aglina

Yep... Yep!

I thought Angelina would be really happy to see it after she came home from work.

My my, lookie here, Angelina. That package is yours, just like I said.

Let's open it up and take a look!

It's... for me?

It's wrapped so neatly... and it's my favorite color, pink. This scent... I thought it seemed familiar. It's that fragrance from the Medical Department the other day!

I-Is there a smell? I made it after I was done with homework.

Maybe the smell got on there while I was there?

Oh, it's not bad at all. I really like this aroma too. It makes me feel relaxed. Alright, I'm opening it up! 1, 2, 3!

There's a booklet inside...

I remember this river... and these buildings... Oh, that's my favorite cafe!

If you walk east for about ten minutes, you'll reach a street that I've probably walked hundreds, no, thousands of times.

Also... this petal... I think I know this smell...

My dad sent me the petals!

Most of the stuff in the beginning is photos that my mom's friend sent, but I also drew lots of things from memory too. It still looks kinda ugly, though... Even though I've been practicing...

No, they look so pretty!

All of it looks so, so nice.

Um, Angelina... D-Did I do something wrong? You don't seem happy... Are you sad?

No, I'm not sad.

I'm just... overwhelmed.

Ever since I... I haven't seen any of this while it's still bright out.

I thought I'd left all this somewhere far, far away long ago... It's so distant, I thought I'd never get there again no matter how fast I ran.

Yep, Rhodes Island is a big, biiiig ship, and it's always going somewhere.

When I first got here, I'd always ask Folinic where we were at the time, and I would try to figure out how far we were from Siracusa and Higashi.

Sometimes we were close, and sometimes we were far away. Then I lost track.

But every time I get a letter from my mom or dad, or their friends, I hug the letter before bed. It makes me feel like I'm right there snuggling up to my parents.

After a while, I got so many letters that they would overflow the bed if I took them all... Mm, so I put some of them in a booklet.

That way, I can go to bed hugging the booklet!

Yep... You're so cute, Lisa.

Huh? Is that weird?

Nope, what you said actually makes a lot of sense.

Doctor told me that not only are our Messengers always on the road making deliveries, they need to take care of their Rhodes Island work too. It's a lot of hard work, and I thought it might have been a while since you've been home.

The Doctor even complimented me on my notebook! Said I was amazing!

Doctor says you might need to try something this...

The Doctor said that...?

Yep, and everyone else too, not just the people working at Rhodes Island! There was the Siracusan Messenger who gave me stuff before.

I don't remember when everybody started doing it, but whenever they go to Siracusa or Higashi, they would bring back photos or the local specialties there for me.

Hoowee, sounds like everybody's a Messenger now!

Right, they're just like all of our amazing Messengers! So I put all those things in my booklet. It's one of my most precious treasures!

I think to myself every day that, by the time the book is full, I'll be all grown up! I'll be so much more amazing than I am now.

It'll be my turn to protect everyone and my mom and dad.

Dad won't stay up all night worrying about me, and Mom won't need to keep working herself to death for me anymore.

When that day comes, I'll finally get to go home!

So, after Doctor talked to me about it, I thought I'd make one for you too...

Hm?

You can't go home for some reason, right?

Yeah...

It's a promise! I'll give you another one once I get new photos, Angelina!

That way, your book will fill up even faster, and you'll get to go home sooner!

Yeah...

Thanks. Thanks so much... This is a wonderful present.

Oh, it's my wake-up time now! I can't let Dr. Kal'tsit and Folinic find out I've been running around... I need to get back home! See you, Angelina, Croissant!

Darn, I wish I'd put money on that.

What'd I tell ya. Yer such a cutie, yer bound to get a buncha cute presents!

Uh... yeah.

I never even noticed. I guess I've long become a part of Rhodes Island, and there are people here who care about me.

I'm no longer... the girl went gone missing.

*Yawn*—I'm getting tired. Did you say somethin' just now, Angelina? I didn't hear.

N-Nothing.

I was just saying that I really like Lisa's present.

Just like I said, ain't it? This night's full o' surprises!

Wonder if I should go back fer a nap now. Maybe some chow instead...? Yeah, guess I'll grab a bite to eat.

What about you? You didn't sleep the whole night. This is gonna ruin that beauty plan of yours.

I'll take a break and then head to training after a while.

I got classes in the afternoon too...

I may have work to keep up with, but I can't fall behind with my studies either!

//此处替换成吃惊

Huh? No kiddin'? You turnin' workaholic or something?

I'm not.

Will I get to go home... when the book is all filled up?

Am I ready for that?

How long has this letter been on my desk...? A few months? Half a year?

'Dear Mom and Dad—'

'Everything is going well over here...'

'I have a really good job, and I'm keeping up with my studies...'

'Yes, I got Oripathy, but you don't need that worry. It happened that day on my way to school...'

'I was in a rush to make it to club... I told Dad I didn't need a ride. If I were just a little more careful, maybe I wouldn't have bumped into that car fresh back from the wilds.'

'None of this is Dad's fault.'

I'll keep the letter in this page.

I'll be ready one day, and I know Mom and Dad will be ready too.

When I'm finally done with this letter, I'll take it to the place in the photo myself. Yeah, the third house on this street from the east. I'll draw a heart here.

That day is going to be here soon. I know it.