"Should I... even question that?"

"I could honestly go for a cup of shaved ice right now. I can't remember the last time I had any..."

"Good..." Looks at the time. "...Afternoon? Did I... oversleep? How shameful! I know a set an alarm!"

"Sometimes I wonder if 『Rin/Suzune🍶 凛／鈴音』 is still drinking herself into an early grave."

"It's morning and this time I didn't accidentally oversleep. In fact, I woke up 3 hours earlier than my usual time so I could make yesterday up."

"I think I should go shopping for new bras. I've... unfortunately outgrown my current ones a bit. This is so frustrating."

"Hm. Maybe I should do something nice for 『ⱤɆⱫ』 one of these days."

❄️: YOU'RE ASKING FOR A LOT

“Minori-san.”

“Well, unless there’s someone else who looks exactly like me and has my exact voice then…yes, I am Yumi.” She chuckles, placing a hand on her younger sister’s head as a warm smile tugs away at her lips. “Why do you look so despondent, Minori-san?”

“The path of the Shinobi is an arduous one. For every step, hundreds will follow. The you of today is not the you of yesterday. Each step, no matter how small, will help you grow as you continue forward. So yes, you have, Minori-san. Even if you cannot see it—you have.”

❄️: Me, randomly showing up after being inactive for two years just because I saw Minori being sad as fuck so I decided to give her a pep talk lol

Yumi blinks, curious. “Hm? Certainly; what is it?” Is it something serious? She can only wonder.

Yumi’s eyes widen, worry consuming her. “M-minori-san…! What happened?” she asks, lifting a hand yet afraid to make contact lest she risks causing her any undue discomfort.

“You're welcome.”

❄️: I kinda wanna come back here.

“...”

She smiled. “Thank you, Shiki-san.”

❄️: Seriously, I will try to poke my head back here more often. I'm just a very busy human. Forgive Yumi-mun.

“Peaceful. No one has jumped out of the woodwork screaming surprise at me. I haven't been attacked. My friends are all alive. And so am I.” What more could she ask for, really?