Anyways, I slept like a log at the hospital, and when I woke up, it had all been a dream. Such was the conclusion I was hoping for, but that didn’t seem to be the case. The evidence was the pain all over my body. Considering there were twelve areas on my body, which consisted of bruises, abrasions, and sprains, I guess it made sense that I was in pain. This was reality—quite different from the way things worked in comics or the movies.
At the moment, I was looking at the night view of Tokyo from the balcony of my quiet apartment. One of the wind turbine generators on Empty Island was bent, and underneath it was a B737-350 waiting to be dismantled.
Aw, man. I went and ruined the scenery I liked so much.
“I never thought I’d see such a beautiful starry sky in Tokyo,” said Aria.
“It’s that whole ‘clear weather after a typhoon’s passing’ thing.”
Aria and I were speaking on the balcony under a sky filled with countless stars. Today was a hell of a day, what with questioning by the police and interviews for television. It had gotten this late before I could finally get back home to this apartment. For some reason, Aria came with me though.
“…My mom’s trial date got pushed back,” Aria said while gazing out at Empty Island. “This latest incident proved that the charges against her for the ‘Butei killings’ were false. Her lawyer said the Supreme Court trial would be postponed until further notice.”
“I see.”
The situation didn’t really call for a ‘Congratulations’, so that was all I replied with. After looking at the B737 with its broken wing, Aria turned towards me.
“Tell me, why…did you get on that plane and come to my aid?”
“Why?” Don't ask me questions that I don’t know the answer to myself.
“…well, because I figured that being the idiot you are you wouldn’t be able to defeat the ‘Butei killer.’”
“I-It wasn’t that big of a deal…I could have handled it on my own. You’re the idiot.” “Yeah, I guess. I might be an idiot for saving an idiot like you.” I put my elbows on top of the balcony wall and let out a fairly deep sigh. Aria blinked those big eyes of hers and after hesitating a bit, spoke up again.
“Sorry. That was a lie.”
“What was?”
“The part about being able to handle it on my own.”
She said it with a sigh and started talking in a subdued fashion, which was rare for Aria.
“You know, when we were up there in that plane…I figured it out. I understood why I need a partner. There are some things I can’t resolve by myself. If you weren’t there, I’m sure I would have…”
“…”
“…That’s why I came to say goodbye today.”
“…Goodbye?”
“I’m going to go and find a partner after all. The truth is…I wish it could be you, but a promise is a promise.”
“Promise?”
“Just one case. We promised, didn't we?”
“Oh…yeah.”
Now that she mentions it, we did promise that. I return to Assault and pair up with Aria—just once. It only lasts until the Butei killer case is resolved.
“Butei Charter, Article Two, ‘Fulfill the contract made with your clients at all costs.’ So I won’t come after you anymore.”
Aria was becoming less and less resolute. She continued to repeatedly make up her mind to say something, only to decide against it again until she finally looked me straight in the eyes once more.
“…Kinji, you make a fine Butei. That’s why I respect your will now and…I won’t call you a slave anymore. So…if you ever change your mind…um, come see again. If that time should come, then next time, we’ll be partners for sure…”
It seemed like Aria still wasn’t able to completely give up on the idea, and my response to her offer was a simple apology.
“……Sorry,” I said, unable to help but look away from her.
I had no intention of becoming a Butei. There was the issue of my brother as well. And to be honest, I’d had enough of placing myself in dangerous situations like the one we just went through.
“T-That’s fine. If that’s the way you feel about it. I mean, I am still an ‘aria’ anyways. Forget what I just said.”
With that, Aria turned her back towards me and perhaps due to the cold, headed back inside.
“What a bummer! This month in Tokyo was the pits! In the end, I wasn’t able to find a partner, I injured my head, and I was horrible at UFO Catcher!”
Aria spoke as if she just didn’t care anymore, and figuring I could at least see her off cheerfully since it would be the last time, I feigned a smile as I went back inside.
“If…there is a next time, I’ll show you the trick to winning at UFO Catcher. But you know, you do need a sense for which prizes make good targets.”
