Saoq has a lot of hobbies

“Oh my stars oh my stars oh my stars.” Aura panicked trying to make sure Helix was okay, they were bleeding a little and likely had a nasty concussion. Taking a deep breath Aura lifted Helix up and carried them back to their car.

After the lengthy process of hospital admission, Helix was awoken and inspected for a concussion.

“No, no I can think straight let me go.” Helix explained waving their hand.

“We should still keep you under medical supervision for a day or two just to make sure nothing is wrong.”

“Sure sure whatever.” Helix looked confused as they seemed to process what was going on. “That can’t be possible.” They noted to themselves.

“Keep an eye on them” The nurse said before leaving.

Helix sat up and started getting out of their bed “What day is it Aura?”

“It’s the 16th.” Aura noted hesitantly “You’re not in the loop anymore.”

Helix nodded as if this was normal procedure. “I must have slept. I didn't think that was possible.”

“Please Helix what is going on? You were in a time loop? Are you okay?” Aura asked desperately, yet Helix had a distant expression and hadn’t shown any emotions other than confusion and apathy.

“I…I was…wasn’t I. I’m free, oh I’m free, I’m free!” Helix repeated the phrase endlessly with a mixture of laughter and tears, as if they had not just accepted moments ago that the loop was over. It wounded Aura to see their friend in such a damaged condition, just the other day Helix was in a wonderful mood and had all these plans and stories to tell.

Aura tried asking more questions such as “how long?” But Helix didn't seem to notice.

Soon Wera, Tanne, Petal and Rai were at the hospital, having cancelled events and plans to be there.

“How can you be sure they were in a time loop Aura?” Tanne asked, still skeptical

“What if this is a psychotic break?” Petal suggested

“Even so I can’t imagine why Helix of all people would break like that.” Rai says “I mean it can happen to anyone, but I think there must be something between psychosis and a time loop.”

After some more discussion Aura notices Helix scanning the room.

“Wera, Tanne, Petal, Rai…You’re not…why.”

“We’re here because you ran headfirst into a car and got a concussion ya pine needle!” Petal attempts to joke, but it has too much pain and anger mixed in.

“Ohh, I’ll be fine. Aren’t you supposed to be on that date with the—“

“WHAT NO! HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?!” Petal blushes and cuts Helix off.

“You told me, the other day remember? I probably shouldn’t have said in front of everyone, sorry.” Helix tilts their head, then holds their breath.

“I never told anyone about that.” Petal says, horror In their eyes. “You did this Aura! How did you know?”

Aura put up their hands “I didn’t know! I though you were going apple picking.”

“Ok ok calm down Petal.” Wera interjected “just for a moment lets assume Aura is telling the truth.”

“I am.”

“If Aura is telling the truth that implies that Helix knows something they were never told. Either Helix can read minds, or Aura may have some merit to their idea of a time loop.”

“But that doesn’t make any logical sense, time loops aren’t real!” Tanne contradicted

“I agree” Rai said “There’s got to be a more logical explanation.”

Aura noticed Helix was going blue, they were trying to…reset? “Breathe idiot, you’re gonna lose brain cells.”

Helix took a measured breath.

“How long were you in the loop Helix?” Aura asked trying to distract Helix and get info

“Didn’t I tell you? No, no I didn’t.”

“Hm?” Aura prompted

“I do remember counting, that was a long long time ago…I think I got up to uhhhh ten thousand?”

“How…are you even able to hold a conversation? I would have gone mad as rocks.” Aura said eyes wide

“We’re all mad as rocks.” Helix said, smiling wistfully.

By this point Wera, Tanne, Petal and Rai had quietened.

“Impossible” Rai noted

“They’re crazy.” From Petal.

By nightfall, everyone but Aura and Wera had gone back to their business and adventures. Helix was now mostly talking in consistently coherent sentences.

“It’s been so long since everything has been new. Since I’ve woken up to see something different. How much of it was real? How much of it never happened?”

“Well you scared a lot of people, but I don’t think you caused any traffic incidents. So far as we know you haven’t killed anyone.” Wera explained

“No, no I wouldn’t kill anyone. Only those three times and never again.”

“It’s okay Helix, we don’t think you would have killed anyone, we just need to check.” Aura winced at Helix admitting triple murder in an alternate timeline or three. “Just remember, your actions have consequences now.”

“My actions, they do have consequences. I know that. I will remember that.”

“Who did you kill?” Wera asked “Why?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore, why would I tell anyone?” Helix tilted their head “You know you can say what you want without hiding behind a mask all the time, you’re not going to meet another person like Clover, they can’t hurt you anymore.”

“Shut up.” Wera restrained their spike of anger and breathed deeply.

“To answer the question you’re too afraid to ask, no I wouldn’t kill you and I don’t secretly hate you.” Helix said casually, holding out their palms. “You can trust me.”

Wera, seeming surprisingly calm, nodded.

Aura felt dizzy, the person in front of them was Helix, they had Helix’s face, part of Helix’s personality but yet they were also very certainly not Helix. Not any Helix Aura had ever known, but perhaps…a traumatised Helix. The way they had used only words to command Wera like a puppet. Aura didn’t know of any Clover. It terrified them. But this was their friend.

“Your actions have consequences Helix.” Aura reminded

Helix looked at Aura for a second, looked annoyed then put their head in their hands. “I’m sorry Wera I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s okay, you’ve obviously been through a lot.” Wera patted Helix on the head.

Aura’s phone started ringing and they checked who it was, it was their boss. What could that be about?

Without even seeing Aura’s phone, Helix started explaining. “It’s your boss, they say they’ll be out all week because they have a bad cold, but what they don’t know is it’s malaria.”

“Should I tell them that?” Aura asked

“I don’t see why not.”

Aura picked up the call and listened “Hey this is Nari, just letting you know I’m not going to be here this week I’ve got a really bad cold, it could be COVID or Flu so I’d get tested just in case.”

“Thanks for the notice, have you considered that it might be malaria?”

“No? I don’t think I’ve been anywhere I could get it.”

“Worth checking for, feel better soon.” “Thank you?” Their boss hung up.

Helix seemed to be thinking before saying “Things I do matter now don’t they? There’s so many people I have to save.” Helix tried to get up but Wera held them down.

“You, need to rest.” Wera stated firmly but kindly

“I’m fine don’t worry about me!”

“You’re in hospital.” Aura pointed out.

“But there’s that blue haired person who gets fatally stabbed on Gloucester street in like 15 minutes.” Helix stressed

“We’ll call the police and alert them to the danger.” Wera said “You better be right though.”

“How do you even know what’s going on today?” Aura asked “weren’t you looping yesterday?”

“Oh, I guess I haven’t explained it yet.” Helix laughed “I only loop when I sleep or die. I can usually make it to about today or tomorrow semi consistently if I don’t sleep. And who knows, maybe the whole concussion thing and waking up today was a fluke and I’m just going to loop back to yesterday morning when I sleep next.” Helix shrugged

Aura shakes their head. “No, we’ve got to believe you’re free.”

