(Aoba sighs)

Ren:

What’s wrong, Aoba?

Aoba:

Hm? I was just thinking about how nice it is that everyone so easily accepted what I told them about you.

Ren:

Yes, that’s true.

Aoba:

But I’ve been worried about it up until today so I’m just completely beat. When I told everyone about you, I was really caught up in how I should say it. It’s really great that they accepted it.

Ren:

Yes.

Aoba:

Should I talk to everyone, or should I give up. I was worrying about it right up to the minute. Since they’ve always helped us out, it felt kind of wrong not telling them about you. I thought that they’d definitely understand if I told them about it, but when the time came I wondered if that was a bad idea and my thoughts kept circling.

Ren:

I see…in the worst case, I was prepared for them to reject my existence.

Aoba:

Ren…

Ren:

In actually it seems that Beni and Clara didn’t think well of me becoming a human.

Aoba:

Ah…that’s more than “not thinking well of it,” they were lonely, right?

Ren:

Lonely?

Aoba:

Mhm. If you became human, then of course you couldn’t spend time with them as an AllMate like you used to. You and Beni are really close, and Clara always seemed to stick to you whenever we’d go to Yoshie-san’s place.

Ren:

I see…for my part since I’ve become human it’s not as though I don’t intend to spend time with Beni or Clara.

Aoba:

That’s how you feel. I guess if your appearance completely changes this much everyone’s going to worry.

Ren:

I see.

Aoba:

Right! But you told them how you feel. They understood you, right?

Ren:

Yeah.

Aoba:

It’s important to use your words. You can’t just say anything, but there’s a lot of things you won’t know unless you say something. That’s why you’ve got to do your best to say what you’re thinking.

Ren:

Is that true…in that case, Aoba.

Aoba:

Hm?

Ren:

I love you, Aoba.

Aoba:

Eh?

Ren:

I respect you, Aoba. Thank you for always teaching me so many things. I’m really–

Aoba:

Wait a second! Stop!

Ren:

Hm?

Aoba:

Ah…um…you see…it’s definitely best to express yourself when you can, but you don’t have to say those kind of things here.

Ren:

But…

Aoba:

If want to say it…then when we’re at home, alone together…right?

Ren:

Ah…I see. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Aoba.

Aoba:

That–that’s not it. It’s nothing bad. Mh…uh…I’m happy. I’m really happy! But…if you say that to my face…it’s embarrassing! Plus…I think I have a good idea of how you feel. It’s all right.

Ren:

I see. I’m sorry.

Aoba:

Heh, it’s fine. You don’t have to apologize. Geez. You’re really serious. But…that’s one of your good parts. (he takes Ren’s hand, they both laugh) Come on, let’s go home! Granny’s got dinner waiting.

Ren:

Yeah.

~interlude~

Aoba:

Thanks for the food!

Ren:

Thank you for the food.

Tae::

You’re welcome.

Aoba:

Ah, that was good as always. (he gets up)

Ren:

Aoba.

Aoba:

Huh?

Ren:

Could you leave all of the dinner clean up to me tonight?

Aoba:

Huh–ah, that’s fine, but why?

Ren:

You’re tired from your nerves today, aren’t you?

Aoba:

Ah, well…I definitely was nervous…

Ren:

That’s why I’d like for you and Tae: to rest. If you add to that the significance of what happened to me today, I’d like to take care of everything.

Aoba:

Is that right? If that’s what you want, then I’ll leave the rest to you.

Ren:

Yes.

(he starts to clean up)

Aoba:

Hey, Granny.

Tae::

Hm?

Aoba:

What do you think’s going on with Ren?

Tae::

What do you mean?

Aoba:

Well, he’s never asked to take care of everything on his own before.

Tae::

Hmm…it’s already been a year since he returned to this house.

Aoba:

Mhm.

Tae::

I’ve completely adapted to it now, but when I first saw him I was surprised. To think he was that dog Ren.

Aoba:

Right? I was shocked too.

Tae::

Even though he was originally a machine, he suddenly became human. Furthermore…in Sei’s body.

Aoba:

Mhm…

Tae::

In this past year…he’s thought of many things in his own way, worrying and trying his best. In the end…I think it’s that his sense of self is budding.

Aoba:

His sense of self?

