(Aoba yawns)

Ren:

You seem tired, Aoba.

Aoba:

Mhm…m’sleeepy… But today’s a day off so we can take it easy. It’s rare to see Noiz still asleep this late. Probably because he’s been so busy. I bet he’s pretty worn out.

Ren:

Aoba. It seems Noiz has awoken.

Aoba:

Oh.

(the door to Noiz’s bedroom opens, he walks into the kitchen and sits)

Pseudo Rabbit:

Aoba! Ren! Good morning!

Aoba:

Good morning.

Ren:

Good morning.

Aoba:

Good morning to you too, Noiz.

Noiz:

(yawns) …morning.

Aoba:

Man…you look beat. This really is rare.

Noiz:

Mmnh…it’s because I’m off today.

Aoba:

Right? (he pours coffee for both of them, then brings it to Noiz) Here, coffee.

Noiz:

Thanks. (he drinks)

Aoba:

Has your mouth stopped stinging?

Noiz:

Yeah. It’s been a week since that happened so it’s to be expected. It’s mostly healed.

Aoba:

I see. That’s good. But…since that happened you haven’t heard a word from your father, have you?

Noiz:

Yeah. If you think of my father’s personality, it’s the same pattern as always. It’s nothing to worry over.

Aoba:

All right…

Pseudo Rabbit:

(bouncing) Ren! Rabbit has a request!

Ren:

What is it?

Pseudo Rabbit:

Ren! I want to ride on your back!

Ren:

Yes. I don’t mind.

Pseudo Rabbit:

Yay~! (it bounces up) Pi~!

Aoba:

Ahaha. Pseudo Rabbit’s completely taken by Ren’s back.

Noiz:

Even though it’s an AllMate, it’s a strange one.

Aoba:

Oh, that’s right. I thought about Pseudo Rabbit’s name.

Noiz:

Its name?

Aoba:

Come on, you said it before right? Pseudo Rabbit isn’t that good of a name, so I should think of a new name.

Noiz:

Yeah. What did you choose?

Aoba:

How about Midori?

Noiz:

Midori? Why?

Aoba:

If you take the color of its appearance, it’s Midori.

Noiz:

Hah?

Aoba:

Plus it covers Midorijima as well so it feels like a good omen.

Noiz:

Hah…even though I didn’t want to talk about it, after all this time…

Aoba:

Hm?

Noiz:

You’re a pretty determined idiot, huh.

Aoba:

Hah?! Nngh…what’s that–isn’t that cruel?! It sounds a lot better than “Green” or something like that! Midori’s a good name, isn’t it? Right, Pseudo Rabbit?

Pseudo Rabbit:

Pi! Midori…Midori! It’s good!

Aoba:

All right. Starting from today you’re Midori! I’m looking forward to it.

Pseudo Rabbit:

Pi~!

Noiz:

You morons…

(the doorbell rings)

Aoba:

Ah, I wonder who that is…(he goes to answer it) Hm? Huh–standing at the entrance, is that–(he pushes the intercom button) Hello?

Theo:

I’m sorry for disturbing you on the weekend, it’s Theo!

Aoba:

I thought so!

Theo:

Hm?

Aoba:

Ah, it’s nothing. I’ll buzz you in so wait a sec.

Theo:

Yes.

(Aoba beeps him in)

~interlude~

(Aoba’s pouring coffee for Theo)

Theo:

I’m sorry for intruding so suddenly on the weekend.

Aoba:

No, it’s fine. Here, I hope just coffee’s fine.

Theo:

Oh! Yes! I don’t mind. Ah…brother?

Noiz:

Hah?

Theo:

Did you just wake up?

Noiz:

Why?

Theo:

Because your hair’s a mess. It’s rare to see you like this.

(Noiz sighs, Aoba laughs)

Noiz:

Then, why did you come all the way over here on the weekend?

Theo:

Ah, mhm. There’s something I’d like to speak with you about.

Noiz:

Something you want to say?

Theo:

Mhm. About your quarrel with father.

