[ Hiyori tilts his head to the side quizzically, as if not understanding what Komaeda is trying to say. He thinks that he should be able to understand all of it, but it's all incomprehensible save that he knows the person before him. His memories suggest that they had been dating at one time, but those same memories paint the image of a very different person than he is. It was one who was content with life and all it has to offer, as empty headed and ignorant as all others. A complete nightmare, really.
His chest hurts, but he's certain that its just the shock of everything, or perhaps just the way it's suddenly beating faster as he stares into those lifeless green eyes. He doesn't concern himself with it, as he can look himself over later. There's a slight frown as he looks down to his h and before returning it to his side. ]
That's a rather harsh assessment, isn't it? I don't suppose that you would prefer that I were to refer to you as "Nagito," though I should be glad to.
[ But the way the statement was framed suggests otherwise. Still, Hiyori seems more wiling to accommodate than his older self. It's amazing how much just a handful of years can change a person. It only takes a few years for one to grow more hardened, just a single moment for all they'd worked for to be ripped away from them, a single incident to tip the first domino that sends a person on a downward spiral that kills their patience and rewrites their goals.
Perfect at any age, but at the present time he was still establishing his life due to a combination of youth and desire to be seen as a leader - the belief that he would one day be the true leader of a massive organization. ]
That name isn't familiar to me, I'm afraid... I am Sou Hiyori. I work for ASUNARO as a surgeon, and I hope to one day assist in guiding the company to a brighter future...
[ Simple, practiced, inoffensive statements that he's no doubt used to introduce himself countless times before. ]
Now, now, there's no need to be so cold, is there?
[ There's an airy, good-natured laugh, as though he's used to even this behavior. He is, and it's never once truly bothered him when those who resent him are generally too far beneath him to warrant his notice. It tells him that he's not particularly well liked here. He can't discern a reason from either set of overlapping memories, so he suppose the "Sou Hiyori" that Komaeda knows must be the one who's so disliked.
How troublesome. It's always such a hassle to change first impressions. His gaze grows more careful and calculating in turn. It's not quite the same look that his older counterpart might carry, for none fear death more than those who have already experienced it once, but one of a person who's far too aware of it for their age. It's a consequence of living with a knife at his back.
He's no stranger to false memories either. He looks to the student store, shaking his head and turning away from it. He's not quite certain of where he needs to be, but he has the sense that it's not here. ]
Hm... My jobs keeps me rather busy, I have to do continuing education as well... But I've always rather fond of strategy and logic games... Ah, I'm not causing you too much trouble, am I?
[ It's just simple small talk to pass the time. Hiyori hasn't made any deal about him, nor has he acclimated enough to take interest in this patient, and so he sees no harm in this just yet. ]
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NOOOOT IT'S WHAT HE DESERVES ok it is what he deserves for going after a married man smh
[ Which is, of course, exactly the point. It's better to be thought of as plain and boring that immediately pegged as a threat, especially in what appears to be unfavorable circumstances. The nail that sticks out gets the hammer, and right now he need only act the part of a carefully pounded in nail. If he had the foresight to do so, he might have seamlessly slipped into the identity of whoever else might be wearing his name and face. It's too late now though, he was too disorientated to think of it, and so he'll have to save it for his next encounter.
Easy footsteps that clack against the floor tiles. He's not certain of where he's going, but he believes that he'll know once he arrives there. So long as he keeps moving, he knows he'll wind up at just the right place. ]
Oh my! You say it with such confidence too... Komaeda-kun must be quite the hustler! I should be afraid to be the one betting against you.
[ He no doubt has plenty of other colorful terms for himself, and idiots will lap it up for belief that it means that he's easy prey. It's not entirely wrong to do so, as those who lose often console themselves by putting their efforts down - one cannot be hurt by loss if they've already predicted it. But Hiyori isn't stupid, and he can size a person up with a single look over and a few exchanged words.
Small talk is far more useful than people make it out to be. He moves on without waiting for a response, ]
But I am fond of Go. I would happily play with you... Though I suppose I should be the one apologizing for being boring, hm? It seems as though you were expecting somebody far more grandiose... Such is the problem with these second hand accounts.
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OK BUT U GOTTA ADMIT other than gashu they're all marriage material
[ It's twofold. It's a hunch, a little tug at the back of his mind that makes even this conversation feel as though it's occurred in days long past. It's impossible, of course, as one doesn't simply repeat their initial impression, yet the idea remains at the back of his mind. It's that feeling that he's in the presence of a kindred spirit, one whom he would be drawn to like a moth to a flame and burnt by it just as easily. He's a person to be cautious about.
