Selene

 “If something bad happened in your past, I know it doesn’t reflect on you now. It’s okay; you can tell us anything,” Lili offered a comforting smile from across the room, assuring Selene.

She shook her head, “It’s not like that at all,” her thoughts drifted elsewhere, “It’s quite the opposite, actually. For the first time, I feel like I have a purpose in this world, something worth living for.”

Intrigued, our eyes stayed fixated on Selene. Her gaze wandered to a nearby bookshelf, where a flicker of recognition crossed her eyes.

“I was doing my individual research at a library when I found a book…”
—
"Scanning my eyes across a bookshelf, I landed on a book about the world I inhabited before I was erased. My curiosity was piqued; I believed that book might’ve held a clue about the past I wanted to obtain. All I wanted that night was a memory…

Turning the pages, I immersed myself in the book- a study about this world and how it’s connected to the world from the past.

“I’d heard about a young Japanese scientist who conducted the same research. Unfortunately, every translation of her book says wildly different things, making it nearly impossible for a foreigner to understand her clearly. But here, everyone speaks the same language; we won’t encounter that hurdle ever again. Regardless, I still feel that her research would aid us greatly.”

A young Japanese scientist? I thought that maybe Haruki would know something, being Japanese himself and possessing memories of his past. I can’t help but feel like I’m close to having a breakthrough, though…

“After consulting a colleague, I learned the Japanese scientist’s name was Tsukimi Chihara. I’ve made it my mission to find her again, especially since she will eventually come here.”

Tsukimi… Chihara… Selene… Tsuki… The moon.

!!!

A sharp pain abruptly stabs itself into my head, causing me to drop the book with a loud thud. The pages flipped themselves until they displayed the words in front of me that gave me closure.

“I learned that before she could finish her research, a serial killer had cut Tsukimi Chihara’s life short.”

My eyes scan the page; a serial killer… just like…

As the pain spreads throughout my head, my life flashes before my eyes. All those hours I’ve spent in school, refusing to take care of myself for the sake of the truth, my research. Then, the sudden removal of my life.

I am Tsukimi Chihara."
—
“Why was I punished this way? So many people relied on me in both this world and that one, yet I forgot everything. I let everyone down,” Selene gripped her head, spilling her thoughts out onto the floor. Lili stood up, quickly sitting beside her, offering a supportive hand on her back.

“Selene, it’s okay… just breathe, you’re okay. It’s not your fault. Nothing is your fault,” Lili soothed, speaking softly as she stroked Selene’s back.

“I’m okay, thank you…” a determined look spread across her face, furrowing her eyebrows, “I have to live as Tsukimi Chihara. I have to make up for lost time and dedicate the rest of eternity to my research.”

“It’s like you said, you have an eternity. Don’t push yourself too hard, please, for me,” Lili smiled at… Tsukimi?

“I don’t know if I can do that. But, if I ever burn out, I’ll consider taking a break.”

“Thank you, Tsukimi.”

The two of them embrace as tears begin to well in Tsukimi’s eyes, burying herself into Lili’s shoulder.

“Tsukimi Chihara…” I mutter quietly, lost in thought. The book that led me here…

“Yes, Haruki?” She questioned, lifting her head and wiping away her tears.

“Do you happen to remember any books you wrote?”

“If I knew the title… then I could probably recall it.”

“Reincarnation and the World After Ours, perhaps?”

Tsukimi let out a gasp before nodding her head slightly.

“That book contained my research about this world… what about it?”

I turned my attention to Lili, who was repeating the book’s title into her hands, desperately trying to remember it. Then, it hit her, and she gripped her head tightly.

Repeating the words she said to her, Tsukimi gently grabbed Lili’s shoulders, telling her to take a deep breath and recall her memory.

“Haru… that book. You showed it to me a little before we died, right?” She strained her voice as she spoke, her hands shaking.

Sitting beside her to offer her comfort, I made a noise of agreement.

“You sought out that book for me. You wanted to make our dream a reality, everything… you did everything for me,” Lili choked on her words, tears flooding her eyes, “You were willing to sacrifice everything for our dream, weren’t you, Haru?”

“I was, and I still am,” I reassured her.

She lunged onto me, sobbing into my shoulder, “You’re so kind to me, Haru… I love you… I’ll always love you,” she managed to say amid her tears, instinctively causing me to hold her tighter.

“I love you, too, Lili. I… I love you too.”

I let out a sigh, relieved that I could say those words freely now.

She pulls away, giving me a pained smile and tears staining her cheeks, “I-I’m sorry… I just realized the pain you must truly carry.”

“It’s not so bad anymore; I’ll be alright with you here.”

With that, her face softened into a calm smile.

“Tsukimi… thank you,” Lili grabbed her hands, stroking them with her finger, “Because of you, we were able to come here and make our dreams a reality… even if we’re met with this setback.”

“Y-Yeah… I’m happy,” Tsukimi muttered, taken aback.

“If you ever need a reason to keep on going, remember me, okay?”

“Of course...”

Just then, in the corner of my eye, I see Oli’s eyes slowly open. He let out a big yawn and a stretch before his eyes settled on the three of us on the couch.

“Oh? I’ve never seen her before. Mind if you introduce us?” He winked at Tsukimi playfully.

“I meant to ask, but I got too caught up in everything…” Tsukimi said quietly.

The pair looked at each other with intrigue, two people that are complete opposites, yet seemed to be shrouded in a similar cloak of mystery.