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

[brain_empty]

...I dunno. I kinda forget.

Oh! But he looks like this!

[She immediately flips the notebook to a set of pages, turns, and shows it to Kokichi. It's full of sketches of a man. Long hair. Feminine lashes. Soft almond-eyes. Pointed jaw. Small pale lips. Long fingers. An open white shirt with dirt marks on it. No footwear, not even socks. It's surrounded by hearts and hearts and hearts.]

[lieindespair]

[ Well, if there's one good thing about having amnesia, it's forgetting the bullying that happens to you, he supposes.

When she shows him the page, he leans in to study it. The page seems well-loved. ]

Huh. You drew that? Not half bad.

[brain_empty]

It should! I spent hours on it!

...I think.

[lieindespair]

Cute. I guess I can see why you like him, then. I hope for your sake he isn't gay or anything. That would be tragic for you.

[brain_empty]

...Well, even if he told me he hated me and never wanted to see me again. I'd probably forget it and keep loving him.

You wouldn't understand, but I can't help it. I forget a lot of circumstances and events... but not what's in my heart.

[lieindespair]

[ She's right, he doesn't understand. He's not sure he can understand at all, how can she really love someone like that without actually knowing anything about them, or having any formative memories at all? It makes no sense but... She seems happy. ]

If you say so. If that's what turns on the waterworks down there, that's none of my business.

[brain_empty]

Yes! Definitely.

[adding to Kokichi's page. "Dirty joke. Bluffing him right back."]

I mean, I'd probably forget what I was doing otherwise. That'd be embarrassing!

[lieindespair]

That's true. It'd be inconvenient for sure and you'd be completely helpless. Like a little baby or something, and I don't know about you but that sounds like the least appealing thing imaginable in a partner

[brain_empty]

...I am not a baby! Especially in that department!

[lieindespair]

[ He makes a face. ]

I... I didn't say you were. I mean, God, look at you. I'm pretty sure you could smother a toddler in your cleavage.

I meant like, basically braindead and needing to rely on someone for everything. Nooo Thank you.

[brain_empty]

I don't need that either! I don't need someone to tie my shoes. My procedural memory works just fine.

[writing: "Is he messing with me? Well... only one way to find out."]

[lieindespair]

Well, you managed to put your shirt on the right way, so that much is obvious.

[ He sighs. ]

So does he ever do anything nice for you? Or is it strictly business with you two?

[brain_empty]

He's gonna improve my condition and cure me once he gets his research fully understood! ...I think.

But even if he didn't, I wouldn't care!

[lieindespair]

So... strictly business then, huh? I mean, has he ever done anything nice for you? Bought you chocolate or a hairclip at least?

[brain_empty]

...Maybe!

Maybe...

[lieindespair]

Maybe? You don't know?

[ He points to the book. ]

Something like that would probably have a whole dedicated page, wouldn't it? Like a diary entry or something?

[brain_empty]

Well... like I said, I can't really take notes while the sessions are happening.

But, I do have this!

[She turns the pages to yet more sketches and writing his name and general hearts and other symbols everywhere. Nothing that actually says "Yasuke did this for me"]

[lieindespair]

Hm...

[ She really is purely lovestruck, isn't she? It's a bit pathetic if he's being honest. He manages a smile on seeing how proud she is of her drawings and the cute little notes that she left for herself. ]

Y'know what? That's real sweet. And I bet he's got one just like that somewhere, but he has to stay professional, you know? He can't let you know. That explains everything.

[brain_empty]

You really think so?!

[She really is stupidly ditzy for Yasuke. HMM...]

[lieindespair]

[ It's an easy lie to tell, one of the easiest for him, actually. Telling people what they want to hear is just stupidly easy, and it gets him on their good side. ]

Sure. I mean, after all, you're Childhood friends! You said it yourself it's practically destiny, and I can't think of anything more romantic. He must focus on other things outside of his work, right? He probably counts the minutes until he gets to see you again... but how tragic it is that he can't act on those feelings. A shame, really.

[brain_empty]

Oh my God, you're so right, Kokichi!

[She's outright back to reading the part where it says: "Remember, he lies!" but he's absolutely right: telling people what they want to believe is the easiest lie to tell.]

He's probably looking forward to our meetings just as much as I am... if not, more!

Ahh.... I'm gonna tell him he can schedule more and more!

[lieindespair]

[ How sad. But hey, if that means that he can get to work curing her condition, then maybe it's for the best, right? ]

Maybe you should. He's probably too shy to schedule them himself. After all, he probably doesn't want you to think that he's weird or anything like that. Maybe he doesn't want to scare you off, either.

[brain_empty]

He could never scare me off.

[She lets out a long contented sigh, easing back in her seat, imagining she's back in the lab...]

[lieindespair]

Well he doesn't know that. After all, he's just a guy like any other.

[ He smiles and pulls his phone out to check the time. ]

Didn't you say you had an appointment at some point today, too? Or were you just wondering aloud earlier?

[brain_empty]

[She flips to her to-do list.]

It's... tomorrow. But, I could go now! I could even bring you to meet him, if you really want!