The jury's still out.

“That’s... interesting. Wow, actually, that’s amazing... what happened? Is that metal? How does that even operate?” The girl walked closer and leaned in to get a better look at it. “That’s... real. I don’t believe it!” She laughed. “I thought you had a girl’s hand sewn on or something! Wow, I can’t believe the stuff people’ll spread around!”

“I’ll try not to.” Maizono braved a smile. “Sahirah... that’s an interesting name. What does it mean?” She fought back a cough by holding her breath.

“Thank you for your consideration. I will repay you somehow, as the princess of Novo-” The blonde forgot what she was saying as he scooped her up. Her eyes went wide and she felt her heart begin to speed up. “Thank you.” She mumbled, holding his shoulders. 

Watching her own hair sway with every step he took, she felt herself begin to relax despite the pain. When Rinnosuke placed her onto the cushions, she realized that he seemed to have some idea of how to handle this situation. She thought it intriguing, though she didn’t have the strength to verbalize it. 

She sighed when he left to retrieve some ice. She kicked off the shoe and sock off of one foot easily and sat up slowly to pull down the other. By the time the shopkeeper returned, she took the pack of ice and whispered her gratitude before placing it onto her swelling flesh. 

Making a mental note of how considerate he was, Sonia mulled over the various ways she could reward him. She couldn’t tell from his shop whether or not he was in need of money, but giving him some probably wouldn’t hurt even if he was rich. She let herself sink into the couch more and began to do the breathing excersizes she had learned. Usually she had no need for it, and it was always tucked into the back of her mind; today however it would prove useful. Taking in as much air she could without spasming, she counted till she couldn’t hold it anymore. She exhaled loudly and let her eyes flutter closed. 

“I really cannot thank you enough,” Sonia uttered. “Doing all this for a mere stranger... you really are generous.”

“Thank you so much... I’m sorry to ask like this, but what’s your name? I’m Sayaka Maizono.” She shut her eyes and covered her mouth with one hand, afraid to vomit. She wrapped her other hand around Sahirah’s shoulders.

“I am sorry for my outbursts. Please forget you heard anything. I will do what I may within my power to restrain myself in future.” She tried to rise to her feet once more but fell. “Fuck!” Sonia cleared her throat. “Erm, I mean... oh goodness me! I am ever so clumsy.” She tried to move her foot but to no avail. “Would it be too much to ask for your assisstance?

“I cannot feel my ankle... I do not think that bodes well for me. Ah... it has turned into this lovely ocean blue color as well...” The princess groaned and reached for his hand. “I do not think I can walk... praytell, do you keep any bandages in your shop? I will pay for them in full, so do not fret.” Tsumiki would know what to do, but she wasn’t there to offer her medical attention. Even someone as useless as Kazuichi would have some contraption to help... she wished she accepted his eager offers to escort her now. But she mostly yearned for Tanaka; he evidently knew a lot about bandages, whatnot with his arm completely coated in them. If only he wasn’t hired to help train some feral wolves... 

“Rinnosuke-san, you must think low of me. I hope I may make it up to you somehow...” Sonia kept thinking about Tanaka. How he would say his eccentricities like it was normal, how he towered over her. The way his trench coat would billow in the wind and his scarf looked like a snake coiled around his neck at some angels. His deep voice was so soothing to her. Then she mentally kicked herself, as now was not the time to dote over him. She needed to focus on getting herself taken care of. 

“That’s good to hear...” Komaru nodded. “I’m sorry the Monokuma kids didn’t help, but I’m glad that you at least bandaged it. Do you have any scars? How’s your hand? I heard some weird rumors about your hand... can I ask what happened to it? I don’t mean to pry, but I’ve heard some pretty messed-up things. And you’re always wearing this mitten, so I can’t help but wonder if anything I’ve heard is true.”

“Would it be too much trouble to ask?” Maizono cast her gaze to the dog. “I... do you think they’ll be too busy to help me?” She rubbed the ground with her foot. “I don’t want to cause any trouble...” 

“Are you certain?” Sonia questioned. “Hmm... I suppose you are right. You do seem to be normal in that sense... I do apologize for getting over excited. It is what you would call culture shock.” She courtsied. “I merely wish to know things. Please elaborate! Where may I find some of these incredible beasts? I will begin my search right away upon your word!

“Oh my, I am afraid I do not even know your name. I forgot that common courtesy. I am so ashamed... ah, I should say my name first, is that not how it typically goes? I am Sonia Nevermind. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Sonia courtsied once more. 

“Ah, you are right once more about the dramas... they really are only that; dramas. But even dramas are based off of real occurences, correct? Therefore we can deduce that it may have been accurate at some place some time ago, and we can also deduce that it may happen once more. That is not to say that it must happen right now either. Just that it may happen once more... am I making any sort of sense?” The princess smiled apologetically. “I keep going on tangents that are completely irrelevant. I hope I am not troubling you.

