AUDIENCE: HIKARU

[retellers]

Comments

[retellers]

I don't think I have forgotten it... but I am not familiar with it, either.

[ they nibble at it. ]

[heartablaze]

Let me know if it's okay. If you don't like it, or want a different flavor, I'll bring something better next time!

[Her smile turns a little more serious as she gives a more polite bow, her braid swishing off her shoulders.]

I'm Shideo Hikaru. You're... Goat-san, right? I saw your name on my little computer phone. Wolf-san said it's a, um.... PHS?

I'm sorry you couldn't meet everyone yesterday.

[retellers]

It's good. And all food is precious.

[ nibble nibble ]

That is what it's called, yes. [ please do not think goat knows how to use it, have you seen their message. ] I hope you do not think ill of me for not showing up. We thought it best to divide the duties.

[heartablaze]

[NODS ABOUT FOOD we stan food in this house

Hikaru barely knows how to use it either, so she can't judge. Good thing there isn't a texting option.]

No, no, you're fine! Wolf-san and Fox-san and Rabbit-san all said that the rest of you were busy. Something messy must have happened in the castle, right?

[retellers]

[










there is a long silence. goat might be looking away. just a little. ]

Yes.

[ that's it. ]

[heartablaze]

[Good enough!]

I'm really glad you're okay.

The other two... Tiger-san and Swan-san, right? None of you got hurt, did you?

[retellers]

[ there is




another long silence. ]

... No.

[heartablaze]

...

[Moving on, then!]

Okay, good. I'll try to say hi to them when everyone isn't so busy!

Goat-san, um... the PHS said I'm on your team, right? Everybody yesterday said there'd be a competition, but...

Can I ask why?

[retellers]

Which part?

[heartablaze]

Oh -- just the competition part! I don't mind being on your team.

I just don't know why we need teams if we just need to collect nova. Can't we work as a big group?

[retellers]

Oh. That wasn't really our decision... I think the Realm's concern was that not everyone would be motivated by protecting their world.

[heartablaze]

The Realm...

Why wouldn't they be motivated, Goat-san...? If we don't do this, everyone and everything is going to fall apart, isn't it?

Even if people don't like their worlds or how they run... everyone still has people they want to keep safe or things they want to see through to the end. Shouldn't we be able to find something we agree on...?

[retellers]

... I would like to think the same way. But there is the rare being who may simply be content with complete destruction.

[heartablaze]

[Briefly, her mind flickers to Kano, to how sad and mocking his smile was from the ground.]

...If there's really people like that here, then why did the Realm bring them? Isn't that dangerous?

Does it not care how it gets Nova?

[retellers]

I do not know if it necessarily took such things into consideration. In any case, different beings have a different sense of what is "right" or "wrong". It is difficult to judge all by the morality of only one species--humanity's, in this case.

[heartablaze]

I... I know that much, at least. Even with people, you can't assume someone's "right" is the same as your own... You have to get to know them, and ask what's important. Otherwise, you're just going to go into a battle with each other without knowing the whole story.

[She glances at her hands for a moment, her bottom lip between her teeth.]

Um... if that's the case, then, Goat-san... is this competition something we have to do? One of the others mentioned that whoever wins gets a wish, but I don't really need that... I just want to help. I don't need a prize.

Is... that okay?

[retellers]

[ their head inclines to the side, just slightly. ]

Of course. If the simple desire to help others is what motivates you, then all the better. That is very admirable of you.

[heartablaze]

It's more than that. I have my own reasons to want to make sure my world stays safe - both of them. But I have to do what I feel is right to get there.

To just get a reward at the end, when there's so much at stake... it might be fun, but I would just be thinking of all the people counting on us the whole time, not on the prize.

Does that make me a bad team member?

[retellers]

Not at all. I do not expect anything of you.

[ which sounds, like, mean, but. ]

Fight for your own reasons. I wouldn't ask you to be motivated by anything but your own heart.

[heartablaze]

[She gives a firm nod, a determined set of her jaw.]

Right.

I... know the bad mistakes that you can make if you fight for a reason that's clouded. So if I ask a lot of questions, if it gets annoying, you can say whatever you need to. I'll do whatever I can, but I need to know for myself what it is that's truly happening.

We'll figure it out together. Even if we have to do it from different teams... I want to believe we can work together.

[retellers]

You will not annoy me. I am here for whatever you need, after all.

[ they nod. ]

In the end, this is for the good of everyone, not a single group.

[heartablaze]

[That gets her to relax quite a bit. Good... it was so nice to have someone she could agree with for this, especially after talking to someone like Kano.]

Could I ask what you remember about yourself, Goat-san? I know Wolf-san said you've all given up a lot of your memories, but... there has to be something left, right?

[retellers]

[ they think for a moment. ]

We can recall our ages and whether or not we are human... but that's mostly it.

[heartablaze]

That's something! I know there's a centaur here, and Pikachu is a... um... pokey something. Porcupine? I don't remember. Anyway, there's people here that aren't human, and I think that's okay.

I'm fourteen! How about you, how old are you?

[retellers]

I don't remember.

[ ... despite what they just said. ]