[voice]

[hihou]

-The voice on the other end is... tired. Weak from fasting. But probably from spending days upon days crying in her room as well. No one is keeping score.-

If my miracle powers were working... I could solve this famine. Why won't they work? Why can't I do any good here?

... I really am just taking up space, aren't I? A waste of everyone's time...

Comments

[hihou]

... I guess so.

[undefines]

I just mean... [She sighs and tries to stop feeling so flustered.] We can't just go on avoiding this stuff forever.

[hihou]

I know... But I don't know what to say...

[undefines]

It's not like I have a better idea. We'll just have to figure it out.

[hihou]

... I was really ready to just lay here and die until you came along... Seems kind of silly, in hindsight.

[undefines]

That's ridiculous. There's no reason you should feel that way. If you're going to be like that, I'll— I'll stay here and make sure you don't whether you like it or not!

[hihou]

I said it seemed silly... but I don't know. I'm not certain if I actually feel any better or if you being here is just slowing down the inevitable...

[undefines]

Either way, I can still help.

[From her tone of voice, she isn't going to budge.]

Will you talk to me about why you're feeling like this?

[She figures it can't just be her inability to deal with the famine that's left her this way.]

[hihou]

I wish I had words...

[undefines]

[...sigh]

Can you at least try?

[hihou]

...

I just feel so... small. So meaningless. When I was a little girl, my parents died in a car accident on their way to pick me up from school. At that moment, when they had told me what happened... I felt small. Like without them, I had no purpose, or reason to exist. Here... without my goddesses, without my maidenly honor, and without my divinity... I am even more meaningless.

[undefines]

Sanae... No one but you thinks that. You have people here who care about you, and you have people at home that do, too. You aren't meaningless to them. And you're really important to me. S- So...

[hihou]

I know that... or at least part of me does... But...

[undefines]

...I know it can be hard to believe it when people say that kind of thing, especially if you don't feel like you deserve it. But it's the truth, so you'll just have to accept it.

[hihou]

... I wish it were that easy.

[undefines]

Then I'll keep saying it until it sinks in!

[hihou]

Please... don't put any pressure on me. I'm not sure I can handle it.

[undefines]

I won't put pressure on you, but I'm going to tell you if you say something that's wrong.

[hihou]

Part of me does know it's wrong... but it's the other part of me that's so loud it's deafening right now.

[undefines]

That's why you need more voices to tell you that that part is a liar.

[hihou]

I guess so...

[undefines]

[...sigh]

And... If you're this upset, obviously you're not going to feel better all at once. That's okay. But I'm not going to let you get worse or do anything stupid. Got it?

[hihou]

-And finally... a smile. Soft, fragile, but there.- Got it...

[undefines]

Good.

[There's a moment of hesitation, and then... Nue darts in and gives Sanae a peck on the cheek, retreating just as quickly again.]

Can I ask you something?

[hihou]

-Oh wow, that was... unexpected. But appreciated, from the look of the blush on her face.-

Um... sure.