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[ Oh. That causes him to pause, if only because he finds himself glancing away. Connecting back then? That's... ]

I don't know about that, really. [ No, they didn't have that sort of connection. Maybe it was there, but it certainly wasn't in a positive light. ]

I saw it, but I decided to leave it up to him; he's better at puzzles and things like that... And yeah. The tree-- it's been showing me memories of things I've forgotten. Sometimes I remember things from those memories, but not all the time.

[ He notices something there, hard not to when Hinata looks away, but it's not Red's business to pry. That's a little too personal, more than a simple curiosity about their first meeting.

But ah, Hinata's memories.

You mentioned your memories... [ He remembers that. ] Weren't you trying to bring out...some abilities from them? Something you used to be able to do? ...Has it worked?

[ ...The guy talked about a lot of different things that day, now that Red thinks about it. ]

Yeah. I wanted to see if my memories would actually be tied with my abilities. I found out that I was right about that; that the two correlate. I haven't gotten all of my skills back yet, though. I just relearned the mastery of various types of martial arts and sword fighting.

[ #talent ]

[ ...uh ]

How many more have you got to go? [ don't people train for years to learn a single martial art..... ]

I'm not sure. I feel like there's still a lot, though...

[ Hinata "I cheated to get my skills" Hajime. That's him. ]

[ He looks at Hinata a little longer, then just--gives an awkward laugh, short as it is, because what else is the response to that? ]

Do people usually have a bunch of different talents where you're from? Is that normal? [ He could just be a liar, but you know, whatever. ]

No, it's just... I'm kind of different in that way. It's a long story.

[ He puts his hands up, shaking his head. ]

That's fine. A lot of people here have a strange history. [ Aha. ] I mean, most of our worlds are probably strange to one another in the first place. There aren't many around where people keep creatures as partners.

But a lot of them sure do have cats and dogs!

That's probably true. [ He doesn't notice the verbal tic in his words for a few seconds before he shrugs. ]

I've never had a pet, personally, so I wouldn't know what it's like.

[ His sight leaves Hinata before his face slightly turns, still wearing a pleasant enough expression. ]

It's not the same as a partner. A partner's someone you trust in completely and work with. They're more than a pet.

[ His tone shifts somewhat as he explains it, losing its casual attitude for something more factual. And then in the next moment, he chuckles lightly, half-shrugging at one shoulder before looking back to Hinata. ]

They're some of my best friends, so comparing them to pets isn't right. We're more serious than that. [ Such an uncomfortable word these days... ]

... I knew someone who saw his pets like that. They were his best friends, his partners who helped him out in every way.

[ He sounds rather wistful at that, and it shows in the cool air. ]

[ ... ]

Here?

No. Back where I'm from.

[ There's something small that bugs him, but Red knows how to shove it away. The air doesn't even change, hasn't changed from the trainer, kept concealed and private, though his look does turn sympathetic. ]

Sorry. He sounds like he really cared about them. [ ... ] Were you close?

[ He smiles a little wistfully; it's clear he's a upset, but he tries his best not to show it. ]

I can't really say that I was close to him, but... he was a classmate.

[ That much he's firm about. ]

Knowing someone that much is enough. You would have seen him a lot.

[ It's not so odd, Red thinks. ]

It's good you remember him, with your memory troubles and all.

Well, I'd like to think that there are some things that I'd never forget.

[ ...you know, this is making him think. ]

Before you came here, was there anything you could do to help remember what you forgot? I have a friend--she's been getting her memories back, but there's one that...she can't remember it, but there's something about it that's troubling her.

Have you experienced anything like that?

For me, personally, I recalled things whenever there were trigger words or things told to me about them.

[ Thanks, Enoshima... ]

Here, though, the memory tree does trigger some of my memories back, but sometimes I have dreams about them too, which does it. I haven't experienced anything like that, but that might be because how I lost my memories is different than other people's.

Mmm... she lost her memories over time, so it isn't the same. The memory tree doesn't work for her the way it does for us either. [ His brow furrows in, lips pinching as his arms fold in front of him. ]

The arehtei can't see their memories in the petals. They only see them in the pods there when they fall.

[ ...Yeah. ]

.... Oh.

[ Now he has a better idea as to who he might be talking about, he can't help but sigh a little. ]

Then, I think that maybe it would probably be for the best to find out the source, or the cause. I-- I mean, you don't remember things just by seeing them in the pods, right?

No. Elios said he remembered over time and by talking too. [ Since he..can't really speak for himself. ] We've been trying that, but it's-- ...it's not always easy.

[ She's difficult, but he doesn't exactly want to say that, his expression just twisting a moment before he continues. ]

The source is the crystal- the big one here. [ Meaning Big Chrissie herself. ] All she knows is that there's something about it, but she doesn't remember what. It could mean anything--I mean, if they had crystals like that in the past, I don't know if it would really be the same.

Yeah, it's... kind of the same with me. I mean, seeing the memories themselves sometimes triggers it, but not all the time.

[ He presses his lips together, serious. ]

I talked with Komaeda about that, and we came up with a theory for it, but we're not 100% sure if it's right or not.

[ Ah? That releases the tension at Red's brow as he looks at Hinata, blinking. ]

What is it?

We were thinking of the possibility of Simpathis being trapped in that crystal, actually...

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