A obscure person

You feel better after taking a shower. All the stress, confusion, and even Kaya's feelings that seemed to have seeped into you, have been washed away to some extent. Refreshed, you walk out of the bathroom, grab a towel hanging outside your room, and head to your bedroom to dress.

Descending the stairs, you find two girls in the kitchen. Chantal and Dummy Bianca appear to be cooking, while Dummy Kaya is busily setting the table as though hosting a welcome party.

"Oh honey, how are you?" Dummy Bianca turns around to greet you. Descending the stairs, you nod your head. Although the sight of girls in your home is unfamiliar, and your thoughts seem to swirl, you manage a smile and head towards them in the kitchen.

"I feel a little better, the headache's lessening...but what are you all doing?" you ask, focusing on the food that Chantal and Dummy Bianca are preparing. Chantal offers you a spoonful of soup. Taking it, you dip it in the pot for a taste.

"Wow... this is... wow... you two are really talented," you compliment them, smiling appreciatively.

"I... no, we're glad to cook for you every day if possible," Chantal responds.

"Like my sister said," agrees Dummy Bianca.

“So, to clarify, the two of you right now... are you sisters?” You ask. They both nod in agreement.

“Yes, after discussion, we decided it would be like this. Actually, we're planning to reorganize our house a bit. Isn't that right, sister?" Chantal turns to Bianca, who responds with a sly smile.

"Yeah, but that's after tonight's affair," Dummy Bianca says before both of them smile at each other. You have no idea what they're talking about until something clicks in your mind.

"Oh yeah, it's almost dusk. You two have to go home...especially you, Chantal. What are you going to do? You don't have any memory of your new body." You ask her, she taps her lower lip with her index finger in thought. As you too ponder, you notice Dummy Kaya standing next to you.

“I have a few ideas...they should work,” you say, smiling at your own thoughts as the 'sisters' eyes sparkle with curiosity, Dummy Kaya looks at you questioningly.

"Yes... well, we planned to read today and decided to stay at my house... It's okay, she should probably go back home tomorrow because we have work to do. Try calling her?" You suggest in Kaya's voice as you take on her appearance and dial Chantal's house, mouthing the words along with Dummy.

"Your mother wants to speak with you," you whisper to Chantal as Dummy covers her cell phone. She nods before taking the phone from Dummy's hand and activating the speaker.

"Yes...mother?" Chantal says, making an effort to change her accent to match the unfamiliar voice.

"You're staying at Kaya's house, right? Do you want me to leave your clothes with Carl to give to you?" A female voice from the other end of the line asks Chantal.

"Oh, it's okay. I've already prepared my clothes and talked to Kaya. If I need anything else, I can borrow it. Besides, it's not just me and Kaya here. We have a new friend joining us as well. Right, Bianca?” She hands the phone to her dummy.

"Yes, don't worry. We'll take good care of her. She's practically one of us now." You can see her smile hinting at something. Chantal smiles too before continuing the conversation with her 'mother'.

"As you heard, mom. They're taking good care of me, so you have nothing to worry about. See you later... bye." She seems to choose her words carefully towards the end, before hanging up when her mother doesn't respond. After sighing in relief, she hands the phone back to Dummy.

"Okay, I think it should be fine. You can stay here for now. In the meantime, we need to figure out what to do with your memories." You wipe your face as Dummy Kaya swiftly places her face back on.

"What about you, Bianca? What are you planning to do next?” Dummy Kaya asks in your voice, which gradually transitions back to Kaya's with Chantal's help.

"My situation isn't a concern. I might just have to call home. As for food, my mother can use the microwave; it should be capable of warming food. It's only a minor risk." She glances at Chantal, and it's as if they both know exactly what she's referring to, except for you and Dummy Kaya.

"Well, let's make the call then. After that, there should be nothing else to worry about." You glance at your phone's clock before moving towards the well-prepared table, then turn back to the others.

"Shall we start eating?" Everyone nods in agreement just as a knock sounds from the door. As you approach to answer it, you glance through the peephole. It's still raining heavily outside. You see a figure standing there, holding something that looks like a woven basket. She's wearing a skirt with long black socks, a long-sleeved shirt, and a dark blue hoodie. Her face is hidden behind a mask and her eyes obscured by her hood. But the fit of the snug hoodie leaves no doubt about the proportions of her body; she's a teenage girl. After considering the situation, you decide to let the stranger in.

