Asagao After

PBG 7: Hot Springs

"Todd Schlickbernd!" PBG exclaimed when Jared took his blindfold off. "How do you owe Mai a favor?"

Todd shook his head. "You don't wanna know, man. You just don't." And with that he spun on his heel and when back inside.

"Do I know him, too?" I asked PBG. He shook his head. "Nope. He's just a buddy of mine and, apparently Mai's...? Yeah... No explanation."

Mai squealed with delight. "Ok, let's go change. We have swimsuits this time to prevent a repeat of, heh, last time. Yeah, they finally finished cleaning it."

Something clicked in my brain. I glanced at PBG. He was red as a tomato. "Please say you d-don't remember-"

"I totally do." I said, staring at my shoes.

PBG exhaled slowly. "Like in not much detail or..."

"Vivid. Detail." I muttered, feeling my face flush.

PBG seemed frozen. Jared had to smack him upside the head to snap him out of it. A still very pink PBG followed Jared shyly to the boy's changing room while Mai lead me to the ladies' room. I didn't feel exactly comfortable in a swimsuit in front of two boys I didn't remember very well, but after remembering what happened last time I was oddly at ease with my swimsuit.

By the time Mai and I finished, PBG and Jared were already sitting in the spring. Todd had returned with cookies. I grabbed one off Todd's tray, muttered my thanks, and quickly settled myself in the spring in between PBG and Mai.

I sighed into the warm water. It was really, really nice. I leaned my head back and stared at the stars. Mai and Jared were giggling to themselves again. I don't know what they thought was so funny...

I glanced over at PBG. He was staring at his knees through the bubbling water. Ah. I gently tapped his shoulder. He jumped a little. Why was he so nervous. "The sky's really pretty tonight..." I started. He smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah, it's really nice."

Silence. "Do you, um, do you want anything?" PBG asked. I shook my head. More silence. We were both clearly at a loss for words. I saw Todd giggle at me from out the corner of my eye. Before I could glare at him properly he had already retreated inside.

PBG gently laid his hand on my shoulder. I turned to face him and his serious expression caught me off guard. "Have you remembered everything now..?"

I thought for a moment. "No, not everything, I feel like I remember most people all the way, but it's like there's still so many missing pieces. Like reliving certain events and hearing phrases can only give me so much back."

He studied my face. "So you remember everybody? As best you can anyway?"

I tried not to let my discomfort show through my face. The one person I barely remember wants to know... How on earth do I answer this?

"No... not really." I tried to leave the conversation at that, but it wasn't working. "Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked, tightening his grip on my shoulder. I liked having him care about me, but something was off. Something still hadn't fallen into place.

"I... don't know..." I felt like my brain was starting to boil. "Sometimes helping just doesn't work..." The heat in my brain was rising. "Like when... did I try to help you?"

PBG stared at me.  "You did. Soccer had taken priority over my sleep and you tried to help."

I rubbed my temples.  "I was getting letters... from Luke... and then you helped me..."

I held my head with one hand and PBG's hand with the other. "We went to the flower festival..." I turned to face him fully. "Peanut Butter Gamer. We are childhood friends. And now we're dating." He pulled me into a hug. His chin planted itself on my head. My arms stretched around the bare skin of his back and I sighed. My recall energy was gone. I squezzed PBG tighter. The lightheaded-ness of straining my memory was worth it. I had him back. I think...

"Hana you did it! You remembered!" PBG cheered. But I didn't. I was missing something. Everybody and everything I remembered was still missing something.

"What did Hana do?" Mai asked. I snapped my head up. She and Jared had gotten out and were drying themselves off. The water made Jared twice as sparkly as usual. It was...distracting to say the least.

"Hana remembered me!" PBG exclaimed, hoisting my hand into the air. I couldn't help but giggle. Whatever it was I couldn't remember could wait. Todd rejoined us outside with lemonade to celebrate. We chatted for half an hour or so before Mai's phone buzzed. She had set an alarm to make sure we made our early morning train ride, which meant we had to go. PBG bro-hugged Todd goodbye and we were off.

With full bellies and tired eyes, we settled ourselves into and empty train compartment. Jared threw his arm around Mai and they fell asleep together almost immediately. PBG's face was illuminated by his game screen. "How are you not asleep yet?" I asked his quietly. He shrugged. "I guess the nap I had on the way over did me good." He spoke so casually of the ride over that it occurred to me that Jared probably hadn't shown PBG the pictures yet. I made a mental note of it and smiled. "Well, I guess I'll stay up with you!" I beamed.

PBG raised his eyebrow at me. "No, you look exhausted." I opened my mouth to say that I was fine, and a yawn slipped out. "I'm fine." I finally managed. He chuckled and patted the space directly next to him. I sat close enough so that our hips were touching and crossed my arms. "Peanut Butter Gamer won't you listen to me I'm fine!" I yawned again in spite of myself.

PBG paused his game and pulled my head onto his shoulder. "Hana. Mizuno. For the love of Tom Nook sleep." I opened my mouth to protest but the words fell back into my throat. He was soft. And really soft. "But I wanna stay up with you..." I muttered. PBG chuckled a little. "But I want you to be rested and happy more."

Something clicked in my tired brain. The thing that was missing from every part of my life... had to do with being happy. I sat up straight. "Are you happy?" PBG looked confused. "What do you mean? Of course I am I have you back."

That wasn't it. "Was I... happy? Someone wasn't happy. I remember someone not being happy... and lying..." PBG looked almost panicked. He opened his mouth to say something, and stopped. What was he-

He kissed my forehead. "You are tired." He said slowly. That doesn't answer my questions. I mean, I was, very tired, and I was starting to miss his shoulder. He pushed me back into him. I practically sank into his side. he was warm too. "But I..." I yawned. I had started to remember something important, but exhaustion was taking over. "Sleep." PBG said again. And with that I was out.

This post is dedicated to Todd Schlickberndand for his assistance to the channel and streams, his positive influence and personality, and his baller hair. Keep rocking my man!