Aoba:

I’m off!

Ren:

We’re going.

Tae:

All right! Take care!

(they both head out)

Aoba:

I’ve got the day off from work today so I thought we could take it easy until the afternoon but it looks like Granny had other plans.

Ren:

She said that there’s some things she’d like us to buy, so it can’t be helped.

Aoba:

Well, it’s not like I had plans. It’s fine. The weather’s nice, so if we didn’t get out it’d be a loss. (the AllMate Ren barks) Oh, do you agree with me, Ren?

Ren:

(sighs) Since it has the same name, I feel as though you’re talking to me.

Aoba:

Mmh, but I don’t really want to give him another name. I was always lost on whether I should start him up or not. When I told everyone about you everyone said it’d be fine to start him up, right?

Ren:

Yeah.

Aoba:

Back then it kind of felt like I encouraged. That it’s fine if we go out for walks or spend time like this.

Ren:

I see.

Aoba:

Whether it’s you and him, you’re both my precious Ren.

(AllMate Ren barks)

Aoba:

Right?

Ren:

Aoba.

Aoba:

Hm?

Ren:

What they’re selling over there, are those parts to expand an AllMate’s functions?

Aoba:

Oh, that’s true. Huh…that one’s got a stone on it that sparkles like a gem. AllMate parts are really getting a lot more impressive.

Ren:

Would it be all right if we took a look?

Aoba:

Ah, that’s fine. Heh, did you catch a whiff of those goods all of a sudden?

Ren:

Ah…it’s just that lately I haven’t done that sort of thing.

Aoba:

Haha, I’ve got it. It just reminded me of something. You’ve lost most of your habits from when you were a dog now, right?

Ren:

Yes.

Aoba:

Although sometimes when you’re flustered or desperate they come out.

Ren:

That’s…it can’t be helped. It’s an instantaneous reaction so it’s hard for me to keep them in check on my own.

Aoba:

Well, I think they’re cute so it’s fine. Heh, then let’s head to the parts store.

Ren:

Yes. For Ren…

Aoba:

Hm?

Ren:

For the Ren who isn’t me…I wonder if there’s something that will suit him.

Aoba:

Yeah. I wonder if there’s something good.

Woman 1:

Oh my, Aoba-kun!

Woman 2:

Oh, it’s the Seragaki boy!

Aoba:

Ah, hello.

Woman 1:

You’re here with Ren-kun today, aren’t you?

Ren:

Hello.

Woman 1:

Hello! Ren-kun, how was the meat you bought here the other day? Was it tasty?

Ren:

Y-Yes.

Aoba:

Ren.

Ren:

Oh, yes. Tae-san…fried it with ginger for dinner. It was…very delicious.

Woman 1:

I see! I’m glad! For a polite you man like you to come and buy from us I wanted to give you all sorts of extras.

Woman 2:

I know, I know! For me as well a little while ago I gave too much change and Ren-kun came all this way to give it back. I wound up giving him an extra carrot for it.

Ren:

I’m very sorry for what happened then.

Woman 2:

Not at all!

Ren:

Furthermore…thank you very much.

Woman 2:

(laugh) Ren-kun, your dedication is so cute! Isn’t it?

Aoba:

Ahaha…

Woman 1:

Please come back with Aoba-kun anytime! We’ll give you plenty of freebies!

Aoba:

Ah…thank you very much!

Kio:

Ah, it’s Aoba!

Mio:

Did you say Aoba?

Nao:

Aobaaa!

(they come rushing over)

Aoba:

Oh, it’s you guys!

Woman 1:

Oh my, it’s the Kuniyashi children.

Kio:

Hello!

Nao:

‘llo!

Mio:

Hello!

Woman 1:

Hello! You’re all looking well today. Are you headed somewhere today?

Kio:

We’re carrying out a dangerous mission!

Nao:

Yeah!

Aoba:

A dangerous mission?

Mio:

You idiots! It’s just an errand, isn’t it?

Kio:

You’re wrong! It’s a dangerous mission!

Nao:

Yeah!

Woman 2:

Oh my.

Woman 1:

You really are doing well. Then, we’ll take our leave now.

Woman 2:

That’s right. See you later.

Aoba:

Yes.