But it's more than that. Eyes are a window into the soul, they tell a person's story in just a glance, and those dull green eyes belong to a person who has long since given up on everything. It's almost as though he were to look into a mirror and see what he could be if only circumstances were a little different. Hiyori is one who's so quickly grown bored of everything and everyone after learning each and every type, every action and reason behind every action, the secret ingredient of what makes up human behavior - predictability. ]
Oh, no, not at all... [ He offers a sheepish laugh in an effort to smooth things over. It won't do to come off too strong. ] But, ah, it's a touch embarrassing to know that another has already left such an impression while I can only offer idle chatter.
[ Which Sou Hiyori is he...? There's a thoughtful sound as he considers. It's a difficult question to answer without knowing who the one here is, but he supposes simply introducing himself as normal should work well enough. ]
I have memories of spending time with you, but I have other memories of this place as a student prior to now... It's quite the phenomena. You are, as I recall, Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student... [ He also suspects that he's not the type to want somebody to go on about them, and so he's quick to move on, ] I am Sou Hiyori, a 22-year-old surgeon and technician for ASUNARO. I've heard a few of the names here, but I'm afraid I've never met a single one of them face-to-face.
[ Hm... What else... ]
--ah, you mentioned a "Rio Ranger"... I'm afraid there's no one by that name, but perhaps what you refer to is a later project? We are currently working on a project that is to be called "Rio Laizer," but it'll be a few years yet before it's completed.
[ It seems sensible enough. It fits with the naming scheme, and he's doubtful that they would bring in anyone new at this point. They're too close to their goals for that. It's either that or the project was renamed, though he's not quite fond of the implications of such a thing. ]
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NOT he can be wife material, i guess he could be for someone
[ Hiyori wasn't raised to be stupid nor naive, but the last vestiges of youth are still clinging to him. The fear of death clings to his skin at any given moment, but there is still just the slightest touch of arrogance that's only shed once a person suffers a notable injury. He's always hated pain, but it's an important learning tool. It's what separates children from adults, really.
He hasn't suffered the pain of having his life's purpose stripped from him in but a moment. ]
I see.... It would be an honor to be able to work on ASUNARO's masterwork.
[ He says that, but there's a note of dissatisfaction to the words. They ring true, but none of those who work there can swallow the idea of leaving a project incomplete. The fact that he has a separate name means that the project was retooled in that fractured state, which is simply shameful for a company of such prestige. He supposes that someone must not have liked the design.
He mulls over that as his heels click against the tile floors. Harai is too meticulous, Namida is too skittish, and neither have enough pull for that. Gashu, then... He is rather eccentric. How disappointing. ]
Ranger... [ As he says it, Hiyori finds that he's none too fond of the name either - Rio Laizer, a beautiful and elegant name befitting of what he was. Yet, there's no use in crying about it now. ] You seem to know quite a bit about him, Komaeda-kun. How nice that he's been able to so seamlessly blend in with others. I'm certain that those involved in the project would be delighted to hear it.
[ Rio Ranger is nothing more than data and code, materials and wires, but of greater importance is the fact that he's nothing more than a concept to Hiyori. It's no different than talking about the potential that a hypothetical person has, except the person in question happens to exist. He must have hit it on the head that he was able to grow close to others... He should be more mindful of his conversation partner.
The hand on his shoulder sends a chill down his spine that has nothing to do with it's temperature. He lifts his hands in front of him with a sheepish smile. ]
Please accept my apologies, I shouldn't speak of Ranger-san in such a way... I have every intention of speaking with him directly once I've collected my bearings... Even so, I'm grateful to you for looking out for him.
[ He refrains from offering any further explanation on the matter. Ranger should be flexible and adaptable, able to accept new data and incorporate it into his being, but he's an emotional creature by nature. As a human, it'll frustrate him to be presented with a person who isn't as they should be. As an AI intended to solve problems, it'll leave him in quite the predicament to be given an impossible problem. He'll whirl over it over and over in an effort to find the solution without ever coming to it.
He is nonetheless honest in his delight at hearing that their project - the human they'd created from scratch - is so cared to draw out this reaction. However one chooses to view him, he was dearly beloved by those who were working on him, and he doesn't need to look into the future to know that child was never meant to be thrown into the world on his own. It would be no different than throwing a child out into the world with no support. He was meant to be loved and cared for, seen as a point of pride and a future leader in society, just as any child might be.
