aosta

Hm... Looks good. Thanks.

I'll get back to work then.

I can handle the rest myself. I was watching you work, and it was supposed to be a gift from me anyway. It's not right for me to ask that of someone who just ripped their clothes AND their elbow.

I'm really grateful though. Tell you what, I'll buy you a new jacket the next time we're on a mission together!

Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to earn money so I could buy gifts for everyone who helped me out. And now you're one of them, my man!

There's something that I've been thinking about all day.

Lay it on me.

When you were little, did you ever think about what you wanted to be when you grew up?

Oh? Let me think... the head of the Famiglia, I guess?

Can't say I have...

Well, for me...

Before I ever picked up a weapon, before my dad brought me along with him...

I wanted to be a public official, to live a quiet and peaceful life.

Your needlework could be bolder, don't worry about ruining the cloth. It's the same for everyone at first, and even if you leave a hole there are ways to fix that.

Put your ideas into action. Don't be afraid to fail.

You want to hide the Originium on your body? No problem, I can arrange things so no one sees it.

But lately I've been thinking, why should we have to hide it?

I've thought about that too...

Let me finish this up.

(Oh, I wanted to chat with them.)

(...But now I don't feel like I need to?)

(I've never been able to figure this stuff out.)

Phew...

Aosta?

Oh, excuse me. I drifted off for a moment.

Once I'm done with this pouch, can you come help me pick out fabric to patch my jacket with?

I want to hear what you think.

Sure.

So you've come around at last.

I'm coming too!

Thank you.

Perhaps this is the way of life he wanted. Perhaps he could seize it with his own hands.

They made me take all this fabric...

I should make something to thank them.

And what Bibeak said... she wants me to experiment more. She says she's glad she came out of her own shell...

Hm...

He—llo!!

Whoa?!

Hey, guess what I just did!

Not interested.

I blew them all away!

Hey, don't go!

Look at this! Look who won first place!

That's right, ME!

Winner of the 1st Rhodes Island cookie-eating contest, at 26 cookies! The undisputed champ!

There were people willing to play along with you? And you didn't get a royal beating from the cafeteria staff? Lucky bastard.

Hey, if I ate it, it's not going to waste.

So where's Broca?

I have to tell him what a killjoy you are!

Killjoy? Go brag to him, then. I'll be waiting for news of your victory to make the headlines of Rhodes Island Daily.

Then I'll—wait, we have a newspaper here?

Nope.

You could feature in the first issue.

I know you're making fun of me! I'm not THAT stupid!

Whatever. Is that Broca I just saw? See ya!

Hahaha, I'm the champion!

Hahaha, look at me! Look at this drawing I made!

What exactly is this?

...Whoa.

Don't you see? It shows how I beat up the thugs of the Famiglia!

Oh, come on, you can laugh, you know. It's not like this is the first time we've had people on our tail. We can always shake 'em!

The car's right here. Stop overthinking it!

...Yeah.

Phew...

This place is... eerily safe.

Aosta holds the rolls of cloth samples in his hands. They're heavy, but warm and soft.

He looks towards Chiave, running off with his hair whipping around in the wind. In those strands of hair, Aosta sees true joy, not forced smiles.

Aosta steps forward.

I'll be your assistant today, Doctor.

What do you need of me?

Nothing for now, just take a seat.

Okay.

Doctor, can I have a DIY room on the ship?