‘Should I really tell Hashta? What if she thinks I'm crazy? What if she doesn't believe me? I 't keep this hidden…She's my friend, and she deserves to know… maybe…just maybe…by tellihis, I find out more from her about what’s going on…’

  After a moment of hesitation, Roselle took a deep breath and decided to fide in Hashta.

  "I... Hashta, there's…something I haven't told anyone," Roselle began. "The reason I didn't reize you or remember is because... I've been experieng these bizzare memaps and fragments. Hmm… how do I even expin this...” Roselle held onto her head with both of her hands.” I'm seeing bits and pieces of the future or something... I don't know why it's happening.”

  Hasta opened her mouth. She wao say something, but allowed Roselle to tinue. "I get it, it does sound kinda suspicious, but it’s the truth! Okay? I really want to make things right. you help me uand what's been going on tely?"

  Hashta listeo Roselle's expnation with surprise and skepticism. She leaned back slightly and folded her ams.

  Hatsta studied Roselle closely with her green eyes. "That's... unusual, to say the least. I mean, we all have our fair share of fetful moments. What you're describing sounds like something more. And it ‘vely’ happened right whe at the arcade."

  Hashta tapped her own elbow with her fingers. "Look, Roselle, I'm not saying you're making this up, but it's just hard to believe. Are you sure you're not just trying to find a very creative excuse for what happened between us?"

  "I get why you might think that, Hashta," Roselle replied," I swear, this is all o me, and I'm just as fused and frustrated about it as you are. I wouldn't make up something like this. I want to uand what's happening to me, and I thought maybe you could help shed some light on it since we’re…you know..."

  She paused for a moment, her gaze searg Hashta's eyes for any sign of trust. " you at least hear me out and tell me if anything happeo you retly or if you've heard of anyone else experieng something simir?"

  Hashta sighed, "Alright, Roselle. I'll hear you out; however, just so you know, I've beey focused on my gaming tely, and I haven't heard of anything like this happening to anyone else. I'll tell you what I , though."

  Roselle nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Hashta. I appreciate it.”

  Roselle silently pohe tradis of her statement and decided to seek crity from the System.

  "Wait," she thought and addressed the system in her mind, "did I really say something like that in the past? It just doesn't add up, sidering I used to be a regur girl."

  The System responded boldly “Yes, Project Mage, you did say something simir in the past. The memories you've experienced include moments from your life before these gaps started. Your past self had moments of ordinary life as well as extraordinary events. It's all part of your history."

  Roselle disengaged with the system auro her versation with Hashta who listened ily as Roselle reted her experiences.

  "Roselle," she begaole, "I want to believe you, I really do. You have to uand though, if I told anyone else what you just told me, they'd probably think you've lost your mind. It's just... it's so bizarre, like something out of a sci-fi movie or a video game plot."

  Roselle chuckled, shaking her head. "Believe me, Hashta, I wish it were that simple. This is real life, not s where you respawn after you die."

  Hashta grinned, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "Well, if this were a video game, at least we'd have cheat codes to help us out, right? Invincibility mode, unlimited health potions, you !"

  Roselle ughed, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Yeah, that would certainly make things easier.”

  Hashta and Roselle shared a moment, but then Hashta looked at Roselle serious and put both of her hands on her sides with a gre.

  Roselle responded with a deep sigh. "I know, Hashta, I kly what you’re thinking. Believe me, I've questioned my own sanity too.”

  Hashta let out a small sigh. “Okay, Roselle, you win," she said with a hint of amusement. “You wanna to live in a fantasy nd where you're the queen with ten boyfriends and a boss status, I get it."

  Roselle blushed deeply at Hashta's pyful teasing. "e on, Hashta, don't make fun of me like that," she protested, her tone ear. “Besides! What I have to talk to you about is something serious! And it does involve what happe school."

  Hashta chuckled, her teasing tone softening into a more serious one. "Alright, alright, I'm listening. Tell me what's going on."

  Roselle was frustrated about the events that had transpired at school. She leaned in closer to Hashta, her eyes searg for answers.

  "Why don't you tell me, Hashta?" she asked with a frown. "You and the irls, you surrounded me at school the other day. You acted like I was some enemy of yours or something. I o know what that was all about. Please, help me uand."

  Hashta grew serious. She leaned in closer to Roselle. "Roselle, I 't speak for the others, but I'll tell you what I know. It was like for me... it was like something came over me. I just couldn't reize you ... It was the stra feeling... After I heard what you 'supposedly' did to Sarah, and then I saw you again, I didn't know how to react, so I went to you and other's followed. I guess, I wao actually make sense of it, and maybe they went through the same thing."

  Roselle listeteo Hashta's expnation her brow furrowed ihought. This was very baffling to her. So this is what was going on? They all saw her as something else over that one i?

  "It's as if something altered your perception of me, right?" Roselle mused aloud with one hand c her mouth. "And you felt pelled to front me because of what you heard about me supposedly hurting Sarah, then when you tried you didn't feel like you were talking to me."

