Tohsaka Sakura's heart was very kind. She felt a pang of sadness in her own chest as she watched the older woman in the room, so overcome with grief that she seemed lost in it.
Looking at this big sister who was so sad that she seemed beyond comfort in the room, she felt her own heart ache along with hers. Sakura wished she could take away Vivian's pain.
But—
At this moment, Tohsaka Sakura didn't know what she should do. She felt a little lost and unsure of how to help.
After all, the other woman looked so sad that any words she could think of seemed so pale and weak in comparison. Could she really make her stop crying?
The kind little angel found herself feeling a little confused and helpless for a moment. She wanted to do something, but she wasn't sure what.
[You quickly noticed Tohsaka Sakura's hesitation.]
[You started to feel a little worried. You knew Sakura had a good heart, but this situation seemed difficult.]
[Considering your usual close bond, you decided to directly ask what was going on. You wanted to understand why Sakura was hesitating.]
"Sakura," Mr. Ghost's voice came, gentle and concerned. "What happened?"
"Eh?"
This was the first time Mr. Ghost had actively reached out to Tohsaka Sakura like this. Usually, she was the one to initiate their conversations. She felt a little surprised but also grateful for his concern.
But she knew that focusing on unimportant details at a time like this didn't make much sense, so she directly answered. She wanted to tell him what she had seen.
"Ghost-san... there's an older sister crying in the room," Sakura whispered, her voice filled with worry.
"Crying?" Mr. Ghost asked, his voice showing concern.
"Yeah," Tohsaka Sakura nodded, her expression serious. "And she looks like she's crying very sadly." Sakura had never seen anyone look so heartbroken before.
"..."
Mr. Ghost was silent for a moment, thinking about the situation. Then, he continued to ask.
"Then—"
"Sakura, do you want to go in and comfort her?" Mr. Ghost asked gently. He wanted to know what Sakura's intentions were.
Knowing that there was no need to hide anything from Mr. Ghost, Tohsaka Sakura nodded directly. She trusted him completely and knew he understood her feelings.
"Yes, I do want to do that," Sakura admitted, her voice firm.
"But—"
"I don't know if it's a good idea to do that..." Sakura hesitated, her brow furrowed with uncertainty. She wasn't sure if it was appropriate to intrude.
"..."
Mr. Ghost was silent for a short while, considering the best course of action. Then, he pointed out a path for Tohsaka Sakura.
"If that's the case, I suggest you just go ahead and do it," Mr. Ghost advised gently.
"After all—"
"If you do it, it might not have any effect." Mr. Ghost stated the possibility of failure honestly.
"But if you don't do it, it definitely won't have any effect," Mr. Ghost concluded, emphasizing the importance of trying.
"..."
[Your words awakened Tohsaka Sakura. She realized what she truly wanted to do.]
[She recognized her true feelings. She really wanted to help Vivian feel better.]
[She decided to enter the room—even though it might be a little impolite. Her desire to help outweighed her concern about manners.]
With a soft creaking sound, the room door was slowly pushed open by a small hand. Sakura took a deep breath before stepping inside.
The visitor, Tohsaka Sakura, appeared at the doorway. Her small figure looked even tinier in the large office.
"Who is it?"
Vivian, who had been crying just moments ago, immediately covered her face when she sensed someone entering. She quickly turned around and questioned sternly. Her voice was still thick with tears.
"How can you just enter someone's office without any reason?!" Vivian demanded, her tone sharp and defensive.
"Um, I'm Tohsaka Sakura!" Sakura said, her voice a little shaky but still polite.
"I... I didn't come in without a reason!" Sakura quickly added, wanting to explain her presence.
Hearing the childish voice that reached her ears, Vivian felt that the situation might be different from what she had imagined. She lowered her hands slightly, peering over them.
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and then looked towards the source of the voice, seeing the little girl Tohsaka Sakura. Vivian's expression shifted from anger to surprise.
Her expression became angry for a moment, but because the other person was a child, she didn't completely lose her temper. Vivian took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
Of course, Vivian wasn't exactly known for her good temper either. She still felt a bit annoyed at the intrusion.
"Tohsaka Sakura!"
"Didn't your family tell you not to enter other people's rooms without permission?" Vivian asked, her voice still a bit stern but less harsh than before.
"Y-yes, they did!"
