[Tsubomi puts her headset down, logged out now. She spins her chair around to face him, opening her mouth to speak, before she moves to the bed to sit with him.]
...Our memory is really simple. I don't think they understand. [She isn't nearly as confident but she feels sure on this point.] We really can't do anything. I mean I thought when I was little it would be cool to have a power! Like turning invisible to sneak around to get snacks or to fly or something like that right? But that sort of thing is silly. We're not- We're not in some cartoon or something, you know? No one really wakes up one day and finds out they're super special! No one is super special that's okay too! We're good enough...!
[She's getting more upset as she rambles so she stops herself.]
[He understands how she feels right now. He has the same nervous sensation squeezing at his chest as he looks up at the ceiling, hands folded on his stomach. Shuuya frowns, as if the light bulb up there would give him an answer.]
Well... [He ponders.] ... that's okay, isn't it? If we're just a buncha normal kids. I mean, all it means is that we're gonna remember some weird second life. It's not like it's gonna be bad. I bet they won't have us do anything because we'd be pretty bad superheroes.
[A beat, then he lifts his head up to grin at her.] You'd be a really bad superhero, especially.
[Shuuya always makes everything better. Whenever she's sad, he makes her smile again.
With that smile, she reaches out and takes up some of his hair in both hands, pulling up on it a little.]
...There. Now you have cute fuzzy ears. [A beat before she continues.] You had a really cute smile even when we used to know each other. I looked unhappy though. I bet you were cheering me up like always.
[She's glad to see his smile. Maybe if they try hard enough, they can forget today.]
...I don't want anything to do with the aliens or... or the gangs or the conspiracies or any of that really bad stuff. It's not like we can do anything about that anyway right? We're not good for that. But uhm...! I want to learn more... [A little shier.] ...about you and me. I didn't think we really had a real red string but it seems like we do!
So... so! It's okay right? If we remember a little more?
[He closes his eyes. Right. If what they remembered really were past memories, then didn't it mean that even in a past life, they were close? It must be fate of some sort, a positive encouragement.
--how stupidly cheesy it sounded, just like some kind of shoujo manga. Still, thinking about it makes his smile broaden.]
Why not, why not? I bet it'll be tons of fun! [He pauses.] ... say, how close do you think we were back then?
[Some warmth touches her cheeks as she thinks back on the memory. Even though she can't understand it well, with such a brief snapshot, she can draw her own conclusions. Possibly... biased conclusions but that's fine, right?]
Well...! I think we were really, really close! [She smiles.] There were a lot of pretty girls and I looked like I was trying to hide in that hoodie but you were smiling and trying to see me still. So we were definitely close. Even though I was looking at the ground, I could tell my attention was fully on you! I was happy... just going with you. [Is that too much to say? No, it's definitely true.] I bet you wanted to hold my hand.
[That's way more than he expected. A flush rises to his face and he quickly looks to the side.]
That last part's definitely part of your fantasy! 'sides-- [His mumbling becomes a little bolder.] --if I wanted to hold your hand all I gotta do is reach over and grab it.
[She realises how close they are right now. Isn't this a good time to finally tell him...? But what if he's too upset after today? Maybe she should wait a little longer. Just a little...
But she wants to hold his hand. Maybe, too, because if she lets her thoughts go too far, she'll get scared again. Shuuya is right here with her and he always has been, even before 'Tsubomi' was born.
Her hand curls close to his, not quite grabbing it but bumping against it.]
...Well, what if we were dating in the past? If it turns out we were that close, then maybe it's the future too. Ah, it's not my fantasy! I'm being logical. It's possible... it's just playing out again or something. So... well, if it happens like that... [This isn't the time for her long explanations-!] ...Ah, why don't we find out more...? Just to see.
[It's tempting to grab onto it when she's so close. Shuuya lets his gaze catch hers, blinking slowly. Her eyes have always been a pleasant shade to look at...
If they were together in a previous life, did that mean this life would mimic it? He wasn't sure what to think about that, even if it turned out that it was nothing but happiness.
After all, wouldn't repeating the same old story be boring?
Ah, as long as she was still his best friend... he might not mind.]
... geez. You're not even pretending to not hit on me. You're embarrassing.
I got caught up a while ago! That's not really the point... [She feels a little silly. Was it something that strange to say? But he looks happy even if he says something like that.]
...Hey, what about you? How close do you think we were, Shuuya?
[Something squeezes in her chest but it doesn't feel bad.]
Yeah, I'm sure, too. What I felt... was really happy. I was a little grumpy, that's true, but I was happy. So... if we put our feelings together, you were trying your best to cheer me up after all. And it was working. That's how it is.
I don't know... [Even if that was them, it's not 'them', too.] ...But I'm going to stay myself. I'm sure I was a good person then, too, and so were you, but... this is my life now right? I don't think I would want myself to change. I guess it can't be helped if I change a little... [Actually, if she thinks about it, isn't that scary-] ...I'm going to be Tsubomi for the rest of my life. I can be someone else next time.
[It's a scary thought, if he had to be honest, to have a whole lifetime's worth of memories floating around in his head. He doesn't know if he wants that sort of experience. In the end, won't that make him a different person?
Shuuya gives a soft sigh.]
Yeah. Yeah, I think you got a point. [It'll turn out fine.] Let's make it a promise, all right?
[She repeats the words softly. Somehow, that's especially meaningful. Tsubomi takes his hand and hooks their pinkies together.
Right where invisible red strings join them.]
Okay, Shuuya. I promise to stay Tsubomi for you. We'll always be Shuuya and Tsubomi. I'll do my very best. I... I can't promise I won't get scared but whenever I'm scared, I'll call you, because... you'll be there for me. It goes for you, too, okay?
