AUDIENCE: ALEX

[retellers]

Comments

[chanteuser]

[ yeah francy, explain string theory to alex. ]

[ she holds up her hand, the one with the ribbon and the bracelets on, and taps the silver bracelet. ]

I found this the other week - when Sora and I ended up in that weird other place. I think I know what it might do, but it's missing a gem from the bracelet itself. I was wondering if you guys knew anything about these other places we went to the other week, or if there's something important about what the bracelet's missing.

[retellers]

I don't know anything about the bracelet. But that place... I guess it's best described as a concentration of nova. Kind of like the assignments you do every week, except the memories in these places are a lot more powerful. It's why they're dangerous.

[chanteuser]

[ well she tried ]

And it just... pulls people in? It seemed like we were just suddenly there, without even knowing what was happening.

[retellers]

I think that... your nova probably gets attracted to it. Kind of like a gravitational pull?

[chanteuser]

And then suddenly... [ she makes a popping motion with her hand ] ... you're in a different place altogether.

So, technically speaking there's chance of happening again, at any time. It's not like our nova is just going to stop being drawn to it?

[retellers]

Pretty much... But um, it didn't happen last week, so maybe it's more rare than we thought?

[chanteuser]

[ looks at the day and laughs fearfully ]

Maybe. I'd be happy if no one else had to deal with it, though. It wasn't the nicest experience.

[ ... ]

But, um... the other topic. Nova splintering? You said that'd take longer to explain?

[retellers]

Right... Okay, what have you heard first?

[chanteuser]

Only really what was mentioned after the trial on Saturday -- the things Shima said.

[retellers]

[ ... ] Well, it's true. Um, people's nova are breaking, basically. It... nothing will be left of you, and it spreads from person to person.

[chanteuser]

[ .... hewwo? ]

And... that's why some people are being asked to kill?

[retellers]

Leaders... can't do it themselves. We can't seriously harm you, even if someone tries to attack us. So they have to ask someone from their team to do it.

[chanteuser]

[ ... ]

...

Bunny, have you asked anyone from our team to do this?

[retellers]

[ there's a long pause. ] The second week. [ ... ] I'm sorry, I can't say who it was. They went through a lot.

[chanteuser]

[ ...




she gets up and gives her a big hug ]

[retellers]

[ ah she hugs her back, tightly. ] I'm so sorry. None of this was supposed to happen.

[chanteuser]

It's not your fault.

[ she is stroking! her hair! as well. ]

Did it all happen because of when Hajime died?

[retellers]

Mmhm. We don't know the exact details since none of us were awake when it happened, but... I don't know if it's just that death happening in this place caused something to break, or if there's some other reason. But it just made everything so complicated.

[chanteuser]

You said it spreads between people. Is there a way to counteract it, put it back together again without someone having to die?

[retellers]

The problem is... the, um, I guess we can call them symptoms? We aren't noticing the symptoms until it's too late. Once it gets to a certain point, it's irreversible, and the window between it hitting that point is very, very small. If you miss it, then there's absolutely nothing that can be done. ... but removing them before that still gives them a chance.

[chanteuser]

What are the symptoms? Is it something we could monitor just being around a person?

[ ... killing them to keep them safe. It sounds horrible, but she can see why the leaders would see it as the only option. ]

[retellers]

Well, when I first noticed, there wasn't anything you guys would be able to see. But after, there were more severe memory issues. I'm not sure if it was the same with last week.

[chanteuser]

So we just have to hope it isn't us that week and... go from there? [ talk about russian roulette ]

... Have you found anyone else who is starting to splinter?

[retellers]

I haven't, no. But I don't think if I might find someone later in the week or not. [ since it's still early. ]

[chanteuser]

... Will you tell me, if you have to ask someone to kill again? I'm not going to judge, but I want to know when you need some extra support.

[ because it can't be easy. ]

I won't ask who, but just if you do.