Tohsaka Sakura was so startled by Vivian's scolding that she started to stutter a little. She felt a bit intimidated by the older woman's reaction.
But she still mustered her courage and walked up to the older woman. Then, she took a pack of chocolates out of her small bag and held it out towards Vivian.
"Vivian-san!" Sakura said, her voice now more confident.
"Here, this is my favorite chocolate~" Sakura offered the treat with a sweet smile, hoping it would cheer Vivian up.
"..."
Vivian looked at the chocolate being offered to her, and her anger immediately lessened by half. She couldn't help but feel a little touched by the child's gesture.
What replaced it was an equal amount of confusion. She tilted her head, wondering why this little girl was giving her chocolate.
"You... why are you giving this to me?" Vivian asked, her voice now softer and filled with curiosity.
"Um—" Tohsaka Sakura mumbled softly, looking up at Vivian with innocent eyes.
"Wasn't Vivian-san crying just now?" Sakura asked, her voice gentle and concerned.
"I... I'll give you my yummy chocolate. If you eat it, you won't feel like crying anymore!" Sakura declared confidently, hoping her favorite treat would have the same effect on Vivian.
"I can guarantee it!" Sakura added with a serious nod, showing her earnestness.
"..."
[Vivian realized that the little girl in front of her, named Tohsaka Sakura, had come to comfort her.]
[In that instant, the look in her eyes towards the other person had less anger and more emotion. She felt a warmth spread through her chest.]
[She felt a little regretful that she had spoken so loudly just now. She hadn't meant to scare the child.]
"Is that so."
Vivian took the chocolate from Tohsaka Sakura and then placed it on the table beside her. She looked at the chocolate thoughtfully.
Then, she spoke in a gentle tone that was completely different from before. Her voice was now soft and kind.
"Thank you, Tohsaka Sakura," Vivian said sincerely, a small smile touching her lips.
"Hmm... since you're here, how about you rest with Big sister for a while?" Vivian asked, inviting Sakura to stay.
"Okay~"
Feeling that her kindness had been accepted by the other person, Tohsaka Sakura's expression also became much happier. She beamed with joy.
She sat down on the sofa nearby, and her two small feet started to swing gently. She felt comfortable in Vivian's presence now.
"Would you like something to drink?" Vivian stood up and asked with a smile. She wanted to be a good host.
"Big sister has lots of delicious things to drink here," Vivian added, gesturing to a small cabinet.
"Then—"
Tohsaka Sakura, completely letting her guard down, made a cute sound. She felt at ease with Vivian now.
"Then I want to drink barley tea~" Sakura requested innocently.
"Eh?"
Vivian looked at Tohsaka Sakura with a slightly awkward expression. She blinked, surprised by the request.
"If I remember correctly, that's a type of tea from the Japan area, right?" Vivian asked, trying to recall where she had heard of barley tea.
"I'm sorry, but big sister doesn't have that kind of thing prepared here," Vivian apologized gently.
"Is that so?" Tohsaka Sakura nodded thoughtfully. "Then anything else is fine!" She was happy with whatever Vivian offered.
"How about some juice?" Vivian suggested, hoping Sakura would like that.
"Okay~"
[Having gone through what just happened, Vivian was no longer angry at Tohsaka Sakura.]
[After all, it was really rare to find such a kind child. Most of the people she encountered at the Clock Tower were impolite.]
[What she saw more often at the Clock Tower were rude and inconsiderate people. Sakura was a refreshing change.]
"Do you want ice?" Vivian asked, holding up a glass of juice.
"No~" Sakura replied, shaking her head gently.
"Alright."
Vivian came back holding a glass of juice and then placed it in front of Tohsaka Sakura. She watched as Sakura's eyes lit up.
"Here you go," Vivian said with a warm smile.
"If you need anything else, just tell big sister," Vivian added kindly.
"Okay!"
Holding the glass full of juice with both small hands, Tohsaka Sakura took a big gulp with a "glug glug" sound. Then, she let out a happy sigh of appreciation.
"So yummy~"
"Is that so?" Vivian's face was full of smiles. She was happy that Sakura liked it.
"That's good."
"By the way—" Tohsaka Sakura wiped her mouth and looked around at the surroundings.
"Vivian-san, are you a teacher at the Clock Tower?" Sakura asked, her curiosity piqued.
"A teacher?" Vivian repeated, a little surprised by the question.