[Her pinkie fits against his snugly. Shuuya curls his around hers the best he can, nodding.]
And I promise I'll stay Shuuya for Tsubomi, no matter what we remember! Whenever one of us is in trouble, we'll come running for each other. [He lowers his voice.] I won't abandon you when you're having it rough.
Shuuya... [The words 'I love you' rise to her mind and she feels her heart beat faster. It's not that kind of love, is it...? She knows she has a crush, it'd be pointless to deny it, but love?
But as a friend, doesn't she love him?
She smiles and gives his pinky a squeeze.]
...Okay. It's a promise. I won't abandon you either, Shuuya. Not ever.
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action; january 15th
... I still think it's a buncha crap. [He tries to sound confident about it.] If we were gonna fight aliens we'd have really cool powers by now.
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...Our memory is really simple. I don't think they understand. [She isn't nearly as confident but she feels sure on this point.] We really can't do anything. I mean I thought when I was little it would be cool to have a power! Like turning invisible to sneak around to get snacks or to fly or something like that right? But that sort of thing is silly. We're not- We're not in some cartoon or something, you know? No one really wakes up one day and finds out they're super special! No one is super special that's okay too! We're good enough...!
[She's getting more upset as she rambles so she stops herself.]
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Well... [He ponders.] ... that's okay, isn't it? If we're just a buncha normal kids. I mean, all it means is that we're gonna remember some weird second life. It's not like it's gonna be bad. I bet they won't have us do anything because we'd be pretty bad superheroes.
[A beat, then he lifts his head up to grin at her.] You'd be a really bad superhero, especially.
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That isn't true! I would be a good superhero. I would be a magical girl! I would get a really cute outfit and staff and save everyone with my friends!
[A pause.] Ahh I guess I'd need more friends first. And you can't be a magical girl. You'd look bad in a skirt... So my sisters can help.
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Cutting me out? That's mean, that's mean! I should be counted as your cute mascot!
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With that smile, she reaches out and takes up some of his hair in both hands, pulling up on it a little.]
...There. Now you have cute fuzzy ears. [A beat before she continues.] You had a really cute smile even when we used to know each other. I looked unhappy though. I bet you were cheering me up like always.
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I bet you were grumpy in that memory because you overslept for school or something. It probably made teasing you more fun.
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...I don't want anything to do with the aliens or... or the gangs or the conspiracies or any of that really bad stuff. It's not like we can do anything about that anyway right? We're not good for that. But uhm...! I want to learn more... [A little shier.] ...about you and me. I didn't think we really had a real red string but it seems like we do!
So... so! It's okay right? If we remember a little more?
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--how stupidly cheesy it sounded, just like some kind of shoujo manga. Still, thinking about it makes his smile broaden.]
Why not, why not? I bet it'll be tons of fun! [He pauses.] ... say, how close do you think we were back then?
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Well...! I think we were really, really close! [She smiles.] There were a lot of pretty girls and I looked like I was trying to hide in that hoodie but you were smiling and trying to see me still. So we were definitely close. Even though I was looking at the ground, I could tell my attention was fully on you! I was happy... just going with you. [Is that too much to say? No, it's definitely true.] I bet you wanted to hold my hand.
[Okay maybe that's a little bold.]
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That last part's definitely part of your fantasy! 'sides-- [His mumbling becomes a little bolder.] --if I wanted to hold your hand all I gotta do is reach over and grab it.
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But she wants to hold his hand. Maybe, too, because if she lets her thoughts go too far, she'll get scared again. Shuuya is right here with her and he always has been, even before 'Tsubomi' was born.
Her hand curls close to his, not quite grabbing it but bumping against it.]
...Well, what if we were dating in the past? If it turns out we were that close, then maybe it's the future too. Ah, it's not my fantasy! I'm being logical. It's possible... it's just playing out again or something. So... well, if it happens like that... [This isn't the time for her long explanations-!] ...Ah, why don't we find out more...? Just to see.
But I'm happy. Shuuya was always with me.
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If they were together in a previous life, did that mean this life would mimic it? He wasn't sure what to think about that, even if it turned out that it was nothing but happiness.
After all, wouldn't repeating the same old story be boring?
Ah, as long as she was still his best friend... he might not mind.]
... geez. You're not even pretending to not hit on me. You're embarrassing.
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[Even if it's tempting...]
I really am just happy. I think it's fate we met again. No, I know it is. This is fate.
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Jesus, Tsubomi. Have you been watching your dramas again?
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...Hey, what about you? How close do you think we were, Shuuya?
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I guess... what I felt when I was remembering was that I wanted to take care of you. I dunno about the rest. But you were pretty important, I'm sure!
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Yeah, I'm sure, too. What I felt... was really happy. I was a little grumpy, that's true, but I was happy. So... if we put our feelings together, you were trying your best to cheer me up after all. And it was working. That's how it is.
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Shuuya gives a soft sigh.]
Yeah. Yeah, I think you got a point. [It'll turn out fine.] Let's make it a promise, all right?
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[She repeats the words softly. Somehow, that's especially meaningful. Tsubomi takes his hand and hooks their pinkies together.
Right where invisible red strings join them.]
Okay, Shuuya. I promise to stay Tsubomi for you. We'll always be Shuuya and Tsubomi. I'll do my very best. I... I can't promise I won't get scared but whenever I'm scared, I'll call you, because... you'll be there for me. It goes for you, too, okay?
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And I promise I'll stay Shuuya for Tsubomi, no matter what we remember! Whenever one of us is in trouble, we'll come running for each other. [He lowers his voice.] I won't abandon you when you're having it rough.
That's my promise to you.
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But as a friend, doesn't she love him?
She smiles and gives his pinky a squeeze.]
...Okay. It's a promise. I won't abandon you either, Shuuya. Not ever.
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