I thought the walk home and fresh air would help clear my head, but I guess I was wrong. Cocoa's words were etched into my mind with an endless looping media player, and shaking it was not going to clear the display. Why would she lie to me for Aurora's sake? Have I been that terrible of a friend that my trust is worthless? Sluggishly approaching home I barely notice the sliding door open with a swoosh as I pass on through, my mind still reeling with doubt.

 

"Welcome home Miss... Dadalian..." Tipsy mutters as I walk by, blankly staring straight ahead and not even acknowledging her presence. I didn't feel in the talkative mood, not after that.  I eventually lazily made it to my bedroom, let the door slide shut behind me, then leaned against it, feeling the strength of my own legs giving out on me. I don't know when, but eventually I had slid down the door and onto the floor, feeling too weak to stand let alone move.

 

"Why Cocoa... I thought... I thought we were as close...As sisters..."

 

For the remainder of the night, I sat there and cried till I eventually fell asleep, my emotions too much for me to handle. But I should have known my emotions would never let me rest, and my real struggle began the second I succumbed to the emotional stress and let my eyes fall shut.

 

When I awoke all was dark. From the feel of the outfit I was in, it felt like some sweat pants and a tank top. My usual attire for sleeping, although I'd ditch the sweats half way in the night as it got to warm under the covers. Catching my attention from a across the dark, empty space a light haze began to creep through a niche within, followed by a faint light. I stood there frozen as it crept along the floor slowly and ominously, the small amount of light from the niche giving me just enough to see it. Soon the haze slowly wrapped around me then swiftly enveloped me, blurring my vision as I tried to focus while silhouettes started to come into view and the darkness began to fade. Why was it always silhouettes? It was my dream, you'd think I'd be conscious enough to control the outcome of events, but I was left helpless to stare as they moved about their daily business around me, completely unaware of my and the hazes existence. I almost wanted to reach out and stop one of them, but I resisted the urge, but I felt myself slowly losing control.

 

Unable to contain my curiosity any longer as the thought was driving me stir crazy, I tried moving about the haze, maybe feeling along for a wall or some solid object for leverage, but each step felt like wading through water, the haze seemingly almost fighting against my actions as if it were a living entity. As if to further imply I was correct, the haze became to deepen, slowly my actions to a immediate halt. The silhouettes around me however were unfazed by this, moving as if nothing had occurred.

 

Eventually the haze around me began to take shape, forming into lockers and creating a long corridor branching off to the left and right at the dead end of a wall lined with sports trophies and accomplishments. Following that,lights soon came to life above me, slowly distilling the darkness. My eyes were not ready for the sudden change and had to slowly adjust before I realized where I was standing, who all the silhouettes were around me. I was at Hitomi High, a near identical replica created from fragments of my own memory, and I stood in the very venter of the hallway.

 

It was an odd feeling being at my school and having students absently walk all around me without so much as batting an eye or breaking out from their stride. I also noticed I couldn't hear anyone talking or any other sound for that matter. A silent movie come to life, and I was the invisible star.

 

Of the time I spent here though, everyone slowly learned who I was and what I was capable of doing given enough time. I sort of became popular through unconventional means, which really changed peoples outlooks on me as a person. Seeing them now just creeped me out. Out of instinct and curiosity, I tried to get one of their attentions by extending my hand to someone with their back turned, laughing with their friend about some joke I assume. I couldn't hear after all and was shocked when my hand passed right through, as if no solid substance was there to connect with. Shakily pulling my hand back to my side, I look around for an indication of why I'm here or what I should be doing. My dreams-heh, more like nightmares 24/7-are never this uncomplicated.

The first things I start to look for are differences in my surroundings, if anything's moved or out of place. My locker would be a good first step; this is my dream, there's no way I'd be there to maintain it so I rushed off to see if I was right or wrong.

