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

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.]