Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Heart's Whispers Across Time / Story
After a hectic afternoon, you finally get a few minutes to relax, leaning back on the break room couch.
You pop open the cherry soda on the tea table, and the fizz washes away the morning's tiredness.
The artificial cherry flavor is spot-on, sweet with a tiny bit of tart, you can't help but chug it.
You sink into the soft cushions, letting yourself drift off into a midday nap...
...
The backend team's going nuts, and you, the "culprit", are just chilling here?
A cool, soft touch wakes you up. You open your eyes and see Teddy's finger on your forehead.
Her face is as calm as always, not showing a thing, but she smells strongly of freshly baked food.
Plus, she really leans into the word "culprit", and, oddly, explains everything in detail, which she never does. Putting it all together, you know she is faking it.
Didn't you hear? You fell asleep for five minutes, forgot to send the mission data, and now Babylonia's firewall is down.
Those guys are freaking out, looking everywhere for you.
Look, no point in making excuses. The damage is done.
Your only shot at avoiding those angry programmers is to hide out with me here in the break room.
You're stuck here for the rest of the afternoon.
Teddy holds out her wrist, and the word "ALERT" scrolls big on the screen from her watch terminal.
She tilts her head, giving you a serious look, like, "See? I'm not kidding."
What's bothering you?
...Humph.
As soon as she finishes, a sly smile spreads across her face.
Been a few days, and you've turned into a real charmer, huh?
Never mind. I knew you wouldn't buy my story anyway.
She relaxes a bit, then tosses her tablet-sized mini-terminal, which she's been hiding, to the Commandant across from her.
If you're so keen on the truth, then take a look.
You enter the terminal password, go to the mission notifications, and scroll down to your "Latest Notification".
Then you spot a bright red line: "EMERGENCY MISSION".
Man, you have some terrible luck, huh?
Last time it was the team lottery, and this time, on your birthday, everyone has to do an emergency mission report.
I went to the store early for baking powder and frosting, and even asked my annoying brother for help, just to get fresh cherries from the conservation area...
But because of you, all my plans are ruined. So, how are you going to make it up to me?
That's why she smelled like baked food, not her usual scent.
"Next time" is the last thing I want to hear.
You don't get to finish your sentence, because Teddy moves suddenly.
If I want something, I get it, plain and simple.
[player name], haven't you heard? Expired canned cherries never taste the same.
Teddy moves closer with a sneaky grin and snatches the flashing terminal from your hand.
Sorry, that last part was a fib.
Actually, I went ahead and submitted that mission for you while you were sleeping.
But watching you drink all my cherry drinks without asking, then sleep like a log, not even noticing my surprise... it's hard not to be mad...
So, a little teasing isn't too bad, is it?
Her smile, like her sweet scent, feels dangerous, but you can't look away.
So, what are you going to do to make it up to me today?