 

To my surprise when I got there I find that it was quarantined, no one allowed to go near it or investigate it. I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared at it; it didn't make sense. Even in my dreams I had to be alive and well. I didn't get to argue asmy body suddenly took over at this point and started moving of its own accord toward my locker. Placing my hand along the metallic service, I felt a tear slide down the side of my cheek. I wouldn't believe it was gone.

 

Through the tears that follow I soon become conscious of the fact that my hand is touching a solid object. Taking it away carefully from my locker, I run it along the opposite wall and a small smile curls my lips; not everything is intangible.

"So did you here?" a female voice ask from over my shoulder and I quickly snap my head in her direction, as if the question was diverted at me. Lo and behold, it wasn't. But how did I hear her when everything else was silent?

 

"Yeah, it was kind of sad how she went. She was an interesting classmate, too bad she's gone now."

 

As they continue down the spacious corridor, I cautiously turn back toward my locker, wondering if they "girl" they're talking about is me. Did something happen that I was expelled from the school? I couldn't follow after them to find out either; when I looked on in their general direction, they had vanished. It was scary feeling to know that I didn't exist here.

 

Not wanting to waste more time, I decisively seek out Cocoa's locker to see if it still remains. Ghosting through my fellow classmates-at least, I think they still are judging my lockers current condition-I make haste for her locker. The sensation I feel when passing through them though sends a shiver down my spine, almost as if a small gust of wind passing just over the center of your neck.

 

Turning the corner to start trekking down the hallway to Cocoa's locker, I stop dead in my tracks and notice not only Cocoa, my best friend for as long as I can remember, but Aurora as well, talking and giggling about what I couldn't tell; someone switched on mute once more as I drew closer to them.

 

As they continued to chat and laugh though, I notice it's the happiest I've seen Cocoa and a long while, and with Aurora no less. It didn't even appear that she missed me or was concerned I was gone. And Aurora looked to be in much better condition than she had been prior. Quickly shaking my head I put it aside; it's a dream, nothing here is real.

 

But still, a part of me felt like this was real, that maybe this was my reality and I was just denying who I was. To think that this could be my life and I'm not wanting to acknowledge it, afraid of being shut out or forsaken. The feeling is something I don't dare relive.

 

As if it couldn't get worse, sound resume's and I'm able to hear their conversation. The thought of it fills me with dread; they could be saying how I'm such a useless person and didn't belong here or anywhere. But I felt rooted into place, unable to break away from their constant discussion, almost like I'm being forced to listen.

 

"So Aurora, you still need help after school? I'm off of work today so I'd be more than happy to help," Cocoa tells Aurora enthusiastically, a huge grimace across her face.

 

Messing around on her portable device before looking up to meet Cocoa's eyes, Aurora reply's in a thoughtful tone, "Cocoa you've already been such a huge help, I couldn't possibly take you away from your job. It means too much to you," she ends with a compassionate smile, one much too unlike her.

 

Apparently here Cocoa had a job in my dream, my guess is at Joe's like she always wanted. I couldn't be too sure based on the vague information. But it wouldn't surprise me; it was always her dream to run it one day. But what has me puzzled most was how selfless Aurora was being to Cocoa. It was almost like I was...no, too cliché at this point.

 

Turning from inside her locker to face Aurora, Cocoa faces alights with a radiant smile as she sells caringly to Aurora, "Thanks Aurora. I would love to help, but I just can't throw away what Random gave me, you know? I don't hate it at all; it was my dream. But without her being here even now having passed away..."

 

What?!

 

Even if it was a dream, it couldn't be real. I stood there expressionless as I let her words filter through my ears. I couldn't comprehend it; even for a dream for me to being thinking myself dead...

 

Tilting her head to the side, Aurora chews on her upper lip-a habit I've never noticed-and stares at the blue, tiled floors to avoid eye contact with Cocoa. Was she feeling sorry for my death? No, that was crazy.

 

"Hey Aurora!"

