Character Story 4: Concerned Show Time
Scene: A restaurant in Landsol.
Rino
Mm, nom, nom... Ahhh, sooo tasty!
Rino
Big brother, how did you find out about such an amazing restaurant?
Rino
Uh, huh... Because you're in a guild called "Gourmet Palace"? And the guild's goal is restaurant sampling?
Rino
Wow, that sounds like fun! It sounds so nice and laid-back -- I'm jealous...
Rino
Huh? I can also join if I want to...?
Rino
Nah, I'm already in Laby- ... I'm already in another guild!
Rino
I appreciate the offer, but I think that I ought to be more diligent about my own guild's activities first. I have to concentrate on one thing at a time!
Rino
Although, it's not that it's forbidden to be involved with multiple guilds at once.
Rino
It's just that I don't think I could do a good job with too many things going on.
Rino
So, if you find out about any other good restaurants... If you'd show them to me every so often, just like this, that would be nice.
Rino
I'd be super happy with just that!
Rino
I'm not supposed to do this, but let's have another date like this sometime, big brother!
Rino
Ahh, but this place's food really does taste the best!
Rino
Landsol is pretty big, huh. And I rarely go to places that aren't close to my house, so I'd never heard about this place before.
Rino
Uwaa, like, all-you-can-eat cakes! It's like a shop from a dream! And every cake has a cute design!
Rino
And the flavors are so great, I think my teeth are gonna fall out!
Rino
Fall... Just like how my school plans fell through...
Rino
Sniff... Ah, I'm okay, I'm not crying!
Rino
You're here to encourage me, big brother, so I'm totally okay!
Rino
H-Hey, big brother, eat your cake! We don't get to have all-you-can-eat cakes very often, so it'd be a pity if you left without stuffing yourself!
A light shines.
Rino
H-Huh!? Big brother, where's this light coming from?
Rino
Um, what is this? Big brother, do you have a condition where, if you eat sweets, you start giving off light...?
Scene: A dream. A riverside road in Japan.
Rino
Waaaahh...!
Rino
Uwahh... ah...!
Rino
... Ah? Um, hi, big brother!
Rino
S-Somehow, you always seem to turn up when I'm not expecting it, huh?
Rino
Ooh... Um, no, I'm all right!
Rino
I was crying a little, but... I'm not hurt or anything!
Rino
Well, I guess it's time for big brother's Concerned Show, huh. It's Concerned Show Time!
Rino
Mm, pff, mm? Wait, big brother, don't wipe off my tears with your hankerchief so strongly!
Rino
Uhh... It's fine if it's me, but you shouldn't touch another girl's face that easily.
Rino
Because if they're wearing makeup and you mess it up, then you could be opening a Pandora's box of trouble.
Rino
Hee hee... But, like, whenever I see big brother's face, I always feel at ease.
Rino
Whenever I'm crying, big brother, you always swoop in like a hero.
Rino
I've always been really quick to cry, but lately, because of you... I feel like the tears don't come as easily anymore.
Rino
People even used to call me Boohoorino, but nobody even thinks about that anymore.
Rino
Because of you, big brother, even if only a little bit, I've also become stronger.
Yuuki
1. "Boohoorino?"
2. "Pecorine?"
Option 1.
Rino
Huh? Do you not remember?
Rino
Because I used to be such a crybaby... People used to call me Boohoorino, and they used to make fun of me for it.
Rino
Y-You know, because you go "boo-hoo" when you cry, and because my name is Rino, so it ended up as Boohoorino... Yeah.
Rino
I don't have any good memories of that name, so please just call me Rino like normal, big brother.
Rino
And I don't cry very often anymore, you know.
Option 2.
Rino
Huh? N-No, that's... someone else.
Rino
I know you talk about her pretty often, but she still has a weird nickname.
Rino
Mm. There's no way that's her real name, naturally.
Rino
But, like, I also feel a connection with that name. The naming sense behind it is the same as something I would've come up with.
Rino
I'd like to meet her at least once. ... Since I've heard a lot about her.
End of branches.
Rino
Ah? Why was I crying?
Rino
W-Well... My practice examination went pretty terribly, so I felt really down.
Rino
Even though I really studied hard...
Rino
I know I just need to work harder before the real exam and get a good score on that, and everything will be fine. But I'm just feeling blue about it today.
Rino
Big brother... If you don't mind doing this again, when I come across something I don't understand, could you explain it to me?
Rino
You've already given me a lot of help, and I know I'd really be letting you down if I didn't pass the test this time... So I promise that I'll make it in this time, for you!
Rino
Hee hee... Please cheer for me from now on, okay, big brother?
End of dream.
Ames
Entrance exams, huh... That's one trouble that I can't quite understand, since I've never been to school.
Ames
Those kinds of things have also been replaced. In our reality, most people don't have much of an opportunity to experience those stresses anymore.
Ames
Do your best, Rino! I'm cheering for you!
Ames
Ah, sorry, sorry. Without a proper explanation, you must be confused.
Ames
What you just saw was something like a dream. From the depths of your mind, and the minds of your friends, I pieced together this special memory and allowed you to live it out vicariously.
Ames
I'm not actually you, so I can only use these roundabout methods to help you organize the memories in your mind.
Ames
In just a little longer, you'll be seeing more dreams of this sort.
Ames
If you were to regain all your original memories at once without any sort of preparation, your head would probably explode.
Ames
Well, even if I explain it, you probably don't really get it. I just hope that you'll trust me, and allow me to take care of the rest of it.
Ames
Don't worry, I'll do my best. Okay?
Ames
Because, just like Rino, or maybe even more than her, I've received a lot of your assistance, too.
Ames
I intend to repay you for the favors, so I'll give it all I have.
End of Ames conversation.
Scene: The same restaurant as before.
Rino
Big brother...?
Rino
What's wrong? You seem to be super out of it.
Rino
After that thing with the weird light earlier, I asked Shizuru what she knew, and I think I sort of get it now...
Rino
So, like she said, I'll try not to worry about it, and just wait.
Rino
How do you feel? Are you sore? Here, do you want to drink some tea?
Rino
Hmm? You're... sorry? Why are you apologizing?
Rino
You came to comfort me, but it ended up that I'm the one taking care of you, so you're sorry...?
Rino
Ha ha! You were really worried about something like that, big brother?
Rino
Besides, you've always been the one doting on me.
Rino
It's okay if I dote on you every so often, too.
Rino
I'll be even sweeter than the cake! I'll wait on big brother with all my loving feelings, plus icing on top...!
Rino
... Everything will be okay. Even though this time, the entrance exam didn't go well, there's always next time.
Rino
Big brother, the same goes for you! I believe that, whatever you're going through, you can do it.
Rino
These cakes are so sweet and delicious, and the weather outside is so nice, too!
Rino
So there isn't a single reason at all to be crying! Ha ha!