Story Reader / Festival Event Story / White Wishes / Story
Where to next, Commandant?
Okay. We haven't done anything together in a while, Commandant.
Want to go walk around?
As soon as you leave, you see a small figure curled up in the chair behind you—the girl who was listening to Liv's story earlier.
She fell asleep on the chair. Her face has a red mark from the arm of the chair, but she's still sound asleep.
Um... She told me she was all by herself when we first met. No friends or family.
You gently tap the arm of the chair she's resting her head on. Awoken by the strange sound, she yawns softly and stretches like a tired kitten.
She opens her eyes and, a few moments later, looks at the strangers standing before her.
Who...?
...Huh? You're that dancing robot... And the robot telling stories!
Liv kneels down and gently strokes the girl's hair.
Time to wake up. You'll catch a cold if you keep sleeping on the chair.
Resting her head on the arm of the chair, the tired "kitten" hears the strange sound, yawns softly, and stretches.
Oh! You're the robot telling stories!
Huh... Who's that? Oh, the dancing robot...
I'm waiting for my mommy and daddy.
But I've waited so long... And they're still not back. They don't want me anymore. Do they?
Hearing this, Liv looks at you gloomily, as if to confirm you are thinking what she is.
Whether or not they know the answer to this question, most of the children left in the conservation area had lost their parents...
Unfortunately, this child doesn't seem to be the exception.
But who can bring themselves to shatter her hope?
My name's Ellie.
Want to go play with friends?
...
The girl hesitates a moment and looks at the crowd off in the distance.
I haven't made any friends here yet. Mommy and Daddy aren't back either...
Is that okay?
Her dark eyes suddenly burst into light. Seems like she had been waiting for someone to invite her for quite some time.
Of course! We're going to try out some of the activities here.
The ones for collecting Star Tickets?
Oh, I know those. You just need to join the events, and you can ask the old lady for Star Tickets.
Okay!
Which one do you wanna do first?
Can we try that out?
She points to an area beside the convention hall.
The one where three people tie their legs together and race?
She's not as tall as us, but we can run at her speed.
You go with Ellie and Liv to the track.
You adjust the bandage tying you and Ellie's legs together. Even though the bandage is wrapped around your foot, it comes up to Ellie's calf.
As long as you and Liv hold her up in the air and let her feet move with your legs, you can avoid tripping over each other due to such a large difference in your strides.
(Nods)
Supporting Ellie with your arms, you and Liv can run together one foot after another.
Okie-dokie!
Ready? Set. GO!
Left, right, left, right...
Left, right, left, right...
Left, right, left, right...
Ah!
Just as she crosses the finish line, Ellie falls with a scream and drags Liv down to the ground with her.
S-sorry.
Commandant?! Are you okay?
S-sorry... I...
Congratulations, you three!
Even though you fell right at the end, you still managed to cross the finish line. Also...
She looks at the time.
You three are the fastest with a child in the race. Here is the prize for first place.
It's hard enough with three people as it is, let alone with a child.
...
The staff member smiles and waves.
Thank you for doing it with Ellie.
Here's your reward. The first place prize is candy and chocolate.
Chocolate...
You don't like chocolate, Ellie?
The little girl shakes her head like crazy.
I love chocolate! Especially winning it with you two. But...
She fixes her gaze on a straw bracelet, which is a commemoration award for anyone who failed to place in a game.
Yeah... Mommy made one for me. But it was ruined after all the rain...
Okay, we'll go do another event and bring you the prize. How's that sound?
Really? I don't wanna trouble you...
Is that okay, Commandant?
Alright, Ellie. Let's go.
C-Commandant...
Liv lowers her head shyly.
I... think so, too...
