Chapter Text
An Interview with the Deceased
by P.J. Stroll, May 11th, 2026
“...well, technology has evolved in recent times you know; they’re finding a cure for all cancer, cars can self-drive, nuclear energy is becoming more noteworthy, so we decided the next big step was talking to the dead.”
Mari Yuko Suzuki (1983-1998), known mononymously by her peers as Mari, was a student in the town of Faraway, a quaint town in the countryside that not too many outside the nearby community may have heard of. Mari was described as a hard-working student, former softball player, and a strong pianist.
“She had such an attitude when it came to her passions, like she’d never back down from her hobbies unless her life depended on it. I remember she still wanted to play softball even after she hurt her knee.” - Henry “Hero” Jiménez, her boyfriend at the time, on Mari’s social life.
However, on the day of a piano recital, a tragic event happened to her, and she passed away at the age of 15. Her friends ruled her death a suicide. It was very taxxing on them emotionally to see her disappearance from their lives. Hero Jiménez told The Faraway Family how he felt abandoned by her for two years after her death, but remarks how she “came back to him” once he accepted her death.
Summoning the Spirit
After going through her obituary, a journalist named Lizzie Francis decided to look into getting in contact with her family, notably Mari’s brother, Sunny Hinata Suzuki, to see if there’s a way to use the new technology involving speaking with the dead to be able to talk with Mari. (Francis remarks that this technology has no common name, as it isn’t commercially sold, so for simplicity’s sake, she dubbed it Resurrection.) Using Resurrection on the tomb or grave of the deceased will be able to summon the spirit back to the world we know and allow communication between the two parties.
“When I first heard that I could bring my sister back, I was conflicted. One hand suggested that I should decline and leave the past in the past, while the other yearned for closure. I sided with the latter hand, as it would be for the benefit of everyone who knew her to get one last conversation with her.” wrote Suzuki. He also recalls the struggle of gathering his childhood friends for the meeting with his sister.
The day was scheduled for March 1st, 2026, Mari’s 43rd birthday. Sunny’s friends traveled from afar to meet in Faraway Town once again. The night before the meeting, his friends gathered for a sleepover at Hero Jiménez’s house, reminiscing on the best of their childhoods. After having a fun night together, the group approached Francis for help with Resurrection.
Setting up Resurrection correctly, Francis was able to bring the spirit of Mari Suzuki back from the dead. The two were able to agree on a spot to sit while Mari was being interviewed. The transcribed report is below.
Interview Below
Francis: So, it must be pretty weird coming back to life, isn’t it?
Mari: Well, it’s not really life. In fact, I didn’t feel much at all other than excitement for being able to talk with my friends and Sunny again.
Francis: Yeah, that’s understandable. *Clears throat* Anyways, we have a good amount of questions for you, so why don’t you get comfy?
Mari: That sounds good to me.
Francis: Mari, my first question is this: “What did it feel like being dead? You know, the 27 years of being dead probably felt awkward and distressing.”
Mari: Awkward? Yes. Distressing? Somewhat. I got used to being dead a year or two after I passed. It was a bit off-putting at first, but now I somewhat like it.
Francis: Tell me more; why do you like being dead?
Mari: Obviously you won’t have to worry about being in danger, but it’s pretty interesting to be able to take my time and notice the details of everything. I personally like to find damaged pianos and look into how they got all of their cracks. It’s like a fun puzzle of sorts.
Francis: Well, that does seem to track given your piano experience!
Mari: Haha, for sure.
Francis: Figured as much! Now, are there times when you get bored?
Mari: Oh, absolutely. I was bored countless times throughout these years, especially since I couldn’t eat nor do my usual pastimes. I found a few things to do, however, and I discovered that I liked photography!
Francis: That’s great to hear, Mari! What’s so special about photography for you?
Mari: It’s like spotting the small details on various objects, but everything has a sense of framing. That framing can help me figure out what angle, position, and lens would make for the perfect shot.
Francis: Interesting. Well, I want to get onto some more questions. Tell me Mari, what happened to you on that recital day?
Mari: ...
Francis: Mari?
Mari: ...
[This part of the interview was cut out to amend pacing]
Francis: Well, it was great having you here, Mari! Hope you have a nice afterlife!
Mari: Have a good day, Francis.
Article written by P.J. Stroll