Character Story 2: Find My Dream

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On their way to Muusa after accepting New Generations' request, Yuuki and the others decide to set up camp for the night.

Pecorine
Ri-ce! ♪ Ri-ce! ♪ It's gotta be done cooking by now, right? It's gotta be, right?

Uzuki
I think it needs a bit more time. The rice won't be steamed enough if we open it partway through. Let's wait just a bit longer.

Pecorine
Aww! But my stomach's all rumbly, so I'd really like to eat it soon... And don't you guys think eating while on night watch duty is so exciting?

Yuuki
1. "I'm looking forward to trying Uzuki's cooking."
2. "I do sorta like late night meals."

Option 1.

Pecorine
Right? Just thinking about what food'll come out of there is making me so hungry!

Uzuki
Please don't get too excited now. All I did was cook a perfectly normal dish.

Option 2.

Pecorine
Ah, I sorta get what you mean! It's like, we just had dinner, but then we get to have another meal after that!

Uzuki
They say you'll gain weight if you eat too much at night, but I know there are times you can't help but eat something.

End of branches.

Uzuki
... That should be good enough for the rice. Let's take a look.

Uzuki
Yup, it's all nice and warm! Okay, Pecorine, feel free to have some!

Pecorine
Yaaay! Thanks for the food! Om nom nom... Man, Uzuki's cooking is so good, it's crazy!

Uzuki
Hehe, I think it's pretty normal... but I'm really happy to hear it. There's still more, so help yourself to as much as you'd like.

Uzuki
... Umm, is it really for us to be this so relaxed like this? We are technically on lookout duty, right?

Yuuki
1. "It's no good to be on edge for so long."

Pecorine
I agree. We've even got Kyaru's barrier magic set up, so we'll know right away if any monsters get close. I'm sure it'll be fine!

Pecorine
The night's still young, so let's take it easy. Ah, Uzuki, seconds please!

Uzuki
So that's how it is. Okay, here's your seconds!

Old Woman
Ah, ahh... thank goodness... there are people here...!

Uzuki
Eh... an old woman!? What are you doing here, alone and so late at night...

Old Woman
We were camping nearby, but we were attacked by monsters... Since then, I've been looking to see if there were any adventurers nearby.

Old Woman
I'm very sorry for this, but even just for the night, would it be alright if I stayed here? When I think about getting attacked by monsters again, I get so afraid...

Pecorine
So that's what happened, how horrible... You'd certainly be in danger if there were monsters nearby, so how about we lend a hand?

Yuuki
1. "Please rest here."

Uzuki
Right. Ma'am, have a seat! We have rice too, so please have some if you're hungry.

Old Woman
Thank you so much. Oh yes, please take this tea as thanks. I'm sorry that this is all I have to offer...

Uzuki
Oh no, I'm very happy to have it! Thank you very much!

Pecorine
It's a tea with a somewhat unusual aroma, isn't it? Gulp, gulp... whew, but it also has a bit of a sweetness to it! I'll have another cup!

Later.

Old Woman
I see... so you all are headed for Muusa? I can see why you would need to camp out, considering how far it is.

Uzuki
That's right. But it's what I need to do to become an idol. I want to succeed at the audition and make my dream come true!

Old Woman
... Do you really think you'll be able to make it come true? I'm not so sure.

Uzuki
Huh...?

Old Woman:
Up until now, I've come across countless kids just like you, talking about achieving their dreams. But each and everyone one of them has had their dreams crushed and buried.

Old Woman
I had my own fair share of goals and dreams when I was young too, but I've grown this old without achieving any of them.

Pecorine
But, does that have anything to do with what Uzuki's trying to do --

Old Woman
It does. Achieving your dreams is something only certain special people are allowed to do. For such an ordinary girl like you here, it's nothing but a unreachable star.

Old Woman
There's plenty of things that normal people just won't be able to do. Even knowing that, why do you feel like you need to try?

Uzuki
Of course, I think what you're saying is the truth. I have no way of knowing at all if I'm really able to become an idol.

Uzuki
I'm sure I'll end up being hurt plenty of times. But I think it'll be a chance to change who I am, so I want to give it a shot.

Old Woman
For how big of a dream you're aiming for, you've got quite the rosy outlook.

Uzuki
It might just be that my goal isn't exactly to achieve my dream. I just want to try finding something that I think I want to be doing.

Uzuki
I think aiming to be an idol is a first step towards that. I honestly don't really know what kind of "me" I even want to be.

Uzuki
But, with Rin and Mio by my side, I'm sure I'll find something I want to aim... for...

Uzuki
H-Huh? I'm suddenly... so sleepy...

Old Woman
Seems like the drug's finally kicking in. Careless of you, with bandits like me around.

Old Woman
... But what to do? I've really lost the will to do my job.

Pecorine
What's that? A bandit who isn't going to do any stealing?

Yuuki
1. "Kyaru made sure to let us know."

Pecorine
Ahh... she said something like, "Don't eat anything you get from strangers," right? I forgot about that and drank it anyway though.

Old Woman
I can't believe the sleeping drug didn't work...!

Pecorine
Well, let's not worry about the whole drugs not working thing. So you're not going to do anything? Despite being a bandit?

Old Woman
... I just had a bit of a change of heart. Hearing what that girl had to say made me remember the past. There was a time when I was like that, trying to live a proper life.

Old Woman
Because I gave up on my dreams, I took on a skewed view of the world, and from there I've been committing nothing but crimes... I've come to think that the way I am now is pretty disgraceful.

Pecorine
Then, why not start aiming to be the person you want to be, from here on out? Once you've made up your mind, take action right away, I always say!

Old Woman
Hah, for a woman as old as me, don't you think it might be too late?

Yuuki
1. "There's no too soon or too late, when it comes to doing what you want to do."

Old Woman
... Goodness, I can't believe I'm being encouraged by kids like this. Let the girl know someone came for me. I'll be excusing myself.

Pecorine
No more crimes anymore, okay? Take care!

Pecorine:
That's one thing taken care of! But I wonder why the sleeping drug didn't work on me? Maybe it's because my stomach was so full of rice.

Uzuki
Yawn... huh? Did I... fall asleep? I'm sorry! Even though it's our turn to be on lookout... huh? What happened to the old woman?

Pecorine
Someone came looking for her and she left. It seemed like something you did saved her!

Uzuki
I saved her? Huh? What do you mean? Is that supposed to mean my cooking was good...?

Pecorine
Well, something like that! Anyway, let's continue... being on... zzz...

Uzuki
Eeeeeh!? What just happened!? Are you okay Pecorine? Pecorine!

Given some time, the drug finally affected Pecorine, putting her to sleep. That day, Yuuki and Uzuki continued their lookout, just the two of them.