Chapter 73 – Lost Memories & Secret Desires
Jun's POV
"N-Nega Dimension…PORTAL-IO…GAH! What does any of it even mean?! I don't get it!"
"A-Avery, calm down! You'll dissolve the lollipop faster." I said to her as we were both walking down the French night streets. This was something I had no interest in doing when being forced to come here…
…But Avery managed to convince me otherwise.
"*sigh* Sorry, sorry. It's just…what that Akemi girl was saying back there…the apocalyptic wasteland in another world…the virus that lets one manipulate Space-Time…not to mention that symbol from her hand…she has powers similar to mine. All of that made these strange visions show up and I don't understand any of it. Just what the hell is going on~?"
"W-Well, Avery…it could be memories slowly being regained. What's happened tonight might have been triggers for them to come back."
"Memories? Triggers?"
"You said before that you've been on your own for as long as you remember, right? Maybe this is some kind of amnesia that's wearing off."
"Amnesia, huh?" Avery went silent for a bit. "I…guess it could be that."
"What were these memories, anyway?"
"Well…I remember…being in a lab. Inside this tube full of liquid with wires attached to my body. Barely being conscious as I watched a bunch of people standing around. Looking back at me with cold unemotional looks of evil. Making it clearly obvious that they had inhumane intentions for me when ready."
"A-Avery…" I gained intense chills from hearing that.
"So, you're staring to regain your memories…honestly, it's about time."
We then noticed a green-haired girl standing near us underneath a brightly lit street lamp. Ommiously looking back at us in an unamused way.
"Wh-Who are you? How long have you been standing there?" I asked.
"Not long. This was actually a chance encounter on my part. As for that first question…my name is none of your concern."
"Yeah, that's something a total creep would say. Your entire presence just SCREAMS suspicious."
"What does it matter to you? Your involvement in this is irrelevant. I'm here to retrieve #0206 once more."
"0206? Who the hell is that?"
The girl giggled a bit in a creepy manner before answering me.
"Isn't it obvious? She's standing right next to you."
"Wh-What?" I then turned to Avery…who also had a look of total shock on her face. But I can tell that her's was grander than mine. And for a different reason, too.
"N-No way…wh-why? Th-This is my first time seeing you, and yet…j-just looking at you is giving me such traumatic memories! Why…Why, just why?!"
"A-Avery…"
"Avery?" The girl said before giggling some more. "Wow…so, you gave yourself a name? That's honestly impressive. I thought entities like you didn't have the capacity to do basic human tasks. I guess this proves that you weren't a COMPLETE failure after all.
"C-Complete…f-failiure…?" Avery's face went pale as more dark memories started coming back to her.
"O-Okay, that's enough already!" I yelled in anger as I stepped in front of Avery. "Just who the hell are you and what the hell do you want?!"
"I've already told you…I'm come to retrieve #0206. Or "Avery", as you now call her. She is vital for making this plan a success."
"Like hell I'm letting that happen! Avery's my best friend and I'm not letting you land a damn finger on her, you suspicious bitch!"
"J-Jun…" Avery whispered in disbelief.
"You truly wish to get in my way? When you're nothing more than an irrelevant side character? *sigh* I pity your stupidity…no matter. Deleting you shouldn't be a problem at all."
The girl then reached out her right hand at me and made a green hexagonal-shaped symbol come out of it. It was the exact same power as Avery's. Which got me to believe one thing about this girl as fact:
She's involved with the STC. She just has to be!
"Jun-chan! Avery-san!"
"Huh? Mugi-senpai? Miharu-senpai?" I said in shock as I saw the two upperclassmen running towards us.
"Thank goodness we caught up to you two." Mugi-senpai said.
"Wh-What are you two doing here?"
"We should be asking you that…but that would have to wait until later."
"Well, well…if it isn't Tsumugi and Miharu." The girl said as she put her arm down. "Didn't I say that we would encounter each other once more? My prediction ended up coming true…*giggle*"
"Yo! Tsuzuki! The hell did you do with Yoko?!" Miharu-senpai yelled.
