[Video| 1st note]

[teacuptarget]

[The image is very staged, as if the teenager had rehearsed and settled himself carefully. He's sitting down, with a notebook on his lap, and he smiles at the screen with his best friendly look. He's dressed very neatly, a sweater vest with a tie visible in the picture. A very plain metal bracelet hangs on his wrist, opposite the one with the communicator bracelet on it.]

Excuse me. This is a little awkward, but I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a strange situation.

[He holds his pen above his notebook, as if he might be about to doodle to help himself think.]

I've heard that I've been here before? I don't remember, so I want to talk to anyone who has had a similar situation, or those who might have known me before. For those of you who don't, my name is Gau, I live at Sigyn House, and I would love to hear anything useful you can tell me about people coming and going this way here.

[He clears his throat, unsure how to end the video, and finally settles for a small bow toward the screen, which if anything looks awkward.]

Comments

[teacuptarget]

Oh. I guess I'll just have to keep looking for clues and see what happens then.

[He's a little disappointed.]

Thank you for the information anyway.

[burntviolet]

It's no problem. I'm sorry for not being able to provide more information. [ Um, wait. ] There's a file written by someone about Asgard, though. I don't remember if there are details about that matter specifically, but...

[teacuptarget]

Oh, my friend Conan-kun showed me one! And I've been looking about for more information. But it's always good to ask questions too, isn't it? For a broader viewpoint.

[burntviolet]

Ah, I didn't know that. Then it's all fine... that's the extent I could help with.

... my name is Hanako Ikezawa. If there are more questions, I'll try to answer them the best I could- I've been here for some long time.

[teacuptarget]

You're very kind.

Is it hard to have been here so long? Do you get tired of seeing people come and go like this?

[burntviolet]

I'm getting used to the flow that is my time in here. Of course, losing a friend or acquaintance here is source of sadness to me. [ More than she may let out, although she's pretty bad at hiding her emotions for the most. ]

Then again, I would rather they stayed safe in their world than have them deal with the war that is going on here. [ That's the very reason why she got over the fact that her best friend Lilly returned home as well. ]

[teacuptarget]

That's a good point I guess.

[He sighs.]

I should be glad my friends aren't here too, I suppose. But it's weird, suddenly being on my own.

[burntviolet]

I know the feeling. [ Well, she's still got Hisao, but... their friendship is on the awkward side now, due to certain incidents. ] Even so, most of the people here are very kind and helpful. You're going to settle yourself soon enough, hopefully.

[teacuptarget]

Of course I will.

[He smiles again, suddenly, brightly.]

I'm good at that. Adapting. I'll be fine, there's no need to worry about me.

[burntviolet]

I'll count on it, then. There are some people who had a hard time adapting, including myself, so finding someone who can do that with no problem is a good thing, surely.

[teacuptarget]

I'll do my best anyway. It helps that people like you are so kind.

[burntviolet]

I've been here a long time, so trying to help the new arrivals is something I think I ought to do.

[ But it's still awkward. ]

[teacuptarget]

It sounds like you're adjusted okay to me, then.

[burntviolet]

There are still some things I'm not used to- but I'm mostly alright now.

[teacuptarget]

If there's ever anything I can do to help...

[He catches himself and laughs.]

Oh but then we've gone full circle.

[burntviolet]

Ah- thank you, but there's no need to- I'm adapting as much as I can.

[ Full circle indeed, and she's the one who should help here. ]

[teacuptarget]

Still! Let's be friends and support each other, okay?

[burntviolet]

[ Friends... ]

... before that, we should know each other better, isn't it right?

[teacuptarget]

Oh.

[He's so used to just jumping in, and he realizes only belatedly that he's been a little too gung-ho about it.]

Well, of course, I just meant... I didn't mean it that way... it was just... you know. It's just that I'm alone here and I-uh-I... I'm sorry.

[His voice gets very quiet at the end.]

[burntviolet]

There's time to get acquainted with each other... don't be sorry.

[ She's had experience with people who assumed she was their friend after the first talk. No big deal. ]

[teacuptarget]

No, it was a very awkward thing to say. But thank you.

[burntviolet]

It's no problem, really... so, where are you exactly from? [ Sorta breaking the ice, somehow. ]

[teacuptarget]

Oh. I'm from Japan. Most recently we were working near Tokyo. Does that tell you anything or...?

[burntviolet]

Ah, I'm from Japan as well. Somewhere up north, though... have you ever heard of Yamaku?

[teacuptarget]

[He stops to think about it for a moment.]

No, I don't think so. But I don't know everything, of course. It could be we're from the same world even.