“What? Are you trying to say I don’t have good sense?” retorted Aria, looking up at me with her hands on her hips and bearing her tooth. “Keep insulting me and I’ll open a hole in you! Ten of 'em…no, a lot more!” Aria stuck her tongue out at me and laughed. It must have been contagious because I found myself laughing as well. I’m not sure what was so funny exactly, but we just continued to laugh together. I saw Aria to the door and watched over her as she put on her shoes, which she had slovenly thrown down on the floor when she came in.
“Ah, it’s already this late. I’ve gotta hurry.”
“Do you have some sort of appointment?”
“Yeah. Someone’s coming to pick me up. What with everything that’s happened, the London Bureau of Butei said they would have their helicopter in Tokyo to take me back.”
The London Bureau of Butei. That’s where Aria was operating as a Butei.
“Before my mom was arrested, I worked there pretty extensively. They’re nagging me to hurry and come back. It’s their way of turning a blind eye to their own incompetence. But, I decided this would be a good opportunity for me to go back for once and make a fresh start.”
“Go back…to London?”
“Yeah. I’ll be heading to the British Navy’s aircraft carrier by helicopter, and from there I’ll get on a carrier based jet.”
A...navy aircraft carrier? Talk about large scale. That’s nobility for you.
“I hope you find someone—a partner, that is.”
“I’m sure I will. Thanks to you, I know that ‘there’s nobody in the world who can be my partner’ isn’t true.”
“I see…Yeah, I guess so. Well, see you around. Hang in there.”
“I will. Bye-bye.”
Aria opened the door without looking back…and left the apartment. I didn’t stop her from going. The door closed after her. Now this episode is finally over with….
….
“…?”
I didn’t hear Aria’s footsteps. She had left, so the next thing she would have to do is go to the elevator or the stairwell. Finding it a little odd, I looked out the spy hole. What I saw was Aria in front of the door, sobbing.
“Not like this…I don’t want things to end like this, Kinji…There’s no one… There’s no one…like you…anywhere. I’ll never…be able to find anyone…” Aria whispered to herself as she frantically used the back of her hand to wipe away the tears streaming from her eyes.
…Aria. Why…are you crying? You were laughing just a second ago. You were laughing with such a positive attitude. So why? Why are you crying…Aria.
In the end, I wasn’t able to bring myself to open the door. I felt that doing so would have made profound changes in my life. I sank down into my sofa and placed my hand on my forehead.
Just pretend you never saw it. You never saw Aria’s tears. Then it can all come to an end. That’s right, Kinji. Just think back. Being with that girl is nothing but a nuisance. All she does is bring trouble with her. She’s like the plague. It’s great that she’s gone. Come on, Kinji. Open up your desk drawer. Get out your application to transfer out of Butei High. That’s right. That’s the way it should be. You’ve been busy recently, so you couldn’t turn it in, but why not just take it to the educational affairs department right now and stick it in the mail slot? Then you can attend a normal high school and go to a normal college. Why not become a salary man or something and live the ordinary life you’ve been planning for yourself?
The more I thought about it, the stronger a presence Aria became in my mind. Aria…Aria. She showed up all of a sudden like a typhoon and threw my life into disarray; then she disappeared, like the wind.
…What was up with Aria exactly? I thought I would be relieved once she was gone…So why am I so depressed? Am I being swayed by the cute little thing’s tears? Me? That’s ridiculous.
Somehow, the Leopon attached to my cell phone on the desk looked like it was crying.
“Damn it. Kinji…what are you thinking? Stop. Just stop,” I said to myself.
I’ve thought to myself more than once that Aria, fighting courageously, was like a small lion cub. But she was no lion. She was a lost little kitten. She left her home and didn’t know where to go. No one would stand by her, and she would wind up covered in blood after battling crows and stray dogs. She had no idea what to do and was crying inside a garbage can that fell into a ditch. Aria was that little kitten.
“Aria…”
I squeezed Leopon in my hand. If Aria were going to save her mother, Kanae, she would have to fight against other foes besides the ‘Butei killer’. Aria…She would have to fight, and fight, and keep fighting in this world that was like a giant garbage can.
Are you okay with that?
She continued to call herself an ‘aria’ to the very end.
Are you okay with that, Aria? You’re still wet behind the ears. You’re the defective heir of the Olmes family. Are you okay with being an ‘aria’?!
“Of course she isn’t. You understand, don’t you Kinji.”
Like Aria, I, too, was a defective heir of the Tohyama family. I couldn’t become a hero of justice. But…but…