(GS3) Home Field: Espoir Mansion

[Cherry]

"Yeah, I guess I'm not satisfied, because the one person most important to me hates me. I'm not going to deny I'm a spoiled brat and I'd like to stop being one, which is why I'm starting with this effort. I want you", Yukino responded. Honestly unsure of how to answer the rest, the last bit about not being her big sister hurt. It was enough of a wound opener to nearly break her again, but she just said she was done being a miserable pile of trash, and meant that.

"Fine... I'm not your big sister. I'm not the glorious role model you used to look up to anymore. However, I'd like to be the sister you envision me as. The one you wanted since our childhood."

[Hope]

"You're free to do that but I don't need one anymore. Actually, the last thing I need is someone to be my role model at this point seeing as how my first one tried to jump off a building." She sighed at the thought.

"I have no idea what you were thinking and I don't even want to know. You just a boyfriend a few days back and I've been setting stuff up for you to feel better despite it causing me some more suffering on my own. You didn't want to feel like an object yet you treated me like one. Then when I had spilled my heart out to you, you still felt like I wasn't talking to you as a sister? How dare you even think that I'd want you as a sister. All you've done and have been doing is giving me the same problems you have, maybe even worse and then you go and get yours attended to first like always and I suffer through mine trying to help. Of course what I did apparently didn't do a thing despite how hard I tried because all you wanted was to have your dumb ego lifted up again! Do it yourself with your own actions instead relying on people to praise you for existing, at least people notice you when you do things right!" Hana lost herself in the last bit, saying it without thinking, but she just had to let it go.

[Cherry]

"I said I'd like to be the sister you envision me as. I'm not the role model you wanted nor will I ever be, considering all that I've done. However, I just care that we're family."

Yukino listened to her sister, taking note of the last bit with yelling. This is what the woman was waiting for.

"It was never my intention to have you experience my problems, nor to shoulder them at the cost of yourself. It was my job to take the burden, and I already failed at it. I apologize for being a whiny attention whore, but it's bloody obvious that it won't do a thing. Yet, I still apologize for it anyway. I'm sorry for the suffering you've gone through because of me starting from two months' past. I'm sorry for treating you like an object when I didn't want to be treated that way myself.

I'm going to do my own recovering through my own actions. I don't deserve praise, and I'm not going to let it carry me anymore. I also apologize for overshadowing your life because of my ego, as that was never my intention either.

I can't erase the gross past of my life. I understand if you don't want me for a sister... Still, my offer is going to keep standing. In addition to that, I intend to keep my word, whether you accept it or not."

[Hope]

"It sucks. It just really sucks. I want to be an idol. You know what they're good at? Standing out and making people happy... and you know what I've been unable to do all my life? Just that..." She stood up from the wall and walked towards Yukino.

She raised her hand and slapped her sister in the face.

"I just told you to make things happen by acting on them didn't I?..." She was frustrated. Her words from before always bounced off of Yukino came back at her with no effect. She didn't want to care and just wanted to shut her out so that she could keep on wasting the effort just like hers was.

So she slapped her again.

"The first one was how winning nationals felt like! This one was how losing my clan to save Royal Paladin just to see you go to Shadow Paladin felt like!"

And another one.

"Now that's how one feels when they spill their heart and discover that it isn't enough!"

This one was the hardest one of them all.

"That's how it felt like to have you as a sister!"

Hana breathed deeply. She closed her eyes and calmed herself down. "Now if your offer still stands after all that, then I'd gladly take it as long as you stop talking about it and just do whatever it is. I'm going to go eat now. You're free to come if you want." She opened them and walked off, deep inside having a feeling of relief.
 

[Cherry]

Yukino took all four hits without resistance, holding her ground each time, taking in the raw emotion conveyed from Hana's hand. The queen didn't nurse her cheeks, instead, absorbing the full force of the pain. Staring at her departing sister, she spoke: "... Of course... it still stands." Gritting her teeth, she went on to keep her word as intended. The acceptance of being a disgusting human being came to the queen a long time ago. It was only now she got what she wanted: the princess to unleash her feelings. Wanting to feel as if the gravity of a broken bond is off shoulders, it was still there. Hana wanted action, and Yukino planned to deliver, hoping that taking the assault without complaint was an example.

Even so, she was in no mood to actually eat. However, she needed to survive in order to change things. In order to survive, she needed to eat. Giving out a sigh and waiting a few moments, she followed into the dining room.

[Hope]

It seems like the workers were already preparing grilled chicken for dinner since Dad-san ordered it prior to their arrival. Hana had no complaints and sat down. Chicken was good for its protein after all. She was still silent, still feeling a frustration within her, but she found a new determination within herself along with Angel Feather. She had goals and her dreams were recreated. She was determined to become the person who she wanted to become.

That said, she was kind of hoping that Yukino would just talk to her as a sister now as she said. Hana was getting tired of the overly-dramatic stuff and had nothing else to say. The rest, she can solve by herself. At this rate, she may be able to go back to the council. At the same time, she still needed some more time to rest. Cray without a leader terrified her though, since all the inhabitants acted like such little kids.

The chicken was served on the table and she silently began to eat, accompanied by her own thoughts.

[Cherry]

Yukino took a seat as the chicken was served, keeping any further thoughts to herself. Dad Espoir looked upon his two daughters, neither of them looking all too happy with this family gathering. He needed to do something... The man was going to break the ice, but the queen spoke instead. "So, Hana, how was time with mother? See anything interesting on the trip?" After the inquiry, she began eating slowly, hoping Mom Espoir wouldn't answer so the little sister could talk.

