Kimiko Doesn’t Know Me, Somehow

What? Did he hear her right?

“Who are you?”

As in, she didn’t know who he was? This was honestly not at all what he had expected. But then again, what had he expected? His lack of a response was beginning to show on her face. And she looked like she might be about to leave.

“If you’re not go-“

“No wait, I can answer. Or at least, I can try to.”

She didn’t look pleased with his response, but she wasn’t leaving, not yet at least. She had her arms crossed over her chest and began tapping her foot with impatience.

“I’m Katsuo Nakajima, as you said. But the truth is, I don’t know anyone here. Not any of our classmates, our teacher, or those guys who think they’re my friends. I mean, they might be. But I don’t remember meeting them.”

She was looking at him like he was stupid. And he really couldn’t blame her, but now she really did look like she was going to leave.

“Look, I know what it sounds like, but I’ve been going through this whole day without recognizing anyone. I mean my parents are the same, well mostly. To be honest I was beginning to think this all might be some elaborate prank.”

“Like some kind of weird reality TV show?”

He narrowed his eyes at her.

“Yeah, exactly like that.”

She looked at him, still with that serious look on her face.

“Well, I’m not saying I believe you, but before today you didn’t exist as far as I was concerned. I know all my classmates, and I know Miss Nakajima. I still find it strange you two share the same family name.”

He couldn’t help but agree with her on that, it was strange. Who was he kidding, it was all strange. Him having the same family name as the homeroom teacher hardly being the craziest part of it. She continued.

“As for reality TV, I hardly believe that’s what’s going on. Unless of course you’re suggesting that they somehow got the entire school in on it and conveniently left me out.”

He shrugged, then crossed his arms behind his head and walked over to the edge of the roof, staring off towards the approaching sunset.

“You understand where I’m coming from though, right? I don’t know or even recognize a single person in this school. My parents aren’t even the same.”

He paused, then sighed.

“If this is all real, then my sister isn’t the same either.”

He couldn’t believe that he was starting to admit this could all be real. But it was all too crazy not to be, right? She had half turned, following him with her eyes, but still stood in the same place. She at least looked like she had relaxed a little.

“If I believed you, and I’m not saying that I do, you also must see how crazy this seems from my perspective. Yesterday you didn’t exist, today... Well today everyone except for me seems to know you.”

He looked back at her; arms still crossed behind his head. Her cheeks began to color a little.

“Not that I’m saying I want to, just that it seems odd, very odd. That’s all.”

Her speech grew more flustered the more she spoke. Before finally stopping, closing her eyes, and taking a calming breath.

“What I mean is, I don’t know you. But somehow, everyone else thinks they do. Maybe there’s an explanation to all this and maybe there isn’t. One thing is for sure, sooner or later everyone is going to start to wonder what’s wrong with you when you don’t remember any of their names. Or when you start asking your alleged friends for theirs. Probably sooner rather than later.”

He couldn’t argue with that, he was definitely going to have to figure something out, and quick. That or figure out how to get back to… His world? His timeline? He wasn’t sure what to call it. Before he could think further on this, Kimiko spoke.

“So, do you want to try and tell me what happened? I mean you have memories, right? You mentioned your parents, and sister? It sounded like you also remembered a different school?”

“Yeah, exactly. When I got up this morning everything seemed normal. Until I got downstairs that is. My mom’s hair was different, and my dad had glasses on.”

“He doesn’t wear glasses, I take it?”

He nodded, turning back to face her now. Putting his hands in his pocket, he walked closer to her.

“No, or at least he didn’t. But what was really weird was my sister. She was, young. Well younger anyway. I went to bed knowing her to be a drunken lout with no job in her early twenties. Now she’s in junior high.”

Kimiko showed just a hint of sadness, or perhaps sympathy. She was actually listening, giving him her full attention. He sighed, looking back towards the now shrinking sun.

“To be honest I thought it was all some weird prank by my family. But once I got to school…”

He gestured. She nodded, looking serious again.

“I know the rest. So tell me, do you remember anything weird happening before today?”

“Like what?”

“You know, like dying or reading a book that turned out to be magic?”

He stared at her, dumbfounded.

“You mean like a manga or some kind of nov-“

“Just answer the question already.”

She held a serious expression and tone, but her cheeks revealed slight embarrassment. He opted not to comment and thereby embarrass her further. After all, she was the only person who seemed able and therefore willing to help.

“No, none of that.”

Then it clicked.

“Wait, the truck.”

She turned to him completely.

“You mean you weren’t joking around when you said you got hit by a truck?”

He shook his head.

“Well maybe, I mean I wasn’t joking around but I don’t know that it actually happened. All I remember was heading to school that morning as usual, but I tripped.”

He winced in embarrassment but continued.

“I remember hearing the horn, a-and seeing the truck. But then I woke up this morning, thinking it was some kind of dream.”

