Into the rabbit hole
Dinner hadn't even started and Sho was already showing signs of nervousness, stumbling on his words and unknowingly knocking over an empty wine glass due to his fidgeting. Amid the seemingly relaxed atmosphere of muted lights and soft music, Sho was suffering from an auditory overload. Around him, the unnamed voices chattered on excitedly, while Yuki, sitting across from him, also tried her best to hold his attention with her small talk and her girlish giggles. At the moment Sho felt like he was in the throes of a migraine and was starting to wonder if he had ingested any hallucinogen that would bring about this kind of head trip...
Sho, look at me, don't I look good...?
Wow, you've grown so tall! What have you been doing...?
Where have you been all this time? Did you miss us...?
"I'm so glad you finally decided to visit our shop..."
For a while, Sho pondered creating a convenient excuse and bolting straight out of the shop. It was, however, when Nino loudly cleared his throat that the cacophony of voices came to a halt. Nino suddenly announced:
"Ne Yuki, I think Sho wants to use the restroom, maybe you can show him where it is?"
"Oh, silly me. I didn't notice." Yuki replied, slightly annoyed that her little chat with Sho had been interrupted by her meddling little brother. "Do you need to go to the restroom?"
"Uh, yes. Actually, I'd be very grateful if you showed me where it is." Sho replied, relieved that he had a few moments to regroup before deciding if he should go on with the preliminary interview.
"Right this way then," Yuki stood up as she proceeded to direct Sho to the men's restroom, "Nino, will you stay here and wait for the food while I show our guest where the restroom is? I'll also be powdering my nose; we won't take long"
"No problem. I'll be right here" Nino replied with a reassuring wave.
"Thanks."
Alone with the dolls once more; Nino took a deep breath, steeling his resolve as he began putting his plans into action. Determined not to look (or feel) silly, Nino faced the unmoving figures of Aiba, Jun, and Ohno and began addressing them directly ...
"Hello...dolls..." Nino began awkwardly, "I think you already know my name... uh, anyway I might just be crazy for thinking that you guys can really talk, but..."
But we can talk! Aiba interrupted. Wait... You've heard us all along? How come you didn't talk to us too?
"Er, yes, I can hear you. I think I heard your voices when I first entered this shop but I thought it was just because of my fever. Um, I'm sorry I don't remember you yet but I promise that I will. Right now though, we have a problem."
What problem is that? Ohno asked
"I think that you already know that not everyone can hear you. Apparently Yuki can't, nor can Pierre or the rest of Yuki's staff... I'm not sure about Sho, but I think he can hear you too."
That's great! Aiba chirped
"Well... not exactly."
Why not?
"Well, the mannequins that I'm used to don't usually talk. But you're mannequins, and you can talk... and you don't have batteries ...but still, I'm the only one so far who can hear you. Sho doesn't know that you can talk and he probably thinks he's going crazy and he might even be a little scared"
Nino...?
"Yes, Jun?"
Can we talk later? I think there are some things you need to know...
"Okay"
But when can we let him know that we talk? Aiba asked
"We'll have to take our time. I don't know why we seem to be the only ones who can hear you, but Sho looked like he was about to bolt a while ago and if you want him to stay you'll have to keep quiet, at least for now... Anyway, I think they're on their way back and Marguerite is coming with the food."
Okay Nino, we'll keep quiet. The dolls conceded.
Seconds later, Marguerite began serving the appetizers, while Sho made his way back to his seat, face a little pale and slightly damp.
"Hey Sho, you look a little pale. Are you okay?" Nino asked as Sho warily took his place back in the table.
"Uh, yes. I think I'm okay now. I just have a small headache, that's all" Sho replied, eyes darting here and there as he expectantly waited for the voices to return.
"Where's Yuki?"
"I don't know, she just said she'll be going to the ladies' room to powder her nose or something."
"I see..." Nino observed. Sho's rigid shoulders finally slumped down as he began to relax.
A comfortable silence lapsed between the two with Nino idly picking his food while he watched Sho's strained features soften into a relaxed, unguarded curiosity. His eyes which were darting around nervously a few minutes ago were now languidly roaming around, taking in the atmosphere and absorbing little details here and there. His eyes wandered to the corner tables with its soft, cozy sofas; the walls, and its art nouveau paintings; and the upholstered wooden chairs with its intricately carved armrests. A few minutes later, Sho's eyes rested on the dolls that stood beside him.
