Character Story 4: Do You Recognize Me?

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Scene: A street in Landsol.

Pecorine
"Heya!" ^[1]

Pecorine
"It's rare to run into in the middle of the day. Are you going to eat lunch?"

Pecorine
"My stomach's also rumbling, so if it's okay, would you like to go together?"

Pecorine
"Ehehe... I found another delicious restaurant!"

Pecorine
"I guess it counts as a competitor to the place I work at, huh?"

Pecorine
"The manager wanted me to go check out some of the competition, but as soon as I went in, I was captivated by their cuisine! Terrible, huh? ☆"

Pecorine
"Now, every day, I go here to report on them!"

Pecorine
"Ah, this isn't good -- it's like I'm betraying the place I work for!"

Pecorine
"But, but... It's so good! Especially their chirashi sushi is number one!"

Pecorine
"..."

Pecorine
"Could it be... You're like everyone else."

Pecorine
"You've also... forgotten about me?"

Pecorine
"Hmm...? But... You seem like you remember me."

Pecorine
"But then, why are you ignoring me? I'm talking pretty loudly, so it's not because you don't hear me, right...?"

Pecorine
"Eh... You can't understand what I'm saying? You're asking what language I'm speaking?"

Pecorine
"Ah... I see now. I'm sorry! Things like this happen every so often!"

Pecorine
"Even though I'm trying just to talk normally, for some reason, I just can't get my meaning across!"

Pecorine
"Until I met you all, I didn't really talk a lot to other people, so I forgot that this could happen."

Pecorine
"Give it some time, and my words should go back to normal on their own... Is what I'd like to say, but I don't really know. Ah..."

A light shines.

Pecorine
"Huh? What's shining so brightly?"

Pecorine
"W-W-What's this? Is this also happening because of me?"

Scene: A dream. A normal city in Japan.

???
Hello.

???
Excuse me... Could you lend me your Mimi?

Pecorine
Ah... No, not ears. Mimi, okay? ^[2]

Pecorine
Yes, portable device! Wonderful, huh? ☆

Yuuki
1. Lend her your Mimi
2. Challenge her to an English conversation

Option 1.

Pecorine
Thank you! Could I borrow it for just a moment?

Pecorine
Please, I am in a lot of trouble.

Option 2.

Pecorine
Umm... Are you speaking English...? Sorry, I can't understand your accent...

Pecorine
My first language isn't English, so I'm not very good at it. I'm sorry.

Pecorine
Ah... Can I use your Mimi's translation function? I can use that to translate. Wonderful, huh?

End of branches.

...

Pecorine
"Ahh, that's better. Thanks a lot! There really are some nice people out there."

Pecorine
"You really saved me with your Mimi. Mine just suddenly stopped responding, which really put me in a bind."

Pecorine
"Right, I'm using the Mimi's translation function right now to talk to you."

Pecorine
"I'm still in the process of learning Japanese. Japanese grammar is a lot different from my first language, so it's pretty difficult!"

Pecorine
"Hee hee. Compared to Japan, my country is still pretty far behind in terms of technology."

Pecorine
"Our Mimis also break down pretty often. It really is troublesome."

Pecorine
"Although my father often says that I should try to use our country's products whenever I can..."

Pecorine
"To tell you the truth, while I'm staying in Japan, I'd really like to use the most modern electronics here."

Pecorine
"But I was the one who insisted on coming here, so I can't really make any other demands."

Pecorine
"Ah, I'm sorry. I've just been talking this entire time."

Pecorine
"I've been acting too familiar with you, haven't I? That's a bad habit of mine."

Pecorine
"People in this country are kind of shy, so if I come on too strongly, people will start avoiding me."

Pecorine
"Um... Do you know of any stores around here that can repair a Mimi?"

Pecorine
"Not being able to talk freely with people is inconvenient, so I'd really like to fix mine."

Pecorine
"Ah, you'll show me to one? Wonderful, huh? ☆"

Pecorine
"People are so kind in this country!"

Pecorine
"Thank you very much! I'll definitely repay the favor one day."

Pecorine
"Could I have your name? I'll properly thank you later."

Pecorine
"Ah, perhaps I should give my own name first. I'm Eu... Ahh, but maybe that's a bad idea."

Pecorine
"It was already reported that I'd be going to this country, so anyone who knows about me would already know I'm here..."

Pecorine
"But it could still cause an unwanted disturbance, which would be troublesome... But at the same time, it would be rude not to tell you..."

