"C-Cavey... c-can you help me with a l-little sumthin'?"
Chika's voice came in over the webcam with little technical bandwidth issue, but something deep was clearly on her mind. Cave frowned, concerned as she watched her screen while sitting cross-legged. "Sure, Chiks... What seems to be the matter?"
The mintette bashfully looked away, tugging at the collar of her black 'dress'... Well, 'dress' is being generous; it looked far too skimpy to be a simple piece of everyday apparel. But, as the women had found out over the past few months, this outfit was apparently oracle-approved clothing! Chika chose it herself from a wide selection, and it seemed to fit her like a charm... though one major problem seemed to persist: the pants. Chika couldn't quite get used to the feel of the pants. The first second she could, she'd toss the pants out the door and serve her duties without those restricting lower garments!
... O-Oh yeah, the girl was about to respond! "Well, Cavey... I've been soooo busy lately, and there's nothing fun to do right now, aaaaaaaaaaand I heard about what all the cool kids are getting into these days..."
"... Uh, yeah...?"
"So, since we're both here using 'Yype™' webcam software..." Blatant product placement! Recent superhero films must be feelin' envious! "... Let's sext, Cavey!"
This drew out the blush that made Chika's parents squee with delight, and the SMD trainee's pigtails nearly grew ten times the size merely from embarrassment! "S-S-S-Sext?! W-What the hell are you asking?!"
On the camera, Chika simply shrugged before raising a fistful of grapes to her gaping mouth. Munch munch, chew, chew, swallow, happy. "I thought it could be a fun way for us to bond; help us scratch the itch mutually! I can't really go on too many of my 'usual sites' thanks to the shared network across the Basilicom, but they can't track my webcam's history!"
"... You have 'usual sites'?"
"What, don't you?"
Cave's blush deepened, redder than the sky was blue. "O-Of course not!" Wanna know the real answer? K-Sha, everyone does! But alas, that is one secret that the 'Officer Cadet' has firmly locked away within her heart... and nowhere else! "A-Anyway, w-we really... shouldn't do such inappropriate acts! B-Besides, I'm... in your parents' room, so that would all around be a misguided idea." It was true: she was currently house-sitting for Chika's parents, who had stepped out for some early trick-'r-treating action! Why their room? The Wi-Fi in the house sucked major 'Shyeah-Shyeahs', and this was the spot with the best chance for decent reception.
Either way, as before, the oracle-in-training winked before stuffing her face with some more grapes. Green, for what it's worth. Worth a lot, surely. "What, worried you'll get caught? Don't you know how happy my folks would be to find you 'cadoodling' yourself on their sheets? Why, they'd probably jump right in and help ya!"
"... Is... that supposed to be a good... thing?"
"Eh, I'd be kinda curious to see it." Munch.
The near-sentient blush on the redette's cheeks eventually grew genre-savvy, realizing that things were just gonna get more 'M-rated' before too long... so it committed ritual seppuku in order to give Cave the drive to change subjects. "We are DONE talking about this!"
"Hehe... For now, but one day I'll get ya, Cavey!"
"..." Teh, THAT would be the day! "So, dropping that... Can't I ask how your day went one time without you sexually harassing me?"
"Hmmmm... Nope, that can't fly!" Chika replied with a laugh. "But my day's... neh, fine. Just same old, same old since... what, March? Geez... just a few more months, and my training's up! Er, should I pass all my exams, of course... H-Heh..."
The younger woman scrunched her lips in thought, reflecting on all the hours that her best friend had been virtually locked in the Leanbox Basilicom for her full year orientation. The girl was able to visit her home every other weekend... but becoming an oracle was a laborious undertaking, requiring her to live in the holy building as if it were a boot camp of old.
Cave couldn't lie, it's been rough without her buddy. "Teh, is that so? Hasn't felt that long to me!"
"Bah, you know you've been dyin' without me! One look at this butt makes all your worries melt away!"
"Y-You're the worst!"
From there, the conversation got... lost, to put it kindly. Just two friends goofing off after a trying day at the proverbial office.
"Well, I'm just sayin', the whole wide world would be so much better if everything was green!"
"... Eh, no."
"Phooey! Alright, I'll concede: your hair can stay red... but everything else should totally go green!"
Topics... varied.
"When I opened the bathroom door... th-the largest centipede I've ever seen s-scurried behind the sink! I... couldn't feel safe stepping in there for days... Haven't seen it since..."
"Daaaaaaw... You still need me to squash bugs for ya!"
"S-Shut up! I... c-can't stand creatures with more than four legs..."
"Faa! And you're gonna be a defender of the people? That's pretty adorbs, Cave!"
"... Ruffians with guns are at least predictable..."
