Day 31 - [Voice] | [Action]

[de_bel_survivor]

[Kouki’s return from his kidnapping was quiet and unceremonious. While he’s relatively well and in one piece, physically speaking, but it’s nothing compared to how he feels on the inside. To be very frank, he’s pissed. The young demon overlord may seem calm on the outside, but his anger was currently, and forcibly by his will, a simmering sort of anger. No matter how tempting it was to let loose and vent in the forest, Kouki would have to wait until he reach the Battle Dome.

Until then, he has other things to think about first instead of himself. Like checking on his friends and his cat.

Well, he planned to until he flipped open his journal as he walked back towards the village… Only to stop and stare at the blank pages. His fingers started flipping through the journal for the older entries, finding more and more blank pages. There’s only a few possible explanations.

Either the Malnosso want to erase history and important journal posts, or there’s an experiment going on.

What brilliant timing he got. First he spent his third anniversary in this world while kidnapped, and now he returned in time for a likely experiment. Might as well confirm what’s going on and hope the journal’s features was still intact. His voice was calm, and the journal would pick up some sounds of him quickly walking in the forest.]

Kouki Wakahisa here. Can someone tell me what’s going on?

[This time. Whatever’s going on this time have a higher priority than his anger about his memories being played with during that illusion last month.

Once he finally arrived at the village, Kouki immediately head to his apartment at CH7’s second floor to check on his cat. After confirming her well-being, he keep an eye on his journal before leaving for the village plaza. The plaza was a natural gathering spot for people, so he can watch people and even talk to them.

A young man with black wings and a pair of cat ears-like headphones (or weird head gear, if the technology was unfamiliar to anyone, or they might believe it’s his real ears) was walking around the plaza and looking at people. If he spy anyone looking very confused, or doing something strange, Kouki would call out and approach them.

More so if they're people he knew.]

Hey!

Comments

[tyui_sarla]

[Oh hey there Kouki. Too bad Cloche doesn't recognize you right now. How nice of the Malnosso to bring her back as a child for the time being, isn't it?

But she won't respond to "Cloche," no... but she's gonna be staring at him from the other side of the fountain. Peering over it. Watching. Who is that? Are those real ears?? A really kitty person?! Woah. Big sis would love that, she's betting.

Staaaaaaaaaaaaare.]

[de_bel_survivor]

[Too bad indeed. Kouki do recognise the little girl and called out her name, only to receive no response. How odd and while he can wonder about it, he's more worried about leaving a young child alone in the village.

He walks closer, until he's standing on the other side of the fountain and smile.]

...Hello. Are you lost?

[tyui_sarla]

[And instead of answering, she'll point at Kou's headphones.]

Are your kitty ears real?

[de_bel_survivor]

[He's pretty much expecting that question, especially from a young child. Kouki shake his head, tapping his headphones with a finger.]

Nope, they're not. These are fake ears.

[tyui_sarla]

[GASP FAKE EARS?? This child's hopes and dreams, shattered.]

They aren't? They look like they are...

[de_bel_survivor]

[If he's being a typical demon, he would revels in crushing hopes and dreams.]

They're not, but that's one of the fun things about wearing them.

[He tilt his head, slightly, and smile.] Do you want to look at them closer?

voice;

[breezing]

[ Probably a while after the fact, sadly, so he can be confused at people. Ikki knows Kouki as "that guy who gave me a sheep toy once". ]

People forgot stuff. It's like New Feather season except time FIFTY THOUSAND 'cause it's so many people at once and I don't think anyone's actually at the Welcome Center 'cause they forgot. Hey, if you see Sifu Raine, don't tell her about school, okay? She forgot too and if it lasts past Monday maybe we'll get an extra vacation!

voice;

[de_bel_survivor]

[By this point, Kouki got confused at people more than enough already. But he picked up on some hints and made his guesses about this experiment. So it's nice to get some kind of confirmation, and from someone who still remembers, too.

And he knows this voice. It's that girl he gave a toy to before.

Whoa, it really did hit that many people. Even Professor Raine, too, and she's one of the longest residents here. Since the journals are blank, the guide is harder to open up.]

Basically, it's a mass memory loss of our time in Luceti. [Oh boy, this will be fun. Is this what the first bunch of Luceti villagers was like before they started compiling information?]

