Chapter 3: My First Errand

The next day, July 6th.

I woke up just before noon, crawled out of bed, and headed to the sink to freshen up.

My body was—yep, still Reicia-chan’s. So, yesterday wasn’t a dream after all. Not that it really matters.

As I combed my hair and did my makeup, I thought things through.

The people around Reicia-chan—especially the ones in her faction—clearly don’t like her. But it’s not because they’re evil or anything like that. It’s more like they resent her for standing up to someone more powerful than themselves. It’s the kind of resentment that comes from fear or pride—not outright malice.

At their core, they’re probably decent girls.

But still, if I were to suddenly apologize to them, who knows what might happen? Once they realize I’m not the overwhelming presence they used to fear, there’s a chance they might turn around and try to get even. That wouldn’t be too far-fetched.

I mean, yeah—it’d be a problem if my body—no, if Reicia-chan’s body—got hurt. But more than that, I just don’t want things to go that way.

From what I’ve seen so far, they’re not bad girls. But people… they’re fragile. Even good people can be driven by malice when the situation pushes them. You don’t have to be a bad person to do something cruel—just caught in the wrong moment.

And those who can overcome that impulse aren’t “normal”—they’re the strong ones. So if I don’t want anyone to make that kind of bad decision, then it’s on me to make sure the situation never pushes them that far in the first place.

In short, I should probably hold off on facing them until I’ve set the stage properly.

And I already know exactly how I’m going to do that.

I’m going to change up Reicia’s image.

No more of the arrogant, imperious, selfish villainess Reicia Blackguard. —Well, okay, I’m not going to take it too far just in case Reicia-chan ever comes back. But I’ll become a version of her that feels more down-to-earth. Approachable. Friendly.

If I do that, the girls in her faction will start thinking, “Huh? Has Reicia changed or something?” and that’ll help them mentally prepare for what’s coming.

Fixing the relationships can come after that.

And to do that, I need to head outside the dorm for a bit.

There’s a bunch of stuff I need to buy.

...It was while I was thinking that far ahead that something hit me.

Wait a second. I’ve just been going through the motions, but—how the hell am I even managing all this grooming like Reicia-chan used to do?

...Procedural memory?

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Prologue: The Real Work Is the Aftercare – For Starters...

Episode 3: My First Errand – Encounter.

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When it comes to memory, both Reicia-chan’s and mine seem to agree on the basics.

There are different kinds of memory: episodic memory for recollections, semantic memory for knowledge and facts, and procedural memory for motor skills and habits. Each is stored in a different part of the brain. I first learned all this from A Certain Magical Index, Old Testament Volume 1. It was actually key to solving the arc’s mystery, so it stuck with me.

Episodic memory is exactly what it sounds like—memories of personal experiences. This covers a lot, like remembering someone’s face and name, or where you put something. If you lose that, you won’t be able to find anything or recall familiar routes.

Semantic memory is where all your general knowledge goes. Though, anything tied too closely to personal experience ends up in episodic memory instead. For instance, “Apples are red and round” is semantic memory, but “Apples are sweet and tasty” is episodic since it’s subjective experience. But if it’s “They’re said to be sweet and tasty,” then it’s treated as knowledge again. So it probably depends on whether you’re thinking of it objectively or not.

And then there’s procedural memory—motor habits and routines. How to ride a bike, operate a phone, walk, and so on. Even little tics, like Kamisato from New Testament Volume 14 cracking his neck when he gets serious—that’d fall under procedural memory. Pretty much any kind of muscle memory fits in here.

In my case, I can’t recall Reicia-chan’s episodic memories. But her semantic and procedural memories are totally accessible.

I know what kinds of things and routines she had in her life, though I can only guess what those things meant to her.

Still, that means I can call up knowledge I should have no way of knowing—like physics—and perform habitual tasks like putting on makeup even while thinking about other stuff. So at least I won’t screw up and out myself by accident. That’s a huge relief.

As for my own memories, I can access all of them—semantic, procedural, and even episodic. My Index trivia is pure semantic memory, and my memories of how I died in my past life are episodic. I’m not sure about my procedural memory yet… but I’ll find out soon enough.

Because I’m about to try cooking.

Even if I say “I’ve changed,” no one’s going to believe me unless I show it. The only reason Mikoto and Kuroko trusted me was because they’re unbelievably kind.

So I have to prove it—through my actions. Show them I’m approachable. Friendly.

Step one: cook something. I used to cook a lot in my past life, so if my procedural memory carried over, I should still be comfortable with most of the motions involved. At the very least, I shouldn’t be shaking like a leaf just from holding a knife.

