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"W-where am I?"
I said while my eyes, filled with dazzled confusion, looked up at the ceiling.
And for the second time, I felt like I was waking up to reality for once more.
Hold on… second time? Since when?
Obviously, I had to do a reality check, but even before that happened-
"Your room? Where else?"
My head flinched as the golden-haired girl beside me replied nonchalantly, wrapping a towel around her head. She was completely naked.
Something on her chest, noticeably displayed, hanging on her figure.
As if their lives depended on it.
Okay, wait… what?!
I started, jumping back instinctively, as if my reflexes were telling me she was some ancient, mythological nudist creature who would kidnap random children at night without warning. Though, I didn't know where that thought was coming from.
In other words, I never believed it until now.
"Why so surprised?"
Did she really just say that? Of course I was! I disliked making comparisons, but I never expected her to be so casually open about her... lack of attire.
It was odd, to say the least. Yet, I couldn't grasp why it bothered me so much.
In fact, I didn't even know why I was able to speak at all.
But then, all of a sudden, she approached me and pressed her forehead against mine.
"Hm… thirty six degrees. Quite normal, I suppose. But I guess you don't remember."
Did you really just touch me without my permission? How dare you!
The audacity of this girl was staggering.
However, as I processed the touch, a much larger issue surfaced.
Who am I? And why am I here?
"Mirielle, I did isolate then lock your memory using the Binding Void."
Okay, binding what?
"I noticed a singular occurrence within your neurological patterns—signals consistent with a neurotic attempt at neuronal reversal."
Excuse me? Reversal?
I didn't even understand what she was saying.
Not without having a second thought in my head.
"It was a desperate attempt," she continued. "It was as volatile as a total system restart for your mind and soul. Therefore, I stopped the cycle for a while."
I felt a jolt of alarm. I didn't understand her jargon, yet I felt a desperate urge to unlock everything. Though what made me most uneasy was the fact that she still wasn't wearing a single stitch of clothing.
"No, I want to remember everything. You said my name is Mirielle, right?"
She merely nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes. You are my roommate. My lover, too." She paused.
"And maybe I should introduce myself for… I'm not sure how many times now. So, let me say it again, for the sake of reminiscence."
She stood tall, unbothered by her nudity.
"My name is Elisa Arlenne Lewynne. You may call me Elisa or Miss Lewynne. Once again, nice to meet you, Mirielle Fatui Aveline—a.k.a. Mirielle or Miss Aveline."
I see.
I had no idea who she was, but a part of me whispered that she could be trusted.
Then again, maybe I was just walking into a betrayal. Who knows.
"Alright, Elisa. No more formality. Just do what you usually do,"
I said, instinctively clutching my chest.
Wait...
Something... big interrupted the path of my hand.
Unexpectedly big.
I looked down. I felt like I'd been struck by an arrow. I realized those "somethings" were hanging on me, too. They were firm, soft, and silky.
"You surely don't behave like her at all," Elisa remarked, watching me. "Or maybe you do. It's becoming too normal at this point."
I looked up, blushing furiously. "N-no, I was just shocked!"
"Yeah, yeah. Realizing you have boobs bigger than mine is indeed shocking."
"That's not it!"
Though I realized this might be her way of commenting on my personality change.
"That's true—"
"It was sarcasm."
What is sarcasm? Some kind of food?
"And no, I'm not going to explain it to you. It's certainly not an ingredient you can eat, of course. Anyway… you want your memory back, right? Sit down and observe, Mirielle."
I nodded quickly yet she handled the conversation casually.
"Ready? Close your eyes. This is going to really, really hurt."
Wait, what do you mean by that?
I didn't even have time to ask what she meant.
And before that question was even answered…
…
…
…
I, Mirielle—the real me, or whoever I was now—opened my eyes. The dizziness from before was gone, replaced by a weight that felt like I had been sleeping for a thousand years.
Oh, there she is… as usual.
Elisa was there, wearing a satisfied smile.
When she saw my expression change, she jumped at me.
"Mirielle!"
She pulled me into a tight embrace, our bare bodies mingling.
"I thought I was going to lose you…"
Did she just… cry? On my shoulder?
"Eli, what happened?" I asked, overwhelmed by a flood of returning emotions.
"The usual. You got possessed and, suddenly, you were no longer yourself. And as you have noticed… I performed Information Retrieval on you."
"Wait, a magic psyop?"
"Yes. But girl... I really hate doing this over and over again, you know," she whispered.
"Why would you lose it all again, love?"
I shrugged casually, the pulse in me trying to deflect the tension.
"Meh. You know. I thought I was going to die."
She facepalmed, looking at me condescendingly with one eye closed. "Meh. Dying is worthless. You'd rather live out your dreams again. Anyway…"
She leaned in closer, until our lips were almost touching.
"Who are you this time, Mirielle?"