Aldo and the No Good, Very Bad Day

There's nothing like a good rest. I wonder what I should do today?

Heeey, bro!

Huh?

Man, yesterday was a blast! I ought to thank you!

Yesterday? What do you mean, "yesterday"?

Oh, you don't remember? Well, I guess that's just what happens when you have too much fun!

Let's hang together again sometime! See ya round, bro!

Huh?! "Hang together again"? What in the world was he talking about? Did he think I was someone else?

Hey, you! I finally found you!

Are you talking to me? Do you need something?

Don't act dumb with me! Remember that kid you made cry yesterday? Well, his mom has totally lost it! She's super scary when she's angry. You should apologize right away!

H-Hey, wait!

Who the heck was that? I made a kid cry? I have no idea what he's talking about!

Hello, you... Last night was so much fun! I had such a wonderful time.

I think I'm going to remember last night for the rest of my life.

What the, ?! What are you talking about?!

Oh my! Playing hard to get, I see... You really are something, aren't you? Let's get together again sometime!

What the heck is happening? So many strangers have spoken to me this morning. To top it all off, I have no idea what they're even talking about!

But that kid said someone was angry with me. I shouldn't just ignore that.

Alright! I'll go and see if I can find out what really happened last night!

Hey, do you have a minute? I wanted to ask about yesterday.

You really don't remember anything at all?

That's right. I have absolutely no memory of last night.

What?! I can't believe it! But we were having so much fun!

Listen, are you sure you've got the right guy? I'm sure I'd remember us hanging out together.

Wrong guy? That's impossible, bro!

Or maybe you're just pretending it wasn't you to make it seem like it never happened?!

What are you talking about?!

Our orders at the tavern! You said you would pay for mine too, bro!

I'd pay?! There's no way I'd say that! You definitely have the wrong guy!

Bro, quit playing, it was definitely you! There ain't many people who walk around with giant swords like that!

Giant sword?

Look, I get it. Why not just stop pretending this never happened, and go apologize?

The tavern owner is pretty strict when it comes to money, see.

Well, speak of the devil...

Well, well, well, looky who we have here. You gonna pay for everything you bought yesterday?

Well, this has got nothin' to do with me! Good luck, bro!

H-Hey! Wait!

It's time to pay up! I never leave a debt uncollected... Understand, kid?!

Sorry about this, but you're just gonna have to wait a little longer for the money!

Oi! You can't slip away that easily! Get back 'ere!

Hey, that guy finally came to apologize!

Well, you see... I actually came to ask about what happened yesterday.

That's him, Mommy! That's the guy who did it!

So YOU'RE the bully that made my son cry?

Bully?! But I didn't do anything!

That's a big fat lie! You interrupted our sumo tournament yesterday!

Then, you threw everyone out of the ring and claimed first place for yourself!

I don't remember any of this...

It's definitely him. He was bragging about that big sword on his waist.

No, wait, but...

Fighting with children and making them cry... How can you even call yourself a man?!

I'd have let you off with a sincere apology, since nobody was hurt... But liars like you deserve to be punished!

I really don't remember anything! Please!

Hold it right there!

Now he's done it! You two stay here while Mommy catches that bad, bad man!

*sigh* I didn't think she'd take it that far...

Me neither...

Oh, it's the girl from before. Looks like she's in the middle of a conversation, though.

I told you, he loves me! We spent such a romantic night together yesterday!

You're lying! He told me he has feelings for me, and only me!

How scandalous... Sorry to disappoint, girls, but the person he really loves... is me.

I've got a bad feeling about this... I think it's about time I got going...

*gasp*

Too late!

What perfect timing. Now he can tell us here and now which one of us he truly loves!

The words you whispered to me down by the river last night... Were they true?

I've never heard such nonsense! You told me your feelings by the ocean as we watched the setting sun! That was the truth, right? Tell her!

Heh heh... Well, the time WE spent together is all the proof I need of your love.

But this is the first time we've ever met!

I never told any of you that I loved you! You've all got the wrong guy!

Do you really think I would forget such a handsome face?

She's right! How could we ever mistake you for another man, darling? You're just so manly and fearless!

