(Wait, Mimin! Don't run away!)
Before I could say anything, Mimin opens the door and runs out of the orphanage. It all happened so quickly, for a moment, I couldn't decide whether I should chase after her or not.
"Selena! What are you doing!? Why did you intentionally make Mimin cry like that!?"
"I've been saying that she'll be fine. You need not worry too much about it, Mina."
"Fine? She'll be fine, you said? Does she look like she's fine to you!?"
I don't understand. How is she expecting Mimin to be fine, after finding out the cause of death of her family? To make things worse, she intentionally said things to make Mimin even more upset. Her trail of tears that sparkled in the air, as she ran away earlier...
"What's wrong with you? How do you expect me to not worry about her, when she's like that?"
I've decided. I'm going after Mimin, and I'm bringing her back, no matter who tries to stop me. Selena's not being her usual self today, but that's not important right now.
Maria: "Wait, Mina!"
Selena: "Let her go. There's no need to stop her."
----------
When I stepped outside, Mimin is nowhere to be seen. She's disappeared instantly, as if she was never here in the first place.
Where is she? Judging by how she turned right, I should probably go in that direction, then. But there's nothing important in this direction, except... the Forest of Magic? Is she already outside of Lindis?
I should hurry up. I run in the general direction towards the Forest of Magic, to look for Mimin. Maybe she's not gotten far yet. Maybe she's still in Lindis, somewhere.
Hopefully, I can find her soon enough. Since I have the running speed of a cat, I should be able to get to the exit of Lindis in about three minutes, so hopefully I can find her before then.
Mimin is my first true friend, that I've ever made. Lance and Sebas don't always stay around me, but Mimin's been actively trying to look out for me. Even though we've only known each other today, for around six hours, she's already spent more time with me, than anyone else in one day.
She's my best friend. So, I need to find her and bring her back to safety! Please be safe, Mimin! I'll find you quickly!
----------
This is getting bad. I still don't see Mimin, and the exit of Lindis is up ahead, in a few seconds. Don't tell me that she's already gone into the Forest of Magic...
I can't fight. I don't know how to handle weapons, or use magic. If she's already inside the Forest of Magic, it's going to be really tough for me. But, even if that's the case, I have to find her! I can't leave my best friend alone without knowing that she's completely fine!
...
Stepping just outside of Lindis, I see craters scattered everywhere on the ground, between Lindis and the Forest of Magic. What exactly happened here? Why is the ground and a part of the forest so badly destroyed?
"Mimin!"
I take a look around and call for her, but nobody responded. I don't see her anywhere either.
*hic* *sob*
This is...! Mimin's voice! Her voice is coming from somewhere in that direction! I turn right from where I was, and run along the walls of Lindis for a few seconds.
"Mimin! There you are!"
"...Mina?"
Her eyes are still flooded with her tears, and they're starting to turn red. Other than that, nothing bad has happened to her.
"Mimin, I'm so glad you're safe..."
I run up to her and hug her tightly, making sure that she doesn't escape from me. She's trying to push me away, but she's so weak, it's not difficult to keep hugging her. Her white dress is all wet from her tears, but I don't mind. I'm just happy that I found her quickly.
But, she's been awfully quiet for a while now. What is she doing?
"Mimin?"
...No response? Why is she being so quiet now?
Suddenly, her arms fall and her head tilts forward, resting on my right shoulder. Her weak body, that was trying to push away from me, is now leaning against me without anymore resistance.
I lift up her head gently and look at her face. Now I can see that she's unconscious... Wait, why is she unconscious!?
"Mimin! Mimin! Can you hear me!?"
This is not good. She's collapsed all of a sudden, and we're just outside of Lindis. I need to bring her back to the orphanage to rest, immediately!
"Please, hang in there!"
I positioned myself to carry Mimin on my back, then lift her up. She's surprisingly light, so it's easy to carry her.
With Mimin on my back, still unconscious, I make my way back to the orphanage, at a slower running speed than before. I don't know what happened to her, but maybe Maria will! I need to hurry back!
----------
"I'm back! Maria, please save Mimin!"
"Eh!? What happened to her?"
"I... I don't know. She collapsed soon after I found her, just outside Lindis. Please tell me that she's fine!"
"Alright. Let's bring her upstairs, to your room. I'll take a look at her!"
Leaving Selena, Daius, Sen, and Arnold behind, Maria carried Mimin off my back and brings her to my room. That is, the room that Mimin and I are supposed to share from today onwards. The four of them look troubled, for some reason. What happened here, when I was gone for around 10 minutes?
"Aren't you coming as well, Mina?"
"Ah, yes!"
----------
"She's fine. You don't need to worry, Mina. She should wake up after a few hours of rest."
"T-Then... She's unconscious because?"
"She's just exhausted. There seems to be no injuries or anything of the sort."
"That's... good to hear."
Mimin's safe... If anything happened to her, I don't know what I'll do. She's my friend. And, to me, she's someone important that cannot ever be replaced.
Maria stares at me, and I return the stare at her. After a few seconds, she simply smiles, before returning to staring at the bed.
"What's that about?"
"Nothing. I'm just thinking about how much you've changed since meeting Mimin."
What do you mean by that? I don't think I've changed in just the past six hours. Also, for some reason, I feel my face heating up now.
"Say, Mina. Mimin's really important to you, isn't she? You worry a lot about her."
"Well..."
Now my face is heating up even more. Why is my face so hot now?
"I see. I'm happy for you, Mina."
"Ah... Thanks..."
Of course Mimin's really important to me. She's my best friend. It's only normal that I worry about Mimin and stay by her side. It's her who taught me about using telepathy, and about what it means to be a friend.
"You stay here, Mina. I'll go get a glass of water for Mimin, for when she wakes up."
"Ah, no! I'll go get the glass of water! I'll be right back!"
Before Maria gets the chance, I leave the room, and return with a glass of water from the kitchen downstairs. This is my chance to show care and concern for Mimin, after all.
"I'm sorry for bothering you, Maria. I can take care of Mimin from here."
"Oh, no, it's fine. Then, if anything happens, just call for me again. I'll be downstairs now, if you need me."
"Yes, I will. Thanks a lot, Maria."
"Oh, I almost forgot! I'm going to get Mimin's clean clothes and give it to you. Pass it to her for me, when she wakes up later, alright?"
With that, Maria leaves the room and closes the door behind her. It's just me, and Mimin still unconscious on the bed, now.
"Please... Wake up soon, Mimin."