They were nasty rumors to be sure - brainwashing is a pretty intense accusation. But as Maruki explained that he was uncertain about his motivations in other worlds, other timelines, it lined up well with what Hamuko had guessed already.

"That would make sense just given my experience in the past twenty minutes," Hamuko hummed in agreement, though after a pause she tilted her head in thought. "...But then again, I never really had the time to process a lot of what I went through most recently, so it's not easy to say."

The months after the Promised Day were too much of a haze of no one quite remembering, and of being... SO tired. So, bone-deep tired... because she was only there thanks to her promise to reunite for Graduation Day.

After an unsteady beat, Hamuko tapped the tip of her shoe against the ground in a thoughtful fidget.

"So this place both mirrors the subconscious and affects it? ...Why do Shadows congregate in here, then? I'd thought that they were tied with Nyx, but..." trailing off, Hamuko frowned, tapping her chin. "...They did say that Shadows existed and were being studied long before anything about Nyx was found... but Nyx has existed for all this time, alongside life on Earth. How detached is this place from Nyx's influence...?"