Epilogue: Putting the Band Back Together (TBA)

Weeks passed, months even. The Miyahara family dynamic changed in a way that no one could have predicted, as each member of the family was able to perfectly replicate and replace the other. The constant usage of the syringe was making them more connected than ever, and that spilled over into their minds but in a very interesting way, as long they were that specific person, they could act as them.

Miki quickly noticed this and had their family tested in a very unique way. In a regular Sunday, she called Toshiro, Iori and Koji to the living room, and had a camera set up.

“Honey, can you turn into Iori for me? I wanna record you for a moment.” She didn’t say why to any of them but she wanted to confirm her theory.

Wait, didn’t they already prove what she was likely trying to find out? After all, their choice of who ends up becoming who on a particular day was done for a reason. It was mostly because they still had their limitations for imitating each other, even accounting for the suits supporting them.

But if she wants to prove it again, then sure. Might as well.

“Err… okay?” Toshiro answered with a raised eyebrow, reaching towards a syringe that was within hands reach of the couch. They’ve gotten really comfortable with using this thing, that much he could admit.

Now to just inject it into his arm, and focus his thoughts of becoming Iori. Eyes closed, full on change of appearance.

A few moments later and he was Iori once again, for the nth time.

Miki pressed the record button on the camera, that was on a tripod.

“Okay, Iori… How was school last week? Can you tell me what happened?”

The real Iori was confused seeing this but didn’t say anything, mostly because Miki stopped her from saying as such.

Then an odd feeling happened to Toshiro, he could recall everything that Iori did the previous week, without going to school as her for at least 3 weeks. So ‘Iori’ would proceed to describe on camera what happened.

“I studied a bit for an exam on World History, had a date with Hitoshi at our house’s backyard garden, and went out for a bit of shopping with my friends. I loved the cute twintailed scrunchies that I picked out for one of my friends~ It just looked so cute on her!”

Like a fountain, the words naturally flowed out of her tongue like clear, fresh water for a leisure park’s atmosphere. Even just saying all those words felt so normal to her, even in spite of having never known such information before.

“W… whuh…?” ‘Iori’ stared at her wife with her mouth hung open, baffled as to how such words even managed to leave her mind so effortlessly.

Miki nodded. “I see…” And stopped recording almost immediately, knowing that the real Iori would react to that.

And as if Miki planned it, Iori, who was next to her, gasped seeing this. “Whuh? That’s… That’s what exactly what happened last week! Mom, what’s going on?”

Miki looked at her. “The serum in this syringe has changed us somehow. It’s allowing us to recall things that that we did without being that person. Your dad hasn’t been you for a few weeks, Iori, so how was he able to recall stuff that you did? The only different thing that we did was to use the serum.” She offered one to Iori. “Turn into me and go where your dad is, you’ll see what I mean.”

Iori had a bit of a sweatdrop in her face but since this was gonna be a good thing to have recorded proof, Iori took the syringe and promptly turned into Miki.

“Go to the camera and I’ll record again, and recall what I did last week too.” The real Miki said as ‘Miki’ walked to where ‘Iori’ was. Once she was in position, Miki started recording.

“Okay, so… Last week, me and Toshiro dealt with a pesky parent at the agency, she even threatened to call the cops on us! Then I did some normal work, and there was a parents’ meeting at Iori’s school, so both me and Toshiro went there.” ‘Miki’ naturally said everything in a very natural way, recalling what the woman did the previous week. Whuh…?” She had a similar reaction to ‘Iori’.

Toshiro actually stood corrected on this one. Even if it took almost multiple months to kick in. The fact that it only took until now for the syringes to give them this sort of ability was both exciting and concerning to her. It implied that the syringe’s abilities were evolving the more often they kept using it, but in turn, it also implied there were limits to these things that, by this point, are effectively unknown to them. For all they knew, the sky itself might just be the limit.

They’d have to take a LOT more doses, just to be sure.

“Not gonna lie… This is starting to feel concerning.” ‘Iori’ said, looking at her own hands as if they were suddenly foreign to her senses again. “So I guess the more we use these syringes, the more things we could do with them? If that’s the case, then what can’t we even do, if it’s not solved by taking a couple hundred more doses?”

Miki stopped recording again, with Koji nodding at ‘Iori’s question. “Yeah, what could be possible after what we can do already? Like, we can already make clothes, we can be objects and now we can recall memories that aren’t even ours.”

Miki nodded. “I don’t know but I think we could figure it out ourselves. Also considering that we could just straight up mimic each other, maybe, just maybe…”

Oh, Toshiro knew that look, the dreamy Miki with her weird (and admittedly cool) things she thought of.

