hugtopia | [video]

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?

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You can write in a journal.

And does the journal write back to you?

... No.

[Well. It was probably for the best that it didn't, that was a plot point full of danger. But by that logic, it meant Cameron didn't really count either. Vianca couldn't listen to her like plant pokemon could. She never had anywhere to send her letters either, so that didn't work either. Logically the answer should have been her sisters but... no, they didn't quite fit the description either.]

[ This had been kinda cute, but now, hm. Vianca may not be a big emoter, but Kyoko can guess. ]

... So, your bosom friend is someone you'll meet someday. Or maybe it's even someone you already know, who you need to know a little better.

[Vianca considered that deeply for a moment, and then gave a little shake of her head.]

... It's okay.

What is? Do you mean you don't want one?

I don't... think it works like that.

[Not when everyone already had a best friend.]

It's okay if I like people more than they like me.

Vianca-chan... [ What the heck, kiddo?? ] That's... really mature, but you shouldn't sell yourself short. Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't happen.

[Look it was important to be very aware of your pros and cons as a friend.

Pros: very easy to pick up, good for convenient cuddling.
Cons: literal child, not ideal for adult bosom friend.]

Kids don't stay very long though.

[ Ah... having trouble making friends with the other kids is indeed extremely relatable. ]

Like I said, it might be someone you'll meet later. I didn't meet my best friend until I was already sixteen, you know! And we didn't even like each other at all when we first met!

[Did pikmin even live that long. Literally no one knew. Each new year was a surprise.

But Noct had been kind of the same, hadn't he? Maybe finding those kinds of friends later was just how it went for regular people.]

... Mmm. Hopefully I will stay that long then.

Whether it's in ten days or ten years, I'm sure someone like Vianca-chan will be able to make a bosom friend!

That is very nice of you to say.

It's easy to say, because I believe it! You're a really good girl!

[Well. Vianca didn't think Kyoko would make a blanket for someone she didn't think was a good girl, so there was that. She nodded, hugging it again.]

...

... If a bosom friend is in step with your heart, how is that different from romance?

[ What. No. Why were they talking about romance now. Why did it come back to this. Kyoko sagged a little. ]

Vianca-chan, are you really thinking about romance already?

[Because it started with dating!!]

You said they were useless.

Because they are! Romance has absolutely no use! It's unnecessary and wasteful! Don't bother yourself about it, Vianca-chan!

But... what would the difference be?

[ WHY DOES SHE NEED TO KNOW. GOD. Kyoko rubs a hand over the side of her face. ]

They're just different kinds of feelings altogether, you know? To start with, your heart doesn't necessarily have to be in step with the person you're i--in love with.

[If its something to be avoided wouldn't it be good to know what to avoid???]

I do not know. That is why I am asking? [So that she can know.]

But you said you didn't get along with your best friend at first either...

Because we didn't know each other at first! We didn't understand each other right away, but when we did, it was clear that we were meant to be best friends!

... Relationships are very confusing.

[Honestly why she stuck to journals and books.]

You're not wrong about that...

[ how do you think Skip Beat has gone on this long ]

But don't let that make you give up on friendship, Vianca-chan.

[Point.]

Mm. I will see what happens.

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