Helix looks up at Aura “Don’t worry about me.”

“Like you think that’s going to work.” Aura laughs.

Wera ends up leaving soon enough, they have things to attend to at home.

When it gets late Aura can see that Helix is trying to stay awake. They sigh “Helix, there’s no need to be afraid. Go to sleep, you’re safe.”

“What if I do go back?”

“You won’t. Now sleep.”

Helix lets their eyes drift and Aura can see moments later that they are asleep.

Aura comes back at opening the next day and Helix is still asleep. When they wake up they look around and then see Aura. They smile but it doesn’t reach their eyes “Oh, what are you doing here?”

“Remember Helix, you’re free, you’re safe.” Aura prompts

“Oh…I remember, that explains why I woke up here and not at home. By the way I like the new earring.”

Aura smiles, “Thank you! I’m glad.” Then they realise that perhaps Helix didn't notice, and merely knew from a previous loop to compliment Aura on it. Stars Aura couldn’t let themselves second guess every word Helix said could they?

The nurse from yesterday comes in and tells Aura and Helix that Helix is discharged and can go home.

“Thank you Era!” Helix said, which caused the nurse to look down to check if they were wearing a name tag.

“All good, Helix. Have a great day.” Era left. “They didn't tell us their name did they.” Helix asked

“No they did not.”

Aura and Helix decide to go shopping before going home, hopefully some slice of normality for the both of them.

Aura wanted to talk about something, but talking about the weather was too shallow. If they asked what Helix was going to do next weekend there would be no answer, the day before the loop was probably as distant to Helix as last Christmas was to Aura, or even more so.

“You know, I’m having a dinner out for work on Wednesday, I’d be delighted for you to come with. I don’t hate my coworkers but I’d rather have someone I know better around.”

“Yeah, I remember…” Helix stopped themselves “It would be lovely to go.”

“I’m glad” Aura smiled.

“Though I’m not quite confident I’m the same person you once knew.” Helix admitted

“No matter what, you will be Helix. It will take time for me to know the new you, but it will happen.”

“I had a job, I remember. I worked to maintain medical servers and databases. I don’t remember the last time I turned up to work.”

“I wouldn’t turn up to work if I were you either. Do you think you’ll go back?”

“I’m not entirely sure, I want to have structure, but I don’t want everything to be the same every day, not again.

They idly entered a Woolworths.

“Ask to train newbies, trust me you might hate your life but you’ll never be bored. Really the whole enjoyment part depends on whether you like people or not and how much confident idiocy and underconfident caution you can handle.”

Helix nodded “I remember you telling me, it sounds like a time.” Aura had in fact not told Helix about it, not in this timeline at least.

As they walked Helix grabbed a energy drink off the shelf and started drinking it

“Helix!” Aura exclaimed horrified.

“Nah, its fine remember we’re in a time loop!” Helix smiled for a moment then it faded. “No, no we aren’t.”

Aura paid for the drink at the counter, as well as buying a small bag of salt and vinegar chips.

“How are we going to deal with this?” Aura asked “You obviously know we aren’t in a time loop, but the habits are hard to break.”

“I don’t know…it doesn’t make any sense to me either.” Helix hung their head.

“I haven’t seen you check for hazards once, if I wasn’t here you would have crossed two roads without even looking, and bumped into uncountable people.”

“We can state what I’m doing wrong all day, but how do we fix it?”

“I don’t know. I seriously have no idea. You’ve practically burned all caution out of your body.” They thought for a long while, and Aura still had to hold Helix back from trying to walk across a road.

“Do you think therapy would help?” Helix asked reluctantly

“I think it couldn’t hurt to try, even if you can’t properly explain why you’re so traumatised in any logical way.”

“Mhm”

Aura and Helix got ice cream and watched the Sydney Harbour. Seagulls watched them intently, crowds passed by and the fresh ocean breeze was calming. They didn’t talk. Aura tried their best not to worry, as many thoughts pushed into their mind of terror at their friend being permanently changed, mentally years perhaps decades older than they were a week ago. Just as many thoughts were pushed in of calm and serenity and of the flavour of the soft cold ice cream, of the warmth of the sun, the mellow calls of the gulls and the subtle beauty of Helix.

The others likely wanted little to do with Helix, it was difficult for them to be around Helix in their current state. The same applied to Aura, but their devotion to the friendship eclipsed their discomfort.

“Can I stay with you for now?” Helix asked “I don’t trust myself to be safe, I don’t have a next time now.”

“Of course you can.”

Executing a flawless braking routine, Lunett pulled into the side alley of their morning cafe and locked up their bike. They skipped inside, smiling widely at the fresh air.

“Hi, what…Oh hi there Lunett!” The barista, Lapis said noticing they were serving Lunett “The usual?”

“The usual!” Lunett smiled

“It is on its way!”

Lunett went to stand in the waiting area, when a person bumped into them.

“Oh my stars I am so sorry!” The person exclaimed apologising with all of the energy left in them.

Lunett smiled softly at the reaction “Don’t worry about it, I don’t mind at all.”

“No no, its completely my fault, I wasn’t paying any attention at all. Imagine if you were holding a drink!”

“I would have spilt it all over myself, I’m very clumsy!” At the person’s horrified and embarrassed expression Lunett added “But I wouldn’t mind at all, this place deserves my patronage. Also these are my riding clothes, I shower and change once I get to uni.”

“Oh, um are you a regular here?”

“Yea, I come here almost every morning.” Lunett nods “You?”

“This is my first time here, I actually just moved here so yeah. You recommend?”

“Oh heck yeah I recommend this place! …but that’s probably my bias speaking.”

“No no, it’s fine. You coming here regularly is enough a rec’ for me as anything could be.”

“Kalyx?” The barista’s assistant calls out. Followed by “Lunett your drink is ready!”

“That’s me.” The person and Lunett say in unison, then stare at each other and laugh uncontrollably.

“Stars I can barely breathe” Lunett grasps a solid surface to stay upright.

Kalyx and Lunett collect their drinks, the assistant barista rolls an amused eye at Lunett and smiles

“Lunett is a very cool name.” Kalyx says, before taking a sip of their drink and evidently burning themselves. Evidently a hot drink.

“Hello? Kalyx is such a cool name!? I appreciate but think of yourself first!” Lunett grins before taking a large sip of their iced drink.

“I beg to differ, kids used to call me licks.”

“And kids used to call me loony, who cares what they think?”

“Social anxiety.”

“True.”

Kalyx pivots slightly “Wonder what makes anyone just decide its okay to shame people for something they can’t control, like a name.”

“I mean” Lunett replies “It is classic in-group out-group dynamics, people will do a lot of things to ensure they feel secure in the in-group. Not quite sure how someone constitutes a weird name though.”

“I guess there’s not too much logic to it.” Kalyx sighs

“Hence nothing to worry about!”

