Memory Problems

I'm laying in bed looking at the ceiling, thinking back to what Shin said.
'He doesn't know him... Wait, know who?

Why can't I remember...?'

I pick up my phone, looking at the screen for a moment before finally sending a message to him.
"This might be awkward but... Who did you not know again?"
I look back at the ceiling as I wait for the reply, which doesn't take long to arrive.
Ping!
"That new guy you said we didn't remember, back in the lobby. Are you ok man? Did you forget?"
'That was it. Some new guy in the lobby.'
"Yeah I'm good, I guess I'm just forgetful."
I keep staring at the screen as I process the information when another message arrives.
"Now you're the one that doesn't remember him anymore? You seemed certain of who he was back then... You HAVE been training a lot, maybe you should just rest up."
"Yeah... Probably. Sorry about this. I'll go ahead and go sleep now."
"Night man."

'Why did I say that back then...? Remember him? I definitely don't know him.'

...

The next day I wake up earlier than usual, quickly getting ready and grabbing my bag so that I can take a ride with dad to the hero HQ, not going with Gaia earlier since I didn't want her to know.
"Such a surprise, riding with your dear old dad! Can't always walk around everywhere right?"
"Yeah."
"Did Gaia push you wake up early today?"
"No, no. I just... I felt like it."
"Ah, well that's okay."

I look at my phone waiting for a reply to the message I sent, when it finally arrives.
"Sure thing little Kazu, enjoy your free day today. You've been working hard, you deserve it. Make sure to rest okay?"
"You got it."

It doesn't take long until we finally arrive.
'I'd take the ride here more often if dad didn't always have to wake up so early...'
"I'll go on ahead then, good luck with your training!"
"Yeah, thanks for the ride here. Good luck dad."
He starts walking when I suddenly call out to him.
"Wait, dad!"
"Hm?"
"I was wondering... Do you know a new guy around here?"
"New guy?"
"Yeah I think he might be new to the HQ? He's uhh..."
'What was he like again?'
"That's not that much of a description... But I don't think there's been anyone new in a while. Not since, well, I guess Tarou when he joined Little Heroes I think. But I'm usually busy in dispatch so I don't know."
'...What?'
"Oh ok, that helps actually."
"I'm glad to help! Aghhh, if only I could stay with you... Well bye now."
"Cya again."
'No one new... It wouldn't be that surprising if he simply didn't pay attention to that, did he just miss it?'

I look for a good spot to stay, choosing a seat near the entrance, where I take a big jacket and hat from the bag, quickly putting them on, making sure to tilt the hat to cover more of my face, and sitting into place.
'Now I wait.'

...

After a long while, the doors open again as someone comes in and I quickly hold the bag closer to my chest, hoping to not be noticed.
'Is it him?'
Before I realize however, Tarou had already walked in.
'Tarou?! Damn, I didn't expect him this early!'
As he walks, he suddenly stop, and looks my way.
'Please don't notice me, please don't notice me...
Should I have just included him in my plan? Agh.'
As Tarou seems to be about to get closer to me however, some guy bumps into him, falling onto the floor, and shifting Tarou's attention from me.
'That was close... Just keep looking down, they'll be gone soon I'm sure.'
"Are you okay? Sorry about that, I guess I got distracted hah."
"N... No worries..."
"Oh! Let me help you up Katsuya!"
'Katsuya? Who's that...?'
I take a peek, seeing Tarou extending his hand and helping the other guy up.
"Th... Thank y..."
"What was that? I couldn't hear what you said."

'That's... Who was it again?'

"Thank... you..."
'Right! Classic Katsuya, always scared.'
Katsuya keeps his head down as he bows a little before quickly shuffling away.
"Cya! Sorry again."
With that Tarou moves on towards the training grounds, leaving the lobby silent again with the only sound being my sigh of relief.
'I'm glad Tarou didn't catch me, that would have been awkward to explain... I should have included him in the damn plan from the start.
I'm glad that guy bumped into him'

A few moments pass as I keep waiting before a thought comes to me.
'Wait, who was that guy that bumped into him?
...Katsuya! That was the name Tarou called him, but who's that?

...Is that the guy from yesterday? Why do I keep forgetting...?'
I stand up and take off the disguise I put on so that I can go in without problems.
'I'll just follow him and see what he does.'

...

I look around for what feels like forever, but other than getting lost a few times, I can't find him anywhere.
'If only I could remember which way he went...'
"AGH! Why the hell can't I remember?!"
"Hey you! What are you doing here?"
Caught off guard I immediately look down.
"Sorry! I was just uh..."
'Damn it, this sure feels familiar...'
From down the hallway I hear several footsteps coming, before finally stopping in front of me.
"You were just lost?"
'Wait...'
I look up to see Thunder and Chloe.
"Uhh, what?"
"You JUST screamed you couldn't remember, honestly I'm surprised, I figured you'd have this whole place mapped out."
At hearing that Thunder adds.
"Well this place can be confusing, I think there's still some parts I myself haven't even found."
"Heh, lame."
I stare at the for a few moments before finally remembering what I was doing.
"Ah yes! I guess I got lost..."
"Don't worry, happens to the best of us!"
"Or worst."
Chloe laughs at her own comment towards Thunder.
"So what are you two doing here?"
"You don't have a clue do you?"
Thunder puts his hand on her shoulder before answering me.
"While they do their community service they have to return here at the end of the day. This is basically their home."
'Huh, I didn't know.'
I peek behind looking for the missing person when Chloe notices and says.
"She's in the bathroom, we're waiting for her."
"Oh! Right, sorry."

