Episode 2: Just Then, a Maid Appears!

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Scene: In the house at the Sarendia Orphanage.

In order to help support the Sarendia Orphanage's finances, Suzume had begun working part-time at a beach house.

Though at times she found herself confused by the unfamiliar work, Suzume found herself beginning to enjoy her time there, leaving for work today in high spirits as well.

Suzume
All right, I'm off to work at the beach house today!

Saren
Right, have a good day...?

Ayane
Have a good day! You don't need to worry about us -- we're gonna do a great job at all the chores!

Kurumi
Do your best at work, Suzume...!

Ayane
Hee hee. Let's go see her off, Kurumi!

Kurumi
Yeah...!

Saren
Now, now, it wouldn't do to leave the chores half-done, would it?

Suzume
That's right! You should finish doing the dishes from breakfast, first.

Suzume
It's not as though I'm leaving for good, so there's no need for such a lavish goodbye. Now, then... Once again, I'm off to work!

Kurumi
Okay. Have a nice day, Suzume...!

Ayane
Hee hee. Suzume looks like she's in a good mood. Is working at the beach house that much fun?

Kurumi
It's because Suzume really likes to work... And also, it's been really hot and humid here lately, and I think it's probably cooler by the ocean...

Ayane
Huh. It's no fair that Suzume gets to go by herself -- I wanna go to the beach, too, you know? Kokkoro and the others even bought us swimsuits when they took us shopping!

Saren
Oh, no, but you children can't go to the beach on your own. If you want to go, then I'll take you on one of my days off, so don't make a fuss, okay?

Kurumi
Okay... But Mama Saren, you always have a lot of work, so you hardly ever have any days off, right...?

Ayane
Yeah! We can't afford to wait for you to be free -- if we did, then we'd never get to go to the beach.

Kurumi
So then, what if we help you with your work as much as we can... Then, we'll be able to go to the beach sooner, and we'll get to see Suzume at work there...!

Ayane
Ah, I wanna see that, too! Suzume's so clumsy at home, I wonder how she is at her job over there...

Saren
That won't do -- I can't let you get involved with my work.

Ayane
Argh, Mama Saren, you just keep saying no this, no that!

Kurumi
Um... Mama Saren, you have kind of a gloomy face -- is everything okay?

Kurumi
Is it because you and Suzume are usually always with each other, and you miss her?

Saren
Hmm... That just might be it. I do feel a little gloomy about it... It's just that, when I see Suzume looking so happy, it makes me think.

Saren
She's always said that she's working for me because she wants to, but... I can't help but wonder if she's dissatisfied with working as my maid.

Saren
Even Suzume must have all sorts of things that she personally wants to do. But her association with me carries with it great effort and inconvenience. Surely, she's of the age where she'd rather make the most of her youth.

Ayane
Is that what you've been thinking about, Mara Saren? But that's silly -- has Suzume ever said anything about being unsatisfied?

Kurumi
Right... I think she's all right -- after all, Suzume really loves you, Mama Saren...

Saren
Well, I can believe that. But... Well, I feel kind of like my beloved sister has gone off and gotten married on her own.

Saren
I guess it's childish of me.

Saren
... Huh?

Ayane
Huh? What is it, Mama Saren?

Saren
... Bad news. Something from this morning's newspaper just caught my eye.

Saren
Here, look at this. "Strange occurrences at Marjan Coast! Strange monsters sighted!" ... The place where Suzume works is at the Marjan Coast, isn't it?

Saren
No, I have to call Suzume back at once! She can't have gone too far, can she?

Saren
Suzume! You can't go -- the ocean is full of danger...!

Scene: At the beach.

Suzume
Okay, I'm here!

Suzume
(Hee hee. I saved a bunch of time hitching a ride on a carriage that was headed in this direction. I got here in an instant! There really are some nice people in the world.)

Suzume
(I changed into my swimsuit in the locker room, and I'm all ready. The owner doesn't look like he's here yet, but he gave me a key... Why don't I tidy up the inside of the shop before we open?)

Suzume
(But at this early hour, it looks like there isn't anyone on the beach yet... Yesterday was a slow day, too, so I've had a lot of time to kill.)

Suzume
(Aside from the people from the Gourmet Palace guild, there hasn't been anyone else by the seaside... Why, isn't it supposed to be beach season?)

Suzume
(I guess I don't mind fewer strangers seeing me in my swimsuit, but...)

Suzume
(Without any customers, I feel guilty about getting paid for basically doing nothing.)

Suzume
(I'll just have to do my best to attract some more customers today. The best time for that would be around noon, and I can go to the nearby town and hand out fliers or... Huh?)

A noise from the water.

Suzume
... Huh? Was there something moving in the water just now?

Suzume
W-What could it be? A monster? No, that's...?

Suzume
Is that you, Yuuki? Um, it's you, isn't it...?

Yuuki
1. Confirm it.
2. Pretend to be a monster.

Option 1.

Suzume
Ah, I was right! With you dripping wet and covered in seaweed like that, I thought you were some kind of strange animal, you know?

Option 2.

Suzume
Eek!? Y-You scared me! Don't make weird noises like that!

Suzume
But that voice... It really is you, Yuuki? What did you do to get all soaked like that?

End of branches.

Suzume
Um, are you okay? Why were you lying down over here?

Suzume
Ah, you're covered in seawater... I have a towel on me, so I'll dry you off. Wipe, wipe!

Suzume
W-Wait, you're all covered in fresh wounds... I'll use some healing magic, okay?

Suzume
Okay, become healthy again...!

Suzume heals Yuuki.

Suzume
D-Did it work? Does it still hurt anywhere?

Yuuki
1. "Thank you."

Suzume
No, no, it was nothing. More importantly, just what happened to you...? Please tell me, so I can help!