test drive 1

[brain_empty]

[Ryoko Otonashi, Ultimate Forgetful Girl (maybe?) was walking through Hope's Peak Academy open square. Dorms, class buildings, and cafeteria and convenience store all accessible. She didn't particularly stand out at all except...]

...Why am I walking here?

[She checked her notebook, nodded, then kept going, for about another minute before...]

...Why am I walking here?

[She peeked down again. Some students nearby tried to wave, but they were ignored. She had a problem and any distractions would delay her more than what was already happening.

Unfortunately for Ryoko, it was a terrible problem that was stopping the traffic more than it reasonably should've, and soon people learned just not to walk behind her or around her at all.]

Comments

[lieindespair]

Maybe to some people. Those people suck though. Eat the bun, drink the soda. I think people are coming around to girls with big butts though, so do what you want, if you're asking me.

[brain_empty]

[she frowns, then scrolls back in her notes: try to avoid curry unless it's a special day.]

...Hm. Was this a special day for me? It says I should avoid it unless it's a special day. . .

[She blinks, she blinks again, then rustles through.]

Oh, this was a special day.

[lieindespair]

It is?

[ He leans forward, craning his neck to try to get a glimpse of her notebook. ]

What kinda day? You said you'd show me if you were comfortable enough, right?

[brain_empty]

Heh. Can you guess? It's a special day because I felt we were finally starting to open up together, Kokichi!

[lieindespair]

[ He couldn't help but stare at her for a long moment before breaking out into laughter. ]

Oh man! You're actually serious! What did you learn? Go on, tell me!

[brain_empty]

...Hm.

[she smiles, while she rereads her notes.]

I don't recognize faces I don't directly engage with. But I do remember... impressions. All around me. Looks of irritation. False sympathy, covering up a horror they feel when they think about my condition. I really can't blame them, so I stop thinking of them. As far as I'm concerned, no one but me and Yasuke exist in the university.

[She starts muttering 'Kokichi, kokichi, kokichi, under her breath, to remind herself of who she's talking to. To focus. Before she goes on.]

But, you're different. You play these tricks that are annoying, but in your own way, you're recognizing I'm a human being. Which I am. I exist. Even if I have to keep taking notes.

And now... we're eating together. Do you know what that means?

[lieindespair]

[ It's pretty creepy when she starts murmuring his name, between sentences, and he does make certain note of it, but he's not entirely sure what to make of it. ]

It... means that I didn't try to stab you or steal your wallet?

[brain_empty]

...

[she taps a lip, then sits up a bit and turns her head, scanning the room.]

Two boys by the window, but they're staring right at us. As they just turned their heads toward the window when I sat up, they were likely gawking at me.

Two other boys, facing our way, snickering. They must know you, Kokichi. Maybe they're expecting you to pull a prank. Or alternatively, they don't know you, and they're wondering why you're sitting with me and having a laugh at your expense.

Two girls in the corner... actually, I think they're just girlfriends. They're sitting on the same side of the booth and sort of cuddling. The food in front of them is barely touched. If I had a better view I could see if their thighs were touching which would all but confirm what I just said. ...But, that doesn't involve me.

[She turns back.]

So...

[lieindespair]

[ The level of observation she has in their surroundings is frankly astounding. There were a number of those things he might have picked up on, but few of them actually captured his notice. He does his best not to be noticed as he glances around to confirm her thoughts. ]

I see. Well, I figured you'd notice them sooner or later. My organization has eyes and ears everywhere, you know. How very perceptive of you. And how convenient it is that information won't be here tomorrow. You should forget what you've seen. It'll only hurt you in the end.

[ Whether or not that's true isn't really his concern. ]

[brain_empty]

Well... it has nothing to do with me.

That's how I know I'm safe. I'd be worthless to your organization!

[lieindespair]

Worthless? Or priceless? Let's be real, sweetheart, if I need a message delivered quickly, I'd be stupid not to tape it to your hand and send you to the destination. By the time you got back, you'd forgotten where you were, who you met, and what you did.

I mean, it wouldn't be the first time, would it?

[brain_empty]

...I don't know.

[she didn't even bother to look at her notebook.]

If I ever have... it had nothing to do with me.

[lieindespair]

Exactly, which is what makes you so perfect for it. You're innocent. Sweet, like a dove. You just go where you're supposed to, but innocuous, innocent and sweet. You deliver your message or package and go on your merry way.

[brain_empty]

I also stand out like a sore thumb to anyone who knows me or talks to me for more than a minute.

[lieindespair]

And your point? What are you gonna tell them? Nothing, obviously. When did your memory lapse? Was it before or after you left? Before when you gave the note away or after? What a mystery... Weeeeeridd.. It's almost like that's such a predictable thought process or something...

[brain_empty]

...Jeez, Kokichi. If you really did that, I'd have to re-evaluate my whole "You treat me as a human being who exists," impression of you.

[she's writing notes...]

[lieindespair]

Who's to say I can't do both?

[ He pauses, craning his neck to try to read her notepad. ]

...Did you really think that about me?

[brain_empty]

Hey, don't try to read it. Do I try to slice open your head, put your brain up to some machine, and look over all of your memories?

...Anyway, I wrote it, and I don't write fake things. Ever.

[lieindespair]

You saying you wouldn't if you had the chance?

[ Ooh, a moral quandry... ]

Oh really? Not a single one? How do you determine what's fake and what's not?

[brain_empty]

Just like that. I don't write fake things. If I'm not sure what I'm writing is one-hundred percent, then I keep trying until I get it right.

[she sighs]

Would you want to give yourself a false identity?

[lieindespair]

A false identity? For what purpose? [ As if that hasn't been his entire personality since he enrolled. ] That's stupid. Wouldn't a person wanna be well-known?

[brain_empty]

--I don't know about being well-known, but exactly. You want to be 'you'. If you don't have a history that gives you an identity then you can't be 'you'. So... do you get it now?

[lieindespair]

Hm....

[ He appears to spend a moment in thought before grinning and leaning back in his chair, kicking his feet up on the table. ]

Nope! Not even a bit. Y'know, now that I think about it, a false identity could be really useful, you know. What if you're a criminal? Or someone famous who just wants to be common folk for a little while!

[brain_empty]

Well, that's the thing though. You wouldn't know. You wouldn't even know what being a criminal was like.

[lieindespair]

Or would you? Who's to say you're not just faking it? Keeping all those notes so you don't mix up your story, huh? After all, once lies get too big, you tend to forget who you've told what and how much some people know. It's tricky business, I can tell you that much.