Esper Story: Embla

Embla, you've got to attend the year-end meeting this time.

But why?

You haven't been to a public event in years. Everyone in the organization believes the council members are at odds with each other. All four of us need to be there this year.

I do not enjoy these silly events.

Neither do I, but it's our responsibility as leaders to motivate everyone.

I hope that this year you can encourage everyone and give a speech as a representative of the council.

I...

I even requested a table of honey milk pudding for the meeting.

I'll be there.

Very nice. Looks like Hyde wasn't lying.

The bottom is almost empty?! These people might be horrible at combat, but at least they seem to have decent taste when it comes to food.

Lady Embla, I've been a devoted admirer of yours. Can I get your autograph?

...

(Hyde told me that I shouldn't turn down anyone's request today.)

Sure.

Thank you! I'm going to frame this and put it on my wall!

You're kidding! Lady Embla gave you her autograph?

She must be in a good mood today. If you have any requests, you should go ask her right now.

(I need to get to the pudding faster...)

Lady Embla, can I please take a selfie with you?

(Can't you see where I'm going? Half of the pudding is already gone!)

*Cough*

Okay, but be quick.

Thank you, Lady Embla!

The Shadow Decree will definitely be the ultimate victor in this war.

We shall usher in a new era and create a whole new world in our image.

I shall lead you through all obstacles and crush those who dare oppose us!

(Such ruthless words sound more powerful coming from Embla.)

(Lacking emotions might not always be a bad thing.)

Yes, the future will be ours!

Shadow Decree for life!

Eliminate all who stand in our way!

(Crap!)

Ugh...

!!!

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

L-Lady Embla... Did I do something?

You!

Ahem, Embla. Please calm down.

!!!

...

One must never waste food!

Embla, I don't ever want to see something like this again.

...

Can you just be nicer to your subordinates? Just a bit warmer maybe... While you're at it, can you also pay more attention to team unity?

That's too complicated for me. Just tell me what I need to do.

You were such a kind and tender person before you lost your memory.

You used to dine with your teammates and they confided in you.

I see.

...

...

...

...

Lady Embla, a-are we getting a new mission?

Suppose not...

M-May I know why you've been staring at us?

What? I can't stare at you?

Of course, you can! There's no problem at all! Stare as much as you like!

Okay.

...

...

...

L-Lady Embla... What brings you to the bar today?

I came for you.

M-May I know why?

To talk to you.

!!!

T-Talk to us?

Is there anything on your mind? You may speak openly.

... As in any last words?

I-I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have complained about you!

Tell me, Embla, do you think the way to stop receiving more complaints is to get rid of the people who complained about you?

No.

Then could you please explain to me why I've received several resignation letters today?

"I haven't eaten a thing since yesterday. I've been reflecting on myself, and I realized that I'm incapable of doing my job..."

And this one, "The way Lady Embla stared at me with her all-knowing eyes..."

"It dawned on me at that moment, I must pay for what I've done..."

What in the world did you do to them?

I sat with them and watched them as they enjoyed their afternoon tea. Then I talked openly with them.

Forget it. You are barely capable of talking to anyone in your current state.

Fortunately, I didn't receive too many resignations. We can still fix this.

You should take your subordinates out for a day off.

Okay.

Just remember to pick something fun to do.

What is fun to people?

To put it simply, something that makes them excited and that they'd want to do again and again.

I see. I'll look for an activity that matches that description...

Embla, there is an emergency request...

Hm? It's just you here? Where are the others?

They're on sick leave.

Sick leave?

Where did you take them?

Bungee jumping at the canyon.

It seemed like a good activity. They experienced the feeling of falling into an abyss from a high cliffside.

That's the activity you handpicked?

Yes, I picked it specifically based on your criteria.

Something exciting enough that even I could feel my heart pounding, right?

No, the problem is that it was too much!

Something exciting for you is terrifying for them.

Terrifying?

No wonder they burst into tears when they got down. Some of them even fainted.

I'll give them a few more days of sick leave.

...

Fine. In the meantime, I want you to cast the team unity issue aside.

Why are you bringing me here?

It's said that recreating a past memory is a good way for people to remember.

I've recreated this scene from a photo. See if it brings back any memories.

What photo?

I picked this one on purpose. Just sit down here, right in this position.

Anything come to mind?

Oh, my head!

Thank goodness you stayed alert, or I'd have ended up killed by Miramon in my sleep.

You should be careful when you're out on missions. Never let yourself sleep too soundly.

It's because you were by my side.

What about when you're on your own? How are you going to protect yourself?

Then I'll stick by you from now on.

!!!

Ugh! My head hurts.

Did you remember something?

It hurts! My head feels like it's going to explode!

I don't remember anything! Stop pushing me!

...

Alright, let's stop. That's it for today...

How are you feeling? Better?

Yeah, a little better.

You were...

I saw someone. He said he'd stay with me forever.

He possessed no Esper abilities. He was an ordinary man, but he dared to sleep even while deep in Miramon territory.

!!!

Can you remember who he was?

Maybe a colleague of mine... I don't know... I don't really have any memory of him.

...

It was strange... he seemed weak and kept slowing me down...

But I seemed to be close to him. I looked so happy.

Maybe you'll figure it out as you get your memories back.

My memories...

