Chapter 503: Juliet Moretti – II |
Juliet let out a wistful smile and said, "Well... things were simpler back then."
John hummed and said, "Yeah, things were always simpler when you were younger, right?"
The distant days of him chilling in his room, playing games without a care in the world...
Well. John wouldn't trade what he had now for anything. But it was nostalgic thinking about those days.
Juliet nodded. "Yeah."
John looked at Juliet and said, "You know, for sobbing in my arms just a bit ago, you recovered pretty quick. Is that the New Yorker in you?"
Juliet laughed. "Yep." She smiled at John and said, "I think I earned a quick sob with all I went through. But I'm all good now." She took another bite of her burger and said, "Probably can't sing for a bit. That cry really messed up my throat. But it was nice."
"Alright. Then... should we talk about you joining, or should we just chat for a bit?"
Juliet paused and said, "...Could we just talk?" Her olive-green eyes turned a bit hazy, as if she was looking back at the past in her head. "...It's been about a month of me being treated as part of the backdrop by people. Just having someone listen would be nice. And chat too."
"Hm... Then who's your favorite girl among the Project MirAIs members?" Juliet smiled. "Spill it, Johnny~ And don't say Alfi. We all know she's your daughter."
"Johnny, huh?" John chuckled. "Alright. As for my favorite talent... don't tell her, but definitely Rhea."
Juliet's eyes widened. "NO WAY. Really?! Not even Hana?"
"Well, Rhea's actually fun to watch. I've seen a lot in my days, but she's SO out of pocket that I never know what she's going to do next. Though, it seems like Hana's trying to compete with her."
Juliet laughed and said, "Oh, DEFINITELY. I liked Hana since the start. You know, Oshi and all. But she's definitely started getting a bit out there these days. Always knew she had it in her though. Definitely an honorary New Yorker."
John paused. "...Hana in New York..."
For a split second, he imagined it.
Rin, growing up in New York. The same scenario and situation she had when John found her...
And considering the fact that she recently revealed she had a... 'minor' psychotic break in high school and had an incident with a knife.
"...It's better that she grew up in Japan."
"Right?" Juliet laughed. "I think Hana's a bit too dangerous with guns... She's the strongest imouto for a reason."
John chuckled. "That's true. She's even aiming for the Olympics, you know?"
Juliet's eyes widened. "No way! That was real? She's actually trying out?"
"Well, I think we're a few years off from it, but yes. She definitely had a good chance of it."
Considering that Rin unironically had superhuman level genetics from her father... and since she took to idol training with a vigor that sometimes scared John...
Yep.
Definitely possible for her to be an Olympian-
Wait.
'...So that's her plan... She's definitely going to do it just to brag about it in her streams.'
And that was why Rin was having Hana introduce her on stream as a bestie.
Step one: seed the idea that Hana was separate from Rin.
Step two: use Hana to push Rin's training and IRL social media account.
Step three: when Rin clears the trials to be an Olympian, announce a collaboration.
Step four: ???
Finally, profit.
"...Definitely strongest imouto," John murmured.
Juliet laughed. "That's good. It's nice to have big dreams." She smiled and finished eating her burger.
John noticed and said, "Do you want more?"
"I do... but I think too much junk food isn't good, right?" Juliet scrunched up the garbage and said, "Besides, I need to get used to eating again. I usually fasted every other day..."
John paused. "Hm. Actually, I just realized something."
"Huh? What is it, Johnny?"
John blinked. "...You're really gonna call me that, huh?"
Juliet smiled. "Can't I? I mean, you're too awesome for a normal name like John. And I'd call you Johnny Cashmoney, but that's kind of taken."
"Johnny Cash-" John burst out laughing. "Wow. You're really an optimist, aren't you?"
Juliet nodded. "Yep! Rather than glass half full or glass half empty, I'm a gal who's grateful to HAVE a glass of water in the first place. Y'know?"
John paused. "...I probably should have realized that was a way to answer that question. But anyway." He looked at Juliet and said, "Let's get you checked up."
"...Huh? Checked up?"
"Yep." John nodded. "Let's go to a hospital for a physical. Once there, you can meet one of your genmates too."
"I think it's a bit overkill for a physical- Wait." Juliet blinked. "...Genmate? Why is a genmate of mine in the hospital?" She paused. Then her eyes widened and she said, "Oh my gosh. IS MERYL KODOMO-!" She quickly covered her own mouth, realizing what she said.
