Chapter II: We're Friends But You Don't Remember
There was pain.
There was so much pain.
But you couldn't do anything but tremble as it took your mind and body, clouding each of your senses and leaving you sobbing silently in a futile attempt to lessen it.
You couldn't feel anything else.
You couldn't move.
That was until you heard a voice, calling a name that you didn't recognize.
Then your eyes snapped open.
You were assaulted by the sudden functioning of your senses, and all at once, you can feel everything. Pulses, moving objects, beeping, tingling current, the bright light, your ragged breathing, your sweaty forehead, your shivering form and pain—pain that seemed to be all over and nowhere at all. It was confusing. It was maddening.
Then, a dark blob hovered over you, blocking the blinding light that was hitting your eyes. He mumbled the name that you didn't know but recognized as the same one that woke you up, but you couldn't see him exactly. If he was even an actual 'he' was a subconscious decision, but his face was blurred beyond your recognition and apart from that unknown yet familiar name, the rest of his words were drowned by the ringing inside your ears, making you deaf from everything else.
You struggled to mutter a simple reply but only managed to stutter out, "W-who...?" before the pain won and your consciousness left you.
–
Going back to Misaka Mikoto's life—your old life—was easier than you initially thought. It had a lot to do with your friends—or, Misaka Mikoto's friends—helping you out however they could, and your ever supportive parents taking care of everything school related.
Shirai Kuroko, Uiharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko were the names of the girls who visited you not long after your first meeting with your parents. They had all been sad when they found out what happened to you, tearing up as they asked you to stop joking around and just let them hug you already. You told them that you were serious, feeling your chest become heavier as the three of them began to cry. Uiharu-san in particular bawled out the most, but even as Saten-san tried to comfort her, and Shirai-san kept quiet to hide her own tears, you knew how hurt they were for losing their friend and it made you wonder who Misaka Mikoto was that these girls cried for her loss.
After a few minutes of tears, Saten-san immediately brightened up, even with her eyes still puffy, and announced, "Why are we even crying? Misaka-san may have lost her memories but she's still here! So what if she doesn't remember us? We can help her get her memories back! And even if she can't, we'll just make new memories with her!"
Saten-san's impromptu speech seemed to have brought the other two's spirits higher as Uiharu-san nodded determinedly with a sniff, smiling in agreement, "That's right! Misaka-san is Misaka-san, with or without memories!"
Shirai-san, being the most subdued, merely wiped the tears from her eyes delicately and smiled, "You two are correct. We should be grateful Onee-sama is still with us after everything that has happened. Is that right?"
"You guys..." you mumbled in surprise. You were so glad about everything they had said but you couldn't put them into words.
"Let's all start over then. Misaka-san," Saten-san said, looking at you with a grin, "My name's Saten Ruiko. I'm a second year in Sakugawa Middle School. I'm a Level 0 but you never cared about that, and you might not remember but we're friends! It's nice to meet you again, Misaka-san!"
Uiharu-san came next, linking her hands in front of her lap, "M-my name is Uiharu Kazari, second year in Sakugawa Middle School. I'm a member of Judgment so if you ever get in trouble, don't hesitate to ask. I-it's nice to meet you again, Misaka-san!"
"Of course, the best is saved for last." Lastly, Shirai-san spoke, flipping her hair as she began, "I am Shirai Kuroko, a second year in Tokiwadai Middle School! I am also a Judgment member and Onee-sama's one and only partner! Her roommate and herald, and the only person whom Onee-sama allows on her bed andwWOOUUCCHH!"
You blinked in surprise when Uiharu-san suddenly pulled Shira-san's cheek, causing the girl to complain in unintelligible words. "Please ignore the last part, Misaka-san. We don't want Shirai-san taking advantage of you while you're like this." Uiharu-san said with a huge smile on her face.
"Wuwihwawuuu! Wewppwo!" Shirai-san's complaints came out as gibberish as Uiharu-san pulled on her cheeks harder.
You couldn't help it. You laughed for the first time since you could remember—which admittedly wasn't too long—and just continued to do so until your stomach began to hurt and there were tears around your eyes.
At first, the three girls looked at you weirdly, but soon they joined in. And even though there were still countless things you were unsure of, you were glad to know that Misaka Mikoto—you—had friends like them.
–
It was in the middle of Saten-san chatting away about the latest Urban Legend when you felt it, making you turn your head towards the door, expecting something—or someone to come in because suddenly, the door wasn't there anymore even though you could see it and it pretty much didn't move even just by an inch.
