video for always;

[friendcontracts]

That party was pretty crowded.

[Like usual, Reiko is outside--the basic surroundings looks like some kind of meadow. She's looking somewhat thoughtful. The fact that there's cut on her cheek that looks like it just stopped bleeding doesn't seem to bother her at all.]

That's not what I wanted to talk about today, though. Just half an hour ago I met this strange old woman. Her eyesight was pretty bad--she must have tripped because I heard her yelling that she couldn't find her walking stick. Of course I gave it back to her.

The weirdest part was after I helped her up...she wanted my cosmetic mirror! She said it was important that she needed a mirror. Didn't say why only that it was very important. Even after I told her that there was a shop just down the road that sold mirrors.

[She pauses for a moment before shrugging.]

Obaa-san got her mirror in the end. I didn't need it anymore.

[Reiko briefly touches her injured cheek.] She really was such a strange old woman...

Comments

[friendcontracts]

I don't like places with crowds.

[selfished]

Sure, people in crowds can be annoying, but not like there's anything bad 'bout crowds themselves, right? You're never gonna get anywhere if ya keep avoiding 'em!

[friendcontracts]

I guess not. It's just habit.

[selfished]

Then all ya gotta do to kick the habit is to just jump right into crowds a few times! Just find a big group of people and force your way through, knock people out of the way if they're standing in front of ya!

[friendcontracts]

Sounds nice. [She might take a moment to rub at her injured cheek.] I don't think that's right for me, though.

[selfished]

.. Why not? If ya think it's nice, then you just gotta do it.

[friendcontracts]

People and I don't mix.

[selfished]

Even if people and ya don't mix, that's no reason to avoid crowds! Forcing your way through has nothing to do with other people aside from the fact that it shows you ain't want nothing to do with them.

[friendcontracts]

I don't want to bother them.

[selfished]

.. What kinda lame answer is that?

[friendcontracts]

If the family that's letting me stay in their house finds out it'd be bad for them. They've already got a bad reputation for taking me in. Making too much trouble with humans would just end badly.

[selfished]

Man, you could just always go out on the street if that'd cause 'em less trouble.. not like living out there is that much of a hassle.

[friendcontracts]

Do you really think Takashi would let me?

[selfished]

[ Her nose wrinkles a little. ]

He lets me do that.

[friendcontracts]

Well, you're not his grandma, are you?

[selfished]

No, but I'm--

[ She stops. What is she to Natsume, either way, that she'd assume he would look after her the same way as he would for his grandmother? But then again, he has done similar things for her, letting her sleep over and all..

She looks thoughtfully pouty, crossing her arms. ]

[friendcontracts]

Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.

[What does Reiko mean...? Who even knows.]

[selfished]

H.. hey! [ That sounded WAY too suspicious! ]

Don't ya dare misunderstand what I was saying!

[friendcontracts]

I wouldn't dream of it.

[selfished]

[ She's just going to huff her way out of this conversation now, since she figures that she's only going to dig her own grave by saying anything more.. so she just stops the feed there. ]