Character Story 4: Short Interaction Exercises with the Higher Dimension
Recently, Yuuki has, time and time again, been called over to the "Ivory Tower."
Yuni
Hey, my comrade. Again, you have my thanks for the hard work. *Slight bow*
Yuni
The reason I've called you here is none other than this. Finally, it seems our research thesis has reached its major turning point.
Yuuki
1. "Our?"
Yuni
Indeed. While perusing numerous documents, we've continued our investigations and inspections concerning the folklores and legends of this land.
Yuuki
1. "We?"
Yuni
However, our research of "this land" did not stop at the mere neighborhood archaeology, as the necessity of taking a more macroscopic viewpoint had arisen.
Yuni
One could think of our work as spanning the categories of history, anthropology, and even philosophy, but, hmm, an obstinate conservative might call it religious studies.
Yuni
Uhh, and here it is, the new topic is, tadaa.
Yuni
"The fundamental falsehoods that lurk within the world."
Yuuki
1. I feel like we've gone over this already.
Yuni
Howa? What are you saying? This topic was first to be revealed in this country today --
Rosetta
Pon! A notice to Doctor Yuni! I've confirmed a luminescence phenomenon coming from an unknown source!
Yuni
Eh? What is this light, mystery!
Yuni
Eh, Eh? What is this, how... Ah! Aba, gyaaa! Ho, howaa, hoaa, so interestiiing!
A dream.
???
Ah, that book --
???
Wawa, sorry about that! I'd read that book before, so I just reacted...
???
U-Umm, by the way, but... Do you maybe like it? Like the professor who wrote it...
???
Eh, it's for a school assignment? So you didn't have a choice...? Ahh, of course, ahaha...
???
Sorry about that. Continue, continue.
???
See you.
Yuuki
1. Continue reading.
???
Haa...
???
Nn...
???
Mumumu...
Yuuki
1. Is something the matter?
???
Howaa, sorry! No it's just, you seemed to slow down on your reading, so I'd gotten a little curious...
???
That book's hard for people not used to it... or umm, I thought the book might be a bit difficult to approach?
???
Ah, so it is? I know, right?
???
Ah, but! But, wait a bit! There's a bit of trick to it, really.
???
First, you know the first chapter? Right off the bat, you have to deal with the most difficult part of the book. But truth is, what's being said there isn't all that important, so it's fine to skip it. It's the kind of part that'll make you think, what was that old guy thinking?
???
No, he's a good guy, though! He's pretty lively whenever he's playing with his grandchildren, but as a scholar, the worst part about him is how much he loves to talk...
Yuni
Ah, me? Sorry, umm, I'm Shingyouji Yuni... Yes, I'm the granddaughter of the writer of that book, Shingyouji-sensei. Sorry.
Yuuki
1. Name yourself in return.
Yuni
Ooh, Yuuki-kun. Thank you for the kind introduction. And your age is... Hmm, then I'm the older one.
Yuni
So... can I continue with what I was saying?
Yuni
So yeah, like I was saying, you can skip the first chapter and jump right into the second. As for the third and fourth chapters, well, you can just skim those, yeah. And after that...
Yuni
Ah, it being for class means you'll have to write a report right? Then I'll put sticky notes over the really important points for you. Can I sit here a bit? I'm gonna move your bag, okay?
Yuni
......
Yuni
... And, well, I guess that's about it.
Yuni
Ah... Oh, I'm sorry about that. I just ended up putting sticky notes all over the place.
Yuni
I just sorta came out of nowhere and didn't really leave you any room to talk. Ah, this is embarrassing... my face's getting all red...
Yuni
I'm more of a shut-in at my core, so I don't really have any friends, and whenever I do get the chance to talk to someone, it's like a switch just goes off in my head. I particularly tend to go overboard with topics that I like...
Yuni
During the afternoon today, when Hoshino-san -- ah, a really pretty girl in my class -- wanted to talk with me, I just ended up going on and on about my favorite book... Even though, I think the talk was initially about her little brother...
Yuni
Yeah so, that's why, sorry to you too, Yuuki-kun. It was the first time I'd seen someone in real life reading my grandfather's book, so I'd felt some strong emotion that sorta went boom...
Yuni
Geez, I'm really sorry. It must've put you off, right? And it didn't really make any sense, right?
