✿ Chapter 004. [Audio/Video](Day 65)

[burntviolet]

[When the audio feed opens, you can hear the high pitched sound of some yapping, and then a hushing noise.]

Shhh... please be quiet for a moment...

[Hanako speaks softly, before returning her attention to the bracelet.]

Um... g-greetings again, everyone.

I suppose Laurent is... gone. [There's a gloomy tone to it.] I wish him the b-best and that he'll return s-safe and sound to his world.

...

[A pause.] There's... another particular matter I n-need to press. Laurent left me s-something. I guess he w-wanted me to take it, but he disappeared b-before he could tell me anything...

[And there you hear more yapping.] Ah- please not now! Um... well... hold on.

[Hanako switches the feed off. Some fiddling later, the feed opens again, this time set on video. You won't see Hanako's face, instead, the bracelet's camera is set towards the floor of her room, so you can only see her shoes, and...

And then there's an adorable corgi puppy dog sitting there, with its tongue out, tail wagging happily, and big curious eyes staring at you. It yaps a few more times before Hanako hushes it up again.]

I already checked... i-it's a female. I couldn't ask Laurent how o-old she is. Uhm... [Her feet shift awkwardly. The puppy still stares up as she speaks in the background] All I k-know about domestic pets I only have read in a b-book, but- I don't remember much and I have no experience whatsoever w-with animals. So I wondered if those o-of you who have a p-pet or know something about k-keeping a dog could... give me some advice.

Also... I w-wondered if you could... suggest me a name for her. I- I'm not good at these s-sort of things...

[Another pause. Hanako's growing anxious with keeping this a video.] I hope I wasn't a b-bother to you. Good... good day.

[Click! And the video ends.]

Comments

[saving_sound]

[Hibiki steps inside, holding on tight to the collar and leash in her hands. Still, she looks delighted to see the dog.]

She is so cute!

[burntviolet]

[Nashi slowly approaches Hibiki, curious.]

She is...

[saving_sound]

[She slowly reaches out, letting the dog sniff at her hand before she tries to pet her.]

It must be nice to have a pet like this... She'll be able to keep you company all the time!

[burntviolet]

[Sniff sniff sniff, Nashi nuzzles her hand gently.]

I guess... b-but I need to l-learn m-more about dogs...

[saving_sound]

[She pets her on the head.]

Good dog!

Ah... have you tried the library? I don't know much about dogs, but there must be a book about it. They have books on almost every subject I think...

[burntviolet]

[Nashi is happy! She'll lick her hand too. C:]

I'll... c-consider doing that soon, a-actually.

[saving_sound]

[She giggles at the licks. That tickles! Have more petting, doggie!]

Hopefully it can help. I've never had a dog before, so I don't know much about them either, eheh...

[burntviolet]

I see... having o-one all of a s-sudden is a bit t-troublesome...

[She looks gloomy at Nashi as she growls happily.]

But th-this is a gift and I'll definitely t-take care of her...

[saving_sound]

If you need any help, I don't mind stopping by when I can. She's really, really cute! I'm a little jealous...

[burntviolet]

Ah... n-no, don't be...

[saving_sound]

[She giggles some more. Something about cute animals just sort of inspires this behavior.]

And she's so friendly, too-! Lucky...

[burntviolet]

[Nashi nuzzles up to Hibiki's hand still, she likes her already C:]

Mhm... m-maybe it's the fact that she's s-still little...

[saving_sound]

Maybe... I wonder what she'll be like when she's bigger?

[Derp. But now she'll scratch Nashi behind the ears!!]

[burntviolet]

Um... Corgi d-dogs don't get much b-bigger, I think.

[saving_sound]

Eh... they don't?

[burntviolet]

... I've r-read it in a book.

[saving_sound]

...

[She looks down at Nashi, and then at Hanako. Back to Nashi. Back to Hanako.]

B-but... she's already so small!

[burntviolet]

... Because she's young...?

[saving_sound]

But if she doesn't grow much bigger... That would still be so tiny...

[burntviolet]

That's how c-corgis are, I'm afraid...

[She thinks for a few seconds.]

Though I w-wouldn't mind that. I could handle a small d-dog better than a big one.

[saving_sound]

...That's true. And she's already cute the way she is, so there is that as well!

[Now that that's cleared up, she's got her smile back. Petpetpetpet~]

[burntviolet]

Mhm...

[Hanako will just nod- and Nashi is happy to be petted again. She suddenly rolls on her back so Hibiki can rub her tummy, too. C:]

[saving_sound]

[Tummy rubs it is, then!]

Um... Ikezawa-san?

[burntviolet]

Ah... yes?

[saving_sound]

[She lowers her head shyly before speaking, her words hesitant.]

Would it... I mean, I don't want to be pushy, but...

Do you think... I could see Nashi some other times, too?