Chapter Text
Huh…
Strange, what is this feeling?…
He lifts a hand in front of his face, he thinks. Oh, he can see. Then what is this weird wet feeling on his head?
Reaching back to his head, ew. This feels weird, and it is…
Blood?
Ew… Wait, why is he bleeding? What happened?
Huh, he was lying down. Cherry sat up, he wasn't in pain, but for some reason he was bleeding.
And… This isn't where he was- Wait.. where the hell is he?!
Standing up, Cherry almost went through the floor-.. That's-... What in the fuck is happening?
…
Okay. He is kind of floating? Like his foot is through the floor, but he isn't falling anymore. And if he jumped?
..That will be dumb. But nothing makes sense right now so… Woah!
This is weird. He is floating, so how does moving around work? Um… I guess we will find out won't we?
I guess it's like swimming? But just moving your feet, like you are walking on air? Whatever.
He seems to be in a house of some sort, or… Apartment. This feels too small to be a house. Hey, a mirror!
Cherry leans forward, to see his reflection, and… He has no reflection. Great, is this what being a ghost is like?
...
Wait, a ghost? That was just a slip, but yeah he is a ghost.. So, why isn't he at his burial or something? Why is he in this apartment?
Ugh, this is so confusing. Not only is he probably bleeding, but he is a ghost, he is in someone's apartment, and he can't remember anything! Well, he remembers something. It's foggy and extremely vague, but it's Cherry. Which means… What? The fruit?
Wait, is he still floating in the air? Holy shit, he is. This is really cool, but doesn't answer anything again. First things first is probably to find out where he is. Like he is in someone's place, of course, but who's place?
Roaming around while practically flying, still so incredible. He sees the space is… Minimalistic, ew, how boring is this person? The only thing standing out in this literal box is a picture frame.
Let's see, there's a kitchen over here. Boring as hell, well, maybe he could try to see if he could pick something up.
There's a fruit bowl. Cherry tries to grab at the apple there and, yeah, he can’t grab it. His hands went through the apple, which is disturbing. Even if he can’t see his own reflection, he could still see his hands. Albeit, it is transparent, and seeing it pass through an object is weird.
Interrupting Cherry’s thoughts, heard a door click open. Fuck.
Wait, he is a ghost! Whoever walks in won't see him!
But to make sure, Cherry takes a few steps back, hiding behind the corner to the hallway, peeking over to see who this apartment owner was.
And… woah. He looks pretty..
With black hair, tanned skin, golden eyes that are clearly tired yet soft, piercings.. He really was pretty. Yet familiar. Like a foggy morning, you can't see things clearly, but you know it's there. Just something about his eyes.
This person was wearing a student I.D, is he still in high school? Actually, it seemed like a college I.D. Only if Cherry can read the name on it, he can't really see this far. Maybe he should sneakily check it? He can float after all.
Jumping in the air with one foot and now floating above, this person, he could see his I.D better now.
“ Riku Aoki “
Japanese? It sounds nice, and cute for someone like him.
Cherry hasn't gotten used to this ghost thing, and being so close to the light caused it to flicker. Prompting the next few things.
One… Riku looked up to see the flickering bulb only to be met with Cherry. It took him two blinks to process what the hell he was looking at…
“ What in the fuck?!”
Riku immediately stumbled back, hitting the counter behind him. His eyes blown open wide, it's not every day you see a ghost stalking you.
Second, Riku stood frozen, because you can't exactly throw things at a ghost. Or try to hit the one that is floating above you, now that his fight instinct was just gone it was either flight or freeze. All Riku could do was freeze, for an extra second of processing before he ran to the door.
Cherry was a bit puzzled by the fact Riku could see him, but nonetheless he quickly followed him.
“ Wait, wait! Please stop, Riku..”
“ Fuck no?! Because there is a flying ghost that isn't supposed to be real and how do you even know my name?!”
“ Your I.D, I saw it! Can you just relax for a moment, please?”
“ Relax? Oh, yeah because I'm supposed to be relaxing when a ghost who is bleeding from the head is casually shouting my name, that's what I should be relaxed by?!”
Okay, well, Riku isn’t completely wrong. I mean, he doesn't mean to bother him, or terrify him… But what else is he supposed to do in this situation! He has no memory for God sakes!
“ Riku, I promise, okay? I'm not gonna hurt you, please?”
Riku still looked terrified, but his hand wasn't reaching for the door handle, more like a precautionary action, hovering over the handle. He kept his eye on Cherry.
