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1.txt

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+“Mother Claire, you should take it easy.”
+
+“I’m fine, Aleah.” I am, I’m just a little tired. Aleah has been fretting too much since the girls came for a visit. I am happy they made it, though.
+
+Aleah has just helped me into a seat. She made sure it’s as comfy as possible. She really needn’t worry so much, though.
+
+“Mama Claire will be fine Aleah, just let her relax.” May comes over and puts a hand on her sister’s shoulder. She tries to put on a smile to ease her sister, but even I can see she is anxious.
+
+“I’m glad you two made it. It’s made your Mother Rae very happy.” I lean back into my chair. Maybe I am a bit tired.
+
+“Of course, Mother…” Aleah rises, after she has finished setting the blanket around me.
+
+“Yeah, we hope it was a good day for you, Mama Claire.” May’s smile looked strained. I wish they wouldn't look so sad. It’s okay.
+
+“It was.” I close my eyes for a moment. It was such a lovely dinner. I just wish I had more of an appetite. The girls put so much work into it. “You know we love you, right? We are very proud of you two.”
+
+They look so beautiful. We have been so blessed. They have grown up into fine, capable women.
+
+Aleah looks over at May with concern. Despite trying to put on a brave face, May is starting to get misty eyed. Girls, it's fine.
+
+“I think your Mama needs a bit of quiet, girls.” Rae enters the room, carrying a tray with tea. I can tell from the aroma that it’s perfectly brewed as usual.
+
+“Mother, you should have let us make the tea!” Aleah rushes over and helps Rae keep the tray stable. The two of them keep fretting over the both of us.
+
+Rae clicks her tongue, “Please Aleah, I’m still capable. Besides, we both know she likes the way I make it better.” Rae doesn’t fight her off, though, and they bring the tray over to me and sit next to my seat. Rae pulls her own chair closer to mine and settles in. “You two should go clean up, it’s okay.”
+
+Aleah sighs and pulls May towards the kitchen. “Come on, May, let’s give them some privacy." May looks like she wants to argue, but Aleah meets her eyes and she relents. “We love you, Mother.” Aleah’s voice is soft, and it looks like May might choke if she tries to say something, so she just nods her head.
+
+“Thank you girls. It will be fine.” I’m just tired.
+
+“Claire?” Rae's voice catches my attention. I must have nodded off. It’s just the two of us now, and she pours us two cups of tea. It smells just right.
+
+“Thank you, Rae.” She puts the cup into my hand and helps guide my hand to take a sip. It’s perfect.
+
+She smiles once we put the cup back down. She is still beautiful after all these years. The wrinkles and grayed hair are a mark of a life well lived. One I am so proud to have shared with her.
+
+“Claire?” She asks again.
+
+“Yes, Rae?”
+
+“I love you.” I smile and she twines her hand in mine.
+
+“Ooh? Well, I suppose I might love you too.” Her wrinkle crease as she smiles at our silliness.
+
+I lean back into my seat and let out a contented sigh. Rae’s hand squeezes mine and I do my best to squeeze back. I feel very tired.
+
+“Rae?”
+
+“Yes?” The way I must have asked it has caused her concern.
+
+“I love you.”
+
+She nods and waits for me to continue.
+
+“It was a beautiful life.”
+
+Rae’s face scrunches at that. Please, my love, it’s okay.
+
+“Please, Rae, don’t lose hope. There is always next time.” 
+
+She squeezes my hand and nods. I can see tears twinkling in her eyes. “I’ll find you again.” Her voice wavers.
+
+“No…”
+
+“No?” Her voice cracks.
+
+“I’ll find you this time.” I give her hand a squeeze. “It’s only fair.” 
+
+Her face settles, still solemn, but the worry is pushed aside for now. “Is that a promise?” I want to. I want us to find each other over and over again. I want us to be there for each other every time.
+
+“It is. I love you, Rae.” So much.
+
+“And I love you, Claire. Always .” I worry she might break, but she just smiles as her gaze locks with mine. Rae draws her face to mine and we share a kiss. Her lips melt into mine perfectly. I don’t have the energy for much but I put all I can into one last kiss. Rae slides back into her chair and hums. She runs her fingers over my knuckles and I feel myself relaxing.
+
+I am very tired.
+
+Perhaps I just need a quick rest for my eyes.
+
+ 

10.txt

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+“So what’s the deal with that Oohashi-san?” Loretta asks. She can’t help but be annoyed, it seems. She certainly has made her dislike of Rae known over the last couple days. And it’s not like Rae has made much of an effort to help alleviate that dislike, either. Some things never change.
+
+The girls had dragged me to a nicer restaurant for lunch, despite my protests that it wasn’t necessary. I told them the cafeteria was fine but they seemed offended by the idea. Well, at least Pepi did—Loretta probably wouldn’t have said anything. At least it means that I get to see a bit more of the city.
+
+“Oohashi-san is my tutor, and a stellar one at that.” I try to keep my tone neutral, factual.
+
+“Since when do you need a tutor, Francois-chan?” Pepi inquires archly.
+
+“My grades have not been in a good state lately. It would be shameful for a Francois to allow that to continue.” A truth is easier to sell than a lie.
+
+Pepi just hums, clearly not content with the answer.
+
+“Why didn’t you just ask me for help?” Loretta says, quite exacerbated. But asking Loretta would be…. well .
+
+Pepi laughs, and Loretta pouts at her. “Loretta-chan, she wants to improve her grades.” There is a sly grin on her face. “ Still , why is this the first we are hearing about it? And we didn’t see you at the party last night, either.”
+
+“Well, I was studying last night.”
+
+Pepi blinks three times. She can be so melodramatic. “ Seriously ?” Come on now, even at my worst I valued my education. “What is going on with you? It even sounds like you’re talking differently!”
+
+I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. I might be able to fool Loretta, but not Pepi. I sigh. “Would you believe me if I said I changed?”
+
+Pepi does not look convinced.
+
+This is getting frustrating. “Maybe I just fell in love.” 
+
+The girls fall silent. I…should not have said that, as true as it might feel to me.  But maybe I can make it work for this version of me, a princess awoken from slumber by true love. I might be able to weave a convincing enough tale. I hope. 
+
+“But Claire-chan, weren’t you already…interested in Bauer-san?” Loretta voices her confusion, face scrunching as she puzzles it out.
+
+Thane again…I have to be careful to not roll my eyes. “No, not really. Bauer-san is a lovely gentleman, but now that I have truly fallen for someone else what I felt for him simply does not compare.”
+
+“Who?”both girls ask in unison. Loretta looks upset, while Pepi just looks suspicious.
+
+“If I tell you girls, I need you to know that I can’t stress the confidentiality of it enough. I trust you, but I need you to understand that.” Loretta just eagerly nods, and Pepi is apprehensive. “Please, Pepi-chan. I might need your help.”
+
+She relaxes a bit and sighs. “Fine, Claire-chan, we won’t tell anyone.”
+
+“Thank you. I have already told her about my feelings, but it’s been rather sudden for—”
+
+“HER!” Loretta chokes and looks completely shattered and upset. I can’t help but think of when I would tell the twins they weren’t getting a dessert.
+
+“No…” Pepi says quietly the realization dawning on her face. How am I already losing control of this?
+
+“Yes, and I am trying to not—”
+
+“Oh. My. God. Are you trolling that otaku?”—Trolling?—“It all makes sense now. Why didn’t I see it before? Of course , Claire-chan. We will help you with whatever you need. What are you going to do to her?” Oh no, not this again.
+
+“HER!” Loretta chokes out again, now realizing who Pepi means. “Why her?” She sounds like she is about to cry. I don’t understand why she is so upset.
+
+“Good question, why her and not someone else…” Pepi mumbles while looking between the two of us, completely unamused.  What is she talking about? There must be something I am missing. She shakes her head, “No, Loretta-chan, she is going to dunk on that Otaku.” More slang, but given the tone I don’t think I need an explanation.
+
+“Oh!” Loretta perks up instantly. “What are we going to do to her?”
+
+There is a dangerous energy building between the girls. “Girls—”
+
+“I bet she’s going to reject her in front of the entire class!”
+
+“That'll teach her for staring like a creep all the time!!”
+
+“I bet it’ill make her cry! She might even stop coming to classes, which would totally serve that les—”
+
+“STOP!”
+
+Both of them freeze.
+
+“I am being sincere. I am not bullying her!”
+
+Loretta and Pepi slowly turn to face me.
+
+Silence hangs over the table. It seems the very idea that I might be interested in Rae has rendered them speechless. Was this Claire truly so callous? Would I have gone down such a path If I never found Rae?
+
+“I love her.”
+
+Loretta is the first to act. She looks like she is about to cry, or worse. Heavens, why is she so upset over this? “I don’t understand…” She mutters.
+
+“Who are you?��� Pepi asks, finally recovering. Her tone carries worry and suspicion.
+
+“I don’t know, I changed. I woke up.” I sound more confrontational than I mean to.
+
+Loretta looks confused. Pepi’s suspicion does not ebb away.
+
+I sigh.
+
+“Look, you two knew I wasn’t happy, right? Be honest. I was insecure, miserable and burdened with expectations. I was wrong about who I thought I wanted to be, and I understand that better now. After meeting Rae everything just makes sense. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life living up to the flawed idea I had when I was a kid of who I was supposed to be. I want to be better and I know I can be when I’m with her.”
+
+“But…just last week you were…” Pepi is at a loss for words.
+
+“I’m not that person anymore. I had a breakthrough.” It’s not a lie, but that breakthrough did happen a lifetime ago.
+
+“People don’t just change so suddenly…this is insane.” I can’t blame Pepi for her hesitation. Any way I spin this, I am going to seem dramatically different.
+
+“Yeah, last week all you were talking about was Bauer-san, and you tried so hard to be alone with him at that mixer.” Even Loretta is resistant to the idea.
+
+“Would it make it easier if I said something fanciful, like I woke up with memories of a past life? I figured my shit out.” I hate the casual swearing, even if it hardly seems taboo here, but I have to do something to help sell my point. I am skirting dangerously close to the truth, but hopefully the outlandish notion makes this truth easier to swallow.
+
+Pepi laughs. Thank God, at least that is a good start. “Fine, you don’t have to make up some anime crap.” Anime? That sounds familiar for some reason. Oh, Rae mentioned it, of course. Pepi finally relaxes a little bit. She’s not completely back to normal but it's a start.
+
+I reach across the table and grab both of their hands. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but I don’t want to pretend that I am someone I am not, now that I understand who I really am. You're still my friends, and I don’t want that to change.”
+
+Loretta blushes and smiles warmly, and Pepi smiles too. “ Fine , but I’m still going to be judgey about your taste in…well, women. Never thought you would be…” Pepi trails off, uncomfortable saying the word.
+
+She wants to say gay, I can hear it. But I’m not, and if it wasn’t for Rae being worried I would be happy to announce my identity to everyone. “Queer. I’m bi.”
+
+“I would have never guessed. I've never met someone…queer before.” Loretta says quietly.
+
+Pepi’s attention snaps to Loretta with a painful grimace. She is clearly unimpressed with what Loretta just said. And it is a rather silly thing to say considering what I know about the two of them. “But aren’t the two of you…?”
+
+“... Huh?” Loretta responds, tilting her head quizzically. Oh my goodness, she has no idea.
+
+Oh no! Have I just—
+
+Thwack! I feel a swift strike to my shin and it’s all I can do not to yelp in pain. Pepi shoots me a murderous stare. Loretta still looks lost, searching between the of us for an answer but coming up empty.
+
+I rub my shin under the table. “Sorry, I must have kicked the table leg, please don’t worry about it, Loretta-chan.” I turn back to Pepi. I hope she can forgive me, it never even occurred to me that they wouldn’t be together. Oh, she is upset with me. 
+
+At least Loretta has moved on. “Are you okay, Claire-chan?”
+
+“Yeah, Claire-chan. Are you okay ? How about the two of us go to the restroom and make sure you didn’t bruise yourself too badly.” Pepi rises from her seat and all but drags me away from the table.
+
+Once we pass out of view she turns to me with a scowl. “What the hell!”
+
+“I’m sorry, I thought you two were already…or….I don’t know.” They were already dating by this age in the world I came from. This isn’t my fault !
+
+“Us? US!? What are you talking about? Seriously? You think something is happening between us? She doesn’t even look at me! Have you seen how she acts around you, how she acted just five minutes ago?” Pepi is nearly pulling out her hair. For the life of me I can’t figure out what point she is trying to make.
+
+What does this have to do with Loretta? Pepi told me she fell for her first. She was the one who made the first move. “Loretta-chan? What are you talking about, you’re the one with a cr—?”
+
+I am silenced as she forces her hands over my mouth. “How did you figure that out and not figure out that Loretta has had a massive crush on you for like the past five years!” Pepi explodes, her eyes wide.
+
+I can feel the heat flush down my body. “Loretta has a what!?” I exclaim through her hands.
+
+Pepi groans and uncovers my mouth. “Oh my gooooood.” She buries her face in her hands. “Yes. I don’t think she even realizes it but she acts like a puppy around you. You could tell her to kill a man and she would, no questions asked.”
+
+Why am I only hearing about this now?! Has she….Oh God! Pepi, why did you never tell me?
+
+“What?!”
+
+“Oh good, you really haven’t been replaced by an alien. It’s still you.” The tension finally breaks as Pepi starts to laugh. I can’t help but bristle since she is laughing at me . How was I supposed to figure out that Loretta had, has, a crush on me ?!
+
+I do my best to glare at her, and she does try to stifle her laugh. But before long I’m laughing alongside her. “Oh goodness, I really can be dense, can’t I?”
+
+Pepi, more calm now, finally relents.“Sometimes you can be, and other times…” She shakes her head.
+
+Fine, I can accept that. “You should tell her.”
+
+Pepi frowns, clearly not fond of that suggestion. She turns away. “I don’t know how you figured that one out, Claire-chan.”
+
+To be fair, I didn’t. I just walked in on you two getting very familiar with each other’s lips. It wasn’t even news by that point either! I was just the last to know ! “I don’t either. Maybe it is post-revelation clarity?”
+
+She lets out a wry laugh.  “Oh? Well whatever caused your big breakthrough, I doubt it will help with my situation. I can’t see that musclehead figuring it out anytime soon.”
+
+“Well, obviously . That’s why you have to tell her.”
+
+Pepi does not look convinced.
+
+“I think you two would be good for each other.”
+
+She rolls her eyes. “Just ‘cause the gay made you stupid and happy doesn’t mean…gah! Look, she doesn’t even think of me that way!”
+
+“She doesn’t think at all, Pepi! If you want something to happen, you will have to make the first move.”
+
+She groans. “Look, I don’t need your advice okay? Just be weird with your otaku girl toy or whatever and don’t breathe a word of this to her.”
+
+“Fine. I will acquiesce for now, as long as you don’t try anything funny with Rae,” I warn her.
+
+“Fine, it’s a deal.”
+
+Well. I had planned this to go better , but all things considered I think I handled that well. Mostly.
+
+ 

11.txt

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+“Okay so, you know how we showed you videos, right?” Rae breaks into an explanation as we cross between campus buildings. She had mentioned anime in passing and I was curious, so I asked for more details. People keep referring to it around me for some reason.
+
+“Yes, so it’s like that?” Photos are already one of the more impressive things I’ve seen. Videos are on an entirely different level. The technology here is so advanced that it feels like magic to me a lot of the time.
+
+“Sort of, yeah. So, what we’ve shown you so far was mostly just recordings with maybe a few extra edits thrown in. Oh right, you don’t know what those are either. Ummm, to keep it very simple, edits are kinda like when a painter touches up a painting after it’s made, only with photos or videos. So then anime, which is short for animation, is like doing that without the photo part, or recording a video because  it’s all hand drawn, or something like that. That’s a really oversimplified explanation but let's start small.” 
+
+Rae takes a quickie breath. “Anime is animation from Japan, which was actually inspired by early western animation, and then it took on a life of its own and now it’s an entertainment genre in its own right. Well, there are actually lots of genres in anime. It’s often treated like a single genre but that's really reductive; it's like calling theater a genre. You had theater in your world, right?” 
+
+She is talking so quickly, but she obviously cares about the topic and is very happy and eager to share. Adorable. Rae had tried to explain some of these things before in our old life, but the context of seeing some of these things in person is helping me understand them far better.
+
+And if Rae wants to ‘ infodump, ’ as she calls it, I am very happy to oblige her.
+
+“Yes, we had theater, and I can understand how it would seem strange to consider it a genre in and of itself. After all, there are comedies, dramas and tragedies and so on.”
+
+“Yes, exactly, anime is the same! So anime has a lot of works—it’s been around for over half a century and in the last couple of decades the amount of published works have increased a lot. Not all of it is good by any stretch of the imagination but there is good stuff there if you are interested. We should watch some together sometime! Not just anime but movies and other shows too. There’s far more out there than just the educational stuff we showed you when we were trying to ground you in the basics.”
+
+“It looked like there was a lot to see on that ‘you tube’ too.” I had noticed what looked like dozens of other videos on the side of the screen when Rae was showing a few to me earlier.
+
+“Oh, yeah, there are a ton of videos on YouTube, but let's be careful— that’s a whole other can of worms. Remember what I said about the internet?”
+
+“It’s full of lies?” Is that what she is referring to?
+
+“Yes,” Rae sighs, looking extremely disappointed, though not at me specifically. She always looks like this when the internet lies comes up. “There are a lot of people spreading misinformation online and you don’t have anywhere near enough context to know what’s true and what’s not.”
+
+“Yes…” I wish I could say I am surprised, but Rae mentioned things like this back in our past life too.
+
+“YouTube can be really bad with that and it can be hard to tell the good videos from the bad ones even when you have lots of experience.”
+
+“Shouldn't lying like that be…I don’t know, subject to punishment?”
+
+“Wouldn’t that be nice? But the question of who gets to determine what content is good and bad is a tricky one. For a long time being gay was considered… well abnormal and unhealthy. Back then it would have been considered lying to say it was okay…”
+
+“Violence by numbers, then.” I murmur to myself.
+
+“What was that?” Rae asks. 
+
+“Oh, it was something you once said to me. I’ll just rely on your and Catherine-chan’s guidance for now when it comes to things on the internet.”
+
+“There are a lot of cute animal videos if you want a safe place to—”
+
+“Francois-sama.” Rae is interrupted by a smooth voice. We both turn, and it’s a young Thane Bauer. I had forgotten he used to wear his hair long. 
+
+Rae looks annoyed to have been interrupted. I try to send her a sympathetic look. “Just a moment R—Oohashi-san. Hello Bauer-san, how can I help you?”
+
+Thane looks slightly nonplussed. Perhaps he was expecting a different reaction. “Oh, well, I just want to respond to you from the other night in person, now that you are not so…inebriated.” Oh no, what did the other me say to him? He is trying so hard to be polite. “I apologize, but I must politely decline, Francois-sama.”
+
+Oh thank goodness, that makes this much easier.
+
+“Thank you, Bauer-san, you have nothing to apologize for. If anything I wanted to apologize if the way I acted has made you uncomfortable.”
+
+Thane’s confusion returns. “Francois-sama…Just so we’re clear, I’m turning you down. You’re a lovely woman but I have no interest in a romantic relationship with you.” Oh, he thinks I misunderstood. I know young Claire would want to kill me for this, but she didn’t know Rae yet.
+
+“No, I understand. It's fine. If anything, I had hoped to apologize to you first and let you know that I had no intention of…well, doing whatever I suggested we do before. I’m afraid it was the alcohol talking, as embarrassing as that is to admit. I hope we can be friends despite how I may have acted.” I give Thane a courteous bow.
+
+He scrutinizes me, as if he is unconvinced it is not an act. Oh, the things I would tell the other Claire if I could. “Bauer-san, I assure you I have no further intent of acting like I once did. If I may be honest, I have found someone I care for deeply and only now do I realize that I have been trying to force something that wasn’t meant to be.” It's as close to the truth as I can make it. I steal a glance at Rae, who has been forced to observe this conversation. I give her a smile.
+
+“What are you doing?” she says, so hushed that I don’t really hear it so much as see her lips form the words. She blushes slightly. Thane coughs.
+
+“I see…well, Francois-san, I am glad this came to an amenable conclusion and wish you well.” He takes a look at Rae, who blushes even deeper, and then turns back to me. “I hope you two enjoy each—” He coughs, “I mean, your day.” He walks away stiffly, a faint blush on his face. It takes an effort to not laugh.
+
+Once he is out of sight, Rae moans, “Francois-san! He totally thinks something is going on between us now!”
+
+“I wasn’t the one who blushed and gave it away.” I can’t be blamed if she blushes at everything now.
+
+“This isn’t funny, Francois-san!” She seems a bit upset, and more than a bit embarrassed.
+
+“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you. Bauer-san is courteous, though, and would never say anything about it to anyone else. Unfortunately I am a poor liar so it would be worse if I tried to lie. I need a bit of truth to work with if I want people to believe what I am saying.”
+
+Rae pouts. “Rumors are going to start, Francois-san… People are going to hear about you turning him down. Well, not turning him down exactly, but losing interest all of a sudden. And if you keep telling everyone it’s because you…ummm…” She swallows hard as she struggles to say it.
+
+“That I am in love with someone?” I can’t keep the playfulness out of my tone.
+
+She turns away, blushing and waving her hand in the air as though trying to use it to help articulate words. “Right…people are going to talk. And you have been spending a lot of time with me…”
+
+“Do you not want to spend time with me?” The question just pops out, and it feels wrong the second it leaves my mouth. It’s just going to make her feel guilty. I wish I hadn’t asked it like that, but the idea of avoiding her, or of her avoiding me, is simply unbearable.
+
+“No!” she squeaks. “I mean I do, I like spending time with you…it’s just…”
+
+“You don’t want everyone else to know.”
+
+She nods. She looks almost ashamed of herself, but she shouldn’t. I want to hold her, but that would draw too much attention out here in public.
+
+This wouldn’t have happened if I had better controlled myself.
+
+“Can I make it up to you in some way?” I ask sincerely. Rae, please stop blushing at everything I say—that wasn’t meant to be innuendo! . “I also owe you for all the help you have given me, on top of also keeping me company tomorrow.”
+
+“You don’t need to do anything Francois-san. I enjoy your company.”Rae is quiet but she means it.
+
+“That’s good, because I very much enjoy your company too. I look forward to enjoying a casual day tomorrow. We’ve had to do a lot of studying lately. So, what do you have planned for our d—day?” I can do this.
+
+Rae narrows her eyes at me. She definitely noticed I stopped myself from saying date. “I…you’ll have to wait and see. Like, don’t get your expectations up or anything. It’s nothing fancy. I don’t know, I was thinking we could go out and see a few things, then maybe get lunch and hang out at my place, or maybe your place? I could bring my laptop and show you a game, if you want. I don’t want to seem too much like an Otaku or anything but I think I have a good suggestion for something you might like.” She rambles on very quickly; it seems she is getting a bit self conscious.
+
+“That sounds lovely, Rae. I don’t need anything fancy either. Getting lunch, enjoying a nice walk around town and then doing something at home sounds perfect. I wouldn’t mind coming to your dorm.” We have spent a lot of time in mine .
+
+“Ugh…well, honestly it's pretty small, and now that I think about it we would have to share my bed if we wanted to play something on my laptop.” Rae averts her eyes and presses two fingers together.
+
+I don’t see what the problem is…okay, I will concede that this might be a lot for this version of Rae.
+
+But returning to my dorm might be unfair to Catherine. She has been very patient so far, but I can see she really wishes she had some privacy again with all the time Rae has spent at our  place over this past week.
+
+“I’ll see what Catherine would prefer. She can be…well, she enjoys her privacy and I worry this is getting to be a bit too much for her.”
+
+“Oh, yeah, for sure. In that case I think Misha will be out for most of the day, so we can play it by ear I guess.”
+
+We resume our walk to the other side of the campus. I can see Rae is lost in thought for a moment.
+
+“Is something wrong?”
+
+She snaps her fingers. “Now I remember! Before Bauer-san showed up, I was going to tell you about something on YouTube you might like that’s pretty harmless.”
+
+“Oh?” That has piqued my interest.
+
+“Yeah, okay…” She pulls out her phone and starts it up, or “unlocks it” as Rae explained is the correct phrase. “Okay, in your opinion what is the cutest animal?”
+
+“Hmmm, well, cats are always adorable…but I’ve always been fond of otters.”
+
+She grins and types away, then turns the phone towards me as a video starts to play. It displays a pair of otters floating in the water together, sleeping soundly. “Awwww, they are holding each other’s hands!” Oh, goodness! 

12.txt

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+I am looking through my closet—there are so many choices for clothes. I guess it's the fashion here but I wasn’t expecting to have so many pants. 
+
+Hrmmm…
+
+These pants do seem like they would look good on me, and they might be better than a skirt or dress if we go for a walk. Hrmm, these white slacks look good, and it would get less in the way if—
+
+“Hey.”
+
+I pull away from the closet, and turn towards the voice coming from the sofa. A head peeks up over the side.
+
+“Yes?”
+
+“I…are you planning an outfit?” She definitely just second guessed herself and diverted into a different question, but I have no idea what it could have been.
+
+“Yes, I am spending the day with Rae tomorrow, though officially it’s not a Date . We will be heading out on the town and taking a break from all of the studying. You don’t have to worry about me tomorrow—I’ll be out of your hair.”
+
+Catherine perks up, unsurprisingly. “I would appreciate that. You've been doing pretty well with picking out your outfits, by the way. I suppose it wouldn’t be that hard with how much work the previous you put into your wardrobe, but still, you’re doing a good job. And the choices you’re making now feel different, too.”
+
+“Good different?”
+
+“I guess? It’s more of a vibe than something I can point to specifically. You were always more fashion aware than me, but now it feels…I don’t know. More authentic? Less showy?” Catherine pulls herself up and lets her arms hang over the side of the couch. She shrugs.
+
+“I have a question.”
+
+“Shoot.”
+
+“I noticed in my portraits—”
+
+“Photos,” Catherine corrects. Right, photos.
+
+“...photos, that I never curled my hair.”
+
+“Errr, well, yeah? Did you do that before?”
+
+“I did, like how Mother would do her hair.” It does make sense that this Claire never picked up the habit. I’m not even sure my relationship with my mother is on good terms, judging from the photo of us I saw earlier.
+
+“Oh…” Catherine slumps a bit on the couch. She looks downcast. “Why haven't you asked about it?” She finally says after a long pause. The question feels like it is lined with lead. Is that what she wanted to bring up earlier?
+
+“About which, Mother? Father? ...You?” The accident .
+
+Catherine looks miserable and she tries to merge with the sofa. “So you know about that.”
+
+“It wasn’t your fault. At least, it wasn’t your fault back in the world that I remember and I feel certain that wasn’t your fault here either.” I can tell she needs to hear this, like she needed to hear it back then.
+
+“You don’t know that, you weren’t there. You”—
+
+“You were six years old, Catherine! How could any of that have been your fault? You aren’t responsible for what happened!”
+
+The fierceness of my voice takes her by surprise and I hold her gaze, not letting her look away. I can see tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “But if your mom hadn’t tried to save me…your dad might…”
+
+I close the distance between us and kneel beside the sofa next to Catherine. She curls into a ball at the back of the sofa but I gently take her hand. “Catherine, I don’t blame you for what happened. Can I tell you what it was like before, where I came from?”
+
+She doesn't say anything but I can see a slight nod of her head.
+
+“In the kingdom of Bauer, your father was a high-ranking noble and was at odds with my parents. I mentioned before that my parents had wanted social reform, and well, your father was adamantly opposed to their goals. He arranged for the accident to happen. As you told me back then, you were made an unwitting  pawn in their plan; you were gifted with a unique magic that could erase memories and he meant for you to use it to get rid of any evidence.”
+
+I take a deep breath and continue. “The first attack failed to kill them, though, and my mother was able to save you before a second group of attackers came and killed her. You escaped and your father planned to use you again—he assigned you to follow me as we grew up so he could eventually use both of us as part of some future ploy. As we grew closer, though, you saw his horrible plans for what they were and refused to play along with them. In the end you turned on him completely and helped me catch and arrest him. You even used your magic on him.” I try to meet her gaze again as she averts her eyes. “None of that was your fault. You were being used. And once you were old enough to realize it, you refused to cooperate. You were always my friend and I consider you like a sister to me, Catherine.”
+
+Catherine needs a moment, and tries to level out her breathing. Eventually she lets out a long breath and runs a hand through her hair. “I hate how much your version sounds almost exactly like what happened here.” Her voice is very shaky. I gently rub her hand, a careful nudge to encourage her to continue. 
+
+“Okay, yeah, my dad has had it out for yours for a long time. I’m sure you’ve figured this part out already, but you come from money, like a lot of money. The Francois name is a well-known worldwide brand, a high end, very classy brand. It’s on all sorts of luxury goods, such as clothes, accessories, even custom cars. Your mom wanted to do some good with all of that money and fame when she married your father, at least that's what she told me. Umm…she—they—were trying to reform a lot of the standards in the EU to combat malicious corporate malfeasance. Without getting into too many of the details, my dad didn’t like that. It cut into too many of his profits. He didn’t like me either, or my mom—we were a mistake he wanted to get rid of. I overheard him arranging the ‘accident.’ He was going to kill us all. Our car was supposed to run yours off the side of the road into the river and....”
+
+She takes another breath to compose herself.The memory still causes her to tremble.
+
+“He caught me eavesdropping and told me the best thing I could do was to make sure we all died cleanly. I should have said something, anything, but I was so terrified…and then it all happened so fast—our car rolled into your family’s car and we both went over the side. I thought I was going to die when we hit the water. I should have just died from the impact but I didn’t and I remember seeing your mother…she was trying to pull your father out of the car but he wasn’t moving and then she somehow saw me. She pulled me out instead when she should have saved him. It should have been—
+
+“No.”
+
+“But—”
+
+“No, Catherine, it’s not your fault and you can’t tell me my life would be better if you weren't here.”
+
+She takes a very shaky breath, tears welling up in her eyes, “C-Claire…you weren't…you don’t know what you were like—”
+
+“Catherine, our parents made that choice, not you. I’m not going to lie, losing my mother in my old life hurt…and I…I’m so scared to see her again. Knowing she’s here but not Father, I don’t know how to put it into words. He lived a full life in the world I remember. He was there for me, and for Rae and our g-girls. Knowing he won’t get to see me grow up and find h-happiness hurts, but now I have M-mother again instead and I don’t know what to make of it. I…it feels wrong to be h-happy about it but—”
+
+“C-claire if you cry, I’m—”
+
+That breaks any semblance of control I have, and a loud sob escapes from me as I throw my arms around her. It catches her by surprise but she takes a shaky breath and embraces me back, tears streaming down her face as well.
+
+“Don’t leave again!” I cry out.
+
+“What?”
+
+“Don’t you dare think about leaving me again!” I repeat.
+
+Catherine stops crying, a look of confusion on her face. “I…okay.”
+
+I’m still crying, but I’m also laughing too. Goodness, I feel like a mess. My energy is all over the place and Catherine is no better. “Good.” My face must be a mess from all of the crying. I haven't cried like that in a while. Feeling a bit calmer after letting all of that out,  I rise from where I was kneeling next to  the sofa and take a seat next to Catherine. I haven’t a clue what to say right now. The silence is broken by occasional sniffles.
+
+Catherine is the first to speak, after taking a deep breath and exhaling. “I know that rationally I’m not accountable for what happened. I know that. But I feel accountable. I feel like I was the reason you were miserable growing up. If I had died, if I had drowned in the river because your mother pulled your father out instead of me, you wouldn’t have lost anything.” 
+
+The expression on her face is pained. I take a breath, wanting to tell her how wrong she is. She holds up a hand. 
+
+“Let me finish. My dad basically disavowed me after that. After all, I was a bastard child and that made me poor stock or whatever. I went to your mother, Melia, and I told her everything. I think she believed me, but there wasn’t any real proof. Your mother took care of me after that and you and I grew up together but you—well the old you—you didn’t hate me, exactly, but…it always felt like you were tolerating me, just barely. Sometimes you would get mad about things, but mostly you were just despondent. Your mother tried putting us both through therapy, and it helped me, it really did. I know I was a mess over what happened and…” 
+
+I put my hand over Catherine’s and give it a gentle squeeze. “I never thought we would be able to have an honest conversation about this, after all this time. Jeez. You never really bounced back from what happened. It just felt like a slow decline. I guess I never knew you very well before but…Claire, it’s always been hard being around you. We were supposed to stick together, but I felt like I was the reason you were so unhappy. I wanted to be there for you but when we started uni it felt like it just got worse and then that night you came back and said all that stuff and you were suddenly so different from before and I just snapped. I’m sorry.”
+
+I pull her into a hug. Everything I could say to reassure her feels like an empty platitude, so I just hope the hug lets her know instead. “Thank you for this. For being honest and telling me everything. I know all of this has been a lot, and now that I am a different person with different memories we are both having to relive it all over again. It's surreal how much this life is like an echo of my old one. I am truly sorry for how the other me treated you.“
+
+“You're different but you don’t feel different , if you know what I mean. It’s weird, like I see how you are now and I recognize a lot of things. Things that were there before but buried underneath all of the pain and loneliness you were dealing with. You used to bring me candy as a kid, licorice. I don’t remember when it stopped but you brought it again for me recently, the day you…changed. You might even be going a bit overboard with how much you have gotten me since then.”
+
+“You say that, but it keeps disappearing.” I’m sure my gentle joke doesn’t quite land how I intend it to with all of the tears in my eyes.
+
+“It’s been a week , okay? Your wife has been around a lot, and sure, she’s polite, but…” She sounds tired, but she also sounds calmer than she has in a while.
+
+“I know, don't worry, tomorrow you will have a break. And I will work on figuring out a better schedule with Rae to give you more time alone.”
+
+“Thanks.”
+
+I squeeze her hand, happy that she's still here.
+
+“So—what is my mother like now?” I ask the question I’ve been dying to ask since I first learned she was alive.
+
+“Oh…she’s nice. Very kind and caring. She took care of me after the accident, and the two of us basically lived as sisters—”
+
+“We are sisters.”
+
+“Okay, cool it with the sappiness. I’ve done enough crying tonight.” She rubs her eyes. “I lived with the two of you after the accident. We moved around quite a bit. At first we stayed with your cousin, Manaria Sousse. After that we bounced around a lot, mostly living different places in Europe but eventually we ended up here in Japan after middle school. I’m not sure why it worked out that way but it was related to your mother’s business interests, I think.”
+
+“Is she here, too?”
+
+“Sometimes, but business often takes her out of the country. If we need something from home we can ask Lene.”
+
+“Lene?” Lene?
+
+“Ummm yes, do you know—”
+
+“Yes, oh sorry, yes. She was my personal maid in my previous life. We grew up together .”
+
+“Oh, I see.”
+
+“Umm, so what is she like here?”
+
+“Well, she didn’t grow up with us, if that’s what you’re asking. I wouldn’t describe her as a maid, more like a personal assistant. She maintains the house and assists you and Melia with your daily needs. She even acts as a driver when necessary.  She’s been with us for…I want to say six years? She’s also from France.”
+
+France is a country here, right? The similarity with my name is odd. “That’s in Europe?” 
+
+“Yes, that's where we were born.”
+
+“Okay. So did we…I don’t know, was Lene involved in our lives very much?”
+
+“Yeah, sort of.  Like I said, her role is to help with day-to-day life stuff. Melia has always been really busy with the business and she wanted someone to help when we moved to Japan so Lene came with us. Sometimes she cooks, sometimes she cleans, sometimes she books appointments and drives us around, whatever is needed. She found this dorm and helped us move in here, too.”
+
+“So I can ask her for help, if we need something?”
+
+“Yes, that’s pretty much why she’s here…why, what are you thinking of?”
+
+Lene might know more about getting Catherine’s prosthetic fixed, right? Not that I can tell Catherine about that yet. “I’m thinking of quite a few things. If something goes wrong, we can contact her, right? Like if something breaks here in our dorm?”
+
+“Sure, if your laptop putzs out or something, I guess. You also used to have her drive you out for shopping trips.” Catherine shrugs.
+
+She must be in my phone then, right? I haven’t seen her name pop up in my contacts… I pull out my phone to look again. Goodness there are so many names here…. 
+
+“Are you trying to find her in your phone?”
+
+“Yes! Why isn’t she here?” I am making my second run through this list now!
+
+“Let me check,” she says, reaching for the phone. I pass it to her and she flips through it several times. “Ahhhhh, I found her…you had her listed as Driver.” Catherine does not look impressed.
+
+“ Driver ?” Really, Claire? Lene deserves so much better than that.
+
+“Old Claire could suck sometimes, huh…”
+
+I put my head in my hands and groan. Driver ? “I need to apologize to her. That’s so demeaning!”
+
+“I doubt she even knows, to be honest. Old you was very possessive about your phone; you never really let people touch it, let alone use it. Here.” She hands it back to me, and I update Lene's contact to her proper name. “Sorry, we got distracted with Lene didn’t we. Did you still want to talk about your mom?”
+
+“Yes, I… in my previous life she passed away when I was just turning six. She and my father had to attend to important business so they missed my birthday. I had gotten so upset with Mother about it that I told her…I hated her. That was the last time I saw her. It was so long ago for me…”
+
+“Your mother is…well, she’s more caring than she has any right to be. She didn’t have to take me in after everything that happened. Sometimes she has high expectations. Sometimes it’s a little hard, and you two have def clashed a bit over that, but she does care.”
+
+“That photo you asked me to look at…what were we doing?”
+
+“That was before classes started here. She wanted to do one last trip with us before things got too busy with school and her business. We went back to France together for a week. I don’t think you particularly cared for it. That photo you took was because your mom insisted. You weren’t thrilled to take it but you eventually agreed, , and I guess you never actually deleted. It was hard to know what you were thinking back then.”
+
+It’s easy enough to bring the photo up again on my phone. There are others of my Mother there too, but I keep coming back to this one. I don’t like how unenthused I look next to her, especially with the smile she has on her face.
+
+“Do you want to see her?”
+
+“Yes?”
+
+“Yes?”
+
+I drop the phone in my lap and fall back against the sofa cushions. “It’s terrifying, if I’m honest. I want to apologize for what I said to her here, but I don’t even know what I am apologizing for .. I don’t know what it was like between us here, after everything that happened. I only knew her as a child in my old life. And she…she will definitely notice something has changed about me when we talk…”
+
+“Well, I don’t think you have to worry about seeing her soon if you’re not ready. I’m pretty sure she’s away on a business trip right now. You have some time before you have to see her and I think she was also trying to give you some space.”
+
+I nod. “Thanks, Catherine. I really do appreciate you being here.”
+
+“This is nice,” she says in reply, and I think she actually might mean it.
+
+It really is nice.
+
+“Sooooo I had magic that could erase memories?”
+
+“Yeah, you would use it to make yourself invisible to people when you didn’t want them to see you.”
+
+Catherine groans. “Damn, not going to lie, I’m really jealous of magic me.”

13.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+Fuck all my clothes are just geeky.
+
+“Misha? Does this look okay?”
+
+I turn to Misha, she’s got a better idea of fashion then me. This shirt looks okay right? She's working on something on her laptop though.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+She’s not even looking!
+
+“Miiiiishaaaa, come on, I need your expertise. I don’t want to look dumb when I’m out with Francois-san”
+
+She sighs, “Look Rei, you are so out of your field with her. You literally can’t match her.”
+
+Ugh, what a sucker punch. This is a mistake…
+
+She sighs again, “Rei, if she likes you, just dress how you want to. If she is telling the truth I doubt she cares, does she even know what’s fashionable anymore?”
+
+“Hey, she still looks gorgeous!”
+
+Misha does not look moved.
+
+“...I guess she is dressing kinda differently, sorta? But she still looks amazing.”
+
+Misha turns back to her work. “Come on Misha, don’t you have something you can lend me?”
+
+“No.” She is intent to return to her work, “Stop stressing out, has she even ever said anything about it?”
+
+“Ummmm…”
+
+“Come on Rei, you said she was married to you before right? Even if she flirts with you half as much as you-
+
+“She IS!”
+
+“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
+
+“She is Misha, she is always getting close, there are so many touches, and glances, the other day she cupped my face and….” Oh god, I could have melted there, all she had to do was lean in. She should have. What I am thinking, that’s too much! I don't want her to kiss me? But I DO! I want her to step all over me! I want her to sear me! Make me hers! Ruin ME! Say my name…
+
+Rei…
+
+“Earth to Rei”
+
+“Huh?”
+
+“God you're hopeless,” When did Misha get up? She pulls my gray hoodie from my closet. “Here wear this one, it’s much better that your old ratty zipper hoodie”
+
+“I love my P5 hoodie!”
+
+“Yah and it’s also beat to shit, here, also go in these shorts.” She shows the articles to me. I haven't thought about this gray hoodie in a while. The sleeves past the elbows are green and a star in a black circle sits on the elbows. It's one I don't wear too often, it’s… I don’t know, it feels too loud for me. The shorts are black running shorts, and well … a little short.
+
+“These show off a lot of legs…”
+
+“It’s been a warm May Rei, and I’m sure your wife will love the show.” She forces the clothes into my hands and reaches into the closet again. “One more suggestion...” She pulls out a green rimmed cap and drops it on my head. “Hrmm, yah I think that works. You owe me.” She says nonchalantly and returns back to her work.
+
+“Ummmm…” Is this really good? “Isn’t this kinda boyish?”
+
+There is a pained sound that escapes from Misha, “It’s all your getting Rei. Trust me, it works.”
+
+It’s not like I have a better look figured out.
+
+“You’re going to be out after ten right?”
+
+“Yes, I will get this paper done if it kills me.”
+
+“Okay, I’m probably going to bring Francois-san over after.”
+
+“Here? It’s small, didn’t you say her dorm room is big?”
+
+“Yah but I’ve been there everyday since this started, her roommate hasn’t said anything but… I think it’s been a lot? Francois-san thinks we should give her some space too.”
+
+“Fine, I mean it’s your problem to deal with, I’ll be back in the evening, I’ll probably shoot you a text when I’m incoming.”
+
+“Thanks Misha”
+
+“Sure, good luck with your date.”
+
+“It’s not a date!”
+
+It’s kinda a date. 

14.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,225 @@
+I wasn’t expecting Francois-san to be here before me, am I late? No, I'm twenty minutes early…
+
+“Oohashi-san!” She notices me pretty soon as I close in, she looks quite happy this morning. She also looks amazing. She has pulled her hair back into a high tail with a red ribbon, and is wearing a flowy red top with a orange jacket, and stylish white slacks and sandals. Her stomach is very exposed with how high her top is cut… 
+
+“ Like what you see? ”
+
+Her words snap me back to reality, she is smirking, she looks quite proud of herself. She realigns her bag on her shoulder, “You look rather handsome I must say.” Oh this teasing is so unfair, I need to pull my cap down to cover my face a bit to recover but it just causes her to giggle lightly. “So what’s first?”
+
+“Right, well we can take a small tour, there is a park and more nearby that should be nice. And then I was thinking we could get lunch after and then head back and I can show you… game stuff.”
+
+“That sounds lovely Oohashi-chan.” She beams again, and I don’t know if I can really meet her expectations but I have to at least try. A walk through a park has to be nice right? God I don’t know what I am doing. Maybe I should have just gotten movie tickets instead. But then that might be too much for her to follow and she could’t ask any questions in a theater, and what if it just makes the whole experience confusing and ruins it- “I’ll follow your lead, okay?” Francois-san says, her eyes glance to my hands as we start to move.
+
+Right. We are…
+
+Does she want to… hold my hand?
+
+She must either decide not to, or not have thought to in the first place. Why… Am I disappointed? God why am I overthinking this, girls hold hands all the time right? It doesn’t have to mean something if we did right? People won’t just assume we are… together right?
+
+“Everything all right R- Oohashi-chan?” Great, Francois-san is now picking up on my internal consternations. Get it together Rei.
+
+“No, yes, I’m all right, you haven’t had a chance to wander around much right?”
+
+“No, not much yet. Pepi and Loretta dragged me to a restaurant earlier to interrogate me but nothing else yet. It will be nice, it’s very different from Bauer here.”
+
+“Oh, how did that go?”
+
+“Okay I think? They had definitely noticed the change in myself and Pepi was, well, quite suspicious to say the least. I think I smoothed it over but I don’t expect the effort to be over yet.”
+
+“That’s good, how did you manage that?”
+
+“Well, I did tell them that I had changed, I may have suggested it was because I wanted to be better… but I may have also suggested it was because I fell in love.”
+
+Oh no… “Francois-san…”
+
+“I didn’t say it was you, but then they started jumping to conclusions. First they thought I was being sly and that I was going to bully you, never again… unless you want it. ” Oh GOD. “And then I had to be blunt after that. Yes, I have feelings for you but that was… it. I don’t want them giving you trouble, let me know if they do anything okay?” She glances from the corner of my eye, and I can see she has a few worries.
+
+“Sure, but I really wish you would be more careful about that, first Bauer-san and now your two lackeys?”
+
+“Pepi and Loretta. And I know Rei, I’m sorry. If I thought I could have done it without falling back on it, I would have, but I am atrocious at lying and I don’t think there is anyone else outside of my family who would know me better than those two.”
+
+It’s hard to fault her, it would be like trying to lie to Misha… and I couldn't make it past one night with her. 
+
+“Are you nervous about being… out?”
+
+The image of my desk, kanji scratched on its surface just beckon forth in my mind.
+
+Oohashi Rei’s a Lesbo
+
+The fucking pit in my stomach. Ugh,  that… was miserable.
+
+“Maybe a little.”
+
+She wouldn't do that, but Kosaki didn’t mean for it to get so out of hand either…
+
+“That’s okay,” She tries to soothe me, “I’ll be honest, I never had to deal with that sort of anxiety but that was mostly because I was too stuck on trying to realize I did have feelings for you, and then a revolution happened. It didn’t really matter what anyone thought because everything got turned over. Not to say we lived without prejudice, it still existed even if we were heroes.” I have to guess the other me didn't feel like this…
+
+“What was it like? What happened?”
+
+“Hmr, well I suppose I first met you when you arrived at the academy. The Academy had started to accept commoners for the first time, and you were an exceptional student. I believe you said that is when you ‘woke’ up, I suppose in a manner similar to how I did just a week ago. You said you had known of that world because it was the plot of a game you loved.”
+
+“Wait you're telling me I isekaid into a game?”
+
+“I suppose?… I feel like I am forgetting something else but yes, you were reborn in our world. A lost soul.”
+
+“So did I die in Japan? Did I say what happened?”
+
+Claire turns away, and clutches her bag, “No I don’t believe you did.”
+
+She is right, she is bad at lying, but what is trying to avoid telling me, people die-
+
+“Anyways you, when we first met immediately proclaimed your love for me, it was very alarming at the time to say the least, I had even been just reprimanding you for sitting in the wrong place when you did. You went out of your way to be around me and I did not react well to it at first. You used your knowledge and cheated your way into being my maid, and then you were trying to play behind the scenes to guide the story you knew as it was unfolding. You knew a revolution was looming on the horizon. You were also a very gifted student, top of the class and one of the only dual casters around, you could wield two elements, earth and water. A very talented chef as well, I’d be lying if I said I don’t look forward to it again.”
+
+I can cook? I mean I know how to make really basic stuff, but like cook cook? “Umm, What sort of things did I cook for you?”
+
+Francois-san gets a dreamy look on her face, I already feel nervous, “Oh everything, you were always inventing new dishes, but I suppose many of those may have come from here. You were honestly as good or better than some of the chefs we employed when I was still a noble, I believe you even introduced chocolate to Bauer, and mayonnaise. Your crème brûlée is divine .” She looks so proud.
+
+I…
+
+What?
+
+Chocolate? hOOw? I don’t even know the first thing to making that, but I know it’s complicated, and mayonnaise? Maybe?... Isn't it just oil and eggs?  
+
+Crème brûlée? Ughhhhhhhh-
+
+“I….” She looks so expectantly at me… I can’t tell her my level of cooking is just heating up a instant ramen right? “I don’t know if I am that good… but I can try making something later.” I can’t tell her… she looks so proud, how am I supposed to compare to that?!
+
+“Oh you don’t have to be so modest, I’m sure whatever you make will be good.”
+
+“Oh, well I haven’t really had a place to cook, or time since I started university…” It’s not like my dorm has a kitchen.
+
+“You could use ours.” She counters rather quickly.
+
+See looks so eager.
+
+She has so much faith in my non-existent abilities. I need to let her know.
+
+“Sure.”
+
+Rei
+
+REI!
+
+Why did I say that?
+
+She smiles so fondly, oh god, that’s why. This is okay…. I can look up something right? I will be prepared this time. It won't be a repeat of the tea again, I am going to knock her out next time. I can do this.
+
+“I am looking forward to it.”
+
+Change the subject for the love of god Rei.
+
+“So a revolution?”
+
+“Oh, yes. To say there was imbalance between the nobility and common class would downplay the situation. Things had come to a boiling point and players behind the scenes were manipulating it for their own gain. You however, knew how it would unfold because you were very familiar with the game, so you tried to guide me to become the hero of the movement. I couldn’t see it at the time but with you I learned of the disparity between the classes and I confronted a lot of my own biases. Things came to a head when a volcano erupted, King B… the king lost his life and the government was thrown into chaos. We worked hard to support the commoners while the nobility tried to consolidate power for themselves, things almost turned violent but thanks to you things were settled pretty peacefully. The nobility was abolished, a new government was formed and we eloped afterwards, adopted two girls, twins. May and Aleah, they are wonderful.”
+
+“Oh, wow that's a lot.” That’s an understatement. “So this was a game I knew here then?”
+
+“Oh, yes you were very enamored by it.”
+
+“Do you know what it was called?”
+
+“Revolution, you said it was like a novel, a dating game?”
+
+“An otome?” She just shrugs, “Well can’t say I really ever heard of that game before, I wonder if it exists… did… I?... say anything about it as a game, like why I liked it or when I started?”
+
+“Well I don’t think you would have played it at this age, I think you were probably older… To answer the other question, you played it because I was in it, it was love at first sight. Or so you had said.” There is such a teasing smirk on her face.
+
+Is she suggesting I… She was my game waifu….?
+
+I want to sink in a hole…
+
+What? How!?
+
+She creeps in closer, “You're blushing Oohashi-chan…”
+
+OH GOD, I am going to die.
+
+She laughs as she puts more distance between us.
+
+“Really?” my voice feels hoarse.
+
+“Yes.” she answers, at least it doesn’t sound like she is demeaning me over it, just really teasing me.
+
+Good .
+
+SHUT UP REI.
+
+“Rei?”
+
+“YeS?” God why can’t I sound normal.
+
+“Are you okay… with this? It’s not too much is it? Sometimes I just fall into old habits and I worry you are just humoring me.” She looks concerned.
+
+That's bad, fix it.
+
+“Nonononono, I’m just… this is new, sudden. I haven’t even had anything since you know… Kosaki… and that never went anywhere.”
+
+“So I’m your first?”
+
+I gulp
+
+“I… this is the closest I have been to a relationship…”
+
+“Do you want to? To do this again with me?”
+
+I can’t believe this is happening. I thought a week ago maybe the dust would settle and things would cool off. She would see what a loser I am and realize she was wrong about me.
+
+But she didn’t.
+
+The look she is giving is so intense, I can’t even lie to myself… she wants this.
+
+I want this.
+
+I nod.
+
+She smiles.
+
+She closes the distance between us, we are shoulder to shoulder and she has a conspiratorial look on her face. Her hand touches mine.
+
+“Is this okay?
+
+Her hand slips into mine and she weaves her fingers into mine.
+
+I am holding hands with Francois-san.
+
+I AM HOLDING HANDS WITH FRANCOIS-SAN.
+
+I make the mistake of meeting her eyes directly, she is still expecting an answer. My voice doesn’t really answer so I just nod again and I have to break eye contact.
+
+This hoodie was a mistake, I am cooking.
+
+Francois-san seems very content and enjoys the walk in silence as we make our way towards the park. I can’t even remember its name anymore. It had a lake right? Or something. I hope the zoo is good, is that too much of a cliche? It’s not an aquarium right, that would be way too much of a cliche but it’s not like she would even know about that right? Like that’s probably not a thing from where she is from. Is a zoo even going to be interesting to her, she said they had magic, did they also have magical creatures? Monsters? Is a zoo even going to hold her interest? How cool is a monkey going to be compared to a dragon? You don't even know if that’s the case, stop psyching-
+
+“Ohh!” I feel a tug on my hand and Francois-san is pulling me forward, “Oh this is so lovely!”
+
+It's the pond, though at first glance you can hardly see the water, it's so full of green leaves and dotted with pink flowers.
+
+Francois-san pulls us to the edge and looks out at the pond, there is such wonder and vigor to her as she takes it all in. God she is so beautiful-
+
+“What are these flowers called?”
+
+“Oh, these are lotuses, they grow on the water, I think there is supposed to be a pathway a bit to the south that we can walk through the pond on.”
+
+“That sounds lovely, these are really beautiful, we didn’t have these in Bauer. Do they hold a special meaning?”
+
+Yes? “I think so… I mean I know they are important for a bunch of religions but I was never really religious so I couldn’t really tell you about that. I think there is something about enlightenment? I think it's important in Buddhism?”
+
+“I see, what’s Buddhism?”
+
+“Oh, yah right. It's one of the religions around this part of the world, it's pretty old but like I said, I’m not really religious in the slightest so I’m not the best person to be asking about it. Did you have religions back there?”
+
+“Yes, just one though. And I don't…” She pauses for a moment, lost in thought, like she is trying to recall something, “Hmmm, I can’t say how much stock I would put into it now. The church did some good, but would also be a hindrance in other areas. You didn’t really put much faith into it there either. So there are multiple religions here? How does that work?”
+
+“Honestly not well, I’m sure you will get a better idea once we start getting into history stuff later when we aren’t worried about our classes. Right now they kinda coexist with each other but they don’t really… they don’t acknowledge each other if that makes sense? They each have their own version of stuff and often they really don’t line up with each other. It's been a source of conflict in the past.”
+
+There is a look of understanding as I say that, she grasps the idea of the conflict pretty quickly and I wonder how much she has had to see in her life.
+
+But I don't want her to dwell on that too much.
+
+“There is a zoo on the other side of the pond.”
+
+“A zoo?” She perks up quickly, the excitement is cute.
+
+“Yes, did you have those?”
+
+“Not in Bauer but I read that some wealthy cities in the Loro empire would build them… I never had a chance to visit one before.” She is getting quite giddy, she isn’t even trying to hide it in her voice and she squeezes my hand as she starts getting us to move forward again.”

15.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+I was not expecting this enthusiasm from Francois-san, and it’s rather infectious. The minute we paid for the tickets; thank god they are cheap, she pulls me to the first closest exhibit, and she immediately awes over the giraffes. I am quickly tasked with taking photos with her, though to be honest I think she has a better eye than me when it comes to it, but we both end up taking many photos. I might have taken a few of just her too but I also caught her taking some of me. It’s only fair… and it’s not fair how pretty she always looks.
+
+My previous worries turn out to be for nothing, and every exhibit is fun for her. So many of the animals are completely new to her, and even the one she knows, she still gets enraptured and takes just as many photos. The time just disappears as I try to keep up with her, a part of me wishes I could freeze the moment but this also just feels perfect. Like there is nothing else I would want to do but chase after her, make her happy and watch her smile.
+
+She catches sight of something and rushes forward, I almost lose track of her and chase right behind her. She stops right in front of a display and just gets quiet, stilling completely. Is everything all right?
+
+She slowly turns to me, and I can see tears glisten in the corners of her eyes, oh no, did I miss something, did I forget something? I must have ruined something I wasn’t paying attention to-
+
+“They have otters”
+
+What?
+
+She grabs my hand and points to the display case right in front of the exhibit, A clear plastic box, the bottom half with water, the top half with a shelf and an otter lounging on top of it, basking in the sun.
+
+Her grip on my hand tightens, just slightly but gently, “Otters…” She looks so overwhelmed, and borderline about to cry but she smiles, “They have otters Rei.”
+
+Oh thank god, “Yes, you had me worried there Francois-san.”
+
+“Sorry, sorry,” she waves herself with the other hand and takes a breath, “They are just so cute.”
+
+I think I understand how she feels, I could die just from ODing on the cuteness overload happening now that I’m not panicking anymore. She moves closer to the display while being careful not to touch the case or disturb the otter and just takes the scene in with childlike wonder, I might really die.
+
+“I think I can see some swimming in the pool.” I point out the water to where there looks to be a pair floating and holding paws, once she sees it too she squees and quickly drags me over to a better viewpoint with her. She is nearly jumping up and down.
+
+“Oh goodness, oh goodness. Look, look, they are holding paws, oh goodness.”
+
+She pulls my hand in closer, up to her chest and holds it with both hands now, she is smiling and the tears glisten like crystals in the corners of her eyes.
+
+This day feels like it's not doomed after all.