He glanced over at her, as she had remained silent. She was looking down in thought, holding her chin on one hand, propping her elbow in the other against her waist. She began talking again, but almost as if to herself.

“It kind of sounds like an Isekai, except instead of transporting to some LitRPG or fantasy world, you just ended up in a parallel version of your own world.”

He stared at her. Hardly believing what he was hearing. I mean Isekai, LitRPG, blah blah, sure. But a girl, this girl-

“Do you, read manga? And light novels and that kind of stuff?”

Her face grew pink again, this time she not only looked embarrassed but maybe a little mad too. Turning on him she responded, sounding quite flustered.

“No! Of course not! And so what if I did? It’s not like it would really matter even if I did read them. Hhmph!”

She turned her nose up at him, closing her eyes and crossing her arms again as she did so. Appearing rather indignant as she did so. He sighed, trying not to smile.

“I didn’t mean anything by it, I was just surprised, that’s all.”

She opened an eye and looked at him, lowering her head only slightly as she did so.

“Look, any input you have would be very helpful. If I really did somehow get transported to a parallel universe, your world, or whatever you want to call it, then you’re my best shot at figuring this thing out. So, I could really use your help.”

She turned, still with her arms crossed, but facing him completely once more.

“Say please.”

“Uhh, please?”

“Please what?”

“Please will you help me figure, whatever this is out?”

“And?”

He stared at her; not sure what else she could be referring to. She gestured around them, he followed her hand, remembering now where they were. He sighed, but of course.

“And help me around the school, so that everyone doesn’t think I’ve lost my mind?”

She nodded curtly. As if it was all so obvious.

“Good, and yes, I will humbly accept your request. But only because I don’t want to see you embarrass yourself. Not that I’d mind of course, just that it could embarrass me as well. Being the only one to not have memories of you does seem to have its disadvantages, although I can say that I’m also grateful not to have been brainwashed with false memories of you.”

She suddenly sounded more dignified. Seeing this side of her, he could definitely see why everyone thought of her as, “The Cold Princess.” He nodded, not sure what else to say to all that. His lack of response only seemed to leave her slightly embarrassed, and she quickly spoke to fill the silence.

“We need to come up with a plan.”

“A plan?”

“Yes, a plan. To start, we need to come up with a decent explanation as to why you don’t remember everyone. No way we’d be able to convince them all otherwise. They all apparently remember you, probably have memories of you that you don’t share.”

She made a good point, no way he’d be able to convince the whole school he was who they thought he was. I mean, still Katsuo Nakajima, just without all of the memories and names of everyone he knows. Except his parents and sister.

“Crap.”

“What?”

“My family, I’m going to have to figure that out with them too. I mean maybe what I remember is the same and maybe it’s not. But it definitely can’t all be the same. I had an older sister after all, not a younger one.”

She gripped her chin again, letting out an audible “Hmm” as she did so. Looking at her deep in thought he couldn’t help but be reminded of how cute she was. And how dark it was getting.

“Oh crap.”

“What now?”

“My sister, apparently I normally walk her to school in the morning, so I assume I would normally also meet her on the way back as well.”

Kimiko gave a nod.

“I should be getting home too. We’ll try and work more of this out tomorrow, in the meantime, try and not let everyone know you have no idea who they are.”

He stared at her, blankly.

“And how am I supposed to do that exactly?”

“Easy, today’s Thursday. So just don’t come to school tomorrow and we’ll have the weekend to figure it out.”

“I can’t skip school.”

“Why not? It’s just one day, just pretend to be sick or something.”

He supposed that was true. After all, he could probably get away with it too. He parents did think he looked a little rough this morning. Well, he had. But that only worked to his advantage.

“Alright, no school tomorrow. I’ll pretend to be sick.”

“Okay, good. Then we’ll meet up after school tomorrow and discuss what to do next.”

They both nodded, apparently concluding this meeting. They both headed for the door that led to the stairwell, Katsuo grabbing his bag off the ground by the door then opened it for Kimiko – bowing to her as he did so. She ignored him, or at least did a really good job of pretending she had. He followed her down the stairs and back through the school.

“It’s kind of weird, only us being here this late.”

He noted, looking out the window from the hall as they headed for the main doors. She wrapped her arms around herself and avoided eye contact.

“Don’t get any weird ideas.”

“What, I was ju-“

“I know what you were thinking, don’t try denying it.”

He opted for silence, seeing as no matter what he said it wouldn’t ultimately matter anyway.

“There see, I knew you were a lecher.”

Clearly taking his silence for admittance. He looked at her, unsure if she was being serious or not. He decided that this girl was just something else. No person could easily be explained, least of all her. Only having just met her, he knew that much for sure.

As they exited the school building, approaching the gates, she turned to him.

“I should probably get your email; it’ll be easier to meet up tomorrow. It’s going to be hard enough explaining why I’m getting home so late.”

