Kino looked more than happy to help out and Mina was curious what will happen next. Before Kino could say another word, Devin intercepted.
"If we do this, we can see everything from your memories," he explained. Without any hesitation, Mina nodded.
'Who cares what they see? It's not like I have anything to hide.'
"Where should we start?" Kino couldn't hide his impatience. "I haven't done this in a while."
Devin looked at the orangutan and then to Mina. As if asking for permission, he asked another question in a gentle voice.
"Can you show us what happened since you arrived in the new world?"
Mina took a deep breath and tried to remember everything from the moment she arrived in the new world.
'I've been a cat since I arrived in that world anyway, there will be no embarrassing scenes.'
Mina berated herself for thinking those stupid thoughts. Before she could recall anything she wanted to hide, she heard someone clearing his thought while smacking his lips. Kino was giving her a look that screamed: "what's taking so long?" She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the orangutan in front of her. She looked at Devin who sat on a chair which seems to have been conjured out of nowhere.
"I agree. Let's do this."
Kino guided Mina close to the panel and placed her hand in one place. A bunch of things flashed into the screen and Kino pulled something underneath the panel and pulled out several wires with different tips. The monkey finally chose two wires with testing clips on the edge - one was red, the other was black.
Mina lifted the hand on the panel to point at the wires to ask a question but Kino slapped the hand back.
"Stop moving."
After giving her a stern warning, Kino attached one clip on her right ear and the other on her left.
"I've tested these clips on earthworms, they are more comfortable that clip-on earrings."
Mina who was about to question the monkey's sanity couldn't help but be amazed.
"Kino, what are you?"
"This is nothing," Kino replied while trying to push several buttons on the panel. "I've been wanting to test this method of memory projection since I escaped the lab." While Mina followed Kino's movements, she couldn't help but glance at Devin who tried to suppress a chuckle after Kino said his piece.
After fiddling with more things, Kino broke the silence.
"We're all set."
At these words, Devin snapped his fingers and darkness descended on the pod. Disoriented with the darkness, Mina was about to use her hands to reach for someone but she felt a pressure on the hand placed on the panel.
"Keep that hand in place or I'll restrain you."
The warning made Mina remember what she was supposed to do and she settled down. She heard some shuffling but her focus was eventually diverted on the warm sensation on her ears. Before she could say anything, she heard Kino's voice.
"The initial discomfort is normal. Bear with it."
Slowly, one part of the screen lit up and she saw a thatched roof on the screen and a familiar hut. It was where she first arrived when she came to the other world. Her memories were streaming across the screen. She heard some movement and shortly after, Devin was beside her.
"How is this possible?" Mina couldn't help but exclaim. Everything on the screen was exactly what she saw and experienced. Mina looked at Devin, expecting him to say something but it was unexpectedly Kino who spoke first.
"Have you heard people saying their life flashed before their eyes?"
Before Mina could ask another question, she heard a shushing sound from the man beside her. Mina had all sort of questions but she suppressed the desire to ask.
"This method is quite outdated but it works," Kino explained in a hushed voice. "If you want, I can look into the memories you lost," the monkey suggested. Before Kino could say anything else, Devin shushed him again. Mina could sense the man's irritation and she didn't dare to say anything else and simply focused on the screen in front of her.
'No! No! Skip! Skip!' Mina couldn't help but panic inside when she saw the scene. It was that time when she asked Tarou about her gender. Before she could say something, she heard Devin whisper close to her nearest ear.
"For the record, the body you're using is a male cat."
Mina could feel herself blush.
'Why did I even ask that thing!'
She tried to conceal her embarrassment on what happened next - Tarou assumed she liked him!
'Tarou. That mouse looks more adorable in my memories. I hope that underling is safe.'
***
When Tarou woke up he was back inside the log. His mind was blank when he opened his eyes but when he finally become fully conscious he felt a splitting headache.
'Was it all a dream?'
Tarou remembered being inside a human body and talking to Barca but something forced him out. He had no idea how long it has been since he lost consciousness but it was dark outside.
He looked around and noticed the unconscious cat.
'Will Barca realize it was him asking for help?'
Tarou took the time to observe the cat closely. Boss had one paw extended forward.
'Was Boss trying to reach me?'
Tarou couldn't help but feel touched. This cat has been acting crude and spoiled but was actually kind. Tarou went on to pat the paw. He knew he couldn't leave Boss.
It would be too cruel.
He could only hope that Boss will return from wherever he is or for help to arrive.