16.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+ 
+
+“The pandas are so very cute, I have never seen a bear like them before.”
+
+I hum in agreement and nod as Francois-san talks about the animals. We are finishing our meals in the zoo’s cafeteria, and thankfully the prices are pretty reasonable. We both picked out a curry dish.
+
+“What are you doing on your phone?” She doesn’t look thrilled when I look up.
+
+“Ohh, sorry I was seeing if I could find anything about Revolution since we were sitting down. You were enjoying the meal and I was thinking maybe I could find something since we were sitting down.” I didn’t even realize I have been on it that long, she has mostly finished her meal, but mine still has a bit left over. I feel guilty, it was supposed to be quick.
+
+She softens, “Oh… I guess that makes sense, did you find anything? You were looking on the internet?”
+
+“Yes, but no. I’m not really finding anything that sounds like a game you are describing. It is Bauer right, like Yu-san, that Bauer?”
+
+“Yes, that’s… because they were the royalty.”
+
+“Ah.”  
+
+Wait, Yu was royalty.
+
+She giggles at me, the realization must have been visible on my face.
+
+“Yes, Rod, Thane and Yu were the… princes and their father was the King. He unfortunately passed on when the volcano erupted and Thane later inherited the throne. Rod led the military, and Yu… umm.”
+
+“Is it bad, did something bad happen to Yu-san?” I’m not that close to Yu, but Misha does care about him despite anything she might say to the contrary.
+
+“Oh no! Nothing like that, it's just, I don't know how to put it, it’s not my place to say.”
+
+Why wouldn't she want to say… is there some sort of development…
+
+“Wait, do they get together?”
+
+She turns away. “I have no idea what you are referring to.”
+
+Wow she is bad at lying.
+
+“Oh my god, they do! I knew there was something going between those two. Misha gets so mushy around him all the time, and he is always trying to act all coy around her but I see how they are when they think no one is looking.” I knew it! Oh god I am going to tease Misha even more the next it comes up.
+
+Francois-san just pouts. “It’s not my business to meddle, and I don’t know how much things are different here.”
+
+I suppose that's fair… but “You weren't shy when it came to me though.”
+
+She humphs, god I love her pouting, “That’s different , and you have no leg to stand on after all the meddling you did with me, ” there is a fire in her eyes, she definitely meant it to sound that way. “At least I am being honest to begin with.” 
+
+We could meddle now.
+
+I want to play along but the counter dies in my throat, god, I can’t keep up with her. I can’t win this game, I feel myself coming undone as she just stares me down with that smug look in her eyes. 
+
+God damn she looks so hot.
+
+“Ummmm, so yah… I don’t think your game exists.” I have to cough to clear the thickness in my throat, “Revolution.”
+
+“It does seem things are different from your last life. Some things are the same, but you never meet Misha, or the Bauers before. I’m not sure why that is but it is no small fortune for myself that it is that way.”
+
+That is true. At least in most Isekais you usually get OP or some cheat. Francois kinda got the short end of the stick.
+
+“And goodness you were so fortunate when you did this too, not only did you seem to know everything, but you ended up being one of the best spellcasters in the country, if not the world.”
+
+“Yah it's been rough for you, magic huh? This is going to sound weird but you know a lot about me, well sorta, but I don’t know too much about you.”
+
+“Oh, yes I suppose that is that case.” She simmers down, is more solemn as she says that. “What would you like to know?”
+
+“Well… I don’t know? Let's start small. I like to read; manga, novels, whatever, and I like to play games. What about yourself?”
+
+“Well, outside of…” a slight red tints her cheeks and she hazards a rare shy glance at me before recovering. ME ? She was going to say me wasn’t she? “Well I also enjoy reading, but I also enjoy sewing. I never really manage to get cooking down which is a shame. I suppose I also enjoy a game, we used to play chess or other games of the like to pass the time but you always proved to be a challenging opponent and often the victor.”
+
+Oh
+
+ “Cool, I hope you like the game I am going to show you then, it’s nothing like chess” Stop fidgeting your hands Rei, “It's a bit like a novel, or a play. The plot is important in it, and it’s set here, in Japan so it's like good exposure to our weird little country… but it is long and you don’t have to feel like we keep playing it if you don’t really enjoy it or anything. It’s not a big deal or any-
+
+“Rei,” She stops my rambling, her voice is firm, but soft, “I’m sure I will enjoy it, I’ve always wanted to see this part of you.”
+
+I can’t help but gulp, but as she looks at me, I can’t help but believe her. I really want her to like it.
+
+How did I get so lucky?
+
+ 

17.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,413 @@
+“Hello?”
+
+I open the door to our dorm room and there is no Misha. That’s good, she’s out and about then.
+
+Probably with Yu.
+
+“Looks like it’s just us Francois-san.”
+
+She follows me inside and closes the door behind us, she lingers for a bit.
+
+“Is it too soon… to use our first names?” She hasn’t been this shy yet, her glance is downturned. I… this is starting to feel very real. She looks so vulnerable, the request is simple enough isn’t it?
+
+I’m overthinking it aren’t I?
+
+Claire
+
+“Umm, no I think it’s okay…… Claire-san.”
+
+She looks up, and there is a small smile, “Well it’s better than Claire-sama.” The teasing is mirthful, I remember she said not to call her that the first time but I am missing a fair bit of context aren’t I? Did I just call her that before?
+
+“I appreciate it Rei… chan, and please don’t feel like you have to rush anything on my part. I don't want you to feel like you are being pressured into this.”
+
+“I’m not, really, I’m just weird. I have my own hangups about things and I don't know when I will get better about it. This is just very new to me. Umm…  Anyways this is my ever so humble room that I share with Misha.” It’s so very plain, at least it’s pretty clean. No clothes were left on the floor, I made sure of that before I left.
+
+She… Claire is looking around judging the room, “It is rather humble isn’t it, I wasn’t sure but I had a feeling that mine was… well extravagant. I have to admit, I don’t have a good frame of reference here in this world for this sort of thing.”
+
+“Oh yah, your’s is pretty nice, it's fine here. It does its job. Misha and I are mostly getting by on savings and scholarship so we can’t really complain.”
+
+“I hope that didn’t sound judgemental, there was a time when I was very young and would have been… well condescending about it.” 
+
+“Oh don’t worry about it, F-Claire-san. Give me a moment to set up.” I pop my shoes off, and pull my laptop off my side of the desk. We can sit on the bed, it’s fine. The chairs sucks anyways.
+
+So the laptop starts up and I drop it on the bed. “Also Claire-san, I did look up a bit about prosthetics, for Achard-san.
+
+“Ohh?” She closes in behind me, I wasn't expecting that and I can feel a shiver run down my back from the proximity.
+
+Calm down Rei, “YaH, so I think there are few places nearby, and there is a lot to consider, I think we would need to actually take her to them and figure out what needs to be done. It sounds like it's something that needs proper maintenance so routine checkups are normal. It will probably cost a bit but It might be covered? I don’t know, we would have to probably talk to her… guardian? You said something about her dad right?”
+
+“Yes… He can choke.” Her voice is like ice.
+
+I turn to face her, she looks like she is ready to kill him. It’s scary…
+
+…but also kinda hot.
+
+OH GOD REI SHUT UP
+
+“I think my mother would probably be her guardian now, but I think I might be able to contact Lene, she is… our maid? Not a maid, but our butler I think. That’s weird to say, I know her from before too, she was my personal maid but Catherine said it’s not quite like that anymore? I haven’t really talked to her but I think she would know what we need to do. I have a feeling she would even manage it in the first place but I think Catherine might be a bit resistant to it… I have yet to suss out the exact reason…”
+
+Oh, well that would make things easier. It makes sense, like I wouldn't really be booking this for her right? That's silly, what am I expecting? Is there anything I can really do then? I’m just a stranger and she has a medical history that I know nothing about, it’s not like I could just suggest a random clinic and we take her there, she probably has a doct-
+
+“Rei, thank you, would you mind if I tried calling her now, I would appreciate it if you were there for it as I don’t know what I am talking about really.”
+
+“Oh, ummm sure Claire-san.”
+
+She smiles and sits down on my bed, okay I can still be useful, that's good. She starts the call and it rings a few times before a voice comes through on the speaker.
+
+“Bonjour Mademoiselle Claire, how might I help you.” The voice is very formal, and her accent is more noticeable than Claire's.
+
+“Lene! It’s great to hear from you.”
+
+“Is everything all right?” She sounds a bit concerned, I would guess most conversations didn’t start like this before.
+
+“Of course Lene, I am quite all right, but I was hoping you could assist me with something. Well Catherine more specifically, she has… well her leg has been damaged and she needs a new one I would say.” Claire-san holds the phone at chest height between the two of us, and her free hand fidgets on her knee.
+
+There is a long pause, “Oh… Well yes we could look into that, she is long due for an appointment but she has insisted it��s not necessary. I… should she not be telling me about this?”
+
+“Well as you said she has been stubborn about it, I don’t think it will be easy to convince her.”
+
+“I could bring this up with your mother then, she might be able to convince her, I know she has wanted to get her a new leg for a while.”
+
+“No, that’s not necessary right now, I think I can convince her, it is partially my fault it’s in its state it is in anyways.”
+
+“Well if that’s the case I can arrange an appointment, I can pick her up probably next weekend. Would you want to accompany us or…?”
+
+“Yes please, and would it be alright if I brought a… friend as well?”
+
+Wait what?
+
+“That shouldn’t be a problem, should I assume that you will inform Mademoiselle Catherine?”
+
+“Yes, I want it to be a surprise, and I think it would be easier too to bring her that way.”
+
+“I understand, I will text you when I finalize the details, do you require anything else Mademoiselle Claire?”
+
+“No that will be all, Thank you Lene, I hope you have a lovely day.”
+
+There is a short pause, “Of course, thank you Mademoiselle, have a nice day.”
+
+The call ends, and Claire looks up at me, her cheeks drawn high from a smile and she grabs my hand. “We did it!”
+
+I didn’t do anything though, but she is very happy, “Well you ended up doing most of it, but I’m glad for you.”
+
+“Hush, you were important, thank you for being here with me for it.”
+
+“So… did you want to bring-”
+
+“Yes, could you come along too? I know I didn’t really ask you beforehand but I would really appreciate it if you came. It might be a bit silly but it’s less intimidating when you are with me.”
+
+“I would die for you.”
+
+She blanches slightly. Fuck, I wasn’t suppose to say that. That was a bit unhinged.
+
+“Rei!”
+
+“Sorry, that came out wrong I-”
+
+She wraps me in a hug, “Please don’t, I’m sorry we have just been through a lot. I understand it's a non-serious expression but I don’t want to lose you.”
+
+aaaaaaaAAAAAaaaaa
+
+“Are you okay?” When did she let go? She is gently rubbing my arm and her face furls in concern.
+
+“yUp, totally fine… Sorry about that Claire-san, it’s just my weird otaku stuff leaking out…”
+
+“I… I don’t mind the mannerism Rei, I just want you to know I don’t want to lose you okay. Don’t think you need to sacrifice yourself for me okay? That just hits… a little too close.”
+
+I, right, she lived through a revolution, even if it was mostly non-violent. I have to imagine things weren’t always safe in her old life. I am doing a bad job at this.
+
+“Don’t worry Claire-san, I’ll be better.”
+
+She gives one more squeeze of my arm before letting her hand fall away, “Don't worry about it too much either, I’m just glad you are here and your otaku-ness is charming.” She teases out a smile.
+
+This can’t be real.
+
+I clear my throat, “Soooo… um video games!”
+
+She nods and I turn back to the laptop, I should grab the controller, “Feel free to get comfortable on the bed, I’ll just set it up.” I reach under the bed and pull out the box with the controller in it, and then grab the charging cable to plug the laptop in. When I turn back I see that Claire has decided to sit in the corner of the bed, laying down its length, I had thought we would sit across the bed… I was going to pull the desk to prop the laptop on. She just looks at me innocently.
+
+She planned this…
+
+We are going to be very close…
+
+Oh god.
+
+I can do this, don’t make a big deal about it.
+
+Don't make a big deal about it.
+
+I slide in next to her and prop the laptop up before us on my legs and open up the launcher for Persona. Claire focuses on the screen.
+
+“Is this good? Comfortable?”
+
+She leans into my space just a bit, “Hmmh.”
+
+Oh god, I can do this.
+
+The intro starts and Claire leans in as the title menu appears.
+
+“Oh this is the same as your hoodie right? You said that was also Persona right?”
+
+“Yes.” I can’t help but feel pleased that she remembered that, “This is that.”
+
+“This looks… different, this isn’t real is it?”
+
+“Oh no, it's ummm, Ok so we talked about anime, or animation before right?. A video is basically just a bunch of images pre-recorded with sound and then it gets played back, each fraction of a second is referred to as a frame, more frames, the smoother it looks. The videos we showed you before do that by doing something like by taking a photo, but every fraction of a second. Animation does that but is hand drawn, and once we start the game there is a little bit of that so you can see it. This is sorta different. In games things exist sort of more like puppets I guess? And they follow rules that are programmed by the game, so in the case of the silhouettes you see there, they just stand and repeat the animation, but when I swap between the different menu prompts you can see how things change.”
+
+I do so and she oohs slightly.
+
+I….
+
+Thank you god for this.
+
+“That's so fascinating. How does one even do this? This isn’t magic?”
+
+I can’t help but chuckle, “No it’s really not magic, but I don’t really have an easy or short answer for how they work, these are 3D models, umm three dimensional models. That means they can be seen from every angle, they exist purely in the digital sense. The ones in this game like this are, mmm, well simpler but they can be very complex and very realistic looking. I can show you some examples later but this one is meant to look like an anime.”
+
+“Okay, this is very impressive, I didn’t realize this was possible.” She leans into me some more.
+
+I can feel my heart thud, “Let's start the game.”
+
+She nods.
+
+The intro plays and the short anime scene plays, Joker jumps through the ceiling of the casino and Claire is intently watching it all. Once it ends and the game proper starts she finally asks her question.
+
+“What is happening?”
+
+“It will make more sense, but this intro jumps to a moment much later in the story, it will go back to the actual start and things will make more sense. Right now the heroes are trying to escape getting caught after pulling a heist.”
+
+“The heroes are thieves?”
+
+“Yes, sorta. It eases into it once we get into it but if something still doesn’t make sense please ask.”
+
+“Okay… also did the person just turn into a girl?”
+
+“Wha…?” I wasn’t paying attention, and I check the model for Joker. It’s definitely not him anymore.
+
+I forgot I had this mod installed, oh fuck this is going to be confusing. “Oh shit, sorry I forgot I did that.”
+
+“You did that? What?” Oh, this is just making things more complicated, isn’t it?
+
+“Not directly, ummm, okay so some people are very talented at changing games, it’s called modding, short for modifying.”
+
+“That's not really that much shorter?”
+
+“It’s usually just called mods, modding is the verb, errrr, anyways some people make mods and they can change games, in this case someone made a mod that changes the appearance of the protagonist, he… they are called Joker, I hope that’s not too confusing.”
+
+“That really is impressive, that seems like it would be like rewriting a whole novel.”
+
+“Yah, kinda. Same idea at its core I guess. It’s a lot of work, and in this case the mod is not completely done, it mostly is just a cosmetic change and the plot doesn’t really change to match it. So you still get referred to as a guy.”
+
+“You?”
+
+“Uh, yah, you play… or control the protagonist, Joker, so it’s like you are in the story. These types of games are called role playing games, cause you are playing the role of the hero, plot tends to be a big feature for these types of games… usually.” Don't go off on a pointless tangent Rei.
+
+“I see. It is unfortunate that it is incomplete like you mentioned then.”
+
+“Yah, but I think it actually works in the context of the game in a weird way, the themes of the game are about rebelling against society, how the world tries to dictate who you are and finding your true self to break away from the norms, the game already had a element of the world treating you like a delinquent and adding in this idea that you are also trans just kinda clicked in my head. And you have to do some filling in the blanks yourself because not exactly everything lines up with that but there is a lot that does and it makes the game feel so much more queer when it really isn’t and… I’m rambling aren’t I?”
+
+There is a soft chuckle from Claire and she weaves her arm around mine, god I can feel my heart thud. “Please ramble, this is so fascinating, I really had no idea that art could be like this.”
+
+She called it art…
+
+Rei, calm down and don’t geek out too hard.
+
+“Okay, okay, thanks, yah… Anyways I don’t want to get too much in the way, so here.” I give her the controller to her and she just stares at it like it's an arcane device.
+
+“What’s this?”
+
+“It's the controller, you can play the game with it.”
+
+“Me? but …”
+
+“Don’t worry, it's easy, press the X button and the next line of dialogue will play.” She looks down at the controller and analyzes the buttons, once satisfied she taps the said button like an old person typing on a keyboard.
+
+I am so lucky….
+
+Don’t laugh Rei
+
+The next line plays, “So who's talking?”
+
+“They are part of your group, they will get slowly rolled out but right now the game is just teasing them.”
+
+“Okay, this is an interesting way to introduce a story, I can’t think of many plays that have done this.” She presses the button as each line finishes, each time having to check the controller once more and then soon the dialogue is over. She looks a bit lost, “What now?”
+
+“Do you see that stick on the left,” she looks down at it and nods. “Okay so put your hand around it like this, I guide her hands so they fit around the controller right, and show her where to place her thumbs, “Okay, now try pushing the left stick around, but look at the screen.”
+
+She gives the stick one more look, as if she is trying to really commit its position to memory, and then hesitantly looks back at the screen. Joker moves as she tests the stick for the first time.
+
+“She moved!” she bounces a bit in place as she gets excited, “It moves?!”
+
+I can’t help but laugh again, oh god this is so adorable, I don’t deserve this. “Yes, you can move her around with the stick.”
+
+Claire gives it a few more tests and looks quite proud as Joker moves around bit by bit, but soon she realizes she is stuck on the first platform.
+
+“When you are close to the edge do you see the bit there on screen that says X to jump.”
+
+She moves the model back to the spot, “Oooh,” she looks back down on the controller and finds the button once more and glees as she jumps over the edge. “Oh that is so neat.”
+
+“Okay just keep going.”
+
+It takes her a bit, she is pretty cautious but she starts to get more comfortable holding and using the controller by the time she reaches the first fight. She still has to venture a few looks to make sure her hands are in the right spots but I would be lying if I am not enjoying this a lot.
+
+“Oh goodness what happened to that man? Is he a monster?”
+
+“It will explain a bit better later, but yeah, that was not a person but a monster, or a shadow as the game calls them.”
+
+“That’s not a thing in this world right?”
+
+“Nonono, this is purely fictional, don’t worry about monsters here… wait did you have monsters?”
+
+“Yes, but we could eliminate them with magic, here I would imagine they would be even more dangerous, so what now?”
+
+I guide her through the first combat encounter, “You take turns going back and forth in this game so you can take your time, other games can require you to act fast but don’t worry about that in this one. You have different abilities or moves you can do, so try that first one.” She follows my suggestion, and after a few turns traded back and forth the first enemy is beaten and she has such a smug look on her face.
+
+“ Trival for a Francois.”
+
+I dont have the heart to tell her that it is a tutorial fight, “Good job Claire-san, lets keep going.”
+
+We keep at it, and it doesn’t take long for the short intro slash tutorial to conclude and then Joker gets captured, Claire gasps as Joker is swarmed by policemen. “Did I do something wrong? I thought I won?”
+
+“No that's how it’s supposed to go, don’t worry.”
+
+She keeps watching determined, the rest of the intro plays and she glares at the men beating up Joker in the cell, oh god she is getting into it. Soon the difficulty prompt shows up, she seems stuck making a choice.
+
+“I recommend easy?”
+
+“Easy?” She does not like the sound of it.
+
+“It’s fine, trust me you are going to have so many new things to think about, you don’t need to make the game harder for yourself.
+
+She pouts a bit as she stares at the prompt.
+
+She selects normal. Okay… It's okay, I'm here.
+
+“I can choose a name?”
+
+“Oh yah, so there is a default name, Ren, but a lot of games like this lets you choose your own name.”
+
+“Can I name myself Claire?”
+
+“Of course.” Oh this is so precious.
+
+She slowly types out her full name, oh I love watching her figure it out in real time, there is so much focus on her face and she often overshoots on the onscreen keyboard.
+
+Once done, the rest of the scene plays out. She is getting more in the swing of it now, paying attention to everything that is getting said. As it goes along I answer a few more questions, explaining subways and trains, letting her know the game is set in Japan, just not this exact city. The little bits about high school that come up.
+
+I was worried this could be a dud but the hours start to slip by and she gets very absorbed in the game. Soon, she has finished the first day of the game.
+
+“That’s probably a good spot to call it I think.”
+
+“But I didn’t stop Kamoshida…”
+
+“And trust me, even if we went for several more hours you wouldn’t either. It’s a big game, we can do more next weekend.”
+
+She really leans into me and pouts, “Fine, you are probably right.”
+
+I can’t help but chuckle, I know she wont get there at her rate, even if she chose easy, we are going to be at this for a while but I just feel myself looking forward to it.
+
+“So did you like it.”
+
+“Yes! This is so novel, you tried to describe them before, like many things, but actually seeing it is a world of difference. This is nothing like what I thought, and it is so interesting. I know I am missing a fair amount of context but I am really enjoying this so far, I hope we can continue.”
+
+“I would lo- like to continue too.” She smirks from the side and hands me the controller.
+
+“Also I do appreciate your choice, picking something set in your world is a clever idea.”
+
+“I… it just made sense. And you would get to see things in a more natural way than if we just showed you… I don’t know, more educational videos again. There are other shows we can watch at some point too, and there are a lot of things set in not the real world too and those are worth watching just because they are fun and good… Umm but yah. Persona made sense. And I like it, even though I can complain a lot.”
+
+“I look forward to having the context when that comes up then.”
+
+I make sure her game is saved one last time, and shut down the laptop. I’m able to push it off but not really able to get up though.
+
+Claire has wrapped herself around me.
+
+I can’t complain but…
+
+I have no idea what to do.
+
+…do I do something?
+
+“It’s around five thirty Claire-san.”
+
+“Mhmm” She doesn’t make any effort to move.
+
+“Okay.” I guess I live here now.
+
+She sighs and tightens her grasp gently. “Thank you Rei, this was a very lovely day.”
+
+“... Of course C-Claire-san, I’m happy you enjoyed it. I liked it too.”
+
+I can feel one of her hands slowly creeping up my back.
+
+What is happening?
+
+I look at her and there is an intensity in her eyes. I gulp, I can feel my heart hammer. I swear it feels like there is an energy arcing from her into me. I can’t look away.
+
+I don't want to look away.
+
+I feel her other hand cup the side of my check, so tender but it firmly anchors the moment.
+
+She licks her lips, wait did I just do the same.
+
+What’s happening?
+
+“Rei…?”
+
+WHAT’S HAPPENING?
+
+“Can I kiss you?”
+
+…
+
+…
+
+“Rei?” she ask once more
+
+…
+
+I nod.
+
+I can’t speak, oh god I can’t speak. Yes I want this. How is this happening? How did I get here?
+
+She smiles, it's soft, it's fire, it's intense, it's gentle.
+
+It’s…
+
+Oh god I want this so much.
+
+She pulls my face to hers, and her lips meet mine, a gentle kiss and I can’t help but gasp. How is this happening? She comes in for a second one and it’s more searing this time. I feel engulfed in her. She smells like vanilla and strawberries, she tastes divine. It’s all around me. She is all around me.
+
+She doesn't break contact but she shifts her position and places herself on my lap, her legs wrap around me and she bends over me deepening the kiss again. She is all around me, and it's impossible to think about anything else. How long has it been? I feel like I am trapped in this moment. I could be trapped in this moment. I would be happy to be in this moment for the rest of time.
+
+She shifts again, runs her hand across my neck, I have to gasp again and a shiver runs through my entire body.
+
+She teases out a soft laugh at my reaction. I am at her mercy in this moment, anything she would want I would give to her. It’s terrifying but it's right.
+
+It’s so right .
+
+It’s like I found what I was missing in my life and I never want to lose it again. I feel a hunger that seemed lost, forgotten… I want more of this.
+
+I need more of this.
+
+Her lips sear mine again, I can feel her breath roll across my skin, everything feels so sensitive now. Every nerve alive with her energy.
+
+I am at her beck, her call.
+
+She shifts her kisses, to the corner of my mouth, down my cheek, peppering down my neck to where she pauses just above the base.
+
+She's making me wait, I can’t help the whimper that escapes, please don’t stop now, I n-
+
+Her tongue runs over the spot and my whole body shivers, I feel the saliva linger, the spot sizzles. She breathes over it and I moan. How? What? What am I doing? What is she doing? How is she doing this? Then she kisses the sensitive spot again, gently, then I feel the pressure build to a delicious level before a pop, and is released.
+
+She pulls away, looking down on me. Like a cat that caught the bird. She knows. She knows I am hers. She knows. She smirks and that almost feels enough to completely undo me, she runs a hand across her face to pull some hair away from her face.
+
+“Rei… I love you. Always.”
+
+This is true.
+
+I know it because…
+
+The realization is as terrifying as it is true.
+
+I love her too.

18.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+I missed this.
+
+Rae’s breath is heavy as I draw back, I need air.
+
+Her lips are swollen from our connection, her eyes are dilated, she is in a daze.
+
+The bruise on her neck bright.
+
+Oh how I missed this.
+
+I place my finger under the tip of her chin, raise it ever so slightly and our eyes connect.
+
+She whimpers with need, and I am generous. I lift her chin and bring her face to mine. Her lips to mine once again. I savor the taste, her taste, and our lips move in tandem with each other. In a dance we have played many times, and will play many more.
+
+But I long for more.
+
+My other hand creeps as if it has an agenda of its own. I feel it trace against her stomach, running gently over the surface, but that is not enough. Fabric bars me from the skin and so the hand winds its way beneath the sweater and makes contact with the skin below. She gasps as my fingers trace over the familiar territory and I use the moment to deepen the kiss. She is very inexperienced, but oh so willing. I run my tongue over the lips seeking entry and she acquiesces. Slipping in, my tongue runs over hers. I can feel her pulse quicken and she moans as our tongues twine.
+
+Knock Knock.
+
+It comes from the door, and I pull away. That causes Rae to whimper again at the loss of contact, but she seems to have barely noticed the knock has even happened. She is extremely disheveled, her hair is a mess, her sweater has been pushed up high and left arm has nearly escaped from the sleeve.
+
+And best of all… she is smeared in my lipstick.
+
+Mine .
+
+“Rae, that’s probably Misha.”
+
+She whimpers again, “Buuut we just….”
+
+Oh god she is adorable, I give her a quick peck on the cheek and then rise from the bed. I quickly pat myself down, I am far more composed than my partner and I turn to get the door.
+
+I was correct, it is Misha, and she is very surprised to see me. She does a double take at first and then notices Rae still on her bed in a stupor.
+
+“Well Fuck.”She mutters, does everyone swear here? “Guess she wasn’t exaggerating… didn’t think you would be the one to answer the door Francois-san.”
+
+“It’s good to see you M- Jur-chan, Rae-chan said she told you about… well me .”
+
+“Hmmhmm, yah I guess… seeing is believing….” She eyes me cautiously. “You know what, let’s have a talk while Rae… recovers from whatever you just did to her.”
+
+I don’t particularly enjoy her tone or implication, Rae was very willing to accept everything I just did to her.
+
+Right? I hazard one last glance at her, she certainly is in a stupor.
+
+Calm down, right, right. I may have gone slightly overboard. Rae doesn’t even seem to realize I am talking to Misha. But she did enjoy it. 
+
+“All right.”
+
+We leave the dorm room and she closes the door. “So what’s your game?” She is trying to keep her tone even, but I can hear the slightest of edges still.
+
+“Rae told you, didn't she?”
+
+“And now I’m asking you.” This is fair I suppose, she should be skeptical.
+
+Fine, “Yes, I woke up a week ago with not memories of this life, but a previous life. One where Rae and I were married. In a very different world”
+
+“Francois-san, that sounds like a load of shit even if I wanted to believe you, prove it.”
+
+Hrmmm, “How would you suggest I prove it? I knew you in our past lives too but I am unsure how much of that life is the same as the one. Would you just think I was making it up if I describe elements from then? Your family was part of the nobility, you had close ties with the royalty and grew up with prince.. Yu, but when you were still young your family was disgraced and lost their status as nobility. You were still close with Yu afterwards…” How much do I say?
+
+She looks completely neutral. I’m not making any progress.
+
+“What if I say something I shouldn’t.”
+
+“I’ll be the judge of that.”
+
+“Fine, you and Yu became partners, romantically.”
+
+Nothing.
+
+I knew that wouldn’t get her to take me seriously, I suppose I will have to drop something more dramatic.
+
+“Once things settled down the two of you became Nuns.”
+
+Her eyes narrow, the first break in her mask. “What did you say?”
+
+“I only said what happened in my previous life Misha, I don’t know what that means for this one.”
+
+“You certainly are sounding like you are implying something there Francois-san.” Her ice is finally heating up.
+
+“You wanted me to convince you, I don’t… know what is the same here but please believe me, I will be on your side whatever the case will be. Am I wrong? You know Yu here, sh- they, ughh, you knew then too!”
+
+She finally looks unfooted, “Francois-san if you say anything about this to anyone-”
+
+“Misha I know! God damn it I’m not an idiot! Yu is my friend as well! I helped Rae commit treason to keep her safe!” 
+
+“Jesus Christ!” What? “Was… Yu… You know what trans is? Are you saying that Yu was trans?” She sighs.
+
+“Yes, it was complicated, curse her mother for it, but yes. But she got to be herself, she got to be happy. She… got to live.”
+
+Misha looks uncharacteristically rattled now, “God, you need to stop for a second. Look He… Yu… God damn it, look I don’t know for sure, I don’t even know if Yu knows.”
+
+Magic doesn’t exist here, was Yu born… “But you had a feeling?”
+
+“It doesn’t matter what I feel, Francois-san.”
+
+“Of course it does, Yu trusts you, I don't think there is anyone who knew her-them as well as you did. They need your help.”
+
+“Stop, I…. fuck I need to think.”
+
+I just nod and Misha paces for a minute.
+
+“You can’t say anything… to anyone. Not Rae, Not Yu.”
+
+“And definitely not her mother.”
+
+That catches her off guard, “His, and your right, his mother would lose her shit, christ. Fuuuck, this is getting too real.” She covers her face and throws her head back, a slow groan escaping in the process. 
+
+“So Yu is…?.”
+
+She snaps back to me. “I don’t know Francois-san and don’t you dare go poking around into it. Please.” She gnaws at her lip.
+
+“Should I tell you more about… the last time?”
+
+She groans… “I don’t know, I don’t think so. I’m not supposed to know.”
+
+“But you had a feeling.”
+
+She groans again, “There was… look it was just a feeling but it’s not up to me to figure that out for him… them.”
+
+“I know, I just want you to know I will be there for both of you, you both deserve to be happy and I want to help if I can. But that will always be on your terms.”
+
+She’s really looking at me now, really trying to figure me out, “I… you're like a completely different person.”
+
+“I suppose, I never met the old me.” What would that be like?
+
+“This is honestly the first real conversation we had, but Yu and I kept an eye on you, since you were kinda trying to get in Thane-san pants.”
+
+“Misha!” ughh, “God I can’t even imagine that anymore, please never mention that again. It’s been a long time since I felt anything remotely like that for Thane-san.”
+
+“Yah well I guess your work on Rae speaks for itself doesn’t it. Jeez, Rae? Like she is my friend but really ?”
+
+“Yes. Do you really want me to say what I find so enticing about her?”
+
+I will.
+
+“I suppose not.”
+
+“I do care for her, deeply. I’m not lying when I said we were wives, she is the love of my life, in every sense. I… may have lost a small amount of control before you arrived.”
+
+“Pfft!, Small? Well I don’t think she is going to complain anytime soon, but don’t rush her too much either. Pretty sure you were her first kiss.”
+
+Oh
+
+Ohhhh
+
+That’s a delightful idea, isn’t it .
+
+“Really?”
+
+“Don’t you sound pleased, and yes. Middle school… wasn’t great for her and it took her a lot of work before she was comfortable to come out to me. I don’t think anyone else here knows. So don't hurt her, okay?”
+
+Hrmm, she always glossed over this part of her life before, which considering Rae, does make sense. She said it was fine, but I suppose it must have only felt fine after enough time. I can’t help but feel angry at Kosaki again, but that’s hardly what Rae wanted. “I understand, I just want what’s best for her.”
+
+“And that would be sucking out her tonsils?” I do not need her sass.
+
+“I don’t need to hear this from you, I'll have you know, You and Yu were incorrigible once you got together.”
+
+“Okay I don’t need to hear that, and we aren’t… look… I don’t need to explain anything but we aren’t together right now.” She sounds tired.
+
+“Ohh, I’m sorry did-” Dear gods I am always putting my foot in my mouth.
+
+“Please stop, we… nothing happened between us, I don’t know what’s going on between us right now. It’s complicated and you just made it ten times more complicated.“
+
+“Apologies, you're right. I will mind my own affairs, Misha.” I offer her a short bow.
+
+“Don't do that please.” She sighs and pinches her nose.
+
+“Have you had dinner yet?”
+
+“No?”
+
+“I wanted to treat Rae, I can treat you as well?”
+
+She mulls it over, “Fine, if you're paying. I was going to see if Rae wanted to get something to eat anyways. Let's go get your toy.”
+
+Misha opens the door, and Rae is still sitting on her bed, her sweater is still incredibly askew and she is very lost in her head.
+
+I did go overboard, didn't I?
+
+“Hey loser! Let's get food.” She smirks as Rae snaps out the stupor. 
+
+“Misha? Misha! Shit!” She tries to right her sweater but just ends up tumbling in place and falling out of her bed, god she is cute.
+
+“God you're such a fucking cliche, you should wipe your face of and clean up a bit.”
+
+Rae finally rights herself and pouts at Misha, “Why do I gotta wipe my face off, I don’t have anything on it?”
+
+“Well you do now.”
+
+“Huh?��� She still doesn’t follow.
+
+She spots me to the side, her brow is furrowed. I point to my lips, “Oops”
+
+She tests her face with her fingers and feels the tact, she gives it a rub and red lipstick sticks to her finger, a quick inspection causes her to turn bright red. “I’llberightback!” She quickly hops up and makes for what I assume is a washroom.
+
+“How did you manage to make so much a fucking mess out of her, and not yourself?”
+
+“Years of practice.”  I can't even fight my prideful smirk.
+
+ 

19.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+“Who is McDonald?”
+
+Rae shrugs, “Who knows, probably someone made up? Doesn’t matter, it's cheap.”
+
+“Is it? I’m still getting used to the yen but the prices for most of the meals seem more or less the same as other places we have been to, the cafeteria at the university is cheaper I think.”
+
+Rae shrugs again and sighs, “The world we live in is cruel.” She unwraps her burger and takes a bite.
+
+Misha just nods and takes a bite from her… it was called a wrap?
+
+“These fries are good, if a bit salty. The burger is… interesting?” It’s also too salty, a bit bland and greasy in an unappealing way.
+
+“It’s okay, you can say it’s not good.” Misha remarks in between bites.
+
+“It’s not for everyone,” Rae takes another eager bite from her burger, “The food is kinda cheap but it’s got its appeal.”
+
+It is edible, but most other food I have had here so far just seems better. I can’t imagine making this a feature of my regular diet. At least it’s easy to water down the drinks here, those are always much too sweet.
+
+“Can I ask you two questions about… well you being here?”
+
+Rae looks to Misha for guidance on the topic, and she considers for a moment. “I suppose, but be careful with what you ask and how .”
+
+I can be tactful.
+
+“I will, I… my story of you two, well… everything is different, how did you two meet here?”
+
+“Oh well I met Misha in highschool, we were both in the same classes.” Rae explains.
+
+“This little gremlin caught me reading Dungeon Meshi and couldn’t contain herself-”
+
+“Dungeon Meshi is sooooo good” Rae blursts, oh I love her enthusiasm.
+
+“Right…” Misha however does not feed into that enthusiasm, but she could , it's adorable.
+
+“What’s Dungeon Meshi?”
+
+Rae’s eyes go wide, I have to temper my smirk, it’s rather easy to get her to talk about stuff she likes. “It’s a manga, those are like graphic novels, it’s about a group of adventurers trying to rescue one of their party members in a dungeon and they try eating the monster inside to avoid paying for food and it’s really fun and well written-
+
+“Woah otaku, tell your girlfriend about it on your own time.”
+
+“I, she, we, i’m?” Rae is sputtering, I know Misha didn’t do this for my benefit but I am enjoying it nonetheless.
+
+“You can’t really be trying to say otherwise after the state I found you in?” Misha hammers in.
+
+Rae blushes fiercely, “MISHA!”
+
+I shouldn’t chuckle.
+
+“Anyways she wouldn’t leave me alone after that, and well…” Misha seems hesitant to finish the next thought.
+
+Rae sobers up instantly, “It’s okay, you can say it, Misaki took his life in second year, we weren't in the same schools anymore but we were still keeping in touch…”
+
+I reach out and twine my hand in hers, I hope she understands how much I want to help her. She might, as a little as a small smile grows. “Misha was there for me, it… was hard. She’s my best friend.”
+
+“It’s been hard to get rid of her since.”
+
+The light taunt helps Rae bounce back, “You like me.”
+
+“Maybe.” Misha remains nonchalant, “After that, we both applied and made it into here, being dorm mates just made sense.”
+
+“That’s lovely, I’m glad you two are friends again, I would have missed you Misha.”
+
+ Misha looks genuinely taken aback, “I… Well, thank you? I appreciate that but I don’t have the same… familiarity with you Francois-san.”
+
+“I understand, and you don't need to refer to me so formally, Claire is fine.”
+
+“I will keep that in mind then Claire-san, was there anything else you wanted to ask.”
+
+“Can I ask how you know Yu, or even what it’s like for them and their brothers over here?”
+
+Misha’s eye narrows just a hint, and Rae gets a devious gleam in her eyes. “Oh Yu huh? I wonder why she would be asking you about Yu and why you would be the best person to- aaAAHH!” Rae cries out as Misha pinches her arm and twists. Rae draws back once she releases, nursing the sore spot, “CRUEL!” she accuses and points at her.
+
+Misha does not rise to whatever energy Rae is trying to invoke and turns back to me. “I knew Yu as when we were children, my father was a manager for the Bauer’s company and a friend to the family I think. At least until he was laid off. I wasn’t expecting to run into him again but he ended up transferring to our highschool in third year. He also is attending the same university.”
+
+“What about h-their brothers, Rod and Thane?”
+
+“Half brothers, I think they grew up with each other to at least some degree but from what I gathered their lives have been hectic and I think this is the first time all of them are attending the same school. Rod-san is in his third year, I think he is doing GPH, and Thane-san is in his second year, political sciences? I’m not sure if he has settled on a direction yet.”
+
+“How are their parents?”
+
+Misha is quiet, I am probably probing to close for her comfort, “Their dad, L’Ausseil Bauer-sama, runs a big trading company, he seems to be always busy and absent. Richie Bauer-sama, has a problem of being too present, at least in Yu’s life. She is Bauer-sama's second wife and Yu’s mother.” She, despite trying to sound neutral, is not able to hide her disdain of Richie-sama.”
+
+“What is Yu studying?”
+
+“Yu is doing general studies right now, but his Mom wants him to also take GPH.”
+
+“You said Rod was also taking that, what is it?”
+
+Rae smirks, “Rich kid classes.”
+
+Misha sighs, “It is short for Global Public Health, I’ll be honest, I don’t know why they are taking it, but it does seem to be rather common for… children of privilege to take. It's a mix of health and biology sciences I guess, Yu doesn’t want to really do it but… well, his mother has been dead set on him following and besting Rod.”
+
+“Is she trying to… have him succeed?”
+
+Misha considers the question, and lets out a small annoyed huff, “I suppose, she has always been overbearing .”
+
+“Is that how it works? I only mean they were princes in my old life, only one of them would succeed, but that’s very much not the case here right?”
+
+“I guess not.” Misha pauses in thought, “I don’t know, I guess it wouldn’t surprise me if Bauer-sama intends for Rod-san to take over at some point, but that’s speculation on my part. I guess Richie Buaer-sama would have been a queen right? Here she is on the board of directors for the university or something.”
+
+That must be similar to when I ran the academy I would guess. “In my last life, neither Rod nor Yu took the throne, Thane was the one to inherit… when the time came. Honestly he was always the better choice I would say. They all would have fine rulers I think, but I don’t think Rod or Yu really wanted to.”
+
+That makes Misha quirk her brow, “I’ll have to take your word, my interaction with those two was limited. Yu did love to tease Thane-san when you started hounding him.”
+
+“Hounding?” I can’t help the chuckle at the escape, it’s been hard to piece together what I was like before here. “Well Thane is safe now I suppose.” I give Rae’s hand a gentle squeeze and it seems she just realizes we are still holding hands and blushes again.
+
+“Christ you are embarrassing,” Misha teases.
+
+That causes Rae to puff up, “Oh wow, I bet you were with Yu all day weren't you? Huh? You were really keen on getting out this morning, barely gave me the time of the day.”
+
+“See if I ever help you with your outfit again, simp.”
+
+“At least I can admit I’m attracted to a person.”
+
+There is a very restrained smirk on Misha’s face.
+
+“Oh?” I say, “What’s this about being attracted to a person.” I tease out, smirk on my lips.
+
+Rae turns her face away, “This not fair. I’m being ganged up on.” She pouts while blushing.
+
+Misha rolls her eyes. “So Claire-san… how has it been? Getting used to… well all this?”
+
+“Not as…. Intimidating as I thought it could be? There have been so many little wonders, phones are magic even if everyone says they aren’t. And everything is so accessible, just being able to use my phone to access an encyclopedia or even a video of otters is… well that would have been inconceivable from where I was before.”
+
+Rae chuckles, “ Inconceivable ” She says in an exaggerated tone.
+
+“Hush” Misha chides her, did I say something funny?
+
+“Anyways, it’s been a bit of a learning curve, but I think I’m starting to get it?”
+
+Misha nods, “That’s good, hopefully the classes have been treating you well enough.”
+
+“I think so.”

2.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+I blink.
+
+I’m not sure where I am. This certainly doesn’t look like where I was before. Where was I exactly, before ? With Rae, right? The girls were there too.
+
+I remember being so very tired.
+
+But I’m not tired anymore. If anything I feel amazing, revitalized.
+
+Is this a classroom? It’s not like the academy, but the atmosphere feels similar. The desks are wrong—everything looks way shinier and slick. There are many young people, books in hand, some writing notes, even a board with notes scribbled on it. The attire is odd and foreign. Am I in another country? They all seem to be caught up in their own business. Some are sitting with books open, some are in coverstations. Some hold strange flat objects in their hands with glowing surfaces. Magic? It’s hard to tell. Regardless, no one seems to be paying me any heed.
+
+Except for one person.
+
+I notice her looking at me from across the classroom and feel a shock of instant recognition. It’s Rae. We make eye contact and I can’t help but smile at seeing her cute, familiar face. Strangely, she blushes bright red and immediately turns away. That is… odd to say the least. Rae is normally not one to shy away, especially from me. It’s almost innocent. She is also dressed differently in this new setting, though unsurprisingly she is wearing something more masculine—pants and a big sweater. It’s handsome and a little cute, and it really suits her.
+
+She surely knows what is going on, right? She is still so caught up in avoiding eye contact that she hardly notices me walking right up to her.
+
+“Rae…” I can’t keep the playful tease out of my tone. Even after all these years together, her name is still a joy to say.
+
+She jumps in her seat and fumbles. “I wasn't staring!” She is still bright red and panicking. Why?
+
+“What’s wrong? I don’t mind if you stare. What’s going on?”
+
+Rae blanks and just stares at me. I can see the gears spinning in her head, “What?”
+
+“What? You act as though it is a crime to stare at your wife.” I can’t help but give a good chuckle, the way she likes it. It’s silly, but I always feel proud of how it elicits such a reaction from her.
+
+And this time it elicits quite the reaction indeed. I did not think Rae could turn more red. Her lips flap wordless before she finally croaks, “Wife?”
+
+“Yes. Wife . Rae, are you okay? What is going on, why are you acting like this?” I keep my voice level, though I can feel my heart thud in my chest. She looks worried. Something is off. What is going on?
+
+She takes a survey of the surrounding area as if to ensure a secret won't be spilled. “What are you talking about? We’ve never talked before today.” Her voice is hushed and very frazzled.
+
+“You’re Rae Taylor.” What is going on?
+
+She looks a bit uncomfortable and her brow furrows. “My name is Oohashi, Oohashi Rei. Who is Rei Taylor?”
+
+Oohashi. That’s…
+
+“Rae, where are we?” I glance at our surroundings again. I should be able to at least recognize some elements, right? Even if this isn’t Bauer. Why is nothing familiar? 
+
+“...Tokyo University?” Rae answers, confused. Tokyo? “It’s not Rei, it’s Ooh-”
+
+“And where is that?” I feel like I already know what she is going to say.
+
+“Where is what? We’re in Tokyo, right? In Japan? Are you okay, Francois-san?” She looks concerned.
+
+Francois-san ? “Oh no, we are not doing this again, Rae. It took forever to beat ‘Claire-sama’ out of you. We are not regressing to Francois-san. It’s Claire, just Claire.” I snap.
+
+She looks confused but blushes and feebly nods her head without arguing.
+
+Japan? “Rae, this is where you grew up. This is where you’re from.” Did I…?
+
+“Ummmm, what are you talking about?” Does she really not remember anything?
+
+Is it just me who remembers? This is Rae’s old life, Rei Oohashi. From before she met me in Bauer. “You don’t know me…?” I’m starting to understand. It’s just me. I am the stranger here. Our history is gone. The realization constricts my heart like a vice.
+
+Rae bounces through a rapid array of emotions, concern and confusion painting her face. “Well ummm, we’re classmates, I guess? You’re … Francios Claire. I don’t know what’s going on, but if this is a joke or something….”
+
+“No! It’s not a joke. I would never do that to you.” I swallow. This is what Rae went through, right? She was a lost soul, reincarnated into Bauer from a previous life. I must have done the same thing and now I am in her old life. 
+
+I didn’t notice how young she looks until now; how the years have been erased. My memory of the past feels fuzzy,  but by the end I don’t  think we were young anymore. Our girls looked older than she does here. 
+
+What did she call that thing that happened to her? “Okay, Rae this is going to sound odd, but you told me before that you ikasaid? Is that the word? Ikusaid?”
+
+Rae blinks, slowly. “Isekai?�� The disbelief in her tone is very audible.
+
+“Yes! That! You said you isekaid into my world before, and I think I have just done the same thing into this world.” This has to help her understand. Please believe me, Rae.
+
+Rae blinks again, and then grimaces. “Look, I don’t know what joke you’re trying to pull on me but—”
+
+“It is not a joke, Rae!” I reach for her hand and hold it.
+
+Her blush lights up her entire face again. She almost looks like she wants to pull back her hand, but can’t follow through. “This isn’t funny, Francois-san.”
+
+“I’m being serious. I can prove it!” Wait, can I? This is a big gamble. What if everything is different? The version of my world that she remembered wasn’t exactly the same as mine, and chances are it would be the same here. I know so much about her, but if it’s not the same…
+
+Rae eyes the area around us. Are we drawing too much attention? She eyes my hand on hers and looks very uncomfortable.
+
+I have to take a risk. “When you were in middle school, you had a friend you had a crush on, Kosaki, but she had a crush on Misaki, and he had a crush on Shiko, and she had a crush on you.”
+
+Rae is stunned. Her eyes go wide with shock. I’m right! I can see it in her eyes. She opens her mouth twice before finally saying, “We can’t talk about this here.” Her eyes narrow. She pulls her hand out of my grasp and stands up, grabbing a bag that she slings on her shoulder. “Follow me.”
+
+She leads me out of the room and starts traveling down long halls, weaving through many rooms. This is a university, she said, like the academy. There are so many students here. Everything is so different from Bauer. Is this my life now? What am I doing here? I don’t know anything about this world outside of what Rae told me.
+
+“We’re almost there. The library should have some private rooms.” Rae interrupts my thoughts, leading us into a large open chamber full of shelves lined with thousands of books. There are so many that I can’t help but stare. We quickly pass several desks with glowing boxes on top, and then she opens a closed room. She says a quick hello and peeks inside. There isn’t a response. “Good, this one is empty.” She gestures me inside and then closes the door behind us.
+
+The room is small and has a table with several chairs. There is an odd portrait on the wall, a shiny black picture. Is that supposed to be art ? I should sit down. As I do, I feel the weight of a bag I have been carrying this whole time on my shoulder. It’s somewhat similar to the one Rae is carrying. There is so much to take in; it’s overwhelming.
+
+Rae also looks overwhelmed as well, albeit in a different way. She hasn’t deigned to sit down yet. Instead she has been pacing the small room for a bit. It’s best to let her sort her thoughts when she gets like this.
+
+“How did you know about that?” she finally asks, stopping in place and turning to face me. She looks so fragile. I know why she looks hurt because of what she told me in our past lives. Part of me is relieved that she’s finally taking me seriously, but I know how much the memory has always hurt for her.
+
+“You told me about it, in our past life. It has alway been very important to you. It was one of the first things you told me about your old life here, about the four of you. And the second thing you told me was about Misaki.” Please believe me, Rae.
+
+She swallows hard. “You said…you said he. No one… only a few of us knew.” Rae struggles to say it. It was painful for her to tell me the first time, and I can tell it still feels so raw for her.
+
+I get up and she eyes me warily. I can see the tears start to well in her eyes.
+
+“Why do you know that?” Her voice is so small.
+
+I move closer to her, putting her within arms reach. “It wasn’t your fault, Rae.” She pales and the tears start to flow. I can’t help but draw her into a hug. She is stiff at first, but then she chokes a sob and loosens. I hold her tightly and circle my hands across her back gently. After a short while I can easily tell when it’s time to loosen and let her go.
+
+I take a step back and she looks at me, in a daze. “How?”
+
+“I don’t know. I think some of my memories from later in life are less clear, but they are there. I might… have passed on…” I can only guess, but it’s what happened with Rae, so it cannot be that much of a stretch to think it could have been the same with me in my past life. I can have a second life with Rae, though. Just like we both wanted. “You did so much for me in that past life. I love you, Rae.” I can feel my eyes water. I want to use this chance to help her this time. It’s my turn .
+
+Rae blushes again and turns away. This younger Rae is so adorable. “Please, if you are fucking with me, you have to tell me.”
+
+“Rae, you are my wife and the love of my life. You came into my world and upended it in spectacular fashion. You saved me time and time again. You told me of your past life here, about how your friend Shiko helped you realize you were a lesbian, how your friends reconciled after your awkward crushes, and how Misaki couldn’t bear to live his life as the wrong gender. Your…” I pause, not sure if I should voice the conclusion. Rae said her life was miserable once she ventured into adulthood, empty. But it doesn’t have to be like that anymore! And telling her about the way it ended doesn’t feel right. “I want to be here for you in this life, Rae!”
+
+“You want to be with me?” Rae is unable to look at me. An embarrassed Rae was a rare treat before but now… well it would hardly be unfair of me to enjoy it after all the teasing she put me through. Rae draws out a stressed, noteless hum. “What are you saying, Francois-san?”
+
+“I do, romantically and physically. In body and mind.” I can’t help but enjoy being the one so sure this time. Rae makes her way to a chair and collapses, as though her legs have  turned to jelly. This is fun , but pushing too hard might be a bit cruel. She doesn’t know me here, as much as it makes my heart ache to understand that. “But only if that’s what you want. I… I know this is a lot to take in and you don’t seem to really know me here. It took me a while to come around in our last life. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this.”
+
+“Who said I didn’t want to do this! I mean…” She looks up at me as she says it, then her mouth hangs open. She blushes, again. “I mean…”
+
+“Rae.” She swallows as I say her name again. “You don’t have to rush to a decision. It’s a lot to take in—” I’m interrupted by something shaking in my bag, playing a muffled tune. “What is that?”
+
+“Huh?” She sounds dazed.
+
+I open the bag and look inside.“What is doing that?” The sound is more audible now, and I can quickly find the offending object. I pull out a small flat thin slate that has a glowing picture, similar to the ones I saw some students holding in the classroom. Words are written on it. Incoming call… Catherine ? There even looks to be a small portrait of Catherine, albeit younger than the last time I saw her. What is this, Rae?
+
+“Oh my God… you really don’t know anything from here…” The amazement in her voice is slightly worrying.
+
+“What is this Rae? What am I supposed to do with it?” The object continues to vibrate and play its tune.
+
+“Oh fuck, swipe the green circle with your finger—someone’s trying to talk to you right now.” Her language startles me. She jumps up and closes the distance. “Do you recognize the name of the caller? Wait do you even know—”
+
+“Yes, she is a friend. I don’t think that has changed.” I follow Rae’s instructions and the circle moves under my finger and then disappears. The tune stops and a new image forms and Catherine’s name is now clearly displayed with several symbols below it. “Is this magic? Rae, you said there wasn’t magic here.”
+
+“...Hello?” I nearly drop the object as Catherine’s voice emerges from it. Wind magic, maybe? Rae gestures to bring the device up to my ear.
+
+“Hello?” Am I doing this correctly? Rae gives me a thumbs up.
+
+“Oh good, I caught you Claire… Umm look, I know this is probably a huge pain but we’re out of ibuprofen and I would really appreciate it if you could get some on your way back. I know you probably don’t want to, but I kinda don’t want to die here.”
+
+Die ? “Of course I can get that for you. Ah, where would I be able to obtain such a thing?”
+
+I can hear Cathering let out an exasperated sigh. “Look, Claire, you don’t have to be sarcastic about it.”
+
+“What? No! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.” I move the object away from my face, “Rae, how do I get…that thing she asked for?”
+
+Catherine’s voice still comes through even though I moved the object away from my ear.  “Claire, hello? I can still hear you.”
+
+“Errrr, um, Francois-san, let me talk to her.” She is still calling me Francois-san ?
+
+I pass the object to Rae and she starts to speak to it. “Hi, I’m so sorry, this is Oohashi. I’m with Francois-san and she is feeling a bit off right now. We can pick up the ibuprofen for you. Uhh, is the brand important? Oh, and can you let me know how to get to you?” Thankfully Rae seems to understand what is needed, and is quite polite too.
+
+There is a bit of silence, then Catherine’s voice starts up again, “The brand isn’t important. Is Claire-chan okay? Why can’t she get here on her own? She isn’t using you as a lackey, is she?”
+
+I couldn’t help but overhear that troubling implication. Oh dear . But more importantly, Rae realized that I don’t know how to get home. If we are in school I suppose I might live in a dorm. Is Catherine my roommate again? “Catherine, it’s okay. Can you please let Rae know how to find  you? It’s as she said. I am frightfully dizzy and she is helping me get back. We will get that ibu—ibuprofen for you.” I hope I said it correctly.
+
+“Rae? Seriously? Okay fine, whatever . We are in Dormitory Sendagi, room six-seven-two. Please don’t take too long. Bye.” The sound cuts out and the object then dims and goes black. Rae hands it back to me.
+
+“What is this? You specifically told me magic didn’t exist here.” I can’t help but turn the object over in my hand. The front side is glass, and the back side is some sort of metal?
+
+Rea lets out a long breath. “Ooooooh boy, oh wow, you don’t know technology. You don’t know technology. Fuuuuck.”
+
+“Rae! Language.” I can’t help but chide her.
+
+She just quirks an eyebrow but doesn’t argue with me. “Okay so, this isn’t magic, it’s technology. It’s a phone. It’s a device that does a lot of things, but its primary function is to do what it just did. Phone other people.”
+
+“A phone phones?” That doesn’t explain anything.
+
+“Uh yeah. Oh God, there are going to be so many words and terms that you don’t know. Umm, how much technology did you have before?” Rae’s anxiety is starting to be worrying.
+
+“Nothing remotely like this. Let’s see, the printing press was a recent invention but judging from your library something tells me that is trivial now…” I think I might be starting to see the problem. but it can’t be that bad… right ?
+
+“Fuck, okay, okay, you just need a crash course about… everything. We can do that. No problem.” She pauses and takes a breath. Her eyes widen as the thought sinks in fully. “Um, Francois-san we might need to tell your friend. She’s your roommate, right? I don’t think we can do this on our own.” Rae is trying to be calm but I can hear how anxious this is making her.
+
+It’s probably not wise to tell too many people, but I can’t keep it from everyone, right? Outside of Rae, there have to be at least a few others. “I think Catherine…chan would help, if she’s the same as she was before. So… are you saying you believe me?”
+
+Rae pauses and a light blush dusts her cheeks. She casts her eyes to the side. “I don’t have a better explanation, and for some reason I don’t think you’re trying to lie or mess with me. Maybe you have a weird amnesia, but even then I can’t explain how you would know all those things about me.”
+
+“Thank you, Rae.” I can’t help but smile. Relief floods through me. I wanted to be the one to help her, but even now she is helping me. I should be doing a better job of this.
+
+“Sure, sure, any time. Um, about all that other stuff. The, ummm, wife stuff.” She is struggling and blushing bright red, but I just nod and let her go at her own pace. She gulps. “You are like, reeeeeally attractive and I would be—” her voice drops until it’s close to a whisper , “— lying if I said you weren’t my type.. But I… if we’re actually going to…can we take it slow? A lot is happening right now, and I’m not exactly out of the closet, publicly, I mean. I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
+
+“Closet? Oh, closet, yes you used that metaphor before. No I understand, at times in Bauer things could also be cruel for… well, ‘non-heteronormative’ people as you put it. I want to be with you again, but I don’t want to rush you either. Just don’t leave me waiting too long, okay?” It’s a concession I am willing to make, but it doesn’t make it easier on my heart. She is right there. It would be so easy to just reach out… but alas.
+
+Rae chuckles nervously. “Okay, well, let's start by finding your friend. Can I look through your bag? You should have a wallet in there. I hate to say it, but I’m kinda broke and I can’t cover your friend’s medicine.”
+
+“Oh, it’s medicine? What is it for?  It’s not serious is it?” I feel a surge of concern. Catherine did mention that she didn’t want to die.
+
+“What? Oh, no, probably not, at least I don’t think so. Ibuprofen is a type of painkiller, one of many. It’s used to help manage minor aches and pains. I use it when period cramps get bad.”
+
+“Wait, you have something to help with those?” Is medicine so freely available here?
+
+“Oh,” Rae smirks. “Yeah I guess we do. Welcome to the twenty-first century.” Her grin sends an arrow straight to my heart.
+
+“Oh, don’t get too cheeky now Rae—we always had you and your healing magic before.” I shoot back.
+
+“Wait, I had magic?” The idea seems to be a very tantalizing one for her.
+
+“We both did. We were quite amazing at it, if I do say so myself.” I fix my gaze on her and give her my best classic villainess chortle. At least in our old life, it was her favorite.
+
+Judging from her silly smile and blush, it’s still her favorite in this life too.

20.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+“Such a gentleman, walking me home.”
+
+Rae blushes and clears her throat, “Well… umm yah.”
+
+She insisted on walking me back to my dorm after our quick dinner, the evening air was nice. This day has been nice.
+
+“Rae-chan, I really enjoyed today.”
+
+She doesn’t shy her face away, but she has trouble looking directly at me, “Thanks Claire-chan.”
+
+“Rae… I should be thanking you.” I can’t help the teasing tone in my voice.
+
+She finally musters the courage to look right at me, she seems so uncertain.
+
+“Really, thank you.” I will repeat it as many times as she needs to hear it. “Today was really special and I’m glad you were willing to give me, this, us, a chance.” I reach to hold both her hands in my own, letting them hang between us.
+
+Her face reddens a bit, dusting her cheeks, “I liked it too.”
+
+“All of it ?”
+
+Her blush deepens and she has to break eye contact again, but she nods. “I… I liked it to C-Claire-chan, I… that was my first…”:
+
+I run my thumb over the back of her hands, “First kiss?”
+
+‘Firstdate!” she shuts her eyes, as if that is a spell that would cease her blushing. I want to kiss her so badly.
+
+Control Claire, you already lost control once today.
+
+“You were my first before too, Rae.”
+
+That surprises her, she looks at me, curious but still flushed. “Uhh?”
+
+I can’t help but laugh and swing our arms gently, “Yes, you were also quite the gentleman on our first date then as well, it was the school fair. I think that was the day I believed you for the first time, that you really loved me. Ahh, but you didn’t make it quite that easy, you were quite the mystery.”
+
+She hums in thought, “So today was alright?”
+
+“Of course.”
+
+“Even playing video games for over three hours?”
+
+“Rae, if we don’t finish that game I will hold it against you.”
+
+She smirks slightly, “You realize that game will take you at least a hundred hours to finish?”
+
+Really? I won’t back down though, as if I would be beaten by a game . “Then we will just have to plan more dates won’t we?”
+
+She gulps, “So that’s… We are dating?”
+
+“Yes… if that’s what you want.”
+
+“You want to date me?” The doubt in her voice needs to be dispelled. 
+
+“Rae, I love everything about you, I love being with you, I love how I feel around you, I love when you are being silly, being clever, being incredible, being adorable. I want to do this, again and again.”
+
+She blinks for a second, “That’s a yes?”
+
+“Yes!” This dolt .
+
+Her lips twist into a silly grin, her face can’t contain the joy as it finally sets in and she starts to laugh. I laugh too and just enjoy the moment, hands linked before the dorm building. 
+
+“I’ve never done this before!” The joy in her voice is infectious. 
+
+“That’s fine.”
+
+“I… is it fine if we… we don’t … can we stay on the down low?” She is smiling but I can see the worry in her eyes.
+
+I won’t let this shatter, “I would scream it from the mountaintops if that’s what I needed to do, and I will stay quiet if that’s what you need from me. I just need to be with you.”
+
+She blushes fiercely again, that may have been a strong proclamation but I don’t regret it in the slightest. She nods, a bit overwhelmed for words.
+
+That is fine, this soft connection between our hands is all I need right now. 
+
+This moment can just be .
+
+Rae eventually fidgets however, and I let out a questioning hum.
+
+“I want to do this again.” She looks composed finally, I am a bit impressed but her blush has yet to subside, “I… we will have to do more studying and all that over the week… but next weekend can we do this again? A date? After we do that thing for Achard-san?”
+
+“Of course… I’ll see you at class tomorrow then?”
+
+She nods, and the link between our hands doesn’t break quite yet, she is yet to pull away,
+
+Then she surprises me, she leans in quickly, and I feel a quick kiss placed on my cheek. Just as quick she draws back, she is the brightest I have ever seen her. She seems even surprised with herself and blinks a few times.
+
+“GoodnightClaireIWillSeeYouTomorrow!” She stammers quickly and disengages promptly, leaving me in front of the building by myself. I can’t help but laugh at her awkwardness as she retreats away.
+
+I love her… 

21.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+ 
+
+“You seem pleased”, Catherine comments almost immediately as I enter our dorm. I do definitely feel like I am glowing.
+
+“I had a wonderful date.”
+
+I can see she is in her usual spot, lounging on the sofa, “Wasn’t it not…?” she inquires.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“And it was…?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Huh, well grats I guess. So what happened?” She sits up and aligns herself better for a conversation.
+
+I still feel giddy, I quickly jump into the adjacent sofa, “She took me to the park nearby, we first went to Shinobazu Pond and it’s so pretty, the flowers were all in bloom, I think it was her first time being there too, and then there was zoo Catherine, with animals of all sorts, I saw a panda bear! It was so adorable I never knew a bear could look like that. There were monkeys, an elephant, they had otters, Catherine, Otters!” Oh god they were so cute and they were so close to us.
+
+Catherine blinks, how is she not impressed? “Cool?”
+
+“They had Otters.”
+
+“Umm, right that’s cool sorry I wasn’t prepared for you, Claire, an adult to lose her shit over going to a zoo.”
+
+Why I never… “Of course I would love to go see a zoo, who wouldn't? The animals were cute, or majestic. They had a tiger, it was so big…”
+
+Catherine laughs, “That’s great really, sorry you're right. I think. It’s just easy to get jaded over the simple things.”
+
+“There is nothing simple about a zoo, Catherine.”
+
+She just chuckles, “It’s relative, don’t worry about it, how was the rest of the day?”
+
+“We got lunch there and then we went back to her room, she finally showed me a video game for the first time.”
+
+Catherine’s face scrunches, clearly unimpressed with that prospect, “Really?”
+
+“It was lovely Catherine!”
+
+“Okay, okay, what game did she show you?”
+
+“Persona 5.”
+
+Catherine snorts, “What a nerd.”
+
+“Catherine!”
+
+“Sorry, she is, it’s just funny.”
+
+“I wanted to see it for so long now, she has been telling me about them our entire life and I finally got to see what she was talking about. It's ridiculous how much I couldn’t even picture what it was like. She even let me play it myself!”
+
+Catherine nods, not laughing anymore but she still has a silly smirk on her face, “So you had fun?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Good, wow,” she says quietly to herself, “Anything else happened?”
+
+Yes
+
+“I don’t know if I should say…”
+
+“Oh come on Claire, you have to say now, what did you do?” She is curious now.
+
+“Hmm, what makes you think I did something?”
+
+“Really?” She raised her brow, “You act like I haven’t had to listen to you two for the last week, girl you are thirsty.”
+
+Excuse me? “Thirsty?”
+
+“Like Rae is a tall drink of water and you are dying in a desert.”
+
+“Oh…”
+
+“Am I wrong?”
+
+She isn't. If I could drink deep of Rae—
+
+CLAIRE! Not now!
+
+“Fine yes… I kissed her… a lot.” I know I have the silliest smile on my face right now but I can’t help it. I kissed Rae. I kissed my wife. I kissed my newly anointed girlfriend.
+
+“Damn you had a mission girl.”
+
+I can’t help but giggle.
+
+“Soooo what? You two are dating now? Again?”
+
+“Yes, she walked me home and we talked about it, she wants this too, she just doesn’t want to be public about it.”
+
+“Makes sense. I’m happy for you.” Catherine looks happy for me, proud of me.
+
+“Thanks Catherine.”
+
+This is perfect, Everything is going right. We are together again, I can make her happy, I can make sure this life is a good one. Like our last one. I don’t know how that future will play out yet, I still have so much to understand about how this world works but I can do this. 
+
+I can make sure our life is perfect.
+
+ 

22.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+“Sixty-eight percent?” This is terrible, this can’t be right.
+
+“That’s really not that bad, all things considered Claire-chan.”
+
+I know Rae is trying to make me feel better but I also know this is not a good score.
+
+“What did you get?”
+
+“What?”
+
+I reach over to her test and she panics, making a dash to intercept me, “What did you get?”
+
+“Noooo” she swipes her test away from my reach, I just lean over her and try to pull it from her grasp, “Claire-chan, this isn’t fair!” she whines.
+
+I lean into her ear, “Be a good girl for me.” She freezes and I manage to swipe her test finally.
+
+“Claire-chan! That’s not fair.”
+
+I turn the pages over, “Ninety-four percent?” Heavens, I really did poorly.
+
+“Claire-san you shouldn’t compare our results, it’s not fair.”
+
+“Most things aren’t fair till we make them, I need to improve.”
+
+“You will,” She swipes the test back, not as though I give her any fight anymore, “Look it’s the first test so it wasn’t that hard but I didn’t have to cram ten plus years into my head in less than two weeks. And all the studying I have been helping you with has been helping me too.”
+
+“I should have done better.” I shouldn't be pouting.
+
+She groans, “Look there will be more tests, we can get you there but you are doing good, you passed which is a miracle that you got to that point.”
+
+“I suppose…” I’m sure if I stare at the test hard enough I can will it to burst into flames, damned be the fact that my magic is gone.
+
+“Hi Claire-chan.” I perk up as I hear Pepi, Loretta is in tow behind her, “How did the test go.” She narrows her eyes at Rae. She isn’t going to let up, is she.
+
+“It should be better, sixty-eight percent.” I know it is what it is but I can’t stop my frustrations. I used to be a teacher!
+
+Pepi hums. Loretta decides to comment, “Wasn’t your tutor supposed to help your grades?” Oh no… is she jealous? Loretta No!
+
+“It’s not her fault, I’m to blame. It’s just been a struggle for me.”
+
+Pepi hums again, “Sounds like you need a better tutor huh, or are you just not trying very hard Oohashi-san?”
+
+Rae bristles at the implication, “I am doing what I can!”
+
+“It’s not her fault.” I try to warn them.
+
+Pepi however seems not willing to let it end quite there, “Really, is she even taking it seriously? You keep saying you are studying, studying, studying. You can’t make events anymore? We never even see you anymore.”
+
+“Pepi-chan!” She stops at my reprimand, as if catching herself finally. She looks apologetic but doesn't say anything. “There has been so much to cover and it’s like I have had to relearn everything all over again. She has been helping a lot. I’m not happy with my results,” I sigh, “But it is better than I would have gotten before alone, much better.”
+
+Rae’s right, she usually is.
+
+It doesn’t make me grit my teeth any less.
+
+“If you say so…” Loretta pouts, and side eyes Rae.
+
+“Can you at least make one party this week? Look, you can even bring your… tutor with you. Rod Bauer-san has the sports bar rented out for Saturday. Everyone who matters will be there.”
+
+I do feel guilty. I have been largely absent from the social life the old me used to have, I keep seeing messages from other classmates… I need to study though, that much is obvious but can I afford to ignore everyone else? If nothing else I am alienating Pepi and Loretta, that doesn’t sit right with me.
+
+“Rae-chan, what do you think? Could you at least come with me?” I try to whisper to her.
+
+The gears are winding in her head as she considers, her lips draw into a straight line, “Ugh, maybe? You want me to come?”
+
+“Yes please, I am going to be so lost as it is.”
+
+She does not look enthused at the prospect, chewing at her lip.
+
+I pout.
+
+She instantly folds. 
+
+Claire…
+
+But I need her!
+
+“Okay, Yes I’ll come, but I’m not drinking, okay.”
+
+“That’s fine, I don’t want to drink too much either.” It’s too easy to drink too much. I pull back from our whisper and Pepi does not look impressed but at least she waited. “Okay, yes, I will do what I can to be there, umm which bar is it?”
+
+Pepi’s face scrunches, “Really, it’s the sports bar, Bar forty four, the one we usually go to.”
+
+“Right, of course.” I can’t let her know that I have no idea where that is.
+
+“You okay Claire-chan?”
+
+“Of course, just tired, it’s been a lot of studying.”
+
+“Hmm, well okay, we will see you then, make sure she dresses better, she can’t be… that.” I do not appreciate her tone…
+
+Rae looks like she is about to say something, but just pouts. That was rude Pepi… but I won’t start a fight over it. “I will make sure we both look great, and I’m sorry for worrying the two of you.”
+
+The apology surprises both of them, “Uh, sure thing Claire-chan, Okay, well we have to get going.”
+
+“We do?” Loretta questions.
+
+“Yes.” Pepi starts to drag Loretta away, who just acquiesces to it.
+
+Once they are out of earshot Rae groans and slumps on her desk. “I have to dress up?”
+
+“Don't worry, I will find something for you.”
+
+Rae groans.
+
+“I know what works for you, I might even be able to have Lene take us somewhere if she can book an appointment for Catherine this weekend.”
+
+“Wait, what.. you don’t need to buy me clothes?”
+
+“I don’t need to, but I will.”
+
+“But-”
+
+“Trust me Rae chan, I won’t go overboard and consider it a thank you for all the tutoring. I know what looks good on you and what you like.”
+
+She still looks apprehensive.
+
+“If you don’t like it, we won't get it, but let’s try at least…. Please?”
+
+Her resistance  crumbles, “Fine.” She sighs and then pouts, “But not too much, K?”
+
+“Of course, would you happen to know the bar Pepi-chan mentioned?”
+
+“No, but I can look it up later, Misha might know, Misha might even be there if Yu-san is going… umm how long do we need to be there?”
+
+“I don’t know… but I suspect long enough to socialize. I worry there will be too many people I don’t recognize…” Some faces I do recognize from before, but for everyone I do, I see two I don't. The student body is massive.
+
+“Hmm yah that could be a problem but I don’t know, if it’s a party at a bar it might be loud and you might be able to half-ass conversations? I actually don’t know what it’s going to be like there, ughhhhhhh.” I do sympathize with her.
+
+“Hrmmm, I suppose we will have to see.” I can’t really say I am looking forward to just diving into the unknown like this. “Thank you for coming with me Rae, if you want, we can spend the following day doing something more relaxing, I would like to continue that game from before.”
+
+She smirks, “Sure, we will probably need to do some more studying before and over the weekend at some point, but I would like that too… So umm… what do you think of it so far?”
+
+“Oh I don’t even know where to begin… it’s just such a marvel of… engineering? Science? Having our little person move around is… well to borrow the colloquialism; cool. And it has such catchy music, and the story is very interesting. We have to stop Kamoshido, what a vile person. I know it’s just fiction but I really want to put a stop to him.”
+
+She laughs softly, “Yah he really sucks, he is a great way to set the stage for the game… I don’t know if I would say it holds up in the same way throughout the rest of the game but yah. And I don’t know if you also thought it too, but when I played it with the fem mod, the first time, and the part comes where they leak that your a delinquent to the whole school, in my head I was like oh, they also leak that the MC is trans too, and that's why everyone is always misgendering you and it makes it all comes around in my head in a strong way… but yeah I don’t know if you also…” She is getting self conscious as she catches herself rambling. 
+
+I did not consider that, but I can see it now. It’s an odd concept, taking the narrative and having something changed with the ‘mod’ that she mentioned. It’s such a different way of engaging with the narrative then I am used to but there is something about it that feels intuitive, and her interpretation… “That does make sense… we have to beat that man up.”
+
+Rae laughs, “Don’t worry we can get there.”
+
+“Misaki would be proud of you.”
+
+“What?” 
+
+Maybe I didn’t have to bring that up, but…
+
+“I… you did a lot of good, you helped a lot of people in our old life, Like Misaki. I know it’s still fresh but I just wanted to let you know that and… I don’t know what will arise now but I will be here to help with anything, okay?”
+
+She looks a bit fragile, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it, but she does smile after she collects her thoughts, “Thanks Claire-chan. I don’t want to say anymore goodbyes… buuuut we really should get going, we are going to be late to the next class if we don’t leave soon and I really don’t need your lackeys having more reasons to plot my murder.”
+
+“Pepi and Loretta, but yes, you are right.”
+
+“The tall one really doesn’t like me.”
+
+“Her name is Loretta, I… I think that might be because she has had a… crush on me.”
+
+“Uh yah.”
+
+“I can’t believe I never noticed- wait you knew?” Did everyone but me know?
+
+“I mean have you seen how she looks at you? Of course I recognized it!”
+
+“Oh god… hrmm, what do you mean you recognized it?
+
+“Ahhhhh, well you know…. Game knows game….?” She tries to jest.
+
+“No, I want to hear you say it.”
+
+She groans.
+
+“ Raeeeeeee .”
+
+“Ugh! Yes, of course I also have a massive crush on you.” I love when her voice trails off into a whisper.
+
+“Excellent, we should get going as you said then.” I run a hand down her arm and I can see a shiver cascade from the point of contact, I then rise and make way towards our next destination. I can’t help but smirk as she pouts.
+
+“Ugh what? Wait, oh come on. CLAIRE-SAN! That's not fair…”

23.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+ 
+
+It is so cruel that I do not share all my classes with Rae.
+
+Oh how Ironic that when we first shared classes I dreaded seeing her everyday, plotting to have her leave…
+
+Now…
+
+Oh woe is me…
+
+Hmmph.
+
+It’s several hours before my next classes and here I am trapped in between. I should perhaps review my materials again but I have been doing nothing but reading.
+
+I do need a break. I shouldn’t push myself too hard.
+
+Maybe there is a message from Rae.
+
+…
+
+There isn't…
+
+Ugh… I could message her, but she is in a class right now. I don’t want to be a distraction. Well only a distraction when it’s just us. There is something very novel about these instant messages, at least even just reviewing them again is joyful.
+
+Oh Rae, I miss how forward you used to be, but this shy version of you is so wonderful in its own ways. And you are still just as thoughtful. I love that you go out your way to find otter videos for me.
+
+This last one she sent… two otter pups playing… Oh goodness how can they be so cute. 
+
+Ahhh….
+
+…I miss having a pet. I doubt we will come upon Reliare again here. I wonder what happened after… I passed on. I barely remember that last dinner. 
+
+Rae… how many times have we done these… 
+
+Loops?
+
+Bzzzt!
+
+Oh, a message, Rae?
+
+… Lene.
+
+Other people exist than Rae, Claire Francois. Lene must have booked an appointment.
+
+Mademoiselle Claire, I am pleased to say that I was able to book an appointment for Mademoiselle Catherine this Saturday at 9 AM. I should be able to pick you at eight 8:20 AM, please make sure you are ready to leave shortly after I arrive.
+
+Hello Lene, that is wonderful news. I greatly appreciate your expediency on the matter. Thank you very much.
+
+Oh, no thanks are needed Mademoiselle Claire.
+
+But I do appreciate the thought
+
+This is wonderful, I have one additional request, Lene. I am expecting to bring a friend to a social gathering and she is in need of more suiting garments. Would you be able to take us to a tailor to purchase said garments? I was thinking she needs something stylish but a bit casual and perhaps with a more masculine style then feminine. She is not one for dresses.
+
+I could take her to one of your usual places of frequent Mademoiselle if you are looking for clothes? Would that work for you?
+
+Ummm…. Damn it , I would know, wouldn’t I?
+
+I am looking for something less extravagant in price if possible, I do not want her to feel uncomfortable with this gift.
+
+I understand, yes we have a couple places that we can visit then. Is this friend the same one that will be accompanying us?
+
+Yes, her name is Rei Oohashi, I think Catherine would prefer it if we took her back to our home after her appointment. I doubt she would want to join us, and then I would like to make our shopping trip afterwards.
+
+Understood, I will be ready to do such. Please let me know if you need anything else Mademoiselle.
+
+Thank you again Lene, I look forward to seeing you again Saturday.
+
+Success, I can’t help but chuckle. I have much in the way of help, but I am picking up the ways of this other world. Ah I should inform Rae as well that the plans have been finalized for the weekend then. 
+
+Hello Rei, Lene has informed me that she has booked an appointment for Catheirne on Saturday, and then we can go afterwards on a short trip to look for clothes. I look forward to the weekend and thank you again for accompanying me.  
+
+It will be another wonderful weekend together.