Wait, was she serious? Did she just actually ask for his email? Sure, it was just so they could meet up and figure out what to do next, but still. A girl's email in his phone, that didn’t belong to his family. He then noticed that he had taken too long to respond. Her face was starting to color again and she looked like she was struggling to decide between embarrassment and anger. He had to admit, even though it was cute, he was going to have to stop putting her in these situations. But he probably wouldn’t.

“Oh right, of course. That makes sense.”

“Actually, never mind. Just tell me where you live, and I’ll stop by after school tomorrow.”

Ah well, he knew it was too good to be true. She handed him her phone. Confused and with his hope rising he took it, looking at her questionably.

“Type in your address so I know where to go.”

He looked at the screen, seeing it was open to a note taking app and not to add a new contact. What little hope he had mustered quickly diminished. He sighed in obvious disappointment, knowing that she was no doubt enjoying every moment of his suffering. He typed in the address, then hesitated to hand her the phone back. She snatched it from him, obviously misunderstanding his hesitation.

“Nope, too late. I see now that it’s better this way anyway.”

“That’s not what I was thinking, well it was but also… Never mind. The point is, what if my address isn’t the same here?”

“Well getting to school was the same, wasn’t it?”

He thought about it, trying to picture the route him and his sister had taken that morning.

“Yeah, I think so.”

She looked down at his address on her screen.

“Do you pass by Odayakana park on the way to school?”

“Yeah, I do, if we’re talking about the same park?”

“It seems logical that at least some things are going to be the same. Your parents are still your parents after all.”

He couldn’t argue with that, but he also didn’t have anything to go on even had he wanted to. He nodded, it seemed this was the best he would get from her. Especially since he had totally blown getting her email.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow after school then.”

“Uh, yeah. I guess so. I’ll see you at my place.”

“Your place.”

She confirmed, nodding at him. Then immediately grew bright red. Yep, he was never going to get tired of that.

“Now wait just a minute, if you think that I-“

“My parents will be there, and my sister. You have nothing to worry about.”

She nodded curtly, seeming to approve of these conditions rather than whatever ones she had decided he was suggesting. Walking out the gates and started heading in the direction of home, technically having already said farewell, he opted to just wave instead. She simply nodded back.

He walked in silence, the streets now dark. The occasional car drove past, headlights lighting up empty storefronts and turned off signs. He facepalmed, groaning out loud.

“How could I have been so stupid. I could have got her email.”

Shaking his head and sighing, he almost missed the quiet giggle from behind. He whipped around to find Kimiko walking a short way behind him. He couldn’t believe it.

“Are you following me?”

Her amused face quickly shifted into something more like disbelief.

“No, don’t be ridiculous. We just happen to live in the same direction, that’s all.”

She continued walking, passing and ignoring him as she did so. How was she so good at that? He began walking after her. They passed the junior high together, now walking side by side with neither of them saying anything. As they reached an intersection, he realized this must be where they parted ways.

“Would you like me to walk you home?”

“I’ll be fine on my own, thank you.”

He nodded, turning his own direction. A swift breeze picked up, rustling his hair and giving him a slight chill.

“Nakajima.”

He turned to see her standing there still, holding her skirt down with one hand and her hair with the other.

“Goodnight, Katsuo Nakajima.”

And with that, she turned and ran across the crosswalk without another word, or a moment for him to give one. He waved anyway, just in case. Then continued on his way home. As he approached the front door he came to a brief stop. What was he going to tell his parents? Oh well, nothing for it but to just go in and go for it.

He opened the door and began slipping off his shoes when he heard his sister’s and mother’s voices.

“Katsuo, there you are! Where have you been, do you know what time it is?”

“You never came to pick me up from school.”

His mom looked genuinely worried, while Kanna looked like a girl who didn’t get the sweets she was promised. She had her cheeks puffed out with that typical Kanna pout. He couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m sorry mom, I was with a friend.”

“A friend huh?”

His mother and sister looked at each other conspiratorially, then turned back to him.

“Well, you could at least have called. When your sister said you never came to pick her up, I didn’t know what to think.”

He bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, I’ll be sure to let you know next time.”

“Good, now tell me. Are you sure you’re feeling well? You look a bit winded?”

Jack pot, it couldn’t have gone better.

“Yeah, I kind of feel it too. Maybe I just need some more sleep, but I was thinking about staying home from school just to be on the safe side.”

“That sounds like a good idea to me, now run a long to bed and get some rest. And that goes for you too, Kanna.”

She turned to her daughter, who had been nodding along with her mother’s every word up to this point and giving Katsuo suspicious glances. His sister hugged their mother, wished her a goodnight, and then scampered up the stairs. Katsuo wished her goodnight as well and followed up after.

He entered his room, dropped his bag by the door, and crashed onto his bed. He really did feel tired. It had been a long day after all. He sighed, now he just had to wait around tomorrow until Kimiko showed up. And before he could give it another thought, he fell asleep.