Pecorine
"Eh...? Pecorine...? My nickname? How did you associate such a strange nickname with me?"

Pecorine
"But, well, I'm glad. This might be the first time I've ever been called a nickname like that."

Pecorine
"Hee hee. Then, what's your name? ... Huh? It's Yuuki?"

Pecorine
"Could it be... you're the one I met in Astorum before...?"

Pecorine
"It's you, isn't it! The person who was helping me out in-game?"

Pecorine
"It's me, it's me! I guess you wouldn't know, since I never told you my name in-game either..."

Pecorine
"I didn't get to talk to you a lot, and then I had to log off to take care of something."

Pecorine
"Hee hee... You were being really kind about helping me with all kinds of things, while I was still just a new player."

Pecorine
"You really saved me a lot of trouble, and I was really glad!"

Pecorine
"Ha ha... It seems like, whether it's in-game or real life, you're a really kind person..."

Pecorine
"Ah -- do you remember now?"

Pecorine
"Right, right! You were asking, even though I was a new player, why I had such high-level gear, right?"

Pecorine
"The thing is, those were all gifted to me, so I felt uncomfortable using them."

Pecorine
"Compared to those players who gathered all the materials and crafted rare equipment themselves..."

Pecorine
"It was like I was a cheater. I was really embarrassed about it."

Pecorine
"Oh? Is that the shop that can repair my Mimi? Thank you for bringing me here!"

Pecorine
"Once we're back on 'that' side, I'll show you to a nice restaurant in order to thank you!"

Pecorine
"Hee hee. It would be no trouble at all..."

Pecorine
"Meeting like this certainly does feel like fate, somehow... So if we can, let's try to be friends for a long time, okay?"

End of dream.

Ames
"Oh, sooo close! We were right there, but in the end, we couldn't learn Pecorine's real name."

Ames
"Honestly, it's because you all are always using that nickname. Isn't when you're about to hear her name the one time you shouldn't do that?"

Ames
"She's really mindful about this, huh. Even though, in this case, it wasn't anything important."

Ames
"The reason she insists on using a nickname has to be because there's something stopping her from using her real name."

Ames
Just like how "Ames" isn't my real name either.

Ames
Ah, sorry, sorry. I've been rambling. You don't know what I'm talking about, so let me try to explain.

Ames
What you just saw was something like a dream.

Ames
Whether it would be more accurate to say that it was just synthesizing something from your memories, or that it was actually altering them... It was something akin to one of those, so you don't need to think too much about it right now.

Ames
Leaving that aside, right now, the more pressing problem is that Pecorine is no longer able to communicate through words.

Ames
Her life seems to be an irregular one, and all sorts of unusual situations seem to follow her around.

Ames
She always seems to be excessively hungry -- maybe that's also connected to her situation.

Ames
Well, I'll do something to fix the bug in her translator. She should be able to speak normally soon.

Ames
However. Because I have to concentrate in order to manipulate things over there, I'll have to end the dream here.

Ames
I think that, eventually, you'll see another related dream. When that time comes, I'll explain this all to you more thoroughly.

End of Ames meeting.

Scene: A street in Landsol.

Pecorine
... H... Huh? My throat feels all scratchy...

Pecorine
Ahhhh, ahhhhh... Hmm... Did I catch a cold?

Pecorine
Ah, you're awake? Did we just fall asleep standing up?

Pecorine
Oh? You can understand my words now?

Pecorine
What a relief! Not being able to talk to people is really lonely.

Pecorine
But, what was that, anyway...? It's worrying that you just suddenly passed out like that. Lately, all kinds of mysterious things have been happening.

Pecorine
If I could just resolve all those problems one by one, that would be all right. I'd like to help this country become one where everyone can get along and live in peace.

Pecorine
Mm, well, that aside, it's more important right now that we get some nutrients in us.

Pecorine
Um... If it's okay with you, might we get lunch together?

Pecorine
I was asking you that earlier, but I guess you couldn't understand me... So let me ask you once more!

Pecorine
It's okay? Yay, you really are easy to get along with!

Pecorine
Then, let's go, right away! That restaurant is famous, so there's going to be a long line very soon!

Pecorine
I hope there isn't a wait -- that way we can eat until our stomachs are full!

Pecorine
Then, let's go! Hee hee! Let's bond over a nice meal today as well!

Pecorine
You know... As long as my belly's full, most other things in life don't bother me at all.