Don't know, maybe yes. This was the answer given by Surface Futaba.
Compared to Inner Futaba's certain answer, Surface Futaba seemed to hold a sliver of hope about whether they could merge into one.
Mm, just a sliver.
"Mai-senpai is coming back tomorrow." Futaba Rio said.
"Yeah, to be more precise, she should arrive home tonight."
Sakurajima Mai, who had been busy for a summer vacation plus a month of school, was finally returning to her youthful campus daily life.
"Recently, I can see Senpai's ads on TV and on the streets."
"After all, they are all big brand endorsements."
Compared to the unexpected popularity full of randomness in her child star era, Mai's comeback this time was entirely a setup by capital. Various top luxury endorsements and announcements that made other stars drool were thrown down. Even an amateur could be piled up into a top star, let alone Sakurajima Mai, a former Japanese national-level actress.
In short, after the operation of capital, the news about Sakurajima Mai's comeback had spread throughout Japan. Although Sakurajima Mai hadn't released any works after her comeback, the momentum already had 70-80% of the grand scene of her peak period.
Even from the perspective of revenue alone, the Mai of back then was far inferior to now.
After all, Sakurajima Mai was just popular back then. Trying to convert this popularity into money involved many twists and turns.
"Will you still come when Senpai comes back?" Futaba Rio asked.
"Cold knowledge: Mai is my girlfriend."
You say this as if we are having an underground affair. When Mai comes back, not only will I come, but I'll come openly and aboveboard.
"Then will you still go to her side?" Futaba Rio asked again.
The 'her' in her mouth naturally referred to Inner Futaba. With Mai-senpai back, Inner Futaba's side became trouble. Although Mai didn't know Inner Futaba's situation currently, considering the other party's 'audacity', it was hard to say how long it could be hidden.
"If I don't go, how to solve your problem?" Shinra asked back.
"...Actually, it's quite good now." Futaba Rio said after a brief silence.
Shinra looked at the girl in front of him with her head lowered, covering her face with bangs. If she really felt good, she wouldn't be sitting in front of me.
"Adolescence Syndrome must be solved, and as soon as possible. According to past experience, the longer it drags on, the bigger the problem will be."
Don't be fooled by there being only two Futabas now; who can guarantee a third one won't appear?
...
Shinra left Mai's apartment and went to Futaba's house again.
This time Futaba Rio didn't come out to welcome him but opened the door access directly from the inside.
"Please enjoy."
Another iced latte was placed in front of Shinra, with prepared sugar cubes on the side.
"So have you decided which one to keep?" Inner Futaba was still dressed in that school uniform, sinking into the soft sofa, asking in a flat voice.
"Didn't I say before? You decide this kind of thing yourselves... Speaking of which, what do you think should be done to unify the thoughts of two people with opposing opinions?"
"No way."
Inner Futaba still maintained that attitude. Her and Surface Futaba's philosophies were paradoxes like their existence, unable to reach unity at all.
"You said before that the cause of Adolescence Syndrome might be consciousness conflict. Does that mean as long as you reach a consensus, you can merge into one and become one person again?"
"...Maybe."
Futaba Rio shrugged noncommittally, then pointed out the key to the problem.
"It's impossible for me and her to reach a consensus. Judging from the current situation, the divergence between us will only get bigger and bigger."
"Can't you be optimistic? Obviously both are yourself."
Shinra felt since both were 'self', why couldn't they be considerate of each other?
Considerate, huh...
"Can Mai-senpai be considerate of you two-timing?"
Futaba Rio's voice became a bit sharp. Shinra didn't like to hear it.
"She will later."
Hearing this, Futaba Rio revealed a complex expression. Is this planning not to act anymore after being exposed by me?
"I will wait and see."
"Just don't expose it in advance." Shinra indicated he hadn't fully developed yet and needed to prepare more.
"I'm not that kindhearted." Futaba Rio lowered her eyes.