With that, he moves on, ]
Ahaha... Did I die to get here...? I'm afraid I seem to have forgotten that part, but I should endeavor not to do so again... Ah, are you certain that we haven't met before?
[ It's a relief that he seems to have been able to smooth things over. It's not like him to be so careless. Hiyori nods in agreement. Though he would like to press on the subject a little more, if only to understand his circumstances and avoid trampling upon his feelings, he puts a cap on it for now to avoid being nothing more than a gossip. The man before him doesn't seem like the sort to want to casually discuss another's circumstances with a stranger who had started the conversation in such a tactless manner.
Rather than focusing on that, his eyes remain fixed on Komaeda as the walk along and even as they stop. He's not an emotional man, nor one to be drawn in by others, but there's something about this one that makes him want to be closer. He wants to peel back the layers and find out what makes him tick, to whittle away the hours with him, and he has to clear the feeling out of his head. It's the pallid skin, gaunt form, and wheezing breath, all the tell tale signs of a sickness as easily cured by his hands as any other.
But he thinks that he'd only incur his ire by saying so, and so he refrains from considering such a fool's errand. ]
Ah, I thought we had met here...
[ He presses his fingertips to his forehead as he's struck by a sense of vertigo. There's a sharp pain in his chest, and for a split second the world goes red, but the world rights itself a second after. He furrows his brow, lowering his hand and shaking his head as pieces start to slot together. ]
That's right. You're often in the library, are you not? I believe we would speak there, though i suppose that's impossible when you've been here longer than I have.
[ But with transfer students coming in with dual sets of memories, perhaps it's not that odd after all? ]
Edited 2022-06-28 01:45 (UTC)
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KOMAEDA IS ALWAYS HIS FAVORITE he dethroned sara, she's boring when she's not being a villain
[ It loops? That's concerning, but it would explain the second set of memories that overlay those he knows to be true. The more he thinks on it, he's certain that they knew each other very well. He knows where scars might be if he were to peak under his clothes, how cool his skin is, and what a troubled individual he is. It's obvious just by looking at him now though, the empty eyes and false smile that he senses rarely falters for long.
It would explain it, and should that be the case then he has no place acting so familiar with him. He remembers himself after but a moment. He unconsciously places his hand over his heart as he watches the other. It must be from watching his discomfort, but there's an uncomfortable ache, as though somebody were pinching the organ inside. It's rather bothersome, so he tries not to pay so much mind to it. ]
I see... The school erases your memories once its cycle has completed then? It seems wasteful to lose progress so often.
[ As one who works with memories, it's more unsettling than he lets on, and his fingers clutch the fabric of his shirt briefly as a sudden sense of unease strikes him. He should know this person, however little right he has to be overly friendly with him, and that means he should be able to understand him. The idea of starting from scratch, of his mind being tampered with, is impossibly frustrating.
The polite smile never falters. ]
As for my favorite book, I have too many to count! But I must admit that I'm partial to Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves. It's a story that's dear to me... I'm rather fond of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None as well.
[ If preferences were to speak of a person, then his choices would paint the picture of a rather troubled man. One is a labyrinth in and of itself, a web connected together by countless threads of perspectives and hidden messages, stories within stories and shifting perspectives. It's about the Minotaur and repressed feelings, of love lost and the attempts to revive it, and of the feelings of guilt and obsession that corrode the mind and body of those who are trapped in the past. There is a happy ending only for those who exist, while the most the living can do is pretend. What a mess of a life it is.
The latter is a fair bit simpler, but nonetheless significant in plucking lives off like flowers on a petal, one by one, as the culprit picks away at the villains in the story one by one. The culprit is a judge and arbiter who brings his gavel down on those who were never punished in life, a proud and righteous man who rids the world of scum by offering them symbolic deaths.
His smile falters for the first time as he finds himself unable to pull his eyes away from Komaeda's scratching. ]
Are you alright, Komaeda-kun?
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NOT BETTER ok you know what that's fair, she should
Yes... Anyone would when faced with such a tragic deterioration. The mind is a delicate thing, isn't it? How much sadder when one suffers from an affliction that they can never overcome.
[ It's not intended to be a comment on Komaeda, although the same might apply, as the afflictions he speak of are something far more cruel. They lead to delusions and tampered memories, twist relationships into something cruel and harmful when they should be fond memories, and before long their monsters become real. It's watching someone slowly die, losing their mind first and their body second, without being able to do anything about it.