A few more minutes passed, with Chika rushing off to visit the Basilicom's water closet ("Just gotta, um, w-wash up real quick, be right back!")... and Cave reached over into her backpack and checked its contents. An empty water bottle; a few salted crackers; an extra pair of socks and underwear; a training energy pistol with a red ribbon tied around the grip; and her plush shamrock, Shammy. "Hey, Shams... Warm in there? Here, I got ya!" Er, well, this is... not the most common sight in the world: the stoic red-haired girl was tickling a shamrock's leaves, a soft smile making her look younger than when she actually WAS a youngster! As for why she carried such a random collection of stuff... she had come straight over the second she left her SMD training for the day! She had moved out of the orphanage by now, and basically lived at Chika's house in her absence, at least until 'schooling' was through. The mint-haired goof's parents were more than happy to accept her within their humble home...
Stock conjunctive adverb, after stroking her favorite stuffed friend for about a minute more, the pupil oracle reappeared on the laptop's screen. "Back-a-roony! Daw, is that Shammy?! Hey, Shammy! Lookin' good, girl!"
The redhead somehow managed to not blush a bit, impressive! "Yeah, she's been fine... B-But... maybe *she's* missed you... I-I tried to tell her not to, but she's still... young."
"Tee!" The young adult cheered before suddenly falling flat on her back, absentmindedly allowing Cave to see her underwear's outline through the tight pants. "... Woah, that's right! We've just been shooting the breeze so far! How's YOUR day been, Cave? I bet that 'XMB' crap is harder than an expired cannoli, huh?"
"... It's 'SMD', Chika."
"Bah, close enough!"
"Teh, tell that to my instructor's face!" Truthfully, the combat training specialists would probably laugh the slight off... but Cave didn't want to reveal that! "Anyhow, it's... proceeding well. Not much to talk about, honestly; today was simply review."
"OOH! Did you have to shoot things? Climb a huge wall?!"
"... Heh, yeah, a HUGE wall!"
...
EARLIER THAT DAY...
"Cave! Climb over the wall, stat!"
"Sir, yes, sir!" Cave dashed onto the course... and frowned at the one-foot-high cardboard box. "This... is the wall?"
The grizzled veteran lowered his sunglasses. "Budget constraints, just pretend it's a huge one."
...
The memory ended, and the aspiring soldier shook her head. "... I've sped through all the combat lessons already... N-Need to wait a couple more weeks before they have something new for me."
Chika simply nodded, her attention more locked on a grape she prepared to toss into the air. Going, going... yes, landed right on the tip of her tongue! "Wow... You're really... k-killin' it there, eh? W-Well, I guess it's better to be way ahead than fallin' behind! H-Haha..." Hmm... Something was strange about her voice there, Cave detected. She moved to question... but the long-haired beauty wasn't finished! "S-So, what about after that? Were my folks home when ya got there?"
"Oh..." Huh... For now, she'd store that away in her mental lock-box. "No, actually... but your aunt was."
"...? Oh, Seika... She still there?"
"Teh, no, she had some trick-'r-treating quest to do, or something of the sort... It's gonna take all night, apparently! I offered her some help, but..." She really forgot to. "... y-you know those adventurer types; they get quite stubborn!"
"Yeah, adventurers are the ONLY ones!" Chika lapped up another two grapes, her lips angled downwards in something resembling a light frown. "So, um, what did you... two talk about? I doubt she... left right away, eh?"
E-Eh? W-Why was she... asking about that?! Cave rubbed her hair, frazzling her pigtails in the process. "Uh... H-Haha, n-nothing much! She just... wanted me to help her choose out an... outfit... That's it!" That's NOT it; not all of it, at least...
...
ROUGHLY 40 MINUTES AGO...
"C-Cave... U-Um, since you're... here," Seika began, averting her eyes from the blank-faced visitor, "would you mind... helping me with, uh, somethin'...?"
The SMD cadet, tickling one of Mr. Fern's stems, raised an eyebrow at the black-haired woman's shy question. "Hmm? Um... sure... Anything, Sei."
The older woman—looking more and more every day like she would forever be stuck in her twenties like Chika's mother—lit up like a bulb immediately, and gripped the arm of her niece's best friend. "A-Awesome, follow me!"
Out of the kitchen, down the hall, and straight to the black-haired young woman's bedroom; a den that no one outside her bloodline, apart from Cave, had ever dwelled. How nice that the Hakozakis gave her an actual room! Why, they treated Sei like their own daughter!
The room in question was an... oddly-intimate setting, with rainbow-colored wallpaper and posters of classic '60s rock bands—seems "the '60s" are an accepted part of canon now—and stenciled artwork strewn about and even groovy lava lamps! Her bed, unlike the homeowners', was circular in nature, with heart-shaped pillows adorned with several anime high-school girls. Ah, there's the ever-famous Tamao Suzumi; a favorite of the Hakozaki household, immediate members or otherwise! Our red-haired maiden had no idea how someone was supposed to get a good night's sleep on such an unconventional mattress... or even what the two sets of pillows implied, but she couldn't deny that... it at least looked inviting.
