[Video | Virus Grab Bag: Trip Down Memory Lane!]

[bag_has_snapped]

(OoC: Moment starts at 10:33)

[Whatever you're doing, the comm snaps up with this wonderful video. It starts out innocently enough - a little girl watching her parents, all dressed up and looking quite well, leave off for whatever they're doing, the child's grandmother by her side. The little girl's really recognizable, too - it's Tsubomi! Isn't she adorable?

Time goes on in a bit of a dilation. More and more, you see Tsubomi's parents return and leave, the girl growing older, always by her grandmother's side as the length of time her parents are away grows longer and longer.]

No! Stop this! I don't want them to see this! Not like this!

[The years keep going. 5... 6... 7... the entire time you see the ever-growing Tsubomi seeing her parents off with a smile, one that hides something so much more. 9... 10... 11... 12...]

Please, don't!

[It's 14 years since it's started and her parents walk out once more and once again, Tsubomi heads for their backyard and as she sits there, she catches sight of a mother bird tending to her young. At the same time, Tsubomi's parents return, having left something behind...

...only to hear the heart-wrenching cry of Tsubomi's despair and loneliness being released. 14 years without her parents and she finally cracked. Years without her parents destroyed her self-esteem and desire. This is the beginning of Tsubomi's change.

As the video ends, there sits the modern day Tsubomi, eyes pained as she realizes everyone saw that.]

I... I didn't... it didn't have the right to show that!

[She's on the verge of tears here, now...]

Comments

[pikapikapikarin]

[How cruel of a thing for the community to do. Yayoi had finally debugged her computer to see, well, this. She sighed and turned on her video.]

Need to talk?

[bag_has_snapped]

...m-my mom and dad were well known in botany. My dad was a researcher and my mom worked for a popular boutique. Wh-when they got married and had me, they... they continued on with their work, leaving me with grandma...

[Yeah, this is hard on her...]

[pikapikapikarin]

And they continued to leave you. With work, I can see that being a difficult thing to deal with.

[Not least of all ideal anyhow. Yayoi had her memories as well.]

[bag_has_snapped]

...fourteen years, Yayoi... if I hadn't broken down, it could have gone longer. It's the reason I'm in Kibougahana now - to start again...

[pikapikapikarin]

Oh wow... that is rough. I'm glad you finally got your family back together.

[bag_has_snapped]

I am, too... [she sniffles] Excuse me... [She takes a bit to recompose herself. It's still a very raw subject for her.]

[pikapikapikarin]

It's okay, take your time. This looks really rough for you to deal with.

[bag_has_snapped]

...thanks.

And it is. It's only been a few months since it happened... I guess it's why I'm really clingy to other people. I'm afraid that they'll disappear, too...

[pikapikapikarin]

No harm in being clingy. But don't worry, none of us are going anywhere any time soon.

You should come over more often. We'll watch anime together.

[bag_has_snapped]

I hope not...

...a-are you sure? You don't mind?

[pikapikapikarin]

Don't worry it'll be fine!

And yeah, I don't mind. Pop's busy researching why the Queen won't wake up, so we've got tons of time right now.

[bag_has_snapped]

Well... okay, then! I'll be over when I can!

[pikapikapikarin]

Sounds great. I'll get popcorn made up so we'll have a evening of fun. Miyuki may come by as well, since we make a habit of watching together too.

[video]

[sunbloom]

[She'd been wondering for a while now, but Itsuki had never gotten up the nerve to ask what had happened to make Tsubomi so horribly passive. Now, she was finding out, and she was starting to wish she hadn't wondered at all. To make matters worse, what would the girl do if she brought it up? She was against a wall... but she couldn't not do anything. So the Itsuki that pings Tsubomi is just a little depressed, but trying not to show it.]

I guess it's been one of those mornings, huh?

Re: [video]

[bag_has_snapped]

Y-yes, yes... Yes, it is... [she sniffles a bit, trying to dry her eyes] You saw, too, huh...?

[sunbloom]

I did. It... bothers me, but I am happy your parents are trying to make amends.

[She sighs.]

Nobody should have to go through that. I'm sure you didn't want us seeing - me seeing - but... how do I put this... even without this, we wouldn't have left you alone. Seeing this just makes me even more sure that it's the right decision.

[bag_has_snapped]

ItsukI... [she sniffles and wipes her eyes before giving her a big smile] Thank you, you... you don't know how much it means to hear that...

[sunbloom]

You'd be surprised. It hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows on my end, either. But... I like to think I've worked past that. Maybe not as well as I'd have liked, but... having someone that sees me for me helps. I think we've already had that conversation, though.

At the end of the day, I meant what I said. I'm not going anywhere, Tsubomi. I can't speak for Erika, but if you need me, I'm here for you, anytime.

[She gives a lopsided grin.] That... sounded a lot less cheesy in my head.

[fightbymoonlight]

[Yuri hadn't expected the video, nor what was shown in it. Truthfully, she never gave Tsubomi much thought, at least not beyond the fact that she was the new Precure. But now, seeing how the girl had suffered... Yuri couldn't help but sympathize with her.]

...are you alright, Cure Blossom?

[bag_has_snapped]

I'm trying to... I didn't expect it to do that, just...

...only people who knew this were Erika and grandma... Now, everyone does...

[she wants to ask what she thinks, but stops herself before doing so]

[fightbymoonlight]

I understand that it's painful for everyone to see and I'm very sorry that the community invaded your privacy like this. It had no right.

But if it makes you feel better, I understand what you feel and I'm sure everyone else will too. So, ah... [How does this comforting thing work again?] Everything will be okay.

[bag_has_snapped]

I hope so, I mean...

Being alone for so long, not having them... I don't want to experience it again. A-And I'm sure there are others out there, too, like that...

[fightbymoonlight]

I'm sure it won't happen again. And you're right, I don't doubt that many people here have experienced the same kind of pain. [Yuri's one of them, of course, but there's no way she's bringing that up unless she has to.] Even if there weren't, though, you're not alone in this. You have a lot of friends here who care about you, after all.

[icantbelievethis]

Tsubomi...

[bag_has_snapped]

I... I didn't want it to get out... i-it was too fresh... it still hurts...

[icantbelievethis]

It's okay, Tsubomi.

[bag_has_snapped]

I... I know it will... I... I got some wonderful friends with me...

[icantbelievethis]

And your family cares about you, too!

[bag_has_snapped]

...they do, yes... I have everyone with me in someway...

[icantbelievethis]

That's part of what makes you Tsubomi, isn't it?