It's the worst kind of pain one can inflict on a person. He would know.
He blinks at the order, momentarily puzzled, but curiosity gets the best of him and he finds himself complying readily enough. He moves to the side of it and adjusts his position to secure his footing before leaning forward and pressing his weight against it. He uses one step after another to propel him forward, and it doesn't take much effort for him to reveal what's behind it. ]
[ It's scattered pieces of knowledge, like a completed puzzle that had pieces taken out here and there. He can remember the gardener and the counselor, the cats and a few other points of intrigue, but the entire school setting doesn't feel quite right to him. He's certain that the rooms should be in different places.
He frowns at the name. The Sara that he knows of is still a middle school student. He's better acquainted with her father, but even that isn't a close relationship. They're not so close that his mind jumps to assumptions despite knowing the surname. ]
Chidouin-san? I'm afraid I'm not familiar.
[ He gives Komaeda a dubious look. He doesn't like the idea of exposing his back to anyone, much less one he just met. ]
Wouldn't it be better for you to go first? You seem more familiar with the passage than I am.
[ He's sturdy enough to do more than budge a few inches from the unexpected touch at first, but by time the other is pushing on him it leaves him with two uncomfortable choices. He shiver beneath his touch. It's a pleasant feeling to have hands running down his back, but it's probably just the sudden coolness. He knows him, but as long as it's not mutual they might as well be strangers.
Perhaps he should walk it back before he makes the situation any more uncomfortable. ]
It would be untoward of me to equate you with someone simply because they had your name and face. I was a little out of sorts, I'm afraid... It is nonetheless a pleasure to meet you, Komaeda-kun. I look forward to working with you.
[ That's a little better for addressing a stranger, despite the awkward start and his current predicament. ]
Ahaha... Komaeda-kun will bump into me if I don't! I'm going, I'm going...
[ He swallows, trying to hide the small sound that comes when his hands move to his hips, but Komaeda seems to be right, as it does have the effect of getting to move forward. His mouth goes dry, and he has to place a hand over his chest to avoid coming on too strong himself. It must be because he's familiar, but even so, Hiyori rarely has this kind of reaction to someone.
The mention of kidnapping earns a slight frown, and he's grateful for the distraction. He won't inquire about the details, as it's likely the least interesting part of the conversation for both of them. People act in such ways all the time. They'll even take someone close enough to mold them into who they miss. ]
Of course it does. It's only the blind and selfish who can't tell the difference between individuals simply because they share similarities. Even children will get upset if you try to replace their favorite toy with an identical one. If you craft the same item a hundred times, there were always be slight variations; if you live the same life a hundred times, you will always come out a different person.
[ Children grow attached to their favorite toy for the love that they put into ti and the way that they've personified it. Humans are even more irreplaceable, for their memories won't sync up with your own; their personality won't be the same for their lived experience. It's what makes ASUNARO's AIs so amazing. They're a person exactly as they should be, a perfect replication, and they can sync up with one's memories. ]
Still, it is hard to shake that fondness for a person, now isn't it?
[ Well, there's no point in denying it when he's already acted in such a familiar manner. ]
Yes, a little bit, but if you'll give me a little while I'm sure I can sort it out. You aren't the person I knew, but a stranger I happen to know a few things about. You have a different air about you than the Komaeda-kun I remember knowing before.
[ It's no different than how Hiyori has a different air than he might were he older. He is, in ways, more amicable than his older counterpart for having such a desire to appear so. He's a little more arrogant but a little less bitter for still never having had his role stripped from him. But he's no less perfect, nor is he any worse at sizing people up. Even now, it only takes a look and a few words for him to understand a person, with or without memories. He must have a bit more sense too, because he's young enough to don a fluffy ponytail rather than the rattail he would have adopted a year or two later. ]
Does it bother you? My memories are fuzzy, and so I can assure you that I don't remember anything in nature.
[ Which is to say that he's not carrying any of Komaeda's secrets. He's an honest person, but everyone has parts of themselves that they'd rather others not know about. ]
Now, now... I assure you that there's no need to be so defensive... Hm, why don't I say it this way instead? You are my old new friend! ☆ Or perhaps I should say I met you in my dreams? ♡
[ His voice is light and even playful, unbothered by the prospect of being unable to regain what was lost when there are so many better ways of doing so. Komaeda should know that well enough from interacting with their doll. He would know better than any other of their goals and wants, of how they should bive the world the ability to revive the dead and even love long lost.