24.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,215 @@
+Wow, it’s been a long day, Claire has been pushing her studying a lot since her first test came in. I want to help her as much as I can, but it has been a long day. Fuck… I am beat.
+
+If only Claire was the one doing the beating.
+
+Oh.
+
+God.
+
+The intrusive thoughts are just getting worse. 
+
+I guess that’s fine.
+
+I’m probably just tired, the lights are out and I just want to zone out.
+
+But I feel my phone buzz next to me.
+
+It buzzes again. Claire doesn’t usually text me quite so late… but I need to check in case it is her.
+
+Hey, where have you been, it’s been a while since I heard anything from you. Did you die?
+
+Oh it’s Shiko, now I feel guilty, I wasn’t trying to ignore her but… like a lot has happened.
+
+I’m alive, sorry uni has been very busy
+
+Fair Fair, you still have time to update your fic? You usually have something up by now.
+
+Oh jeez, My lady Shouko fic… wow I haven’t even had time to think about it.
+
+Do… I…
+
+Oh god I think I don’t care?
+
+Okay okay. I don't not care anymore…
+
+I just… I still want to finish it I think! But I don’t want to cut into my time with Claire, she needs me!
+
+Oh, yah I guess
+
+??
+
+It’s been busy
+
+Sure, but even during exams weeks you manage to stick to your schedule, did you finally get tired of PrayLove?
+
+Nonono, not really idk its weird stuff just happened
+
+What stuff
+
+Idk
+
+…
+
+Dont … me
+
+…
+
+Shiko…
+
+Did you…?
+
+Did I what?
+
+You know ;)
+
+ 
+
+Fuck you did
+
+I dont’ know what you are talking about
+
+Holy fuck
+
+Yes you do, don’t lie to me
+
+Who is it?
+
+Dont hold out on me oohashi!
+
+It’s a girl in my class
+
+Fuck yes 
+
+who is it?
+
+It might be the one I was crushing on
+
+Are you fucking serious, didn’t you say she was like a model or something? How the fuck did you manage that?
+
+I dont know
+
+I need picture
+
+Fine but you can’t share it
+
+There is a thumbs up emoji, I take a breath and find one of the photos from our… date. Oh god I was on a date with Claire…
+
+What the fuck
+
+there is no way
+
+where did you find this?
+
+I groan, and send her a second picture, this time with me included, wow I look nervous here, but at least Claire looks happy and gorgeous…
+
+Holy fuck
+
+W
+
+How?
+
+Srsly how did you do it?
+
+IDK
+
+It wouldn’t make sense if I told you
+
+W
+
+Getting a girlfriend is a good reason to forgot about a fic
+
+Wait? she is right? Your not debasing yourself for a straight girl right?
+
+we kissed
+
+There isn’t any immediate reply, is she done? I was honestly expecting her to say- The phone is ringing, shit I hit the button quickly and bury myself under the blankets and pillows. I don’t want Misha to shout at me.
+
+“Shiko! I have a roommate!”
+
+“Then why didn’t you just hang up?” God she is smirking, I can hear it.
+
+“...What do you want?” God she can be an ass.
+
+“You have to tell me if you are fucking with me.”
+
+I groan, “I… I’m not, we really…” Oh god, burying myself under everything is not helping with the heat I feel rising throughout.
+
+“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
+
+“It just happened, we had a date on Sunday.”
+
+“Wow, where were you two?”
+
+“The zoo by the university.”
+
+“Hmmm, couldn’t find an aquarium?”
+
+“Oh fuck off.”
+
+She laughs on the other end, “So…? How is it?”
+
+“Ughhh, wow, real good. I… kissing good. She is so pretty, and so nice, and I can’t believe it’s happening.”
+
+“Hey you deserve it.”
+
+“Ugh, Thanks, god it doesn’t feel real sometimes, she is really into me for some reason.”
+
+“You are cute.”
+
+“Shiko…”
+
+“Hey you can’t fault me for having good taste. So is this finally the end of Lady Shouko?”
+
+“I don’t know, I want to finish it, I have been doing it for what? At least three years? But it’s different now… I… fuck I have never felt like this before, I almost feel like a gremlin when I think about her, and I was always obsessed with PrayLove before but this… this on a completely different level.”
+
+“That’s fair… the real stuff kinda trumps the fictional.”
+
+“Yeaaah.”
+
+“We should hang out, I can rope in Kosaki too, I bet she would want to meet your new girlfriend too.”
+
+“Ohh, ohh really? Umm, I-”
+
+“Hey, Chill Rei.”
+
+“Right, umm maybe, yah sure, I think? Maybe in a few weeks, god I have been so busy and we have plans already for this weekend.”
+
+“Sure, sure, lucky you. Just talk to her and see if there is a good time, it’s easy enough to get on the train and meet you there.”
+
+“Yeah, I’ll see. I think she would like to meet you.”
+
+“Oh, did you tell her about us?”
+
+Well technically yes? “Uh sorta, she knows about the… y’know, and also about Misaki.”
+
+I can hear her hum, “... yah, his Day is coming up… you going to come out for it?”
+
+…“Yes.” Wow, that’s already next month isn’t it?
+
+“Good, he would like that.”
+
+“Yeah.”
+
+“Yah... well you sound tired, and I’m probably not going to sleep for several hours still but I’m not going to keep you up because I am a degen. Don’t forget about me again, and keep me posted, m’kay?
+
+“Sure thing Shiko, thanks.”
+
+“Night.”
+
+“Good night.”
+
+The line goes dead and I click the screen off. I pull myself out of the cover I made; the air was getting really stuffy, and it doesn't look like Misha has stirred. Good. Claire meeting Shiko and Kosaki huh? Should I also invite Claire to see Misaki when we go? She knows, it’s not like I would be explaining anything right? I think she would want to come… I’ll ask her later.
+
+I should have told Shiko, shouldn't I? Not the whole isekai and memory stuff; that would just sound insane, but I should have mentioned sooner that I have a…
+
+Girlfriend .
+
+Wow, oh wow.
+
+I’m Claire's girlfriend.
+
+aaaAAAaaaAAAAaaaAAAAaaaAAAaaaAAaaAAaaAaAaAaAaaaaaa…
+
+ 
+
+Fuck I need to sleep.

25.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+I arrived a little early today. We wanted to get in some more studying, since today was going to be pretty busy, with Catherine's appointment, then clothes, and then the party.
+
+God it’s going to be a day.
+
+At least Claire is putting a lot of work into studying, and impressively she is catching up a lot. Sometimes I feel like I can just sit back and let her do-
+
+Knock-Knock.
+
+“That must be Lene.” Claire springs up from her work and goes to the door. As she opens it, there stands a woman, just a bit older than us I would guess. She is wearing a clean pressed suit, and has long brown hair that is pulled together in a tail and hanging off her shoulder to the front. She def has butler vibes. “Lene! You look wonderful, it’s so good to see you again.” Claire catches her completely off guard and pulls her into a hug.”
+
+“Mademoiselle Claire?” She recovers from her surprise, “Is everything all right?”
+
+“Quite, sorry, sorry. I’m just excited to start the day. Well we should be moving, Catherine, can you get ready?”
+
+There is a silence before she responds. “What?” She pulls herself up from the sofa. “What are you talking about? I am not going anywhere.”
+
+“Pardon moi, did you not inform Mademoiselle Catherine yet?” Lene-sama asks as Claire moves quickly over with a grin on her face to Catherine.
+
+“Of course you are coming, trust me. It’s a surprise.”
+
+“Claireeee…” She tries to glare at her, but Claire just beams. God her resistance is much better than mine.
+
+It does not hold out for long though. And she sighs. “Ughh, I hate surprises, what are you planning?”
+
+“I owe you, think of it as me treating you?”
+
+“I… don’t want to go shopping with you two.”
+
+“It’s not that, please just trust me?”
+
+“Ughhhh, fine. But I want to be able to say no.”
+
+“You have to at least listen to me if you disagree…”
+
+She tries to hold out again.
+
+She sighs instead, “Fine. Fine, let’s just get this over with. This better not be a social thing either, I am not going to whatever party you are going to later.”
+
+“That's much later Catherine, and this will not take that long. Just get comfortable and be ready to leave soon.”
+
+“Preferably not too long, we do have a schedule to maintain Mademoiselles.” Lene says from the door again. 
+
+“Yah, Yah, Just give me a moment.” She shoos us out of the room, and soon it’s just me, Claire and Lene there in the hall.
+
+“So would you be the friend Mademoiselle Claire mentioned?”
+
+“Yes this is my w- my friend. Rei Oohashi. We share a class. She is wonderful.”
+
+She was going to say wife, wasn’t she?
+
+Oomph, Claire gives me a nudge, a bit forcefully.
+
+Kinky.
+
+“Oh… yah, pleased to meet you Lene-sama.” I give a little bow.
+
+“Merci, it is a pleasure to meet you as well Mademoiselle Oohashi. So Mademoiselle Claire, our appointment for Mademoiselle Catherine should not take long, and then we can visit your usual venues for clothes. If anything else is required please just let me know.” She gives a formal bow.
+
+“Thank you Lene.”
+
+It doesn’t take that much longer for Catherine to come out, she has put on a better shirt, and is leaning on her cane. Lene offers to help her down but she just waves her off and we make for the exit.
+
+And… I don’t know, I am not really surprised but I wasn’t expecting a limo to be waiting for us.
+
+I… Right, Claire is rich. Catherine’s kinda made vague mentions of it but yah…
+
+Woah.
+
+Claire looks at the limo, we have seen cars on the street but I think this is the closest she has been to one so far. She tilts her head, and whispers to me, “Why is it shaped so differently than other cars?”
+
+“Is everything alright Mademoiselles?”
+
+“Oh of course Lene.” Claire insists.
+
+Lene-sama opens the door for us and beckons us in.
+
+It's… really roomy in her, and Claire moves in carefully after Catherine, offering her a hand. The two of them sit opposite of me, and Lene closes the door.
+
+“So it’s like a carriage without a horse then? It uses an ‘engine’, correct?”
+
+“Yes, and umm, this is a different type of car, it’s called a Limousine. It's typically a symbol of wealth.”
+
+“Yah, this is just our usual ride. Don't worry, Lene is a good driver.”
+
+“Oh, well yes.” Claire is a bit awestruck taking in the I interior.
+
+“Seat belt.” Catherine mentions.
+
+“Hrmm?”
+
+“This.” Catherine leans over and pulls the belt over Claire, “This is in case of accident, keeps you secure, these move way faster than a horse.”
+
+“Right.” It looks like Claire is just trying to take in everything she can, eyes glancing all over.
+
+Lene-sama’s voice comes in over an intercom, “If you are ready Mademoiselles, I will take us to your first destination.”
+
+Catherine hits a button, then over intercom I guess, “Yes, we are ready, thanks Lene.”
+
+ 

26.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+“No.”
+
+“Just listen.”
+
+“I don’t need a new leg.”
+
+“Like hells you don’t. You told me it’s broken!”
+
+“It’s… fine.”
+
+“You have been limping everywhere!”
+
+“I have my cane.” Catherine stomps it to ground, I guess for effect but she winces when she has to put more pressure on her bad leg.
+
+“Just please see what needs to be done, Lene said you are long overdue for a replacement.”
+
+Catherine groans.
+
+“And it's hurting you!”
+
+“That’s to be expected Mademoiselle, your socket needs proper maintenance, even if you are not growing much anymore your body is not made of stone, it needs to be readjusted or it will put undue pressure on the area. And you have grown since your last check up.”
+
+Catherine just groans again and I feel really awkward and useless in this whole exchange. I’m just… moral support I guess?
+
+Go Claire.
+
+Lene-sama continues, she seems eager to make sure Catherine goes through with this at least. “Mademoiselle Francois would be most pleased if you would finally allow us to help you.”
+
+Catherine glances between the two of them, trying to find some way to counter. She looks at me, like I can offer some relief.
+
+But Claire is just trying to help her, “Uhh? I’m sure they just want what’s best, like it has to get fixed eventually right?”
+
+Claire takes her hand in both of hers, clasping it gently, “Please Catherine?”
+
+That would get me to concede, like on the spot.
+
+Catherine still has a some resistance though, but ultimately, not enough, “Fuck, fine. Fine, let's get this over with.”
+
+Claire bounces in place, still holding her hand which causes Catherine to roll her eyes.
+
+“Très bien, please this way then Mademoiselle Catherine, In the meantime Mademoiselle Claire and Oohashi, there will not be much space for you in the waiting room, if you desire you can stay with the Limousine, or you may walk about as you wish. It should not take us more than an hour. There is also a café across the street if you so desire as well.”
+
+“I think the cafe sounds lovely, Rei?”
+
+“Oh, yah sure?”
+
+“Très bien, then, I will text you when we are finished.” And with that Lene-sama bows, and escorts Catherine to her appointment. Her clinic is part of the hospital I guess.
+
+A part of me is relieved that my part in this was pretty painless, but I also hate feeling so… useless in this all?
+
+“Oh that went so well, Thank you again Rei for coming with me.” I feel her taking my hand in her own.
+
+Okay, as long as she is happy, I suppose that is all that matters in the end. “Yah, no problem, it’s not like I did very much.”
+
+“Nonsense,” she tuts at me, “You always help.” She drags me along to the cafe and she orders a small brunch for the both of us. We then find a more secluded booth for us to enjoy our sandwiches, coffee and pastries. 
+
+There is some small idle chatter as Claire comments on the quality of the food, she has such a discerning tongue when it comes to food. Thankfully she hasn’t made much mention of having me cook something, but god I am dreading the topic again. I can barely even offer much of my own commentary on the meal we just had. Like it’s fine? Like it’s good but I don’t even know what to say. She doesn’t seem to make much of a deal of it, she just looks happy.
+
+God she really does just look happy, and pretty. No she looks fucking gorgeous, I still can’t believe that I am here. Not just here in a cafe with her, sharing a meal, but everything in the last week.
+
+I’m dating her.
+
+She is lost in thought at the moment, her chin resting on her palm as the ideas filter through her mind. Then she blinks and her eyes meet mine, a lazy smile creeps across her lips and an idle finger plays on the corner of it.
+
+“Rei…”
+
+Shit, I was staring.
+
+She seems amused though, “Mmmm, Rei, I was wondering… Is there a style you favor?”
+
+“Style?”
+
+“How do you like to dress?”
+
+What ?
+
+“I only mean since we will be perusing attire later… I know how to make you look good but I am more unfamiliar with fashion here and I want you to be happy with whatever we purchase.”
+
+“Oh… umm well I wouldn’t really say I have much, umm sense when it comes to fashion, I don’t know I just wear whatever…”
+
+“Something comfortable?”
+
+“Sure?”
+
+“Don’t worry, trust me, I know you dislike dress-up so we won't spend forever. I have ideas in my head but I will have to see what the venue offers first. I will make this as painless as I can.”
+
+I… I don’t like dress-up? I mean do I… maybe? There have been a few times when mom was getting me clothes I guess, and maybe that was boring but… I haven’t really… This is weird? Is she right? “Oh… Umm sure. You don’t have to go overboard or anything.”
+
+“Of course, I can be frugal but maybe I also want to enjoy the wealth while I have it again.”
+
+“Oh, umm sure… did umm, what was it like? You know… back then?”
+
+“We were still well off, but I went from exceedingly wealthy to a comfortable modest lifestyle, don’t worry it was well worth it. We had to be careful at times with money but we still were able to enjoy many luxuries. Our daughters wanted for little.”
+
+“Oh that’s… good, did you ever miss it?”
+
+“In some ways… but not really. It was the transition that was more so difficult I suppose, unlearning wasteful habits and figuring out how to live on our own. Going from having every meal being prepared by staff to… well you still prepared most of my meals, but more so I mean that we had to take care of ourselves. Mending our own clothes, cleaning up, chores, even keeping our employment and finances in mind was never a concern I would have had, had I still been a noble.”
+
+I… she gave up a life of luxury?
+
+For me?
+
+“It was worth it.” She answers as if reading my thoughts, there is a soft smile and she reaches over, placing her hand over my own. “Thank you again for coming.”
+
+“Oh… well no problem. Really. You and Lene-sama are doing most of the work.”
+
+“Hrmmm, you are important too.”
+
+Sure
+
+“Hey, you're not going to pout that I want you around are you?”
+
+“Ohh-What? No I-
+
+She laughs, “Of course not.” She smirks and breaks into a silly cackle… oh god she is adorable.
+
+I can’t help but laugh along with her, and once we both calm down I realize she has found my hand… again. Not a bad thing to keep happening I suppose.
+
+“That’s better… This is lovely.”
+
+Yah, it is.
+
+“I would like to be together tomorrow as well.”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+What?
+
+You said Yes.
+
+She smiles warmly, “Good, I would very much like to finish your game, Persona, but I also want to finally see some of the other things you like. I know you mentioned a Dungeon Meshi before-”
+
+“Really? You want to know about Dungeon Meshi!?” Oh shit I’m squeezing her hand. God Rei, you are such a fucking little goblin, can’t you just be chill-
+
+“Of course, I have to say, I’m surprised I never heard about it before from you given your current reaction… I have to ask, there was a novel series you were reading when you were still a teenager. Forgive me, I believe it’s name was Pray… Love?”
+
+“PrayLove? Between Prayer and Love?”
+
+She gleams, “Yes! That’s the one. You said that was your first yuri series, Shiko showed it to you.”
+
+…
+
+“Am I wrong ?” She smirks, she knows she isn’t.
+
+But… I…
+
+Okay, rationally, yes it makes sense she knows this based on what she told me… but It doesn’t stop it from throwing me for a loop.
+
+“You were writing stories for it as well?”
+
+… I need… to reset my brain…
+
+“I—------------Yes?”
+
+“Rei?”
+
+….
+
+“Oh Wow! Sorry that… is. Wild. Wow.”
+
+“Are you okay Rei?”
+
+“Yes, Yes.” God I’m chuckling like an idiot now, “God, sorry, the only person I really ever talk about this with is Shiko… and Misha, but just a little. She’s a nerd too, but she is not really… into that stuff. It just really catches me off guard I guess.”
+
+“Sorry, I don’t mean to do that to you, it’s just I never imagined you used to be so guarded about this sorta thing. You were always so proud of it before. You told me about one story you had been working on for over five years for Pray Love.”
+
+“Five… years…”
+
+“Are… you still writing it?”
+
+“I… think so?”
+
+Uhhhh
+
+“Could I read it?” She asks sweetly.
+
+Fuck no.
+
+“Are you sure? I don't know… it's… unhinged. I don't even know if it would make sense…” oh god please don't ask this of me. I will DIE .
+
+Oh please don't pout at me Claire, “Rei I can assure you, nothing will surprise me, I have seen how unhinged you can be,” oh God why is she smirking? What does that mean… I… I… Can't deal with this, oh god. Please let me hide behind my hands. 
+
+“Rei, it's really not that bad, I think we even might have played some scenes in the bedroom-”
+
+bEdRooM?
+
+“- it was honestly a lot of fun, we can even get a collar again-”
+
+tHE cOllAr?!
+
+Oh god please.
+
+Aaaaaaaaaaa
+
+“- as well as a few other toys… umm Rei are you okay?” 
+
+Peachy
+
+“Reiiii”
+
+“Rei, look at me please,”
+
+I don't want to.
+
+She does look worried, god just get over yourself. Stop being so embarrassed over… sex.
+
+You want it .
+
+“Hey… it's okay Rei,” she's so kind… “I'm sorry, it's easy to forget how different you are now.” 
+
+I bet
+
+“Does it make you uncomfortable?”
+
+“NO! Yes? I… I don't know… I'm embarrassed? God I… I wrote this stuff… and… now… you… me… “
+
+I can hear my swallow. 
+
+“ bed… I… it's a lot, it sounds amazing,  scary… I-”
+
+“ Rei… that's normal, the first time I was ever with anyone, it was with you. I didn't know anything about being physical, let alone with another woman. It was intimidating as it was alluring, trust me, I understand. But you were there for me, gentle and you never rushed me. Let me do that for you.”
+
+I feel her squeeze my hand, When did she…?
+
+“I… want… to…”
+
+“We can go slowly.”
+
+…okay. Yah slow works.
+
+Slower Claire…
+
+Get out of here!
+
+“I… Yes… that. Thanks Claire. Sorry I shouldn't be-”
+
+“Please don't apologize, Rei. I'm sorry if I ever push you too much. I'm too greedy with my desires. And I might have too much fun teasing you.”
+
+Thanks Claire.
+
+“The teasing is fun.”
+
+She smirks proudly, “I know it is.”
+
+Huh?
+
+You said the quiet part out loud and the loud part…
+
+Shit!
+
+“You're adorable Rei.”
+
+She… god I really want to do this.
+
+I want to be hers.
+
+Her Rei.
+
+“ Soooooo? ”
+
+“Huh?”
+
+“You let me read your works, eventually?”
+
+Shit!
+
+“Eventually?” God I am not ready for this.
+
+I just started writing the really deranged stuff too.
+
+“It's not done though?”
+
+“That's okay,  after all,   I think I know how it ends.” Oh god, she always sounds so- I freeze as her hand moves to my face, she has a discerning look and her thumb rubs against my cheek.
+
+She pulls her hand back, “Ah that was bugging me.” She inspects whatever it was she cleaned off my face, then looks up at me and as she holds my gaze she licks her thumb, in the most fucking suggestive way possible, and she KNOWS what it’s doing to me.
+
+“Eventually.” She looks so satisfied.
+
+I’m not meant to survive.
+
+ 

27.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+“Oh my god, just say it already.” Catherine huffs annoyed, Claire has been quiet but her energy is very obvious.
+
+Claire smiles, “How is it?”
+
+“It’s good, happy?” Catherine, rolls her eyes.
+
+“Very, so that didn’t take you too long?”
+
+“Thankfully the socket was easy to adjust, and we had already custom ordered the new leg for Mademoiselle Catherine, afterwards it was simple to adjust it to suit her.” Lene informs Claire.
+
+“Excellent.”
+
+“It was custom order?” Catherine gawks.
+
+“Of course, Mademoiselle Francoius would have little else. She was waiting a while for when you would be ready. It should be very reliable and it has a silicon finish to make it hard to distinguish from a normal leg.”
+
+“Really?” Claire practically has stars in her eyes.
+
+“She didn’t need to go that far.” Catherine just looks very uncomfortable, I sympathize. Hopefully Claire has some restraint with our shopping trip later.
+
+“Nonsense.” Lene-sama just looks professional during the whole affair. 
+
+“Ahh, would it be too much to ask to see it…” God Claire is so cute when she is trying to restrain herself. 
+
+Catherine groans, “Fine but in the car, I just want to get home already.”
+
+It doesn’t take much more after that, Catherine practically shoves us into the back seat, but she isn’t using the cane anymore and she is moving… well pretty normal. I can’t tell anymore. Once the limo is moving Claire is beaming at Catherine.
+
+She doesn’t say much but I can see Catherine is under full assault from Claire’s smile, and she eventually groans again. She reaches to the bottom of her left pant leg and pulls it up to the thigh. And Lene-sama was right, it looks like skin, the tone even matches her skin.
+
+Claire looks overwhelmed as she scans it up and down, and Catherine finally smirks. She pulls the shoe and sock and reveals a foot with toes. It seems to have some bend to it, it allows some articulation but I can see it’s not moving completely like a real foot is. But I guess I would only notice that because I know.
+
+Claire hesitantly touches the thigh and sees that it has some give.
+
+“You… you don’t feel that right? It's not a real leg right?”
+
+Catherine laughs, “Nope, yah it does look convincing but we aren’t regrowing legs yet if that what you are thinking”
+
+“Oh… I see, sorry if that was stupid question. The capabilities of this world always surprise me.”
+
+“Nah, it wasn’t stupid. Here.” Catherine pulls the pant leg higher and I can see the seam above her knee, she fiddles with it a bit and then the leg detaches… oh wow. She passes that to a surprised Claire.
+
+Claire holds the leg carefully but just looks stunned, doing very little but blinking.
+
+“Umm, so you can walk comfortably?” I ask to try to break the silence.
+
+“Yah, I can even run on it, Hell I might start jogging… that old one hadn’t been good to do that in a while. Here let me have that back.” She takes the leg back and reattaches it and quickly pulls the pant leg back down.
+
+When she comes back up after putting her sock and shoe back on Claire surprises her with a hug, there are tears in her eyes. “Catherine, it’s so wonderful!”
+
+“Oh, umm.”
+
+“It’s so much better than I thought it would be, you can walk!”
+
+Catherine doesn’t say much but she can’t really hide her smile either. She just hugs her back.
+
+I feel like I am intruding.
+
+Eventually Claire pulls back, a slight sniffle, “Sorry, I just… it really is amazing.”
+
+“Thanks, I don’t know if I deserve it but thanks.”
+
+Yah… same Catherine…
+
+ 
+
+ 

28.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+Claire mumbles, “I told Lene to take us someplace more lowkey,” she sighs, “Oh well, I suppose this must be lowkey to my old standards.”
+
+I feel so out of place, everything here looks way too high class. But Claire doesn’t let us stand about for too long. She is quickly attended to by staff and she starts quickly listing off what she is looking for but I can barely keep up with the types of clothes she is describing. She wasn’t kidding when she said she had ideas, and the attendant dutifully listens, and then turns to me and asks my size before leaving us to fetch the clothes I guess.
+
+“This feels too much Claire-chan…”
+
+“Don’t worry, I made sure the staff won't bring anything ostentatious.”
+
+“But won't everything be expensive?”
+
+Claire shrugs, “It might be but I wont pick more than a few articles for you, and I will try to pick the more moderately priced clothes. Don’t worry the staff understood what I am looking for, that includes the cost.”
+
+Before I can really say much more, the staff returns and we are taken to a changing room. Claire briefly flips through the clothes, before she nods content with the selection and hands them to me while pushing me into the personal chamber.
+
+“I’m not sure what these will look like until you try them on, I’ll wait out here.”
+
+And then it’s just me behind the curtain.
+
+The stack of clothes doesn’t look too big…
+
+It’s a couple pants and shirts… are these men’s clothes?
+
+“Is this right?” I ask over the curtain.
+
+“Yes, if you don’t like it we can try something else, but I figured this was a safe start.”
+
+Safe?
+
+“Aren’t these… I don’t know… they look like men's clothes?”
+
+“They are masculine, but they should fit you just fine. Trust me.”
+
+I gulp, am I overthinking this? It’s not like I wanted to wear a skirt or anything. It’s quick enough to try on the first set, and they fit pretty well I think. The pants are simple, I think? Black and a bit sleek, they definitely feel nicer than any pair I have, and more form fitting then I thought they would be. The shirt is a teal button up, it doesn’t look formal, but I guess it also feels stylish? It has a collar. 
+
+I have no idea if this looks good, but it doesn’t feel bad.
+
+I think?
+
+I guess Claire will be the judge of that, I make sure the shirt is tucked in and step out. She perks up and smiles instantly. A quick silent appraisal and then she hums in thought, “One moment.” She steps around the corner and pretty quickly returns holding another shirt… or a coat? “Wear this over it.”
+
+I… have no idea what this is called, is this just a coat? It’s a little thicker but pretty light still, and the color matches the pants. I pull my arms through it, it’s a little loose in the shoulders I think but otherwise I think it’s the right size? I catch myself in the mirror. It almost looks like a suit jacket I guess, but nowhere as formal. It feels casual but very stylish.
+
+And… okay… maybe it does look good? I let myself see other angles, and I can’t really complain. Huh, maybe Misha was right the other day.
+
+“So what do you think?”
+
+Huh, this is kinda gay… isn’t it? Kinda tomboy vibes? I wasn’t expecting that.
+
+“It’s not too much?”
+
+“I think it suits you very well , Hmmm, yes that jacket brings it together I think. The pants could be tightened up a bit in the back,” I catch her eying my butt, wait really? “I think they should be able to provide a better shape, is the jacket loose?”
+
+She runs her hands over the spot to feel, “I think so? This looks good?”
+
+“Of course, but only if you like it.” She is still giving the appearance a discerning eye.
+
+“It’s not too…?”
+
+“Too what? Masculine?”
+
+“Ohh, I meant… gay?”
+
+She quirks her brow, “I haven’t a clue what passes for that here, but I know it suits you. You were never one for a dress. Would you want to try a dress?”
+
+“No! Umm, not really?”
+
+“You did wear a suit to our wedding.”
+
+I…
+
+Wedding…?
+
+Claire chuckles, fuck I must be blushing again, this isn’t fair.
+
+I…
+
+“Do you like it when I wear a suit?”
+
+She smirks, “ Very .”
+
+I gulp, and step towards her, barely an inch away from her, “Then maybe I should wear a suit.”
+
+She blushes slightly and grins. Then she pulls me in for a quick kiss and then pushes me back towards the private chamber, “Patience Reiiii. ”
+
+What the fuck did I just do?
+
+How did I just do that? Where the fuck did that come from?
+
+Fuck all my nerves are coming in now, my legs feel like jelly.
+
+Oh fuck.
+
+That kinda ruled.
+
+ 

29.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,463 @@
+ Bars…
+
+I knew I wouldn’t like it in a place like this…
+
+But I really don’t like it in a place like this.
+
+The light is just poor, the music is too everywhere…
+
+And it’s too small with too many people.
+
+“Are you okay?” Claire asks me, a hand on my arm, she has to raise her voice over the ambient noise
+
+“Yah, it's just… umm in here.”
+
+She hums and nods in agreement. “I don’t want to linger longer than we have to either. Let's mingle and get it over with.”
+
+She pulls me further into the bar, we have to squeeze past people too often, and I am bumping into too many people here. Ugh, this sucks.
+
+There is already someone trying to talk to her, she is caught off guard at first but she quickly recovers. With practiced ease she slips into a conversation with what I assume are other students but I don’t really recognize anyone here. My only hope is I might see Misha; or at least Yu, at some point.
+
+Wait, is that another person talking to her now? At least she seems in her element, I can’t even hear anything being said right now.
+
+Just… zone out Rei. I can do that.
+
+Just detach yourself from this body, time is a social construct. It’s already eight now right?
+
+Right phone?
+
+6:49 PM
+
+How could you betray me phone?
+
+At least Claire looks like she is managing okay, she laughs and looks my way for a second. She flashes a quick smile and returns back to the conversation at hand. She seems good at this all things considered, I can’t really hear the specifics of what they are saying, but it looks like they are laughing. At least I don’t need to do anything. I’m just here as an emotional support.
+
+Moral support. 
+
+Rei Oohashi, emotional support girlfriend.
+
+Hmph, I’m going to be the best fucking emotional support girlfriend possible.
+
+I think. I am helping… right?
+
+6:57 PM
+
+Oh just fucking kill me now.
+
+Oh Claire is moving back to me, I hope that went we-
+
+“Claire-Chan!... and Oohashi-san… So glad you could make it” Fuck that made me jump, oh it’s one of Claire’s lackeys, the pink haired one.
+
+“Pepi-Chan, Loretta-Chan!” Claire moves in and gives the two a quick hug, oh, I’m in the conversation circle now….
+
+“We missed seeing you at these, Claire-chan.” Aaaand there's the other lackey. She’s tall aint she?
+
+“Sorry Loretta-chan, I don’t really think I’m meant for these anymore.”
+
+The second lackey gives me a stink eye. Ha whatever, she kissed me jock . “But… umm how will you keep up with everybody then?”
+
+Claire just shrugs, and leans into me…. oooooOOOOHHHhhhh fuck. The lackeys look like they want to kill me.
+
+“It’s not really that important in the long run is it? And I like the way things are now…” I can just catch her smirk from the corner of my eye. “We can make time for other get togethers.”
+
+Everyone is staring…
+
+I can’t help the stray thought… god I can’t help it, I'm trying to scan around and I'm just just overreacting… I think. It’s dark and crowded and everyone is in their own conversations…
+
+And I just want to enjoy being with her… that’s okay right?
+
+Pink lackey breathes in through her nose, “I guess seeing is believing…” She gives me one more appraisal, she’s not impressed, “At least you made her look reasonable for tonight.”
+
+“ Very reasonable if you ask me, but it’s not really that hard if you ask me.”
+
+Oh boy, dark, crowded and hot in here.
+
+“Riiight, well no one is catching on, as long as you don't shove your hand down further.”
+
+Oh fuck please…
+
+Claire hums.
+
+Pink lackey shakes her head, “I’m getting a drink, do you want your usual Claire-chan?”
+
+I can feel her stiffens, “Oooh, sure, Thanks Pepi-chan.” Claire has no idea what she just agreed to drink does she?
+
+“Do you want something?” She asks me, oh god no, I shake my head and then she turns to the other lackey. They share a few words, the second one nods and then pinkie leaves, making her way to the bar.
+
+“Sooo.” Claire says at the Lackey left behind.
+
+“Yes?”
+
+“Pepi-chan is looking quite lovely tonight isn’t she?”
+
+Huh?
+
+She quirks a brow, and then looks at me. “Huh?, I thought you were… I… what?”
+
+“Noooo, I just meant don’t you think she looks lovely Loretta-chan?”
+
+“Ummm…?”
+
+“You should tell her she looks great when she comes back, I’m sure she would love it.” What… is… she doing?
+
+“I… I guess? Pepi-chan’s dress does look good.”
+
+“Yes! I bet she thinks you look good too, the shirt and slacks really suit you. Quite handsome, I’m sure she thinks so too.”
+
+The lackey blushes brightly, “Aaaaa… thank you Claire-chan….” It’s almost impossible to hear as her voice implodes. 
+
+It is funny to see someone else have a gay panic over Claire.
+
+“Pepi-chan is quite cute isn’t she?” Noooo, is she…?
+
+Lackey seems to be at a loss for words, and from the looks of it now is stuck in her own head.
+
+I can feel Claire sway, somewhat in beat with the music.
+
+“Umm, how are you liking this Claire-chan?” I ask her.
+
+“Not really that pleasant if I am being honest. This is not like any social gathering I or we ever attended. It’s… oppressive. Thank you for coming with me, are you okay? You seem to be a bit on edge.”
+
+“Nooooo… well maybe a little. This really isn’t my thing.”
+
+“I know.” She says, and I can feel her hand wrap around mine, “We don’t have to stay too long.”
+
+A cough causes us both to startle a little, oh it’s her lackey back, carrying a few drinks, “Here Claire-chan.” It's a tall glass of a reddish drink, a fair bit of ice, staw, and a lemon slice on the side. Claire hesitantly takes it, and her lackey passes a drink to the other one.
+
+She looks at her as she takes the drink, a slow glance up and down the pink one, and turns away. “Thanks Pepi…chan.” Oh god, she is blushing again. And Misha gives me grief…
+
+I lean into Claire, “Do they….”
+
+“Whatever could you be implying…,?” Oh they totally do, she can’t even keep a straight face, she is totally trying to kick it off too.
+
+“You are a bad liar.”
+
+“Oh hush.” She gives me a playful bump with her shoulder, and then she carefully examines her drink some more. “Do you know what this is?”
+
+“You’re asking me?”
+
+She gives a hesitant smell, and considers for a second before taking a sip, “Ooooh, that’s sweet.” She gives it one more sip. “Hmm, that is strong.”
+
+“You going to be okay?”
+
+“I think so, as long as I ration it, I should be fine.” Okay…
+
+“So what did those people talk to you about before?”
+
+“Oh, it was mostly just your typical pleasantries, honestly I think they were just trying to schmooze but it was polite enough I suppose. I might be bad at straight up lying but I am very good at telling people what they want to hear.” She chuckles.
+
+“Did you-”
+
+“Oh look who we have here!”
+
+Shit.
+
+Claire is also startled and we both turn as Yu-san’s older brother weaves his way into our circle. It practically forces the lackeys out. Almost felt bad for them, almost.
+
+“Oh Claire-sama, how kind of you to grace us with your presence.” God he isn’t really that loud, but he feels so loud.
+
+“Oh Rod-san, it’s good to see you… in one piece.” She is definitely staring at his right arm, what’s so interesting about his arm… did-
+
+“And who might you be?” Oh… he is staring right at me, why is he grinning like that?
+
+“Umm, Oohashi-san. I’m friends with Francois-san.”
+
+He glances curiously at Claire, before snapping back to me. His eyes run up and down…
+
+“That sounds familiar, you wouldn’t happen to know my baby brother would you, Yu?”
+
+“Yes… I’m friends with him and Misha Jur, we were in the same highschool.”
+
+“Oh that’s great. I knew you seemed familiar! What are you doing with Francois-san here?” He asks all conspiratorially, like she isn’t even there. “Do you want to talk for a bit?”
+
+What the actual fuck?
+
+Clare huffs up, but grits her teeth. “She is also MY dear friend Rod-San.”
+
+“If you are looking for Thane, he isn’t going to be here.” He deadpans, and tries to shift his focus back to me.
+
+Claire looks hot… I mean pissed. She takes a deep drink, “Well I’m not looking for him!”
+
+He sighs and gives an eyeroll, “Sure, I guess you finally took a hint.”
+
+“Excuse you? I talked to Thane, maybe if you actually talked to him you would know, it was mutual, and Rei is not interested!”
+
+Ughh…
+
+That gets him to turn back fully to her, he doesn’t look too impressed. “Uh Huh, and you don’t sound upset or jealous, that's why I want to talk to your friend over you.”
+
+Fuck
+
+“Oh god, young Rod.” Claire mumbles and then takes another drink, oh that’s going away quickly… “I have someone, and it’s not You or Thane.” She moves slightly between me and him, making a bit of a barrier.
+
+“Then how about you go bug them, and let me talk to your friend.”
+
+She wickedly cackles, like the perfect villainess catching the hero in a perfect trap. “You think she wants to talk to You ?” 
+
+Oh god she is perfect.
+
+He looks a bit taken aback, but decides to ignore her once again, now focusing right on me. “Oohashi-san, would you like to exchange nu-”
+
+“No.”
+
+…
+
+Oh shit, that just slipped out, wait fuck, he was asking for my number? REAlly? He really was trying to pick me up, oh god please no…
+
+I feel Claire lean into me and she weaves her arms around mine, very possessively and if it weren’t for all the eyes I can feel on us I might just die happy right now.
+
+“See?” She says very triumphantly, “She is Mine. ” She laughs again and how does it sound so perfect?
+
+“Fine,” he finally looks ready to call it quits, “I… hope you enjoy the party, let me know if you change your mind, Oohashi-san.” And he pushes back into the crowd.
+
+Everyone is watching us, like actually watching us now.
+
+Claire is still clinging to my arm, and her drink is completely drained.
+
+There is a laugh from the side and fuck I am so on edge.
+
+“Never thought I would see you here Rei-chan, with Francois-san nonetheless.”
+
+It’s Yu, and he has Misha with him too. Unlike me, Yu looks in his element, Misha might be a bit bored.
+
+“Yu!” Claire glees, “It’s so good to see you, oh I hardly recognize you!” She gives his arm a pat, and it looks like she is looking for something not there. Do all the Bauers just look wrong to her?
+
+Yu definitely looks taken off guard by that, Claire seems to have a way of doing that to people doesn't she, “Is that so…? Might I suggest laying off the drinks then my dear?” He says smoothly, Claire just laughs, a bit too freely. 
+
+Misha glares at her though and places herself part way in between the two… it's def not jealousy right? “I’m surprised she dragged you here Rei.” Yu comments.
+
+“Oh yah, hahaha, Claire-san wanted me to come so…”
+
+I can feel Claire tighten up along me, wrapping her arm around mine again… oh god.
+
+She just smirks, like it is her victory. Who are you fighting?
+
+“Well when did this happen? I heard from Misha that you two have become friends … and I also heard some interesting things from Thane, seems that that ship has finally sailed away.” Yu's enjoying this, the shit.
+
+Claire laughs, “Yes I suppose it has, he was rather sweet about it.”
+
+“Reaaally?”
+
+Claire just smiles, I can feel her warmth seep into me. I’m burning up.
+
+Yu laughs, “I would have never guessed.”
+
+“It certainly is something .” Misha deadpans, thank god she hasn’t been telling any major secrets to Yu. She is just so much better at this than me.
+
+“I am dying to know how this,” He waves between us, a slight grin on his face, “Happened.”
+
+Fuck… He def knows, not about Claire’s Isekai but us , of course he knows. He isn’t an idiot, even if Misha said absolutely nothing, he knows I am the gayest lesbian ever. He can put two and two together, he can see that I am blushing and I know Misha has been telling him what an idiot I am for having a crush on Claire. 
+
+At least my crush is going somewhere, Misha.
+
+“Whatever could you mean ?” Claire hums, clearly happy to play along and continue to hang on my arm.
+
+“Oh, whatever could I mean ?” Yu gives me a smirk.
+
+Fuck.
+
+“It’s good to see you here with Misha-chan Yu-chan … would you two…?” She counters, and Yu blushes a little.
+
+“ Francois-san …” There is a warning edge to Misha’s voice.
+
+Did Claire talk to Misha about something before?, “Did you two-”
+
+“We had a talk after she decided to… friend with you Rei. I just hope she remembers to not out people before they are ready? Right Rei?” Misha states, more so than asks me, just glaring at Claire.
+
+“Oh… umm…”
+
+Claire pouts, “I haven’t said anything about anyone…”
+
+“Are… you okay with this Rei?” Yu asks, oddly sincerely.
+
+God, am I okay with my crush, the hottest girl I have ever seen, the girl who seems perfectly tailored to my tastes, who is totally into me, who thinks I was her perfect wife in her past life… am I okay with whatever this is.
+
+Oh god yes.
+
+“yeS.” Squeaks out. Fuck it’s way to warm in here.
+
+Claire just tightens gently around me after I say that, I don’t even need to see her face to know she is grinning madly.
+
+Yu, looks a little less concerned but he still looks confused, can’t really fault him for that.
+
+“Well I guess this will be our little secret…” He leans to Claire’s ear and whispers something I can’t make out.
+
+When he pulls back there is a serious look on Claire’s face, “I will never do that, I will always be there for her… and I will be there for you and Misha as well, for whatever that may come.”
+
+He was not expecting that, but he just laughs, “Oh, well aren’t you full of surprises ? Well I hope you two enjoy your night. Misha I heard that Tanaka-san was making a fine ass of himself and he is somewhere to be found, shall we?”
+
+Misha just rolls her eyes at his glee, “Sure, but don’t complain when it’s not really that interesting.”
+
+Yu just laughs and pulls Misha through the crowd, it's wild how easy it is to lose track of people in such a small bar. At least I can’t really lose track of Claire when she is clinging to me… she is putting more weight onto me though isn’t she?
+
+“Umm Claire-san?”
+
+“Goodness, I feel just a touch dizzy. I think that drink went straight to my head.”
+
+Oh… “Are you okay?”
+
+“I think I need a moment… just let me cling here…”
+
+“Oh jesus Claire-chan!” Fuck the pink haired one jumpscared me. “I just gave you that drink.”
+
+“sorry.” she mumbles softly.
+
+The lackey pinches her nose, “Great, she doesn’t usually get like this until at least two drinks… really? Why did you think you could down that so quickly?”
+
+“rod was being rude. rei is mine…” She slurs. Oh she really is leaning on me for support now.
+
+“God you are a disaster, We should take her home before this becomes worse.”
+
+Wait, escape?
+
+“Oh, yes, let's do that.”
+
+She rolls her eyes. “Come on Claire-chan, let’s get you out of here, come on Oohashi-san.” 
+
+“rei has to come…”
+
+“Yes, yes.” She starts to pull us through the crowd to the door. “Watch the steps with her.” she says once we break the threshold and start navigating the stairs back to the street. Out of the corridor the air is cooler again, and I can hear everything normally again. Thank god.
+
+“Come on otaku.”
+
+“Ugh, thanks… umm…”
+
+“Pepi Barlier.”
+
+“Thanks Barlier-san”
+
+There are soft mumbles from Claire as we start walking towards her dorm, it is mostly quiet. I don’t really know what to say to her lac- friend. 
+
+“What did you do?” 
+
+“Ugh…?”
+
+Claire seems mostly out of it at this point, just hanging on my arm as we slowly move down the street.
+
+“She didn’t even know your name a month ago.” She’s mad at me.
+
+“You think I can explain it?”
+
+She groans, “How did this even start?”
+
+“I don’t know. She walked right up to me and said she loved me.”
+
+“soooo much.” Claire manages to add while her face is in my shoulder. Oh god I love her.
+
+Barlier-san doesn't look… thrilled, but she doesn’t look like she is trying to pick a fight either. I think she just wants to understand, an explanation.
+
+It must seem weird.
+
+It is weird
+
+“Umm, how… you’ve been friends with her for a while?”
+
+“Highschool”, she doesn’t offer much more elaboration.
+
+“So she’s changed?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Ho-”
+
+“Did you do something?”
+
+“Excuse me?”
+
+“Magic, mind control? I don’t fucking know.” She huffs.
+
+Jeez, that wouldn’t be an easier explanation than whatever version of isekai Claire has. “No, I really didn’t do anything like that, and I wouldn’t if I could. I never talked to her before, but she came up to me… and was just honest. I listened and…I guess she told you already, I’m not going to lie, I had… have a massive crush on her, I was too nervous to even talk to her.”
+
+“So the whole tutor thing has been a lie?”
+
+“Oh, no that’s true, she needs the help and we haven’t had much chance to do much else.”
+
+She makes a face that I can’t really make out in the dark, maybe she is just annoyed at the lack of confirming evidence? “So you aren’t dating?”
+
+“Ughh, we did sorta go on a date last sunday…”
+
+Wow, that night is going to be a memory for a while, I'm feeling flush even in the cool air.
+
+“Lu-ck-y you...”
+
+“Yah…”
+
+She huffs, and just focuses on walking the path.
+
+“So like, what were you guys like, was she like a Regina George?”
+
+There is a humorless laugh “Sure, whatever I guess. You weren't there, we don’t have to justify anything.”
+
+“I… sorry that was maybe… well very rude, I’m just trying to piece it together. I don’t think she liked the way she used to be.”
+
+“Can we just get Claire-chan back?”
+
+“She just doesn’t talk a lot about what she was like, just that she didn’t like it.”
+
+She groans, “What do you think I am going to say, that we were terrible? Look, we looked out for each other. You think it’s easy going to a private school where everyone's mom or dad is some big shot politician, an actor or some rich asshole? Where you get judged for every little fucking thing. Claire-chan took care of us.”
+
+“I-”
+
+“And we were going to be doing that just fine but then YOU show up and now all her priorities have fucking screwed up? She always said she wanted Thane-san for the clout and now she is saying she LOVES YOU!? That we are her friends? She never fucking said that before. She never told us what she was thinking! How is she… happy now?! What fucking happened?!”
+
+“...pepi…” I can hear Claire mumbling and reaching out towards her friend.
+
+“Huh?”
+
+“... come here”
+
+Pepi comes closer, and Claire pulls her into a hug.
+
+“I wish I told you how important you were.” She says slowly.
+
+I can see Pepi-san just still as Claire closes her arms around more so, like an animal caught in headlights. After a moment she coughs, “Sheesh Claire… um you don’t need…” Her voice wavers.
+
+“Hush you dolt, let me apologize.”
+
+“...”
+
+I should give them some space I think, god I feel awkward right now-
+
+“Why noW?” Oh fuck she is crying now.
+
+“sorry, I don kno…”
+
+Claire just hums as she holds her friends crying softly.
+
+I… should I be here for this? We are just in the middle of the walkway…
+
+Eventually I can hear them calm down. “Better?” Claire asks.
+
+“Yeah… hey Oohashi-san, take your girlfriend.”
+
+Girlfriend…
+
+Oh snap out it Rei.
+
+“Right, yes, yes.” Claire hesitantly lets go, but once she sees I am available there is a sly grin and she hangs herself off me. Ouph, well this is awkward but at least we can move again… if slowly.
+
+“Umm… Barlier-san…?”
+
+She turns her head to regard me, but doesn’t offer much more than a hum.
+
+“I just wanted to say I sorta get it. It’s not the same, but it’s also not not the same… I… a close friend of mine took his life in highschool because he was born with a girl’s body and…”
+
+“Jeez, I… sorry.”
+
+“Thanks, I just… yah it sucks. God he even outed me as a lesbian in middle school-”
+
+There is a sudden tightening and growling coming from Claire at that moment. I can just catch the icy glare from the corner of my eye.
+
+I try to catch my breath again, “Umm, and yeah I don’t know what you had to go through and that wasn’t the same, obv, but…”
+
+“Yah, yah. I get it. You can drop it already.”
+
+“Yah… yah, sorry.”
+
+“Ugh, stop apologizing, it’s fine okay? Whatever. This is your fault, but fine . Whatever… Claire is happy now. Just don’t fuck this up or I will get Loretta to fucking kick your ass.”
+
+Right.
+
+Yes.
+
+Just don’t fuck this up.

3.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,317 @@
+It doesn't take long for us to buy the ibuprofen. I make sure to find some licorice as well. Rae explains how a credit card works; apparently coins are not such a common means of payment anymore, though paper bills are still somewhat common. I also notice the expression on Rae’s face when she notes that my credit card is a gold one. A sign of affluence, I surmise. I might be something akin to nobility here as well, but I suppose that explanation is best left up to Catherine. 
+
+Our trip off campus to the pharmacy doesn’t take much time, and Rae decides to take the opportunity to make some headway into her ‘crash course’ in modern life. It’s quite a lot of information to take in all at once, and I can already tell I will need to go over it again later. The university is in the middle of the city, Tokyo, and I try not to get distracted by all the new architecture all around us. I even spy several large towering buildings—skyscrapers, as Rae calls them. They dwarf anything from Bauer.
+
+By the time we make it to the dorms, the only thing I can really recall about what she told me is that the internet is important and I have to be careful when I use it. And it’s not a literal net . Soon we are in front of my room, which has a six hundred and seventy two written on the door. I had not expected the hall to look so… plain. It's hard to believe that people are living in such a dull place. At least my door key still works the same way here.
+
+“Claire?” I can hear Catherine’s voice inside as I open the door. The room is quite big, and looks well-serviced. I think I can even see something resembling a kitchen area, along with a couple of beds, two desks and a pair of sofas facing a thin black slate hanging on the wall. Its style and shape reminds me of the phone from earlier, but much, much larger.
+
+Rae whistles. “Wow, sick flat.”
+
+“Catherine, I’m back! We brought the ibuprofen you asked for.” It doesn’t take long to spot her— she’s sitting on one of the sofas, rubbing her shorter left leg. She is missing the half below the knee in this life as well. The incident that claimed my mother’s life was to blame before, but in this life I wonder…
+
+“Can you bring it over? I had to take my leg off. It’s been a bad day.” Take her leg off ? She is trying to keep her breathing steady through the pain. I waste no time giving her the bottle we acquired. “Thank God,” she says, popping the bottle open and taking out two small pills. She swallows them in one gulp, then sighs and sinks into the sofa. “ Please let it kick in soon. So who is your new friend ? Oohashi-san, was that it?”
+
+“Um, yes, this is Rae.” I gesture for Rae to come in and sit down. Catherine sighs. I feel a little guilty introducing the two of them while Catherine can’t escape like she used to back in my old life, but this conversation has to happen. “Rae was my wife.”
+
+“Francois-san! You can’t lead  with that!” Rae spouts, trying to keep herself from shouting.
+
+Catherine inspects the bottle once more. She shuts her eyes for a beat, then looks at me. “ What ?”
+
+“Today I woke up with memories of a previous life where I was married to Rae.” I explain. I have no intention of wasting time by beating around the bush.
+
+“It’s also worth  mentioning that she no longer has any memories from this life.” Rae jumps in, sounding a little annoyed.
+
+“Oh,” is all Catherine says. She looks at the bottle once more, but can’t find any answers there. Silence fills the room. I do my best to wait for her, but it is taking a while. I start to give an explanation, but she cuts me off before I can voice anything. “Please just let the meds kick in first.”
+
+Eventually Catherine leans forward again, rubbing her knee and its stump. Letting out a breath, she finally says, “Okay, what the fuck Claire? What are you trying to pull?”
+
+It seems cursing is a far more common thing in this world. I sigh. “I am not trying to pull anything; it’s the truth.” I try to school my temper but the accusation irks me, and I can hear the edge in my voice.
+
+“Right, Claire, this is stupid. You can’t actually expect me to believe this, and for what? To avoid apologizing for dragging me to a stupid mixer I didn’t want to go to? My prosthetic got broken and you didn’t even help me get home. You just ditched me to do what? Get laid! I’m actually mad now! I can’t believe you right now.” Catherine is practically apoplectic. I have never seen her mad like this before, and it’s apparently my fault. Or some version of myself. The story she recounts makes my stomach twist. How could I do that to her?
+
+“Catherine, I have much to make up for, and I will start doing so immediately, but please—I can’t recall anything about what happened in this life before an hour ago.” Please believe me.
+
+Catherine glares at me. I can see tears prickle the corners of her eyes. “God, I can’t believe you would stoop to something this stupid. Find yourself a new roommate, Claire.”
+
+“Hey, come on, she’s telling the truth. I didn’t believe her at first but there really isn’t any other explanation.” Rae jumps up and protectively gets in between the two of us.
+
+Catherine just lets out a humorless laugh, “Oh, and how did she wrap you up in this? Did she pay you to lie to me, wifey ?”
+
+Rae grits her teeth but overwise stays calm. “We’ve never talked before today and yet she knew a lot of things about me, private things . Maybe you could try explaining that.”
+
+“ Oh ? And exactly what sort of private things did she know?”
+
+Rae takes a deep breath. “She knew I was gay.” The last word comes out a squeak and Rae blushes.
+
+Catherine just rolls her eyes. “I could have told you that just watching you being around her for five minutes. Try again .”
+
+Rae take another deep breath, “She knew about my friend’s suicide.”
+
+Catherine doesn’t say anything. She looks genuinely taken aback.
+
+Rae takes a moment to stabilize herself. She’s starting to tremble again. “He… he was born a girl, but he couldn’t be himself. His family wouldn’t let him… and after we all graduated he took his life. Only a few of us knew what he was going through, and his family still denies it.” Rae is holding back a lot and she is visibly shaking. “No one could have known, but Francois-san knew and she knew why. The only way she could have known is if I told her. And she said the me in her past life told her.”
+
+I move next to Rae and  wrap my arm around her, drawing her in. She feels so small.
+
+Catherine eyes us. I can see her still trying to figure out what is happening, but I think the doubt is starting to falter. “You could still be lying.”
+
+“My friend is—”
+
+“Hey, hey, that's not what I…” She sighs. “I’m sorry, that sucks. This… still doesn’t sound real. Claire, you weren't surprised when you saw me missing half a leg. How do you explain that?”
+
+I lead Rae back to a seat on a sofa and sit beside her. “In my past life you also lost your leg in that… accident.” 
+
+“How did that accident happen there, then?” She narrows her gaze.
+
+“My father had been trying to achieve political reform amongst the nobility. Commoners were being abused by the nobility in many places in the Kingdom of Bauer. His opponents had arranged for an accident to happen on his carriage trip between states.” I know how Catherine feels about her involvement with this ‘accident’. I don’t blame her for her role in it, but I know she blamed herself for many years. “His carriage was pushed off a cliff pass and it collided with your own. You lost your leg, and my mother lost her life. Shortly thereafter I was sent to live with my second cousin, Sister Manaria, for half a year in the kingdom of Sousse. Despite it all, you and I remained friends thereafter. I am sorry for how poorly this version of me has treated you as of late.”
+
+Catherine listens quietly, betraying little of her thoughts. Her only reaction is when I mention my mother dying. Seeing Catherine’s amputated leg means my mother has passed on here as well.
+
+“Claire.” There isn’t an edge to Catherine’s voice this time; it’s been replaced with… concern. “This is a really shity thing to do if you’re not lying…” She lets out a heavy breath. “But I need to see one more thing. Can you please open up your phone and look at your photos from, like, a month back?”
+
+Phone ? Oh right, the thing I used earlier. I dig through my bag and pull out the phone again. How I am supposed to open this? It is only one piece.
+
+“Oh, umm, when she says open it up she means start it up, turn it on,” Rae says. She holds out her hand for the phone. Catherine watches the interaction but is otherwise silent. “Okay, so before when she called you, it turned on because that's what it does when a call comes in. When there isn’t a call you can open it up like this.” She tilts the phone to show its side, pointing out a small button. When she presses it, the phone lights up again. There is a picture of a scenic view. “So this is the lock screen, which shows the time and date. Let's hope you have it on face recognition.” Rae looks to Catherine, but she makes no further comment. She taps the phone and the surface changes again. “Okay so when you do this, it will unlock if you show it your face.” The phone’s surface is now like a mirror. She tilts it so my face is reflected and then it chimes and many symbols show up. “Thank god we didn’t need a pin. Okay so should we go to her photo album or Insta or what?”
+
+“Just her album,” Catherine replies, betraying no emotion. She is watching me carefully.
+
+“Right…” Rae starts to tap the phone, moving the symbols and then tapping one which now shows many small pictures, perfect little images, like the reflection from before but still and unmoving. She swipes the phone more and the picture move quickly—”
+
+“Stop!” I grab the phone, feeling my heart in my throat.
+
+It’s my mother.
+
+“How do I…?”
+
+“Just tap,” Rae says.
+
+I gulp and tap the small picture which expands to fill the phone’s surface. It's a picture of my mother and me, in which she is smiling and I am frowning. The me in the picture is the exact same me I am right now. The me from here….
+
+“Catherine…” I can feel tears starting to well in my eyes. My throat is tightening and I can feel Rae’s hand on my shoulder. I can’t keep it in—somehow, my mother isn’t dead. A ugly sound escapes my throat but I’m smiling through the tears. I can see my mother again. I can tell her I’m sorry. Oh God, she won’t even know what I am talking about but that doesn’t matter—
+
+“Claire….” Catherine's voice is very measured, careful. I understand that tone. “What happened to your father in your other life?”
+
+“I…” It feels like I am six again. I struggle to even get the words out. “He lived…” Catherine’s silence is very telling and she looks at the floor. “He lived a long life. He lived to see our girls grow up, Rae, he—”  I choke back a very different sob this time. “He loved them.”
+
+Rae pulls me into a hug and another ugly sob escapes from me. Rationally I know that I shouldn't be so upset, but knowing everything he won't be here for this time is heartbreaking. May and Aleah loved him so much and now…
+
+Rae just holds me and rocks me. Bless her, she is still here for me. Trading one parent for the other…
+
+“I’m sorry, Claire.” Catherine sounds exhausted.
+
+“I shouldn’t be upset, I… I already lived a full life with him… I’m… I’m just being selfish.”
+
+“Hey,” Rae says softly, “you’re allowed to be selfish.”
+
+Catherine clears her throat. “You never let anyone touch your phone and… I’m sorry, I’m still having trouble believing it, but I had to be sure. At least I know you aren’t lying anymore. You may be deluded, but you aren’t lying.”
+
+I take a breath to try to calm myself.
+
+“There’s so much she doesn’t know now. She doesn’t know how to use a phone, if she could drive before she can’t now, and I don’t even know how she is supposed to do her classes.” Rae tries her best to explain and slowly pulls back from me. Hesitantly, I let her. 
+
+I miss the closeness and have to fight the urge to grab her again.
+
+Catherine just groans and sinks back into the sofa.
+
+“She needs help, umm…”
+
+“It’s Achard, Catherine Achard.” Catherine introduces herself, not hiding her annoyance.
+
+“Thank you Achard-san.” At least Rae is being polite.
+
+“So are you helping her too, then Oohashi-san?” Catherine asks.
+
+“Yes, I’ll help. We share some classes, so I can help you catch up and you can ask me questions that would be weird to ask others,” she says, turning to me. She has a soft smile, but she is bashful and has trouble looking at me directly.
+
+I give her a light hug. “Thank you Rae. Even here you come to my rescue.” 
+
+She gives off a nervous laugh as I pull back. Catherine is analyzing us again. ‘Really?’ I can hear her say with just her stare. I make sure my return stare says yes.
+
+Catherine and Rae spend some time working out an itinerary, dubbed the ‘Modernize Claire Plan’. There is little I can do to assist outside of confirming I do have some education in subjects that can carry over, such as arithmetic and writing. My knowledge of science is extremely lacking, apparently. Evening falls before we’re even aware of it.
+
+“I’m going to have to get going soon,” Rae says after doing a stretch. “ My roommate is going to worry if I’m out too long. I think we’re off to a good start. I can come over early in the morning and help you get to class until you are used to it yourself.”
+
+“I would apprentice that. Thank you Rae.” A light blush dusts her cheeks and it’s too cute.
+
+I want to kiss her.
+
+Remember, take it slow Claire. She doesn’t know you.
+
+“Oh, one more thing… it would be a good idea to maybe exchange numbers, so you can reach me.” Rea stutters and her blush deepens. I can’t help but laugh at how she acts.
+
+“Numbers?” 
+
+“Phone numbers. The phone can remember them, but you need to tell it first. It’s how it knows who to call.” She explains.
+
+“Oh right, I think you might have mentioned that. Sorry, it’s been a lot to take in…how does that work?”
+
+Thankfully the process isn’t too complicated. Rae shows me where all the numbers are recorded. Apparently the other me had collected many of them, mostly from names I don’t recognize. I think I might be getting a handle on using this device, though. I am even able to make a ‘profile’ for Rae. She has to help, of course, but it’s still a little exciting. She shows me one more time how to call a ‘contact’. I know who I want to call first.
+
+“Oh, another thing you should know is how to text people. It’s like, um, writing a letter I guess, but it’s done through the phone. Here, let me show you.” She starts tapping away on her own phone. “Check your phone now.”
+
+My phone shakes and I see, what was it called, a notification ?
+
+Hi
+
+Oh that’s lovely. I imagine it’s slow in contrast to how fast Rae did it, but I write out a simple reply.
+
+Hello
+
+“Look, you're a natural.” Rae encourages me, even though this has to be a simple thing to her.
+
+“It’s starting to make more sense.” It will be so easy to keep in touch with her now.
+
+“Cool…. Um, you should probably not get too deep into all the other stuff on the phone yet. We can ease you into the rest.” She waves her hand over the phone. She did mention there was a lot more it could do.
+
+Catherine chimes in. “Yeah, we don’t want you ruining your life even more by doing something stupid on your phone.”
+
+I laugh. “Surely you jest.”
+
+Their silence is a bit unnerving.
+
+“But how—”
+
+“Just trust us, we’ll ease you into it. You’ve already had to take in a lot tonight and we haven’t even really talked about the internet.”
+
+She mentioned that before. Wait, I think Rae mentioned something about that in our past life… “Computers?”
+
+“You remember something?” Rae looks a bit surprised.
+
+“Well no, not in the way you’re thinking.  You used to talk about computers in our past life, mostly when you complained about not having them anymore or some such. Computers use the internet, right? That’s why it sounded familiar.” Rae missed those a lot.
+
+“Oh yeah, I guess that makes sense. It would suck to lose that. Well, I’m going to get out of here.” Rae pulls herself off the sofa and collects her bag, making her way to the door.
+
+“Wait, one last thing.” I follow her over to the door. “Is your roommate Misha, perchance?”
+
+Rae does a double take, “How did you…  okay, that’s kinda freaky, Francois-san.”
+
+“She was your roommate when we went to school, too.” I wonder if there are others from our past life here too. Yu, Thane, Rod, even Loretta and Pepi. I can worry about that later, however. “I just thought to ask because we were all close friends, and I get the feeling that I don’t know Misha here. The main point I want to make  is that you should tell Misha about this if you think it isn’t a bad idea. I trust her, and if you think it would help I don’t mind her knowing about this.”
+
+Rae nods slowly, though she seems uncertain, “Are you sure? You’re right that it might make some things easier, but…”
+
+“I trust her, Rae,” I say again.
+
+“Okay…she’s probably just going to think I’m crazy.” Rae gets a little lost in her head, trying to play out that conversation.
+
+“Oh believe me, she has put up with far worse from you.” I laugh and pull her into a quick hug. “Make it home safely. I'll see you tomorrow.”
+
+Rae stutters, not really saying anything outside of squeaking a quick “Bye” before disappearing out the door. I really want to tease her more. I miss the kisses we used to have when we parted.
+
+“Man, what a dork,” Catherine says once the door closes.
+
+“Don’t be mean.” I take a seat on the sofa.
+
+“You really do like her, don’t you?” It’s not hard to imagine how different I must seem to her now. Did the me here…
+
+“Did the old me ever show an interest in girls?”
+
+“If you did, you were so deep in the closet you made sure no one else knew.” 
+
+“Right, Rae used to use that expression too.”
+
+“It means you were hiding that you were gay, or queer, I guess.”
+
+“And I suppose I wasn’t the most sympathetic about trans people either?”
+
+“...Yeah, I don’t know. Not like this at least. So you’re just cool with all of that?” I’m not quite sure what she means to ask.
+
+“It would be weirder for me to not be. Rae and I have been married for so long.” It makes me feel so soft just thinking about it.
+
+“This is so weird. You never smile like that.”
+
+I can’t stop my brow from quirking. “Like I’m happy?”
+
+“Errr… yeah.” Catherine is hesitant to elaborate.
+
+What was I even like here? In a way, I have erased the old Claire. What did she mean to other people here? “Was I happy here before?”
+
+Catherine gnaws her lip. “I don’t know. It didn’t seem like it.”
+
+“I seem to have stolen your Claire, haven’t I?” Rae had said she held onto her memories from both of her lives. It would be a lie if I said I weren’t frustrated to not have that same luxury.
+
+Catherine mulls it over some more. “I don’t know, it’s weird. You still feel like you. Just not mad or absent anymore. You could be a real bitch before… sorry. You also talk a little differently, too.”
+
+I can’t help but chuckle. “Well, I was definitely hard to deal with when I was younger. Oh.” I pull open my bag and find the other half of my purchase. “I got you some licorice along with your medicine.”
+
+Catherine’s brow furrows in confusion as I lean over to pass the bag of her favorite candy. “How? …you haven’t given me candy since we were kids.”
+
+“Consider it my apology for my earlier behavior. Can I ask, is your father terrible here too?" In the world I remembered he had been arrested, and Catherine had used her magic to erase his memories before trying to disappear herself. I doubt she can pull that trick again here.
+
+Her face contorts in disgust. I can already tell what she’s going to say, but she answers anyway. “Yes, and If I never have to talk to that shit stain again, all the better.” She pops open the bag of licorice and angrily stuffs several pieces in her mouth. “Thanks,” she huffs, and then eats a few more.
+
+I could ask about my parents, and about what happened here. But that would lead to potentially talking about a very touchy subject far too soon. It can wait. For now. It still feels unreal that Mother is alive and well here and I could talk to her again. I don’t think I am ready for that yet. 
+
+“You doing okay?” Catherine asks, drawing me out of my thoughts.
+
+“I think so, yes, it's… it’s exciting, but it’s also a lot and so much of it is intimidating. Rae honestly made it look so easy in our past life, yet here I didn’t even know how to purchase something. Thank you for asking, Catherine.”
+
+“Don’t thank me yet. I have no idea how we’re going to onboard you as fast as we need to, let alone get you up to speed for classes. Not that your grades were that stellar…” Catherine mumbles that last part as she chews her candy. The licorice seems to have helped her mood even more than the medicine.
+
+How could I let my grades slip, though? “What was that about my grades?”
+
+Catherine takes a moment to finish chewing and swallowing her treats. “Well… I would say some social obligations had taken a higher priority for you. You’ve had good grades in the past but… I don’t really know the whole story. You don’t exactly talk about yourself very much—”
+
+“And even if I did, I didn’t have the best self awareness when I was younger.” I can’t help the self-deprecating laugh that comes out.
+
+Catherine mulls the comment over, as if she had only planned to hint at what I just said and is somewhat nonplussed that I just spelled it out. “Huh, this is weird. It’s like I’m talking to an older version of you or something, I guess.”
+
+“I raised two daughters, Catherine.” I was older, but now I feel young again.
+
+Catherine just stares at me, trying to take in such a  misleadingly simple statement. “Really? How old were you?”
+
+What is the last thing I remember? Lying down. Rae holding my hand, or was I holding hers? The girls were there. Beautiful as always. The rest… feels hazy. “I think we had grown old together, Catherine. Old enough that those last years are hard to remember.”
+
+“Do you feel like an … old lady?”
+
+“I… don’t think so? It’s weird—I can recall so much, but it’s almost like a vivid dream. I feel young, like I am twenty again.” There has been so much to take in, but I feel ready to take on this new life. I can see Catherine is mulling over some thoughts, brooding slightly. Is she trying to piece together how she fit into my old life?
+
+“We were friends until the end.” That draws her out of her reverie and she looks up, a question clearly tugging at her. I can see she isn’t ready to ask it yet, which is good because I don’t think I am ready to answer. “You mentioned a party or something before?”
+
+She sinks into the couch and eats another piece of her licorice. “Yeah, there was a mixer. You dragged me into it and then disappeared. I think you were trying to get close to Bauer Thane-san but you kept a lot of that to yourself.”
+
+“King Thane is here too?” I can’t help but sound elated at the idea that our other old friends are here. “Does that mean Rod-san and Yu-chan are here too?”
+
+Catherine is caught more than a bit off guard. “King?”
+
+“Oh, are they not royalty here? They were the princes and princess before. Thane-san took the throne.” My explanation doesn’t really resolve Catherine’s confusion.
+
+“Royalty? Well they are loaded since their dad is the CEO of a major corporation… wait—princess?” That last word hangs in the air.
+
+Oh.
+
+Oh no.
+
+Is Yu… Oh no, is Yu not herself here? Yet?  Is she the same? “Please forget I said that. I meant princes.”
+
+Catherine just eyes me, not really satisfied.
+
+“Look, I don’t know if it’s the same, but it’s not my place to say something about Yu if it is not commonly known and they haven’t said anything about it yet either. Please don’t mention it to anyone, as it might not even be the case here.” Goodness, I should have been more careful about that. Rae always stressed the importance of maintaining one’s privacy about matters like this.
+
+Misaki... I am doing terribly at this.
+
+Catherine sighs. “You should be careful about spilling secrets then, or potential secrets. Yu, huh? Okay, now that I see it I can’t unsee it.”
+
+“Please, if she isn’t ready—”
+
+“He,” Catherine corrects me. I take a breath. I know she is trying to reinforce that I need to use that pronoun here, but it still rubs me the wrong way.
+
+“If Yu isn’t ready, I don’t want to be the reason something bad happens. It was complicated then, and I have to imagine it will be difficult here too.”
+
+Catherine just nods and snacks on another candy. It seems some things don’t change, but she is going to run out at this rate. “So nothing on Bauer-san?”
+
+“Hrm? We had always been friends with him and his siblings . What do you mean?” What is she getting at?
+
+“Wow, nothing, huh? You were so… umm, how to put it. You were kinda desperate about Thane before?” I can tell she is trying to be somewhat tactful about it, but honestly it’s not needed.
+
+“Right. I suppose I had a bit of a crush on him before Rae came along. Wow, I had forgotten about that. It was so long ago, and nothing more than a childish crush at the time.”
+
+“This is so weird. You used to go on about him like dating him was going to fix everything and it was the only thing that mattered.”
+
+I can’t help but chuckle, “Well, maybe I thought that at the time before too, but then Rae found me. And, well, she is my everything .” 
+
+Catherine smirks. “Wow, you really do have it bad for that otaku.”
+
+“I don’t know what an otaku is, but I can’t help how I feel.  I love her.” I’m smiling. Even after a lifetime my feelings have never faded, and something about doing it all over again makes me feel nostalgic and hopeful.
+
+“Ugh, gross.” Catherine laughs and throws one of the sofa cushions at me, which bounces off harmlessly. “I prefer my treats bitter, not whatever you have going on there. But I’m happy for you, I think.”