Yuuki
1. It was fun.
Yuni
Ah, really!? That's good, then maybe these other books I could --
Yuni
-- Wait, hold on, me. The way I just take each and every moment of politeness so seriously isn't good.
Yuni
*Sigh*, I'm no good at this... Society's tough, both online and offline.
Yuni
Thing is... Yesterday, I sorta didn't do so well in this online game. The people on my friend list told me not to worry about it, but *sigh*, I still felt sorry about the whole thing, so it's been too hard to log in...
Yuni
Eh? User ID? You mean mine?
Yuni
Oh... I don't particularly mind telling you...
Yuni
Eh, does that maybe mean... In layman's terms, you want to become friends?
Yuni
Haa...
Yuni
... Ehehe.
End of dream.
Ames
All right, good work.
Ames
What you just saw was something like a dream. Though I've said that, once you wake up, you're just going to forget this anyways, so for now, don't worry about it.
Ames
Very soon, you and Yuni are going to wake up at the "Ivory Tower," where you were before.
Ames
Yuni's got that strong scholarly mind of hers, so she's probably not gonna take the whole dream thing sitting down. On the contrary, she'll probably find it so impossible to understand that she'll get an itch to look even deeper into it.
Ames
But, unfortunately, this dream won't stay within your memories. It won't remain if written down, nor can it be studied or inspected.
Ames
What was it again... the falsehoods of the world? Whatever Yuni said her research topic was. It's a pity, but that's going to end in vain as well.
Ames
Her, and all the other sages, they won't be able to continue holding doubt in regards to the world.
Ames
Why? That's just how the world is built right now. No matter how smart you are, there's a truth in this world that will never be reached.
Ames
But...
Ames
Yuni said it herself right? That the process was more important than the result. And that her goal was the very act of trying to learn something.
Ames
Then, to her, that's time well spent. I suppose her efforts aren't something I can write off so carelessly...
End of Ames conversation.
Yuni
Fua~afu...
Yuni
Good morning world, today is as deceitful as ever, I see.
Yuni
Hey, Kouhai, seems like you're awake too, did you get to see any good dreams?
Yuni
Hm, you don't remember. Figures. Neither do I.
Yuni
I feel as if I'd just touched upon a piece of some great truth... Or as if even slightly, I'd gotten a glimpse of a magnificent interlude...
Yuni
Hmm, I can't even take a memo of this... It's as if there's but a lingering memory of an indescribable realization remaning, truly an unusual sensation.
Yuni
However, it's fortunate that I can remember that "I can't remember something." This unnatural experience has added a fair bit of strength to the hypothesis from just before this. I am currently very ecstatic. Hyahou.
Yuni
Now then, my comrade, once again, let us continue our previously interrupted talk. My new topic, "Lurking withing the world--" Huh? What was it again? It slipped my mind again...
Yuni
Umm, what to do. Oh right, for now, let's check my memos...
Yuni
Okay, that's right, "The fundamental falsehoods that lurk within the world," that's it.
Yuni
Yeah, this is what I'm talking about. This is precisely the unpleasant phenomenon of forgetfulness.
Yuni
This world is always affecting us through the form of an obstruction of cognisance. This world, at this very moment, is telling us one large lie --
Yuni
-- And that is the bold, but innovative hypothesis that I am proposing. What do you think, my comrade? Would you assist me in my paper?
Yuuki
1. I don't really get it.
Yuni
That figures.
Yuni
The truth does not necessarily secure happiness. Choosing to not know is one possible option.
Yuni
Well, I don't mind at all if you were to remain indifferent towards the research. From the beginning, I had not desired practical support from you.
Yuni
Just, join me for an idle chat once in a while. Thinking about it now, the reason I'd left the "mountain" and come to the "city" was because I had interest in the school life that I'd heard about.
Yuni
Ah, in short.
Yuni
In layman's terms, I want friends.
Yuni
Of course, I'm not going to force you, but hmm... how about it?
Yuuki
1. I thought we'd already been friends?
Yuni
Eh, were we?
Yuni
I see, that's what that was... This is friendship... So it's not anything all that special.
Yuni
Hm? Then does that mean? I've already started to experience youth...?
Yuni
... Then, is that why I've been feeling satisfied every day recently?
Having had her first realization of it, Yuni earnestly takes it to heart. In response to this, Yuuki smiles and nods in return.