AUDIENCE: HIKARU

[retellers]

Comments

[heartablaze]

[we pull off the mask at endgame and goat was nik all along]

So like... a cereal? But made of Oreos?

[:0]

That exists?????

[retellers]

I think so. [ a pause. ] Unless it's only my delusion... since I don't actually remember eating it...

[heartablaze]

[She has never looked so excited about anything up until this moment.]

I'll look! And if I can't find it, then I'll ask! Someone here has to know!

[retellers]

You don't have to go to such lengths... Er, I'll eat anything?

[heartablaze]

[She shakes her head fervently, turning on her heel to face Goat directly, taking up both their hands (and their ice cube cream cup) in her own.]

It's okay! I want to! That way, you can have a taste you can remember as important, and I can try it too, and I can see you smile!

If this place needs nova, then isn't making good memories with other people a good thing to do, too?

[retellers]

[ again, they seem taken aback by the gesture. ]

I... I suppose so...

[heartablaze]

[She'll squeeze those hands, her smile widening.]

I'll do my best, then!

[And just like that, she drops the touch, walking ahead to peer through the window of the Emporium.]

So, um, I've been asking you all these things... Do you have anything you wanna ask me?

[retellers]

[ they look up at the sky for a few moments, apparently in thought. ]

... Tell me about your life. Before you arrived here, that is.

[heartablaze]

[It seems like such a simple request, really. But after her talks with both Hansa and Xie Lian over the weekend, the importance of their memories grips her with a cold discomfort around her heart.

She still remembered everything now, or so she assumes. How soon would that change?

...

Quietly, she nods, her posture straightening.]

Okay.

I have two different places I call home. One is Tokyo, back on Earth. The other is Cefiro, which is a world that only three of us on Earth even know about.

On Earth, I'm just a student. I'm a second year in an all-girl school, and I practice kendo when I'm not studying - it's a martial art that uses swords. I have three older brothers, and we all help our family with taking care of our kendo dojo. I also have a doggy named Hikari. I love all of them a lot.

On Cefiro, though... I'm a Magic Knight. It's someone specifically called from a different world to save Cefiro, should something go really, really wrong. And even though I did what I was asked as a Magic Knight, and was part of a really important battle... something is still really, really wrong in Cefiro right now. It's falling apart.

[retellers]

[ they're silent, as they listen to her. and then, at the end, they simply say-- ]

But even so, you will continue to fight to protect it?

[heartablaze]

[Without hesitation:]

Yes. I have to.

If I don't fight for it now, with everything I have... If I don't make it back... Cefiro really will disappear forever, no matter what happens to the nova.

[retellers]

[ they reach out to place a hand on her head. ]

... May you never lose sight of that strength, then.

[heartablaze]

[She blinks at the contact, surprised, before carefully nodding underneath Goat's touch.]

I won't, Goat-san.

Even if everything here is new to me... I know I can do it with everyone's help. If we work together, and don't give up, then we're gonna see our homes again.

I wanna believe that for you and the other team leaders, too.

[retellers]

[ they're quiet for a moment, as if thinking over her words. ]

Thank you--I will hope for the same. At the very least, I will do all I can to ensure that all of you are able to return.

we can kinda just fade to chatter here, goat!mod, I think this is a good stopping point!

[heartablaze]

Mmm. [She lifts her chin with another firm nod.] I'll count on you, Goat-san! I hope you can count on me, too!