[ video ]

[thirdarrow]

[ The video feed opens to show the inside of an apartment, with a chair directly facing the camera. The interior of the room has been left untouched, and there are no visible decorations save for a single calligraphy scroll hung on one wall. There seems to be no one on-screen.

A few seconds' silence elapses before someone speaks. ]

... Hello? Is this... transmitting properly? [ Pause. ] Ah, it should be.

[ The camera shakes momentarily before settling down again. A young man comes into view from the left of the screen and sits down on the chair.

For those who have met him before, he seems... older, somehow. His features still suggest approximately the same age, but he looks more tired, perhaps even a little unwell. There are dark shadows under his eyes, and his frame shows vague signs of one too many forgotten meals.

His voice still sounds the same, though - calm and composed. ]

I suppose I ought to introduce myself again...? My name is Takakage Kobayakawa, and you may have seen me about during the Thirteenth Hour in the previous week.

From my perspective, eight years have elapsed since my last contact with this city. If I am not mistaken, only a day has passed here - therefore my momentary absence. I apologize if anyone had tried to contact me yesterday, for I was not present and thus could not take your message.

But in any case, I am here again. It has been a long while.

[ He nods, smiling faintly. ]

If there is anything I need to know and have missed, I would appreciate it if you could take the time to update me.

Thank you.

[ The feed cuts here. ]

Comments

Video

[unbroken_chain]

"You'll be happy to know that society did not collapse while you were away!"

Slight pause as she prepares to launch into an explanation of how that happened to her once before she really takes in his appearance and trails off.

"...are you alright? You look kind of sick."

[meaningdies]

[... Well.]

Welcome back, I suppose. You might want to rest a bit before venturing out again.

[thirdarrow]

[ Takakage smiles at Kotoha's first sentence, but her question makes him pause. He answers only after a few moments' silence, still smiling, but his expression is a tinge rueful. ]

Yes, I am. Do not worry about me.

[ By that, he means yes I know I physically look like a wreck but I'm used to it so it's okay. Eight years of constant war takes their toll on everyone's bodies. He considers himself lucky that he even survived. ]

How have you been?

[thirdarrow]

[ This is someone he hasn't met before. ]

Thank you. I will.

[ It's quite a relief to be away from his active service, to be honest. Even though the land was unified, there were still so many things that had to be done... ]

[meaningdies]

If things don't improve you may want to visit the hospital. They're rather helpful.

[Naoya doesn't look too well himself, but shh.]

[thirdarrow]

[ ... It takes him a moment to remember what a hospital was. Did he really look that ill? Oh dear. He ought to pay more attention to his appearance.

His smile hasn't wavered, though. ]

Alright. Thank you for the advice.

... may I know your name, by the by?

[meaningdies]

[It's just an option. And they have good care here, so why not?]

Naoya. It's not as well-known as your name, I'm afraid.

[Not that name, at least.]

[thirdarrow]

[ ... is that so... ]

I see. [ He chuckles faintly. ] Some modern folk know of me from history, yes. Though nowadays very few do pay attention to the past, it seems.

A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I presume you are from the modern era?

[meaningdies]

They don't, no. But the stories of the past are not so easily ignored. Like it or not, everyone is affected by history, whether from their world or this one. I have a lot of knowledge about various times in my world's history.

... But yes. The year was 2009 when I was brought here. About six eras later than your own, depending on which historian you ask.

[thirdarrow]

[ Hm. ] That ought to be four centuries, give or take.

[ Though he hesitates to ask for more details. He... doesn't yet know how his story will end. And he has a feeling that he doesn't want to. ]

Do you come from Japan? In my time, we called it the Land of the Rising Sun.

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha plays along with the subject change, but there's a look in her eyes along the lines of 'you aren't putting this off forever, buster'.

"Pretty good! Been eating right and getting enough sleep."

'even though it looks like you haven't' is the unspoken message.

[thirdarrow]

He gets the hint.

"I'm glad to hear that." yes I get your point and I will try. maybe. keyword is try. But old habits are hard to shake off, after all - it has been eight years. Eight long years of constant campaigning meant that little sleep was often the norm (enemies didn't conveniently ambush you during the day), and at some point he had just started forgetting to eat. Often, his father or brother had to poke him to come to mealtimes.

"It'll take a while to get adjusted, but I should be able to go back to work soon." He had a job as a librarian - and the only Visitor librarian, it seems.

[unbroken_chain]

"Oh, that's good! Where do you work?"

And there are no hidden meanings or dire messages underlying this exchange; apparently she's satisfied.

[konpeitoqueen]

[...oh

well then

uh]

Eight years? You don't exactly look like you've aged eight years, Big Bro Kobayakawa. [...Then again, he feels older. Hey, he's from the Sengoku Era, that probably does shit to you.]

Well, you do still remember me, right?

[thirdarrow]

[ He carefully skips the age question. ]

Of course I remember you, Saionji. [ You're not very easy to forget. Especially since he's had to babysit someone similar in the past half-year.

Okay, maybe not similar in personality, just in the general condition of being hard to handle. ]

You've been doing fine without me, I presume?

[thirdarrow]

"At the library." He nods at this. "... I hope they haven't revoked my post, though."

[meaningdies]

I do. Though certain circumstances in my world's Japan may drive me to seek residency elsewhere.

[Not that... it'll help much...]

[unbroken_chain]

"I doubt they fire people for missing one day."

[thirdarrow]

"I see." Well, that is good news.

There is a pause as he tries to think of something else to say.

"... nothing really has changed with the city, then?" Being here still feels a little surreal. At least he is now fully convinced that his previous visit had not been a dream.

[konpeitoqueen]

[Samurai life must be hard.]

Of course I'm doing fine! It's only been a day here, after all. I'm not pathetic enough to start crying over people being missing for a day.

[She didn't even notice he was missing... A+ friend...]

[thirdarrow]

[ Is that so...

Given what he has heard of from the other modern folk, it seemed that his realm's future was in fact more bleak. He had expected time to heal, not hurt... ]

I see.

How is the future like, if I may ask? From what I have heard, it bears resemblance to this city.

[thirdarrow]

That's good, then. You're becoming more independent.

[ Though Saionji's soon going to find that he's no longer so much of a pushover.

Babysitting psychopaths teaches people at least a few things. ]

[unbroken_chain]

"Uh...I think I may have had a prophetic dream of some sort? Which is weird for a number of reasons."

[thirdarrow]

"... Ah, is that so?" He looks more concerned now.

"You can tell me about it, if you'd like."

[meaningdies]

It does. That's something of a broad question. What sort of things would you like me to tell you about?