002 ⚜ ❝ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ sᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ'ʟʟ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ❞

[repudiate]

[ It's a fairly normal scene, all things considered. There's just a road with cars occasionally driving by, lined with buildings, and then there's a single bus stop. And standing by said bus stop is a girl in a school uniform leaning against the bus stop sign while seemingly talking on the phone. She's fairly recognizable as Ange, despite the difference in clothing, the only difference aside from that is the fact that she's wearing her hair down instead of having her usual pigtails with the hair bobbles.

If you get close enough to her, you might be able to hear what she's discussing on the phone. ]

What, onii-chan's coming over for dinner tonight too? [ A pause as she listens to the answer on the phone and then she downright laughs - very uncharacteristic for her, those who know her might notice. ] No, dad, I like eating dinner with just you and mom too, okay? Don't freak out too much over it. It's just that this is a special occasion. [ She listens again, and then there's a hum. ] I know. I'll be home soon enough, the bus is just having a delay or something like that. But I'll hurry. Hmm, bye!

[ Now she's done with her call and tucking the cellphone - a fairly old-looking one, like a nineties' model - back into her bag, you might want to speak up. Or, you know, just silently stand with her at the bus stop, even though that's not as interesting of a way to spend time. ]

Comments

[waterfell]

[This isn't right. Ange's family isn't like that. Ami, who lived lonely with her broken family all her childhood, knows it very well. She remembers it. Ange's grudge, her wish for vengeance, was all because of what happened to her family.

It makes Ami want to know more. She heads towards Ange as if nothing is unusual, as if she's just happened to be taking the same bus, and she asks the question as if it's not obvious.]

You were calling home? Since you're already on the way, that's very touching.

[If there's a tiny bite of her usual flippancy, it's because she wants a whole family to go home to, someone waiting there instead of an empty apartment.]

[repudiate]

[ Ange blinks a few times as she stares at the other girl, but there's nothing like recognition in her gaze. Still, she just lets out a light breath before smiling a little. Even with the lack of recognition, she doesn't seem to mind talking to strangers - not like this, not this Ange. ]

It's more just necessary. Dad flips out if he doesn't know where I am, and since the bus is late I'll end up being late back home too. [ a chuckle. ] It's funny, but I don't want mom to have to deal with that.

[waterfell]

You're a good daughter.

[It's one relationship Ami still holds valuable herself. It doesn't answer what's happened here.]

Your family, how are they? [A polite question meaning nothing, but she'll be listening to the answer very closely for more hints.]

[repudiate]

I'm sure dad would agree. [ She laughs, only slightly awkwardly but most of it is actually genuine - she knows how much her dad squeals over her even though she's already this grown up, after all. ]

And they're doing just fine. [ Ange raises an eyebrow at the question, but that's as much surprise over it as Ami will get. ] Well, I guess I could say 'same as usual' but that won't mean much to a stranger.. But it should still be enough to give a general impression, right?

[waterfell]

[It's not enough to satisfy her. She wants to know more of this, hold it against the truth she knows.]

Tell me about Rokkenjima.

[repudiate]

[ Rokkenjima? Wait, why would anyone know about-- ]

Wait, why do you know I know about Rokkenjima? It's not like it's a well known place, after all, since it's just my family's property and nobody else ever goes there.

[waterfell]

You might not remember it, but we've spoken about it before.

[And that doesn't answer her question, Ange.]

How is it?

[repudiate]

... In school? [ She's blinking, trying to recall it. Something about this girl is familiar, but.. she has no clue where from exactly, really, so she just ends up blinking aimlessly as she tries to remember before shaking her head. ]

And there's nothing special about it, is there? I just go there every year for the family conference.. It's where my grandfather used to live, but he died a lot of years ago. Krauss oji-san and Natsuhi oba-san live in the mansion there now.

[waterfell]

[A different Ange, perhaps? Where that tragedy was averted, and so she's living out her days happily?

Or... is it all looming in her future?]

Will you see them again soon?

[repudiate]

Probably during the next conference in October. But sometimes we randomly visit, too.. It's just been happening less frequently since we aren't kids anymore. [ a slight shrug. ]

You sure seem interested in my family, though.

[waterfell]

It's because we've spoken of them often up until now. [Her voice is bland, as if Ange should know this.]

[repudiate]

[ .. she blinks.. then frowns.. and then finally shakes her head. ]

Geez, what's up with today? It's like I'm slowly going crazy or something like that, waiting here just because the stupid bus is late.

[waterfell]

[Hmm. If she doesn't remember the situation Ami remembers hearing about...]

Could it be you don't remember we met?

[repudiate]

I don't remember you in general, really. If you go to the same school as me, maybe we met sometime in class and spoke, but it was nothing important enough that I'd remember..

[ She shrugs - she can't see any other possibility, really. This Ange is different, the price for a happy life being losing all her memories of what she had in her other life. ]

I apologize if that's the case.

[waterfell]

Look at this uniform. [Suddenly, she indeed in uniform - the uniform of a prestigious school across town from Ange's.]

Does it look like we met in school?

[repudiate]

[ A blink - almost in surprise - but then it seems almost natural to her and she shakes her head. ]

No, I definitely don't go to that one. Mom and dad could only wish I would have been accepted there, really.

[waterfell]

[There's a certain amount of pride in Ami's bearing that only grows at that admission. After all, she deserves the best in her education and opportunities.]

You once told me about your family. [It was very different from what's in front of them now. And Ami has always wanted to know, see, test the truth once she has those hints something is not right, something is out of place.]

They weren't with you at the time.

[repudiate]

[ Ange doesn't quite realise what exactly Ami means here with 'weren't with you', really, hence why her reaction is still rather calm, despite the unsureness about not remembering telling this unknown girl about her family. ]

Well, of course they're not always with me.. I go out on my own a lot too. It would just end up being creepy if your family would follow you everywhere, right?

[waterfell]

[She decides to specify, going step by step towards the truth, letting Ange realize for herself something is wrong, something is missing.]

You weren't living with them.

[Now why would a loving girl from a loving family, not be living with them?]

[repudiate]

[ Exactly, that's weird, isn't it? Especially since she doesn't recall ever not living with them - it's weird, as if a pair of memories is not matching up, but.. no, it's probably more likely that this girl is just lying, right? That has to be it. ]

That's weird, I've always been with them.

[waterfell]

Are you very certain of that? [She wouldn't push at all, if it weren't for her own long quest to find out what truly happened before, which memories were real. But as it is, she isn't letting go.]

[repudiate]

I'm...

[ Always been with them, right? Then why does she suddenly remember moments of feeling so lonely, as if there was nobody else in the world on her side, no ally at all, and.. -- no, no.. ]

What is this..? [ for once, Ange actually looks unsure, the pokerface dropping - even if it wasn't really there in this dream to begin with. ] W-what.. are you doing?

[waterfell]

[Ange can believe that if she wants, but...]

I haven't done anything to you. Your thoughts and memories are your own.

[As far as she knows, at least. It's possible that the nightmare of losing her family was only a nightmare, and this is Ange's truth.]

[repudiate]

But I feel like.. there's something wrong. [ Which is why she's gripping her forehead with one hand already. ]

Like something's not supposed to be right, but.. I can't tell what..

[waterfell]

[Oh, she doesn't need to be told what to know that feeling oh so very precisely, and oh so sharply.]

Doesn't a part of you know? [It's a hypocritical question.]