For Inner Futaba, although Mai was also her friend, she wouldn't give up her selfishness because of this.
Regarding this point, Inner Futaba felt the other self was the same, just finding many reasons to whitewash it.
Hypocrisy...
Just as Surface Futaba felt Inner Futaba was immoral, Inner Futaba also felt Surface Futaba was hypocritical and pretentious.
As time increased, this sensory malice would intensify, eventually making them go to two different extremes completely. At that time, even if Adolescence Syndrome was solved, the remaining Futaba would only be a Futaba with extreme thoughts.
Therefore, the best solution was still to let the two Futabas reach a reconciliation and merge into one again.
"Then I thank you first." Shinra waved his hand.
Futaba Rio drank the coffee in the cup and asked: "Will you come later?"
"Why do you all like asking this kind of question?" Shinra was puzzled.
"Did she ask too..." No surprise appeared on Futaba Rio's face. Instead, she accepted this reality calmly and added the reason for her question.
"Senpai should be back soon, right?"
"Will arrive at the apartment tonight. Barring accidents, she should have a tea party with the other you."
"In that case, are you free tonight?"
Futaba Rio felt since the other self had Mai's company, she couldn't stay alone here, so she thought of letting Shinra stay.
"...Do you know what you are saying?"
"Inviting you to stay overnight."
Obviously, Futaba Rio knew what she was saying, and she even repeated it.
"So are you free?"
"What if I say no?"
"Then please stay too. I'm a bit scared today."
Futaba Rio still spoke in a flat tone. Just listening to the tone, Shinra didn't hear any meaning of fear from the other party at all.
"Actually real?"
Shinra was a bit surprised. Although Futaba Rio's tone was flatter, through the message transmitted by Emotion Perception, the other party indeed generated emotions of fear and uneasiness, and not just a little bit.
"What is real?"
"I mean you actually weren't joking." Shinra didn't understand what she was afraid of.
Normally, shouldn't she feel afraid because he stayed?
Worrying about her chastity or something.
"I won't joke about this kind of thing." Futaba Rio shook her head, then her gaze shifted slightly to look out the window, "Just a bit afraid of being alone."
"Afraid of loneliness?"
"Pretty much."
"Speaking of which, where are Uncle and Auntie?"
Shinra came over these two days, and not once did he see anyone at home.
"Work."
Futaba Rio said it as simply as drinking water. For her, such a life was already accustomed.
Since accustomed, why be afraid of loneliness?
Shinra more or less guessed some reasons. Probably he and Mai had to take the blame for this.
—If I hadn't seen the light, I could have borne the darkness.
Previously, Futaba Rio lived alone like this. Now having friends and feeling warmth, she naturally didn't want to return to the time of being alone before.
Plus encountering a supernatural event like Adolescence Syndrome, being slightly sensitive emotionally was understandable.
"If just work, they wouldn't not be home all the time, right? Isn't your father a medical professor?"
"He rents an apartment near the teaching hospital. As for Mother, she often needs to go abroad to discuss business, so she is not home for about half of the year."
...
Honestly, Shinra previously thought Futaba's parents were not home for a few days every month. It turned out they were at home for a few days.
And looking at Futaba, this habit probably existed long ago.
But then again, what's with Futaba's father? Rather renting an apartment outside than going home to accompany his daughter.
Is such a family really okay?
Having seen too many daughter-con fathers, encountering an existence like Futaba's father, Shinra was a bit unaccustomed for a moment.
Watching the silent Shinra, Futaba Rio actually comforted him in turn: "My father and mother are not suitable to be parents."
When saying this, Futaba gave the feeling of talking about two irrelevant strangers.
However, judging from the attitude shown by Futaba's parents so far, calling them biological parents wasn't an exaggeration.
Except for giving money, there was almost no care.
Maybe for some people, giving money is enough, but in fact, parents' care during the growth process is the most indispensable for children.