That said, it's hard to ignore the hands on his hips, and he wonders if there aren't certain parts that he wouldn't mind having again, but it's nothing so deep as placing hopes in reviving a dead relationship. He must have experience with fools who wish for him to remain the same while their stimuli changes, and while the person with them changed in turn. Idiotic indeed - pathetic, even, though he wouldn't use that word so openly. He flashes a cheery smile over his shoulder.
He can't let himself be this distracted. Either way, it should be clear that he's trying to clear away any lingering tension. ]
Please don't worry. My hopes shall be squarely focused on the Komaeda-kun who stands before me.
[ It's the janitor's closet but tbh it's so windy that it's easy to end up in there anyway so that's where they are now!! Those words are ominous. It takes an effort him to remain relaxed, his body showing no signs of the anxiety budding in his heart. Hiyori has always been sensitive to the moods and words of others, and there's a dull ache in his torso that he can't quite shake. It almost comes as a relief hen he's released, though there's a hint of disappointment as well.
He shakes his head as he glances around the room. It's an old school, but everything is in pristine condition. The generators powering it are in perfect condition, perhaps because students have no reason to go about destroying their only power source. ]
No, I haven't... I don't recall being able to access this place.
[ His memories are fuzzy and incomplete, with just little bits and pieces coming back to him, but he's almost certain that this place should be inaccessible. He watches Komaeda with care, as though trying to read his mind. ]
Might I ask what change you're referring to? I'm afraid that I don't understand.
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CAN'T WAIT FOR KOMAEDA'S SURPRISE FOR HIM!!
His chest hurts, but he's certain that its just the shock of everything, or perhaps just the way it's suddenly beating faster as he stares into those lifeless green eyes. He doesn't concern himself with it, as he can look himself over later. There's a slight frown as he looks down to his h and before returning it to his side. ]
That's a rather harsh assessment, isn't it? I don't suppose that you would prefer that I were to refer to you as "Nagito," though I should be glad to.
[ But the way the statement was framed suggests otherwise. Still, Hiyori seems more wiling to accommodate than his older self. It's amazing how much just a handful of years can change a person. It only takes a few years for one to grow more hardened, just a single moment for all they'd worked for to be ripped away from them, a single incident to tip the first domino that sends a person on a downward spiral that kills their patience and rewrites their goals.
Perfect at any age, but at the present time he was still establishing his life due to a combination of youth and desire to be seen as a leader - the belief that he would one day be the true leader of a massive organization. ]
That name isn't familiar to me, I'm afraid... I am Sou Hiyori. I work for ASUNARO as a surgeon, and I hope to one day assist in guiding the company to a brighter future...
[ Simple, practiced, inoffensive statements that he's no doubt used to introduce himself countless times before. ]
I hope that we can get along...
NOT HIS DOWNFALL i'm so sad for him
[ There's an airy, good-natured laugh, as though he's used to even this behavior. He is, and it's never once truly bothered him when those who resent him are generally too far beneath him to warrant his notice. It tells him that he's not particularly well liked here. He can't discern a reason from either set of overlapping memories, so he suppose the "Sou Hiyori" that Komaeda knows must be the one who's so disliked.
How troublesome. It's always such a hassle to change first impressions. His gaze grows more careful and calculating in turn. It's not quite the same look that his older counterpart might carry, for none fear death more than those who have already experienced it once, but one of a person who's far too aware of it for their age. It's a consequence of living with a knife at his back.
He's no stranger to false memories either. He looks to the student store, shaking his head and turning away from it. He's not quite certain of where he needs to be, but he has the sense that it's not here. ]
Hm... My jobs keeps me rather busy, I have to do continuing education as well... But I've always rather fond of strategy and logic games... Ah, I'm not causing you too much trouble, am I?
[ It's just simple small talk to pass the time. Hiyori hasn't made any deal about him, nor has he acclimated enough to take interest in this patient, and so he sees no harm in this just yet. ]
NOOOOT IT'S WHAT HE DESERVES ok it is what he deserves for going after a married man smh
Easy footsteps that clack against the floor tiles. He's not certain of where he's going, but he believes that he'll know once he arrives there. So long as he keeps moving, he knows he'll wind up at just the right place. ]
Oh my! You say it with such confidence too... Komaeda-kun must be quite the hustler! I should be afraid to be the one betting against you.
