[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

[naturalcure]

[Isabel had been watching the courtyard from her window. She sees Tomoko there for a while before, eventually, deciding to leave her room for once and head outside as well.

A few minutes later, she's approaching Tomoko in a tanktop and sweatpants, and drops down next to her.]

"Hey. Drawin' somethin'?"

[sketchthefuture]

Sort of...

*Her reply doesn't seem very enthusiastic, neither does her colouring at the moment, she's just working slowly on some grass in the picture with little effort, despite the figure that is very obviously unfinished.*

[naturalcure]

"Sorta?" [She looks at it, turning her head a bit.] "That's you and Sayuri?"

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko nods slowly, but doesn't say a word in response*

[naturalcure]

[She blinks and points to the other figure.] "Who's this supposed to be?"

[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!