Still, as she looked around at the older girl's room, Cave couldn't help but feel like... she didn't belong. Conversely, Seika felt that no one else BUT Cave belonged! As such, she pat the side of the bed reserved for any future... 'hopeful' guests... and beamed. "Here, make yourself at home! Mi casa es tu casa!... S-Sheh-heh, d-did I say that right?"
Sei's lingering gaze elicited a delicious blush from the younger woman. "I-It sounded good to me... but I'm no expert either, actually..." Damn school system failing on actually teaching second languages! Or teaching anything, really. Figuring it would only be polite to take her generous offer, the member of the 'LWF Universe' gingerly took a seat, and she instantly felt the sensation of melting into the soft cushiony sheets! "Wow... This bed is wonderful!"
"Sheh! Don't ya just want to lay in it forever?!" Chika's aunt cooed, resting her cheeks in her delighted hands. She wasted no second in admiring Cave's relaxed form. "I know Chik's bed is kinda lame... so, ummmm..." A thumbnail found its way to her mouth, like a magnet to an atomic bomb. Both were liable to explode, albeit in magnificently-different ways. "... if ya want, you could... s-stay in here with me! I-It may look kinda small, b-but I don't need all the room just for myself, actually! S-Sh...eheh..."
"W-Wha...?!" Dah! Oh no, unwiden those humilating bulged-out eyes, Cave! "Th-That sounds..." She rapidly shook her head. "S-So, a-anyway, wh-what did you need my help with?!"
Little Miss Black Hair perked up at the reminder. "A-Ah yeah, s-silly me!" Without any formal explanation, the young adult yanked open her closet door and reached inside, standing on one leg... and her tippy toes, at that! Luckily her skirt was of the long variety. "I... hmm, where are they?... I have a quest I gotta do tonight! Pays the big bucks... Gotta dress up for Halloween and lure out some creepy candy-based monster. It camouflages as 'Libra Zebra' bars; crazy, eh? Soooo... I need your help picking out both a good costume AND decent combat wear! You're, like, super smart, Cave, so I know I can trust ya!"
Oh, that is... certainly something. "You... r-really trust me...?"
"Shyeah, of course! Now... HERE'S the three I was mulling over. 'Were' mulling over? Was 'was' correct? Bah, I fight monsters, grammar has no use to me." On the free side of the bed, Seika tossed over three plastic clothes hangers... and Cave's face turned dark at the smallest glance. "I, uh, found these babies online. Said they'd 'empower women!' or whatevs... They're called 'high-cut armor'." Is that what the kids call it these days? To the wannabe-soldier, these 'costumes' simply looked like skimpy bikinis with the occasional fancy frill. Ooh, but look, they at least have vambraces! So, the wearer's... arms would be protected from cuts, purportedly.
"Wow... T-This is armor? Hell, a Halloween costume?"
"S-Sheheh, umm... I don't know the reference myself, but apparently they work like charms! And the armor boosts my 'HP' up by 10 points, and I think my 'ATK' gets multiplied by two! My 'TEC' takes a slight hit, but my accuracy's so high by default I can't possibly miss!"
"Does that... make any sense...?"
"Not one bit! But, it's worth a try! I think the science lies in the outfit raising the party's morale, if I had to guess. I'm flying solo—" A quick intruding sigh. "—I *ALWAYS* fly solo— but it's the thought that counts... I think."
Cave reflected on this fact: less clothing actually boosts up the party's morale... and in a world filled with perverts like Chika, conceptually it made sense. Unfortunately... the costume only affected the person wearing it, NOT the party! So, then... where's the sense?
... Oh well, fretting about fabric won't solve the world's crime problem. It'd be best for her to analyze each armor set's... er, designs, and determine which one would help the lovely Seika the most. "... Ah, have you tried any of these on yet?"
The black-haired girl didn't seem to understand the easy question at first, her eyes widening in sudden surprise. "Have I..." Pale-white skin morphed into the pink shade of a strawberry ice-cream cone. Yeah, the scoop on top; not the physical cone, ya dips! "Oh, haha, no... I-I forgot to try 'em, sheh!"
Figures; everyone in this family is so forgetful! Cave folded her arms, not sure what to say. "Well... It'd be impossible to ascertain anything if we first can not confirm whether they fit your form or not. Armor that constricts movement would be a disaster waiting to happen! Here, try them all on right now and see how they feel, and I will judge what I see as well!" At the time, it was an innocent and logical proposition... but the second her top lip reconnected with the bottom, she realized what she had actually uttered: she basically told the 20-something to strip in front of her.
... Haha, that would never fly! She had better correct herself before there's any misunde— "O-Oh my... T-That's a wonderful idea! Y-You're such a genius, C-Cave!" Oh dear lord, there goes her shirt already. No no no... undershirt, too... Pants as well. The redhead's eyes had all-but-entirely vanished from her face by this point, but Seika had not a care in the world. She scrutinized the three bikinis. "Welp, I can't possibly wear underwear beneath somethin' so skimpy... so let's depose of these rascally things!" And with that, we must censor the next ten minutes!
