First Bowl

[ricebird]

Sender: Little Girl (Sweet Porridge) | Kotori Iida
Recipient: Everyone

Hi, there! I hope that everyone’s okay after the Story Eater attack. That was… really intense.

Anyway… I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, and I think I’m going to go home for a little while. I want to get stronger at cooking, and that’ll take some time and practice. [And she wants to strengthen her relationships with her friends and family there…] I don’t know how long I’ll be in my world, or how much I’ll be able to remember this time, but I’ll ask to Storyteller to bring me back in a few days by Index time.

Before I go, though… what are some of your favorite foods? Are there any recipes from your homes that you miss here? What about birthdays, or holidays that aren’t celebrated in the Index?


[For almost everyone, that’s the whole message. But then Kotori adds another, more private question to a certain someone.]


Sender: Little Girl (Sweet Porridge) | Kotori Iida
Recipient: Roxas

Hey, Roxas-kun? Are you free today? Can we talk in-person for a bit?

Comments

Sender: Kazuma

[chippedsoul]

Beef curry. [Or any beef dish to be honest.]

[ricebird]

[Somehow she's not surpri-- wait... She saw the Essence and the food request (Disciple really loves his beef), so she BARELY catches the change to his name.]

Disciple-san? Is that you?

[... Oh no. Don't tell me he has a THIRD personality now.]

[chippedsoul]

[...? Oh, he never got around to mentioning he actually has something of a name now.]

Yes, it's me. This is a name I gave myself.

[ricebird]

Ah, I see. Congratulations, Kazuma-san!

And I can definitely manage beef curry. [...] And have you been alright since the attack too?

[chippedsoul]

I should be the one asking that. I wasn't conscious when the attack occurred. [Meaning someone else likely was.]

Private

[ricebird]

Oh... I... wasn't exactly conscious either, since I'd been cursed. But...

[Actually, she's going to continue this in a private message.]

Hyde entered my dream, but he... actually helped me? (I know, it sounds really weird, but it's true.)

Private

[chippedsoul]

[There's a very long pause as Kazuma processes what had been written.]

He did? [Even after giving himself time to think about it, it still baffles him. It just sounds so...unlike Hyde.]

[ricebird]

He did.

The Eraser had me trapped in a cage (different from the cages we woke up in...) and was shouting lots of things at me to make me feel miserable. She was practically begging Hyde to kill me while I was trapped... but he killed her instead. And then he actually freed me and let me go without hurting me.

It was still REALLY messed up, and I haven't forgotten how dangerous he is... But for once some good came out of it?

[chippedsoul]

[This didn't make sense to him at all. No way Hyde would purposely spare anyone unless...]

There must have been a motive. If he killed you, you may not have woken up, possibly trapping him there. That must have been what he was thinking. [...It's really hard to imagine that guy having a brain, but guess he has to worry about his own survival.]

[ricebird]

Maybe... I think he also said something about not being fun, having me caged like that? Some of the details are kind of fuzzy still.

[chippedsoul]

Not fun. Sounds like him. [Without much context, it's hard for him to know what he was thinking. Then again, that freak can be rather spontaneous in his actions.]

Regardless, I'm glad that you weren't harm.

[ricebird]

Me too. And... I don't know if I can forgive him for everything else yet, or if I should... but I am grateful that he helped me with this at least.

And you too, Kazuma-san.

[chippedsoul]

I wouldn't be so hasty to express such gratitude. [He's rather quick to write this.]

His interest is only for himself. That much I can grasp of his despicable character. You don't owe him any thanks.

[ricebird]

[In contrast, it takes a minute or two for Kotori to respond, her words VERY slow and deliberate.]

I know you're just trying to protect me, Kazuma-san, and I really do appreciate that... And it's true that I don't understand why he saved me, and that I don't owe him my gratitude. But with how badly he's hurt my friends or me in the past? Hasty is the last thing I feel, acknowledging that someone like that actually did something to save me, when he didn't have to at all. Even if it the reasons were bad and confusing.

[Because yeah, it ISN'T easy for her to admit this. But it's the truth, and Kazuma deserves to know it too.]

I'm definitely not going to let him lord it over me... but I can't just brush it aside hastily either, if that makes sense...

[chippedsoul]

[He sees what she's writing, but that doesn't mean he could understand her insistence. He sighs as he eventually responds.]

You're too soft. [There's no point in arguing over this. She's set on her decision.]

[ricebird]

Maybe.

[But... she's made it this far with that softness. And she's finally starting to see that as a strength instead of a weakness.]

Anyway... have you been alright aside from that, Kazuma-san?

[chippedsoul]

I'm fine. Just trying to catch up on what I missed and then move on.

[He's understandably frustrated that he had been caught in that nightmare, unable to regain his conscious and letting Hyde wander freely for so long.]

[ricebird]

I see. Well... let me know if you need anything.

And I'll find a good beef curry recipe for you. How spicy do you like yours?

[chippedsoul]

[Oh. He can decide the spiciness. Hm...]

Whatever you think is sensible. I can handle spicy just fine.

[ricebird]

[Medium spice, then.]

That sounds good! Take care and see you soon, Kazuma-san.

[chippedsoul]

[. . .] Be safe.