Art: Exo
Story: Blimp
[][][][][][][]
"…it was very important to him."
Arc 1, Chapter 1: Charlotte, Four Years Ago...
[][][][][][][]
Morning light hit his face, coming in through the window uninvited. He shut his eyes to keep it out, and sluggishly got out of bed. Today was an important day for him.
March 15th.
???: "I still remember it like it was yesterday… or even today."
Whatever he was talking about, it was clear that it was very important to him.
He washed his face, took a quick but functional shower, switched into casual clothing, and skipped breakfast, rushing to the door immediately.
???: "I wonder what flowers she'd like today… maybe I'll drop some daisies…"
So he stopped by a nearby florist.
???: "Back again, huh, Merry?"
Merry: "Mhm. I'd like daisies today."
The exchange between the two showed that they were very close.
In fact, Merry had known the shop owner since he was three years old.
His name was Hans.
Merry: "So, Hans, you wanna come with? I'm going to visit her today."
Hans: "Oh, Charlotte? No can do, boy, sorry… I'm busy with my kids."
Hans was around thirty-five years old, while Merry was eighteen.
Hans slapped Merry on the shoulder, as if telling him to cheer up.
Hans: "What do you say, just for today, you can take your daisies for free?"
Merry's eyes lit up.
Merry: "Really..? Thanks.."
Hans laughed and nodded.
Merry thanked him one more time, and then took a batch of daisies.
Merry: "I wonder if you'd still like these…"
Hans: "—?"
Merry: "Oh, nothing."
Hans: "I'll see you 'round."
Merry: "Yeah. See you."
For context, just a couple years ago, the last of a bloodline that had evolved further than normal humans rose to power. This evolution gave them supernatural abilities, and they had ended up using them for evil. All looked lost, but one woman was able to take them down.
The name of that woman…
… was Charlotte.
Charlotte had something of a relationship with Merry, in that she was his girlfriend.
Every year following her death, he had brought her a random choice of flowers.
Today was for daisies.
—I wonder what I should do today… maybe apply for that new job that opened.
Merry was stuck in thought about what to do, but he saved that for later.
He took his usual weekend route.
A screen on a building's side was broadcasting the news.
Broadcaster: "Today marks the anniversary of Charlotte Red's final battle. A woman so strong, she single-handedly saved Earth from falling into the wrong hands.
Bystanders were amazed, and stood still to take in the moment.
Onlooker: "A real hero she was, that Charlotte."
Onlooker: "Indeed."
Merry did not stop to watch.
He had seen this countless times.
Merry: "…Didn't you hate all that attention? Charlotte…"
Merry held the daisies close to his chest, and continued towards the cemetery.
The cemetery gave off a gloomy feeling. It looked like your average cemetery, but… much different.
Much, much different.
Merry swore he could hear other voices. He walked across the side of the cemetery until he was at Charlotte's grave. There were many flowers there.
Merry: "Everyone misses you, Lottie."
???: "Reaaaly?~"
Merry: "—Uh?"
???: "Do they reaaaly miss me? Hmm, Merry?"
Merry turned to face the voice calling from behind. Or rather, he thought it was coming from behind.
It wasn't behind him.
It just… was.
But it called to him again.
And he was sure it was Charlotte, somehow.
"Charlotte": "Y'know, I shoulda got stronger before fighting them. Going out along with them… it should've ended differently."
Merry: "Yeah… though, it's too late… isn't it?"
Merry was taken aback by the conversation he was having.
Wasn't Charlotte dead?
But then again, if the bloodline that Charlotte wiped out possessed some kind of supernatural ability, then her essence talking to him could just be possible.
Merry: "Uh, I'm talking to Charlotte, right?"
"Charlotte": "Yup! I didn't come here just to say hi, though.."
Merry sighed. Talk about a happy ending.
Merry: "I see. What's going on?"
"Charlotte": "In a way, I mean, I guess— I kinda just wanted to talk. In 15 minutes, a shooting star will fly by here. If wishing on a shooting star turns out to be true… Can you fix my past?"
