Character Story 4: A Meeting with a Vagrant Girl
Scene: A restaurant in Landsol.
Kyaru
Slurp, slurp... Ahhh, so good!
Kyaru
I can feel this medicinal herb porridge soothing my digestive tract...
Kyaru
You should also order what you like. All the food here is easy on your stomach, and it's super tasty on top of that!
Kyaru
I know that you've already been here with everyone else, so you should know what you like.
Kyaru
Hehe. Ever since that time, this place has really grown on me -- I come here pretty often, now.
Kyaru
I come here especially often for breakfast. This restaurant is really close to my workplace... that is to say, close to the imperial palace.
Kyaru
I'm not like your usual spoiled young lord or lady from a normal, peaceful family. I've never had parents who would cook me three meals a day.
Kyaru
If I didn't get my own food, I'd just starve.
Kyaru
That's why... To be honest, trying all these different restaurants with all of you... It's really helped me out!
Kyaru
Because of you all, I've learned about a lot of nice restaurants.
Kyaru
In truth, it's not just dinner, either -- whether it's breakfast or lunch, I'd always want to go restaurant hopping like this. I really want to be able to share lively meals with other people.
Kyaru
B-But, you all have your own lives, so... It would be rude of me to ask you to come with me every single time.
Kyaru
In that respect, I'm just not that close of a friend to the rest of you.
Kyaru
Ahaha. Sorry. Even if I talk to you about all of this, it's not like it'll do any good.
Kyaru
But, well... I forget when she said it, but I remember that Koro once said that 'eating is living.'
Kyaru
I feel like I would really be happy, if eating was all there was to life.
Kyaru
Somehow, lately, I've been in a really good mood... And that's thanks to you all.
Kyaru
If these days could just go on forever...
A light shines.
Kyaru
Huh...!? Y-You, why are you shining like that? Why, all of a sudden?
Kyaru
(What is this? Her Majesty never mentioned anything like this...!?)
Scene: A dream. A train station in Japan, at night.
???
Rrrrgh, damn it! This is the worst!
Kiruya
I lost my wallet somewhere... Or maybe someone stole it...!?
Kiruya
What should I do... My house is really far from this station.
Kiruya
If I don't take a train, I'll practically be walking until sunrise to get home.
Kiruya
And if I get home that late, I'll be grounded again...
Kiruya
Whenever I don't do as my mom says, she always gets on my case, like: 'Are you up to no good over there?'
Kiruya
I can't count the number of times that's gotten in the way of my part-time work... And especially now, when I feel like I've finally managed to make some friends...
Kiruya
Arrghhh! All because that lady won't hurry up and die!
Kiruya
Ugh... But throwing a fit here isn't going to do anything. I have to find a way to come up with the train fare...
Kiruya
Or could I go back to my workplace and ask for a bit of an advance on my pay?
Kiruya
But, about my workplace... Even though there was one place near my house, my mom was like, "The feng shui here is more auspicious" -- so she made me go with this one in front of this train station, this far from home.
Kiruya
Feng shui -- what kind of dumb crap is that!?
Kiruya
Ahh, what a disaster... It's all Mom's fault!
Kiruya
I want to just run away... I could just never go home again, go to some faraway town and live there....
Kiruya
But that would be bad. I at least need to graduate college, since nowadays, it seems to be hard to get a job otherwise.
Kiruya
If I just hold on until then, and then I find a good job... And then I meet a nice boy, and then I can be happy!
Kiruya
And then I can say to my mom, "The fact that I became happy was no thanks to you!" ...
Kiruya
That'll be my revenge!
Kiruya
Ahh... What a crappy life. Why is it just me...?
Kiruya
... Hmm? What's with you? What are you looking at?
Kiruya
You think I'm funny? I'll beat your ass!
Yuuki
1. What's wrong?
2. Please don't beat my ass.
Option 1.
Kiruya
Ah? Don't 'what's wrong' me -- what's it have to do with you? Nothing, huh?
Kiruya
I dunno if you're trying to hit on me, or kidnap me, but go try it on someone else, dumbass!
Option 2.
Kiruya
Hah? Don't play dumb with me!
Kiruya
What? You wanna fight? You'd better beat it -- I'm sick of looking at you. Seriously, I'll beat your ass!
End of branches.
Kiruya
Huh? What? I can't hear you. Talk clearer.
Kiruya
Huh? If it's all right, you'll cover my train fare?
Kiruya
You were worried because I was yelling?
