Scenario:Catura - Operation Milky Love Story

Operation Milky Love Story

After returning to the Ox Temple, Catura spends her time taking care of the cows, eating with the villagers, and napping just as she did in the past, but something feels off. Before going to sleep, she remembers her other plan and heads off to speak with her mother.

---

Catura has returned home to the Ox Temple in order to stock up on some delicious milk for the holiday party.

At the same time, she is carrying out a plan by the name of "Operation Milky Love Story."

Catura's intention is to attract (Captain)'s attention by purposefully staying away. However...

Catura: Oh, mooey! I miss (Captain)!

She's falling into her own trap.

Cow: Moo...

Catura: Ah... Sorry about that... I'm supposed to be trimming your hooves...

Moomoo: Moo, moo!

Catura: First things first... I need some tasty milk...

Catura: I'll help the cows relax so they'll be in good condition when the time comes...

Just as Catura shifts gears to focus on taking care of the cows...

Catura's Mom: Catura! It's almost time for lunch!

Milky: ...!

Catura: Right... I'd better get back...

Beneath the clear, wintry sky, Catura yawns loudly as she arrives at the house.

Villagers: Welcome home, Catura!

Catura: Oh my! You all came to visit?

Villager 3: When I heard you were back, I just couldn't sit still.

Villager 1: Same here! Even though I knew I'd probably see you tomorrow morning for the milk delivery, I couldn't wait...

Catura: I'm so happy... I wanted to see you all too.

Village Chief: How are things going with that prince of yours? You're traveling the skies together, right?

Catura's Mom: Hehe... Your papa and I are bursting to know as well.

Catura's Dad: You can tell us all about it over a nice, big pot of milk stew.

Catura: Yay! I love milk stew...

Gathered around the pot with her beloved family and friends, Catura recounts the events of her journey.

Catura: At first... I was no match compared to Lyria... I thought I was unfit to be the heroine...

She speaks of the slow developments in her relationship with (Captain), the bonds forged with her fellow crewmates, as well as love stories and adventure tales.

Catura: So, yeah... Right now I'm still in the middle of my Milky Love Story...

As Catura beams, those around her nod, also smiling brightly.

Villager 2: Well, I'll be! Hehe, I'm glad you seem to be enjoying yourself!

Catura's Mom: I'm so happy for you, Catura. You were able to meet (Captain) and make so many new friends.

Catura: Yeah!

Catura grins and helps herself to another bowl of milk stew.

That afternoon, Catura spends her time napping with the cows and cleaning up around the ranch.

After having dinner with her family, she handles various other tasks, such as readying milk bottles and performing maintenance on the equipment.

Milky: ...!

Catura: Are you as pooped as I am? I have a feeling I'll sleep like a log tonight...

Moomoo: Moo...

Catura: Now that I think of it... this is what every day was like before I met (Captain), huh?

Catura yawns and lies down on her soft, grassy bedding.

Catura: ...

Moomoo: Moo?

Catura: It's nothing... Just a weird feeling...

Catura: Ah!

Suddenly remembering something, Catura jumps up in a panic.

Catura: That's right! I can't go to sleep yet...

Catura: I almost forgot about my other plan... I need to go talk to Mama...

Gathering herself, Catura heads for her parents' room.

Operation Milky Love Story: Scene 2

Delicious milk in hand a few days later, Catura hurries to meet up with (Captain) and company, but the ferry is out of service due to heavy snowfall. With the help of her father and the villagers, she manages to rendezvous with the crew, but later realizes she actually arrived one day ahead of schedule.

---

A few days after Catura's arrival at the Ox Temple...

Catura: Yay! The delicious milk is ready...

Catura's Mom: It certainly is! The composition is perfectly balanced. I can tell you put a lot of effort in!

Catura: Moohoohoo... I managed to finish in time... If I take the ferry today, I should arrive on the day we agreed to meet up...

Catura's Mom: You're almost there. I'm sure (Captain) will be pleased as well.

Catura: Thanks... I'll work hard on my other plan too...

Catura loads the milk and dairy products into a tank and prepares to leave.

With Milky pulling her heavy cargo, Catura arrives at the docks. However...

Catura: What! The ferry's out of service?

Unfortunately, the ship is unable to fly due to heavy snowfall in the region.

Catura: What do I do now... At this rate...

Catura's Dad: Don't you worry, Catura!

Catura: Huh?

Catura's Dad: Did you forget? Your papa wasn't just any ordinary skyfarer, you know—I was a helmsman too!

Catura's Dad: A measly storm like this is no match for me!

Catura: S-so that means!

Catura: Wait, but... we don't have an airship, do we?

Village Chief: If it's a ship you need, I have one. Feel free to use it.

Catura: Mr. Chief?

Villager 1: That old skyskimmer has been through a lot. I doubt it'll fly as is.

Villager 2: Then we'll just have to do some maintenance on it! Reminds me of when we used to help with Milky's repairs back in the day.

Villager 3: In that case... I'll whip up some rice balls to keep everyone going.

Catura: Granny! Everyone!

Catura's Mom: Hehe... I had a feeling the weather might take a turn for the worse, so I reached out to them.

Village Chief: We've all seen how much effort you've been putting in.

Villager 2: Our precious Catura is going to such great lengths for the person she loves. So let us help!

Catura: You guys...

Catura: Thank you... Please help me!

The villagers nod vigorously and waste no time in setting to work.

Soon the newly reinforced skyskimmer is speeding through stark white skies, thanks to the expert steering of Catura's father.

