bibeak

I mean it!

No need. It's fine.

Orchid, I want some of those pastries you made.

You brought some, didn't you?

Yeah, they're in the car.

Shall we go then?

There, all bandaged up.

*Sob*...

*Sobbing*...

It was hard, wasn't it? Go ahead, you can cry.

You were so brave. You didn't run back to the car crying; you came back on your own two feet after defeating the gloompincers.

You changed the villagers' thinking and got them to fight alongside us.

If it weren't for you, the rest of us would have turned around and left, venting about it the whole way back, and nothing would have changed.

Orchid...

I told myself countless times that I can't wallow in hate. I can't turn myself into something terrible.

But that's what I look like in the eyes of the uninfected.

But I... I don't think they're wrong.

You don't have to console yourself like that, Bibeak.

Rhodes Island's documentation clearly stated that our squads contain Infected. It's their fault for not reading. The least they could have done was to handle it more politely, which we would have been able to accept.

...It's not consolation, Orchid, I really feel that way. It's only natural for them to be afraid, because... I'm afraid too. I hate and fear my condition.

I left home to come to Rhodes Island, in order to bring it under control. I participated in all that training to get this chance to conquer my fear...

Maybe that's not something everyone can do.

But I don't want to have done all that just to stop moving forward on my first field mission. Go backwards even.

Was I being selfish? If they were really scared, I shouldn't have—

Lie down and have something to eat. Don't think too much about it.

They were only afraid because they don't understand Oripathy. We've already explained that normal contact doesn't lead to infection.

They calmed down and accepted that.

Will they ask for help from Rhodes Island again?

If they do... will I be willing to accept the mission?

The choice is yours, Bibeak.

Everyone makes their own choices. If it were up to me... I'd probably turn it down after some thought.

...I don't know what I'd think.

Maybe they won't be scared of us next time. Or maybe they'll reject us again. Or maybe there won't even be a next time.

But I'll wait for that day.

(Gives Bibeak some pastries)

Thanks for being with me today, Orchid.

Otherwise, I might have done something stupid.

But I don't regret participating in this field mission, even if it was very different from what I imagined.

I'll keep moving forward.