Needy:

By afternoon, I came back to my room to check on Sappoto-san. I knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” a muzzled voice asked on the other side.

“It’s only me,” I said. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she said.

“May I come in?” I asked.

“Okay,” she replied. I twisted the door open and went inside. I found the room pitch black inside. The curtains weren’t even drawn open. I squinted to look for her.

“Sappoto-san?” I whispered. I reached over to flip on the light switch.

“Don’t!” she said quickly. “It gives me comfort this way.” I paused and blinked at her.

“Okay…” I said. “Why is that?”

“Just don’t,” she said. I lowered my hand.

“Thank you,” Sappoto-san murmured. I turned and found her sitting on the bed just before me.

“Hey, is something wrong?” I asked. She trembled for a bit. I had a good idea about what this was about.

“If it’s about your family, we’ll find them soon, I promise,” I said assured. She shook her head at me.

“It’s not just that,” she said. I raised an eyebrow at her before I came over to her side.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked. Sappoto-san didn’t speak; instead, she moved her knees to her chest. I rubbed her on the back.

“Take your time if you need to,” I whispered to her. She pressed her lips together and nodded.

“Come here,” I told her. I pulled that big sap in closer to me for a hug. She broke down crying in my arms.

“Now tell me,” I said. “What are you crying about now?” Sappoto-san looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

“I can’t stand this anymore,” she complained. “I want to go home!” I stared her deep in the eye.

“Did one of those creeps say anything to upset you?” I asked. Sappoto-san shook her head at me.

“Then what’s the matter?” I asked. She choked back another sob. I frowned at her.

“You confuse me sometimes, you know that?” I asked. Sappoto-san just looked up at me with those big teary eyes of hers. I patted her on the head.

“But seriously,” I said. “What are you crying for? How can help you out when you won’t talk to me, huh? So please, say something.” Sappoto-san laid her head up against my chest.

“I just want to go home,” she whimpered. I nodded at her.

“Yes, I got that part,” I said. “But why?”

“I just want to see my husband and children again,” she said. That woman broke down into sobbing again. I patted her on the shoulder.

“Shhh,” I whispered. “After we save these people from being ripped off, we’ll go home, okay?” Sappoto-san looked up at me with those big eyes of hers.

“You promise?” she asked.

“Yes, yes,” I insisted. “We just need to help this family not get scammed by those creeps that dragged us into this.” Sappoto-san shuffled at me.

“How?” she asked. I pressed my lips together at her.

“I will work that out,” I said. We both stayed silent for a long moment. Sappoto-san broke down crying once again. I sighed aloud.

“What are you crying about now?” I asked. She squeezed me tight in her arms.

“Come on,” I said. “Toughen up, you big sap!”

“I’ve never had a good friend until I met you!” she wailed. I looked down at her, stunned.

“What?” I asked. She grabbed at my shirt as tightly as she could.

“Miho-chan, you are my best friend!” she wailed. The deep stare in her eyes almost made me fill uncomfortable. “Please stay with me until we find my family!” she pleaded. “Please say that you will!” I looked at her while I searched for something to say. Her grip grew tighter on my shirt.

“Please?” she begged me. I made myself smile as I patted her on the head.

“Okay,” I said. “I won’t leave you!” She looked up at me with happy gasp.

“Thanks!” Sappoto-san said as she hugged me. “You’re the best friend I could ever have!”

“Uh… thank you?” I asked. Somehow, I don’t really mind it this time. Despite how awkward that all came out, it was rather sweet. I can be a best friend to Sappoto-san until she gets her family back. I can live with that and smile.

But first, we have to deal with the “king” and the “duke.” Little did we know, that that problem was going to resolved without much of my help.