compnetwork | Anonymous text after the Taurus event

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Anonymous text after the Taurus event

[No way is he showing his face to Hinoto-Ri: not now, not soon. Time heals all wounds, and time is exactly what he needs to work through the aftermath of the event.]

The government announcement and star sign "sickness" —

Will this happen to us a lot? Is this just how it works here? What can we do to... stop it?

...

I'm sorry.

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I don't know. Seems all we can do is keep fighting those big monsters until someone tells us what we can do to help.

It's happened at least once before.

[She wasn't there, but she talks to people]

...Maybe we can't. The last time was six months ago, and we didn't make any headway on preventing it in between. We were busy, but... I'm sure someone would have thought to work on it if they could.

Where do you even start...? Does anyone even have any experience with mind control or brainwashing or psychic powers or anything?

I don't know if this will continue to happen, but...

For now, I think we should focus on trying to prevent it if it's possible. That, and try to do what we can to repair the damage that was done.

Someone to tell us what to do. . . Like the Masked Man, or the government?

What if there's something we're all missing here?

The Scorpio event?

I read something about that. . .

Maybe they would, but maybe not. If people thought it might be a one-time event, or if people were trying to get back to their lives after--

Wait. . .

Mind control, brainwashing... Like hypnotism, right? What if someone did have experience with something like that?

[When the name "Aoi Misato" pops up as the sender, Otonashi hesitates. She's another Taurus event victim who must know exactly what this feels like. He switches the feed over to video after carefully ensuring that it will indeed be private.

He still looks rather nervous.]

... Misato. Are you... are you okay?

[Her eyes widen at first with surprise as she realizes who it is, but they soon become filled with concern.]

...Well, I've been better. [It's an attempt to lighten the mood slightly, and also make it clear he shouldn't worry about her. True to what she had said in her text, she would rather focus on trying to fix whatever could still be salvaged instead of remain bound by a past she had no control over.

It still hurts, but... She has to stay strong about this.]

What about you? Are you alright, Otonashi?

Yes. The zodiac seems to have power here.

Ah... yeah. [It's a flat, short acknowledgement, but understanding nonetheless. In the interest of not sounding too dismissive, he sits upright. Based on the background of the video, he appears to be in an unlit room.]

I'll be fine. I want to keep busy... I want to see if there's something I can do about this. If this is something I... can't change, I... should at least be informed.

Or that guy who helped us out during the fight. He seemed to know some things. We probably are.

[She worries about that unlit room. Sitting in the dark isn't good for your eyes, is it?]

...I think that's a good idea.

But, you're sure you're doing okay? It looks a little dark over there...

[Unsaid for the moment, but the concern behind her words is clear: are you taking care of yourself?]

Yeah, like everyone else said, it's happened before. It was a while ago last time though. And other people got messed up last time too! Like one of my friends went crazy before, but he was fine this time. So it's kind of weird. I don't really know what's going on.

Why are you apologizing?

Aw, come on. We're brought here to defend the city; hoping it won't happen again isn't a good excuse. I mean, it's not like I did anything of any practical help, either... Predicting the signs doesn't mean anything if you can't stop it.

If someone knows how to fight these things, they should probably speak up.

That guy that helped... What guy?

I wasn't able to see. . .

I. . . don't know much about the zodiac signs.

I'll read back in the network log or check for a database somewhere. Is there anything else you've noticed?

Yeah, but just because we were brought here to defend doesn't mean that everyone does. And some visitors are new and had no idea what was going on. Predicting when these things happen is at least a step ahead of where we are now. . .

I don't know how, but I knew someone who taught himself hypnotism. There must be a way to learn something like that. . . If we learned, maybe we could teach ourselves to combat it—

or at least have a higher tolerance for brainwashing. Any defense is better than what we have.

It's fine, Misato, I— [He pauses, seeming to pick up on her worry. He would feel the same way if their positions were switched, wouldn't he?]

I left my apartment. Even if I'm not a danger right now, I feel like I can't stay there. I'll... find a direction, I'm sure. I just need time. [This all feels agonizingly familiar to him, but that's all the more reason for him to pursue it. There has to be a light at the end of the tunnel: it's only a matter of finding it.]

Is that the only other time? Six months ago. . . ? I'd like to find out what's happening if I can.

. . .

[He hesitates. "Why are you apologizing?"]

I hurt people I care about. I'm always talking about morality and respect, but when it really counted. . . I hurt innocent people instead.

Your friend that "went crazy" . . .

Are you still friends?

...Susceptibility to hypnotism is a personal thing, too. Some people are able to combat it more easily than others. I don't know if learning how to hypnotize someone means you're any less susceptible to it, though.

Still, it can't hurt. I guess there must be books like that in the library...

They've found a way to make them apply to people they logically shouldn't.

You left your apartment?

[Worry is now skyrocketing!]

Where are you planning to stay? The streets are too dangerous, especially when it gets late.

Yeah, that was it. I'd like to know too, but honestly, I have no idea.

Yeah, of course we're still friends! He may have done all that stuff, but it wasn't really his fault. That zodiac stuff just made him go crazy I guess. He felt bad for it afterwards.

It sounds like it's the same with you.

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