Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own anything here aside from the first-person. If you think I do, then thank you for flattering me, but you're still wrong.
XxSanitariumxX. Check out his stories, or Miyu will find you.
Once the bell rang, I hurried out of the class so that I didn't have to have any alone time with Ms. Kensington. Immediately after I got into the hall, I opened up my schedule to see where to go next. First period had been Algebra, or something that translated into that word. Second period was called "arms and trajectory", so I figured it was like Physics, but with more experimentation and dangerous weapons.
Third period was Biology. Go figure, one of the two classes I share with Krystal. Next was P.E., and after that was the other class with Krystal. I'd managed to get out of the required writing class, since I would've had to learn Cornerian, so instead I opted to get a class with computer use. It was just the basics of software, so with my translator, I figured I'd have no problem. Why Krystal was in the class, I don't know.
And then there was the dreaded sixth period. I was surprised that it wasn't written down as something along the lines of "your doom" or "hell". Instead, they tried to disguise it, so fewer people would know the truth behind the sadistic class. "Combat Effectiveness Evaluation" is what the class was officially called. Despite the warnings I'd told myself again and again, I decided that if I got any classes with Relics, it would be that one.
But before any of that, it was lunch time. I didn't know why they would change the schedule depending on the day of the week, but on Mondays, lunch came between second and third period. Of course, I was hoping to see Krystal there, and I had little doubt I would; she probably didn't have too many friends yet. But I'd have to make sure Relics met Lana first. My first priority was keeping the world the same as it had been before I'd entered it.
"Hey, where you goin'?" Falco called after me when I headed in the wrong direction.
"I've got someone to meet," I answered. I vaguely remembered Krystal's schedule, and I was actually hoping to meet up with her before going to lunch. Besides, if I wasn't there, I couldn't affect what happened in the lunch room.
"It's the first day of school! You got a girlfriend already?"
"She's not my girlfriend," I replied, but that was the wrong answer.
"Oh, so it is a girl!" Bill said. Great, I thought, more rumors.
"I'll catch up with you," I said before starting to jog. I managed to get through the hallways easier than I'd thought, considering the rest of the students were going in the opposite direction. But time wasn't a major concern; it isn't like I could really be late for lunch.
"Hey, you're going the wrong way," someone told me. I tried to be nice, so I just nodded and waved without slowing down.
"Where's he going?" a rabbit asked her friend.
"Do you think he's ditching?" the feline friend replied.
"Who would skip lunch?" the rabbit asked.
"Do they let us get fast food?" a lizard nearby asked as I got too far away to hear the rabbit's conversation.
"No. He can't leave, so I don't know what he's doing," another boy said.
Too many animals, I thought. I can't even tell what some of them are supposed to be.
"I can tell what that is," I said with a smile when I spotted Krystal, who was making her way to the lunch area. I tried to make my way to her, and I noticed that she was talking to someone. I hope it's not a guy, I thought, before chastising myself for the thought. But I wasn't so lucky; I saw the feline she was talking to, and I nearly let out a string of obscenities at this fictional universe.
Miyu, I thought bitterly. Fox's girlfriend. Because it couldn't be anyone else.
"Oh, hi, Ditto," Krystal said when I approached her.
"Hey, Krystal."
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Just making sure you got through your day alright," I replied. "Looks like you're doing fine."
"Of course I am. I'm not helpless," she said.
"I know. You had to rescue me, remember?"
"I wouldn't call it a rescue. Anyway, Ditto, this is Miyu," she said, introducing me officially.
"Hey," I said, giving a slight wave. She squinted at me like I was prey, and I lowered my hand slowly.
"So, what's up, Krystal?" I asked. I'd hoped to make Miyu stop silently threatening me.
"Not much. They had us all introduce ourselves in both of my classes."
"We had to do the same thing. It'd sure be funny if they made us do it all day."
"Not likely," Miyu said. "Just you wait for sixth period."
"True. That and P.E."
"What happens sixth period?" Krystal asked. I realized I'd let it slip that I knew, but if Miyu pursued the topic, I could just say that Bill told me or something. Miyu just laughed and kept walking instead of answering Krystal's question.
