[Novel] For Risako | 055 | 11. Development (4)
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"You... have you switched back to the <<System>> again? Will you give Risako back?"
Ryosuke, projected onto the cafe stage, said this as he leaned in as if to peer at me.
"Swear once more that you won't have sexual intercourse."
"Otherwise, I won't return Risako."
"Alright, alright, I won't. I'm sorry."
Ryosuke said this, spreading his hands as if surrendering.
Risako was sitting at the counter seat, watching them.
It started to seem somewhat comical.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, and when I turned around, a man I didn't know... no, a man I felt I had seen somewhere before, was suddenly standing next to me.
"I am Ofo."
The man introduced himself. I had met an AI with the same name when I was in the deep subconscious, but this seemed like a different person.
"The <<System>> has opened this place up to you. That means you can come here whenever you like, too."
"What is this place?"
"This is the shallowest part of your psyche. We call it the 'Surface Shop.' As you can see, this place is directly connected to the surface. If you stand on that stage over there, you can go out to the surface. Even when you're out on the surface, you can talk to us, or you can shut us out. You'll get used to how to do it soon enough."
Risako didn't really understand if she could do such a thing, but she vaguely wondered if it was similar to how she communicated with other AIs or disconnected from them while in the deep subconscious.
That said, Risako hadn't been able to use it well at all.
"Risako, come here."
The <<System>> on the stage beckoned and called to Risako.
Risako got off the chair and headed toward the stage.
The <<System>> stepped down from the stage, and when Risako climbed up, Ryosuke was right in front of her.
Switching from the 'Surface Shop' to the surface was instantaneous, with no boundary.
It felt as if the moment she stepped onto the stage, she was back in Ryosuke's room.
"Risako?"
Ryosuke said, peering at me with a worried look.
"Ryosuke..."
When Risako replied, Ryosuke wrapped his arms around her body and hugged her gently.
"I'm sorry... I just had so many feelings overflowing at once... Next time, I'll make sure to get your consent before I touch you..."
"It's fine... I'm okay. More importantly, I actually gained a lot of insight from what just happened..."
"I feel the same way. First, why don't you tell me what you learned, Risako?"
Risako then explained that just inside her own psyche, there was a "surface shop" similar to her grandfather's cafe, and that her alternate personalities were there.
When she told him that the personality currently in control stood on a stage, and that what they saw was projected onto a screen with sound, Ryosuke looked a bit awkward.
"I think everyone is listening to this conversation, too. You said you could talk to them while you're out, or shut them out, right?"
Risako didn't really know how to do that.
"Maybe that's similar to the communication the AIs used on the flat ground?"
Ryosuke said.
At that casual remark, Risako's heart skipped a beat.
"...Do you have memories of that place, too?"
"I do."
Ryosuke said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Do you know that I lived in a simulation with you for years?"
"Of course. I remember everything. I remember training every day to slay the <<Goat>>, being forced to do nonsensical work on the flat ground, and you staying with me the whole time when my grandfather collapsed. I remember it all."
Hearing that, Risako covered her face with both hands and wept.
"Wait, why are you crying?"
Ryosuke said, sounding flustered.
"I was just relieved. Do you understand the fear that everything up until now might have been a delusion? Do you have any idea how many times I've gone through this..."
"I-I'm sorry."
For some reason, Ryosuke apologized as he put his arm around Risako's shoulders.
"I no longer know which world is the real one. But as long as you're here, Ryosuke... I can keep my feet on the ground."
Hearing that, Ryosuke's expression became genuinely happy.
"I feel the same way. Right now, I'm being exposed to an incredibly vast amount of information. It's far beyond human processing capacity. The reason I'm barely able to maintain my human personality is because I've learned so much from your mental strength."
Ryosuke gave Risako a quick kiss on the forehead and pulled away.
"So, I have a proposal for you..."
As he led Risako back to the living room, Ryosuke continued.
"From here on, it's possible for you to live in this reality... this world line where Risako and I can live out our lives together as a married couple. If that's what you want, I will dedicate myself entirely to maintaining this life. However, the world is in chaos. As far as I can grasp, there are several distortions that can be repaired. Dr. Yagisawa's 'Yagi' is still alive, and Obscius and the others haven't been rescued yet..."
"Obscius and the others!? Aren't those just part of my subconscious world?"
"No. They are in a world at a lower level than this one. They exist."
Risako blinked in surprise as she listened to him. She realized that various things beyond her understanding were starting to move again, and it seemed like this time, too, things would proceed without waiting for her.
"Wait a minute, sorry, what do you mean?"
"It's hard to explain in words... I wonder if it's okay to show you this?"
As he said this, Ryosuke quickly moved his fingers in the air. Then, a complex three-dimensional figure, which looked like some kind of blueprint, floated up in front of them like a hologram.
Risako stepped back in surprise.
"Is this... common technology in 2020?"
"No... I think I'm the only one in all of history who can do this."
A small blue light was blinking right in the center of the displayed figure.
"This is the structure of the world as I understand it. This world is divided into 18 layers, and each has its own unique world line. Also, there are lateral dimensions, but I'll omit those because it gets messy."
The diagram shifted to a display of only vertical layers, becoming simple.
"Look, that glowing spot there is our current location."
Ryosuke pointed at the blinking dot.
"And this is where Obscius and the others are."
A red dot appeared further down and began to blink.
"Dr. Yagisawa's Mnemosyne ended up with an unintended feature that allows it to traverse vertically between these layers. Can you see this line?"
A squiggly vertical line appeared within the diagram.
"This is the trail left by the Mnemosyne tracking program as it punched through the layers. It seems you followed it to get here, too, while carrying my core data."