These memories are giving me nothing but brutal headaches.

This is unnecessary. The person you knew is gone.

...

Quite so. You didn't feel anything even when recalling a fragment of your memory.

Here, take this. It'll alleviate your headache for now.

...

Phew...

(Is Embla... Is she asleep?)

Then I'll stick by you from now on.

*Sigh*... Even if I'm by your side, there might be times when even I may be careless.

I fell asleep just now. If it weren't for my acute senses as an Esper, we could've...

Hm? Didn't you say that you were a light sleeper and would never fall asleep in the field?

!!!

T-That's because you were sleeping so soundly by my side...

It's all your fault... You made me sleepy...

It must be that you feel so comfortable and safe by my side, right?

...

Hmph...

It seems like she hasn't fully disappeared.

I'll find a way to recover your memories, Embla.

It's strange that the alarm clock didn't go off.

Hey, Embla. Are you going out?

Yeah, I have a mission to stop the Union from sabotaging our research base.

But you finished that mission three days ago.

???

Not only was it a total success, but you even managed to pry a lot of secrets out of the enemy.

Okay, but I still have to listen to my team's reports.

*Sigh*...

You gave them all a week off.

...

Come on, let me take you to the medical division for a checkup.

I'm fine, I just forgot. There's no need to check with the medical division.

No, you need to go.

Hi guys! It's nice to see you again.

Who are you?

Do you not remember me?

My name is Jiang Man. We got checkups together yesterday. We had our memories tested.

You lost your memory too?

Looks like you forgot about everything this time...

What do you mean?

It's the third time you've asked me that.

It can't be.

Fu Shi, tell me she's lying.

Well... Jiang Man has been coming here for 3 months. You've met 3 or 4 times before.

!!!

Maybe I'm luckier than her.

At least my memories aren't shattered into a million pieces. They're still intact.

Fu Shi, just as you asked me to, I've written down everything that happened each and every day...

Look, yesterday was November 10th, 2017. I received a mission to protect the research base.

I had a regular checkup and received a milk pudding from you...

There's no mention of Jiang Man.

Not just yesterday either. Her name is missing from all my previous diary entries.

Embla, it's not 2017 anymore. It's 2018.

You forgot that you have a new journal. The last page on this one just happens to be on November 10th...

You probably didn't notice it was the journal from the year before.

This is the one for this year.

"Nov. 10th, 2018 - Met Jiang Man again, had a checkup together..."

...

Do I always lose track of time? Ask you the same questions over and over again?

Not often... just occasionally...

I'm sorry...

You don't need to apologize to me. It's fine.

My head hurts...

38.5 degrees Celsius, you have a fever...

You shouldn't go out today. Take your medicine and get some rest.

Alright...

You're beautiful... Are you a fairy?

???

I'm an Esper from the Miracle Lab. I'm here to save you.

Don't worry, I'll get you out of here.

(So dazzling...)

Hey, are you okay? Can you get up?

(So caring...)

Where have you been injured? Let me bandage you up first.

(My heart is beating so fast...)

Is that where you're hurt?

Hm? There's no wound there. Sir, are you okay?

Who... are you...?

???

What a strange young man... He couldn't speak properly. It could be a brain injury.

...

That was me?

Embla, you're injured again!

Who are you?

Don't worry about it, come here. Let me bandage you up.

How many times have I told you to look after yourself? Just because you're an Esper doesn't mean you can abuse your body like this.

I'll pay more attention next time...

Next time... You say that every time and it always ends up the same.

Don't you know how much it pains me to see the person I love being wounded all the time?

The person you love... Okay, enough of that sweet talk...

I'm serious. I swear I'll never love another.

Alright, you've said enough!

Whoa!

!!!

That... hurt...

Come on, I'm not an Esper. You need to be gentler with me.

Are you alright...?

No, I'm not. I think I twisted my ankle in the fall.

Does it hurt? Let me see. Sorry, I can barely control my powers sometimes.

Hm...

???

Didn't expect you to be worried about me.

!!!

So you're not hurt!

Hm... why do you hide the fact that you're worried about me?

...

*Sigh*... When will I ever hear you say you love me again?

I could never like someone so weak...

I'm not weak! I passed the physical exam and will even go on missions with you as a member of the Logistics Division.

Quick! Get him into the surgery room!

...

Fu Shi! Fu Shi! What happened?

Sorry, it's my fault! Mr. Fu Shi was injured while trying to protect me from the Miramon.

E-Embla?

You...

I completed a mission. I'm not a weak guy anymore...

I was joking. I never thought you were weak.

That's good to hear... I'm so tired... I want to rest a bit...

Don't fall asleep, Fu Shi! Hang in there!

Haha... I knew you cared about me...

...

... Are you willing to be my girlfriend now...?

You're thinking about that at a time like this?!

Embla...

I promise you we'll be together when you recover.

!!!

So you have to get better soon... or... or I'll be mad at you...

Okay.

...

I'm in love... with Fu Shi?

Great, the fever subsided...

???

Your fever's gone. Are you feeling any better?

Hmm...

You were restless last night. Were you dreaming?

Yes, it was a dream that didn't end. I...

...

I don't remember...

It doesn't matter. It was just another dream.

Are you hungry? I've prepared some food. You should eat while it's still warm.