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No, it's October now. It would have been . . . mid-July, I suppose, when I first—

[ He stops short, because— April? April? ]

. . . April?

Y-Yea... You just saw me back home before you got here, didn't you?

[Hoo boy, here comes other world bullshit.] Um, well you see, time works differently here. This world, it can somehow pull people from different points in their lives, and while you're here, time seem to stop back home. If we ever get sent home, we'll be right back exactly where we left off. It's already happened to me once before.

[He sets Karma down, folding his hands on his lap as he takes a deep breath.] I went home a few months ago, but altogether....I've already been here for almost two years now.

Two years.

[ He's joking, right? . . . He's not joking, not in that tone. That's two years in a strange place where rain manifests indoors and who knows what else. Two years of living with that lie he'd been fed.

Asougi's not sure whether to be angry or just sad. ]

. . . Two years.

...At least I know that you'll be ok now, better late than never, right? [He looks to Asougi, he has so many questions to ask a certain someone, but right now, he just smiles. It felt like an eternity since he smiled like this, happy to just have his best friend here again. Some work required, but he's still here.]

And you're here too! It's been so long since I've seen anyone else from home. It's just been me and Holmes-san. [The gray cloud has started to disappear.]

. . . I'm sorry to have left you by yourself for so long, and with such a grave misunderstanding occurring as well.

[ Anger can come later. Despite Naruhodou's optimism, Asougi can't help but focus on the fact that moments ago, he'd been doing his best to console his best friend. The temperature starts to cool around him as he looks down. ]

We have a lot of catching up to do.

Oh, w-well, you not being here in particular is not your fault. Coming here just happens unexpectedly. And you lost your memory back home, so you wouldn't have been looking for me and Susato immediately-

[He's rambling again. Deep breaths.]

Yes, I would definitely like to catch up on things with you. As long as you're well enough, since... [You only just remembered everything bruh, and it looked painful.]

[ He should have been looking for them. Logically, Asougi knows this isn't exactly plausible, with amnesia being a fickle thing that plays out differently for people, and that he's fortunate to have recalled enough to be able to make his way back on course. But forgetting his best friend's laugh, the wisdom and support of his legal assistant and dear friend . . . it's unforgiveable.

But . . . Naruhodou has a point. There's still a dull roar in his head that doesn't appear to be going away any time soon, and he's still quietly placing the pieces back together. There are still holes, he knows, but Asougi isn't about to let him on to that. He shifts his position on the couch slightly so he's facing Naruhodou. ]

Tell me what I've missed in the two years that you've been here.

[These last two years...hm, that's quite a bit of history to go through. Where to even begin?]

Well, I've learned how to cook a lot of things, and been taking self defense lessons. I...sort of know how to use a sword. [Don't ask him to demonstrate, it's terrible.] There's a lot of dangerous things outside this city, so...I wanted to be able to better protect myself and others, though I'm not very good at the latter. [Was that a small smile on his face? It's pretty ridiculous what he was doing, he's no fighter.]

I actually took on a case here, went to trial defending someone, with... [His eyes widen, suddenly looking rather excited about something.] Oh, you won't believe this, but I actually met one of my descendants here!

[ Asougi sits back and listens as Naruhodou speaks, a faint smile slowly crossing his face. Naruhodou, learning how to cook? He'll believe it when he tastes it. Self defense — that sounds like him, "not very good" and all. He's no fighter, but he's always willing to try. ]

Your descendant? [ He might sound a bit skeptical at that, but he still shakes his head, chuckling softly. ] You've really grown, haven't you.

Mm. He had a strange name, Phoenix Wright, and his hair was really spiky. [Hope you don't mind a sudden image of Wright being shoved into your poor head. At being told he's grown, he blinks a few times, confused and laughing sheepishly.]

H-Have I...really?

[ Nope, sorry, your bffl has been sufficiently distracted by PSYCHIC SHIT when he already has a headache. ]

— what was that?

Eh? Oh, I was just saying...have I really grown that much?

No, not that. There was an— image?

...Oh! Ahhh, right about that. I think that's just how people dress during that time period. I don't know about the hair though, his friends don't have anything that strange. [Still. Missing, the point.]

. . . Naruhodou. Why was there an image, exactly.

[ This is not a question, my friend. ]

[He blinks a few times. Why...? Oh. OH.]

Er, sorry. That was, that's just how this world works. You can send people your thoughts.

Your thoughts? So . . . you thought of your descendant and then sent that to me?

[ sounds fake but okay. ]

[He nods. And now for something extra.]

(I can talk to you like this too, even over long distance. It's like morse code, but without beeps!) [Isn't this cool, Asougi?]

— ah, I see. That's good to know.

[ He rubs at his head at that. Psychic networks are neat and all, but not so much when he's still recovering. ]

[Yea, Naruhodou seems to have realize his mistake and now gone into bff worry mode.]

Hey...do you want to rest for a bit? You've probably taken in more information than you can handle right now.

. . . It's not a bad idea.

[ Translation: he really probably should.

Asougi glances around the living room, actually taking in the residence itself now. In the midst of remembering everything and dealing with indoor rain storms, he hadn't really had the opportunity to do so before. ]

[He smiles as he gets up from his seat, expecting Asougi to follow suit.]

There's a room you can use upstairs in the attic, next to mine. Maybe I can find some spare clothes you can borrow too. [Eventhough Asougi is a few inches taller than him. Surely it'll be fine.]

[ He stands slowly and though he lifts a hand to his head, he glances over at Naruhodou and gives him a small smile back. It's not much, but it's a start. ]

The attic, huh. Let's see it, then. [ He'll just. not comment on the clothes for now. ]

[...you know, whether he wants it or not, Naruhodou is going to put an arm around Asougi's waist and let him have a shoulder to lean on, just in case.

He'll then take him upstairs, passed the second floor and to the attic, part room and part slowly becoming storage. There was definitely a bit of Naruhodou's mess to this attic, there were various junk from pawn shops everywhere, some things were actual gifts from friends sprinkled about. Amazingly there was still enough space for him to have an office set up here and a couch for his clients and other guests.]

Here, this is the room you can use. [He gestures to the door across from the stairway. Checking within, it's pretty bare bones. There was at least a bed, table and closet inside.] Mm, sorry. This is normally a guest room so there's not much...and it might be a little dusty. [Truthfully, he had this room setup in case Susato ever showed up...or in this case, Asougi.]

[ He genuinely tries not to lean against Naruhodou but as they walk up the stairs, Asougi finds himself leaning in just a bit. It's been an exhausting day on top of another exhausting day. Quietly, he glances around the attic as they step up there, frowning at the mess and clutter, and makes a mental note to spend the next few days at least cleaning up the attic while he recovers. Rest is good, but so is a project.

Slowly, Asougi pulls away from Naruhodou and steps over to the small room, opening the door. ]

. . . it should be fine.

[ He gives a firm nod at that. It wasn't much, but he could make some of it, at least. ]

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