2 ❧ ran to a tower where the church bells chime; I hoped that they would clear my mind

[headedforhope]

[ A | Home (briefly), Mayfield Public Library, Malt Shop, John Doe Park, Cosplay Cafe; Jacques' Roller Rink; Mami wakes up far earlier than she needs to on a Sunday. But then, it's not Mother's Day everyday, and right now she can't stand being inside the house longer than is absolutely necessary. All it will do is remind her of her own home, the

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C

[flameyedhunter]

[Have another girl sitting in the church, looking pensive.]

[flameyedhunter]

Oh, I know I am. Just... all that's gone, here. I've got friends but no partners to help me do what I do.

[She smiles a little sadly.]

Say, you look about my age. Do you go to school here? If so, what grade?

[headedforhope]

["At least you had a partner."]

I'm fourteen and in eighth grade at the elementary school here.

[flameyedhunter]

Oh, you should watch out for my assigned father. Tank Dempsey. He's pretty much always a jerk and he teaches gym at your school.

[She gets a pretty annoyed face just thinking about him.]

[headedforhope]

I'll be sure to avoid him, thank you.

[Her expression doesn't change.]

[flameyedhunter]

YOu're welcome.

[She looks around the church a little.]

You ever met Ciel-Senpai?

[headedforhope]

[Mami jerks a little.]

Miss Ciel? She's my...assigned mother.

[flameyedhunter]

You're really lucky! Ciel is about the coolest person here!

[She giggles a little.]

I guess that means.... hmmm, Sakura is your sister then? If I'm remembering right anyway they live together.

[headedforhope]

I suppose. She's certainly a very sensible and friendly woman- I could have ended up with much worse, I know.

Ah, Matou-san? She's my assigned sister, yes.

[flameyedhunter]

What a great house. [She sighs a bit] About the only good part about this crappy place is sometimes we get housed with some really good people.

[She looks towards the altar of the church.]

Still, I miss my real family.

[Even though they were the worst parents in some ways. She didn't even have a name for 16 years.]

[headedforhope]

[On any other day, Mami could have heard those words and let them slip through her with only a little pain.

But not today. Today, that stings, like a fist to the eye. The dark memories that Mami's been trying to avoid since this morning bloom in her mind like a bruise.]

It's not like you're the only one. Who feels like that, I mean.

[flameyedhunter]

I'm sorry, then. [She'll cross to Mami.]

I really mean that. Losing people you love is awful.

[She pauses.] The only thing we can do is be strong and hope we'll find a way out of here. A way back to those who need us, who we need. That's what I'm fighting for.

[Cause, you know, little girls who look younger than Mami should TOTALLY be fighting. Oh wait maybe if they're Megucas.]

[headedforhope]

Really? So tell me- if those people were all dead, what would you fight for then?

[flameyedhunter]

Myself. My duty. I was raised my whole life to be what I am... I wouldn't stop just because I lost someone, no matter how important.

[headedforhope]

I see.

[her hands curl into slow, tight fists in her lap.]

Yes, that makes perfect sense.

[And she's jealous of Shana for that answer, for having a purpose, for being invested in herself. As far as Mami's concerned, she exists to help others- and so atone for her failures. If she lost that, she would have nothing at all.]

[flameyedhunter]

And what about you? What would you fight for?