Chapter 244 - 244: His Lost Memory
Haruto was stunned. His gaze remained fixed on Dr. Watanabe, who had already succumbed to sleep, her body slack from the alcohol.
'Was that just drunk talk?'
He wanted to believe that. But the unease in his gut refused to settle.
'I won't know for sure unless I use my skill.'
His hand reached out toward her, fingertips hovering just above her skin. But as he was about to make contact, he hesitated.
'What is this feeling? Why am I scared?'
His heart pounded in his chest, and a cold sweat trickled down his temple. He was terrified of seeing the past—of uncovering a truth that could change everything.
'What's the benefit of knowing? He swallowed hard. But… I need to know.'
Closing his eyes, he whispered, "System, activate the Psychometry skill."
[Psychometry of People will be activated!]
[To use it, you must touch the body part most strongly connected to the memory.]
[Be careful not to overuse it. Not only will you experience their past, but they may also relive it.]
Haruto frowned. 'A psychiatrist's strongest connection to their memories…'
His gaze settled on her lips and ears. 'It's either her mouth or her ears...'
'But since I was a child back then, she must guide me through the therapy. Mouth is it.'
With that reasoning, he moved his hand closer to her lips. The moment his fingers brushed against them, a notification rang in his mind.
[Psychometry of People activated!]
[Close your eyes for five seconds and open them when instructed.]
Haruto obeyed. The silence of the winter night pressed around him as he waited.
[Processing memories: 10%...]
[50%...]
[100%!]
[You may open your eyes now.]
The moment he did, confusion struck him like a wave.
He was no longer in his living room.
Instead, he stood in a vast, pitch-black space, surrounded by enormous, shattered glass shards floating in the void.
Each fragment glowed faintly, filled with snippets of Dr. Watanabe's memories.
[You may select which memory to enter.]
Haruto stepped forward, scanning the fragments until one caught his eye.
It showed him—when he was still a child.
In the memory, he was sitting in a stark white room, dressed in white clothing.
Without hesitation, he reached for the glass. The moment his fingertips touched it, a powerful force pulled him inside.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in front of his younger self.
'Huh?'
He tried to move, but his body remained frozen.
'Why can't I move?!'
Panic surged through him, but no matter how hard he struggled, nothing changed.
Then, he heard a voice.
"So, Hayase, how's your day? Did you enjoy yesterday's walk?"
He felt his mouth move, but the voice that came out wasn't his own.
It was a woman's voice.
Realization struck him like a lightning bolt.
'I've become Dr. Watanabe.'
Here's a refined version while keeping all details intact:
"Nothing special," little Haruto replied nonchalantly, his tone indifferent.
"Does my mother really think I'm crazy?" he asked, making Dr. Watanabe chuckle.
"Of course not. But you do need help," she answered with a gentle smile.
"Hm... If that's the case, she should be the one who needs it the most."
Little Haruto smirked as he leaned forward. "Did you know my mother is part of a cult?"
'What? A cult?!'
Haruto, observing through Dr. Watanabe's perspective, felt a wave of disbelief crash over him.
'What the hell am I talking about?'
His younger self exuded confidence—too much confidence for a child his age. He sat up straight, his hands resting on the armrests, a posture he rarely took.
Dr. Watanabe raised an eyebrow, flipping open her notebook. "I see. Can you tell me more about it?"
"She goes to the temple at night. The only light allowed inside is from candles." His voice was steady as he continued.
"Inside, there are statues—half-human, half-animal. They range from small to enormous."
"Can you describe the statues in more detail?" she asked, her pen scratching against the paper.
"Is that important?" Little Haruto frowned, his displeasure evident.
'This child…' Haruto observed himself, a strange unease creeping up his spine.
"Anyway," his younger self continued, "my mother sometimes brings me there. She once told me I exist because of them."
Dr. Watanabe's pen stilled for a second. "And what do you think she meant by that, Hayase?"
"Isn't it obvious?" He laughed, but it was hollow. "It's as if she was telling me I was born from one of those statues. Crazy, isn't it?"
Dr. Watanabe nodded. "How did that make you feel?"
"Me? I just rolled my eyes." His lips curled into a smirk. "But she kept bringing me to that temple and even made me pray with her."
"I once overheard her praying for my father to get a promotion. And guess what? It actually happened. Great, isn't it?"
He smiled, but his eyes remained empty—lifeless.
'There's something seriously wrong with him…' Haruto thought uneasily.
"So," Dr. Watanabe pressed, "did that experience make you believe what your mother said about you being the child of a statue? Or did it make you want to ask for something too?"
"Bingo!"
Little Haruto snapped his fingers, his grin widening. "So I asked for that wretched woman to die."
His voice was cold. His gaze was even colder.
Dr. Watanabe's pen stopped mid-stroke. "Are you saying the statue—the deity—killed her and not you?"
Little Haruto shook his head. "They just gave me the opportunity to do it."
"What do you mean by that, Hayase?" Dr. Watanabe's pen moved again, this time writing a single word—delusion.
"So, you see," he continued casually, "summer passed, and I still hadn't done anything to that bitch."
He took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. "But when I returned to the village, a murder and a kidnapping had happened."
"At first, I didn't know what was going on. But when I went to my girlfriend's house, she wasn't in her usual spot."
His fingers tapped rhythmically against the chair's armrest.
"I used to talk to her through a small air vent that connected to the basement. But that day, she didn't answer. That's how I knew something was wrong."
"And true to my instincts, the front door—usually locked—was left slightly open."
A slow grin crept onto his face. "And with that opportunity, I killed that bitch."
Satisfaction dripped from his voice, sending a shiver down Haruto's spine.
"But, as my mother always said, there's a price for everything."
His grin faded, replaced by a tense jaw and furrowed brows. "Now… there's something inside me that won't leave me alone."
His fingers curled into fists, and his expression darkened with something raw. Anger.