 

A voice manages to pull me out of the jaws of depression, and I turn around quickly to locate the source. By the voice I should have guessed who it was, but my eyes still couldn't believe what I saw. It was Cody, but just besides him, a smile slapped on her face where I've seen nothing but a scowl or straight face from, was Dizzy.

 

"Oh, hey Cody," Aurora replies with a glum look, still caught up in the conversation beforehand.

 

Noticing the heavy air between the two, both of them slow to a stop, unsure of what to say next despite their cheerful appearance a second ago.

 

"We were just talking about... Random..." Aurora says lightly, probably trying to bring them up to speed.

 

Dizzy's face immediately returns to the scowl I very much know her for at the mention of my name, but I can also see a hint of loneliness in it. Like she found me annoying but wouldn't wish death on me as an escape. Even Cody looked taken aback.

 

"Nothing's been the same since she's been gone, has it?" Cody ask longingly, like he wished I were still alive. Oh this is nonsense; I'm talking as if I'm dead despite only dreaming. One I'd wish I'd wake up from soon. But like a ship caught in a whirlpool I'm forced to stay here, watching this all slowly spiral downward. The bell soon rings within the returned silence, bringing everyone back to their senses.

 

"Well, time to go to class. Good luck Dizzy," Cody tells Dizzy, gently patting her on the back.

 

"Okay..." she replies quietly, appearing to drag her feet across the floor, almost as if she didn't want to go to class. And when did she even enrol here? This dream was beyond paranormal.

 

"I better get going to, since we share the same class schedule," Aurora says once Dizzy's gone. The next thing she does though as Cocoa buries her head in her locker is what shocks me the most. Before walking after Dizzy, she walks up to Cody and kisses, right on the lips. The shock of it was disturbing and perplexing. Since when have they been together? After their lengthy kiss, they quickly hug and then she quickly follows after Dizzy, not wanting to be late I'm sure. Cody than turns to Cocoa, who's finished with her locker, and asks consolingly, "You gonna be okay?"

 

For that instant I swear Cocoa was looking directly at me after hearing his question, hoping with everything in her that I wasn't gone. But she wistfully returns her gaze to Cody and answers flatly, "I just wish... I hadn't been the cause of it." And with that she walks away and the scenery around me blurs and shifts, as if trying to bring me to a new scenario.

 

The school hallways slowly start to fade, and everyone within them disappears. Following that are trees instantly sprouting from the ground, and grass breaking through the tiled floor as it slowly fades away. A distant wind blows through as the trees form a ring around the grassy field, leaving a small, circular opening above me in the center, giving way to the open and vast blue sky, slightly tinged orange by the setting sun. I was in the forest where I first woke up in Hitomi.

 

Looking around I noticed nothing out of the ordinary. I couldn't tell what day this was nor I could I tell what to expect. It was all quiet around me at least; no more of that mute crap. I could hear the leaves rustle and the squirrels running to and fro across the branches above. The familiar sounds slowly calmed my nerves, but still I couldn't be too sure nothing would happen.

 

 Apart from the rustling of the squirrels, I spin around to notice a louder amount of rustling coming from the opposite side of the grassy field. Too big to be a squirrel or any other small animal for that matter. I was curious to see who'd appear from within the bushes, but my other instincts told me to hide. But then I remembered this was a dream, and my mind was the driver, masking me from everything else, showing me things I'm guessing I need to know.

 

When my patience was starting to run thin, the figure slowly emerged from with the bush, wearing a light blue jeans and a hoodie, disguising their face. They appeared to be tired, slowly trudging along the field sluggishly, as if out of energy from wherever they came from. Watching them carefully, they slowly make their way to the center of the field, look around as if searching for someone and then collapse onto the grass with a thud. I want to run over and check if they're alright, but there was nothing I could do.

 

Caught up in the moment, my own curiosity overriding normal thought pattern, I gradually make my way toward the collapsed figure, wanting to move the hood and reveal who they are. For some reason this scene feels all too familiar, but no matter how hard I try to recall it, I'm stopped by an iron wall, closed off by my own thoughts.

