Disclaimer: Checked, still don't own.
Placement: After Volume 11, before Volume 12.
Girl Talk: Exactly
The wind howled at Helen as she sat at the mouth of the cave, which overlooked the frozen tundra that the survivors of Pieta now called home. Six years now in this frozen hellhole, she thought bitterly, not caring about the juxtaposition in her description. Still, we've made it worth our while, she reminded herself as she looked at her right palm. At least we'll be ready when the time comes.
Whenever that "time" is…
A noise beside her jarred her out of her thoughts as she looked up. Claire and Yuma had made their way back to the cave, bringing back more salvaged supplies from the ruined northern towns. Claire set her burden down with a weary sigh.
From the cave mouth, Helen called out, "Still no luck, huh?"
Claire walked up to her and sat down. "No, still no sign. But I'm not giving up until I find out he's alive."
"You're one tough cookie, I'll give ya that," Helen said, "but you're searching for a ghost. Why look for this… Raki boy when you can do something more productive? Like crochet?"
Claire didn't even bat an eye at Helen's joke. "I made a promise. I told him that I'd see him again."
At this, Helen gestured frantically. "But why him!? Boys like him are a dime a dozen. No wait," she said, remembering their first meeting, "I take that back. He's worse than those that are a dime a dozen. He's weak, yet he still tries to protect you. He acts without thinking, following his heart instead. And finally, he doesn't know when to quit!"
To Helen's surprise, Claire rose with a smile. Her parting words left Helen sitting there for a long time:
"My thoughts exactly."
Author's Notes: Meh. Could've turned out better.