Story Reader / Affection / Ayla: Kaleido / Story
WGAA's hallway is bustling with people.
When you finish submitting to WGAA the documents picked up from the last mission, you check the time—and realize it's almost lunchtime.
Seeing the hustle and bustle in the hallway, it hits you that it's been a while since you last saw Ayla.
When the two of you last chatted a few days ago, Ayla told you that her agent was keeping her in captivity in her studio for the upcoming exhibit.
And her studio should be right here at WGAA... if your memory serves you correctly.
With the address she's sent to your terminal before and people's help, you head toward Ayla's studio.
As soon as you reach there, a message pops up on your terminal—from Ayla.
Seeing that it's a sticker of a person scratching their head, you believe Ayla is struggling with getting ready for the exhibit.
Commandant, where are you?! Geez, preparing for this exhibit is giving me a serious headache!
Why can't I just put my works at the exhibit and leave?!
Argh, I'm so done! Where are you? Let's hang out!
Huh?!
Following footsteps and some clinks and clanks from inside the studio, the door is pulled open...
Hey, you're really here!
I thought you were kidding!
Her eyes shining, Ayla looks very happy—and from the white paint on her clothes, you can tell that she's been "hard at work."
I see. Well, definitely looking forward to seeing you here more often, then.
Anyway, come on in. Your first time here, I believe?
Just so you know, it's a bit messy on the floor.
You really should have told me earlier so I could at least clean up a little...
Playing with the hair by her shoulder, Ayla seems a little flustered.
But I assure you that my studio is a lot more organized than it was a while ago when I couldn't move an inch without stepping on a piece of aluminum can. You see, I was doing some artwork using cans earlier...
Walking past the foyer, you see that the studio is a real mess.
There is paint of all sorts of colors splattered everywhere, sculptures with artificial flowers inserted into them unceremoniously, devices put together using weird metals and wood, picture frames and clipboards all over the place, and a half-finished painting of you...
I'm still working on that one.
Noticing what's caught your attention, Ayla pulls out a piece of cloth and throws it over the painting.
I saw F.O.S.'s uniform when I was reading one of the books at the library, and I decided to draw this because I was curious to see you in the uniform.
Hey, c'mon, stop looking that way already. I'll show it to you when I'm done. You didn't come all the way here for a painting of yourself, right?
It's just an idea of the moment that came to me naturally.
Of course. I've really poured my heart into it.
I'll give it to you when I'm done. Promise me you'll hang it in Gray Raven's lounge, okay?
Satisfied with your response, Ayla sticks her paintbrush by the easel and crosses her arms.
Alright. Let's see how much homework you got done!
Have you been practicing? Any progress with the composition techniques we went over before?
Ayla says with squinted eyes, as though expecting to hear negative responses from you so she could give you a piece of her mind...
Except she's not having it her way today.
See, I... Wait, what?
Her eyes wide open, Ayla looks incredulous.
But I thought you were away on a surface mission? Where did you squeeze in time to practice?
You were busy, indeed, but you managed to squeeze in time to put down lines here and there in your notebook while going from location to location.
Your work isn't perfect, and some even ended up crooked from turbulence or bumpy roads...
But you found yourself at peace whenever you had a sketching pencil in hand.
Great. Now, let's put your knowledge to the test!
Ayla erects an easel from the floor and puts a blank piece of paper on it.
Let's see if you can draw a picture of this sculpture here! Pay special attention to perspective, light, and shade like we talked about last time, yeah?
Coming through the window lattice, the sunlight of noon casts on the floor a thick shadow of the sculpture.
The hubbub outside the window and the dazzling sunlight both serve as reminders that it's lunchtime now.
...Oh my, it's lunchtime.
The word "lunchtime" seems to hit her like a wake-up call.
Anything you're in the mood for, Commandant?
The food in the lunchbox you bought beforehand fills the studio with an appetizing aroma.
Wow... it smells amazing!
Been such a long time since anyone last reminded me of lunchtime!
Ayla jumps to her feet and removes everything that's been sitting by the bay window. Then, ceremoniously, she throws a cloth cover in place that's meant to be a makeshift tablecloth—over which she carefully places the takeout boxes.
I think we're still missing something here... Oh!
She takes the artificial flowers from a sculpture, shakes the paint off them, and arranges them ever so carefully into a vase.
Perfect!
Ayla seems satisfied.
Lunch today sure tastes better than when you eat by yourself. Maybe it's the set-up that makes the food extra tasty.
By the way, Commandant, there is going to be an art exhibition awards ceremony in the next few days, and you've been invited, too!
And the invitation letter is... on the shelf, I think!
It doesn't sound like something that has anything remotely to do with you.
...There we go!
Ayla pulls out an invitation letter from under a pile of paper. The letter bears the name of the invitee, the time, and the address of the awards ceremony.
It's actually an Arts Competition for children sponsored by the World Government and the Association of Art.
The theme of the competition is "My Hero", and WGAA will be inviting some commandants from the Task Force as special guests because a lot of the kids have created their works based on the Task Force.
And you came to my mind right away. See, I hand-wrote your invitation letter.
Ayla waves the invitation letter at you as she plays with her hair.
So, what say you? Commandant [player name]?
Reading the invitation letter, you see that the ceremony happens to fall around dinner time, and it is on a day when you have a few hours to spare.
That would be wonderful. I'll see you there, then!
Says Ayla with a radiant smile—before she starts sharing with you her design draft for a new coating and what she drew the other day on an eureka moment...
You don't want to cut her off but can't help getting distracted by the food that's been sitting on the bay window.
Oh, right...
Ayla sits back down. With food in her mouth, Ayla is deep in thought again with her eyes looking straight outside the window.
Could this be one of her "eureka moments"?
Taking a few quiet steps backward, you find yourself looking at a natural watercolor painting—in which Ayla sits by the bay window against the cerulean backdrop of the sky, with a vase placed casually on the windowsill.
Right by you is the easel Ayla has erected, with a paintbrush on it. Checking your terminal, you see that there's still time to spare.
And before you know it, your hand is already doing the honor on the paper with the paintbrush.
Her messy strands of hair, profile, and casually propped-up legs—in the blink of an eye, you finish the outline.
Right then, however, your terminal starts beeping, displaying a reminder message for a meeting you need to attend.
Without disturbing Ayla, you leave the painting half-finished and close the door.
Click
At the sound of the door clicking shut, Ayla comes back to her senses.
...Commandant?
Geez, I wouldn't mind if you said goodbye at least...
Hopping off and circumventing everything on the floor, Ayla sees out of the corner of her eye the paper on the easel that was still blank moments ago...
Sitting quietly by the bay window with a beam in her eyes...
The girl in the painting is next to a few unfinished takeout boxes—unadorned with coating or a smile, looking unkempt with her somewhat messy hair and the paint and plaster on her clothes.
Is this how I looked just now...?
Ayla traces her finger along the girl's face.
Never knew this is how I look when I zone out...
The afternoon sunlight pouring in through the window lattice carpets the messy studio and bounces off Ayla's pink eyes.
Looking at the painting, Ayla once again finds herself deep in thought.
