robin

I...

A few days later...

We've been searching all over whenever we're out on mission the last couple days. We haven't found a cloudbeast nest.

Yeah, Robin, I think you should brace yourself. You could be in this for the long run.

Yep.

If you can't bring yourself to say it, want me to tell her?

Hm?

You see, he...

Hold on! Let me say it myself!

Well... It's about the cloudbeast's name. I thought about it, and I was in over my head. I didn't consider that you might actually be fond of the idea, so...

No, actually, about that...

Do you guys have time after this?

What's up?

Do you guys have time to come to my dorm room tomorrow to see the little fella and give it a name together?

Oh my! Of course!

Yeah, it ain't every day you invite us to do anything! I'm definitely coming!

Yeah, I have a couple questions I wanted to ask you about keeping pets, too.

Haha, you can count on me!

Catch, Hoppy!

(Howls excitedly)

Hey, Colin, I'm here for the little fella.

Hey, Robin!

Thanks for playing with it while I was out on my mission.

I oughta thank it instead! I love playing with it!

Did you just call it Hoppy?

Yep, I have a beckbeast back home called Poppy.

And this one keeps hopping around. That's why I'm calling it Hoppy! Right, Hoppy?

(Confused cry)

Hoppy... That's a good name.

Robin, are you taking Hoppy back?

Yep.

Okay, see you, Hoppy!

Final check—Cleaning, done.

The little fella's nest, done.

Simple decorations, done.

Invitation to Closure... sent.

Now I just gotta wait till everyone's here.

Okay, little fella. We gotta be at the top of our game today. Don't make the others worry about us, okay?

Robin holds the little fella in her arms and changes its bandages as she tells it what to do later and how she wants it to work with her.

Of course, she knows it can't actually understand her. Nonetheless, what they are about to do has her very excited.

Perhaps because she has gotten too absorbed in talking to the cloudbeast, by accident, she brushes the little fella's wounds.

(Shrieks angrily)

Ow, that hurt.

Sorry, little fella.

The little fella doesn't respond to Robin, only leaping to the side.

For some reason, Robin feels the excitement she had just a moment ago dampen immediately.

In its place, she feels a shred of anxiety.

Guess I'll head to Medical...

(Whispers) This doesn't mean anything.

(Whispers) I'll go get my wound treated quickly and go back for the rest of the prep.

Robin, are you hurt?

Huh... Domma?

Crap...

Here you go.

I had a look at the cloudbeast's medical report. It doesn't have any viruses.

If you feel sick later, come pay me another visit.

Okay.

Then I'll get...

Robin, I don't think we've seen each other since we came to Rhodes Island.

This's the first time.

Oh... R—Right.

I looked for you a couple times, but you were never here.

I heard you signed a different contract to get treatment for your father, and you've been workin' very hard. I was worried maybe you'd forgotten me.

I'd never, Domma. Not a kind soul like you...

I... I'm just worried that... maybe you'd end up hating me.

How could I? You helped Anthony so much when we broke out of that prison.

Besides, if you weren't there in Mansfield to encourage me, I wouldn't've had the courage to settle down here.

Anthony hasn't ever told you?

Told me what? All he said was that the escape likely wouldn't've worked out without you.

(Grinds teeth and grumble) Anthony, you prick...

Robin was actually in her dorm room the few times that Domma tried to visit. She simply pretended that she was away.

And every time she visited the Medical Department, she always checked if Domma was away.

She has actually imagined a number of situations of herself running into Domma as well as thought about what to say to her when that happens.

However, for better or worse, she has never actually run into Domma until now.

Robin, what's wrong?

Robin remembers how ambitious she was.

Right, she ought to be braver!

Domma, actually, back in the prison break, I betrayed Anthony. I almost cut his escape short. I almost killed him myself, even.

He forgave me, but I haven't forgiven myself.

I've been really afraid to tell you this. You're such a kind soul, I thought maybe you would end up hating me if I told you.

Even so, I want to tell you. I'm not asking for your forgiveness. It's just that, only by telling you can I put my mind at ease... a little.

I could never hate you.

You had your reasons, didn't you? And we all got out and made it to Rhodes Island together. That alone's worth celebratin', no?

I invited a bunch of coworkers to come see the little fella today.

Do you want to come?

Robin. Robin?

Uh... yeah.

It's nothing. Just that Anthony and I had some differences of opinion during our escape.

I see, but we all got out and made it to Rhodes Island together. That alone's worth celebratin', no?

Yep.

When Anthony's back, let's all have a chat together.

Okay.

You're so useless, Robin.

*sob* Completely and utterly useless.

I know Domma will forgive me... That's how kind she is.

She's so kind, she didn't even begin to suspect I've been avoiding her.

But that's exactly why I can't bring myself to tell her.

The anxiety in her is growing more intense.

Subconsciously, she walks toward the cloudbeast's nest in hopes of getting some sense of comfort from the baby.

Yet the cloudbeast is nowhere to be found.