[ A short young woman dressed as a young man in hakama and kimono, her hair up in a high ponytail, blinks as the handsome young man addresses her. She doesn’t recognize him, but his dress is fairly familiar. Perhaps he comes from a similar time period as her. At first, she smiles at him, happy to see something familiar in this strange beautiful realm, but the joy slips a bit when he asks about the drink.

Chizuru turns back to her own cup, running her finger around the rim. ]

Yes, and well, only a little to be polite. I was thirsty after the fluffy pastry. But… ( Her expressive eyes fill with tears. ) I don’t know what’s in it and that could be why I’m remembering things from the past I forgot.

[ Is it really a good thing to drink more? Is she still that naive girl that the Shinsengumi found a couple years ago?

The dream crystal by her swords, a kodachi and a full tang katana that seems too big for her, flickers with an image of two children running through a forest at night.

Chizuru gives her head a firm shake, her head lowering. ]

I'm sorry, sir, I'm rambling.