"Fuyu?"
Monika's curious voiced echoed throughout the chambers of the student president. She found it strange; Monika was sure that this would be one of two places Fuyu would be on a day like this.
Could she…?
Monika slowly approached the desk on the other side of the room, taking care to make sure her footsteps were as quiet as possible. She kneeled against the side and took a peek under it.
Fuyu was sitting under the desk with a game device in her hands.
"I thought you already beat The Minish Cap already."
Monika's playful tease did little to phase Fuyu's clear dour disposition. Without even looking up, Fuyu replied, "It's one of my favorite Zelda games."
Monika slid closer to Fuyu and took a cursory glance at the screen.
"I remember I had to save scum the final gauntlet before the final boss," Monika recounted. "The invisible timer seemed to be a little too unforgiving."
"It can be for everyone's first time. I spent a little too much in the last room and was shocked to discover I was as on a real time limit."
Monika giggled, finally drawing Fuyu's attention away from her game.
"What's so funny?"
"Just that on a day like this, you're finally taking a break from your work."
"Leave it to you to appreciate that irony…"
Following that, the two heard a digitized sound of a bell toll. Fuyu hung her head in defeat, well aware of what just transpired in her most recent gameplay run.
"Sorry," Monika apologized.
"It's fine… Just another split Zelda timeline is all…" Fuyu sighed.
"So, is this what you were planning on doing all day? You're almost done and there's no post-game objectives."
Without saying another word, Fuyu dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out a cartridge: Yoshi's Island.
"Fuyu…"
"C'mon, Monika, you know I'd rather not go out there. There's a reason I'm sitting under a table."
"Is having your mother around really so bad?"
Fuyu visibly cringed at the question.
"Is it…?" Monika asked again in a quieter tone.
"Depends. What do you think the chances of her analyzing the whole school and giving her them their results would be just based off of last year?"
"Um… A pretty good chance?"
Monika vividly remembered what Fuyu was referring to. She recalled how red Fuyu's face was as she slinked off to hide under a cardboard box. The level of embarrassment she felt could not be understated.
"Okay, but ignoring that possibility, would you really want to spend this day hiding under your desk?" Monika argued.
Fuyu adjusted her glasses. "…Do you want everyone to hang out today or something?"
"Guilty."
"Okay," Fuyu stood up, dusting herself off. "I'll save us both the trouble and just skip to you convincing me to go."
Fuyu offered her hand to Monika and happily pulled her up the moment she accepted.
"By the way, do you think Rei will try to meet up with you here?" Monika asked.
Fuyu adjusted her glasses again and snuck a peek at a vase of flowers sitting on her desk. "I'm pretty sure she'll go off and do her own thing."
…
There were lot of unfamiliar, but familiar faces passing by each second. Natsuki always found that paradoxical feeling strange, but that didn't really matter to her at the moment.
Her attention was split between two key areas: the hallway space before her and the classroom door to her right.
It's been long enough right?
Natsuki turned towards the open doorway, immediately bumping into Kiyoko.
"Whoa, hey, Natsuki," she greeted.
"Uhm…" Natsuki sheepishly turned her gaze away. A sense of defeat filled her and she was sure her cheeks matched the color of her hair. "H-Hey…"
She peeked back from the corner of her eyes, surprised to find Kiyoko casually leaning against the door frame.
"So… What were you still doing in class?" she asked.
"I just woke up," Kiyoko answered with a yawn.
"Woke up?"
Natsuki had heard from Shujinkou how much Kiyoko slept during the day, but she had never expected to discover that someone would sleep in the little time between attendance and being let loose for today's event.
"How do you not overslee-? Actually, how do you get away with sleeping so much at school?"
Kiyoko shrugged, baffling Natsuki even more.
There's something about her too…
"So…" Kiyoko stretched her arms and stifled another yawn before continuing. "…What're you doing here?"
"What I'm… I was just…" Finding the right words was an intense struggle. There didn't seem to be anything that Natsuki could say that could save her from embarrassment. "I was hanging around, that's all."
"But it looks like you were about to walk into my classroom."
"That's just… I was…"
"…Tired of being in the crowded hallway and wanted to duck into safety before getting swept away by it?"
Natsuki feebly nodded her head. Looking into Kiyoko's eyes, she was suddenly hit with a familiar and nostalgic feeling. The sentiment given to her was almost the same as the ones she was gifted time and time again last semester.
"Actually… This is going to sound dumb when it's clear that it wouldn't be the case, but… I was… I was kind of hoping the seat in front of you would be filled," Natsuki admitted.
"I get it. I've kinda been hoping that too," Kiyoko sympathized.
"No surprise, considering how much you've been seeing him lately."
Natsuki immediately clamped her mouth shut. Her innate envy had leaked out with her comment, and she was sure that Kiyoko had taken it the wrong way.
However, contrary to her instinctive assumption, Kiyoko instead appeared to be deeply pondering her point.
"Have I really been there that much?" she wondered aloud.
"I mean, you have more than me. Gotta give you that," Natsuki avowed.
"Maybe."
"'Maybe'? I'm seriously surprised you've been going there as much as you have been."
"Why's that?"
It was a question that reminded Natsuki of the realization she had with Rei.
"I don't know why, but I didn't think that you would be so… Sentimental?" she admitted.
"…Do I come off that way?" Kiyoko genuinely asked.
"I don't know, I just remember you explaining how you ended living in your mini-estate alone and you didn't seem all too broken up about how it happened."
Kiyoko shrugged, still maintaining her calm disposition. "I'm used to hearing that."
"Yeah, that's kind of what I meant. It doesn't seem like anything bothers you so I guess you would have just hoped from a distance," Natsuki continued.
"Again, fair assumption."
It was right after receiving that response when Natsuki finally found the words to describe her earlier indescribable feeling. That along with Kiyoko's reply prompted her to smile in amusement.
"Well, it's not like literally shrugging things off so easily is a bad thing," Natsuki approved. "I really wish I could do that; it'd make dealing with Mali a whole lot easier for one."
"She's not so bad now though, right?" Kiyoko pointed out. "I think we both know how things could be if she didn't become Shujinkou's Kōhai."
"Right…" Natsuki shook her head, shaking off the emerging memories as a victim of those pranks. "Anyway, what's your plans for today?"
"I was thinking of doing what I did last year, but the roof is taken for a demonstration, so I guess I'll just wander around."
"Huh. Well… What if we explore together?"
Asking that was hard enough and the surprise Kiyoko displayed did not make it any easier for Natsuki.
"Sure." Kiyoko glanced to the side. "Ready to jump into the crowd?"
