[ The way Abel puts it just makes the prospect sound...not only possible, but exciting. They all have plenty of reasons to save their worlds and return to their homes, but to really go back to her roots would be...

Nice.

Yes. It would be nice.

The fact that she has never once thought to shirk the surname bestowed upon inhabitants of her village despite her self-ostracization should probably speak for itself, shouldn't it? A part of her heart will always belong in the sea. She is a traveler--a wanderer at heart--but it's nice to feel that she has an orbit sometimes, that there's a place or people she'll return to. That has never been Sui-no-Sato since she left, but maybe it can be. Someday.

He speaks of their eventual victory and instills her with confidence in her ability. What can she do but smile? Her expression and posture lift considerably as she nods. ]

I will. I promise.

[ Mayhaps making it a promise to someone other than just her will help make it reality?

Not that she'll have a way to tell him of her success, really--

--no, no. She's certain that the connections they've made in Horos will not be lost to time when it all comes to an end.

Himeka exhales, feeling like some of the tension she's held tangled up inside of her for so long is finally lifting, just a little. ]

I suppose I did have a confession after all.

[ Himeka gives an apologetic shrug. ]

Thank you for listening. It's...not something I really talk about.