From A Distant Memory

02

02 | why can't i remember?
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The feeling of dizzyness was something you had grown accustomed to.. but you couldn't remember why.

Through your eyes, in that moment, the world felt no short of a thick, incomprehensible book. You truly felt like an outsider the moment when you gazed up at the sky, the pelting rain not affecting you in the slightest.

How long has it been?

The rushed exclaims of horror made it through your ear and out the other. You couldn't understand them, they were saying something.. and you found it indecipherable.

You were in no way drunk. Hmm, what even is drunk?

Spacing out, you failed to notice the worried folk help you take shelter under someone's porch. They were surely talking, and you didn't know you were too.

"A.. a..ap.." Their unknown language served as fodder to your headache as you failed to notice how illiterate you appeared at the moment.

You couldn't comprehend their words or actions, and neither could they.

"What is she saying?" The worried folk uttered in concern as it literally felt like watching a toddler babbling about. Your gaze was fixated on them, as well as your mind. Yet you couldn't understand what was going on.

You were literally helpless at the moment.

"Hey, she's carrying something." They took notice of your bag and immediately searched through it for some clues after making sure you're okay with it. Well, you could only stare at them with a neutral look on your face. I guess they took your non-frowning expression as a green light.

As they disarmed you of your bag, small jingles resonated through the air due to the movement. Though the sound stood no comparison to the pouring rain. They fetched out your journal, a book that was half disintegrated by dormant dark matter, a substence they were unfamilliar of.

"What is this goo.." A man muttered, and at the sight of your intense stare directed at him, he quickly put the book back in the bag.

"Do you think we should report to the Yashiro Commissioner?" A man suggested. He looked to be well into his 60s. Quite sprung up for a man his age. His companions don't seem to be looking worse for wear either.

"This seems too unimportant to report.."

"Yeah, the commissioner already has a lot on his plate.."

"Then shall we turn to the shrine maidens?"

"What kind of crazy ideas are you cooking in that brain of yours!?"

"... Well, she may be possessed!"

"Yeah, we can't rule out that possibility."

"You're right. We have to stay cautious."

You continued to watch the three men bicker amongst one another regarding your situation. Well, you can't really blame them.. they're trying their best to help you. You were fortunate enough to have encountered such kind souls upon waking up in this place.

"Should we have to be wary of her?"

"Well, we kinda have to."

"Why? You're seriously assuming a girl carrying around a bag that looks identical to one i gave my daughter in third grade would do any harm?" The tallest of the three crossed his arms and looked at his friends at the same time delivering his words in an agitated manner. They were unreasonable.

"Wow, oddly specific, but yes." His comrades barely gave his words any thought, maybe due to the absurdity of his choice of words.

"So you're afraid of children now?"