Chapter Text
-Ivy, hey! Ivy, wake up!-.
The girl got abruptly awakened from her nap, opening her confused golden-colored eyes and pointing the cat-like gaze towards the boy her age with strange hair in front of her.
-Senku..?-.
That boy was her childhood friend, the older brother she never had: she couldn’t ever forget that. And now, that same brother was looking at her with a snort.
-Had a good nap?-. He wondered, as she raised the head from the desk she was using as a pillow, pulling off the sleep from her eyes.
-I feel like I dreamt something… yeah, as if I had a very long dream-. The girl whispered, with the voice thick with the long sleep.
-Well, about time Ivy. And here, it’s you who suggested to offer me ramen-. Senku commented, making her frown.
“Ramen? I offered him ramen?”.
The girl heard a sigh from the same friend, before he decided to tap her forehead.
-What is it? Are you still dreaming? I’ll remind you that the day’s already over and it’s time to go home-.
Looking around, she noticed that she was still sitting inside the classroom. Looking out of the window, the sun was about to set. Was it already so late?
Then, flash of memories surfaced on her mind: how she was rejected for the umpteenth time — this time from a senpai of the swimming club. After that, she saw herself running on the hallway to open the door of the science club, so she could complain with Senku. He was right — she really had offered him ramen. It was their routine, after all. It always happened whenever someone rejected her love confession.
She stood up abruptly. -You’re right… the ramen!-.
-So, you’re awake now?-.
She looked at his crimson-colored eyes, then nodded. Reaching for her schoolbag, she linked her free arm with Senku’s one and slowly dragged him outside the school. Senku let her drag him, since it always happened between the two of them. Despite that situation being the normality, the girl still felt lost.
-Taiju… Where's he?-. She asked, after remembering how he wasn’t with Senku to wake her up.
“It’s strange. We usually go home together”.
Senku smirked. -By now he’s one billion percent walking Yuzuriha home, ku ku ku… It’s their first day as lovebirds after all!-.
Those words left her dumbfounded, stopping abruptly in front of the school gate. Senku looked at her puzzled, raising an eyebrow.
She flattered her eyelashes. -Taiju and Yuzuriha… they’re a couple?-.
-You were there during lunch break, don’t you remember? Big oaf finally confessed and Yuzuriha accepted. We even got the bet's money. Your memory's refreshed now?-.
Her red hair — strangely left loose and also felt a bit more longer than the usual length, tickling her back — started to flutter because of the sudden blast of wind. Many different emotions were expressing on her face: bewilderment, anxiety, but mostly shock.
Did that really happen?
-Are you still feeling lost ‘cause of that dream?-.
Senku’s next question pulled her together.
-No, I mean… now I remember!-. She laughed nervously, messing up her hair even more from the tenseness. -It’s true, just like you said! This means I’ll have to pay only for you. Come on, let’s go!-.
A lie.
A shame she did not remember at all.
The girl remembered the bet, of course, just as she remembered Taiju approaching Yuzuriha, who was waiting for him near the camphor tree. But what happened next? Only total blankness. A lapse of memory that made her only more agitated and anxious than ever — she had always been proud of her good memory. She could perfectly remember everything, every single little detail of what she did as a small child who couldn’t even talk or walk. Someone like her, someone with a great memory like hers… had lapse of memory? Was it even possible?
However she did not voice her doubts and worries. Rather, she decided to lie. To make the best of a bad bargain, even if she wasn’t exactly good at doing it. Without any hesitation, the girl knew that the unbeatable one at that was Gen, most likely. At that, however, her own thought caused the girl to frown — Gen?
Did she really knew someone named Gen?
Yeah, sure! Asagiri Gen, the famous magician! Ikki’s a huge fan of him!
“But how do I know that he’s good at lying?”.
As the two started to walk side by side, she turned towards her brother. -Senku, perhaps do you know Asagiri Gen?-.
He raised an eyebrow. -Asagiri Gen? Of course I do-.