"Guess we can't avoid it forever." Turing around, Natsuki felt her words might as well have fallen on deaf ears. In some way, she felt she should have known her vocal complaints would have caused the parade of students to lessen dramatically eventually. "Actually, I'll take it. Let's go, Kiyoko."
Taking the lead, Natsuki guided Kiyoko outside. There they were greeted with the bustling sight of a fair in full swing.
"Whoa… Kinda looks a lot more lively than last year," Natsuki noted.
"You mean it was that dead the whole time?" Kiyoko yawned.
"Outside of Monika: Yep. If I told the me back then that I'd be friends with the person who aced almost all of the exhibitions, I'd call myself crazy."
"Almost… Were you apart of the bakery exhibition?"
Natsuki violently shook her head. "There was no way that I was going to bake anything in front of so many people back then. I would have been- Pretty sure someone would have just made an unnecessary riot of unnecessary comments."
"What about this year?"
"I'm not really in the mood to give it a try. I'm starting to think I may be getting a little rusty."
"Huh."
Kiyoko was silent after that. Even when it was painfully clear her attention was soon captured by everything happening around them, Natsuki was still overwhelmed with an urge to continue the conversation, if only to keep things from becoming awkward again.
"So… You know what you want to have as a career when the time comes?"
"I don't know," Kiyoko answered.
There was a distinct indifferent tone to her voice then, one that caught Natsuki off guard. She found herself bereft of words until a heavenly sound filled their ears.
Turning towards the direction of that sound, the two spotted a man mindlessly walking towards them. He was well-dressed, his clothes neatly pressed and tidy even with the relative chaos in their surroundings. Held between his mouth and raised hands was a silver flute.
He's really good. Natsuki felt almost entranced by the music but noticed that Kiyoko didn't really show much more than what appeared to be mild curiosity.
The stranger soon came to a stop. He opened his eyes, locking them with Natsuki and Kiyoko's.
"Forgive me, I wasn't watching where I was going," he apologized.
"No harm done," Kiyoko said with a sudden easy-going smile. "You seemed pretty into your musical piece."
"Yeah. You're a professional musician, right?" Natsuki questioned.
"Something like that," the man bowed and introduced himself, "I'm Amaté. And what might the names of the two ladies I almost bumped into be?"
The two introduced themselves but were only met with the mysterious gaze of Amaté.
"Were... Were you playing your music to attract people to your stand?" Natsuki questioned.
"That's the goal, but I'd be happy if they caught just a little of my performance," Amaté answered. "Just in case, I do happen to have a few instruments on toe."
There was a bag hanging off Amaté back. He brought it to his side, dug into it and pulled out a small, rounded instrument with a sizable number of holes.
"Is that an ocarina?" Natsuki barely contained her surprise. A well-known item for dues to appearances in a major video game franchise; how was she to know that one would be so casually pulled out. I half-expected the treasure getting sound effect.
"By the look in your eyes, I can safely assume you're thinking of Zelda."
"I mean… Who wouldn't?"
"Mm, would you like to play it?"
"I'm not really the instrument kind of person."
To Natsuki's surprise, Amaté didn't press on the matter. Instead, he shifted his attention to Kiyoko and offered her the same opportunity.
"I've never really played a real ocarina before, but I'll give it a shot."
Kiyoko accepted the rounded musical tool and brought it to her mouth. She gently pressed the tip of the ceramic instrument against her lips and closed her eyes.
What followed was what might be the most ethereal melody Natsuki had ever heard. Suddenly, Kiyoko was no longer the easy-going person she was acquainted with, but now an almost unapproachable figure crafting a tranquil air to blanket the immediate area.
Looking around, it was clear to Natsuki that she wasn't the only one who felt that way.
The song soon came to an end, Kiyoko's lips parting away from the tool of her craft. The moment she opened her eyes, she was greeted with a sizable amount of applause.
"Bravo, Miss Kiyoko," Amaté congratulated. "And you say this is your first time playing the instrument?"
"Yep."
Kiyoko attempted to give the ocarina, but Amaté steadfastly refused.
"Keep it," he insisted. "It's better left with you."
Once again, Natsuki imagined the iconic treasure sound effect playing out over Kiyoko's acceptance of the gift.
Amaté soon gave them some parting words and walked off, beginning his traveling performance once again.
"An ocarina, huh?" Kiyoko eyes displayed interest as she held her gift before her. "That guy was pretty interesting."
Kiyoko looked at Natsuki, immediately noting her annoyed expression.
"…Was that really your first time playing that thing?"
"Yeah. The closest I've had to playing it would be giving Link the command to do so."
"Geez…" Natsuki crossed her arms and sighed in disbelief. "You don't know what do with your life? You can play a guitar and effortlessly play an ocarina for the first time; you sure you don't want to do something with music?"
"Mmm… Sounds like too much work," Kiyoko said with a chuckle.
"A star basketball player and probably universally talented with instruments… Surprised you're not a school idol too."
"You could probably say that for a lot of people."
"Not really. It seems to be one you have to be… basically Monika: Smart, beautiful, talented at more things than you could imagine."
"So… Monika being herself?"
Natsuki shot Kiyoko a surprised look. "Are you saying that anyone could be a school idol?"
"I'm just saying that Monika is doing nothing other than what she wants for her own reasons," Kiyoko clarified.
"I know that. I'm just saying she's just the kinda person you can't help but like even if you barely know her. Honestly, she was almost too perfect in so many ways that I thought that she had to be hiding a darker side.
Imagine my surprise to find out that no, she really is that kind of person she displays herself to be. Heck, she was more human than I thought at first. There was just something about her that draws you in more the better you get to know her. You can just tell that she wants to support everyone and it hurt her when she couldn't.
Knowing that, if she was any other kind of person, then she would hate Shujinkou for somehow always knowing what to say to at least calm someone down a little.
But she didn't. In fact, she went so far in the opposite direction that it isn't funny."
Natsuki sighed.
"It's kind of amazing how she was one of the reasons I ended up staying with club after a rough start and here now she's trying her hardest to make everything go back to normal even after everything we've all been through, which is really impressive considering that even Sayori seemed to have given up."
"You knew about that?" Kiyoko marveled.
"I was surprised to have it confirmed. Like even though I used to think Sayori was really weird, one thing that was always consistent was her undying loyalty to everyone. I used to think that it was really only to Shujinkou and a little to Monika, but she's proved time and again that she would do anything for our own good.
We're talking about someone that held out hope that she could do something for Shujinkou for years after his sister passed away and he felt that he deserved to be alone. When someone likes that gives up, then that really tells you how she must be feeling."
Natsuki paused.
"…Sometimes I think I didn't appreciate what I had until everything fell apart."
