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[indwelt]

USERNAME: WELTYANG WELT YANG HONKAI: STAR RAIL TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW

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[fanstheflames]

Oh, it was a cup! Do you want to see it?

[ ... She loves this cup. ]

[indwelt]

[ A.....cup. Alright then. ]

Sure. It must be important to you if it showed up here.

[fanstheflames]

I still don't get why it showed up, but...

[ a pause, to switch the phone to video, so she can hold up the cup. ]

Everyone in my main friend group has their own with a different design!

[indwelt]

[ Give him a fumbling second to figure out video call—ah, there we go. Don't mind as the camera wobbles around a little before settling on his face. ]

Oh. That's a very cute cup. Did you all pick them out together as a sign of your bond with one another?

[ Like friendship bracelets but friendship...cups. ]

[fanstheflames]

Yeah! It's...

[ She sets the cup down again, her smile fading slightly. ]

... Kind of a tradition.

[indwelt]

[ Ah.... He waits a few moments before cautiously speaking up. ]

It might take some time, but I believe you'll make it back to see them one day so you and your friends can keep that tradition going. In the meantime...why not start a different tradition while you're here? It can't [ and won't ] replace the bonds you have with your friends back home, but there's no harm in celebrating new bonds created here alongside your old ones.

[fanstheflames]

A different tradition...?

[ Oh. She looks honestly blindsided by this. ]

It... should probably be different from mugs, huh? Not to mention I don't think they have a mug store here like we do back home...

[ And it is a doozy of a mug store, honestly. ]

[indwelt]

Our selection is pretty limited here, isn't it?

[ There's not much to want for here as far as the basics are concerned, but a little more variety might be nice.... ]

Maybe there'll be a worthwhile store in the shopping mall? I haven't had the time to explore it much, but if you're interested we could go take a look.

[fanstheflames]

Oooh, is it open? I couldn't tell if any of the stores were open, but...

I think it'd be fun to check out!

[ She's a simple person sometimes. ]

[indwelt]

The lights seemd to be on the last time I passed it by.

[ whether or not that signals the mall being open is a different story entirely . ]

If you have time later, we could go check it out.

[fanstheflames]

Sure!

I definitely have more time here than I did back home, believe me...

[ No school, no Magical Girl duties, no going home to help the restaurant... ]

[indwelt]

Then I'll meet you there in...say, half an hour? Though if you already have plans with someone else, we can meet another day.

[ Maybe they do all have more free time here than before, but surely a charming girl like Tsuruno has made any number of friends here so far. ]

[fanstheflames]

Nope, I'm committed! You can't back out now!

[ ... yes, surely, that was what he was trying to do. ]

rolls this over to action

[indwelt]

I wouldn't dream of it. [ Never ever! ] But in that case, I'll see you soon, Tsuruno.

[ In half an hour soon, as a matter of fact, in front of the shopping mall entrance where he stands, dressed casually in a simple sweater and slacks, eyes narrowed behind his glasses as he peers at an advertisement in one of the shop windows. ]

[fanstheflames]

[ And here comes Tsuruno, bounding over as ever. She dresses simply most days and that remains the fact today, simply a skirt and a blouse. ]

Thanks for waiting! I didn't miss anything exciting, did I?

[indwelt]

[ He smiles and points to the poster in the window. ]

It seems like we missed a sale on buy one, get one free window curtains. [ How is that even possible when there's no need for money around here, oh well. ] I hope you weren't looking to redecorate any time soon.

[fanstheflames]

... Ahaha, nope. I'm still camped out on someone's floor.

[ Things Tsuruno says with a sheepish little smile and no actual regrets-- ]

[indwelt]

[ hol' up ]

On someone's floor? Do you at least have a bed?

[fanstheflames]

I mean, there's a bed there, but it felt like it belonged to whoever lived there first, so I haven't used it...

[indwelt]

So you've been making do with just the floor instead? [ This is so sad. ] Would you like to buy a bed of your own then? We can keep an eye out for one while we're here.

[ Although....how are they going to move it..... ]

[fanstheflames]

I've got a nice blanket nest going on for now!

[ Oh, boy. ]

So you don't have to worry about me.

[indwelt]

[ The worrying will never end. ]

If you're sure… [ He doesn't sound convinced. ] But if anything comes up and you decide you'd like something different, let me know.

[ He'll break his old man back for her. ]

Shall we get going though?

[fanstheflames]

Yes, sir! Let's go check it out!

[ That is so much better than breaking his old man back for her. Sir. Please don't do that. ]

[indwelt]

[ ONWARDS! Amazing how exciting walking through the front doors of a mall can be when you simply treat it like an adventure.

Although.... ]

It's probably less exciting to go shopping with an old man than it is a group of your friends though, huh.

[fanstheflames]

I wouldn't say that. I used to love going to get ingredients with my grandpa!

[ Definitely a grandpa's girl? Yeah.

... He really doesn't look that old, though?? ]