Delayed Reunion

Remembrance

Unknown Location: Hajime Hinata

Akane Owari. That was the name of the girl standing in front of me. She's the one who's said my name, the one who helped me remember exactly who I was. "Thanks, Akane." She looked confused at first, asking me why the heck I thanked her for, but I just sat there for a second smiling at her. 'Thank you for helping me remember.' The entire ordeal within the simulation began playing through my head, and I knew why we were here. We were captured by a dangerous group, or at least, previously dangerous. They go by the name of the Future Foundation. They stuck us in the Neo World program as a way to help restore hope into our despair ridden selves. Izuru, my other self, had put a virus into the system, and This turned into that, and we had survived the deadly game, and now we're here, wherever here is. It's a relief that I can remember this much, but.. I feel like I'm missing something. My heart churns as I try and think about it, but I can't remember no matter how hard I try.

"So, uh, you have any idea where we are, or where anybody else is for that matter?" She looked at me still just as confused, and then took a quick glance around as I explained why we were here, and where we probably were, which I assumed would be Jabberwock island. I also told her about Kuzuryū going out and having a look around. As soon as she heard that he was free, she formed a smile on her face and then told me she should go and help him out.

She walked away and toward the area he walked into. It's quiet again. I guess I'm the meet, greet, and leaver, huh? I began thinking about the people I waited for, about how they're taking longer than the rest of us, and that I can't wait to see them as well. Maybe it will help me get an even better idea of what happened. Going back to thinking about them, I started naming them off. "Let's see... there was Kuzuryū, Owari, Tsumiki, Mioda, Pekoyama, Saionji, Togami.." I paused briefly, realizing the next person in my head. "... Komaeda, Tanaka, Nevermind, Koizumi, Souda, Hanamaru, and..." another pause, but this time, it wasn't because I was hesitant to say the name. There's no mistake... there was 16 of us in there. 'Why can I only name 15..?'

I stopped for a second and looked up, pondering. 'I know there was another person, I just know it. But who..? Who else was it?' My heart started to ache, and I held onto my chest tightly. The pain was unbearable, as if I had some major loss that I couldn't get over. But.. I didn't seem to remember what that was.. I pondered it for a bit, trying to form up a name. It was at the tip of my tongue.

"N... Nan..... mi..?"
"Nan-"

I was interrupted at the sound of yet another pod opening, yet this time the person was freaked, they ran out of the pod and hugged up next to the nearest wall and started looking for an exit. I recognized them immediately.

"Hey! Souda!!"

"YYYYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!!!!" He started to look even more panicked, and then started to book it to the door. Good ol' Souda, never changes.. I started making way to the door, faster than him, then blocked his way of escape. He stopped right in front of me in a panic.

"Souda! Calm down! You're fine! We're safe now!"

He stopped, and looked at my face, as if trying to make it out. He gasped, "DEMON!!" He backed away a little bit and then covered his face as if in fear

"No, no! You got it all wrong! It's me Souda, Hajime, Hajime Hinata!!"

He paused, and stopped acting frantic all of a sudden, then he put a finger on his chin and looked at me closely. Then his expression lit up as if he'd finally remembered. "Oh! Yeah! Sorry 'bout that.." He had that usual over-the-top grin on his face as soon as he realized it was me.

"There are a couple of others that woke up too. Akane and Kuzuryū to be exact."

"Oh yeah? What about Sonia, you seen her yet??"

"No, she'll probably be coming back though, just like the rest of us."

"Hmm.. well, alrighty then. I'm gonna go try to catch up to the others for now I guess. I need to make headway before Sonia comes back, so that I can show her how capable I am!"

He ran past me, and went the same way as everyone else, scurrilously.

At that moment, I forgot what I was trying to think about, but maybe it'll come back to me. I walked slowly back over to the wall, and sat back down, waiting.