02.

[lastwaltz]

[ Ryoko looks... remarkably unruffled for someone who lost her superior and her study object in one fell swoop. the smile she gives the vine as she sits in her room in at the onsen is as flowery as ever. there's really no difference at all. ]

Hello, to whoever's watching! I'm Ryoko Asakura, for those of you I haven't met yet. So, it's nice to meet you! I only have a few questions, so I suppose I'll try to make this brief.

What do we know about those who have disappeared from the Gardens, and have there been any developments in the matter of escape?

Comments

[queen_of_bel]

People seem to disappear at random. Sometimes they come back, but most of the time they don't.

[lastwaltz]

... How very unfortunate. Well, I suppose it can't be helped.

[queen_of_bel]

Did someone close to you leave? I remember asking this same question when my girlfriend returned home...

[lastwaltz]

Someone close to me? Well, I suppose you could say that, even if one seemed to come from an alternate universe from mine, and one never quite accepted my offer of friendship.

C'est la vie.

[queen_of_bel]

That sounds...Rough.

[heartovertime]

[It's a quiet response, kept fairly even with only a hint of the underlying sadness.] People can leave and return again. But they won't always remember being here.

[lastwaltz]

Won't always? Are there cases of people who do remember, then?

[heartovertime]

I've known a few who have. I guess it can work either way. [It makes it hurt more though when the one person you want to remember you doesn't.]

[lastwaltz]

You sound like you're speaking from experience.

[voice]

[dragoninstalled]

[...Hrm.]

I've left. Happened the same way I came. [In other words, through no act of her own.]

[lastwaltz]

The same way you came? Really now! Are you certain you didn't do anything else in particular?

[dragoninstalled]

Positive.

[lastwaltz]

... How very disappointing.

[imperial_ray]

I'm told I left once before... But I remember nothing.

[lastwaltz]

You don't remember your previous visit here, you mean?

[imperial_ray]

Not at all.

[lastwaltz]

And you didn't do anything in particular to leave?

[orderlybento]

[Oh wow this hitting a little too close to home for her, since she was gone from the Gardens for half-a-month and... nothing.]

... I assume they've gone home.

... Did someone you were friends with go home, Asakura-san?

[lastwaltz]

They did. It was quite selfish of them to leave me behind, isn't it? Well, I'll try my best to forgive them, if... when I see them again.

[orderlybento]

[Thinks this is really sad to hear from her... Hikari, no.]

I'm really sorry, Asakura-san... I don't think it was up to them whether or not they leave, though.

[lastwaltz]

[ DANGER DANGER WILL ROBINSON. ]

I suppose not. Of course, I was only joking! I'll be fine, I'm sure.

[reallyerotic]

Could it be that a friend of yours has also disappeared?

[lastwaltz]

Two! Though I'm not sure if Suzumiya-san had ever considered me a friend. How sad!

[reallyerotic]

You should ask her next time. It's important that she makes her feelings known to you.

[lastwaltz]

How optimistic of you to think that there will be a next time! Well, I'll be sure to, if there is.