Character Story 11: Stray Cat Memory

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During Yuuki's walk, he runs into Hiyori, holding a large package.

Hiyori
Kishi-kun! Hey there! Nice to see you! Today... Whew... What're you up to?

Yuuki
1. I'm on a walk.
2. What're you doing?

Option 1.

Hiyori
A walk, I see! The weather's... nice after all...! Aah, this luggage? Umm, well...

Option 2.

Hiyori
Me? Umm, well you see...

End of Branches.

Old Woman
Sir, is this person your friend? Why don't you carry the luggage for her?

Hiyori
Ahaha... Truth is, this is this old woman's luggage, I had to help out when I saw her troubled by how heavy it was!

Yuuki
1. I'll help out.

Hiyori
Really? Thanks! Then let's carry it together!

Old Woman
This is my house. Thank you very much. It was heavy wasn't it?

Hiyori
It was just fine! We should help each other out when we run into trouble after all! Right, Kishi-kun?

Old Woman
Thank you so much. I'll repay you another time. Good day, and be careful on your ways back.

Hiyori
The feeling you get after helping someone out is just so refreshing, right? Kishi-kun, thanks for the help!

Hiyori
...Come to think of it, why do I want to help people out so much?

Hiyori
Kishi-kun!? Don't be so surprised! I wonder when it was? When I see someone in need, my body just moves on its own.

Hiyori
Hmm... What's this light!? Go away! Huh? My hand passed through... I'm, getting sleepy, again...

Hiyori
Senpai! Hey there! Were you headed home too? Aah, just taking a detour here?

Hiyori
As for me... My wound from last time got better, but just in case, I'm still taking a break from club activities.

Hiyori
So then, I just happened to have some free time, so now I'm here killing time at this park!

Hiyori
But maybe it was lucky that we were able to meet at this park.

Girl
Sob, sob, Mom... Where'd you go?

Hiyori
...That girl, maybe she's lost? Senpai! Let's go help her out!

Hiyori
Hello! Hey, what's the matter? You get separated from your mom?

Girl
Crying.

Hiyori
Aah, don't cry!! Hmm, is there anything we can do that would calm a kid down?

Hiyori
Ah! I know! Uhh, I think it was... Yeah, I have it!

Hiyori
Nya, nya! What a strong kid you are, looking for your mom all alone-nya! Look at this little guy and cheer up-nya!

Girl
Sniff. It's a cat... Miss, this cat's all beat up.

Hiyori
This's a cat from an important friend of mine. He's a good kid, saving people whenever he sees someone in trouble.

Hiyori
That's why, to help you find your mom, my cat's going to help you look-nya!

Hiyori
Come on now, my cat's going to help out, so you're not so lonely now, right? So you don't have to cry anymore. Let's look for your mom together! Okay?

Girl
...Okay. I won't cry anymore. Thank you, Mr. Cat, Miss.

Hiyori
What a good child! I'm happy you're smiling now!

Hiyori
Hey um, this cat's something I got from someone important to me.

Hiyori
We've always been looking together, for that person to tell him my thanks.

Yuuki
1. Hiyori, is that...

Hiyori
Senpai, you've seen this before? Does that mean...

Young Hiyori
Crying. Where'd my mom go!? Mooom...!

Yuuki
1. ...Here, take this.

Young Hiyori
Sobbing Huh? What is this... A cat...?

Young Hiyori
Sob. Thanks.

Yuuki
1. I'll stay with you until your mom comes.

Young Hiyori
Really...? ... You're a nice guy. Thanks! I'm Hiyori! What's yours?

Young Hiyori
And then, my mom--

Hiyori's Mother
Hiyori, this is where you were! I was looking for you!

Young Hiyori
Look! My mom came to pick me up! It's just like you said, nice guy!

Hiyori's Mother
Thank you. You're a very good child. Hiyori, did you tell him thank you?

Young Hiyori
Yup! Huh? He's already gone? Thank you!

Yuuki
1. We should help each other out when we run into trouble!

Young Hiyori
Um, um... Then... Let's help each other out when we run into trouble!

Hiyori
If you ever run into trouble, I'll come help out, okay? I promise! Later! Bye bye!

Young Hiyori
Ah, the cat! I have to give it back to that nice guy! ...We'll meet again, won't we?

Hiyori
Does that mean that the boy who helped me back then was...

Girl
Ah! It's mom! Mooom! I'm here!

Mother
Aaah, so that's where you were...! I was looking for you!

Hiyori
Good thing she found you! Everything's fine now!

Mother
Thank you very much for looking after my child. I have no words to even express how grateful I am...

Hiyori
Oh no, it's fine! We should help each other out when we're in trouble after all!

Girl
Miss, Mister, thank you! Bye bye!

Hiyori
Bye bye! ...It's great they found each other!

Hiyori
Hey, Senpai. I was remembering the time I got this cat keyholder.

Hiyori
For a kid her age, being separated from your mom can feel like you're all alone in the world...

Hiyori
...It was you, wasn't it, Senpai? The one who helped me out when I was crying back then.

Yuuki
1. That's not...

Hiyori
It's fine if you can't remember it all that well. You probably went on to help several more people after that, didn't you?

Hiyori
Thanks, Senpai. It's late for it, but I'll return him to you.

Hiyori
Because the little guy was with me. And because you helped me, I was able to become the me that I am now.

Hiyori
To you, I was probably just one of many people you'd saved, wasn't I? But even still, to me, you were my one and only hero that day. Thanks for that day, "nice guy."

Yuuki
1. I'm giving it to you.
2. You can keep it.

Option 1.

Hiyori
You sure...? Then from now on, forever and ever and eeeever! I'll take good care of it!

Option 2.

Hiyori
Really? Thanks! I'll have the little guy help out, for times like these when things get lonely or tough!

Hiyori
Hey, Senpai. It's because I admired you that time so much, that I decided to help out people who were in trouble.

Hiyori
I was really happy that day, so I wanted others to feel the same way I did...

Hiyori
I'm working hard on a bunch of different things, so that one day I'll be able to help out the Senpai I love so much!

Hiyori
...Ah! W-When I say "love," I mean the friend that I love!

Hiyori
L-Looks like it's getting dark...! I should get home! Let's race to the exit! Ready, go!

Ames
I'm surprised what you did as a child had that much of an influence on Hiyori.

Ames
I hope yours and Hiyori's actions continue to connect with plenty of others too.

Ames
But, Hiyori's got that instinctual side to her, always moving before she thinks, so make sure you support her.

Ames
You, the one Hiyori oh so loves, okay? Giggle. Alright, that's enough for now. See you!

Hiyori
Mhhm... Hah! I fell asleep again!? I fell like I saw a really nostalgic, a really important dream...

Hiyori
...I only vaguely remember it, but I wonder if what I saw in that dream is something that happened to me a long time ago?

Hiyori
...Maybe I've met you a long time ago?

Hiyori
...No way that's true! I'm sure I'm just half awake!

Hiyori
...But, if I really did meet him a long time ago, that'd be nice...

Hiyori quietly hopes to herself, that what happened in that dream was real.