30.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,259 @@
+“Claire-chan? Do you have your keys?”
+
+She murmurs something unintelligible words softly and fishes through her bag, before bringing forth her keys proudly.
+
+“Thanks,” With her still hanging on my arm, I unlock the door, “Thanks again Barlier-san for helping me bring her back.”
+
+She just hums in response.
+
+The door is opened from within, Catherine standing there as she eyes us over, “You guys are back early?”
+
+“Who are you?”
+
+Claire gasps, “Catherine! This is Catherine.”
+
+Barlier-san looks annoyed that Claire considered that an answer.
+
+“She’s practically my sister. Did I never introduce you…?”
+
+“Uhhh, hi?” Catherine stands there awkwardly, as she tries to not grimace too much. “You’re Claire’s friend?”
+
+“You have a sister Claire-chan?”
+
+“Almost, we aren’t related by blood.” At least Claire’s words are less slurred now. “Sorry.”
+
+Barlier-san sighs, “It’s nice to finally meet you I guess?”
+
+“Ughh, likewise? Is Claire okay?”
+
+“Yah, idiot drank too much too fast, the walk sobered her up quickly.”
+
+“Meaning…” Claire's sobered up?
+
+“She can get off you, she was exaggerating most of the time.” Barlier-san chastises Claire.
+
+Claire makes an act of looking offended, “I never!”
+
+“What?” She was faking?
+
+Barlier-san just sighs, “Whatever you made it here, see you at school next week. I’m going to go back.”
+
+“Thanks Pepi! Make sure you find Loretta.”
+
+She blushes slightly, “Good. Night.” And she makes her exit quickly.
+
+“Are you okay?” Does she even need to hold me still?
+
+I mean she doesn’t have to stop-
+
+“Sorta… goodness… I… that did hit me rather hard… but the walk did help. I just wanted to leave…”
+
+“You two want to come in?”
+
+“I don’t ne-”
+
+“Pleassssse?” Claire whispers into my ear. Oh god I am never going to get used to that.
+
+“FiNe.”
+
+This is fine.
+
+She pretty much drags me in.
+
+“Do you want water Claire?” Catherine asks,already moving towards the kitchenette. 
+
+“Please…”
+
+“Come on Claire-chan, let’s sit down.”
+
+She just murmurs in agreement and I guide her to the sofa to sit down. She practically melts into me again once we land.
+
+“Rod was rude…” She pouts.
+
+Yah… that was…
+
+“Sorry he said that stuff to you.” I try to console her.
+
+“Hrmmm? Me? It’s you he was rude too, he was much too forward!… you’re mine .”
+
+I miss the cool air from outside.
+
+“I’m sure he wasn’t…” I mean I did not like how he was looking at me-
+
+Claire tightens around me again, very possessively as if Rod-san could show up again to challenge her claim at any moment.
+
+What makes me so special?
+
+What am I even doing? I spent the whole day just being… there, but did I really do anything?
+
+God I didn’t even do anything when we were at the bar… I should have paid more attention, maybe I could have been more useful-
+
+“Rei?”
+
+That’s a dangerous tone.
+
+I’m going to say yes.
+
+“Ah… yes Claire-chan?”
+
+“Can you stay the night?”
+
+“I… I-”
+
+She reddens, as if she just realizes what she asked, “Oh god, I’m sorry Rei, I didn’t mean it like that… I just… it’s lonely, and the drink is still affecting me please don’t feel like you have to-”
+
+Oh no, she is spiraling. It’s not a big deal? Right? I can do at least this for her. Just sleep here. 
+
+Whatever she needs.
+
+I can at least try to be the perfect girl for her.
+
+I won’t fuck this up.
+
+“Yes” I cut her off.
+
+She stops, there is a look as she tries to focus on me, read into my answer. “Are you sure?” She asks and puts her hand on my cheek.
+
+She is so gentle.
+
+“Yes.” I say again.
+
+She smiles, “Thank you my love.” She leans in, guides my face with the hand on my face and kisses me softly on the lips. It’s not fierce, but it is heavy with emotion. And… wow…
+
+As she pulls away there is a lingering smell of strawberries and vanilla.
+
+She looks sleepy. It’s not that late, but it has been a long day. Catherine brings Claire a glass of water and she drinks it diligently. Once done she sighs and leans back into me.
+
+“Claire-chan?”
+
+“I should have some clothes you can sleep in.”
+
+“Oh, okay…”
+
+…
+
+“Claire?”
+
+She nods, “Yes. Yes…” She rises reluctantly and moves slowly to her closet, plucking out a few articles and bringing them to me, a simple t-shirt and shorts.
+
+“There are extra toothbrushes in the cabinet in our washroom.” Catherine chimes from the side of the room.
+
+“Uh sure.” 
+
+It doesn’t take too long to change and clean up when I come back…
+
+Oh she is wearing a gown…
+
+How does it hang so loosely, yet show off so much… and her legs …
+
+I feel stuck in front of the door, Claire smiles and moves past me to enter the washroom next. But she also gives me a peck on the cheek on the way.
+
+oh
+
+Oh
+
+I feel like I have stepped into another life. It just feels so intimate but so casual?
+
+Domestic?
+
+Like I’m her wife.
+
+Oh god.
+
+I startle as the door opens behind me and Claire comes back, she pulls me along to the bed and we both sit down.
+
+…
+
+I’m going to also need blankets to sleep on the sofa..
+
+“Umm, Claire-chan? Where are your extra blankets?”
+
+“Hrmm?”
+
+“Umm… I need my own blanket?
+
+She grabs a handful of the blanket on the bed and lifts it.
+
+…
+
+She…
+
+“Claire!”
+
+“We don’t have extra blankets…”
+
+“But… that would mean…”
+
+She pulls on my arm gently, “Please?”
+
+Oh god.
+
+I have to swallow.
+
+She…
+
+She wants to share a bed.
+
+She is blushing slightly, she looks so longing, she must still be feeling the drink a bit but there is no way I can tell her no. I can’t, I’m just incapable.
+
+So I just nod.
+
+She smiles and gives me another kiss on the cheek. She pulls me further into the bed. We lay down, I feel so stiff but she just relaxes and leans into me. She weaves her arms around my body and pulls me in. 
+
+I don’t know what to do?
+
+Am I supposed to…
+
+“Just relax Rei.” She says softly, I can feel her nestle her head into my shoulder. “Just relax, we are just sleeping…” She tapers off… has she already fallen asleep?
+
+“Claire?”
+
+“Claire?” I try one more time, I don't want to wake her, but she just mumbles softly. She really just fell asleep.
+
+She looks so serene, her face so vulnerable and peaceful. But I need…
+
+“Catherine-san?” I try to hush shout over her. “Catherine-san!?”
+
+“What?”
+
+“Can you pass me my phone? It’s on my clothes.”
+
+There is a sound of agreement and I can hear her move.
+
+“Wow… ughh, I don’t want to hear anything okay…?
+
+Oh god, “Please just give me the phone?”
+
+“Fine, here.” I can at least move one arm pretty freely and I take it from her, I can feel a slight shift from Claire, but she doesn’t say anything.
+
+“Thanks.”
+
+I can hear her just returning to her side of the room.
+
+Now I just need…
+
+This is hard with one hand.
+
+Hey Misha, I’m spending the night at Claire-chan’s
+
+That was fast
+
+That’s not happening
+
+Get your head out of the gutter
+
+There is no way I can tell her I am sharing a bed with Claire.
+
+Oh God I am sharing a bed…
+
+Calm down, don’t be an idiot, you can’t let yourself space out every time you realize it again.
+
+I’m just…
+
+Sharing a bed with…
+
+Claire…
+
+Claire…
+
+Oh god I am so fucked.

31.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,279 @@
+I thought the walk back to my dorm would clear my mind a bit but… fdjaslk;fjads;ldlfldajfldaldlkvnloi.
+
+What?
+
+She called me her wife . She said that we are— were wives. Francois-san was my wife in a past life! She kept calling me Rei….
+
+Rei…
+
+Oh God, even just recalling it makes me blush. I need to get this under control before I see Misha. Am I going to tell her? Francois-san said it’s fine…
+
+How do I even explain it without sounding crazy? I’m not an idiot for believing her, right? There’s no way she could have known all of that stuff about me, and she does seem like she is genuine. Right? I’m not just rationalizing it ‘cause I want it to be true…
+
+God, how did my one college crush turn out like this? This is actually insane. Like, what are we? Actual soulmates? Just being reborn over and over? Together forever….
+
+Oh God, why am I doing this to myself? It’s way too warm and Misha is going to take one look at my face and know something’s up. And then she is going to grill me and I need to not let that happen!. Cool it, Rei!
+
+Last week Francois-san didn’t even look my way. She was so haughty and cool, and now she’s so kind. It feels like my emotions have been thrown into a jet engine. And I think she was even teasing me a bit too?! I want her to tease me more — 
+
+REI!
+
+I slap my face, both cheeks. I need to focus. First things first. Either tell Misha everything, or tell her something… or nothing. Nothing is easier, right? She doesn’t need to know right now, after all. Right? Like, maybe I can tell her later when I get myself more under control. Right now I feel like a mess because of Francois-san.
+
+Francois-san made a mess of me —
+
+STOP!
+
+Okay, let's get home first.
+
+The room I share with Misha is small, just two beds and a shared desk, cramped but doable. Especially on our budget. Not like Francois-san’s luxurious grand room that would put some entire apartments to shame.
+
+Misha is on her bed, busy working away at something on her laptop. She has earbuds in, but pops them out when she notices me.
+
+“You’re a bit late.” She states. Something about the way she looks at me makes me feel like I’m being analyzed.
+
+I give a laugh, hoping to throw her off and not sound nervous. Not at all. “Yeah, just got caught up in something with a new friend.” Okay, good cover. Not really lying, good start.
+
+Misha narrows her gaze. Fuck . “What did you do?” Seriously?
+
+“I didn’t do anything! Why are you looking at me like I did something?”
+
+“Reeeeeiiii…” Misha just draws out the vowel and doesn’t let up with her withering gaze. Dammit. .
+
+“Okay, fine, I was with Francois-san.” God, I can’t believe I caved in already . 
+
+“Rei…” Misha takes a breath and pinches the top of her nose. “That bitch? Seriously? Rei, you should stay away from her. I don’t care if she’s your silly crush. She’s bad news.”
+
+“Hey, that’s not true!” I can’t help but blurt out.
+
+“Really? You're just going to hurt yourself, and anyone who's paying attention knows you have no shot. She hasn’t been exactly keeping it a secret that she’s gunning for Thane-san, you know.” I know Misha is just looking out for me, but that doesn’t make this feel any less patronizing.
+
+“Well, she thinks I’m her wife .” Which is probably why I just said that. God, this is why I didn’t want to bring this up now.
+
+Misha’s jaw drops. Okay, this really wasn’t how this was supposed to go. “ What ?” God, I wish we had AC in this room.
+
+“Okay, this is going to sound insane, but she has memories of a past life where we were married and she sorta said that the version of me in that life had memories of my previous life and it sounds like some sorta loop….” God, I’m rambling.
+
+Misha’s eyes glaze over pretty quickly, and then she just shakes her head, pops her earbuds back in and turns back to her laptop.
+
+“Miiiiishaaaaaa, don’t abandon me!” I dash over to her bed and kneel beside it, shaking her leg.
+
+“Christ, Rei, do you even hear yourself? You’re a lost cause.” She tries to pull her leg away.
+
+“Misha, it’s true.”
+
+“Bullshit.”
+
+“She knew things, Misha.”
+
+Misha’s eyes narrow again. “So she’s stalking you too? Rei, she’s playing you. Get away from her—she’s just setting you up for some sort of cruel joke. Or worse.”
+
+“She couldn’t have known about this stuff. You weren't there.”
+
+Misha just stares, waiting for an answer. God, if I had just held it together and kept this all to myself for at least one night.
+
+ONE NIGHT.
+
+I take a deep breath. “She knew about Misaki.”
+
+“So? She probably just found some articles. Suicides make the news.” Misha tries to sound nonchalant but I can see she doesn't like the direction this conversation is going.
+
+“She didn’t just know about the suicide. She knew why he did it.” I have to take a hard swallow. 
+
+God, today has made a mess of my feelings.
+
+Misha stares at the wall for a moment. Then she sighs and closes her laptop, pushing it to the side and storing her earbuds. “Explain.”
+
+“She said our past life took place in, like, a different world, and I found her there and we got married. In that life I think I had memories from this life, or some version of this life? She told me I told her about my previous life, and that's how she knew all these things about me. She knew about that awkward love square from middle school and she knew that Misaki was trans and that's why he… she even called him him . Only a few of us knew about that, and you're the only person I talked to about this. She just knew , it was like we had talked about it so many times already…I…”
+
+“You’re being serious.” It’s not a question so much as reluctant acceptance.
+
+“Yes, trust me, I know it sounds insane but I don’t have any other way to explain it. She doesn’t remember anything from this life. She didn’t even know what a phone was.” 
+
+“Oh Christ, Rei, are you sure? Are you sure you aren’t both just… I don’t know, is it amnesia or something?” Misha sounds like she is trying to come up with some rational explanation, but I can see she’s just grasping at straws. “She didn’t know about phones?”
+
+“Yeah, I’m telling you, she has no idea about technology. I had to get directions from her roommate to get her home, and even her roommate seemed to believe her explanation after she talked to her. And they know each other well. Francois-san is like a completely different person. We were working on a plan to get her up to speed.”
+
+“Wait, we ?”
+
+“...yeah?” Wait, why does Misha look disappointed in me? 
+
+“Rei….”
+
+…
+
+“Rei!”
+
+“ What ?” I huff.
+
+“She isn’t your responsibility! This is insane—you can’t be the one to fix this, it’s way too big. She needs to go home and get tutoring or something.”
+
+“And what, completely derail her life?” And worse, leave me behind right when I finally have a chance? I can make this work.
+
+“Rei, her life is already derailed. How is she supposed to get anything done? Classes? Homework? Hell, how is she even going to act normal around people? Her social life is going to be thrown out the window, and she was quite the little socialite despite being such a bitch.”
+
+“Hey! She remembers some people from her past life! She still knew her roommate. She remembers you, too.”
+
+Misha pinches her nose again, “Are you telling me we all knew each other in our past lives?”
+
+“I think so? I don’t know who else she knows from back then. It seemed like some stuff sorta lined up for her. She mentioned an accident… and okay, I don’t think I should mention too much, but she asked if you were my roommate, by name, and she was relieved when I said you were. She even said I could tell you about this if I thought it was a good idea. She trusts you.”
+
+“Rei, you know how insane this sounds, right? Even if what she’s saying is all true, you can’t do this by yourself. This is way too much for you to take on.” Misha sounds concerned, but it’s not like I don't understand how big this is. It’s just, who else is going to help Francois-san and not just lock her up until they ‘fix’ her?
+
+“Misha, she needs help from someone who won't think she’s crazy. Her roommate is going to help, too. I’m going to go pick her up tomorrow and take her to class. We share quite a few of the same classes. I think we’re both in the business track so there’s a lot of overlap.”
+
+“This doesn’t feel like it can work, Rei.” Misha tries one more time.
+
+“I’m not going to give up on her,” I respond. I’m not sure where the stubbornness comes from, and it seems to surprise Misha as well. Maybe that’s why she just sighs in resignation.
+
+“Ok, fine. Save your crush, or wife, or whatev—” Misha pauses as she says that part out loud. “Wait, God, we just skimmed over that and how crazy it sounds. This is worse than those manga you read. She was your wife ?” Does Misha really have to act like that’s the most egregious thing about all of this?
+
+“That’s what she said.” Why is it so warm in here?
+
+Misha snickers. “Oh wow, and let me guess. She still loves you?”
+
+I try to glare at Misha but she just stops holding back and lets herself laugh until she’s doubled over. This is violence, Misha. How are you my best friend? “Miiishaaa, pleeeease.”
+
+She eventually settles down and wipes her eyes, a smirk still on her face. “So you finally got yourself a girlfriend?”
+
+“Oh, laugh it up. I see how you get around Yu-san.” She has no business making fun of me when she’s just as bad.
+
+“Answer the question, otaku.”
+
+“Fine! She said she’ill wait ‘till I’m ready.”
+
+Misha snickers viciously again. “How much more ready do you need to be? You literally haven’t been able to shut up about her.” Misha sits up and puts her hands together like she’s praying. “Oh Misha, how can Francois-san look so perfect and pristine? It’s like she’s a princess from a fairy tale, or even better, the evil queen. Sure she can be so cool, proper and detached, but that glare of hers says that she wants to step on her unworthy minions, I just know it I’ll bet she has a hidden fiery side if only—”
+
+Thwak!
+
+I hit her square in the face with one of the pillows from her bed, knocking her down. I ready the pillow for another strike if needed, but Misha just smirks and doesn’t say anything, as though she’s already won. Damn her. I let out a huffy sigh and get up from her bed to sit down on my own.
+
+“Let me know if any other crazy things start happening. Otherwise I have a paper to finish.” Misha disappears back into her laptop and earbuds, though she does give the occasional glance my way.
+
+I fall back into my bed and let my bag fall on the floor. Before real thoughts can percolate into my consciousness I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.
+
+Oh, Francois-san sent me a text.
+
+Never mind, she sent a letter.
+
+Hello Rei, I hope this finds you well and you made it to your abode safely. I must thank you again for taking the time to help me as you have. I’m very grateful that you listened to me and took me at my word. I would have been lost without the help you have given me thus far, and for the further help you have offered in the coming days. I hope one day I can make this all up to you tenfold and I am sorry if I may have made you uncomfortable with the implication I made about our previous lives together. I understand and will respect your wishes if you do not want to pursue such a relationship, but I will not lie either. I do hope I can share this love with you once again, and you will always hold a place in my heart regardless. Sincerely yours, Claire Francois.
+
+I need to crack open a window. I can hear Misha snicker at me, again. Dammit, I’m blushing. Great. Laugh it up Misha, I’ll remember this.
+
+Hi Francois-san, Thks np
+
+Sorry, I mean thanks, no problem. texting is pretty informal and we tend to shorten words a lot
+
+Thks is thanks. I will try to avoid using abbreviations too much, but just ask if something comes up that you don’t understand
+
+We use acronyms a lot too, like imo is in my opinion, but just text however works for you. oh but maybe avoid sounding too formal with people who don’t know. You can probably even see some of your old texts to get an idea about how you used to text.
+
+And I’m not uncomfortable
+
+About a relationship
+
+With you
+
+I mean
+
+It's just that a lot happened in the last 8 hours and I don't want to move too fast. And I’m not out. I don’t think you were either. 
+
+(being out means being open about being queer)
+
+sorry, I’m rambling, and I can see you are trying to type something back. I’ll pause
+
+Now
+
+Sorry, I am quite slow at this and you are very fast.
+
+It's a thing you get better at over time
+
+Thank you for your patience, Rei. I might have had to stop and rewrite my sentences several times.
+
+Lol
+
+Lol = laugh out loud
+
+I see. This feels more like a conversation than I thought it would be. It’s a pleasant ability to have.
+
+That said, I would like to try to call you if that is all right with you .
+
+Of course
+
+It doesn’t take too long for my phone to ring. I quickly hit accept. “Hello?” I try to say it clearly for her.
+
+“Hello!” Francois-san sounds very proud of herself. Oh God, it’s adorable . She must be beaming on the other end. “Thank you again, Rei. Phones are incredible. Are you sure this isn’t magic?”
+
+I laugh. “Yes, it’s not magic. I don’t think I could explain it very well right now. It’s very complicated how they work, but it’s just a machine. How are you settling in?”
+
+“Excited, also a bit nervous, but otherwise well, I think. Catherine was showing me a few other things before I wrote to you. Did you know about TVs? She also showed me her computer laptop. Apparently I have one as well.”
+
+I curl up in bed while listening to her voice. Something about this feels right. Just a day ago it was wishful thinking to imagine I could ever even talk to her. While this is pretty different from what I imagined, in many ways this side of her feels right. Like I was right about her all along. “Yes, TV’s are everywhere, and most students have a laptop. They’re very useful. We can get into it tomorrow after classes.”
+
+Francois-san hums in agreement on the other end, “Rei, I have a question.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Are you still able to hear me?”
+
+“Ah, yeah. Though if you’re trying to not be heard you could try pocketing your hand over your mouth and phone. Or just leave the room. What’s up, are you okay?”
+
+“Oh, yes.” It still sounds like she’s trying to whisper but her voice is coming through a little bit clearer now. “I just would like it if Catherine didn’t overhear this. You may have heard  when she talked about how I am to blame for the state of her prosthetic leg. It got damaged a bit at some point and it seems to be a pain to use but I don’t know how to go about replacing it. I would suggest repairing it, but she said it’s cheap and was poor quality to begin with. I think I have the monetary means to get her a better one but well, as you have seen, I am quite ignorant about how anything works here.”
+
+“Oh yeah, we can look into that. I think at some point you’ll need to let her know though, so she can get it fitted properly. But that sounds like something we should look into soon. I’m sure she would appreciate it.”
+
+“Thanks, Rei. I’m getting the sense the other me was… well, probably insecure and immature in the ways I was before I met you. And she probably made some poor choices. I would like to remedy those if I can.” Francois-san doesn’t sound ashamed, but there’s a sympathetic sort of  softness to her voice. A sense of responsibility, even if she herself isn’t to blame. “I did steal her life, in a way.”
+
+“That’s quite a big assumption,” I can’t help but retort. “We don’t know exactly what’s happening, but from what you said it sounds like we might be reliving our lives over and over again? Maybe something just slid in a little wrong when you got here, and your other memories will come back in time. Maybe this version of you was just dormant this whole time.” I’m rambling again.
+
+Francois-san just chuckles, and wow, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. “Thank you, Rei. You're right, as usual. It does no good to ruminate on conjectures with no information. Still, I will honor my responsibilities.”
+
+“What was it like? Your… our old life?” I ask her.
+
+“Us? Early on, very chaotic and turbulent.” She laughs pleasantly. “We met at the Bauer Academy, a school for raising the brightest and most talented. I was a high-ranking, noble-born daughter of the house Francois and you were a very cheeky commoner.” The emphasis she puts on that last part causes a pleasant shiver to run down my body. “The first thing you said to me was that you loved me, and that I should bully you.” She laughs again and the room suddenly feels several degrees warmer. I said that? Oh God, what was wrong with me? It’s not like I didn’t imagine- “Rei, are you still there? Hello?”
+
+“yES.” Oh, that was too squeaky. I cough. “I’m still here. Sorry.”
+
+“Rei…” She slowly draws out my name in a husky voice.
+
+I shiver again. “Yes…?”
+
+I hold the phone close to my ear. “Would you like it if I teased you?” Her voice is so low and smooth. I huddle up into a ball and press my face into my pillow. I feel like I am about to explode.
+
+“Yes.” The sound that comes out of my mouth is a whimper. Oh God, what am I saying?
+
+“ Good girl. ” I can hear her smile as she says it.
+
+I let out a groan and Francois-san just laughs. I might have heard Misha telling me to shut up, too. 
+
+“Rei? Sorry, was that a bit much?”
+
+Yes. “No.”
+
+Francois-san hums contentedly. I love the way it sounds. God, I’m so fucked. Who am I kidding? I’ve already got it so bad for her. “Well, back to your question….” Oh, that is so unfair. “We went through a lot together, you and I. You taught me so much and saved my life when the revolution came. We became teachers at the Academy, raised two daughters and lived a good life, I would say.”
+
+“Daughters?” Oh right, she did say something about that before. Wait, how did we-
+
+“Adopted twins. May and Aleah.” The way she says their names, so softly, I can almost imagine her with them.
+
+It’s a lot harder to imagine myself, though. “I can’t see myself as a mother.”
+
+“You were wonderful, Rei. I couldn't have done it without you.” I wish I could share in her confidence.
+
+She yawns. I guess it’s been a long day hasn’t it? “It’s getting late, Francois-san. We should probably get to sleep.”
+
+“Aww,” Francois-san pouts. “I’m enjoying this so much, but you are probably right.” She yawns again. “Goodness, fine, you are right, as usual. ”
+
+“I liked this too, Francois-san. We’ll do it again soon.  Oh, before we go, I wanted to tell you to make sure Achard-san shows you how the alarm on your phone works. You probably have one that will wake you up for classes.. She would know if anyone would.”
+
+“I’ll ask her. Thank you, Rei. Good night—I will see you in the morning.”
+
+“Good night,” I softly say back to her. I wait on the line until the call ends.
+
+God, I feel so restless now. I can’t help but fidget in place, rolling back and forth in my bed—
+
+“Wow, you are such a simp,” Misha’s voice comes from across the room. I freeze in place and hazard a glance in her direction. Misha is still working on her paper, eyes only occasionally glance my way. “Enjoy your call, much?”
+
+“It’s rude to eavesdrop.”
+
+“It’s hard to not hear you when you sqwee so much.” Misha states, deadpan.
+
+Wow, rude. Fine. I’ll remember this next time Yu-san is around and you get all sappy and starstruck.
+
+It’s late and I will probably have to leave quite a bit earlier to rendezvous with Francois-san tomorrow. I could go to sleep, but maybe I’ll look up prosthetic legs for a bit before I pack it in.

33.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+I definitely left too early. And was up way too late researching. Prosthetics are expensive. I could open up—oh, a text from Francois-san.
+
+Good Morning Rei, we are coming down now and should see you soon. Sincerely, Francois.
+
+Okay, that’s pretty cute. I should let her know that with other people that’s going to look weird, though. 
+
+“Rei!” Just a few minutes later, I peek up from my phone and see Francois-san waving to me with Achard-san just behind, leaning on her cane. I guess Francois-san was right about the leg. Francois-san walks slowly, being careful to not leave Achard-san behind. They almost look like sisters. “Sorry if we made you wait long. I’m not used to the style of clothing here and I might have been stressing too much about appearances…”
+
+Wow, I mean, I look so frumpy in my old hoodie compared to her. She’s wearing a long and very pretty white dress with a form-fitting red sweater vest over it. I don’t think I have seen her in it before but she does look great. For someone who probably has even less of an idea than I do about what’s currently trendy, she’s nailing it. 
+
+“You look great,” I say, meaning it sincerely.
+
+Francois-san smiles at the compliment, looking right at me. Oh , this is going to take some getting used to. “Thank you, Rei, I hope my hair looks okay too. It’s not how I usually wear it but my old style needed a lot of help to get right and Catherine said I just wear it straight here.” It's hard to imagine her long blonde hair as anything other than its usual simple straight style. It’s so smooth and pristine.
+
+“It’s good, very good!” Oh God, Rei, keep it together. You sound even more awkward than usual.
+
+I can see Achard-san roll her eyes behind Francois-san. Francois-san just smiles again and God, if I could melt it would be dangerous to be around her. “Thank you, Rei. I tried to play it safe. I like your outfit too. It feels like you.”
+
+Okay, Achard-san, you don’t need to snicker. I’m sure Francois-san meant it, but my clothes really aren’t that nice. “Thanks, sooooo , we have economics first. That’s probably not going to be easy to dive into right away so I can sit next to you for that. If your lackeys ask, you can say I’m tutoring you.”
+
+“That’s actually not the worst cover. Her grades haven’t been doing well. She could even say her mom is making her do it,” Achard-san adds in. Yeah, that’s a good idea.  After all, there’s no way someone like Francois-san would even look my way otherwise.
+
+“Mother…right, yes, I can do that. Wait, did you say lackeys?” Francois-san asks.
+
+“Yeah, you always seem to have two other girls around you. It’s like your mean girls squad.”
+
+“What—”
+
+“She’s not going to understand the reference,” Achard-san sounds a bit annoyed. “You need to use things she can understand.”
+
+“Oh, right, your, um, entourage?” That will make more sense, right?
+
+“Oh, do you know who they are?”
+
+“Nope.” I let the P pop. I mean, why would I know them? I barely even had a chance to talk to Francois-san before this all happened, and it’s not like I cared about her lackeys at all.
+
+“What do they look like?” Francois-san asks.
+
+“Hrm, one is a little taller, brunette, and the other is shorter and has pink hair.” Did one of them have freckles?
+
+“Loretta and Pepi!” She says excitedly. I’m not sure if they will live up to her expectations from that reaction. “Now that you mention it, you did always call them my minions before.”
+
+“That’s probably them,” Achard-san throws in, ignoring the minions part. “Can we get moving? It takes me longer to get there you know.”
+
+“Do you want to take a bus?” I ask.
+
+“No, it’s fine, I like the walk. The cane is usually fine. Let's just get moving.” She seems eager to move past the topic.
+
+“Let me know if you need anything, okay, Catherine?” Francois-san gives Achard-san a polite nod. Achard-san definitely seems like she’s not used to this yet, but she doesn’t make a big deal about it. She seems eager to get to class. 
+
+Our walk goes by quickly even though we’re moving more slowly than usual. We try to cram in a bit more prep for class before we get there, but honestly I think we’re going to have to go back through my notes to the beginning. At least it’s still early in the semester. I allotted some extra time for the walk on account of Achard-san so  we should still be pretty early to class, hopefully without too many people around. Once we get to the building, we stop to get breakfast from the cafeteria. It doesn’t take too long to finish our meal.
+
+“Oh, I might need to use the restroom,” Francois-san says. She looks around, unsure of where to go.
+
+“Sure just—”
+
+“It’s out that door and to your left, Claire.” Achard-san cuts me off. Francois-san notices and there is a look between her and Achard-san.
+
+After a second or two Francois-san sighs,.“Fine, but be nice .” Achard-san just gives her an extremely fake smile. Francois-san mouths ‘I’ll be back’ and turns to follow the directions to the restroom.
+
+And then it’s just me and her roommate slash friend.
+
+Cool .
+
+Achard-san takes her time finishing her coffee. “So…” I attempt, but it doesn't really help the awkward mood.
+
+Achard-san puts her drink back down. “Right…” She sighs. “Look, this is kinda messed up and I appreciate you being there to help, but also Francois-chan is my… friend and I don’t know the first thing about you.”
+
+Great. We’re having this conversation already. I can’t stop my nervous chuckle. “Yeah, I really didn’t know Francois-san before this happened. I mean, we share classes and I think we’re in a similar course of study, but I never really got a chance to talk to her.”
+
+“Didn’t stop your massive obvious crush on her, did it?” Achard-san mentions oh-so-casually. I nearly choke on my own cup of coffee
+
+“What?” I say, coughing. Rei, don’t think about how much you’re blushing. Count primes…
+
+“Trust me, Claire can be clueless when it comes to crushes, but even she is noticing this.” She motions her hand at me. “And sure, she thinks you two are married or whatever but she is still loving this.” Catherine takes another sip of coffee. “Not to be too harsh, but you’re kind of a walking stereotype.”
+
+“Noted.” I clear my throat. “What is your point, exactly?” I do not need this.
+
+“Eh, look, sorry, that came out worse than I meant. I’m not great with people. I don’t know. I don’t get whatever this is between you and her. She’s in a very vulnerable spot and I worry about her, okay?” Achard-san fidgets, feeling awkward even having to say this much.
+
+“I … I don’t want to hurt her. I’m trying to help.” I offer.
+
+She sighs. “Yeah, cool, just making sure we’re on the same page.” She leans back and seems content to let the silence return.
+
+“Err, what was she like, y’know, before this happened.” I needed to say something.
+
+She groans and takes a moment before answering. “I guess you already know she lost her dad, from the talk last night. Well, it happened when she was really young. There was a car crash in Paris, and lucky me, I was in the other car. Hence the leg, and…hrmm, no, that’s me stuff. Anyways, after that the two of us often got bundled together. My dad pretty much  ditched me—don’t ask—and while Claire’s mom was picking up the pieces and getting their business back on track we spent some time with Claire’s extended family, the Sousse, in the Alps. We bounced from country to country for a bit before settling here.”
+
+I guess that’s good to know. “I was asking more about how she acted before this. But thanks for sharing all of that.”
+
+Catherine shrugs. “I don’t know, she acted really shut off after the accident. She was better when she was a kid from what I heard, but losing her dad hit her hard and her mom was always busy. I don’t like trying to psycho-analyze my friends, but honestly she seemed kinda depressed, or maybe detached? Superficial? It’s weird seeing her like this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good, but honestly I’ve never seen her be even a fraction as… okay as she seems now.”
+
+“So…this is better, then? It’s not like she’s a completely different person now, right?”
+
+“Errr, people are going to notice, even if she tries to act ‘normal.’ It’s a big change. It feels like she woke up or something.  But yeah, I think it’s better because before she was just…not great, honestly. So don’t fuck it up, I guess.”
+
+Great, no pressure. The way Achard-san is eyeing me doesn't really help either. “I—”
+
+“I’m back.” Francois-san announces herself, looking pleased. “I was worried that the restroom here would be more complicated, but at least our public restrooms aren’t too different.”
+
+“You took your time.” Achard-san says over a sip of coffee.
+
+Francois-san clicks her tongue and flicks Achard-san on the forehead, after she sets her cup down. Achard-san looks surprised and rubs the spot, but leans back and lets a small easy smile settle in. “Look, I wasn’t expecting the sinks to just turn on. I thought they had broken and they kept turning off and on…”
+
+I can’t help but laugh as Francois-san tries to explain the situation, “They have a sensor for your hands. You just have to have them in the right place.”
+
+“I sort of figured that out, but I spent at least a minute trying to find a knob.” She laughs. At least she isn’t too embarrassed by the situation, and even Achard-san chuckles a bit. “She didn’t bully you too much while I was gone, I hope.”
+
+“No, it was good.” I mean, she did kinda grill me, but I understand why.
+
+I take a sip of what’s left of my coffee, and Francois-san chooses that moment to shoot me a smirk.
+
+“Good, only I’m allowed to bully you.”
+
+That sends the coffee up my nose and sends me into a coughing fit. Francois-san just leans back, looking smug and unfairly attractive. I am so doomed. My grave will say “killed by teasing and gay panic.”
+
+“Okay, I want no part of this flirting.” Achard-san blanches, sticks out her tongue as she pushes herself up from her seat. “I’m going to my classes. Have fun with your otaku, Claire.”
+
+And she walks away and disappears out the exit.
+
+It’s just me and Francois-san now, and she smiles when she catches me looking over at her. I’m not meant to last, am I? “I just wanted to get a little bit of flirting in before we can’t.” She certainly has a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You’re very cute when you blush, but I would rather not share it with others.”
+
+One, two, three, five, seven, eleven, thirteen, seventeen…
+
+“It’s not too much… is it?” The glint is gone, replaced with concern. She looks like she wants to lean over towards me. She glances at my hands fidgeting on the table.
+
+“No! Yes?” I let out a nervous chuckle.
+
+“Sorry, sorry, you said you wanted to take it slow… I can wait.” Francois-san retreats a little, her eyes looking unsure and a bit sad.
+
+“No! It’s okay!” I blurt out.
+
+Francois-san looks at me intently, like she’s trying to see my thoughts. I feel a bit exposed. “Rei, you don’t need to push yourself. It’s fine, really. I’m just being a bit impatient. It’s hardly been a day, after all, at least for you. And you have a bad habit of putting others before yourself.”
+
+“I do not.” I try not to pout, but Francois-san just hums in agreement and takes a sip of her own coffee. I don’t, right?
+
+“So, what does that mark on your sweater mean?” Francois-san asks, changing the subject.
+
+“Errr.” I have to take a second to remember what I threw on this morning.  Oh, it’s this one. “It’s a hoodie, cause y’know, it’s got a hood.” I give the hood a flick and it pops up over my head. She gives an ‘ahhh’ and it’s honestly adorable. “And ummm.” I point at the logo which is probably what she was asking about in the first  place. “This is the symbol of a game. It’s kinda nerdy otaku stuff, err, right, that’s not helpful to you. It’s, ummm—”
+
+“In our past life you sort of explained what games, well, video games, were like. We have games back in Bauer too, of course.”
+
+“I did? Oh, right, umm, okay, yeah I could show you some later if you want. But yeah, this is the title of the game.”
+
+“The game is called P5?” Francois squints like she’s trying to see something she must have missed.
+
+I slap my forehead, annoyed with myself. “It’s another acronym, sorry. It’s short for Persona 5. That little mask is part of the logo.”
+
+Francois-san hums and takes another sip of her coffee, and I just feel awkward. I’m really selling myself now, aren’t I? “I would like it if you showed me some of these games, if you don’t mind.  You sometimes talked about them, as well as novels and, umm, ‘manga’ I think you called them. You said you even used to write some prose for them. You would occasionally write some when we were together too. It was lovely.”
+
+Oh God, is she talking about fan fiction?? It's embarrassing having your crush lay out exactly how much of an otaku you are, even if she lacks a lot of context.
+
+“Though I must confess, the first bit of prose of yours that I found left me so embarrassed. It was before we were together. You had written a silly and fanciful story where we were knights fighting the forces of darkness. I wish I hadn’t ripped it up now, but you had threatened to make two thousand copies of it.” She lets out such a lovely laugh, but… I WHAT? Oh god this sounds way too similar to the daydream I had last week. Oh Goooooooood why?
+
+I shrink in on myself. “I’m sorry I was such an otaku. I’ll find a hole and bury myself in it later.”
+
+“Oh don’t be so melodramatic, Rei, it's cute.” She tries to soothe me. She actually cares… oh, this really isn’t helping me calm down, though. “Though would you mind explaining what an ‘otaku’ is? It’s at least the second time you’ve mentioned it and Catherine mentioned it too. It sounds familiar. I’m sure you said it before in our past life, but I don’t think you ever explained it.”
+
+Huh? She looks genuinely curious, and it doesn't seem like she’s trying to tease me about it either. “Oh, well, ummm, I guess the easiest way to explain it without context is someone who gets way into certain kinds of media , like kinda obsessively into it. Huh, I guess you didn’t really have any media like that. Okay, so like, imagine if a play becomes really well known throughout the  whole country and is really easy to watch and see and some people really get into, like, the story, or maybe the characters, or two characters’ romances. Or like, a singer gets really popular with a lot of people. Or an athlete. You had those, right?” She nods. “Okay so yeah, sometimes there is a whole subculture that talks about those things, and sometimes it gets derided for being too obsessive or whatever. Like, sometimes people make costumes of their favorite characters—”
+
+“Or write their own prose?” Francois-san asks. I wasn’t expecting her to be, well… really listening.
+
+“Yeahhh, we call it fan fiction here. The term otaku is not always meant politely, but it’s not always used negatively, either.”
+
+“Okay, I think I understand it, but I expect more context will help. I do want to see some of this media. I love seeing you get passionate about things. Oh, if you don’t mind, that is.” How is she always so nice to me? She’s been so calm and collected, at least when she isn’t teasing me… stop that, Rei. She has to see how awkward I am, right? I don’t feel like I deserve all this confidence she has in me. I can’t see myself measuring up to the Rei she has in her mind, at all. I saved her, she said, but how can I do that when I can’t even feel composed around her? And she looks at me like there is nothing else in the whole world. 
+
+It’s all I wanted just a few days ago… and now? Am I going to lose it if she realizes I’m not like her Rei?
+
+I… I need to make sure that she gets what she needs first. I shouldn’t be so caught up in how inadequate I feel with everything she’s going through. We need to take this one step at a time.
+
+She is important right now.
+
+Not me.
+
+“Sure, no problem at all! But we should probably start heading to class before the rest of the students get there.  Are you ready, Francois-san?”
+
+She just beams. “Of course. After all, I’m with you !”
+
+ 

34.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+We arrive so early that no one else is even here yet. I try to quickly cover a lot of the course basics and the material we’ll be covering. Francois-san is impressed with the calculator, and I’m reminded of how convenient a lot of modern conveniences are. We can’t really dwell on any one thing too long because we have way too much to cover. I feel overwhelmed by the scope and I have no idea how it must feel for her—
+
+“Who is this ?” A high-pitched voice interrupts my explanations.
+
+I look up and a taller girl glares at me. Oh, it's that brunette that hangs on Francois-san all the time, and the pink-haired girl is here too. Huh, I swore the pink girl was the one with the freckles.
+
+“Loretta-chan!” Francois-san jumps from her chair and gives Lackey One a hug. It catches both of them by surprise and Lackey One blushes. Francois-san grins and enjoys the hug before moving on to to Lackey Two. “Pepi-chan, it’s great to see you two.”
+
+Both of them are silent. Lackey One’s blush seems to be a feature now. Ha. Lackey Two finally breaks the silence. “Where did you go yesterday? We tried messaging you but you didn’t answer. And what is she doing here?” She does not sound pleased.
+
+“Oh, sorry, I wasn’t feeling terribly well, and I was meeting up with my Rei, I mean, my new tutor. I was just busy.” Francois-san tries her best to make the explanation sound plausible, but selling a lie isn’t really a strength of hers as it turns out. One more point in favor of the argument that she isn’t lying about all of this, I suppose. Not that I doubt it at this point. But she called me—
+
+“R-e-i?” Lackey One croaks out.
+
+Francois-san gets flustered, only now realizing her mistake. The mistake she keeps making . “Oh, yes, Rei-san, Rei Taylor, I mean, Rei Oohashi.” Oh no, she’s really fumbling now. I have to help her.
+
+“Yes, I’m Oohashi Rei . Francois-san needed a tutor and we met yesterday. We had a lot to cover and Francois-san wasn’t feeling well. She got light headed and had to lay down for a bit. She’s feeling better now, but we had to rush this morning to finish covering the materials, and you know how it is when the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet.”
+
+Lackey One, still blushing, just stares at me. Oh get over yourself. Lackey Two is quiet, analyzing Francois-san intently. She can sense that something is off. She glances at me for a moment, reminding me of a cat, and then turns back to Francois-san. “Fine, but she better not get any ideas about hanging around too long—”
+
+“Excuse me?” Francois-san’s voice chills and Lackey Two stops mid-sentence. It sends a pleasant shiver down my spine. “That is my tutor you are talking to, Pepi-chan. She wouldn’t be my tutor if she wasn’t extremely capable and I expect the two of you to treat her with respect.” Okay, I need to unzip my hoodie I wasn’t expecting that and it’s suddenly very warm in this classroom.
+
+“Claire-chan?” Lackey One looks aghast.
+
+Lackey Two eyes Francois-san, then turns and glares at me. “Fine, come on Loretta-chan, lets get seats. Let’s talk later, Francois-san, okay?”
+
+“Of course, see you soon.” The ice is gone from Francois-san’s voice. Her normal cheeriness has returned, and it doesn’t even feel forced.
+
+Lackey Two just nods and drags Lackey One a few seats over. One glares at me the whole time, and wow I do not care.
+
+“Sorry, that was rude of them.” Francois-san says after they sit down, and she places a hand on my knee, giving it a soft squeeze.
+
+I let out a nervous chuckle. I swear I can function, “Oh, I don’t really care about what they think or say. If anything, it would make them suspicious if I did. I’m just supposed to be your tutor.”
+
+“Well, it’s not like I didn’t already make a disaster of introducing you.” She sighs. “But it’s just not possible for me to  act like the Claire they know. I have some ideas of how I might have acted before, but I’ll have to get people used to the new me eventually. Those two were always my close friends before. Even if no one else caught on, they would notice. It might be easier to just explain it to them.”
+
+“Really? Are you sure? The more people we rope into this, the harder it will be to control. If the wrong person hears about it they could use this against you. You could even get sent to an asylum or something, I don’t know.” That would be the worst outcome, and if it spins out of control I won’t be able to help her anymore.
+
+“I understand, but they will need some sort of reason for my change in behavior. And I do trust them, but you are right. I just want to consider the options.” She looks defeated for a moment, then meets my eyes. There’s a playful fire in her gaze. She smirks. Oh no. “I could just tell them I fell madly in love with you.”
+
+Seventeen, nineteen, twenty-one, fuck… “Francois-san, please, we’re in class .” At least she’s keeping her voice low.

35.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+“Misha! Francois-san is going to kill me.”
+
+Misha takes a long deep breath and folds her laptop, laying it to the side on her bed. “What did you do this time?”
+
+“She keeps flirting with me! It’s too much!” I don’t know how I made it through the day with all of  the looks, the glances, the very not accidental touches!
+
+Misha looks dumbstruck. Huh, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. “...What?”
+
+“We agreed to take it slow but then she keeps flirting with me and it’s so good and I am GOING to DIE and I need it to stop but I don’t want it to stop when she looks at me with those eyes. Oh God, those eyes, I never understood what it meant when people say it looks like someone’s undressing you with their eyes but then she looks at me and now I understand and I feel like I am going to turn into jelly and melt and turn into dust and scatter into the winds, stardust, I will be stardust and never put back together again!” I need to breathe, dear God. Breathe, Rei!
+
+“Oh boy.”
+
+“Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisha!” I dramatically collapse on the floor next to her bed.
+
+“I can’t help you. I can’t even tell if you want help.” Why won't she help me?
+
+“It’s too much! I ‘m going to OD on Francois-san!”
+
+Misha sighs. “What a problem. Look you have to tell her to cool it if that’s what you want, but I can’t tell if you’re complaining or bragging. Grats on your hot girlfriend, I guess.”
+
+“We aren’t girlfriends yet, and if we were that would mean… everyone would know if we started dating…” I don’t care if everyone thinks I’m an otaku, but… 
+
+“You don’t need to go public, but maybe just try it out? I don’t know, if what you said is true, it's also probably an adjustment for her to not be in a relationship with you. Maybe let her have an outlet? Like a date or something.” I swear, it looks like Misha is looking for an escape hatch.
+
+“You think I should bring her on a date ? But, but, but—”
+
+“She said she was married to you in your past life. I’m sure she’ll be happy with whatever, even if you just watch a movie or something. Yeah, just do that. She’s probably never seen a movie, right?” Misha is eyeing the door.
+
+“Maybeee.” What movie would I even show her? Maybe we should try a game instead? She did say would like to see a game earlier. “Sorry, I know I sound insane. I feel like I’m going insane. I’ve been staring at this girl for weeks like an idiot wishing I could do anything to talk to her, and then she just walks up to me and calls me her wife! And now something is happening between us and what if I don’t measure up to her old Rei? What happens when she realizes I’m not who she wants?”
+
+“Ummm… okay maybe I’ve been a little dismissive. This is… well, I don’t think something like this has happened, like, ever. It's like a dumb anime…”
+
+“Those can be fun.” You don’t have to be a snob about them, Misha.
+
+“Whatever you say…”
+
+I huff. She can be so judgy. Still. “Look, thanks for listening. I’m sorry to dump this all on you, I just feel like I don’t know what I’m doing and she just acts like it’s all normal and she has so much faith in me and I don’t understand why. It’s like, she doesn’t  know me, how could she, but then she says something that makes me feel like she knows me better than anyone else ever has. And it’s only been one day!”
+
+“Okay, let's take a step back. Do you want something to happen between you and her? Do you still like her, now that you’re actually talking to her?”
+
+“Yes! I mean yes I do. She’s actually really kind and considerate. I thought that she would… I don’t know, try to downplay things in front of her old friends but then she stuck up for me and made sure they knew she wasn’t okay with them looking down on me, and I wasn’t really expecting that. It was really cool. And they definitely know something is up now, but she was okay with dealing with that.”
+
+“Hmm, yeah that really doesn’t sound like her from what I’ve heard. It’s probably better if she just rips the proverbial band-aid off sooner rather than later. Like, from the rumors I’ve heard, she was kind of a bitch, really keen on climbing the social ladder or whatever. And it doesn’t sound like she acts that way at all now.” Misha shrugs her shoulders.
+
+“I didn’t think you bothered keeping tabs on that kind of stuff.”
+
+“I have my reasons.” Her expression is carefully neutral, but it’s clear she’s hiding something. “I’m sure even people outside of her close circle will notice, but honestly even if it becomes the hot gos for a bit, next week everyone will move on to  something else. Just don’t tell people that it’s because she woke up with new memories. Hell, even telling people that she’s dating you would be a better smokescreen than the truth.”
+
+“Not you too,” I groan.
+
+“I don’t know why you’re complaining when you could just be dating her instead.”
+
+She opens her laptop and turns away, making it clear that Misha-erapy hour is over. I couldn’t just be dating her, right? Could it really be that simple?
+
+Fuck we need an AC.

