robin

Hey, little fella?

Little fella?

Over the last few days, she has gotten used to having a small little thing pop out whenever she calls out, but that isn't happening right now.

Did I forget to lock the door when I went to Medical...?

Robin immediately checks her automatic door, and finds a few strands of its hair at the door.

Robin, why are you running? What's wrong?

Colin... Did the little fella... no, did Hoppy come look for you?

Hoppy? Nope. What's wrong?

I found its hair on my door, so...

No, I mean... When I went to Medical, I didn't close the door...

Ahh... no, no...

Robin, here. Have some water.

Thanks...

Phew... You see, Hoppy ran out of my room. I'm looking for it now.

Did you see it come this way?

Nope.

Okay... I'll keep looking.

Huh? Wait up! Rhodes Island's a huge place! How long do you plan on looking?

Huh... Closure? How'd you...?

I got your invitation, and I don't have anything to do today anyway, so I figured I'd come to your dorm room first to talk about which movie to watch, and then I saw you dashing out of your room.

Sorry, I was in such a hurry, I didn't see you...

Nah, I'm not trying to get you to apologize. What I'm saying is, you just gotta ask me for this kinda stuff.

You haven't forgotten who I am, right?

Who are you, lady?

Uh... Alright, listen up, boy. The lady standing in front of you is Kazdel's genius engineer and the creator of Rhodes Island—Closure!

But... I can't ask you to do this for me.

Come on, Robin. We put on four movie clubs together, plus we watched a dozen shit flicks together. And here I thought we're more than friends already—we're shit flick buddies.

Am I the only one who thinks that?

What kind of relationship is that?

Like, we watch shitty movies together. If you ever find some who's willing to watch shitty movies with you, that's a true friend, and you'd better treasure that friendship, kid.

Oh, okay...

Of course I see you as a good friend. It's just... I don't ask others for help often, so I didn't think...

Alright, then remember to come to me next time. If you don't, that means you don't think of me as a friend.

As she speaks, Closure uses her terminal and checks about a dozen surveillance cameras' footage. Finally, she finds the little fella's whereabouts.

Hm... Looks like it ran off to the bridge.

The bridge...

Maybe it wanted some fresh air since it's been inside for so long.

Or maybe it misses its family.

Well, whatever you think, that ain't a safe place for a small animal. You'd better head on over there now.

Yeah.

The training room isn't far away from the bridge. With Closure's guidance, Robin quickly made her way there.

There, the little fella is standing on a railing by the window, looking intently at the clouds faraway.

Do you miss home?

(Tilts head in puzzlement)

Life on Rhodes Island is good. You won't go hungry, and there'll probably be a lot of people who'll treat you well here.

But do you still want to go back to nature, where you belong?

Or do you want to stay here?

Robin tries to fantasize having a conversation with the little fella.

But she realizes she isn't able to.

I know. This is my decision to make.

But I haven't even figured out what to do, so how could I imagine how you'd answer?

But...

Sooner or later, we need to decide.

Hoppy!

(Leaps around in excitement)

The cloudbeast ignores Robin, and immediately brightens up upon seeing the ball in the boy's hand.

Little boy, looks like you're really good friends with the cloudbeast, too.

Yep, it's my good buddy!

Considering how Robin is, forget about taking care of it, I'm more worried about her ending up dead.

Maybe you should take care of it instead.

Uh... I think that's up to Robin. Besides, I don't think it's important who takes care of it.

I'll be happy as long as I can play with it every day.

When she sees the little fella playing with the boy, Robin suddenly realizes that, aside from herself, the cloudbeast cub has already found a new friend onboard Rhodes Island.

But it is only now that she truly understands what that means: The little fella has a lot of choices open to it.

The choice that she tried to force on it does not actually exist in the first place.

Just like the choice that she's forcing on herself does not actually exist.

I brought it here, so I have a responsibility to take care of it or help it find a home.

Besides, everyone says that keeping pets can help you improve your lifestyle...

What? Robin!

You came to me at three in the morning last night to talk about that crap that Nian directed!

I can tell at a glance that you're not that kinda girl!

Robin stares, blank, for a spell.

Has she actually gotten used to this lifestyle because of her life's circumstances, or is that just the person she is?

Or is it perhaps both?

But... that's not a good thing.

What's so bad about it? I've never had a proper work-life balance myself.

Yesterday, I slept through Engineering's meeting. Eunectes tore me a new one, but look, I'm still here.

It's nobody's business! Haha!

Hearing Closure's nonchalant response, Robin finally understands just what the anxiety she feels is actually about.

She feels remorse for what happened during their escape from prison, and she wants to one day tell Domma the truth.

She feels bad for not asking Closure for help, and she wishes to one day become someone who can ask her friends for help.

She is thankful for her coworkers' kindness, and she looks forward to the day she can return the favor.

She wants, she wishes, and she looks forward. That is why she is unwilling to admit that who she is right now cannot achieve any of this. She can't make herself like that just because of a single idea.

She simply can't tell Domma, because she cannot cross that hurdle in her mind.

She simply doesn't think to ask her friends when she needs help, because she has little to no friends.

She simply doesn't know how to respond to the kindness of others, because she has never actually accepted their kindness.

These chaotic ideas made her try her hardest to deny her past lifestyle, to the point that she tried to force all this on a little cloudbeast.

But the truth is it might be exactly as Closure says—

You're right. It's nobody's business.

That's my girl. If you had the time to worry about this stuff, you really should be figuring out what we should watch next.

Yep.

Robin, catch!

You should play with Hoppy too!

Yeah.

Sorry, little fella. Let's play.

(Howls happily)