12 Chapter12: First Companion

[ Ari-su? it sounds nice.] The little girl, whose name now is Alice; who's sitting beside me, said with a smile.

[ oh? do you like it?]

"Alice In the Wonderland" was one of the first movies I ever watch as a kid, it also became one of my favorites.

[ you see, Alice was the name of the first person I idolized.]

[ your idol? is she famous? does she beat monsters and save people?] huh? oh... I guess that'll be the first reaction the people of this world will show when they hear the word Idolize.

[ Yea... it's kinda like that. But it's not what Alice did the reason I idolize her, it's because of her personality. You see, Alice was loving and gentle, not just to her family, but also to all she made acquaintance to; She was courteous - courteous to all, high or low, grand or grotesque, King or Caterpillar, even though she herself was a Rich Man's daughter; then trustful, she's ready to accept the wildest impossibilities with all that utter trust that only dreamers know; and lastly, curious - wildly curious, eager to discover new things and enjoy them with what they're worth, at least that's how I and other people will describe her.]

I really love Alice's characteristics and personalities, because they somehow resemble mine.

[ how do you know her so much onii-san? are you friends with her? ] ah... should I tell her I know her this much because I watched the 1952 cartoon movie version of Alice in Wonderland, that won't do.

[ yes... it's kinda like that.]

[ wow! you're friends with a famous person? are you famous to onii-san? ]

[ ahh... nevermind that. I haven't even told you my name yet, right?] the talks getting really off topic so I cut it off.

[ yes, you haven't told me your name yet, so... what is your name onii-san? ] she asked while tilting her head sideward.

[ yes, my name is Haruto Yuki, nice to meet you. So will you accept the name Alice? ] I faced her direction and smiled.

[ yes... I guess it's better to have a name than having none.] she's really not that enthusiastic about it huh? well, I've given her the name so I hope that she at least show a small sign that she likes it.

[ so what will you do now, Alice-san? ]

[ ...nothing... stealing again, maybe... ] and here I thought I just told her to stop stealing earlier.

[ No, you shouldn't do that. I just told you earlier that if you ever get caught, you might turn into a slave right? ]

[ i-if you want me to stop stealing so much... ]

Alice then started fidgeting,

[ wha-what is it? ] I suddenly get nervous from the behavior she's suddenly showing.

[ I said... tha-that if you want me to stop stealing... the-then make me yours! ] ...

[ ... ]

" wha-what!!?? " make her mine? did she just said the wrong words, or did I just misunderstood what she said?

[ make you mine?... ] I kept my emotions on control.

" I'm not a lolicon, I'm not a lolicon, lolicon, not me."

[ ye-yes, I actually don't care about the name you've given me, but you, onii-san, is the only one who ever showed me this kind of kindness. If I will also just be turned into a slave if I get caught stealing, then I rathered chose to be a slave of someone like you onii-san! ] she said while keeping her heads down and gripping her clothes.

[ he-hey look, we just met today, you don't know what kind of person I am, and besides, I can't even take care of myself yet, how am I suppose to take care of someone else's? ]

and a slave is also too much for me. I don't want to enslave someone, especially a little girl.

[ sniff, sniff* ] aaaand... she started sobbing, again.

Just how many times will I make this little girl cry in a single day? no, how did I get into this situation in the first place!

I know that she doesn't have a family and she's living alone, but I can't just suddenly took care of a little girl I find on the streets, especially someone who tried to steal from me.

[ hey, Alice-san, I know how you feel, but I have my own circumstances too, I can't just suddenly take care of someone I just met. ] I knelt down in front of Alice and said those words then I wipe her tears with my hands.

[ ...!!! ] she then suddenly hugged my head.

[ A-Alice!? ]

" what the hell is this!? "

She doesn't smell good, but this feeling of being hugged by a loli is amazing!

[ onii-san, you're so mean. You gave me a name but you'll just gonna leave me too after doing so, if that is just what's gonna happen then I won't accept the name Alice! you're a bad person if you won't take care of me! ] what? now isn't that just some kind of extortion?

I felt her hug is getting tighter and her sobbing is getting noisier, It's a good thing there are only a few people around here, but still, I can feel their gazes towards me.

[ haah... I feel like I'm getting pressured over this but... If you go so far as to say that I'm a bad person... I cannot allow that.]

I remove her arms that are wrapped at my head, then patted her head.

[ I'm not a bad guy, especially towards cute little girls like you. ]

[ sniff, sniff* so... are you going to take me with you? you said that you're a not bad person, right? ] the pressure...

[ well, I... ] I was under pressure but-

[ yes, I will, so? will you take care of me too? Alice? ] I said as I smiled bitterly and took her right hand.

Tears suddenly fell from Alice's cheeks as she covered her eyes with her left arm.

[ sniff, sniff* I... I will, I will be your Alice, onii-san, It's even okay for me if you make sniff* me your slave or if you don't give me food or shelter.]

[ ...you know I won't do that Alice-chan. I won't make you my slave, but as a companion instead. ]

[ ...re-really? ]

[ of course. ] I said as I stroked her small head.

she then removed her arms that is covering her eyes and looked at me, she then made a bright and warm smile.

[ Un! ] I felt a warm feeling as she replied to me that one small word.

- did my heart just skipped a beat?

[ Wwhhhoooooo!!!!! ] cheerings then suddenly came bursting out from the people on the street. I looked around,

- how did they multiplied so fast!?

[ Nice one onii-san!!!] a guy in his 20's shouted.

[ I almost cried... ] a mother holding a hand of a kid muttered.

[ What a nice guy. ] a beautiful onee-san said.

[ Take care of me too young man. ] ??? a grandmother holding a cane said.

I didn't even notice they were listening! What the hell!

( and that's how I gained my first companion as the orange sun fell, and the blue moon rose up to the sky )