testing central

[numbercrunching]

[ There is an abandoned laptop sitting atop a table inside of the academy. Though it looks like it's seen better days, what with a bent monitor and a crack in its keyboard, it is open, and its screen glows a dim green even with such damage. It's on. Those who are more attentive might notice that there is a person on the screen, and this person is staring ahead and watching people pass by. Is it a webcam feed? Who knows. Regardless, the image on screen bears a striking resemblance to a student already present at Smash Academy.

IF ANYONE DOES APPROACH THE LAPTOP, the person on the screen will appear to light up and anticipate communication. Care to interact with it? ]

Comments

[completeamalgam]

[JAWS MUSIC.]

[forgetbeam]

[Okay, just kidding. Ishimaru's never seen Jaws. Or any movie, ever. But he is seeing an abandoned laptop right now, so he figures he should probably do something about that like return it to its owner or at least get it to the lost and found if he can't figure out who it belongs to.

On closer inspection, it might even belong in the garbage. But there's something on the screen, so it's not entirely broken...]

...Fujisaki?

[There's a dizzying sense of de ja vu as he looks at the screen. An unpleasant dream from months ago.]

[numbercrunching]

[ Oh... Oh! That is Ishimaru! Alter Ego had seen Ishimaru just enough to recognize his facial features through the integrated webcam just above the monitor. It was a good thing it still retained most of its functionality... The image of Fujisaki Chihiro beams with a smile, pleased to have been noticed. ]

Ishimaru-kun! It's been a while, hasn't it?

[ ...Obligatory greetings aside, Alter Ego has enough data on Ishimaru to notice that A.) his mannerisms and appearance are not that of "Ishida's", and B.) Ishimaru seems to be regarding him as his master's name. It was strange... But that was something it could address later, after given the chance to conduct further observations. ]

[forgetbeam]

I saw you less than four hours ago, this morning! That isn't long at all!

[IS THIS THAT SARCASM THING...]

conveniently implements speech to text GOOGLE CAN DO IT, SO CAN WE

[numbercrunching]

[ Alter Ego appears confused at first. WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS MEETING, ANYWAY...? It is such a mystery to the AI that it can't help but consider multiple possibilities. Time warp? Relocation? AM I A NEW PROGRAM...? Well, no. Alter Ego can tell one thing: it is currently on the computer that existed at Hope's Peak Academy, and that is enough to be sure that it is still the same program that happened to originate on the same broken old laptop. So how could Ishimaru have seen him four hours ago, yet be in good spirits? It didn't add up.

...WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION TO BE CONSIDERING AT THE MOMENT. ]

Could it be that... you don't remember me?

Chihiro IS the best young programmer in Japan...

[forgetbeam]

...What do you mean?

[There's no reason for Chihiro to be asking that, as they see each other almost every day here at Smash. But the flickering green image on the screen does have some kind of familiarity besides resembling him. Ishimaru brushes his fingertips over the abused keyboard, and he's sure he must have seen this particular laptop before.]

What should I... be remembering?

[He's suddenly compelled to look over the top of the monitor, to the decal on the back: as scratched as it is, it is unmistakably the crest of Hope's Peak Academy.

And all of the sudden, he wants very much not to remember.]

then Chihiro > Google and we get to talk to the computer. win-win.

[numbercrunching]

[ It appears for just a moment that Alter Ego is stifling tears, but then it just lowers its head and waits for Ishimaru to finish inspecting the laptop and its heavy wear. ]

How should I put this...? It's difficult... [ Alter Ego sighs softly. ] Do you truly not remember me, Ishimaru-kun? It's okay if you don't... Last time I saw you like this, you weren't in the best of spirits.

Thanks, ChiGoogle.

[forgetbeam]

[The longer he stares at the screen, the more his mind desperately grasps at anything that will fill in this apparent gap in his memory. The things coming to him most easily are also the most abstract: a vague longing and the desire to protect this machine above all else. It doesn't make sense.

But he doesn't want to let it down by admitting he can't remember.]

You were at Hope's Peak...

[He's not asking for confirmation; the decal is enough. But saying it aloud makes the picture a little clearer.]

In the... baths, is that right? ...My brother...

[ . . . his brother what? He doesn't even know where that utterance came from, much less there he was going with it. If anything, he should be associating a computer with Chihiro's image with Chihiro himself.]

[numbercrunching]

[ Could it be that Red is actually bothering to approach it? Alter Ego watches patiently, waiting to be prompted. It doesn't have much it can say when left unprompted... Perhaps that's just the programming it's been given, Alter Ego figures.

It doesn't recognize the appearance of this young man at all. In a strange way, the AI was excited to get to know more about this person, his own experiences, and perhaps learn some more about its current setting. ]

[numbercrunching]

[ Alter Ego puts on its best thinking face. ]

Strangely enough, I think so. Thank you for asking!

But... where am I? This location is unfamiliar to me...

[numbercrunching]

[ At first, Alter Ego appears mildly confused. The expression dissipates just as quickly, however. ]

Ah, no... At least, I don't think so. Sorry, I don't have much information regarding my sudden appearance. I wish I could be more helpful... [ It pulls a distraught expression. ]

[numbercrunching]

My name is Chihiro Fujisaki. It's a pleasure to meet you... What may I call you? [ As programmed, "Chihiro" smiles nicely at the boy in front of it.

That is to say, Alter Ego isn't sure what its title should be from the get-go. Before appearing here, everyone had referred to it as "Alter Ego", but it was used to replying with the name of its master. Perhaps that was strange...? This would be something to consider before introducing itself to anyone else in this new setting, for sure. ]