'I won't be able to find him at this point...
Hm, I wonder...?'
"Hey, do you two know of a new guy around here?"
"Like a new hero?"
Chloe smiles as she then says.
"Ugh, a new one? Hope he's cool at least."
"Not a new hero. Well, at least I don't think? He's uhh... Silent! Yes I think he doesn't speak much and his name was... Katsuya? I think."
Chloe gives me a dubious face.
"Never heard of him."
With Chloe not being much help, I look to Thunder.
"Katsuya... Hmm... I don't think I-
...!"
Suddenly his eyes widen and he continues.
"Right! Katsuya, yeah I know him. He's always around! I don't think he's new though is he?"
Chloe quickly looks at him with confused look.
"Always around? What are you talking about?"
Thunder looks at her with a confidence that seems to waver.
"Yeah, he's... Right?"
He then looks back at me before continuing.
"You said he's new? Was he new? I don't think so...
Strange."
'So Thunder seems to have weird memories with him too.'
I give him an assuring smile before speaking.
"Maybe I misheard. I could be thinking of someone else."
"Yeah... No... Something's is... What?"
Amy suddenly appears behind Chloe and asks.
"What's happening? Oh, hey there Kazu."
"Hey, I was just wondering about someone is all."
Chloe then looks at Amy before explaining her the situation.

"Huh, never heard of that guy, but still."
Amy places her hand on Thunders back as she continues.
"You okay? You kinda look like you're struggling..."
Thunder was holding his head with one hand, before coming back to normal.
"Yeah, I'm good. I just got a bit of a headache is all."
Amy sighs with relief before asking.
"That's good, so when did you meet him that new guy anyway?"
He looks at her confused.
"New guy? Who are you talking about?"
"Huh? Did you just go insane or something?"
"HEY! I think it's about time we started on the community service now, you still have a lot of hours to do."
Chloe and Amy complain as Thunder drags them, leaving me alone.
'What just happened?'

...

I had quickly made my way back, deciding to wait a long while for another hero to come out in a nearby hallway.
'He'll know what's happening, I'm sure.'
As I keep waiting he finally comes out, ready to go to the hospital when I call out to him.
"Echo!"
He looks towards my direction and says.
"Hm? Well if it isn't Kazu, aren't you usually in the training grounds by now?"
I laugh awkwardly as I reply.
"Oh, well I took a free day."
"That's good, rest is import-"
"Don't mind that, I need to ask you something."
He gives me a calm smile and I explain who I'm looking for.

"A new guy... I don't kn- Oh wait! I do remember."
'He didn't know and then remembered? Is it happening to him too?'
"I think it was about a week or so ago? I had bumped into someone, and as he got back up he had mentioned something strange."
"What was it?"
"Something about not to worry, since it always happened for months, and that he should have already learned to watch where he walks."
"So he bumped into people for months? What part of that is strange?"
Echo shakes head and continues.
"No, he said we were bumping into each other for months, I asked him what he meant which seemed to surprise him. So he just quickly said that he was new and must have confused me for someone else before quickly walking away."

'Was that Katsuya? Did he try to lie?'

"Which reminds me, I did forget to ask someone about that new guy. Since I hadn't heard of anyone new being hired on for quite a while. So his name is Katsuya, right?"
Echo asks me a question which catches me off guard as I had gotten distracted trying to process everything.
"Oh! Maybe? If it's the same person I'm thinking of."
"I see. Thank you Kazu, I'll be going now."

With that he continues walking towards the lobby, leaving the HQ and heading for the hospital.
'So either they won't know who Katsuya is, saying that there hasn't been a new guy in quite a while, or they'll need a moment to remember and struggle with that fact.'
I look up for a moment and sigh.
"Gaia is my last hope. This is gonna be slightly awkward."

...

I made my way to the training grounds, hesitating to go in.
'Hopefully she'll know more.'
I push open the doors, and Gaia quickly turns to see who's entering.
"Little Kazu? I thought you were taking a free day?"
"About that..."

With a quick explanation Gaia nods before she begins.
"So looking for some Katsuya... There definitely hasn't been a new-
Wait. Katsuya... Yeah I remember him."
I sigh.
"Let me guess, he's always been around?"
"Yeah, he-
Wait, no. Something's wrong. There hasn't been someone new, I know it. I'm in charge of it! Then who's..."
I look at her as she begins struggling a bit, before going to sit down. As soon as Tarou notices he immediately runs to us.
"What's going on?! Coach are you okay?!"
"I'm... I don't... Kazu, do you remember him?"
"No... Sort of? I only noticed something was wrong when Shin told me."
Tarou looks at me.
"What's going on? What did Shin say?"
Before I can answer Gaia looks up and tells us.
"Bring them in."

...

After listening to Shin and Hiro, Gaia looks a bit better, though now Tarou has begun to struggle.
"He... I... We bumped into each other today, yeah! But..."
Gaia crouches down near the sitting Tarou before she tells him.
"I need you to relax, I think I know what's happening. For starters, you need to immediately come to grip with the fact he doesn't exist, no in the way we know."
"Agh..."
"It'll be tough, but you can do this leader boy."

Shin and Hiro look at each other before Shin then asks.
"So is there something going on? Is he bad?"
Gaia stands back up and looks at them.
"I think so. It took me a little while and the information from all of you, but I know now.

Those memories were false."