36.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,909 @@
+I can feel some stirrings beside me.
+
+I tepidly open my eyes, some light from outside is filtering in and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust.
+
+I can feel a familiar weight to my side.
+
+Rae…
+
+Her arm is draped over me, and I pull her in tighter.
+
+Oh how I missed these little moments of bliss.
+
+The strain in my head, less so. It could be worse though. I know it could be much worse.
+
+But Rae is soothing, very much so, and she stayed, bless her. Oh goodness she should have told me no, and I shouldn't feel so elated that she stayed. But I want this so much, just to wake up in my wife’s arms.
+
+But you’re not wives… yet.
+
+You just started dating.
+
+God, this is so infuriating at times, how did Rae ever put up with this feeling for a year? I kissed her, I went on a date and I still want more. I need more. What was it like for her? How ever did she deal with this before we became betrothed? 
+
+I could have even a bit more if I just wak -
+
+BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP
+
+“FUCK!” Rae springs and dashes around for the source of the noise. Damned hells I hate alarms. She eventually finds it and shuts her phone up. “Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry.”
+
+“Rae, Rae it’s fine.” Thank goodness the ache in my head is barely there. 
+
+“Sorry…” we are both sitting up now, calming down from the alarm. I watch the realization dawns on Rae’s face as she figures out where she is, where she woke up.
+
+It’s delightful .
+
+“ Morning Rae .”
+
+She gulps, and her blush has been slowly seeping throughout her skin. “Morning Claire-chan,” She barely manages to say.
+
+I find her hand under the sheets and give it a gentle pull, weaving our fingers together. I can’t help the giggle that escapes me, and soon Rae is giggling with me. I pull her into me laughing more and-
+
+“God, please,” Catherine gags and we both still, “I’m here, I can hear and see you.”
+
+I can’t help but groan, I peer over to her side of the room, and there she is, sitting on the edge of her bed. Looking very unimpressed. I don’t need you judging me this early in the morning Catherine.
+
+There is a soft ‘sorry’ that squeaks out of Rae, and I sigh.
+
+“Sorry Catherine, I haven’t had to worry about an audience since our girls grew up.”
+
+She rolls her eyes. “Yah, sure. Whatever, I wanted to go for a walk, I will be out of your hair in a bit anyways.”
+
+“Are you sure?”
+
+ “Look, you two are bad enough when you're ‘studying’ I’m not going to be around playing third wheel today. Besides, gotta break in the new leg.” She tries to hide her grin and she peers down at the new leg laying at the side of bed.
+
+“Okay… Thank you Catherine, sorry again.”
+
+She just waves me off as she starts to put her leg on, and then gives it a test step and gets up. She is sure-footed. “I’m gonna get changed, and just… I don't know, keep it on your side .”
+
+Rae makes a sound like she is deflating, I think I am well past being embarrassed by anything like this anymore though. “Don’t feel like you have to rush on our part.”
+
+She just hums and she collects some clothes and goes to the bathroom.
+
+And for a moment it’s Rae and myself again.
+
+Alone.
+
+“Raeeee.”
+
+She groans, and huddles into the sheets.
+
+“Raeeee.” I tease out again.
+
+No response.
+
+“We can do whatever we want today…”
+
+I can just make out parts of her face as she buries herself, the skin is red. 
+
+Adorable .
+
+My hand finds the top of her head, and my finger circles the top, massaging the scalp. There is a confused sound at first followed by a content sigh. 
+
+I missed mornings like this.
+
+Soon the bathroom opens, and Catherine looks ready. She seems unsure what to make of my casual affections, but shrugs, probably deciding it’s fine. “I’m going to probably get a bite on my walk, so maybe an hour and a bit before I’m back? Sound good?”
+
+“Of course, we shouldn’t be a disturbance by the time you come back, Rae, would you like to continue the game today?”
+
+“Game?” I can hear her mumble from the sheets.
+
+“Yes? The one from before…. Persona?”
+
+“Ooooh” She finally shifts and sits up again, her cheeks still look slightly dusted but she does seem to have calmed down a bit. “Yah sure, I’ll check in with Misha in a bit.”
+
+“Till then we have this place to ourselves. ” I laugh.
+
+“I’m still here, people.” Catherine groans.
+
+Rae's blush deepens again but I just laugh more.
+
+Catherine makes her way to the door, gives us one last look and shakes her head, smirking, “I’ll see you later tonight I guess, bye.”
+
+And then the door clicks.
+
+We are alone.
+
+I pivot on the bed, bringing myself face to face with Rae, she gulps.
+
+“ Good morning Rae. ”
+
+“morning claire…”
+
+I have to smile, she is so cute, her face is so red, her eyes dilated, her breathing very staggered.
+
+“Should we have some fun ?���
+
+Her eye go wide, the gears in her head slowly tick, tick, tick-
+
+“Yes?” She sounds so shattered, adorable .
+
+“Yes?” I have to tease her. 
+
+“Yes.” She nods this time, so I start by pushing her backwards into the bed. She lays flat on the mattress and I crawl forward, looking down as she writhes in anticipation.
+
+“Good Girl.” I whisper into her ear and she shivers. First I test her ear, a light nip and she moans instantly. She gasps and covers her mouth with a hand, surprised by her own reaction.
+
+I, however… am not.
+
+A second nip and then I move to her neck, peppering light kisses down the side to front causing her to writhe even more. I give a lick to the bottom of her chin and press my lips-
+
+“Please no more hickeys!”
+
+I pull back, I must be pouting because she looks panicked, in a bad way. Fine, I can make this concession, “Is it okay if it’s somewhere private ?”
+
+“Private?” There is hesitation in her voice, I can hear her holding back a cheeky response. Rae… please take the bait. It was perfectly set up for you.
+
+Oh well, time to teach. “If not here… how about somewhere like over here…” I trace my finger from the spot I was first targeting, slowly moving down the neck, past the collarbone and resting close to the left shoulder, just above the chest.
+
+There is a hungry look in her eyes, “Private… okay…”
+
+Perfect .
+
+Now how to get to that point… “Rae would you rather I pull your shirt up… or down?”
+
+“Down? Ummm, won’t that stretch… it out?” As if the shirt is more important. 
+
+“We all must make sacrifices.”
+
+“Oh well if you… down… please…”, she looks apologetic.
+
+I give her a kiss on the corner of her lips. “Rae, I can wait, I want this, but I want you to be comfortable first. Okay?”
+
+She nods.
+
+“Do you want me to?”
+
+She nods again. 
+
+“Can you say it?”
+
+She gulps, “Pleeease Claire….” she whines.
+
+I pull the shirt’s collar over her shoulder, definitely stretching it out but that hardly matters. The skin now exposed, a spot only for me…
+
+Delightful. 
+
+I do feel like being just a little cruel , “Please Claire… ?“
+
+An exacerbated sound escapes from her, “please Claire… mess me up.”
+
+Music to my ears.
+
+I lean in and breathe over her shoulder, she shivers in response.
+
+“Good girl” I tell her, causing her to whine, the anticipation is killing her.
+
+Can't be too cruel.
+
+She gasps as I run my tongue over the spot, circling it twice and then letting out another breath over the spot. She tries to stifle a moan.
+
+Oh, you think you won't ?
+
+I press my lips to the spot, now ready and suck on the skin, let the pressure rise and she writhes underneath me, trying oh so hard to not moan. I apply more pressure , pulling the skin just ever so… and then test a nip.
+
+She finally moans , and I win .
+
+I let the pressure build a little more, carefully, and feather the trapped skin with my tongue.
+
+She moans again, and with a pop I release the skin, pulling back I get a better look at Rae. She is breathing heavily and her eyes are wide. Our eyes meet and she looks as if in awe.
+
+No interruptions this time, “Rae… did you like that?”
+
+She swallows, and finally blinks. “Yes,” she manages shakily, and I can’t help but smirk.
+
+I eye the spot again and it’s bright, bruised, the barest ident of teeth.
+
+Marked.
+
+Perfect. 
+
+Enough there… I return to her face… she is so beautiful. I lean in, and our lips meet again. Careful, gentle at first. I am pressed close to her, I can feel her heart pound next to mine. I want to be closer.
+
+Control yourself.
+
+Yes, yes. Don't rush her… that can come when… it will come.
+
+Instead I deepen our kiss. Hardly a poor concession and she writhes as the intensity shared between us grows. Eventually I have to pull back for air.
+
+A much needed breath. Even I am breathing heavily alongside her.
+
+“Woah.” She says softly.
+
+“Yeah.”
+
+She swallows again, I can see her thinking, and she hesitates…
+
+“What is it Rae?”
+
+She takes a deep breath, “Can… can I try…?”
+
+Oh…
+
+Excellent. 
+
+“And what would you like to try?”
+
+“I… I don’t know… something… anything.”
+
+I give her a soft kiss on her lips and let our foreheads lean into each other. “Of course.”
+
+I can see her smile. “Kay, kay…” She gives me a gentle kiss and then starts to shift, moving out from under me, I move to the side and turn to face her.
+
+She sits herself up, on her knees and looks over me. Her eyes scan greedily, a hunger she hasn’t really allowed herself to humor till now.
+
+I missed this. I pull my gown collar low, exposing far more skin than just my collar bone and I can see her eyes focus.
+
+“Claire-ch… that’s not fair…” The look in her eyes is intoxicating, air is less valuable to her then me.
+
+“ Oh ? What are you going to do about it?” I tease.
+
+That seems to give her enough motivation to make a move. She is still too cautious with her hands though, rooting them beside me on the bed, but not on me, but oh well. Little steps. She leans in and takes the initiative with a kiss, she tries to replicate what I have done to her, starting slowly and letting the tension between us build. Each move ripples between us, a union of push and pull.
+
+Timidly she tests her tongue, and of course I allow her, parting my lips. Hers finds mine and she carefully tests the motions, as our tongues weave with one another.
+
+When she pulls back; a breath needed, she is glowing, radiant and tinged with pride. I smile, she is doing oh so well, and so eager .
+
+She gulps and scans my body again, I can see her eyes pause on my chest, my breasts. There is hesitation, will she? A hand rises… but it falls back and she looks unsure.
+
+“Rae,” I say as softly as I can, “It’s okay, don't push yourself. We have time.”
+
+“Umm, right, right….” She still seems unsure, there must be too many things going through her mind. Too many choices.
+
+She needs some guidance, “How about we start small, let just start with the shoulder and above.”
+
+“But… but don’t…?” Oh god she is adorable… and has much to learn.
+
+“Trust me there is much we can do with just that.” I lock eyes with hers, “I will show you.”
+
+Her breath catches in her throat, “uhhhh, k, k, right. Shoulder…”
+
+I pull my gown farther and expose my left shoulder which causes her to freeze when she sees the exposed skin. Oh she is still so innocent.
+
+“Shoulder… uh… can I?”
+
+I nod.
+
+She swallows and warily places a finger on the skin, carefully running it along the surface. 
+
+“O…kay…”
+
+She then leans in and places little kisses across the shoulder, yes that’s good, she slowly makes a trail to the base of the neck. The kisses grow more experimental as she goes, she varies the pressure, and the shape… and then she pauses after a few kisses move up the neck.
+
+“Can….” She is eyeing my neck like it is nectar, I know that look.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“But I didn’t…?
+
+“Trust me, it will be good.” I can see she worries, but I know that whatever she is thinking is tame compared to what we have done in the past.
+
+She leans back, to the base of the neck again and then I feel her tongues touch and pull up along the neck… right to the jaw.
+
+“ Yeeessss! ” Finally!
+
+She pulls back looking surprised at my reaction.
+
+“ Good girl ,” I wink to her and she blushes fiercely.
+
+“Oh god… that wasn’t weird?”
+
+“Nonsense. I loved it, did you?”
+
+She nods timidly.
+
+“Excellent.”
+
+She seems a bit lost at what to do next, but I think she deserves a reward. “How about it’s my turn?”
+
+“Oh…” she says, and eagerly nods. I rise and push her back down to the mattress. She shivers in anticipation as I loom over her again. 
+
+“Nothing below the shoulder,” I say to her again. She nods, “Let me show you what we can do then.”
+
+I lean in and mimic her previous action, I run my tongue up along her neck to the jaw and she gasps. I love the taste, so I do it again but slower and she whines.
+
+“See, it’s lovely isn’t it?”
+
+“Fuck…”
+
+“Language Rae.” I place a finger on her lips and smirks as she whines some more. It will be more fun if she thinks she has to hold that back.
+
+I take a third lick, but this time my path is further back along the neck and makes way for her ear, she swears again as I lick the lobe, very surprised by her reaction. 
+
+I’m not .
+
+I start to circle my tongue on the lob of her ear, playing with it till she writhes beneath me. After enough teasing I nip on the lobe and she moans and I carefully ply pressure-
+
+The sound of the door unlocks and swings open.
+
+Hells damnit! Catherine? This better be important. She knows we… “Catherine, go away.”
+
+Rae feels like she has turned to stone, I really don’t want to look away, but… as Rae would say the mood is killed.
+
+“Um Claire…” It’s Catherine, as expected.
+
+“Catherine, can’t I just have some time to properly ravage my girlfriend?” I'm being quite curt but-
+
+There is sharp frantic tapping on my shoulder from Rae, she is panicking now. I hear a laugh.
+
+…That’s not Catherine?
+
+“Manaria? Really now?.” There is another new voice scolding the laugh, and she sighs. “Claire?” The voice wants answers.
+
+No… it can't…
+
+Not like this…
+
+“Claire please turn around…” Rae whispers.
+
+
+
+I feel my blood run cold.
+
+After what feels like eons, I manage to turn.
+
+Catherine is there… looking very apologetic, and Sister Manaria is there, with a much too pleased smirk on her face.
+
+And… the last person, looking at me very intently, standing tall, with long blonde hair, curled just like I used to.
+
+ 
+
+“Mother?” my voice cracks miserably. 
+
+“Girlfriend?” She heard…
+
+She heard…
+
+It wasn’t supposed to be like, not in the middle of me acting like a lustful siren. I wasn’t supposed to be seen in near undress, a gown falling off my body, Rae ravaged and bruised by my teasings. I was supposed to be ready. I’m not ready! What am I going to say to her? What can I say to her? How do I explain this? What can I eve-
+
+“Claire, are you okay?” Rae pockets my hand pulling me out of the spiral.
+
+“I said we-”
+
+“Everyone out.” My mother, Melia Francois, says with authority.
+
+Oh god, I am ruined.
+
+Catherine pushes Manaria out the door, not willing to argue with Mother. Rae just moves forward, acting as a barrier.
+
+“Oohashi?” Mother asks.
+
+“Yes….?”
+
+“I want a moment to talk to my daughter alone.”
+
+Rae just tightens her position around me.
+
+Mother sighs, “I’m not… upset, I just need to talk to her. I’m sorry for… meeting like this. Please just let me talk to her.”
+
+Rae turns to me, “Are you going to be okay?”
+
+“No!” Oh god, a sob breaks out, I’m crying. How long have I been crying? “I…I…”
+
+“Claire, Claire, it’s okay, I’m here. It’s okay.”
+
+“But… But…”
+
+Mother’s voice, “Claire…” She is above me, and I have to look up. It’s almost nostalgic… “Claire… I’m sorry, please can we just talk. I’m not mad.”
+
+But I said…
+
+She leans over and engulfs me in a hug, “It’s okay my dear, you can cry…”
+
+“How…?”
+
+“Shhhh.”
+
+“I…I…” I’m a sobbing mess. It doesn't want to stop. What have I done, this is wrong, I should have sought her out already. 
+
+When I finally calm down, Rae is holding my hand, and Mother is holding me a tight hug.
+
+“Are you okay Claire?” Rae asks softly.
+
+I just nod weakly.
+
+“Oohashi, can I have a moment now?” Mother asks her softly.
+
+Rae looks to me, asking.
+
+“It’s… It will be fine Rae…”
+
+Mother has pulled back, and Rae takes the chance to lean and give me a hug herself. “I’ll be just out there, kay?”
+
+I nod, and she reluctantly pulls away. There is a short look she shares with mother, but otherwise she quickly makes her way out too.
+
+ 
+
+And it’s just me…
+
+And Mother. “Claire.”
+
+I can’t believe she is here… she looks so much like I remember her, but so different. Her clothes are all wrong, she is wearing a suit…
+
+“So… that is your girlfriend?” She speaks in a different language now, but I can understand it.
+
+“Yes…” I answer back. 
+
+She smiles, “She is lovely.”
+
+“Yes…”
+
+“Can… you tell me about her?” She asks softly, her hand strokes the back of my hand, I can’t cry again.
+
+“Her name is Rae… Oohashi. I met her… I just met her a couple weeks ago. We just started dating.”
+
+Do I…?
+
+“Oh?” She remarks.
+
+I have to swallow the lump in my throat, “I love her.”
+
+Mother has such a conflux on her face, is it confusion? Disbelief, relief?
+
+“I love her.”
+
+“Claire, what happened?” She knows…
+
+“Mother?”
+
+“...mother?”
+
+“I… I mean…I, I-” She knows I’m wrong.
+
+“Claire, please look at me.” She says with an authority I haven’t heard in a long time. Her eyes are scrutinizing me, it takes all I have to not wither under it.
+
+“I’m sorry,” Oh god my voice is trembling again. “I don’t know- I-I”
+
+“Claire, take a breath, it’s okay.”
+
+I try to do as she says.
+
+“Good. Claire, you changed.” It’s not a question.
+
+She knows. I’m not her Claire. I’m not her daughter.
+
+“Can you tell me why?”
+
+Can I?
+
+“I don’t know…”
+
+“Claire, you have shown more breadth of emotion in the last ten minutes to me than you have shown me in the last decade and half. Whatever it is, it’s not bad.”
+
+“But… I’m not… I’m not…”
+
+“Not what?”
+
+“Your Claire…”
+
+There is a long silence.
+
+She doesn’t say anything, I don’t know what she is thinking, she just waits for me to continue.
+
+“The… The last time… the last thing… I’m a different Claire.”
+
+“Different?”
+
+“I don’t know how t-to explain it. I woke up different.”
+
+“And Mother?”
+
+“I… umm?”
+
+“You never called me mother before.”
+
+“Because that’s what I called you, this me, not that Claire.”
+
+“That Claire? What do you mean?”
+
+“The last time I saw, was the last time I saw. You died… I said I hated you because I was six and mad at you and then you died and-and–d-d I-I-I, I’m sorry.” I grab her and hold her tight. “I never meant it, I hated myself for it, and your here now and I’m not your Claire and It’s not what happened here and-
+
+“Sssshh, Claire…” She rocks me as she holds me back, “Claire, it’s alright, breathe… breathe...”
+
+I do my best to follow her instructions. I feel like an intruder.
+
+Eventually the rocking slows, “Claire, let me try… We talked just over a month and half ago.”
+
+I shake my head. “Not for me.”
+
+“Not for you… you were six?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Claire, do you remember any of your therapy sessions?”
+
+“No, you don’t understand-”
+
+“Sometimes when pain is great we repress that pain.”
+
+“What are you saying?”
+
+“Claire you might have suppressed yourself, I don’t know-
+
+“I haven’t!”
+
+“Claire-”
+
+“I haven’t! I can’t explain it… Mother I can’t lie to you, please believe me. I remember an old life in a different world. Things went very differently there.”
+
+Is that pain, concern on her face?
+
+“That's how I know Rae, I… we lived a life together. I grew old.”
+
+“Claire-”
+
+“The me here never talked to her before, but I woke up here and I knew her. I knew everything about her, because she was in the reverse position before. She told me everything about her life here.”
+
+“She believes you?”
+
+“And so does Catherine.”
+
+She… she doesn’t believe me…
+
+“I know that Clement Arachrd is responsible for the accident. It happened in my past life as well… father was the one who survived.”
+
+“Dole…” That catches her off guard but I can't tell if it's helping or not. “Did Catherine tell you about that?” There is the authoritative tone again.
+
+“No.”
+
+It’s hard to be composed under her watch.
+
+“Father was kind, clever but shortsighted. He had a terrible habit of putting duty before everything and was ready to march off to his death for that duty, but Rae saved us both. And… and he… we lived out our life peacefully afterwards. He was a good father and we both missed you so much. He spoiled me so much a child and… when Rae and I had children he spoiled them just as much. He loved them and I had to argue with him so often to not spoil them so… He always missed you. He said you were his sun and moon…”
+
+Mother glances at the window. Does she…
+
+Eventually she shuts her eyes and sighs.
+
+“Mother… I’m sorry I stole her life-”
+
+“You’re still you Claire, you didn’t steal anything.”
+
+“You don’t believe me?”
+
+“I don’t think you are lying.”
+
+“But you think I’m…”
+
+“I don’t know Claire.” She sighs again and gives another hug. “Claire, I will love you no matter what. Please know that.”
+
+I try to say yes but have to choke down a cry.
+
+When she pulls away, she wipes away a few tears herself.
+
+I understood my Father so well, but there is so much about Mother…
+
+“I want to know you too, Mother.”
+
+She smiles, “I’d like that too Claire, I’d like to know you too.”
+
+Oh god, I am a mess, my vision is so blurred and my eyes must be so red.
+
+“We’ll figure this out Claire.”
+
+I know one thing at least.
+
+Being with Mother feels safe.
+
+ 
+
+ 
+
+Oh god.
+
+Oh god.
+
+Ohgodohgodohgod-
+
+“Please calm down Rei-san” Catherine chides me, like she isn’t just as nervous.
+
+“Soooo… Caught red-handed?”
+
+Great… I have no idea who this other person is.
+
+“Manaria, please… can we not?” Catherine is not ready to put up with her it seems.
+
+“Oh but this is rather funny isn’t it, so who are you that Claire-”
+
+“Manaria. Please leave her alone.” Catherine stares her down.
+
+She pouts, before smirking. She is taller, the name is somewhat familiar, I am pretty sure Claire and Catherine must have mentioned her at some point? She has platinum hair cut in a short bob. I suppose she is handsome.
+
+I don’t know if I like the attitude… but I am also in the middle of freaking out.
+
+“Fine, Fine… Either way, I am Manaria Sousse. I am sorry our meeting was under such… tense circumstances.” She smiles and offers her hand.
+
+“Oohashi, Rei Oohashi. Likewise.” I try to return the shake politely. I feel very exposed in Claire's sleepwear right now… God, I wish I had a chance to change before coming out.
+
+That feeling only gets worse as the minutes drag. Manaria decides to keep to herself thankful and pulls out her phone. Hey eyes do occasionally filter up.
+
+Catherine and I are just stressing out here..
+
+“They sure are talking…” I whisper to Catherine.
+
+“Yah…”
+
+“Do you think…?”
+
+“....”
+
+“You don’t think she will…?”
+
+Catherine swallows, she doesn’t look like she has much faith that Claire can keep it a secret. Oh god what if her mom thinks she is crazy or something? Is she going to get sent somewhere?
+
+The waiting is the worst, oh fuck… should I just go in? What would I even do? What can I even do?
+
+Fuck I feel useless.
+
+You're going to fail Claire because you should be in there and not out here .
+
+Fuck it, I’m just going to go-
+
+The door finally opens slowly, and I can see Claire and her mom there. Claire has changed out of her sleepwear, into day clothes and her eyes are red and puffing. She looks at me and smiles weakly.
+
+Okay… that’s… not the worst I think.
+
+“Oohashi? Catherine. How about I have a word with you two now?” There isn't much room for compromise in her voice.
+
+Catherine looks pale, god neither of us are good right now. At least she nods.
+
+“It’s okay.” Claire’s voice is hoarse.
+
+“You okay?” I have to ask.
+
+She nods, and moves out into the hallway.
+
+“Come on girls.” Claire’s mom says and motions us inside.
+
+So we follow as she guides us to the sofas and takes a seat on the opposing piece. I feel like I am on trial right.
+
+Okay, two likely scenarios:
+
+She is going to grill me, one reason or another. Either for being caught in bed with her daughter.
+
+Or Claire spilled the beans and told her about that…
+
+Fuck I don’t know how to deal with either!
+
+Fuck what if it’s both.
+
+“Please girls, just relax. I just need to ask you some questions.”
+
+I share a look with Catherine. What are we going to do?
+
+“Ummm, so Mademoiselle Francois-
+
+“Please Catherine, Relax. Melia is fine.”
+
+“Right… um, Melia, what did you want to ask us?”
+
+“Well Claire told me something, and she said the two of you believe her.” She lets the statement hang in the air. That’s vague but very telling if Claire did say something. Is she fishing for more information, or did Claire tell her everything?
+
+“Well, do you believe her?” She asks us.
+
+We both pause… fuck it.
+
+“Yes.” I say it first.
+
+“Yes?” Claire’s mom feels like an investigator. 
+
+“Yes.” I repeat. She is studying me very carefully. God this is excruciating.
+
+“And what would that be?”
+
+Catherine responds first, “What did she tell you?”
+
+“Something that is very hard to believe.” Well Claire didn’t get her poker face from her mother.
+
+“Ummm what's hard to believe?”  I try to back up Catherine. 
+
+She sighs, “Girls, do you think I wouldn't notice my daughter acting like a completely different person?”
+
+Neither of us have a response to that.
+
+“Oohashi?”
+
+“Ye-ah?”
+
+“When did you meet my daughter for the first time?” 
+
+A lifetime ago…
+
+“Just… over two weeks now.”
+
+“So why do you believe my daughter when she says is a different person?”
+
+“I, umm? What are-”
+
+“Look I can tell you two aren’t going to be forthright if I hide all the cards. Claire told me she has different memories, of another life and she insists they are real. She said the two of you believe her and I need to know why that is the case.”
+
+She leans in, layering on extra pressure, “So Oohashi, what did she say to you to make you believe her?”
+
+Claire really did tell her?
+
+Like an echo in my mind I hear Claire again, It’s okay .
+
+I take a breath, I have to have some faith in her.
+
+“I do believe her.”
+
+Claire’s Mother’s brow rises, I am to continue. Oh god. I can do this.
+
+Claire needs me.
+
+“Okay, Kay, Kay… so we were in class just one day… and she came up to me and just started talking to me… like she knew me, cause she did. It was wild. Not everything was right, because I guess she was used to the other version of me but when she realized what was going on… that she wasn’t where she thought she was, she started putting it together and trying to explain it to me. I thought she was fu- umm, playing a cruel joke at first but then she started dropping names that she had no way of knowing because I never saw her before we shared a class… she knew things about me from middle school. Things I didn’t really tell anyone except my closest friends…”
+
+“Would that happen to include being… gay?” Her tone is very neutral.
+
+Oh god… I can’t tell if this is a landmine. Fuck. Catherine? Please give me a look… anything!
+
+Fuck it. For Claire.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“What else did she know?” She doesn’t linger, I can’t tell what that means, but I can’t really afford to get stuck on it either. She needs something more concrete. 
+
+Okay, Misaki, time to help us again.
+
+Sorry.
+
+I pull out my phone and find an old photo of him… and I show it to Claire’s mom.
+
+“This is Misaki. He was a friend from middle school.”
+
+“He?” I understand the tone. He doesn’t exactly look like a he.
+
+“Yes, He . Misaki was… is trans…” fuck…
+
+“He was born wrong… and he couldn't be who he w-wanted to be… it’s been almost th-three years…”
+
+Fuck I hate explaining this.
+
+“And umm, she knew. She called him h-him… no one really knew except a few of us. It didn’t even really make much news, it was just a small shitty article that no one saw. It misgendered him. His parents kept calling him a girl, even on his grave…”
+
+I stare at my knees, my hands are gripping my  legs and I see a few tears fall down. Fuck I hate this so-
+
+She is kneeling beside me and hugs me, gently.
+
+Fuck… I…
+
+“It's okay, Let it out.”
+
+So I do.
+
+It’s so unfair. I feel like shit, I don’t know what to make of this feeling. Am I terrible for bringing up Misaki to convince Claire’s mom? Would Misaki hate me for it? Be fine with it?
+
+I’ll never know.
+
+That’s the worst fucking part.
+
+I’m not sure how long it takes for me to compose myself once again but when I do Claire’s mom aligns me back and gives my arms a gentle squeeze, looking right into my eyes. She looks so kind. She looks so much like Claire. Oh god she looks too much like Claire. Fuck I’m so useless-
+
+“So…?” Catherine draws our attention. She can tell, fuck, she doesn’t look impressed. It’s not my fucking fault Catherine that she looks so much like her daughter.
+
+“Yes?” At least Claire’s mom isn’t noticing my gay panic, or if she is, she isn't saying anything. Fuck, just give me a bone already. Can I just not jump from one extreme to the next?
+
+“Well, convinced?”
+
+“You told her about your father.” Claire’s mom just says in response.
+
+“We talked about it, she knew.”
+
+“And you never told her about it before?”
+
+“Have you… when? She never talked to me before!” Catherine loses her composure for a second. “Sorry, look, we never talked… before this. At least not since… we were kids. And even then…”
+
+Claire’s mom sighs and shakes her head. “You believe her?”
+
+“Yes.” Catherine says without any hesitation. 
+
+“And you don’t think it could be something else. That she is dissociating? She could be repressing? Amnesia?”
+
+“That was years ago, why now?” Catherine counters.
+
+“And there is no way she could have known… it’s not just that… she knows so many things about me… she even knew the type of fan fiction I was writing…”
+
+“What?” Catherine says, taken off guard. I can’t tell if it sounds judgey or confused.
+
+“Maybe, but I haven’t ruled out that you two are lying on her behalf.”
+
+“If you think I made up-”
+
+“Oohashi” The mom voice interrupts me again, “I don’t believe you made that up, but please let me ask my questions first. Catherine, one last time. You never told her about Clement Archard before?”
+
+“No.” Catherine says assuredly.
+
+“How did she convince you to finally replace your leg after I spent years trying to do the same.
+
+“Oh… well she didn’t give me a choice.”
+
+…
+
+“Fine, I also felt guilty… she… it's complicated. When it first happened…” Catherine groans and puts her face into her hands. After taking a breath she composes herself and tries again. “The day it happened she came with Rei-san. She… a few days before she needed a sixth girl for a mixer, and I didn’t want to go but I did... For her. And it was miserable, she disappeared so quickly once we showed up and left me there alone, it was too loud and rowdy and at one point I got pushed and fell down, it messed up my leg and I had to limp back on my own. She ignored me for the next few days until that day and she came in all bright, cheery, happy to see me and she tried to tell me but I got so mad at her and I nearly walked out because I thought she was just trying to get out of apologizing or I don’t know, it didn’t make any sense and I was really mad… but then Rei told me and I listened to her… and we talked. I snapped at her and then she… s-she’s happy now Melia…” Catherine's voice just dies and the room gets quiet. Catherine’s eyes start to water.
+
+For the first time Claire’s mother also looks fragile.
+
+“I don’t want to r-ruin it…” Catherines voice wavers.
+
+Claire’s mom leans down to Catherine and engulfs her in a hug. “I’m sorry Catherine. I thought this would be good for you two, that it would help… I’m so proud of you.”
+
+I can’t see Catherine, but I can hear soft crying. I feel like an outsider. Catherine’s arm squeezes tightly around Claire’s mom.
+
+“I’m happy you were here for her. And I’m happy she convinced you to take the new leg, you deserve it.”
+
+“It’s too nice…”
+
+Claire’s mom just hushes her gently, rocking them both.
+
+Soon they unwind, and Claire’s mom returns to her original seat. She finally looks more unguarded. Tired, confused.
+
+“I was not ready for this.” She says after shaking her head. “I wonder what Dole would make of this…”
+
+“So…” Catherine tries once more.
+
+Claire’s mom shakes her head again. “I don’t know… it sounds ridiculous… too convenient. Finding you Oohashi… a past life?”
+
+“I don’t know, maybe it's some weird alternate reality thing? Another dimension?” Oh god they are both staring at me. Catherine definitely thinks i’m an Idiot, I’m not sure about Claire’s mom…
+
+“Rei was it?”
+
+Oh god… “YeS?”
+
+“I wish we might have met under… under less strenuous circumstances. I believe Claire when she says she loves you, but she is also in a… precarious situation. I need to know you wont take advantage of her-”
+
+There is a loud snort, and Catherine’s hand swipes up to cover her face. It scrunches, and she isn’t able to keep a straight face.
+
+Wow .
+
+“Is something funny about this Catherine?” There is the mom voice again.
+
+She snorts a little and tries to calm down. “I really don’t think you have to worry about that. She’s so whipped.”
+
+“Hey!” CATHERINE.
+
+Catherine laughs, not even bothering to try to cover it anymore. “Sorry, sorry but Claire has been dragging her everywhere for the last two weeks. Rei is at Claire’s mercy.”
+
+Claire’s mom does not look amused, and Catherine makes a legitimate effort to rein it in. “I see.”
+
+“Umm for what it’s worth I understand your concern. I really want to help her… and this has been really fast but I umm…”, I can’t say I love her, that’s insane. I mean I am willing to accept that I am insane. I do love Claire, I’m an idiot and crazy, but I'm not stupid. “I really care for her. I know how hard this is going to be for her and I have been doing everything I can to help bring her up to speed and learn everything that differ-”
+
+“What?”
+
+“Huh…?”
+
+“Bring her up to speed…” There is a pregnant pause, and Claire’s mom’s eyes go wide, “Don’t tell me…”
+
+Fuck
+
+FUCK
+
+I fucked up, oh god she didn’t think about that.
+
+“Yes Claire is missing a lot of knowledge…” Catherine voices, it feels like she is realizing the landmine I just stepped on too.
+
+“But we have been teaching her everything…” Oh god this is going to be the thing that ruins it isn’t it?
+
+Claire’s mom blinks. “But she was speaking perfect french with me?”
+
+“Uhh, yah I’m not sure what’s up with that. I think she knows more languages now?” Catherine says, wait really?
+
+“Huh?” I… I knew she was french… but I never really thought about the ramifications beyond that. But like how was that going to come up… it’s not like I was speaking anything but Japanese…
+
+“Is there anything else she remembers?”
+
+Nothing from this life as far as I could tell.
+
+Catherine doesn’t say anything else.
+
+“Merde…” That… she doesn't sound thrilled…
+
+“She’s been picking it up really fast-”
+
+She puts a hand up silencing me, “This conversation needs Claire now… give me a moment. This is only getting more and more complicated and Manaria does not need to be here for it.” She gets up and moves to the door.
+
+Fuck. I fucked up.
+
+“Hey… she would have realized it sooner than later.” Catherine says.
+
+God I don't want to lose Claire.
+
+ 

37.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,375 @@
+ 
+
+Mother believes me.
+
+Or she at least believes that I’m not lying. I think.
+
+Gracious, why did it have to happen right now…
+
+“So…” It’s Manaria, I… what is she doing here? “Ravaging?” Oh fantastic… She heard that too.
+
+She has her usual smile, mischievous. This feels like the first time it's been directed at me … Rae might have had a point about her…
+
+“Yes. She is my wi-girlfriend.”
+
+“Reeeeally…? Well she is pretty cute. “She rubs her chin as she looks at the door…
+
+“She’s mine.”
+
+The curt declaration causes her to laugh, “Ohhhh? Well, university has certainly been treating you well.”
+
+“I suppose it has… how long has it been Manaria, since we talked?”
+
+“Hrmmm, I don’t know a few years, but I’m not surprised you don’t remember. You never seemed like you were paying attention before.” She finishes the statement by observing her nails, I don't like being on this end of it.
+
+“Well, like you said. University has been good to me.” I don’t need to make this more of a mess than it already is by letting something slip around her too.
+
+“I’ll say, all it took was you getting the stick out of your ass and start kissing girls.” She laughs.
+
+She’s not wrong. 
+
+Just one girl though .
+
+“So how’d that happen? Hmmm?”
+
+“I told her I love her, and then we started dating.”
+
+“That’s it?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Come now Claire, where’s the fun in that?”
+
+I can’t help but sigh. “Manaria, please… I wasn’t expecting any of this, can I just tell you later. What are you even doing here? I thought… Mother was away… and then she shows up with you in tow.”
+
+“Fair, Fair. Well If you must know I might have been in a similar predicament, I was caught ravaging poor defenseless ladies and then your Mother allowed me tag along to avoid the paparazzi.” She makes a mocking performance of putting her hand to her head, like a fainting lady in waiting.
+
+Pa-pa-what? Hmm, I suppose this must be similar to the scandal she went through before coming to the academy.
+
+“You don’t seem surprised.” She comments.
+
+“I don’t think it’s anything to make a fuss over.”
+
+She smirks, “I suppose not, not when you are also ravaging poor defenseless girls.”
+
+“I… I’m not taking advantage of her.”
+
+She raises her brow.
+
+“I didn't mean to say you were either.”
+
+“Hmm, and how would you know that?” I know that tone, she is being cruel to herself.
+
+“Do you think you were?”
+
+“Who's to say?” There she goes, deflecting…
+
+“Manaria, I really don’t have the patience to play-”
+
+I am interrupted as the door swings open. Mother is there, she looks… tired.
+
+“Manaria, I’m sorry but I need to talk some more with Claire, and I expect it will take a… while. Can you go down and have Lene take you back to the apartment?”
+
+“Oh, trying to get rid of me already?”
+
+Mother sighs, “Manaria, that's not the case. Something came up… that is complicated and I need to sort through this now. I’m sorry it worked out this way and I didn’t want to send you home alone. It seems none of us were expecting all these surprises this morning.”
+
+Manaria drops the aloofness finally, she looks curious enough to ask but must decide it's not worth it. “Well I suppose a choice between that and standing out here alone is not much of a choice. I’ll see you later.”
+
+“Let Lene know I will contact her when I know I am ready for her.”
+
+“Will do.”
+
+“Oh, Manaria, sorry if I came off…. Curt. I missed you, we should catch up while you're here.”
+
+She looks a little surprised, then smiles, “Don't worry about it. I was being a bit of a shit. Of course. I need someone to show me around Tokyo after.”
+
+Oh… well that’s a problem for another day. “Thank you.”
+
+“Good, see you later than Manaria, again sorry, please let Lene know if you need anything in the meantime.”
+
+Manaria makes a show of a mock bow and then goes down the hall to the elevator.
+
+“Please Claire, we have… much to discuss.” Mother motions me back into the room.
+
+This feels ominous, does she not believe me? Does she think me a liar? Or worse, does she believe me and want to get rid of me now that I’m not her daughter.
+
+Rae and Catherine are sitting on the sofa and both look nervous, at least Rae tries to smile.
+
+The door closes and Mother guides me to sit down.
+
+“So I understand you have a lack of… an education then?”
+
+“Well technically I do, it’s just from a different world.” I’m not uneducated .
+
+“And that would mean?”
+
+“Her history and general know-how with technology is not there.” Catherine replies.
+
+Rae follows up, “Yah but she is still good for all the Math, and she’s better at writing than I am.”
+
+“And how has that affected your ability to continue your classes?”
+
+“She’s still-”
+
+“Oohashi, I am asking my daughter.”
+
+Rae shrinks, “It’s fine Rae, It’s been a challenge. For me it’s been a while since I was taking courses myself, but I was a teacher and professor for many years. Rae has been an excellent tutor and has been very diligent in helping me relearn, or well… learn.”
+
+“She passed her first test.” Rae chimes in.
+
+Mother raises her brow at Rae's second interruption, but makes no further comment at her. “We could hire tutors, you could postpone your education till we-”
+
+“I can do this.”
+
+“Are you sure ? You don’t know what you don’t know. It’s one thing to cram and pass a test and it’s an entirely another thing to have no context of everything around you. You don’t know technology ?”
+
+“Rae has been showing me how to use my phone and-”
+
+“Claire, it's much more complicated than using a single device. This world is powered by technology. This world is connected by technology. I can make a decision that could make headlines across the whole world. If I make a comment the whole world could hear about it in seconds. The scandal that Manaria embroiled herself is plastered all over the world even though it should have been a private matter. We came here to Japan to create some privacy for you girls to grow up in but you will be adults soon. What happens next? What will you do when you graduate? What will you do when someone expects an opinion from you? A political one? A social one? Even a simple question about a film. Do you know what the Titanic is? The Roman Empire? The moon landing? The Milky Way? What an atom is?”
+
+“I, I…” I have no answers. This is how I'm going to lose it.
+
+“Francois-sama, She isn’t a child. And She is incredibly clever!” Rae stand ups.
+
+“Clever or not this can’t be ignored!”
+
+“I know! We know! But you have to give her a chance to try. You are acting like everyone has perfect knowledge of everything but I had kids in my school who didn’t know what fucking Hiroshima was!” Rae is breathing heavily, a shaky breath she collects herself and continues. “Give her a chance to learn before deciding she can’t do it her way. She can do it! She is smart and aware. She is kind and deeply empathic. She understood Misaki, she knew what that meant. I didn’t tell her anything but she knows. She understands her privilege, your daughter is incredible, you just have to give her a chance to prove it!”
+
+Rae’s strong proclamation leaves me feeling fragile, she is always coming to my rescue, she has always been the fist to champion me. “...Rae…”
+
+Mother sighs, and looks like she is about to collapse into the sofa. “And you think the best way is that she stays here, keeps doing this?”
+
+“I do…” I answer this time. “It has been difficult but I know I can do it. I won't be bested.” And I won't leave my friends and family here. I won't leave Rae.
+
+Mother looks surprised, and her eyes get watery, she has to give them a wipe.
+
+“What’s wrong? I can do this Mother.”
+
+“It’s just… you remind me so much of when you were just a child, before the accident. So ready to take on the world…” She has to wipe her eyes again.
+
+“Mother…” I… I move to her and give her a hug again. Every embrace is so precious to me.
+
+“Oh my Claire…”
+
+She places a hand on my cheek, this is how I must have looked when I looked at May or Aleah…
+
+“You were hurting for so long…”
+
+“I’m sorry-”
+
+“Sshh, there is nothing to be sorry about.”
+
+“I… do think she can do it, Francois-sama. She is working very hard already.”
+
+“And you will help her?”
+
+“Yes, whatever she needs I will help her with. But even without me I think she could do it.” Don't say that Rae. 
+
+“I’m helping too.” Catherine throws in, “Claire is working very hard, and we have been walking her through all the basics and are working up.”
+
+“You said you did a test already Claire?”
+
+“Yes… I got just under seventy percent…” If I got higher maybe this would be easier-
+
+“Okay… Fine. We will see how this goes. But I need to know how things are going. We won't rush into something more drastic such as taking you out of classes for private tutelage but when this first semester ends I want you to take an exam. Something that would amount to highschool education. I want you to have a grasp of the sciences, math, literature, history…” She sighs, “And I want to be kept in the loop with your current grades. This isn’t going to work if they dip too low.”
+
+“I… Thank you Mother.” I grab Rae in joy.
+
+Mother doesn’t elate though. “This will be very difficult.”
+
+“I’m aware. I’m not a child. I can do this.”
+
+“Please tell me if it is too much, it’s fine if it is.” She says. She is still worried.
+
+I nod, it won’t. I can do this. I am Claire Francois.
+
+I saved the world with Rae by my side. I can do this with her by my side. We can do anything together. 
+
+“Girls, it's been a long day…” Mother slumps into the sofa, “We just arrived this morning and the flight was very long. This was the last thing I expected when I heard you were acting odd from Lene, or that you finally got a new leg Catherine.” She laughs softly.
+
+“Uhh… thank you for the leg again,” Catherine says softly.
+
+“Catherine, you are family, I could do no less.”
+
+Catherine looks a bit taken off guard, but smiles. I send her a smile as well. And I find Rae’s hand.
+
+Mother said yes.
+
+She said yes.
+
+“Are you girls hungry? It seems neither of you got far into your day. What’s open at this time? I don’t feel much like sitting down, but take-out would be nice. Even if it’s greasy.”
+
+“Oh, most places don’t open till eleven but I think there are some breakfast places… are you feeling picky?” Catherine answers. 
+
+“Something with Western options is preferable, I don’t want to think too much.”
+
+“Yah, sure, umm, give me a sec…”
+
+Catherine gets up and starts to go over choices with Mother with her phone.
+
+“Thank you Rae.” I say once we have a degree of privacy.
+
+“Oh I didn’t do that much Claire-chan.” Rae gets a little shy.
+
+“Shush, don’t be modest, just accept it.” I tease her.
+
+“Oh, well thanks. I do think you would be able to get by without me.” That’s nonsense, besides…
+
+“Where’s the fun in that?”
+
+“Yeah…” She doesn't really want that either.
+
+I can’t help but grin, “We will be busy won’t we?”
+
+“Oh, yah, for real. Prepping for that exam is not going to be easy. We won’t have a ton of time.”
+
+“Yes, especially with all the ravaging I need to do.”
+
+She reacts just as I expect, “Claire!”
+
+“Oh..?”
+
+“Your mom is right there.” She shouts a whisper at me.
+
+“And she interrupted us.” I can’t help but pout, it’s very effective against Rae.
+
+She whines, “But we have to be serious.” 
+
+I suppose, I’m just trying to calm myself down after everything.
+
+“Of course. But I’ll need you to help recharge, with that I can take on even a demon, three even.” I can feel the cheeky smirk on my face. 
+
+“I don’t doubt you,” she laughs.
+
+“Claire, is there anything you would want?” Mother's voice comes from across the room.
+
+“Anything is fine.”
+
+“And you Oohashi-san?” 
+
+“Huh?”
+
+“What would you like?”
+
+“Ah what do you mean? You don’t have-”
+
+“Nonsense, both of you come and look at the menu, you too Claire.”
+
+Rae is trying to be too polite, “But-” 
+
+“Come on Rae, please?” Her resistance dissolves as I ask her, breaking down into a soft smile.
+
+“Okay … Sure.”
+
+ 
+
+ 
+
+“Sick, leftovers.”
+
+Catherine is right. Mother ordered a lot of food, even with four of us. Even after serving out the first round, I can’t imagine finishing it with another sitting. It was good, and a bit of everything. Mother seems to not have had a proper meal in a while.
+
+“Mother?”
+
+“Hmm?”
+
+“Where were you? Before you came… you said… flew?” She can’t have meant literally… right?
+
+“Yes, it’s the fastest way to get to Paris and back… have you two not told not explained planes?”
+
+“There has been so much…uh, Melia.” Catherine looks a little sheepish.
+
+“Yah, we were going to build up to it, we started small with cars and trains, and we can see those easily around here too.”
+
+“Wait, you actually flew? You were flying?”
+
+Rae looks apologetic, “Yah, we were going to get there-”
+
+“How?”
+
+“Oh well.” She gets an intense look as the gears in her head wind up, “Okay, you know that some animals fly right?”
+
+“Birds? Yes, we had birds, we saw birds at the zoo. Come now Rae  I'm not so removed from this world.”
+
+She looks a little sheepish, “Right, so, birds fly by creating lift with their wings, they are pretty light creatures so it’s easy for them to push themselves up from the surface area of their wings, and once in the air those wings keep them aloft, they can ride air currents… err wind and such. We haven’t got to the deep physics yet but air is made up of stuff, gasses, and most things can sorta turn into gas with enough heat, that’s not the point, but rather that air is made up of stuff and it’s that mass that birds are using to push against. If there was literally nothing there, they wouldn’t be able to fly, so like in a vacuum.”
+
+“Okay… so you mimic that?”
+
+“Well yes, and no. We have some machines that mimic it more closely, but the main vehicle we use for flying is called a plane. Here, give me a sec.” She pulls out her phone, types away for a second and turns the screen showing me an image of something that looks long, sleek and a pair…. of wings? “This is a plane, you mom probably rode in something like this, it’s big, and heavy. So birds are light. This isn’t and it requires a lot of power. Force specifically. It creates this push with,” she points to small cylinders on the wings, “with these, they are called jets, they create a lot of force, like a lot a lot of force. They push the plane forward and with that speed the wings can pick up enough resistance against the air that they stay afloat, or fly. It also makes them really fast. If you had to travel by car it would take you weeks or more to make the trip your mom made, umm how long was your flight Francois-sama?”
+
+Mother has been listening to Rae, I hope she is impressed with her general knowledge. “Please, just Melia is fine, or Melia-san if you must, our flight was 18 hours, exhausting, but she is right, it would probably take the better part of a month by car and that would be miserable to say the least. Would you prefer Rae or Oohashi?”
+
+“Oh, umm just Oohashi-san, umm… Melia-san”
+
+“Of course, Thank you. You will get a chance to ride by plane too Claire.”
+
+“Oh.” I can fly ?
+
+“Oohashsi-san, I just want to say, despite the circumstances of the situation It has been nice to meet you. I wasn’t expecting Claire to have a… partner… let alone them being a girl. I hope I haven’t scared you off. It’s obvious how much Claire cares about you.”
+
+Rae gulps, “Oh… um yah, thank you.. I, um yah I really… like her… too. I um… 
+
+Mother Laughs, does she like Rae? Oh thank goodness, “That’s good, If I am to understand correctly you are the reason for my daughter awakening .”
+
+Rae blushes, “I… I guess. It’s not like I did anything…”
+
+“Shush, you've done so much.” I chide Rae, “You saved me, I wouldn’t be here without you.”
+
+ Rae looks a bit overwhelmed and opts to eat more food instead of responding.
+
+“So Oohashi-san, you also go to the same university then?”
+
+She swallows, “Uh, yah, Claire-san and I have several of the same classes-”
+
+“Not all,” we really should. It would make everything more pleasant. 
+
+“Uh, yah, not all the same but just a few different ones, the overlap is big thankfully, for Claire I mean. Not me. I mean I like having classes with her I-”
+
+Mother laughs a bit at Rae’s verbal stumbling, “Oohashi-san, calm down. This hasn’t been affecting your studies too much has it? How often have you been helping her?”
+
+“...Like everyday… I get my stuff done at the same time, it’s been helpful for me too I guess.”
+
+“Hmmm, so are you from here?”
+
+“Chiba.”
+
+“Ah, and you came here? Did you have an aspiration? You are also studying economics.”
+
+“Ah… we sorta?... I… well… you get a job… and do that right?”
+
+“Mother, you don’t need to worry about that, I’ll make sure she is happy.”
+
+Rae looks puzzled, “Huh?-” 
+
+Mother cuts her off however, “What do you mean Claire?”
+
+“Oh…” I can’t just say I am trying to make sure Rae doesn’t work herself to death again right? “I just… I’m going to be here, I’ll help?”
+
+Rae has a look like she wants to say something, but doesn’t, just takes another bite of her food instead.
+
+She knows I am omitting something.
+
+“I… see.” Does mother suspect the same?
+
+“Rae is very capable, she was a genius in our past life, and a hero. She taught me so much and we lived our life together… I hope we can do that again… as long as you want to Rae…”
+
+Rae blushes and her eyes dart between me and Mother, “Claire, please don’t rush into things… you have only known each other for a few weeks.”
+
+“But I have known her for-”
+
+“ Then , and this is now, it’s different Claire… I just want what’s best for you Claire, and I don’t want either of you two to get hurt along the way. I’m happy that you are… so happy that you are here. But we don’t know exactly what is going on. It could be a coincidence, I can’t completely rule out a more mundane answer but I don’t want to lose you again Claire. You’re here, you're present for the first time in ages, you’re you again.”
+
+“Mother…”
+
+But it isn’t like that… It's not a coincidence. 
+
+But I am rushing it. It hasn't even been a month for Rae. And I.. don’t want to hurt Rae. Rae does have a problem saying no to me. I… I know she wants to help me, but is doing this just for me? She is different now, I love her all the same, love getting to see this younger side of her…
+
+Love being her first…
+
+But these are all her firsts. These first should be special for her, and I shouldn't be so greedy with them.
+
+“... I understand. I have no intention of going anywhere. This is…” second does not sound right , “another chance, and I want to make the best of it.”
+
+Mother nods, “I… I’m glad to hear that Claire. And please let me know if you remember anything new. We don’t know what has happened, but whatever it is, you will always be my daughter.”

38.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+“Must you leave already?” Claire asks, her voice sounds so small.
+
+“I’m sorry my dear, I have matters to attend to tomorrow and I need to sleep or I will fall over.”
+
+Claire looks like she wanted to object but thinks better of it, “I understand.”
+
+“Claire, we will talk again soon, don't worry.”
+
+“Mother…” Claire's eyes glisten, “Please.”
+
+Her mom moves in and gives her a hug. She has to lean just slightly, she's only a bit taller than her. Claire returns the hug, she is squeezing tightly and her mom just hums into the hug. It feels odd being here for it… but I am happy it’s gone this way.
+
+“Nothing is going to take me away Claire, I’m here for you.”
+
+Claire buries her head in her mom’s shoulder, “Thank you, thank you Mother, I don’t want to lose you again. It’s really you, it’s not a dream, it’s not a simulacrum. It’s you. It’s you…” There is a sharp inhale, and her breath wavers.
+
+“Of course Claire.” Her mom also sounds close to crying, but she stays firm. “You are always my Claire.”
+
+They remain locked in their embrace for a while, and I try my best to give them privacy, but both of them seem to be in their world either way. It’s sweet, I’m happy for them, but I do feel like an intruder here.
+
+“It’s time,” Claire’s mom finally says, and she breaks their hug.
+
+Claire sniffles, “I’m happy today… finally happened.”
+
+“I am as well Claire, even as it did. It’s for the best. We have plenty of time to catch up more later. But I do have to go, Lene is waiting, and I only have so much left in me at this point.” She beams as she looks at Claire. “There is one last thing though.”
+
+She turns and looks at me.
+
+“Oohashi-san, might I have a word before we part.”
+
+I gulp, Claire’s mom definitely has the mom tone in her voice. Claire notices and gives me a smile, I guess she isn’t too worried. I go out into the hallway with Claire’s mom, and it’s just us, Claire and Catherine still in the room.
+
+“Umm, what did you want to talk about?” She seems like she isn’t writing Claire off, but she; understandably, still has to have some worries.
+
+“Forgive me, I feel I haven’t had many chances to be a proper mom for Claire…” She sighs, “It feels like I have gone through more of the usual with Catherine, and none with Claire. I still can’t believe Claire convinced her to replace her leg finally, I have been trying to convince her for years now… anyways, this isn’t… I was worried, and I still worry, but in different ways. First, whatever Claire is going through, I have more faith in her than when we started this conversation, but I still want to keep a close eye… I still worry… but… I thought I lost one of my daughters, and she is here again…”
+
+She takes a deep breath… I… how bad was it?
+
+“Secondly, you and her are both adults… It’s not my place to make mandates on who she should or shouldn’t  have a relationship with. I wasn’t expecting to… well find her and you in that state and that was the furthest thing from my mind when I… barged in. I hope… this was just another surprise, it’s an… a lot more to consider but I don’t want to be seem… in the  way. Or against it.”
+
+“Ahhh… I… thank you?”
+
+“Just… I’m sorry there is…” she chuckles a little, “My first instinct is to think that it’s Claire who is new to relationships, but I suppose that isn’t the case to her is it? And it’s her I should be telling to be careful… I… how are you doing in all this? This has to be a lot for you. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what you have done for her but just today has been a lot.”
+
+Oh god, I can’t stop the nervous laugh, “umm, yeah? God, yeah it’s been a rollercoaster, and it was bad enough when my roommate walked in on… us… before… umm…”
+
+“Dear, it’s okay. You're both adults.”
+
+“yeAh… I really just wish that wasn’t the first way you saw me though…”
+
+“I’m sorry, I should have given you more… warning… but between everything I heard from Lene, and how dodgy Catherine was acting, Mother’s instincts , I knew something was happening. Again, I’m sorry, it’s not the worst thing, I am happy that she found you.”
+
+“Thanks, I want… I want to be… to be right? I’m trying.”
+
+“Dear, there is no being right , allow yourself some grace.”
+
+Sure… but Claire needs help still, she needs to catch up, she needs to pass. Even if I'm not her , Claire needs me. “Yah, I’m just doing the best I can… It’s been a lot of work, like I said we really have been doing so much studying… me and Catherine-san have been working together to show her what she is missing and she really is picking it up fast, she really is clever. I… it catches me off guard when she mentions something obscure and it’s because I told her about it.”
+
+“What do you mean…?”
+
+“There’s a lot… it’s like she knows things that will happen. She knew I am writing a… fan story online, what it was about, and I think she knows how it ends? I’m not even finished with it, but she was… teasing me about the ending…?”
+
+“Really?”
+
+“Yah… I know… rationally… this sounds impossible, but I haven’t found a single thing to even suggest otherwise. It just makes more sense the more I am around her. It’s not just me either; Catherine-san is picking it up too, and it’s like she is already tapped into my social network. It’s not big or anything but… she was talking to my roommate, and even with her it was… surreal just how naturally she fell into conversation with her, and Misha is a bit prickly too.”
+
+“Oohashi-san… Rei… Thank you for being honest about this. I really appreciate everything, and I do trust you… I want to give you my personal number, in case an emergency happens, for whatever reason. I know you know this, but this has to stay a secret, the last thing any of us needs is for this to get out. Hopefully you won't need to reach me for emergencies, but if you need help with anything, let me know. I’m not always in the country and may be in different time zones, but this number is the best way to reach me. Very few people have it, it’s for family.”
+
+“Oh… Thank you Francois-sama-”
+
+“Melia.” She smiles. 
+
+“Right… Thank you Melia-sama. Hopefully no emergencies.”
+
+“Hopefully, secondly, you have been committing a lot of time to tutoring Claire.” That’s not a question.
+
+“Yes…?”
+
+“That is a lot of your personal time, I want to reimburse you for that.”
+
+“What- No!, it’s not needed.”
+
+“I have to insist, I can’t in good conscience allow us to take advantage of you in the meantime. I would be hiring a tutor for Claire if she didn’t insist on you helping her.”
+
+“Oh… but I want to help, I would… feel weird if… I… my… girlFriend” fuck my voice cracked, “paid me for this.”
+
+“There has to be something we can agree on then. Is there something I can cover in the least, meals? I could arrange a scholarship for you?”
+
+“A scholarship?!”
+
+“Oohashi-san I run a multinational business, a scholarship is trivial.” The smirk makes that easy to believe.
+
+“That’s… that’s still a lot… can I think about it?”
+
+“I suppose… We will talk about it more later then, but please consider it. For now, here.” She pulls a card out from her purse, a credit card. “Use this in whatever way you deem appropriate, it could be for meals, it could be for a new laptop or whatever equipment you need for school. It could even be for something fun. Don’t worry what it is, just please use it.”
+
+I hesitate to take the card, it’s not a gold card like Claire’s was, but… fuck a credit card attached to Francois-sama’s account? 
+
+“Please don’t stress out about it too much.”
+
+“But-”
+
+“It has a limit, you can’t be that irresponsible with it.” She teases another smirk.
+
+“Why… are… how can you trust me?”
+
+Her face shifts, something more… professional, “Several reasons, I trust my intuition, and trust me when I say this, I deal with a lot of untrustworthy people. You care for Claire, greatly. I can tell that, I could tell that before you two even had a chance to recover. You stood up for her and you were very vulnerable doing so. That wasn’t easy dear, and thank you for being honest about it. You're not doing this for your own gain, and if you were I would be doing something about it.” She closes my hand around the card, “I could take control of this, take Claire away, hire a private tutor, bring her up to speed, but she doesn’t want that. She thinks she can make this work, and I want her to succeed. I believe she can do this. But she will need help and for you to help her, I need to trust you too and I need to make a show of good faith. We are asking a lot out of you and only you can help her in the way you can. I’ll be here, Catherine will be here. We will always be here to help too.”
+
+Ohhh, wow it’s hard to swallow. “I want to help… I want to do this… I… I really do… I…”
+
+Love her…
+
+“She said Dole also liked you, I can see that…” She really looks so much like Claire, they smile the same way… Then she chuckles, “Perhaps I’m also just making a poor decision after an eighteen hour flight that was delayed, either way nothing is perfect we just make it work, and even in the bad we can find new things to cherish…”
+
+I… she’s talking… about the accident … isn’t she?
+
+Woah…
+
+“We'll make this work, one way or another, won't we Rei?”
+
+I have to.
+
+“Yes”
+
+“Excellent, now that that is out of the way, I’ll feel better about passing out in my bed.” She sounds happy and chuckles. “Just please help Claire and I’ll be happy. Okay?’
+
+I can do that.
+
+Whatever Claire needs.
+
+“Okay.”
+
+ 

39.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+ 
+
+It’s been a hell of morning, it’s nearly noon…
+
+“So….?”
+
+Claire just hums, questions me. It’s just us again, her mom left, I assume to finally sleep, and Catherine is finally taking her walk.
+
+“How are you doing?” I ask her in turn.
+
+“How am I doing? How are you doing? Mother didn’t… say anything unkind did she?”
+
+“What? No…. No she was… taking it better than I thought she would, we swapped numbers and she gave me a credit card.”
+
+“Oh?”
+
+“Yah, I… I’ll save it for later or something, but umm for getting caught… um… y’know… she didn’t want to kill me…”
+
+That gets Claire to laugh, good.
+
+“So yeah… not too bad. She seems nice. But seriously. How are you doing Claire? That was a lot. You… said she was…”
+
+Claire’s pupils wander to the corner of her eyes, lost in a thought. She looks happy and solemn at the same time. Finally she sighs, “That was a lot, it’s not how I wanted it to happen, but I am glad you were there.” She lets out another long breath, “That was terrifying, I thought I was going to lose everything but I had to tell her. I can scarcely believe I talked to her again… it’s been so long for me, so long. I was a child, it was my sixth birthday and the last words I told her was that I hated her because she and Father had to miss it on account of business. I always wanted to tell her sorry… and I did.” Her voice catches, and she is blinking quickly.
+
+That’s all I need, I hug her, I didn’t even fully realize it till I was holding her. She just leans into it.
+
+“Thank you Rei, I’m glad I did, finally. I told her. It’s real this time… it’s her, I’ll see her again. I… I’m… still trying to wrap my head around it… but it’s good. It finally happened and it needed to happen.”
+
+“Your mom is nice. I’m glad it went the way it did… that could have… gone worse in… so many ways.” Between finding us in a bed, or sending her away to a psych clinic.
+
+We got lucky.
+
+“You're not upset that I told her, are you, or about us?” I can feel her arms tighten around me as her voice wavers a bit.
+
+“Of course not! I was worried but I trust you. And umm… what would you even tell her… you were ....”
+
+She groans, “Don't remind, heavens I thought nothing could phase me after all the times our girls would interrupt us. Having to explain that Mother only hits Mama when she wants it and… that's was your fault by the way , you said they were asleep and that you could be quiet.” She glares at me but quickly breaks into a suggestive grin.
+
+God I would let her do whatever to me…
+
+“I do feel better now.” She finishes. 
+
+“Great!... um so now what?”
+
+Claire’s eyes dart to her bed.
+
+“Claire?” I don’t know if I can survive another… session.
+
+I don’t care.
+
+“Oh… I still want to spend the day… if that’s alright, with you. I completely understa-”
+
+“No! No, I'm totally fine. To spend the day.”
+
+Claire grins, “ Good , but… umm don’t worry… I wont…” She smirks, “ Ravage you again, for today at least.” I can’t help but whine, she at least is blushing a little from the comment.
+
+But god I wouldn’t say no.
+
+Shut. Up.
+
+“Umm, I do hope you… enjoyed it at least… before our interruption.”
+
+“YES!” God, why can’t I sound normal, “Yes, that was… god that was great… I… was I okay? I… it felt like…”
+
+I feel a finger on my chin, and it tilts my face back up, I didn’t even register how much I was looking down, but Claire is smiling, “It was wonderful Rei, truly, just relax, it's only the beginning , it’s definitely not a race.”
+
+Oh God.
+
+Oh God.
+
+“I look forward to it again, like I said, even if we start small there is much we can do, afterall restriction breeds creativity .” Oh fuck, that’s a sinful delicous smile.
+
+“Ahhhh, ah, oh wow. Um good, great. Super. Yes… more. Later.”
+
+“Excellent.”
+
+“Okay, soooo, um what now… I… it’s still the weekend… did you want to study more?’
+
+“Spirits no!”
+
+“Huh?” Spirits?
+
+“I know we still have a lot to cover… and Mother is expecting me to meet a level… but I am at my limit for the week. Trust me, we need to take a break or we won’t last. I have seen too many students push themselves too much.”
+
+“Ohh… uh, I meant… nevermind. Yes a break is good, but yah, we will have to start covering more stuff if your mom wants you to take a highschool exam later. Even if it’s soft balled, it’s still going to be a lot…”
+
+“Soft balled?”
+
+“Oh… it’s a base… ball… term…”
+
+I can already see she is completely lost.
+
+“Okay, short version, baseball is a sport slash game, someone throws a ball, the other player wants to hit that ball with a bat, that’s like a club, and send it flying. They are competing against one another so the person throwing the ball, the pitcher is trying to make it hard to hit. Soft balling is when the pitcher makes it easy, I guess if there is a big difference in skill to make it more sporting, or help teach.”
+
+“Oh, okay, that makes sense. I don’t believe we had a sport like that. Hmm, there really are a lot of turn of phrases that I have no basis for. Mother even mentioned a moon landing. Was that also an expression? What is that for? Wait… let me guess.”
+
+Oh she is going to hate it when I tell her…
+
+“It’s not a turn of phrase Claire.”
+
+“Huh… what do you mean.”
+
+“It’s literal, we landed on the moon. We have pictures.”
+
+She can’t help but look out the window, even though it’s midday at this point and the moon is for sure not in view. “What?!”
+
+“Yah… oh boy, yah. We have done a lot. Long short of it, we built a machine like a plane, it flew to the moon. We put a person up there, and they came back. It was very hard, it’s not something we do often, or for a while. Space is not friendly or easy to travel.”
+
+“...Space?”
+
+Oh boy… we were going to get to this eventually.
+
+“The universe is massive, and has a lot of empty space, like a void. Our planet, Earth, the ground we stand on… it’s a ball of rock that’s floating in space. It’s circles around the-
+
+“I’m aware the world orbits around the sun, as does the moon around our world… I just wasn’t aware… it’s… nothing exists outside… if you just go up?”
+
+“Yah… right… god there is so much that you need to build up a model of the universe from what we figured out… so gravity? You understand the basics of gravity?”
+
+“I believe so, things fall, the rate is consistent, from what I understood things theoricall all fall at the same rate, but it’s observed that some things can elude that which is probably due to… you said air pressure right?”
+
+“Yes, exactly, thank god. Yes you have gravity, it’s basics understood. So yah a feather floats slowly because it has a lot of air resistance, because it has a lot of surface area and very little mass. Gravity is pretty important in the universe. Big objects have gravity, the bigger they are, the more gravity they have. And the Earth is big, so it has gravity, it keeps the air here too. We call that the atmosphere. But when you go high enough. There is no air. There is nothing, just empty space. Space.”
+
+Claire nods slowly, good she doesn’t look too confused.
+
+“Gravity is what keeps the moon orbiting around the Earth. It’s floating in space far enough away that it doesn’t crash, but it is also a big rock, just much smaller than earth. The Sun is very far away…. But it is very, very big compared to the earth…”
+
+“Big enough that… Its gravity is what causes the world… Earth to orbit around it?”
+
+“Exactly!”
+
+Claire looks pretty pleased with herself, “So other planets also orbit for that reason as well?”
+
+“Yup, stuff in space likes to attract to bigger bodies, otherwise it just spreads out slowly, less so if it’s a solid but yah. Also space is really cold.”
+
+“Fascinating… we will have to get into it more later. There were conjectures about the nature of the world but this has been enlightening. It’s really impressive what you… we I suppose have done here. Oh… I suppose I do have one other question. Do you know what the sun is?”
+
+“I’ll show you,” a few quick types at my phone… and volia, “Here.” Claire takes a moment to look at the image I found of the sun, it's a decent one I think.
+
+“It’s on fire…?” She sounds a bit in awe… “Of course, it’s a candle… and since it’s so big….”
+
+“I think it’s like a hundred times the size? At least three hundred, thousand times the mass.”
+
+“Ohh… Ohh, how does it… you know what. Another day. This will go one forever if I keep asking questions and I can already see I have no intent to stop. My goodness.”
+
+“Did I never say anything about this before? You know, in the past life?”
+
+“Nothing major, you always claimed you didn't want to spoil stuff. Well more than you or… hrmm. More than things had already been spoiled.” I guess that makes sense, science has a way of complicating things doesn't it?
+
+“Well it’s cool either way, and like with stuff like this we can do things that's fun but also can help build context… we have so many movies about space… like fictional and not everything is going to be accurate but like these are also culture stuff, so like two birds with one stone.”
+
+“Much like Persona?”
+
+“Uhh, yah?”
+
+“Very clever, well… I suggest we do a bit more of that… and perhaps later …”
+
+You have your way with my body.
+
+She smirks, she knows exactly what she is doing to me right now, this isn’t fair. “How about you let me have something to read, I still would like to read your-”
+
+“Veto!”
+
+She pouts, “Rei, surely it’s not-”
+
+“Veto!” I emphasize it by making an X with my arms.
+
+Her pouting continues, oh god please just hold out Rei, don't lose. This is the only time it matters.
+
+“ Fine ,” She exhales, “Something though? I wouldn't mind having a book again, perhaps Pray Love?”
+
+“Sorry, all my copies are at my parent’s.”
+
+“Oh Mel and Van?”
+
+Huh? “Who?”
+
+There is a look of confusion on her face, “Your parents?”
+
+“No?”
+
+“Oh…” She gets lost in thought.
+
+“Was that my parents then? My parents are Ai and Takashi Oohashi. Here.”
+
+“Their… completely different aren't they? Your father isn’t really large and tall?”
+
+Dad? Tall? “Please, he’s barely an inch taller than me.”
+
+“Oh… I… yes, you were adopted there I suppose, your situation… It was unusual in the least.” She remarks.
+
+I can't help but shrug, “I couldn’t tell you.”
+
+She is racking her mind, “Well they were your only family, until me of course, and then the girls.”
+
+Daughters… huh… “Oh well I have a bunch of family here, don’t really talk to them much I suppose, but there is my brother. He can be a brat-”
+
+“You have a brother!?”
+
+Oh was not expecting that, “Uh yah…?”
+
+“Sorry… Hells! I knew that. You’ve told me all this. You just never talked too much about them, and I am just so used to Mel and Van… It’s coming back to me a bit… your brother…. Younger?”
+
+“Yah, his-”
+
+“Shush! I can remember this!”
+
+She is concentrating very hard, maybe I can tease her a bit… “I can give you a hint-”
+
+“Rei hush!... He is younger, his name is… Masao…?” The focus dissolves and she grins.
+
+Huh, yah, that’s still weird. “Wow.”
+
+“I told you.” She gives a good laugh… oh god I love her.
+
+“Yah, well he’s a brat. Anyways I can pick up some books when I’m making a visit.” Oh god Claire is adorable, I can see she is really trying to hold back form asking, she wants to come. “Umm, maybe you could meet-”
+
+“I would love to!”
+
+“Cool. Umm, but yah no books. Yet. I can show you stuff to read on your phone. I read a lot of manga on my phone.”
+
+“Manga is… the picture novels?”
+
+I can’t help but laugh, “Sure.”
+
+“Rei…” She warns, “It’s very dangerous to make fun of your wife.”
+
+Yah, she might punish us.
+
+“I’m not! It’s cute… Yes, it’s like a novel, but it uses a lot of pictures too, and most of the text is just dialogue. Let’s do that, after some Persona.”
+
+“Perfect, sounds like a plan… I really need to unwind after this weekend.”
+
+“Same.”
+
+ 

