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Anna, this'll take up so much of the time <i>you</i> have.

You can stay with your parents in your new home, and work out your questions as things come. Nothing's asking you to rush back so quickly.

Mm. All of this can be solved as it comes. But none of it is the crux of what I'm going back for.

(Deep breath)

What's most important—is that I convince them, talk them into letting me back to Rhodes Island, letting me stay with my comrades.

So... we looked over that old lady's credentials, and noticed she had the surname Morozova, AND she came in from Chernobog!

And searching for someone in Leithanien who's from Chernobog, that's a back-breaker.

Luckily, or maybe it was just our dang luck, they were living around the Rhodes Island branch office and came right in to see us that day, because Mrs. Morozova had a bit of a toothache, and they thought our office was a dentist...

...and then we learned. Most everyone else treated the events at Peterheim Middle School as... a lost cause.

But your mom and dad, they never gave up on searching for you.

...*exhale*.

So, are they doing well...? What is the place they're living like? Do they have new jobs?

Mmm, they're good enough. The office's doc has sharp skills, so your mom's tooth won't be aching for the time being at least.

Once you're there, you can find out the rest for yourself. Take your time.

Alright, I see. Thank you so much for going out of your way to take me.

Don't mention it, you're pretty much on the way. I make regular trips from the landship to branches all over, 'porting goods, linking up with missions.

And hey, you're not the first I've chauffeured from the landship.

Then...

Could you tell me how many you've sent... back to the landship?

Huh?

This is... Rhodes Island.

I've returned here again, as I hoped to.

On the road to Leithanien, I imagined my reunion with my parents under countless different circumstances... imagined how to convey my decision to them, and show how I'd grown...

But the moment I met them, all the imagining I'd done was pointless. We hugged, we leaned on each other, and then we told one another how our lives had been while we were apart... It was all so natural.

The day I arrived, Papa insisted he'd cook, wanting to make me shchi to bring back the taste of home. After going through several markets, we never found the yellow onions, so we had to buy wild ones to substitute...

It was my first time eating wild onion shchi, and the taste wasn't unbearable... just somewhat pungent.

They loved Lada's gift, and we used the molds to bake cookies, an endless amount. We spent days eating them...

I mentioned Lada's food was delicious, and Papa seemed to take it personally, insisting he'd find some time to compete with her...

Oh, right. After the stories I told them and the photos I brought, they know every member of the USSG by name now.

What I didn't expect was how wholeheartedly they'd agree to let me stay aboard Rhodes Island. They insisted on giving me an absurd amount of Leithanian things too, to take back to my friends.

They've all been shared out among the USSG now. You could say... 'polished off' without a trace.

Everything's gone so smoothly. Maybe even a little too smoothly...

(Deep breath)

Well, then. 'Self-diagnosis and treatment' no. 66 ends here.

Surely enough, I do mind a little.

My parents understand and support my decision, but they've expressed their worries and hangups too. They even raised a potential concern I'd never considered before.

'What if, in the future, the Self-Government's members all leave Rhodes Island and choose to go their separate ways, to separate places? What do you think you'll do?'

I'll... will I go to Leithanien? Or continue staying aboard Rhodes Island? Or maybe...

*sigh*...

At least, for now, my parents are highly supportive, and my comrades are still by my side. As for what follows... from here on, I'll want to work out my future plans.

Huh? Where's my comms terminal?

There it is... what was it doing under my bed?

If I recall correctly... Closure's contact is...

Waagh... why ring now of all times...?

Hello? Ah... it's Closure.

The camcorder? Yes, it was me who borrowed it... No, no need! I'm already done, I'll return it in just a moment...

Say, Closure...

That thing you mentioned before. The one about helping out in the filing room... I'm very thankful you trust me so much.

If it's okay... I'm willing to give it a try.