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[thecrossingmods]

[The Crossing is coming again.

There is no advance warning from The Ferryman this time. There is nothing to draw your attention towards the message that appears on your device, whatever it may be, except perhaps the expectation that it should be appearing soon.

Whether you think to check for it or you simply stumble upon it, the words are there just as before:]

A toll to be levied for safe passage
from the desert to ǝɹǝɥʍǝsʅǝ

envision a place of comfort and safety
a haven from the wants and ills of life
be it for a moment or for a lifetime

offer it to The Ferryman
and let go

Comments

[cloversandcranes]

[So the Ferryman was on it before. But this time, no? That's concerning.]

I wasn't here when they sent that message so what did they say last time?

[blindluck]

[Nagito types out, almost word for word, everything the Ferryman said in this post. Because of course he does, if it's for Makoto.]

[cloversandcranes]

[Makoto reads the message silently before typing a response. That is a lot.]

So they told people what would happen. Or at least warned them. Why aren't they here this time?

[blindluck]

That's a good question. Maybe they're busy with something? I'm not sure what Ferryman-san's duties entail beyond leading us through Crossings and making sure we get out of the River, but there's probably some reason they stay where they are. Or maybe speaking telepathically takes a lot of energy.

[That's the best way he can describe how the Ferryman communicated with them, anyway.]

[cloversandcranes]

Perhaps.

[He hopes so at least. He doesn't want to suspect the Ferryman.]

...What kind of memory do you think you'd give away this time?

[blindluck]

As I was saying to Celehar-san, [in his unnecessarily long forced philosophical discussion] I think it's best if I choose carefully. The last time I was with my parents before the day of their death should match this toll!

[cloversandcranes]

[Makoto nods at Nagito's reasoning, understanding what Nagito was concerned about. After all, what would happen to Nagito if he forgot about the simulation? Would he go back to despair?]

I see. Yeah, you're probably right. ...To be honest, I don't know what I should do. I don't remember most of my past so I couldn't choose a time at home. And the other places...are either are simply too complicated to choose.

[He's talking about Hope's Peak Academy.]

[blindluck]

[Nagito considers Makoto's situation seriously. Since he's forgotten his family, that does remove a lot of the easier options. Nagito has actually spent quite a lot of time thinking about how he might give up potential memories, though, so maybe he can actually prove useful here.]

I had a backup option that you might be able to do something with! I was thinking of Hope's Peak's library. Just that, and nothing else of the school. I thought, perhaps if I was very specific about the memory I offered, it would similarly only remove something specific. Your situation is different, but maybe if you narrow it down in time and space as much as you can, it would help.

[Of course, if it's Makoto, Nagito imagines it would be a memory of somewhere more social than the library.]

[cloversandcranes]

[Being specific about a memory... Makoto frowns as he tries to think of a time and place he can use as the memory. Could he choose something from that time and that school? He didn't want to risk losing any more memories, especially those attached to his classmates.]

A place of comfort and safety...

[blindluck]

I'm sure you'll be able to come up with a good memory to use, Naegi-sama! Even if you've been given a bit of an unfair disadvantage with your memory loss. But you're very good at working under those conditions!

[cloversandcranes]

[That isn't as comforting as Nagito thinks it is, even though Makoto does appreciated the belief in him.]

...You're right. Thank you, Komeada-kun.