"You're not the only one who thinks that, you know," Kiyoko assured her.
"Have you ever felt that way before?"
"Well, I don't think I appreciated my grandparents all that much before they passed. Can't really say the same for my own parents though."
"Oh…"
"I also don't think I appreciated enough having fun with guys my own age enough."
"Huh?"
"I told Shujinkou that friendship was a two-way street once. He asked me about what it took for the two of us to be friends and I told him that it wasn't as if I made much of an effort on my part. Not like I didn't want to, but I just didn't. And now he's in a coma.
So I guess you could say that one reason I immediately agreed to hanging out now."
"I thought it was because you had nowhere to sleep," Natsuki teased.
Kiyoko shrugged. "I did say it was one reason."
The two shared a laugh and decided to continue exploring their immediate surroundings.
"You know, Kiyoko, I gotta admit: I really thought the two of us being alone would be really awkward.
"Because we've never really talked outside of group gathering?"
"Yeah. Still, it's kind of weird that none of us, even Shujinkou, seems to know that much about you."
"I'm not really complicated."
"Maybe it's because you're too good of a listener."
"You think?"
"If I really think about the times we've been in the same room, you usually seem to either respond and sympathize with someone else or are off just relaxing or sleeping," Natsuki recalled. "The most I know about you are just the little things I've heard from Shujinkou. I think I know more about Rei and Mali then I know about you."
"Hm. I guess I haven't really talked about myself other then some off-hand comments," Kiyoko accepted. "But like I said, I'm not really that complicated a person."
"Okay, then tell me this; why are you so easy-going all the time?"
"Don't know; I guess at some point I just figured why should I freak out over every little thing."
"Would you consider Mali one of those little things; because you and Rei are the only people I've seen to be immune to whatever she says."
"Just doesn't bother me."
"Even during the prank thing?"
"I lucked out there for the most part."
Natsuki shook her head in disbelief.
"Oookay… What do you do when you're not having downtime?"
"Downtime isn't just me sleeping. It's me just winding down and doing whatever as long as it isn't mentally considered work," Kiyoko explained.
"So, what do you then?"
"I juust do what I feel like doing. Sometimes I sleep on my hammock, sometimes I read or play games or watch TV, sometimes I relax in my hot spring or take care of the birds that occupy my bird house and bath. Sometimes I just wander around and enjoy the world around me."
Natsuki took a step back, eyeing Kiyoko head from toe.
"…You know, if you didn't have a home and go to school, I would think you were a drifter," Natsuki said, matter-of-factly. "Just constantly moving along and going with the flow as you move forward."
"Yeah, I guess I do have that mindset."
"But you're also athletic and musically gifted… It's almost like the school has a secret second idol or something."
"Yeah… I wouldn't really care for that,"
For the first time, Kiyoko seemed uncomfortable.
"Guess you prefer living below the radar, huh?" Natsuki concluded.
"Mm-hmm."
"Maybe that'll be your career path: Professional Drifter. You'll get by by performing many services as you travel the world."
"Travel the world… Wonder what that would be like."
Their conversation was brought to an abrupt end as a hand was suddenly thrusted itself in front Natsuki. A split second later, it caught a ceramic flower vase and slowly drew it away from Natsuki.
"What the-?!"
Looking to her side, she was stunned to discover Rei holding the flower vase. She was truly at a loss for words as she tried to process what had just happened.
"Natsuki!" Following that cry was Yuri. Her face was red, and rough breaths parted her lips in a rapid tempo. "Sorry…"
"What happened?" Kiyoko asked calmly.
"I was briefly helping with one of the stands and well… a lone plank, a misplaced flower vase and falling student tangled together in perfect sync…" Yuri explained. "I'm sorry."
That was when Natsuki shook her head. "What are you apologizing for? It's not like you personally launched something at me. It was just a good thing that Rei was around, thanks by the way, or else I would've been knocked out cold."
"That's a relief."
Yuri finally took a moment to catch her breath. For a split second, there was worry plastered on her face, however it just as quickly vanished as she turned towards Rei.
"May I have the vase back, Rei?" she asked.
Saying nothing as usual, Rei unhesitatingly returned the vase to Yuri.
"What stand were you working at anyway?" Natsuki questioned.
"Ah, well… I was helping Ms. Kandela with her stand."
"The woman who owns that store you like so much?"
Yuri nodded her head.
"Hm. Wonder how many familiar faces we'll see today," Kiyoko mused.
"Do we really know that many professionals? I can only think of three that would be here off the top of my head, now including the person Yuri knows," Natsuki refuted.
"You never know."
"Speaking of which… I have to return this vase before Ms. Kandela becomes overcome with worry and regret."
As Yuri turned to leave, Natsuki couldn't help but wonder if that regret would be directed towards her or the vase.
Yuri swiftly returned to a stand filled with plants and many accessories.
"She's fine, Ms. Kandela," Yuri shared a breath of relief with her old acquaintance as she returned the vase to it's proper place. "Is that everything you'll need?"
"Yes, thank you. I was really worried I wouldn't have everything ready when the students poured out."
As if spurred by her words, Kiyoko was suddenly looking over her wares.
"What's your stand about?" she asked.
"Oh, well, taking Yuri's advice, I have brought items that improve the atmosphere to your liking."
"Atmospheric Enchantments?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Like this sound speaker?" Kiyoko finger hovered above a small purple seashell.
"You have a good eye, Kiyoko," Yuri complimented. "How'd you know?"
"Sixth Sense?"
Following her usual shrug, Kiyoko reached for the speaker, turned it over and began fiddling with the controls on the back.
"Doesn't that look like it comes from SpongeBob?" Natsuki wondered aloud. "What do they call those shells in their houses?"
"Shellphones," An amused smile appeared on Kiyoko's face, appreciating the timing between her response and her bringing the shell-shaped speaker to her ear.
"Hear any starfish?" jested Natsuki.
"Just the pleasing waves of the ocean." Before she could surrender herself to the comforting sounds of the sea, Kiyoko caught a glimpse of Rei staring at the shell. "You want a listen, Rei?"
She offered the speaker and Rei slowly reached out and took it. The silent girl brought it to her ear and as her only visible eye slowly closed shut.
"I don't think I've ever seen Rei so entranced by anything since our summer trip," Yuri noted.
Wonder if she has a thing for shells too. Thinking this, Natsuki also began to wonder if it was the object, the sounds the interior produces, or both. "Hm."
It was at this moment that Natsuki recalled her feelings on the entire premise of a job fair. There were a lot of products, how could one not see this as an excellent opportunity to shill products?
"Wait… First, we got an ocarina and then a shell speaker that looks like it's from SpongeBob… How many fictional items are here today?"