“No, no those childhood bullies are absolutely terrifying, they haunt my dreams.” Kalyx grins dramatically then checks their watch “Oh, sorry can’t be late for this. See you around I hope!”

“Bye!” Lunett waves to a bolting Kalyx. Damn what a cool person, not often Lunett resonates with someone in the wild like that, lucky they bumped into one another!

“Oi” Lapis catches Lunett’s attention, who goes closer.

“Yes?”

“I can tell you’re lovestruck already, aw you’d make a sweet couple.” Lapis says, actively preparing drinks.

“Aw come on, we just met. Friendstruck at the very most. Why care anyway?”

“Seeing love blossom in my carefully curated cafe is like seeing a child learn to speak, or a perfect pour.”

“I feel like the perfect pour analogy is more accurate to your profession.” Lunett notes

“My brain is fried. Also my cousin had a kid recently, I’ve got baby fever.” They gaze wistfully into the reflection of Lunett in a coffee machine

“Aw, what’s their name?”

“Mica” Lapis says, smiling with even more warmth.

“Awww, do mineral inspired names run in the family?”

“I wish. My cousin is named Kei”

“Not a mineral, but I have no notes.”

“Yea yea tell that to young me. Now go catch that Kalyx.” “On it!” Lunett leaves the building and hops on their bike, with no real intention of chasing Kalyx.

After a long day at their university, Lunett stumbled, tired into their local all purpose eat in diner / bar thingy. Lunett was very tired, but full of the satisfaction of putting their motivation into action. Now the only action Lunett wanted to do was sit down at a booth and eat something.

As Lunett went to get a menu, none other than Kalyx themselves waltzed into the bar. Kalyx was dead focused on their phone, glancing up to seemingly check that this was indeed the place they had chosen for dinner. Did Kalyx have good taste in food or did Lunett just choose highly rated places to be a regular at?

Kalyx noticed Lunett and jumped in recognition, this got a chuckle.

“Hi there” Kalyx said

“Hi there” Lunett smiled

“You waiting for someone or you want to get a table together?” Lunett asked, gesturing at a nearby booth. “You’re new here and fate seems to want us together, may as well dance along aye?”

“Can’t argue with that!”

After they had sat down Lunette asked “So, how was the drink.”

Kalyx smiled widely and their eyes lit up “Amazing! You have great taste in where you go for food.”

“I’m glad!” Lunett smiled, then in mock seriousness “But you can’t make a judgement on only two data points, what if this place serves human organs?”

Someone tapped Lunett on the shoulder, which got a horrified expression from Kalyx and stopped them from saying what they were going to say.

“You’ve been in our kitchens Lunette, I figure you’d know best of anyone.” Ariane said from beside Lunett

“Except the chef.” Lunett replies, Ariane rolls their eyes Kalyx still looks mildly concerned but seems to logic it out in their head and nods

“What would you like to order?”

“Any suggestions?” Kalyx asks Lunett

“I don’t really know your preferences, but my personal favourite right now is just garden salad and half a schnitzel…but since you don’t eat here all the time you could probably have the chicken burger.” Lunett explains

“I’ll get what you’re having, never a bad time to eat healthy.” Kalyx nods

“Barely, but yes.” Lunett says, getting a mild side-eye from Ariane.

“So, what do you do, for like, your day?” Kalyx asks, then elaborates “I just moved here because my medicine course has me moving campus.”

“Oh! We must go to the same university!”

“Really? What course are you studying?” “Psychology and social studies, with a side of software.”

“That explains some things!”

“Yeah, sorry I just love my course so much I apply it to everything.”

“No I love it! Seeing people put their passions into unexpected places is the best.” Kalyx grins

“Aw well I’ll keep doing it just for you.” Lunett smirks

“Don’t phrase it like that!”

“Cognitive reframing.”

Kalyx chuckled, then checked their bag and brought out a box. “The person I bought my current house from says it has been abandoned for a long time. But they found these in the house. They call them friendship bracelets cause they’re a pair?” Kalyx presents two colourfully painted bracelets with a multicoloured gem in each. “Did you want to be friends? Officially?”

“Could you have taken a knee first?” Kalyx and Lunett laugh “Of course I’ll be your friend!”

Ariane appears with their food, placing it down “Enjoyyyyy!”

“Thank you Ariane!” Lunett replies

“Thank you!” Kalyx joins the appreciation

After Ariane leaves Kalyx asks “Not every regular knows everyone’s names, you’re like…”

“A mega regular? I make it a habit to learn people’s names. Also helped I had an assessment on social dynamics that had me learn some people’s names and see how their behaviour to me changed and how often I’d see them around would change. Surprising how giving a name to a face changes how your brain stores their memory.”

“Yeah exactly, now I feel bad for not knowing anyone’s name back home.” Kalyx looked down at their plate, before taking another bite.

“Well, look you’ve got the perfect opportunity right in front of your eyes! A whole new blank slate, no better time than the present to start right?”

“Right!”

“You’ve got a great start, you know Ariane now. And the Barista at the cafe earlier is called Lapis!”

“I don’t even know what to say but thank you!”

“I always help my friends to achieve things. Oh, did you make it to class on time?”

“Barely but yes, sorry to have cut the conversation so short.”

“Literally don’t worry about it, we both have social anxiety I know what its like.”

“Aw yes! I’ll try to worry less then.”

“I should introduce you to my friends, you’d fit in.”Lunett measures Kalyx

“Really?”

“Yep, I think so.”

“I will be going to visit my friends from time to time, but can’t hurt to have more circles.” Kalyx nods

“Indeed.”

“I was kind of afraid I’d move on or my friends would move on without me.”

Lunett lowers their head to the table and stares into Kalyx’s eyes “Don’t worry about it, as long as you try your best to keep in contact you can keep the friendship alive. Even if that doesn’t work, change is hard yes but there’s always more people.”

“True, I did meet you, a friend on my literal first full day here sooo.”

“Exactly!”

“Actually I wonder what the chances of this are.” Kalyx ponders

“Hm, I’d say its a pretty unique event, branch out forty or so timelines and I bet we’d only meet in this one, maybe another.”

“You’re probably right, lucky we’re in this one.”

Kalyx and Lunett exchange numbers, take a photo together and then put on the bracelets all before heading their seperate ways. Lunett finds themselves reminiscing on the evening and its comforts, before falling asleep again.

Day 1

Lunett walks into the cafe again the next morning and orders the usual, as they wait they spot someone unique. The person is wearing a jumper with Lunett’s favourite music producer on it.

“Hey there.” Lunett approaches carefully, trying not to seem to weird “I like Leptinar too.”

The person looks up from their phone, looks temporarily spooked, which Lunett mirrors. Then the person smiles “Oh, I didn’t know there were that many fans around! I’ve been wearing this jumper for ages and no one has pointed it out before!”

“Well, its heavily underrated, everyone is missing out!”

“One hundred percent! What’s your favourite song?”

“Red ferns. Yours?”

“Ooooh yes thats a great pick. Hm, mine would have to be mercury skies.”