[Hope]

It felt heavy and it was silent even though everyone in the family was together, but Hana didn't mind. It was relaxing. She kept thinking on and on until the question arose. Then she began to think, since traveling all around yields many surprises. The answer could be anything. Along mom-san's line of work, especially with the large amount of traveling and endless number of patients, there were a numerous amount of chances that arose to meet all kinds of people. Hana took upon the opportunity herself during the few days with her mother to get to know many of the patients that her mother had.

"One of mom-san's patients is a manager for some of the popular idol groups here." She answered, not making eye contact, "I told him about all my goals and stuff and he said I might be able to audition to just be in the back up for one of the shows. Its not much, but its a start."

[Cherry]

"What kind of man was he? You can judge the kind of manager he is by his attitude, and I'm not having you bullied in a future carrer", Dad spoke.

"Relax, Father. This is a chance for her dreams to finally start. Plus, it'd be too easy if he set her up in the front immediately", Yukino chimed in to halt their father's overprotective persona. He gave an annoyed grunt, and continued eating his chicken. "I'm glad you found this kickstart", she added.

"I'm glad too, but-"

"Did you meet anyone else interesting? See big surgeries through the window?" The woman cut him off before he tried spewing another overbearing line.

[Hope]

"Thanks... Also Dad-san, this guy worked with Mom-san so she was able to get to know him before I met him and she said he was cool. Big surgeries?... I mean everyone was pretty interesting, but he stood out the most cause of what I want to do and all. Yeah I was kind of scared of how it looked at first, but after awhile I kinda got used to it. "

Speaking of surgeries, Yukino cut dad-san off before he could even speak. Not that Hana mind, he would have probably ended up repeating himself and asking fifty versions of the same question before finally standing down, temporarily. Mom-san was silently continuing her meal, finally getting a moment's rest from her endless amount of work. Though, she couldn't help herself to ignore the redness on her daughter's cheeks.

"Yukino are you alright? It looks like you got that just recently, where did it come from?"

Hana tucked her head in even more and tightened her body in discomfort upon hearing the question, turning her head to look away.

[Cherry]

"Hmm..." A skeptical father took a drink of water, obviously not trusting this manager at all. Even if Mom Espoir worked with him. Ultimately, he decided not to pursue it until needed... which he will make it so he is needed. Yukino gave an annoyed sigh, already under enough stress. Papa Wolf's bloodthirst in the act of protecting his kin wasn't exactly desired on her plate. The queen act slowly, but a little bit before the mother questioned her red cheeks. Not looking at Hana, she took a second to make up an excuse.

"Had a bit of a problem on the way home. It's nothing to worry about", a vague lie. Though, she was out of breath when she got home, so hopefully that would help make it more convincing.

[Hope]

Mom-san was able to see through based on the pause as well as Hana's reaction to the question. Not only that, but the redness on Yukino's face couldn't possibly be as noticeable as it was if it was only on the way home. Above all, her mother's intuition told her that it wasn't as Yukino said it was. As for Dad-san, he was totally clueless and bought the whole thing. He started gritting his teeth, the table shaking from how he was slowly leaking his fury. Mom-san laughed at the sight and nonetheless, gave a smile and nod.

"I see, you should tell your dad next time so he could handle it." She then turned to her husband and politely informed him, "Please calm down, we still need this table." ... with a hundred gallons of intimidating passive aggression.

Hana understood what her sister was doing. She appreciated it actually. Though, as it seems, they were most likely unable to have a nice casual conversation as long as the destructive duo known as Mom-san and Dad-san were around. So she thought about maybe going out with her sister after dinner to at least give her a chance to act towards her promise.

"Mom-san, we are going to be going again in a day or so right? I might just be able to stay here if things go well."

[Cherry]

Dad almost had an idea, but the thought of the manager put him in the "is somebody bothering my girls" mode, so that notion was erased. He looked toward his wife with a silent "are you challenging me" expression. The queen began sweating, knowing exactly how this was going to end. It was going to be a shame, as this table was made of material finer than most of the fabric on the servant uniforms. ... She quickly realized this was just a bad comparison and gave the table a quiet farewell.

Yukino looked toward Hana when she spoke, happy to hear the idea of staying around. Words and an iron stance may have gotten through, maybe that cover too.

Father turned his attention to the princess and inquired: "Changing your mind about going all over the place with your mother?"

He wasn't happy his little girl and wife traveled everywhere constantly, but not nearly as much to home.

[Hope]

"Yeah, I think I'm just getting in mom's way anyways, plus I'm kind of hoping that she finishes things up more quickly so she can get the days off and spend time with us here."

Hana had finished her meal and placed her utensils in an organized fashion for a worker to pick up. Maybe Yukino needed some rest, so maybe they should postpone the outing for tomorrow night.

Affinity:
Yukino: +3

[Cherry]

Yukino spent an ample amount of time in her room again, but kept herself in contact with the family as much as possible. The morning was used up talking with Ezel for hours about the Sanctuary and how life in the castle is. It's more hectic and casual on the inside than one would believe. The sheer shenanigans that went on and still do aren't to be scoffed at. The queen questioned how it'd be to be trained as a knight, and the lion stated that for some the training is beyond grueling. For the naturally gifted, however, they're the ones who get to slack off early. Apparently, Garmore was one of those in the latter group.

Learning more about the nation got her excited for the eventual trip there, but she kept the idea of going in mind to herself and her best friend.

She sent the same text to everyone whose number she had:

"Hey, I'm okay now. Thank you for everything."

Now was the time to keep the rest of her complaints to herself. Focusing on everyone else's problems and trying to fix them as desired days ago was the next plan, along with rectifying her relationship with Hana. Unfortunately, she wasn't all too sure on how to go about it. Several ideas formulated into a visit somewhere as a bit of a vacation. Ezel recommended the beach and Yukino promptly responded with: "Are you crazy?! Do you know how hot it is right now?!"