I read it in her diary—Reicia-chan had a habit of throwing money around.

Even with food, she’d spend way more than necessary. It was like she thought wasting money was a mark of nobility or power. And people clearly hated that about her. If I can fix those little things one by one, I think it’ll make a real difference.

...Oh, right. I also changed clothes.

This morning, I had on Tokiwadai’s uniform… plus a pair of dress gloves—white on the right hand, black on the left. I must’ve put them on automatically thanks to procedural memory.

But honestly… it was so embarrassing. Maybe that’s normal for Academy City, but no one else said a word. They didn’t even look at me funny. Still, to me? It felt so cringy. Like, middle school edgelord levels of cringe. An old man like me just can’t pull that off.

So I went and bought something way more casual—something you’d find at Uniqlo or Shimamura. Might not suit Reicia-chan’s blonde hair and blue eyes, but there’s no way I’m lounging around in a negligee. That requires a level of emotional experience I do not have.

The dress code only says uniforms are required outside the dorm. So at least for loungewear, I should be free to wear what I want.

“…..........................”

I could feel the stares from the people around me.

I mean… they don’t know I’m from Tokiwadai, right? My outfit’s totally different. Should be fine.

And so, I quickly bought a few notebooks from a stationary shop and headed to a supermarket in District 7 with my new look.

I wasn’t about to shop at the stores inside School Garden—those prices are insane.

It’s a cluster of elite girls’ schools, so the students all get loads of scholarships. That means they’ve got money to burn, and the stores know it. So everything’s overpriced. Sure, the quality’s probably top-notch, but one glance told me it wasn’t worth it. That’s why I decided to stick with District 7.

That’s also why I changed out of Tokiwadai’s uniform—wearing it inside the supermarket would’ve made me stand out way too much.

So now I’m dressed in a black tracksuit with white stripes and a pair of jeans. I’ve got on some fake glasses and tied my hair up in a ponytail. There’s no way anyone could recognize me as Reicia Blackguard like this.

…But there was one miscalculation.

It’s true that I’ve inherited Reicia-chan’s procedural and semantic memory, so I can perform her usual routines without needing to consciously think about them… And thanks to her diary, I probably won’t get lost within Tokiwadai anymore (even though I did immediately get lost on the way to the cafeteria yesterday).

However, and this is obvious in hindsight, I can’t do anything about information Reicia-chan herself didn’t know.

Right… She spent nearly all her time inside the School Garden… so her knowledge of the outside world’s geography was severely lacking.

In other words—

“……………………”

Where… am I?

That’s the situation I found myself in.

I mean, I do know there’s a supermarket nearby, okay? I’m an adult, I can find my way around a strange city at least that much. But… around here, I’ve lost sight of all the familiar landmarks that were guiding me toward it.

I wasted a bunch of time buying clothes, and now it’s already getting late… It’s almost evening. If I don’t get my shopping done and head back soon, I’ll miss curfew.

……Guess I’ve got no choice. As embarrassing as it is, I should just ask someone.

“Um, excuse me.”

With that, I spoke up, calling out to a high school-aged boy standing nearby. He had spiky black hair.

“Huh? Uh, what is it?”

“Um… I’m actually a bit lost, and I was wondering if you knew where the supermarket is…”

But before I could finish, the words caught in my throat.

Because the moment he turned to face me, I felt a massive wave of déjà vu. That face—I knew it.

Spiky black hair, half-lidded eyes that gave off zero energy.

Wearing a white dress shirt over an orange T-shirt, standard school uniform pants, and sneakers. The picture of a completely ordinary high school student. I even knew his name.

Kamijou Touma.

That’s who this was.

“Ah, the supermarket? Perfect. I was just heading there myself. …But are you sure? The evening discount rush is pretty brutal.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll be fine. That much should be manageable…”

I somehow managed to nod.

But internally, I was totally shaken.

Kamijou Touma—no need to explain—the ultimate “ordinary high school student,” and to me, the greatest hero there is.

Today’s July 6th… so maybe this is before he lost his memory? Still, can’t believe I ran into him like this…

“So, what are you planning to buy?”

“Let’s see… A little of everything… some vegetables, meat, and I’d like some eggs, too.”

Reicia-chan’s room already had most of the daily essentials. There was even a small fridge and an electric stove. I was wondering if Mikoto had those in her room, but knowing Reicia-chan, she probably installed them herself. She didn’t seem like the type to cook, but she did seem fastidious. Maybe she liked handling things on her own.

