Part 44: Takeshi/Sora Route - Part 1

Prologue
1, 2, 3, 4

We’re briefly introduced to the main characters and enjoy a bit of walking around before all hell breaks loose.

Takeshi - First Day
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Summary from the game’s shortcut menu:

~May 1st Takeshi’s Perspective~
Takeshi escapes from the elevator, but there’s no one to be found in LeMU. In order to escape the flooding, Takeshi goes with Tsugumi and Sora to the lower levels.

Takeshi - Second Day
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Summary from the game’s shortcut menu:

“~May 2nd Takeshi’s Perspective~
Takeshi moves into his second day at LeMU short on sleep. For some reason You and crew are in foul moods. Sora predicts the limits of LeMU’s partitions. The power suddenly goes out.”

Honorary mentions: Kick-the-Can

Takeshi - Third Day
1, 2

Summary from the game’s shortcut menu:

“~May 3rd Takeshi’s Perspective~
‘Nobody’s come to save us yet, but I’m done being pessimistic’ …is the sentiment for an instant, but a small mistake leads to an unexpected accident—and dangerous flooding.”

Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?

Track—Zweitestock




"To the dolphins... To the Dolphin Carousel. I like that place."


"All right. Let's go."




"What's up with them, looking like they were just bit on the butt by something?"


"Hee hee..."

Sora answered me with an amused laugh.


"They thought that you were talking to yourself."


"Huh, okay... No wait, why? I was talking with you?"


"Didn't I say that I wanted to talk to you about something secret?"


"Huh? ...Oh, now I get it..."

Apparently You and the Kid couldn't see Sora.



[Music—Stop]

The circling dolphins stood still in the silence.

Track—Heilmittel


"It's so quiet... Sometimes it seems that the everyday hubbub is all an empty lie..."

Sora spoke quietly.


"I apologize, that was inappropriate. It doesn't fit the moment."


"No, I don't mind. If I had known about this place days before... yeah, and if I'd seen it back in the days when it was full of people, I'd probably be thinking the same thing. Sora, how long have you been here at LeMU?"


"I started working at a functional level in April of 2011. So, since then."


"Six years, huh..."


"Yes, that is correct. 2223 days..."

Sora narrowed her eyes. She was nearly overcome by some feeling. Could it be nostalgia? It didn't seem like a programmed emotion. She must treasure memories of this place. We gazed at the figures of the silent dolphins for a while.


"So listen, Sora."

I broke in, hoping it was the right moment.


"Yes? What is it?"


"You said you had to talk to me about a secret. Are you ready to tell me about it?"


"Ah yes, that's right."

She straightened, and turned to face me.

[Music—Stop]

Then suddenly her face shone as she said,

Track—Karussell Delphine


"Takeshi, shall we play tag?"
NO.


"Uh... What...?"


"Kick-the-can was so much fun yesterday! So, won't you play tag with me?"


"Tag!?"

I couldn't quite grasp the connection.


"Come on, Takeshi, you have to - Try and catch me!"

She casually floated up off the ground, and moved off as if she were gliding.


"Hey, wait a minute, Sora..."




"Where did you go?!"

I immediately looked around for her.










"Hey! You!"







Laughing, she would show herself in one place, and then disappear.


"Oh, come on! What IS this!? You know as well as I do - There's no way I can catch you... No matter what I do, I can't grab hold of you!"



B
"No, surely not...!"

C
"I see...hee hee, I didn't realize that."

She was playing dumb. Sora had split into three images...


"What the heck... What's happened to you, Sora?"

A
"Hm, what could it be?"

She shrugged exaggeratedly. All three leaned toward me at the same time...

B
"Do you think I am strange?"

C
"Is there something wrong with me?"


"I'm the one that should be asking that question! What the heck is going on here!?"



A
"I don't even know myself anymore what's going on..."

C
"I feel all happy and fluffy..."

She was floating around like someone who was slightly drunk. I started to worry.


"S-Sora! Are you okay? You're sure you're not sick? Or tired? Nothing bad's happened, has it? Maybe we should get LeMMIH to check you out...to make sure there's not some serious error..."


"Why, Takeshi!"

She pursed her mouth and took a huge sigh.



She didn't move, and there was only one of her.


"All right. I will stop playing around with you."


"Playing around...?"


"Yes. That was just a little joke..."


"......"


"Now for the reason I brought you here."

I shook my head, putting my fingers against my temples. Seeing that, Sora smiled at me. Without making any noise at all, the dolphins began quietly circling again.

[Music—Stop]

I leaned against a handy artificial rock with a mascot pasted to it. Sora stood at attention once again, and began speaking slowly.

Track—Hologramm


"This is the continuation of our conversation yesterday. The reason that there is only one being like me in the world... I think I told you that it was the policy of my creator."


"In order to give me a unified, individual personality, there are restrictions on my faculties. However, according to theory, several of me can exist at the same time. Just like I showed you before."


"...Shall I show you again?"


"No thanks. I'm still recovering..."


"Hee hee...all right, I won't do it anymore."

She stopped there. She seemed to be thinking about something, then took a deep breath and continued.


"Just now... Could you tell which one was me?"


"Huh?"


"Which one was me?"


"Well, which...uh... So...the several versions of you...they're all different?"


"No."


"Well then, they're all the same. They're all the same Sora."


"Correct."

She smiled.


"Yes, they're all me... Perfect copies...no, perhaps it is easier to understand if I use the word 'clones.'"


"Takeshi, are you aware of the "Clone Law" that was officially amended in 2010?"