4.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,279 @@
+I thought the walk back to my dorm would clear my mind a bit but… fdjaslk;fjads;ldlfldajfldaldlkvnloi.
+
+What?
+
+She called me her wife . She said that we are— were wives. Francois-san was my wife in a past life! She kept calling me Rei….
+
+Rei…
+
+Oh God, even just recalling it makes me blush. I need to get this under control before I see Misha. Am I going to tell her? Francois-san said it’s fine…
+
+How do I even explain it without sounding crazy? I’m not an idiot for believing her, right? There’s no way she could have known all of that stuff about me, and she does seem like she is genuine. Right? I’m not just rationalizing it ‘cause I want it to be true…
+
+God, how did my one college crush turn out like this? This is actually insane. Like, what are we? Actual soulmates? Just being reborn over and over? Together forever….
+
+Oh God, why am I doing this to myself? It’s way too warm and Misha is going to take one look at my face and know something’s up. And then she is going to grill me and I need to not let that happen!. Cool it, Rei!
+
+Last week Francois-san didn’t even look my way. She was so haughty and cool, and now she’s so kind. It feels like my emotions have been thrown into a jet engine. And I think she was even teasing me a bit too?! I want her to tease me more — 
+
+REI!
+
+I slap my face, both cheeks. I need to focus. First things first. Either tell Misha everything, or tell her something… or nothing. Nothing is easier, right? She doesn’t need to know right now, after all. Right? Like, maybe I can tell her later when I get myself more under control. Right now I feel like a mess because of Francois-san.
+
+Francois-san made a mess of me —
+
+STOP!
+
+Okay, let's get home first.
+
+The room I share with Misha is small, just two beds and a shared desk, cramped but doable. Especially on our budget. Not like Francois-san’s luxurious grand room that would put some entire apartments to shame.
+
+Misha is on her bed, busy working away at something on her laptop. She has earbuds in, but pops them out when she notices me.
+
+“You’re a bit late.” She states. Something about the way she looks at me makes me feel like I’m being analyzed.
+
+I give a laugh, hoping to throw her off and not sound nervous. Not at all. “Yeah, just got caught up in something with a new friend.” Okay, good cover. Not really lying, good start.
+
+Misha narrows her gaze. Fuck . “What did you do?” Seriously?
+
+“I didn’t do anything! Why are you looking at me like I did something?”
+
+“Reeeeeiiii…” Misha just draws out the vowel and doesn’t let up with her withering gaze. Dammit. .
+
+“Okay, fine, I was with Francois-san.” God, I can’t believe I caved in already . 
+
+“Rei…” Misha takes a breath and pinches the top of her nose. “That bitch? Seriously? Rei, you should stay away from her. I don’t care if she’s your silly crush. She’s bad news.”
+
+“Hey, that’s not true!” I can’t help but blurt out.
+
+“Really? You're just going to hurt yourself, and anyone who's paying attention knows you have no shot. She hasn’t been exactly keeping it a secret that she’s gunning for Thane-san, you know.” I know Misha is just looking out for me, but that doesn’t make this feel any less patronizing.
+
+“Well, she thinks I’m her wife .” Which is probably why I just said that. God, this is why I didn’t want to bring this up now.
+
+Misha’s jaw drops. Okay, this really wasn’t how this was supposed to go. “ What ?” God, I wish we had AC in this room.
+
+“Okay, this is going to sound insane, but she has memories of a past life where we were married and she sorta said that the version of me in that life had memories of my previous life and it sounds like some sorta loop….” God, I’m rambling.
+
+Misha’s eyes glaze over pretty quickly, and then she just shakes her head, pops her earbuds back in and turns back to her laptop.
+
+“Miiiiishaaaaaa, don’t abandon me!” I dash over to her bed and kneel beside it, shaking her leg.
+
+“Christ, Rei, do you even hear yourself? You’re a lost cause.” She tries to pull her leg away.
+
+“Misha, it’s true.”
+
+“Bullshit.”
+
+“She knew things, Misha.”
+
+Misha’s eyes narrow again. “So she’s stalking you too? Rei, she’s playing you. Get away from her—she’s just setting you up for some sort of cruel joke. Or worse.”
+
+“She couldn’t have known about this stuff. You weren't there.”
+
+Misha just stares, waiting for an answer. God, if I had just held it together and kept this all to myself for at least one night.
+
+ONE NIGHT.
+
+I take a deep breath. “She knew about Misaki.”
+
+“So? She probably just found some articles. Suicides make the news.” Misha tries to sound nonchalant but I can see she doesn't like the direction this conversation is going.
+
+“She didn’t just know about the suicide. She knew why he did it.” I have to take a hard swallow. 
+
+God, today has made a mess of my feelings.
+
+Misha stares at the wall for a moment. Then she sighs and closes her laptop, pushing it to the side and storing her earbuds. “Explain.”
+
+“She said our past life took place in, like, a different world, and I found her there and we got married. In that life I think I had memories from this life, or some version of this life? She told me I told her about my previous life, and that's how she knew all these things about me. She knew about that awkward love square from middle school and she knew that Misaki was trans and that's why he… she even called him him . Only a few of us knew about that, and you're the only person I talked to about this. She just knew , it was like we had talked about it so many times already…I…”
+
+“You’re being serious.” It’s not a question so much as reluctant acceptance.
+
+“Yes, trust me, I know it sounds insane but I don’t have any other way to explain it. She doesn’t remember anything from this life. She didn’t even know what a phone was.” 
+
+“Oh Christ, Rei, are you sure? Are you sure you aren’t both just… I don’t know, is it amnesia or something?” Misha sounds like she is trying to come up with some rational explanation, but I can see she’s just grasping at straws. “She didn’t know about phones?”
+
+“Yeah, I’m telling you, she has no idea about technology. I had to get directions from her roommate to get her home, and even her roommate seemed to believe her explanation after she talked to her. And they know each other well. Francois-san is like a completely different person. We were working on a plan to get her up to speed.”
+
+“Wait, we ?”
+
+“...yeah?” Wait, why does Misha look disappointed in me? 
+
+“Rei….”
+
+…
+
+“Rei!”
+
+“ What ?” I huff.
+
+“She isn’t your responsibility! This is insane—you can’t be the one to fix this, it’s way too big. She needs to go home and get tutoring or something.”
+
+“And what, completely derail her life?” And worse, leave me behind right when I finally have a chance? I can make this work.
+
+“Rei, her life is already derailed. How is she supposed to get anything done? Classes? Homework? Hell, how is she even going to act normal around people? Her social life is going to be thrown out the window, and she was quite the little socialite despite being such a bitch.”
+
+“Hey! She remembers some people from her past life! She still knew her roommate. She remembers you, too.”
+
+Misha pinches her nose again, “Are you telling me we all knew each other in our past lives?”
+
+“I think so? I don’t know who else she knows from back then. It seemed like some stuff sorta lined up for her. She mentioned an accident… and okay, I don’t think I should mention too much, but she asked if you were my roommate, by name, and she was relieved when I said you were. She even said I could tell you about this if I thought it was a good idea. She trusts you.”
+
+“Rei, you know how insane this sounds, right? Even if what she’s saying is all true, you can’t do this by yourself. This is way too much for you to take on.” Misha sounds concerned, but it’s not like I don't understand how big this is. It’s just, who else is going to help Francois-san and not just lock her up until they ‘fix’ her?
+
+“Misha, she needs help from someone who won't think she’s crazy. Her roommate is going to help, too. I’m going to go pick her up tomorrow and take her to class. We share quite a few of the same classes. I think we’re both in the business track so there’s a lot of overlap.”
+
+“This doesn’t feel like it can work, Rei.” Misha tries one more time.
+
+“I’m not going to give up on her,” I respond. I’m not sure where the stubbornness comes from, and it seems to surprise Misha as well. Maybe that’s why she just sighs in resignation.
+
+“Ok, fine. Save your crush, or wife, or whatev—” Misha pauses as she says that part out loud. “Wait, God, we just skimmed over that and how crazy it sounds. This is worse than those manga you read. She was your wife ?” Does Misha really have to act like that’s the most egregious thing about all of this?
+
+“That’s what she said.” Why is it so warm in here?
+
+Misha snickers. “Oh wow, and let me guess. She still loves you?”
+
+I try to glare at Misha but she just stops holding back and lets herself laugh until she’s doubled over. This is violence, Misha. How are you my best friend? “Miiishaaa, pleeeease.”
+
+She eventually settles down and wipes her eyes, a smirk still on her face. “So you finally got yourself a girlfriend?”
+
+“Oh, laugh it up. I see how you get around Yu-san.” She has no business making fun of me when she’s just as bad.
+
+“Answer the question, otaku.”
+
+“Fine! She said she’ill wait ‘till I’m ready.”
+
+Misha snickers viciously again. “How much more ready do you need to be? You literally haven’t been able to shut up about her.” Misha sits up and puts her hands together like she’s praying. “Oh Misha, how can Francois-san look so perfect and pristine? It’s like she’s a princess from a fairy tale, or even better, the evil queen. Sure she can be so cool, proper and detached, but that glare of hers says that she wants to step on her unworthy minions, I just know it I’ll bet she has a hidden fiery side if only—”
+
+Thwak!
+
+I hit her square in the face with one of the pillows from her bed, knocking her down. I ready the pillow for another strike if needed, but Misha just smirks and doesn’t say anything, as though she’s already won. Damn her. I let out a huffy sigh and get up from her bed to sit down on my own.
+
+“Let me know if any other crazy things start happening. Otherwise I have a paper to finish.” Misha disappears back into her laptop and earbuds, though she does give the occasional glance my way.
+
+I fall back into my bed and let my bag fall on the floor. Before real thoughts can percolate into my consciousness I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.
+
+Oh, Francois-san sent me a text.
+
+Never mind, she sent a letter.
+
+Hello Rei, I hope this finds you well and you made it to your abode safely. I must thank you again for taking the time to help me as you have. I’m very grateful that you listened to me and took me at my word. I would have been lost without the help you have given me thus far, and for the further help you have offered in the coming days. I hope one day I can make this all up to you tenfold and I am sorry if I may have made you uncomfortable with the implication I made about our previous lives together. I understand and will respect your wishes if you do not want to pursue such a relationship, but I will not lie either. I do hope I can share this love with you once again, and you will always hold a place in my heart regardless. Sincerely yours, Claire Francois.
+
+I need to crack open a window. I can hear Misha snicker at me, again. Dammit, I’m blushing. Great. Laugh it up Misha, I’ll remember this.
+
+Hi Francois-san, Thks np
+
+Sorry, I mean thanks, no problem. texting is pretty informal and we tend to shorten words a lot
+
+Thks is thanks. I will try to avoid using abbreviations too much, but just ask if something comes up that you don’t understand
+
+We use acronyms a lot too, like imo is in my opinion, but just text however works for you. oh but maybe avoid sounding too formal with people who don’t know. You can probably even see some of your old texts to get an idea about how you used to text.
+
+And I’m not uncomfortable
+
+About a relationship
+
+With you
+
+I mean
+
+It's just that a lot happened in the last 8 hours and I don't want to move too fast. And I’m not out. I don’t think you were either. 
+
+(being out means being open about being queer)
+
+sorry, I’m rambling, and I can see you are trying to type something back. I’ll pause
+
+Now
+
+Sorry, I am quite slow at this and you are very fast.
+
+It's a thing you get better at over time
+
+Thank you for your patience, Rei. I might have had to stop and rewrite my sentences several times.
+
+Lol
+
+Lol = laugh out loud
+
+I see. This feels more like a conversation than I thought it would be. It’s a pleasant ability to have.
+
+That said, I would like to try to call you if that is all right with you .
+
+Of course
+
+It doesn’t take too long for my phone to ring. I quickly hit accept. “Hello?” I try to say it clearly for her.
+
+“Hello!” Francois-san sounds very proud of herself. Oh God, it’s adorable . She must be beaming on the other end. “Thank you again, Rei. Phones are incredible. Are you sure this isn’t magic?”
+
+I laugh. “Yes, it’s not magic. I don’t think I could explain it very well right now. It’s very complicated how they work, but it’s just a machine. How are you settling in?”
+
+“Excited, also a bit nervous, but otherwise well, I think. Catherine was showing me a few other things before I wrote to you. Did you know about TVs? She also showed me her computer laptop. Apparently I have one as well.”
+
+I curl up in bed while listening to her voice. Something about this feels right. Just a day ago it was wishful thinking to imagine I could ever even talk to her. While this is pretty different from what I imagined, in many ways this side of her feels right. Like I was right about her all along. “Yes, TV’s are everywhere, and most students have a laptop. They’re very useful. We can get into it tomorrow after classes.”
+
+Francois-san hums in agreement on the other end, “Rei, I have a question.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Are you still able to hear me?”
+
+“Ah, yeah. Though if you’re trying to not be heard you could try pocketing your hand over your mouth and phone. Or just leave the room. What’s up, are you okay?”
+
+“Oh, yes.” It still sounds like she’s trying to whisper but her voice is coming through a little bit clearer now. “I just would like it if Catherine didn’t overhear this. You may have heard  when she talked about how I am to blame for the state of her prosthetic leg. It got damaged a bit at some point and it seems to be a pain to use but I don’t know how to go about replacing it. I would suggest repairing it, but she said it’s cheap and was poor quality to begin with. I think I have the monetary means to get her a better one but well, as you have seen, I am quite ignorant about how anything works here.”
+
+“Oh yeah, we can look into that. I think at some point you’ll need to let her know though, so she can get it fitted properly. But that sounds like something we should look into soon. I’m sure she would appreciate it.”
+
+“Thanks, Rei. I’m getting the sense the other me was… well, probably insecure and immature in the ways I was before I met you. And she probably made some poor choices. I would like to remedy those if I can.” Francois-san doesn’t sound ashamed, but there’s a sympathetic sort of  softness to her voice. A sense of responsibility, even if she herself isn’t to blame. “I did steal her life, in a way.”
+
+“That’s quite a big assumption,” I can’t help but retort. “We don’t know exactly what’s happening, but from what you said it sounds like we might be reliving our lives over and over again? Maybe something just slid in a little wrong when you got here, and your other memories will come back in time. Maybe this version of you was just dormant this whole time.” I’m rambling again.
+
+Francois-san just chuckles, and wow, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. “Thank you, Rei. You're right, as usual. It does no good to ruminate on conjectures with no information. Still, I will honor my responsibilities.”
+
+“What was it like? Your… our old life?” I ask her.
+
+“Us? Early on, very chaotic and turbulent.” She laughs pleasantly. “We met at the Bauer Academy, a school for raising the brightest and most talented. I was a high-ranking, noble-born daughter of the house Francois and you were a very cheeky commoner.” The emphasis she puts on that last part causes a pleasant shiver to run down my body. “The first thing you said to me was that you loved me, and that I should bully you.” She laughs again and the room suddenly feels several degrees warmer. I said that? Oh God, what was wrong with me? It’s not like I didn’t imagine- “Rei, are you still there? Hello?”
+
+“yES.” Oh, that was too squeaky. I cough. “I’m still here. Sorry.”
+
+“Rei…” She slowly draws out my name in a husky voice.
+
+I shiver again. “Yes…?”
+
+I hold the phone close to my ear. “Would you like it if I teased you?” Her voice is so low and smooth. I huddle up into a ball and press my face into my pillow. I feel like I am about to explode.
+
+“Yes.” The sound that comes out of my mouth is a whimper. Oh God, what am I saying?
+
+“ Good girl. ” I can hear her smile as she says it.
+
+I let out a groan and Francois-san just laughs. I might have heard Misha telling me to shut up, too. 
+
+“Rei? Sorry, was that a bit much?”
+
+Yes. “No.”
+
+Francois-san hums contentedly. I love the way it sounds. God, I’m so fucked. Who am I kidding? I’ve already got it so bad for her. “Well, back to your question….” Oh, that is so unfair. “We went through a lot together, you and I. You taught me so much and saved my life when the revolution came. We became teachers at the Academy, raised two daughters and lived a good life, I would say.”
+
+“Daughters?” Oh right, she did say something about that before. Wait, how did we-
+
+“Adopted twins. May and Aleah.” The way she says their names, so softly, I can almost imagine her with them.
+
+It’s a lot harder to imagine myself, though. “I can’t see myself as a mother.”
+
+“You were wonderful, Rei. I couldn't have done it without you.” I wish I could share in her confidence.
+
+She yawns. I guess it’s been a long day hasn’t it? “It’s getting late, Francois-san. We should probably get to sleep.”
+
+“Aww,” Francois-san pouts. “I’m enjoying this so much, but you are probably right.” She yawns again. “Goodness, fine, you are right, as usual. ”
+
+“I liked this too, Francois-san. We’ll do it again soon.  Oh, before we go, I wanted to tell you to make sure Achard-san shows you how the alarm on your phone works. You probably have one that will wake you up for classes.. She would know if anyone would.”
+
+“I’ll ask her. Thank you, Rei. Good night—I will see you in the morning.”
+
+“Good night,” I softly say back to her. I wait on the line until the call ends.
+
+God, I feel so restless now. I can’t help but fidget in place, rolling back and forth in my bed—
+
+“Wow, you are such a simp,” Misha’s voice comes from across the room. I freeze in place and hazard a glance in her direction. Misha is still working on her paper, eyes only occasionally glance my way. “Enjoy your call, much?”
+
+“It’s rude to eavesdrop.”
+
+“It’s hard to not hear you when you sqwee so much.” Misha states, deadpan.
+
+Wow, rude. Fine. I’ll remember this next time Yu-san is around and you get all sappy and starstruck.
+
+It’s late and I will probably have to leave quite a bit earlier to rendezvous with Francois-san tomorrow. I could go to sleep, but maybe I’ll look up prosthetic legs for a bit before I pack it in.

40.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,325 @@
+Claire’s been pretty into Dungeon Meshi… I thought she would have been asking more questions… but a couple chapters in and she is just getting comfortable. She has definitely been slyly sinking more and more into me…
+
+This is great. And it’s nice… cozy, I’m reading along with her over her shoulder on her phone, maybe it’s a bit harder for me to read but I hardly need to at this point. Oh, that’s the chapter done, a light chuckle from her for the silly last page.
+
+“So…?”
+
+“I like it, so far at least.”
+
+“Really?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+Don’t nerd out.
+
+“Whatdoyouthink?”
+
+She laughs and stretches, then leans more into me… oh. “It’s interesting, I never would have really humored the idea of eating monsters in Bauer before.”
+
+“Monsters… what were those like? You kinda mentioned that before I think. You had magic too? What was… was it like this? I was expecting you to ask more questions while reading, but is it just familiar?”
+
+“Hmm? Oh no, this is nothing like Bauer… we had monsters to be sure, but a ‘dungeon’ was it? That’s what they are going through right? That’s not like anything we had, and the monster are similar, you had a slime familiar-”
+
+“I what?”
+
+“A slime, like from the first chapter, but she looked very different, and was very clever.”
+
+“I had a pet slime?” Really? That sounds so cool.
+
+“Yes, the girls more or less inherited her afterwards, she was adorable, here, might you have some pen and paper?”
+
+I reach over the bed to my desk and pull my school bag out, dragging back what Claire needs. She quickly sketches up a slime, it almost looks like one from Dragon Warrior, but still it's its own thing. It looks cute. “Daww, that would be so cool, she looks cute.”
+
+“Relaire was very cute,” She smiles and looks at the sketch, “She was such a good companion and did so much for us.”
+
+Ahh, I feel bad that I will never- Wait “Relaire?”
+
+Claire slides back into me and leans up to give me a kiss on the chin, “Yes, Relaire.” She smirks.
+
+“I didn’t.”
+
+“You did.”
+
+“No…”
+
+“Rei…
+
+“No….”
+
+“Plus…”
+
+“I didn’t”
+
+“Claire.”
+
+I can’t help but groan, are you serious? Of fucking course I did that.
+
+“It was cute, even if I couldn’t admit it at the time.”
+
+… “So umm, monster?”
+
+“Yes… there were goblins, orcs, demons, we even fought a chimera together while we were students… Undead… ”
+
+“Undead?”
+
+“Yes.” Claire’s voice is strained.
+
+“Is something wrong with the undead? Wait, do we mean the same thing, like a walking dead body right?”
+
+“Yes, just that. Nothing unusual.”
+
+“Okay…? I… nevermind, but what about ghosts? Spirits?”
+
+“Thereisn’tsuchathingasghostsReiwhywouldyousuggestsuchathing?”
+
+“What?”
+
+“What? Are there ghosts here?”
+
+“No?”
+
+“Oh thank goodness.”
+
+Wait…. “Claire are you a-”
+
+“I dare you to finish that sentence Rei ”
+
+Oh….
+
+I lean into her ear and whisper, “ Ghosts ?”
+
+She shudders and turns, thumping her hands on my chest, “That isn’t funny Rei!”
+
+I can’t help but laugh as she lays a weak barrage on me, “Ghosts?”
+
+“Rei! It’s not funny!”
+
+“Okay Okay.” It’s kinda funny.
+
+“Hmmph!” She turns away and just pouts fucking adorably.
+
+I’m the luckiest lesbian in the world.
+
+I shouldn’t tease her too much about it though… I can wait till spirits show up in Meshi…
+
+“So how different was the rest? Like you said there was magic… you, uh we had magic?”
+
+Her pouting simmers down, “Well, yes… do you mean from Dungeon Meshi? I think it seems different. It hasn't really gone into magic theory has it?”
+
+“Oh… yah I suppose. It does later I guess. Sorry I just got it all in my head. How did your magic work, you said theory?”
+
+“Well magic would be aligned with one of the four elements, Earth, Fire, Wind or Water. I was a master of fire magic, you were a rare dualcaster, and could use Earth and Water.”
+
+“Oh… okay, yah the four elements are a common trope for magic, especially in games, there is the whole elemental weakness things too. Fire versus Water, Air versus Earth, sometimes there is Dark and Light too.”
+
+Claire looks confused, “What do you mean? That's not how it works, Fire trumps Earth, then Earth trumps Wind, which then in trumps Water and then Fire.”
+
+“What? That can’t be right? Fire should be good against Water too? How does that even make sense? Even Pokemon let's ice be weak to fire.”
+
+“Poke-what? What are you talking about Rei, of course that’s how it works. What you are suggesting doesn't make sense either, how would elements be both effective and susceptible against each other?”
+
+“Because they are opposite!”
+
+“Oh? And how is that supposed to help Wind beat Earth?”
+
+“How is Air more effective than Fire versus Water huh? Water just evaporates with enough heat, if something is made up of water heat can be very dangerous. And Air is light and hard to hit, Earth is slow, they attack each other's weaknesses.”
+
+“I lived it Rei, I’m telling you that’s not how it worked.” She looks a bit upset with me.
+
+“Sorry… Sorry Claire. I… it's just a video game thing and I can…” But like how is fire good versus a rock?
+
+“Get a little too into it?” She quirks her brow.
+
+She does know me, “...yeah.”
+
+She chuckles, “Don’t worry, I-”
+
+My phone starts buzzing on the bed, and we both stop to look at it. It’s a call. “Sorry, do you mind if I check, we can keep going after.”
+
+She nods, so I grab it. Oh… it’s Shiko.
+
+“Hi?”
+
+“Thank god,” She sounds exhausted, “I need help, my assistant bailed and I need hands to help sell at the event next saturday.”
+
+“What?”
+
+“Ami… that bitch flake just flaked out, Rei it’s a big event, I need to sell my doujins but I can’t man my both by myself. Come on, you have helped out before.”
+
+“Who is it?” Claire asks, it must be easy to hear Shiko.
+
+“It’s Shiko.”
+
+“Are you with someone?” Shiko asks.
+
+“Shiko?” Claire sounds excited, uh I-
+
+“Hey who is that-”
+
+“It’s Claire… uh my…”
+
+“Holy shit.”
+
+I barely register as Claire leans next to my ear with the phone, and answers for me, “Her Girlfriend, Hello Shiko.”
+
+“Oh fuck yes, my baby gay has grown up.”
+
+Claire laughs, “We can help Rei.”
+
+“What, I… are you sure, you don’t even know what you are offering.”
+
+“Your friend needs help doesn’t she?”
+
+“Yes I need help, listen to your girlfriend Rei.” Shiko’s voice comes from the phone again.
+
+Oh no, they are ganging up on me. “I… can you tell me more… where is it?”
+
+“Close to you, this one is in Tokyo, it’s easy for you to get there.”
+
+“Ughhh, is it going to be the whole day?”
+
+“Unless I sell out first, come on, I’ll pay you both, and I’ll treat you to dinner afterward. Please Reiiiiiiiiiii!”
+
+“We should help her, she needs it, and I want to be of help if I can.”
+
+“Fine-”
+
+“Yes!”
+
+“But Claire’s never been to one of these before so I need you to… not throw her in the deep end okay?”
+
+“Pftt! Who do you think I am?... Okay, FINE , but honestly we will probably be too busy anyways.”
+
+“Wait…” Oh god damn it, it’s not just normal doujin either is it? “What kind of doujin are we talking about?”
+
+“I’ll be selling safe ones, but I have a big stock of ecchi and hentai that needs to be sold too, come on you aren’t scared of your GF seeing some boobs?”
+
+Oh god, of course she is going to be selling those too.
+
+“I don’t mind.” Right Claire is here still. “It’s not a big deal for me, if anything I am a bit interested to see whatever Shiko makes.”
+
+“But….” aaaAaaaAaaaaaAaaaaaAaaaa
+
+“Sound like it settled, Thanks Claire-san, make sure she doesn’t flake like fucking Ami.”
+
+“Hey! I already agreed.”
+
+“We will be there, it was nice talking to you Shiko.”
+
+“Damn, your girl is hot and nice, Thanks Claire-san, I’ll talk to you later Rei, I got to make sure these are printed cause fucking Ami isn’t here…. Bye.”
+
+The phone’s line dies.
+
+Claire looks satisfied… but… there are… god am I being weird, I feel weird. Shiko’s stuff can be really…. Extreme… and umm… Claire seeing that… She’s going to think I’m weird or gross.
+
+“Rei, are you going to be okay? We are just helping her?”
+
+“Yes… sorry I just… in my head.”
+
+“What are we selling exactly, doujin? Ecchi? Is this like a manga?”
+
+“Yes… doujin are like fan made manga… sometimes it’s original stuff, sometimes it’s like fan made stuff of big things, of like, um, Dungeon Meshi.”
+
+“Ecchi?”
+
+Fuck…. “Thaaaat’s…. lewd stuff, um ecchi is really suggestive stuff and hentai… is um, well just sex?”
+
+“Oh, okay.” wait, she hardly seems bothered. “I thought it might have been something like that, Shiko makes it herself? Is it good?”
+
+Very
+
+“What? Really? I… yes Shiko is… good, I… she does a lot of…”
+
+“Yuri?”
+
+“Why do you know what?” She laughs and just tips her head towards me, “Of course it's because of me, god how shameless was I?”
+
+She laughs some more, “Enough to keep things interesting, it’s a good thing, It will be fun.”
+
+Wow, it really does not seem like a big deal for her, but of course… sex isn’t a big deal for her. She umm… has done a lot… with…. Look, I haven't done any of this. I don’t need to justify why I’m nervous to myself about this!
+
+And she says it’s fine, but she hasn’t seen it…
+
+Or what I have liked.
+
+“Rei, we don’t need to make a big deal about it… really. I’m sorry If I am making light of something you are uncomfortable with. I thought you liked this sort of thing?”
+
+“Yes!” Very , “No! But like… it’s different when I’m… reading it… and my… girlfriend is… the one…”
+
+“What’s wrong Rei, you can talk to me about it, I’ve talked to you about everything.”
+
+“But I haven’t!”
+
+Shit.
+
+Claire looks a bit surprised, almost ashamed, no... God damn it Rei just keep a handle on yourself.
+
+“Rei I’m s-”
+
+“No it’s fine, it’s just me. It’s not you, you're great. You're also so kind, gentle, and accommodating. You know all these things about me… and I… I don’t know?...” It’s hard to look at her directly.
+
+“Rei, I’m here for you, I’m not perfect. I’m pushing you too much aren’t I”
+
+“You’re not, I shouldn’t be so-”
+
+“Rei, there is nothing you need to do or be. Just talk to me.”
+
+“I don’t know… I…” I can't look at her…
+
+What if I’m not who you think I am?
+
+I feel a weight on my back. It's her, she is leaning on me and wraps her arm around me, it’s nice. I’m being dramatic.
+
+You need to tell her something.
+
+“I’ve not really talked to many people about this… stuff… just Shiko really and Misha a bit, and Misha probably thinks I talk about it too much, but like no one else really. I’m anonymous online about it. I’m not a loud and proud lesbian like…” her   “it’s… scary.”
+
+“Is it scary that I know all these things about you?” Her voice is very level.
+
+“I don’t know… a little? Maybe? I… I trust you but I don’t get it… it’s…. It’s like…”
+
+I trusted Kosaki too…
+
+Her hug tightens, god I must sound pathetic. “Thank you for telling me Rei, I know it’s not easy.”
+
+Not easy for me, you mean.
+
+“Rei, I’m here for you, now, tomorrow, and the next time. It’s been a long day, a long weekend and you were there for me the whole time. But I am here for you too. It doesn’t matter what you need, I will help you too, okay?”
+
+It’s really easy to believe her when she says it like that.
+
+“Yah… sorry for being so…”
+
+“There is nothing to apologize for.”
+
+“But you have all these things to deal with, you shouldn’t have to be worrying about my hang ups, I should be the one helping you.”
+
+“We help each other Rei, you need help too and I will die before I ignore your needs. Promise me you will let me help you, that you will ask for help. You don’t need to shoulder it all yourself.”
+
+“I… really? Are…?”
+
+“Yes Rei…” She loosens her grip on me, and moves to bring us face to face. Her face is serious, firm, “Rei, swear to me, We are equals, we share each other’s burdens. You will let me help you as you have helped me. You won’t be alone.”
+
+“... seriously?”
+
+She just holds her stare. She means it.
+
+“Okay… I won’t?”
+
+“Rei, say it.”
+
+“Ah…. okay fine. I swear… that we are equals, we share and help each other.”
+
+“And you won’t be alone.”
+
+“And I won’t be alone.” I have to gulp as I finish saying that… wow saying it out loud… feels… a lot. Something very intimate. Our private oath.
+
+She smiles, and that makes it feel right. She leans in and gives me a chaste kiss, it’s short but something about it makes it feel so much more.
+
+With this, a contract is formed.
+
+God, I'm such an otaku.
+
+Okay, I won’t fuck this up.
+
+

41.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,291 @@
+Chapter Text
+
+There are many good things about being young again. I could wax on about many of the reasons, but surely most of those would be related to Rae, in one way or another. She is young again too. One good thing not directly related to Rae though is I have boundless energy again.
+
+I can do anything .
+
+And that is perfect because this week has been militant, for us both. I can’t tell which of us is pushing themselves more either. 
+
+It Is quite the challenge before us. But I won’t fail, a Francois never fails.
+
+After Mother’s mandate, Rae has doubled her efforts. She has a more structured plan now, Modernize Claire Version two point zero . I adore her antics. We have allowed for the weekends to be more flexible, and to use for extra studying as needed. But I have made sure she understands that we need time to breathe, we can’t burnout. She was reluctant, but we agreed in the end. Weekdays however… are an entirely different matter.
+
+We have given ourselves a small time for break after classes, but we reconvene at my place and dive back into the subject matter. The first half of our evenings is directly on the courses. Thankfully, it is making more sense as I dive further in. The nature of ‘modern’ economics was  bizarre compared to Bauer at first, exceedingly more complex, larger. But I can see the foundations that lie in the logic of what I am familiar with, and many things are more alike than my first fears would have had me believe.
+
+The more difficult aspect is the latter half of our evenings. The Modernize part of the plan. Rae and Catherine have agreed that the best place to start is with history, and with that, from the start. Catherine has been walking me through western classical history, and Rae has taken eastern. What was not clear at first was the sheer amount of history. Bauer’s records must have been missing huge swaths, and the world felt much, much smaller. Earth has several continents, and most seem larger than Bauer’s.
+
+And to account for over five thousand years.
+
+Notwithstanding prehistoric history? 
+
+A staggering task to say the least.
+
+But an excellent subject and suitable challenge. Rae has found a great many videos. Even some in a different language, English is finally the name I learn for it. Apparently it is a very prominent language of this world, both Rae and Catherine can speak it and they were relieved that I also know it fluently. It just had a different name in my previous life. It seems every one of the languages I knew then has some version here. That was odd, but it really befuddled Rae when I explained it.
+
+So videos, texts, and Wikipedia , oh marvelous wikipedia. A globally shared encyclopedia that is accessible to anyone? Again I balk at how irreverent Rae and Catherine treat it. I can simply just type a subject and it will summon me a page about it?
+
+How incredible.
+
+The Giant Otter’s scientific name is Pteronura Brasiliensis , and it is native to South America and can reach up to a body length of 1.8 meters and they are one of the most social of all otter species.
+
+That might have been a less productive reading on wikipedia, but it was on my own time. I had to look!
+
+Regardless, what a brilliant resource to have. It has made the whole process much more manageable and been an excellent supplement to the whole process. 
+
+The very end of the evenings after all of that has been sequestered to learning to use the internet safely myself. Again they have stressed the importance of such. There has been much insistence that I limit myself to very few internet places. Primarily youtube and Wikipedia, and channels should be vetted by either Rae or Catherine. It’s a bit patronizing, I'm not a child , but I hardly have the time to complain.
+
+It has been much. But I do feel good about the amount we have accomplished in such a short time, and it has been good to spend so much time with Rae.
+
+It’s a shame that she leaves every night though.
+
+But could I honestly keep my hands off of her if she did stay the night? If we shared a bed once more?
+
+Would I even want to try?
+
+It’s probably for the best, I keep pushing Rae’s boundaries and she is poor at telling me no. Which isn’t surprising, it is Rae afterall. I need to find better ways, small more manageable ways to build her up, make her more comfortable. 
+
+Rae… my wife, my soul mate and partner… she is amazing, and I want to help her to realize that.
+
+But we will have plenty of time for that in the coming days. And tomorrow we will be meeting Shiko to help her. I can’t lie, I am very excited to meet her for the first time. Rae is a bit worried I will have a poor impression of the event and everything associated with it, but seeing people in costumes, selling their own created artwork and literature just sounds joyful. She worries too much.
+
+Tomorrow will be delightful.
+
+Hello Rei, I hope you have made it home safely now, thank you again for the day. It’s always a pleasure.
+
+Yo, yup, safe in my dorm. 
+
+You still sure you want to go tomorrow.?
+
+Of course, it would be poor of me to not show up after promising that I would. And I want to meet Shiko.
+
+She can be a lot
+
+just
+
+like….
+
+It will be fine Rei. I am no stranger to interesting people and we are hardly normal ourselves. I am sure she will be fine company, she is your friend after all.
+
+ok
+
+just don’t tell her anything about ur memories.
+
+Of course, It won’t be an issue, and it’s not as if I will have to convince her I am not acting like myself either. She doesn’t know me.
+
+cool
+
+today was great, and thx for helping us with the event. tomrrw is going to be busy
+
+Of course, I’m expecting it. I hope you have a pleasant sleep Rei, good night and see you in the morning.
+
+you to, night Claire <3
+
+How cute.
+
+The spelling of Rei still looks weird; it's how she spells it now, but it doesn’t quite fit right in my head. It was her name originally before she awoke in Bauer, Rae is just what she went by then. 
+
+Rae
+
+Rei
+
+It will come with time, I expect.
+
+It feels a little too early to sleep yet, perhaps I could read another chapter of Dungeon Meshi. It’s starting to get very interesting, I hope they finally make it to the dragon soon. It’s getting harder to pace myself.
+
+As I consider that thought, my phone rings in my hands, the caller is unknown… is this one of those scams as Catherine cautioned me of?
+
+I tap the accept, I can just ‘hang up’ if it’s suspicious right? I still don’t quite understand that phrase.
+
+“Hello?”
+
+“Claire?”
+
+“Manaria?”
+
+“Yes, Hi Claire!”
+
+“Manaria, it’s late! What are you doing calling at such an hour? How did you get this number?”
+
+She laughs, “This is late? Please. Besides, my time is still a bit out of it from the jetlag. And I got your number from Lene.”
+
+Jetlag ? “I see, how can I help you?”
+
+She snorts on the other end, “Come on, we’re cousins, don't’ be so formal. I’m bored and wanted to talk. I have been cooped up for a whole week, and you promised me a day on the town.”
+
+“I suppose… but it might have to wait at least a day. I have an event I need to help Rae and her friend with tomorrow. Maybe the day after?”
+
+“Event? What’s that supposed to be?”
+
+“Oh…” I hope I don’t butcher this, “It’s an anime and manga event, and Rae's friend is selling her work at it. It’s here in Tokyo. There are supposed to be people in costume and disguise as well from what Rae said.”
+
+“...Cosplay?”
+
+“Yes, right, that's what she called it.”
+
+“Huh… really, an anime con?”
+
+“Con?”
+
+“Convention?”
+
+“What?”
+
+“Nevermind, I think that's what they call it in the west… really you're going to one of those?”
+
+You don’t need to sound so judgmental Manaria, “Yes, Rae likes it, and we are helping her friend out.”
+
+“Have you even watched any anime?”
+
+“Not… yet, but I’m reading a manga Rae suggested, and we are playing a game that she said is like anime.”
+
+“Heh, cute , what a nerd.”
+
+“Rae says here the phrase is Otaku.” And she’s mine, Manarira.
+
+“So that’s tomorrow huh… You said you’ve been reading something your girlfriend suggested?”
+
+“Oh yes, it’s called Dungeon Meshi, it is about a group of adventurers trying to save one of their companions from a dragon in a dungeon. It's very interesting and lovely. I was going to read a bit more before you called me in fact.”
+
+“Oh… wait, is it the one with the bath scene? That’s been everywhere online, it's an anime right? There were two girls in a bath, one was an elf, it felt really gay?”
+
+That’s surprising, I didn’t know it had an anime, or that Manaria would have heard about it.  “I… I don’t know. I haven’t made it that far if it… are you talking about Marcille and Falin? Wait, stop, don't ruin any surprises… Manaria! Oh goodness, Marcille is in love with her isn’t she?” I can’t stop the groan, of course she is… and of course I didn’t see it until someone said something. “You know what an elf is?”
+
+“Yah? Everyone’s seen Lord of the Rings Claire.”
+
+“Ahh… of course, everyone’s seen that, right, silly me.” I have to ask Rae later what Lord of the Rings is.
+
+Manaria laughs a little, “Of course…hrmm, well I’m dying to know, what happened?”
+
+“What do you mean?”
+
+“Well for starters you're talking.”
+
+“I…’ve talked.”
+
+“ Sure .”
+
+“I well…?”
+
+“And now you have a girlfriend .”
+
+Wife , but yes. “Yes.”
+
+“You’ve changed Claire.”
+
+“For the better I hope.”
+
+Manaria laughs again, more sincerely this time, “I think so, hard to say otherwise.”
+
+“Hmm… What did you think of me before, if you don’t mind” Perhaps this question is a bit too dangerous, “I only mean to ask because you have more distance correct? I just was curious what that perspective was like, if that makes sense?”
+
+There is a brief pause, the silence feels tense. Mayhap I said too much? “Hrmm, I don’t know what I would say, you were either really withdrawn, or on the rare occasion, Snippy. ”
+
+Snippy? “That bad?”
+
+“I guess… honestly I’m surprised we are having a conversation now.” Manaria’s voice sounds very neutral, intentionally so.
+
+“But you phoned me?”
+
+“Well… I was bored… and I wasn’t sure you would want to talk. Even after we bombed your little explicit hot moment Claire.”
+
+“It… wasn’t that…” She’s overstating it…
+
+“You were chewing on her. I saw the bite mark.” I don't have to see her to know the grin she is making.
+
+“I… Fine, yes. I doubt you can fault me though.”
+
+“She is cute .”
+
+“And mine .”
+
+“Yesh, sheesh, I heard the first time Claire. You act like I want to steal her away.”
+
+Oh don’t you start me with Manaria… “As long as you understand. But yes, I know I’ve changed, I feel better now that I am with her.”
+
+“So how did that happen?”
+
+“Rae?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“I saw her and knew… I’m not sure how else to elaborate, I went up and talked to her and we started dating soon after.”
+
+“Really? That’s a bit boring isn’t it?” She sounds a bit let down, it’s not like I could tell her the real story.
+
+“Nonsense, it was love at first sight.”
+
+“Suuuuure…” She sounds even more disinterested with this direction.
+
+“Come now, you must have felt that way about someone before, right?” I know you have. She doesn’t answer though. Fine , “What happened before you came here, a scandal was mentioned…?”
+
+She sighs, “Just google it, Sousse family drama.” She sounds incredibly bitter and sullen. I never thought to do that, but…
+
+“I’m asking you Manaria, I’d rather hear what you have say about it than some strangers. Are you okay?”
+
+“I was caught having sex with my maid, Okay. There were pictures, Claire. I’m problematic, Everyone thinks I assaulted her and now I’m disowned and now everyone knows I’m lesbian. It’s fan-fucking-tastic. Thanks for asking.” The veil fully drops and I can finally hear her anger.
+
+“Eve?”
+
+That startles Manaria, “Wha-How do you know that?”
+
+“Oh… I just must have heard the name before?”
+
+Manaria doesn’t respond.
+
+“I… I’m sorry, you didn’t deserve that.”
+
+“I’m sure you would know. Look, can we not right now? It happened. I’m here. I shouldn’t have and people are right, I abused her and my position. End of story.” 
+
+It’s not your fault Manaria. “I only mean to help Mana-”
+
+“End. Of. Story. Claire.” She doesn't offer much space to broker otherwise.
+
+“Fine, I’m sorry if I was being too forward.”
+
+She groans again, “Look you didn't do anything… maybe later, but not tonight please.”
+
+“Yes, good, later. I am glad to see you for what it’s worth, Manaria.”
+
+“Even if I walked in on you almost having sex.” The teasing edge is back in her voice, at least it’s better than the self loathing form before.
+
+“It wasn’t going to… look we aren’t there…” yet , “And yes. Even if you walked in on us in that state It’s good to see you again.”
+
+“Thanks, you do seem a lot better now.” There is a bit of sincerity in her voice.
+
+“Thank you, I have to thank Rae for that, I think.”
+
+“You really do like her?” What is she testing for?
+
+“Of course I do, and I will do everything I can to make sure it stays that way.”
+
+There is a brief silence, hopefully Manarai takes that hint. The less other women chasing after Rae the better. “Sooo… what did your mom have to talk to you about?”
+
+Oh hells, “There was a matter regarding my school work…” How do I even explain this?
+
+“Don’t tell me your grades are tanking because you are too lost in eating up your girl.”
+
+Oh, that’s convenient I suppose, “I… maybe? It’s complicated. Mother wanted to talk about Catherine too, and then she wanted to make sure she didn’t scare off Rae… It was a good talk, I needed it. It was just a lot, for everyone.”
+
+“Hmm, I see. Well I suppose you made out better than me on that front.” She chuckles, wait did she…
+
+“It’s not a competition.” I would be winning by any metric but that feels hollow with how terrible of a hand Manaria was just dealt.
+
+“So humble.” It’s hard to not hear the grin again. ”Either way, congrats, I hope it goes better for you.” And there is the self loathing.
+
+There has to be something I can do. “We can have lunch or dinner on Sunday, how does that sound?”
+
+“Sure I will keep my very busy schedule open for you, honestly anything is better than staring at the walls. Just let me know and Lene can drop me off.”
+
+“Of course, I’ll arrange something after tomorrow’s event… I think I am due to retire for tonight if you don’t mind, it was lovely talking to you.”
+
+“Ha, don’t let me hold you up, I’ll cya later Claire, Night.”
+
+“Good night Manaria.”
+
+And with that the phone dismisses the call, well that was interesting. There is much I’ll have to get to the bottom of that later I suppose. I hope I can at least offer her more proper advice later. She is being far too harsh on herself, I know she is. Poor Eve, I hope she is managing better than the last time… Hmm, I can only hope Salas isn’t to blame again. I haven’t had to think of the vile man for a long time… He really was connected to many terrible plots. And Lilly… goodness I haven’t seen her yet either. I hope she is doing well… It’s been a while since I have seen her. I hope we don’t have a repeat of her absolutely infuriating crush with Rae again. That went on for far too long the last time, and I don’t need to live through that again. Mayhaps Yu is acquainted with her too again, but I should be careful with such questions. I don’t want to raise her suspicions.
+
+I’ll need to make sure that’s not a problem here too. In due time Salas, in due time.
+
+For now, I was going to read more Dungeon Meshi. This is exciting, they are finally going to fight the dragon. 
+
+ 

42.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+ 
+
+“Claire… you look a bit tired?”
+
+Rae has finally decided to comment on it after we made it to the train station. I can’t believe I was reading so late, I normally have better self control than this. Rae has dressed in her preferred hoodie, the one with the Persona logo. It looks well worn, the edges have slight fraying. I suspect it's her favorite with how often she has worn it now, I believe I should be able to mend it if needed. The only thing unusual about her appearance is a small mask covering the lower part of her face. She said she wanted to avoid being recognized. 
+
+“I couldn’t stop reading… they just rescued Falin and then…” Mayhaps if we didn't have to leave so early I could have a few more minutes of sleep. At least this train station is mostly vacant. 
+
+“Oh. Yah. And how far did you make it after that?”
+
+“I needed to know what happened to her… and then it was two in the morning…”
+
+“Oh… yeah? Where did you call it quits?” I swear Rae is vibrating.
+
+“They found Falin again…”
+
+There is a sharp intake from Rae, oh she is excited. “So you saw-”
+
+“Yes I saw Falin… Dragon?”
+
+Rae immediately explodes. “Oh god she looks so fucking cool and hot, it’s such a cool design and when she looks at you, oh god it’s like wow. I’m really gay. And the way Marcille looks at her, she’s so in love with her. You don't just risk your life and delve deep into a dungeon and perform dark magic for anyone. I don’t think she realizes it yet but I think Falin knows, at least instinctual. Maybe? God they are so gay and then when she pulls her shirt apart… uhh… sorry I’m rambling aren’t.. I?” She shies after the outburst, oh goodness she is adorable. 
+
+“No, no no, I think you're right. I didn’t notice it at first but then Manaria made a comment about it, and then it’s really obvious like you said. And they really do feel meant for one another. I think I would have noticed after they shared a bath I think, I really wish she didn’t ruin that for me.”
+
+“Manaria?”
+
+“Yes, my cousin from… well not Sousse, I don’t actually know where she is from. She was with my Mother. She called me last night.”
+
+“Oh her. ” Ah yes, barely a meeting and her disdain is there.
+
+“Did she say something to you? She didn’t try to… seduce you, did she?”
+
+Rae snorts, “Excuse me? Seduce me?”
+
+“Yes!, I don’t know, did she say something weird to you?”
+
+“Wait… what? You're being serious, did something happen… before?”
+
+“Ummm… No?”
+
+“What, no seriously what happened?” Rae is not letting it go.
+
+“It was complicated, we were still trying to figure out our relationship and she made it more complicated. She ultimately helped us I think, but I’m feeling less forgiving about it now.”
+
+“It sounds like there is an ‘and’ in there?” Curses, she is perceptive.
+
+“She was always interested in you back then, for a while. And you never really liked her. But it’s not going to be like that now. We're talking and being honest about our feelings this time.” I'm not letting us go through that again.
+
+“She was into ME? What? How?” Why does she sound so surprised?
+
+“Rae, in case you have forgotten I am also into you. Many people are into you if you haven’t noticed.”
+
+“What? No, no one is into me, I’m… not… cute or sexy-”
+
+“Yes you are, You are very handsome , cute and very sexy .”
+
+Her blush is evident, even with the mask on. “You're just saying that…”
+
+“Because I think so, and so do other people. You even told me Shiko had a crush on you.”
+
+“I… I did? We were kids still, that doesn’t count!”
+
+“You were a teenager, and of course it counts. And if Manaria ever says anything, remember you are mine , understand?”
+
+She gulps, and I can see her shiver. I pull her closer to me, and whisper close to her ear. I love the effect I have on her.
+
+“Do you like that, Rae? When I call you mine , and only mine ?”
+
+She whines, “Claire… we are in public…”
+
+“No one is around, and no one heard you before in case you forgot when you went on about Falin.” I whisper again, and nod to the area around us. There is only one other person here, and they look to have… headphones was it? “No one could hear us, even if I wasn’t whispering.”
+
+She gulps and I place a hand on her waist, a bit of control to turn her more to me.
+
+“Rae, do you like it when I call you mine ?”
+
+She squirms in my hold, “Yes! Of course I do. Of course you know that. Of course you know what a freak I am.”
+
+That… is she upset? I’m doing it again. “Rae, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Do you not want me to-”
+
+“No, I do like it… I just… I don’t know, I’m just nervous, I’m not used to this and… it catches me off guard, I…”
+
+“Rae it’s okay, you can always tell me no.”
+
+She still looks unsure, “I don’t want to tell you no…”
+
+“But you should, it’s okay. Really.”
+
+I can see a rebuttal try to form, but she shuts it down.
+
+I let her go finally, she is free again, “Is it okay if I say things like that, call you mine?”
+
+“I think so…?”
+
+“How about if I do it only in private.”
+
+“I… okay?” She nods her head slowly. “Private is good… I think.”
+
+“Okay, I will have it my way in private then.”
+
+“That’s what she said.” She looks shocked that she just said that, but I can’t help but grin and laugh. And soon she is joining in. “I can’t believe I said that.”
+
+“Oh, I can.” It’s good to see her relax a little.
+
+There is a chime that plays overheard, an announcement for the incoming train.
+
+“Looks like our train is here Claire, ready to ride your first train.”
+
+“With you , always.”
+
+Rae blushes and groans again. But I can see her smile under the mask. 
+
+ 

43.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+Wow.
+
+“There’s so many people here.” The building housing the event looks large, and even now before the event is set too open many people are gathered and milling about. I think I can even spot some costumes already. Is that person green ?
+
+“Uhh, yah these can get pretty big, I think the last one I was at was bigger?”
+
+“Really?”
+
+“Yah, but this is def on the big side. This should be good for Shiko. You ready to work?” Rae is doing a pat down of herself, her usual check to make sure she has everything.
+
+“I think so, it just in- Wait what is that?” I can’t help but jump at what looks like a monster, or wait is that knight with bug eyes?
+
+“Hrmm? Oh that’s Kamen Rider, it’s an old Sentai, well not really a Sentai I think but same thing.”
+
+“Sentai?”
+
+“It's a show about heroes in suits, they fight monsters. It’s kinda… err cheesy?” She strikes an absurd pose, hmm, I’m quite sure I have seen her do that before.
+
+“Wait this is what costumes are like, oh goodness that person has wings?” There are even more costumes on display over there past the crowd.
+
+Rae snorts, “Yah, people go hard on the costumes.”
+
+“How do people afford such extravagant costumes? These must cost a small fortune.”
+
+Rae just chuckles a little more, “Some might be a bit expensive, but most people just make them themselves, it’s probably not anywhere as expensive as you imagine Claire. People are just good and resourceful at it. They make them from pretty normal things, and do a good job of making it look as good as it is. Like that armor is not going to like actually stop anything if that’s what you were thinking.”
+
+“Oh, that is really quite impressive. Oh there are more over there, amazing. Then these are all characters from something right? A show, manga or game?”
+
+“Yah, I mean sometimes people do original costumes, but most of the time it’s not though. People like popular characters, you know? Like it’s fun when people know who you are. We might even see some people do the Persona characters today.”
+
+“Oh! Really?” That's exciting. 
+
+Her eyes glimmer, “Yah, I’ll point it out, there are a lot of party members you haven’t seen yet, there is still Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba and Haru to find. And I guess Sumire too, sorta.”
+
+“Oh, that many… I didn’t realize. Wait, were those the people at the beginning of the game. From the casino?”
+
+“Yah, don’t worry we will see them soon, once you get through the first palace. I think you’ll get there next time we play.”
+
+“We should play again tomorrow for a bit then, I’m not sure when. I am to have lunch with Manaria tomorrow.” Cutting into my Rae time.
+
+“Oh, yah, sure. I should be good whenever. Hey look.” Rae gestures to a group of people and-
+
+“IS THAT FALIN AND MARCILLE?” Oh goodness, they look so spot on, I can’t believe it. They have taken the art and turned into a reality. They look so cute.
+
+I can see Rae grin, even behind the mask, “Want to ask if we can take their picture?”
+
+“Oh we can do that?”
+
+“If we have permission, yes.”
+
+“Yes, oh goodness they look so good.” I let Rae lead me to them, and there is the rest of the group as well in the crowd. Laios, Chilchuck and Senshi. They are talking to a girl… she has cat ears? And a tail? That can't be real?
+
+“Hey, would you mind if we take a picture, my friend just started reading.”
+
+“Hi, Of course, go for it, just let us pose.” The Laios says, oh this is so wonderful.
+
+The group organizes and gets into a pose, that includes the cat girl… is she a character I haven’t seen yet?
+
+Rae starts taking a few pictures with her phone, oh right, I can do that too. I love this phone. I start taking a few pictures as well of the whole group but it's obvious I am favoring Falin and Marcille rather quickly.
+
+After taking quite a few, the Falin speaks up to me. She tilts her head and her eyes are nearly closed, oh she is really good at her mannerism, “Are you a shipper?”
+
+“I beg your pardon?” Where have I heard that before?
+
+“Shipping is liking two characters together, relationship, ship. And yah, she likes Farcille.” Rae says.
+
+“Oh! That’s why you came up with Relaire?”
+
+Rae blushes behind her mask, “Aaaa, yah? Hahaha.” I can’t help but grin, it’s delightful tracing back all her eccentricities to this life. 
+
+The Falin smiles, “Great, here.” She leans in and places a kiss on Marcille's cheek, ohhh. “You can take a picture.”
+
+“Oh right, sorry this is new to me.” I take a few more photos, oh they look so cute. “Thank you so much.”
+
+“No problem, enjoy the event you two.” The Marcille giggles and they wish us off, and soon they are posing for other people to take pictures.
+
+“We should start making our way to Shiko’s booth before it gets really busy.” Rae starts directing us to the building entrance.
+
+“What? It’s going to get busier?”
+
+“Oh yah, it’s still early, here put this around your neck, it’s our pass. We will probably see more Dungeon Meshi cosplay too. I wonder if anyone is going to do Dragon Falin. That would be a hard one but sooooo cool.” Rae tiptoes to look over the crowd a bit better in front of the entrance. 
+
+“More people might be cosplaying her too?”
+
+“Oh yah, it’s pretty popular. Don't sweat it, you’re new to this but you can pick what it’s like pretty fast after today I think..”
+
+“I… okay, Let me know if I do anything rude or untoward. Who was the last girl in that group? Was she a cat person?”
+
+“Oh yah, that was Izutsumi. You will see her quite soon, I think you have seen her in fact. It just wasn’t obvious.”
+
+“Oh… is it also popular to… ship characters? Did I say that right?”
+
+Rae nods very eagerly. “Yah, that was right, and yes it’s popular, I think Farcille is the most popular ship of the series. God bless Kui-sensei for it.”
+
+What?
+
+“Sorry, Ryoko Kui, she’s the mangaka, that’s author and artist. I just love her stuff. It’s so queer coded and ND.”
+
+“Oh.., I see, It has been really good, it’s just getting harder to pace myself.”
+
+“Oh you are so lucky to be able to read it all at once, maybe? I was reading it one chapter at a time when it was releasing. It was agonizing when Falin disappeared again, and then again when she showed up. Chapters only came out once a month, which is normal but gOd the wait…”
+
+“Oh, that’s interesting, we didn’t have anything like that. A book would be released as a whole if it was made.”
+
+Rae leads me through the crowd to enter the building. “Hmm, makes sense, some stuff releases like that still. Okay, just follow my lead, they need to check us in.” Rae finds a shorter line on the side, and some staff check us over and guide us to the venue hall. It’s full of stands, tables, and improvised walls for hanging stuff on. It looks like many are still in the process of setting up. Thankfully Rae seems to know the way, so I just let myself take in the sights. Some stands have art on hanging, some look to have various goods, various knick knacks that I couldn’t even begin to place. I notice a fair few are setting up with books.
+
+Rae stops in front of a stand, it has a bunch of boxes littered about. It looks like some are in the midst of being unpacked, a large collection of thin paper books being set up for display.
+
+“Shiko?” Rae calls.
+
+“Hmm?” A head pops up from behind a wall, “Oh hell yes, you two made it. Thank. God. These all need to be unpacked and set up. The boxes on the front can go on the table, but the boxes on the floor should stay on the floor but need to be set up so they can be accessed easily. Can’t show those off unless people ask for them specifically. That’s the eighteen plus stuff.”
+
+This must be Shiko. She has messy long black hair, pulled in a loose tail, wearing sleek stylish spectacles. And a very toothy grin. She looks plainly dressed; except for a tee-shirt with yuri written on it in English, ready for work.
+
+“Hello, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Claire Francois.” I offer her my hand.
+
+She looks at me, pauses as she takes in my appearance, then grins again and shakes my hand.
+
+“Holy shit Rae, she is hot.”
+
+“SHIKO!” Rae beams red.
+
+Oh that is brazen. I think I like her. I can’t help but laugh. “It’s nice to finally meet you Shiko-san. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
+
+“You have?” Shiko eyes Rae.
+
+“Uhhhh, sorta?” Rae offers, “Look, we talk about stuff okay. But we can talk more once we get this set up, you have only half an hour till the floor opens up.”
+
+“Fuck, your right. Okay, Rae, you start unpacking, Claire I’ll give you the rundown okay?”
+
+“Of course.”
+
+Shiko blazes through a description of the types of manga, or doujin she is selling. It’s an uneven split between original work and mostly fan work. There is a lot that’s mostly appropriate for casual viewing, and some that’s not. Those are risqué and stay under the table unless asked for.
+
+And I was not anticipating some of the more extreme ones. We were always… experimental in the bedroom, but honestly I could have never expected what was featured in some of Shiko’s more extreme works. She says they aren’t her favorites, but they are popular and always sell out. Really? Can’t say I understand that appeal, but I can’t really judge. It wouldn’t be fair, especially since people thought Rae and I were baseless deviants merely because both of us were women. 
+
+Not that any of those rubes needed to know what we did in our own bedroom.
+
+Otherwise, Shiko’s works are quite varied, some are more wholesome and cute. Some seem to be quite dramatic at a glance. And most of the more explicit ones are more what I was expecting. Some of these even cater to some of Rae’s and my own tastes. The only collective thread is that they are all sapphic, they are all yuri.
+
+Honestly I’m intrigued. Shiko is obviously proud of her work, and she should be.
+
+“Okay, and no haggling prices, they go for what they are marked as, as we get close to the end of the day I might cut prices if we have a lot of stock left but I don’t think we will have that problem, any questions?”
+
+“I don’t think so, it’s fine that I’m not familiar with the works right?”
+
+“It should be fine, We won’t leave you alone, so you can always point customers at me, or Rae if I’m not around. We will take a few breaks, get some food and snacks etcetera, but one of us should be around at least so we won't leave you alone.”
+
+“Okay, right then I think I should be good, do you really think you will sell most of this? There must be a couple thousand books?”
+
+“Yah, I keep printing more, and I keep selling out. I’m a bit of a known quantity on the doujin scene and people always come by now. Especially when I have new stuff, and I do today. And people tend to pick up a bunch of books when they come by, they're not big right? A book can be ten, twenty, maybe fifty pages on the off chance. If you want any, feel free to take a copy now. Chances are good the hot stuff won't be left over.”
+
+“Are you sure? I can at least pay for it.”
+
+“Don’t you dare, you two saved me, and I’ve seen you eyeing them.” She wiggles her brow, It’s not like I was trying to hide it, unlike some other people.
+
+Bound certainly has caught my eye. It's aptly named and looks deviously fun.“Oh well thank you then, I am glad to help. Honestly this sounds like it will be fun.”
+
+“It’s going to be exhausting, but it’s usually enjoyable. I love getting to see people and fans in person, and I bet there is going to be sick cosplay on the floor. And you two can take a longer break together around lunch and walk the floor too if you want. I bet Rae wants to do that.”
+
+“I wouldn’t mind…” Rae says sheepishly.
+
+“Then we should, oh this will be exciting.”
+
+“ Attention, the floor will be opening in five minutes. Thank you.” A loud voice booms over what must be a speaker machine somewhere.
+
+An energy washes over the whole floor as everyone makes their last minute efforts to read themselves. 
+
+“Shit, get ready.” Shiko flashes a toothy grin.
+
+ 

44.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+ 
+
+The first lull didn’t happen until two hours in… How are there still so many people? It has all felt like one giant blur.
+
+“You okay Claire?” Rae asks and she finishes putting some money away from the last customer.
+
+“Yes… just goodness, I really should have slept more last night.”
+
+“Okay, hey do you want me to go find some food? I think the panels started opening up so more people are going to be there.”
+
+“Panels?”
+
+“Umm, it’s like a presentation? Not that formal or anything. More like maybe they have a guest and they answer questions from the audience. Or they just talk.”
+
+“Oh yah, they got a bunch of VOs for this one, did you hear they got both Loid and Yor’s VOs? That’s going to be packed. ” Shiko chimes in, that bit of news causes Rae to perk up.
+
+“Oh wow really? Man if I wasn't so busy with school I might have made this one. That’s cool. But yah, panels could be like whatever, maybe a mangaka is there. Maybe they are showing off a new series, whatever gets people in the door I guess. There is probably a cosplay contest happening somewhere too.”
+
+Shiko nods.
+
+Rae then fidgets, I can see that she's trying to figure out how to excuse herself. “Umm, well anyways… I’m going to… go. You know, get some food. And stuff... Cya in a bit.” And there my awkward dolt slips out around the table to disappear down into the aisles of tables.
+
+I don’t have much time to think before a new customer shows up. Shiko ends up helping them too, but after we finalize their purchase it looks like we have a moment of breathing room. She shifts her chair closer to mine, and gives me a cheeky grin.
+
+“Sooo… how’d Rae score you. She’s not exactly smooth.”
+
+“Oh I disagree, she can be very smooth when she isn’t trying too hard. But she’s adorable either way.”
+
+“Yah, well you be nice to her, Kay?” The mirth drops from her voice.
+
+“Of course! Are you suggesting that I wouldn't?”
+
+“Cool, look you seem nice so far Francois-san, but like, I'm just looking out for my friend. She’s had it rough before.”
+
+“Oh, do you mean about your… well the awkward love square as she called it.”
+
+Shiko snorts, “That’s what she’s calling it? I suppose. Yah.” She leans back in her chair, letting it balance on its back legs. She seems to be rolling a thought in her head. “We made up… eventually. And thankful while we still could… but it was really bad for her for a while. She pretty much missed a month of school.”
+
+What ? “I didn’t… she never mentioned that .”
+
+“Of course she didn’t.” Shiko sighs, it's not judgemental. She just understands her.
+
+Of course she never told those bits.
+
+I sigh too, “It’s not surprising, she used to be so bad at being honest about her own pain.” I wish she had told me more. I knew she always made light of that moment, even from the first time she mentioned it… Even an idiot could see she wasn’t fine, and that was after years for her before.
+
+Now…
+
+“Used to? Last I checked she’s still doing it.”
+
+“I… yes, I just meant… I’m trying to help her in that way. She’s bad and telling me no, and I sometimes… I know she’s worried about being out as a lesbian.”
+
+“Yah… fucking Misaki… I can’t believe he did that to her. But fuck, we were all pretty stupid kids still.” She lets her chair fall back forward, and leans herself on her knees. “The whole school knew after that. And Rae pretty much lived in her room for that month. Even when she came back… she was struggling. Honestly it wasn’t till we graduated  and went to a new highschool that things got better for her. Middle school was ruthless after Misaki outed her, they never let her forgot. At least she got to go back in the closet in a new highschool, and that helped. New friends also helped. Misha was, is a good friend, and she was always cool with us.”
+
+“Did you not also get… bullied?”
+
+“Me?... Sure I guess a bit? I don’t know… it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t a big deal for me. Like I didn’t care and she did? She was just figuring that out about herself, and then it blew up in her face. It’s good that she’s with you, I just don’t want it to go bad. I don’t want it to turn out that you are just messing around with her, she’s just your phase, and you’ll move on.”
+
+“Move on?” The edge in my voice catches her off guard and she turns to face me, “I’m. Not. Moving. On. She’s my everything, I couldn’t leave her if I tried. I will always be there for her!”
+
+Shiko is momentarily stunned. “Uhhh… okay… wow, you're really serious?”
+
+“Did I sound like I’m joking?” Calm down Claire. Shiko is just looking out for Rae.
+
+“No… sorry, that just really caught me off. You know what, I think I do like you. What do you like about her.” And with that Shiko’s grinning again and she leans back.
+
+“Oh goodness, do you want the shortened version? Well, superficially, she is very handsome, the way she fills out a suit and is completely oblivious to it, divine… She’s so cute and suave at the same time, it’s absolutely ridiculous. She’s so passionate about her hobbies, and so clever. I could just listen to her talk about anything honestly. She really tries hard at everything she puts her mind to. And it’s ridiculous how modest she is about herself now, she used to be confident and now she seems so unsure about so much, but she is still good at it. She should see how talented she is. And she is so devoted, goodness, the way she looks at me has never changed. I have no doubt in my mind that she loves me too when we look into each other's eyes. She’s amazing and she makes me feel amazing.”
+
+Shiko blinks slowly, “uhh… used to be confident?”
+
+Shite
+
+Divert, “You also liked Rae…?”
+
+That causes her to blush a little and her to pause. Perfect.
+
+“You still do?”
+
+She groans, “Look I know I have no chance with her, but yeah… she’s cute, I think I’ll always feel it a bit. She’s always going to be my friend though.”
+
+“So that’s it…?” It’s hard to not think of every other woman; or the occasional man , who also seemed intent on chasing Rae in our past life. Even when I firmly established she was mine .
+
+Shiko shrugs, “She’s not into me, not as anything more than a friend. I tried, a few times even. The first was probably a bad time… for many reasons.” She grimaces at herself. “But like, it’s not going to happen. And now that she's with you, that was never going to happen with me. Trust me. As long as you too are good, I’m happy with how things are.”
+
+“Are you?” I can’t help but ask, I remember how long Rae was an idiot .
+
+Shiko gives a light chuckle, “You’re good Claire-san. Don’t worry about me, seriously. I moved on, I just find her attractive still despite my better judgment..”
+
+I let myself chuckle, “We can be doomed to fall for quite questionable characters, no?”
+
+That gets Shiko to chuckle.
+
+“I do love her, immensely.”
+
+Shiko nods and hums in agreement, “Yah, it’s easy to see. Like you two seem to be moving fast, but like honestly, I don’t doubt you. And she’s bad at it saying it, but I’m pretty sure she is really into you too. You make her act weird. Weirder . And like by lesbian standards? I’m sure I know some who would have already moved together by now, Ha.” 
+
+Oh it was blisteringly slow in our previous life, I had to wait nearly a year for her to kiss me after she basically proposed to me.
+
+“Thank you for being there for her, when she needed it. I wish I could have been there for her too.”
+
+Shiko looks a little shy after, and tries to wave it off. “It is what it is. Did you know she writes fan fiction?” Now Shiko’s diverting, she’s trying to grin through her embarrassment. 
+
+“Yes, and she wont share it with me. It’s absolutely ridiculous.” It’s obscene .
+
+“Ooooh?” Shiko's grin turns genuine and her glasses catch an angle of light. “I could share her tumblr and fanfic accounts.”
+
+“Wait, really? I always wanted to read her writing.”
+
+Shiko chuckles, “Yah why not. If that doesn’t scare you off, nothing will.”
+
+“Oh don’t worry, that won’t. Ahh, how does this work? You said a tumblr ?”
+
+“Uh yah, a social media site, I’ll text you the links, let's share numbers, kay?” She fishes her phone out and holds it up to accept my number. I have to double check my number on my own phone, at least she doesn’t think it too odd that I do.
+
+“Awesome, I’ve always wanted to embarrass her when she finally did hook up with someone.”
+
+“Oh don’t tease her too hard, that’s my privilege .” We share grins. Oh this is delightful conspiratorial. 
+
+“Oh don’t worry, that’s going to be real easy when you read her fic. It’s so unhinged, I love it.”
+
+“I…’ve had a notion.”
+
+“Really?”
+
+“Yes. We’ve talked a bit about it but she usually shies away from really getting into it.” Now.  “But she’s not exactly the book of secrets she thinks she is, especially now. Wait, this is based off another work is it not? Would… should I read that first? Rae said her copies are with her parents, otherwise she would have lent those.”
+
+“Oh, you haven’t read Pray Love? You might get away with not… have you read any fan fiction before?”
+
+“No.”
+
+“Then… yah, maybe diving right into it would be… confusing. You can always get your own copy online and read it on your phone. There are online stores, you could even get a physical copy if you'd rather, it’s still in print I think.”
+
+“Oh, I could read it on either? I… yes that makes sense. I think I would rather get a copy in my hands, even if I do appreciate reading on my phone. Rae showed me how to read Dungeon Meshi on it, and that has been quite excellent so far.”
+
+“Hell yah, Kui-sensei is such a goat.” Goat? “That��s a great one to start with if you haven’t read much manga.” It sounds like she approves of the choice.
+
+“I haven’t, it is my first, but I have been really enjoying it. I ended up reading it far too late last night.”
+
+Shiko raises her hand, oh it’s for a high five, with a laugh I do my half of the motion. A customer shows up after that and that puts our conversation on hold for now as Shiko’s attention turns back to her work. She seems very relaxed and casual as she helps them, but is still quite diligent. She’s practiced at this work. The customer leaves quite satisfied and soon after Rae returns, carrying a fair amount of food that reminds me of what one could find at a fair. The smell causes my stomach to rumble nearly immediately.
+
+“Hey, hope Shiko wasn’t too weird.” Rae says, just a little nervous as she makes her way to the table.
+
+“Don't worry, I only shared your deepest darkest secrets.” Rae narrows her eyes, Shiko just laughs at her. “We just talked, relax Rae, your girlfriend is nice, I approve.”
+
+Rae digests that news for a moment and then does actually relax, “Oh.. well good. Claire-chan I hope you don’t mind some greasy food.”
+
+“You can drop the honorifics with your girlfriend Rae,” Shiko teases.
+
+“That sounds lovely Rae, thank you very much.” I offer to avoid Rae from having to feel too self conscious. Chan is an improvement over sama afterall, so I consider it a victory already. And she really only uses it in public too, another improvement.
+
+Rae finally slips back in behind the table with us, and starts passing out some food and drinks. It’s fried food, and it is just perfect for the moment. This will tide us over until we can have a more proper lunch later. Rae covers for Shiko and I and we quickly devour the food before returning to the task at hand. And just in time as it seems a new surge of people start to flood the venue floor.
+
+It’s not quite as busy as the first wave, and it gives me more time to make proper observations. True to Shiko prior predictions, her stock of booklets, doujin , are diminishing. Have we already sold half of her wares? 
+
+Also the people moving about are very interesting; we are frequented by many women mostly, but we do get a fair amount of men. Some are a bit… off putting, to say so politely. Shiko treats them as respectfully as possible. Thankful nothing becomes too unbearable, but otherwise most of them seem fine. All the women are lovely though, and so diverse. There is a fair amount in cosplay, but even those not in cosplay have such diverse appearance, and Rae starts pointing out the little things. All the symbols, the little flags and what means what. I never realized how prolific such things were here. Rae always had a little rainbow flag on her desk back home, but now is the first time I can really feel the connection with a greater community that it meant to her. I find myself wanting to also add a bit of that to my life.
+
+The hours start to move quickly and soon Shiko is shooing us out, to take a break, get some food again and finally explore a bit. “Make sure you show your girl a good time Oohashi.” She teases as we leave, smiling like a Cheshire cat.
+
+There is something very nostalgic about wandering about the floor with Rae. It feels so much like our first outing at the school fair, only this time I’m the one finding every opportunity to cling to her. She is nervous, but I think the mask and hoodie are doing a lot to help her feel more comfortable.
+
+We weave our way through the other amateur mangaka on the floor next to Shiko. Rae manages to pick out a few that catch her interest, and after some prompting concedes that I could read them as well. I do catch her trying to hide a few from my notice though. I have to push down the urge to tease her for it, it already feels like I have pushed too much in the morning. I’m sure I’ll get a chance to see them later. I must remember to be patient with her. 
+
+Soon we arrive in the artist corner as Rae dubs it and the people here are selling prints of artwork, large prints as well. As Rae explains it, much like books it’s easy to reproduce printed art. Much in the same way that we can share pictures across our phone, these images are easily printed to paper. And all the artists are able to work with a computer to produce this art. 
+
+It’s amazing how much work is being shown off, and the styles of the art are all so diverse. So much of art in Bauer was focused on realism, but here it reaches all corners. For every bright and vibrant piece, there is something dark and moody. Some look nearly like photos, some look styled in the same way as Persona, or Dungeon Meshi, and others are uniquely surreal. The passion of the community is beautiful and I even manage to find pieces I recognize from Persona and Dungeon Meshi. After some encouragement from Rae I decided to find a print. After some browsing I picked out a lovely… If somewhat provocative; only slightly so , piece of Marcille and Falin after her dragon transformation. The piece is haunting yet beautiful in a way I can’t describe. There is also the added bonus of Rae being absolutely ‘losing her mind’ over the choice. I also found a lovely print of the phantom thieves to add. These will be nice to hang up, I think.
+
+After that we find ourselves with merchants; well stores, as Rae refers to them. More professional collections of merchandise. Some are selling video games, Rae is currently trapped looking at a collection beneath a glass counter. She mumbles something about having to look to see if she can find a retro title. I take the chance to look about freely. There is a wide collection on display in the small area, incredibly packed and busy. A treat of the eyes. Little figurines and models of many characters, and books, many, many books.
+
+Do… they have Dungeon Meshi? Of course they do, I glance around, and see Rae is still trapped scanning through the collection. I could have my own copies… oh goodness there are fourteen volumes all together? Where was I exactly… Oh goodness. Checking my phone, I was already into volume six. There is still so much more to read. That’s exciting . I should just purchase them for myself. It’s a little awkward as I pluck all the books for the shelf, they certainly have many copies available. Hopefully they can provide a bag. It will be terribly awkward to have to carry these all back home later, or even now.
+
+The man at the counter gives me a smile, he looks just barely older than myself. “Hi, you find everything you were looking for?”
+
+“Ooh, actually I didn’t see it but would happen to have the book Pray Love as well?”
+
+The man seems to run down a mental checklist in his mind, “Oh, Between Prayer and Love? That’s the girl love light novel right? I think we might have some in the back. That’s an older one. Let me check real quick. You can put your stuff on the counter.”
+
+“Of course, thank you.” With that he disappears behind a curtain so I’m left to let my vision wander. Rae is still in the same spot, I think she must be double checking… I expect she had little luck initially. There are more shelves behind the counter, full of cases. I think Rae mentioned those held an object to either watch videos or play video games. As I place the books down on the counter I notice there is more goods below the glass top.
+
+Oh, is that jewelry? I hadn’t expected to… Wait, these are styled after Persona?! They are, that’s the Phantom Thief mask! Their brand, a top hat sitting on top an eye mask, flames licking out the side and colored in red and black. 
+
+I hazard one more look at Rae, it looks like she's still busy. I could also… I could? Couldn’t I? It looks lovely, and Rae really does love the game. It would be like when she bought me the amulet wouldn't it?
+
+Oh
+
+I could… Oh, I’m feeling a bit too emotional over the idea already. Would she even think that much of it? She’s never been much for such things in the past but this feels different. This feels right .
+
+I have to.
+
+“Hi, so we have a few, but it’s only the first, second, fifth and seventh book. If you want, you could come to our main store in Shinjuku and we could order the rest for you.” I was so caught up in the thought that the man surprised me with his return.
+
+“Oh I see, I’ll consider it but I think just the first two books are enough for now, Thank you very much.”
+
+“No problem, okay, are you ready to check out then?”
+
+“Oh more thing, you have this pendant here, this is from Persona Five is it not?”
+
+“Hmmm, oh yah, that’s the official limited edition one, did you also want that as well? It’s fifty-five thousand yen.”
+
+That is a lot, isn’t it? That’s many meals… It’s not as if though I am a commoner anymore…  or whatever equivalent it would be here… middle class? True, Catherine did say I could pay large sums to my credit card if needed. I could try.
+
+It's a special occasion.
+
+“Yes, that will do. If I could get all of this, that would be wonderful, thank you again.”
+
+The man gives me a polite nod and opens the back of the counter and pulls the pendant from the display with a case. He closes the case, pulls a box up, also with a Persona design on it to store the pendant and collects the books over at a cashier. The card makes no objection when I use it to pay for everything. Excellent . I’ll be more frugal going forward, this is being charged to Mother after all. And I did use it last week to buy clothes for Rae as well. I should probably talk to her about it next time we have a chance. Hopefully I don’t have to justify this to her later.
+
+I will though if I have to. Rae is worth it.
+
+I collect my bag and prizes and move to Rae, she’s still trying to find her prize. “No luck?”
+
+She sighs… “No… I mean it’s not surprising… it’s kinda hard to find and old. I was just hoping it might be… oh well. Oh did you get something?”
+
+I give the bag a shake, and pull out one of the volumes of Dungeon Meshi and grin.
+
+“Noooo, oh god I’m so jelly!”
+
+I can feel the smile spread across my cheeks. “ Oh ? How jelly?” I adore when her silly vernacular slips out. 
+
+“Oh these look so good.” I let her take the book from hand and she starts flipping through it, “Real Jelly. It was always hard to justify buying them, and the more that came out… it just meant paying more to get everything, I figure eventually when I was working… wait did you get everything?”
+
+“Yes, I was already up to volume six, and I couldn’t imagine stopping now. I would be very happy to read them with you, or even lend to you once I finish my own reading.”
+
+“Oh god please, I would love to read the hard copy. Did you get anything else?”
+
+“It’s a secret.” You’ll see it soon enough.
+
+“Oh… really?” She sounds a little suspicious. Always so perceptive.
+
+“Yes, I’ll let you know later.”
+
+‘Oh, well okay.”
+
+“What were you looking for, by the way. Those were video games?”
+
+“Oh yah,” She waves down to the glass case, it’s like the one that had the pendant, except there looks to be hundreds of very little rectangular objects. “These are cartridges for the DS, they slot into a small device about the size of your phone, and you can play the game on it. It’s older, I was still a kid when it came out, but I kinda got into it in highschool… I wanted to find a copy of Pokemon white.” Her eyes trail back to the counter.
+
+“Pokemon?” That name sounds oddly familiar…
+
+“It’s a game, I thought we… ah it’s not important, we are busy enough as it is. So you happy? Did you want to check out anything else or should we go get some food finally?”
+
+“I think food would be good now, I think it’s been nearly forty minutes now. We shouldn't make Shiko-san wait too long.”
+
+“It has, hasn’t it? Yah let's wrap up.” Rae pushes herself away for the counter “There's a cafeteria of sorts set up around the corner. Let's go grab our lunch and then head back.”
+
+Today really has been lovely so far. Spending the day with Rae, the glimpse into an aspect she was alway passionate about but I never could be a part of before. And now I can make the day end perfectly. The pendant stashed away safely in my bag, I can’t wait till we have a chance to be alone and I can give it to her.
+
+That I can let her know how much I love her again. That I love her, all of this, all of her.
+
+It’s perfect. 