"An ocarina?" Kandela's face lit up with interest. "Was that heavenly music earlier from any of you?"
"That was from Kiyoko," Natsuki explained. "Would you believe it was her first time?"
"Really?"
"Yep."
"An ocarina…" The intrigue on Kandela's face grew into a dream-like expression. "That reminds me of the times…"
"What times?" Yuri questioned.
"The times of when I was…" She suddenly and rapidly shook her head, before taking a deep, long breath. "Moving on… Thank you for your help, Yuri. Why don't you spend time with your friends, now?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Go and socialize."
Accepting her out-of-nowhere proposal, Yuri said her goodbyes and joined the her compatriots on their trip around the fair.
"Where you planning to work there the entire time, Yuri?" Natsuki asked.
"A little. I figured that I should make up for my rudeness from before."
"What are you-? Wait… You're not talking about right after that night, are you?"
"I know, I shouldn't be too hard on myself. I just figured that I should apologize for taking some of my frustration out on others without succumbing to regret."
"As long as you're not succumbing."
"On another note," Yuri turned her attention to Kiyoko. "Do you really have an ocarina?"
"I just got one from one of the professionals here; Name's Amaté," Kiyoko explained. "Why?"
"No reason. The item just reminds me when Shujinkou explained the Zelda franchise to me."
"Are you telling us you knew nothing about those games?" Natsuki marveled.
"No, I was aware of them, and I even gave some of the originals a try. It's just that I wasn't well-versed on it; I'm not even sure I'd qualify as a 'casual player'. Because of that, I was a bit lost when Shujinkou explained the lore to me," Yuri explained.
"Can sometimes be intimidating to newcomers," Kiyoko mused. "Like a lot of other things really."
"I'll say. I still cringe over the information dump Fuyu and Sayori gave me about Kingdom Hearts…" Natsuki sighed. "And that was just over how the games originally released. It's weird and a little incredible how loyal games, manga and other things can make people sometimes."
"Ironically, you and Rei were dressed as characters from those intimidating franchises for the Royal Rumble," Yuri pointed out with a chuckle.
"Only because I was forced into the whole thing and Sayori gave me a black coat… and Rei…" Natsuki glanced at Rei. "Why were you in the Royal Rumble, Rei?"
At that point, Rei still held the shell-shaped speaker against her ear. Upon being called upon, she lowered it to her side and stared at Natsuki.
"Perhaps, you wanted the chance to be queen?" Yuri asked.
Rei shifted her gaze to Yuri.
"But didn't you quit to give me a chance to get back at that guy dressed up as the long-haired silver guy?" Natsuki pointed out.
In that instance, Rei thrusted the her right arm forward, holding the shell in her hand like a sword. She then brought it back to her side as if she sheathed her weapon.
"Huh, maybe you'll be a master swordsman when you're older…" Natsuki mumbled.
"As a career?" Yuri questioned.
Natsuki shook her head. "Nope. Just in general."
All eyes were on Rei again, who was just staring off into the distance. This action inspired Yuri to take a look around their current surroundings.
"You know, it's quite funny," she said.
"What is?" Natsuki asked.
"Earlier this year, we were all wondering what we would do for the semester and now the question of what we will do for the foreseeable future has been propositioned on us today."
"I still consider it more of a glorified exhibition to recruit students or sell stuff." As if to prove Natsuki's point, various students happily passed by them with clearly bought items in hand. However, the sight didn't amuse her. "Maybe leaning too much into cynical commercialism actually made it happen…"
"Life really likes to emphasize your words today, huh, Natsuki?" Kiyoko said.
"Never does that when I want it to…" she grumbled.
"Ah… I can relate to that…" Yuri sympathized.
"Forget it. Does anyone have anywhere they want to go?"
"Not really," Kiyoko said with a shrug.
Yuri wordlessly shook her head and soon all eyes were on Rei again. Still not meeting their gazes, Rei slowly raised her left arm and aimed her sleeved covered hand forward.
They followed her direction and noticed a somewhat familiar face ahead.
"Isn't that your… Well, the person who looks after you, Rei?" Yuri asked.
Rei didn't respond in any way, instead she walked towards the stand her foster mother housed. It didn't take long for Kori to take notice of her foster daughter.
"Rei."
Rei slowly raised her right hand and waved at her. A small smile formed on Kori's lips as she responded in kind.
"Have you found something that interested you yet?"
Rei averted her gaze ever so slightly.
"You're not too sure?"
Rei nodded her head.
"Hmm."
Kori glanced up. Her previous warm expression turned cold and clinical the moment she laid eyes on the rest of the group.
I see where Fuyu gets that look from… Natsuki felt a chill as Kori continued to size them up.
"So, you're the rest of their Fuyu and Rei's friends," she said, her eyes shifting between them all. "Fascinating."
"Um… I don't' mean to be forward but are you analyzing us as a parent or as a professional?" Yuri queried.
"Both."
"You're straight forward," Kiyoko noted.
"In my occupation, that's sometimes a requirement. I also don't think I have time for subtlety today if things get busy."
"How are you presenting your profession to the students, if I may ask?" Yuri questioned.
Kori reached behind her back and placed a deck of cards on the table in front of her. "With thes-"
"No!" An hand quickly reached out and tightly grasped Kori's. "Mom, you promised not to psycho-analyze people I know anymore."
Kori looked into her daughter's eyes, unfazed by her quick and sudden refusal. The others could only look on, hoping a family dispute doesn't become a public affair.
But before anyone could even think of doing something, Monika had soon arrived. Though one look at her made it clear that she was may not want to step in herself.
"Ooh… I was worried this might happen," she winced.
The group continued to watch as the mother and daughter duo stared each other down. It was like a prelude to a western showdown, a worrying notion.
But suddenly, Fuyu sighed and let go of her mother. "Fine… Go ahead."
What just happened?" a confused Natsuki whispered.
"I think they just had an argument in their own way," Kiyoko whispered back.
"Now then." Kori spread a few cards across the table, one for everyone. "This is a little similar to tarot card reading."
"Wouldn't that cause a little competition with the fortune teller a little down the way?" Fuyu asked.
"It shouldn't. Now, the simple objective is to pick up a card and tell me what image you see."
Doing as they were instructed, the girls picked up the cards in front of them.
"A burning heart?" Yuri thought out loud.
"So you picked up fiery passion," Kori confirmed.
"'Fiery Passion'?"
"As the name states, the passion you have for something can sometimes be hard to contain. Now tell me, is the heart red or pink?"
"It's, ah, pink. What does that mean?"
"It represents a lust."
"L-Lust…!?"
"Typically aimed at an individual, one that a person may have strong feelings for."
