Memories Often Windswept

As she passes, she's greeted by Ingrid who waves at her cheerfully and a lack of Miko, which strikes her as odd as she recently mentioned she's usually by the front of the Wanderer's Union. Mizuki sniffs her sleeves, scrunching her nose at the smell of dust and dirt.

Upon arriving at the pub, she's instantly hit by the strong stench of alcohol. It's not loud like it would be at night and it's empty like most mornings. Mizuki's attention is grabbed by a loud, slurred voice. When she turns her head, she spots red hair against the wooden table, three bottles of wine sprawled across the table. Sebastian watches her from a distance with a scared expression, not knowing how to approach her.

"Miko?" Mizuki approaches, leaning forward to catch a good look of her face. Miko raises her head, her face flushed from alcohol. Through heavy-lidded eyes, she scrutinises Mizuki's face, reaching out a hand for the younger girl's cheek.

"M-Mizuki?" she stutters in a voice much weaker than her usual. Miko caresses Mizuki's cheek with her thumb before retracting it, sitting up with a swaying motion.

"It's me. Are you okay?" she speaks up in a worried tone. "I heard you were looking for me."

"I don't feel too good," Miko massages her temples. "Could you make me a Grilled Cheese Sandwich? It would make me feel so much better."

[Side Quest: Memories Often Windswept Accepted]

[Side Quest: Memories Often Windswept - Make Miko a Grilled Cheese Sandwich]

Mizuki straightens her back, turning to Sebastian to meet his eye. She gestures towards him which he, in turn, does not understand. She approaches him, "Do you sell food here?"

"Unfortunately, no, but Mocha can give you spare bread! I heard she made a good batch this morning," Sebastian explains. Mizuki sighs, dragging her feet out of the door, across the street. Through the bakery window, she catches Mocha running around with a platter in her hands.

Mizuki knocks on the door, "Mind if I come in?"

Mocha shoots her a flustered look, hair tied back with a bandana. "Good morning, Mizuki! B-ready to have a good day!"

Mizuki chuckles at the catchphrase, "Uhm, do you have extra bread I can borrow? I need to make someone a Grilled Cheese sandwich but I'm not sure where I can buy it from."

Mocha nods, setting the platter on the display before scuttling to the side to pull out a loaf of bread wrapped up in plastic. She hands it to Mizuki, chirping, "I baked this with Sebastian this morning. I can give this to you if you promise to do me a favour later!"

Mizuki nods eagerly, holding out her palms.

[Gift Received: Fresh Bread Loaf]

Mizuki bows profusely, "Thank you so much."

Bowing is a habit she's yet to get over, especially since she's in a western town. Mocha, though, doesn't seem to be thrown off by it and often returns it. Though her name isn't a typical Japanese name, Mizuki can assume she's familiar with the culture since she uses the honorifics right. Promising Mocha she'll return during a better time, she scuttles out of the door, hurrying to Garden's so she can buy some cheese.

"Rose!" Mizuki holds herself back from a bow, greeting the older woman warmly with a nod in the head instead. "Are you doing alright?"

She shakes her head sadly. "I managed to clear my taxes but I feel like the guards have it out for me. I can assume why," she forces a smile. "Oh, well, it's alright. It's always nice to have people ask about me. What do you need today?"

Mizuki selects ten packets of cheese and fifty bottles of milk. "Do you mind helping me leave the milk in the stove so it can be processed into cheese? I'll return for it later."

"Of course, I'll see you in around 3 hours," Rose smiles. "You should speak to Olive and Garden sometime soon. They've been wanting to see you again."

"I'll keep that in mind," Mizuki mentions. As she returns to the pub with a bunch of food balanced on her arms, she catches Mocha standing outside with Sebastian, pulling him down to a shorter height so she can head pat him.

Sebastian catches her gaze and she looks away to avoid getting him flustered, pushing the door open as if she hasn't seen a thing. She hobbles behind the counter where there's a mini stove for her to make both drinks and food. Going through her recipes, she's relieved to know she has one for Grilled Cheese (would've been embarrassing and a lot more tiring if she didn't), dunking her ingredients onto the mini pot.

She stands, tapping her foot against the ground impatiently as she waits for the pot to eject a plate of her food. When she side-glances towards it once again, she finds it halfway in the air. She stumbles, accidentally kicking against the counter in an attempt to regain her balance. Leaning forward onto one foot, she somehow manages to catch the plate with just one hand.

Mizuki returns herself onto two feet, heaving a sigh of relief as the plate doesn't fall. Miko has her head thrown back over the couch she's on, gurgling on her alcohol. She wrings her fingers around the wine bottle in her clutches, mumbling inaudibly.

[Side Quest: Memories Often Windswept - Listen to Miko's worries]

Miko looks up groggily at the sound of a plate being rested against the table. Slouching against the backrest of the couch, she spreads her legs lazily and takes a bite out of her sandwich. A satisfied hum leaves her lips as she nibbles on the sandwich.

"Thank you for this," she speaks up, a little more clarity in her words but her sibilant sounds still slurred. "I don't know… Been so worried nowadays. It's my husband's anniversary today. I don't know that for sure either."

"Ah? With another woman..?" Mizuki asks cautiously.

"Would've been better even if it was. Death, I mean," the corners of Miko's lips crinkle, highlighting her attempt to smile. Alas, she doesn't find it in herself to do so. Tears well in her eyes, growing heavier and heavier - possibly as much as the guilt in her heart. Mizuki's not that great with bad news so all she does is to stay silent.

"Ah, uh, there's something I lost… Or it might have gotten stolen… It's somewhere in the forest but I can't tell where," Miko babbles. As Mizuki tries to decipher her soft grumbling, Miko lurches forward, holding her chest in an attempt not to vomit. Mizuki grits her teeth, hoping that Miko won't throw up.

"I forgot I'm lactose intolerant," Miko remarks.