And sure thing, I won't mention it to her. Just as long she didn't find any records that listed her as a teacher. But with what's going, she probably have other things to worry about this time instead of giving us lessons.

voice;

[breezing]

Not just that. Grandpa's a lot younger than he should be - even from stuff he remembered back home. Like, he's twelve right now. And other people are younger than they ought to be, too, and don't even remember stuff I think they should know from home.

But yeah, they forgot all about here, too. At least, most people I've talked to have. A few people I know haven't, but lots of people...well, y'know.

Okay, good!!! It'll make up for the time in the Valley where we had school during summer vacation!!!

voice;

[de_bel_survivor]

Younger as well? That does explain why a friend of mine's a lil kid right now. I wasn't sure if she's younger or have a younger sister brought here during the New Feather cycle.

[At least it's the New Feathers cycle this month, unless he counted his days wrong. Pretty easy to do in captivity and all that.]

But that pretty much confirms it as another experiment. It's rare for the entire village to get affected, unless it's a big thing. [He remembered Luceti Valley. Both of them.] So we'll just have to make the most of this and help people out!

[Hey, he can catch up on school work later. Post-experiment later!]

voice;

[breezing]

Yeah, I think I wouldn't have been sure if it weren't grandpa and other people, because I know them, even younger.

I think at least nothing else seems wrong. I mean, it's just memories. No one remembers anything weird that I can tell and everyone seems okay and not, like, possessed. So it's not a bad thing.

voice;

[de_bel_survivor]

At least you know them before, so it's easier to spot what's wrong.

[Oh yeah, it's just him from his part of the multiverse in Luceti.]

Possessions can be pretty tricky to get rid off, so I'm glad that's not the case this time. But then again, I could do without the Malnosso messing around with our memories for experiments.

[Kouki have his problems with it, beyond the obvious.]

[Locked to Kouki and Ikki]

[wise_maiden]

... Honestly you two, I haven't forgotten anything. It just doesn't make sense to hold classes when all of this is going on, especially since no one would remember, and those who are are children wouldn't understand the reason behind it.

[Kouki/Ikki/Raine]

[breezing]

[ BUSTED. ]

This was BEFORE I knew that!!

I think half've the people I know are kids now. It's fun but they're all gonna be old again really soon, I bet.

[Kouki/Ikki/Raine]

[de_bel_survivor]

[CURSES. It was fun while it lasts.]

It's good to see you unaffected, Professor. [Probably for the best, as that's one less confused person in the village.]

How long have this been going? Experiments usually goes for a week, tops.

[ voice ]

[magicmaestro]

Mister Wakahisa? I was wondering you had gotten to. I'm certain someone's answered your question, but would you care to meet either way?

[ voice ]

[de_bel_survivor]

[Now that's a relief. Frederic isn't affected like the most of the villagers.]

Yeah, someone filled me in on the basics, Mister Chopin. [Thank you, Ikki.] But I don't mind meeting. Where do you want to meet?

[ voice ]

[magicmaestro]

We could meet at my house? I don't know if you've ever been here before.

[ voice ]

[de_bel_survivor]

I don't think so? Which house is it? [There's a lot of houses in the village. On the other hand, he might had visit before for a different person.]

[ voice ]

[magicmaestro]

It's house forty-four. Helios is allowing me to live with him, which is rather nice of him to do.

action/plaza;

[unfringed]

[He met another boy earlier who had similar hair and now this one - another boy with blue hair.

Was it a trend here? A reason why they were being kept? If so, why wasn't his hair turning blue?

Walter sat on a bench nearby the fountain and stared at Kouki in the sort of way that meant he was obviously studying him. Eventually, he waved the boy over, calling to him.]

You there, boy, come here.

action/plaza;

[de_bel_survivor]

[It'd be hard for Kouki to miss the man's staring, or the wave as well. Blinking, he walks over towards the man.]

Yes, mister?

action/plaza;

[unfringed]

[He can be rude sometimes, and this is one of those times.

He points to Kouki's hair.]

Is that natural?

action/plaza;

[de_bel_survivor]

[He can deal with rude people. Young and old.]

My hair colour? Yep.

[Aaaaaall natural. Even his eyebrows are blue.]

First time seeing blue hair?

action/plaza;

[unfringed]

Quite the opposite.

[He pulled a pair of tweezers and a small plastic baggy from his coat pocket and held them up.]

Might I procure a sample?