Noiz:

Ah…

Theo:

I heard a little of it from when I met with Aoba recently, but I didn’t know the details. So I asked father and mother directly. Why did they hit you, brother? And what were you quarreling about to begin with? And then…they said all sorts of absurd things like if you don’t get married first I won’t be able to marry or that living with a man while you’re unmarried causes trouble for me. I couldn’t endure it after I heard those things. Without thinking, I shouted at them. “Brother’s gone through all the trouble of returning to us, why are you saying something like that?” To go as far as using me as a pretext–Just how long did they plan on hurting you by been restraining you with their own egos?!

Noiz:

Ah…

Theo:

And then, they started talking about one thing or another regarding how you were before. I told them the past and the present are different. In the first place, it’s not as though you did anything wrong in the past. Regardless, you’ve changed. Why can’t they attend to that matter frankly? As for Aoba-san, even though they know nothing they’re just saying what they will. That’s what I shouted. That was the first time I’ve stood up to my parents face to face.

Aoba:

Theo…

Theo:

After I met and spoke with Aoba-san, I thought that as long as you’re with him, you’ll be all right, brother. I believe that’s the reason why you’ve returned here. If someone looks properly at you, brother, they can see that you’re different from how you were right away. Even still…to say that it wasn’t that bad, I wonder what they’re thinking.

Noiz:

Even if you say I’m different from how I was, I don’t feel like rejecting the past.

Aoba:

Ah–Noiz.

Theo:

That–that’s not it! I didn’t mean it that way!

Noiz:

I know. I don’t plan to return to those times. A world without feeling anything…I won’t allow it.

Aoba:

Ah–oh…

Noiz:

And then? You didn’t come just to tell me about how you yelled at our parents, did you?

Theo:

Ah, right. I think the fact that I shouted at them shocked them considerably. For a while after that I’ve only spoken to them in passing. They didn’t come to speak to me at all. Yesterday, I was called home because they wanted to talk. And then, they apologized. About what happened with you and Aoba-san, they said that their point of view was too one-sided. But, I’m not the one they should be apologizing to. They should say that to you and Aoba-san.

Noiz:

Ah…

Theo:

Brother…I…I truly regret that I couldn’t come to your aid when we were children. I always have.

Noiz:

That’s…it’s not really your fault.

Theo:

No, when you were shut away in that room, I’ve always wondered if things would have been different if I’d I struggled and cried out for our parents to stop. But…I was too cowardly to do that sort of thing. That’s why at least now, since you’ve changed I need to change as well. Brother, you’ve said that father and mother won’t change at all, haven’t you? However, at the very least we’ve changed. Perhaps we can change then even if only a little.

(Aoba sighs)

Theo:

That’s what I came to say to you today. For you and Aoba-san, if you ever have time, please come to speak to my parents. It may not go well at first, but if I can be of aid to you in any way, I will.

Noiz:

Ah…

Aoba:

Noiz?

Noiz:

Hah…yeah. That’s true. Let’s try it.

Theo:

Ah…brother…

Aoba:

Oh…that’s good. Thank you, Theo.

Theo:

No, I really am grateful to you, Aoba-san. I’m sorry for involving you in our family’s affairs.

Aoba:

Stop it with the apologies.

Theo:

Ah…

Aoba:

I don’t think it’s any trouble at all. I want to try to resolve this together. It’s sort of…that’s why I came to stay here. Anyway, if I could be considered a member of the family, I’d be glad.

Theo:

Aoba-san…yes! Let’s do our best together!

Aoba:

Yeah.

(Theo drinks his coffee)

Theo:

I felt so relieved that I got thirsty. The coffee’s very good.

Aoba:

Heh. Want seconds?

Theo:

Yes, please.

(Aoba goes to get more, Noiz sighs)

Theo:

Ah, brother? Did something happen?

Noiz:

What?

Theo:

Somehow you don’t look well. Is something about our discussion bothering you?

Noiz:

No, not really.

(Aoba returns with coffee. He pours Theo a cup.)

Aoba:

Here!

Theo:

Ah, thank you very much.

Aoba:

What’s up, Noiz? Did something happen? Theo’s gone as var as coming to visit.