"Lust…? Lust… Lusting after someone…" The card fell out if Yuri's trembling hands. "That can't be right… I don't have th- I don't have such strong desires for anyone like that!"
"Um!" Monika waved her card back and forth, garnering Kori's attention. "My card has ghost in a person?"
"It's a person's spirit," Kori explained. "It signifies that a person is the vital to a group or organization. Without them, the entire group would crumble."
"That's a little on the nose…" Natsuki chuckled under her breath.
"What of you, Natsuki?" Kori asked.
"I… Have no idea. It's like a shadow bathed in light between two bigger shadows."
"Hmm…" Kori looked at the card then back at Natsuki. After exchanging glances for a few more second, Kori shifters her curious gaze to Kiyoko. "And you, Kiyoko?"
Wait, what? Natsuki wanted to object, but soon realized that she may not have wanted to hear Kori's professional opinion.
"I have a pair of shades," Kiyoko spoke up.
"That signifies that a person keeps to themselves a majority of the time," Kori explained.
"Huh. And that was pointed out to me today too…"
Kori took note of Kiyoko's amusement then looked at Rei.
"And Rei?"
Rei turned her car around and revealed it to all.
"It's, um… It's blank, Mom," Fuyu said, confused.
"It signifies… a blank canvas. It also means a new beginning."
"Oh… So that's what that means?" A cheery voice chimed in, shocking all but two of the gathering. Recognizing that, Sayori could only give an almost quiet, "Sorry…"
"Seriously, Sayori, are you trying to give people a heart attack?" Natsuki chastised.
"I said I was sorry…" Sayori said with a pout. "Besides, how am I supposed to feel about you all having fun without me?"
"Oh no, I'm not falling into that guilt trap."
"Changing topics," Monika interjected. "Sayori, did you happen to find what you were looking for?"
Sayori shook her head, dejected. "No! She's not here again. How come Mali's missing so much now of all time?"
"You mean when she's not around when you want her too?" Natsuki said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "I wouldn't be surprise if she knew she was looking for you so she's purposely avoiding you."
"You really think she'd do that?"
"Who knows what goes on in that head of hers?"
"Well, I could tell you that she's had a record of not coming to school some days last semester," Fuyu suddenly said. "Actually, she's beginning to reach a threshold for coming to school 'blank' amount of days in a row."
"You are talking about the rambunctious girl who has become immensely interested in your unavailable friend, correct?" Kori removed her glasses and tapped them against her cheeks. "Intriguing."
"That's all you have to say on her, mother?"
"All I have to say with such little information and without actually meeting her."
"That's true…"
So far this fair has been a little weird… Though she thought that, aside from the incident with the ceramic vase, Natsuki did consider the job fair so far to be an improvement so far.
"Pardon me, Ms. Kori?" Monika slightly waved her card to catch her the visitor's attention. "About your tarot cards…"
"Yes?"
"Are these your way of sneaking a glimpse at your, for lack of a better word at the moment, patrons?"
"Hm. Very perceptive as always, Monika."
"Perceptive how?" Sayori asked Monika, perplexed.
"You see, Sayori, these tarot cards are actually a way to sneak a peek at a person's character. Using the term, tarot, causes a person to focus on whether or not the card dealer can see into their past, present or future.
Most people would be either worried about their private past being looked into or have varying feelings about their present or future; that alone gives the card dealer a glimpse into a person's character: how they're affected by that realization.
The main part is their response to their drawn card."
"So, basically, these cards was a trick to get us to reveal a little about ourselves without us knowing," Natsuki interjected. "That's pretty clever. A scam essentially… But still pretty clever."
"It's not a scam, it's basic human judgement," Kori corrected.
"Mom, basic human judgement does not work as an excuse when it comes from someone who knows her psychology and goes out of her way to draw that information," Fuyu argued.
"That's semantics."
"No, it just means whatever is displayed is overanalyzed when people usually don't want that…"
"Especially in high school…" Natsuki added with a tired sigh.
"So these cards are part of a revelation game… I want to try!" Sayori eagerly drew a card from the deck. "A sad clown…?"
Monika winced upon hearing that. She didn't need a professional's opinion to understand the meaning behind that card.
"Hmm…" Sayori placed the card down on the table. There was a spark of curiosity in her eyes as her hand hovered over the deck. "I wanna see what Shiko would get."
"Would that work when you're the one drawing?" Natsuki said with doubt.
"Of course, I just have to channel Shiko into the card and it will reveal what Shiko would have drawn if he was here to do so."
"That doesn't make any sense…"
"Of course, it does; we're dealing with occult stuff after all."
"The occult isn't really that user-friendly, Sayori," Yuri said with an awkward giggle.
"Still gotta give it a try," Sayori declared, drawing another card from the deck. "Eh?"
The other side of the was completely black. It was as if she was staring into a dark abyss.
"What does this mean?" Sayori asked.
"It's the abyss," Kori answered.
"But what does it mean?"
"…Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"It means nothing. The abyss is nothing and thus the card itself holds no meaning at all. It's effectively a worthless card that in other games would be akin to your turn being skipped."
"Shiko's turn has been skipped?"
Sayori seemed skeptical, but still placed the card down on the table. Fuyu could only breathe a sigh of relief over her mother's quick thinking.
"Hmm… Let me try again."
Sayori reached for another card, this one displaying an image of a tiny devil with it's arms wrapped around a man's shoulders.
"…Are you sure you didn't channel Mali into that card?" Natsuki questioned.
"No, I was sure I did Shiko," Sayori assured her.
Monika once again winced. That card seems strangely apt somehow…
"One more time," Sayori declared, reaching for another card. "Huh?"
The back of the card displayed a man; half of him was an angel and the other half was a demon. The sight of this latest image filled Sayori with worry.
"Monika… Are you sure these cards are a psychological method…?"
"Um…" All Monika could do was smile and laugh, unable to think of an answer that could comfort both of them.
"I told you the occult isn't user-friendly…" Yuri lamented.
"Come on, everyone, are we really taking this stuff seriously again?" Natsuki chided. "What happened to this being a trick? Watch."
Natsuki reached forward and drew a card displaying an image of sunshine and rainbows.
"What did you do?" Sayori asked.
"I 'channeled' Mali into the card. Does it seem like it matches her, cause let me tell you, she's no bundle of sunshine and rainbows, the same way Yuri isn't lustful or Sayori's a sad clown and my card… just makes no sense. Kiyoko, Monika and Rei's cards are just pure luck that they have any relation at all. And even if this occult stuff was real, then I'm pretty sure I just proved channeling doesn't work so… Yeah."
