“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.”
“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.”
ERASING MEMORIES
Kazuko’s eyes flew open in surprise. “Does that mean you’ll be erasing
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.”
Kazuko stood up and took a good look at Kazuo’s face, that lovely face that she would surely never see again.
“Are you going now… right now?” she asked.
Kazuo nodded solemnly.
“Can you just tell me one thing?” said Kazuko, her voice cracking. “Are you never going to return to this time? Are you never going to appear in front of me again?”
“I will probably come again. Some day…” said Kazuo as he picked up the radio-like device from the desk and pushed in the antenna.
“But when will that be?”
“I don’t know when. Probably when I finish my research, when I succeed in making the potion.”
Hearing noises from the road outside, Kazuko realized that time was moving once more.
“So will you come back to see me?” She pleaded again.
Already, Kazuo was starting to fade before her eyes, and she had to struggle to keep him in sight. She watched as a white steam enveloped Kazuo and a strong scent of lavender filled the air.
“I will come to see you, Kazuko,” he said, rapidly fading. “Not as Kazuo Fukamachi, but as someone completely new to you.”
“I’ll know,” said Kazuko, struggling to hold on to her consciousness. “I’ll know who you are.”
Then everything around her went black, and all her strength left her body. And in that brief moment before her body hit the floor, she heard a distant voice.
“Goodbye, Kazuko. Goodbye.”