45.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,297 @@
+“Hey Claire, you should take a break now, go wander about, Rei and I should be good for a bit.” Shiko says after she puts away the money from the last purchase.
+
+Claire looks a little hesitant. “Oh are you certain? I would enjoy another perusal but I don’t have to.”
+
+“Nah it’s good, go take another sweep of the floor, it’s winding down anyways, and most of my stock is sold too. We got a couple hours left before we pack it in and grab dinner.”
+
+Claire nods, “Okay, well take care of Rei for me, I’ll return back shortly.” She then turns to me, I feel her take my hand squeezed under the table by her and she gives me a wink. “I’ll see you soon Rei.”
+
+I can feel my mask shift as a smile forms underneath it, “Have fun, I’m sure I’ll survive.”
+
+“You better .” She grins, collects herself and slips out from our booth. She gives one last turn and a wave and disappears into the aisles.
+
+“Wow she has it bad for you.” Shiko sounds somewhere between surprised and impressed. 
+
+“Really?”
+
+“Are you for real?” Okay, now she looks unimpressed. 
+
+“What? I mean… I… I’m the one whose... Aren’t I the hopeless one?”
+
+“Never said you weren’t but she is too, have you seen how she looks at you?”
+
+Yes, doesn't mean it makes sense. 
+
+I gulp… “Yeah… I…”
+
+“And the way she talks to you, or about you. Girl likes you.”
+
+“Yah, but like it’s… I don’t know… complicated?”
+
+Shiko gives me a side eye, “Is it really?”
+
+Yes . God I can’t just tell her that she didn’t fall in love with me first, she fell in love with a different version of me first. “Okay, fine yes, I know she likes me. I can be stupid but I’m not an idiot.”
+
+“Are you worried…?”
+
+“No… I don’t know. It feels too good to be true, and there’s stuff I can’t really talk about…”
+
+“You can’t talk about it with me ?”
+
+“I shouldn't talk about it, it’s a privacy thing.”
+
+Shiko’s eyes draw tight. “It’s not a bad thing is it… like the thing you can’t talk-”
+
+“No, it’s not. I don’t know how to talk about it without explaining it, and I can’t do that.”
+
+Shiko loosens up, “Fine, but you know I’ll keep a secret if I have to, right?” She would.
+
+“I know, I trust you Shiko, but Claire trusts me. And I’m not going to ruin this.”
+
+“You’re not going to ruin anything Rei, she loves being around you.”
+
+But like… why? I don't feel like I've done anything to warrant it. I'm not saving her life… I'm showing her how to play video games.
+
+“Fine, we don’t have to talk about that. You two have moved fast, it’s only been a couple weeks now? If I didn't know it almost seems like it’s been years, you sure you two just hooked up?”
+
+I know she is joking but… “I like her… a lot.”
+
+“Yah, I know. It’s very obviously mutual you dork.”
+
+“Yah but what if I’m not what she thinks I am, what if she thinks I’m better than I am and then I just turn out to be a disappointment? I don’t feel like who she thinks I am. I feel like a creep, I feel like I’m always playing catch up, I don’t know what I’m doing.” Please shut up me.
+
+“Whoa, Rei relax, come on. No one really knows what they are doing… have you talked to her about this?”
+
+“Sorta… I don’t know, it’s hard… I should just… but…”
+
+“Hey Rei, calm down, look you trust her right?”
+
+“Yes…?”
+
+“So start with that, I know that Kosaki did you bad before… but that was middle school, you're an adult now. The stakes aren’t the same.”
+
+“The stakes are worse now.”
+
+“They aren’t Rei, they're different but if things go bad, you can move on. You're not trapped in a classroom with her and have to see her twenty-four seven.”
+
+“Move on?” Leave her ?
+
+“If things go bad, Rei, come on. I’m trying to help but you need to get out of your own head too. She doesn’t want that. I think she has a pretty good idea of who you are, even if it’s only been a few weeks. She has you read if I’m being honest, and I really don’t think she’s off the mark. She’s going to be okay with what you're feeling. She’s going to be okay if you feel insecure, she’s not expecting you to be a superhero.”
+
+Easy for you to say Shiko. Rae was a superhero. Didn't she say they saved the world? 
+
+“Hello.” My focus snaps to a person who has approached our table, looking up at them…
+
+…What is she doing here?
+
+“Hello Rei, I thought Claire was going to be here too.” Manaria says, she glances down casually at all the leftover doujin on the table. “So this is what you were doing today?”
+
+Ah fuck, I… “If you wanted to talk to Claire, she should be back in a bit, she went on break. We are helping my friend sell her work.”
+
+“Yo.” Shiko eyes Manaria cautiously. “If you have questions about anything, this is my stuff. I’m the degen.”
+
+Manaria laughs, “Oh how delightful, any recommendations?”
+
+“If you want something vanilia I suggest Why do I keep running into my Childhood Rival , if you want something spicier I have Longing for You , or Your Dirty Little Secrets .” Shiko is def putting on her customer service face right now, and not asking questions.
+
+Manaria regards her for a bit and turns back to me, “Do you have any recommendations?”
+
+GOD. “What do you want?”
+
+“I wanted to see Claire, I was also bored. I figured this wasn’t the worst way to spend the evening. How is dating my little cousin by the way?”
+
+“It’s. Great.”
+
+Manaria arches her brow. “It sounds great, she’s not treating you badly is she?” Is that concern?
+
+“No, god, what do you want?”
+
+“What? I can’t be interested in the first thing my cousin actually talks about?”
+
+God what is it about her… Calm down Rei… you are just snapping. “I’m sorry, I’m just… I don’t know… tense. It’s been busy.”
+
+“You know I’m not going to make a big deal about being there when we caught you half naked with Claire chewing on you… well I’m probably going to tease you two about it, but you go girl.”
+
+“WAIT WHAT?” Shiko turns to me, “YOU SAID YOU WERE ONLY KISSING.”
+
+“Fuck can you two keep your voices down? The last time I talked to you that was… all we did. And we didn’t sleep with each other… well we slept in a bed-”
+
+“I can’t believe you would leave me out of the loop like this.” Shiko clicks her teeth.
+
+“It was just a few.. Um some hickeys… and like we it didn’t go any further.”
+
+“Cause her mom and I crashed the party.” Manaria grins.
+
+“Woa….” Stop looking at me like that Shiko.
+
+“It wasn’t going to go any further than that!” I shout.
+
+“She isn’t forcing you is she?” Manaria says, the glibness has dropped from her voice. I think I hate this pity or whatever even more though.
+
+“Why do you care?” Fuck, I’m snapping again.
+
+“Why Indeed. Maybe, just maybe, I was a bit worried.”
+
+“I don’t know you.” You just irritate me. 
+
+“And I don’t know you either, but you are dating my cousin. And despite what you think, I do care about her. You know nobody is telling me anything? Maybe you don’t know this but Claire has changed, we weren’t that close necessarily but I remember when her dad died. I know how she was last year. So can you blame me if I want to suss out what’s going on?”
+
+“I don’t know what you think I can tell you…?” And it's not like I would.
+
+“Look, I’m not trying to grill you-”
+
+“Could have fooled me.”
+
+She smirks at me, “I’m happy for you two, and glad your little reveal didn’t go anywhere as catastrophic as mine did. I don’t want that to happen to Claire, not when she seems to be doing better now.”
+
+“Nothing bad is going to happen, I won’t let it.”
+
+“Good.” She says coolly, as her attention turns back to the doujin.
+
+“Good.” God she is fucking miserable.
+
+“Oh, this looks cute, How do I Marry the Villainess? I'll take this and all the other ones you mentioned before. Hell if you are hiding anything depraved, throw that in too…?” She pauses as she looks at Shiko now. 
+
+“Kanato, Shiko Kanato.”
+
+“Yes, thank you Kanato-san, These look fun. Might as well enjoy myself now that my shame is out.”
+
+That makes Shiko click her teeth, in a pissed off way. “There’s no shame in being in gay, or queer, whatever the label. I don’t know what you went through but if your family or whatever is being shitty, that’s on them, not you. There is nothing wrong with being queer.”
+
+Manaria wasn’t expecting to get told off by Shiko like that, she blinks before she recovers. “Right… of course. I’ll make sure to let my father know the next time I see him then.” 
+
+“Sister?” Was that Claire ?
+
+We all turn and see Claire behind Manaria, she looks to be carrying a small tray of fries, and a bag at her side, did she buy more stuff? Are those pride pins?
+
+“Sister?” Manaria shifts again, getting mischievous, “We aren’t five anymore Claire, what do you have there cuz?”
+
+Claire fumbles a bit, at least she wasn’t expecting this either. “Oh, apologies, of course. I was just not expecting… what are you doing here?”
+
+“You mentioned you would be at a thing. I was bored waiting around and it sounded like it could be interesting. So I looked it up online and came down. Not my usual fare, but it was fun.” Manaria has moved herself behind Claire, and puts her hands on her shoulders “And I missed you.” She grins at me.
+
+What are you doing?
+
+“Oh I see… I’m sorry I don’t know if I can be quite so available now, we still have a few hours before we finish.”
+
+Manaria chuckles, “Oh don’t worry about that, I wasn’t even sure if this would be the one. I just needed something to do. Running into you and your girlfriend was just an extra bonus.”
+
+“I’m sure messing with me was a bonus too.” I mumble.
+
+“Did you say something Rei?” Claire asks,
+
+“What? No!” Fuck I must have mumbled that to loudly.
+
+“Did you say anything untoward to Rei, Manaria?” There is an edge to her voice, she tries to look over her shoulder at Manaria.
+
+Manarai feigns shock. “My, sooo possessive, relax Claire. We’re all good aren’t we?”
+
+“Suuure.”
+
+“Did you have an idea on where to go for tomorrow's lunch? I think I have a suggestion, I wanted to try some sushi, I found a place that I think won’t be too busy.”
+
+“Oh… Sushi? Umm, Yes, if you have a place already in mind that should work. You can send me a message with your phone to let me know the specifics.”
+
+“Sure, I’ll text you the deets then. Oh and you should bring Rei as well. The more, the merrier afterall.” Can you stop grinning at me?
+
+Claire blanches a little at that, and looks to me, “Rei. Would you like to?” Wow she sounds strained.
+
+I don’t want to… but I also don’t really want to leave her alone with Manaria either, what if she tries to grill her for more information too…? I should be there just to be back up.
+
+“Sure, as long as you want me there Claire-chan.”
+
+Shiko snickers. “Chan?” Oh my god, it’s embarrassing saying just Claire infront of everyone!
+
+“Excellent, I really am looking forward to getting some local sushi, I looove fish.”
+
+Are you fucking for real?
+
+“Then it’s a date, I’m sorry I haven’t had much chance to catch up until now. It is nice to see you again.” Claire says.
+
+“It’s good that you have been doing well as well Claire. Well have fun with your nerd stuff. I should be heading out soon.” She pays for and collects her doujin, gives Claire a hug and waves as she departs.
+
+Good riddance.
+
+“You’re on edge, she didn’t…”
+
+“Oh… no I’m fine… I don’t know, it was weird. She’ soooo…” My words just kinda trail off.
+
+“I’m sorry, you didn't have to agree to come if you didn't want to.”
+
+“But I don’t want to leave you alone with her.”
+
+“I can manage Rei.”
+
+“I know… but I want to.”
+
+“You're so sweet, I do appreciate it, but I think she is just trying to rile you up.” She slips back around the table, sets the food down on the side and drops her new bag off and takes a seat next to me. Her hand finds mine again.
+
+Oh… That’s always nice.
+
+“Oh, what’s sushi?” Claire asks.
+
+“Hmmm? What’s sushi, what do you mean?” Have I never mentioned Sushi before?
+
+“Just what I meant.”
+
+“Wait, how do you not know what sushi is?” Shiko butts in, we both look at her, and she looks surprised.
+
+“It’s fish, raw fish on rice and seaweed, and then like a hundred variations on that.”
+
+Claire gulps, “Raw?”
+
+Shiko laughs.
+
+“Yes, don’t worry it’s safe, it’s fresh. It’s not for everyone though.”
+
+“No… I can do this…” She doesn't sound too sure. “It surely can’t be that bad? Right?”
+
+“It’s delicious, but it’s also not the cheapest thing. Man, I could go for some of the good stuff…” Shiko gets lost in the thought.
+
+“It’s fine, it’s really not for everyone, I can let you know what’s safe to start with okay?”
+
+“O…kay.” Claire smiles, but it’s strained. She’s not fooling anyone. Hopefully it’s not that bad for her.
+
+“So you got some more stuff?” There are now two full bags sitting beside her.
+
+“Oh, yes, just a moment.” She hands the food over, careful to keep it away from the merchandise. “I got some fries to tide us over for now, and I also looked more at some of the merchants selling manga. Did you know there is a manga for Persona Five?”
+
+“Hmm? Oh yeah… I haven’t really checked it out, there is also an anime…” She fishes out a book and holds it out in front of me. “No… Did you…?”
+
+She grins oh so delightfully. “Yes, I only bought some of the first volumes. The merchant said that it was still being made. Anyways I thought you might like to read it… I bought it in excitement but then realized I would rather experience it the way we were already doing it by playing the game. Did you want to read them for me for now?”
+
+“Seriously?” Oh the cover looks so slick, “Oh wow this is cool, I would love to!”
+
+“You are playing Persona with her?” come Shiko, I don't need you to make fun of me too.
+
+“Oh yes, it’s wonderful. We started on our first date after we went to the zoo.”
+
+“Oh. My. God. Rei you have no fucking game. You played video games on your first date?”
+
+“Hey, give me a break!” Not you too ?
+
+“It was lovely, don’t tease her too much Shiko.” They share a look and Claire laughs, “Anyways I didn’t want to overdo it with buying things today, so I only picked up the first few. How are the wares faring.”
+
+“Good, whatever is left at the end of day will fit into a box… maybe two?”
+
+“How many did we have to start with?
+
+“Twenty-five.”
+
+“Goodness.”
+
+“It was a good day, and thanks to you two. It would have been a nightmare running this by myself.”
+
+“Oh it was a pleasure. It was a lot of work but it was well worth it. This event was also lovely, I’m glad I got to experience this side of Rei.”
+
+“Don’t take this the wrong way Claire-san. You sound like an old timey rich girl, but you really don’t act like one.”
+
+Claire laughs, well cackles, god I love when she does that . “Oh well that took a long time to grow out of, I had… help . I did grow up quite spoiled, but I grew out of most of it. I think the more egregious parts are mostly gone.”
+
+“Hey, you got your hands dirty, that’s a plus in my books.” Shiko gives me a wink. Wow, Claire is a natural at getting along with people isn't’ she? I had thought that maybe it was because she was cheating with her old knowledge… but she hasn’t really met Shiko right? She said she only knew about her and all that second hand right?
+
+Either way, at least Shiko seems to like her.
+
+I don’t know, maybe I was a bit too worried about this wasn’t I?
+
+ 

46.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+“Okay, so this place isn’t high end by any stretch of the imagination, but they do meat good. My treat.” Shiko wears a wide grin as she directs us into a small bar. We did much better than Shiko earlier estimates, there were only a handful of doujin left. Few enough that we could pack them away in our bags for later. Shiko even let some go for pretty cheap near the end.
+
+Oh wow, it smells good here. We grab a table in the back and Claire sets our bags on the seat next to her. I really wasn’t expecting her to buy anything, let alone that much. She bought all of Dungeon Meshi… I should marry her- God I don’t need to sound unhinged in my mind please.
+
+“Everything alright Rei?”
+
+“Oh, yah definitely… so, umm… what did you think? You seemed to enjoy yourself.”
+
+That's what she said. Shut. Up.
+
+Shiko leans her elbows on the table, and rests her chin on the back of her intertwined hands, grinning…
+
+“It was very lovely meeting you Shiko-san finally.”
+
+Shiko winks, “I have to say the same Claire-san.”
+
+Claire smiles, and looks back to me, “It was really lovely, we should do it again when we can properly enjoy it. I should have a better idea of… well everything later too I imagine. I’m still quite new to… well you know, everything .” She chuckles cutely at her joke, thank god Shiko doesn’t know what she was hinting at.
+
+“You're blushing Oohashi.”
+
+“Shut up Shiko” God why do I put up with her.
+
+“So Shiko-san, do you do this sort of thing often?” At least Claire is enjoying this.
+
+“Oh, yah for a few years now. Started in highschool. Small, but I kept ramping up each time and it kept working so yah. I love drawing and I think I’ve gotten pretty good at it.”
+
+“I’ll say, your works are lovely. You have a real talent for it.”
+
+“Thanks, your girlfriend’s a charmer Oohashi.”
+
+She could be quieter about the girlfriend part.
+
+“I look forward to reading them, Bonds looks sinfully delightful I must say.”
+
+“ Ohh, yah that was a fun one, Rei had a bunch of good feedback for that one.”
+
+The bondage one ? “SHIKO!” Are you for real?
+
+“Is something the matter Rei?” Claire asks, “It’s fine Rei, you don’t need to be self conscious about it.”
+
+Shouldn’t I? “We shouldn't be talking about that sort of thing here.”
+
+Claire pouts, “ Fine , I suppose you are right about that. Thank you again Shiko-san for these.”
+
+Shiko grins, and eyes me. You little shit . It doesn’t take too long for the waiter to stop by and take out orders. Even Claire decides to order a meat cutlet. Shiko also gets a beer, but Claire ultimately thinks better of it and we both just get water. It’s probably for the best, even if I like clingy Claire .
+
+Soon rice and meat are served, and god after today, it’s just perfect. Claire and Shiko both look to be enjoying it too. Claire’s meal looks way too big for how delicately she is approaching it. She really does feel like she comes from a different time in these little moments.
+
+“Shiko this is excellent, there is so much good food everywhere. You really were cheating, weren’t you Rei?” Claire grins.
+
+“Huh? Oh… I guess?” Oh no.
+
+“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shiko asks.
+
+“Oh Rei is just fantastic when it comes to cooking.” Claire beams.
+
+“Really?” Please don't ask Shiko . 
+
+“Sure?” God, just say you're not already, you idiot .
+
+“Oh don’t be so modest.”
+
+Shiko gives me a look, fuck she is going to ask about that later isn’t she?
+
+“So what was Rei like when she was in highschool?”
+
+Oh please, can we stop talking about me already?
+
+Shiko’s look just turns mischievous though and she gives a toothy grin. “What would you like to know?”
+
+“Anything, Everything .” Claire's grin nearly matches Shiko.
+
+“Ah come on, I’m not really that interesting.”
+
+“Hush, you never talk about yourself. You were also friends with Misha?”
+
+“As a consequence of Rei, yah. Yu too I guess because of that. Misha shared a class with Rei. After the whole love square thing Rei got way more into otaku stuff. She didn’t quite hangout at the manga club at school as much but she kept reading a lot more on her own. And she also started playing games a lot, lots of RPGS, even the bad ones.” 
+
+Wow that was judgey. “Oh come on, they weren’t that bad.”
+
+“ Sure , anyways for a while she was either playing at home on a PS4, reading some manga, bonus points if it was a yuri, or walking around playing on her DS. And you can’t forget about your fan fics either.” Shiko smirks at that last addition. Please don't mention the fics.
+
+Claire looks a little caught up on the names, “PS4 and DS are things to play games on, kinda like we do on the laptop, they are just meant mainly for games.”
+
+“Do you still play with those? I haven’t seen you play anything other than when we play Persona.”
+
+“Oh… I’ve just been busy. I have my DS stil, and a Vita, couldn’t afford a Switch right now. And my PS4 is too big to take so it’s at home. And since we have… started dating, y’know. Not much time.” And it's not like I want to cut into my Claire time. 
+
+Claire hums, “I suppose.”
+
+“She was also way in the dumps back then.”
+
+“Shiko!”
+
+She just shrugs, you asshole.  “What? You were. You were really depressed back then. Even if you don’t want to say it. She got better; like I said before, in highschool. But she was still really into all that stuff. You caught Misha reading Dungeon Meshi right?”
+
+“Yah…”
+
+“She was so excited, she told me right away but was too chicken to bring up with Misha for a week.”
+
+“Shiiiiiko!” God stooooop.
+
+Claire starts laughing, at least she is enjoying it.
+
+“No this is my right as your bestie, deal with it . Anyways she eventually broke and gushed to Misha about it. And they became friends. Misha’s not that much of an Otaku, not like us, but she likes the occasional fantasy stuff I think. She’s also been reading Frieren?”
+
+“Yah… I don’t know… it’s fine .”
+
+“Oh boo hoo, I’m sorry it doesn’t have the same gay vibes as Dungeon Meshi.” Shiko reaches over and ouch! She flicked my forehead.
+
+“Don’t glare Rei.” Claire takes a practiced sip from her drink, how does she look so proper?
+
+“You’re taking her side, Claire?”
+
+“I’m always on your side dear.” gaAAahh .
+
+Shiko cackles, then takes a drink from her beer. “So yah, that was highschool. She tragically stayed an otaku.” She sombers a bit, “You told her about Misaki and…?”
+
+Claire casts her eyes down and before I can answer, “Yes, I know what Misaki went through as well.”
+
+That’s coming up soon… I hate that time of the year- oh that’s Claire’s hand. I loosen my hand and let her hold mine. This is always nice.
+
+“That happened. That really sucked. For everyone. We bounced back eventually. Misaki and Kosaki went to a different highschool, and we stayed in touch here and there after, but second year was a shock when we heard.”
+
+Shiko lets the silence hang a bit after that, “Anyways didn’t want to bring down the mood.”
+
+“Oh please don’t worry. I know it must have been hard.” Claire leans gently on me.
+
+If she didn’t know about this… would I have ever believed her?
+
+“That’s next month isn’t it?” Claire asks.
+
+What ?
+
+“Ugh… yah? Did you already ask her to come, Rei?” Shiko asks surprised.
+
+Did I? I didn’t but… Of course. RAE told her.
+
+“Yes?” I look at Claire and hope she just agrees
+
+She nods, “I never miss it.” Her hold on my hand tightens softly.
+
+…Breathe.
+
+“Cool, I’ll let Kosaki know then. Since you're still sorta awkward around her.” She points her chopsticks at me, oh come on, most people would be awkward in my spot.
+
+I’m kinda tired about being talked about, “Well I went to Uni after highschool. Shiko here decided to try to make it as a mangaka.”
+
+“Oh, a manga artist and author, correct? Are you not already doing that?”
+
+“She means professionally, I’m trying to get a deal with a publishing company but most say I don’t have enough experience, well professional experience. So I make do by doing events, commissions online and other things. Today was a good sale. I think I’m good for a while at least. Again, thanks you two, it would have been a mess by myself.”
+
+“You said you've been doing this for a few years… is that not experience?” Claire questions.
+
+Shiko sighs, “They want”, Shiko makes air quotes, “ Real experience,  they want someone who's already published stuff. In a magazine. It's hard to stand out, and yuri is niche . It's not all bad, I think I'm close. Some publishers are actually looking for stuff like mine, and those talks have been better. But it feels like I would need to have a viral hit for some of them to really take me seriously. Blah.” It's been rough for her, but she's been determined to make it work. I wish I had the confidence to do that.
+
+“It’s good that you have been making it work so far, I really do think you have talent for it. Rei, have you thought of doing something like it? Writing, I mean?”
+
+“Huh? What? Why would I try to do that?”
+
+Claire scoffs in turn, “Because your writing is excellent of course.”
+
+What? “No… it’s not.”
+
+“Yes it is, mostly… I thought you said you didn’t read her fics Claire-san?” Shiko interjects and quirks her brow. Wait what?
+
+“Oh, well I haven’t.” Claire gives me a stink eye. Oh come on . “She won’t let me see it, but I have read some of the prose she has written. You are very talented at it, Rei. I’m not just saying it.”
+
+Prose I haven’t written though. Prose Rae wrote. “Look, I just write my stupid stuff. It’s not good.”
+
+“Yes it is!” Claire is just shy of raising her voice.
+
+“Rei, I wouldn’t be reading your stuff this long if I didn’t enjoy it.” Shiko sounds annoyed. 
+
+“Look, just cause it’s fun doesn’t mean it’s good.”
+
+“It is, and I think you would enjoy it if you made it a career like Shiko does with manga.” Claire crosses her arms, are we fighting?
+
+“But… that’s so hard to do, to make a living off… it sounds nice but I don’t think it’s realistic.”
+
+“Realistic? But…” Claire doesn’t finish the thought, instead she glances down and sighs. “Fine, I’m sorry if I’m pushing you too much. I just think you do have a talent for it. I just want you to… to enjoy what you do.”
+
+“It’s a nice thought… but I’m already enrolled in classes. It would be dumb to bail on them and switch into something completely different wouldn’t it? I’d lose my scholarships and I don’t have that kind of money and…”
+
+“I would help.” Claire says, it sounds so vulnerable. Tantalizing. A part of me wants to just say yes.
+
+God what do I say to that. I can’t? I don’t want to disappoint her. But I don’t think I can do this. She has to know I’m not her Rae right? I’m not anything like her. Rae the hero. Rae the master chef. Rae the author. Rae her… wife.
+
+I’m going to fuck this up…
+
+Claire surprises me, she nestles her head into my shoulder. Oh wow. “Just think about it.”
+
+I just nod. That’s easier than saying the wrong thing. Feels like I do that a lot.
+
+“So you enjoy today then Claire-san?” Thank god Shiko. Thank you for taking the heat off of me.
+
+“It was fun honestly. I wish I could help again sometime, but I expect school will be keeping us very busy.” Claire wraps her arm around mine as she really settles into the nook she has carved out.
+
+“Don’t worry about it, it was an emergency and Ami didn’t exactly give me a heads up either… bitch.” Shiko sighs, and scoops up a bit of her leftover food. “I have to say, you two are cute together. Rei you seem too worried-”
+
+“What?”
+
+“-but you two have a good vibe honestly.” Shiko smiles, not one of her grins either. It’s just… genuine.
+
+“Thank you Shiko. It really was good to finally meet you too.” Claire responds, and she just hums softly on my shoulder.

47.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+ 
+
+“That was a long day.”
+
+Claire and I manage the walk back to the dorms with not too much fanfare. I feel tired, and I think she is too. But she has been a bit quiet. At least the evening is nice, and not raining. The temperature is enough that the walk isn’t unpleasant.
+
+“Do you mind if we sit down Rei?”
+
+“Something wrong?”
+
+“Not really, I’m… or well this me doesn't seem quite used to such long treks.” She laughs. “I just want to give my feet a rest for a bit. The moon is lovely, isn’t it?”
+
+“Ahh sure… wait?” …I can die happy ?
+
+“Hrmm?” She tilts her head playfully. Despite being tired her eyes still glitter.
+
+She knows. She knows what that means…
+
+“I know. Did I tell you that one?”
+
+“You did, and you also said the normal response is I can die happy. But neither of us really wanted to hear the other say it like that so we just said ‘I know’ in turn.”
+
+Wait… “Huh? I didn’t know that’s-”
+
+“Rei I know… I just wanted to say it. Let’s sit down.” There is an easy smile on her face as she moves towards a bench and sits the bags next to her.
+
+It’s quiet tonight, I don’t really see anyone else out walking. Sitting down wasn’t a bad idea, we have been up for a long time haven’t we.
+
+“So… how was today? It wasn’t too much was it? Like everything?” God why do I keep asking.
+
+Claire has her eyes shut for a moment, takes a light breath and looks at me softly. “Today was wonderful. Busy, but wonderful. I’m glad I got to meet Shiko, really. I always wondered what it would be like on this side, to be part of your life here. I want to keep seeing more of it, Rei.”
+
+“Even the weird parts?”
+
+She laughs, “I think you worry too much. You have always been weird Rei, that’s what I loved about you. You were always yourself, not who everyone told you to be.”
+
+I wish…
+
+“And if you're still worried about Shiko’s work upsetting me, don’t. I admit, some of it was surprising, at least to see it in paper for the first time.” She laughs, “And some of the ones I had seen at other stands were quite… out there. Either way, a fantasy is different from reality. We played out many fantasies my dear, but those never left the bedroom. I would never try to hurt you for real after all.”
+
+Wait what?
+
+“You would hurt me?.”
+
+“In delicious ways, yes. I thought I made this clear before.” She leans towards me with a sly smile and half drawn eyes.
+
+Do I want that…?
+
+“I… I… didn’t think you were being… serious?”
+
+“I was, you got me a whip for when we would get in character. ”
+
+cR-Rack!
+
+ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod
+
+“Do you not want to?”
+
+Oh god yes!
+
+“But doesn't that make… me… I don’t know? Fucked up?” I wince as the word escapes.
+
+Claire looks surprised by that, shit. “Is that what you think? Rei, it’s fine. I just said a fantasy is okay. And if you are wrong for it, I am right there beside you and would also be wrong. Glady I might add. We complete each other.”
+
+“It’s not weird if I would be into… getting hurt… by you? You… tying me down…”
+
+“Taking away your control ?”
+
+Oh.
+
+God.
+
+It's too easy imagining her holding me down…
+
+It’s really hard to swallow.
+
+“Rei, I mean it, but I also meant that I don’t want to rush you into anything either. You knew what you wanted when we first got together, and you didn’t rush me into anything I wasn’t ready for. I can do that too… I can see that this is new to you, but please don’t feel like you are wrong for any desires.”
+
+“But it feels wrong. I’m not supposed to be like this.”
+
+“You’re you. You’re exactly how you’re supposed to be. Trust me. I know.”
+
+Her hand finds mine on the bench, and her fingers slowly seep into mine. It’s unfair how much this makes me feel better. I don't feel like I deserve this.
+
+“Rei?” Claire’s voice cuts my thoughts.
+
+She looks so lovely as she sits on the bench, just illuminated by the streetlights.
+
+“Yah?”
+
+She fidgets a bit, the nervousness is odd on her. “I got something for you.”
+
+Oh ?
+
+“I… you didn’t have to get me anything.”
+
+“But I wanted to, silly… I…” She frees a hand and reaches into one of her bags, letting the sentence hang. After a bit of shuffling, she finds what she is looking for. “Close your eyes please?”
+
+“Ahhh, sure?” Did she find what she was looking for?
+
+“Close them you dolt.” There's no edge to it and she laughs.
+
+“Right, sorry.” I close them tightly and her other hand slips away from me. I can just hear her move a bit. It sounds like she’s pulled out whatever it was from the bag, maybe she is opening something up? It’s taking a while… should I have gotten her something too? She didn’t get me something too much did-
+
+“Open your eyes now Rei.” She sounds a bit small right now. I open my eyes, and she has her hands pocketed together, cupping something in them. “Here.” She moves her hands to me.
+
+A careful glance… is that a chain? “Can… I?”
+
+She chuckles a little, “Of course you dolt, it’s for you.” She is smiling, but it's shy, and her cheeks seem a bit redder than usual. 
+
+I feel a bit sheepish. Okay. I pull the chain up from her hand and notice there is something attached at the end… a pendant… wait?
+
+“Is this… you got me a Persona pendant? Really?!” Oh it looks so good.
+
+I have to bring it in close, the light isn’t helping, but it’s cut so cleanly, the hat and mask, with the flames rippling out… this is so fucking cool.
+
+“… do you like it?”
+
+“I…”
+
+It's so cool.
+
+“I know you don’t usually wear something-”
+
+“I love it.”
+
+She smiles, and relaxes. “Thank goodness, I was worried for a moment. Only a moment though.”
+
+“Can I put it on?”
+
+“Of course silly.” She sounds so pleased.
+
+I feel stupid as I fumble with the latch it has, I click it open and try to close it again at the back of my neck… ok fuck this hard. I should be able to just… come on.
+
+“Let me help.” She steers my shoulder so that I’m facing away from her and she takes the ends of the chain.
+
+Click.
+
+The chain is let go, and its weight pulls down. It’s a little cold initially, I wasn't expecting that but it feels like it warms up quickly. I don’t normally wear stuff like this.
+
+“I wanted to get you something… I know it’s not your usual ware, but you also got me an amulet on our first… well it wasn’t a date yet, but it was. And I really treasured it. I saw it earlier and… I just thought of you. I thought you would like it.”
+
+I… I didn’t get her anything.
+
+“I’m sorry I should have gotten you something too.”
+
+“What? No… I wanted to get you something Rei.” Her hand closes over one of mine.
+
+“But this is so nice… and if I got you something before…” I shift back to face her.
+
+“Nonsense, Rei I just want you… you don’t understand. I wanted you to have something that reminded you. That I’m here for you. You… we didn’t get along to begin with, I was so terrible to you at first.”
+
+I don’t believe that for a second.
+
+“And I still had a lot of growing up to do. Old biases to unlearn, and I didn’t think someone could love me like you claimed. Let alone I had never even considered being with a woman before then. But you stayed by me, you told me I was worth it. And one day, you convinced me to walk the school fair with you. It was the most fun I had had… nothing had even compared before then but I couldn’t even tell you that. And then the day’s end drew near and you gave me the amulet. You told me that I saved you, even though you couldn’t explain how. I don’t know if I would have believed you at the time if you did, but I never let the amulet go until it broke.”
+
+“It broke?” Why ?
+
+“Yes…it had magic and it saved my life I think. I was still too self conscious to bring it up when it did. If I did that… maybe I would be too obvious, show my hand too much. Admit that I really was in love with you too. Years later, for an anniversary you replaced it, after we talked about it. I was such a child back then.” She sighs and smiles, she sounds so fond of those old memories.
+
+“I wanted that for you. I want you to know how much you mean to me. That you also saved me. That I want you to always carry me with you in some way. And I want it to be in a way that matters to you. I love this part of you, and I love that I get to share it with you this time. That’s what this means to me Rei.”
+
+This means so much to her…
+
+I don’t deserve this. That wasn’t me, that was her…
+
+“Rei?”
+
+“Ummm?”
+
+“Rei what’s wrong?” She places a hand on my cheek, it's so gentle. 
+
+“N-nothing’s wrong.”
+
+“Rei, it’s alright.”
+
+“No really. I’m just being stupid and being a m-mess after my… you got me a really nice thing Claire. I really do like it. Please don’t worry about me.”
+
+Claire pulls me into a hug, “I’m glad, but of course I’m going to worry. You're not being an idiot. Please. What’s wrong?”
+
+I didn’t do that for you.
+
+I’m not the amazing person you think I am. I’m not special. I'm not confident. I’m not clever. I’m not cute. I’m not sexy. I can’t do magic. I don’t know anything about you. I’m an otaku. I’m awkward. I can't even cook. I don’t know what I’m doing. Ever.
+
+ 
+
+I’m not who you think I am.
+
+ 
+
+I’m not Rae Taylor.
+
+It’s hard to swallow. I have to say something.
+
+“I don’t know, I… am I? Is this too…? Are you sure?”
+
+She draws back and examines me. Her face contorts, as she considers, and it shifts. She looks dismayed. “I’m pushing you too much again, aren’t I?”
+
+Nononononononononononononono
+
+“No! I… just…”
+
+“Rei, you can tell me, please.” She looks so worried.
+
+Just deal with it. Be better, be who she wants you to be. I can’t lose her.
+
+“I really do like it, Claire. I’m just… bad at this…”
+
+She pulls me into another hug, “Rei, you’re not bad at it. Not like you think you are. I assure you, I was much worse. I love you, and I’ll keep telling you that till it sinks in. Till it makes sense. Okay?”
+
+Till I’m right…
+
+“Today was fun, it really was. Every day with you has been wonderful. I hope you have also enjoyed it.” I can feel her emotions through the embrace.
+
+“I… yah. I’m so l-lucky…”
+
+“We both are.” She tightens the hug, it’s so nice. I really want to belong here. With her. “I just want to be here for you, help you be happy this time. You know that right?”
+
+Was I…? “I think so… but it’s not me that… you have so much we still have to catch up on. You still have to keep up with class. We still haven’t finished history, barely scratched it and then we haven’t even touched pre-history and science is going to be so much too.”
+
+“Rei, that’s okay, I have no doubt we will manage that, but it’s not just about me. You're here too. Remember, you swore that you would let me help you too. It doesn’t matter what it is, I will help you too. Or did you forget?”
+
+It’s hard not to feel the pendant when she says that.
+
+I made that contract. 
+
+“I’ll remind you when you do you dolt.” She pulls back, but just so she can give me a small kiss on the forehead. “Alright?”
+
+“I’ll try Claire…”
+
+“ Rei , I love you.”
+
+I love you too…
+
+I can’t say that yet though, I’m not ready. I need to be right for her first. I need to be better. Then I can tell her.
+
+I really want to tell her.

48.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+“Okay, so you just dip it a bit in the soy sauce… yah, and good to go.” Rae guides me through the process.
+
+I stare at the piece of sushi. White rice now soaked with soy sauce. Wrapped around bright red, raw fish. Package within a paper thin seaweed.
+
+I like rice, soy sauce and fish…
+
+It's just raw.
+
+Manaria eagerly dips another roll, mixing in the wasabi; Rae very much cautioned against that for now citing it would be very spicy, and then downs it in quick fashion. Humming in delight.
+
+I can stomach string beans…
+
+In it goes. Oh… that… is different.
+
+“You don’t really like it?” Rae is perceptive, it's always hard to hide my displeasure from her.
+
+“It’s… not entirely unpleasant?”
+
+“I can’t believe you’ve never tried sushi. In Tokyo of all places. You’ve been here for ten years.” Manaria grins and eyes me, waiting for a response.
+
+“Ahh.. well yes. It’s been a while hasn’t it? I was just wary of trying raw fish… I prefer it cooked.” Would it be rude to have it cooked? Of course it is, I can’t even believe I entertained the notion of asking.
+
+I can’t let it go to waste either. I hesitantly bring another to my mouth…
+
+Oh that is not better the second time is it…
+
+“You don't have to force yourself, Claire-chan. We can easily finish your portions.”
+
+“I apologize… Thank you Rae.” This is rather embarrassing. 
+
+“My, aren’t you two cute? How long have you been together now?” Manaria’s tone worries me though I can't quite discern why.
+
+“A few weeks now.” Nothing elaborate Claire.
+
+“Could have fooled me.” Manaria teases out, then she casually plucks another roll from the plate and eats it. “I thought you would have loved the taste of seafood .”
+
+Rae blushes, profusely, at that comment. “Manaria. Please. That's rather uncouth.” It's up to me to control Manaria. 
+
+“Oh?” She grins. Rae was right. She can be infuriating at times. “Did I say something?”
+
+Rae grumbles something under her breath, she really didn’t have to subject herself to this.
+
+Let’s try to steer the conversation away from that. “So Manaria, how are you enjoying your stay so far?”
+
+She savors another portion of sushi as she ponders her response. “Well it was nice to finally go out and do something. Your mom has been insistent that I try to avoid too many appearances till more time passes… so that's fun . It's been a mostly boring week so far. Your con was a nice change of pace even if I felt like a tourist.”
+
+“Oh, I’m sorry it’s been so hectic with everything.” I should have reached out sooner. 
+
+Manaria shrugs and grimaces. “It’s not your fault.” She doesn’t say it, but I can hear the implication that it is hers. “I really don’t need to be chased around by more cameras and mics shoved in my face so I should be careful. ‘ Have you always been gay? Are you rebelling? How could you do something so heinous? ” She sighs.
+
+“That bad…?” Rae asks, I guess she doesn’t really know much about Manaria here this time.
+
+“Well when you are royalty, even if it's very distant, people think too much of you.”
+
+“Wait, you're royalty?” Rae brings her voice to a hush as best as she can and still be heard.
+
+Manaria rolls her eyes, “Technically, nobility is a better way to describe it. In some world I could have a path of succession to the throne of Belgium but I really doubt that will ever happen. Especially after this scandal. You know Claire is technically nobility too. Or have you failed to mention that to your girlfriend?”
+
+“No, she told me.” Rae is quick to answer. I did tell her in our previous life I was nobility. I never got quite around to figure out the minutiae of it all here though yet. “Her mom runs their business right? Francois? That’s like a french lamborghini?”
+
+Lamb what?
+
+Manaria is watching me, is she waiting for me to answer? I can't . Then she turns her attention back to Rae. “Not quite. Lamborghini makes cars first. Francois is a brand, and that’s sometimes on a car.”
+
+“Sure, I just mean it’s high end stuff. Fancy right?”
+
+Manaria laughs, “ Fancy , I think Melia would not enjoy it put that way, but sure. Fancy. I’m sure even Claire here would attest to the quality.“
+
+“Ohh, of course. We wouldn’t use our name on anything less than perfect.” It feels nostalgic to play up a haughty laugh. 
+
+“Oh I’m sure.” Manaria grins, “Say Claire , what would be your favorite product? I’ve always been partial to the watches , but I’m sure Rae loves the lipstick.”
+
+“Oh-”
+
+Rae clears her throat, bless her. “Wow, so a scandal huh?” She glares at Manaria, some things never change. “What exactly was so bad that you had to run to Japan?”
+
+Manaria rolls her eyes and looks unimpressed, but then her face shifts into something more sly. “Well imagine something like what Melia and I walked into, except my father didn��t take it in good humor, and there was more of an audience. With cameras. Caught sexually assaulting my own maid of all things. I’m such a disgrace to the Sousse name. I’m a monster.”
+
+“You weren’t and aren’t”
+
+Manaria scoffs at my comment, “Oh I’m sure you're the expert of what happened.”
+
+“You didn’t mean to hurt her.”
+
+Manaria’s surprise catches her for barely a moment before she schools her face again. She narrows her eyes.
+
+“I know you wouldn't.”
+
+“I’m sure you do. Would it matter? She’s gone now.”
+
+“Then find her, make it right.” Don't take this lying down.
+
+“When did you become so idealistic?” She sounds so sardonic.
+
+Since I found Rae. I can’t help but look at her, our eyes meet. She knows my answer is her, I can see it in her blush. “Would it be cliche if I said since I fell in love?”
+
+Manaria mocks a gag, “Oh god you have turned into a sap. Stop before you cause your toy to explode.” She rolls her eyes and stuffs another piece of sushi in her mouth.
+
+Rae is… looking a bit uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, was that too much.”
+
+“Ahh, no, well, maybe. I don’t know. It’s not like I’m the interesting person here or anything…” Rae is not being fair to herself.
+
+“That’s not true.”
+
+“Well apparently you're royalty.” Rae remarks.
+
+“Distantly!”
+
+“Not me. I’m a princess.” Oh, Now you're proper royalty Manaria?
+
+“Manaria, you are not helping.” I say through gritted teeth. “I’m not any better or any more interesting than anyone else because of my birth. That includes you Rae.”
+
+Rae doesn’t look quite convinced however. What's wrong?
+
+“So when did you two meet?” Another question from Manaria.
+
+“Well… just a week…s before we started dating?”
+
+Rae grimaces, oh come now. Surely it wasn’t that bad? Surely? 
+
+“I had seen her around for a bit before we talked the first time. We share a bunch of classes.” Rae is quick to try to control the topic.
+
+“Oh, so quickly? Such a fast pipeline. Can I ask what sparked this little flame?”
+
+Little?
+
+“Oh, well I always thought Claire-chan was… pretty…” Rae is trying so hard to not, but is blushing so much.
+
+“Rae is very wonderful and charming. It would be inconceivable to not fall for her.”
+
+Oh Rae is turning very bright. And staring at the table. Adorable. I wish this wasn't in front of Manaria though.
+
+“Okay, but like how did you get there? You don’t just, y’know, know that without something first.”
+
+“I…” I can’t say… what do I say?
+
+“She needed some help with tutoring.” Rae is quick to interject, she pulls her face back up trying her best to will down her previous blush. “She asked me for help, and then… um well…”
+
+“You’re dating your tutor?” Manaria gives me the side eye, her tone does not sound impressed.
+
+“She’s very charming.”
+
+“It’s a bad look Claire.” Is she judging… the nerve. 
+
+“It’s not as if I… we started dating after the fact.”
+
+Manaria hums, “Still moving very fast. Do you feel it’s been moving too fast Rae? Claire does seem to be rather possessive of you.”
+
+“Well, she is a… a lot has happened.”
+
+“Hmmm, have you ever been with another woman before?” She's questioning Rae.
+
+Rae is on edge. “Well not really…”
+
+“She’s not pressuring you into-”
+
+“Manaria!”
+
+“No!” Rae shouts in unison with me.
+
+The nerve of her.
+
+“Look it’s been fast but I like her too okay? Like what are you even trying to get at?” Rae sounds genuinely frustrated.
+
+Manaria sighs, “ Fine , I’ll drop it. I don’t know what you two are being so defensive over.”
+
+An uneasy silence washes over the table, and Manaria decides to sample a few more rolls. I wish I could just cut through all the pretense and get to the root of whatever is going on with Manaria. And why is she trying to rile up Rae… it feels different than before but I can’t discern why. But this isn’t the same Manaria I have talked to before many times. She is couched in old self loathing again. She is blaming herself for whatever this scandal is… I’m skeptical. I know there is more that she isn’t saying, her relationship with Eve was always complicated. If they would talk then maybe things could move towards repair. But I can’t force Manaria to have the conversation can I.
+
+I try another different piece of sushi… oh that is worse , and harder to swallow isn't it?

49.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+“God, what is with her?”
+
+Rae is still frustrated with Manaria, even after we have walked a bit back towards our dorms.
+
+“You didn’t have to come, I do appreciate it but I could have managed.”
+
+“But she was… Claire, she's suspicious.”
+
+“What? No, she is just trying to rile you up.”
+
+“What? Okay, maybe yes, but she was asking you questions. Like, I really don't think that was… the main goal? Claire, she was asking you about your mom’s company. She noticed when you didn’t have an answer. What would have happened if I wasn’t there?”
+
+“Oh… I don’t think it... I could have managed. And honestly I do think she was trying to rile you.”
+
+Rae pouts, “Maybe… what a pest.” 
+
+“She’s… she’s made poor choices. The Manaria I knew hated herself for it, and she seems no different this time.”
+
+“ Poor choice ? She said she sexually assaulted a girl.”
+
+“Because she is trying to get a rise out of you Rae, and she hates what she did. She got involved with her maid and it was messy, there was no communication. She thought Eve acquiesced to her authority, her station. And Eve thought she made a mistake and ran. I don’t condone what happened, Manaria hurt Eve. And I don’t know what happened here either. What really happened. Manaria seems convinced to sell herself as some sort of monster, but even with my ignorance I can see what a farce her story is. But of course she is playing this stupid game again. Wallowing in her loathing and content to play the role.”
+
+“If you say so… I just…”
+
+“You don’t have to like her.”
+
+“I… sorry, she really does seem like… I know she’s family.” Rae is being too apologetic. 
+
+“Yes, and goodness gracious is she infuriating. If she would just be honest… Gah. I can’t force it.” infuriating! 
+
+“I mean it’s not your responsibility to fix her stupid problem.”
+
+I sigh, “I know, but I do want to help. And I doubt there are few people who understand her in the way I do.”
+
+“Well. Her problem. She should sort her shit out first and then maybe you help her.” Rae pouts.
+
+“You never did like her.”
+
+“I can see why.” Her disdain is quite cute.
+
+I let out a breath and sigh… “You're right, I suspect. This won't be something we can remedy soon. I hope it didn’t sour the day too much.”
+
+“Oh… I mean it’s done now… did you want…?”
+
+“Could we? It’s been a long weekend, but I would not say no to getting cozy and playing more Persona.”
+
+Rae grins, and red dusts her cheeks. “Yeah, totally. I would… be happy too…. If you want to…”
+
+I close the small gap between us, and slip my hand into hers. It stiffens at first from the surprise, but quickly relaxes and we lock our fingers into each other.
+
+“Perfect.”

5.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+I definitely left too early. And was up way too late researching. Prosthetics are expensive. I could open up—oh, a text from Francois-san.
+
+Good Morning Rei, we are coming down now and should see you soon. Sincerely, Francois.
+
+Okay, that’s pretty cute. I should let her know that with other people that’s going to look weird, though. 
+
+“Rei!” Just a few minutes later, I peek up from my phone and see Francois-san waving to me with Achard-san just behind, leaning on her cane. I guess Francois-san was right about the leg. Francois-san walks slowly, being careful to not leave Achard-san behind. They almost look like sisters. “Sorry if we made you wait long. I’m not used to the style of clothing here and I might have been stressing too much about appearances…”
+
+Wow, I mean, I look so frumpy in my old hoodie compared to her. She’s wearing a long and very pretty white dress with a form-fitting red sweater vest over it. I don’t think I have seen her in it before but she does look great. For someone who probably has even less of an idea than I do about what’s currently trendy, she’s nailing it. 
+
+“You look great,” I say, meaning it sincerely.
+
+Francois-san smiles at the compliment, looking right at me. Oh , this is going to take some getting used to. “Thank you, Rei, I hope my hair looks okay too. It’s not how I usually wear it but my old style needed a lot of help to get right and Catherine said I just wear it straight here.” It's hard to imagine her long blonde hair as anything other than its usual simple straight style. It’s so smooth and pristine.
+
+“It’s good, very good!” Oh God, Rei, keep it together. You sound even more awkward than usual.
+
+I can see Achard-san roll her eyes behind Francois-san. Francois-san just smiles again and God, if I could melt it would be dangerous to be around her. “Thank you, Rei. I tried to play it safe. I like your outfit too. It feels like you.”
+
+Okay, Achard-san, you don’t need to snicker. I’m sure Francois-san meant it, but my clothes really aren’t that nice. “Thanks, sooooo , we have economics first. That’s probably not going to be easy to dive into right away so I can sit next to you for that. If your lackeys ask, you can say I’m tutoring you.”
+
+“That’s actually not the worst cover. Her grades haven’t been doing well. She could even say her mom is making her do it,” Achard-san adds in. Yeah, that’s a good idea.  After all, there’s no way someone like Francois-san would even look my way otherwise.
+
+“Mother…right, yes, I can do that. Wait, did you say lackeys?” Francois-san asks.
+
+“Yeah, you always seem to have two other girls around you. It’s like your mean girls squad.”
+
+“What—”
+
+“She’s not going to understand the reference,” Achard-san sounds a bit annoyed. “You need to use things she can understand.”
+
+“Oh, right, your, um, entourage?” That will make more sense, right?
+
+“Oh, do you know who they are?”
+
+“Nope.” I let the P pop. I mean, why would I know them? I barely even had a chance to talk to Francois-san before this all happened, and it’s not like I cared about her lackeys at all.
+
+“What do they look like?” Francois-san asks.
+
+“Hrm, one is a little taller, brunette, and the other is shorter and has pink hair.” Did one of them have freckles?
+
+“Loretta and Pepi!” She says excitedly. I’m not sure if they will live up to her expectations from that reaction. “Now that you mention it, you did always call them my minions before.”
+
+“That’s probably them,” Achard-san throws in, ignoring the minions part. “Can we get moving? It takes me longer to get there you know.”
+
+“Do you want to take a bus?” I ask.
+
+“No, it’s fine, I like the walk. The cane is usually fine. Let's just get moving.” She seems eager to move past the topic.
+
+“Let me know if you need anything, okay, Catherine?” Francois-san gives Achard-san a polite nod. Achard-san definitely seems like she’s not used to this yet, but she doesn’t make a big deal about it. She seems eager to get to class. 
+
+Our walk goes by quickly even though we’re moving more slowly than usual. We try to cram in a bit more prep for class before we get there, but honestly I think we’re going to have to go back through my notes to the beginning. At least it’s still early in the semester. I allotted some extra time for the walk on account of Achard-san so  we should still be pretty early to class, hopefully without too many people around. Once we get to the building, we stop to get breakfast from the cafeteria. It doesn’t take too long to finish our meal.
+
+“Oh, I might need to use the restroom,” Francois-san says. She looks around, unsure of where to go.
+
+“Sure just—”
+
+“It’s out that door and to your left, Claire.” Achard-san cuts me off. Francois-san notices and there is a look between her and Achard-san.
+
+After a second or two Francois-san sighs,.“Fine, but be nice .” Achard-san just gives her an extremely fake smile. Francois-san mouths ‘I’ll be back’ and turns to follow the directions to the restroom.
+
+And then it’s just me and her roommate slash friend.
+
+Cool .
+
+Achard-san takes her time finishing her coffee. “So…” I attempt, but it doesn't really help the awkward mood.
+
+Achard-san puts her drink back down. “Right…” She sighs. “Look, this is kinda messed up and I appreciate you being there to help, but also Francois-chan is my… friend and I don’t know the first thing about you.”
+
+Great. We’re having this conversation already. I can’t stop my nervous chuckle. “Yeah, I really didn’t know Francois-san before this happened. I mean, we share classes and I think we’re in a similar course of study, but I never really got a chance to talk to her.”
+
+“Didn’t stop your massive obvious crush on her, did it?” Achard-san mentions oh-so-casually. I nearly choke on my own cup of coffee
+
+“What?” I say, coughing. Rei, don’t think about how much you’re blushing. Count primes…
+
+“Trust me, Claire can be clueless when it comes to crushes, but even she is noticing this.” She motions her hand at me. “And sure, she thinks you two are married or whatever but she is still loving this.” Catherine takes another sip of coffee. “Not to be too harsh, but you’re kind of a walking stereotype.”
+
+“Noted.” I clear my throat. “What is your point, exactly?” I do not need this.
+
+“Eh, look, sorry, that came out worse than I meant. I’m not great with people. I don’t know. I don’t get whatever this is between you and her. She’s in a very vulnerable spot and I worry about her, okay?” Achard-san fidgets, feeling awkward even having to say this much.
+
+“I … I don’t want to hurt her. I’m trying to help.” I offer.
+
+She sighs. “Yeah, cool, just making sure we’re on the same page.” She leans back and seems content to let the silence return.
+
+“Err, what was she like, y’know, before this happened.” I needed to say something.
+
+She groans and takes a moment before answering. “I guess you already know she lost her dad, from the talk last night. Well, it happened when she was really young. There was a car crash in Paris, and lucky me, I was in the other car. Hence the leg, and…hrmm, no, that’s me stuff. Anyways, after that the two of us often got bundled together. My dad pretty much  ditched me—don’t ask—and while Claire’s mom was picking up the pieces and getting their business back on track we spent some time with Claire’s extended family, the Sousse, in the Alps. We bounced from country to country for a bit before settling here.”
+
+I guess that’s good to know. “I was asking more about how she acted before this. But thanks for sharing all of that.”
+
+Catherine shrugs. “I don’t know, she acted really shut off after the accident. She was better when she was a kid from what I heard, but losing her dad hit her hard and her mom was always busy. I don’t like trying to psycho-analyze my friends, but honestly she seemed kinda depressed, or maybe detached? Superficial? It’s weird seeing her like this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good, but honestly I’ve never seen her be even a fraction as… okay as she seems now.”
+
+“So…this is better, then? It’s not like she’s a completely different person now, right?”
+
+“Errr, people are going to notice, even if she tries to act ‘normal.’ It’s a big change. It feels like she woke up or something.  But yeah, I think it’s better because before she was just…not great, honestly. So don’t fuck it up, I guess.”
+
+Great, no pressure. The way Achard-san is eyeing me doesn't really help either. “I—”
+
+“I’m back.” Francois-san announces herself, looking pleased. “I was worried that the restroom here would be more complicated, but at least our public restrooms aren’t too different.”
+
+“You took your time.” Achard-san says over a sip of coffee.
+
+Francois-san clicks her tongue and flicks Achard-san on the forehead, after she sets her cup down. Achard-san looks surprised and rubs the spot, but leans back and lets a small easy smile settle in. “Look, I wasn’t expecting the sinks to just turn on. I thought they had broken and they kept turning off and on…”
+
+I can’t help but laugh as Francois-san tries to explain the situation, “They have a sensor for your hands. You just have to have them in the right place.”
+
+“I sort of figured that out, but I spent at least a minute trying to find a knob.” She laughs. At least she isn’t too embarrassed by the situation, and even Achard-san chuckles a bit. “She didn’t bully you too much while I was gone, I hope.”
+
+“No, it was good.” I mean, she did kinda grill me, but I understand why.
+
+I take a sip of what’s left of my coffee, and Francois-san chooses that moment to shoot me a smirk.
+
+“Good, only I’m allowed to bully you.”
+
+That sends the coffee up my nose and sends me into a coughing fit. Francois-san just leans back, looking smug and unfairly attractive. I am so doomed. My grave will say “killed by teasing and gay panic.”
+
+“Okay, I want no part of this flirting.” Achard-san blanches, sticks out her tongue as she pushes herself up from her seat. “I’m going to my classes. Have fun with your otaku, Claire.”
+
+And she walks away and disappears out the exit.
+
+It’s just me and Francois-san now, and she smiles when she catches me looking over at her. I’m not meant to last, am I? “I just wanted to get a little bit of flirting in before we can’t.” She certainly has a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You’re very cute when you blush, but I would rather not share it with others.”
+
+One, two, three, five, seven, eleven, thirteen, seventeen…
+
+“It’s not too much… is it?” The glint is gone, replaced with concern. She looks like she wants to lean over towards me. She glances at my hands fidgeting on the table.
+
+“No! Yes?” I let out a nervous chuckle.
+
+“Sorry, sorry, you said you wanted to take it slow… I can wait.” Francois-san retreats a little, her eyes looking unsure and a bit sad.
+
+“No! It’s okay!” I blurt out.
+
+Francois-san looks at me intently, like she’s trying to see my thoughts. I feel a bit exposed. “Rei, you don’t need to push yourself. It’s fine, really. I’m just being a bit impatient. It’s hardly been a day, after all, at least for you. And you have a bad habit of putting others before yourself.”
+
+“I do not.” I try not to pout, but Francois-san just hums in agreement and takes a sip of her own coffee. I don’t, right?
+
+“So, what does that mark on your sweater mean?” Francois-san asks, changing the subject.
+
+“Errr.” I have to take a second to remember what I threw on this morning.  Oh, it’s this one. “It’s a hoodie, cause y’know, it’s got a hood.” I give the hood a flick and it pops up over my head. She gives an ‘ahhh’ and it’s honestly adorable. “And ummm.” I point at the logo which is probably what she was asking about in the first  place. “This is the symbol of a game. It’s kinda nerdy otaku stuff, err, right, that’s not helpful to you. It’s, ummm—”
+
+“In our past life you sort of explained what games, well, video games, were like. We have games back in Bauer too, of course.”
+
+“I did? Oh, right, umm, okay, yeah I could show you some later if you want. But yeah, this is the title of the game.”
+
+“The game is called P5?” Francois squints like she’s trying to see something she must have missed.
+
+I slap my forehead, annoyed with myself. “It’s another acronym, sorry. It’s short for Persona 5. That little mask is part of the logo.”
+
+Francois-san hums and takes another sip of her coffee, and I just feel awkward. I’m really selling myself now, aren’t I? “I would like it if you showed me some of these games, if you don’t mind.  You sometimes talked about them, as well as novels and, umm, ‘manga’ I think you called them. You said you even used to write some prose for them. You would occasionally write some when we were together too. It was lovely.”
+
+Oh God, is she talking about fan fiction?? It's embarrassing having your crush lay out exactly how much of an otaku you are, even if she lacks a lot of context.
+
+“Though I must confess, the first bit of prose of yours that I found left me so embarrassed. It was before we were together. You had written a silly and fanciful story where we were knights fighting the forces of darkness. I wish I hadn’t ripped it up now, but you had threatened to make two thousand copies of it.” She lets out such a lovely laugh, but… I WHAT? Oh god this sounds way too similar to the daydream I had last week. Oh Goooooooood why?
+
+I shrink in on myself. “I’m sorry I was such an otaku. I’ll find a hole and bury myself in it later.”
+
+“Oh don’t be so melodramatic, Rei, it's cute.” She tries to soothe me. She actually cares… oh, this really isn’t helping me calm down, though. “Though would you mind explaining what an ‘otaku’ is? It’s at least the second time you’ve mentioned it and Catherine mentioned it too. It sounds familiar. I’m sure you said it before in our past life, but I don’t think you ever explained it.”
+
+Huh? She looks genuinely curious, and it doesn't seem like she’s trying to tease me about it either. “Oh, well, ummm, I guess the easiest way to explain it without context is someone who gets way into certain kinds of media , like kinda obsessively into it. Huh, I guess you didn’t really have any media like that. Okay, so like, imagine if a play becomes really well known throughout the  whole country and is really easy to watch and see and some people really get into, like, the story, or maybe the characters, or two characters’ romances. Or like, a singer gets really popular with a lot of people. Or an athlete. You had those, right?” She nods. “Okay so yeah, sometimes there is a whole subculture that talks about those things, and sometimes it gets derided for being too obsessive or whatever. Like, sometimes people make costumes of their favorite characters—”
+
+“Or write their own prose?” Francois-san asks. I wasn’t expecting her to be, well… really listening.
+
+“Yeahhh, we call it fan fiction here. The term otaku is not always meant politely, but it’s not always used negatively, either.”
+
+“Okay, I think I understand it, but I expect more context will help. I do want to see some of this media. I love seeing you get passionate about things. Oh, if you don’t mind, that is.” How is she always so nice to me? She’s been so calm and collected, at least when she isn’t teasing me… stop that, Rei. She has to see how awkward I am, right? I don’t feel like I deserve all this confidence she has in me. I can’t see myself measuring up to the Rei she has in her mind, at all. I saved her, she said, but how can I do that when I can’t even feel composed around her? And she looks at me like there is nothing else in the whole world. 
+
+It’s all I wanted just a few days ago… and now? Am I going to lose it if she realizes I’m not like her Rei?
+
+I… I need to make sure that she gets what she needs first. I shouldn’t be so caught up in how inadequate I feel with everything she’s going through. We need to take this one step at a time.
+
+She is important right now.
+
+Not me.
+
+“Sure, no problem at all! But we should probably start heading to class before the rest of the students get there.  Are you ready, Francois-san?”
+
+She just beams. “Of course. After all, I’m with you !”
+
+ 

