Character Story 8: The Happiness That You Taught Me
Scene: A restaurant in Landsol.
Pecorine
Om nom nom...
Pecorine
Glug, glug... Ahh! My esophagus feels great!
Pecorine
Finally, my sense of taste is no longer just limited to my tongue! Wonderful, huh? ☆
Pecorine
Mr. Waiter, could I order some more?
Pecorine
Everything on the menu from top to bottom, and of course, all large size! Hee hee, thanks for your hard work!
Pecorine
Whew... My stomach's starting to digest.
Pecorine
My digestive system is coming to life... It's starting to bring nutrients to my whole body! Ah, how wonderful to be born into this world...
Pecorine
Hmm? Ah! Over here, over here!
Pecorine
I guess you couldn't see my face behind the mountain of food that was on my plate, huh? Sorry!
Pecorine
Hee hee... I was trying to relieve my stress, and I guess I accidentally ended up binge eating.
Pecorine
Hmm? You think I'm eating too much?
Pecorine
I'll be all right -- the human digestive tract is more resilient than you think!
Pecorine
If you digest things little by little, you can eventually eat anything. Nothing is impossible for humanity!
Pecorine
Ahh, but even so... Usually I do try to have more self-control, so that I don't eat an entire restaurant out of business.
Pecorine
But today, I just wanted to eat until I forgot about all my troubles.
Pecorine
Um, how should I put it... Recently, I've been chased a lot by those government officials. It's been stressing me out.
Pecorine
They keep saying I'm a criminal, even though it's clearly a false accusation! How stupid is that?
Pecorine
Huh? No, no, no! It really is false! Even though nobody seems to believe me...
Pecorine
Do you also think I'm a villain?
Pecorine
Ooh... While I'm spending time with you, along with Kokkoro and Kyaru, I guess I'm only causing trouble for all of you.
Pecorine
Maybe it would be better if I just went somewhere far away.
Yuuki comes closer and hugs Pecorine.
Pecorine
H-Huh? Why are you suddenly hugging me?
Pecorine
You're saying... please, don't go anywhere? Ha ha, what a softy...
Pecorine
W-Wait, I'm sorry. I ate so much that I loosened my clothes to fit, so if you hold onto me like this, they might slide off...
Pecorine
Ah, stop, stop! This could really be terrible!
Pecorine
Hee hee. But you really seem like you believe me... And you really care about me... I'm glad to have been able to feel that for myself.
Pecorine
Thank you. You've really... saved me quite a few times.
Pecorine
As long as you're here with me, my stomach always feels nice and full...
Pecorine
Ah...? Something's shining again?
Scene: A dream. A normal city in Japan.
Pecorine
"Yuuki! Heya!"
Pecorine
"It's been a long time! Do you have some spare time right now?"
Pecorine
"You helped me out a lot earlier, so I'd like to properly thank you for it."
Pecorine
"I'd like to give you this gift. It's one of my country's specialty products! Please, share it with your family."
Pecorine
"Even though it can keep for pretty long, please, do try to eat it before too long if you can!"
Pecorine
"...? Um, my translator is working, right? You can understand me... right?"
Pecorine
"No, could it be that you've forgotten about me?"
Pecorine
"How sad... I thought that, surely, we had become friends?"
Pecorine
"Huh? What's with that reaction?"
Pecorine
"Wah, wah, wait, don't say my name out loud like that! You don't know who might be listening nearby!"
Pecorine
"Ahh... From the look of it, you've found out about who I am."
Pecorine
"Well, I've been in the news, so I guess it can't be helped."
Pecorine
"If you're too nervous around me now, though, I'll feel a little lonely."
Pecorine
"I'd like it if you could talk to me like you would any friend your age."
Pecorine
"Huh? Let's go inside? Ha ha, I didn't intend on staying for long, but..."
Pecorine
"It would be terribly impolite if I just left like this. I'll only stay for a little while!"
Inside Yuuki's house.
Pecorine
"Ah, how novel... So this is what your house looks like on the inside? Wonderful, huh!"
Pecorine
"Hmm? W-Well... To put it simply, I'm something of a princess, yes."
Pecorine
"But my country isn't terribly wealthy, and our home is also relatively plain."
Pecorine
"I wasn't surprised because I thought your home was small -- I was curious about how different the architectural style is."
Pecorine
"Besides that, your electronics are incredible, too -- you have an air conditioner and a TV!"
Yuuki
1. "Princess, please have some tea."
2. "It's good that you're happy."
Option 1.
Pecorine
"No, no, please don't call me Princess."
Pecorine
"Ooh? This is barley tea, isn't it! Wonderful timing, I was just getting thirsty!"
