What's a Friend?

Oh, that's...

Hey, Ruina!

...Yes? What are you doing here?

I dunno about that...

Then you should head back to Elzion. There are Synth Humans around here. It's dangerous.

......

This a friend of yours?

Friend? She's...just a classmate.

Hey, Ruina, you're pretty tough, right? Like fighting and stuff?

Tough? I'd say I'm better at fighting than the average person. Why?

So, me and my friend were wandering around here, but she ran off somewhere. I was actually hoping you could go look for her.

What friend?

We've known each other since we were small. She's always been kind of a ditz, and...and...

Ugh! I can't deal with her sometimes! Only a total airhead would go somewhere so dangerous for ONE stupid accessory! And now she's got me worried sick!

So you want me to find her and bring her back?

Yeah...

Fine, I'll try. Wait for me back in the city.

Thanks, Ruina! I really appreciate it!

You didn't even hesitate to say yes. Are they good friends of yours?

The IDA School Regulations state that "It is imperative that students help one another."

Oh, that's why you said yes? Wow, you take that stuff really seriously.

Although... Something seems kind of off. She called the missing girl her friend but it didn't sound like they were all that friendly with each other.

How do you figure that?

She wasn't talking like they were friends. Wanting to save her despite clearly harboring such negative feelings towards her is odd.

I think you've got it backwards. It's because they're such good friends that they can be so blunt about each other.

She just seemed angry to me.

She did seem angry, sure, but that's more likely because she was worried.

Hmm... I'm not sure I understand.

Anyway, we should get a move on. If this missing student gets into any trouble while we stand here talking, we'll get in trouble too.

Wait.

What's wrong? We haven't even searched half the area yet.

We're about to enter territory known to be rife with Synth Human activity. Let's try looking somewhere else.

But what if she's in there?

Every IDA student knows that place is dangerous and off-limits.

I highly doubt she'd ignore all the warnings and go in there anyway.

Sure, in theory. But what if she was so desperate to find her lost accessory that she forgot where she was going?

But entering an off-limits area violates our code of conduct. It's even in the school's Rules and Regulations.

Uh, Ruina?

I don't think everyone follows the rules as diligently as you do, you know.

Why wouldn't they? Rules exist to protect us. You can't just go around breaking them.

But rules don't solve everything. Sometimes you have to break the rules to protect something really important to you.

...You know, sometimes, Aldo, you say things that just don't make sense to me.

I-I guess you really don't get it, huh?

Well, never mind, let's head further in and look around anyway. If we don't find her we can try a different place.

I must say I don't quite agree, but if you say so.

Thanks. Let's go, then.

...It's not here... Where did it go? Maybe if I check over...

Ahhhhh!

Ruina, we have to do something!

Yeah, me too.

Objective complete. You, over there, I'd like to confirm your identity so that...

Oh, I found it!

...Are you listening?

Oh! Sorry. I was looking for this.

A pendant? Isn't that what that Synth Human was holding?

Yeah. It came out of nowhere and swiped it when I was with my friend.

So you ran into the middle of Route 99 to look for it? Despite knowing the risks?

I know it was crazy, but... This pendant's really important to me.

See? What did I tell you?

...... I still don't get it.

What are you guys doing here?

Your friend asked us to find you and make sure you were okay.

Really?! Uh oh... I must've totally freaked her out.

Don't worry, we'll take you back to her. Let's go before anything else shows up.

Oh, awesome! Thank you!

Um... I found it. The pendant.

Geez! How dumb can you be to put your life in danger for a cheap thing like that?!

But it was my birthday present from you so it's super important to me. I couldn't bear the thought of losing it...

Yeah, but...! But...how do you think I'd feel if I knew my present ended up getting you hurt?!

You're such a dunce! I can get you as many stupid pendants as you want if you're alive, but if you...if you...

There, there. Don't cry. I'm sorry I made you worry. I'm really sorry...

Thanks for saving my friend, Ruina!

Yes, thank you so much!

See you at school!

See, they weren't on bad terms after all.

...Indeed. Just like you said.

But I still don't get it. How could they make up right after one party was so angry with the other? Friendship makes no logical sense.

Because there's more to life than just what you can see.

But if you can't see something, how can you know it exists?

Think about it this way: we know people have emotions but we can't see them, right? The bond between those two girls is just like that. A friend is just someone whose feelings you can understand. Even if they don't say those feelings out loud...

......

Your face says you're not convinced.

It's all just far too ambiguous. I can't follow that kind of thinking.

Well, in any case, we brought that girl back safe, so all's well that ends well.

Yes, fortunately. I'm sort of glad we did.

Since I was feeling worried too, I suppose...