Audiobook: https://youtu.be/GKsCogNNK1g

Suupaa: Why did Rinne quit playing rough?

We had talked about this before the Rinne flashback, so this is a continuation from that point in time.

This is the shortest chapter ever.

===*

I knew that Rinne collapsed right after the WGCS.

But there was no explanation about what had happened at that time, and above all, Rinne had managed to win several world-level competitions after, albeit only as a member of a team competition.

If you are saying that she is worse than he was in his prime, that is understandable. But do you mean she has lost it? With these questions in my mind, I silently waited for Nana to continue.

I was told that Rin-chan was born with the gift of not being able to forget memories, or rather, with a peculiar constitution.

If Im not mistaken, Thats something called [hyperthymesia], right? I only know what Ive seen and heard on the Internet, but if you can handle it well, its a great talent, isnt it?

I think so. Rin-chan has been using it very well and has become incredibly smart since she was a little girl. But its not all good. For example, dont you think its painful not being able to forget something you dont want to remember?

That being said, I, too, have memories that I dont want to remember and would like to forget.

Especially when I was in elementary school, that was a hard time.

However, if I were to compare it to that unbelievable constitution, I wonder if I still want the ability to not able forget a memory.

Thats true, but it still leans toward convenience.

Yeah, it is, isnt it? Even Rin-chan makes good of that ability too. But recently, I noticed that it is gone.

gone?

According to what I read in a book, hyperthymesia is not an ability to remember everything but a side effect caused by the absence of the [forgetting function], which is supposed to exist.

The theory stems from the fact that human can store all the information they see and hear as memories in their brains, but normal people lose access to these memories by [forgetting].

If that is correct, then Rinne simply acquired the proper [forgetting function] that humans are supposed to have, rather than losing her constitution.

When did you realize?

I once did a collaborative stream at an event. She almost forgot about the supporter NPCs in the character setup, and she couldnt remember the map without looking at it carefully. Im sure the old Rin-chan would have been able to memorize such things by looking at them for a moment, and she will never forget a persons face.

Hmmm if you really cant forget something youve seen at a glance, then surely, that was strange.

right?

It was said that the accuracy of each persons hyperthymesia also varies.

Some people never forget certain things but have a mediocre memory for everything else, while others can only clearly remember events by date and not the details.

According to Nanas story, Rinne must have had the best kind of memorization, which could literally be called [perfect memory].

Her brain records everything she sees and hears, and she is incapable of forgetting.

All she needs is to take is a fleeting glimpse. It is a dreamlike talent that would make it unnecessary to study for the rest of ones life.

Once I noticed it, I started to understand the whole picture. I realized that Rin-chan had lost a lot of things compared to what she used to have. If I were to use an analogy Id say that as if my physical abilities are now comparable to those of a normal person.

Oh, really? That means theres almost nothing left

I guess so? But her five senses are still sharp, so it doesnt mean that everything is gone.

If that happened to Nana, what will you have left?

My intelligence?

Its an absurd answer that I cannot even give a retort to that!

Ha-ha-ha!

Nana, who was smiling with a faint smile, had completely lifted my tension.

I want the serious atmosphere I had earlier back.

And because Nana said it without sounding like shes joking, I could only resign to the fact that its hard to get angry at her dumb face.

Anyway, I understand that Rinne is now greatly weakened, which is appropriate for the drastic decrease in the number of tournament appearances after the WGCS. Perhaps it was just the right time for a change in her approach.

Im glad I could convince you.

Nana said this and began to pick at the buns that had been prepared in advance in the waiting room, presumably as a gift.

As I was vaguely watching the buns disappear into Nanas mouth at a frightening speed, I recalled memories of the past.

(It means Rinne had already weakened back then.)

What I recall was the first time I met Rinne.

My decision to join HEROES was made two and a half years ago. That was even before the Zero Wars VR service was launched.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I wasnt scouted for my talent in Zero Wars VR.