Chapter 2: No Memory? Fake It Till You Make It (R&E)

Lunch might have been just a simple chicken soup for Chris, but seeing her parents alive and well made the homemade meal taste ten times more delicious and comforting. Their conversations about music, as lively as ever, made her feel like she was truly talking to her real parents.

After doing some research on the computer and phone. "Thank God my counterpart didn't set a password" Chris confirmed that Valverde didn't exist in this world, just as she was now in a town that didn't exist in her Japan: Kuoh. She scanned every detail she could find about herself: messages, photos, and videos for more clues.

There were videos of her parents' concerts, with huge crowds cheering and applauding. Messages from two friends, Kaori Murayama and Yui Katase, were asking why she hadn't shown up for class. Taking advantage of the truth about her fever, she easily tricked them into sending pictures of themselves so she could recognize them at school tomorrow.

Among the pictures of unfamiliar relatives and random people stored on the phone, she found an image of the boy from her childhood photo. Now older, he was sitting down, unaware that "she" had secretly taken a picture of him. She searched for more information about him but found nothing. "Why would 'I' take a photo of someone I knew as a kid… unless we hadn't seen each other in a long time?"

A quick search revealed that Kuoh Academy had been an all-girls school until last year when it became co-ed and admitted a small group of male students. Something about that felt off. There was another normal school just a few blocks away, yet the academy's principal gave a questionable speech explaining the change.

"Looks like they were either desperate… or there's another reason behind this."

In the only photo, the boy was sitting at a table chatting with two others: one bald and the other wearing glasses.

"So, you go to Kuoh Academy, whoever you are. I wonder if 'I' tried to approach you because we hadn't seen each other in a long time… or because 'she' wanted to reconnect." Best not to overthink it.

After more research, she managed to piece together some details:

Chris Yukine, second-year student at Kuoh Academy. Diligent in her studies.

Seems to like music and singing, judging by the musical equipment in her room.

Parents: Masanori, a professional musician, and Sonnet, a famous singer in Europe—both retired.

The family moved to Kuoh some time ago.

Childhood friends: No further details yet. Best to avoid running into them, especially her.

Friends at Kuoh Academy: Kaori Murayama and Yui Katase from the Kendo Club—both despise a group called "The Perverted Trio." What a name… But I'm not part of the Kendo Club.

Reappeared childhood friend: Took a secret photo of him, and that's all she had on him. Hopefully 'she' didn't interact with him too much… or at all. At least until tomorrow—Friday, when she could ask him directly.

Making sure she had her story straight to justify any surprises, Chris left her room, hoping to grab a quiet snack. Instead, she ran into her first trial.

Hearing two people talking, she pressed herself against the wall to eavesdrop. One voice belonged to her mother, while the other, calm and composed, belonged to another woman.

—I'm happy for Issei. It's a small step, but maybe this will help him mature. —her mother said.

—Yes, but something about this doesn't sit right with me, Sonnet. —the other woman replied. —Issei can be extreme with the things he does, and if this girl is just playing with him, he might take it really hard. I wouldn't want my son to fall into depression over his first failed relationship.

—You're right. It's strange that a girl suddenly asked him out. But from what you told me, she's from another school. Maybe she's been interested in him for a while. Issei isn't ugly, though he does need to control his impulses. Perhaps she doesn't know what he's really like yet. I'd give it a week. I doubt it'll affect him too much, considering everything he has in his room.

The long-haired brunette let out a small chuckle as she held a cup of tea.

—Hehe, cruel, but I guess it will be nice while it lasts. And if not, we'll just keep waiting for grandkids with someone else. He's as stubborn as his attitude suggests. Though, if this doesn't work out... do you have any other ideas? —said the woman with a sly smile.

Her mother laughed knowingly. —We know each other too well, Miki. Masanori might not like it, but for me, the best option will always be... Oh, speaking of the devil. Chris, there's some cake if you want a snack.

Her mother's violet eyes gleamed as she caught Chris hiding like a curious cat. Chris froze in place. The other woman turned around, her amber eyes locking onto her after the reveal. It was the same woman who had welcomed her at the door earlier.

—Oh, Chris-chan. How are you? I hope you're feeling better. —the woman said kindly.

—Ah... y-yeah, I'm feeling better, Miki... —Chris tried to mimic the name her mother used to avoid suspicion, but her hesitation earned her confused looks from both women. What had she said wrong? Was Miki not her real name? Was it a nickname only between them? Or was there another reason?

