Life After You
Day 2: Afternoon

I need answers.

Did Gilad break through—did he hack the game, or did he make a crack into this world some other way?

At what point on the timeline am I? Is this in the past, present, or future?

Is the Zeph I see every day now the same person as the one I met in Pistevo? Is this the same person, only in the past, or is it a different Zeph altogether?

Can I stop the ultimate disaster that is supposed to take place at the end of the game?

Who is controlling this world? Is it CloverWorks—the original developer, or Pistevo? Are they the same person?

What is this world? Is it a game, or an actual world on its own?

And, of course, who is Pistevo? Is that something I can replace out in After You?

Delilah: Geez. It’s only the second day, and I’ve only accumulated more questions.

I sprint up the steps—something I have never been able to do in real life—and stop in front of Zeph’s office.

Delilah: I didn’t even ask him what needs to be done today...though I have an idea. Hopefully, my intrusion hasn’t changed the game so much that even the daily tasks are different.

I place my hand on the doorknob. Just before I turn it, I hear someone’s voice from behind.

???: “Alone at work?”

Delilah: That sarcastic tone...it could only be one person.

I turn around. Sure enough, Aziel is standing with his hands in his pockets, a smirk on his face.

Delilah: “Alone, not at work?”

I retaliate. After everything, it feels surprisingly refreshing to talk to Aziel like this.

Aziel: “As you can see. But I saw something rather strange a moment ago.”

Delilah: “Something strange?”

Aziel: “Zeph and Rehan sitting under a tree.”

He chuckles, clearly amused at the sight. Then, his voice drops to a quieter volume.

Aziel: “...I have not seen that in ages. What have you done?”

Delilah: “You say that like it’s a bad thing. Well...I just left them alone. Zeph knows more about Rehan than I do, so it’s better if he stays behind—and before you say anything about my inferior capabilities when compared to Zeph, let me tell you that I know. It’s just that some things are more important than others.”

[Aziel +50]

Aziel: “I was just about to say that.”

Aziel arches his brows as if impressed. If I didn’t know his appreciation is for wits, I would have thought he liked being scolded or something.

Aziel: “What’s the issue? What’s Rehan upset about?”

Delilah: “...”

Should I tell him? How much could I tell him? I join him at the railing, overlooking the basketball court downstairs and the garden. I look outside, and Aziel turns too to do the same. Without explicitly saying so, we know that we are both looking at the garden where Zeph and Rehan are sitting next to each other.

As if on cue, Zeph lifts his head. For a moment, our eyes meet. He gives me his usual mischievous smile and a nod.

Delilah: Permission to tell Aziel?

I can only guess.

Aziel catches the cue that Zeph has given me. He glances at me expectantly.

Aziel: “Well, envoy, you just got permission to tell me whatever you were hesitating to tell me about.”

Delilah: “I know that.”

Delilah: Did Zeph give up on following the normal flow of the game altogether? None of today has been what Day 2 should be.

I open the door to Zeph’s office and invite Aziel to enter with me.

Once inside, we sit by the window, neither of us claiming Zeph’s desk.

Delilah: “So, last night...”

I briefly recall what happened: that someone from my world seems to have broken into this world, prompting Rehan to sense a crack in the barrier he constructed many, many years ago but has since then forgotten about.

After hearing my recollection, Aziel is silent for a minute. Then, he crosses his arms, still leering at me.

Aziel: “You’re not telling the whole story. If our manager gave you his consent to disclose this to me, it can’t be just for chitchat.”

Delilah: “What do you mean?”

Aziel: “I used to be an alchemist in life.”

Delilah: Oh...right. Aziel’s story.

Aziel: “But gave up on it when I found out that I was a test tube baby designed to have the most optimal conditions to practice those arts. They called me a genius until I found out why I could do the things I could, and after replaceing out that I was myself a test subject, I tried to quit alchemy. I tried to flee the country. They tracked me down and killed me before I could—and now I’m here.”

Delilah: I always knew his story. I always knew everyone’s story—but I didn’t realize it was so easy for him to just tell it like that.

As he tells the story of his life, presumably from many years ago, Aziel still has his arms crossed, but is looking straight into my eyes the whole time. It is as if he is telling me all of this so that it will be useful to me, so that I can draw a connection between him and what has been happening in this world.

...which I am not succeeding at.

I stare at him blankly, quite a bit disappointed at myself for wasting his effort and expectations—especially right after getting 50 points.

Aziel: “You’re not getting it?”

I shake my head.

Delilah: “...I’m sorry. I never even finished school. I didn’t want to be a disappointment—”

Aziel: “Well, that’s fine. I just told you, I’m a genius.”

He smirks as he compliments himself in the most matter-of-fact manner.

Aziel: “I was saying that you should probably tell me everything you know, because Zeph’s permission for you to speak to me about it at all means there is something I can do about it—and I cannot possibly know what that is unless you share your knowledge with me, isn’t that right?”

Delilah: “Oh.”

I kind of want to punch him in the face for the attitude. At the same time, everything he just said is true—which makes me want to punch him in the face even more.

Regardless, he is right.

Delilah: “You may not believe it...”

Aziel: “I will. Just tell me.”

I nod.

This time, I disclose everything useful to Aziel: that this is a game called After You, that I came from the “real” world, that Zeph and I met personally in Pistevo’s world, that it was my brother who seems to have broken into this world, awakening Rehan’s memories. I tell him, too, what should have happened in the original game, and what is supposed to happen at the end. I tell him about the trial, which is a ploy by an unknown antagonist to erase the very existence of Messengers.

Aziel: “Canonically—”

Delilah: Alright, he’s a genius. He is already using terms that don’t exist in this world.

Aziel must have read my expression. He chuckles.

Aziel: “Are you regretting your decision not to choose me yet, envoy?”

I shake my head.

Delilah: “You are all wonderful people, but I have only one heart and Zeph has it.”

To my surprise, he nods approvingly—but comments on it no further.

Aziel: “Canonically, how much time should we have left until the trial comes?”

Delilah: “A year in total.”

Aziel: “But everything has been changing since you came personally.”

Delilah: “Yes.”

He stands up and walks to the door, beckoning for me to follow.

Aziel: “If all of what you said is true and Zeph will finally replace someone to live for, I will gladly die for that ending. You have chosen wisely.”

I cannot see his face, since he has his back to me and is still walking. He only stops and turns around after he has spoken that line and has his hand on the doorknob.

Aziel smiles, almost genuinely.

Aziel: “One cannot simply break into another world. There must be a linkage, a connection of some sort. If your brother broke in, that connection may well be you, but I’ll have to investigate further. Come with me to my room.”

Without waiting for my response, he leaves.

Delilah: Guess I have no choice.

I follow.