Chapter 6:

A little conection

Scorpion Grasses or simply, Forget-me-nots


“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.” —Michael Jordan


“Dear Aiko, I wish nothing but happiness in this life. I must admit that my difficult moments also became your difficult moments. You were always there when I needed you, but now I’ve let you down…

I wish I could pray more to this incredible being that everyone calls God. I wish I believed in him, but with no desire and trust, it would be in vain. I’m sorry I know no deity. I’m sorry I complicated your life.

I guess I do bring misfortune into everyone’s life. Can I at least say my goodbye properly? Will you hang on a little longer for me?”

Kibo’s mother was smocking outside. She was waiting for her daughter to arrive. She didn’t spend a lot of time with Aiko, but she knew that the girl was a good influence. It’s a shame.

Why is this world messing so much with Kibo? How much can she still take?

“Mom!”

Kibo finally showed up in front of the building.

“How does Aiko feel?”

It was a pretty stupid question, but understandable. She still hopes for good news.

“Let’s go!” The woman grabbed her arm. “I don’t think there’s a lot of time left!”

The two of them rushed to Aiko’s room.

“Wait! Mom, do you think she will want to see me?”

The mother sighed. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t understand how Kibo feels. It hurts to only be able to look at someone who is in pain.

“You know… I don’t think she blames anyone! She even asked for you a few times. She worries more about you than her current state!” She puts a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Thank you!” She also answers with a weak smile.

She enters the room. Of course, Mister and Miss Okada were already inside. The woman was crying like the world ended while her husband looked at the ground full of thoughts. Neither of them turned when the door opened.

Kibo kneeled in front of the bed with tears in her eyes.

“It’s only my fault! I’m sorry for everything!” She kept asking for forgiveness and the married couple looked at her after some time. They went to Kibo and hugged her tight.

“Don’t say stupid things! We know it’s not your fault, dear!”

“There are moments in life that are meant to be the way they are. This was our Aiko’s fate…”

It was heartbreaking.

“Kibo…” Aiko let out a whisper.

Her friend hurried to hold her hand.

“I’m here! I’m right next to you!”

“Mom…Dad… can you leave us alone for a moment?”

Even if they wanted, they did as they were told.

“I’m sorry, Aiko! If I can do something-“

“Don’t even bother!” The girl giggled. “It’s none of us fault! I knew you would blame yourself! Stop being so predictable!”

Kibo smiled at the last affirmation.

“The problem is that you know me too well!”

“That too!”

After a moment of silence, both looked serious.

“I’m sorry if I’m asking so much-“

“Whatever you wish I would make it happen! It’s a promise!”

“It’s a stupid wish…”

“It doesn’t matter!”

“Do you don’t want a boyfriend?”

The girl looked a little confused.

“One hundred percent sure! But why do you ask?”

“You see, there at the House of Cupid you only get a chance to meet your soulmate. I'm sure with all my heart they make miracles to become true!” She sighed and tears started to roll down her cheek. ”Unlike you, I hate the thought of being single. So I will give you my ID and any personal data you need for finding the right one for me. Everyone says we look a lot alike so I’m sure you’ll be fine. After all, I always liked to copy your style and I don’t regret dying my hair like yours.”

“I don’t know if it will work…”

“I beg you! After I die I will watch over you! I want to see what kind of person he is and I want you to find him another girl that will make him happy! It’s my only wish!” She started coughing and her heartbeat started to become slower.

The doctors rushed into the room with Aiko’s parents behind.

“MY BABY! DON’T LEAVE ME!” Miss Okada started to scream and her husband broke down into tears.

“K-Kibo…” Aiko struggled to breathe. “I beg you…”

Then, without thinking, Kibo answered.

“I will find your prince charming! Don’t worry! I give you my word!”

A long *beep* filled the chamber.

This is ridiculous! She lost so much yet she still keeps losing people. Why her? Why can’t she take a break?

******

After two full years, Kibo decides to go to that stupid House of Cupid.

“How have you been Aiko? Is everything alright where you are? If someone is messing with you I hope you will handle them well! I’m sorry I didn’t go sooner to the place you talked about. But don’t worry! I graduated high school one year ago. I’m 19 years old now and I started a part-time job.

I miss you every day… But I’m fine. It takes more than this to bring me down!

I almost forgot! Me and my mom get along well now! She promised to quit smoking and she kept her promise! Also, she started to drink less. This means a lot to me!

Even if you won’t receive these messages I will keep sending them until I will be ready to let you go. “

Kibo's phone starts to ring.

“Miss Aiko Okada?”

This voice again! It was the same man that called Kibo on the day of the incident.

“Yes, that’s me!”

It doesn’t feel right to take the place of someone else but what could she do? She must keep her promise.

“We received your e-mail and all the personal information we needed! I’m Doctor Chiba and I am the one that will help you from now! Can you come today to discuss a little your situation?”

This doesn’t sound good.

“Well I’m free today so I can come by anytime!”

“Wonderful! I will wait for you at 5 PM! My cabinet is on the first floor and looks for a door that has my name on it.”

“I got it! Thank you so much!”

“Don’t thank me yet, dear! I don’t have very pleasant news.”

What could this possibly mean? How bad can it be?

“Have a nice day! Goodbye!”

“You too, goodbye!”

Beep.

“He might be a criminal. I won’t be surprised to hear this! Let's get over with this charade!”

She arrived in time for the meeting. As she searched for the right door, she saw something written under Doctor Chiba.

Special cases only.

“Are you kidding me? What kinds of unpleasant news can that stupid information be? I swear I deserve a vacation from all this bad luck!”

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

“Come in!”

“No thank you!” She thought to herself but she still entered.

“We finally meet!” The man gives her a sweet smile.

“Nice to meet you!” She bows in respect.

Not at all.

“Have a seat on a chair because it’s going to take some time!”

She sighed. Kibo tried to stop the bad scenarios inside her head that kept on playing.

“Miss Aiko, I have both good and bad news. Which one would you like first?”

How fancy. He gives her options.

“Good I guess!”

“He lives in Tokyo and he is about your age.”

What? What could be bad? She felt confused.

“Now, I must tell you the bad part. He’s not in the Tokyo that we know. He lives in a different universe.”

Is he for real?

“HUH? You want me to believe that? I paid a lot of money for this-“

“I wish it was a joke! Please calm down! You can meet him but you have more rules. So are you willing to listen?”

She took in some deep breaths.

“Since I’m already here I don’t have a choice.”

“You will have only 100 days to make him fall in love with you.”

Only? This is more than enough for sure!

“You may think is a lot of time but I assure you it’s not. I will give you some pills to take before you go to sleep. I don’t know if you heard of shifting, but it works pretty similar.”

“What is shifting?”

“Shifting represents the act of moving one's consciousness from this current reality to one's desired reality. We don’t have a lot of cases like yours so we aren’t prepared. So you will be invisible to others, but to your soulmate and he is also the only one that can hear you. What you touch will become impossible to be seen for the time of your contact with that object. But this doesn’t apply to the people you touch.”

“So you’re telling me that I will travel through time and space?” Her eyes widened.

“Something like that. Your 100 days start when you take the first pill. Be careful because time passes differently in each universe.”

“Tell me about this world and him, please!”

“I can’t!”

“Why? Is it confidential or something?”

“It’s impossible to find any more information. I will count on you to tell me the rest!”

“But how will I find him?”

“Fate brings people together! Don’t forget that!” He smiled again and gave the girl a box. “Your pills are inside. Take them as normal ones, with or without water.”

“Thank you!”

Should she take one of the pills tonight?