"I guess you have a point, Natsuki," Sayori accepted. "It's just weird how these cards are kinda using devil and darkness imagery for Shiko."
"Any weirder than Mali getting sunshine and rainbows? Reactionary cards remember?"
"Okay… Then let me try one more time for Shiko."
"You didn't hear a word I said, didn't you…?" Natsuki groaned.
"I did, but now I want to do it in the right way." Sayori explained.
Sayori drew a card, her face becoming pale white the moment she found a grave stone staring back at her.
"Enough with the cards!" Natsuki quickly swiped the card away from Sayori and tossed threw it with all her might.
There was nary a peep as everyone watched it flutter down to the ground.
"Yeah… I think we all had enough of the game, Ms. Kori," Monika concluded.
"This is why I said we shouldn't have come here…" Fuyu muttered under her breath.
"Just one more," Sayori announced.
"No!" Natsuki wrapped her arms around Sayori's waist and began pulling her away. "Let's go."
"But just one more card! One more!"
"No! I'm tired of you doing this to yourself!"
"But-!"
"No!"
Monika turned away from the display and nervously laughed. "So, I guess you learned a lot from this, huh, Ms. Kori."
"Indeed."
"Please just don't cause another freakout while we're gone Mom…" Fuyu pleaded as she followed the others after Sayori and Natsuki.
It took a full five minutes for them to calm Sayori down and convince her to move on.
"I'm starting to think happiness and psychology don't go together…" Sayori lamented.
"If it did, I wouldn't have been picked on in grade school," Fuyu groaned.
"Just drop it already… I don't want to have to deal with everyone sulking all day," Natsuki chided. "Well, everyone except two."
"I guess…" the two sighed.
"Now that we've moved past that, does anyone have an idea what career they want to see next?" Monika asked.
"Yeah, something with some action and adventure," Sayori eagerly answered.
"What kind of job would satisfy those qualities, Sayori?" Yuri queried.
"Something like… Something like…"
"Flying arrows?" Kiyoko was staring off to her right. Following her gaze, the others took notice of a small tent in the distance.
There were a few individuals dressed in attire one would expect from England's Medieval era. There were also students, each with a bow and arrow in hand.
"Are they from a fair?" Monika wondered aloud.
"And they're letting anyone fire off arrows?!" Natsuki exclaimed.
"Must be a safety agreement involved," Fuyu pointed out. "After all, they're fired where no one would get hurt at."
"Still, it's arrows being fired by people who I'm pretty sure aren't in the archery club! It's… It's…"
"It's perfect!" Sayori blurted out. "Let's check it out."
Before anyone could make a peep, Sayori was already halfway there.
"Sayori and a bow and arrow…" Natsuki shuddered at the thought. "Monika, you need to stop her."
"Eh… It wouldn't hurt to give it a look after all. It is something she wants to check out after all."
"…Fine. I guess it won't be as bad as I think it could be."
They met up with Sayori right away, just in time to watch a few students walk away disappointed.
"Good day there, wee lasses!" a loud, hearty voice welcomed the group. It belonged to a large man wearing a green tunic.
"I knew it, it's really fictional stuff brought to life day…" Natsuki said, chuckling at the improbability of it all. "We're not at Otamic-con, right?"
"You'd be hailed as the queen if we were there," Sayori pointed out.
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yeah, it was like that for Shiko too and don't you remember how that Xemnas cosplayer was like that."
"I saw him getting more dirty looks than praise. Whatever, you're saying that if I go back, I'd be treated like royalty?"
Natsuki's face lit up, a fact that did not escape Monika's notice.
"Already planning another trip?" She joked.
Natsuki rubbed her hands together as she considered the possibilities. "Queen Natsuki or Princess Natsuki; wonder which one sounds better?"
"Sounds like it," Monika giggled.
"Hey, it would make up for missing out on meeting Harumi."
"Um, pardon me, wee lassies?" The other turned their collective gazes back towards the stranger. "That's better, welcome to our Archery Event."
"Event? This isn't just a small peek at a fair?" Yuri questioned.
"It is, but that would be just boring, so instead, we decided to hold an event. I'm Baron Zalzabar and welcome to Precision Archery."
"Isn't the precision part of the title a little redundant?" Fuyu pointed out.
"Forget the name; what's the event about?" Sayori eagerly questioned.
"You must… Strike down ten apples in the distance over there!"
The baron directed everyone's attention towards the abandoned school building. There were ten stands in front of the building, each holding a bright red apple.
"Seems a little too easy for the archery team," Natsuki noted.
"They're not allowed to compete," Zalzabar explained.
"What?"
"They're too skilled and would intimidate potential visitors."
Natsuki crossed her arms. I don't know why, but that sounds kind of fishy…
"Besides, young pink one, there's another aspect of the event."
As if on cue, steam erupted from the top of the poles, sending the apples spiraling in the air.
"Steam will periodically shoot the apples up and down, creating a much tougher, but rewarding challenge."
"So, what do you get if you win this game?" Kiyoko asked.
"A brand new, top of the line computer set-up: It's the C52-00!"
"That's pretty expensive for a school prize," Yuri said, perplexed.
"And suddenly, it's obvious why the archery team isn't involved…" Natsuki muttered under her breath.
"There's one more aspect to this game: you need the baron's permission to play."
"Your permission? Isn't that a bit limiting?" Monika pointed out.
"It's part of the safety agreement and I have an eye for who has the potential to shoot straight or ricochet it and hurt someone. The girl with the red bow is the latter."
"Hey! I didn't even get a chance to hold the bow yet…" Sayori complained with puffed cheeks.
"The little 1st-year with pink hair also needs more training."
"I-I'm not a 1st-year!" Natsuki snapped.
"So, who would meet your qualifications?" Kiyoko asked.
"Someone like… Her!"
Rei took one look at the finger pointing right at her before locking eyes with Zalzabar again.
"What do you say, little lady; would you like to to try a hand at our precision challenge?"
Rei stared at the man, then at the bow in his hand.
"No need to be shy. It's a fun challenge. What do you say?"
Rei continued staring at Zalzabar until Fuyu stepped in. "Sorry, she doesn't really speak much."
"You don't need to speak to shoot, now come on." Zalzabar shoved a bow into Rei's hands and guided her to a quiver full of arrows.
"…I'm not the only one who sees something wrong with the guy that said no to the archery team encouraging a quiet girl with her bangs covering one eye and perpetually sleeve covered hands to participate, am I?" Natsuki grumbled.
"Looks like we're learning professional manipulation here," Fuyu said.
Standing on the designated firing line, Rei shifted between staring at her bow and her provided quiver.
"So, what do you think your sister's chances are here, Fuyu?" Monika asked.