"Wait, let me see your schedule again," I said. She can't have the same sixth period. I looked down for a second to ready my text translator, and when I looked up, she was holding it toward me.
Don't really want to know where she stored this, I thought when I took it. Like me, she didn't really have anything to store it in. I didn't think it would be a good idea to look closely, but I didn't recall seeing pockets on her clothing. And the paper was warm.
I shook my head to refocus my thoughts and looked at the paper. After turning on the translator, I could actually read it. Sure enough, she had the same class, but not in the same room. From what I could gather, most, if not all, of the school had that class for the sixth period. I chuckled and thought of poor Slippy running around with a mock rifle.
I handed Krystal the paper again, and she raised an eyebrow at me. "Well?"
"I think everyone in the school has that class," I said, making sure to fiddle with my translator for a bit so I didn't catch where she stowed the paper.
"What class is it?" she asked. I realized I hadn't even told her yet.
"I think they test your combat effectiveness, or some junk like that. Just don't show up late, whatever you do," I said as we exited the building. I could already see the C building.
"How would you know?" Miyu asked. I was glad I'd prepared an alibi.
"Bill told me a little about the class," I said. Once again, I realized I'd made a mistake in assuming she knew him, but she thankfully didn't ask about it. If everyone's so oblivious, I might make it out with only one Sin. Suddenly, my jacket's hood was bulled back hard. I was forced to stop walking and lean back, and I felt Krystal's breath on my ear.
"Why did you lie to her?" she whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear.
She is telepathic already, I thought. Crap.
"Yeah," she said, letting me stand again. Miyu had continued into the lunchroom, which we'd almost reached. "But your mind is really hard to read."
"Probably a good thing," I said with a nervous chuckle. "But then how did you know I was lying?"
"You're a really bad liar," she said, leaning on one leg. Her tail swept back and forth once, distracting me from her otherwise serious demeanor. "So, start talking."
I wasn't exactly sure that telling her the truth would be a good idea. But since I did have four more Sins, I didn't think anything could really go too badly.
"You won't call me crazy, right?" I asked.
"Oh, please, you randomly teleported to this planet just like I did. I think if there's anyone whose story I'd believe, it's yours. And maybe you can answer some of my questions."
"You want to go home?" I asked, somewhat dejected.
"Don't change the subject. Start talking."
"Okay," I began, before I completely spilled my guts, so to speak. I hadn't meant to tell her the whole truth, and I especially hadn't meant to tell her everything, but I blame her eyes. And teenager hormones, which I had been just about done with before making myself younger. Thankfully, I managed to not say anything about how I felt about her by threatening bodily harm to myself. Her expressions went from serious, to confused, to contemplative.
"...I hadn't wanted to lie, but you can guess why I couldn't tell the truth. I just want to get out without changing too much," I finished about a minute later. I took a deep breath, partially glad to get it all off my chest, but at the same time, worried about her response.
After a short while, she let out a chuckle. I couldn't tell whether this was a good thing. Then her chuckle grew into a laugh, and before long, she had to lean against the wall. Great, I thought, there goes my best chance of anyone believing me.
"How long did it take you to come up with all of that?" she asked, covering her mouth with a hand.
"About as long as it took to happen," I said soberly.
"But you think that this world doesn't exist? The planet you're standing on right now, Corneria, doesn't exist?"
"Maybe it does. But it's not like it matters. Once I'm gone, everything changes," I said, turning toward the cafeteria.
"Wait," she said, grabbing my shoulder. I stopped and reluctantly looked at her. "You...you aren't kidding, are you?"
"You're the telepath, you tell me."
She didn't respond right away, but she did stare at me for a few seconds silently. I was still hoping she would come to believe me, so I was willing to wait for the next period if I had to.
"No..." she said, looking away. "You believe it, but it can't be true."
I didn't blame her, to be honest. After all, in her shoes...well, knowing me, I'd be crazy enough to believe the person, but I didn't think most people would. Especially since my only proof was a glowing mark that she thought was a tattoo, and an eerie knowledge of future events. That's it!
