The doors to New Eden open, one day before the usual dedicated training day for wayward Magical Girls. Inside, the telltale subtlety that came from Diana Caelum’s entrance. Today, she was wearing a long, beige coat, just barely hovering over the floor. Her long, blonde hair hung neat and straight enough, and her hands were stuffed into her coat pockets. Her eyes were less baggy, though no less sunken and unfocused. Looking around, she saw only one other person, though not her target.

Diana: …Excuse me. Is the owner in?

Seia is apparently in the middle of a break, leaning against the outer ropes of the ring with a sports drink in hand. 

Seia: Oh, hello. Sorry, she’s not here right now. Can I take a message, miss? 

Diana: …And you are? Some kind of assistant or something, I take it?

Seia: (She chuckles) Oh, no, I don’t get paid or anything. I just train here. 

Diana: …Right. <It’d make sense for someone like Yui to have a protege or something.> …When will she be back in, do you know?

Seia: Hmm, I’m not sure… if she’s coming back here today, it wouldn’t be until after I’m gone, probably. 

Diana: …You know where she is. 

Seia: Um… is it so urgent you’ve gotta chase her down right now? 

Diana: Chase? I came here looking for her, that’s all. (A metallic sound, like a coin being tossed in the air) …You can help me, or you can not.

Seia: (She slides out of the ring at about the same time as the toss) I’m not sure if I can— (She stops at the sound of the coin landing) Oops. Did I drop some money? (She crouches down, feeling around her feet) 

Diana: I… did… <What the fuck did I walk into here…?> …Hey, you can’t… see me, can you?

Seia: Hah. Sorry, I wasn’t trying to hide it. (She gives a wry smile, fetching her cane from behind a corner of the ring) Sometimes it’s fun to see how long I can have a normal conversation. You know, without someone offering to take me through the crosswalk. 

Diana: (She hesitates before responding) …And you’re training at a gymnasium? I would also wager you know what kinda place this really is, considering you seem to know Yui?

Seia: Oh, our special training for people who’ve… “formed a contract” is tomorrow. (She nods quietly, apparently still careful with her words on the subject)

Diana: (Another, longer pause, followed by a much more inquisitive and soft tone) …So you either wished for your sight and got monkey’s paw screwed, or you wished for something else entirely. And Yui saw fit to take you on as an apprentice, or whatever term she’s using despite that. You must be pretty good at this, getting by in spite of the odds.

Seia: Well, yes. I always have been. Have to do it; nobody’s going to do it for me. 

Diana: I— (muttering to herself in perfect American English) <…Shit, I didn’t actually phrase that right. Damn it.> …Either way, color me impressed. <I’m Diana Caelum.> I came by a while back and got a… modified tour, so to speak. I came by to follow up with Yui afterwards, that’s all. Wouldn’t call myself a friend, exactly, but… if you’re under her wing, I think I got what I came here for. So, uh, thanks, I guess.

Seia: Mm. Glad if I could help. If you’re not from Japan, the cherry blossoms are in bloom this time of year. They’re beautiful, I’m told. You should see them while they last. 

Diana: …Think I’ll do that. Dunno how long I’ll be in town for, after all. 

The sound of two coins being placed on the desk near the door is heard, followed by the sound of the door opening and closing again, then silence.

Seia: Hm? (She tries to call after her) Hey, you don’t have to leave a payment! (She searches around the desk until she finds the coins, picking them up and trying to identify them by feel) What are these, foreign coins? These go to Yui, I guess…