Chapter Text
Aruto gets his voice back, and the first thing he does is look for Izu’s brother.
“Aruto-San,” the man says. “You know we couldn’t do anything with the body.”
He sounds sad, but you know what? Aruto doesn’t give a fuck. He works here willingly, knowing the truth. He doesn’t deserve to grieve a sister who was better than him in every way, had her whole damn life ahead of her before Aruto’s grandfather took it.
“I don’t care,” Aruto says. “If you cared, even a little, about Izu, you would at least have a damn place to mourn her. Now, let me see it. ”
This is all premeditated, of course.
He knows what he’s doing.
It’s… oh.
It’s a small place on a forest trail. One Izu had shown him. Her brother smiles, sadly.
“She always loved it here,” he says. “If she’s a spirit, I assume it’s be either here… or with you .”
(It is said in such an accusatory way. Aruto is glad he is a robot, so he can keep the flinch internal.)
“I didn’t tell her a damn thing,” Aruto says. “She chose to stay. Just like you choose to stay working for my grandfather. What is this, the second time he’s killed a child and covered it up?”
Izu’s brother flinches visibly. Good.
“I’ll… leave you to it,” he says.
And now, Aruto is alone.
“Hey, Izu. Can you hear me? Probably not. I’m… I’m sorry.
“I’m sorry I cost you your life. I’m sorry I don’t know what to do, now. I have to stay. If I stay, I can… I inherit the company, and I can fix all of this.
“But I can’t fix you. You’re human, and you’re dead.
“So I’m… I’m going to get myself free, and I’m going to stay because I want to, but I just don’t know if I can survive, now. You were the only time I was ever happy.”
[Beginning Encryption]
[Locking memories regarding: IZUMI]
[Autorization: new
Codename: 01]
“But because you made me so happy, I can’t go on without you unless I forget. I’ll make it seem like I figured it out myself. I probably would have, eventually.
“And one day, when I really am free, and hopefully have access to a therapist, I’ll… I’ll know I locked this, for later. For when it’s over.
“Thank you for everything… my friend.”
[Encryption Complete]