girlybruiser | 𝓵𝓪𝓫𝔂𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓱𝓾𝓶 ❀ 𝓲𝓷𝓫𝓸𝔁

Oh... I was looking forward to telling the tale of the Detective Prince saving me from violent goblins...

[ There's another delay.

This reality keeps smacking her in the face with figures from her past who, for some reason, can't stay there. She had thought she was moving forward in her life and now things that were once left behind were a part of her present journey. ]

No, please share! I don't recall hearing anything like that from him.
What are these goblins?

[ She's hoping Maruki won't pick up the tension on her end. And she is genuinely curious as to what happened. Goblins?? ]

[ Perhaps he's carefully prodding at the edges of that tension and choosing what information to eke out.

And above all else – he wants to make it clear up front where his loyalties lie, and why. ]

I'm sure he would only bring it up to tease me for being so helpless back then, so that doesn't surprise me.

Goblins are native to Somnius, but you'll rarely see them now - the locals here don't interact kindly with the dreamers anymore. When I first arrived, we were on good terms with them, but they would occasionally fall under some sort of spell and begin acting aggressively. Akechi-kun happened to see me caught in an altercation with one and came to my aid. You can imagine how shocked I was to see a celebrity from home here, of all places...

We ended up living together with a group in another dreamer's castle, and when they disappeared, we decided to move into our own place together. Then Kurusu-kun showed up, and I wound up taking in a few more people over time...

And now we have a full house again, to say the least. It's a bit chaotic.

[ She's surprised to hear Akechi didn't full on taunt Maruki for it. She hasn't forgotten the abrasive and violent personality he displayed when he had no need for the detective persona.

The celebrity persona would be laughable, if Haru were the type. Instead, she feels pity for Akechi in spite of everything. His true persona might be far from what she expected, even when they had all known he was the traitor among them, but he was further gone in his vengeance than maybe anyone had expected. ]

I'm relieved to hear you were saved. I suppose a Detective Prince would come to someone's aid, wouldn't he? Sometimes I'd see him on the news and think it was wonderful someone my age was dedicated to the pursuit of justice.

[ A carefully curated image. ]

So you're all living together? My, that sounds like a lot for sure! It must be a lot of cleaning and cooking.

I consider myself their live-in personal chef, although Kurusu-kun has been a huge help since he arrived.

Ah... There's no good way to say it, but...

Kurusu-kun did let me know what happened with you all and Akechi-kun, so I understand if being around him is difficult. That's why I wanted you to know we live together, so you wouldn't be surprised if you did drop by. You're still welcome to, of course! But I'll understand if it's... not exactly an appealing idea.

[ Ah.

He knows.

Yet it doesn't lift the tension from her back. ]

I appreciate the gesture and I would like to come by. If it's a place Akira-kun feels safe in, then I'm sure I would like it as well.
It's certainly... a bit overwhelming to see Akechi-kun after so long. I'm not unhappy to see him.

[ She's just... confused. ]

I can only imagine just how overwhelming it is. Don't rush yourself, Okumura-san.

I'll be okay. I've faced him before.

[ She's not scared of Akechi Goro. She just has to sit in her feelings for a while, then she'll be fine. ]

Can I ask you something, Dr. Maruki?

Of course. You can ask me anything.

It seems you trust him, right?
He's living with you and Akira-kun and he came to your rescue before.
So... you must trust him.

[ Haru might as well ask a bird if it flies. ]

Akechi-kun and I have been through more here than I could ever begin to explain.

There are a handful of people who I trust without question. He tops that list.

I'll understand if you find that difficult to believe.

I'm not sure if I fully comprehend, but I cannot deny he has been a valuable ally.

[ Maybe this world is his second chance? He was pleasant enough with her, barring some passive aggressive behaviour she clocked. ]

If he is getting along with Akira-kun and hasn't tried anything, then I can try to accept that answer as well.

[ NOBODY TELL HER ABOUT ANY STABBINGS OR SHOOTINGS. ]

[ Hasn't tried anything. Well, that's not Maruki's story to tell. ]

Like I said, there's no need to rush through your own feelings. Take your time. We certainly aren't going anywhere any time soon!

I guess so. I can't believe it's been over a week and I am still here.
What did you do when you first got here?

[ Is she missing college already? Maybe. It was busywork at least. ]

Ah... well...

There was an interesting phenomenon occurring when I first arrived. We were able to share in one another's dreams. I don't know if I was particularly susceptible to it, but I couldn't go a single night without dreaming of being back in the nurse's office at Shujin, and another dreamer would walk through that door for a counseling session. You can imagine that didn't make for very restful sleep!

So I spent my nights conducting sessions with dreamers, and my days working toward opening my original office. You could say that I was singularly focused on counseling at that time.

[ And it would be an understatement. ]

Oh! I did also learn to enjoy hiking and camping!

Was someone responsible for that?
Someone I met the other week had mentioned he had thought a being was responsible for us being brought here, but this being passed away.

[ It's baffling, really. How does one share in a dream? Does she have to worry about someone sharing in hers? ]

The dreams still don't happen, do they?

No, they haven't happened in a long time.

Vaeros was the figurehead who died, and there are those who believe he was responsible for bringing us here and inflicting strange happenings on us... but there are also those of us who believe there are other powers at work. Considering people like yourself have continued to appear and strange things have continued to happen in his absence, I believe all signs point toward the latter.

Things are relatively calm right now, which is for the best. I wish I could say it will remain that way, but...

Is something bad going to happen?
I was told we made wishes to come here. I don't recall that at all. I'm fairly certain I was going to sleep with the other girls in the camper and then next thing I knew, I was here.

[ And a mysterious satchel with that vial in it... it's still sitting aside, untouched. ]

[ Well, hold that thought. ]

You don't remember your wish?

Well...
I'm not entirely sure of it, is all.

That's fascinating...

Some people don't remember their wishes, while others do. I've always wondered what the deciding factor is for that.

[ And then there are those like Akechi who claim they don't remember their wish, but Maruki knows with certainty that they do.

With Haru, he's not so sure. She'd have no reason to hide something like that–

From anyone but him, he supposes. ]

To answer your earlier question, something is bound to happen sooner or later. This reality is volatile, and we've been thrown into dangerous situations many times before.

We always make it through, though. This group of people is surprisingly resilient, and phenomenally powerful.

[ She can't be certain. She thinks when drifting off in the camper, she might have mumbled something about the pain she had been feeling again and wanting to move ahead with her life. All of it spurned on after her encounter with Mari-san, but she can't pinpoint why

So, it must have been a dream, right? ]

It almost sounds like its cognition is influenced. I wonder who or what is behind it. There must be a culprit.
I'm relieved to hear that, too. I did see a vial in the satchel when I arrived. Is that a potion to help?

[ No self-respecting young woman is going to drink a mysterious bottle just because a note says so. ]

[ All at once, it's both a shock to the system and a tremendous relief to be talking to someone whose logic operates on a similar level to his own. ]

Obviously I'm biased in the matter, but from my perspective, you're exactly right. There have been instances in the past where what happened here was directly influenced by cognitions of dreamers, too... I'll fill you in on that sometime soon.

For the time being, though - you didn't drink the potion right away? I'm impressed! Most people do...

What color is yours, Okumura-san?

[ More information to tuck away, hm? This world is proving to be unique, that's for sure. ]

I think Mako-chan would have scolded me for not being more cautious as a young woman had I done that.
It's red. Are there different colours?

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ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER IT

SOME DO SOME DON'T IT'S UP TO U

OH THANK GOD THANK U MOD-SENPAI i've been playing it as a hazy memory/her not wanting to face it yet

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