"These dolls are really pretty, they look so lifelike. I don't think I've seen anything like them before" Sho remarked.
"They do look lifelike, don't they? When I first started working here, I actually thought they were humans" Nino replied, laughing softly.
"They must've had it custom-made..." Sho marveled at the dolls, his gaze fixed on one particular mannequin with its streaked blond hair cut in a short shag, framing its oval face with its full lips and its big eyes.
"His name's Aiba." Nino supplied, suddenly amused "The one beside him is called Jun, and the one beside Jun is Ohno"
"I see. They must be really special dolls to have their own names." Sho replied with a quizzical look on his face, his eyes never leaving Aiba.
"I guess you can say that. Anyway, why is Yuki taking so long?"
"Sorry about that, you could have started eating without me you know." Yuki said as she hurriedly made her way back to her seat.
"What were you doing anyway?" Nino asked
"That's my little secret" Yuki winked, "Besides, you don't ask girls things like that when you know they've just come from the restroom"
"Okay, okay. Let's start eating." Nino replied as Marguerite served the main course and poured the red wine.
"Thank you for this meal." Sho replied as he started digging in to his pasta dish.
Sho, Yuki, and Nino enjoyed a pleasant dinner with much laughter and light conversation which went well into the night. The three felt at ease with each other and talked like old friends, much to their surprise. Sho conducted his preliminary interview with much ease and promised to come back after three days with the crew to film around the shop. The night had been quite productive for both Yuki and Sho, as Yuki found out about Sho's family business and struck a deal with the young reporter to consign his sister's jewelry, just as a small favor for agreeing to feature her boutique on their show (and of course, to keep in constant touch with him.) The dolls kept their promise and remained silent all throughout dinner, with neither Nino nor Sho hearing a peep from any of them. As their little meeting came to an end, Sho bade Yuki and Nino goodbye and promised to update them at the soonest possible time about the arrangements to be made for the show, and his sister's response to Yuki's proposition. At 10:30 in the evening, Nino and Yuki were left alone in the cafe with the dolls. Yuki handed Nino his pay and asked him to return the dolls to the lobby where Pierre would handle the rest, as she also called it a day and retreated to her room to sleep.
As soon as Yuki was out of the cafe, Jun began to speak.
About that little talk...
"Oh, yes, what about it?" Nino asked tiredly, as he reclined on one of the sofas in the cafe.
I think you ought to know...
Yes?
We're not really dolls. We used to be able to move, breathe and eat, just like you...
Nino remained silent as he tried to process the new information. A million other questions ran through his mind and he didn't think that he had enough energy to have all of them answered at the moment.
"... Well, that kind of makes sense, I think. But how did you..."
Ne, Nino-chan don't you think you should be getting some rest? You should take us to the lobby now, then you should go home and get some sleep. Ohno interrupted
But Ohno! He...
I don't think that Nino needs to know everything right now, Aiba Ohno explained, recalling how Nino reacted, not so long ago, while he was dressing them up in the lobby.
After a moment's pause, Jun relented and agreed with Ohno's decision.
I think Ohno's right this time. Maybe we can figure something out tomorrow.
"Thank you, Jun. I guess I'll be bringing you to the lobby now" Nino replied, mildly relieved.
I guess we'll see you tomorrow then, said Aiba as Nino carried him off along with Jun to the lobby.
Good night, Nino said Ohno, who was the last one to be brought to the lobby Take care, be safe
"Don't worry, Ohno, I will." Nino replied, feeling lighthearted for some reason as he sat Ohno beside Jun in the lobby's big sofa.
"Do you want to watch TV?" Nino asked
Can we watch cartoons? said Aiba
I want to watch the news, demanded Jun Hey, you owe me for these stupid hairclips, by the way
"Um, okay, I guess..." said Nino who turned on the big plasma television and switched it to a 24 hour anime channel.
Yay cartoons!
I said I wanted the news...
"Sorry Jun, first come first served" Nino smirked as he made his way to the dressing room to return his fancy Armani suit and change back to his jeans and sneakers.
****
Nino finally reached home safe and sound. Pierre handed him some money for his cab fare and Marguerite gave him some of the leftover crepes to eat for breakfast the following morning. It was only when he got out of the cab that he noticed that his schoolbag had gotten somewhat heavier. As soon as he reached his bedroom, he started unpacking his things and was surprised to find a small, but thick leather-bound book lying under his schoolbooks and his pencil case. As he opened the flap he was a little shaken to find glowing red glyphs which seemed eerily familiar. With trembling hands, Nino quickly shut the book and dropped it to the floor...