"One is a person who married to get ahead in the hospital organization, and the other married for the title of 'Professor Futaba's wife'. In short, the reasons for forming a family are very different from most people."
"Interest marriage." Shinra sighed. He thought this situation only appeared in wealthy families.
Oh wait, although in Shinra's eyes it's an ordinary family, actually with Futaba's family conditions, placed in Japan, it's properly considered upper class. Calling it a wealthy family is not an exaggeration.
"This situation shouldn't be rare for you, right?"
Futaba Rio looked at Shinra. She knew Shinra's family wasn't simple. Therefore, in her view, Shinra should be accustomed to situations similar to her parents'.
"My family is still very open-minded." Shinra shook his head. Such interest marriages existed, but mostly out of personal will. After all, what era is this? Arranged marriages are out of fashion long ago. Unless it's nonsense like LGBT, forced intervention won't happen.
Shinra also emphasized specifically: "And in my family, I belong to the traditional faction, stressing mutual affection, and..."
"And?"
"And polygamy."
Can't deny it; indeed traditional, even more traditional than arranged marriages.
Several black lines appeared on Futaba's forehead. Even she didn't want to talk to this guy in front of her anymore.
"First time seeing someone calling being philandering 'traditional'."
"Eh, this statement is wrong." Shinra had something to say, "Philandering is usually used to describe a person who is not dedicated emotionally and easily changes heart. But I am just not dedicated, not changing heart."
"...Is there a difference?" Futaba was speechless, not understanding the difference between the two.
"Of course there is. I prefer to call this 'multi-affectionate'."
I really have a problem chatting about these nonsensical things with him. Futaba Rio rolled her eyes, then stood up.
Shinra asked: "What are you going to do?"
Futaba Rio answered: "Order dinner delivery."
Providing meals today?
Shinra was very satisfied. At least he didn't have to go out to forage like yesterday.
As for whether to stay later... still have to stay.
Since the other party said so, Shinra naturally wouldn't be heartless enough to leave her alone in this empty villa.
"Where do I sleep tonight?" Shinra asked.
Futaba Rio hung up the phone and said without looking back: "Living room."
Such a big villa, not even providing a guest room?
Is this to let him adapt to post-marital life in advance?
Unfortunately, such flirtatious words couldn't be said. After all, Shinra didn't plan to become a man in the true sense tonight. better say fewer provocative words to avoid aggravating the girl's condition.
Dinner was delivered quickly. There should be a specialized restaurant nearby providing services for rich people like Futaba Rio who didn't want to cook.
The taste was quite good. It was definitely freshly stir-fried, not pre-made food.
Used tableware didn't need to be cleaned. putting them directly into the delivered food box and carrying it to the door, someone would be responsible for taking it away.
Focusing on service being in place.
"You solve dinner like this usually?" Shinra thought he could also get a similar service. Anyway, it wouldn't cost much, and he could reimburse it directly through the public account later.
"I cook dinner myself."
The implication was that she chose to order takeout because Shinra came.
Why can all the girls he knows cook?
After the meal, Futaba Rio went to the bathroom and pressed a smart button. Afterwards, there was no need to worry about bathwater; it would fill the water and automatically adjust to the appropriate temperature.
"You wash first." Futaba Rio was concise.
"I'll go back to get a change of clothes?"
"No need, I've already prepared."
"This is premeditated."
Futaba Rio turned a deaf ear, just placed pajamas of various sizes in front of Shinra, and said to herself: "Because didn't know the specific size, so bought one of each."
Including underwear.
Shinra took the clothes suitable for his size and walked into the bathroom. Just as he prepared to close the door, he heard the other party say again: "Changed clothes can be thrown directly into the washing machine. No need to add detergent in the middle; it will be added automatically when washing. Because it's a washer-dryer combo, no need to worry about not drying."
"...I know."
"Mm."
"...Why are you still standing at the door?"
"Can't I?"
Futaba Rio had no intention of leaving at all.