Come now, ladies... I think we're embarrassing him. You're such a shy boy, my dear.

It's no use, they just won't listen to me! Time to fall back and regroup!

Hey, wait! Where are you going?!

You see that?! He was so disgusted by your lies that he ran away!

She's right, you know. Nothing good comes from lying.

Th-That's not it! He was just embarrassed, like you said!

Darling, wait for me! You need to prove to these old crones that I'm the one you want!

Hey! You can't just leave us behind!

Heh heh! Lucky for me, I'm quite good at chasing after boys!

Seriously, what the heck is going on?!

Treating strangers, making kids cry, seducing women?! I have no memory of any of this!

There he is!

We meet again! Time to pay up, buster!

Man up and apologize to my son already!

Tell us!

Which one of us...

...do you really love?

I guess this is the end of the line...

Aldo! Allow me to take it from here!

Cyrus!

Go! I shall hold them off!

You must leave this town and make for the Inanari Plateau!

I shall meet up with you later!

Got it! Be careful, Cyrus!

You made it, Aldo. Looks like you're in a lot of trouble, huh?

Amy? And Feinne! What are you doing here?

I asked them to come, Aldo.

Cyrus! You really saved me back there!

Think nothing of it. More to the point, I need to speak with you about something.

Huh? What's up, Cyrus?

Why, exactly, did you decide to push me into the river last night? I understand you were in high spirits, but what need was there for that? If I weren't a frog, there could have been a serious accident!

Huh?! What are you talking about!? Cyrus, why would I ever do that to you?!

Well, that is exactly what I thought... But it was most certainly you who pushed me.

Is it just me, or was Aldo acting pretty weird yesterday?

Please tell me I didn't do anything to you too, Amy?!

You suddenly started acting all weird, trying to use these gross, cheesy pick-up lines on me. It was so unlike you. Actually, it shocked me so much that I... Well, I punched you. You must remember that.

I only left a tiny mark on you, but still... Sorry about that, Aldo.

There no need to apologize, because it wasn't me! I don't have a scratch on me, and I don't push my friends into rivers.

Oh, Aldo...

You believe me, right, Feinne?

Aldo... What's wrong with you?

Not you, too?!

Speaking to women like that... I thought you knew better than that, Aldo!

Hey there, beautiful. You wanna spend some quality time together, just you and me?

Aldo, this is no time for jokes! I'm trying to teach Aldo over here some manners!

......

What?

This is most bewildering! There appears to be two of them!

What? But how?!

So it was you all along! Walking around pretending to be me, doing whatever you wanted!

Shoot! It's the real deal?! Not only that, but the girl who beat me up yesterday is here, too... Don't tell me they're friends?!

Beat you up? Amy, you said you only left a little mark!

Oh, come on! He's clearly exaggerating!

Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm outta here. I can't take another beating!

And with that, I bid you adieu! I'll be seeing you cuties later!

Wait, !

I can't believe he spoke to Feinne like that!

But at least now we know that everything I apparently did yesterday was his doing!

It sure looks that way, yeah. Sorry for not believing you sooner, Aldo.

At least we managed to clear that up. Now I just need to convince the people in town.

That imposter ventured further into the Inanari Plateau.

Then let's go catch that imposter!

Tsk! You followed me all the way here?! You sure are persistent, I'll give you that!

Thanks to you pretending to be me, I'm in some serious trouble! What is it you want?!

Ha! Do you reeeally think I'd tell you that?

Now, I've got stuff to do, and if you guys are gonna get in my way...

Then I'll just take care of you now!

A specter! So it was disguising itself!

Well, if it's a specter we're facing, then there's no need to hold back!

Yeah! Let's do this, guys!

Ow ow ow ow! I give up, I give up! Please, forgive me!

You're gonna tell the townspeople about everything you did yesterday, got it?

Okay, okay! I'll do it, I swear!

Well, at least we can clear up this whole misunderstanding.

Hey... Why did you disguise yourself as me, anyway?

There's a woman in Izana that I like. There's no way I could enter the village in my spectral form, but by using a human disguise, well... I wanted to disguise myself as a man from the western continent. I heard they were more attractive.