...
The shameless dressing and undressing concluded, and the two mutual housemates had decided on the second outfit; it had longer stockings and was a sleek shade of dark blue, so it was a clear front-runner. Afterwards, the two stood in silence, ignoring the fact that one half of the pairing had been sans clothing just a few moments ago. Several times.
Seika's bashful tendencies returned, forcing her jaw zipped-shut in front of the girl she found so fascinating... so it was up to the awkward Cave to settle matters and break the lapse of vocal communication. Reaching out, she took hold of the adventurer's frilly collar and smiled softly, her mouth no larger in area than her nose! Anime's strange. "There! Uh... you look great... Are you ready for the quest? Slaying monsters... It's not such an easy undertaking."
The older girl nodded, her lips attempting a cocky smile in spite of her shaky resolve. "Feh, this is nothing! I've slain countless bigger monsters out there! No worries; I'll be back tonight in exactly one piece!" A turn of the head. "You can double-check when I return... 'cuz I better find ya in my bed!... A-Ah, to sleep together in it! U-Um, c-catch some 'Zs', I mean! D-Dang, stupid stupid stupid..."
"Haha, I see... Well, so long as you return safely, then... I-I won't let you down either!" Snickering, the redette closed her eyes, her thin fingers still clenching the collar's soft material. "... Is adventuring fun? A-And worth it? Not even counting the money... How does the liberation feel? The... thrill...? What's it... like?"
"Shyeah-hah! W-Well, I don't wanna brag or make ya feel jealous, but..." Chika's aunt must've been swept away by a tidal wave of sweet and commanding feelings, for her eyes sparkled like a child's. Not in a 'childish' way, either; her pupils carried a sense of... wonderment that usually gets lost in the transition to adulthood. She may have been forced to grow up... but not all of her had to. "God, there's no better feelin', Cave! I couldn't live without this... ah man, 'thrill' doesn't even capture it! Going on countless adventures I couldn't even dream about when I was a kid... There's no way I can ever give all that up!" An eye so sly, her avid listener couldn't even tell. "Weeeeell... unless I found the *right* person to tame me... b-but sheheh, th-that's not likely! Livin' on the edge, being unusual... it's too much in my blood now! A normal life? Bleh, no thanks! I don't like table manners, and I won't like livin' like a 'normie'!"
... Teh! All these years, Cave had been somewhat intimidated by this girl, even when the two went on that super-awkward 'dance date'... but turns out, she was just as human as anyone else! Skilled, sure, but everyone was good at something; that doesn't make them aces at life itself! Seika was a good fighter, a reliable adventurer, a hopeful dreamer... but she was also goofy, oftentimes nervous, and perhaps even a bit TOO much of a dreamer! She wasn't some perfect being, or strict adult, or judgmental omniscient grown-up; she simply was... human! Human human human!
... Human. A human who just wanted to be understood. A human always searching for that next grand thrill in her life! A human searching for... her place in the world.
A human who grew up... but perhaps found a way to stay young; a way to ward off time! Adventuring allowed her to keep her youthful innocence!
Wanting to stay young, forever... The SMD cadet could certainly relate. To think, Seika felt this way too! Did others? Did, pray tell, CHIKA?!
... Geez, the SMD cadet still had a lot to learn about the world!
Full-on grinning now, Cave's fingers finished their administrations to the older girl's collar. "Teh, that sounds just like you! You are correct, I am jealous!"
"Don't have to stay that way! Ya know, you could join me..."
"... H-Haha, I'll consider it, but don't hold your breath. Besides, being a soldier is... kind of similar... Ah, there! If you ever need a technical shooter on your side, I've got your back." 'Side' would've been a better pun. "Er, once I earn my SMD license..."
Seika couldn't look away, her chin inching downwards to graze the fingers still at her neck. "Heck yeah!" Staring, staring, stari— "Cave... You're gonna... make someone real happy someday. Like, the happiest ever."
"... You too, Sei. What a fortunate soul they'll be."
Believe it or not... the soon-to-be-stylish soldier heard nothing odd or misleading with what she just said; in her head, it simply sounded like a comforting friendly phrase, one she was earnestly proud of!
As such, it came as a total surprise when she found herself looking directly into Seika's eyes, the older girl having deemed personal space a mere formality... and claiming her lips for her own. Cave was so shocked, she couldn't even push away or even garble in confusion! Honestly, she was more worried about making a fool of herself, one way or another. Break out of the kiss, and turn EVERYTHING awkward FOREVER! Keep kissing, and risk learning that her smooching skills were not up to par! Oh yeah, and maybe lose a drop of self-respect in the process; that too.
What to do, what to do?! Should she ke— Oh, S-Sei's already breaking away...
The black-haired girl, realizing the magnitude of what she had just done, slowly backed away... before lunging for her adventuring backpack and peddling out the room! "G-G-G-Gotta go now, C-Cave! I-I'll... s-see ya tonight... r-right?!" she called... and in record time, the front door slammed shut.
