Yasutaka Tsutsui - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

“It’s like you’ve known me for a lot longer,” said Kazuko to herself, in a daze.

“That’s right. That’s how I feel,” Kazuo said, smiling. “But the time we actually spent together was just a month.”

“Just a month?” Kazuko looked up in surprise and shook her head vigorously. “That can’t be! We’ve known each other for a really long time. It’s been… two years. Even before that, we weren’t really on talking terms, but I’ve known you since elementary school. I mean, we live in the same neighbourhood!”

“Ah, of course. I forgot to tell you.”

“Forgot to tell me what?”

“I gave you, or rather everyone around me, false memories about myself.”

“False memories?” Kazuko didn’t understand.

“Yes. I actually arrived here about a month ago. But to be able to fit in here comfortably, I had to make it seem as if I’d been here for a long time. So I made a false history about myself and gave it to a lot of people as memory.”

“Unbelievable! So you gave those memories to me, to Goro, Mr Fukushima, to Mariko…”

“Yes. Everyone in our class and all the other people who should know me.”

“But how were you able to do such a thing?”

“It’s not as difficult as you might think. You know about hypnosis, right? If you get someone under hypnosis and tell them they’re a bird, they will actually believe that. What I did was similar to that, although the technology involved is much more advanced. Plus, hypnosis is easier to achieve with a big group rather than just one person. It works like a sort of chain reaction, with one person’s belief rapidly spreading to the next and so on.”

Kazuko had heard something like this from Mr Fuku-shima. “Group Hypnosis…”

“Right. I did something similar to what you’re describing. In my experience the people of this time are extremely prone to hypnosis.”

Well, I guess people of my time are all nothing more than barbarians to you! thought Kazuko to herself.

“So that’s how I started my life here — as someone who’d been around for a while. I made it so that I was already a student here who had been living in that house for a long time…”

“That house!” Kazuko suddenly thought of Kazuo’s parents. “So the people in that house — does that mean they’re not your real family?”

“No. They didn’t have any kids. So I created a memory that I was their child. They are very good people, and they like plants too. That’s one of the reasons I chose them as my host family — because they have plenty of lavenders in their greenhouse. I was going to use them to make Crox Zilvius and then return home. And then, today, I finally finished making the stimulant!”

“So if they’re not your real family, I guess that means your name isn’t really Kazuo Fukamachi, is it?”

“No. Kazuo Fukamachi is a name I gave myself for living in this time. I have a different name in the future.”

“And what’s that?”

“My name is…” Kazuo fell silent. “It will probably sound odd to you. But my real name is Ken Sogol.”

“Ken Sogol?” Kazuo repeated the name a few times to herself. “It’s a nice name.”

“Thank you.”

“But why didn’t you tell me all this sooner? You saw me suffering…”

“Well, when you fainted after smelling the potion, I thought I might be able to just let time take care of it without you ever having to know. You’re such a peaceful girl, and I didn’t want to ruin your life with such complex and confusing things. But then, unexpectedly, you got into that road accident and you managed to teleport and time-leap. Then you started leaping into the past of your own accord, so that you could meet me! Things had already got so complicated for you, so I decided to travel back in time as well to talk to you.”

Well, I guess that answers everything now, thought Ka-zuko. But Kazuo kept on talking.

“But there is something very important, Kazuko. I’m not actually allowed to tell you any of this. None of us from the future are allowed to talk about this stuff with people from the past.”

“But why?”

“Because it confuses history. It has a bad effect on society as well. You can see that, right? If I told people now that a few years down the road they were going to be at war it would cause panic. Especially because there is nothing you can do about it.”

“We could prevent the war.”

“It doesn’t work like that. History often cannot be changed. But if you could change anything, there are plenty of people who would love to take advantage of that for their own profit.”

“So there’s a law in your own time that says you cannot tell people in the past about the future.”

“Yes. That’s about right.”

“Does that mean you’ve broken the law? I mean, you’ve told me everything.”

“There are some exceptions.”

“Exceptions?”

Kazuo hesitated for a while, then he sighed and continued.

“Even if I talk about the future to someone, if that person doesn’t remember it’s okay. That is to say, it’s okay if I erase your memory about me.”

Kazuko’s eyes flew open in surprise. “Does that mean you’ll be erasing my memory before you return to the future?”

Kazuo nodded sadly. “It can’t be avoided. It’s really sad that you won’t remember me after I leave, but I’ll be punished in my own time if I don’t do it.”

“But I don’t want to forget!” cried Kazuko, shaking her head violently. She thought of all her memories of fun talks with Kazuo, and her memory of him confessing his love for her — memories she simply couldn’t bear to lose. And what about the memory of his face! She wouldn’t even be able to remember what he looked like!

“But everything that’s happened, it’s been so precious,” pleaded Kazuko. “I don’t want to forget. You can remember me, though, can’t you? You can remember me for ever. It’s not fair that only I have to forget.”

“It’s not only you! Don’t you see? I’ll have to erase the memory of everyone who’s known me in this time.”

“And when are you returning to the future?”

“Right now.”

“So soon…” said Kazuko with a tear in her eye.

“Of course I want to stay as long as possible. I’d much rather stay in this time and live happily among people like yourself and Goro. But I have work to do. I need to finish my research.”

Kazuko drooped her head. “Well, you are from the future, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you should want to return.”

“But I do like your time better than the future,” said Kazuo without hesitation. “The pace of life is slower here, people are nicer. It’s just much easier to live here and to get along with everyone. And, of course, you’re here.” Kazuo looked into Kazuko’s eyes. “Of course, Goro is a great friend, and Mr Fukushima is a great teacher. But if it comes to choosing between staying here and going back to my research, then I have to go back to my research. It is, after all, my main purpose in life.”

“But please, don’t erase my memory!” begged Kazuko with all her heart. “I won’t tell anyone! I promise. I’ll keep the memory of you hidden in my heart. I can’t stand the thought of losing all my memories of you. I can’t!”

Kazuo looked distraught at hearing her words. “I can’t do that. Please understand,” he said in a low and determined voice.

Realizing her cheeks were wet with tears, Kazuko hurriedly took out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes. Suddenly, she felt rather ashamed at being so emotional in front of Kazuo.

“I understand…” she mumbled. But her heart was too heavy for her to say much more. “So I guess this is it.”