Chapter 302 - Memories

"I'm not sure. I need time to think it over, I guess…"

Suzuki Ara was aware that her answer sounded so wishy-washy. Nonetheless, there was nothing else she could say at the moment. She was not ready to give answers to anyone, not even about this path she had hoped to take a while ago before remembering who she was.

"I mean, I completed the character sheets they asked me to draw," she said as she showed them the ones she was working on before they came. "But even if I did, I'm still unsure if I really want to pursue this at the moment."

"Well, take your time then," Rin and the others assured her with a smile.

"That's right. You're a married woman now. Compared to the first time we discussed being a comic artist, you have to consider other things before making decisions," Midori agreed before sighing. "In any case, my cousin looked like he'd be happy to wait for as long as he could when we talked to him earlier. It meant that your work really has potential."

Ara smiled. "Thanks. I will really try my best to sort my life out."

"Just relax. We still have two weeks left before graduation. You don't have to hurry," Miharu told her as she gave her shoulder a pat.

"But, Ara, you're not going to escape today. You have to tell me about your story and characters!"

Rin who remained holding her sketchbook looked at her in anticipation. She's really an anime and comic geek that she's very excited about Ara's work. On the other hand, Ara didn't mind, and it was also easier to talk about her drawings than anything else.

"I will be writing an adventure story. It's about this girl," Ara said as she pointed at Alinea in armor. "– and her friends' quests to bust all the myths and legends in the land."

At the mention of myth-busting, memories of a long, long, long time ago – a time that's too far gone to remember normally assailed her along with a deep sense of nostalgia. What was done by her younger self still came to her mind as if it was just yesterday. She had loved busting myths even in the celestial plane.

It was how she met Kresnik for the first time and fell in love.

She remembered that time when she first took a glimpse of him resting under a tree near the lake. She recalled that first moment he came to her house to return her voice. She could clearly reminisce about the confusion of why she wanted to see the man with the ice-blue gaze so badly and the longing she felt when she realized the reason.

Those were the good old days.

"Ara? Ara? Are you okay?"

She snapped from her train of thought and realized she had spaced out and missed out of the conversation.

"What?"

"Are you sure you're well?" Miharu asked with a frown as she placed a hand on Ara's forehead. "You don't seem to have any fever. But I think you still need to rest. Why don't you go home?"

"Miharu's right, Ara. We don't really have lessons anymore and you've already completed your requirements and projects. Go home so you can rest," Midori seconded, and so Ara had no choice but to follow, albeit reluctantly.

She didn't really want to go home, but she didn't want to be in a place where she had to deal with a lot of people either. Her eyes fell on her sketchbook again. "But I need to submit the character sheets to your cousin today."

"Then leave this to me. I will bring this to Ikebukuro for you," Midori offered as she took the sketchbook from her.

"Are you sure?"Ara might already be convinced that she should go home, but she didn't want to bother Midori and her friends on things she should be the one doing.

"Of course, I'm sure. My cousin's the one who asked you to do this anyway. Besides…"The expression on Midori's face changed a bit as if remembering something unpleasant. "We're no longer in danger to go out."

She was, of course, pertaining to Okada Koharu's death, and Ara who knew the truth, of course, kept mum as she was instructed. Still, a part of her rebelled and tried to tell them the truth anyway.

"Guys…" she began, and the three girls looked on. "What if I tell you I'm not human? Will you be angry?"

All three exchanged looks of surprise at first before bursting out laughing. Ara was confused. She suddenly felt that there's something going on that she was not privy to, and she soon found out.

"We know," they answered in chorus, taking Ara by surprise.

"Er… you do?"

Her uncle had told her that everyone at school and her friends had their memories wiped out to prevent humans from finding out the truth about the Homura House.

Rin grinned. "The older prince told us the truth," she confessed, surprising her further. "We were supposed to have our memories altered like everyone else, but the older prince changed his mind when I told him I saw how Koharu turned into a monster and that you fought with the bad people who took us."

"You… were awake?"

Rin nodded. "I woke up but pretended to still be knocked out so you wouldn't have to worry and just fight."

Oh…

"But I didn't want to forget that Ara. Every one of us didn't want to forget. It's who you are. You are our friend who'd protect us," Rin continued as she took Ara's hand.

"Then why…"

"Because everyone else forgot. We were told by the older prince to keep quiet about it until you're ready to tell us about it, yourself."

It was Miharu who spoke this time. After the kidnapping, Gin realized that it would be unfair to them to erase their memories.

"The older prince didn't want you to feel bad about lying to us. He allowed us to keep our memories, although we have to act like we don't know anything to everyone else."

Upon hearing this, a soft nostalgic smile appeared on Ara's face. Indeed, it was what her uncle Stribog would do.

"We lied to Big Bro Aki too," Miharu smiled sheepishly, making Ara laugh.

"It's fine, my big brother knows," she assured them with a brighter smile as her eyes filled with moisture. "Thank you. Thank you for not being scared and for choosing to remain friends with me."

"Don't be silly. No matter what you are, you're still Suzuki Ara to us," Midori told her which the others agreed with.

"But demigod or not, you still need to go home and rest. The older prince said you were injured accidentally by your husband."

"You know about Ryuu too?"Ara was not beyond amazed.

"Of course. We know everything now."

"Then…"Ara wondered if they also knew about her curse.

Miharu smiled and patted her head. "Ara, stop worrying about us. Just be yourself," she said. "As to your feelings towards your husband, it's up to you. You can be angry at him for now. You have the right to. But do not forget about the future."

Huh? Ara didn't quite understand, but she remained quiet nonetheless. She was really suddenly tired. But, it was also a fact that a heavy burden was lifted off her chest now that she didn't have any secrets to keep from the people who mattered.

"How about Hiroaki?"

"He knows too. He just caught a cold that's why he didn't come today," Midori giggled.

"Go home and rest too, Ara. We'll take care of this," Rin said as she pointed at the sketchbook in Midori's hand. "I'll tag along Midori to Ikebukuro. I need to buy some items from the anime stores there anyway."

With this, Ara nodded. "I will go now. Thanks, guys…"