Fuyu kept a close eye on Rei as she reached for the quiver and threw it over her shoulder.
"Honestly, I think she may end surprising everyone," she answered.
Such a response would normally be a positive one, but the lifeless expression on Fuyu's face proved to be questionable.
Rei reached for an arrow and drew her bow.
"Good or bad?" Monika asked.
Fuyu didn't say a word.
Rei held the arrow back as she eyed every single one of her targets. The steam caused shot each apple in the air in an irregular pattern. The amount of time they remained in the air and the time spent perched on their stands was practically impossible to figure out.
"Come on, Rei! You can do it!" Sayori cheered.
For the next minute, Rei just stared there. Suddenly, she let go of the arrow, sending it hurdling through the air and through on the apples.
She then reached for another arrow from her quiver, aimed and released it. Refusing to take a break, Rei fired eight more arrows and like the rest, they all hit their intended target.
With the challenge completed, Rei turned around and was greeted with looks of stunned amazement.
"You tried bringing her to the wrong club, Monika," Natsuki said with a chuckle.
"You knew this would be the result, didn't you, Fuyu?" Monika asked.
Fuyu adjusted her glasses with a knowing smile, "I knew Rei had an eye for accuracy."
"And now she has a brand new, expensive computer set-up, right?" There was smug grin on Natsuki's face, one that grew bigger as she looked upon Baron Zalzabar's stunned face.
"I think Rei's already on it," Kiyoko said.
As she had said, Rei pushed the wheel barrel holding the computer past everyone. The others soon followed, leaving the Baron prize-less and full of shame.
"You should probably head home with that right now," Natsuki advised.
"Can she do that?" Sayori asked aloud.
"Not like it's safe here."
"She can just leave it in my office," Fuyu replied. "99% of students wouldn't dare to go in there without permission."
"I can imagine who the 1% percent is…"
Following those words, Natsuki felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and found an unknown number on the screen. Against her better judgement, she answered and a very familiar face popped on screen.
"Hi, Natsuki-chan," Mali greeted.
"Mali?!" Natsuki exclaimed. "H-How do you have my number?"
"I got it from Senpai that one time I strung him up from a tree."
"Mali?" Sayori was leaning over Natsuki's shoulder. "Where are you?"
"Well, I do kind of miss Senpai right now and I'm thinking about the owners of my house that take care of me, especially since I have to call them soon and-"
"She's not talking about where you are in life and you know that!" Natsuki snapped.
"Oh, well, I'm somewhere snowy," Mali answered.
"Why?"
"Because, Natsuki-chan…" a bright smile stretched across Mali's face. "I like the snow this time of the year."
Natsuki hung her head and groaned. "Why do I bother…?"
"I'm surprised, Natsuki-chan; you're not asking why I called you all if a sudden," Mali admitted.
"I'm not sure I want to know…"
"That's pretty harsh, Natsuki-chan. I'm freezing and went out my way to talk to you in the cold weather and you don't even want to humor me?"
"Don't try to guilt trip me! You seem totally fine right now!" Natsuki raged.
"Mali… Why did you call Natsuki?" Yuri asked.
"Why? Because I'm interested in Natsuki-chan. Not as much as Senpai, but still a little," Mali said with her usual veil of innocence.
"That still doesn't fill me with happiness…" Natsuki muttered.
"Besides, I told you all that I'm filling in Senpai and Senpai would check up on his friends if he was awake right now," Mali continued.
"But why me specifically?" Natsuki questioned in a demanding tone.
"Oh, Natsuki-chan, you're obliviousnessisn't as cute is as Senpai's, plus you're not as innocent as he is."
"I'm not sure if I'm supposed to feel insulted or not."
"But you and Senpai do share a connection so I guess that what makes you an open book like him anyhow. Or maybe you're like someone else too."
"What are you talking about?"
Mali giggled. "Oh, Natsuki-chan, you're so in denial it's not even funny. It kind of reminds me of my sister. Oh well, see you soon."
The call ended abruptly.
"Did anyone actually understand what she was saying?" Natsuki asked.
"My mind is still stuck on her referring to her sister again," Yuri admitted.
"Mali has a sister? How come we've never met her before?" Sayori thought aloud.
"I'm not sure if you want to. Mali told me she was 'much worse than me trying my hardest to live up to my name'.
"That's… disconcerting," Yuri mumbled.
"Maybe she means it in another way," Fuyu proposed.
"You mean like from Mali's perspective her sister is terrible?" Monika theorized.
"Maybe. But when it comes to words, Mali is like a cat messing with its prey."
"Great, and I'm the prey…" Natsuki said with a sigh.
"Don't worry about that so much, Natsuki. We still have a lot to explore." Sayori comforted.
"Surprised you're so calm. You've been looking for Mali so much and now you've just missed out on a chance to get anything concrete out of her."
"Because if we worry about that too much right now then we won't get a chance to see Granny Hisa and she'll be really upset if we don't visit her."
"That's a good point. Especially since she probably did this when it looked like Shujinkou would be here. What do you think she'll have for her plac-?"
…
"Ugh…" Natsuki slowly opened her eyes. She felt a sharp, throbbing pain centered somewhere around the back of her head.
"Finally awake, huh?"
Shifting to her side, Natsuki was filled with surprise and comfort to find Hisa sitting next to her.
"What happened?" she groggily asked.
"You know that baron Rei won that nice computer set-up from?"
"Yeah…?"
"His daughter threw a ceramic vase at you while your back was turned." Hisa plainly said.
"What?! Ow…!" Natsuki instinctively rubbed the back of her head, recognizing that sitting up so quickly was not the best idea. "Why'd she do that?"
"Well, from what I heard, most likely because you were rightfully smug," Hisa explained.
"So, she throws a vase at my head!?" Natsuki rubbed her bruise more intensely, reeling in pain after her scream.
"Not like people haven't done it," Hisa continued as she stood and peeked out of a nearby window. "I know one junior high school girl who slammed a food tray in the back of another girl's head, the tray shattering on impact."
Hisa glanced over her shoulder and snickered at the look of horror on Natsuki's face.
"Not me. Sayori told me about this when she was in junior high," Hisa assured her.
"Oh. Wait, seriously?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Geez, what's with people and solving things with violence lately?"
"There's a question," Hisa's eyes lowered to Natsuki's left shoulder. "How did you get that cut on your arm again?"
"I fell," Natsuki answered, rubbing her shoulder.
"It looked like you had a pretty bad spill from just a fall."
"There was a branch."
"Hm." Hisa scratched her right cheek as she returned to her seat. "You know, my grandson saw some things he shouldn't have as a kid."
