Kanjira

Young and lively, this is an accessory much too dangerous for a child of such tender years. But its bold innovation is much more eye-catching than those boring old bags made of snake hide.

A pair of large plush gloves with a cute design. Despite appearances, the sharp claws are not weapons, merely a decorative necessity. A singing and dancing catgirl would make a dazzling star on the musical stage.

A birthday gift from the interviewee's friends, it was evidently selected for its color. Its texture is rough and the material thin. It may be flimsy, but has become the strongest tie to her memories of the past.

A leather belt from the popular "Super Warrior" collaboration, highly sought after in the market.

"I lucked out and found this at a flea market, aren't you jealous!" The interviewee seems unaware of its true value, but she is still ecstatic about her find.

Crafted with unsurpassed skill, the interviewee found this in the caravan. It is said that messenger pigeons often sport rings like this on their claws in order to ensure they find their way back to their roost. This may serve a similar function here.

A rare butterfly with vibrant colors that glows brightly at night.

Clearly, it's not an appropriate companion for feline creatures. Fortunately, the interviewee has long mastered a way of getting along with small animals.

Those who don't know what's what often confuse wandering and freedom for each other. Once the pretty shell of it has worn off a little, they back away from it in disgust. This is not an experience that everyone has, for not everyone has the power to choose.

For example, that colorful caravan of hers.

She once attempted to fathom her parents' thoughts countless times. What temptation could have caused them to give up everything and make such a decision? She tried to decipher the words in the caravan's books, to look at those pictures and understand those forests, those gorges and rivers. Did these places have the freedom they sought?

Then why are the pictures at the end of fairy tales tableaus of warm homes and people locked in embraces?

"Alright, maybe a house is necessary, but not the most important."

Sherjah tucks the young girl in as she attempts to conceal the sorrow in her eyes.

"When you see those forests, gorges and rivers one day, when you see all the beauty there is in the world without feeling the need to walk on, the place that you turn back for..."

Isn't that here? The girl's mind is clouded with the fog of sleep and her breathing gradually slows and evens out.

"... Is that kind of place the only one fit to call home?"

The homeless occasionally invite pity, but Kanjira has never frowned upon this. She needs the full tummy that those puppy eyes can earn her. Where else would she find such a good deal in the world? Money or morals, you ask? Whichever one lacks will determine the choice you make between the two.

So, naturally, when she grabbed that bag of pancakes and was knocked out by her "peers" of the streets, she was not in the least angered. This was what wandering truly meant. If you decide to exchange your scruples for food, you were bound to experience this someday.

The feeling of being ravenous cannot be described to someone who has never starved. It feels as though a heaving cobra were squirming in your stomach, a swollen and icy weight punctuated by the burning of its toxin. Your teeth chatter, and you fight the urge to chew on your own limbs, for hunger trumps any pain and is only marginally kinder than death.

"Hey, wake up. Hey!"

The voice is familiar, and she is impressed by her own recognition of it. It is the scruffy fellow who sells jewelry up the street. He is a quiet fellow, like a trumpet that has been silenced... How many rupees could a boy like him make with such stark competition?

Right after that, her mouth is filled with a moist fragrance.

Is this... mango?

When she opens her eyes again, a few grimy-looking children are crowded about her, peering into her face.

"Ajar! Come quick! The one you bring back's awake!"

She remembers the taste of mango on her tongue, as well as them.

Pandora Wilson: You seem very concerned about UTTU's reputation.

Kanjira: Uh... Yes, yes! Will many people really see it? I mean, from how famous they are...

Pandora Wilson: I don't understand why you're so excited about it. But what's certain is that not everyone has the ability to read UTTU.

Kanjira: Oh... From the sound of it, do you mean my friends won't be able to read this magazine?

Pandora Wilson: If your friends happen to be human and read less than two hundred thousand words a year, then yes.

Kanjira: Tsk... If I'd known, I wouldn't have come.

Pandora Wilson: ... That seems to be a slight change in your attitude. But hopefully, you'll still be able to answer all of my questions calmly.

Kanjira: Hmph... Of course not. Oh, look at me, of course, Miss Chatterbox!

Pandora Wilson: ...

Kanjira: Only if you're willing to pay me 30 Sharpodonties per question!