coastal | voicemail.

[ . . . . hm. Is she well?

She's tired, certainly. But she's been healed by Otome and even though she had a fitful night of sleep full of nightmares, she's still alive. Weak but that's still something that she's trying to fix so....]

Well enough.

And your status?

I believe that I am well! I have been healed and had a good night's sleep! I am ready to take on this day with my best foot forward!

It is the dawn of a new day, Lili!

It is.

[and for some reason this alone manages to warm her heart. Lee is still moving forward - why can't she? It makes her take a deep breath in. Out.]

You're truly undaunted, aren't you?

Perhaps I am! I am ready to take on any challenge, Lili! I promise!

Why would you promise that to me....?

[???? Lee, please.]

Because youth is a time to make heartfelt promises, especially towards dear friends!

Don't say that to me.

["We're not friends."]

I'll hold you to that promise, I suppose. Don't give anything less than your best.

I apologize! You must have already known that about youth.

[??? That's the only reason he can think of why she'd say not to say that to her.]

Please do not worry, Lili! I always intend to give only my absolute best! If you need me for anything, please do not hesitate! :D

[Lili knows nothing about youth but she's not going to admit that.

Moving on.]

In that case, I have a proposal.

Are you willing to help me?

Yes! I accept your proposal! I will put one hundred - no, two hundred and fifty percent into helping with whatever task you ask of me, Lili!!

Your enthusiasm is noted and welcomed.

[Hello, slave.]

Have you ever been to a festival before, Lee?

[Let's be real, he'll always sign a contract without reading it if it's handed to him by a friend.]

Yes, I have attended several! Ah, I wish that we could all attend one someday!

Joyous celebrations of youth!! :D

Well your hopes may very well be answered then. I'm looking to host a festival myself within the grounds of the school.

[She got dragged into the committee and then took charge - but yeah sure. This is out of the goodness of her heart. Definitely.]

You are?! Lili, that is incredible! And a very kind and noble thing to do! You have my full support!! I pledge it to you!

I was hoping you would say so.

Might you know any others who would be able to make themselves useful, Lee? I have a multitude of tasks that I wish to assign.

I believe that I do! I can send you lists of each of my friends' greatest strengths! I am sure that every last one of them would want to serve you, Lili!

[and for someone like Lili who is particularly fond of knowing exactly what she's working with-]

That would be excellent. Kindly do so.

Yosh! I will prepare them as soon as possible! No, even sooner!

[And within the hour, Lili will be sent such lists for a good chunk of Cerealia's population. One of them is for Yuri, and it mentions that she's offered her services in finding lost items, so she can be very useful. Also that she has a very strong character and is very pretty.]

[And for most of that information, Lili takes it to heart! It's very important! She'll slowly build up her little army of minions based off of this.

Except when she gets to Yuri she already bristles a little bit because well. Lili doesn't like people normally and Yuri hasn't done a lot to improve that standing. So the mentions of a strong character and being very pretty....

Honestly-]

Are we talking about the same Yuri that made the announcement to the network the other day?

[The soft-spoken and ~~annoyingly forward~~ meek one?]

Yes, that is correct! :D

Are you friends with her as well, Lili?!

No.

[S-SO FAST??? But she gets the feeling that Lee likes this girl (for some odd reason?! Lili, don't be rude) so that's why she doesn't continue the thought of "I don't associate with useless people."

uh.]

I take it that you are, though. Why?

[WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT]

[That is a very quick answer. But Lee imagines that Lili must have seen her post and not answered it. It makes sense; Lili can be very shy, Lee believes. So he goes on.]

Because she is a very splendid person! She has shown me nothing but kindness and acceptance since we first met. She has been through a lot, and I want to do my best to be there for her and to help her! We've talked a lot about each other's worlds, as well. It is a very strong bond that we have formed, and I am glad for every time that I can help here to smile!

You would enjoy being her friend very much! : D

[Mmmmmmmmmmm no.

No on so very many accounts. Lili absolutely answered and it ended up in a bit of a squabble because Lili doesn't get along with girls her own age. And she doesn't think that she would like being Yuri's friend at all because the other girl irritates her intensely.

Except.

She doesn't irritate Lee... so.... and Lili likes Lee a lot.... so...

There's a bit of a choking noise on her end and she wants to just bury her face into a pillow because this is mortifying what does she say?]

You sound very fond of her.

[Like.

Exuberantly so.

And he thinks that she's pretty?

This isn't painting a pleasant picture for Lili, even though she does treasure Lee's happiness.]

I am very fond of her! Why would I not be? Something about being around her always puts me at ease! It is so very refreshing and heartwarming!

[See, this all very clearly points to signs of a crush.

Except Lili's never had a crush on anyone before and doesn't know how to register positive feelings even a little bit so.

So she's sitting here like "I wonder if he's interested in her."

For fuck's sake-]

What an odd feeling you describe. [??? Has she ever felt that way around someone.... yona, maybe?!] I suppose I am relieved to hear of your happiness...

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