"Yeah!" Tohsaka Sakura looked at the very mature Vivian in front of her and nodded seriously.
"Big sister is dressed so nicely and has her own office. You must be a teacher at the Clock Tower!" Sakura said, her voice filled with admiration.
Hearing this, Vivian laughed. It was a soft and genuine laugh.
"You're such a sweet talker, little one," Vivian said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"But—"
"What you said isn't exactly wrong either," Vivian admitted, thinking about her role.
"I can indeed be considered someone from the Clock Tower... but not the kind of teacher you're thinking of," Vivian clarified.
"Not a teacher?" Tohsaka Sakura blinked her eyes, looking confused. "Then what is Vivian-san's job?"
"Hmm... you can think of me as a staff member here," Vivian said, choosing her words carefully.
A sharp glint flashed in Vivian's eyes for a moment.
"Of course, if you think teacher suits me better, that's not a problem either," Vivian added with a playful smile.
"I see," Tohsaka Sakura nodded in understanding. "Then big sister must be very amazing!"
"I heard... that everyone who works inside the Clock Tower has really amazing skills!" Sakura said with awe.
"Maybe."
Vivian smiled and gently patted Tohsaka Sakura's head.
"Sakura, I don't think you came here alone, did you?" Vivian asked, noticing that Sakura had mentioned a "big sister" earlier.
"Yes!" Tohsaka Sakura nodded in response. "There's also Luvia-san and everyone!"
"But—"
"She seems to have something very important to do, so she told me to wait for her here," Sakura explained.
"And then you came in here to give me chocolate?" Vivian asked, putting the pieces together.
"Mhm~" Tohsaka Sakura replied without any hesitation.
"..."
[Vivian, having understood the whole story, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.]
[This also made Tohsaka Sakura a little bolder. She felt more comfortable now.]
[The little girl decided to ask some more in-depth questions—even if they might not be entirely appropriate.]
"Vivian-san~"
Tohsaka Sakura looked at the very mature woman beside her, her tone sounding a little cautious.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"..."
Vivian nodded. She looked at Sakura with a kind expression.
"Of course you can," Vivian said gently.
"Go ahead and ask."
"It's just..."
Tohsaka Sakura looked at the table nearby—the chocolate she had just given was still lying there untouched. She felt a bit sad seeing it there.
And even earlier, Vivian had been crying on the chair behind that table. That was why she had come in.
"Vivian-san... why were you crying just now?" Sakura asked softly, her voice filled with concern.
"..."
Vivian's expression froze for a moment. Her smile vanished, and her eyes became distant.
It was clear that this question was quite heavy for her. It seemed to touch a raw nerve.
And this made Tohsaka Sakura realize that she might have asked a very bad question. She immediately felt guilty.
She quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry! If Vivian-san finds this question difficult to answer, then please pretend I didn't say anything!" Sakura said, her voice filled with regret.
"I'm really sorry!"
"..."
"I failed."
Vivian suddenly said this out of the blue at this moment. Her voice was flat and devoid of emotion.
"Failed?"
[Tohsaka Sakura completely didn't expect to hear such an answer. She looked at Vivian with wide eyes.]
[She could feel that the "failure" Vivian spoke of was completely different from the "failure" she understood. It sounded much more serious and important.]
[And thinking about Vivian's reaction just now, the little girl didn't dare to ask any further. She felt like she had already upset Vivian enough.]
[After all, what if the other woman started crying again later? Her intention was to make her stop crying, not to make her stop for a moment and then cry again!]
Tohsaka Sakura was still hesitating about whether she should continue speaking. She didn't want to make Vivian feel worse.
But Vivian very proactively took over the conversation. She seemed to want to talk about it.
Her eyes became incredibly sad, as if she had remembered something extremely painful. The sadness in her eyes was overwhelming.
The only thing in Tohsaka Sakura's memory that could compare to this look was her father kneeling before her that day. The memory made her heart ache.
"Sakura, is there someone you want to see?" the mature woman asked coldly. Her voice was devoid of any warmth.
"Someone I want to see?"
Tohsaka Sakura instinctively looked at the empty space beside her—the place where she subconsciously felt Mr. Ghost should be. She thought of him immediately.
She nodded and then answered the older woman in front of her.
"Vivian-san, yes, there is," Sakura said softly but firmly.
"Is that so?" Vivian's tone revealed a hint of finding a kindred spirit. She seemed to connect with Sakura's feeling.
