Randomly Accessing Memories

[all_wound_up]

Who: Nano Shinonome and Atsuro Kihara
Where: A computer lab in Monoceros Community College
When: May 28, evening
Summary: Even after her recovery, Nano's still got a memory that doesn't belong, and she's enlisting some help from someone she trusts.
Warnings: Action brackets because yolo

[Despite how deeply embarrassed and ashamed Nano is of how she treated Atsuro during the events of the past week, there's something she needs his help with.  While it's true that there are several other people she could have asked - Latooni and Ruri come to mind - she's decided that she really does owe him an apology, and this is just as good an opportunity as any.  So she's asked if she can meet him privately after hours at his job at the community college, and that she'd explain when she got there.  The whole invitation was rather hasty and awkward, with no small amount of blushing and fidgeting from her end before abruptly ending the call.

So late that evening - after dinner but before sunset - Nano shows up in the computer lab, knocking somewhat timidly on the door.]

...Hello?  Atsuro-san?

Comments

[otakuro]

Yeah. I'm just afraid if we keep it a secret and it does turn out to be important, it would look bad for us...

[For Nano really.]

...I'll definitely keep a copy. But yeah. Let's try and see where it came from.

[all_wound_up]

Do you need to reconnect to me to do that?

[Nano eyes the USB cable, wondering.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro has to consider this for a moment or two.]

I think so. It shouldn't be hard to find the original file now that we know what it's called.

[He glances at the folder title: 2a2f00b44760a8b7534430320002544d.]

...I'm not really sure how to approach this, to be honest. I mean... it's not like it's coming from a machine...

[all_wound_up]

[Nano nods, plugging the cable back in and propping her foot back up on the chair. She'd left her toe drive on the table during all of the earlier confusion just in case.]

Whenever you're ready, then.

[Now he knows where he's looking and what he's looking for, so she's not really worried about anything awkward coming up on the screen anymore.]

I believe in you, Atsuro-san. I know you'll be able to find something.

[otakuro]

Eheh... Well, here's hoping.

[Atsuro hooks the other end back into his smashed laptop and glances up at the larger display. Once again, the endless stream of files pops up into view...

It's as simple as typing in the name of the folder so it would automatically jump into view. Atsuro opens it up directly.]

Let's see what we can get out of this.

...Hey, Nano? Can I ask you something? Who did you end up swapping with?

[all_wound_up]

Hm?

[Nano hesitates for a moment, wondering if she should say, but ends up deciding that it's fine as long as she doesn't reveal any of the other party's secrets.]

It was with Xion.

[otakuro]

...It sounds like she has her job cut out for her.

[He doesn't actually know this person, but... with how panicked Nano had been acting that night, he felt a vague pang of sympathy for her, regardless.]

Ah, well... It's probably none of my business. Here.

[Atsuro pulls up the file again and the raw bits of data he had been able to collect into the movie clip. He frowns slightly as he examines them.]

...It looks like altering the data is under another level of encryption, even beyond just accessing it. This looks a little tougher...

[He'll glance at the clock behind them and push his chair away from the computer.]

It's getting pretty late. What do you say I work on this for now and get back to you later? ...And we can think about the... other stuff in the meantime, too.

[all_wound_up]

Mm. I should go and talk to her too, now that I think of it.

[Nano leans in to watch what Atsuro is doing, turning to look at him as he starts to explain things again.]

...Oh! You're right. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you this long.

[She reaches over to disconnect the USB cable, popping her toe back on and sliding her foot back into her sock.]

Thank you so much for helping me with this, Atsuro-san. I really appreciate it!

[Smiling brightly, she quickly leans over to give him a big hug.]

[otakuro]

Ah --

[Atsuro flushes red for a moment or two as Nano leans in for the hug. He laughs, followed by a brief rub at the back of the neck to demonstrate his embarrassment.]

It's no problem! ...Thanks for trusting me with something like this. I feel like I learned a lot just from going through this.

...Did you have dinner yet? I'm pretty hungry.

[all_wound_up]

[Nano's a bit flushed herself as she pulls back from the hug, but manages to keep control. It's sort of a cute scene for a moment as she rubs the back of her own neck at the same time.]

I ate before coming here, but if you'd like I could cook something for you.

[otakuro]

Ah, don't let me impose on you like that! I can just grab something quick on the way back to the apartments.

[Somehow it didn't seem right to ask Nano to cook for him.]

[all_wound_up]

Well... maybe some other time, then.

[She doesn't want to push the issue too much.]

Do you mind if we walk back together?

[Nevermind that she's in the Pisces Ward and he lives in Libra. She'll just use the teleporter and then walk to her house from there.]

[otakuro]

Sure! I'll just grab --

[With a pause, he suddenly remembers his mangled computer for the umpteenth time.]

I'll just leave this here and replace the screen tomorrow. We can go right now!

[A night without his laptop... How will he even spend his free time???]

......Nano, do you know how to play video games?

[all_wound_up]

Video games...?

[Nano blinks before breaking out into an excited smile.]

I've never really tried before, but they look like fun!

[otakuro]

Great.

I've got three hours of free time to kill and a game I just bought last week waiting to be beat. There's a multiplayer option; we can try it!

[Kazuya had been avoiding him as of late... He couldn't blame the guy, really, but it also meant he had no one to play his games with.]

And I'll grab a boxed lunch on the way. There's a good place right outside the tech building in the college here.

[all_wound_up]

Okay!

[Nano's key begins to spin again as she happily nods, cheeks slightly pink.]

You'll have to teach me how to play, though, and I might not be very good at first, but I'll do my best!

[otakuro]

No problem. It should be pretty simple to pick up - and it doesn't really matter how far we get as long as we're having fun.

[Anyway she was a robot robots had to be good at video games right.]

I can try to explain what it's about on the way!

[Atsuro grabs his messenger bag and heads for the door.]

((And I think that's probably a good place to leave off!))