Her eyes widened with surprise at what Senku told her. Maybe they had met, but she just didn’t remember? Just like she didn’t remember how Taiju’s confession went?
-It’s the guy who wrote those trashy psychology books, right?-.
She tried not to care about the pang in the heart and the pain it left her.
-Let’s go, Hana-.
She raised her gaze to look at Senku.
Hana. Yes, that’s her name: Harukaze Hana.
“Good. At least, I remember this…”.
**
Some days have passed. Seven, to be precise. That strange sensation did not leave, but at least the world still worked as it always did. As if nothing had changed from the day Senku woke her in the classroom, with lapses of memory. But Hana believed that the long dream she had, had something to do with that. Just… didn’t know how.
-Harukaze?-.
An unknown male voice made her turn. She was accompanying Senku to the science club, when someone stopped her in the middle of the hallway. He was a third year student, but didn’t know him.
-Yes? Can I do something for you?-. Hana wondered, tilting her head to the side.
-Yes, there’s something-. He started, feigning shyness and embarrassed. Hana unmasked him right away, comprehending what he really wanted.
-Please, can you help me compiling the register of my class? I already promised a friend of mine to help him with something else-.
Unawarely, Hana narrowed her gaze now feeling pretty bored. That had always been the normality for her, but since when it not only bored, but also annoyed her?
“I won’t remain silent, if it happens again. Although, I’m sure it won’t”.
Hana hold back the sigh and faked a smile. -I’m sorry, but I can’t. I already promised Senku to help with his club-.
Despite refusing the request with politeness, she left the guy speechless and Senku too, because both of them couldn’t believe their ears — they had never expected her to refuse. Hana ignored those reaction and took her brother’s hand, so they could move away from there. But when she couldn’t bear the silence anymore and also that crimson gaze pointed to her skull, she turned her face and raised an eyebrow.
-What?-.
Senku did not hesitate to answer back. -You refused-.
-Yes, I did. So what?-.
Senku continued, as to confirm the obvious. -You just refused to help someone-.
Hana nodded. -I know, Senku. I’m aware. That’s the point of using you as an excuse-.
After some seconds of silence, he smirked. -Ku ku ku, about time Ivy-.
Hana made a small smile and her gaze became a bit nostalgic at the memory of the voice she had just remembered.
-Well, I don’t want to make him angry. And I’m also tired of being used like this. It’s true that I like to be gentle with everyone, but being too gentle isn’t optimal, nor logic at all-.
Senku patted her forehead. -You finally understood it, Ivy. I really want to know this guy you’re talking about, just to ask him how he convinced you-.
-Mm?-. Hana looked at him puzzled. -Who’re you talking about?-.
Senku raised an eyebrow. -The one that will get angry. You said it yourself-.
Hana blinked a bit, feeling dazed. -But you know… it’s him-.
-Him who?-.
The scientist crossed his arms over his chest, for the first time not understanding what his sister was talking about. And Hana at that, felt stuck. Who was this “him”? Who exactly it belonged, the voice she had just remembered?
She didn’t know. She couldn’t remember at all.
Hana tightened her lips, carrying on down the hallway and pretending nothing happened, just like she did before for the whole week, but the fear and the sadness Hana felt because of that whole situation continued to pursue her.
That voice was important to her. The person to which it belonged was important. Hana felt something, which she wasn’t able to label… but they weren't like Senku. She felt like that person wasn’t like Taiju or Yuzuriha either. Or like her father or mother. Momo and Reiko. Ikki. This person did not occupy their same place — he was someway different, but as much important. Who could be important to her as much as her friends and family was?
Still, Hana couldn’t remember. She wasn’t able to remind his face or his name. Why? Why couldn’t she?
And why it made her so sad and anxious? Why did it cut her breath? Make her chest rise and fall quickly from the panic?
-Hana… why are you crying?-.
Senku’s voice was truly shocked, not expecting for such a reaction from her — he knew she was an emotional person, but they were just walking now! Nothing happened that could upset her.