Ren:

Thank you…for all your help.

Kio:

Bye bye!

Mio:

Bye bye!

Nao:

Goodbye!

Aoba:

Ah…you’re the same as always.

Kio:

You on a mission too, Aoba? Ah, or are you buying dangerous goods?

Nao:

Dangerous goods!

Aoba:

You see…

Mio:

Aoba! You’re definitely just wasting time, right? How lame!

Aoba:

Ngh, no it’s not that I’m wasting time…

Mio:

Ah, it’s Ren!

(Ren stammers, AllMate Ren barks)

Nao:

Ren? Ren…are you on a walk? (Ren barks)

Aoba:

Right. It’s a walk.

Kio:

Hey, Aoba. I wanna play with Ren so hand him over!

Aoba:

Ngh, no way you can’t! I said we’re on a walk, right? (Ren barks)

Mio:

Huh? Today he’s not talking.

Aoba:

Geh–

Kio:

What’s wrong? What happened? (Ren barks)

Aoba:

A-ah huh? You’re right, he’s not talking! I wonder what happened…Ren?

Nao:

Aoba. Does Ren hate you?

Aoba:

Huh?

Kio:

I see, that’s what it is! Ren hates you so he won’t talk to you, Aoba!

Aoba:

E-eh??

Mio:

You’re really a loser if even AllMates hate you!

Nao:

Cheer up, Aoba!

Kio:

Don’t get depressed!

Aoba:

Ah…hahah…that’s…right…I’ll cheer up.

Nao:

Ah…

Kio:

Hm? What’s up Nao?

Nao:

Hey, who’s that guy?

Kio:

Aoba’s friend?

Aoba:

Ah? Ah–well–something like that?

Nao:

Hm…

Mio:

Hmph! Isn’t he cooler than you, Aoba?

Aoba:

Heh? Really?

Nao:

Cooler!

Ren:

Ah…hah…

Aoba:

Nngh…that’s really annoying…why?

Kio:

Hey, Aoba. Hand Ren over!

Aoba:

I told you I can’t, didn’t I?

Mio:

You’re not busy so it’s okay for a little while! Cheapskate!

Nao:

Cheap!

Aoba:

Yes yes, I’m definitely cheap. Come on, I already told you. You can play with him next time.

Kio:

What’s with that you idiot, Aoba? We’ll remember this!

Nao:

Remember it!

Mio:

You’re cold!

(they run off, shouting “idiot”)

Aoba:

Hah…geez. Those guys are seriously…

Ren:

Aoba…

Aoba:

Huh?

Ren:

For those three, about me…

Aoba:

Ah…it’s fine isn’t it? Not telling them yet. We’d probably just confuse them even if we explained it. If they asked I’d tell them, but that’s it. For them Ren is this guy. (Ren barks)

Ren:

That’s true. They’re still young. That might be for the best.

Aoba:

Mhm. But, if it bothers you I’ll tell them sometime.

Ren:

Yes.

Aoba:

Even still…

Ren:

What’s wrong, Aoba?

Aoba:

Hm?

Ren:

Are you tired?

Aoba:

Nah. For you as well, you’ve started shopping on your own lately, right?

Ren:

Yes.

Aoba:

It feels like you’ve gotten the swing of most things so you’ve become a popular guy around here. Especially with the old ladies.

Ren:

Is that true?

Aoba:

It is. They’re always calling out to you, aren’t they?

Ren:

That’s…true, isn’t it.

Aoba:

Have you gotten used to going out on your own?

Ren:

More so than I was before. However, I’m certainly still nervous. When I’m troubled if I ask the people around they’ll help me out so somehow I manage.

Aoba:

You can properly speak formally now too. You’re pretty honest by nature, right? Everyone probably senses that about you.

Ren:

Aoba…do you not like it?

Aoba:

Hm? What?

Ren:

That I’m popular with old women in the shopping arcade.

Aoba:

He–hahaha. What are you talking about? It’s not a bad thing. Rather, I’m glad. You’re blending in with the people around you.

Ren:

I see.

Aoba:

But…you’ve gotta watch out for lavishing too much courtesy on them. If you turned out like Koujaku it’d be a problem.

Ren:

Koujaku…you mean if my relations with women became chaotic? I understand. I’ll watch out.