“I have a map right here of the layout of this land.” She slipped a hand into her breast pocket and held it out to him. “Please tell me where we are and where I must go to see these shrines.” A gentle breeze abruptly began, but changed into a gust of wind. With a squeak, she realized too late that it had taken her map. “Shit!” She yelled in a voice very unlike herself. She began to run after it.  “You’ve got to be fucking me right now!” Sonia’s heel got caught on a rock and she collided with the ground. Dirt stained her front. “Damn it all to hell!” Feebly attempting to regain her footing, she realized too late that her heel had snapped off and her foot was in a disturbingly unnatural angle. “Son of a bitch!” 

@sonderiiism

“Um, I’m sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you know where the nearest hospital is.” 

Like this post for an angsty starter!

“Old books... hmm, actually, I do smell that mildly, now that you mention it.” The princess clapped her hands together at confirmation of her knowledge. “Aha! I knew it! I am so well-informed, wouldn’t you agree?

“You claim to be safe with your... constitution? What does that mean? Perhaps your lungs are so damaged it does not matter how much you smoke now? What a terrible fate...” She casted her gaze towards the ground and gripped her arm. 

“I am so sorry to hear of your misfortune. I do wish I could offer you more than my condolences, but alas, I cannot.” Sonia’s imagination always got the best of her, and now was no exception. “And yes, I do know of this land. My friend has taught me well. He said that there are incredible creatures that roam these lands, so I had to come see them for myself! I really have not seen any of his claims, but I still am keen to find something that which he speaks of. Perhaps you know of the Hakurei or Moriya Shrines? I assume they would have knowledge of such things.” She shifted her weight side to side. “Or perhaps you know more than you let on! Like all those Japanese dramas... the shopkeeper sees all!” Her eyes began to shine with wonderment again. “Please tell me what you know!” Clapping her hands together and bouncing on her heels, she began to badger him for more information. “What will you take in exchange?! My blood is impure, I regret to say. But I am more than willing to give you some of my hair, or nail clippings, or whatever I may provide you!

“I beg of you, almighty shopkeeper of the foreign lands of Gensokyo, to tell me whatever you may be hiding!” 

Fukawa watched him like one would watch a feral animal. When he slipped his hand into his pocket, she stepped back and held her stun gun, ready to shock herself into becoming the shadow of herself she so hated at her whim. Her eyes became narrow slits till she saw he pulled out a card-shaped item and held it for her to look at. Taking a deep breath before stepping forward, she saw that it was a Future Foundation ID. 

“Oh... I understand n-now...” Her shoulders dropped. “I’m s-sorry, I didn’t know... I d-don’t think I’ve seen you either. Yes, I wasn’t able to j-join... but what is it to you?! You think it’s pathetic, don’t you? Y-you’re here for a good laugh! Laugh at the w-woman who couldn’t get into the Future Foundation at the e-end of the world! I bet y-you think I’m fil-” She stopped mid-word when she heard him say Genocider Syo. She froze completely for what felt like an eternity to her, but evidently only a couple of seconds to Takumi. 

“I don’t know a-anything about serial killers... n-nothing at all! Wh-what kind of woman to I look like to you?!” Realizing that she had forgotten to put her stun gun away, she jumped and dropped it on the floor, as if he would forget its existence entirely if she made it as if she had as well. “I-I only want to help p-people... I’m not interested in those d-damn serial killers, especially G-Genocider Syo!” She began to chew on a nail like a rabbit, her eyes darting to the doors. “D-don’t EVER ask me about Genocider Syo!” 

“Ah, really? That is a shame then.” The blonde tried to hide her disappointment. “Well... it is an incredible country, really! I am so fortunate to have been born there. They teach children how to operate tanks at young ages. I am so lucky to have such good education.

“Ah, so this IS just a robe! What material is it sewn from? Cashmere? Silk?” She walked up to the garment and touched it with a careful hand, stroking it as gentle as one would stroke a kitten. “Oh, my... I do not know what material this is.” Her eyes went wide with confusion. 

“I know most materials by touuch, so this is most curious.” She giggled when he explained that she was looking at his hookah. “I did not take you for a smoker; you smell very clean, like you just showered!” Sonia giggled again. “I do not partake in smoking myself,  though I do like watching the fumes mix into the air. However, I hear that even inhaling someone else’s smoke is quite dangerous, so I do try and refrain.

“Dangerous? Dangerous how? I can more than gurantee that I can handle myself in a tussle. Perhaps you would like a demonstration? I know where I am; I have researched it a little, but perhaps not enough. This is Gensokyo, is it not?”

“I know your view of reality was kind of... special, but this is probably really unhealthy. Can I at least look at the wounds? Did you even put disinfectant or bandages on it?” Komaru tilted her head to a side as a show of concern. “Don’t let yourself get hurt for someone else’s hope or whatever... that won’t give anyone hope. You need to take care of yourself, you know? Even though you’re a little messed up, you’re still someone I feel responsibility towards, and I get worried about you.”