It's almost time.

Ah... She's here.

Hello. Am I to only clean the house for today as well?

Yes. Please do the kitchen and living room today.

And...do you have some time to talk after that?

Yes, I do.

We can chat over tea if you like.

I brought along some flavored teas with me today, too.

Yes, I'd like that.

Let me get started on the cleaning, then.

I'll let you know once the tea is ready.

Okay. I'll be waiting.

Ms. Yoisaki, the tea is ready.

Shall we drink it before it gets cold?

Coming...

What a nice smell...

It's a different fragrance from the one we had the last time.

Yes! I decided to go with muscat-flavored tea today. Do you like it?

Yes. This one is delicious too.

Hehe, I'm glad you liked it.

So, you wanted to talk about something?

Yes. I wanted to update you about the doll exhibition you gave me tickets for.

Oh... That's right. How did it go?

It was fun. There were a lot of different dolls on display. Also...it turned out to be a great help.

The person I was trying to help that I told you about... I invited her to join me.

Because of that, I feel like I understand her struggles and what's on her mind better now.

Oh...

So, even though I won't be able to help her right now, I feel like I've taken a very important first step towards that goal.

That's great, then!

This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't given me those tickets, so...thank you.

Oh, don't mention it at all! All I did was pass you a couple of tickets I had on hand.

I'm really glad to know they came in handy.

...

Ms. Yoisaki? Is something the matter?

Correct me if I'm wrong... But did you give me the tickets so that I could use them to create an opportunity to talk with my friend?

Oh...

It's just a feeling I have.

I'm sorry for being such a busybody.

Don't be. I'm glad I went to the exhibition.

...

Then, I hope you don't mind me meddling one more time?

Okay?

Please don't ever give up on your friend.

Huh?

To tell you the truth, I was feeling a little lost myself just a while ago.

But because my friends didn't give up on me, I managed to figure things out and move ahead again.

...

Your friend... She may be feeling like there's no way out of whatever she's facing, but I'm confident of one thing.

Somewhere deep inside, she's waiting for that someone who will never stop trying to reach out to her.

Okay... Thank you, Ms. Mochizuki.

I'll keep trying. Until I can save her one day.