 

Footsteps off to my left freeze me in my tracks, afraid of who just entered. Even for a dream, every little thing startled me. I took a deep breath and resumed my trek toward the collapsed figure, ignoring whoever just entered behind me. Kneeling down next to them, I slowly reach for the hood, wanting to yank it off and know just who it is I'm dealing with. Before I get the chance however, the figure who entered also kneels down beside them, wearing a long, black leather trench coat and hat to match, a scarf concealing most of their face.

 

"Poor girl," they whisper, a hint of gruffness to their voice letting me discern it was a male, in his mid 60's by the sound of it. Putting that aside, I continued what I was doing but soon realized it was at fault; my hand passed right through the hood. Sighing, I stand quickly, frustrated with the fact that I can't do anything despite it being my own personal space within my mind. About to walk away from the cloaked man, I overhear whispers and decide to stay. Maybe he'd give me a hint as to who the collapsed figure was. My hunch was apparently right on the money.

 

He slowly reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope, then gingerly rolls over the figure on the ground and pulls back the hood, revealing a face I know better than anyone, and say in his continued hushed tone, "As per request by your mother, I'm to leave you with this sum of cash and address to your new home and hopefully current home."

 

It...it was me... But I don't recall any of this. Did I wake up in a hoodie? I remember the envelope but beyond that I can't fish out the answers from the milky way. My mind was not in my control, and I didn't like that. But who was the man; I don't recall ever seeing him. But I couldn't recall 70% of life either, so it was no surprise.

 

My mind was on overdrive as the cloaked man slid the envelope into the front pocket of the hoodie, then he begins to stand, cautiously casting his gaze around the forest, maybe expecting someone else to show up. But my eyes were glued to the body lying on the ground, which even with a 3-and-half-year time gap, I can still recognize regardless of memory loss.

 

Once he's finished sizing up the area, he begins to head back toward the entrance to the secluded area, and the area around me returns to black with that same haze enveloping me once again. But that doesn't bother me this time as my mind buzzes with questions and small answers, my past being revealed in pieces through images in my dreams. It was all too weird for my liking; the pieces didn't fit properly no matter where they were placed, the overall design would never work correctly, it was all out of place.

 

"Heh, listen to me, trying to piece this together like a well oiled machine," I mutter, thinking I've finally lost it.

 

But the jokes ends soon enough, and a splitting pain erupts from my skull, causing me to fall to my knees and grip the spot to try and reduce the pain, but to no avail; I'm at its mercy, unable to think clearly or regain focus on my surroundings. For a dream it was painful, about as much as a real life migraine could be, and this one just kept intensifying beyond my pain threshold.

 

I couldn't take it anymore... Someone, anyone, just let it end... Reaching my peak, the scenery around me began to change one final time, but my vision was blurred and I couldn't make out it what was being displayed before me. I wanted to know, to hold out and remain conscious. But I could only make out silhouettes and bright, white backgrounds. Throwing one hand on the ground to stay balanced and keeping the other on my head, I try to will my body to stay focused, to ascertain the situation. But it's no use, and I soon fall flat on my stomach, just like 3 years ago and all goes dark.

 

The following morning, sunlight breaking through the clouds and shimmering faintly through the window manages to rouse me from my sleep, head still pounding. As I slowly open my eyes and raise my hand to try and block out the sunlight, I notice I'm on the floor, my back to the door of my room. I guess I never managed to get to my bed.

 

"What a dream..." I mumble, slowly starting to stand and nearly falling over from light headedness.

 

Still in my clothes from yesterday, I search around for my towel, feeling like the shower is the only place I can try to wane this headache and try to make sense of the dream I had last night. It felt as if all the pieces of my past just seem to have fallen out of the box at once and now lie scattered within my memory, slowly being put back together, interfering with my memories and showing me things from the past. That all sounded reasonable, but why did I dream of a point in time where I didn't exist?