"You want proof?" I asked.
"How can you prove it?" she asked skeptically.
"Watch," I said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward the cafeteria. Once we got there, I opened the door a crack, to look in. Sure enough, there was Relics, standing in line to pay for his food. Bill was right in front of him, so I knew I hadn't been too late, but I was cutting it close.
"Quick, look," I said. I opened the door wider so she could see. "See the human?" I asked as Bill became angry at the dysfunctional robot. "He's going to punch the robot three times, and then it'll start working."
"How does that make sense?" she asked. "Just hitting something can't fix it."
"Just watch," I said. Sure enough, Relics bent down to examine it for a moment, and then three loud bangs rang out through the lunchroom. Not ten seconds later, he had paid for his food, and was waiting for Bill to do the same. I let a smug look come across my face, and then looked at Krystal. But she had left. I turned around to look for her, and saw her slowly walking away, holding her head in her hands.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong?" I asked, catching up with her.
"You were telling the truth," she said soberly. "So...Corneria...this school...me...everything is...fake?" She turned toward me. "Everything I know...is a lie?"
I watched a tear paint a track down her cheek, and I couldn't help but to turn away.
"I don't know," I admitted, sitting on a nearby bench. "Everything was different this time."
"I don't want to just disappear, Ditto," she said with a cracking voice.
"You won't," I said determinedly. She gave a nervous chuckle, sitting next to me.
"That's impossible," she said, wiping an eye. For all I knew, she was right. But I'd tried to put myself in her shoes, and I'd have said just about anything to cheer her up. "You said so yourself."
"Maybe I was wrong," I suggested. "I don't know everything."
"You said this wasn't your first time."
"But this was the first time for plenty of things."
"Ditto...stop. Stop trying to deny the truth, okay? Admit it; as soon as you do whatever it is you're supposed to do, I won't matter anymore."
"Then I won't do it," I said. Another hasty decision.
"What? Ditto, no," she said, shaking her head.
"Look, I told you already, this story goes on for a few months. Nothing's wrong with me taking my time."
She stared at me with watery eyes for about half of a minute. And I stared right back. I knew it was a heavy revelation, but it's not like I'd ever heard it told to me before. But at least she was smart enough to understand it. If I'd had to tell Bill, I'm not sure how well it'd go. After the pause, she looked down, and I could tell she was deep in thought again.
"Everyone...my parents..."
"Hey," I said, reaching to wipe her eyes. I didn't think that the gesture could cause too much trouble.
The instant I touched her fur, I heard, "...he going to say now?"
I pulled my hand back immediately, and my eyes widened. Did I just hear her thoughts? I apparently noticed too, but it must not have been entirely new to her. She smiled and put her hand on mine.
"It's neat, isn't it?" I heard. It was as clear as if she'd spoken right into my ear, but her lips didn't move at all. What is this? I thought.
"Telepathy, duh," she replied. My eyes widened once more.
"You can hear my thoughts?" I thought/asked. She smiled and lifted her hand off of mine.
"Sometimes," she said. Okay, so she's really telepathic. But if it's mostly by contact...
"How come I haven't found out yet?" I asked. "I mean, that's not the first time we've touched."
"You only touched my clothes," she pointed out. After thinking for a moment, I nodded. It made sense, at least to my mind. "Now, let's go," she said, standing. "I don't need to read your mind to know you're hungry."
"How can you –" I began when my stomach growled. I looked down, and she laughed.
"Come on," she repeated, walking toward the cafeteria again. I rose and followed her without much hesitation. Okay, I thought, allowing a sense of optimism to enter my mind, so she believes you, and she isn't depressed. All things considered, I count that as a success. I allowed myself another disaster averted point, and entered the C building.
Okay, well, this is getting more sci-fi and romance-y than I'd originally planned. But as for the logistics of the whole mind-reading thing, she can get a general idea behind someone's thoughts, but she has trouble reading humans' minds. By contact, she and I are able to communicate directly. This could have to do with both of us appearing on the planet at the same time (hint: it does)
EDIT: The first-person isn't me. He just walks, talks, and quacks like me.