“Eggs, huh… Eggs on sale are tough to get. Think you can manage?”

“I’ll push as far as I can. No worries—I’ve got this.”

I puffed out my chest and answered proudly. …Even though I had zero evidence to back it up.

Man, it’s so easy to talk to Kamijou. Is this what people mean by “social skill”? No wonder he ends up saving the world.

Also, it’s so much easier not speaking in that refined lady tone. When I have to use formal speech, I get all self-conscious and clammed up, afraid I’ll slip up or sound weird. But like this, I can just say what I’m thinking without holding back.

We walked for a few minutes.

“…Still feel confident?”

Kamijou said that, and I looked ahead—

There was a swarm of students packed around the egg section like wild beasts.

Whoa… That’s… worse than I expected. Are the eggs even going to survive that? Or more importantly, are we?

“And some of them even use their powers, so be careful. It’s mostly low-level espers, but still.”

“Ah, right. Got it…”

Honestly, I was just confused, but hey—chalk it up to life experience. I’m pretty sure the only reason esper abilities are flying around is because Kamijou’s misfortune keeps dragging them in...

Still, I’m a man. (I look like a girl, though...actually never mind I'm in a girl body...)

Egg sale battle—limit two per customer—here we go…!!!

---

“………………I—I’m dying. I think I’m going to die…………!!”

“…Um, hang in there. We’re almost back.”

Kamijou and I were now making our way back from the supermarket.

I managed to snag two eggs without issue, but Kamijou, as expected, got completely beaten and failed.

I ended up giving him one of mine out of pity, and after that, we wandered around the store to stock up on other groceries. He kept apologizing to me the whole time.

“……Man, saying all that big talk and then getting wrecked like that… pathetic…”

“No, seriously, that couldn’t be helped…”

I mean, the guy got launched by a telekinetic’s shockwave, then slid across the floor thanks to some kind of friction-reducing skid pad combo. Even I couldn’t help laughing when that happened.

I was trying to console him, but then he looked a little awkward and said—

“Uh… you don’t need to be so formal with me, y’know?”

“Ah, but… I’m a middle schooler.”

“Wait, seriously?! You’re in middle school?!”

He was hinting that I could drop the formal speech, so I told him I was younger. Apparently, that was a bit hard for him to believe.

Well, Reicia-chan’s body is pretty well developed.

Maybe it’s her foreign ancestry, but she’s already close to 160 cm tall, and her chest is… decently sized. Her sharp features give her a more mature vibe, too.

…By the way, I wasn’t using the whole noble-lady speech thing—just normal polite language. No real reason, honestly. I happened to start speaking that way when I approached him earlier, and it just kind of stuck.

Besides, if I’m dressed normally and still using high-society speech, it completely defeats the purpose…

“Yes. So, I feel like I should use formal language when talking to an upperclassman…”

“Ugh, y-you called me senpai…”

He let out a groan, but not an annoyed one. He looked kind of happy, actually. Seemed like being called senpai hit him right in the soft spot.

“……Now that I think about it, the only middle schooler I know is that Bi-Ri-Bi-Ri Middle Schooler… It’s kind of refreshing, being treated like a proper senior for once…”

“Ahaha…”

I couldn’t help but smile awkwardly at the way he said it, all sincere and everything.

…Well, Mikoto’s definitely not the respectful type…

If I remember right, even Shokuhou was always acting cocky toward him. Index doesn’t hold back either. The Misaka Sister is polite but kind of cold. Then there’s Birdway and Othinus—those two are just on another level of sass.

Now that I think about it, the only girls who’ve ever really treated Kamijou with actual respect are Itsuwa and Kanzaki. Gotta say, the Amakusa gang are the moral backbone of this world…

“Well, I should get going. I’ve got curfew. …Before I go, could I at least ask your name and school? I’d like to thank you properly.”

“Eh?! Nah, no need for that! I mean, all I did was show you the way, and then you gave me an egg.”

“Even so, that guidance was really helpful. I had no idea how to get around here…”

“Nah, nah! Helping out younger students is just part of the job when you’re a senpai, you know!”

He threw my own words back at me, and at that point I couldn’t really argue without ruining the moment.

“…Well, I guess I can at least tell you my name. I’m Kamijou Touma. And you?”

“Reicia. Reicia Blackguard.”

When we exchanged names, Kamijou gave me this vaguely impressed look.

“That’s… quite the grand name…”

“If I were anyone else, I’d be pretty mad about that, you know?”

Still, I kind of like how honest he is.