 

Once my towel is found and slung over my shoulder, I grab a clothe button from the dresser and head toward the sliding door, the light headedness slowly fading. Once the door is open and I start to walk through, I nearly stumble as my feet his something just outside the door, and I grab the side of the wall to maintain by balance, my towel falling off my shoulder and unto whatever was lying in the middle of the path.

 

"What the?" I exclaim, leaning down to pick up the towel to uncover Tipsy, who must have slept outside my door, clearly worried about me. Shaking my head, I lean down and begin to pet, which activates her motion detector and rouses her from her sleep, yawning and stretching out within the length of the door way.

 

"Morning, Tipsy," I tell her with a bright smile, happy to know she cares so much, even for a machine.

 

Quickly realizing that I was standing beside kneeling beside her, she focuses her attention on me with a fretful expression and says, "Are you okay? You came home yesterday looking awfully distressed, and I felt horrible for being powerless to lighten your mood..."

 

Drooping her head as if in failure, I scoop her into my lap, grab my towel, and continue to the bathroom with Tipsy in tow. I'd have to explain to her that it wasn't her fault for my mood; other things were on my mind. If anything, Tipsy is the one person-or cat-I could trust with anything.

 

"Come on," I tell her, smiling all the while to keep her from looking depressed. "I'll tell you about it during my bath."

 

"But," she starts again, but I kindly shush her, wanting her to truly know she hasn't done anything wrong.

 

"Bath, 70% warm water, 20% bubble bath," I call over toward the tub as I set Tipsy and my towel down and begin to strip, excited to relax in a warm bath.

 

Meanwhile Tipsy leaps up onto the toilet seat, getting comfortable no doubt. I don't pay it too much attention as I slip into the tub, slowly letting my body adjust to the warm water as the bubbles tickle my skin. Once situated within the bath, I turn toward Tipsy and start slowly by saying, "Tipsy, it's not your fault, really. When I got home last night, my mind was just juggling thoughts and ideas about what Cody said to me. About how he wants me to figure out why he's blacking out around Aurora, or more specifically, her glowing rock she seems to carry everywhere with her."

 

Giving me a puzzled look, she asks questioningly, "I see nothing wrong with helping him."

 

Turning my gaze back toward the bubbles floating on the surface, I answer her longingly, "That's not the problem. It's the way he asked. He basically wants to use me and Cocoa as pawns to get close to Aurora. The problem is I know his reasoning behind it isn't bad or fueled with ulterior motives. It just comes off that way. And I don't mind doing it; I have my own reasons for it. It's just..."

 

Sighing I return my gaze to bubbles, feeling as if my thoughts are trapped within and the sentences I want to say could easily be popped in an instant. Tipsy may be able to understand humans, but not 100%. When it came down to it, I wish I had Cocoa to talk to.

 

"Just don't let him get to close," she tells me pointedly, not that I already planned ahead for that. "You shouldn't let him treat you like that either, like most men."

 

I kind of figured this would happen; her behavioural patterns between men and women are taking control based on the information I've given her. Men are not high up on her popularity list. She's more defensive of me than she leads on sometimes.

 

Wanting to change the subject, I place my arms on the edge of the tub, place my head on them and look at Tipsy before asking nervously, "Hey Tipsy, I had this dream yesterday. It showed me... an existence that I didn't belong in."

 

Recalling the memories from not long ago, I could feel my emotions welling up once more over the fact that I wasn't around. But they also suggested that my friends did care that I was gone, even Aurora who couldn't care less if I was around or not.

 

Before Tipsy can interject I continue with, "I also had this strange flashback of when I first arrived here. Or I at least think it was when I first arrived here. I was in a hoodie and blue jeans, just entering the forest I told you about and collapsing on the ground. Right after a strange guy in a hood shows up and give me the key for this place," I wave my hands in the air to indicate the entire home, "and an envelope, which I guess was what contained the money sitting in the bank."

