Scenario:Sen - Happy in Their Own Ways

Happy in Their Own Ways

Her first day working at the cattina, Sen is told by the manager that there's no need to greet the cats or even feed them before doors open. She remembers a rumor from Siero that the cattina's master is pushing the cats too hard. Though she's growing more anxious, Sen vows to focus on the job for now.

---

Having accepted the assignment from Sierokarte, Sen sets to work at the cattina.

Sen: My name's Sen. It's good to meet you!

Shop Master: Put 'er there. I hear you're used to cats, so this job should be a walk in the park for you.

Shop Master: Things get crazy when the customers start pouring in, but the work's not too hard.

Sen: All right. I'll do my best!

Sen: (I'm on an assignment now... If I mess this up, it'll be a real headache for (Captain).)

Sen: Okay... Here we go!

Sen looks around the cattina with renewed enthusiasm.

Sen: There are a lot more cats here than I'd thought...

Sen: (Don't they seem a little... packed together?)

Sen: Oh, maybe they're all just close friends.

Cat 1: ...

Sen: Hello there. My name's Sen.

Sen: I've come to help out at your place today. Meow...

Cat 1: ...

Sen: Uh, next one...

Cat 2: ...

Sen: Hello, I'm Sen. Good to meet you. Meow!

Cat 2: ...

Sen: On to the next cat...

Shop Master: Heeey! Gimme a hand over here!

Sen: Okay! I'll be there right away.

Sen's greetings are interrupted, and she hurries to the back of the cattina.

Shop Master: We're gonna open soon. You all ready to go?

Sen: Yes...

Shop Master: Anything you're not sure about?

Sen: No, but... I wasn't able to finish greeting all the cats, and...

Shop Master: Greet the cats?

Sen: So I'm not sure I have a handle on who's who. I'm sorry.

Shop Master: Ahahaha! You're serious, aren't you?

Sen: What do you mean?

Shop Master: You remember what you're here to do, right?

Sen: Yes. I've got it down.

Shop Master: Then you'll be fine.

Sen: Do you think so?

Shop Master: Yeah, of course! You're a bit of an oddball, huh?

Shop Master: Well, anyway, I'm about to open the doors.

Sen: Um... Is it okay not to feed the cats?

Shop Master: It's fine, it's fine. We always have a ton of customers.

Shop Master: Better for the cats to be a little peckish—that way they'll put on more of a show when the customers offer them treats.

Sen: Okay. I guess...

Sen: (Is this the kind of stuff that Siero was talking about earlier?)

Sierokarte: So Sen, you'll help out at the cattina...

Sierokarte: (Captain) and everyone else, I've got another job for you.

Vyrn: Oh? Another job?

Sierokarte: That's right. It's another job that has to do with the same cattina.

Lyria: The same place?

Sierokarte: As a matter of fact, there are rumors that the cattina's master pushes the cats much too hard.

Sierokarte: Looking into them is the other job.

Vyrn: Okay, I get it.

Vyrn: We'll split up the work—Sen will help out at the cafe while we look into the rumors!

Sierokarte: That would be an enormous help.

Sen: Um, so I...

Sierokarte: You don't need to worry about the other assignment, Sen.

Vyrn: Yeah, things'll work better that way!

Sen: Got it! I'll do whatever I can to help out at the cafe.

Sen: Hm...

Sen: This is no good. I've got to focus on my own work for now.

Brushing aside the anxiety in her chest, Sen begins preparing to open the shop.

Happy in Their Own Ways: Scene 2

When one of the felines runs away from a customer at the cattina and starts trembling, the shop master brushes her aside as a fraidy-cat. As Sen's doubts about the establishment deepen, (Captain) and company stop by as part of an investigation of allegations against the cattina. While they're attending to the spiritless Sen, the frightened cat dashes out the door, and Sen rushes after it.

---

Customer 1: Aww! This one's adorable!

Cat 1: Meow!

Customer 2: Hey, isn't this cat a tad grumpy?

Cat 2: ...

Customer 1: Excuse me! Cat treats, please!

Sen: Sure thing! I'll be right there!

Customer 2: Oh, over here too!

Sen: Uh... Just one moment!