Cave blinked. Another blink. Two more blinks. An eyebrow raise... aaaaaand a blink. "... See ya tonight..."
... Yep, she still had a WHOLE lot to learn about the world...
...
Unfortunately for her, however... Seika would not be returning that night. In fact... Seika would never be seen... again...
...
... Okay, that's a complete lie: Seika returned home safe and sound before midnight, and the redhead may or may not have slept with her in the unique bed... but that's a tale for another day. That one'll cost you some serious cash, in any case. Yet another thing she's managed to keep locked away from all outside eyes...
...
BACK... ER, FORWARD TO THE ACTUAL FLASHBACK...
Phew, that was distracting! Hopefully that actually holds some relevance to anything... but eh, most definitely not.
Where were we...? Oh, yes, Cave had handwaved away her encounter with Miss Sei (why give all the 'naked' details, right?), and Chika was busy rolling her eyes at hearing her aunt's name! "Freh..." She's chalk full of these wacky exclamations, ain't she? "Still doin' her stupid quests... Y'know, if she cares so much, she should just take one of those 'Advanced' jobs already!"
Cave's ears perked up. "Hmm? 'Advanced'... jobs?"
"Yeah, I guess the guild she works for is lookin' to sail in search of mysterious islands far away from Gamindustri's shore! Once they get the paperwork all in order, she could be gone for as much as like three, maybe four years!" Is that a purple grape among the green ones? No matter; the oracle-in-training chomped it without even looking! "She clearly cares more about adventurin' than all of us, so she should just take it. Rake in the dough, have fun... and forget about us 'simpletons'..." Seems she still has a lot to work out with her only-slightly-older aunt who shared a home with her.
"... I'll have to ask her about the job in her be— er, when she returns tonight... But cut her some slack, she's not snobbish like that! You know, I still don't see why you always speak ill of her. She seems... quite grounded. I wouldn't mind seeing her more often, actually..."
The mint-haired girl merely shook her head. "... Frek, she's already gotten to ya!" Beneath her breath, she added "She's trying to take you from me..."
"What was that? Speak up, the reception is leaving a lot to be desired." Seems Cave heard none of that last part. Figures...
"... Baaah, it's nuthin', fo'get about it!" Three green grapes were delicately placed along the goof's extended tongue... and like a lizard, the oral organ coiled upwards and brought the fruits into her eager mouth. "Any-any-Weis, she's just a... j-jerk, I say! She wants to live free as a 'green bird' with a 'large feather'... and she forgets about me, Mom, and Pop! How could you forget where you came from?!"
"That reminds me: have you told Lady Green Heart that you have a living family yet?"
Nothing major spewed from her lips... but Chika's eyes widened as if the question could pierce the armor of an Avenir super-tank. "Oh, um... w-well, that's different! Vert looks so cute when she calls me her sister... She thinks she's all I have in the world, h-hehe... I h-haven't found the right time to tell her about my folks! O-Oh, but she knows of you, though!"
"... I'm flattered, I suppose." What a card... The future soldier, having naturally rolled over onto her stomach, kicked her legs in the air behind her like the carefree schoolgirl she never quite was. "Speaking of... You're calling her Vert now, huh? She... okay with that? It'd make sense for someone of her stature to demand a proper title when addressing her."
The pants-wearing trainee ogled a grape the size of Green Heart's che—ek. "Ahhhhh... Vert's the best, she really is! She's, like, so easy-going! I had no idea she'd be this lax, y'know?" A satisfied cat-grin. "I'm gonna try callin' her 'Verty' and see where that gets me! She's the only good part about being he—" At once, her smile vanished into the haze of the October air. From the highest of the high to lower than the planet's core... which would eventually bring you up high again should you be some supernatural entity capable of withstanding the core's molten center and able to travel the same length the opposite way... but you get it by now. "I-I mean, sh-she's the BEST part about being trapp— Uh, about goin' through orientation, h-heh!"
... Uhuh. There it was again: the sense that something mighty was irking her best friend. Cave scrunched her lips to the right, thinking of a way to indirectly draw the answer out. Best start with the obvious. "So, what's it like to be an oracle-in-training? Tough I bet? Or is the work a... cinch?"
Chika considered the question for an extended moment, her head physically jouncing around in search of a metaphysical thought. The answer she ultimately landed on... must not have been a good one, for her face went even more solemn. She wasn't skilled at hiding anything; you should see her playing poker! "O-Oh, it's... cool, it's cool. Sure, there's a lot of work... and half the stuff I barely understand... and I gotta study like 15 different text books a night just to keep up... and there's so many styles of negotiation I have to memorize... and these clothes aren't comfy... and I can only leave the Basilicom's grounds like once every two weeks... and the guards all give me weird stares, like I'm some irredeemable idiot in their eyes..." She took a deep breath, before sticking five grapes into her mouth. Like a slob, she chewed with her mouth open, a few shreds of berry skin propelling out. "Oh, and I can't even go trick-'r-treating tonight, or wear a stinkin' costume in my own chambers... b-but y'know? I-It's all... worth it, yeah? I-It's fun in its own way! And who cares about not being able to celebrate one of my... f-favorite holidays, w-with my best friend or even just myself... A-At least I have my imagination! H-Hehe, and wh-when you think about it, isn't imagination the best costume of all?!"