But before she could talk, Toshiro’s phone rang.

“Oh, baby, I want you~~”

It was one of the old TKRK songs that he wrote and loved so much that was his phone ringtone. Once ‘Iori’ grabbed the phone, it was Keizo.

‘Huh?’

It was kinda weird for Keizo to call her at a random Sunday like now. But she supposed there was probably some last minute problems that he needed some help with. Or maybe he just wanted to hang out some more. His mood had been improving these past several months, so ‘Iori’ wouldn’t really mind spending a bit more time with him for even longer.

“Y’ello~? Keizo-kun? Cough–err… sorry if I sound different right now.” She said, having just realized she’s still in the form, and thus, speaking through the voice of her own daughter.

“Iori-chan? Oh, Toshi.” Keizo chuckled. “Listen, I got in touch with our former band members and they want to meet up at my place. Bring us some syringes and we can have some fun!”

Well, Keizo did say that the other members could be traced but that certainly took a while to happen!

“Maybe both of us could be cute girls for them, just to demonstrate our new powers~” He said, sounding amused and happy.

“Oh shit! You actually got in contact with them?!” ‘Iori’ exclaimed in surprise, taking a step back on the couch. “How are they doing right now? Especially since it’s been several years now? We could probably show ’em how these syringes work, but we’re still gonna have to teach ’em ourselves.”

Chances are, they might be able to get a full boy band’s worth of cute girls if they’re able to get the hang of things.

“They’ve been fine, better than me actually! Kazuo got married in his mid-twenties and has 3 kids, while Rikiya got swooped by a lady half his age and they have only one child… I’m the only one without any, sad. But that’ll change soon enough, me and your worker lady, Hama-chan… We’re going steady! I’m gonna pop the question in a month or so.”

It seemed things were working for Keizo.

“And by question I mean ‘do you wanna be my girlfriend?’. I’m not that ready for another marriage so quickly. Anyway, come on over and let’s have some fun with the other two! They should be coming soon. Also, I didn’t mention this but I sold the mansion and got me a cozy house, enough for a cute family, like yours. I’m sending you my new address. See you later~”

BLIP!

‘Iori’ would see a message with the new address after Keizo hung up. And lo and behold, Keizo moved to only a few blocks away from Toshiro! They were essentially neighbors now.

“Wait, what…?” ‘Iori’ needed to blink for a moment, silently wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Because from what she could tell, that was definitely at least ten minutes away from his own two-story residence. It was close enough that she could probably arrive there on foot if she wanted to. How did she not notice him making such a move so soon?

“Since when did he actually move? He didn’t even tell me…” She said, locking her phone and casually shrugging as she puts it away in her pockets. “Well, whatever… can you look after the kids for now, Miki? Turns out that Keizo ended up moving a few blocks away from here, and he’s got the old crew from TKRK visiting. Y’think we should get them to try these syringes out?”

All signs were likely pointing to her wife saying ‘yes’, if she knew her Miki-isms well enough~

Instead of saying yes, as ‘Iori’ was predicting, instead she pulled from under the couch a metal briefcase, a bit dusty and she cleaned it with her hand. “Here, take this.”

Once ‘Iori’ opened it, she could see at least 200 syringes, packed very neatly. She only gave ‘Iori’ a wink.

By now, Koji had turned into Miki himself, and went to the kitchen. “I wanna try cooking something!” She said as she walked off, while Iori had turned back to herself. “If you need Yoshiko to show up, dad, just say so, okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll give you a call if I neeuhhh…” The words practivally fell off of her tongue as she finally looked down towards the briefcase that was given to her, having taken the chance to count the hundreds of neatly packed doses that were in the briefcase.

Even if it’s just a casual visit, she’s not even gonna hold back, huh? Even 50 within a single briefcase was already pushing it!

“W-Wait… how many–…Miki, this is WAY too much!” ‘Iori’ said, her face embarrassed and as tinted red as the roses within their garden. “I’m not gonna be there for hours, sweetheart! It’s just gonna be introducing them to these syringes…!”

“Honey, we’re married for over 20 years. We’ll see you tomorrow, next week if we’re lucky.” Miki said, knowing about her Toshiro-isms as well. “And honestly, go have fun. They were your friends before we were married, I don’t mind.”

Miki then looked at Iori. “Well, I wanna see Yoshiko then, Iori. Heheh~”

Iori went wide-eyed and quickly sped away, running from her mom.

Miki carefully stood up and kissed ‘Iori’ in the forehead. “See you, love.” And left the room, with the camera and tripod in hand.