SS-7 Relic of Eternal Splendor

You've gotten so good at the piano!

D-Do you think so?

I know better than anyone how much you've changed. I'm your mother, after all.

I can hear it all—how hard you've been working... I know your job must be so hectic, and yet you've kept up with your piano practice.

Huh?

It seems you've gone through quite a lot out there...

Hate to disturb you two while you're practicing! Supper's ready?

Mm—this is wonderful!

What do you think? My cooking's really improved, eh?

You don't know the half of it, Sakiko... He had me taste-test so much in order to finally get to this point.

Hurry and give this salad a try, hm?

Mmh! Delicious!

I've made a lot of minor adjustments so it's more to your liking! Not half bad, eh?

And there's plenty more dishes you love on the way!

Yep!

Ngh... Ugh...

Sakiko? Sakiko!

Wh-What's wrong?

I think—I've had a little too much to eat...

Are you feeling better now...?

Sorry, I think I overdid it a little...

Honestly, your father never changes...

But that's his style, I suppose. Honestly, most times it's quite adorable of him.

You'll forgive him, won't you?

I...

He really loves you, you know.

—!

And so do I.

I really love the both of you.

Mother, where is this coming from...?

I've been going through our photo albums more and more while you were away.

I started from when you were born... then when you were one, then two, then three...

My childhood memory nearly failed me...

Maybe. But there's nothing more important, nothing more special to a parent than their child.

When you were born, your palm wasn't even half as big as mine.

But look at you now. Yours is even a little bigger.

Mother, your hand is so warm...

That's right. I'm right here.

Mother...

Go on. You can cry all you want. I always comforted you like this when you cried.

Huh? Was I... really such a crybaby?

When you were very, veeery little. Oh, you would make the biggest fuss over a single sweet.

You may be a strong young woman now, but you were a big crybaby back then.

R-Really? I don't remember at all...

*giggle* Your mother would never lie to you.

Then... Do you remember my high school entrance ceremony?

Of course. I remember you in your school uniform. Our whole family took a photo together at the school gate.

Yes, that sounds right... Oh, that does bring me back.

What else have we done together? Mother... I want you to tell me. Tell me about all the memories we share.

Sakiko, just how long have you been away from home? Aren't you the clingy one today?

Home...

Hmm... Well, if you want, I'll reminisce a little more.

Now where should I begin?

Let's start from when I was born. I want to hear it all.

Okay, then we'll start from the day you were born...

Sakiko—

You found your way home!

Miss Vigna, this carriage seems to be out of order. Now let me down!

Let's see... W—Wait, these controls aren't like what I learned at Rhodes Island!

Oh, crap, crap, crap, we can't stop!

We're going to crash!

Sakiko, out of the way—!

Mother, would you mind waiting a moment?

Of course. Go ahead.

Girls, are you alright?!

Nngh... I'm okay. Butt hurts a little, but I'm fine...

I swear I saw Miss Iris too just now...

Mmf, mrrmrmff!

Geh... Quick, we gotta dig Iris out!

R-Right!

(Gasping for breath) I... I almost suffocated!

Weren't you two collecting children's wishes? What are you doing here?

Hee-hee! It all went better than expected. The children here are surprisingly good, you know, so we wrapped up ahead of time.

I thought I'd give driving in the countryside a shot, but then car trouble hit while I was at the wheel, and...

Not my first time repairing vehicles like this one. Hurry, let's fix this one up together.

*sigh* I can hardly tell if my luck is supposed to be good or rotten today...

I couldn't shake the worry something might happen, you know.

I didn't expect our work to proceed so well today, and I certainly didn't expect this little mishap.

I only hope we can have this fixed soon... At least then we can be on our way back by tonight.

Tonight...?

Would that be... your mother?

...Yes.

You very much resemble one another, especially the eyes and the mouth! I feel both a gentle warmth and a firm resolution in you.

But I... I have no resolve.

What makes you say that?

I... I...

Miss Iris, you're a fairy, if I'm not mistaken?

Yes... Is something wrong?

Fairies listen to people's wishes, and then temporarily make them 'reality' in their dreams... correct?

...Correct.

But if—if people are well and truly trapped in their dreams, never to pluck themselves out, what should be done then?

A real fairy would never permit that to happen in the first place.

If you spend too long in a dream, you lose the ability to discern between dream and reality.

What if they never wake up?