Hana jumped, suddenly dropping his hand and after touching her cheek, noticed he was right — she was crying.
Why?
-I… can’t remember. I really can’t, Senku!-. Hana couldn’t hold back anymore and many more tears came out. -Why can’t I remember him?!-.
Senku was left speechless and was about to reach his hand to hers, when she pulled herself together.
-I’m sorry, I… have to go-.
With a made-up excuse, Hana run away, not stopping even when Senku was calling aloud for her. She ran outside the school, just for the sake of moving away from there — Hana just wanted to be alone.
She did not care about anything else.
**
Hana sighed. “Aah, I’ve gotta apologize… and pay Senku for more ramen too”.
She had continued to run even after leaving school, stopping only after feeling tired, in an unknown neighborhood. Now, she was sitting in a bench of an unknown park, regaining breath.
-Losing my composure like that, it’s sooo illogical-. She whispered, her gaze pointed towards the cloudy sky.
How many hours has passed? She wasn’t able to count like Senku and also left the phone inside her bag at school — and with those clouds, she couldn’t see the position of the sun to determine the hour too.
“I was never so unlucky… Didn’t mom say that I was kissed by Fukurokuju when I was born?”. She thought ironically, thinking to one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese mythology.
With another sigh, she decided to stand up and find her way home — it was the only thing left to do. It wasn’t her intention to run away after all. She’d think for her excuse later.
When Hana pointed her gaze in front of her, she saw a guy with long, brown hair running inside the park. At first she ignored him, but when he passed near her and Hana better saw his face, her blood run cold instantly.
Without thinking, Hana ran towards him and clenched her hands on his arm. He turned to look at her, his eyes widened with surprise.
-What—?-. The guy was about to ask her something, but Hana’s voice stopped him, her voice was worried but also showed relief.
-You’re alive! Oh, I’m so happy, Tsukasa! I’m sorry, I couldn’t rescue you soon! But how you—!-.
Hana suddenly understood the words she herself had just told him, but at the same time couldn’t comprehend them. “I’m happy he’s alive? Why? And is Tsukasa his real name? What is happening to me?!”.
-Are you okay?-. Tsukasa asked her, instead, starting to worry for the “strange girl”.
-I… I… what-. Hana felt suddenly so embarrassed, she just wanted to disappear.
“What am I doing?!”.
-I’m so sorry! I mistook you for someone else!-.
With that excuse, Hana ran away in the opposite direction from Tsukasa, who wasn’t able to understand her problem at all.
What was going on? Why was she feeling so happy and glad of seeing that guy being alive? Why did she think he had died?
Hana did not understand what was going on. First, lapses of memory. Now, unexpected events such as Taiju and Yuzuriha becoming a couple, believing of personally knowing people such as Asagiri Gen and that guy she called as Tsukasa — but she did absolutely not remember any of that.
What was happening? Why did she feel like that? It was as if she was living in a world that did not exist — as if everything around her was just a figment of her own imagination. But that was impossible. It wasn’t scientific at all! Senku would only laugh and make fun of that theory!
The more Hana thought about it and the more her mind wrapped into a tailspin, making her fall inside a whirl of panic and anxiety, without knowing how to get out. Hana just wanted for someone to point the right way: what to do, why she felt like that—
All of a sudden, her senses got reawakened right when she was in the middle of some unfamiliar street, stopped on the crosswalk. A car was running towards her, but wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.
-What…-.
Then, a hand grasped her arm and take her away from the street. Hana didn’t know how, but she found herself in the arms of a stranger — one with a scent, voice and touch definitely familiar although.
-Haha! Just in time!-.
Hana raised her head and pointed her gaze on the guy’s face, focusing on every detail of his face as her cat-like eyes widened, her cheeks blushed and her heartbeat increased rapidly — it pumped so much blood that Hana herself was starting to worry a bit.
