The girls stare silently before glancing at the fireplace. The flames burning inside are completely normal, devoid of any menacing features.

“I guess that adds up with Aku’s grand theory,” Mary says, turning her head as if she’s already lost interest after her outburst.

“Mary, please don’t assume I’ve been manipulating you both this whole time,” I plea, taking a step toward her. “Remember when we were in the factory? That was not a lie… I-”

“Like clockwork, you’re so predictable,” Mary scoffs, refusing to look at me. “How did I know you would bring that up. You were planning on using that this whole time, weren’t you? Even going so far as knowing my favorite drink…” Her voice trails off as she scowls through reddened cheeks.

“No, I promise, I didn’t remember that…”

“But that doesn’t matter anymore, does it?” Mirei declares in voice that cuts right through my soul.

“What,” I mutter, facing her in desperation. “Mirei, you know, right? I’ve been there to support you all along, haven’t I? Since you started posting videos; and in your world, I worked hard to help you…”

She looks disappointed, frowning at me as if committed to match Mary. “Why are you trying so hard to win our trust back now? You just declared war on us, didn’t you? Didn’t you just say that you were going to be the one to obtain victory?”

“Well, of course, I have to,” I mutter, staring at her in confusion.

“Then, then that means you’re going to leave this world with Aku’s power, right? Which means that we…” she staggers, looking down. As if I hadn’t understood it myself till now, my face freezes with shock.

“We’ll disappear along with the dreamscape, like you said at the beginning,” Mary says in a plainly defeated voice, glaring at me with an expression bearing both anger and despair.

“That’s… correct,” I reply meekly, holding my head in my hand, thinking. “I’m sorry- even though I’m regaining my memories, it feels like everything is jumbled up.” I remove my head from my hand and look the girls over, having slightly regained myself. “It’s true that I have a job to do. And you’ll understand why soon. However, there isn’t any reason for the two of you to give up.”

“What? Why?” Mirei asks, her frown turning deeper, as if declaring her distrust in me.

“Because Aku helped you both, right?” I reply, biting my lip nervously. “I imagine he said something about wanting to watch me lose, so it’s likely he’ll help you thwart me this time, right?”

“Um… but, JC, there’s no point in us fighting if neither of us can win, is there?” Mirei responds, forming a sheepish smile.

“But we don’t know that!” I exclaim, commanding their surprise. “You both lost because you couldn’t forsake each other, but what if… what if you were to win for the other’s sake?”

“You don’t mean…” Mary mutters, her eyes growing wide.

“Force Aku’s power upon the other, making the choice to be forgotten in their place.”

“…that’s… just insane,” Mirei sputters, her facade of defiance falling apart.

“But why the hell would you be entertaining that idea if this is supposed to be your victory? You aren’t making any sense!” Mary shouts, standing to her feet as she glares at me. “Could it be… you just need us to participate for the dreamscape to proceed? This is just more of your phony guidance, isn’t it? Do you think we’re just going to continue to be manipulated by you?”

“It’s not phony,” I reply with furrowed brows and clenched fists, curtailing myself from shouting in return. “I’m still your guide… I’m still serving as Aku’s proxy, so it’s my duty to guide you both through this, even if the writing on the walls is a prelude to my victory. So, if you don’t like the idea of saving Mirei, then just follow me. I’ll lead this final world to a destination the two of you couldn’t fathom. Aku’s expectations of me are high, after all.”

“Ah!” Mirei exclaims, as if realizing something.

“What is it?” Mary implores, wearing a confused expression.

“You’ve mentioned that before, JC,” Mirei replies, leering at me as if trying to peek into my soul. “Back in my world, when we spent the night at your apartment…”

“You did what?” Mary cries, her reddened face wrought in anguish as she turns her vicious glare at me. “JC, you son of a-”

“Nothing happened, Mary,” Mirei cuts in, wearing an embarrassed smile. “Anyway, it was after you mentioned regaining your memories. When you talked about being worthy to lead the world in the dreamscape, you said Aku had high expectations of us.”

“Ah… that’s right,” I reply blankly. “So, what do you-”

“I realized, after thinking about that conversation… that you have something planned.” Mirei stares at me unflinchingly, forcing me to avert my gaze briefly. “I’m not saying I’ll follow you blindly, but I do want to trust you. Despite your lies of omittance, despite your betrayal… despite everything.”

“Mirei… thank you,” I answer softly, regarding her charming figure with every bit of respect I can convey through a forced bow. “Even if I can’t remember or comprehend the plan I had… no matter what happens, I’ll make good on your trust; I promise you that.”

The beautiful pink-haired girl offers me a weak smile, while the black-haired beauty threatens to murder me with her eyes alone.

“Well, now that I’ve had time to think about it, making your plans fall apart is actually a pretty sufficient motivator,” Mary taunts, her bare feet cracking as she steps toward me. “Though I wonder what’ll happen if I just kick your ass right now.”

“At the very least, go with me to the lab and see my dreams once for yourselves,” I reply, standing my ground. “I’ll even show you the truth about your circumstances. Besides, nothing will happen until the world shifts, so there isn’t any point in fighting until then.”

“Tch… looks like we’re dancing to your tune, after all…” she mutters as she plops back onto the sofa. Mirei, startled, bats her eyes at her with interest as she curls up beside her. “I’ll go along with your farce for now,” Mary continues. “And when the world shifts, I’ll break through our wavelength and beat your ass bloody.”

“Looking forward to it,” I reply with an awkward smile, scratching my head as I watch her fall asleep in seconds, nestled on Mirei’s shoulder. “I’ll let you two get some rest, then.”

As I turn to make for the door, overly conscious of the girl still watching me, I’m rendered frozen.

“It really is strange… how you’re still fighting so hard to gain our trust,” Mirei says softly. Her words cut through me like butter, forcing me to tilt my head back in her direction. “We couldn’t follow you even if we wanted to, since you put that idea in our heads. Now we’re sure to be on far different wavelengths, so there’s no way we could work together. And you know that, of course. Yet you still did it, even though you might lose. I wonder, what exactly is at stake for you, JC. How much you’re still hiding… and why, despite all that, you’re still thinking about us.”

I falter, hiding my expression. Saying nothing, I turn and pass through the doorway, slowly closing it. “Try to rest. I expect you’ll both show me that same strength, tomorrow.”