memory #1 "It's okay. Cry until your eyes run out of tears."

[piechemist]

You've been worried about Totori ever since the two of you came back to Arland, about how she hard it must be on her, finding her mother's grave. Finding her mother was the whole reason Totori became an adventurer in the first place, and you know all about how she refused to give up, refused to believe the worst, despite what everyone else was saying. You notice how she barely seems to focus on her synthesis lately, and on how red her eyes are, and while you've never been the best at picking up on other people's feelings, you kind of feel like you should say something. Totori lives with you now, after all, and above all else, you're her teacher.

So you speak up.

"Totori?"

"Oh, Teacher..." Totori sounds distant, her thoughts obviously elsewhere. Still, you press on.

"About your mom... Hmm. I don't really know how to say it," you begin, trying to think of a way to put your thoughts into words, "Please cheer up. It's hard for me when you seem depressed, because... No. I mean..."

"Thank you."

"Huh?" Her words surprise you- you weren't expecting to hear that. Totori gives you a small smile, despite it all.

"It's because you taught me alchemy that I could become an adventurer and find my mom," she explains, though you're still not sure what you had to do with any of this.

"But I didn't do anything!" You protest, surprised, "You worked hard and did it yourself!"

Totori shakes her head, though her smile falters, and she looks ready to cry again.

"If only I met you sooner... No. If only I worked harder..." she says, tears coming to her eyes, "Maybe I could have seen Mom before she ended up like that. I could've talked to her, and... Wh-What am I saying?"

"Totori..."

She tries to smile again, but she just can't, and you move to put a hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry. I already cried so much, but... Can I cry just a little bit more?"

"It's okay," you tell her, as if you'd the answer would have been anything else, "Cry until your eyes run out of tears. I'll stay with you until you stop."