IC Inbox (Purgastory)

[depressured]

Comments

[ordimame]

[ah? lifts his gaze to blink at her]

You still want it? I mean, it was always meant for you.

[glancing down once again, before holding out the star for her to take]

So if you'd still like it, then. . .! That'd make me pretty happy.

[depressured]

[ She takes it, carefully. ]

I may have failed to meet your expectations, but I can try harder in a way you'll approve of.

[ordimame]

[MAFUYU NO]

I-I didn't have expectations! I don't want you to try harder in a way I approve of!

[flailing a li'l]

I want you to try harder for yourself! In a way that makes you happy!

[depressured]

[ She can't deny she tried very hard for her mother's sake! She's not ashamed of it, she's just tired! ]

A way that makes me happy...

... I don't know what that is yet.

[ordimame]

[DEEP EXHALE. . .]

. . . that's okay, you know. You don't have to have all of the answers right now.

[depressured]

I don't have any of the answers right now.

[ Which is frustrating. ]

[ordimame]

[boy, does he relate. after a pause:]

Do you even know where to start looking?

[he does not mean this harshly. it is a genuine question]

[depressured]

Something... like a feeling. I think.

[ How heartening. ]

[ordimame]

[perking up!]

That's a great place to start, Mafuyu. What does that feeling look like?

[depressured]

That I shouldn't let go of my friends.

[ordimame]

[wah!!]

Your friends make you happy, right? And you want to make them happy in return.

[he is making an assumption here, but it feels like a fair one]

How would you do that?

[depressured]

... I don't know.

[ Welp. ]

[ordimame]

[IT'S OKAY! WE GOT PARTWAY THERE!]

Let's brainstorm, then! What sorta things do your friends like?

[depressured]

Mizuki likes cute things and snacks. Kanade likes music and instant ramen. Ena likes makeup and cheesecake.

[ordimame]

[aha!]

I bet you could make them happy by treating them to their favorite things sometime. Like little gifts, you know?