[video]

[pinkmin]

The last several jolts of Vianca's consciousness had not been what anyone could call pleasant. The last thing she had remembered about Havenwell was the warmth of morning sunshine. Then that sunshine had lost its warmth, its departure bringing weak stutters of breath and the crumbled remains of a place that had once been her whole world. The sunlight was still there, filtering in through the broken ceilings and crushed walls. Oh, she had thought as she laid there, a dream. A very nice one. It was a shame she couldn't hold on to it in the end.

Then there was nothing.

So when she opened her eyes in a sunlit temple a second time, she was not sure what to do. She stayed right there for a very long time, until one of the kind priests helped her to her feet so she could find her way. It... had been cold, the last time she had been outside? She thought so anyway, but the more she thought about it, the more she wasn't sure. Maybe it had been warm the whole time?

She had only gotten so far through the temple before she had to crouch down in a corner, because things were a little too overwhelming. Thinking about what the season meant was too much. Starting over was too much. What if it was just her all over again? That, more than anything, was far too much.

It took a very long time, but eventually Vianca slowly picked up the tablet that had been handed to her. Whether it was the same one she'd had or a new one, she didn't have the courage to check. The focus was simply on opening the network and keeping her breath steady.

---


[It was a little bit dark there in the corner of Ohma's temple, but it was still possible to see the pink little girl on the screen. Her mouth was pressed in a thin, worried line, and for a moment it might have seemed like the video frame was actually frozen.

Then she took a breath, and spoke in a spectacularly tiny voice into the screen.]


... Hello?

Comments

[pinkmin]

[A head shake this time, though it was slight.]

This is already more than I could ask for.

[daikonrose]

[ Kyoko shook her head right back, firmly, but there was a warmth in her eyes still. ]

This is just standard between friends, I'm sure? So don't hold back.

[pinkmin]

Is it. [There was a pause as she squeezed the blanket again. Tamaki had gone on about these sorts of things as well.] ... I suppose so.

I cannot think of anything I may need though.

[daikonrose]

[ There was an emphatic nod to that acquiescence. Friends doting on friends is normal! Vianca!! ]

It doesn't have to be right now. Any time there's something you could use, even if it's small, and you happen to think "oh oh, maybe Kyoko would know what to do about this!"--go ahead and summon me right away.

[pinkmin]

[There... were probably a few things that fell into that category, Vianca thought.]

I will keep that in mind. Thank you.

[But!] Um... you too! If there is anything you need. [From her!?]

[daikonrose]

[ A very generous offer! Everyone needs a small pink friend. ]

Mm! It's a deal.

[pinkmin]

[Vianca nodded firmly.]

A deal. I can... I can carry things.

[daikonrose]

Ohh, that would be a big help! Let's go on errands together sometime!

[ You know, when you're not confining yourself to the temple. ]

[pinkmin]

We can do that. I can carry a lot!

[Like. Way more than expected!! A lot!!]

[daikonrose]

[ Sure, sure. She believes in you, Vianca. ]

And it'll be fun! I wanna have lots of dates with Vianca-chan~

[pinkmin]

[You just wait and see!!!]

Oh... I think I am too small to go on a date with you?

[daikonrose]

We won't do any activities with a height requirement.

[pinkmin]

[...???????]

Is that how dating works?

[daikonrose]

[ Oh... oh no?? Vianca really does have a lot to learn about the world! Kyoko has to pause, letting a tiny puff of a laugh out through her nose. ]

Friend dates are their own kind of thing! [ She brandishes a finger. ] Special outings with a friend, whether young or old! You've never heard of them?

[pinkmin]

[She shook her head.]

People at school only did the other dating.

[daikonrose]

[ Kyoko shook her head as well, but it was in disappointment. ]

I shouldn't be surprised at how young folks are determined to waste their youth no matter what... But it's not too late for you, Vianca-chan.

[pinkmin]

... Dating would be wasting youth?

[daikonrose]

Youngsters should focus on their studies, and on creating wholesome memories with bosom friends! Not frittering away their time and emotions on useless romances!

[pinkmin]

... Bosom friends....

[daikonrose]

[ This is why you have to get Anne of Green Gables for the bookstore, Vianca. ]

Yes! Do you have someone like that? --Ah, it must be hard here, when there aren't many other kids, huh...

[pinkmin]

I have... ...friends.

[That was already a really big deal. Were they bosom friends? If only she had Anne of Green Gables to refer to know.]

I don't know what a bosom friend would be though.

[daikonrose]

[ Luckily, Kyoko is here to explain everything!! ]

A bosom friend! It's another way of saying "best friend"--someone whose heart is totally in step with yours! Do you have someone like that?

[pinkmin]

[Someone whose heart was totally in step with hers...]

...

... Books don't count, do they.

[daikonrose]

... Vianca-chan. Is there a book you can have a conversation with?

[pinkmin]

You can write in a journal.