"W-Wait, you two KNOW this girl?!" I yelled in shock.
"Her name's Tsuzuki Hirase." Mugi-senpai said. "We've had a few…interesting encounters with her as of late."
"I-I see…"
"Hmph…so, it seems Akemi has told you. *sigh* I knew she was untrustworthy from the start…"
"What you're planning with the STC Foundation is completely unforgivable, Tsuzuki-chan!" Mugi-senpai said. "The amount of damage you'll cause to this world…"
"Hmph. This world…DAMN THIS WORLD! Why the hell should I spare this world any hurt and destruction after what it did to me?! What it did to my life?! This is the proper punishment this disgusting world deserves!"
"That already sounds psychotic enough…but you needed to kidnap our classmate for it?!" Miharu-senpai asked. "Why even force her to be involved in this?! She's just a normal wacko girl in love!"
Normal wacko girl? I gained a mental sweatdrop.
"Normal?" Tsuzuki then chuckled a bit. "Surely, you can't believe that now. Especially after learning about the power she has."
"Power?" I thought about that for a bit. "You mean her greater-than-normal amount of Dream Aura, right?"
"So, you are aware. Well, yes…it's true. For a mere teenage girl to be able to create THAT much Dream Aura…it was only a matter of time before she would be in our possession."
"But why take her? What do you plan on doing to her and why are you after Avery?"
…
…
…
"Hmm…I suppose I could inform you a little." Tsuzuki said after going silent for a bit. "After all…it's not like any of you have a chance at stopping us when we're already THIS far in."
Geez…I already didn't like her for trying to take Avery. But her bragging like a cliché villain is making me like her even less…
"To put it simply…the main goal of the STC Foundation is…to create a parasite."
"Cr-Create a…parasite?" We all asked in disbelief.
"Wh-What the hell is a parasite?" Miharu-senpai asked.
"It is a creature that, when given enough power, can manipulate the very fabrics of Space, Time, and Dreams.
Create…
Edit…
Destroy…
A parasite can do all of that. And so much more."
"N-No way…wh-why would want to create something like that?" Mugi-senpai asked.
"To control the universe, of course. Having a parasite would allow us to fix all of the mistakes that've been created for centuries.
Corruption…
Greed…
Narcissism…
Pure Hatred…
Human traits such as these have ruined this universe's chance to be a peaceful society for all. But we plan to fix all of that very soon~. *giggle*"
"Manipluating the universe isn't fixing anything! It'll only make things worse!"
"So you say, Tsumugi…but hasn't this universe also treated you unfairly as of late? A passing of a certain someone, perhaps?"
"Th-That's…h-how did you…" Mugi-senpai was nearly in tears after hearing that. And I can clearly guess why.
Sh-She's taking about her father, right? How the hell does she know about that?
"Hey! That's a low blow, Tsuzuki! Even for you!" Miharu-senpai yelled in anger.
"I'm only trying to prove my point. And besides…this implies to you as well. Isn't that right, Miharu?"
"Tch! Y-You little…" Now it was Miharu-senpai who was about to cry.
What does she mean by that?
"Hey…so, just what do you want with me? Moreover…how do you know me?" Avery had suddenly spoke after staying silent for so long.
"Hm? Do you not have all of your memories yet?"
"Does that really matter to you? Just tell me already."
"Hmm…alright. I suppose I can tell you. Or rather…show you." Tsuzuki said before going silent. Digging out her phone from her pocket and eventually pulling up a picture.
This picture…was a rather horrid one. And also…somewhat familiar.
"...I remember…being in a lab. Inside this tube full of liquid with wires attached to my body. Barely being conscious as I watched a bunch of people standing around. Looking back at me with cold unemotional looks of evil. Making it clearly obvious that they had inhumane intentions for me when ready."