[ He no doubt has plenty of other colorful terms for himself, and idiots will lap it up for belief that it means that he's easy prey. It's not entirely wrong to do so, as those who lose often console themselves by putting their efforts down - one cannot be hurt by loss if they've already predicted it. But Hiyori isn't stupid, and he can size a person up with a single look over and a few exchanged words.
Small talk is far more useful than people make it out to be. He moves on without waiting for a response, ]
But I am fond of Go. I would happily play with you... Though I suppose I should be the one apologizing for being boring, hm? It seems as though you were expecting somebody far more grandiose... Such is the problem with these second hand accounts.
OK BUT U GOTTA ADMIT other than gashu they're all marriage material
But it's more than that. Eyes are a window into the soul, they tell a person's story in just a glance, and those dull green eyes belong to a person who has long since given up on everything. It's almost as though he were to look into a mirror and see what he could be if only circumstances were a little different. Hiyori is one who's so quickly grown bored of everything and everyone after learning each and every type, every action and reason behind every action, the secret ingredient of what makes up human behavior - predictability. ]
Oh, no, not at all... [ He offers a sheepish laugh in an effort to smooth things over. It won't do to come off too strong. ] But, ah, it's a touch embarrassing to know that another has already left such an impression while I can only offer idle chatter.
[ Which Sou Hiyori is he...? There's a thoughtful sound as he considers. It's a difficult question to answer without knowing who the one here is, but he supposes simply introducing himself as normal should work well enough. ]
I have memories of spending time with you, but I have other memories of this place as a student prior to now... It's quite the phenomena. You are, as I recall, Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student... [ He also suspects that he's not the type to want somebody to go on about them, and so he's quick to move on, ] I am Sou Hiyori, a 22-year-old surgeon and technician for ASUNARO. I've heard a few of the names here, but I'm afraid I've never met a single one of them face-to-face.
[ Hm... What else... ]
--ah, you mentioned a "Rio Ranger"... I'm afraid there's no one by that name, but perhaps what you refer to is a later project? We are currently working on a project that is to be called "Rio Laizer," but it'll be a few years yet before it's completed.
[ It seems sensible enough. It fits with the naming scheme, and he's doubtful that they would bring in anyone new at this point. They're too close to their goals for that. It's either that or the project was renamed, though he's not quite fond of the implications of such a thing. ]
NOT he can be wife material, i guess he could be for someone
He hasn't suffered the pain of having his life's purpose stripped from him in but a moment. ]
I see.... It would be an honor to be able to work on ASUNARO's masterwork.
[ He says that, but there's a note of dissatisfaction to the words. They ring true, but none of those who work there can swallow the idea of leaving a project incomplete. The fact that he has a separate name means that the project was retooled in that fractured state, which is simply shameful for a company of such prestige. He supposes that someone must not have liked the design.
He mulls over that as his heels click against the tile floors. Harai is too meticulous, Namida is too skittish, and neither have enough pull for that. Gashu, then... He is rather eccentric. How disappointing. ]
Ranger... [ As he says it, Hiyori finds that he's none too fond of the name either - Rio Laizer, a beautiful and elegant name befitting of what he was. Yet, there's no use in crying about it now. ] You seem to know quite a bit about him, Komaeda-kun. How nice that he's been able to so seamlessly blend in with others. I'm certain that those involved in the project would be delighted to hear it.
[ How did he meet the person before him? Hm... ]
STOOOPPPP HE ONLY GOES AFTER 17 Y/OS
The hand on his shoulder sends a chill down his spine that has nothing to do with it's temperature. He lifts his hands in front of him with a sheepish smile. ]
Please accept my apologies, I shouldn't speak of Ranger-san in such a way... I have every intention of speaking with him directly once I've collected my bearings... Even so, I'm grateful to you for looking out for him.
[ He refrains from offering any further explanation on the matter. Ranger should be flexible and adaptable, able to accept new data and incorporate it into his being, but he's an emotional creature by nature. As a human, it'll frustrate him to be presented with a person who isn't as they should be. As an AI intended to solve problems, it'll leave him in quite the predicament to be given an impossible problem. He'll whirl over it over and over in an effort to find the solution without ever coming to it.
He is nonetheless honest in his delight at hearing that their project - the human they'd created from scratch - is so cared to draw out this reaction. However one chooses to view him, he was dearly beloved by those who were working on him, and he doesn't need to look into the future to know that child was never meant to be thrown into the world on his own. It would be no different than throwing a child out into the world with no support. He was meant to be loved and cared for, seen as a point of pride and a future leader in society, just as any child might be.
