[Event]

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko is sat either in the courtyard in Sakana, or on a bench in the park. She's holding a sketchpad which she was drawing a picture in, a picture of her and her mother, but beside them is a figure that Tomoko hasn't finished drawing yet and by the way she's sadly looking at the picture, it doesn't seem like she's going to finish it.

She seems a bit down. Maybe you want to talk to her and see what the matter is?*

Comments

[sketchthefuture]

...my dad.

*She stops colouring the grass on the picture*

...but I can't finish it.

[naturalcure]

"....oh."

[Isabel grimaces. Then, realization hits her.] "Oh. Oh..." [She looks at Tomoko for a few minutes and sighs, one hand up on her head.] "...do you know if, uh, your mom has any pictures or anything around?"

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko nods*

Yeah, we have pictures. I wish I could remember from memory though...
...and sometimes even when I look at the pictures, it feels like I don't know him.

[naturalcure]

[Isabel pauses, not knowing what to say for a moment. She tries to think about how Tomoko feels - come on, she should be better equipped than anyone to help her deal with this kind of thing, right?
Eventually, she lets out a breath and puts a hand on Tomoko's shoulder.]

"...you were really young when he was gone, huh?"

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko nods*

Mom said I'd just turned three.

[naturalcure]

"...yeah."

"Sometimes...I have trouble remembering stuff about my mom." [She scratches her head.] "...it sucks. Tryin' to remember someone and it's all...blurry, and you feel like you should be able to remember better 'cause it's important but...y'can't." [She looks down at Tomoko.] "Right?"

[sketchthefuture]

Yeah... I can't remember him playing with me, or what his voice was like or anything. I feel bad that I can't remember.

*Tomoko then curiously looks up at Isabel*

...do you miss your mom a lot?

[naturalcure]

"...sometimes. I used to miss her a lot more. Since I started living here, it's gotten a little better. I don't think about her as much now...sometimes I feel sorta guilty about that, but, I don't think she'd want me to spend a lot of time being sad about her."

[She looks down at Tomoko's drawing and puts her hand on it, briefly running it over the drawing of Tomoko, then Sayuri. She gives Tomoko a small smile.] "I think..she'd probably want me to be happy with the people I have around me now. Y'know?"

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko watches her do that and eventually, she gives a little smile back*

Sakana is like having one big family, isn't it?

[naturalcure]

"Yeah....with all the good and bad that comes'a that." [She glances backwards at their home for a moment.]

"I still wouldn't give it up though. Would you?"

[sketchthefuture]

Not at all!! I know my mom wouldn't either! She loves it here too!