act20side

Catch, you know what I want to say here, don't you?

If we end up deciding to amend the dome design, and Stitch is still unwilling, then it's down to me, right?

It's not just for the sake of dressing the city. From a realistic standpoint, reinforcing the dome'll buy us more time to evacuate.

Finch and I were good friends, and I couldn't make sense of him leaving without a word either, so I'd been wanting to look after his student as best I could.

There's a boundary to everything.

Miss Gavial... can we trouble you to go find Stitch?

You didn't need to ask—I was gonna. Tomimi volunteered to help the city people out with stuff, and having an empty plate bugged me.

I think him and I have a little debt to settle at this point, too.

Then I'll leave it to you.

Where's that hut?

Just on the lakeside, similar style to this building. Very unique. You'll see it the moment you get there.

You got it.

Catch, aren't you gonna go?

I... I don't know how I should face Stitch, under these circumstances.

But you're worried sick for him, aren't you?

Ever since Master Finch vanished, I've been wanting to help him, but I just don't know how.

C'mon. Do I diagnose you with 'too nice,' or 'way way way too nice?'

Nah, I guess you Durins do give me that kind of vibe, on the whole.

Eh?

For reasons I don't know either, Stitch actually has kind of an inferiority thing.

With his type of personality? You greet him with what you think is an equal approach, but to him, it actually comes off like a sort of pressure from on high.

Because for him, it takes everything he's got just to pretend he's on the same level as you guys.

You can't just invest some sincerity and expect results when it comes to communicating.

So, what should I do?

Well, alright. You treat me like a brother, in times like these, I'll teach you a thing or two, just how brothers should.

It's actually real simple. You don't say anything like 'I want a fair competition with you,' and you don't say to him, 'you've got a choice.'

You seal off his escape route, and you tell him, 'you've got no choice, but I'll be right there with you, and we'll do our best.'

A man who spends too long shut in his own self-made space tends to need a little prodding, from time to time.

Miss Deculture, what do you say?

Why ask me?

I'm just making some of my own guesses here, but you, you clearly know him better than anyone.

Stitch does have a sort of inferiority complex.

You might just be right. He doesn't need tender comfort, he needs someone to really yank him out.

Won't that... hurt him?

It will, and it's not guaranteed to turn out pretty.

But if this is his last chance, as you say—

Then you ask yourself too, do you just want to get along better with him, or do you want him to make his way out, even if it makes your relationship worse?

I'll give it a try.

Then I think you oughta speed it up.

Or we get Gavial's fists instead, and those sure don't settle for 'yank him out.'

Haha, I'll get going now, then!

Lively, extroverted, grasps social contact. They're all fine character traits, Catch.

You believe people should become that way, and you do work to see that happen.

But you can't always hope for everyone else to be like you.

Elysium's right too, and if I'm going to help Stitch, maybe that's what I need to do.

But I think distress and evasion are just as correct, too.

So...

Catch, seeing as you're going to do things your way, I'll do things my way.

If Stitch wants to run, I'll help him run.

Deculture. Deculture. Do you need us?

Go. Help Stitch out.

If Miss Deculture wasn't doing it on purpose, then she doesn't realize just how easy it actually is to read her face.

She doesn't agree with what I say at all, heheh.

Man—I haven't felt this youthful a vibe in forever. It makes me wanna join in on the fun a little.

Nah. If I did go, I might just get swept in by Gavial.

I don't want to be beaten for no good reason.

Okay, Stitch! You'd better shake up and wake up.

Turn a blind eye to all these guys who want to help you, and you don't know how it might come back to haunt you.

I don't understand. You people clearly aren't as unreasonable as Gavial.

Why do you insist so much on—

Indulging her?

I ask you, do you not look at Gavial and feel that we need someone like her?

Inam, weren't you waiting outside?

You spent so long in here, I thought you were up to something...

Avdotya, you and I happen to be similar in ways.

A huge part of why I came to serve as Acahualla's Messenger was that I wanted to escape the unending strife between the lords ameer.

Acahualla has nothing to speak of, but life here is extremely comfortable. I'm a big fan of this land.

And also, if we're raising worries, then I'm more worried than you about the Durins' showing up causing issues.

Then why are you still...

Gavial's been gone from Acahualla for so many years, and hasn't changed one bit.

As if nothing, anywhere, across all the four corners could make her surrender.

When I see Gavial, I think to myself, 'ah—so people like you still exist.'

I can't help but want to help her.

It's that simple.

Before I left Acahualla with Gavial, I was completely ignorant.

I've seen so many things with Rhodes Island, but I've slowly realized that what I'm really learning isn't just knowledge.

There's so much across the world that I've never thought of, that at the same time is exactly how you should expect.

I'm sure Gavial's seen plenty where she's just as powerless too.

My dream is to build the mightiest machine in any land.

But truth is, I still haven't figured out what I should use it for when I'm done.

Still, seeing Gavial, I've gradually gotten some sort of idea.

The machines I make will be used to help her.

There'll come a day when Gavial's fists meet a wall they can't break through.

But that's not a problem with her. She's flesh and blood too, after all.

And just like I've done here and now, I'll give her the greatest weapon.

If fists won't do it, then take an axe. If an axe won't do it, then take a hammer. If a hammer won't do it, then take a drill. If a drill won't do it, then I'll build her an entire Big, Ugly Thing.

And if a Big Ugly won't do it, then I'll build her a nomadic city, and whatever she wants to do with that, she will.

You really trust her that much?

I do. Because Gavial stands for Acahualla better than anyone or anything ever could.

She's the backbone of us, and in future, she'll be the backbone of even more.

And it's in our power, our own power, to make sure Gavial's fists are unhindered for eternity.

Of course, realistically, I'm just as worried what leaving Acahualla to her purview will result in.

With Gavial's temperament, giving her authority might discomfort the powers more than it will her.

So, if she really was going to serve as lord ameer, I was planning to thoroughly groom her for it for a stretch.

It probably wouldn't have done anything.

Haha, I think so too.

But even I never pictured I'd be willing to go so far for her.

Your experiences have taught you to doubt people like Gavial from the start.

I don't deny that.

So, maybe you can try to start by believing in her.