Heaven's BBS | Text

[fortune_detective]

From: Naoto Shirogane
Posted: July 14th

Hello,

For those of you to whom I've not yet become acquainted, my name is Naoto Shirogane, and I'm one of the newer shinki who arrived here a little over a week ago. This is my first time posting to the BBS, so please excuse me if the length of this starter entry is perhaps a little longer than what is typical. First, I would like to thank those of you who I did have the pleasure of meeting at the Tanabata festival. You each have my sincerest gratitude for providing me your time and assistance as I attempted to get my bearings on that first day. There was a lot to process all at once, so your patience with me was most appreciated.

Second, I would like to pose a question at large purely as a point of curiosity. I've noticed that I seem to have a lingering sense of hunger that is never quite possible to satiate. I do not wish to cause alarm, as it's not exactly painful to any degree. Really, it's just an odd sort of sensation that I find distracting from time to time. Has anyone else ever felt something similar? If so, what did you do to alleviate it?

Comments

[mithrarin]

It makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, why else would it be? The way I figure it, our bodies just aren't quite certain what to do about being dead and still.... alive, as far as anyone can tell. Something's just a little off, and that's how it shows up.

[fortune_detective]

That does make some sense.

Alternatively, since we are deceased, would it follow that food would naturally not provide the same level of nourishment that it does for the living?

Though I suppose that's merely an extension of what you just suggested.

[mithrarin]

You getting the feeling yet that our existence here consists of wondering about something, then having to stop and shrug because we can't even begin to get answers, day in and day out?

[fortune_detective]

I had noticed that seemed to be a trend, yes.

[mithrarin]

Get used to it. Especially shinki... we don't get answers. For our own good.

[fortune_detective]

I understand.

[Naoto had already been cautioned about her curiosity once before by Homura, and she wasn't ignorant to the immense dread that would come over her when conversations drifted close to certain topics. These clues and Dust's own words just now, they were all caution signs for Naoto to know that whatever lay beyond was not something she needed to discover.]

[mithrarin]

[She's doing better than Dust, who is fine with consequences so long as they come to only him.]

If it starts to get to you... let me know. I can at least commiserate, even if I don't have many other options.

[fortune_detective]

I'll keep your offer in mind. Thank you, Dust.

[And her gratitude is genuine. Naoto doesn't typically like to vent her frustrations to others, preferring instead to try and appear always as strong and resolute as she can. However, all that bottling up isn't exactly the healthiest.]

[mithrarin]

[Dust gets it. But he's also seen how badly the shinki curse of amnesia grates on others... and the way he's lived it himself.]

It's nothing.

Without our memories... we're all we have.