A Long Winded Errand

'Aww, sorry,' apologized Aster. 'I didn't mean it that way. You always seem sad about something and I'm always trying to cheer you up, so when something makes you happy it makes me happy too.'

"I'm sorry I'm like that," Myukou said. She still looked at the ground. She didn't say much at all at this point. She kinda shrunk into a shell called herself.

Aster didn't get it. She had been trying to show her care for Myukou by sharing her delight of something that pleased both of them, but instead she just made Myukou turn sad again. How frustrating. Myukou probably thought she could be frustrating too. What's the best way to cure downheartedness? The Filgaia textbook she'd been studying lately recommended a Peppy Acorn. So she pulled out two Peppy Acorns from her nine-year-old friend's infinite berry bag and offered one to Myukou. 'Myukou, please try this little nut snack. It's really good.' Aster ate her acorn and instantly started to feel better.

"Ok," Myukou replied before taking one of the acorns out of Aster's hand and into her own. She slowly put the acorn to her mouth and started chewing it up. Sure it tasted good but it didn't really do much to cure Myukou's sadness. She tried to seem neutral at most to make Aster not get upset.

'That was really good, wasn't it?' offered Aster. 'Is it true that you play the bass?' she asked curiously.

"Yes it is true," Myukou replied. "Do you know how to play any instruments?"

'Not yet,' answered Aster. 'I'm learning to play the Grasswhistle. It's a special kind of wooden whistle traditionally played by daughters of the nobility.'

"I see," Myukou said. "That's an interesting choice of instrument. I've never heard of one before. How does it sound?"

'It sounds like the wind whipping through the trees,' replied Aster. 'Harsh and breezy. I like it a lot.' Aster danced a circle around Myukou to emphasize that Myukou could walk faster.

"Interesting," Myukou said. Myukou saw Aster's actions of walking around her but was somewhat confused by it. Regardless Myukou picked up her leisurely pace and moved into one that was less leisurely.

'When you say "interesting" like that, you sound like Yippy. He likes to say that when he doesn't have a good reply to a statement. It's more fun than "I see,"' Aster said, glad to see Myukou had picked up the pace.

"Anything works really," Myukou replied. She spotted the train station in her field of vision. "I think we're almost to the train station," she told Aster.

'Tidly-boing!' yipped Aster, pulling Myukou's hand as if to drag her in a run. 'Let's go! It's a train ride for us.'

Myukou gave out a little squeal as she pulled. She didn't exactly like going fast but she knew better than to actually bring it up and tempt getting Aster upset. She tried to go off into a run but her run wasn't very fast. Pathetically slow might be a better way to describe it. She huffed and puffed heavily as she tried to run, going only a fraction faster than her walking.

Aster noticed her friend's squeal and her difficulty running and stopped pulling her along. 'Sorry, Myukou,' Aster said. 'I just felt so excited because we're almost there. Do you think the train ticket sellers will accept some berries in exchange? I forgot to bring my pocketbook.'

"It's ok," Myukou said while panting a bit. "As for the money don't worry, I brought enough for both of us to be able to go."

'Here we are,' announced Aster as they reached their first destination at last. She led Myukou in the building, doing her best not to force Myukou to go fast despite her excitement.