Sakiko, the worst outcome has never been the inability to wake up. Rather, it is when you accept everything in your dream as the truth, and then you wake, only to find that all you have experienced was a fleeting mirage.

After living a lifetime of happiness in the dream, you find yourself back in reality, back at the very beginning again.

Your body is young, but your soul is old. Your dream is well beyond your grasp. You are left with no choice but to carry on in life, utterly alone.

Can you really call that a good dream?

If it is doomed to fail, it should not be fled from in dreams; if they are destined to be missed, you must bid them farewell properly.

......

Oh, I appear to have gone on a little long... Am I interrupting your reunion with your mother?

...No, nothing of the sort!

I apologize. Someone very important to me asked me the same question, once upon a time.

Because of my inability to give a firm answer then, things turned irrecoverable.

Hence, I now lend such concern to this...

Heeey—!

The car's all fixed up!

Vigna, no more touching! No touching ever!

Guh...

C'mon, girls, get on—

Miss Sakiko, will you be coming back with us?

I...

I...

......

It's okay, Sakiko. You can stay here a little longer. You've been worn out lately, yeah? You're due for a vacation anyway. I'll let HR know.

Okay... Thank you.

Let me try again—

Sakiko, let's stop here for now.

Aren't you tired? I'll make us some tea, then we can take our time—

I'm just nervous, that's all—

How about a little chat, then?

......

Were those girls just now friends of yours?

Yes. They are my coworkers at Rhodes Island, and very good friends of mine.

Rhodes Island...

Correct. A pharmaceutical company, boasting a landship of tremendous scale.

Aboard the ship, we live and work, sailing anywhere and everywhere in the world.

The... 'world'?

...Terra.

What an interesting word for it!

......

Does Rhodes Island have a piano room you can use?

It does. There isn't too much entertainment while the ship is sailing. Many operators while away the time by playing instruments.

At times, I'll play a few songs on the keyboard in my dormitory room. Vigna has even formed her own band—

And have you formed your own band, too?

......

I have.

Is that with Miss Vigna?

No. It's with others...

Well, now I'm curious, Sakiko. What are these fellow band members of yours like?

......

I have a drummer who constantly clashes with me over just about everything, though her ambition and hardworking nature are second to none. We resemble sisters-in-arms more than we do friends.

I have a bassist whose technique is superb. She handles all our behind-the-scenes work, schedules included, with great diligence. As a colleague, there could be no one more trustworthy.

I have a guitarist-vocalist who excels at songwriting. She has her own work as an idol to take care of, but in spite of how busy it makes her, she never ceases to support me.

And I have another guitarist—we've been friends since childhood. She... she was always there for me, even when I left home and was all alone...

By the sound of it, you're quite the close-knit band.

No, the reality is we constantly argue. We even disbanded before.

Have you all made up since?

......

I got separated from everyone.

They are somewhere far, far away. Somewhere I cannot reach.

How far away? From Victoria to Ursus? Or even farther than that?

I...

Why the hesitation?

Because... Because...

...Because I'm afraid that finding them means leaving you behind.

I'm scared I won't be able to see you again—

Silly girl. I'll always be here.

But—didn't you leave me behind?!

I'm sorry, Sakiko... Mother lied to you.

Huh...?

You knew, didn't you? That I wasn't your real mother.

I'm sorry. I've been so careful to keep this little white lie going.

I wasn't there at your high school entrance ceremony. Before you asked me that question, my memory of you was still in middle school.

And I don't know why it is, but when I see you smile these days, there are dark clouds hanging above you...

Sakiko. When did you start making this kind of face?

Just what suffering have you been through, in this stretch of time I know nothing about?

I... I...

I'm sorry. I don't know anything about this. All I know is that during your hardest, most painful moments, I wasn't there for you.

Sakiko, I am so, so truly happy that I get to see you.

I really, really want to see you grow up.

And I want to stand right there in front of the stage and see your live shows.

And I want to meet those new friends of yours.

I'm very greedy. I want to know everything about you, and be there by your side.

But because I'm your mother... and because I love you so much...

I want you to leave this place, and seek out your real life.

Go, Sakiko.

Go back to your own 'world'.

Mother...!

Huh? Sakiko, are you off again?

Sakiko has something important to do.

Oh, you just got home. Can't you stay a little longer...?

Dear...

Alright!

Sakiko, your mother and I are on the same page!

(Breaking up) Just... Just... remember to eat right while you're away from home!

Right. I will.

Okay... I'll be off now.

Sure!

Have a safe journey, Sakiko—