Reverse Psync

**Reverse Psync** (反転Psync, *Reversal Psync*) is a gameplay mechanic introduced in *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*. It is a type of Psyncing that allows the subject of a Psync to enter the Psyncer's mind.

Normally, during a Psync, a Psyncer's consciousness is injected into the subject's subconscious mind. In the case of a Reverse Psync, this direction is reversed, and its the subject's consciousness that enters the Psyncer's mind. This is seen in the first Somnium of *nirvanA Initiative*, New Investigation.

## History

Six years after the Half Body Serial Killings began, Special Agent Mizuki Date decided to Psync into Kuruto Ryuki to dig into what he'd learned about the case-and what had happened to leave him in such a mentally unwell state. She began the Psync and commanded Aiba to ask Ryuki about the HB case. Ryuki reacted poorly, snapping at Aiba for making him remember and pleading with her to stop badgering him. Still Aiba continued, asking him if he knew the culprit of the case.

Suddenly, Ryuki's Somnium began to glitch and invert. Aiba recognized it as a Reverse Psync and then Ryuki's consciousness flew into Mizuki's mind, with Tama appearing inside of Mizuki's Somnium. She was only able to investigate it briefly before Aiba blocked Ryuki's route of intrusion and forced him back out of Mizuki's mind. Aiba and Mizuki then reconnected to his mind through a different path, which took them from the Interrogation Room part of the Somnium to the Cathedral.

***WARNING!!***
***This article contains spoilers for*AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative *from this point on.Proceed with caution!***

Reverse Psyncing made a re-appearance in the second branch of Ryuki's Somnium. Glitched Ryukis exhibiting time depletion properties appeared in the Somnium, wandering around aimlessly. If Aiba was caught by any of them then Ryuki's consciousness Reverse Psynced into Mizuki's mind, which ate into her available time in Somnium as Aiba had to again force Ryuki's consciousness back out. There were a total of four different Reverse Psyncs that Ryuki could perform, each one showing off a different facet of Mizuki's subconscious.

Eventually, Mizuki and Aiba completed the Somnium and exited from Ryuki's mind. They took him to the interrogation room in the real world and Mizuki tried to ask him why he'd Reverse Psynced into her. Ryuki had no idea what she was talking about, and Aiba explained that, since the subject of a Psync does not experience what happens in their Somnium, Ryuki would not remember performing a Reverse Psync. Mizuki then asked *who* performed the Reverse Psync if it wasn't Ryuki himself, with Aiba speculating that it was either Ryuki's subconscious or the collective unconscious.

## Gallery

Tama being Reverse Psynced into Mizuki's SomniumAiba fighting off the Reverse PsyncReverse Psync showing the birdcage from PSYNCIN' IN THE PaiNReverse Psync showing the merry-go-round column from PSYNCIN' IN THE PaiNReverse Psync showing Mizuki's favourite doll, AdorabbitReverse Psync showing the choice Mizuki had to make in PSYNCIN' IN THE CAPTaiN
## Trivia

* The third Reverse Psync in New Investigation shows Adorabbit floating with a balloon. This could potentially be a reference to "2/12 Mizuki Chapter 2 - Traveler", where Ryuki shot at a man who was dressed up in an Adorabbit costume and putting up balloons. This would also suggest that Ryuki's subconscious has a small influence on what appears when he performs a Reverse Psync.
* The final Reverse Psync in New Investigation showed a choice that Mizuki had to make in PSYNCIN' IN THE CAPTaiN. This Somnium happened in the first game's Mizuki Route, which is non-canon to the Resolution Route that *nirvanA Initiative* leads off of. When asked about this on Twitter, Uchikoshi explained that, even if Mizuki did not actually experience CAPTaiN, the symbolism of it would still be nestled deep within her mind.

## Navigation

 Locations | **Tokyo**
*Chiyoda District*: Police Headquarters (Boss's Office, Psync Room, Interrogation Room) • Sunfish Pocket • Sekiba High
*Chuo District*: Horadori Institute of Genetics (Underground, Hostage Room) • Naixatloz Japan Branch (President's Office, Cathedral)
*Koto District*: Harbor Warehouse District • Date Residence
*Minato District*: Studio Dvaita • Aioen Orphanage • Ikume Shrine • Kumakura Office • Sejima Residence • Central Hospital
*Shibuya District*: Lemniscate Entertainment Offices • Yoyagi Park
*Shinagawa/Kabasaki District*: Matsushita Diner • Sagan Residence • Enda Residence • Kabasaki Chemical Plant
*Shinjuku District*: Golden Yokocho (Marble, Brahman World Cuisine) • Misetan Department Store • Tokyo National Stadium
**Side Ryuki:**
Dispossessed • Anyone Imagines • Ought to Know • Nothing to Be Done • Go • Farewell
**Komeji and Shoma Route:** Joy for Anguish • I Found Me • Past Its Ken
**Explosion Route:** Smiles for Tears • Well-Known • The Mind of God • Not All A Dream • She Was the Universe
**閭｡陜ｶ荵句､｢邱ｨ Route:** 遐ｴ邯ｻ逋ｾ蜃ｺ • All This Happened, More or Less
**Side Mizuki:**
Alone • Pass Mildly Away • End Where I Begun • Traveler • Left Behind • The Expense of Spirit
**Gen and Amame Route:** All Living Things • Of Arms and Of Man • Who's There • All That We Are
**Kizuna and Lien Route:** Bid the Soldiers Shoot • Sweet Silent Thought
**Resolution Route:** Hell • Visions • In Truth • Births • The End of Craving • Braver Than All Flowers

## References

1. ↑ The collective unconsciousness is a term coined by Carl Jung that describes the idea of the unconscious mind hosting ideas and structures that are common to all humans. Read more on Wikipedia.
2. ↑ "I think even if the route changes, the kind of scenery in the deepest part of someone's mind will not change into something different, maybe..."