《Another Time, Another Universe》Broken Bonds
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"...and the figure started attacking me! I could hear myself in my thoughts saying that I hated my life..." I explain to Leafy. Just like the first vision, I can't quite make sense of this one just yet, but I prepare myself to hear Leafy's theoretical reasoning.
"Well, you seemed to have that vision when you first met the alliance members, right? Maybe there's a chance that meeting the other objects around here will cause you to have more visions. The very first vision you had was yesterday evening, when I apologized for unintentionally making you upset. Was that vision triggered by something related to that situation, perhaps?"
For a little while, I sit down with Leafy and think back to the time after I forgave Leafy yesterday evening.
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I know she feels really guilty about what she did, and yet despite the combination of the severity of the situation with the fact that it was her fault that nobody gets to enjoy the prize now, I don't care how much Leafy deserves to be hated; I love her like a sister no matter what, and I learned from this that everyone deserves a second chance.
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"...I don't know for sure... I guess we just need to keep looking for a pattern; these visions are probably just spontaneous and random, and with only 2 of them so far, it's too difficult to prove your theory right now."
Hearing my doubtful counteractive reasoning, Leafy pauses for a bit before continuing.
"Well, there's only one way to prove which speculation is right. I'm going to take you to see some other objects today, but not like any other this time: rather, my... old friends."
Leafy's strange hesitation between 'my' and 'old friends' is worrying to me, so I ask for more information on the subject. "I think you told me something about losing your friends on the day we first met, but what exactly do you mean by 'old friends'... and who are they, exactly?"
"Well... Pin was my first-ever friend. But, even though she seemed nice at first, she's actually kind of bossy, mean and pushy. Coiny was my second friend. I initially only became friends with him because Pin decided to introduce me to him sometime, but he's a really cool and laid-back guy even though he also really despises Firey for some odd reason. And Firey was my third friend, but... you already know the story."
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"But, about the 'old friends' part?..."
"Remember when I told you about the Dream Island incident when we first met, and that everyone hates me because of it? Well, my 3 closest friends do too, and they refuse to even look at me now. I see Coiny occasionally give me worried glances from a distance, though."
I feel even worse for Leafy at this point, and I put a supportive hand on her shoulder.
"You really did lose everything because of that incident, didn't you? Your friends, your dignity, and even the majority of your happiness are all gone from you, and yet you still manage to pull through every day, but why do you still bother, and how?" Leafy smiles and chuckles to herself.
"I guess that... when you're always happy and friendly, not even the whole world can get you down."
Putting my arm down, I look down at the ground quietly for a little while.
"Well, I guess we should get going now. Let's go find those 'old friends' you were talking about."
Leafy and I get up and head off in a random direction and begin our search.
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"...Hey, look! There they are, Leafy! Let's go right now!", I point out eagerly. I see what appears to be a coin and a pin chatting together in the distance, definitely the objects Leafy was talking about.
Leafy hesitates for a moment upon hearing my words.
"...R-Really? Well then, let's go," she stutters.
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As we walk towards them, the pin stops her conversation with the coin to turn to face us.
"Oh... hey, Leafy. Who's that you've got there with you?..."
"Well, this is my new friend, Yogurt Cup; I met her yesterday. She apparently first came to Goiky from some other place that day I met her, and she wants to get to know everyone here so she can become adjusted to her new life, and you and Coiny just happened to be the next objects I wanted to introduce her to."
Ignoring Leafy's slightly sour attitude, that she presumably has out of regret for the Dream Island incident, Pin just gives her an unimpressed look before she speaks again.
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"Well, then, that's wonderful, Leafy. But, why don't you let Yogurt Cup tell us about herself this time?"
I could clearly tell that Pin was quickly losing her patience with Leafy; her voice sounded strained in that sentence, and her tone seemed forced. Regardless of the awkward situation, I follow Pin's request anyway.
"Well... I mysteriously came to this place just yesterday, and while I was looking to see if anyone else was here, I ran into Leafy, and we became friends from then. Now, as Leafy already mentioned, she's introducing me to everyone here in this place so I can get accustomed to living here in Goiky. But I'm trying to find out how and why I came here, and from where."
After I finish my explanation, Coiny finally speaks.
"Wow... that's a pretty crazy story. You seem pretty cool, Yogurt Cup. Maybe we could hang out sometime?" "Thank you, Coiny; that's really nice of you. I'm glad to see that you like me; Leafy took me to meet the alliance girls, and they're all pretty mean except for Bubble. And yeah, we could hang out whenever you like." Pin then gives Coiny an annoyed look before turning back to me with the same bored countenance. "Well, 'Yogurt Cup', as touching as your little story is, as long as you're friends with that selfish Dream Island-stealing traitor Leafy, I don't think we can be on good terms, because that makes you just as horrible. Can't you two just go away now?"
Shocked and offended by Pin's harsh words, I give her a sharp glare, but just as Leafy and Coiny prepare to give Pin a verbal beatdown, I silently motion for them not to and they comply. I decide I'm not going to let the act of leaving Leafy and/or anyone else to confront my enemies for me turn into a habit; I instead decide that I'm going to handle the situation myself from now on. I turn to face Pin with an annoyed expression.
"And how is it a problem, let alone to you specifically, that I'm Leafy's friend? I know that what Leafy did isn't exactly the most forgivable, but you seriously ostracize your friend and treat her like a irrelevant piece of garbage, and then when she decides to be friends with me, someone that you don't evem or have any relations with, it's my fault? With that type of attitude, I think I'd like, if not love, that you don't want to be friends, because nobody needs your negativity anyway. No wonder Leafy only had things to tell me about you."
"...W-Well, ! I don't need you or Leafy, anyway! And as for Coiny, if he wants to support the traitor, too, then I don't need him !", Pin screamed before stomping away in a rage.
"Well, I guess that probably means Pin and I aren't friends anymore," Coiny sighs sarcastically, looking back at Pin storming off into the distance. "But, Pin's memory is as short as her temper; she's probably gonna come crying back to me sometime."
Giving him a look of consensus, I nod in agreement.
"Maybe you're right, Coiny. I personally really don't like Pin now, but maybe she's better for you. I just hope you keep that brat in check, because something tells me that this is the start of a lifelong hatred between her and I."
Suddenly, I can feel myself growing lightheaded and eventually blacking out again as my eyes droop closed.
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"You're a mistake, Chloe! A dirty stain! Piece of trash!"
"S-she... banged m-my head o-on the f-f-fountain... She b-betrayed m-me, m-made me believe w-we were real f-friends just to d-destroy it... I just wish I could DIE."
"The worthless piece of trash blacked out, what a shame. Oh, well..."
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"Yogurt Cup? Hello? Are you OK?" She's passed out... she must've had a REALLY traumatizing vision, perhaps? Well, it's getting late, so I'll have to wait until morning to do something about this...
"...I have to go, Leafy. I'll see you tomorrow, I guess..." "Oh? Um, good night, Coiny..."
"*sigh*..."
few
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