1The library unfolded before me, a breath-taking blend of tradition and futuristic allure. Rows of books adorned white shelves, their covers emitting a gentle blue glow under the soft LED lights. Alabaster walls lacking the symphony of colors, creating an otherworldly ambiance that stretched from the sparkling marble floors to the intricate drawings on the domed ceiling.Within this enchanting space, towering bookshelves formed a maze, dividing the hall into four sections. Narrow walkways weaved between them, leading to smaller reading rooms at each end. In the center, a fixed white table and chairs created a semblance of a diner set, surrounded by an atmosphere perfect for focused study.I settled into a white lounge chair beside 102, a few meters away from the library's center.Despite the physical proximity, my attention was captivated by a unique picture book. In the left wing of the library, where we sought relative peace, I immersed myself in its vivid, animated illustrations of the book 102 gave to me. No one would have guessed she gave it to me for reading. Any typical reactions to closeness with a girl were subdued by the intense aura she emitted.Her piercing gaze stripped away impure thoughts, allowing me to concentrate on the pages before me.This particular book deviated from the library's usual collection. Its intricate artwork portrayed a silver-armored knight, a princess in vibrant stripes, a menacing witch, and a fiery dragon against multicolored backdrops. The images, fleeting yet realistic, created a compelling narrative without the need for words, challenging conventional storytelling.Despite its uniqueness, the book lacked typical features like a table of contents or an author's note. It existed solely to convey a story, with faceless characters reminiscent of the enigmatic white figures.Glancing at Number 102, I found her succumbing to fatigue, her head resting on her arms. Despite my initial skepticism, her vulnerable slumber seemed unexpectedly endearing. The trust she placed in me, allowing her to sleep beside me, carried both warmth and suspicion in this peculiar world.Carefully moving away to avoid potential traps—though unlikely—I pondered the concept of trust here. While being considered trustworthy was reassuring, a nagging feeling persisted that her trust might be misplaced.Creating distance between us, I surveyed the lounge, finding no signs of anyone else. With a sigh, I decided to leave her undisturbed. The idea of heading to the bath presented itself as a perfect opportunity amidst this peculiar journey.
Those were what I remember or rather those were the memories up till now.
"—uhh..."A sudden glitch in my memories sent a sharp pain through my head, making me wince. Every memory feels like it's been filtered, as if I'm peering through a foggy window into my own past. It's fresh and accurate, so real it's tangible, yet I don't recognize it. It's akin to waking up with no memories and having someone, maybe even myself, insistently telling me who I am, what I've done. But it doesn't resonate; it's like hearing a story about a stranger who looks like me, talks like me, but isn't me. The memories are there, but they feel foreign, distant, like whispers in a language I can't quite grasp. I'm caught in the limbo between knowing and not knowing, a peculiar state where the past is a jigsaw puzzle missing crucial pieces, leaving an incomplete picture of who I am.—ColdI shivered uncontrollably from the cold. Wondering why it felt cold was none other than the bathwater, it had become so frigid. Confused and disoriented, I climbed out of the bath, my mind racing to piece together what had happened. Had I fallen asleep in the bath for long?My thoughts drifted to memories of how I got here. Firstly I had gotten out of the library leaving Number 102 asleep and headed for the bath, removed my cloths and placed them in the basin, then looked at my hair, which had grown considerably. I touched the unkempt strands and muttered, "Looks like my hair has grown a lot. I'll need to cut it after the bath."I walked toward the shower, my bare body exposed, and began to wash myself with a showerhead and soap. The warm water offered a brief respite from the lingering chill. After thoroughly washing up, I entered the bath, relishing the warmth that enveloped me.As I relaxed in the soothing water, my fatigue caught up with me, and my eyelids grew heavy. I must have dozed off in the bath, completely losing track of time.Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the bathhouse. Panic surged through me as I realized that I was not alone. I quickly left the bath, my body shivering from the cold, and sought a hiding spot.Huddled in a corner, I waited anxiously, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder. My heart raced as I wondered who could have entered the bathhouse while I was asleep.Seconds later as I crouched in the corner of the bathhouse, concealed from view, my eyes scanning the room anxiously. It was silent, except for the distant hum of the heater that I had just turn on, its blue light on the wall indicating its activation.Trickling sweat beads from my face. Suddenly, I heard a soft footstep, growing closer with each passing moment. My breath caught in my throat as I pressed myself further into the shadows, trying to become one with them. Who could it be?As the figure drew nearer, my anxiety reached its peak, but my shock knew no bounds when the blurry barrier I hid behind allowed the person to pass through.
The silhouette reveal a figure—no, it was... 102
It was 102, and she appeared lost and teary-eyed as she searched the bathhouse."Bl...!?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of uncertainty and relief. She had been looking for me, all alone and scared. My heart ached at the sight of her, knowing she had woken up in this strange place with no one to comfort her.How could I've left her all alone in the library? Without hesitation, I approached her, reaching out to gently pat her head, offering what little comfort I could. Her body felt as usual—unnaturally cold, sending a shiver down my spine, a sensation that shouldn't be possible for a human—only if they were dead. But she was well alive. I didn't want to scare her, so I suggested the one thing that might help."Why don't you have a bath? I'll wait for you outside," I suggested softly, my eyes filled with concern as I stepped away, giving her space to decide.Suddenly, her fingers gripped my hand, and she spoke, "Ba..." Her words were cryptic, but I had started to understand that she often said things related to the situation. It was as if she was trying to communicate despite her limitations.I furrowed my brow, trying to decipher her message. Then, a thought struck me, and I asked gently, "Do you not know what a 'bath' is?" 102 gave me a quizzical look.I couldn’t believe it. My guess about 102’s words turned out to be right, but what surprised me even more was her look that said she didn’t know what a bath was. It caught me off guard—how could someone not know about something so basic? It made me realize just how different her world might be, sparking a little curiosity.
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