"... Jesus, Chika." Well, wasn't THAT all a punch right in the gut?! "Do you have... something you need to get off of your chest?" On the screen, her sweating childhood friend smashed a fistful of grapes into her face. "I'm... here for you. H-Haha, just don't try to eat me too, okay?"
Gromgromgromgromgrom... Gulp! Ahhhhhhhhhh~... Refreshing! "S-Sneh, I-I'm fine, Cavey! I-I love it here!"
"... Chika, it is not good to bottle things up. I'm not the type to use hyperbole... but your head is literally going to pop."
"... Really, Cavey, it's fine! P-Please, let's just change the subject, or... somethin'...!"
The redhead frowned; she hated dealing with stubborn people... Yeah, put that on a plaque somewhere. "Alright, moving on then..." Crap, but what now? Cave wasn't adept at starting off small-talk in the slightest, ESPECIALLY when she clearly could tell her friend was troubled and yet wouldn't talk about it. She had to play her cards right... Damn, if only SHE was any good at poker either! "So, uh... H-How's the... fauna around the Basilicom?"
"The... fauna?"
"Y-Yes... There's... virtually a forest surrounding the castle, right? A-And there's a huge expanse of yard... I'm surprised Green Heart hasn't renovated the building; she could fit the world's largest man-made structure there and STILL have room to spare!"
Chika looked down, glimpsing her green fingernails. "Neh... I haven't noticed much. Birds, squirrels... No zombies yet."
... Okay. "I see... S-So, um, wh-what's the Basilicom look like?! I-I, haha, have never seen it before!"
"Huh? Cave, you're the one who showed me it, remember?"
"... Oh yeah... B-But not up close!"
"... It's a building, that's for sure. Needs some clean-up, big time... Guess that's another thing I'll have to deal with..."
"A-Ah..." This conversation had... stalled, to say the least, with the mintette's mood dampening with each tick of the clock. Cave needed to pull out the big guns now! She pushed off the mattress and elegantly transitioned back into her earlier 'criss-cross applesauce' sitting pose. "Y-You know, I... a-actually didn't tell you everything about Seika earlier! Um... s-so she asked me to help her pick out a... costume, and... s-she actually stripped down right before my eyes! Th-That woman has no shame, right?! H-Haha, crazy..."
Chika barely flinched, her fingernails fortunately not spouting anything insulting about a game or movie they don't like. That didn't stop her from watching them, granted... "Yeah, that's my si— Sei. When are ya two just gonna 'do' it already?"
"E-Excuse me...?!"
"She's been hitting on ya forever... Just do each other already! Do it, have lots of fun, get married... Might as well, right? You two have a lot in common, so... at least you guys'll be happy..."
"... Chika?" This is serious now... Dammit, what could she do?! What would cheer a pervert right up?... Oh God no, Cave wasn't going to... *degrade* herself, was she?! "... W-What if I don't... w-want to 'do' Seika, Chiks? What if..." Gulp... Farewell, self-respect! The SMD cadet seductively tugged on her neck ribbon. "... I've reconsidered your earlier offer, and now I only want to... s-s-sext with you? You, me, this webcam which hopefully can't be tracked by outside phishers... What do you say to that... Chi~ka~?" Ugh, she'd need to gag herself with a spoon after this!
So... did the future oracle take the bait? "Neh, in a few hours, Seika'll be home, right? Probably more fun to touch her than waste time with me... Maybe even wait for my folks to come back."
Crap! Damn! M-rated curse words she refused to think, like SHIT! Oh, oops... "Okay, that DOES it! Chika, talk to me! I can't do anything if you just push me away!"
"... It's FINE, Cave! F,I,N,E, FINE!" Another grape bites the dust. Or more accurately (and less referentially), another tooth bites the grape.
"You just finished up telling me to sleep with the aunt you claim to despise... That's unusual even for YOU!"
"W-Well... N-Nuh-uh!" And another one gone, and another one gone... Another tooth bites the grape!
Cave, frustrated, stared with dull eyes at her best friend's iconic twin-bow, resting at the top of her long-haired head. The exact same one Cave bought her many years ago... It had been so long, the precise details were understandably hard to remember... but it was on that day that she swore to never let her friend down again.
She made a vow... and she wasn't going to break it now. "... Talk to me, Chiks... Please. Tell me everything: all about your burdensome study materials, all your classes, the progress you've made, even your uncomfortable pants! Just... unload it all upon me so you can... s-smile again! I... can't physically be there for you right now, and that's... killing me, so words are all I have... All WE have."
