Test 3439/T3 – 30/02/2003

Subject: D-93366

Procedure: Subject was instructed to look at both sides of SCP-3439 in turn. Questions were provided to encourage detail and better determine the contextual significance of the illusions. Dr. ████ attending.

<Begin Log>

D-93366: Is this a postcard?

Dr. ████: What can you tell me about it?

D-93366: It’s nice, really fancy looking. You get this from Japan?

Dr. ████: Describe what you see.

D-93366: It’s a shrine, like the kind you see all over that country. It’s covered in red leaves, the whole picture is actually. Reminds me of that one time in autumn.

Dr. ████: Tell us more about that.

D-93366: Well… back in better days, I worked for this company who had a branch in Kobe.

Dr. ████: Is that what you see in the picture?

D-93366: No, this is Kyoto. No mistake about that… I only went there once but, you can’t forget a place like that.

Dr. ████: What happened in Kyoto?

D-93366: Nothing much. It was somewhere a friend wanted me to see. She said it would be a tragedy to leave without going at least once.

Dr. ████: Tell us more about this friend.

D-93366: There’s not much to tell. Her name’s Yurie and I’d often meet with her and her niece, Honoka. Really energetic kid, always jumping about everywhere.

Dr. ████: How did you meet?

D-93366: That was Honoka’s doing. I was sitting in the park when she ran up to me and started talking, just out of nowhere. Yurie ran up and apologised for her, and then we just talked.

Dr. ████: Did you meet with them often?

D-93366: Every now and again, sure. Being in a new country is really isolating. It was nice to have someone to meet up with the odd lonely weekend. Even if it was just to walk about watching over a child at play.

Dr. ████: Would you consider her a close friend?

D-93366: I think so. I did meet the rest of the family, Yurie’s sister and her sister’s husband. They even invited me to a big meal somewhere. It was nice… It was just… just nice. Honoka kept calling me big brother. I kinda liked it. I… I’d never been anyone’s brother before.

Dr. ████: What happened next?

D-93366: Well… You know how it is. The company I was working for went bust, and my visa along with it. I had to pack up and leave before I’d even been a full year. Two days before my plane, Yurie called me up and told me we were going to see Kyoto. It was just her this time. No Honoka.

Dr. ████: Is that what you see on the postcard?

D-93366: Actually… Yes. It looked just like this when we got there. Red leaves everywhere. Even looking at this picture… it’s like it’s right in front of me. Vibrant. But also kinda… sombre? Like something’s slipping away…

Dr. ████: Did you ever return?

D-93366: Couldn’t afford it. Once I got back work was impossible to find. Things got bad, one thing led to another and, well you probably have this all on file somewhere.

Dr. ████: Could you turn the postcard over and state what you see?

D-93366: …what is this?

Dr. ████: What do you see?

D-93366: It’s written in Japanese… really big characters all down the side.

Dr. ████: Can you read them?

D-93366: I… yeah. First part's a date. 1995, January, 19th. About two months after I left.

Dr. ████: What else can you read?

D-93366: It says… Dear big brother. Thank you for giving us happy memories. We are fine, but big sister is often sad even when she smiles. Looking forward to when you play with us again. …Please….don’t…don’t forget about us.

Dr. ████: Is that everything?

Subject does not respond.

Dr. ████: Answer the question.

D-93366: Oh… what?

Dr. ████: Can you see anything else? Or is that everything?

D-93366: No. that’s…that’s it.

Dr. ████: Very good, please return the object.

D-93366: Actually… do you mind if I keep hold of this?

Dr. ████: We cannot allow that.

D-93366: But… never mind.

Subject returns the object.

Dr. ████: Thank you for your cooperation.

<End Log>

Analysis: This data confirms that both sides of SCP-3439 contribute towards a particular life event or memory that is specific to the observer. One pattern that emerges is that the front displays a sentimental location, while the reverse side shows a message from someone connected to this location. The memories associated trend towards being bittersweet in nature. Further analysis is required. It may also be of interest to note that the date provided by D-93366 takes places a few days following the Great Hanshin Earthquake. The significance of this has yet to be understood.