Work Text:
The vial of clear liquid sits on the table — quiet, with a sheen of reflective gleam from the lab's flourescent lights above. It looks sweet; gentle; innocent, even; but Kotobuki knows better. She is, after all, the one who concocted it; a seemingly miniscule tweak here, a doubling of a quantity there, all done with particular and exact affection, despite knowing that as a scientist, she should always conduct her research with impartiality.
It can't be helped. Not even a prodigy like Kotobuki can control the chemicals that her brain is releasing when she designs and carries out her experiments; those chemicals that cause that prickling warmth to seep slowly into her body, staining her cells with what the hoi polloi call "love."
Does that same series of chemical reactions occur when Neiru looks at her? Her hypothesis, based on casually gathered evidence and research: Yes. But that's not the hypothesis Kotobuki is testing — has been testing — has devoted her full ableit still short life to drawing a conclusion for. The question that she works so hard to risk her life — this one, known, in this body — for every day.
Do parallel worlds exist?
Not that one either; not quite.
Rather:
Does a parallel world exist in which Kotobuki feels the same way Neiru hypothetically feels about her?
Does some version of Kotobuki exist someplace, somewhere, whose gaze lingers just a millisecond too long when she looks at Neiru? Whose face warms and flushes from blood rushing to pool in her cheeks when she and Neiru stand close? Whose fingers twitch almost perceptibly before she curls them into a fist, and then lets go?
Her hypothesis:
Inconclusive.
It thrills her, the perfectly complete not knowing. There are literally infinite possibilities; anything, anything, an endless incomprehensible world of anythings could be true. What if there's a Kotobuki who hates Neiru? What if there's a Neiru who hates Kotobuki? What if somewhere, someplace, there's a Kotobuki and a Neiru who don't even know each other at all?
Something, somewhere from inside Kotobuki's body nips at her with the quickest, lightest of teeth.
Someplace, somewhere, a Kotobuki hesitates before leaping towards the gaping maw of death.