"Then—"
"Sakura, you should be able to understand that feeling of not being able to see him, right?" Vivian asked, her voice filled with longing.
Vivian covered her forehead with her hand, looking like she was about to break down. Her emotions seemed to be overwhelming her.
"Failed... failed again," Vivian mumbled, her voice filled with despair.
"Today it was proven again that a certain formula cannot be realized. This is already the eleven thousand four hundred and fifty-first one," Vivian said, counting her failures.
"So many years have passed."
"I still haven't been able to find a way to see him... why am I so useless?" Vivian cried out in frustration.
"What exactly do I need to do to get to where he is?" Vivian asked, her voice filled with desperation.
"Someone please help me..."
The more she spoke, the sadder Vivian became. She started crying again in front of Tohsaka Sakura. Her tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
[You heard Vivian's uncontrolled sobbing. You felt a strong urge to comfort her—even though you seemed to have just met her for the first time. Her pain was palpable.]
[After thinking for a moment, you whispered some advice into Tohsaka Sakura's ear. You wanted to help Vivian through Sakura.]
[You told her to act according to your words—words that would be enough to comfort Vivian. You hoped Sakura would say them correctly.]
[But what you didn't know was that Tohsaka Sakura had her own thoughts at this moment. She listened to your advice, but she also had her own ideas about what to say.]
"Um—"
Tohsaka Sakura reached out her hand and very awkwardly touched Vivian's head. She patted it gently, trying to offer some comfort.
"I think big sister doesn't need to be so sad," Sakura said softly, her voice filled with sympathy.
"..."
Vivian looked at the little girl beside her with teary eyes. She didn't understand why Sakura was saying this.
"What makes you say that... you probably don't even understand what that feeling is like, right?" Vivian asked, her voice still thick with tears.
"No," Tohsaka Sakura shook her head gently. "I understand."
"Vivian-san, didn't I say it before?" Sakura asked, looking at Vivian with earnest eyes.
"I... also have someone I want to see," Sakura confessed softly.
"But I haven't really seen him even once until now," Sakura admitted, her voice a little sad.
"So—"
Tohsaka Sakura looked at Vivian in front of her, her beautiful eyes filled with sincere emotion.
"I can really understand Vivian-san's feelings," Sakura said, her voice filled with empathy.
"..."
Despite the huge age difference, from Tohsaka Sakura's sincere gaze, Vivian felt that the little girl was the only one who could understand her at this moment. She felt a connection with Sakura.
"Then what do you think I should do?" Vivian asked, her voice filled with a glimmer of hope.
"Keep trying your best!" Tohsaka Sakura gave her advice very seriously.
"Vivian-san, I think that while you're trying to find a way to see him, he's definitely trying to find a way to see you too!" Sakura said with conviction.
"..."
Hearing this, Vivian's eyes widened slightly. It was a sign that the light of hope was starting to reappear.
"He... is also trying to find me?" Vivian asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes!" Tohsaka Sakura nodded firmly. "After all, the person who can make Vivian-san care so much must also care very much about Vivian-san!" Sakura said with a bright smile.
"So... until you meet, you absolutely cannot give up!" Sakura declared.
"Otherwise, wouldn't you completely lose the chance to see him?" Sakura asked, her voice filled with concern.
Hearing this, Vivian's breathing seemed to quicken a little. She realized that all she had been missing was such a simple word of encouragement.
And just at this moment, Luvia's anxious voice came from outside the room. She had thought her stepsister had disappeared out of thin air.
"Sakura?!"
"Where are you?! Come out quickly, don't scare me!" Luvia called out, her voice filled with worry.
Tohsaka Sakura quickly heard her stepsister's call.
"Ah! Luvia-san is looking for me! Vivian-san, I have to go!" Sakura said, quickly standing up.
"..."
Watching Tohsaka Sakura turn to leave, Vivian hesitated for a moment and then spoke.
"Wait a moment."
"Eh?"
Tohsaka Sakura turned her head back, looking at Vivian with a confused expression.
"Vivian-san, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Vivian wiped away the tears that had flowed from her eyes due to her emotional breakdown.
"I just wanted to ask you, are you interested in learning some magic?" Vivian asked, her tone now calm.
"Magic?"
"Yes," Vivian nodded.
"I'll teach you—just as a thank you for those words earlier." Vivian offered with a gentle smile.