Chapter 86: 73 - Lies
Currently, Kairi’s mother, Ayaka, is still guiding me. She slowly supports me, like a small child just learning to walk again. One step after another, and I nearly stumble.
And honestly... if I really told her who I truly am, she might collapse on the spot.
How could she not? The woman she’s holding onto right now isn’t her only daughter. Not the Kairi she raised, hugged, and loved for years. But me—Selene.
And strangely, the longer I’m with her, the more it feels like this body isn’t just a vessel. It’s alive. It speaks. It reacts.
Should I tell her?
I let out a short sigh. More than a week ago, when I regained consciousness and almost blurted something out, the doctor just thought it was a side effect of the medication. "Post-amnesia disorientation," he said.
My real world was treated as a hallucination.
Funny, isn’t it? The world where I grew up is nothing more than a neurochemical disturbance in this world.
"Ayaka..."
"Hm? What is it, dear Kairi?" she replied softly.
So serene.
Her facial expression was calm. Not sad, not tired.
Only affection shone through.
Calm and warm, as if time stood still in her eyes.
She resembles Helena.
But more sincere. Or... maybe it’s just because I don’t know her well enough yet.
"Kairi! What are you daydreaming about? You must be thinking about Dr. Satoko, right?"
Eh—wait.
I almost choked on air.
Satoko?
Which Satoko?
Hold on, isn’t she Kairi’s mentor? How does her mother know?
Didn’t they supposedly argue a lot? Why is her tone so teasing?
I immediately reacted, instinctively imitating Kairi’s characteristic style.
"Uh, no, I’m not. Why would I think about her? She hasn’t even visited me, hmph."
A cynical tone. Suppressed emotion. Yep—just like Kairi for real for real.
If Kairi knew I could imitate her like this, she’d probably just say flatly:
"Oh, really." Then she’d make that sour face she’s so good at.
Ugh. That girl.
A girl with two faces. She says she doesn’t care, but her whole body screams otherwise.
She calls me a liar? Funny.
Turns out she’s the heavyweight champion at deception.
"Don’t you dare lie," Ayaka said, chuckling softly. "If I talk about her, you’ll definitely smile to yourself, but secretly. After that, you’ll pretend not to be interested."
Oh. Wow. That much?
I glanced at Ayaka. She was still smiling lovingly, as if unaware that she was opening a secret chest that Kairi herself had locked away deeply.
"Uh... what do you mean? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have any feelings for her."
Oh, what kind of lie is this again, Kairi?
Yet, all this time, this body has been blushing just from that name being mentioned. A biological reaction I can’t deny, even with all my willpower. Awkward. Embarrassed. Confused. And... a little warm?
"Eh, really? But your face looks so shy," Ayaka teased again.
Good heavens, this body is truly annoying. Even when I tried so hard to deny it, its facial expressions work against me.
A reflexive avoidance. As if to protect its true feelings.
"Eh, n-no! It’s just because I’m... tired! Yes, tired!" I stammered.
"Oh, is that so?" Ayaka chuckled softly. Gently stroking my head, she added,
"You’re always in denial. But I know you like her."
Denial, huh? Ugh, the irony.
I started to find it amusing. Someone who claimed to never love anyone, turns out to have Satoko—a figure who not only saved her life but also mentored her and perhaps... loved her too? If that’s true, Kairi isn’t just a liar.
She’s a coward. And once again, just like me.
And I even thought I was the manipulative one. Oh Kairi, you can even deceive your mother, yourself, and—funnily enough—me.
The journey to Kairi’s apartment felt fast. Perhaps because my mind kept racing. We finally arrived on the third floor, top corner. Unit number 33. An unlucky number, according to some cultures. But for some reason, it felt just right for Kairi.
The doorknob gleamed. Its chrome silver was almost flawless.
"Ayaka..."
"What is it, dear? Oh, you want to ask about this?"
Ayaka raised her hand, dangling a small ring-shaped keychain.
"You’re always clumsy and reckless. By the way, I’ll accompany you inside, okay? Is that alright?"
I just nodded, silently wondering.
Isn’t that spare key... supposed to be only Kairi’s?
Soon after, the door opened.
And what I saw almost froze me.
This room... it’s too clean. Too tidy. No stains, no traces of tragedy. Yet, this is where Kairi—or her body—almost died.
Everything seemed to have vanished. No signs of struggle, no smell of blood. Curtains neatly arranged. Table clean. Even the stacks of books were arranged by color.
Soon, Ayaka said lightly, "Oh yeah, Satoko cleaned all of this when you were in a coma. She asked the hospital for permission to take the key. She said, ’I know the location of Kairi’s spare key, Mom. She often asks me to get her things when she forgets.’"
...
Wait.
Satoko. He has a key.
He comes here often so many times.
Often helps get things. Has private access.
And Kairi says she has no feelings for him?
Bleh. Pure nonsense.
That girl is truly manipulative. How dare she accuse me of being a liar, when she... wow.
I rolled my eyes and slowly sat on the edge of the neatly made bed. On the bedside table, I saw a small object: a photo. Kairi and Satoko standing together. Satoko grinning widely. Kairi... half-shy, but clearly not refusing.
That smile—not a smile given to an ordinary mentor.
I sighed deeply, before murmuring softly while looking at the photo frame.
"Kairi, if you can hear this from inside your body, I hope you know... you’re a bigger liar than me. And even worse—you’re bad at lying."
Ayaka, who was tidying the pillow, suddenly turned. "What did you say?"
"Eh? Oh... nothing, Mom. I was just... trying to find a comfortable sleeping position."
"Oh my, you’re already like an old lady." Ayaka chuckled.
I just smiled faintly.
Inside, I laughed. Not because I was happy. But because I was starting to realize one important thing.
This body, this room, and the name Satoko—they all hold far deeper traces than Kairi ever revealed. And the longer I stay here, the more the mirror she created to hide her true self cracks.
And I, Selene, will be the witness—or perhaps... the replacement?
Well, who knows. Time will tell.
