"Dude, are you high?"
"Nah, it's the truth. It's just much more than you would have thought."
My 'recently' made friend Ben and I were relaxing at a bowling alley in Berkeley. After leaving the dungeon, I texted him, and we decided to hang out since it was the weekend for both of us. We were currently by ourselves because Ben's college friend, who had wanted to join us, was running a bit late and had told us to start without him.
I wasn't sure if the lucky timing was due to some [Setting Creation] shenanigans or my [Protagonist] title, but I wasn't about to question my luck. I told Ben about my powers and that I came from a supernatural world set more than ten years in the future.
At first, he didn't believe me, but when the bowling ball he was holding suddenly appeared in my hands, his perspective changed.
"So, you, like, aren't human?"
"Hahaha, no, Ben. Just because I'm good at whatever I do doesn't mean that I'm not human. Don't be racist."
"Oh..."
I waited until he made his shot and got another ball.
"Although you don't have any magical powers, you're skilled enough at what you do."
And wasn't that the truth? Thanks to my abilities, I can pick up any skill and reach a decent level in just a day. Unlike me, he doesn't have that privilege, and he still has talent.
"It doesn't make me feel good, nonetheless..."
He glanced at the scoreboard: mine was filled with strikes, while his had a mix of numbers with a few strikes and spares.
"Well, you aren't me for sure, but you have a good memory. You can fall asleep during a lesson and still get an A on a test the next day. You aren't an overpowered protagonist, but you're not a slouch either. I think I can call you a 'lazy genius' since you don't spend too much time with books."
His response was a low murmur and a flush on his cheeks. He is such an innocent guy—
"Also, a birdie told me about the famous Big Ben Experience around here."
—If not for the fact that he has more sexual experience than any other guy I've known in both of my lives.
"Hey, don't be embarrassed! Your prowess is so renowned that I knew it! And I'm from another world!"
He just went and ignored me until we finished our match and he received a message from his friend.
"Bert will arrive in half an hour. Want to give it another try?"
"Nah. It's better to stop here and continue once he gets here. I want an ice cream. Let's grab one and sit down for a bit."
We went and bought two ice creams. Mine was pistachio and chocolate, while his was vanilla. We then sat down and enjoyed them in peace.
Internally, I was screaming and cursing. Of all my settings, none opened a gate to Italy—only Japan, and in a few cases, like this one, the USA. Let me tell you something: in Italy, the food is better. Sure, the USA has its unique ways of cooking steak, and traditional Japanese cuisine is world-renowned for its healthiness and flavor, but it's completely different from the Italian Mediterranean tradition. Yes, both USA and Japan have pizza, but its taste is nothing like the authentic Italian version.
Anyway, after our five-minute break, Ben decided to break the ice.
"So, why did you do that?"
I didn't need to be a genius to know what he was talking about.
"Well, there's something I want you to know. First, what do you think about the Multiverse?"
After an interesting discussion about the origins and stories of the universe, I finally arrived at my point.
"So, you want to give me one of your... 'skills'?"
"Yes."
"Because... you know something's going to happen between me and Dawn?"
Now we were getting to the most important part of our discussion.
"No, I don't know. I've already told you about my clone, who knows more than I do, but I didn't try to extract information from him. I believe you are entitled to your own decisions. It's just... I want to do something for you, especially since it's not the perfect relationship you think it is. Offering you the skill is secondary. I have something else too."
Ben appeared thoughtful, adjusting his thoughts before responding.
"I... I'm okay with that. But before we do this, what's the alternative?"
And here comes the best and worst revelation.
"I have already told you about worlds with superpowers of all kinds, magic, sci-fi technologies, and everything in between. Now, do you know about the Infinite Monkey Theorem?"
"...The one that says they can potentially write poems?"
"Yes. Now, since there are an infinite number of worlds...?"
"There are an infinite number of works, but why...?"
Ben thought for a moment until a realization washed over him. He leaned in to whisper his conclusion in my ear.
"Does... does it mean there's a book about me?"
"Yes."
The moment I confirmed his suspicion, he slumped as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"...Fuck."
That one word perfectly expressed his inner turmoil at being exposed, knowing that no secret would remain hidden anymore. One could imagine the shame of being completely laid bare for all to see.
Once he composed himself, he didn't try to explain anything to me, clearly exhausted by the revelation.
"What... what did you read?"
"Nothing. I don't even have your information. I told you, whatever happens, I know nothing about it. It's just that my clone heavily implied he wanted to help you. And that's why I'm here now... So, since we've finished our talk, it's time to act. Would you like to hear my ideas?"
I know I'm not giving him enough time to consider my offer, but I'd like to do something right now before something really happens.
Haa, for someone who didn't want spoilers in his life, maybe it's better to remove this self-imposed restriction. My life doesn't depend on them, and I would prefer my friends to be happy and healthy. I already know that the next time I face my other self, he'll try to give me all the right information.
---
(POV Ben)
I always thought my life was messy. But I never imagined something like this could happen, especially right when I was sure I was set for life with my soulmate...
"You're too much of a good guy. The reason I wanted to help you was because of your relationship with Dawn. Therefore, the skill I wanted to give you is [Cold Reading]. Hey, maybe it will even cure your denseness when it comes to the opposite sex! Honestly, how could a playboy with more than fifty ladies in his body count be such a dense man?"
I ignore the insult he didn't truly mean... I hope.
"What does it do?"
"You can be Sherlock Holmes Junior. It's like all kinds of information and details are now illuminated and connected to each other, like a puzzle that is slowly solving itself."
He gestured with strange movements around his head.
"Also, you'll be good, but not the best. As you use it, the skill will slowly level up, just like mine. Not at my rate, of course, but you'll improve steadily over time."
If it's true, then it will be convenient.
"It is true."
Damn you and your mind powers.
"I'm giving you the ability to do the same. Also, now that I think about it, there's something else we can do, but let's leave that for later. Now... let's think about downsides..."
"There are?"
He then responded with the most serious gaze he'd ever given me, without a hint of humor. "Yes. You will forever know too much. Your friend tells you he's coming late? You'll know he had to answer to his girlfriend first. Your sister is running late? Suddenly, you remember there's a party this evening... Or..."
He took a deep breath and continued. "Or your girlfriend seems a bit off, and you discover who she spent the night with and what position they were in..."
"Oh..."
The atmosphere turned somber, but in my mind, there was something else. Even with Adrienne, I had regrets. I could have listened to the general opinion about our relationship; I could have spent more time with her and stopped advances from others... Maybe, maybe, maybe.
If I take this skill, wouldn't it mean I would have fewer future regrets? Sure, I might also regret knowing too much about my friends and family, but this is exactly what I need right now. If, as Masachika and his clone suspect, there are problems in my relationship, I want to solve them. I'm sure Dawn is the one for me.
"Forget it. I accept. Let's go even further; I want your books or whatever information you have on me. I want to create a bright future for myself."
He looked at me intently before finally smiling. "Yeah. I see your drive. Then give me your hand."
I followed his instructions, and he placed two fingers on my palm.
"Remember, no matter what, I'm your friend, and I have your back. Don't hesitate to ask for help, okay?"
I couldn't move, and then a vision filled with millions of motes of light appeared before me, overwhelming me entirely.
I'm not sure how much time had passed, but when I "returned," the world felt different.