“Ah, thats a classic.” Lunett nods “I figure I should introduce myself! I’m Lunett”

“Nice to meet you Lunett! I’m Kalyx.” Kalyx says smiling

“Your name is so cool.”

“Says you, with your awesome name!”

“Just because my name is cool, doesn't mean I can’t think your name is also really cool!” Lunett says waving a finger

Kalyx laughs and smiles “Well we can both have cool names then.”

“Kalyx?” Called the barista’s assistant who Lunett hadn’t gotten around to learning the name of.

Kalyx went to get their drink, burning themselves on the liquid contained within. Soon Lunett got their drink as well.

“Oh! We have matching bracelets!” Lunett pointed to their bracelet and Kalyx’s

“Oh wow you’re right. What are the chances!” Kalyx said, surprised.

“Must be fate!”

“Speaking of fate, I’m sorry I have to go off to class. See you around?”

“Hopefully!”

Lunett knew they got their bracelet from a friend, but couldn’t remember quite who.

“Lunett?” Lapis said, leaning over the counter to get Lunett’s attention

“Thank you Lapis, your drinks are always the best.”

“Aw, cut the flattery.”

“It’s not flattery I’m completely serious.”

“Sure, anyway awwwwwww”

“Lapis, what are you awwwwing about?” Lunett said raising an eyebrow

“You and that person were so cute.”

“We just met, and I’ve known them for like two minutes.”

“But I can tell you’re struck, they are really pretty aren’t they?”

Lunett sighed “Yes, they’re really really pretty. But just because they’re really pretty doesn’t mean I like them like that!”

“Well, you better keep them coming back to this cafe is all imma say. You go have a good one.”

“Will do Lapis, gladly.” Lunett waved as they left.

Lunett had had a pretty long day, and was glad to enter their choice restaurant. They bumped shoulders with someone on the way in

“Oh my goodness I’m so sorry!” The person said

“I’m so sorry!” Lunett said at almost the same time.

Lunett and the person laughed for a moment at their synchronous apologies. Lunett looked to see the person, and saw they were wearing a Leptinar jumper!

“Love the jumper by the way, great taste.” Lunette noted

“Aw thank you, I’ve not met many people who are also fans!”

“Well you’re in luck then…um did you want to sit at a table together?” Lunett asks tentatively

“This is my second day in town, yes please.”

Lunett sighs quietly “I’m Lunett, you?”

“Kalyx”

“So you’ve been in town two days, you just moved here? Wait, that’s kind of obvious.”

“Don’t worry about it, yes I just moved here, my university course changed campus.”

“Welcome to the city. Oh! We probably go to the same Uni. What course?”

“I’m doing medicine!” Kalyx says

“Psychology and social studies, a little bit of software too on my part. Medicine sounds fun!”

“It’s…not really, but sometimes yeah.” Kalyx admits

“Eh, not everything can be the best, just live for those high points…or actually if you can find a way to enjoy the course at its worst moments…everything would become really great. Sorry got lost there for a moment” Lunett rubs the back of their head and smiles nervously

“Well you evidently enjoy Psychology and Social studies! I hope that isn’t rude to point out.”

“No it isn’t, and yeah I do love it and all the philosophy attached to it.”

“That’s the dream.” Kalyx sighs

Ariane interrupts gently “Do you two want to order?”

“Oh hi Ariane!” Lunett exclaims

“Hi lunett. I see you’re being a kind regular to the new person?”

“The least I can do, I won’t turn down an opportunity to make a friend!”

“Aw am I a friend?” Kalyx asks

“Of course” Lunett smiles

“Food?” Ariane reminds the table

“I’ll get uh, half schnitzel and chicken.” Kalyx and Lunett say at the same time, then laugh about it

“Wait, how would you know to order that?” Lunett asked Kalyx

“I ordered it yesterday and it was good so I figured I’d have it again.”

“Great minds think alike” Ariane notes

“I guess so” Lunett agrees, nodding.

Lunett and Kalyx get their food and eat in silence for a while

Lunett grumbles “There’s this really annoying person in my class who keeps stealing everyone’s black pens and replacing them for blue ones and vice versa. I’m so done with it because I feel like I’m the only one focusing on class and this person stole my favourite pen.”

Kalyx groans “Stars I hate prankers like that, at least the pen thing is kind of tame.”

“It was a really high quality pen!” “I once had a kid in my class who would blow chicken eggs and carefully refill them with melted chocolate, then hide them in people’s bags.”

“I mean that’s pretty tame too, and kind of nice right?”

“Yeah, but if the egg remains unfound and you lie on your bag in the wrong way, cracked egg which could very quickly put chocolate everywhere. Especially in summer.” Kalyx’s eyes went distant almost as if they were reminiscing negatively on an experience with this egg hider.

“Let me guess they called them the easter bunny?”

“That among other nicknames. My least favourite was ovum trove.”

“OVUM TROVE?!!” Lunett snorted laughing

“It was NOT funny. Never found out who the person was either.”

“I think you need to rethink this, that was definitely a highlight.”

“Have you considered that the pen swapper is pulling a psyop for an assessment?” Kalyx posits

“I have…but I don’t think it’s very likely.”

“Why?”

“Well, I just don’t think there needs to be a reason behind it and I don’t really thing anyone else cares that much.” Lunett says, then thinks for a moment further “Okay, maybe I have written everyone off a bit too easily.”

“And I’m not even the Psych student!” Kalyx smiles

“Everyone brings a new perspective, that’s why talking to lots of people can really do wonders to your worldview.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Lunett and Kalyx agree they’re tired and begin to head out for the night.

Kalyx pulls out their phone to take a photo but pauses

“Something wrong?” Lunett asks

“Hm there’s an image of me here, alone.”

“That’s weird, can I see?”

Kalyx shows Lunett their phone, indeed a photo of Kalyx smiling alone. Lunett checks their phone to find a similar image of them standing alone.

“They were taken at the same time.” Kalyx notes, Lunett checks and indeed.

“We must have missed each other by a moment!” Lunett exclaims “Funny that!”

“Guess we should take a photo together then to align them!” Kalyx suggests

They take a photo together and Lunett asks for Kalyx’s phone number to send them the photo. When they enter it in it brings up an existing contact.

“Look” Lunett shows Kalyx their phone

“That’s…kinda creepy.”

“I know, how do I have your contact if we’ve never met before? I’ve met a lot of people and forgotten about them, but you’d think I’d remember you if I got your number.”

“We are wearing the same bracelets so it is possible”

“Huh?” Lunett held up their arm and checked the bracelet with Kalyx’s “Oh wow we are.”

“Star-blessed fate.”

“Guess there’s not much else to it. We’re just forgetful people.”

Day 2

Lunett was riding their bike downhill, enjoying the wind on their face when someone unexpectedly came into view from behind a bush. Lunett braked as hard as they could but still ended up bumping the person at a reasonable but still uncomfortable speed. Lunett themself was thrown forward against the front of their bike in a very uncomfortable position, then toppled forward and off the bike. The person had let out quite the yell

“Sorry sorry sorry sorry” Both Lunett and the person let out a barrage of apologies.