  Hashta nodded in agreement. “Yeah, see, you’re uanding Roselle. It was like I had this... this mental block, you see? You didn’t look like the girl that I knew you as. I'm really sorry about what happened, it was just so fusing."

  Roselle gently pced a hand on Hashta's shoulder with empathy. "Hashta, you don't o apologize. I know it's not your fault. This whole situation is just… It’s crazy, that’s the only way I put it.”

  Hashta’s face grew solemn. "After that event, things ged, Roselle. El and Aruka... they're different now. They seem more distant, like they've moved on from our retionships. I've tried talking to them, but they act like we were never close."

  Roselle's heart sank at Hashta's words. It was being clearer that whatever had affected those in her circle’s perception of her had sting sequehe sense of loss and fusion weighed heavily on her.

  "That's... really tough to hear… I…never wanted any of this to happen. I o figure out what's going on, Hashta. I have to get to the bottom of these things and why they're affeg my life like this."

  Hashta nodded in uanding, her green hair swayily. "I get it, Roselle. Just... promise me ohing."

  "What is it, Hashta?"

  "Promise me that you won't give up, no matter how weird or impossible things seem," Hashta said. She smiled making a distinct cat-like face. "You're still Roselle...and I still want to beat you at that one video game...”

  Roselle smiled at Hashta's petitiveness.

  "I promise, Hashta," Roselle replied closing her eyes with a smile. "I won't give up. I'll do everything I to solve the mystery a roup back together again. And hey, I accept your challenge in that video game. Let's see who es out on top!"

  Hashta grinned. "You're on, Roselle."

  Roselle leaned in closer to Hashta.

  "Hashta, I really appreciate your help. Maybe your skills are what we o. There's someone I'd like you to meet. It’s a boy named Harty that goes to our school. He's a detective in training and has special permission to use the chess club as a secret base for our iigation. I think you'll get along well, and yaming prowess might e in handy."

  Hashta nodded in agreement, "Sure, Roselle. I'd love to meet Harty and see what we uogether. Just let me know the time of day, and I'll be there."

  Roselle smiled appreciatively, "Thank you, Hashta. I'll arrange a meeting with Harty soon. "

  “Call me, Roselle. You should have my number in your pho’s not like you fot it or anything, right?”

  Roselle nodded, feeling a sense of relief that Hashta was willing to help. She reached for her phone and quickly checked her tacts, finding Hashta's number listed there.

  "You're right, I do have your number," Roselle admitted with a slightly embarrassed chuckle. "I should have checked before. Maybe that would have beeer. I promise I’ll stay in touch this time. Thanks again, Hashta!"

  Hashta grinned and gave a casual wave. "No problem, Roselle. I'm looking forward to helping out and seeing where this iigation takes us."

  The two parted ways with a wave of their hand, but it was at this moment that Roselle came to remember: Sarah!

  Panic surged through Roselle who just noticed she had lost track of Sarah in the crowded arcade. She frantically sed the venue, searg for any sign of the familiar face .Sarah seemed to have disappeared and there was not a sign of her.

  Desperation mounting, Roselle hurriedly weaved her way through the throngs of gamers, calling out Sarah's name in a worried tone. "Sarah? Sarah, where are you? Please, answer me!"

  Despite her frantic efforts, there was no response.

  Roselle, her heart pounding with worry, quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Sarah's number. She held her breath, hoping to hear the familiar ringtone nearby that would lead her to her missing friend. Sarah’s phone began t; however, trowing , there was no sound, no indication that Sarah's phone was in the viity.

  Upon anxiously sing the arcade, Roselle realized that something was amiss. In a hushed voice, Roselle whispered to herself.

  "Sarah left the arcade... why?" The question lingered in her mind.

  After Roselle left arcade and stepped onto the street, she called Sarah’s number. Unfortunately, Sarah did not pick up.

  “Sarah, Sarah…e on Sarah….” Sarah’s pho ringing and Roselle grewincreasingly ed by the ck of response.

  Unbeknownst to Roselle, while she focused on her phone call, a tall figure with striking blue hair walked right past her, fnked by two others. The resembween the blue-haired figure and Roselle was uny, but this person appeared taller and had a more serious demeanor.

  Once Roselle returned home, her mother, Mrs. Magenta noticed the serious look on her daughter's face. She was aced to Roselle's usual cheerful demeanor, and this ge in her daughter's mood was ing.

  Mrs. Magenta put down the book she was reading and stood up. She walked over to Roselle. She gently pced a hand on her daughter's shoulder and asked with genuine , "Roselle, is everything okay? You look so serious. Is something b you?"

  Roselle hesitated for a moment. She took deep breathe and decided to speak softly, "Mom, there's something really weird happening to me, and I don't know how to expin it. It's like…I'm seeing memories that don't make sense, and today, I couldn't find Sarah. I'm just... I'm really fused and…worried."

  Mrs. Magenta patted a spot for Roselle to sit down, and they both sat.

  “I should let you know about your abilities…”