Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Where was that? Only the last word had a hint of familiarity to it, and only for the possibility that it might have been something he'd heard of in the past. Not a place he'd visited personally, just a place that had existed. But as there was nothing but Neo Arcadia in the present (or, the present day in his world), it was hard to say whether that hunch was true or not...

...Still. Whether 'Pennsylvania' was a real place or not, it didn't change the fact that Zero had never been checked into a hospital there. For an entire year, much less.

"You're wrong," the once-Reploid said firmly, subconsciously taking a step forward to make up for Ciel's own step back. "I was never there. Don't you remember anything, Ciel? I..."

He stopped short. It was about that time that he finally noticed Ciel's expression, her hesitation. The way she'd just stepped away from him...

...No. This wasn't the way to do this. To Ciel, of all people...even an image of her... Zero's willingness to continue being harsh faded quickly, along with his sharp stare. If this was really her, then this couldn't be her fault. He refused to believe that she'd lie to him without good reason. There had to be something else...

A slow sigh escaped Zero's lips, and he briefly closed his eyes. "...What else happened."