With that, he moves on, ]
Ahaha... Did I die to get here...? I'm afraid I seem to have forgotten that part, but I should endeavor not to do so again... Ah, are you certain that we haven't met before?
CANON ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS MENTALLY ILL 17 Y/OS
Rather than focusing on that, his eyes remain fixed on Komaeda as the walk along and even as they stop. He's not an emotional man, nor one to be drawn in by others, but there's something about this one that makes him want to be closer. He wants to peel back the layers and find out what makes him tick, to whittle away the hours with him, and he has to clear the feeling out of his head. It's the pallid skin, gaunt form, and wheezing breath, all the tell tale signs of a sickness as easily cured by his hands as any other.
But he thinks that he'd only incur his ire by saying so, and so he refrains from considering such a fool's errand. ]
Ah, I thought we had met here...
[ He presses his fingertips to his forehead as he's struck by a sense of vertigo. There's a sharp pain in his chest, and for a split second the world goes red, but the world rights itself a second after. He furrows his brow, lowering his hand and shaking his head as pieces start to slot together. ]
That's right. You're often in the library, are you not? I believe we would speak there, though i suppose that's impossible when you've been here longer than I have.
[ But with transfer students coming in with dual sets of memories, perhaps it's not that odd after all? ]
KOMAEDA IS ALWAYS HIS FAVORITE he dethroned sara, she's boring when she's not being a villain
It would explain it, and should that be the case then he has no place acting so familiar with him. He remembers himself after but a moment. He unconsciously places his hand over his heart as he watches the other. It must be from watching his discomfort, but there's an uncomfortable ache, as though somebody were pinching the organ inside. It's rather bothersome, so he tries not to pay so much mind to it. ]
I see... The school erases your memories once its cycle has completed then? It seems wasteful to lose progress so often.
[ As one who works with memories, it's more unsettling than he lets on, and his fingers clutch the fabric of his shirt briefly as a sudden sense of unease strikes him. He should know this person, however little right he has to be overly friendly with him, and that means he should be able to understand him. The idea of starting from scratch, of his mind being tampered with, is impossibly frustrating.
The polite smile never falters. ]
As for my favorite book, I have too many to count! But I must admit that I'm partial to Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves. It's a story that's dear to me... I'm rather fond of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None as well.
[ If preferences were to speak of a person, then his choices would paint the picture of a rather troubled man. One is a labyrinth in and of itself, a web connected together by countless threads of perspectives and hidden messages, stories within stories and shifting perspectives. It's about the Minotaur and repressed feelings, of love lost and the attempts to revive it, and of the feelings of guilt and obsession that corrode the mind and body of those who are trapped in the past. There is a happy ending only for those who exist, while the most the living can do is pretend. What a mess of a life it is.
The latter is a fair bit simpler, but nonetheless significant in plucking lives off like flowers on a petal, one by one, as the culprit picks away at the villains in the story one by one. The culprit is a judge and arbiter who brings his gavel down on those who were never punished in life, a proud and righteous man who rids the world of scum by offering them symbolic deaths.
His smile falters for the first time as he finds himself unable to pull his eyes away from Komaeda's scratching. ]
Are you alright, Komaeda-kun?
NOT BETTER ok you know what that's fair, she should
[ It's not intended to be a comment on Komaeda, although the same might apply, as the afflictions he speak of are something far more cruel. They lead to delusions and tampered memories, twist relationships into something cruel and harmful when they should be fond memories, and before long their monsters become real. It's watching someone slowly die, losing their mind first and their body second, without being able to do anything about it.
It's the worst kind of pain one can inflict on a person. He would know.
He blinks at the order, momentarily puzzled, but curiosity gets the best of him and he finds himself complying readily enough. He moves to the side of it and adjusts his position to secure his footing before leaning forward and pressing his weight against it. He uses one step after another to propel him forward, and it doesn't take much effort for him to reveal what's behind it. ]
... Ah.
STOP THAT'S OUR HUSBAND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
He frowns at the name. The Sara that he knows of is still a middle school student. He's better acquainted with her father, but even that isn't a close relationship. They're not so close that his mind jumps to assumptions despite knowing the surname. ]
Chidouin-san? I'm afraid I'm not familiar.
[ He gives Komaeda a dubious look. He doesn't like the idea of exposing his back to anyone, much less one he just met. ]
Wouldn't it be better for you to go first? You seem more familiar with the passage than I am.