Merry's eyes narrowed. Fixing Charlotte's past? What does he have to do with that?
Charlotte: "You might be confused, but… If you wish to help me when that star comes, I'd appreciate it, a lot. I've got a lot of regrets, and I wanna fix the choices I made. I killed someone important on accident… When that happens, when that star, Elot, comes by, fixing my past might mean going back in time, and I might not remember you. Be my friend. Rebuild our relationship… defeat those guys without the consequence of me dying… so we can live happily. Okay?"
Merry: "That's too much to process… do you have time to start over…?"
Charlotte nodded, and replied with, "Do you have time to listen?"
Merry was unsure how to respond to that— because it came off as a teeny bit rude— and sat down near her grave to show he was listening.
Charlotte: "You're aware of that bloodline I dealt with, and how they had insane powers?"
"Yeah." said Merry. His eyes narrowed. Perhaps the conversation was getting serious.
Charlotte: "That means humans are evolving, and also the world around us. With that in mind, the superstition of a shooting star granting wishes has to have some chance of being true."
Merry: "I guess."
He did take note of what she said, but did he actually understand? No.
Charlotte: "I don't mean to think negatively, but let's say you died.."
Merry gulped. Why had she jumped to that topic so soon?
Charlotte: ".. you wouldn't be able to come back. But let's say you took advantage of the system, and wished for three opportunities to help me—"
Merry: "Why wouldn't I just wish for four?"
Merry was known to try to find loopholes wherever possible.
Charlotte: "Each wish corresponds to its own aspect of time: past, present, future."
"Uh, alright. Past, present, yeah, yeah.."
"..meaning, you only get 2 chances to change the past."
Merry: "Okay, now that's serious… Changing the past again."
Charlotte: "If that doesn't make sense, think of it like this: the three opportunities are the three "times", and a single opportunity should be thought of as a second life."
Merry: "So an opportunity by itself is like another save slot."
Charlotte confirmed with a, "Right."
"So can you do it?"
"If I wanna see you again, I have to."
Charlotte smiled softly.
Charlotte: "When you find me, try to be my friend as quickly as possible… because five days after midterms, the first evolved human attacks my house, and I want you to be there."
Merry. "So you want me to gain the trust of a random girl… make her trust me so much she invites me to her house?! That's… impossible."
Charlotte: "I don't know… maybe just stay hidden. If you save her, she might start trusting you."
Merry facepalmed.
Charlotte: "Just watch out for someone named Lily, okay? The names I'm about to give you are ones I don't want you to forget."
Merry nodded. "Lily. Got it…"
All this information at once made Merry feel as if his brain would explode.
He listened in, regardless…
Charlotte: "Lily, Daisy, Rose, Orchid, and Dahlia. Just those 5."
An easy egg hunt… probably what Merry was thinking at the moment.
But she continued, with—
"Of course, someone's name could be theirs too, but if you ever meet someone with one of those names… keep a close eye on them."
The level of his task has just jumped from "just look for this name" to "just look for this name, but you could still be wrong".
Merry tried to remember. "Lily, Daisy, Rose, Orchid, Dahlia.", he repeated to himself.
Charlotte: "Well, that star should be coming soon. You ready?"
Merry: "Yeah. So what do I have to do again?"
Charlotte: "Just say what you want to do."
Merry: "What if it doesn't work…?"
Charlotte: "Merry, have faith…"
— I just know…
The air felt colder. Stars glimmered in the sky. Merry looked up, and then gout out of his seated position. "What I want to do… huh?"
The star was visible, and then…
"I want to.. fix Charlotte's life."
…the star flew by.
Within an instant, it vanished.
—…it'll work.
And the whole world folded in on itself.
[][][][][][][]
Morning light hit his face, coming in through the window uninvited. He did not shut his eyes to keep it out, rather he covered his eyes with his hands, and quickly got out of bed.
Today was a very important day for him. A very important chance. Looking outside the window, Merry saw snow falling from the sky.
So he wore clothes fitting for the day.