Tae::

Yes. Since he became human he’s had some machine-like qualities, hasn’t he? He’s very obedient to what others say and he doesn’t often freely express himself. But now he’s slowly come to think on his own and act, hasn’t he?

Aoba:

Ah…so that’s it…

Tae::

Ren’s personality itself won’t change, but he’s become more like a person hasn’t he? Watching over that growth has been rather entertaining.

Aoba:

Ehe, that’s true. (he gets up) All right! Since Ren’s cleaning up why don’t I slip in a bath!

Tae::

You can’t lose to Ren. Come on, hurry up and get to work! (she smacks him)

Aoba:

Ow…right, right. I’m going!

~interlude~

Aoba:

Ah, that was relaxing.

Ren:

Aoba, welcome back.

Aoba:

Oh, Ren. You’re reading something again? (he sits down next to Ren) What’s it today?

Ren:

The Little Mermaid.

Aoba:

Eh? That’s something pretty cutesy again… Huh. It’s a picture book? That takes me back… Why’d you pick that up?

Ren:

While you were in the bath, Aoba, Tae: brought it to me. It seems she found it while cleaning. She said that she used to read it to you in the past.

Aoba:

That’s right. Uwah, it’s really nostalgic. I had a lot of other picture books. Granny would always read them to me at bedtime… Heh. Have you finished it yet?

Ren:

Yes. I was just at the last page.

Aoba:

How was it?

Ren:

My chest feels tight…

Aoba:

I see…The Little Mermaid’s a pretty sad story…

Ren:

Yeah… In order to return to the ocean, the mermaid had to kill the prince. Since she couldn’t do that, she turned into sea foam. This is…because she couldn’t achieve the conditions she set for herself, so it seems an inevitable conclusion.

Aoba:

Well…I guess that’s true…

Ren:

However…I feel that I…understand the mermaid’s feelings a little.

Aoba:

Ren…

Ren:

If I were in the same situation, I would choose death. To injure someone precious to me, I don’t think I would want to go on living.

Aoba:

Ah…oh…

Ren:

Even though the Prince didn’t know that he owed his life to the mermaid or that she was no more, he was able to live on happily. I think that’s good. If it were me, I think that’s true. As long as my precious person could be happy, I’d be fine. If it were you Aoba, what do you think?

Aoba:

Eh? Me?

Ren:

Yeah.

Aoba:

I…mmh…I think it’s the same for me. I guess, I wouldn’t kill the prince and I’d turn into sea foam.

Ren:

I see.

Aoba:

If you try to put yourself in that position, it’s really hard, isn’t it? Killing…someone precious to you…but…it’s sad. If you think of the mermaid’s surviving family.

Ren:

Mhm.

Aoba:

Well, I guess it’s because I’ve never really had the time to think about something like that either that I’d wind up becoming seafoam. But…you know, I wonder if there wasn’t something the prince could have done.

Ren:

The Prince?

Aoba:

Mhm. You can’t help it that he didn’t notice he owed his life to the little mermaid, but if he’d decided to keep her at his side, he could’ve seen through to her true identity.

Ren:

To see through to her real identity? I don’t think it’s that sort of story.

Aoba:

It’s just an example, anyway isn’t a girl who suddenly appears and can’t speak suspicious? He should’ve paid closer attention. The Little Mermaid probably gave him some kind of sign, right?

Ren:

Aoba…

Aoba:

Or something like that…it’s a really old story. We can’t really know how we’re supposed to read it. But…somehow I’m a little glad.

Ren:

About what?

Aoba:

I got to hear your thoughts. And we got to talk like this.

Ren:“

Hm? Is that true?

Aoba:

It’s true. You listened to what I had to say as well, didn’t you? (he snuggles up to Ren) If you read or see other things and feel something about it, feel free to talk to me.

Ren:

Yeah…

Aoba:

All right, then. Go on and take a bath. The water’s going to get cold.

Ren:

All right. I’ll do that.

Aoba:

Ren…what should I do with this book? Put it away?

Ren:

Ah…it was a story that left sadness in my heart. I’d like to read it again, so you can leave it in your room.

Aoba:

Hm…should I read it for you next time?

Ren:

Heh…all right. I’d like to hear you read it.

Aoba:

Got it!

Ren:

Then, I’m going. (he heads to the bath)

Aoba:

(flipping through the book) His budding sense of self…huh.