Twenty-Second Strike - [Action]

[not_klonoa]

[End of classes usually signals happy, excited chatter and the footsteps of many different students, young and old, as they exit the school building to head home for the day and begin homework or other daily activities like work, chores, or just other hobbies. One student, however, lingers in the playground as the last of the people trickle out

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[fonon_professor]

[Half an hour after the classes have ended, a certain teacher leaves the school building as well. She's dressed warmly and is clutching a small pile of books to her chest. As she surveys her surroundings, her gaze falls on Presea. It hadn't escaped her attention just how absent the girl's been, lately. Even moreso than usual.

She strides towards Presea without hesitation. Whenever she'd offered to spend some time with her, the girl did genuinely seem interested. What kind of person would she be if she just left Presea out in the cold like this, now? Gelda's voice is soft, so as not to startle her.]

Presea.

[not_klonoa]

[Thankfully, Gelda's approach was slow and quiet and, much like a small animal, Presea looked up, only just surprised. She hadn't thought anyone would really pay much attention to her out here. Or perhaps she hoped they wouldn't. Presea's surprise faded in a moment, however, and she just looked down again, avoiding Gelda's line of sight.]

Professor...Gelda. I-I apologize for my lack of...attentiveness in my studies recently. I have no excuse for that kind of behavior...

[fonon_professor]

[Even if Presea isn't directly looking at her, Gelda shakes her head softly anyway.] That isn't something you need to apologize for. I wasn't searching for any sort of excuse, either.

Would you mind if I take a seat? [She gestures to the empty swing next to Presea's. If there's something bothering her, it's best to simply discuss it. Otherwise, Presea's condition may only worsen.]

[not_klonoa]

[She's not in trouble? That's a little odd, considering how lackluster she was in just about everything for the past couple of days now. She was sure she was going to be called out on it, or punished in some way. Presea blinked, confused, and nodded as her eyes traveled from the spot beside her person back to Gelda.]

No...no, of course not.

[She nodded towards the opposite swing, beginning to sway very slowly in hers.]

[fonon_professor]

[She sits down on the swing's seat, both hands moving up to hold the chains. She won't be swaying. Instead, she tilts her head lightly to give Presea a concerned glance.]

Has something happened recently?

[not_klonoa]

[Presea stops moving, and her eyes move back towards her feet. She doesn't exactly want to tell anyone about what she'd just recently discovered, as it was personal and painful to talk about, but...Gelda was a kind person, and she did seem concerned.]

...Somewhat. I-I just learned something recently. Something concerning my family...back home.

[fonon_professor]

[Presea's family... Gelda's already heard plenty about that from Regal to get the general gist of things. She's curious just how much Presea knows, but she knows better than to ask. This isn't the kind of thing to be spoken of lightly.]

... I see. Judging by your demeanor, I can't imagine it was good news.

[not_klonoa]

Yes... [Presea closed her eyes and her hands slid lower on the chains of the swing as she just seemed to slump. She felt drained just thinking about it, about how she could do nothing to the people who caused Alicia's suffering and death.]

My family... Sheena told me that I...I no longer have a family to return to, if I am ever to be returned. My mother passed away when I was a child, but I was already aware of this. She had been deceased long before I arrived here. My daddy was ill when I was taken...and though I had been caring for him, his illness was too much to overcome, and my sister...she...

[Presea went silent, her throat tightening with anger and despair.]

[fonon_professor]

[She's silent for a moment. Then, she reaches out and carefully places a hand on Presea's shoulder. It's so hard to bear in mind just how old this girl really is. She may act mature enough for her age, but Gelda just can't stop thinking of her as an actual twelve year-old girl.]

You needn't talk about it if you don't want to.

[not_klonoa]

[Presea dug her toe into the snow to stop herself from swinging. She appreciated the hand on her shoulder, and how it provided some form of comfort, but she just couldn't speak any more about the matter. It was just too much to bear for her right now.]

I apologize... It was just very sudden. I...I did not expect it.

[fonon_professor]

[Gelda shakes her head again, a near-inaudible sigh escaping through her nose. Her hand gives Presea's shoulder a quick squeeze.]

I told you, that isn't something you need to apologize for. Everyone needs time to grieve when they lose a loved one. Such a thing can be very painful.

[not_klonoa]

[Presea nods slowly. That wasn't the entirety of why she was so distressed, but it was most of the reason. She wanted to go back to track down the ones responsible. She wanted to know what exactly happened, and why. If Alicia was a willing participant, then...would it be all right? No, Presea would have still been upset. Alicia shouldn't have suffered through the same thing she did.]

Y-Yes... Would it be all right if I were to takes some time to myself for a few days? I...I believe I will not function to the best of my abilities in this environment otherwise.

[And although she really did enjoy her classes, Presea didn't want to up and fail everything she knew she excelled in because of this.]

[fonon_professor]

[It's astounding how formal Presea is. She's improved ever since she received her Keycrest, but from time to time her speech can still catch Gelda off guard. She smiles faintly, before retracting her hand and folding it with the other in her lap.]

Of course, Presea. You can take as much time off as you need.

[not_klonoa]

Thank you... I will not absent for too long a period. ...You have my word.

[Presea opened her mouth to apologize again, but closed it slowly. Gelda said she should apologize, and though Presea understood it wasn't necessarily her fault nor anyone else's, she still felt terrible for doing all this. After she had been so excited to begin going to school and learning things she never thought she would have otherwise, she had to take time off. And for such a reason...

Presea just wished circumstances were different. She wished she could do something more.]