As quickly as it had come (or disappeared?), it was gone (or reappeared?). Your obvious distraction did not go unnoticed by your newly reacquainted friends, and they all turned to the direction you had looked as Shirai-san asked you what was wrong.
"I thought there was something..." you trailed off, shaking your head as you tried to explain it more, "No, more like, the door didn't feel like anything for a moment—like it... disappeared from my radar or something." You mumbled distractedly, and when you realized how odd your words had been, you immediately tried to correct yourself. "W-well, not radar but I seem to have this spatial sensing ability and for a moment it felt like something blocked the door and I'm probably spouting out nonsense now so—"
"Onee-sama," Shirai-san, who still hadn't explained to you why she called you that, halted your rambling and said, "We know your ability has that consequence. We all understood what you said."
Saten-san piped up, "Well, not all of it but—"
The longer haired girl was silenced by the twin-tailed girl's glare. "As I was saying, we knew of your spatial sensing. So what was it that caught your attention?"
You felt yourself frown a little more, glancing back at the obviously present door. "I couldn't feel it." You began, staring it. "It was like I felt the door disappear for just a second, but when I looked, it hasn't even moved. I thought someone was coming in, but then again, I should have been able to tell if there was anyone coming in. But that time it just felt like a... a void. I couldn't even tell what it was."
Saten-san and Uiharu-san looked questioningly at each other while Shirai-san frowned in thought. After another moment, the three of them exchanged meaningful glances, and you instantly felt like there was something they didn't want to tell you. You waited for a response from them but all you got was Shirai-san saying dismissively, "It must've been nothing, Onee-sama. Maybe your concentration just lapsed for a moment?"
You nodded, but deep down you knew that wasn't it. Whatever this spatial sense was, you knew it was subconscious. It was like breathing to you and the fact that you felt it falter for a moment was like taking the air from your lungs for a split second. It was disconcerting, but maybe you were thinking too much of it. You were sure your friends wouldn't keep anything from you if it mattered. Maybe it was one of those things that Heaven Canceler had said to be better for you to remember yourself.
You didn't pursue the topic and the four of you slid back into that easy conversation. But later that night, as you laid on your hospital bed in an attempt to sleep, you couldn't ignore the nagging feeling at the back of your mind that it was important—that whoever it was that you hadn't sensed in the doorway was someone you needed to meet.
Author's Notes:
Okay, first of all, holy shit, I just finished watching the Kyoukai no Kanata Movie: I'll Be Here and holy shit it was really good and there were tears T-T if you haven't watched it, i really think that you should! But what really got me was that similarities between that movie and this fanfic XDD it won't be exactly like that, obviously, but really. the general concept was there hahaha
ANYWAYS
Yes, the beginning was a kind of flashback thingy that will be explained maybe... further into the story XD and well... Mikoto's ability is a little complicated (despite my somehow average knowledge about electromagnetics) so bear with me if I can't explain things well or just plain get certain things wrong XD I swear i didn't mean to.
"Misaka-san is Misaka-san. Mio-chan is Mio-chan. And Ricchan is Ricchan!" Yes! I made a VA joke hahaha so sue me if it's corny or not even funny like at all... but yeah, if no one noticed, that was a joke.
Also, I'm hoping you all could follow the messy timeline that this story is showing. It won't jump around a lot anymore (I hope) but if it does, it would probably just be the backstory. The frontstory should be very linear. And as I said before, this won't focus on any particular character except Mikoto and her journey to regain her memories XD so maybe in the future chapters, people you might not expect will appear! yaaay!
I'm sure you have theories about certain things in this chapter and if you do somehow get it right, i think it will be best to tell everyone that "I will neither confirm nor deny any of your claims." haha i don't think the secrets would be secrets for long though soooo :D
I'm glad you read this! Again, this is a very slow build story, Kamikoto or not, so i hope you can be patient... with the story and me because i update so scarcely XDD Thank you for putting up with me!
By the way, it's hard to notice right now but each chapter title is actually kind of like the POV of whomever it is that Mikoto would be talking or reconnecting with in the chapter. So I propose we start a kind of game XD at the end of every chapter in my Author's Notes, I'm gonna reveal the title for the next chapter (if there is already a next chapter planned XD) and you guys can guess who the next person would be :))) just to make this interesting haha
so did you like the chapter? The first chapter was mostly focused on family and now it's friendship! I sincerely hope I made you smile at the scenes where I attempted to be funny XD keeping this whole thing light hearted! haha Leave a Review so you can tell me about it! :))
Chapter III: We're Not Friends But You Saved Me
I'll see you guys again soon~
~61wisampa