 

Finally finished explaining the dream, although vaguely, I wait patiently for a response from Tipsy. Being part machine may be an advantage for her in this case; she could look at it logically as well as emotionally. I couldn't quite focus on it logically as my emotions were a train wreck. Her emotions didn't override her logical guidance system.

 

Analysing the information I've given her, her eyes go from pupils to words flying by at high speeds as she scans for the most logical answer given the question at hand. Of all things I've designed, I'm glad she's the one I put most thought into. Finally done with the information, her eyes return to her normal, *insert color* and glassy cat eyes, and tells me prudently, "I believe due to your emotional stress level it may be triggering buried memories within your subconscious, but that's not the case usually with dissociative disorder, which you're well aware of you have. You may just now be remembering them after having forgotten them after so many years due to the effect of the situation at hand occurring around you."

 

"But can emotions do that? Even if they were strong enough..."

 

Sliding back into the tub I juggle the idea around in my head, unsure of where to go with it. A term I could hypothesize is hypnosis, where my emotions keep my mind "awake" while I dream and allow me to remember events, if only in small pieces. It'd be no different if I were to go see a professional... But I've never heard of a case during all the times I've researched it myself.

 

Turning to Tipsy one more, I ask seriously, "Tipsy, you suppose it's possible I could be awake due to the emotional stress but physically sleeping? Fully aware of what's going on, but my subconscious mind driving my thought pattern?"

 

Tilting her head to the side, I can see her going over the scenarios in her eyes before she says optimistically, "Yes, it could be a possibility. You've never been emotionally pushed this far in the past 3 years, but to use it as a center point for the outcome of possibilities would be a rare feat."

 

Once finished she turns her attention to the floor, probably trying to come up with a more human approach. Her mind doesn't process dreams or sleep like ours, and when I throw questions like these her way, she try to answer to the best of her programming.

 

"While I may not dream or think as you do Miss Dadalian, I could put this off as an impossibility, but in your case... Yours is a rare case, with unexplainable outcomes."

 

Sighing I have the water start draining as I reach out to grab my towel, only to have it already in front of me thanks to Tipsy's extendable arm. Nodding in her direction with a weak smile, I wrap around myself and head back to my room. Once dressed and dried, hair neatly wrapped in a ponytail, I grab my backpack and make way for school, ignoring my rumbling stomach. I've eater too much recently, and I believe I'm only hungry to distract myself from my thoughts. Shrugging my shoulder to keep my backpack from slipping any further, I step through the sliding door.

 

Once at school from an average, unadventurous walk, I head to my locker and feel a sudden shock through my skull as I put my hand against it, a flash of memory from my dream rearing its ugly head. Shaking the feeling off, I continue to open my locker as normal, the feeling seemingly having disappeared.

 

Fretting around inside my locker, out the corner of my eye I catch Cocoa slowly walking up to me. At first sight of her I'm relieved; she was the one person I wanted to talk to. But at the same time I feel conflicted after our last encounter, with how she lied to me...

 

"Hey Random, how are you feeling today?" she asks me happily, as if the dispute between us was a distant memory.

 

Not wanting to be mean to her in anyway, I shut my locker and greet her calmly, "Hey Cocoa, not with Aurora today?"

 

So much for calm. But she seems to wave it away by saying reassuringly, "She wanted to be left alone for a few days, so I'm just giving her some space, as a friend."

 

Friend... What I once thought she considered me. The thought left me feeling bitter, like a hole that could never be filled, bottomless and empty. No, I couldn't think like that now; I needed her now. Quickly changing the subject, I ask her questioningly, "Are you busy during lunch?"

 

She shifts a little at the question, but then starts thinking if she isn't busy. Glad to see I'm low on her list...

 

"What kind of question is that, Random's? I'm never too busy for you," she says cracking a huge grin.

 

She must have heard how hollow her words sounded, because she flinched at the sound of her own voice, probably remembering the times she's run off for Aurora over me.

