A month later...

[lil_tanuki]

*Cough. Cough.*

[What's Hayate doing today? She's laying back, coughing as she leans against the headboard of her bed looking up at the ceiling. Reaching over she rolled on her side and smiled at the camera. Her face is flushed and her skin looks clammy.]

Hi everyone... sorry you had to see me like this, I... *cough cough* I caught a cold yesterday.

It's been a month for me since I last saw everyone. I was getting worried that people had stopped posting, but I was able to read everyone's posts and such. *cough cough* I'll be fine, I just need some rest.

Oh, my birthday is coming up in a few months as well. I'll be turning ten soon. I hope it's a nice birthday...

[With that, she rolls back onto her back and draws her blankets up.] It's cold...

[A readout next to her is literally reading 25C, a sign that this was posted in the middle of August when it was damn hot too. Darn these summer colds!]

Comments

[oceanicbutterfly]

Eh? [Karen blushes. She doesn't think anyone's ever called that.] If you'd like to, I don't mind. [Excuse her, she'll just focus on slicing up that apple the rest of the way.]

[lil_tanuki]

Okay! Then it's Karen-oneechan! It's decided!

[Giggling, Hayate smiled up at Karen as she took a bite of her apple slice.]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Karen melts into a puddle. Hayate so cute.

Though...]

When you say "it's decided" like that, you should point into the air.

[lil_tanuki]

Really? So like this? [And Hayate assumes a mostly-correct Nozomi pose.]

[oceanicbutterfly]

That's perfect. [Adorable! Everything she does is adorable!]

[lil_tanuki]

[Hayate giggled and nodded.] Okay then, when I say it, it'll be like this! It's decided!

[Arm in air, pointing at the sky!]

[oceanicbutterfly]

That's the technique used by somebody I know who's a master of deciding things.

[lil_tanuki]

Oh really? Is he or she good at deciding things?

[oceanicbutterfly]

She's very good at deciding things.

[lil_tanuki]

That's amazing. I'm glad to have adopted her technique then! Can I meet her some day?

[oceanicbutterfly]

She'd like to meet you, too, I'm certain. So it's definitely possible.

[lil_tanuki]

Okay! You know, I've never traveled to another world before. Last time, Sena-nee came here.

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Karen considers this for a moment, then sighs.]

Unfortunately, I don't believe today is the day, either. My worldhopping method is rather strenuous. [And, more to the point, not wheelchair-accessible.]

[lil_tanuki]

Oh... oh well, when I get better, maybe I could come visit then? I know not now, but later.

[oceanicbutterfly]

Of course! Once you're better, I'll take you wherever you'd like to go.

[lil_tanuki]

[And Hayate will grin and hug Karen tightly for a moment.] Thanks Oneechan. Really. It means a lot to have people looking out for me...

[A little tear rolled down Hayate's cheek. Clearly she's a lonely little girl.]