“I should have checked before walking out!” The person says

“No no, it was my fault I was going way way too fast down that hill.” Lunett apologises “are you okay?”

The person looks themselves up and down “I seem to be fine. You?”

“My chest hurts a bit, but I’m fine.” Lunett nods.

“Whew, guess it was just a bump then” the person laughs nervously “What’s your name? I’m Kalyx!”

“I’m Lunett and I just hit you with my bike” Lunett and Kalyx shake hands and laugh

“Let me try again” Kalyx says “I’m Kalyx, and from my frame of reference, I hit your bike with me.”

“Yeah, I was astounded you just really ran for the kill there. My bike will forever live in fear.”

“I’m a menace to bikes around the nation.”

“Here’s the funny thing, my brother would always have dogs chase his bike and try to attack it. Never happened to me, but he’s terrified cause one absolutely knocked him of balance once.”

“That’s actually really funny, what did your brother DO?”

“I’m afraid only the dogs know.” Lunett hangs their head in mock defeat

“I’m actually surprised…I usually have trouble speaking to people cause of my social anxiety.” Kalyx admits

“No, real same.” Lunett nods “nothing like getting hit by someone’s bike to get you talking.”

“It’s soooo cliche.” Kalyx rolls their eyes

“One hundred percent! Cliches all come from somewhere though, so it can’t be too uncommon for people to meet like this. Otherwise it wouldn’t get written so much!”

“You a fan of cliches or do they give you cringe?” Kalyx asks

“I mean, they have their place for a reason. It depends on the cliche I guess, some I don’t mind and others do feel a bit much.” Lunett explains

“I guess that makes sense, goodness I’m not even sure. I’m too unobservant to realise half the things I watch are even cliche, so then the ones I do realise are really obvious.”

“Therefore they are even more cringe, I get it.”

“Yeah exactly”

“Figure we should start going, where are you off to?” Lunett asks, preparing to mount their bike again.

“I’m heading to a cafe, I don’t know if it even has a name or not it’s just like a cozy place.”

“Do you know the name of the barista?”

Kalyx thinks for a moment “oh yea, I do. Their name is Lapis.”

“Oh nice, we’re going to the same place then. What are you going to order?”

“I was going to get a chai latte, almond milk. Why?”

“I’ll order it for you, see you there!” Lunett mounts their bike and pedals away at high speed.

“Wait! Let me pay for my order!” Kalyx yells after them

Faintly Kalyx hears Lunett say “Its on me don’t worry about it!” Through the wind.

Kalyx sighs, what an interesting person.

“I’ll get a mango smoothie and a chai latte, almond milk for the latte.” Lunett says

“You didn’t even say the usual this time, oooh who are you ordering for?” Lapis asks resting their chin on the tall part of the bench

“A new friend.”

“A new lover.” Lapis holds up their finger “I’ll make sure they get served at the same time.” Lapis grins

“Oh my stars…”

Soon Kalyx comes running into the shop, gulping at air with a ferocity akin to riding up a near vertical hill.

“You know you didn’t have to run, I’ve got it covered.” Lunett tilts their head and smiles with a tinge of concern.

Kalyx speaks in-between increasingly spaced breaths “You spent…all that effort…ordering my…drink… I may as well … not keep you waiting… too long.”

“I appreciate it Kalyx, but I’d rather you don’t end our friendship by dying.”

“If I can survive getting hit by your bike I can survive anything.”

“Statistically and logically false. But I vibe with the vibe.”

“You vibe with the vibe?”

“I’m not the most coherent person alive, if you spend more time with me you’ll come to realise I fail my sentences more often than I succeed at them.”

“That probably makes two of us.”

“Kalyx and Lunett?” Lapis says in a swooning voice, Lunett takes a deep breath and they head over with Kalyx to get their drinks.

“Thank you Lapis.” Lunett says, Lapis returns a smirk and a wink.

“Do they think we’re a couple?” Kalyx whispers to Lunett when they get further away. Lapis still sneaks glances at them.

“They wish we were a couple.” Lunett sighs

“Oh, they’re that kind of person?”

“Yep, the sort to see love everywhere.”

Kalyx nods knowingly “It is kind of sweet that they see so much love in the world, but then again I can’t even glance at someone without that sort of person immediately planning our wedding.”

“On the other hand” Lunett tilts their head to look at Kalyx “I’m the sort of person to see two people passionately kissing and still write them off as friends.”

“That’s so real, I learn people are in relationships after they break up. I just don’t get any of the signs.”

“Literally!” Lunett takes a long sip from their drink “So, where you heading to after this? Don’t tell me we’re going to the same place again.”

“I’m heading to my University, it’s the big one.”

“We are going to the same place.” Lunett laughs “When do your classes start?”

“In…” Kalyx checks their watch and freezes “Too soon.”

“You should get going, we should get going.”

“Aye” Kalyx and Lunett head outside. Lunett mounts their bike again and waves to Kalyx, who starts speed walking. “Thank you for the drink!” Kalyx exclaims, smiling

“Any time!”

Day 7

Lunett sat alone at their table, chewing on salad and schnitzel. It hadn’t been all that bad of a day, but they were feeling uncharacteristically lonely. Even Ariane had noticed, sitting at their table “Lunett you good? You seem, overwhelmed.” Ariane asked, resting their head on the table

“I had a good day but I’m feeling a bit tired and sad is all.” Lunette explains

“Well here’s an idea, it’s games night tonight! Did you want to participate? Might cheer you up or distract you from your feelings at the very least.”

“Can’t hurt, sure.” Lunett followed Ariane to the games table, where almost everyone in the place had been rounded up.

Ariane began explaining the first game “I’m going to need you to team up in duos, you’re going to be throwing marshmallows into your partners mouth. Don’t worry, Rory will eat any that touch the floor.”

Lunett found someone who also looked a bit distant and unsure “Do you want to form a team?”

“Oh yes please” The person said breathing in deeply. Lunett knew the feeling very well

“My name is Lunett and yours?”

“Kalyx”

“Well nice to meet you, we’ll make a good team!”

“I have horrible aim.” Kalyx admitted

“I’m clumsy as all hell. But there’s other games I’m sure we’ll do much better at.”

“That’s a good perspective.” Kalyx nods

Before Lunett can throw their marshmallow, Kalyx gets hit in the head by someone else’s marshmallow which hits them at an astounding speed. Kalyx rubs their head and looks around.

“Sorry” Someone says from across the room, meanwhile their partner next to them looks fearful. Lunett would be too, considering how fast the marshmallow was moving when it hit Kalyx.

Lunett throws one and it hits Kalyx in the nose, they scramble to grab it and then immediately eat it.

“Are we supposed to keep throwing until I get it in?” Lunett asks

“Rather eat it now than let it hit the floor.” Kalyx mumbles “How do we even get a winner for this game?”

