Life inside the music box ain't easy

[bellsanddreams]

Who: Chi, Ryme
When: After Rhyme's entry
Where: Bookstore, Rhyme's room
What: Time to play a game!
Rating: PG

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[clueless_chobit]

Chi immediately bounced off her bed when she heard the knock at the bathroom door. She was used to Hideki and herself just opening the door, but when they went to Minouru's house, they would knock. It was the sure sign that friends were over. So far, Chi had been really good at keeping her side of the room, not wanting her roommate to be mad at her. An almost impossible task, since Uzuki just ignored the Persocom most of the time. This made Chi feel really lonely, but at least Rhyme wasn't too far away.

The girl really had been a good friend to Chi. Chi only wished she could return the favor to the small girl. Flinging open the door, Rhyme was met with a large embrace from the Persocom, lifting up the small girl as if she were a doll. "Chi is happy Rhyme is here." Gently placing Rhyme down, Chi bent over so she could see here face to face.

[bellsanddreams]

Rhyme gave a surprised "Oh!" when she was brought up and hugged by the persocom. She ended up laughing, though, and gave Chi a hug around the neck. There was a sadness in the girl somehow, though, when she put Rhyme down. "I'm happy to be here too, Chi!"

Rhyme reached up to take Chi's hand and started to walk out of the bathroom and back through her room to the door. "Chi, is something wrong? You seem a little sad..."

[clueless_chobit]

"Chi?" That was something unexpected. Chi's "emotions" were based on her programming, but it didn't mean that she was good at hiding them. Ever since she arrived, there's been a hole where Hideki would be. But Hideki wasn't here. There was no sign of him coming either.

"Chi is sorry. Chi didn't mean to make Rhyme worry." Averting eye contact, there was a pained look on Chi's face. As if she was apologizing for something, but wasn't sure what it was. "Chi misses Hideki. Chi wonders if Hideki is alright when Chi is alone."

[bellsanddreams]

Rhyme listened to the girl and frowned, still holding her hand. "'I'm really sorry, Chi. I..don't know what to do about Hideki not being here, but you can always come over and spend time with Shiki and me! You can even stay in our room too, if you want. I don't think Uzuki is really a very good roommate. She doesn't spend lot of time with anyone, I don't think."

Rhyme wished she could find a way to make Chi happy again She could only hope that being with friends would do it.

[clueless_chobit]

Even if Hideki wasn't here, it didn't mean that Chi was alone. The Persocom smiled at Rhyme, as if she was reassuring the girl that this particular Chobit was alright. "Chi would like to spend time with Rhyme and Shiki. Chi met Shiki at class, so Chi knows Chi can trust Shiki. Chi doesn't have to be alone, because Chi knows that Rhyme and Chi are friends."

[bellsanddreams]

"Yes, exactly! We're good friends now so if Uzuki starts to make you feel sad, you can come find me and I will be happy to spend time with you, Chi!'

The blond girl gave a Chi's hand a squeeze. "So let's go get a game to play now, ok?"

[clueless_chobit]

"Chi? What game will Rhyme and Chi play?" Other than the question games she played with Sumomo, Chi really didn't know that many games. Did the morning exercises count as a game?

[bellsanddreams]

"Well, there are tons of games. There are card games and board games. There are also video games but I don't think there are any video game systems here on campus."

Rhyme moved along down the hallway, still holding Chi's hand. "Do you know of any games you'd like to play?"

[clueless_chobit]

Card games? Board games? Such weird names for games. Where they names like Shady Place was a name for Live Peep? "Chi does not know what card or board games are. Can Rhyme teach Chi different games?"

Taking the girl's hand, the pPrsocom obediently followed like a puppy.

[bellsanddreams]

"Sure I can! I'd love to! Card games are played with a deck of cards. Do you know what cards are?" Rhyme asked, turning toward Chi with a bright smile. "Board games have a set amount of rules and pieces and you play it on a board that's made for that game."

[clueless_chobit]

Both card games and board games seemed a little familiar to Chi. Maybe she saw something like it on television when Hideki wasn't watching one of his pornos the news. "Are cards the paper that have red or black shapes on them?"

[bellsanddreams]

"Yes! Cards have either a red or black symbol on them and that means something. Either it's a number or a person like a queen." Rhyme explained, nodding. "And we could play a game like go-fish. If we get a board game, they'll be a lot of different rules and pieces to play with."