-You…-. She was only able to whisper, observing the boy with familiar blond hair, who continued to tightly hug her waist, with a smile particularly dazzling, sweet and also adorable.
“Adorable?”, she questioned herself, stunned. Why did she find it adorable?
-Saved just in time. Are you okay, Hana?-. The worried tone with which he asked the question, just as the sweet smile he put on his face, suddenly calmed her down — better than any kind of sweet Senku usually used in those cases.
Hana didn’t question herself on how he knew her name — she didn’t care. Slowly, the girl touched his cheeks, slowly accepting that he was real, and then she softened her expression.
-I don’t know why, it’s strange. I remember nothing about you: your name, what you like or dislike… nothing. But I feel like I already know you. As if the missing part of me that I searched for… was you all along. Do you know why, perhaps?-. Hana whispered, scared that he would disappear if she’d raise her voice.
But the guy continued to smile like that. She knew that kind of smile. She loved it so much.
-What do you think of a date? Maybe you’ll find your answer-. He proposed, winking at her while caressing her hair behind her back.
Hana blushed a bit, but sweetly smiled. And out of the blue, a name appeared on her mind. -Ryusui… Your name is Ryusui-.
The name of the person she was searching for was Nanami Ryusui.
Like that, Hana’s smile widened, while he — Ryusui — smiled back.
-I take it as yes, then!-. He replied, snapping his fingers.
Hana could only think how safe she felt in his arms.
**
The date was beautiful and astonishing at the same time. Ryusui had taken her everywhere and Hana meant literally everywhere — being the scion of the Nanami conglomerate had its perks, after all. Hana had never got bored, she had so much fun spending an entire day with him, as if the anxiety and worry from before had vanished. But it was more than that, she felt as if she had understood what was bothering her earlier and for this very reason, now, she was much calmer. Was it for this reason that Ryusui had taken her on a date?
-Do you like it, Hana?-.
-It's breathtaking, Ryusui!-.
At that moment, they were standing on a hill watching a beautiful sunset. Silence enveloped them, but she didn't mind much as their hands were clasped like they were now. However, the silence was broken by Ryusui himself.
-Do you understand, now?-. He asked, still staring straight ahead.
Hana turned to look at him for a moment before understanding what he meant. She lowered her face, looking down at their intertwined hands and noticing how it gave her the courage to admit what she had understood for a while. Looking back in front of her, however, Hana couldn’t visualize that sight as she wanted, her mind was elsewhere.
-I…-. She only managed to say, before simply nodding.
Ryusui stood silent waiting for her to continue.
-I… I died, right?-. She admitted in a low voice, putting all of herself into that statement. -This is my personal paradise… isn't it?-.
The boy started snapping his fingers with his free hand, while with the other he squeezed and gently caressed Hana's fingers, intertwined with his. -And from what did you guess it?-.
She put a nostalgic smile on her lips. -That day when Taiju declared his love to Yuzu… he never actually managed to do it, and that's why I had that strange feeling. Because Yuzu has never had the opportunity to listen to him or to respond to his feelings. That day… humanity got petrified-.
Ryusui laughed, turning to face her. -Insightful as usual, my dear-.
Hana gave a small smile at his reaction, before getting sad again.
-My personal paradise… I don't know how, but my mind built it the moment I died… a world in which the petrification of mankind never happened-.
Saying this, she looked up at the orange-painted sky with a smirk on her face, as if to mask the sadness. -More than a paradise, this seems like the hell that Senku loves so much!-.
If possible, Ryusui laughed even louder as he snapped his fingers again. -Heaven, Hell. Who cares? It depends on the points of view, am I right?-.
-But Senku, Taiju, Yuzu, everyone-. Hana whispered, turning and looking down at his chest, unable to look at him in the eyes, feeling her tears coming. -…you are just a figment of my imagination! Everyone isn't—you are not real!-.
Ryusui took his hand away from hers to gently grasp her cheeks and look up at her. Tears streaked her face, ones that she couldn't hold back, and Ryusui smiled tenderly as he leaned down, slowly bringing their faces together. For a moment, Hana thought he was going to kiss her, but instead he stopped an inch from her face, his forehead touching hers.