“ Explain right now.”
“ Okay, um… I'm a ghost, obviously. But I really don't know how I got here. It just felt like I woke up, while the bleeding was from my death, like a permanent scar? And that I don't remember anything, like nothing. Not my own name, I think. Just please help me, Riku..”
He didn't like how desperate he sounded, but it was true. He needs Riku's help. He can't remember anything and he woke up here, which has to mean something right?
“ And I think I woke up here for a reason, since I wouldn't unconsciously stumble upon someone's random apartment.”
Riku stared at him for a moment, the silence was tense, and Cherry felt even more nervous…
Riku then groaned heavily, sliding down to the floor, his head buried in his hands.
“ I'm supposed to prepare for my stupid exams, hopefully live till my next paycheck, deal with my own issues, and now I have to deal with some paranormal crap because of some fate?”
Riku laughed, not genuinely, those types of laugh that were humourless, the ones when you are so damn exhausted and life is still so unpredictable.
“ Do you even have a name, Mr. Ghost?”
Cherry tapped his chin for a second, thinking. The only thing he could remember is a faint Cherry, not knowing whether it referenced the fruit, it could make sense as a nickname for now.
“ Just call me, Cherry for now.”
“ Cherry? Seriously?”
Riku gave him a deadpan look, raising an eyebrow. It was a stupid name.
“ Yeah, it's like the only thing I can remember. Also it's a nickname for now until I remember my real one! Because I don't think any parent would name their child by a fruit.”
“ You would be surprised by the current era we live in… And actually, you have clothing that looks like something from now. Did you die recently?..”
Cherry looks down at himself, he is from this year since his clothes looked kind of like Riku's, but a much lighter color.
“ Yeah, it seems so. But it still doesn't provide any reason why I just woke up here in your apartment.”
...
“ I suppose I can try to help you.. It's just that this situation is bizarre. Can you elaborate on what type of memory loss you are experiencing though?”
“ Uh… I can remember how to speak, obviously, and comprehend conversations. I probably can read and-
“ Not what type of amnesia I'm talking about. You are just explaining what you can do, but.. Ugh. Okay, do you know different technologies and how to use them?”
Cherry blinked blankly, like a dog awaiting for a treat.
“ Yeah, I don't think I remember those things.”
Riku sighed even more heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“ Great, now I'm gonna have to teach you everything like a toddler.”
“ You don't have to, you know? But that will be appreciated, Riku.”
“ Shut up already, and come on.”
Riku got up from the floor, walking away from the door, down the hall. He hated how easily he accepted this, but something about Cherry felt… Weird. He didn’t know if it was the easily distinguishable red hair, or the pink eyes, just something that felt strange in Riku's chest.
So, what's going on now? Well, Riku is sitting crossed leg on his couch, researching about paranormal experiences. He probably read a Wikipedia article of some random folk lore about ghosts, meanwhile… Cherry? Cherry is exploring this apartment, but he was apparently forbidden from Riku's bedroom. The place was small, but it was decently livable, minus the boring minimalism. Seriously, people like this actually exist?
Cherry only really liked the kitchen, since it was the only thing that had color.
Mostly because of the fruit bowl, but it's fine. Hm… He sees the different “technologies” Riku had mentioned. One of these technologies was like a metallic machine. Essentially an appliance, wait yeah, that's the word. But now Cherry wondered..
“ Hm… What does this do?”
Cherry is about to reach out before he hears Riku's slightly angered, slightly wary shouting.
“ Don't touch that! Just don't touch anything at all, idiot”
Riku has looked up from his phone, practically monitoring Cherry, again like a toddler. Or maybe a chaotic puppy.
Cherry stares at Riku for a few seconds with an empty stare before turning into a bit more exasperated as if he remembered someting.
Cherry then shoves his hand through the coffee maker.
“ I'm a ghost, Riku.”
Was he gonna pretend that he didn't also forget that he couldn't touch things? Yes. Yes, he was. He is not gonna humiliate himself further, even if he is dead.
Riku's eyes widened for a moment before nodding, embarrassed. He looked back down at his phone. He was biting the inside of his lip, was he anxious?
Cherry sighed, which is surprising. Isn't he dead, how can he sigh? Whatever. Cherry just wanted to comfort Riku-
Woosh!
Hearing the noise, Riku glanced up from his phone. Where the fuck is Cherry? He felt cold unexpectedly and looked to his side, where Cherry was, floating above him.