"..."
"... What's eating you, Chika?" It was then that... the most brilliant line that could've dawned on Cave at that moment miraculously flew into her brain! Yes... YES! T-This is perfect! Why, this may just be the greatest thought her mind had ever conceived! Appropriate in all instances, humorous to take the edge off, and sincerity oozing from its fluffy center!
With a determined broadening of the shoulders, Cave earnestly smiled at her dearest friend... and opened her young adult-sized mouth.
"'What's Eating Chika Grape'?" Nailed it.
But... how did it land for her designated target? Weeeeeeeell... the face of the future oracle fastly displayed an expression of sheer disbelief; did a girl like Cave really just say *that*? This disbelief transformed into two rounded puff cheeks, stretched at both ends like a hotdog that clearly didn't meet the chef's high standards. "I..." she began, before falling markedly silent. An eyebrow lifted itself high, and her mouth opened... only to close again as confusion settled in, a bird nesting atop her brain. A long finger, accusatory in nature, was pointed at the screen, and it even did what looked to be a nice twirly dance... but it fell after a few scant rotations. Her cheeks flared once more as her left hand pulled on an out-of-place strand of hair, and she sat right up... er, only to fall with her face extremely close to the camera, both eyes blinking rapidly. From there, she clumsily somersaulted backwards, nearly kicking her own computer off of its resting spot in the ill-thought-out process. "... I-I..." Phew... There, did you get all that? That test is still coming up, so be ready!
Did Cave... break her best friend? "Er, C-Chiks...?"
"I..." A fidgety hand reached into the bag of grapes, seizing about three more tasty berries. "C-Cavey... A-ALL *I* can eat now are GRAPES!" With the power of a professional baseball player, the pants-wearing lass threw the fruits towards her own screen, the small balls bouncing off like that proverbial hotdog above. "I-I'm so freakin' nervous, I can't even eat anything else! H-Hell, drinking anything heavier than water will make me toss my cookies! I-I c-can't do this anymore, C-Cavey!"
"C-Chika, c-calm down!" In the end, her plan worked... but instead of opening up a passage for communication, the SMD cadet had blown open the damn floodgate!
Miss Hakozaki gripped her long hair with both fists, tugging it in opposite directions in dear frustration. "Th-This is too damn hard, I'm going crazy! I-I've never been more overwhelmed in my entire life! The work's too hard, I'm outta my element! I-I'm just a big freakin' idiot! I'm a failure!"
"H-Hey, d-don't speak like that! Th-That's not tr—"
"Look at this thing, Cave," Chika began, bending over to the floor just off-screen... and soon she heaved up a behemoth. Mamma Mia, that's a book the size of seven stacked laptops! The earth visibly shook as she dropped it on her bed. "J-Just LOOK at this!"
"W-What... is that?"
"THIS is everything I need to know by my big oracle exam in March! Apart from all the stinkin' math, physics, chemistry, and freakin' health class stuff in here... I've got proper Sharicite storage, managing national finances, maintaining international relations, combat tutorials, every single code for all sorts of emergencies... Do YOU know what to do in the case of a swarm of dragons invading the airspace, Cave?"
The future soldier barely managed to frown. "Erm... sorry, you got me there."
Cheeks red and tears swelling, the government trainee picked up one more grape and squashed it tight in her clenched palm. "Well, NEITHER do I! M-My head's not gonna pop, Cavey; it's gonna explode! No, IMPLODE! Maybe both, like, seven times! EACH!" A sniffle. "W-Who the hell wrote this thing anyways?! H-How many oracles were there before me?! Were there any?! Vert doesn't even know! S-So, who the hell WROTE THIS?! W-Who wrote the rules, huh?!"
Cave, best friend instinct kicking in, reached out for the sobbing girl... but like a dweeb, realized at the last second that a computer screen separated them. Distance separated them. "... Chika, listen to me... I know things seem rough, maybe impossible right now, but... you can do it. You are living in the Basilicom for a reason, alright? The ones who make the calls, be it Vert or otherwise, never would've selected someone they didn't believe in. You're a girl who has memorized the lyrics to nearly every song from the '60s and '70s; that book may look intimidating... but give yourself some credit, please."
"... I want to go home, Cavey... I miss Mom, and Dad, and you. Heck, Seika too... Even our trusty mailman!" Her eyes cast downward, carrying a heavy weight within them. "I don't wanna let any of ya down, but... I'm gonna fail anyways if I stay. I've wasted everyone's time bein' here, and I'm just gonna waste more if I keep trying in vain to be what I'm not. Best not delude myself any longer..."
"Chika, we ARE proud of you. No matter what happens. You're... loved by all of us, always... But, you CAN do this, please hear me!"