Pecorine
"Thank you for the drink! Glug, glug... Ah, I feel that I've never had this flavor before!"
Option 2.
Pecorine
"Yes! Since long ago, I've enjoyed traveling."
Pecorine
"Going to a foreign country and learning about their culture -- I find that very enjoyable."
Pecorine
"That's why, whenever my parents were going on diplomatic trips around the world, I always insisted that they bring me along."
Pecorine
"I especially like Japan! Because the food is so good!"
End of branches.
Pecorine
"Ah... Anyway, I can relax a little bit now."
Pecorine
"There shouldn't be anyone listening in here, and you and I are friends, so I can properly give you my full name now."
Pecorine
"My real name is Eustiana."
Pecorine
"Eustiana von Astraea. A long and impressive-sounding name, isn't it? You can just call me Tiana, though."
Pecorine
"Of course, if you'd like to keep calling me Pecorine like you do now, I wouldn't mind that, either!"
Pecorine
"Right, right -- the continent of Astraea, in the game Legend of Astorum..."
Pecorine
"That came from our family name."
Pecorine
"Our country's imperial house is actually a sponsor of Legend of Astorum."
Pecorine
"I guess that, in order to gain our favor, the maker of the game decided to use our name in-game."
Pecorine
"Aside from sponsoring, we also handled the personnel search, server set-up, and all sorts of other things."
Pecorine
"But because our country is quite far behind when it comes to these things, we exhausted all of our resources on it."
Pecorine
"Basically, then, Astorum -- or, perhaps I should say, Minerva -- came under the management of the United Nations, and we ended up as only one of a large number of sponsors."
Pecorine
"But to our country, politically and economically, it was still an important project."
Pecorine
"For that reason, when the event we now call 'Minerva's Awakening' happened, it caused a massive furor."
Pecorine
"Even though my parents are here in Japan for diplomatic reasons, at the same time, they're taking part in investigative and oversight committees, so they're incredibly busy."
Pecorine
"I don't intend to get involved in politics before I'm of age... But now I have so much time that I don't know what to do with myself."
Pecorine
"The first time I met you, I was traveling incognito, just wandering around aimlessly."
Pecorine
"... Hee hee. You're still a little nervous, huh."
Pecorine
"I'm just another person, just like you. Please, don't humble yourself in front of me."
Pecorine
"No, that won't do. Isn't Legend of Astorum meant to be a game where everyone can become a princess through adventuring?"
Pecorine
"In fact, there may already be princesses among your friends."
Pecorine
"I think, perhaps, it would be better to take some time and try to understand well what it means to be a 'princess.'"
End of dream.
Ames
W-Whoa -- she said it right away, her real name!
Ames
Umm, Yousti... what was it? Ugh, if I'd known in advance, I would've had some paper to write it down!
Ames
But, well... Where have I heard that name before? Hmm...
Ames
Pecorine was being received as a state guest, so data about her is probably pretty hard to access, right?
Ames
Sorry. There's something I want to investigate, so we'll have to end this dream here.
Ames
It was certainly an unexpected harvest of information! It's a good thing that you befriended Pecorine.
Ames
Could it be that we've taken a big step closer to understanding the truth behind the mysteries of this world...?
Ames
You'll need to be very careful about your actions from here on out.
Ames
Then, I'll entrust Pecorine's well-being to you.
Ames
She seems to be a genuine princess. Her problems aren't ordinary ones, so be earnest and considerate in how you handle them.
Ames
Hmm... She said herself that she wants you to treat her as you would a normal friend your age...
Ames
So, then, if you just go on as you have been, getting along and sharing nice meals with her... That should do.
Ames
It's a difficult situation, but I think things will be all right. Since you seem to be able to get along with any type of girl at all...
End of Ames conversation.
Scene: A restaurant in Landsol.
Pecorine
Our extra order of food just came -- let's eat together!
Pecorine
Are you all right? Your face looks pale...
Pecorine
Eh? Tiana? Um, um... Where did you hear that name? Um, did I tell you at some point...?
Pecorine
A-ah, I probably said it back at the government office...
Pecorine
Ahh... I really didn't want to involve the rest of you in my situation, so please, just forget about it for the time being.
Pecorine
Though I guess by now, we're close enough that all of you will be concerned for me, no matter what I say.
Pecorine
But this is my problem, so I'll take care of it myself.
Pecorine
Leaving that aside, let's eat! No matter if it's a princess or anyone else, we all have to eat to live!
Pecorine
Moreover... What I've learned is, eating never fails to bring me happiness.
Pecorine
That's what you, and the others, and so many more of my companions, have taught me.