So if you like this woman, then why did you go around sweet talking a bunch of other girls?

Well, I was just so handsome in that disguise... The ladies just couldn't keep their hands off me.

Hmph. That doesn't explain why you decided to pay for a stranger's tavern order.

Well, I heard that women find rich men more attractive, so I wanted to show off a little...

What about the kids and their sumo game?

Well, how else was I going to show her how strong I am?

Oh, jeez...

Hmmm...

......

Well, I guess I can kind of get what you were trying to do. That doesn't change the fact that you caused a lot of trouble for everyone, though.

Are you gonna fess up to the townspeople about what you did?

Of course... I'm so sorry.

Let's get back to town and clear up this mess!

Once they hear that yesterday's events were the work of a specter, they're sure to forgive Aldo.

Things got a little hairy back there, but it looks like we put this case to rest!

Um... I can't enter town unless I look like a human, so I'll have to go like this.

Yeah, it'll be easier to explain this way. Okay, let's get back to Izana.

Ah! He's back!

There's no getting away this time! Give it up already!

Come on, it's time to tell everyone what you did.

Yeah, yeah, I gotcha, boss... Heh heh.

Listen up, everyone! Everything that happened yesterday...

Was the fault of this imposter here! He's a specter, disguising himself as me!

Huh?!

But you can all relax! I've brought him here to apologize to all of you!

Get him, everyone! Don't let him escape!

Aldo!

A specter?! How dare you play with our hearts like that!

Disguising yourself as human... That's unforgivable! Tie him up and hand him over to the soldiers!

Wait, stop! He's the real imposter! I'm the real, human Aldo!

That's exactly what an imposter would say!

I know you're the fake! No human would tell such terrible lies!

You gotta be kidding me... What do we do?!

At this point, even the way of the sword offers little help!

My plan worked perfectly! See ya, losers!

Hey, stop! Come on, guys, you gotta believe me!

I should be safe here!

Huh?

Th-That girl!

Why, aren't you the boy I met yesterday at the tavern?

Um, I... Yeah.

What's wrong? Your face is bright red.

Huh?! Oh, it's n-nothing! I'm fine, really!

Well, if you're sure...

*huff* *huff* I can't believe we got away!

Oh! There's fake Aldo! But who's he talking to?

Um! I...well... You see...

Yes?

I've been in love with you since the moment I laid eyes on you! Please, be my girlfriend!

He told her!

How will she respond?!

Wh-What?!

Well... I mean... Thank you so much for telling me how you feel...

Oh my goodness... Aldo, what are you going to do if she says yes?!

S-So you mean...! You'll be my...

No, I'm sorry... I can't.

Whaaat?! But... But why?! Is there something about me you don't like!?

Well, we barely know each other, and...

And?

Well, you're just not my type. I prefer more mature, rugged men.

I'm so sorry. I'm afraid I have to get going now.

......

Oh, Aldo...

Don't let it get to you, Aldo. Different people like different things.

You're right. I guess one-sided love really does exist...

Why are you all acting like it was ME that got rejected?! It was that imposter, not me!

......

Um... Oh man, what do I say at a time like this...

That was pretty brutal, man. Anyway, can you fess up to the townspeople about what you did now?

......

I spent so much time perfecting the secret arts of transformation, but it was all for nothing!

*sniffle* *sob*

Well, it looks like we cleared everything up with the townspeople... At least for now, anyway.

That specter certainly seemed despondent when we left him, didn't he?

Well, can you blame him? He got rejected by the girl he liked... And pretty brutally, if I'm being honest.

The townspeople seem pretty down right now, but at least they're not angry any more.

Man, I'm beat... At least everything worked out in the end. Now we can...

There he is!

Um... Is something wrong?

Don't play dumb! You still haven't told us who you love the most!

Huh?! No, that was all the imposter! I didn't say I loved any of you!

We don't care about that!

All we care about...

Is your handsome face!

Hahaha... You're pretty popular, Aldo!

It appears my assistance will not be necessary this time.

Make sure you let them down gently, Aldo!

Come on, how am I supposed to do that?!

Now...

This time...

There's nowhere to run!

C-Come on guys, give me a break!