probably forever homeless

[arrhythmic]

I appreciate the enthusiasm, but you do still have a couple routes to go before you really commit to where I'm coming from. I gotta say, it's... interesting, seeing how things could turn out for me in so many different ways. Lots of ups and downs, huh?

...Just avoid Kenji at all costs. I really don't want to deal with that in my future any more than I have to.

Comments

[arrhythmic]

[Miss Aggressive here... she can put so much weight into one little word and a glare. Time to try to explain the wonders of this place.]

"We're in a"

[Pause. Thinking.]

"place between worlds. I guess you can call it that. The 'me' you know isn't the same 'me' that I am. I can become him, but I'm not him. And neither of us will remember any of this happening when we get somewhere real. Cool, huh?"

[No, he doesn't expect her to think this is cool, but it's fun hoping for the best.]

[blabberhands]

[He says "I'm not the same Hiichan." Something about this place being "between... places? Times?" Shiichan, I believe him. I don't think he can fake being this confused.]

[aggress]

*'He can fake being lots of things. There's absolutely no way he's incapable of remembering this. Let alone anything else.'*

*She's still looking angry, but also more upset now, too.*

[arrhythmic]

[Well. This sucks. He's aware of his own futures enough to know there's probably an ending where he and Shizune (or Misha?) end up together, and apparently he learns sign language in that ending, and she's upset in a way he can actually understand pretty well.

So, yes, it is time for a facepalm.]

Misha, can you tell her I didn't want to forget anything, but we're all in over our heads, here, and totally being manipulated like puppets?

[blabberhands]

'He could be faking it?' I really don't think he is, Shiichan~. Hiichan is confused as you are...

Don't you remember summer vacation with us, Hiichan~? Shiichan thinks you couldn't have fuh... fe... for-got-ten.

['I've asked him about summer vacation. I really don't think he'd lie about this, Shiichan... not to you.']

[blabberhands]

[He says he wouldn't want to forget that he knows you're angry, Shiichan.~]

(Not translating the 4thwall breaking stuff without a Misha ===> Break The Fourth Wall from Shizune.)

[arrhythmic]

Yes. Definitely confused here, but... well, I guess you just have to... uh... I-I didn't want to forget anything, honest, but...

[There is no correct answer here. This is Hisao, shutting up.]

[aggress]

*And there's a very long pause before Shizune signs again; much longer than there normally is - even when she takes her time to think of things.*

*'And you're saying you... don't remember anything from our summer excursion? Not the single most solitary thing?'*

[blabberhands]

'You really don't remember even one thing from last summer?' Of course you wouldn't. I told you it was a different Hiichan...

[So many mixed emotions here. So many. She can't sign all of these feels. But she's trying.]

[Hiichan really feels bad about this.He said he really wouldn't want to forget spending the summer with you.]

[White lie, or at least reading into what he said - possibly in error. Not exactly the way he phrased it, is it, Misha?]

[arrhythmic]

The last summer I remember is the one before I even met you guys... it's possible I lost my memory, I guess?

But I'm not making any of this up, and I'm not trying to prank anyone here. Swear to God.

[Serious face. So serious, it hurts.]

[blabberhands]

[His last summer was before his heart attack, Shiichan~. That's what he's telling us. He swears.]

"I know you wouldn't lie to Shiichan. I'm trying to tell her that."

[He wouldn't lie to you. That's just not like our Hiichan.]

[aggress]

*Don't mind Shizune. She's just trying to keep the obvious devastation from her face. Not only can she not talk to Hisao anymore, but he doesn't remember anything they shared? She signs quickly and tersely.

'Oh.'*

[arrhythmic]

[Not to make you obsolete or anything, Misha, but he doesn't really need to be able to read hands to understand that sign. Or the look on her face. He didn't even do anything, but yeah, feeling like a complete heel over here.]

Sorry.