Character Story 4: A True Smile
Scene: A street in Landsol.
The following is an event that occurred while Yuuki and Rei were shopping for rations, in preparation for practice.
Rei
Um... What should we buy next? What else is on the shopping list...
Rei
No good! Quickly, this way!
Rei leads Yuuki away.
Rei
... All right. We should be okay here.
Rei
Sorry. I caught sight of someone from my house.
Rei
It's not that I don't want to see them... It's just that you're here with me, and...
A light shines.
Rei
Ah! What's with this light!? It's so bright...!
Rei
I can't... see anything...
Scene: A dream. Near a train station in Japan.
Student
Do you think so, Miss Shijou?
Rei
This is about the committee, right? Please, don't worry. You didn't do anything wrong.
Rei
Please, allow me to handle this situation. I'll take everyone's opinions into account.
Student
Ah! Truly? Then, I'd humbly ask it of you!
Student
Thank you very much, Miss Shijou! Might I ask if you have some spare time now? Um... If it's all right, I'd like to repay you for today.
Rei
Please, there's no need for that. Your feelings are repayment enough. And, beyond that, I have plans to meet someone else...
Student
Is that so? Then, I'll see you tomorrow in school. Until then.
Rei
Yes, until then.
Rei
... Whew. That unplanned discussion took up a lot of time. It's nearly the time we'd said, now...
Rei
Ah, it's you. You were already here, huh. Then, let's go.
Scene: In a nearby cafe.
Rei
So, for the next quest we take on... It's about time for us to increase the difficulty, don't you think?
Rei
You've become a lot stronger, and we've gotten more used to each other's movements, so it's become easier to pull off combination attacks. Don't you think this is just the right time to take the next step?
Yuuki
1. "Have I really gotten that strong?"
2. "No matter what happens, I'll always back you up."
Option 1.
Rei
How humble... No, I don't think that's it. You ought to have more confidence in yourself.
Rei
You've absolutely become stronger. I assure you.
Option 2.
Rei
When that time comes, I'll also have your back, so don't worry about a thing.
End of branch.
Rei
Anyway, as for the exact difficulty level... Indeed, what should we set it to?
Rei
... You look bothered; is everything okay? If you're that uneasy about it, then it would be fine to leave it on an easier difficulty, too.
Rei
That's not it? Then, what's on your mind?
Yuuki
1. "That person you were talking with at the train station..."
Rei
Ah... So you saw that.
Rei
That was a classmate from school. Maybe you already know this, but I'm attending one of those prestigious schools.
Rei
Even if I'm just talking with my friends, I still have to speak in that formal, stiff manner...
Rei
And my situation at home is the same. It's not that hard once you get used it, but...
Rei
It really is tiresome. The whole atmosphere of that school just doesn't seem to sit well with me at all.
Rei
But when I'm with my friends from Astorum, I can just talk like myself. It feels so much more relaxed.
Rei
The times when I'm with you... Those are the times when I'm happiest.
Rei
Um, I... I, I didn't mean it that way! I was just thinking out loud...
Rei
......
Rei
L-Leaving that aside! Let's get back to talking about the next quest! Do you have any opinion on that?
End of dream.
Ames
All right, good work.
Ames
What you just saw was something like a dream. You'll probably forget about it soon after you wake up, so don't worry about it too much.
Ames
About that, though -- Rei is actually the daughter of aristocrats, huh. I would never have thought that, considering how she acts when she's around you.
Ames
You know, I've often yearned for the life of a young lady like that. But, well, only the people who live those lives actually know what it's really like. It doesn't seem to be all that enjoyable.
Ames
It really seems to be a pleasure for her to be around you. And if she's satisfied with the way things are, then it would be best for you to go on as you have, wouldn't it?
Ames
Well, that's enough idle chatter. I'll see you around.
End of Ames conversation.
Scene: A street in Landsol.
Rei
... Huh? ... Where is this? The same place we were before...?
Rei
You also fell asleep, huh... Why here...? I had a weird dream...
Rei
Right, right, we were in that cafe... Could it be that you had the same dream?
Rei
I see... I feel as though I showed you an embarrassing side of me. Even in dreams, I'm still so stifled by my family...
Rei
Remember, I also told you about it before we passed out. I saw a person from my house, and I ran away.
Rei
I come from an aristocratic family, here, too. Whenever I see someone from home, nothing but the most formal manner of speech will do.
Rei
I didn't want you to see that side of me... When I'm in front of you, I'm acting like my real self, so I didn't want to have to switch back to that other version of me.
Rei
Not long ago... Before I had left my home, I spoke just like those friends of mine in the dream. You might say that I talked like a proper lady.
Rei
Strange, isn't it? Do you... prefer that manner of speaking?
Yuuki
1. "I like you just the way you are."
Rei
What a relief... When I'm in front of you, I don't want to have to put on a mask. I hope that things can go on just the way that they have.
Rei
From now on, the true me will be in your care.
In front of Yuuki, who was happy to see the true her, Rei put on a true smile.