It was real.
This was Yuki's, and somehow it had gotten to his bag...
Previous: Nostalgia Next: Beginnings: Aiba
Sho, look at me, don't I look good...?
Wow, you've grown so tall! What have you been doing...?
Where have you been all this time? Did you miss us...?
"I'm so glad you finally decided to visit our shop..."
For a while, Sho pondered creating a convenient excuse and bolting straight out of the shop. It was, however, when Nino loudly cleared his throat that the cacophony of voices came to a halt. Nino suddenly announced:
"Ne Yuki, I think Sho wants to use the restroom, maybe you can show him where it is?"
"Oh, silly me. I didn't notice." Yuki replied, slightly annoyed that her little chat with Sho had been interrupted by her meddling little brother. "Do you need to go to the restroom?"
"Uh, yes. Actually, I'd be very grateful if you showed me where it is." Sho replied, relieved that he had a few moments to regroup before deciding if he should go on with the preliminary interview.
"Right this way then," Yuki stood up as she proceeded to direct Sho to the men's restroom, "Nino, will you stay here and wait for the food while I show our guest where the restroom is? I'll also be powdering my nose; we won't take long"
"No problem. I'll be right here" Nino replied with a reassuring wave.
"Thanks."
Alone with the dolls once more; Nino took a deep breath, steeling his resolve as he began putting his plans into action. Determined not to look (or feel) silly, Nino faced the unmoving figures of Aiba, Jun, and Ohno and began addressing them directly ...
"Hello...dolls..." Nino began awkwardly, "I think you already know my name... uh, anyway I might just be crazy for thinking that you guys can really talk, but..."
But we can talk! Aiba interrupted. Wait... You've heard us all along? How come you didn't talk to us too?
"Er, yes, I can hear you. I think I heard your voices when I first entered this shop but I thought it was just because of my fever. Um, I'm sorry I don't remember you yet but I promise that I will. Right now though, we have a problem."
What problem is that? Ohno asked
"I think that you already know that not everyone can hear you. Apparently Yuki can't, nor can Pierre or the rest of Yuki's staff... I'm not sure about Sho, but I think he can hear you too."
That's great! Aiba chirped
"Well... not exactly."
Why not?
"Well, the mannequins that I'm used to don't usually talk. But you're mannequins, and you can talk... and you don't have batteries ...but still, I'm the only one so far who can hear you. Sho doesn't know that you can talk and he probably thinks he's going crazy and he might even be a little scared"
Nino...?
"Yes, Jun?"
Can we talk later? I think there are some things you need to know...
"Okay"
But when can we let him know that we talk? Aiba asked
"We'll have to take our time. I don't know why we seem to be the only ones who can hear you, but Sho looked like he was about to bolt a while ago and if you want him to stay you'll have to keep quiet, at least for now... Anyway, I think they're on their way back and Marguerite is coming with the food."
Okay Nino, we'll keep quiet. The dolls conceded.
Seconds later, Marguerite began serving the appetizers, while Sho made his way back to his seat, face a little pale and slightly damp.
"Hey Sho, you look a little pale. Are you okay?" Nino asked as Sho warily took his place back in the table.
"Uh, yes. I think I'm okay now. I just have a small headache, that's all" Sho replied, eyes darting here and there as he expectantly waited for the voices to return.
"Where's Yuki?"
"I don't know, she just said she'll be going to the ladies' room to powder her nose or something."
"I see..." Nino observed. Sho's rigid shoulders finally slumped down as he began to relax.
A comfortable silence lapsed between the two with Nino idly picking his food while he watched Sho's strained features soften into a relaxed, unguarded curiosity. His eyes which were darting around nervously a few minutes ago were now languidly roaming around, taking in the atmosphere and absorbing little details here and there. His eyes wandered to the corner tables with its soft, cozy sofas; the walls, and its art nouveau paintings; and the upholstered wooden chairs with its intricately carved armrests. A few minutes later, Sho's eyes rested on the dolls that stood beside him.
"These dolls are really pretty, they look so lifelike. I don't think I've seen anything like them before" Sho remarked.
"They do look lifelike, don't they? When I first started working here, I actually thought they were humans" Nino replied, laughing softly.