OK FAIR YOU SHOULD BULLY HIM
[ He's sturdy enough to do more than budge a few inches from the unexpected touch at first, but by time the other is pushing on him it leaves him with two uncomfortable choices. He shiver beneath his touch. It's a pleasant feeling to have hands running down his back, but it's probably just the sudden coolness. He knows him, but as long as it's not mutual they might as well be strangers.
Perhaps he should walk it back before he makes the situation any more uncomfortable. ]
It would be untoward of me to equate you with someone simply because they had your name and face. I was a little out of sorts, I'm afraid... It is nonetheless a pleasure to meet you, Komaeda-kun. I look forward to working with you.
[ That's a little better for addressing a stranger, despite the awkward start and his current predicament. ]
STOPPP I'M CRYING THIS BULLYING!
[ He swallows, trying to hide the small sound that comes when his hands move to his hips, but Komaeda seems to be right, as it does have the effect of getting to move forward. His mouth goes dry, and he has to place a hand over his chest to avoid coming on too strong himself. It must be because he's familiar, but even so, Hiyori rarely has this kind of reaction to someone.
The mention of kidnapping earns a slight frown, and he's grateful for the distraction. He won't inquire about the details, as it's likely the least interesting part of the conversation for both of them. People act in such ways all the time. They'll even take someone close enough to mold them into who they miss. ]
Of course it does. It's only the blind and selfish who can't tell the difference between individuals simply because they share similarities. Even children will get upset if you try to replace their favorite toy with an identical one. If you craft the same item a hundred times, there were always be slight variations; if you live the same life a hundred times, you will always come out a different person.
[ Children grow attached to their favorite toy for the love that they put into ti and the way that they've personified it. Humans are even more irreplaceable, for their memories won't sync up with your own; their personality won't be the same for their lived experience. It's what makes ASUNARO's AIs so amazing. They're a person exactly as they should be, a perfect replication, and they can sync up with one's memories. ]
Still, it is hard to shake that fondness for a person, now isn't it?
PUTTING KOS' HANDS ALL OVER HIM
Yes, a little bit, but if you'll give me a little while I'm sure I can sort it out. You aren't the person I knew, but a stranger I happen to know a few things about. You have a different air about you than the Komaeda-kun I remember knowing before.
[ It's no different than how Hiyori has a different air than he might were he older. He is, in ways, more amicable than his older counterpart for having such a desire to appear so. He's a little more arrogant but a little less bitter for still never having had his role stripped from him. But he's no less perfect, nor is he any worse at sizing people up. Even now, it only takes a look and a few words for him to understand a person, with or without memories. He must have a bit more sense too, because he's young enough to don a fluffy ponytail rather than the rattail he would have adopted a year or two later. ]
Does it bother you? My memories are fuzzy, and so I can assure you that I don't remember anything in nature.
[ Which is to say that he's not carrying any of Komaeda's secrets. He's an honest person, but everyone has parts of themselves that they'd rather others not know about. ]
WHY IS HE TOUCHING HIM I'M CRYING
[ His voice is light and even playful, unbothered by the prospect of being unable to regain what was lost when there are so many better ways of doing so. Komaeda should know that well enough from interacting with their doll. He would know better than any other of their goals and wants, of how they should bive the world the ability to revive the dead and even love long lost.
That said, it's hard to ignore the hands on his hips, and he wonders if there aren't certain parts that he wouldn't mind having again, but it's nothing so deep as placing hopes in reviving a dead relationship. He must have experience with fools who wish for him to remain the same while their stimuli changes, and while the person with them changed in turn. Idiotic indeed - pathetic, even, though he wouldn't use that word so openly. He flashes a cheery smile over his shoulder.
He can't let himself be this distracted. Either way, it should be clear that he's trying to clear away any lingering tension. ]
Please don't worry. My hopes shall be squarely focused on the Komaeda-kun who stands before me.
NOT HE OWNS HIM ok true
He shakes his head as he glances around the room. It's an old school, but everything is in pristine condition. The generators powering it are in perfect condition, perhaps because students have no reason to go about destroying their only power source. ]
No, I haven't... I don't recall being able to access this place.
[ His memories are fuzzy and incomplete, with just little bits and pieces coming back to him, but he's almost certain that this place should be inaccessible. He watches Komaeda with care, as though trying to read his mind. ]
Might I ask what change you're referring to? I'm afraid that I don't understand.