John laughed. "Well, I guess that saves some explaining. But yes. Now, come on. I'll set up a video call so that you can meet Hope too."
Juliet blinked. "...So, is Hope her avatar name or-"
"Nope. Her real name."
"...There's a literal girl named Hope as part of Project MirAIs EN?"
"Yep! And she's super sweet, kind, and bubbly. You'll love her." John paused. "...Though you shouldn't be talking about names considering you're Juliet."
Juliet chuckled. "That's fair." She tossed her garbage and then picked up her guitar case. "Should we go then, Johnny?"
"...That's going to take some getting used to. But yeah. I'll call a guy to drive us back."
===
Juliet took a look around the back of the plushed leather seats of the fancy black sedan John had called to pick them up.
John himself was sitting in the passenger side up front with the driver, a baldman with a barcode tattoo on the back of his head.
...Juliet had questions about that, but she decided that it was probably better to not ask.
Just like when she saw Uncle Vinny come home once covered in 'pasta sauce.'
But anyway...
'This is real.'
Juliet was sure that John got that a lot. Girls who didn't believe he was real considering how much help he gave. Probably a lot of the other girls in Project MirAIs felt that way too.
'But that means it was worth it.'
Running away from home after her parents tried arranging her to marry some snobby rich kid.
Having all her funds drained because she trusted a guy who promised to produce for her and set up her socials before he ghosted her.
Playing for hours every day and singing for just barely enough money to eat.
Climbing into hidden areas and alcoves to sleep and not get assaulted or worse at night...
A life spent on edge and survival mode for the past few months.
'But I made it.'
Yes.
Juliet made it.
John had found her. Decided she was worth taking a risk on.
Because Juliet knew it. She wasn't the best singer. Or the best guitar player. She was confident in her musical sense... but performing wasn't quite there yet.
'If I hadn't spent those last few years in acting school and changed to music instead...'
Juliet had gone along with her parents. Since she had a pretty face, they said she should go act. Make it on Broadway, snag a rich husband, and then live nice like any other socialite.
But she hated it. She didn't want to be a trophy wife.
So she bailed.
And now...
Juliet let out a slow exhale, watching as the car pulled up to a hospital.
...Now her life would change forever.
The start of something new-
No. The start of her 'real' life. Of just Juliet, not Juliet Moretti.
"Alright, Juliet." John's voice echoed and he said, "Let's get going to meet Erie. I'll call Hope too, and then we can all have a group chat on next steps. Well, after you all get to know each other."
"Right." Juliet smiled, hugging her guitar case. "...It'll be nice. To have friends."
John paused. "Huh. Come to think of it... Are all the girls in Project MirAIs loners? No, Yuri has some friends, right? I think so. Chihiro DEFINITELY has friends. Asako used to..."
"Huh?"
John shrugged and then opened the door, walking out. After that, he opened the door for Juliet and said, "I'll explain later. For now... check up."
===
A kind Japanese woman named Dr. Iyasu gave Juliet a physical. After that, Juliet was taken to a bathroom to shower and change into new clothes that John had obtained while she was getting the check-up.
It was the same outfit, a pink hoodie and jeans, as well as a comfy undershirt.
...Juliet kind of wished she had proper underwear and a bra too, but that would DEFINITELY be too much to ask from John.
But after all of that, John led her to a room in the hospital.
And inside that room...
"So you're number three?"
...A beautiful but recovering young woman with blood-red hair and emerald eyes stared back at Juliet.
John waved at her and said, "Juliet, meet Erie. Erie, meet Juliet. Now, you guys chat for a bit while I check if Hope is still up. It's pretty late now in Japan, I think." After that, John walked out, leaving the two girls alone.
Juliet stared at Erie.
Erie stared back.
For a moment, there was just an awkward silence.
But then Erie said, "So... what's your opinion on Freddy's?"
Juliet blinked. "The pizzeria? That haunted place with the spooky animatronics?"
Erie's emerald eyes lit up and she said, "Oh my god! You know about it?! Yes!"
Juliet laughed. "What, are you like a fan?"
"Nope! Mister John's going to buy it out for me!" Erie puffed her chest up and said, "You're looking at the future owner of an entire pizzeria chain!"
"...What?"