… Yes, I should have expected that type of reaction after saying such a thing…
It’s… a bit remarkable, so please bare with me. I suppose it might be easiest to start with…
I am acquainted with some people who have experienced memory loss in various forms. One of these was a manual memory wipe – where someone took out selected memories from the person. When I first heard of Hattori-kun’s case, I briefly considered this possibility. But after investigating with him and hearing your testimony, I’m more inclined to go with a second theory…
Simply, I’m thinking a split personality. I know someone who is experiencing this, and both personalities have completely separate memories – they remember nothing from when the other is in control. The switch is triggered by a loss of consciousness or a sneeze in this person’s case, but, if this were the case for Hattori-kun, it could very well be different…
*She stops and looks at Hakuba to gauge his reaction and allow him a moment to express his own thoughts.*
Hakuba listened in silence as the young woman spoke, elbows perched upon arm rests, fingers steeped in front of his chest. Despite the incredible information, he kept his expression carefully neutral, nodding here or there, but otherwise remaining impassive as he collected, tagged, and sorted the presented information.
When she paused, he pursed his lips, then nodded once, inclining his head thoughtfully.
“I can see how your theory would fit in this situation. It would certainly explain a few things about his behavior – both previously in my interaction with him, and from what you’ve described.”
He considered a moment longer, uncrossed his legs, then crossed them again the other way, shaking the anxiety from his muscles.
“Kirigiri-san, what did Hattori-san say about the lighter, specifically? The headache he experienced when I showed it to him seemed similar to the one that he felt after I’d provoked him in the cafe. I wonder if that’s the…” Hakuba let his words trail, letting his mind catch up with his theories. “…Ah, did he have a headache when he- did he seem to change in your presence?”