Finally, Catura arrives at her destination island.

Catura's Dad: We couldn't land at the port because of the blizzard. But you can make it the rest of the way, right, Catura?

Catura: Yeah! Milky and I will race our way there!

Milky: ...!

Catura: (Everyone... poured their feelings into this milk...)

Catura: (I have to... get it to the crew!)

Meanwhile, (Captain) stares out the window at the swirling snow outside.

Lyria: Are you by any chance... thinking about Catura?

Vyrn: Hm? The storm's supposed to let up by tomorrow morning, so don't worry about the milk.

Lyria: Shush, Vyrn! I was asking (Captain)!

Vyrn: What's the big deal? And why'd you put an empty milk bottle in front of (Captain)?

Lyria: W-well, you see... "This milk bottle of separation makes you grow all the more." Or something...

Vyrn: Huh? If that's supposed to be a quote, I have a feelin' you've got it all mixed up—

Catura: (Captain)!

Lyria: Oh, Catura!

1. Welcome back.

Choose: Welcome back.

(Captain) remarks, "It's cold out there," before pouring some hot tea into a cup, and handing it to Catura.

Catura: Wow, thank you... It's so nice and warm...

Catura: Wait, I mean...

Catura: I brought the delicious milk... I made it in time, right?

Vyrn: Yup! Betcha the guys in the kitchen'll be glad it arrived early.

Catura: Thank goodness... I got here early—

Catura: Wait... Early?

Vyrn: Yeah. We were supposed to meet up tomorrow, right?

Catura: Oh...

Moomoo: Moo, moo?

Catura: Looks like I got the date wrong... by one day...

Breathing a sigh of relief, Catura and Moomoo plop themselves down.

With a smile, (Captain) puts a blanket over Catura's shoulders as a gesture of thanks for her efforts.

Operation Milky Love Story: Scene 3

Following the holiday party, Catura calls (Captain) onto the deck, where she is delighted to learn that they had both been thinking about the other, marking the success of Operation Milky Love Story. Catura presents the captain with a hand-knitted scarf, and the pair head out into the empty town together.

---

Preparations proceed steadily, and before the crew knows it, the big day arrives.

The holiday party is a revelrous affair. Following a very merry time together, it comes to an end.

After cleaning up, (Captain) is summoned by Catura out onto the deck.

Catura: Happy holidays... Everything was so hectic, I didn't have a chance to say it yet...

Catura: Here, have some hot milk... If you like, we can drink it together...

The captain accepts the mug and takes a sip of steaming milk.

1. Yum!

Choose: Yum!

Catura: Moohoohoo... I'm glad you like it...

Catura: Sorry, I know it's cold out here... But the stars look so beautiful...

As they stare up at the glittering sky above, a shooting star streaks by.

Catura: We looked at the stars together like this before, remember?

At that time, various circumstances had led to (Captain) bringing Catura to a nearby hill in a bridal carry.

Catura: Yeah... That sure brings back memories...

Catura: ...

The captain inquires about her trip home and asks if her parents are doing well.

Catura: It was a lot of fun... And Mama and Papa are fine...

Catura: But you know... my grassy bedding just didn't feel right...

(Captain): ...?

Catura: It's always been my favorite place to sleep. But this time...

Catura: Oh... I guess I already feel more at home in my room on the ship...

Catura turns her gaze from the distant sky to look into (Captain)'s eyes.

Catura: So, um... how was it... with me not around?

Catura: Personally... I wanted to see you so badly it hurt...

Catura: It looks like... I've gotten used to being by your side...

1. I was thinking the same thing.

Choose: I was thinking the same thing.

Catura: Huh?

Exchanging greetings with Catura before an early morning training session...

Bringing a stepladder for Catura when going to hang the laundry to dry...

Matching Catura's pace with a practiced slow and steady stride...

Whenever such daily interactions failed to materialize, the captain couldn't help but wonder how she was doing.

Catura: (No way! Operation Milky Love Story... is working?)

Catura: ...

(Captain): ...

Catura: U-um... I'd like to... balance things out...

Catura: Or I guess tie things up... or maybe make amends...

Catura: Basically, um... I'd like to be with you after this... to make up for the time I wasn't around...

Smiling, (Captain) nods.

Catura: More specifically... I want to walk alone with you through the empty town on this special night...

Catura: Packed up tables from cake sales in the darkened shopping district... Lonely-looking holiday trees...

Catura: I want to look at those things with you...

1. But why?

Choose: But why?

Catura: Because I want the sights we see to belong to us and no one else...

As Catura looks down bashfully, the captain sets down the mug and suggests they head out.

Catura: Oh, wait...

Catura stands on her tiptoes and wraps a fluffy scarf around (Captain)'s neck.

Catura: Mama taught me how to knit this... It's a thank-you for the lovely clothes...

Catura: It'll probably be even colder in town, so I hope this will keep you warm...

Catura: (Actually... this was supposed to be part of Operation Two Necks, One Scarf...)

Catura: (But I'm already so happy... Any more than this would feel unfair...)

The captain thanks her for her thoughtful gift, and together they set off toward the town.

Moomoo & Milky: ...

Moomoo and Milky watch them disembark from the deck with satisfaction.

Catura: (Santa... Please don't come just yet...)

Catura: (I want this moment alone together... to last forever...)

Perhaps having chosen to grant Catura's wish, Santa does not appear.

As the rest of the town drifts off to sleep, the pair's footsteps echo lightly through the empty streets.