Aoba:

Heh. You…you’re really serious! Huh? That guy…

Ren:

Hm?

Aoba:

What’s going on…he’s waving his hand at us.

Takumi:

Heeey! (he runs up) Ah, I thought it was you, Aoba.

Aoba:

Huh? You’re…um…Takumi?

Takumi:

Yeah. Been a while.

Aoba:

Yeah! It’s been a long time! For a second there I didn’t know who you were!

Takumi:

Haha, that’s cruel. But you know it can’t be helped. It’s already been what, four, five years?

Aoba:

Has it been that long? Heh, what have you been up to since then?

Takumi:

Ah, well…I’ve been busy with a lot of things.

Aoba:

I see.

Ren:

Nngh…

Aoba:

Ah, Ren. This guy’s Takumi. We used to hang out a while back. Takumi, this is Ren.

Takumi:

Oh, nice to meet you. It’s a pleasure.

Ren:

It’s a pleasure.

Takumi:

Your friend?

Aoba:

Ah…he’s sort of like a relative? We live together.

Takumi:

Huh…I thought you lived alone.

Aoba:

No, I live with my Granny.

Takumi:

Ahh, I met your granny once a while back. We were making a scene in the alley by your place and she shouted at us.

Aoba:

Of course she did! At night you shouldn’t be making a scene, you should be sleeping!

Takumi:

Hah, what’s with that? You’ve calmed down a lot, huh.

Aoba:

Well, I just grew up. I’m way past the age of messing around like an idiot.

Takumi:

Haha, well that’s true…you can’t be a brat forever.

Aoba:

That’s right.

Takumi:

Then while we’re talking about how you’ve calmed down that reminds me, I really liked you.

Aoba:

Hah?!

Ren:

Ngh–

Takumi:

Oh–that’s your reaction?

Aoba:

Ah, no, no–you–how can you just say something weird like that so directly–anyway–that’s…

Takumi:

Huh?

Aoba:

In other words…um…do you mean it that way?

Takumi:

Yeah.

Aoba:

Eeeh–how can you be so nonchalant?!

Takumi:

Well for starters I’m good with both guys and girls. But back then of course that was pretty much how it was for everyone in our group, right? Plus for you even if people’d tried to pick you up you’d just shove off and ignore them, then the tension was just like “What was that?”

Aoba:

W-was that how it was?

Takumi:

That’s how it went. That’s why everyone knew you were on top.

Aoba:

I-I told you earlier, I’m way past that time now.

Takumi:

Huh…you’ve really calmed down.

Aoba:

So cut it out with that stuff. Geez, you’re freaking me out saying those weird things all of a sudden.

Takumi:

About how I liked you? No, I was serious.

Aoba:

Hah?

Takumi:

But that’s the past. It’s an old story.

Aoba:

Ah…

Takumi:

The way you were back then…you felt kind of dangerous. You looked like you were on edge but you were still fragile. I was pretty taken by that…

Aoba:

Eh-ehehe…ahaha…b-but that’s just the past. I’m nothing like that now.

Takumi:

Well, that’s how it was. I can tell just by looking that you’re different.

Ren:

Aoba–we should get going. If we’re late getting home Tae will worry.

Aoba:

Ah, yeah that’s true! Sorry.

Takumi:

Ah, you’ve got plans?

Aoba:

Yeah. Just some shopping.

Takumi:

Ah, I see. Sorry for disturbing you.

Aoba:

Nah, I’m glad we could catch up after so long.

Takumi:

Me too. Let’s have a drink sometime and talk some more. I finally ran into you again, so I’d like to catch up, right?

Aoba:

Yeah.

Ren:

Mmh.

Takumi:

Ah, in that case give me your contact info.

Aoba:

Okay. Let’s see… (he pushes some buttons on his Coil) There we go.

Takumi:

Mhm, thanks. I’ll call you later!

Aoba:

Yeah! Later!

(Takumi runs off)

Aoba:

Ren, sorry for making you wait. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him I was a little surprised.

Ren:

No…I don’t mind…

Aoba:

Hm? What’s wrong?

Ren:

It’s nothing. Let’s go, Aoba.

Aoba:

Mhm…