“Not sure, maybe there is no winner?” Lunett wonders

“What’d be the point of the game then?”

“Fun?”

Kalyx palms their face, half jokingly. Then they open their mouth again. Lunett gets the marshmallow in.

They swap and Kalyx makes a few attempts to get the marshmallow in, with Lunett catching each when they miss and handing them back to Kalyx. When Lunett catches a delicious marshmallow, they look around. The person who threw the marshmallow earlier is standing a good five meters away from their partner.

“So, do you think maybe how we win is finding who can throw the marshmallow successfully from the furthest distance?” Lunett suggests Kalyx looks around “Yeah that makes sense” Kalyx giggles “We’re not gonna win that so let’s just eat marshmallows.”

Ariane approaches Kalyx and Lunett to watch them, until Lunett notices. Which takes an embarrassingly long time.

“Oh hi Ariane!”

“Nice to see you hanging out with Kalyx. I thought you two would make good friends.”

“Oh you know them?” Lunett asked

“Yeah, they’ve been coming here regularly for about a week now, I’m honestly surprised you two haven’t met yet.” Ariane explains

“I’ve been coming here daily since I got here” Kalyx agrees “It’s funny we haven’t met before, but better late than never!”

“Indeed!”

“Ok” Ariane announced “Next game is two truths one lie! Same teams…unless you want to switch.”

Kalyx and Lunett stood for a time formulating their fact sets.

Eventually both of them had finished and they locked eyes

“We’re done?” Lunett asked

“We’re done.” Kalyx nodded

They stood for a few moments before doing rock paper scissors, Kalyx won.

“I read my first fan fiction when I was 17, I’ve gone skydiving, I’m terrified of being alone.”

Lunett ponders “you seem very nervous, at first I’d think you’d never skydived before. However I feel like you would have, maybe under duress, maybe just to feel what it’s like. I can get behind curiosity. I don’t know many people who aren’t terrified of being alone, so that’s for sure a truth. You are not a normie, I can smell fanfic on you—it takes one to know one—No way your first fic was…how old are you again?”

“23”

“Oh wow same. No way you’ve only been a reader for six years…stars that makes me feel old I remember being 17. I’m saying fanfic is the lie.”

Kalyx laughs softly “Surprisingly no, I actually never read fiction until I was 17. I’ve never skydived!”

Lunett laughs “It was right under my nose! There’s evidence to why you should never fully write anything off, especially not early.”

Kalyx grins “Your go now!”

Lunett takes a moment to remember “I’m an Aries, I once spent twelve hours on a platformer level without taking a break, I got second place in my biology class.”

Kalyx puts their hand to their chin “hm, this is a tricky one. I don’t know your birthday and I’m not an expert in star signs, so really you could be any star sign and I’d have no way to know. But on a gut feeling and the intensity of your emotions…I’d say its true. Your class ranking and the twelve hour game thing…You seem a very academic person, but also I can see you not leaving something like the platformer level unfinished. Actually, I’ll take your advice and not write off Aries too quick. I’ll say that's the lie.”

Lunett chuckles “Incorrect! My star sign is Aries and you were right about me being an academic…I got first place.”

“Dang it!” Kalyx smiles “I’m a gemini.”

“Unsurprising, or well I feel like we could be the opposite too.”

“It’s all statistics anyway it isn’t perfect.” Kalyx shrugs

“Indeed, indeed.”

“Okay people, we can fit one more game in” Ariane presents a dollar coin to everyone “Trivia for tails, Blindfolded drawing for heads!” Ariane dramatically flips the coin and catches it, revealing the classic jumping kangaroos of tails “Same teams!”

“This should be fun” Kalyx notes.

“I’m either spectacular at trivia or fail miserably depending on if it aligns with my interests or not.” Lunett explains, nodding.

“Well hopefully our interests diverge just enough to get maximum efficiency.”

Ariane clears their throat and says the first question “Which fact about non-dairy creamer is true? It is used as a pizza topping in America? It contains Cocaine? It is flammable? It contains zero calories? Think fast, you get two minutes and that’ll decrease each round.”

“Neither of us are food specialists?” Kalyx asks

“Nope” Lunett shakes their head “My bet is on flammable, sounds like the sort of thing to be true about dairy-free creamer.”

“They put some weird things on food in America, do you think they put it on pizza?” Kalyx ponders

“I’m skeptical, but then again…maybe?” Lunett shrugs “We both agree it can’t contain cocaine or have zero calories.”

“Agreed, nothing can be lacking energy…unless it is made of something we can’t digest?”

“Good point. Our choice?”

“Let’s go flammable, it seems most realistic.”

Lunett writes flammable in the question box and waits.

“Times up!” Ariane yells gently “If you said it was flammable you’re correct. We have a trust system here so make sure you mark yourself correctly. Going on, next question you get thirty seconds. Manchester is the largest city in which New England US state? California, Texas, Washington or New Hampshire?”

“I don’t know a thing about American geography, I’m guessing New Hampshire on vibes.” Kalyx notes nervously

“Neither and same” Lunett nods

“If you chose new hampshire you’re correct!” Ariane announces, Kalyx and Lunett high five “Micronesia is located on which continent?”

“Oh that’s easy!” Kalyx and Lunett nod, writing Oceania on their paper

“What word means a temporary pause in a line of succession? Intercom, Intimate, Incumbent or Interim?”

Kalyx nods at Lunett who writes Interim

“It was interim! Now what is a Weta? Spelt W-E-T-A. Fragrant flower, fish, insect or fern?” Ariane smiles at the scrambling contestants

“I’m not sure, sounds like a fish though.” Lunett says

“Gotta be a fish!” Calyx agrees “A weta is an insect!” Ariane announces, first loss for Lunett and Kalyx “Variola is better known as? Multiple sclerosis, smallpox, encephalitis or leprosy”

Calyx immediately jumps “It’s smallpox.”

Lunett writes it down “I’m not the best at diseases, are you interested in immunology or epidemiology and stuff?”

“Not specifically, I’m doing medicine for uni. I have aways been a lover of epidemiology.” Calyx explains, looking into the distance and smiling.

“Oh we probably go to the same uni then! I’m studying Psychology among other things. We should get lunch together sometime!”

“I’d love that! Granted our class times align.”

Ariane gets everyone’s attention again to announce it was in fact smallpox. While they’re explaining the next question Lunett catches a faint smell of…smoke? “Simple one, can anyone tell me the capital of Canada? Just yell this one out first to get it”

“Toronto!” Lunett exclaims.

Someone else shouts “Ottawa!” At about the same time.

Ariane points at them and says “Trivia! Like Bingo, you get the point. Sorry Lunett you were close.”

“You guessed that dairy free creamer was flammable but you don’t know the capital of Canada?” Kalyx asks with a humorous tone

Lunett pouts “I didn’t guess.” Then Lunett puts their head in their hands “In front of everyone too, so confidently incorrect.”

