Guest Room Maze

It was a pleasure to talk to you. I rather enjoyed hearing your tales of the sea.

Reminds me, you don't dress like a local. What brings you to this podunk little island?

...I'm looking for someone.

She a local?

I don't... imagine so.

That's mighty strange then. This island's all people who wanna get off it. Never heard of anyone wanting to come over.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure if she's here or not...

(Pats her shoulder) Ah, it'll be fine! With this few people on the island, you'll be done asking if anyone's seen her in no time!

...Yes.

But one thing. Doesn't matter if you find her or not, you have to be back here by noon.

Not many boats come this way. If you miss this one when it leaves, you'll be stuck until next month.

But it's nearly...

*sigh* Sorry, not much I can do.

I can wait for you some, but it's not safe on the seas at night. We need to be back on the mainland before sundown.

...Right, I'll be going now then!

(Loudly) Do—re—mi—

Yes, I can hear you.

(Quietly) Do—re—mi—

......

I just went through it again, further away... Were you unable to hear it?

Yes... I didn't hear anything just now.

...Let me get that blindfold off of you first.

How are my results?

I hate to say this, but... compared to last time, it seems like the range I can hear has gotten even smaller.

I see... Okay, I understand. I'll be more aware of environmental conditions on my future surveys.

Eyjafjalla, you should cherish your personal safety more.

How long have you been on the island?

I arrived two months ago.

Your hearing is getting worse, but we don't have a formal doctor here who can help you.

There should be a boat at the dock today. I'll pack your luggage for you, and then you can set off for home.

I can't. I still have one last round of data to collect from the volcano here...

But your health—

Before I came here, I had a doctor at Rhodes Island give me a health assessment.

Umm... While my situation isn't very optimistic, I did promise her I would be back within three months.

She knows how important my volcanological research is to me, so she agreed to me coming here in the end.

......

I love volcanos, Miss Uika, just as much as you love the stars.

Wasn't the very first time we met up on the mountain, that night when I got lost, and stumbled upon you watching the stars?

...Next time you head up there to survey, remember to call me along.

Yes, of course!

The weather's so fine this morning...

Miss Uika, could you sing a song to me?

Some music would go perfectly with weather like this, while we gaze out at the volcano and the sea far away.

Alright. I'll come in a little closer...

(Deep breath)

That was beautiful!

...Thanks.

Who wrote this song? I don't think I've heard it elsewhere. Is it a local song?

I don't know either. It's probably just something I heard before, and it just stuck in my memory...

But, Miss Uika... You look so sad right now.

Huh...?

Hm? Uika Misumi?

John, you ever hear of that name?

Don't recall. Sounds like someone not from the island.

Could I trouble you to keep thinking over it, sir?

I heard from an old woman nearby that you're the most social person on this island, and that you know more people than anyone else. I'm sure something you know could serve as a lead...

*sigh*... Not many people on the island, though. If none of us at all have heard the name, it must be a newcomer, right?

Hey, wait, wasn't there talk about some weirdo living in a villa on the volcano's back side?

Hmm... I think there was someone there, yeah.

Can't quite remember her name, but I wanna say she's the only one you could be looking for.

Where is she right now?!

Well, follow the road circling the island north for twenty kilometers. Once you reach the back of the mountain, you'll see the villa.

Alright. Twenty kilometers, that should be about half an hour by car...

Oh, we don't have cars here.

You don't have cars?!

Didn't you realize when you came here? We don't have cars.

But the roads are clearly well-maintained...

We wanted to attract tourists to the island. We fixed everything up... and nobody came. We just ended up even more broke.

If you're in a hurry, missy, borrow this here bike.

It's not in the prettiest shape, but there's some use in it still. If you pedal hard, you should make it in about two hours.

......

Good luck! Been a long time since we saw any new faces here. Hope you find who you're looking for! Oh, and enjoy your time on our island!

Thank you, sir. If you'll excuse me, then.

Careful there, you're heading straight downhill—

AAAAAHHHHHHHH———!

...Now wasn't that funny?

Hahahahahah-hah-hah...

She really is far too funny! Hah-hahahahah!

Mor—Morpheus.

I... think... that was—a... bit overboard...

Shut it.

......

She's the one who agreed to this bet. I'm only abiding by our terms.

I'll find her weak spot, I'm telling you, and once I do I'll spin her a dream from which she'll never wake.

...There's no way, no way, that Iris could be better than me.

The sun's nearly overhead, and there's not much shade under the trees...

It's getting rather hot now.

My residence is close by. Why don't we go there to sit down?

Oh—wow, it really is cooler the moment you step inside!

This living room is so big—it must get cold in the winter, right?

The house warms up very quickly if I light the fireplace. The one over there, see.

But when I'm by myself, a little heater by the sofa is enough.

Wow, I had no idea at all you were so well-off...

I think you're misunderstanding something. I'm not an heiress or anything, I'm just the housekeeper here.

(Quietly) Am I going to disturb the owner...?

No, don't worry. I'm the only one here right now.

She—the owner of this place... she hasn't been back for a very long time.

It... sounds like you really miss her.

Yes. Our relationship might be a bit more special than master and servant...

She was the first one to see me as I am. She was the first one to ever make friends with me.

She loved playing the piano. I would sit next to her, and sing along.

At first, we were happy... So very happy.

But then, why did she leave? Why would she leave this island, her... home?

Why indeed... Maybe, just maybe, it was only me who wanted to stay here?

AHHHH—!

Guh...

That's...

Th-that's...

These... these are all part of Uika's dream?

Hmm-hmm—♪ Hmm-hm-hmm—♪

Hm... Well, you did see it, yes? Oh, all the sweet dreams I spun for her, but this Uika girl? Her biggest wish is to be with you.

Problem. At the end of each dream, she's all alone.

You always vanish suddenly—

Sakiko Togawa, you're a cruel, cruel person.

I... Cruel...?

Didn't the pest give you the whole sermon?

Dreams are the truest thoughts of the heart's depths. And in the heart of Uika Misumi, well—the more she longs to be with you, the less she can touch you.

I can weave a tiny little uninhabited isle just for the two of you, and yet all she can do is experience the pain of losing what she gains, again, and again. And again.

This little happiness of hers is doomed to slip through her fingers like sand.

Tut, tut. What kind of heart holds such despair that even dreams can't cure it?

...Uika, I'm going to pull you out of this nightmare.

Are you really? Are you really?!

Now that's something I'd LOVE to see—the look of helpless, raging humiliation all over your face, that is!