"Thank you for inviting me," she thanks you before removing her shoes and placing her umbrella against the wall. After removing her mask and hood, she grumbles, "Ugh, I hate the darn rain outside," in a small, youthful voice. When the hood is lifted, her long black hair tumbles down to her buttocks. She gathers it over one shoulder and turns to you. Her eyes are large and blackish-brown, her face adorned with more pronounced freckles than Bianca's. Despite being shorter than you, her presence is palpable.

"You must be Lasse, Matthias' grandson, right?" She approaches and starts circling you, as though inspecting you for flaws.

"Uh... maybe? I don't know my grandfather since I've never met him, and my mother never mentioned him. But who are you?" You ask, once she completes a full circle around you. She smiles before introducing herself.

"I'm Natsumi Himura. You can call me Natsumi. It's my pleasure." She extends her hand. For a moment, you're taken aback. Didn't Paul mention that the person he was sending to help you wasn't human? You look at her small palm, then at her smiling face. She seems to notice your hesitation.

"Huh? Don't you like shaking hands? Or would you prefer a Thai greeting? Or a salute? Or a noble's bow?... Come on, I won't bite," she teases before reaching out again. After a moment of confusion, you shake her hand. To your surprise, she grips it so tightly that it hurts.

“Yeah, that's how to shake hands properly, muhahaha!” She laughs heartily before releasing your hand. You cradle your hand, red from her firm grip.

"What the hell was that? You've got a strong grip!" You complain, examining your hand to make sure there's no lasting damage. Natsumi simply grins at you, shrugging lightly.

"I get that a lot. Strong for a girl, right?" She crosses her arms over her chest, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

"Okay, okay, I admit defeat. Welcome to our humble abode, Natsumi," you say, smiling despite the pain in your hand. The odd, freckle-faced girl just laughs, throwing her head back.

"I like your humor, Lasse. And thank you, for the warm welcome," she responds, her laughter subsiding.

You introduce her to the others and explain the unusual situation with Chantal and Bianca. She listens attentively, a serious expression replacing her previous joviality.

"So you're dealing with a memory transfer problem? And it's affected both of you?" Natsumi asks, looking from Chantal to Bianca, who both nod in response. "I see. And I assume that Paul has already told you about me?"

"That you're not exactly human and that you're supposed to help us out, yes. But how exactly are you going to do that?" you ask, curiosity winning out over your earlier annoyance at her hand-crushing greeting.

"Well, the specifics are a little complicated, but I can simplify it. I can enter the minds of others. It's a part of my abilities as a...let's call it a 'spirit guide.' I can assist in separating the memories and getting them back where they belong," Natsumi explains, her hands moving as she talks.

"That sounds... really handy, actually," you admit. "But will it hurt?"

"No, it shouldn't hurt. It might feel a bit strange, like you're dreaming while awake, but no physical pain," she assures you. "I just need your permission. It won't work unless you're willing."

You look to Chantal and Bianca, who both seem to be pondering Natsumi's words. After a moment, they both nod, looking resolute.

"Alright, we trust you. Let's do it," Bianca says. Chantal follows up with a nod, affirming her agreement.

"Great! We can get started after dinner," Natsumi proposes, clapping her hands together enthusiastically. "I'm famished!"

The evening passes with a strange but not unwelcome harmony, as you all gather around the table, enjoying the meal and each other's company. You find yourself laughing more than you have in a while, even as the rain continues to pour outside.

Despite the bizarre circumstances that brought all of you together, it seems for a moment like things might just turn out okay. But as the saying goes, the night is young, and many things can happen before the dawn. After all, there's still the matter of Chantal and Bianca's tangled memories to resolve.

But for now, you focus on the moment, appreciating the warmth, the laughter, the fleeting sense of normalcy. Even in the midst of the surreal, you find moments of genuine happiness. And perhaps, that's enough to keep the looming uncertainty at bay, at least for a little while.