A/N: For the Diversity writing challenge, A57, Hat challenge's bookshop!AU and what if challenges.
What if used: What if all the districts (Shibuya, Odaiba, Shinjuku, DATS' district and Xros' Koto district) were all in the one universe?
…
Ichijouji Ken and Hikari worked in a bookshop together as the owners. They often swapped jobs with each other but, most of the time, Ken was the cashier and Hikari the one who helped people look for whatever book they were chasing at the time.
One day, after they'd had lunch together, they received a new customer to their store and were surprised as they had seen this person before. It had been ten years since that Incident, however, so they guessed he wouldn't remember them.
Ken and Hikari watched occasionally as the young man shifted through books, appearing to search for something but not being able to find it. Hikari smiled faintly as he kept throwing them glances, as if wordlessly asking one of them to come over and help him. Ken lightly touched his wife on the shoulder and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and left her place behind the desk to go over and help the distressed young man.
When Hikari neared his side, she murmured a greeting. "Hello Ryouma."
The silver-haired young man froze and turned to stare at her with wide eyes. After a lengthy silence, he managed to get out: "D-Do I know you?"
"Ichijouji Hikari," she re-introduced herself and pointed in Ken's direction. "My husband, Ken. We helped you with the Quartzmon Incident, remember, Mogami Ryouma?"
"Hikari!" he cried happily. "I'm so sorry I forgot." He flung his arms around her as Ken started to walk over to join them.
"Were you looking for something in particular?" Ken asked as he was pulled into the hug as well. Moments later, Ryouma released them and explained his problem. "I was, actually," he admitted quietly. "I was looking for anything to do with back then, as the others have started forgetting about it for some reason."
Ken and Hikari glanced at each other knowingly. They turned back to Ryouma. "That would be the doing of the Order," Hikari replied, as Ken went off to retrieve a book. "They like to keep digital matters as secret as possible. They must have gotten wind of Quartzmon and have been slowly covering up the damage he did for the last ten years. That includes erasing certain memories."
Ryouma nodded in understanding, eyes widening in realization. Something was off, though. "But then... why haven't I forgotten?" He questioned, confused.
"Quartzmon used you," Ken answered, returning and handing their friend a book. "When you've been used, it's almost impossible to forget. That book has all the answers you're looking for. Takeru wrote it himself."
Ryouma accepted the book gratefully and flicked through a couple of pages. "Thank you so much, guys. I appreciate it." He slipped a hand into one pocket and fished through his money, pulling out a twenty dollar note. "Here's the money for it." Hikari took it and headed back to the counter, inputting that they'd had a sale. She tugged the receipt out of its holder and walked back. "Let's have dinner later, okay?"