Time seems to fly by when I'm with Olympia. I look at my phone's clock and it's already evening. Didn't we get here three hours ago? Although we only played for three hours, we made plenty of progress in Minecraft. She killed me countless times by "accident." I'm just glad that it was only in a video game. Yet, I can't rub off the feeling that she's taking some of her hate out on me through the game. Wasn't there an episode of South Park where the parents found Minecraft erotic? I hope she doesn't think I'm some sort of pervert for suggesting this game. Well, perhaps I should be saying 'more of a pervert' instead.
"Well, Kiyo—"
"Don't call me Kiyo, Venti—"
"Don't call me one of the best anemo characters in Genshin Impact!"
"You're familiar with that game? You're the real deal."
There's a brief silence between us after I say this. We're not facing each other; we're facing the screen. So I can't see what expression she's wearing. I hope I haven't said something inconsiderate once again.
"Can I…please call you Kiyo?" Her voice softened. I didn't expect that vulnerability from her, and it caught me off guard.
I never thought I'd see such a timid side from her. It's pretty cute. She called me Kiyo again. I don't mind, but it still feels strange hearing it.
"I can sense that you're having pervy thoughts. Never mind…"
"I wasn't having any pervy thoughts! I've never had one in my entire life! Who are you, anyways, Kagami?"
"Kagami? Who's that?" questions Olympia. I look at her briefly, and written on her face is confusion.
Wait, she's unfamiliar with Kagami? Maybe I should inform her about our new schoolmate. I'd better do my best to put her in the best light possible.
"She is a sexual deviant! A perverted monster. No one is as disgusting as her!" I say, wholeheartedly.
"I didn't know you had multiple personalities, Kiyo. Thanks for revealing that now. If you exposed this information later, it would've been rather cliché."
She called me Kiyo. I'm glad Kagami isn't here. She would be teasing me like crazy.
"Hm? Kiyo? Are you shifting right now? Hello? Salvē! Salvē!"
"I don't have DID? Also, isn't it insensitive to say that it would be a cliche plot point for a story? Some real people suffer with that."
"Do they?"
"Well, I'd assume so. There have been plenty of stories of people who suffer from multiple personalities. I'm not too educated on the subject, but I wouldn't doubt it's real."
"So you can't say that it's real. You have to assume that dissociation is something people experience. You don't doubt it's real, but you can't confirm it either. How do you know if those people aren't faking it? How do you know if everyone who has been diagnosed with DID wasn't just a good faker? How do you know that they're the real deal?"
I don't know how to respond. I've never really thought about things like this. I had no idea these were things that Olympia considers. I noticed that my eyes wandered off, and I was staring at the floor. I look back at Olympia, and she's staring at me straight in my eyes. What is she seeing? What can she see?
"Kiyo, instead of asking if people experience dissociation, I'll ask you this: What is dissociation?"
"As I said, I'm not too educated on the subject, but I'd say that dissociation is a form of disconnection."
"I'd agree. I'd add that dissociation is a disconnect from the world, yourself, and who you are."
"What do you mean by 'who you are?'"
"First, a disconnection with the world is rather self-explanatory..."
I nodded slowly, trying to follow.
"Second, a disconnection with the self is when you don't feel like you are yourself..."
"So you're saying it's like watching yourself from the outside?" I asked.
"Exactly."
"And the last one?"
"A disconnection with who you are is more complicated..."
I furrowed my brow, trying to wrap my mind around it.
"There is a difference between the me you see, the me you think of me, the me I see, and the unfiltered me."
"That's…a lot to take in. I think I have a clearer picture of what dissociation is. I didn't think you'd be interested in this sort of thing."
Another brief pause before she speaks stands between us.
"I'm into all sorts of things that most people wouldn't think I'd be. I'm also knowledgeable of the measurements of 2B," Olympia shamelessly brags.
"I didn't need to know you're a pervert!"
"Why'd you forget to add 'too'?
…
"You're silence already tells me your answer."
We share a short laugh. We're able to tease each other so casually, like we've been friends this whole time.
"Well, Kiyo, we should start heading home. I'd love to play with you more, but what would others think if a boy and a girl stayed up all night together?"
"You'd have wanted to stay up all night?"
"Yes, I would've loved to have spent the night with you."
"What would people think if they heard you right now!?"
"They'd think that I have pitifully low standards."
"Rude…"
"Kiyo, after today, I'd like you to continue thinking about the topic of dissociation that we discussed today. But also, I'd like for you to think of this question: Is dissociation a privilege?"
Is dissociation a privilege?
"I won't explain what this question means; you have to do that yourself. Find the answer to it one day and make sure to share it with me before you die."
"That last part has me a little worried. How early do you think I'll die…"
"Hopefully not anytime soon, of course. Heehee."
"This was one of my best days, Olympia. Let's hang out again sometime."
"I'd love to. Let's make plans soon."
As we head out, someone is standing outside the arcade. Someone I'm unfamiliar with. They seem like a girl our age with blood-red hair that doesn't look combed and bangs that nearly cover her eyes. She must need to push through tangles if she even combs her hair. She's pretty, and at the same time intimidating. She has a piercing glare aimed right at me. Her piercing glare unsettled me. Did I do something wrong? I couldn't recall.
"Ah, Kiyo. I almost forgot. I asked my friend to take me home today. A pretty girl like me shouldn't be walking around alone this late, wouldn't you agree? Say hello, Kumi."