"They must've had it custom-made..." Sho marveled at the dolls, his gaze fixed on one particular mannequin with its streaked blond hair cut in a short shag, framing its oval face with its full lips and its big eyes.
"His name's Aiba." Nino supplied, suddenly amused "The one beside him is called Jun, and the one beside Jun is Ohno"
"I see. They must be really special dolls to have their own names." Sho replied with a quizzical look on his face, his eyes never leaving Aiba.
"I guess you can say that. Anyway, why is Yuki taking so long?"
"Sorry about that, you could have started eating without me you know." Yuki said as she hurriedly made her way back to her seat.
"What were you doing anyway?" Nino asked
"That's my little secret" Yuki winked, "Besides, you don't ask girls things like that when you know they've just come from the restroom"
"Okay, okay. Let's start eating." Nino replied as Marguerite served the main course and poured the red wine.
"Thank you for this meal." Sho replied as he started digging in to his pasta dish.
Sho, Yuki, and Nino enjoyed a pleasant dinner with much laughter and light conversation which went well into the night. The three felt at ease with each other and talked like old friends, much to their surprise. Sho conducted his preliminary interview with much ease and promised to come back after three days with the crew to film around the shop. The night had been quite productive for both Yuki and Sho, as Yuki found out about Sho's family business and struck a deal with the young reporter to consign his sister's jewelry, just as a small favor for agreeing to feature her boutique on their show (and of course, to keep in constant touch with him.) The dolls kept their promise and remained silent all throughout dinner, with neither Nino nor Sho hearing a peep from any of them. As their little meeting came to an end, Sho bade Yuki and Nino goodbye and promised to update them at the soonest possible time about the arrangements to be made for the show, and his sister's response to Yuki's proposition. At 10:30 in the evening, Nino and Yuki were left alone in the cafe with the dolls. Yuki handed Nino his pay and asked him to return the dolls to the lobby where Pierre would handle the rest, as she also called it a day and retreated to her room to sleep.
As soon as Yuki was out of the cafe, Jun began to speak.
About that little talk...
"Oh, yes, what about it?" Nino asked tiredly, as he reclined on one of the sofas in the cafe.
I think you ought to know...
Yes?
We're not really dolls. We used to be able to move, breathe and eat, just like you...
Nino remained silent as he tried to process the new information. A million other questions ran through his mind and he didn't think that he had enough energy to have all of them answered at the moment.
"... Well, that kind of makes sense, I think. But how did you..."
Ne, Nino-chan don't you think you should be getting some rest? You should take us to the lobby now, then you should go home and get some sleep. Ohno interrupted
But Ohno! He...
I don't think that Nino needs to know everything right now, Aiba Ohno explained, recalling how Nino reacted, not so long ago, while he was dressing them up in the lobby.
After a moment's pause, Jun relented and agreed with Ohno's decision.
I think Ohno's right this time. Maybe we can figure something out tomorrow.
"Thank you, Jun. I guess I'll be bringing you to the lobby now" Nino replied, mildly relieved.
I guess we'll see you tomorrow then, said Aiba as Nino carried him off along with Jun to the lobby.
Good night, Nino said Ohno, who was the last one to be brought to the lobby Take care, be safe
"Don't worry, Ohno, I will." Nino replied, feeling lighthearted for some reason as he sat Ohno beside Jun in the lobby's big sofa.
"Do you want to watch TV?" Nino asked
Can we watch cartoons? said Aiba
I want to watch the news, demanded Jun Hey, you owe me for these stupid hairclips, by the way
"Um, okay, I guess..." said Nino who turned on the big plasma television and switched it to a 24 hour anime channel.
Yay cartoons!
I said I wanted the news...
"Sorry Jun, first come first served" Nino smirked as he made his way to the dressing room to return his fancy Armani suit and change back to his jeans and sneakers.
****
Nino finally reached home safe and sound. Pierre handed him some money for his cab fare and Marguerite gave him some of the leftover crepes to eat for breakfast the following morning. It was only when he got out of the cab that he noticed that his schoolbag had gotten somewhat heavier. As soon as he reached his bedroom, he started unpacking his things and was surprised to find a small, but thick leather-bound book lying under his schoolbooks and his pencil case. As he opened the flap he was a little shaken to find glowing red glyphs which seemed eerily familiar. With trembling hands, Nino quickly shut the book and dropped it to the floor...
It was real.
This was Yuki's, and somehow it had gotten to his bag...
Previous: Nostalgia Next: Beginnings: Aiba