After that, we tried talking to the other residents, but…
EMMA : All that and we're still no further forward. We'll never get home at this rate…
ROUGE : Now, now, let's just count our lucky stars we at least got a map.
OSCAR : Yes, though, I'm not sure how reliable it'll be…
━FLASHBACK━
PASSING MALE : We used to have a map but it's practically useless now. You know, with the terrain changing every day.
VOLKS : I see, then… Would it be possible for you to draw a map to the best of your most recent knowledge?
PASSING MALE : No problem. First of all, the Chronogram is over… Here.
━END FLASHBACK━
SHAYMIE : Hey, hey, so what do we do now~?
EMMA : I really don't know… I'm most curious about this "Alice" person everyone keeps talking about.
MEL : Yes, they said these strange things started happening after this Alice showed up, didn't they?
MEL : Could she be the reason we're in this mess? I'm sure he knows something…
EMMA : Yeah… But… If we're gonna go looking for Alice, we're gonna need a clue of where to start…
VOLKS : We should continue looking for information. Who knows, maybe something will come up.
VOLKS : From what I hear, Madness and Trampia seem to make up the majority of their population.
VOLKS : I say we visit these places first and ask around.
FELD : Hm? The name Madness sounds familiar…
OSCAR : Maison Madness, right? So you're going to check that hat shop you're always so curious about?
VOLKS : Yes. Wondermare is a country that rarely trades with the outside world.
VOLKS : We can't afford not to cease this opportunity while we still can.
FELD : You're completely self-serving! You're just like Oscar, aren't you!?
VOLKS : Heh. I'm flattered.
FELD : I didn't mean that as a compliment!
EMMA : It's okay, we're gonna be asking around anyway, so we can just kill two birds with one stone.
OSCAR : I have no objection if it means I can find food.
ROUGE : And I have no objection if I can find a drink. So, let's go to Madness!
SHAYMIE : Let's go!
FELD : Tsk… Damn you and your free spirits!
EMMA : Ahahaha…
━
On the way to Madness, night and day switched again.
SHAYMIE : Hahh~? Weren't the stars shining just now~? Oh, well!
EMMA : It wasn't even night for that long… They weren't kidding about their erratic day-night cycle, were they?
ROUGE : Well, one minute I was drinking and suddenly the sun came up. So it's business as usual for me~…
ROUGE : But the hours here really are fickle!
EMMA : Please drink in moderation…
SHAYMIE : Yanno, yanno, Rouge told me the other day that "alcohol is a friend of the soul."
SHAYMIE : See! It's written in my diary.
EMMA : Rouge…
ROUGE : Ah, that cold stare…! It's starting to become a habit!
FELD / MEL : You fool! / You're an idiot…
As much as we laugh at the lively exchange, I also can't help but sigh when I think of the situation we're in…
EMMA : (What if we don't make it back from Wondermare? We're not even close to figuring out what to do for this tea party yet…)
ROUGE : …Emma, why the long face?
EMMA : Huh!?
ROUGE : Lemme guess~...
ROUGE : "We've got a job to host this tea party… What if we don't make it home?"
EMMA : …Yeah. That's about it…
ROUGE : Ahh, how dependable of you. But you know what?
Rouge slowly looks up at the sky. I follow his gaze to find strangely shaped clouds swimming in the clear blue.
ROUGE : If we just wait things out, one day there'll be good weather on the sea route and we can go home then. For now let's take it easy and not stress ourselves out.
ROUGE : It's not every day you get to experience something like this. You have to savor these moments while you can~♪
EMMA : Rouge…
ROUGE : It'll be a good way to relieve stress from a tough job, don't you think?
EMMA : You're starting to sound more like yourself now.
ROUGE : Ah-ha-ha. Guess I've been found out.
ROUGE : But it's also true that I want you to smile.
Rouge's fingers gently stroke my cheek.
ROUGE : It's good that you're a hard worker, but if you work too hard all the time, you'll get tired.
ROUGE : Sometimes you have to complain or slack off, to pamper yourself and enjoy life.
EMMA : …You're right.
ROUGE : If we just relax, finding our way home will be a breeze!
EMMA : Well, isn't that a little too optimistic?
EMMA : (…But… My heart feels a little lighter now.)
EMMA : Rouge…
ROUGE : Hm?
EMMA : Thank you…
ROUGE : No, no. You're welcome.
SHAYMIE : Rouge, Emma! What are you two talking about~?
ROUGE : We're talking about how smiling is the best remedy to any bad situation! See? Shaymie always smiling, too! He gets it!
SHAYMIE : Hehehe, really~? I don't know about all that myself. But…
SHAYMIE : Shaymie loves the way Emma smiles!
ROUGE : We're on the same page there, Shaymie. I do, too.
EMMA : Heh… Shaymie… Rouge… I love your smiles, too.
ROUGE : Waahh!? Shaymie, did you just hear that!? Add that to your picture diary! Emma loves me! You've gotta remember this!
EMMA : Is not that big a deal!
SHAYMIE : Ahaha~♪ I have to do it! I gotta get painting!