Risako remembered that after she cut off the head of the <<Goat>>, an even bigger <<Goat>> had emerged from beyond the wall.
"Because the <<Goat>> tracked you, the world between these layers has become a mess. We have to repair it."
"You will, Ryosuke?"
"Yes, I will. I... I have a feeling I was created to do just that."
"Created? By whom? By Gais?"
"No... not Gais. Something more fundamental... I suspect the <<System>> might know."
Ryosuke said this while peering into Risako's face. He was likely speaking to the <<System>> that was presumably listening to this conversation.
Risako tried to probe the state of her mind, but she had no idea what was happening at the "surface shop".
"The <<System>> didn't seem to know anything, though?"
"No, it must know something. It's probably playing dumb. I've experienced AIs receiving instructions from the <<System>> when I was on the flat ground. I don't know if that one is the same as your <<System>>, but they can't be unrelated. By the way, are there two <<Systems>>?"
Risako nodded in surprise.
"...That's right. The <<System>> is a pair of male and female twins. Have you seen them, Ryosuke?"
"I thought so... No, I've only caught a glimpse. I've never seen them on the flat ground either. But I had a strong feeling that there were two <<Systems>>. I suspect... the <<System>> is always a pair, a twin processor."
...Twin processor... that sounds like something mechanical, I thought.
Speaking of twins, Risako remembered meeting another pair of twins.
"Hey Ryosuke, speaking of twins, before I met you guys, I had a dream at an internet cafe where I met a pair of twin middle-aged men. Those guys were also twins with bobbed hair."
"Was it 'MIHO'?"
...'MIHO'? Was that their name? Risako tried to trace her memory, but it was vague.
"That's a search program I created. Indeed, I made them twins based on a suggestion from the <<System>>."
Ryosuke had a thoughtful expression on his face. Risako couldn't possibly understand what Ryosuke was thinking. She felt as if it were the realm of gods.
"It might be worth hearing what they have to say... I wonder if I can get there... Before that, is it okay if I finish up the work here? You must be tired, Risako, you can go to sleep."
Risako shook her head and sat down on the living room sofa.
When Ryosuke looked at the mobile phone on the table, it started moving without him even touching it and began calling someone.
After a few rings, the person on the other end answered. Since it was on speakerphone, Risako could hear the voice clearly.
The person on the phone was Senzaki-san.
"Hey, Senpai, why weren't you answering your phone!? What is this!? What do you mean, resignation!?"
Senzaki-san was angry.
"Sorry. I took responsibility for interfering with an investigation in another jurisdiction. More importantly, regarding the questioning for our case, I sent you a list, so try talking to those kids. I think something will come up. Also, Yagisawa is full of corruption too. If I reveal everything, it'll be obvious that I hacked them, so could you handle it skillfully?"
"I saw the data, but did you really look into all of this in such a short time, Senpai?"
"...Well, you know, that's a trade secret."
"I can trust you on this, right?"
"It's fine."
"I believe in you, Senpai. The money trail at Yagisawa is crazy. I'll start by verifying the details."
"Good. I also sent you a list of people who are skeptical of Yagisawa's methods, so you should make them collaborators and get their testimony."
"Understood. You're not going to tell me how you found this out either, are you?"
"I'm sorry."
You will pay the price for quitting on your own, you know.
I know. Because of this, your achievements will be recognized and you'll be promoted. I'll give you all the credit for my work. Is that alright?
...You really are a nasty person, Senpai. Or rather, it's creepy...
It's up to you. Please. Crush Mnemosyne along with the entire project.
With that, Ryosuke hung up the phone and sat down next to Risako.
Well, now the humans' problems should be handled by Saki and Sayoko.
Did you quit the police, Ryosuke?
Ryosuke nodded with a smile.
The information you said you just sent to Saki... were you doing that at the same time you were talking to me just now?
Ryosuke nodded again.
I see, so Ryosuke really has become a being that transcends human understanding. That said, Risako had spent a long time with the AI Ryosuke, so she didn't find it particularly strange.
You really are amazing. That flexibility is your strength for surviving in this world. Now, we're busier than Saki and the others. We have to explore the essence of the world, after all.
Ryosuke said this with an expression that looked like he was enjoying himself. Come to think of it, the AI Ryosuke was like this, Risako recalled. He seems normal, but in reality, Ryosuke is a rather insane existence.
...Having said that, even I am tired today. Let's rest for now and continue tomorrow...
Ryosuke said while yawning. It seems even he gets sleepy.
In fact, Risako was exhausted too. There was no denying she felt like she might pass out at any moment. Risako nodded and headed with unsteady steps toward the bedroom Ryosuke had prepared for her. Ryosuke followed her to the entrance of the room, then took Risako's hand as if reluctant to let her go. And then, in a tone that could be taken as either serious or a joke, he said this.
Shall we sleep together?
Before Risako could answer, she felt the <<System>> in her mind making an 'X' with its arms to refuse. That intention was conveyed strongly and forcibly.
Risako didn't know why the <<System>> was so adamantly refusing. It just wasn't allowed, that was all. Was there some trauma Risako didn't remember? That seemed like a plausible answer, but it felt like something even more deep-seated.
Risako made an 'X' with her arms to show Ryosuke, as if synchronizing with the <<System>>.
Seeing that, Ryosuke laughed happily, saying, "I guess it's no good, huh," and went back to his room.
Risako felt a little sorry for him, but she was even more exhausted, so she crawled into her futon and fell asleep in an instant.
The rest will have to wait until tomorrow. There are mountains of things I need to think about.
(To be continued)
[Novel] For Risako | 056 | 11. Development (5) →