 

"Well," she starts after regaining her composure, "other than the times I haven't, and for that I'm sorry, Random."

 

The sound of her apology hits like a tsunami, and I'm unsure of how to react to it. On one hand, I'm happy Aurora isn't really prominent in our affairs right now, but can I really let myself be open as before... The bridge would take time to be repaired. But I let it slide for now; she apologized, which is saying more than what I've done and how I've been treating her unfairly.

 

"Thanks Cocoa, I'll see you after lunch," I tell her as I head to class, ashamed of myself for not being able to utter those same words.

 

Once I got through my classes, I quickly left for the lunch room. My thoughts were scattered throughout the lectures given and I wanted nothing more than to leave and speak with Cocoa like we used to all the time. She knows my dreams better than anyone; she was the only one I felt I could speak to and not have the trauma brought on by it mentioned every other sentence like a shrink would. Sometimes I felt they were too close minded about this sort of thing, where as Cocoa was wider than a book.

 

"Random, over here!" Cocoa waves me as I enter the room and I can't help but smile. Waving to her and motioning toward the impending line of students, I let her know I'll be over shortly. Once I have a tray with some food on it I begin to really hear my stomach rumble; no surprise as I did skip breakfast and now that I think about it last nights dinner.

 

"Someone's hungry," Cocoa says jokingly as I take a seat across from her.

"I've been busy," I tell her defensively, wishing my stomach would shut up.

"So you've told me, or haven't," she says, throwing in a laugh before taking another bite of her pizza. "So what's up?" she adds, swallowing her pizza.

 

With the joking set aside, I begin to tell her of the dream I had experienced last night. Starting with the pitch black darkness I try to recall the memories hanging just within the recess of my mind. Slowly I move on to how I dreamt up a reality where I didn't exist, which bought on a sad expression. I also told her how she had a job and that Dizzy was going to our school. When I mentioned she had an expression on her face other than a scowl or an expressionless face, I swear I could see the corner of her mouth crop up into a smile but it past entirely before I was certain. She was disbelieving at Aurora and Cody dating though.

 

"That sounds a little crazy of a reality to be dreaming of," she interjects after I finish. "And Dizzy attending our school isn't an impossibility; you said she was a genius in her own regard, right?"

 

"Well, yeah. But the point I want to focus on is is that a future that could happen or an alternate time?"

 

Crossing her arms, she seemed kind of lost on the whole scenario. I guess it was too much to think about.

 

As she continued to think of an answer, I began to tell her the second part involving me arriving in Hitomi. I told her how I appeared in the centre of the forest and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Till I heard rustling behind some bushes, and a mysterious figure appeared. I went on to tell her how that figure was me and the old man who found me left me the money and key to the house.

 

"Now that just sounds like you remembering your past," she tells me pointedly, like I couldn't already piece that together. "You said you had, you know," she leans in closely so no one overhear before continuing quietly, "your dissociative amnesia finally wearing thin. Maybe it's just a latent thing, like suddenly remembering how to ride a bike after a few years."

 

"Cocoa, you never forget how to ride a bike, at least that's what they say," I tell her resisting the urge to laugh. But in the end we both give in and enjoy each other's company. It's been so long since I've laughed like this with her, I almost forgot what it was like.

 

"But if you're remember things from your past that's good, right?" Cocoa ask after the laughter passes.

 

I was reluctant to answer her, though she may be right. But I was afraid of what memories I would be remembering. It I've forgotten them, were they as painful as I fear them to be? I wanted to share the information with her, but at the same time I just couldn't. I didn't need something else to bring down the cherry moment right now.

 

"Random?" Cocoa says, tilting her head to the side, knocking me out of my daze.

 

"Hm? Yeah, your right, remembering things from my past is definitely for the better," I tell her half heartedly, not sure I believe it myself. But with Cocoa by my side, I sure hope whatever I remember doesn't change the fact that we're friends.