Noiz:

Thaaat’s it.

Aoba:

Huh?

Noiz:

You’re saying “Theo.” What’s with that all of a sudden?

Aoba:

Huh?

Theo:

Heh?

Aoba:

What do you mean…when we talked last week he told me it’s fine to call him “Theo.” Wait…aah. Does that mean you’re…

Theo:

Huh? Brother…could it be…perhaps it is…are you jealous?

Noiz:

Ngh–I’m not!

Aoba:

What’s that? Aren’t you getting worked up because I’m calling him “Theo”?

Noiz:

Shut up.

Theo:

Ah…

Aoba:

Huh? What’s wrong, Theo?

Theo:

Oh, no…somehow…I’ve never seen brother get jealous before…I’m strangely touched.

Aoba:

Hehe. (he tugs at Noiz) He’s probably never pulled this face in front of you before. But if you look at him this way he can be pretty cute, huh? Hehe, like this–

Noiz:

Cut it out! That’s not it.

Aoba:

Don’t get embarrassed! Hehe.

Noiz:

Seriously, you–

(Theo laughs)

Aoba:

Ah?

Theo:

It’s only…I was thinking how glad I am that we could talk like this today.

Aoba:

Yeah. Thank you.

Theo:

Yes! Then, I should be on my way. My apologies for staying so long. (he drinks his coffee) The coffee was delicious. Ah–Aoba-san.

Aoba:

Huh?

Theo:

Did you ask my brother his real name?

(Noiz grunts)

Aoba:

Yeah…I did. It’s a good name. But he doesn’t want me calling him that. So I’m just going to call him Noiz like always.

Theo:

Is that true…then I wonder if should call him “brother Noiz.”

Noiz:

Theo…

Theo:

Hehe, I’m just kidding. (he heads to the door) Then, I’ll see you.

Aoba:

Yeah! Later!

Noiz:

Theo.

Theo:

Yes?

Noiz:

That’s…thank you.

Theo:

Heh. Yes. Well then, pardon my intrusion. (he leaves)

(Aoba laughs)

Noiz:

What.

Aoba:

Nothing… All right, I’ve gotta get down to studying so I can become your right hand man. I’ve gotta be legit, right?

Noiz:

You’re pretty easygoing.

Aoba:

Call it forward-thinking! But isn’t it strange?

Noiz:

What?

Aoba:

After we said that we should talk to your parents sometime, this kind of opportunity came along. I wonder if you could say it’s because of fate or something like that. After you’ve taken one step forward, the world moves forward as well. There probably won’t be any results right away, but for sure you can’t give up.

Noiz:

What if after this it’s still no good?

Aoba:

We’d deal with that if it comes. We’d just have to think of a different approach. But rather than deciding it’s no good no matter what and stopping without doing anything, if you don’t try something you’ll never know, right?

Noiz:

Hah…yeah. That’s true.

Aoba:

Yeah. All right! Then, after all that, I should make breakfast!

Noiz:

What are you making?

Aoba:

I’ll make steak!

Noiz:

Steak in the morning? You’re joking. Even if I’d eat it if you made it, I don’t usually eat in the morning.

Aoba:

eh? Then, what do you want? Curry? Ramen?

Noiz:

What’s with all the heavy things? Isn’t there something more normal?

Aoba:

If you’re going to complain then just say what you want to eat! I won’t know! Anyway, let’s make it together. Since you’ve got the day off.

Noiz:

Heh. right, right.

Aoba:

Then, what do you want to it? If we don’t settle that first we can’t do anything.

Noiz:

Hm…What about that? The doughnuts your granny made.

Aoba:

Huh? Ah…those…I’ve made them before, but…I wonder if I can make them like Granny does…

Noiz:

It’s fine if you don’t make them exactly like she does. You can add your own flavor, right?

Aoba:

Mmh…though it’s best if they’re tasty. Anyway, I wonder if they sell the ingredients here…

Noiz:

Ah…but today’s the weekend so the stores around here are closed. We’ll have to go to the station.

Aoba:

Heh. Anyway, let’s go take a look.

Noiz:

Yeah.