ic contact;

[psycholawgy]

You've reached Athena Cykes. I'm currently unavailable, but leave a message and I'll get back to you pronto. Danke! (voice/call → text → video → action)

Comments

[dereban]

I just don't like having people see right through me. Like no matter how happy I may act or seem, I'm worried all the damn time.

[ She manages to pull that curse out in English and just sighs, running a hand through her hair before shaking her head and sighing. ]

But that isn't the only thing I came to talk about. I... wanted to talk about some personal things. I want to get it of my chest. You're one of the few people I trust with this kind of crap, honestly.

[psycholawgy]

Well, I'm glad you trust me.

[ that really does make her happy. ]

You can tell me anything.

[dereban]

[ She can't help but laugh a little at that. Yeah, even though it's supposed to be hard to trust others? Lately... she's been trying to make a turn around. ]

Alright. Let me tell you a story -- but first, a question. Do you believe in the existence of souls? I mean, I don't want to assume either way.

[psycholawgy]

Kind of, [ she says, canting her head to the side. ]

I know somebody who can channel souls of the dead. And I didn't meet her here, too. She's from my world.

[dereban]

... That makes things a lot easier. Well, the basic story is that... I lied about my world. It's not as normal as I'd like people to think. Back home, I had my soul in another person's body before.

Ripped out of my own and placed in another. While the other person? Was either in my own, or an entirely different person's body.

[psycholawgy]

[ she remains calm despite widget showing as surprised. ]

That's a common... occurrence where you're from?

[dereban]

[ She shakes her head, a little quietly. ]

It's not. It was something that only happened between the five of us. And before I started high school, things were normal enough.

[psycholawgy]

[ she vaguely remembers being told that inaba was part of a club. she just nods. ]

And, what happened when the souls were exchanged, or something?

[dereban]

Ah, well... we were residing another person's body, basically. All thanks to that entity that forced us through that. Fuusenkazura- ah, well, that's the Japanese name for it. I don't know the English name... for, hm. Cardiospermum?

That's the scientific name for it.

[psycholawgy]

A heart... something?

[ she puts a finger on her chin as she thinks. she's not very familiar with the word. ]

But you're Himeko Inaba now, right?

[dereban]

I am now. That phenomenon has long since ended. [ It feels like it's been ages, but in reality, it's only been a year and a half. ]

It's not the only thing I've went through, however, and I've always been worried that I might lose my memories if I told anyone outside our group about this.

[psycholawgy]

[ well, that's a strange thing to worry about. ]

Why is that?

[dereban]

Because the phenomena aren't supposed to exist in the first place and talking about it is taboo. Taichi, he... he actually forgot, once. About the club, about me. He didn't tell anyone.

Rather, he... experienced a contradiction. But we're not supposed to tell anybody. Or else face consequences.

[psycholawgy]

I see.

What else?

[dereban]

What else... well, the other phenomena, they affected me greatly. Like, there's one that left gaps in my memories. There's hours on end where there's just blank.

[psycholawgy]

Oh... [ athena doesn't know what to say about that. she's definitely never studied a phenomenon like what's happened with inaba, so she's unsure as to how to handle this whole situation. but she'll try her best; ] I'm sorry to hear that.

Is there no way to regain your memories?

I know what it's like to have memories repressed, but actual gaps like that caused by something supernatural...

[dereban]

It's okay. I know what happened, I just... don't remember it.

[ She laughs, a little hollowly. ] Besides, it would probably be weird to remember it.

[psycholawgy]

Well, at least you know. That's- [ she blinks a couple of times before continuing. ] good.

[dereban]

Yeah, it is. Though it really does suck that I can't remember anything about it, but... you know. [ She shrugs. ]

[psycholawgy]

What's important is that things are back to normal now... are they?

[dereban]

"Back to normal", huh.. for now, I guess. In this world, anyway.

[psycholawgy]

Oh...

Have things not been resolved?

[dereban]

Not yet. It isn't resolved until I find out the truth.

[psycholawgy]

That's the spirit!

[ she is suddenly so hyped up about this that she gets up from her seat. ]

The truth will set you free! Or something like that.

[dereban]

Hah. [ She can't help but smirk a little at that, laughing before she switches back to Cerealian. ]

Well, it's probably going to take me a while to reach the truth. Not just about back home, but about here, too.