

That’s true. I don’t quite understand it yet, but Aoba-chan wouldn’t lie about something like this. I’m glad to see Ren-chan again no matter how he looks!

Aoba:

Yoshie-san too…heh. Thank you.

Koujaku:

Well then, allow me to formally say…it’s nice to meet you, Ren.

Ren:

Nh…the pleasure is mine.

Koujaku:

Oh! That response! It feels like Ren!

Haga:

How is it, Ren-kun? Living as a human.

Ren:

There’s still many different things that I’m perplexed by.

Yoshie:

That’s true, isn’t it? Since you were such a tiny cute dog! And you became such an impressive hunk–young man, right!

Aoba:

Ahaha…

Beni:

Hey, Ren.

Ren:

What is it?

Beni:

I can’t believe you went and did something like turning into a human!

Koujaku:

Beni!

Ren:

I feel the same way.

Beni:

I understand there’s some seeerious shit going down here, but are you really all right with that?

Ren:

Nh…what do you mean?

Beni:

I mean did you really wanna be a human?

Clara:

I’d like to know that as well.

Ren:

Clara…

Yoshie:

Clara-chan!

Clara:

Ren, did you want to become a human? How is that?

Aoba:

Ah…

Ren:

Mmh…yes, I did. I wanted to protect my master, Aoba, and to be at his side more often. That’s what I thought.

Beni:

In that case why didn’t you just switch for a bigger model? Or you coulda switched into a newer model.

Koujaku:

Hey, Beni! What are you talking about?

Beni:

Don’t stop me, Koujaku! This guy’s my fellow AllMate so it’s important!

Koujaku:

That’s why you know…

Ren:

I don’t mind, Koujaku. Thank you.

Koujaku:

Geez.

Beni:

Ren. What is it?

Ren:

Switching models wasn’t an option. I had to become human.

Beni:

Nnh…

Clara:

Ah…

Beni:

I see. If went that far just to keep living then you’re really serious.

Ren:

Yes.

Beni:

Then, can’t be helped. Anyway, that’s fine. I thought I’d give ya a lecture if you became human on a whim*.

Ren:

Beni…I’m sorry for making you worry.

Beni:

No no, it’s fine now. I’m just bein’ nosy so don’t mind it.

Clara:

Ren.

Ren:

What is it, Clara?

Clara:

I think that you should have stayed an AllMate. Why would you become a human?

Ren:

Ah…

Aoba:

Ah…

Clara:

However, if you truly wished to become human, it can’t be helped. In exchange, you must continue to spend time with me.

Ren:

Clara…

Clara:

If you forgot about me simply because you’ve become human I won’t forgive you.

Yoshie:

(sobbing) Clara-chan!

Ren:

Of course. I’ll stop by Delivery Works once again.

Aoba:

Right?

Yoshie:

(sniffling) Ah, Ren-chan! You’re always welcome! Please come to see Clara-chan! We’ll be waiting!

Ren:

Y-yes… I’ll do my best from now on.

Koujaku:

By the way…what about that Ren?

Aoba:

That one?

Koujaku:

The AllMate one.

Aoba:

Ah, it’s in my room.

Koujaku:

Do you have it turned on?

Aoba:

No, it’s off.

Mizuki:

Why? Shouldn’t you turn it on?

Aoba:

But…I transfered all the basic functions to my coil. Plus Ren’s here. That’s why there’s no reason to disturb the old Ren. But, I want to treasure it.

Mizuki:

Hm…well, if you don’t want to then that’s fine. But Ren was a cute AllMate. Wouldn’t it be all right to turn it on and take it for a walk every once and a while?

Beni:

Yeah! Even for AllMates if y’just leave it sleeping it’ll probably get musty. Take it out sometimes!

Yoshie:

That’s right, Aoba-chan! Bring the older brother Ren-chan along as well! Next time bring the puppy Ren-chan with you when you spend time with us!

Clara:

If you do that then I’ll spend time with the AllMate Ren.

Aoba:

Ah…what should we do?

Ren:

I don’t mind.

Aoba:

I see. Then, we’ll try that out.

Mizuki:

Yeah. Stop by my place too!

Aoba:

Hah…everyone, thank you.