"Like seeing his dad cheat on your daughter with a psychopath that tried to kill us?"
"Whoa…" Hisa continued to scratch her right cheek. Her awkward movements were reminiscent of her grandson. "How much did Akui tell a high schooler?"
Natsuki shook her head with a groan. "Too much… Way too much… I learned a lot more than I would care to have learned."
"Right…"
It was one of the things Natsuki absolutely hated about being taken: Akui's tendency to talk and ramble on endlessly.
"So, what does Shujinkou have to do with right now?" she asked.
"Well, you know Shujinkou, he wears his heart on his sleeve. It's always so clear what he's feeling that even he's aware of it. Sometimes when he has to hide them, he ultimately just asks people to not try and pry him any deeper."
"Yeah… But it's not like it's a bad thing he shows how he feels. It makes it more obvious he's harmless."
"Yes, but it also makes his caretakers pretty adept at recognizing things,"
A knowing wink from her friend's grandmother filled Natsuki with discomfort.
"What kinds of things?" she fretted.
"Like when someone's hiding something." Hisa amswered.
"Isn't that because you're just good at that in general?"
"That too. So… what are you hiding?"
"What makes you think I'm hiding something?"
"Just a bunch of signs. Like how after something happened before the whole kidnapping thing, your friends became extremely worried about you."
"I was just going through something." Natsuki averted her gaze.
"Like…?"
Natsuki turned away further from Hisa's piecing gaze. "Well… It's kinda embarrassing."
"Embarrassing how?"
"Just… I was reminded of something, that's all. And it made it a little hard to be around the others. Even now, it makes it hard."
"What could that be?"
"…Can't say."
"…Okay."
"'Okay'?" Looking back, Natsuki was stunned by how relaxed Hisa made herself look. "Really?"
"It's fine. You can ask all the questions and I can't ask any. It's hypocritical, but totally fine," Hisa was smiling as she scratched her right cheek.
"Do-Don't try and guilt trip me! That's Sayori's thing!" Natsuki bleated.
"Where do you think she gets it from?"
"That's… Not exactly a cool thing to pass on to someone."
"Probably would have been a little cooler if she was able to get the more subtle nuances of it."
"Not exactly…" Natsuki shook her head in disbelief.
"Would you like for me to teach you?" Hisa playfully offered.
"I think I'm already good with guilting people when needed," Natsuki assured her with a smug grin.
"My… How hypocritical…"
"Stop that!" Natsuki whined.
Hisa laughed, clearly mimicking the stereotypical noblewoman's standard. Once she was done, she suddenly asked, "So, do you feel up to it to go home?"
"Home?" That was when Natsuki caught a glimpse of the sky from a nearby window. It was now bright orange. "I seriously missed the entire fair…"
"Sadly."
"Ugh… Am I going to miss every event this semester?"
"If it's any consolation, you had a pretty fun summer if I do say so myself, your majesty."
"Are you trying to say one great summer trip makes up for one and half missed events?"
"Actually, the mathematical conversion makes it at least ten."
"Wow… If only your grandson had a little of that self-confidence," Natsuki muttered, mimicking Hisa's cheek scratching tick.
"You know that he has confidence when he needs it, on topics he deems necessary. Besides… I'm pretty sure we both know that you like that he keeps himself humble.
Natsuki blushed heavily and she shook her head. "Stop teasing me!"
"Me, on the other hand, I have to for my position." Hisa continued.
"Is that something you said for your presentation?"
"Self-confidence is key to running a huge establishment. Especially, when I had to start running it alone."
It wasn't often Hisa was seen with downcast eyes. All the 2nd-year student felt like she could do was offer a sincere, "Sorry."
"It's fine. It's just that Hiro wasn't the only one who didn't get a chance to grieve properly. Someone had to be strong when their daughter and only remaining grandkid were overcome."
"Yeah, but I don't think you're giving them enough credit. I know I don't know much, but your daughter was really sad over believing she couldn't do anything and Shujinkou tried to escape into his daydreams, but they still put others before them and built themselves back up."
Natsuki once again scratched her pink right cheek after looking down. She knew she had to hide it or else Hisa would realize she wasn't just mimicking her.
"…I know when I first met Shujinkou, I thought he was something else, but then I saw the surface of his own issues and realized that he's not just kind and a little awkward, but that even at his lowest, he's at least had the strength to pick himself up for others and eventually he had the strength to do it for himself.
And watching that and finding out more about what his childhood was like, and still being able to give some of that strength to us… I ended up respecting him more and more.
And that was clearly something he got from you two."
"That so?"
After a brief silence, Hisa bent down and locked eyes with Natsuki.
"Well, I guess you'll end up respecting them more after I tell you this. Yes, I raised my daughter a certain way; to instill in her to know right and wrong and to give her strong morals. But a parent can try their hardest, and that doesn't always mean that the child will always be as they envisioned, because at the end of the day, they are their own person.
I could only hope that through what I and my late husband tried to teach our daughter, and the experiences she would undoubtedly go through, that she would come out the best version of what she could possibly be, no matter what that was. And I told myself, as long as that version was also true to themselves, then I would be happy. That's something every parent has to deal with.
And I know that she did feel the same for both Shujinkou and Hiroko. Sometimes everyone's so wrapped up in the fact that Hiroko died that they forget that she died protecting her brother. And knowing that, I'm content with knowing that she was the best and true version of herself.
And my daughter is someone who lost her father, lost her daughter, lost her husband and almost lost her son. She's tired and upset and has no idea what happened behind her back and yet she's still pulling herself together to take care of what she has left and still give support to you and the others if they need her.
And Shujinkou… Well, you said it yourself. We're talking about a young man whose father barely paid him any mind. No matter how much love one parent gives, it always hurts to have the other feel like they don't like you. But his sister caught Jomei's eye. Shujinkou could have hated his sister for that but didn't. He internalized it and eventually, it destroyed his already fragile self-confidence. And picking yourself from that and watching your sister die in front of you and your father leaving…"
She could go on, but a single droplet splashing her cheek convinced Hisa that now would be a good place to stop. She reached up and wiped the tears from Natsuki's eyes.
"I'm sorry…" she softly cried. "I wasn't strong enough to hold it-"
"Don't apologize. It's not weakness to cry," Hisa gently assured her. "Sometimes, you need to be strong enough to let it out."
"…You guys really know how to treat someone like family, huh?"
"Well, as far as I'm concerned, you are."
Natsuki smiled a small smile. "…Starting to get why Sayori so easily calls you Granny Hisa."
"I am as old as any other grandparent," Hisa said matching Natsuki's smile.
"Certainly don't look like it."
"I know. Now, come on, let's get you out of here before your friends worry themselves to death."