Putra |
"Aduhduh. Conductor, you okay?" |
We are in a strange forest. The atmosphere was completely different from the forest we had last been in. I had no idea that the end of that hole was leading to a place like this. |
Putra placed her hand over her eyes and looked around. |
Putra |
"Behind us is a dead end, in front of us is a fork, and our leisurely mushroom hunting has suddenly turned dangerous." |
Putra |
"Now then, which way shall we go..." |
Putra |
"......" |
Putra |
"Conductor, which would you rather be, an octopus or a squid?" |
Conductor |
Huh? Why this question all of a sudden? We're in a forest, and I think there's neither octopus nor squid. |
Putra |
"I don't need you to start a straight man gag. Don't think too deep, think 'initiatively'." |
Conductor |
You meant 'instinctively', not initiatively. For now, let's go with... squid. |
Putra |
"Squid huh. This way then." |
Putra pointed proudly to the right from her point of view. So apparently, she associated the octopus and the squid as the right and the left respectively. |
Putra |
"For now, we just have to move forward. Let's move on, Conductor." |
Putra extends her hand to me. We hold each other's hands firmly this time, so that we don't get lost in each other's company. |
---- |
Putra and I had been going through the forest for quite some time now. It was a strange forest, with lots of Verforet-like plants growing around us, sometimes even the flowers started singing. |
Putra |
"......" |
Putra's expression was slightly grim as she continued walking. Are you anxious? |
Putra |
"Hehe, did you find out? Well, a little bit." |
Putra |
"We're always together when we walk in dangerous places like this. It's a bit unnerving, you know?" |
Putra |
"And I'm still a bit nervous when I think that I'm alone with you, Conductor..." |
Conductor |
Yes, I agree with that. |
Putra |
"Eh!? You mean, you get nervous too when you're alone with me?" |
Conductor |
Nervous? I thought you said you were nervous without everyone else. |
Putra |
"Ah!" |
Putra |
"Oh right, that's right! Of course I'm a bit nervous when the usual members aren't here, of course? I would feel safer if Vivienne or Vivienne was here." |
Putra |
"But Conductor, you also trusted everyone that much, yeah?" |
Conductor |
It's natural. We're together a lot, regardless of the mission. We're like a big family now. |
Putra |
"A big family..." |
Conductor |
...By the way Putra, I don't think I can find the barette you had on earlier anymore. |
Putra |
"Eh?" |
Putra |
"Huh? It's gone..." |
Putra |
"Maybe I dropped it when I fell down the hole." |
Conductor |
It's going to be hard to find it in these woods. I'll have to give up looking for it on the way back if I can't find it. |
Putra |
"Oh no..." |
---- |
Putra |
"Good morning, Conductor." |
Putra |
"Hmm? What's wrong with you, you're so quiet." |
Conductor |
No, I just thought you look good in that star-shaped barette. |
Putra |
"Star?" |
Putra |
"Aah~ this one! I made myself a new barette♪ and by the way, that's not a star, that's a starfish." |
Conductor |
A starfish? I'm sorry about that. But, that's very Putra. I think it's cute on you. |
Putra |
"Hehehe, thank you. I was right to put it on." |
Putra |
"I'm so happy that Conductor complimented me on it..." |
---- |
Conductor |
Apparently it was a special new one to match your attire today. You look terribly depressed. |
Putra |
"I'm fine I'm fine. I'm cheerful. I'm really really fine. I can handle a cold tummy." |
She is clearly depressed. Putra is the kind of person who would do something funny to make everyone laugh at times like this, but it seems that the mental damage has indeed been done. |
--I thought I heard something fishy, so I came over...
--I see you're lost, miss. |
Putra |
"Eh?" |
Putra |
"Are you, the lil' rabbit from earlier?" |
To Putra's surprise, the rabbit that Putra was chasing at first has revealed itself. It is now wearing clothes and a hat. The rabbit bowed at Putra. |
--You have a nice hairstyle. They look like rabbit ears. |
Putra |
"It- it talked! Conductor, the rabbit talked, right?" |
--This is Wonderland. It's no surprise that I can talk! |
Putra |
"Wonderland?" |
--And if I may ask, is this barette yours, miss? |
Putra |
"The barette I dropped! Lil' rabbit, you found it for me? Thank you!" |
You're welcome. The rabbit bowed politely. The rabbit then uttered next. |
--Do you know how to get out of here? |
Putra |
"I have no idea." |
Conductor |
Ditto to Putra. |
Putra |
"Lil' rabbit, do you know the way out, by any chance?" |
--Of course I do! But I can't teach you how for free. |
It's on one condition! And the rabbit cheekily offered an exchange. |
Putra |
"Condition?" |
--You must entertain our Queen and make her smile.
--The Queen is melancholic. Her heart is frozen. Miss, will you break the Queen's ice? |
Making people smile. That is what Putra does best. |
Let's do it. We can pick mushrooms another time. Putra clenched her fist in front of her chest as I gave her a prod on the back. |
Putra |
"Leave it to me! I'm super good at that sort of thing!" |
Putra |
"How many times have I saved people from laughing? My one-liners are funnier than fun-gus fields." |
Putra |
"...Huh? Don't tell me, lil' rabbit was trying to make the Queen laugh with Wonder Mushrooms?" |
--Yes, I heard it grants wonderful imaginations. |
Putra |
"No, you can't do that! Those are not imaginations, but hallucinations!" |
Putra |
"I'll make her laugh ya. Lil' rabbit, take me to the Queen." |