Kalyx pats Lunett’s head comfortingly “Don’t worry, humiliation is half the point of trivia.”

“That doesn’t help.” Lunett gives Kalyx a mild glare.

Ariane starts again “Here’s a two parter for everyone, identify the meaning of the word and language of origin. The word is chismis.”

Kalyx ponders for a moment and turns a shrug to Lunett who has already scribbled down the answer.

“I’m studying Tagalog for fun in my free time, the word means basically gossip.” Lunett explains

Kalyx shows an almost dumbfounded but impressed expression “How many languages do you know? You just study a language, for fun in your free time?”

Lunett nods “Don’t panic but if you count writing systems and English I know” Lunett holds up a hand and counts out one, two, three, four and five. "That’s excluding python, html, javascript and css. But only two of them are conversational and I speak Tagalog like a preschooler at best.”

“I really only know English, well except for mandarin in high school. But all I remember is 汉堡包” Kalyx rubs the back of their head

“Oh yeah, then make my count six. I wish they taught us Mandarin for longer, one year wasn’t enough. All I remember is 汉堡包, plus 你叫什么名字 and some lyrics from songs like 血淋淋的愛”

“You undersell yourself Lunett!”

“Aw thank yo-” Lunett was interrupted by a blaring alarm and a spray of water.

“A fire? Seriously? In the middle of our trivia? The answer was gossip and the language was Tagalog. Come on everyone follow me” Ariane glares at the sprinklers with a ferocity even Lunett had never seen.

Lunett and Kalyx find themselves outside, victim to Ariane’s flawless evacuation procedure.

Lunette is soaked, but Kalyx looks absolutely drenched. Kalyx takes their phone out of their pocket and turns it on, ensuring it didn’t take too much water damage. Lunett follows suit and checks the health of their phone as well.

“Was not expecting to get soaked during trivia.” Kalyx notes

“If I’d attended more game nights, I’d tell you its not the craziest thing to happen here. But I have no evidence for my claim.” Lunette explains

“Go on, lie to me for our collective enjoyment.”

“So there was this one time, we got visited by a pack of aliens. Their leader, Glorppep decided to join in on the trivia. Glorppep happened to know a surprising amount about the US presidential line, as well as every single geological material under the sun.”

“Wait a pack of aliens?” Kalyx asked

“Yeah a pack for sure, they had a very strong pack mentality and you could smell it from kilometres away. They should have let Xarlel play, you see they were the expert on human food and that trivia night just so happened to be really heavy on the food questions. Like this one question where…” Kalyx and Lunett turn their heads to see Ariane and the head chef coming out the front entrance, bickering flavourfully with each other.

“This has nothing to do with me being on games duty! I shouldn’t need to come into the kitchen every five minutes to make sure you haven’t lit it on fire!” Ariane said

“Well the fire started in your pickup section, you obviously left some oil or something else flammable near the receipts!” The head chef replied. Lunett had once or twice or maybe thrice complimented them extensively on their food, but hadn’t gotten the opportunity to learn their name.

“I would never make such a simple mistake! I always keep my workspace pristine.”

“Hmpf I beg to differ. Anyway it doesn’t matter, it is a simple mistake for a reason everyone makes them every now and then! What matters is the restaurant is on fire.”

“True” Ariane admits “Truce.”

“Truce.” The chef shakes Ariane’s hand “You called for fire support? I think we put it out but never can be too sure.”

“Do I have to do everything?” Ariane complains then pivots and smiles “Yeah, I already called them.”

The chef sighs.

Lunett and Kalyx quietly chuckle at the interaction.

Ariane pulls out everyone’s trivia sheets, some more water damaged than others. Despite the damage everyone gets excited and the game continues.

Kalyx and Lunett get third place behind two other groups. They take it gracefully

“I can’t believe we lost!?” Kalyx looks astounded into Lunett’s eyes

“Well we completely flopped it on Weta and Toronto was a devastating miss.”

“Toronto was not that bad, at least we didn’t lose points.”

“I lost confidence and it cost us.” Lunett says dramatically

“We also got rained on indoors.” Kalyx notes

The full emergency services set turns up on scene and the sound disrupts the conversation. Kalyx and Lunett decide to talk away from the noise.

“I figure we wont make it back into the restaurant for the rest of the night, may as well start heading home.” Lunett decides. Kalyx nods “Bye Ariane!” Lunett waves as they leave, Ariane absentmindedly waves back.

Lunett pulls out their phone to take a photo.

“We’re so ruffled right now do you really want to preserve this?” Kalyx asks

“Certainly, the best memories are always the real unfiltered ones. You can’t look back years in your photo album and only see the occasional best days, it doesn’t give the full picture! Let-alone strike any actual memories.” Lunett freezes, looking at their recent photos. Kalyx looks over their shoulder

There are two recent photos from 7 and 6 days ago respectively. Each of Lunett standing alone out front of the restaurant. “I don’t remember taking those photos. Why would I take that?”

Kalyx checks their photo reel and finds two almost identical photos, except with Kalyx as the subject. The time and date stamps align perfectly as if they were four of the same two photos ripped in half.

“That is creepy.” Lunett nods, then checks their contacts and finds Kalyx as a contact “look at this”.

Kalyx’s eyes widen. “This is impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible there has to be a cause. Think for a second what could cause this?”

Kalyx ponders for a time and shrugs, empty handed.

“Have you ever heard of an anti-meme?” Lunett asks

“Maybe?”

“Well you know what a meme is, it is something that inherently spreads almost like a virus.”

“Mhm, and an anti-meme is something that doesn’t spread?” Kalyx asks, evidently confused still.

“An anti-meme is something that makes you forget it.” Lunett points to their arm “I noticed these just now, we’re wearing the same bracelet see?”

“Oh, stars we are!” Kalyx looks intrigued and terrified.

“Do you remember putting these on? I don’t.”

Kalyx focuses further, thinking. “Something, something is getting us to forget something. Whatever it is, we’ve met before and forgotten each other as part of the incident.”

Kalyx nods

“Ariane said earlier you’ve been here a week right?” Lunett asks

“Yeah, I moved here a week ago.”

“There’s two photos on my phone, so either we only interacted on the first two days you were here…”

“Or we only took photos on those days.” Kalyx nods, comprehending.

“Here, take this.” Lunett hands Kalyx an acrylic charm from their bag, ‘Artfight 2025’. It leaves behind a gathering of ten or so other charms, each for a different year. Lunett pulls out a permanent marker “May I?”

Kalyx nods. Lunett writes a simple message on their arm and on their hand “Return Lunett’s Artfight charm to them.”

“Find me tomorrow, I should know enough to confirm the circumstances of our condition.” Lunett says “Sleep well!”

“You too!”

Day 8

Kalyx woke up and rolled out of bed, they found their phone and silenced it. As Kalyx was washing their hands and preparing to brush their teeth they saw a note on their arm.

