Story Reader / Affection / Bambinata: Vitrum / Story
Knowing that you could not write your personal experience with Bambinata in the script, you eventually did not manage to finish the speech for the conference.
Those kids had light in their eyes. You could not convince yourself to tell them about the cruel, harsh encounters you had on the battlefield, so you just gave up.
Fortunately, you asked Simon to write you a short note just minutes before the conference, so you at least had something to say.
Sigh... Now that this one is over, we can finally move on to the next.
Don't forget the enrolment ceremony speech again. We could relax and chat at the conference, but not in a formal ceremony like that.
Simon and you are half-lying on a bench, savoring a brief moment of relaxation.
Perhaps this short break is the only time that truly belongs to you. When you return to the lounge, the speech for tomorrow's ceremony will take up all your time once again.
?
Seriously? How can you look so calm when the deadline is just around the corner...
You have heard of a romantic metaphor: the poem already exists, all the poet does is to retrieve it from the wilderness of words.
In fact, you already have a rough idea of what to write. Still, you feel like something is still missing. You cannot express your true feelings, nor do you know how to address them.
Can't help you on that... What can I possibly do? Are you expecting me to write such an important speech for you right here, right now?
Anyway, no matter how this ends up like, it will all be over after tomorrow.
The same Sun shines upon exhausted Simon and yourself, as well as the children playing in the park.
Time slowly slips away. As the sun begins to set, children talk about coming back to continue playing sometime tomorrow before waving goodbye to each other. The automated vendors selling souvenirs and gadgets have also disappeared.
Simon and you also have to leave the park and return to the Task Force block. He is still reminding you to finish the speech at the very last moment.
As if trying to confirm something, you knock on the door of Egret once again.
Hello?
Does Bambinata... know you?
Bambinata is still leaning on the door, gazing at you.
[player name]? Are you [player name]?
Bambinata knows this name. Your voice... also sounds familiar.
How do you know that Bambinata has a diary?
Actually, no... Bambinata thinks she has shown you the diary before...
Bambinata suddenly reaches out and grabs your hand.
This is you. Bambinata remembers this feeling.
Bambinata seems to suddenly realize that she should not have grabbed you so abruptly. She quickly pulls her hand back and opens the door.
Sorry for that... Bambinata just wanted to double-check if you really are [player name].
Yes. Bambinata can confirm that you are [player name].
Bambinata can only remember things within the past 24 hours, so she doesn't remember other things about you.
But Bambinata can see you in her diary. Bambinata was looking for you, and went to see the doctor with you. You taught Bambinata what "another day" meant, Nice—
Um... [player name].
Bambinata looks like a kid who has successfully pulled off a prank, smiling gently and apologetically.
Still, she is the only one in the Egret lounge.
After staying with Bambinata for her frame check on that day, you lost contact with Vanessa completely.
While helping out in the College, you also asked some instructors and commandants for Vanessa's whereabouts, but had no luck.
Mistress didn't contact Bambinata... Bambinata could not reach her either.
But Bambinata will wait for her to return, because Mistress said she would come back after just a few days.
But... how many days are a few days?
Is that so...
Slightly dazed, Bambinata walks back to the sofa in the lounge and picks up the diary on the tea table. Her slender figure looks even more fragile in the empty room.
Bambinata just has to wait here. Bambinata just needs to write everything down.
[player name], Mistress Vanessa. Bambinata just needs to write it all down.
Are you leaving now?
The question itself is the answer.
Huh?!
She looks visibly surprised for a brief moment, but soon puts back the blank, emotionless expression that you saw in the beginning.
Bambinata... doesn't know how to respond to your request...
If [player name] is Mistress Vanessa's friend... No, not friend!
Bambinata needs to have permission from Mistress, but she ordered Bambinata to go to the check-up with you.
You... But it won't hurt...
Bambinata continues to argue with herself, but her voice gets lower and lower. She lowers her head until you can no longer see her face.
Bambinata never writes her own thoughts and judgments in her diary. In fact, whether she has those things at all can be a question. Those pale records finally look a little colorful later when you read what she wrote down on that day—
...
Diary No. 225...
Bambinata couldn't remember anything, but she read the records about Mistress Vanessa, [player name], the hospital and the inspector.
Bambinata remains on standby before 17:43.
Someone knocks on the door at 17:43. The person claims to be [player name]. Bambinata finds the voice familiar.
But Bambinata is not sure, because Bambinata only knows [player name] as a name. To confirm, Bambinata needs to touch and feel [player name].
Bambinata has confirmed it is [player name].
[player name] asks about Mistress Vanessa. [player name] seems to be concerned about Mistress. Bambinata wants to see Mistress too.
But Bambinata doesn't know where Mistress is. Bambinata tried to contact her but could not reach her.
Bambinata needs to wait for Mistress to return, because she will. Because that's what Bambinata's previous records said.
Just stay on standby. I'll be back in a few days.
That's what Mistress Vanessa said.
Mistress never lied to Bambinata. So she will be back in a few days.
Later, [player name] wants to take a break in Mistress's lounge and asks Bambinata for permission.
Bambinata can't answer, because she can't make a decision on behalf of Mistress.
But Mistress ordered Bambinata to go to the hospital with [player name]. In other words, Mistress trusted [player name].
Bambinata trusts Mistress's decision. Mistress trusted [player name], so Bambinata should trust [player name] too.
But is Bambinata allowed to make such a decision on Mistress's behalf?
Bambinata doesn't want to be alone. Is it right to think that way?
Bambinata made a decision. [player name] sits on the sofa that Mistress used to sit on. Mistress would punish Bambinata for this, but Bambinata still needs to write it down.
To trust [player name], that is Bambinata's decision.
Bambinata, if we both describe what happened today in our diaries, what would you write?
A strange question. Why would [player name] keep a diary? You won't forget things like Bambinata does.
Bambinata showed her diary to [player name]. This is how Bambinata keeps her diary.
It's indeed quite simple... But it doesn't seem like you were recording what had happened. Am I right?
Bambinata only writes things down because they happened. When Bambinata does so, they will take place again.
Bambinata doesn't think about things in the past, because they will not happen right now.
Bambinata cannot know the future, so Bambinata doesn't think about things in the future.
[player name] remains silent, as if thinking of something. Mistress Vanessa often does that too.
[player name] mentioned keeping a diary. Will [player name] write down what happened today like Bambinata?
Do you want to know, Bambinata?
It's not about whether Bambinata wants to or not. Bambinata just asked because [player name] mentioned it.
[player name] never talks again. Did Bambinata say something wrong?
[player name] is still not talking.
A long time has passed. Bambinata has been sitting next to [player name] all along.
Thank you, Bambinata.
When [player name] is no longer lost in thought, [player name] says this to Bambinata.
But Bambinata didn't do anything. Why thank Bambinata?
[player name] shakes the head and writes on the paper.
I'll come back tomorrow.
This is what [player name] wrote down. [player name] says this is a promise.
[player name] left after that, and Bambinata is the only one left in the lounge again.
Bambinata has written down what happened today so she can read it again tomorrow.
In the past, Bambinata was the only person that was ever mentioned in the diary. But today is different.
Alone.