Another sniffle, and a tear escaped down her young pink cheek. "... I miss the old days, Cave. Like, so much, it hurts... I wish we could go back to being kids. Back then, most we had to worry about was homework and tests, stupid show-and-tell projects, or stealing candy from behind Si— Seika's back. Not now, where a simple screw-up could risk the freaking world's safety! Just want to go back in time... but no. Time goes by, far too fast at that... We can never go back to the simple days again, can we?"
It was the most depressed the redhead had ever seen or heard her friend in their entire lives... and as so often was the case, Cave was completely lost on what to do. Dammit, why couldn't she be there to hug her?! To whisper in her ear that the fear, the worry, the *uncertainty* of the future... was mutual? Tell her that she wasn't alone, and would never BE alone! Hold her, comfort her, and remind her that things often seem far worse than they really, truly are?
Curse time! Curse words! Time only brought problems, and words could only do so much to help!
... Then, a brand new idea hatched. An... unusual idea for basically anyone, but none more so than the SMD cadet. Still, desperate times call for desperate cliches.
Clearing her voice, Cave stared straight at the crying young adult's clouded eyes. "Chika, you are thinking crazy. You're smart, you're capable, you... can do anything. You are nervous about becoming an oracle? You don't think you can do it? You don't think it fits you? Hah, you couldn't be more wrong! No matter how hard you may have things, that's... nothing compared to what I'm a-about to... d-do!" A bit shaky on the landing there... She needed to slow her speeding heart if she was going to get through this!
"C-Cave? Wh-What do you... mean?" Chika asked between the sobs. She wiped her eyes with the backs of both hands, clearing her vision so she could get a better read on her friend. "What are... you about to do?"
The redette blinked one last time... before sitting up as straight as she could and lifting a sophisticated gloved hand, pressing the tips of her fingers gently to her breastbone. Deep breath... and GO!
"'If I could save time in a bottle...'"
"... N-No, Cavey, d-don't you dare do this! Not now!"
"'... the first thing that I'd like to do—'... Come on, Chika, I can not do this alone."
"W-Why are you...?!"
"'... is to save every day—"
"Ah, darnit... '—'til eternity passes away—'"
"'—just to spend—'" "'—them with you...'"
The two each took time to breathe, the music in their heads momentarily paused. Cave maintained her determined air despite her shy insides, and Chika couldn't help but forget her tears. She struggled not to beam... but the temptation was proving too strong.
The redhead smiled. "Feeling... better yet?"
"... M-Maybe just a teensy bit... I-I think I still need to hear a little more first..." A sideways glance. "B-But, may I... start this next part off?"
"Teh, alright, I see how it is!" Haha, as if she was ready to stop any time soon! "Well... take it away, 'Leanbox's next oracle'!
The mintette blushed. "Cavey... Th-Thanks... 'If I could make days last forever...'"
"'If words could make wishes come true...'"
"'I'd save... every day—'"
"'—like a treasure and then...'"
"'Again—'" "'Again—'"
"'—I would spend—'"
"'—them with you!'..."
"Haha... You sure are proficient at this!"
"Me? Look at you, Miss Quiet-McNopants! Where have you been hiding those pipes?! How come you never joined the school Chorus or anything?"
"I-I couldn't possibly s-s-sing in front of... so many people..."
"Hehe, you're so cute, Cave!... One last go?"
"... With pleasure."
"Sweet, this is my favorite-ist part!"
"... You are lucky I'm being generous with correcting people today."
"Bah, you know I speak like 'dis' just to mess with ya!"
"Haha... I doubt it!"
"You love it, toots! Or should I call ya 'tush'? The SMD sure gave you, like, the greatest uniform ever! I can see that *thing* from here!"
"W-Watch it!"
"Hehe!... 'But there never seems to be enough time—'"
"... Teh-heh... '—to do the things you want to do—'"
"'—once you find them!' Haha, nailed it!"
"Feh, not done yet! 'I've looked around enough to know...'"
"'... that you're the one I want to go through—'"
"'—time with.'" "'—time with.'"
...
The hours went along as perpetually as always... but right here, right now, the friends didn't seem to mind. All worries, at least for tonight, were cast aside, nothing but small petals blown away from a big flower. Chika's tears had subsided... and she was more determined than ever now to... well, see whatever fate awaited her through to the end. No half measures here; she needed to give her best. She owed her comrade that much.
"Thanks for everything, Cavey... You're the best, ya really are. Heh, I... forgot how sappy you could be! I-It... It, uh, it makes me smile... Y-Yeah."
"That's what friends are for, Chika. Haha, never stop smiling for me."
"... Y-Yeah, f-friends... H-Heh, well, with lines like that, I don't even need to tell ya to never stop being your sappy self!"
"... Not a word to ANYONE, got it? T-Teh... Haha, it's reserved solely for you."
"Well then... I'm the luckiest oracle in the world!"
"And I'm the luckiest... soldier."
"..."
"..."
"... So, Cavey... Wanna try that sext stuff now?"
"... Welp, there goes the mood."