“Return Lunett’s Artfight charm to them.” Kalyx could vaguely remember finding someone’s charm at the restaurant yesterday, they must have dropped it after the fire. Kalyx couldn’t remember knowing who it belonged to and definitely not the name Lunett. Kalyx made sure they had the charm with them as they headed off. Then realised they forgot to brush their hair. Then almost forgot their keys.

Kalyx bolted from their house hoping they weren’t late or had forgotten anything more. They got to their new favourite cafe ever and greeted Lapis the barista.

“Chai latte, almond?” Lapis asks

Kalyx nodded. “Have you seen anyone named Lunett? I have their charm?”

Lapis started immediately “ooh, you’ve been charmed by Lunett? Awww”

“No I have their charm.” Kalyx presented the charm “See?”

“I can still be right!” Lapis notes “Unfortunately Lunett left with their mango smoothie about two minutes ago. Good luck catching them without a bike.”

“Thank you I will try my best.” Kalyx nods, then waits to get their drink. After getting their drink Kalyx burns themselves on it while sipping it and running downhill

Kalyx, after confirming none of their classmates were named Lunett asked their lecturer if they knew any Lunetts. After a moment they shake their head, then stop “I could be completely wrong here, but I think there’s a Lunett in psychology? Your best bet is either asking their teacher or waiting for lunch and asking around.”

Kalyx would rather not interrupt any classes so they decide to wait.

At lunch Kalyx asks around until they get pointed in a direction, at which point inevitably they meet someone who says “I’m Lunett! Who’s looking for me?” Lunett is surrounded by a small set of friends who curiously watch Kalyx.

“I’m looking for you apparently.”

Lunett tilts their head “you’re not sure?”

“No, not exactly” Kalyx lifts their jumper to reveal the writing on their arm. “It’s not my handwriting and I don’t remember it being written.”

“My artfight charm?” Lunett searches their set and nods “25 is missing.”

Kalyx hands over the charm “This was with me when I woke up.”

Lunett thinks carefully for a moment and checks their own arm. “Kalyx.” Is simply written on their arm. “I’m surprised I hadn’t noticed that before.”

“What in the soulmates au is this?” One of Lunett’s friends notes, receiving nods from Kalyx and Lunett.

Lunett looks into Kalyx’s eyes. “I have a theory, I need you to stay here. But get distracted, whatever it takes to get me off your mind. Trust me. I’ll be back.” Kalyx nods and Lunett heads away.

“Ah, I love it when interesting things like this happen.” One of Lunett’s friends notes. Kalyx would love to talk to them, but they don’t know them…or Lunett for that matter, and plus they’d get in the way of getting distracted.

Kalyx does the most reasonable thing they can think of and they start doomscrolling. When they take a break a few minutes later they aren’t quite sure why they’re waiting, just that they had to return something to someone and that person had told them to wait.

Soon a person comes back to the table and waves their hand in front of Kalyx. “Hey Kalyx!”

“Hello?” Kalyx responds, not quite sure how to react. Inexplicably the person nods, as if Kalyx’s reaction makes the most sense possible.

“We’ve met before, multiple times apparently. My name is Lunett.”

Kalyx blinks slowly. Are they going mad and forgetting things? “We’ve met before? Am I having a neurological episode?”

“Not so far as I believe, unless both of us have some severe short term memory issues.” Lunett explains “Specifically we only forget each other. I’m not quite sure why yet. Whatever it is we need to stop obliviously meeting each other, who knows what could happen. We need some way to remember each other.”

Lunett’s friends look at the two of them with confusion, curiosity and concern all at the same time. Meanwhile Lunett and Kalyx devise a system to automatically text each other the previous days events, setting the text to send when they woke up the next day. This way they could build up a working memory of their encounters. Lunett eventually realises they have a class soon, and sets the first message to send the next morning.

Lunett remembers they wanted to wait before sitting down, but they cannot remember why. They stand for a good five minutes trying to work through the possible reasons when a person walks in the door, the person waves to Ariane and Ariane waves back. Lunett would have noticed a regular like this right? Lunett also notes their Leptinar jumper

“I like your jumper!” Lunett notes, approaching the person. “Wanna sit together?”

“Sure!” The person says

After short introductions Lunett learns the person is named Kalyx.

“Favourite song?” Lunett asks

“Mercury skies! Yours?”

“Great pick! Mine is red ferns.”

“That’s gotta be in my top five.”

“You’ve great taste” Lunett nods.

“Mind if I sit here?” A person with lavender hair and a purple jumper asks.

“Sure?” Kalyx and Lunett agree with mild reluctance.

“Tell me, have either of you been having blank spots in your memory or unexplained events?” The person asks

“Not that I can think of?” Lunett says

“No?” Kalyx replies

“Any unexplained notes on your arms?” The person asks

“Could we at least have your name first? I’m Lunette and this is Kalyx”

Kalyx checks their arm and freezes

“Yeah sure, I’m Mirae. Sorry for the fast introductions.” Mirae does not sound genuine in any way shape or form, in fact their tone is like espresso.

Mirae looks at Kalyx. “Yeah just like that.”

“I don’t understand, why is Lunett’s name on my arm, what charm? We just met?” Kalyx’s mind tumbles around “Lunett, are you also wearing a bracelet like that?” Mirae points at a colourful bracelet on Kalyx’s arm

Lunett checks their arm and finds a matching one “heh? How’s this possible.”

“It’s very simple.” Mirae explains “Those are echoes, little…lets say magical, trinkets that do certain things. Potentially dangerous things. I keep a lookout for them, and in the process keep everyone safe.”

“Why are you explaining all this? None of it makes sense.” Kalyx holds their head in their hands

“Isn’t it awfully convenient to turn up?” Lunett notes

“Well, kind of. In the same way the police showing up at a murder is convenient. And to answer your question Kalyx, I can be more forward because I’m wearing an echo too. The second you lose sight of me you’ll forget the whole conversation. So would you two like to remember each other or not?”

“My whole conscious is screaming not to agree with you.” Lunett notes “But you seem to know what you’re talking about. At best you’re just here to steal the jewellery. In which case we will chase you down.”

“I’ll send you two a non-echo replica set in the mail, you won’t lose the bracelets, or what they symbolise.”

“Again I agree with Lunett, this is all way too convenient you can’t just show up and say whatever you’re saying like this. But whatever here.”

Kalyx takes off the bracelet and hands it to Mirae. Then looks at Lunett, who is still fixated on…oh there’s a person wearing a purple hoodie with lavender hair. Before Kalyx can comment on the oddness of that, they start to remember mornings and nights spent learning Lunett’s name again and again, spending time saying the same things but sometimes different things, the pen snatcher, Toronto, getting hit by their bike! Two in Forty timelines…stars try thirty nine in forty

Lunett gives the bracelet to the person, the bracelet that Kalyx had found in their new house. Wait those were their friendship bracelets why give them away? Lunett looked back at Kalyx and they couldn’t place their concern anymore. But Lunett looked at them with total recognition.