What if Time Travel Just to See the Past Became Everyday Life | A Story About a Society Observing Unchangeable Time

Hello, I'm Yura.

Today, I'm going to talk about what would happen if "time travel technology just to see the past" were sold to the general public.

You cannot redo time.
You cannot change history.

However—

It is a world where only "observing" the past is permitted.

Not memories, but
being able to see actual events as objective footage.

What if such time travel became a part of everyday life?

Let's take a little peek.

Time travel is no longer the exclusive patent of special research institutions.

To be precise,
"observational travel to the past"
has started being sold to the general public.

You cannot interfere.
You cannot alter it.
You cannot touch or speak to anyone.

You can only watch.

Time travel tickets are one per person.
Non-refundable.
Observation time is strictly managed.

I work at the sales counter for them.

Most users
do not choose major historical moments.

Not the start of a war,
nor the moment of a revolution.

Most people
specify a date and time related to themselvesto visit.

"I already know
what happens, right?"

The man completing the purchase procedure
said as if to confirm.

"Yes,"
I answer according to the manual.

"The subject of observation
will proceed exactly as recorded."

When the system first began,
people were skeptical.

"Why go to see
a past that cannot be changed?"

However, in reality,
tickets are selling steadily.

Looking at the post-use surveys,
the reason was simple.

• I wanted to confirm the expression on their face the last day we met

• I wanted to see the words I couldn't say, even if just by the movement of their lips

• I wanted to know what I was thinking at that time

The past is being used
not for correction, but for confirmation.

One day,
a woman came to the counter.

The specified date and time
was an ordinary weekday afternoon.

"At this time,
did something special happen?"

I asked for confirmation.

"No,"
she shook her head.

"Nothing happened."

"Even so,
are you sure?"

"Yes."

She
thought for a moment before saying.

"Perhaps,
I just wanted to properly see
that nothing had happened."

The purchase procedure
was completed without any issues.

I explained all the
precautions as well.

She
understood them all.

A few days later,
she used the ticket.

After returning,
a simple usage report arrived.

That single sentence
was all that remained as a record.

I
think as I process that report.

Even knowing that the past cannot be changed,
people go to see the past.

It is
not to erase regrets.

Many people
go to confirm
whether they were wrong or not.

The words they didn't choose.
The moment they walked away.
The reason they didn't look back.

To see if those things
truly existed.

Time travel tickets
are still selling today.

No one
tries to rewrite the past.

What people go to see
is not for a do-over.

It is to confirm
if the version of themselves back then really had no other choice.

The past does not change.

However,
when the way we see the past changes, the way we choose our future changes just a little.

Tickets
are not sold for the sake of yesterday.

They are sold for the sake of tomorrow.