Kiruya
Mind your own business! Like it matters to you, dumbass!
Kiruya
Being nice to a miserable middle-schooler -- is that what makes you feel satisfied with yourself?
Kiruya
Well, too bad for you. I don't believe in kindness from other people!
Kiruya
Everyone dresses up like they're good people, but they all look down on others!
Kiruya
Don't take me for an idiot! It'd be better if everyone was dead -- everyone!
Yuuki throws something at Kiruya.
Kiruya
Hah! What? Did you just throw something at me?
Kiruya
Now I'm pissed! If you wanna fight, I'll crush you!
Kiruya
A nasty, back-alley street urchin like me -- you'd better believe that I'm down with violence!
Yuuki runs off.
Kiruya
H-Hey! Don't run away! Get back here! I'm gonna beat the hell outta you...!
Kiruya
Ugh... What a jerk. What was he even doing?
Kiruya
Judging from his uniform, he was from the high school near here...
Kiruya
I'll remember his face. Next time I see him, I'll leave a mark on him.
Kiruya
Huh...? What's this thing that he threw? It looks like... a wallet?
Kiruya
Ah... There's a note inside. Now that I think about it, that guy did seem to be scribbling something as he ran...
Kiruya
Um... 'Please use this as your train fare.'
Kiruya
Huh...? What is this...?
Kiruya
Doesn't this seem like some kind of extortion scheme?
Kiruya
But I guess, if I have this, I can take the train back home as usual... It's a really big help, but...
Kiruya
... Ah, there's a student ID inside. So... this was his name.
Kiruya
It also has his address. Then, I can use what I need to get home for now, and if I return everything to him later, it should be all right.
Kiruya
It feels bad to just take things without returning them.
Kiruya
Heh... For now, thanks!
End of dream.
Ames
How scary... Kyaru has a super bad attitude, doesn't she?
Ames
I even got chills just watching from here. Her behavior was completely like a delinquent.
Ames
I can't imagine what kind of environment she must have grown up in, for a middle school girl to become like that.
Ames
It makes me a little worried.
Ames
... Ah, sorry, sorry. I was so bewildered, I didn't give an explanation first.
Ames
What you just saw was something like a dream. You'll probably forget it soon after you wake up, so don't worry too much about it now.
Ames
On "that side," it seems that you don't interact very much with Kyaru.
Ames
In fact, looking through these memories, one might say that you hardly knew each other at all.
Ames
Let me elaborate...
Ames
A few days after this happens... After having lent that wallet and train fare to Kyaru, you'll see her again.
Ames
And then, you'll both be surprised to learn that you've already met -- in Astorum.
Ames
An experience that seems to be pretty typical, for you.
Ames
But you don't really become closer because of that. Though the very end, you don't make any progress on becoming friends.
Ames
It seems like your lives just never overlapped.
Ames
Since, because of her family situation, Kyaru rarely ever logged into Astorum.
Ames
For that reason, the fact that you and Kyaru have met now strikes me as being a little mysterious...
Ames
I have a feeling that this was by design.
Ames
But, it doesn't help to think such thoughts right now. It could have just been a coincidence.
Ames
Well, it's also no use to chatter for so long about nonsense, so please excuse me for doing so.
Ames
Bye-bye! See you later.
End of Ames conversation.
Scene: The same restaurant in Landsol.
Kyaru
Yuuki? Are you okay...?
Kyaru
Do you feel unwell? Is it a cold? Going by your symptoms, maybe my healing magic could help...?
Kyaru
I take some pride in my magic. I've studied a lot, so I can use all kinds of spells.
Kyaru
Huh? Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?
Kyaru
What? Honestly, you're a weirdo...
Kyaru
More importantly, your food's getting cold. You should hurry up and eat it.
Kyaru
I've got work in the afternoon, so I don't have spare time like you do.
Kyaru
Well, if you're not ordering more, I'll take care of the check first.
Kyaru
Huh? You forgot your wallet? Man, you really are such a blockhead...
Kyaru
But that's okay. We're all getting together to eat tonight, anyway.
Kyaru
So you can just pay me back then. I'll spot you now.
Kyaru
Hmm? What is it? Don't make such a weird face -- it's impolite.
Kyaru
Do I look like that much of a greedy person?
Kyaru
Wh-what's gotten into you? Why do you look so frightened? Why are you bowing your head so many times?
Kyaru
It's not like I'm upset at you... Do I really look that scary?
Kyaru
Ha ha. You're really being a weirdo today...