April had arrived yet again, bringing spring with it. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom once more. It was again the time of the beginning of school or, in this case, universities.
Alex had graduated from high school and set his eyes on one of the best universities in Japan. A prestigious university, famous for producing brilliant talent, Tokyo University.
Alex had aced the exam and quickly got in. The university had offered dorms to Alex, but he decided to rent an apartment near to it. He was busy getting ready for the morning.
Two weeks into university life and nothing out of the ordinary. Alex locked his door and walked down the stairs to meet up with a certain someone who was already there, waiting. He went and greeted him.
'Morning, Jason.'
To which Jason coldly replied.
'You are 1 minute and 23 seconds late.'
'Glad to see you're the same as ever, let's go.'
Alex and Jason both walked together. As they walked, the reason Jason was in such a miserable situation and was going to university with Alex was still fresh in his mind, and he regretted it every night.
It happened on the night of the eventful graduation party held in Alex's honor. After the fun was over, Alex and Jason carried Hikaru to change his memories by using the Electro Memory Manipulator EMM. Alex wanted to alter Hikaru's memories himself, to which Jason promptly refused.
Alex kept on nagging like a child to the point Jason got so irritated that he was about to shoot Alex, but knowing Alex will probably put up a fight, resulting in a commotion, he kept his composure. Instead, he came up with an ingenious idea. An idea that could solve all of his problems quickly and quietly. Jason's face lit up.
'Fine, I will let you modify his memories.'
'Really?'
--This was easier than I thought.
Alex didn't assume that Jason would give in so easily.
'Yes, of course. But shall we also make a playful little bet to pass the time?'
'Sure.'
Alex had no idea what Jason was scheming. It was an idea so good that he even applauded himself in his mind for coming up with such a cunning plan.
'The bet is simple. I will let you alter Hikaru's memories only If you can operate the EMM without any external assistance. Do not worry, you will be given a time of 30 minutes to figure out the machine on your own.'
Alex listened as Jason went on. He knew there was a catch and was waiting for it.
'However, in the events that you fail to do so..'
There it was, the catch.
'I will have your memories altered along with Hikaru. Do you accept?'
The catch took Alex by surprise.
--How is that?
The EMM was not a toy. It was an extremely sophisticated machine made to alter memories with unbelievable precision. However, for someone to make that possible, he/she would need in-depth knowledge and working of the human brain, the most complicated system in the whole universe. The EMM is just a tool that is only as good as the one using it.
Jason expected Alex to back out right away.
--That should shut him up.
After all, losing means, his memories would get altered too. Still, Jason secretly wished that Alex would agree to his laughable bet so that he could remove the existence of WS, Jira, and, most importantly, himself from Alex's mind.
It takes hard work and dedication to operate the machine, not to mention many years of studying neurology, not something one can do in a night. Anyway one could look at it, Alex had no way of winning, it was checkmate.
Jason enjoyed every second of looking at Alex, who was taken aback. Jason impatiently asked.
'Well, do you accept?'
Jason wanted an answer. Then like someone busy solving a difficult math question and finally got the answer, Alex smiled.
'The EMM can erase and forge memories accurately up to 3 months, right?'
Not the words Jason wanted to hear but answered.
'Yes.'
'Then if I win, you'll have to go to university with me for 3 whole months. If you agree to this condition, I will accept the bet?'
Jason was perplexed by the conditions but decided to accept as if attempting to even the enormous odds that made him feel a bit guilty.
'Fine. As you wish.'
'Alright, then let's hurry and go.'
--What a fool, finally I will be able to get rid of this nuisance.
Jason led the way with victory already in his hands. The study of the most complex part of the human body requires many years and many books, Jason had taken this into account, what he had not taken into account was that he was up against Alex.
'Man, understanding this machine sure took a while.'
Alex sighed in relief as he took a deep breath while stretching beside Jason was dumbfounded.
--This should not be happening. This cannot be happening.
It took only 10 minutes for Alex to get a good grasp of the EMM. After that, he was using it like it was made for him.
'And I thought the books I read in neurology would never come in use.'
And thus, we come back to our current situation. Jason dreadfully walking together with Alex, who was cheerfully ahead of him. The lesson to be learned here is *gambling is bad. Don't make stupid bets kids.*
Two weeks into university life and nothing out of the ordinary. It was a peaceful life. Well, that's about to change real quick.