50.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,591 @@
+“Dungeon Meshi is such a fascinating read. It starts off with a somewhat silly tone and premise but it just keeps spinning into something much more complex and it’s so poignant with it's themes. About abuse, living, surviving . People and their relationship to the world. The characters are all so wonderfully deep and fleshed out. Every character, even the minor ones feel relevant and contribute to the whole of the story. And it manages to be so charming the whole time, it’s never dull, or too dark to not make you laugh and it’s so beautifully illustrated.” 
+
+It’s so nice to enjoy a break with the girls, having snacks and drinks. My regaling of Dungeon Meshi is having mixed results though.
+
+Loretta blinks slowly, she has been listening, but I’m not sure she is really listening . “That sounds neat Claire-chan.”
+
+Pepi groans and pools on the table, “The Otaku ruined her…”
+
+“It’s not that bad…” Loretta says.
+
+“Whatever do you mean?”
+
+“I can’t believe you are talking about an anime . Anime !”
+
+“Manga, I haven’t watched the anime version. Rae said we could once I finish.”
+
+“God that's worse.” Pepi practically exhales the statement.
+
+“I… it’s an excellent read.” I don’t appreciate her tone.
+
+“It’s otaku stuff!”
+
+“I don’t see the problem.”
+
+“Yah, it’s not really that bad. I’ve watched a few Shonen stuff.” See! Loretta doesn’t think it’s so bad!
+
+“Are you kidding me?” Oh, Pepi looks thoroughly repulsed, “That’s like for stupid teenage boys!”
+
+Loretta blushes, “What? It’s not that bad, it’s… like fun and stuff.”
+
+Pepi just makes another face at her, I think she might be reconsidering her attraction at this moment.
+
+“Come now Pepi, fine art is not restricted to a specific medium. And traditional writings are not except from rubbish quality.”
+
+“Sure, but anime is like… you know?”
+
+“No?”
+
+“Are you for real? You would have never even thought about it before.” She’s not really answering the question.
+
+“Okay, and I would have been wrong. And I would have never read Dungeon Meshi before, which would have been tragic."
+
+“It can't be that good .” What is so hard to believe about this.
+
+“I disagree, it is.” I’ve been talking a lot about it haven't I? I feel parched and could use another sip of my tea. “I can’t speak of the quality of manga, or anime in general. I still have a few volumes left of Dungeon Meshi before I would consider something else after all, but Rae has been quick to say that the medium is full of examples of great and equally atrocious works. If anything, that is the case of all mediums in my experience.”
+
+“I’ve seen bits online, the anime does look funny.” Loretta says.
+
+“Can you stop?” Pepi groans at Loretta’s further perceived exacerbations.
+
+“Jeez.” Loretta pouts and looks away.
+
+Pepi, treat your wife better than that!
+
+“Look, I’m sure if you gave it a try you might like it too? Why not watch it with Loretta?”
+
+Pepi’s eyes quickly narrow at me, I can see she sees my suggestion for what it is. And what are you going to do about it, Pepi?
+
+“Look I’m not watching that fantasy otaku crap, and there is no way Loretta-chan wants to either.”
+
+“I… Oh?” Loretta sounds dejected at the rejection. See!?I
+
+“What?”
+
+“I don’t know… I would have if you wanted to if…”
+
+“Wait? Did you want to watch it?”
+
+“I don’t know… maybe?” Loretta averts her gaze down and to the side, a little self-conscious. “Claire-chan says it’s good, and it might be fun to watch it together.”
+
+“Why don’t we just watch something else?” It sounds like Pepi is almost pleading with Loretta, this is fascinating to watch.
+
+“God, if you suggest another drama… come on! Haven’t you caught me falling asleep to those at least twice now.”
+
+“I… those were just slower-”
+
+“I don’t want to watch another drama . I’m not saying I want to watch anime , but I don’t know… this might be fun. I used to watch some with my brother when we were kids and like… Come on Claire said it’s good. It’s not like she would say that about anything.”
+
+“She didn’t ever talk about anything before!”
+
+“Yah, well this is better!”
+
+“It’s better that she's talking about anime?”
+
+“God Pepi, look no one fucking cares here anymore. Like even Claire lightened up! I like this better. Like sure high school sucked; I was never girly enough, Why are you so muscular, you're too tall, are you even wearing makeup? Fuck, I’m sick of that of that shit, and now people here don’t have the same stick up their ass.”
+
+“ I like how muscular you are.” Pepi just barely mumbles.
+
+“Huh?”
+
+“Nothing, it’s not like you had a monopoly on bull shit. You know how often I got treated as poor? Because Poppa never expanded his business? He could have, but he didn’t want to, he was happy running one location, and it was very successful but that’s not what everyone thought.”
+
+“I know, it sucked.”
+
+“Yes!” Pepi seems like she is fighting, but it’s met with no resistance. Loretta is agreeing.
+
+“And like… it’s over.”
+
+“Yes Pepi-chan, it’s different now. I wish I did more… but it’s better now isn't it? I feel better.”
+
+“I think it’s better.” Loretta adds.
+
+“But… I don’t know… I… everything wasn’t supposed to change this much…”
+
+“Not all change is bad.” I sympathize, a lot must have changed. Not even considering my drastic shift.
+
+“Yah! I want to watch the anime. Come on Pepi….” Loretta focuses on Pepi.
+
+Pepi swallows, oh there is such a need to reject on her face, but she really doesn’t want to say no to Loretta either.
+
+“Just think, you could watch it together, Pepi-chan.” Just accept it, Pepi.
+
+“Ugh, fine , we can watch one episode tonight, but if it sucks I’m not watching another.”
+
+“That’s not fair, you made me watch so many stupid dramas, I can’t even remember their names.”
+
+“One” Pepie repeats.
+
+“I don't think you even liked half of them! The guys are always so dull.”
+
+“It wasn’t about liking the guys. We had to know what people were talking about Loretta!”
+
+“I’d rather know what Claire is talking about.” Loretta huffs in annoyance. 
+
+“Aawww, Loretta.” That’s so sweet of her. That, however, causes her to blush fiercely. Oh, right . She fidgets with arm as it washes over her. 
+
+“ Are you fucking serious .” Pepi mumbles under her breath, apologies Pepi. She exhales, “We start with one.”
+
+Loretta cools down a bit and eyes Pepi, “Fine, but if you like it we will watch more.”
+
+“ If ”
+
+Loretta pumps her fist in victory, “We watch it tonight then.”
+
+Pepi groans, “Only if you buy me good snacks. I want ice cream. Häagen-Dazs ”
+
+Loretta shrugs, “Sure. It’s a date.”
+
+“Right…” There is the barest blush on Pepi, you should just ask her already.
+
+“You okay there Pepi.” See , you haven’t even been subtle about it recently, even Loretta is noticing it.
+
+“Claire-chan, so what’s going on with you and that otaku anyways… she said you went on a date. You aren’t really…” Pepi is attempting to steer the conversation away from herself.
+
+“Yeah…” And of course it works on Loretta.
+
+Oh well , “Dating you mean?” 
+
+“Yah?”
+
+“Between just us, yes, it's really happening. Nothing has changed. She doesn’t want to be out about it yet.”
+
+“Hmm, okay.” Pepi is rolling the idea around in her head. She’s not particularly fond of it.
+
+“So, you’re actually dating her?” Loretta asks, she sounds a little dejected, but whatever edge there was directed at Rae before seems to have dulled significantly. “It’s weird.”
+
+“Yah.” Pepi echoes, eager to be aligned with Loretta again.
+
+“She’s… polite I guess.” Loretta seems to struggle to say a nice thing about her.
+
+“She’s cute.” Oh, that sounded too much like a correction. “She is polite too, more than she needs to be honestly. It’s fun when she lets herself be silly.”
+
+“Even if you wanted to date a girl, like couldn’t you have… picked someone with more…” Pepi won't let it go.
+
+“I didn’t want to date a girl, I wanted to date Rae . I honestly can’t even imagine dating anyone else.”
+
+“Well you seem happy now at least.” Loretta concedes, and takes a big gulp from her drink.
+
+“Yes, thank you Loretta”
+
+“ Kiss ass. ” Pepi mumbles, this time Loretta does catch it and glares at her. So Pepi just sticks her tongue out.
+
+I need to do something. “Have you two thought of dating?”
+
+That causes Pepi to start a coughing fit.
+
+Loretta pays it little mind though. “Hrmm, I don’t know Claire-chan. Guys seem… whatever around here. And it’s not like any guys were asking me out before.” She shrugs. Hrmm, it really does not seem as if Loretta has even considered it.
+
+Pepi has though. I can’t help but grin as I turn back to her. Oh she is frustrated with me. This is for your own good. “And what of you Pepi-chan? No prospects for yourself?”
+
+“No.” Pepi says through gritted teeth.
+
+“Really?” Loretta says.
+
+“I know , and she’s so pretty isn’t she?”
+
+“Claire…”
+
+“Yah I thought people would have been lining up to at least ask you since we got here. I don’t know… you're not like me…” Loretta is being too dismissive of herself.
+
+“Nonsense Loretta, you are very handsome. I’m sure Pepi would agree-”
+
+THUNK
+
+Oh heavens, that stings. I probably earned that. Only slightly . I’m quite sure even Loretta heard that kick. Pepi shows no shame.
+
+“Uhhh, did you…? Are you okay Claire-chan?”
+
+I have to inhale through my teeth for a moment. “Oh must have slipped, it rather smarts but I will persevere.” Loretta still looks concerned even with my assuages, and Pepi is just short of pouting. Oh my shin feels raw from that strike. “ You do think Pepi-chan is pretty, don't you Loretta-chan?” I already bring my legs in tighter to fend off a second blow.
+
+Loretta turns back to Pepi and decides to take in her appearance. Showing a focus she usually only uses for physical activities. Pepi freezes, like an animal exposed to lantern light.
+
+“Yah. She is pretty, even by pretty standards. Not as-”
+
+“You are so correct.” That was a close call, I had to stop her from sticking her foot in her mouth. Your wife does not need to hear that I'm pretty. “I think anyone would be lucky if they were to date someone like her. Isn’t that right?”
+
+“Yah, honestly I don’t get why you haven’t. Didn’t some guy ask you out last week?”
+
+Pepi finally recovers, and rolls her eyes. “Ugh, I was not going to date him .”
+
+“I… don’t know. All guys seem kinda… meh to me. I thought maybe he was-”
+
+“He wasn't. And I don’t know if I want to be dating any guys right now.”
+
+“Well maybe no guys per say, but how-”
+
+I’m ready for it this time, I pull my legs away, just feeling the air rush past and I dodge Pepi’s kick this time. 
+
+“Huh? What’s going on.”
+
+“NOTHING!” Pepi, you are only looking more suspicious. 
+
+“Whatever do you mean?”
+
+Loretta slows blinks. Twice. Thrice. “Okay?”
+
+“I think you should consider what type of person you would like to date Loretta. That might make it easier to find them. Try envisioning them.”
+
+Pepi is glaring at me.
+
+“Hrmm, I don’t know… I can’t really think of a guy I think would look good…”
+
+See Pepi?
+
+“What about personality? What sort of character would you like?”
+
+Loretta ponders. She really has not considered it has she. “I don’t know? Someone… huh... maybe… someone that is kind, even if they can seem a bit prickly. I want them to be loyal. I don't know, I would have to know them well I think”
+
+I take another glance at Pepi and she has turned her sight downwards, a little difficult to read.
+
+“Those sound like good qualities. Think on it some more, I’m sure someone will become obvious as you think about it.”
+
+“I… guess. How about you, Pepi-chan? What are you looking for?” Loretta spends little energy thinking deeply on the matter before directing the question back to Pepi.
+
+Pepi fidgets, “I… maybe someone muscular.” She looks up back to Loretta. Is she testing the waters?
+
+Good.
+
+Loretta nods. “Makes sense.” Loretta .
+
+“I wouldn't mind if they were a bit dense, as long as they try to make up for it.”
+
+“God, I know what you mean. Things just seem to fly over my head, but I try to make sure I'm on the same page with everyone.”
+
+And there, I can see the little hope Pepi had, leave her body as she sighs heavily, and once again she pools on the table.
+
+“ I’m doomed .” She mumbles with her face pressed to the table.
+
+Little steps, we will get there .
+
+“Oooh, having some girl talk are we?” A soft, but slightly baritone voice sounds off to the side.
+
+Oh, it’s Yu. I’m really not used to this voice.
+
+“Yu-san, how nice to see you. What brings you over?” I’ve had so few opportunities to see her since the party.
+
+Her brow raises high and she dons a smile like a mask. “Oh you know, just around. Saw you three and thought I might say hello. Thank you very much Claire-chan.” Something tells me she doesn't really trust me, and I can’t fault her from what I gathered.
+
+“How have your classes been? You are welcome to join our girl talk.” I wave to one of the seats at the table, “Feel free to have some snacks we brought, we have potato chips. They're delightful.” So crisp.
+
+Yu glances at the spread, she considers it. She's always been cautious and that hasn’t changed. “Well if you don’t mind me intruding on you girls, I think I would enjoy that.” She smiles and pulls a seat for herself.
+
+Loretta and Pepi both look a bit unsure.
+
+“So what were you gossiping about?” Yu takes a chip and grins, she always enjoyed gossip.
+
+“Unfortunately not quite gossip. I was telling the girls how good Dungeon Meshi is.”
+
+“Claire-chan!” Pepi is just shy of shouting.
+
+“Yu-san is fine. Really, and well right before you arrived we might have talked a bit about romance.”
+
+“Oh.” Yu savors a second chip. “Romance is an interesting topic for you now isn’t it? So what exactly is going on between you and Rae-chan? Hmm?”
+
+“Oh I’m sure you figured it out. You are quite clever.”
+
+“Thank you, but honestly I’m still trying to figure out a fair bit of it. Like the why ?”
+
+“Rae, is your friend right? You’ve known each since highschool?”
+
+“Yes. Maybe not as close as Misha is, but yes.” She could have elaborated more.
+
+“Well I like her, I mean it genuinely.”
+
+Yu leans back, inscrutable as she tends to be. “Hrmmm, so what was that with Thane then?”
+
+I need to give a truthful answer, or she will just suspect something is amiss. “I think I was making a poor choice, and I didn’t really think through my feelings or Thane-san feelings very well if I am being honest. I’m glad I realized it and stopped before I did something that would have hurt him.”
+
+Yu nods along, a contemplative mask wielded. “And Rae is different?”
+
+“Very, I love her.”
+
+I can see Pepi gag from the corner of my eye. Have some dignity.
+
+Yu at least finds it funny and chuckles. “Well, color me surprised.” She grins and pops another chip into her mouth.
+
+“What of yourself Yu-san? Are there any prospects? I couldn't help but notice you were with Misha-chan when we saw each other last.” 
+
+That causes her to squirm, a rare treat. “And what about her?”
+
+“You tell me.” It’s my turn to grin.
+
+She doesn’t like that, she knows I know about Misha. “ Fucking Rae …”
+
+“Haha, hardly. I can just be observant too Yu-chan.”
+
+She quirks her brow, I guess she must be skeptical. “Nothing’s going on.”
+
+“But…?”
+
+“Nothing.” That was curt.
+
+“Why not?”
+
+“Because there is nothing going.” Oh that is a stained smile. Misha was also very hesitant to really say one way or another on this topic too. Even after I explained what I knew.
+
+“Fine, could I offer an opinion?”
+
+“You could certainly try.” She smirks.
+
+“I think it’s a good match.”
+
+She sighs, but doesn’t really offer much of a rebuttal to the point. Instead she diverts. “I have a question for you if you don’t mind. All of you.”
+
+“Huh?” Loretta snaps away from her phone, when had she pulled that out? Pepi looks a bit wary.
+
+“Of course, what is it?”
+
+“Forgive me for being blunt but I’m curious how you all became acquainted. Pepi-chan and Loretta-chan, you don’t exactly punch in the same weight class as someone like Claire-chan here. Pepi, your family runs and owns a successful grocery super store. And Loretta-chan, your’s runs an old and well established martial arts school. Not unimpressive so to say, but hardly in the realm of an heiress of Francois .”
+
+That remark strikes hard on their morale.
+
+“Yu-san, that’s hardly appropriate.”
+
+Both of them still look shamed. I… we were all nobles before, and true I was elevated above them but the way Yu implied it. It was as is… I don’t really know anything about their current lives, do I?
+
+“Apologies, I was just curious what brought you together. I don’t consider it a bad thing, just you never really struck me before as the sort.” She doesn't seem intent on abandoning the topic.
+
+I… how did I become friends with them here? I know how it happened in Bauer… but I didn’t meet either of them till just a few years ago from what I have gathered. What can I say?
+
+“I… met them in highschool…?” Curses why did I sound like I was asking.
+
+Pepi looks confused, of course she would be. I’m supposed to know this. She wants to ask, but instead she turns back to Yu. “Yes, we met in highschool. We were in the same class. Claire didn’t really like most of the other kids but she could stand us at least.”
+
+“Oh how altruistic of her.”
+
+“Hey!” Loretta snaps at Yu’s comment. “She looked out for us. You weren’t at that shit school.”
+
+Yu raises her hands, trying to look appeasing. “All right, all right. Forgive me.”
+
+“It’s fine, really. I understand, I haven’t always been the best person to be around. Trust me I know that.” Please girls, there is no need to snap at Yu.
+
+“Hey, it wasn't that bad.” Oh Loretta, weren’t you saying how much more enjoyable I am to be around now. You're not at fault for that Claire . I’ll just make it better.
+
+“It’s fine Loretta.” She still looks hesitant, she’s being very protective. “None of us are perfect, and I certainly wasn’t. 
+
+“So you’re all friends then?” Yu serves one more question.
+
+That should be obvious.
+
+“Well-”
+
+“She’s-”
+
+“Yes.” I say, stopping from Pepi and Loretta, I know they were going to say something dismissive. We serve Lady Claire. We are beneath her. It was the same tone. “You are my friends, and I don’t want that to change.”
+
+Loretta looks overwhelmed with emotion.
+
+Pepi looks more discerning, she’s puzzling something. That’s more worrying.
+
+“You’re quite the merry bunch.” Another cool remark from Yu.
+
+“And I enjoy talking to you as well, Yu-san.” I mean it.
+
+There is a smile, genuine. I think she believes me, but unsurprisingly she finds sincerity hard to return. “Touché.” She smirks and eats another chip.
+
+“What have you been up to, Yu-san?”
+
+She glances to the side, and looks a little bored with the question. “Well classes are dreadfully boring, aside from that I suppose I’m just keeping tabs on everything. Never hurts to know what’s going around.”
+
+“Ever the girl for gossip.”
+
+Yu looks at me oddly… shite , I just said- “ Well if only … anyways I think I’ve taken up enough of your time, and your chips.” Curses, she sounds a bit terse and she pushes herself up. Her mask is back in full and she hides behind a false smile. “It was a pleasure, Claire-san and friends . Thank you and till next time.”
+
+Lorette and Pepi say a goodbye, one couched out of politeness.
+
+“It was a pleasure Yu-san, if you don’t mind we should meet up again when we have time. We could do something with Misha-chan and Rae-chan.”
+
+She considers, “That sounds like it would be delightful.” She nods and then takes her leave.
+
+“What’s up with him?” Loretta says once Yu disappears from view.
+
+“Guys always get so touchy whenever you make any feminine suggestion.” Pepi remarks.
+
+“I…” That was a stupid slip up. “I didn’t mean to upset him .”
+
+“Ehh, he’d probably be cuter as a girl.” Loretta remarks and takes a sip from her drink. It sounds empty and she pouts. “Damn… you know what. I need a walk anyways. You want a drink? I’m going to go get another.”
+
+“Nah.”
+
+“Thank you, but I’m fine.”
+
+Loretta pops up quickly and makes her way to the nearby convenience store. Pepi is eying me.
+
+“Yu-chan?”
+
+“Oh… did I?” Did I? Curses, why can't I sound nonchalant ?
+
+“You know you’re just making me more suspicious right?”
+
+I groan, “Fine, yes. It was a slip of the tongue.”
+
+“Twice.”
+
+I don’t appreciate where this is going.
+
+“And when he asked about us… Claire-chan… how did we meet?” Her eyes are trying to bore into me.
+
+Oh hells . “In highschool.” School yourself Claire. Simple statements. No pauses or hesitations.
+
+Pepi narrows her eyes. “You know that's not what I am asking.”
+
+“Does it matter the specifics?”
+
+She flinches at the edge in my voice. I immediately feel bad, but she recovers quickly. She swallows. “You don’t know.”
+
+She said it. She's figured it out.
+
+“I don’t.”
+
+Her eyes go wide. That wasn't supposed to be correct. “What? How?”
+
+“It's rather hard to believe or explain.”
+
+“What the fuck are you talking about? You can’t be serious? You forgot? Are you just a different person? Is this that Otaku’s fault?”
+
+“Her name is Rae.”
+
+That causes her to shrink a bit again, is that fear? That's wrong.
+
+“I’m sorry, and it’s not her fault.”
+
+Pepi lips flap silently, for a moment, “You need to tell me something Claire-chan.”
+
+“Can I trust you won't tell anyone?”
+
+“What do you mean?... Is something bad going to… you’re worrying me now.” There is a faint amount of panic building up in her.
+
+“Nothing bad is going to happen, but this is… I can’t let many people know. I want to tell you, I trust you but I need you to know what I say is in all seriousness and must stay between us.”
+
+She looks hesitant, worried, maybe even scared.
+
+“I promise, it’s just peculiar, not bad.”
+
+She sighs. “Fine, I need to know what the fuck is going on with you.”
+
+“Language.” I have to shake my head, “Fine, I don’t have memories from this life anymore. I have memories from a different life.”
+
+She's silent for what seems to be nearly half a minute. “That’s not funny.”
+
+“It’s not.”
+
+“You can’t be serious, what the fuck does that mean?”
+
+“ Language , please. It’s what I said. I lived a life in a different world. We were all there, you, Loretta, even Yu…san. And of course Rae.”
+
+“A different world?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“Claire you have to tell fu-”
+
+“I am not fucking with you.” I let out a deep breath. Goodness. “You are the fifth person I have told. Rae knows. Catherine knows. Misha knows. Mother knows. And now you know.”
+
+“What am I supposed to do about this? Can we fix this?” She's grasping for something.
+
+“Do? Nothing. What is there to fix? From all accounts that I have pierced together I seemed barely awake, I wasn’t there.”
+
+“You… it wasn’t…”
+
+“Pepi, please tell me the truth.”
+
+“Look it wasn’t always… sometimes you would be…” Her eyes dart back and forth, as if she is trying to replay all her memories. “You… were very hard to read. I thought you were distant at first but I guess you were just… depressed … You didn’t really talk to people much. You would do what was needed in classes, and sometimes you would put people in their place. But you helped us?”
+
+“I think that’s because you are my friends.”
+
+She looks quite unsure about everything, her eyes glisten faintly.
+
+“I don’t know what was going on. I think I was not there, or just barely. But it came back, all of it, when I saw Rae that day, and I don’t remember anything from this life.”
+
+“What’s so special about her?”
+
+“She’s my wife.”
+
+Pepi chokes, “What?”
+
+“I said I love her, didn't I? We married. We had two daughters.”
+
+Pepi is stunned.
+
+“I’m sorry, this is a lot to take in.”
+
+“I…” She's at a complete loss.
+
+“I’m sorry for not telling you… I was still trying to figure out everything.”
+
+She takes a long breath and stares at the table. “This is just what it is now?”
+
+“I know I’m not the Claire you knew, and I know you two cared for her. But I do care for you two immensely.”
+
+“I… I don’t know what to make of this… So you're… like okay with this? This is fine?”
+
+“Yes, truthfully. It’s been a lot to learn, but I have enjoyed every moment of it. And I’m so glad that I still have you in my life.”
+
+“What was it like… we were…”
+
+“Friends of course. We first met much younger. Early in school. The two of you were learning music and I stopped some crass classmates from belittling Loretta for her inexperience. We were always close, and when we all matured, our friendship really flourished. I’m glad to have been there for you two. It's not often I get to be the maid of honor for two people at one wedding.”
+
+“What?” She stutters. Oh, I hadn’t meant to reveal that yet. “No. Nononono, you can’t be serious!”
+
+“I… yes. I suppose it’s pointless to deny it at this point.”
+
+“Loretta? What! That's how you knew?” She’s doing all she can to not shout.
+
+I can’t help but sigh, “Yes, honestly it took me far too long to realize what was going on between you two. I only caught on when I caught you two in the act.”
+
+“wE weRe HavINg sEx!” She’s beaming very brightly and barely coherent.
+
+“Heavens no… I only meant you were in the midst of kissing very passionately… I have never caught you two in that act.”
+
+“But we’re both girls…”
+
+“ And? I married a woman.” It's hardly that complicated. 
+
+“Look that’s… that can’t happen?”
+
+“Why not? You want it to happen.” I know I'm right.
+
+She swallows.
+
+“It’s not a bad thing, in fact it is a very good thing.”
+
+“But Loretta is…”
+
+“Loretta has no clue, because she is Loretta . You tell her and it will click in.”
+
+“I have to tELl her?”
+
+“Of course, that or wait till you both boil over and one of you snaps.”
+
+“Is… did that happen? Wait did I… what did I do?”
+
+“No more spoiling. I’m not tampering with this anymore than I already have.”
+
+“Oh bullshit! Like I couldn’t see you trying to play matchmaker.”
+
+“Matchmaker?”
+
+We both turn, and Loretta is there with a new drink in hand. A sports drink I think?
+
+Pepi is staring at Loretta, and she is slowly turning oh very flush. This is a bit fun, I wish I had got to enjoy this awkward romance before too. A second chance is fine too.
+
+“Oh, just something about… Yu-san. It’s not important.” Loretta shrugs. Excellent, she doesn’t suspect a thing. Hardly a major achievement, but still, a victory is a victory.
+
+“You okay Pepi?”
+
+“Completely.” Pepi says through her teeth.
+
+Loretta takes her seat again, and Pepi does everything to not look at Loretta. 
+
+“Pepi… I know it’s a lot, but don’t worry too much okay? We can talk more about it later.”
+
+Her blush starts to die down, she looks more collected now. Accepting. “Okay, fine.” She at least gives me a smile, and I return it.
+
+“Huh? Wait, are you trying to get together with Yu-san?”
+
+Pepi’s face twist into a grimace from that comment and she turns to Loretta, “God you're so fucking thick.”
+
+Poor Loretta looks confused. Still, it’s not as if Loretta was too scared to make the first move.
+
+ 

51.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,451 @@
+“I think that’s going to have to be it for tonight Claire.” Rae stretches out beside me, we have been sitting on my bed watching another video about history. That was a lot. “I should probably be getting out soon.”
+
+I think I can catch just a glimpse of a chain on her neck as she cranes her neck and reaches her arm high and tight. Please be wearing it.
+
+“I suppose.” That must sound like pouting, but I hardly want her to leave.
+
+Rae’s face scrunches, “I'll be back tomorrow.” She offers. It did sound like pouting.
+
+“I’ll be fine.” 
+
+“You need anything else?”
+
+“I can think of one thing.”
+
+“Oh?”
+
+“Yes.” I grab her by her collar and pull her close, she is surprised initially but grins as I pull our faces close. Not even an inch apart I say, “I want a goodnight kiss.”
+
+Her eyes twinkle, and her grin grows, “I might be able to help with that. Maybe .”
+
+“Shut up and kiss me you rube.” I push forward and close my lips on hers before she can say anything else silly. Not that I don’t appreciate her wit, but those lips should be kissing me.
+
+She quickly falls in step and we move in tandem. I start to pull myself on top of her, resting on her lap and I deepen the kiss more. My tongue seeks out hers and we moan. My hands aren’t idle, and I run them up her body causing her to shiver. With a bit of clarity I run a hand over the back of her nape, searching… yes the chain. She’s wearing it.
+
+Perfect.
+
+Goodness, that makes me feel giddy.
+
+“Ten seconds is the limit while I’m in the room you horn dogs.” Catherine’s voice calls out from across the room. I can't see her, she must be laying on the sofa.
+
+Right .
+
+Rae breaks away, and looks embarrassed. It was getting good too . “Could you stay the night?”
+
+Claire!
+
+Rae looks extremely sheepish. “Sorry.” She squeaks out.
+
+“No. No I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be asking that sort of thing of you.”
+
+“No, but… it’s fine. I need to get going for real though.” She’s deflecting but I’m not going to pressure her either. And she does need to get back and attend to her own matters.
+
+Why do you keep doing this to her, Claire?
+
+“Yes, of course. Let me know when you make it back safely.”
+
+She chuckles, “Of course. I always do.”
+
+“Thank you.”
+
+We share a smile, there is a part of me that is always greedy for more. More time with her, more contact with her, more of everything. But I cherish every moment we have, without her this would be dreadful. But with her, it’s bliss. I just want to make her happy.
+
+We rise and Rae gathers her things and I help her to the door. “Okay, so I think we have one more video to get through and maybe we can like, review after that. Sounds good?”
+
+“That sounds perfect. Thank you again.”
+
+“Oh, well no problem.” She smiles like a fool. My fool.
+
+“Good night Rae.”
+
+“Good night Claire.” She stands there awkwardly before the door, and her face scrunches as she contemplates her next action. Without much warning, she darts in and gives me a kiss on the lips. It’s quick and she retreats back, her face is equal parts surprised and pleased. 
+
+“GOODNIGHTCLAIRE.” She forces out through a cracking voice, and then practically throws herself out the door. I barely have time to register the action and the door falls back shut.
+
+“Your wife is a Dork .” Catherine comments from the sofa, still hidden from sight, as usual. 
+
+“Yes, she is lovely.”
+
+“So how’s eastern history treating you?”
+
+“Fascinating, complicated. A lot.”
+
+“I bet, I’m glad Rae is doing it cause I could not.”
+
+“You have done a good job with western history so far I believe.”
+
+“Ah, credit to videos more than me, I’d be lost without those honestly. Anyways, fun stuff, we get to do the french revolution next week.”
+
+“Oh…”
+
+“Yah, it’s much bloodier than yours was. I… guess good job on that?”
+
+“Yes, well Rae set so much in motion. Without her, I would probably be dead.”
+
+“Yeah… anyways, it’s been what? Like almost two months now?” She asks, it sounds as if she is focusing more on the conversation now.
+
+“I believe so, it’s odd how much has become routine now. I wasn’t expecting to… well acclimate so quickly?”
+
+“You’ve done a pretty good job I’d say.”
+
+“There's still a lot to go over.”
+
+“Yeah, but we have time, and the important thing for now is to make sure you don’t flunk your course.”
+
+“I did get an A minus on the last test we had.” Almost perfect .
+
+Catherine gives me a thumbs up and sits up. “Great, smooth sailing so far. Man I thought more things would go wrong after Melia found out but so far no one else has clued in on it and you are learning everything you need.”
+
+Except for Pepi.
+
+“Why are you making that face?” Her eyes narrow. 
+
+“What face?”
+
+“Come on Claire, what did you do?��� She's not let this go.
+
+“NothiNG”
+
+She does not look pleased.
+
+Fine.
+
+“I told Pepi.”
+
+Her face scrunches. “Why?”
+
+“She figured out that I didn’t remember things. I had to tell her something.”
+
+Catherine sighs. “When did you tell her?”
+
+“A few days ago.”
+
+“And the fact that I haven’t heard about it till now… is good?”
+
+“I think so, like I said, she had divined I didn’t remember our shared past. The question of how we met came up and Loretta really didn’t think too hard of it, but Pepi knew in the moment that something was wrong. And I had to explain, she’s still internalizing everything it means, but I think she took it well. I’m not too worried about it. We talked more since then, I think it’s made the fact I changed so much more palatable.”
+
+Catherine starts to relax. “So… you’re not worried.”
+
+“I wouldn't have told her if I didn’t trust her.”
+
+“Okay… well, she is your friend.”
+
+“And I knew her nearly our whole life.”
+
+Catherine nods, “That’s still a really weird thing to think about. Have you heard anything from Melia yet about… y’know, anything?”
+
+“Not much, we have had a few messages and we are planning to get together but… Mother is really busy. Sometimes it takes her a while to respond.”
+
+Catherine nods her head, “Yeah, Melia deals with a lot, honestly I can’t even imagine what she has to deal with. Francois is a lot to deal with.”
+
+“The business?”
+
+“Yah.”
+
+“What… is it exactly?”
+
+Catherine makes a face, her brow goes high and eyes wide, “God, like I don’t really know how to condense that. It’s a luxury brand, I think way back it was stuff like clothes and fashion but in modern age it branched out more. It’s been your family's for a long time with your dad, but now your mom runs it cause… well you know . Anyways your mom’s been trying to reform it… like it’s got roots… god this is complicated, a lot of colonization stuff. She could explain it better than me, I’m sure she would like to tell you.”
+
+“We have much to catch up on. So it grew on exploitation?” It hasn't been surprising to learn of all the unsavory bits of history. Nor our part in it.
+
+“Yeah, I think your mom’s done a lot to be accountable, it’s been a long project that she started with your dad.”
+
+“I think she always brought out the best in him, even when she was gone.”
+
+“What… what was he like?” It's a delicate question.
+
+“Very principled, he said Mother revealed the faults of nobility, and he couldn’t abide by it any longer. He worked for a long time to reform our country too. He did a lot to stoke rebellion from behind the scenes, and after our revolution he helped reform the country so all people were equal under the law. He had a soft side too, he was always quick to spoil me, and then our girls.” I can’t help but smile, “He was very good at picking out the right person. He trusted Rae, and I will always be thankful we were all a family together.”
+
+“Don’t get too sappy on me, kay?” Catherine smirks and leans over the back of the sofa.
+
+“Fine. How have you been? I hope we haven’t been too much to deal with.”
+
+“It’s fine, as long as I don’t have to watch you to make out. Seriously, I mean it, please don’t do it with me in the room.” I know, she's always been averse to those sorts of… tendencies. It's hard to stop myself though.
+
+“I have self control… it's just sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the moment.”
+
+“ Sure .”
+
+“You can’t be upset that I want to kiss my own wife?”
+
+“You can kiss, it’s when you start trading saliva and are trying to eat her that I draw the line. Seriously, you're so thirsty.” Her brow arches.
+
+“I can control myself.”
+
+“ Sure. ”
+
+I don’t need this.
+
+A little laugh escapes me. “Fine. I’m going to do some more reading for fun.”
+
+“Oh… didn’t you finish that manga… dungeon something?”
+
+“Dungeon Meshi. And Yes. You should read my copy.”
+
+Her face goes flat. “...No”
+
+“Your loss.”
+
+“What are you reading now?”
+
+I find the book and pluck the first entry. “Pray Love, or more accurately, ‘Between Prayer and Love’, Rae just always called it Pray Love.”
+
+ “Okay…?” She raises her brow again, “Why are you reading that?”
+
+“Rae likes it, and if I read it I can read the stories she wrote herself based on it… her fan fiction.”
+
+“You’re going to read your girlfriend's fics?” She's barely holding a smirk back.
+
+“Of course.”
+
+“I’m surprised she shared those with you.”
+
+“Well…”
+
+“ Claire …” She extends her hand, palm face up and open. 
+
+“She told me all about them in our other life. I already know a lot about them.”
+
+“How did you even find them?”
+
+“Her friend Shiko sent me the address to the internet pages she published them on. And her Tumblr .”
+
+Catherine snorts through her nose, “Oh god did you go through her tumblr?”
+
+“I tried… it’s confusing. Even by Rae’s standards. I don’t understand so much of what I’m reading. There is so much slang and abbreviations, and it has a lot of her chaotic energy. I do adore it.”
+
+“Did you make a tumblr account?”
+
+“Oh… I could do that couldn’t I? I was just looking at hers.  I think she has been using it less as of late. If I’m understanding the dates correctly.  I think I found an entry about me before we talked.” This feels like such a delightful secret to share.
+
+Catherine does not share in my enthusiasm. “Do I even want to know?”
+
+“Give me a moment, I can find it.” I grab my phone and quickly trace me back through the page. Thankfully it’s not far in. I clear my throat.
+
+“ Have you ever seen a girl, and just been like wow. She could kill me and that would be fu-... hot. Like she could hit me and I would say please, you missed a spot. God she’s so unreal when she walks around and radiates such a… sorry that is another curse, around energy and find out, but like I bet, no I know that she needs someone to love her. I could make her happy if I wasn’t chicken sh- ugh, but chances are she would make me worse. I would die happy either way . And then there are a few addition notes below, each with a pound sign-
+
+“Hashtag.”
+
+“Right, well I’m still learning. Anyways, Hashtag , It’s never going to happen. it could happen though. I would die if she talked to me honestly. She was too pretty. I have no chance. I would be happy to just be her footstool. God I wish I could actually talk to her though. I’m just going to simp in the shadows. My tsundere queen. ”
+
+“Huh… wow. That’s… embarrassing .”
+
+“It’s cute .”
+
+“Look I know you’re real down for whatever it is that Rae is… but… I think you should ask her before you really go looking through that sort of stuff. Like she doesn't know right?” She almost sounds disappointed. 
+
+“...No.”
+
+“It’s like you are reading through her diary.”
+
+“I… but isn’t this available for anyone to see?”
+
+“Yes, but it’s not like someone could figure out who she is right? It’s anonymous. She doesn't want people to know it’s her right?”
+
+“Her tumblr name is ‘bad woman make brain go brr’.”
+
+“ Wow .” Catherine!
+
+“It’s adorable .”
+
+“God you are just as stupid as her, Whatever. I’m not trying to judge her, really. But I really don’t think she would be happy about you reading all this.”
+
+She’s not wrong. That does sit uneasy in my stomach. It has felt like a diary in some parts, and I would have dreaded it if Rae read mine before I was ready to share.
+
+“No… you’re right. I got caught up in the idea. And when Shiko shared it before… I didn’t think.”
+
+“I mean you don’t know how a lot of things are right? Like just ask her, and don’t look more till then?”
+
+“Yes you're right about that, I’ll hold off. It’s not like I lack for other things to do either. And I do want to read Pray Love, it was the impetus for all this in the first place. And maybe Rae will be more willing after that. I really do want to read her writing. But she seems scared to share it.”
+
+“Yah… well I don’t know what to tell you.”
+
+“I just… it would be too much. It’s hard to… pace myself with her.”
+
+“I noticed… you really do like her.”
+
+“Of course.”
+
+“Yah, I just… I’ve never seen you like this.”
+
+“I wish I could have… well whatever it was, sooner.”
+
+“It’s not your fault… and it’s fine, honestly. Maybe all it took was you seeing her again. This is good, I like how things are now. You’re happy and it’s not tense anymore. I don’t feel like I’m on edge anymore around you.”
+
+“I’m sorry that it was like that.”
+
+Catherine waves a hand to dismiss the need for my apology. “Please, it’s not really your fault. Anyways I just want whatever this freaky little romance you are wrapped in is, I want it to work out for both of you. And Rae’s not always on the same page as you.”
+
+“I wish she would talk to me more.”
+
+“Sure, but you've known her for years, right? Decades. She’s known you for just two months now.” She’s right.
+
+“You’re right. I can’t believe you are still giving me advice on how to deal with Rae.”
+
+“Still?”
+
+“Yes.” A little chuckle escapes, “Goodness, when our positions were switched, she was so much to deal with. She had no qualms yelling how much she loved me in front of everyone and everything. I didn’t know what to make of it, and I’m glad I had at least you to talk to about it.”
+
+“I’m glad you’re here Claire.”
+
+“Me too.” I lean down to the sofa and give her a hug. She feels a bit stiff.
+
+A tenuous tap on my back, “That’s all you're getting.”
+
+“I know, that’s fine. I’m going to get ready for bed.” I let her go and despite her awkwardness she looks content with a small smile.
+
+“Sure, I’ma going do the same.”
+
+I quickly change into night attire, brush my teeth and soon I am in bed. A soft buzz from my phone, it’s Rae.
+
+I have traversed the treacherous evening and returned home safely.
+
+Lol
+
+Huh
+
+That’s not a full sentence, and that’s a abbreviation?
+
+Acronym
+
+I wanted to try it out. Laugh out loud, correct?
+
+Yes… are you really Claire?
+
+Lol
+
+Catherine? Did you steal her phone?
+
+It's me you goof. Surely it’s not that odd that I want to try to adjust my vernacular?
+
+When in Rome, right?
+
+I said that correctly, right?
+
+Lmao, yah you got it. Good pull.
+
+Of course, this is me we are talking about.
+
+:)
+
+For wat its worth i like the way you text. It feels very you
+
+Thank you dear, I care more about not standing out too much around others more than anything else. Catherine does say that I text like an old lady.
+
+It’s totes adorbs
+
+Thank you, don’t worry. I doubt I will be able to completely shift my habits when it comes to writing. I do have my standards.
+
+I do have a slight confession.
+
+That sounds maybe a little ominous
+
+Not really
+
+Okay maybe a little
+
+Ummm
+
+Did I so something?
+
+I can fix thi what id I do?
+
+Please wait
+
+Sry
+
+Thank you, sorry. I should have finished my thought before sending that last message, I’m still much slower at this than you. I wanted to say I picked up more reading material aside from Dungeon Meshi. And since I finished Dungeon Meshi last week I wanted to start it up. I got the first two novels for Pray Love.
+
+There is a pause, did she walk away…? No she wouldn't. She’s thinking too much about this. I can feel it.
+
+Rei, is that okay?
+
+yes
+
+sryy
+
+totally 
+
+why?
+
+Because I wanted to read it too. You said it was a favorite of yours.
+
+umm
+
+yah
+
+Is it okay If I read it?
+
+I can’t tell you not to read it
+
+However?
+
+sry this
+
+I wasn’t expecting this like it caught me offguard. Yes read it
+
+Are you certain?
+
+yes, umm, let me know what you think. And like it’s not really the best thing in the world.
+
+like I don’t mean don’t read it
+
+just like it is
+
+it’s okay
+
+I probably made it sound way better than it was
+
+You actually complained about it a fair bit. That was your main impetus for why you wrote your prose for it.
+
+Oh
+
+I
+
+yah that kinda tracks
+
+I really enjoyed reading Dungeon Meshi and talking to you about it. And even if I don’t like this; which I doubt will be the case, but even if so I still would want to talk to you about it. Okay?
+
+Yes
+
+im like 2 parts really excited and 1 part really nervous
+
+I hope you like it claire
+
+I have a feeling I will enjoy it, you never steered me wrong with reading suggestions before.
+
+<3
+
+Good night Rei.
+
+night Claire
+
+With that I settle into bed and crack open the book. I can’t believe I can finally read this, after everything Rae has told me about it, about her personal fictions based on it. Her first one exploring a different conclusion, Praying for a Better Ending. Her delicious one, Lady Shouko’s Lover . I still remember the first night we tried out those fantasies. She looks so delectable in a collar and nothing else. Writhing as I press into her, twisting and squirming. Equal parts pain and delight.
+
+And this time I can be the one to walk her through it. How tantalizing.
+
+It starts off simple enough, the main protagonist has been accepted into a prestigious catholic school, a religion remarkably similar to the Spirit Church from Bauer. The protagonist is a devout follower but quickly her faith and preconceptions come into question as she realizes she has feelings for her upperclassman, Lady Shouku. Romantic feelings. Those feelings and faith are like water and oil.
+
+I read through the first few chapters, the prose is a bit dry if I am being honest but the characters are excellent. I can see bits of Rae in the main character, she’s enthusiastic like her, and at the same time has trouble being honest. She struggles with what she wants and what she thinks she should do. A very familiar problem, and one I haven’t avoided either. Lady Shouko is almost exactly like I envisioned her, and then nothing like it. She is cool, detached, distant and seems cruel so far. I expect there is more to her, just given on what Rae has told me, and she feels so familiar. The duty of station and family weighs heavily on her it seems, it’s hard not to see elements of my younger self in her. She is cruel to the protagonist initially, but somehow that only seems to draw her in more. The first cracks on Shouko’s visage chip away at a tea party. Every girl was to bring their own desert, and the protagonist made crème brûlée.
+
+Oh goodness I miss her crème brûlée.
+
+The chapter ends with them talking, the first few sparks of a budding romance bounce between them. It’s delightfully cute.
+
+But now I’m left with a deep craving for crème brûlée.
+
+Rae said she doesn’t have the ingredients to make it. I could remedy that, couldn't I?
+
+I could.
+
+I can .
+
+It doesn't take much to fetch my phone.
+
+Lene, apologies for messaging so late, but would you be able to gather everything I would need to make crème brûlée from scratch for myself. All the ingredients and tools we would need, aside from the oven. No rush is required. I would greatly appreciate it, and let me know whenever it is convenient for yourself. Thank you.
+
+The message is sent and already the anticipation is building. This has always been her favorite confection to make, she always cooks to wind down and she really could use it lately. To zen out , as she used to say. She needs it… and I won't lie, I really miss her treats.
+
+Oh, this will be delicious .
+
+ 

52.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+“No! Not yet!”
+
+“Come on… you’re so close Claire, just a little more”
+
+“Aaahh!”
+
+“Just a little more.”
+
+Claire’s stiff as a board, leaning forward and gripping the controller tightly. Yusuke and Ann are both knocked out. Morgana is out of SP, and Joker is nearly out of health.
+
+“What do I do?” She’s exasperated. I'm truly blessed. 
+
+I’ve been trying to be as hands off as I can about this. I really don’t want to be microing the way she plays the game, and I've tried very hard to be subtle about all the mistakes she makes. She’s learning. She’s picking up on elemental advantages, and god she gets sooooooooooo fucking cute when she gets an all out attack off.
+
+Just little hints. Can’t outright tell her.
+
+“Is there something you haven’t used?”
+
+“Arrrrr.” God her frustration is so adorable. Then it dawns on her, she pops open her inventory stash, and scrolls through her items. She always forgets about them. She finds some food and uses it on Joker, topping her health off and then Morgana uses a snuff soul to bring his SP back up. Madarame attacks again and she survives the turn. “Yes!” She cheers while shaking the controller.
+
+God I LOVE this. She starts to relax again as she takes back control of the fight, leaning back into me and I let my arms wrap around her again. God playing video games with your girlfriend is the actual best.
+
+….Girlfriend
+
+…woah
+
+Claire cackles, oh she beat the boss. “Did you see that Rei, that disgrace of an artist. He never stood a chance against Me !” She cackles some more and moves a hand daintily to her face, oh she is so perfect .
+
+She quiets as the plot starts to pick back up, she’s so into it . I’ve seen the scene so many times at this point, but I still feel for Yusuke here. Like how do you figure out who you are when everything gets upturned like that? And soon enough Claire finishes the day.
+
+“I did it!” Even facing away, I can feel the grin on her face.
+
+“Good job Claire. That’s two Palaces down. We should probably save and pack it in.”
+
+“ Please .” It’s Misha. Rude. But okay, she might have a point.
+
+“Yeaaaaah, I think it’s been eight hours.” I love a good gaming marathon.
+
+“What? That can’t be. I would be hungry if that was the case.” As if on cue, one of our stomachs rumbles, loudly, and I honestly can’t tell who’s it is. Probably both. I can see Claire’s ears turn red from behind. Cute .
+
+“It’s really easy to lose track of time playing games like this.”
+
+“God, you are teaching her the worst habits.” Wow , thanks for the commentary Misha.
+
+“But that would mean it’s past four?” Claire is still processing.
+
+“It’s five. ” Okay, I get it Misha.
+
+“Sorry Misha, I had no idea. I didn’t mean to overstay my welcome.” It's not that big of a deal Claire.
+
+Misha sighs, “It’s fine Claire-san. It’s not your fault.” Come on Misha, not willing to cut me some slack?
+
+“Hey if Yu was here the whole day I wouldn’t give you hell for it.”
+
+“Yes you would you fucking liar.” Misha sighs and pinches her nose, okay… yes… “Look, I’m just trying to be civil about boundaries here Rei. The roommate agreement was we would give each other space right? And there ain't that much here.”
+
+She's right… “Aaaah…. Okay fine. Right… Sorry.”
+
+“It’s okay, just this was my limit. I need some quiet now.” At least Misha doesn't seem upset. She's better at letting me know than I am.
+
+“We understand, I should have not let myself get so absorbed in it.” It's cool Claire, don't worry.
+
+“It happens Claire-san, and trust me, compared to your gremlin girlfriend this is nothing. She’s pulled twenty-four hour plus marathons before.” Why you gotta say it like that Misha?
+
+“REI!” Claire immediately turns and looks at me, she's somewhere between worried and concerned. 
+
+Huh? “What?”
+
+“That’s absurd, you’re going to collapse doing something like that!”
+
+“What? It’s fine, really. I can totally do it.” I have. A bunch. 
+
+“It’s not fine. You’re going to….” the words die in her throat... “Rei, please don’t push yourself like that.” She sounds like actually upset…? I'm… not measuring up am I?
+
+“It’s just gaming though.” What's the big deal?
+
+She looks terrified that I said that. “You need to eat properly, you need to sleep and rest. I… I don’t want anything to happen to you. Please take care of yourself.”
+
+There is something she isn’t saying there, again . What? Probably not a problem with Rae . “Well sorry I’m this way.”
+
+Fuck I hate it the minute it comes out of my mouth. The way Claire looks at me… fuck I have no idea what she is thinking. She looks upset with me. I sounded the fucking worst.
+
+Fix it.
+
+“Rei-”
+
+“I’m sorry!”
+
+We both pause from our mutual interruption. Claire is waiting.
+
+“I’m sorry, that was… I know…”
+
+“Rei, I just want you to take care of yourself, okay? Look I’m not saying it’s not fine in moderation, or even that today was over doing it. Heavens, there were some days we would hardly leave the bed.”
+
+Fuuuuuu …
+
+“I really don’t want to hear about this.” This is the closest to a whine I have heard from Misha, like ever.
+
+“Apologies Misha, and Rei, I only… an entire day can really wear you down.”
+
+“Yeah… you’re not… I know.” I need to be better…
+
+She puts a hand to the side of my face, cupping my cheek gently, ahhh. She smiles softly for a moment and then it turns just a bit devious. “If anything is going to wear you out, it’s going to be me. ”
+
+Holy
+
+Shit
+
+“Please take your flirting outside.” Misha groans from her bed.
+
+Claire looks a little embarrassed, but she doesn’t remove her hand. “Fine, yes. Rei?”
+
+“Yah?”
+
+Grrrwwl!
+
+Okay, that was my stomach for sure this time. Claire laughs, “I was going to ask if you wanted to get something to eat before I return home.”
+
+“Oh… yah. Misha?” I should ask her too, right?
+
+Okay, that stare definitely says ‘ get the fuck out already’ . 

53.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+ 
+
+“Sorry if I came off… a little concerned.”
+
+We are sitting at a fast food place and Claire’s been a little quiet since we left to pick up dinner. 
+
+“Oh… well I’m kinda dumb like that.”
+
+“You’re not dumb, I know you just like to focus on one thing.”
+
+“Oh.” Well that's putting it nicely…
+
+She lets out a small breath. “I did really enjoy playing today, I can’t believe we got so caught up and lost track of time like we did.” At least it sounds like she's not trying to let it hang over us.
+
+“Well you were getting close to finishing the palace. And you seemed like you were having fun.” 
+
+“I was, I beat Madarame!” She smiles, okay I feel better now. “Next time no more than six hours. We need to at least take a break, goodness I felt so ravenous. But it was satisfying finishing it all today. I see why you like these games so much, I’m sorry you didn’t have them in our life before.”
+
+“Oh… I guess? I’m sure… I? Had other things to do?” No video games would suck…
+
+“Oh we found ways to fill the time.” She's grinning.
+
+She means me…
+
+I’m going to die at this rate. Death by Claire is not the worst way to go out.
+
+“But I beat him. Goodness it was too close for a moment, I panicked when Ann fell after Yusuke. If I hadn’t remembered I had those medicines I might have lost …. What would have even happened if that were to occur?”
+
+“Oh, you reload an old save and try again, well actually the game lets you start at the start of the fight again too.”
+
+“Oh, I was worried for a moment… that it might have been worse? That the game ended?”
+
+“It sort of is a game over? Some people play it that way. The game has a bunch of ways it could end early besides losing a fight too. Like if we never beat Kamoshida in time that would have ended the game.”
+
+“Oh… that makes sense.” Aaaaaa, her thinking face is so cute.
+
+“Yah, I think it tells us that the MC, uhhh Joker and Ryuoji get expelled. It’s not a good ending.”
+
+“I see.” She takes another bite of her food, she seems stuck on a new thought. “Rei, quite soon is Misaki's anniversary.”
+
+Shit. God I have not really wanted to think about it.
+
+“It’s been a few weeks since we were with Shiko and she mentioned it… and I just wanted to know what you wanted to do?” Her voice is so soft…
+
+“Oh… I think I was going to go home and… and y’know?”
+
+She leans over and lays her hand next to mine. “Is it alright if I come?”
+
+I reach my pinky out over one of her fingers. “You don’t have to come.”
+
+“I never miss it, Rei.” I believe her.
+
+“Are you sure…? It’s not going to be…”
+
+“Of course I am, but that’s only if you are okay with it. I know when Shiko mentioned it I said I would come but I wanted to make sure. And you haven’t said anything since then.”
+
+“Oh… yeah sorry.”
+
+“I understand. It's fine silly, I do want to come.”
+
+“Oh… yeah. Okay. Yeah, I was going to jump on a train back home to Chiba, meet up with Shiko and Kosaki then go visit Misaki.”
+
+“That sounds lovely.” Her hand moves over mine and she holds it over the table. “How are you feeling?”
+
+“Fine?” I apologized and she's happy, did I forget something?
+
+“About Misaki.”
+
+“Oh… I, it’s okay.”
+
+“Rei, it’s okay if you don’t feel okay about it.”
+
+“I… I don’t get it… like Misaki… ou... outed me in middle school. Because he was jealous? And then we went to different high schools, and I don’t think I could have been in the same high school but I… I don’t know. Kosaki had him apologize for it and they told us about him being trans and all that and I guess it makes sense. Like his parents were always shitty to him about it. But I thought it was going okay. Kosaki was with him. I just wanted distance from that. And then he di-” The word dies in my throat, I thought I was holding it together but then it all feels like it comes down at once. My eyes are watering and I’m afraid if I try to speak again my voice will crack.
+
+Claire looks worried, she massages my hand slowly. “It’s okay Rei, focus on your hand okay?” Her thumb runs up and down the back of it. Her fingers slowly work the palm. Her hand is so soft and gentle.
+
+“Do you want to keep talking about it?” She asks.
+
+Breathe
+
+I try to focus on her hand. “He died.”
+
+“I’ll be here. I’ll always be here, okay?”
+
+Her hand is so nice.
+
+“I’m sorry… I’m not great at… talking about this stuff. I’m sure the other me was…”
+
+Her hand stills, “Rei.” It feels like I'm commanded, I’m compelled to look at her. “What do you mean?”
+
+I’m worse.
+
+I can’t say that, she would hate that.
+
+“I know it's difficult  to talk about yourself.” She resumes running her thumb over my hand. “I’m sorry. It must be harder given everything, I know too much and you don’t. It must be hard to trust me.”
+
+“No… I don’t know. It’s weird… and like I don’t know… I do trust you… I know you don’t want to hurt me.” I just don't want to let you down.
+
+She smiles.
+
+“Can… can I try to figure it out? Think about it.”
+
+“Of course, always Rei. I’ll always be here for you when you're ready.”
+
+I can do this. For her.
+
+ 

54.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+ 
+
+“Hey.”
+
+“Hey.”
+
+Misha’s reading something, or typing something on her laptop. Fuck I have some homework I should be doing too.
+
+“Sorry about that.”
+
+“It’s fine, I was just at a point, I let you know. It was just a long day.” She's not upset at least.
+
+“Kay.”
+
+“How was your dinner? You good with Claire-san? You two seemed… up and down?”
+
+“It’s fine? I don’t… I’m not that bad right? Like I’m sure Rae didn’t have any problems doing it, but it’s not like…?”
+
+“ Rei ?”
+
+“That other me. The one Claire remembers.” The better one .
+
+“Oh… That .” She wants to say something but holds it back and goes for something else. “I mean you did skip a school day once to play a game when it was released.”
+
+“Oh my god was that game not worth it. I can’t even remember what it was about anymore. Mom got so mad at me for it too.”
+
+“Yah, cause it was stupid.” Judgey.
+
+“But like…” I don't know…
+
+“Rei, sometimes you are really bad at it. There were so many times you would show up at school like a zombie because you were either binging some fic, playing a game or what I assume was writing your own fics.”
+
+“But that’s like the only way I can get everything done.”
+
+“It’s not healthy, Claire is right. You're not mad at her for pointing it out are you?”
+
+“No!... I just… I wasn’t expecting to get told off for it… and like… I felt like a... disappointment. Or something.”
+
+Misha takes a breath, closes her laptop and turns to face me properly. “It didn’t sound like that to me, did she say something like that later? It really sounded like she just wants you to not drop dead cause you forgot to eat.”
+
+“She didn’t but… like there is something she isn’t telling. I can feel it, it’s about Rae, the other Rae. I feel like she keeps… like I’m not anything like her. That Rae saved the world or something, saved her from dying in a revolution and here I am forgetting to eat because I got too caught up in holding her hand?”
+
+Misha quirks her brow. “Has she been comparing you to her?”
+
+“Not directly… but she thinks I can do things, or I’m better at things than I really am. Like she thinks I can cook, and she keeps wanting to read my writing.” 
+
+“So… let her read it. And tell her you can’t cook?”
+
+“But then… I can’t cook?” I need to?
+
+Come on Misha, don’t look at me like that. “Yah, because you can’t, Christ Rei. She’s not stupid, she can’t really think you can do all the things that her version did right? And like, if she does, she’s in the wrong.”
+
+“But… I don’t want to ruin this, I don’t know how to say… and like what if I say I can’t do this one thing. And then it’s another, and another, another, another and then she doesn’t even think I’m Rae anymore and I can’t be with her and then I lose…” She’s going to realize…
+
+An arm wraps around my shoulder, I didn’t even notice Misha get up. It’s an awkward hug, pretty typical for her, but it’s nice. 
+
+She pulls back after a bit, she probably counted the time in her head. “Look, if that’s true, she’s wrong and you can do better. I think you need to tell her, it’s probably going to be fine. And I mean it. It’s freaky how well she knows you Rei, but she can’t read your mind. And the more you keep not bringing it up, the more it’s going to catch her off guard.  She really does seem like she wants what’s best for you.”
+
+I take a deep breath. “It’s hard. I… you how stupid I can be but she…”
+
+“She probably also knows Rei, come on. There’s no way this other you wasn’t also stupid.”
+
+Rude. And she hasn't been listening to Claire either.
+
+“This has really been eating you up hasn’t it? Getting you to talk about Misaki was like pulling teeth. But this…”
+
+“Well Misaki is gone.”
+
+It’s too quiet.
+
+Why did I say that? Like that.
+
+He’s gone.
+
+I just wanted…
+
+“She’s not going to leave you.”
+
+“You don’t know that!”
+
+“ Rei, Breathe.”
+
+“Don’f fucking patro-”
+
+“Shut up and breathe you idiot.” She snaps.
+
+I inhale.
+
+“Now exhale.”
+
+“Mi-”
+
+“I said exhale.”
+
+In
+
+Out
+
+In
+
+Out
+
+“Good.”
+
+“You suck.”
+
+“Keep breathing.”
+
+Fine. I was breathing fine .
+
+“You were like this last year too, you know. Snippy. I know it’s coming up and honestly you have not had much time for yourself. You leave early, come back late. You’re always with Claire-san.”
+
+“I want to be!”
+
+“Okay, but what about yourself? I don't think she would be happy if she knew how much you are stretching yourself thin.”
+
+“But we don’t do that much over the weekend.”
+
+“Sorta, but you're still fretting over her all the time. And it’s been almost two months of it now.”
+
+That can’t be right. There has to have been at least one weekend…
+
+“See? I’m right.”
+
+“Fine.” Why is everyone else always right?
+
+“And your wound up, and whatever it is you’re not talking to her about it.”
+
+“I just want to be her Rae .”
+
+Misha sighs. “Rei, look. This is weird, like I don't know how else to put it. But it feels fucked that you think you have to measure up to yourself . A version of yourself that was older right? Like she lived a whole life with Claire-san? You’re not being fair to yourself.”
+
+“Fair doesn’t matter. She loved her .”
+
+“And you think she doesn’t love you…?”
+
+“I’m not her.”
+
+“God we are going around in circles.” She sighs and shakes her head. “Look, two things. You need to find some closure with Misaki, it’s still eating you up and you really need to talk about it. Two, you need to relax about Claire. Just have some faith in her, you’re really bad at talking about yourself but you're not great at hiding that something is bugging you. She’s not an idiot, and… I think she is just trying to help us.”
+
+“Us…? What did she say to you?”
+
+“It’s not important.” That was curt.
+
+“Oh that is such bullshit, she said something to you. About me, didn't she?”
+
+She gives me such a dead stare. Don't pretend I'm wrong. “God Rei, are you listening to yourself? It wasn’t about you, christ. Look… I can’t tell you-”
+
+“Won't tell me.”
+
+“Look it was fucking about me okay!” She snaps.
+
+“Huh?”
+
+“You think I fucking believed it from what you told me? She told me something that there was no way she should have known, and there is no fucking way you knew either. So yes, she told me stuff but that stuff isn’t fucking about you so get the fuck out your head.” She takes a few heavy breaths… I almost never see her like this. She finally takes a final deep breath and her breathing mellows out.
+
+“Sorry… umm… you're right. I’m just…”
+
+“Rei, I get it, just… you’re going to have to trust her at some point.”
+
+“I do-”
+
+“Sshh! Let me finish! Trusting her doesn’t just mean believing her. Trusting her means talking to her, being open. Letting her know.”
+
+“Okay… I’ll try to think about it.” I just need to figure it out.
+
+Misha nods, and returns to her bed.
+
+“Hey, we cool?” I have to ask, Misha almost never snaps,
+
+She raises her brow, “Of course.”
+
+“Cool.” Thank god.
+
+I hop on my bed.
+
+She’s right .
+
+I know.
+
+But the idea of telling Claire… It's terrifying. I am terrified that I won’t measure up. Fuck. Being honest about it isn’t really making it easier to deal with. Get out of your head.
+
+Breathe.
+
+Okay. I need to relax. Unwind. Not obsess. Claire’s reading PrayLove right? Maybe I can read that too?
+
+You're obsessing over her again.
+
+Fuck.
+
+I’m still going to do it. But not because of Claire. Liar. It’s been a while since I read it. And Maybe I need to open my doc and write a bit more of Lady Shouko’s Lover . Just not think. Zen out.
+
+Just don’t think about it. Easy.
+
+“Hey Misha.”
+
+She hums.
+
+“You really don’t want to tell me what Claire said to you?”
+
+No answer.
+
+“I bet I could guess.”
+
+Still no answer.
+
+“I bet… it was about Yu.”
+
+She gives me a sideways glance. Getting hotter.
+
+“I think I might have figured it out already . It sounds like you and Yu hooked up.”
+
+She’s staring at me. It feels quiet, like I’m the only thing making any sound in the room. It’s a bit scary, but honestly I don’t think I can help myself now.
+
+“She tried to hide it but sounds like you two are soulmates .”
+
+“Had me worried there for a second. Guess she did manage to not ruin that yet.” She turns back to her work. She’s bluffing.
+
+“Aww come on, there is def something going on between you two.”
+
+She doesn’t look back. “Look I appreciate that you are trying to distract yourself, but I’m not telling you anything.”
+
+“Something is going on with you and Yu though. Like come on, even before Claire showed up it was super obv. Like what are you two waiting for?”
+
+She sighs. “God, I have no idea where to begin.” She starts counting down on her hand. “I guess for starters you are second only to Yu at being miserable about talking about yourself and your problems, and there's this whole bullshit with his-their family. Yu is expected to marry some girl, their dad is an associate or some BS with her dad, some stupid right winger dipshit policial, Lilium? God he sounded miserable when we looked it up. And even if that wasn’t around, I’m such a bad… fit. Like my dad used to work for Bauer-sama and he did not leave on the best terms. I know this is bullshit, but form their view I’m way too mundane to even entertain the idea.”
+
+“Okay, so Yu’s family sucks… like that’s not new.”
+
+She sighs again. “Their brothers are mostly okay.”
+
+“Rod seems full of himself.” Can’t believe he was trying to hit on me before still.
+
+She shakes her head. “Okay, Rod is kinda full of himself, but he’s not the worst . Like he could be a lot worse, he’s just got a big head I think, and honestly I think he struggles just feeling like… normal? I don’t know, Yu has opinions. Thane is probably the most well adjusted of them, just seems quiet. He’s pretty introverted but I think he’s pretty nice overall. Thoughtful.”
+
+“He seemed nice-ish the few times I talked to him, even if it was a bit stunted. But like, so what if his parents don’t approve?” This is stupid, they should just go for it already.
+
+“Yu cares.” Misha says it like that’s all there is that needs to be said.
+
+“You like him? What about what you want?”
+
+She sighs again, “I don’t know… it just feels like it’s getting more and more complicated. I want Yu to be happy but… I don’t know what that means yet.” She slumps.
+
+I know that feeling. A lot . “Mood.”
+
+There is just a hum from her in return.
+
+Fuck… I was supposed to be distracting myself, great job Rei. Again.
+
+“Yah, well at least your girl knows what she wants.”
+
+Yeah…
+
+Rae.