“ WHA- What the fuck are you… How did you suddenly get here?!”
“ I-I.. I don't know! I don't know how this ghost thing works!”
“ Great, just lovely. You can teleport, go through things, mess with my electricity, and fly.”
" I also see another thing.”
Riku exhaled a long breath. Again, he does not want to deal with this crap about a ghost and the ghost not knowing a damn thing.
“ Wonderful.. What is it now?”
“ Hm, a time limit above your head.”
…
That made Riku freeze. A time limit? Cherry can see when he dies?
“ How is it labelled?”
Riku spoke carefully, his voice on edge. He didn’t like the fact that Cherry could see when he died. It's just unnerving.
Cherry looked above Riku, looking at the time limit again. It was labelled with years first, then months, and then weeks.
But it was unusual.. Riku's death wasn't set. Like it was a bunch of smudged numbers. What does that mean? He looked down at Riku, who looked as nervous as he was. Cherry didn't want to cause Riku to panic, so he simply shrugged.
“ It's labeled by the years and months. But you don't have to worry, you-
Cherry gets cut off by Riku putting his hand on his mouth.
“ I don't want to learn about when I die, got it?”
Cherry nodded and Riku removed his hand. Cherry was about to change the topic before his eyes widened.
Wait a minute… Wait, wait, wait. Was... Was Riku able to physically touch him just now?
Riku seemed to notice as well as he shot his head back to Cherry, both of their expressions were confusion and shock. How in the hell?
“ Was… Wasn't my hand supposed to go through you?”
“ Yeah… Try it again?”
Riku nods and tries to touch Cherry's shoulder instead, which went through him. Ew, freaky. He immediately took his hand back, but that was odd..
“ Okay, what the hell. How were you able to touch me physically, but not touch me now?”
“ Maybe some new ghosty ability you have.”
Riku tensed up as he felt Cherry’s hand on his shoulder. It didn't pass through?
“ Definitely a new ghost ability because this isn't supposed to be happening, I don't think.”
“ Well, get off, you are cold as hell.”
“ Oh, sorry about that.”
Cherry removed his hand from Riku quickly, and even floated back a bit. He forgot ghosts can emit a cold presence.
Riku can still feel the coldness on his shoulder, even with his clothing. It felt like he was touched on his chest, strangely enough. Like if the coldness was just spreading to his chest, which is… Stupid. Those are mystical fantasy books, but then again. There is a literal ghost flying near him. Those were supposed to be myths. He looked over at Cherry again, and saw… What is he doing?
Cherry had his eyes squeezed shut and his lips pressed together as if he was trying to hold his breath? He's dead, why is he trying to hold his breath?
“ What are you doing now?”
“ Trying to see if I have any more powers. If I can focus really hard, maybe I can get in control of this physical and transparency ability.”
“ And pretending to hold your breath is the solution?”
“ It's just my usual thinking face.”
Cherry huffed, rolling his eyes. While Riku was a bit surprised? Why does he look surprised?
“ Your usual thinking face?”
“ Yeah? Why?”
“ Oh my god, Cherry you are so dense.”
“ Wha-?! Excuse me?! I'm an amnesiac for God's sake!”
“ Exactly, that! You made a face that you describe as your usual thinking face! Meaning your brain still remembers things when you were alive! Maybe, yeah, subconsciously, but it remembers.”
Damn. Riku is smart as well-.. Ahem, I mean, everyone knows that, but he forgot about that.
“ Woah, Riku you are right. Uhm, thank you.”
“ Well, it is our deal for now, right? To help you regain your memory?”
“ Yeah, but like… You are actually helping me, a ghost who appeared out of nowhere. And you were literally on the floor a few hours ago, complaining about life.”
Cherry lightly teased with a smirk, earning him a slap which didn't work because obviously. I don't need to explain it again.
“ Just shut up, Cherry, got it? I will help you and then you will leave me alone. That's our deal, got it?”
“ Yeah, I understand. You sound so strict..”
“ Deal with it.”
Riku rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. Cherry liked his little angry face, but it is unfortunate that this will have to end soon. Though, he respects Riku, and is very glad that he is actually willing to help. Because like… How many humans are genuinely gonna help a ghost like him?
Still, it lingered. In Cherry’s chest, he felt like he had a connection to Riku. Riku knew it as well, but neither of them dared to say a word. Every time Cherry repeated it in his head, he sounded insane while Riku thought it could be that Cherry reminded him of someone else.
Neither of them had a connection to the other, right?...