Her eyes widened, while the tears stopped coming out and her cheeks blushed once again to see him so close, to hear his breath. He was only the Nanami Ryusui created by her imagination, from her memories... but he seemed so damn real.
-Where did my Hana go, the one I know and fell in love with, huh?-. He teased, before getting serious again, wearing his usual smile. -You should already know the answer, right?-.
Saying that, he let her go, stepping back.
“I already know the answer, he says? But I-!".
With that smile on his face, Ryusui turned to walk away.
This sent her into a panic and so she ran to grab his arm. -Don’t go! Not you too! I—.
Her eyes watered again at the thought of being alone — this time for real — so much it made her desperate.
-I still have to tell you how I feel, how much I lo—.
Hana couldn't continue as Ryusui shushed her with his own lips. It was a quick kiss, but it still left her dumbfounded and red like her hair.
-Ssh, save those words for the real me, alright?-.
She couldn't answer him, the words dying in her throat as he kept a finger to her lips.
-Now that you're starting to understand, this world will slowly collapse, and that goes for me too. But that doesn't matter because you are yourself, am I not right? You'll see me again soon, it's my instinct as a captain that says so!-.
Saying those words, Ryusui disappeared from her sight, literally like dust of light. Only then did Hana notice that he was right — that world was really collapsing, pulverizing into light like Ryusui had done just before. As a result, her knees buckled and she fell. Alone, the scenery around her slowly took on darker shades, soon leaving her in total darkness and emptiness. Without being able to move.
-I… am myself? What kind of clue is this, Ryusui?-. She whispered, completely frustrated. -I'm just Harukaze Hana… nobody special-.
-Quiz time. Who are you, Ivy?-.
Hana jumped at hearing Senku's voice behind her, she was surprised to see him with his usual smirk on his face. Instead of the school uniform, he wore animal skin clothes: the Einstein's famous formula embossed in blood on the jacket.
She hesitated to answer, to which Senku repeated the question with a raised eyebrow. At that moment, however, the answer came as spontaneous as a delicate flower gently floating in the wind.
-I’m a doctor, a handyman… and a scientist from the Kingdom of Science!-. A soft smile returned to her face, putting away all the agitation, fear and anxiety she was feeling.
Senku started grinning again. -Well, one billion points for you, if you can answer the next one too. What do you have to do?-.
As her mind became much clearer, Hana no longer hesitated to answer. -I just have to wait for someone to wake us all up!-.
-Ku ku ku. Exactly, Ivy!-.
Yes, that was what she had to do. She remembered it all too well now, having sorted out her memories.
She wasn't alone. She'd had faith in Suika when she'd protected her from the bullets of Xeno's soldiers. She was serene at the time of her death, knowing full well that Dr. Stone would heal them. She didn't know who would carry out their plan, but part of her believed in Suika, her little assistant.
How could she forgot this?
…And so I will see you again.
This time the real you and not a figment of my imagination, Ryusui.
**
When the girl opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a person. A girl with blond hair, some years younger than her. Without saying anything, the first thing Hana had done was to smile at her gently, before raising a hand to place it on the girl's head, stroking it peacefully.
Feeling the warmth of that nostalgic hand, Suika couldn't hold back the tears. How many times, alone in a world where humanity was completely petrified, had she wanted Hana to stroke her head? How many times had she imagined her smile and her compliments, every time she remembered and followed her teachings to the letter?
-Hana… well… Suika did just as you told her. It was Suika's turn to protect you all, so she didn't let you go! Here, so…-.
Those words widened her smile.
-I know. Well done, my little assistant!-.
Suika hadn't been able to hold herself back in front of the warmth that Hana gave her, so she launched herself to embrace the girl's chest, who reciprocated the embrace with a chuckle.
-Oh! But you're not so little anymore, am I right, Suika?-.