“I… I’m sure you’re curious as to why I’m standing here, in Shinonome-Kun’s phone, asking for your help of all people.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

( He returns the gesture, the same feline characteristic showing up in his eyes. However, despite his smile, a heavy feeling weighed on his chest. )

( Why was he so nervous? Rui takes a deep breath; this was it, there was no turning back now. )

〚 ᴀᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ. 〛

. . . → ░░░░░░ 〘 ᴀᴄᴄᴇꜱꜱɪɴɢ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ ᴅᴀᴛᴀʙᴀꜱᴇ… 〙

( Solos )

( Rui rests his head on the edge of Akito’s phone, staring at the passing vehicles. But his gaze was unfocused— it looked like he really was deep in thought )

friends here to give them a fresh start… no, if it compromised the lives of the versions of themselves already here, then he would have to think twice. )

( He couldnt afford to be more selfish than he already was being by asking for this. )

[ I don’t know… am I REALLY doing the right thing? ]

( Rui began to wonder what the other him would feel about this. )

( The thought of going back to that deeply flawed world of his… upsetted him, to say the least, but he would do it if it was the only option he had left. )

( At the same time, if there was even a chance he could at least bring his

「 Think of the adventure we’ll have when we’re at it, too. Wouldn’t you love to find out what color the dinosaurs REALLY were? Or if humanity did eventually make it to life on another planet? The world is so vast, with so many things to see and so much things to learn… 」

( He blinked and quickly gathered himself once more, saying: )

“But… thank you, Shinonome-kun. You agreeing to doing this really means a lot to me.”

“Oh? That sounds intriguing. Maybe I could join him in his endeavor. They say two heads are even better than one, after all, what more two ‘me’s!”

( Rui’s voice was taut with excitement, his eyes lit up by that characteristic, slightly unhinged light that appeared whenever he had an idea. )

( Was he being impulsive by doing this? He was playing with things out of even his reach. The last thing he wanted was to make a grab at false hope and set off a domino effect that would only hurt everyone in the end. )

“…It would be nice if you could, yes.”

( Rui finally answered. )

( Rui thought long and hard before answering. )

( He did want to give his friends another chance at a normal life, yes. But would he be threatening the lives of the other him here and his friends as well? )

( More importantly, Rui didn’t even know how they would all react to this information. )

( A tall individual in a white jacket stood in a corner of the pewter inn, silently observing his surroundings, taking in information about the world. )

( He had a strange robotic Delibird at his side, its limbs slack and eyes dim— it seemed to be powered down. )