—I guess this was to be expected, Miki. —her mother commented with amusement, while Miki sighed and looked at her sympathetically. The woman dramatically turned as if offended.

—Yeah, I guess I won't be Oba-chan for a while. At least until the 'new girl' calls me that…or even Oka-san. —she said with mock distress.

—Wait, what did I say wrong? —Chris asked, trying to get answers, but both women just gave her a condescending smile, as if pitying her.

—Oh, Chris-chan, it's understandable that you're frustrated, but don't take it out on me. Save that for him. You're in the same academy. —Miki said.

—Yeah, just because you don't want to know about him doesn't mean you should stop calling Miki Miki Oba-chan, like you used to. —her mother added, pretending to be frustrated and pouting.

—Am I the only adult here, watching how you're both acting? I don't even know who you're talking about! —"Seriously. Who is he? Is it that guy of the photo?" Chris thought, frustrated by her lack of information. It seemed like they were mistaking her memory loss for a refusal to acknowledge someone.

—Oh, wow, now you're pretending amnesia. —Chris tensed, realizing Miki had hit the nail on the head, but the woman sighed before continuing. —If that's the game you want to play, fine. Issei, my son and your childhood friend. Haven't you seen him at the academy in a whole month?

—N-No, I haven't seen him, —Chris was starting to lose patience. She didn't understand why her mother and Miki were enjoying themselves at her expense. She couldn't remember that Issei, and asking more questions would only lead to regret. She could already imagine her mother saying, "He's your fiancé," or something worse, based on what she'd overheard. Now that she knew her mother's playful personality and Miki's persistence in matchmaking with her son, it was clear this was their idea of fun.

—Hah, I guess you've only heard about him. After all, your friends from the kendo club are pretty diligent about keeping him in check. —her mother said. Chris found the comment strange until she understood what her mother was referring to: this "Issei" must be one of the members of the infamous "Perverted Trio." Well, at least his image wasn't as vivid as the other two, now that she remembered closely: the bald one, practically drooling in the photo, and the other with glasses, probably spying on someone behind his friend. There had been a group of girls in the background.

—I've been ignoring a lot of things lately. Can I have a piece of cake?

Miki stifled a laugh while Sonnet nodded and opened the fridge.

—Alright. I'll drop the subject for now. By the way, Chris, are you still practicing for the music club?

—Eh? Ah... well... —"Damn, another thing Chris Yukine doesn't have anything. Why she didn't wrote it at least that."

—I don't think I've mentioned it before, —her mother returned with a piece of cake on a plate. —The club had to close due to lack of members.

—Oh, what a shame. Chris's best talents are singing and archery, but there's no archery club either. That must have been frustrating, probably why you came home late yesterday.

—Late yesterday?

—Yeah. You called me to say you'd be late for something. I figured you were with Murayama and Katase, so I didn't press it. But when it got too late, Miki found you at the entrance, too tired to return on your own and with your fever getting worse.

Chris looked at Miki, who smiled warmly at her. She had helped her home. Too kind for a neighbor.

—T-Thank you. —she murmured softly.

—You're welcome, Chris-chan. The heatwave must still be affecting you. Try not to stay too long in the sun.

—Maybe I'll remember.

—Oh, and Issei too? —her mother added teasingly.

—…

Chris, sensing the teasing would start again, decided to retreat. She took the cake, but before she could leave, Miki pulled her into a hug. Keeping her balance with the plate in her hands took some effort, but she managed not to drop it.

—M-Miki-Oba-chan.

—I'm glad you're okay, Chris-chan. I'm sorry if I bothered you, but don't worry, everything will be fine. Though... Could you do me a favor in return?

—Y-Yes?

—Could you, even from a distance, keep Keeping an eye on Issei for me?

—A-Ah, sure? Wait, keep?

Did Miki know she'd already been watching him? Or was she the reason Chris had been doing it? Miki simply nodded.

—I'll do it, Miki-Oba-chan.

After that, Chris returned to her room and sat down, lost in her thoughts. The cake was good, but her mind was preoccupied with the relationships she seemed to have in this world. There was still so much to discover, and she resolved to study her surroundings so she wouldn't be caught off guard again.

Still, the question of who Chris Yukine was in this world remained unanswered for her. A big jigsaw. At least she had managed to avoid drawing too much attention at home.

Tomorrow would bring another day, another challenge. For now, playing dumb had worked.