Chapter 21: Fake

Haruto could feel the shiver go whole through his body.

"Wha.. what do you mean?"

"You don't have to feel threatened. Me and Ichiri are friends."

"what???"

"Yep. He has told me about you. So you don't have to hide it anymore.."

Haruto's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it.

" So how does it feel to get the time repeated over and over."Kikusui said in a sarcastic way.

"Um.. I don't know what you're saying. Are you talking about a movie.?"

"I see... did Ichiri tell you to not disclose it to anybody?"

"No.. I just don't know what you're talking about.."

"Ohh.."

"Can I go?"

"Hm?? I thought you needed to talk to me.. that's what I Heard from Ishiuchi."

"Umm..I have some important plans for now.."

"plans?? I guess you are off to Ichiri's place again..."

Haruto didn't listen a word after that. He just sprinted away to Ichiri's place..he saw the receptionist Kodama there.

"Ohh you are here again.."

"Is dr in?"

"Yea yea he is.."

He went in..

"Dr ICHIRI!!!"

"woah what's wrong???"

Haruto told him everything about Ishiuchi and the director.

"I see.."

"Is it true ?"

"No that's a lie. I have only spoken to you about the time leap."

"That's good to know. That was a close bluff. But how does he know about you and the time leap?"

"That's.."

"??"

"Haruto.. there's something that I haven't told you."

"Seems like there are many things that you haven't told me.."

"Hahah.. anyways..hear me out. Umm.. I'm working with the hospital to hide their illegal activities."

"Huh????"

"Sorry for keeping this part from you."

"I don't understand.. what do you mean .. working??"

"I told you yesterday that I can remove memories right?"

"yea.."

"So I have been removing memories of people who knew too much about the activities.."

"But .. wh-why? You said that you were bringing all the injustice ?"

"its not that I'm doing it because I want to.."

"are you being threatened.?"

He was silent..

"Wait but you can remove memories right. Can't you use it to protect yourself?"

"I can't wipe out anything that I want to. I need to do some preparation for that."

"Preparation?"

"I need those special flowers called Akitsu Carnation. After making them smell that flower. I can make them forget that days worth memories."

"So I was given the same thing ? Ohh! That flower vase in my hospital room.."

"Yes that's close to the species.. well it's not easy as it sounds.."

"So you can control it... and after removing the memories. Is it possible to plant new memories.?"

"Well theoretically ..it can be done..but there are some uncertain factors.."

"I see.. "

"Haruto! I am friends with director but trust me I'm not doing anything that endangers your life. Sorry that I kept this from you. But I told you now because I trust you. And I want you to trust me as well."

"arent you gonna tell me why you are doing this?"

"Haruto. You remember those conditions right. Its related to the experiment"

"honestly I have no idea weather you are telling the truth or not. But the dr Ichiri in my memories was nice to Aoi and me. So I guess I can trust you."

"actually I know you can trust me totally. But you can do one thing. You can travel back to Monday and ask me the same thing."

"Yeah I could do that. But I won't go back right now. Things are going just fine. I also have to talk to the director. I wonder how many times should I have to participate."

"Hmmm a few more times.. maybe once..maybe 5 times.. but don't worry I will definitely tell you on that it's over on the Monday you return."

"Okay.. I'll drop by again.."

"also, are you going to see the director now?"

"Yea.."

"tell him hi from my side"

"is it alright to use your name in front of him?"

"yeah that's fine"

Haruto stepped out. He thought..' there is a lot of things that I have to do right now. But let's just focus on the most important thing.. I should go and speak to the director and I should make sure that he treats Kakeru and Honaka well.'

He went to the hospital. He knocked and came inside director kikusui's cabin.

"Ahh. You came.. I was waiting for you.."

"I need to talk to you.."

"I can guess what you'd like to talk about.."

"You want me to treat the LMD patients properly and you want me to apologise for the activities right? I ve Heard it all from Ishiuchi."

"Yea .. you got the gist right.. please save my friends.."

"I guess Ishiuchi didn't tell you anything. Listen.. I know that you care about your friends.. and it's pain for me to say this but.."

"??"

"LMD is really an incurable disease.. your friends will never get better.."

"Huh??"

"It's true that I ve been searching for LMD's cure. If I give the order then they'll definitely work on it..but that's my decision as a director and others should not intervene with it..there are many diseases that needs to be cured ... do you understand now?"

He was silent..

" the fact that I haven't invested a lot for LMD's research. Do you know why ?. It's because I invested all my research for dream under medical terms and if I hadn't done that, we could have found out the cure of LMD by now.. so what do you think that dream is?"

".. I.. don't ..know.." said Haruto looking down. His voice was slow and soft.

"time leaping!"

Haruto was shocked..

"Haruto Soraki.. I could start the research of LMD anytime.. all I need you to do is tell me about the tome leaping.. "

"If you were to start now, would Honaka be saved?"

"She won't. I'm not Ichiri , so I'll tell you the truth.. finding the cure would atleast take 5 years. And your friends survival would be 0 .. so what do you say? You know about time leaping right? You may not be able to save your friends. But you can save others.. come on Haruto I understand what you feel more than a guy like ichiri. So tell me about it.."

He was silent..

" tomorrow is supposed to be a good day. You know all about it right? Come on.. or else.. I.. I.. I would be.."

" I don't know anything about time leaping.."

He laughed..

"I see..that's your answer.. then we have nothing to discuss. Leave.. and if you value your life.. you won't speak this to anybody.."

" are you sure it won't be cured?"

"I won't lie like ichiri. And wait. Something's been bugging me.. why do you trust Ichiri so much? See what I mean is. He can manipulate memories. Do you know what that means? I know he is working for the hospital. But he can erase anybody's memories. Are you getting it now?

"Huh??"

" Are your memories even real??"

"of course they are. He told me that he can remove memories but it's hard to control..plus a fake memory would be spotted easily if i talk to others."

" You really have no clue.."

"??"

" If it's about yesterday then it's fine.. but what about few years ago?"

"A few years ago?"

" about the dead?"

"What do you mean?"

"you lost someone precious right?"

"Yea but.."

"think about it carefully ...not memories..but the numbers.. how many of them remember that child?"

"..."

"Only a handful right??"

"That's because.. "

"Her surname was Aihana.. and her first name was Aoi right?"

"y-yea.."

"let me ask you this.. did such a girl...

Really exist?"

To be continued...