"That girl needs nakama, more than anything. Open her heart."
The old doctor smiled gravely and downed more plum wine. He glanced at the orange-haired kid and his nakama, a bunch of other kids. The faces all seemed to blend together.
Kurehu thought about Chopa, the "idiot daughter" he had taken in years ago... though that idiot daughter was a reindeer, and she was all alone.
The orange-haired kid- Mizu, was it?- looked like he was about to start crying.
"I would never have known," he said softly.
The straw hat kid picked his- or her?- nose, bored. "Now I really want her to join my crew," he- or she?- said.
Kurehu sighed. "Take her," he said. "Please."
The sick kid, Mizu, smiled. "Of course," he said softly.