"Th-That's…that's the same picture you had a memory of, Avery!" I shouted in shock.
"Figured so." Was all Avery replied with before looking straight at Tsuzuki with a depressed angry look. "So, then tell me this. The reason why you have that photo is…you're the one who created me. Aren't you?"
"*giggle* Well, well…it seems you gained that memory back quite well. I'm impressed."
"W-Woah, woah, woah! Wait, WHAT THE HELL?! Avery! What do you mean by that?!" I yelled in utter confusion.
"Allow me to explain." Tsuzuki said. "Experiment #0206…or "Avery", as you now call her…was one of my early creations for the STC Foundation. A prototype made with the AI computer virus…PORTAL-IO."
"PORTAL-IO?!"
"That's the same virus Akemi was talking about, right?" Miharu-senpai asked. "You mean to tell me that a VIRUS created Avery?!"
"To an extent, yes."
"To an extent?"
"As I mentioned before, she was a prototype. A failed prototype, to be exact. Despite being created by the virus, her power was beyond weak. The ability to even access Space-Time was out of reach…and her Hex Magic was laughably sub-par."
Hex Magic…that's probably the hexagonal symbols Avery summons. Good to know that it has a name…
"And because I was a "failure" in the eyes of the organization, you people erased my memories and dumped me like trash." Avery said. "Hoping that I would just rot away like an abandoned corpse."
"That was the original plan…but to think you would survive all these years and end up in Los Angeles. Causing trouble for the unit dispatched there. Once I heard your description, I was beyond shocked. Perhaps the virus was onto something when it created you…"
"And now, you want to bring me back to use as a vessel for this "parasite" thing, right? Well…it ain't gonna happen. I'm not helping a bunch of soulless asswipes manipulate the universe as they please. I've lasted this long without the likes of you…and with my new best friend by my side, I'm gonna continue doing so!"
"You tell her, Avery!" I cheered. "You ain't going back no matter what!"
"No matter what, huh?" Tsuzuki said before giggling a lot. "Well, then…I guess we're doing this with brute force~..." She then raised her hand and the same green hexagonal-shaped symbol from before began to form. Now that I know that it's Hex Magic, I'm not sure how we can fight this girl.
…
Or rather…SHOULD we fight this girl.
"Last chance, #0206~. Join us…or perish where you stand~."
"I'd rather go with option 3." Avery said as she formed her yellow hexagonal-shaped symbol from her hand.
"Is that so? *sigh* I truly pity your stupidity…oh, well. TIME TO DIE~!"
Tsuzuki's symbol grew bigger and brighter as I assumed she was gathering more power. Enough to completely wipe us out in one fell swoop.
And, honestly…I was scared. Terrified, even. I mean, not that I didn't have any confidence in Avery or anything…but this girl is a leading force of this STC Foundation…who's goal is to manipulate and control the freaking UNIVERSE! How the hell are we supposed to fight against that?! We're just a bunch of high school girls!
If only we had some extra help… preferably from someone who has as much experience with this stuff as Tsuzuki.
As if we'll be THAT lucky, though…
"I hope you all enjoy Hell~! Lutmulep Beyja!"
"Pupupuxy Mebu!"
*BOOM*
"*cough* *cough* *cough* Wh-What…was that?" Miharu-senpai asked after a sudden random attack managed to collide with Tsuzuki's right when she fired. Creating a bunch of smoke around us.
"*cough* *cough* I-I don't know *cough*...b-but it sounded similar to Tsuzuki-chan's spell." Mugi-senpai said.
"Tch! That spell…it can't be…" Tsuzuki mumbled in pure anger.
As to what she was angry about…
"I've finally found you…"
Once the smoke began to clear up, we were able to see a girl with short brown hair standing in front of us. And once it fully cleared, we were able to notice one HUGE thing about her:
She looked A LOT like Tsuzuki.
"After 6 long years of wondering and searching…I've FINALLY found you. Tsuzuki."
