The world we knew (over and over)

3

It was practically over. The scanning took her memory and took her essence. Junko should be gone. I knew that. When she woke up, she'd be someone else entirely. The real question was what would this new person be like. Knowing her, she'd probably snap back to her evil ways as soon as she got up. Not remembering me like she promised. I wouldn't let myself get my hopes up. I wasn't that stupid. For some dumb reason, a part of me expected her to be exactly the same. A small procedure couldn't erase her bold personality. That was what my emotional side said, yet my logical side knew what I did could change anyone.

While she was out, I read her ugly looking folder. It still smelled like her old perfume. How haunting. The rules on what this new person was to be told seemed too perfectly organized. In my waiting time for this red headed stranger to wake up, I came to realize she'd been planning this for a while now. All of it made too much sense. I couldn't stop from looking in disgust as she softly breathed, dreaming about nothing. She knew she could fool me into doing this probably since the beginning. Before the Tragedy even started, I could imagine her planning out who her alter ego would be. She didn't have me going against her in the cards at all. How pathetic of me to go along with this. How expected.

At least afterwards, she'd just be another patient. I wouldn't have to worry about this bullshit anymore. I kept repeating the same things to myself. I was already exhausted from hearing my own voice in my head try to convince me. I didn't know if I wanted her to hurry and wake up, or if I wanted her to stay sleeping peacefully while I tried to calm myself. Heh, yeah, like I was ever good at that. I reread the pages of what to tell her one more time. The details and imperfections in her handwriting became memorized. The stupid way she'd draw little cutesy characters, often herself or us together, in the corners of almost every page. All while using glitter pens to write down her master plan. Maybe I'd find it cute if I wasn't such a wreck and knew what to feel about her.

As if it were on cue, she started to wake up as soon as I finished reading for the 11th time. I knew exactly what to say. All of it was either written out or rehearsed in my head for the past hour. Be a professional. Treat her like any other patient. That was all I had to do now. In a state of confusion, she looked around. Groggy from the medication. No clues on what to do or think. A few quiet seconds of trying to solve it happened regardless. She did what anyone would do, ask the one other person there questions. "...Where am I?" Her voice sounded incredibly innocent in a way that felt more authentic than before. I couldn't explain why. I didn't know what to think about it. "You're in the science building at Hope's Peak. You're getting some treatments done. Do you remember how you got here, Otonashi Ryoko?" I asked with as little emotion as I could. A doctor like any other. Detached as a stranger.

"Who?" She asked genuinely after a peak behind her shoulder. No one else here other than us. "You. Do you not remember your name?" I expected this much. I kept telling myself I could deal with it, despite the mix of emotions. "...No. I'm sorry. Uh..." Her eyes darted around the room again. It was obvious how confused and possibly scared she was getting. An understandable response. If I woke up in a room with some random guy and no memories, I'd be way more angry than her. Yeah, I was just some random guy now. Another mirror to a different part of my life, I said something I've heard time and time again. "I'm going to test your memory, alright? We can start by a-"

"What's happening? How did I get here?" 'Ryoko' kept looking for clues. Her body, the room, me. Anything to explain her dilemma. She made the confused type of face I never wanted to see in anyone I cared about ever again. 'Stop getting emotional, Yasuke, it'll be fine.' Repeated in my head yet again. A sigh before continuing. "...I'm trying to help with your memory. You have a condition where you struggle to make and keep memories. You recently started to come see me for treatments." I said exactly what Junko's notes told me to. How did Junko know the best option for erasing her memory without severe damage would require multiple treatments? I didn't know. Maybe she actually paid attention to my rambles about neurology back in middle school. "You're a doctor? You're too young for that, aren't you?" Oh great. A line I've never heard before. I got it. I was young. If I had this conversation one more time, I was going to strangle someone. "Yeah, yeah. I've heard it before, do you want help with your neurological problems or not?" My professional demeanor was slipping. How was I already failing at this? "...I think so?" In her weakened state, she answered completely differently. No quips or matching my energy. Only an unsure reaction. Something I wasn't sure what to think of. I did the only thing I could, move on and pretend it didn't get under my skin. "Then let's get started, f-"