"Tch! Tsubaki! Why the hell are you here?!" Tsuzuki yelled with the most aggressive anger I've ever seen in a person.
"I should be asking you that question…coming all the way to Paris of all places seems out of the ordinary for someone like you. What are you doing?"
"As if I'm telling you! Simply seeing your face again is building up nothing but rage! I should just kill you RIGHT FUCKING NOW!"
"Try it, bitch. I'm nothing like before."
Both girls were now gearing up for another attack on each other. Ready to cause yet another loud explosion despite the four of us standing right next to them. Still confused as to what's even going on.
That is until…
"Don't bother, Tsuzuki."
"A-A voice?" Mugi-senpai said after we suddenly heard a new voice.
"Wh-What? Are you crazy?" Tsuzuki responded to this earpiece in her ear. "This is Tsubaki we're talking about. She'll no doubt try to interfere with the plan."
"Let her try. She'll never stop us when we're THIS far in. And besides…it'll be a nice family reunion of sorts. Right, Tsubaki?"
"Hmph. No way in hell am I calling YOU family." The brown-haired girl, now known as Tsubaki, said in a tone of disgust.
"Ahaha…still so cold towards me. Some things never change. In any case…see you soon, Tsubaki. Au revoir pour l'instant~."
The call soon ended on the spot. Leaving the two girls still pissed at each other and the rest of us still not understanding what exactly is going on.
"Hmph. As much as I think that this is a bad idea…I can't go against her." Tsuzuki said. "But mark my words, Tsubaki. Our next fight will be the last. And I'll finally be rid of you fovever. Fozu Quulk!"
Tsuzuki then warped herself away to most likely where she and the other voice were hiding out. Abandoning us all on the brightly-lit French sidewalk with this look-a-like that she strangely hates.
"*sigh* Some things never change…at least she's right about one thing."
"Um…excuse me…but your name is Tsubaki, correct?" Mugi-senpai asked her.
"Huh? Oh, right. My name's Tsubaki Hirai. Sorry for popping in like that. Sakurako brought me up to speed on everything."
"Sakurako-chan?"
"We go to the same school. Though I am her senpai."
"I see…"
"*sigh* Still, though…manipulating the universe…that woman's really gone off the deep end this time."
"You seem to know who that woman is." I said. "Even mentioned a "family reunion"."
"Trust me, we're FAR off from a being family. She's done stuff that I'll never forgive her for."
"Huh…"
"In any case…I actually know where their hideout is. I can help you out and guide you where it is."
"R-Really?!" Mugi-senpai, Avery, and I yelled in shock.
"That sounds nice and all, Tsubaki…but we're in the middle of downtown Paris on a time limit. How are we supposed to get there at this rate?"
*HONK* *HONK*
Just then, a large grey van pulled up next to us after screeching its tires from speeding. And when the side door opened, the driver was also a surprise to us.
"Hey, girls. Need a lift?"
"P-Papa?!"
"R-Raphael-san?!"
Well…more-so for Miharu-senpai and Mugi-senpai.
"Sawako-san explained the situation to me. And while it does sound unbelievable…the least I can do is give you girls a ride."
"Welp, works for me. Thanks for the ride, Sir." I said as I eagerly got inside the van. "Come on, everybody! Let's go kick some STDs!"
"Are you just saying that on purpose?" Avery asked with a sweatdrop.
"At this point…yeah, pretty much." I replied with a smile and a few giggles.
Author's Note: One group made it their rescue mission…while the other group snuck off in advance. And now, after learning of an unbelievable past and a plan for the near future, the 5-person team of Mugi, Miharu, Jun, Avery, and the suddenly arriving Tsubaki set off to save Paris…and even the universe.
Tsubaki Hirai (commonly known as Tsu) is an OC I made for YuruYuri. Her connection to all of this is VERY important. She originally had her own story for this…but I decided to save it for the Inner Struggles rewrite. It'll make a lot more sense there.
Thanks for reading. Later.