Cat 1: Meow!

Sen: Ah! Kitty, what's wrong?

Cat 1: ...

Sen: Uh... Are you okay?

Sen speaks to the cat, which has run away from a customer and is trembling in a corner.

Cat 1: Hisss!

Sen: S-sorry! But, um...

Shop Master: What's going on? Did something happen?

Sen: The cat, um... She seems to be afraid...

Shop Master: Yes... That cat's always like that...

Sen: But then...

Shop Master: You've just gotta wait till it stops shaking. Just leave it.

Sen: Huh? Here? But there are lots of customers and other cats all around.

Shop Master: Don't worry about it. Customers' orders come first.

Sen: Uh, okay! Two treats, coming right up!

Customer after customer files into the cattina, where business is booming. But Sen's doubts only grow stronger.

Sen: Sigh...

Sen: (It's not just that one cat—a lot of them seem a little off.)

Sen: (Some seem a little unhealthy, and others are really irritable.)

Sen: (They're totally different from the cats on the ship.)

Sen: I guess cats are really affected by where they live.

Sen scratches her head and continues with her work.

Some time passes.

Sen: Welcome to the—

Sen: Ah!

Lyria: Hello!

Through the door come (Captain) and the others, who are on the other assignment from Sierokarte.

Sen: Uh... Welcome to the cattina! Let me show you to your table.

Sen wants to run up to the guests, but she eliminates any trace of emotion from her face and continues working.

Shop Master: Take that little fluffball over to the folks who just came in.

Sen: You mean that cat?

Cat 1: ...

The shop master points to the cat who fled from the other customer just a bit earlier.

Sen: Um...

Sen crouches down and makes tentative eye contact with the cat.

Sen: Kitty, I'm really sorry, but... Would you mind coming with me to the table over there?

Cat 1: Ssss!

Sen: Aah!

At a loss for how to proceed with the hissing cat, she reaches out and retracts her hands a couple of times.

Sen: Uh, er... What do I do now?

Shop Master: What gives? No luck?

Sen: That cat seems really upset. Are you sure we can't let her rest in the back or—

Shop Master: No need for that! It's fine—you can snag it with a treat.

Sen: All right...

Unsure of what to do, Sen takes out the treat and holds it in front of the cat.

Sen: Kitty, I've got a treat for you...

Cat 1: ...

Sen: Please... Kitty...

Cat 2: Meow!

Sen: Whoa!

All of a sudden, another cat leaps out and begins munching on the treat in Sen's hand.

Sen: Um! That treat is for the cat over here...

Cat 2: Meow!

Sen: Aah!

Shop Master: Hm... That cat'll do. Hurry up and bring it over to the customer.

Sen: Ah, all right! Got it!

Sen soothes the treat-hungry cat as she picks it up and heads toward (Captain) and the others.

Sen: Uh... I hope you have fun playing with the kitty.

Vyrn: Huh? You bring us a cat and everything?

Lyria: Thank you!

Sen: Yes... We have cat treats for sale as well. If you need anything, just call me over.

Vyrn: Okay! Got it!

Lyria: Uh, Sen... Is something wrong? You look like you're feeling a little down...

Sen: Ah... It's okay. I'm really sorry.

Vyrn: Well, she is working after all. Let's not worry about it for now, Lyria.

Lyria: O-okay.

Sen: Uh... Please enjoy yourselves!

Sen: Sigh...

Sen retires to a corner of the store and sighs.

Sen: (I'm worrying everyone... And I'm not even doing a good job.)

Sen: (This is an assignment... But I'm not helping (Captain) in the least...)

Sen: There's no time to beat myself up. It's time to get things back on track.

Just a moment later, there's a sudden cry.

Cat 1: Fuh-ruuur!

Shop Master: Ah, get back here!

Cat 1: Growrrr!

Sen: Kitty?

Shop Master: Damn it! It ran off!

The door swings open, and the irate cat seizes the chance to bolt outside.

Sen: I'll catch her!

Sen follows the cat out of the shop.

Happy in Their Own Ways: Scene 3

The cat jumps from alleyway to walltop, walltop to rooftop. Sen nimbly gives chase but loses her footing at the edge of a roof, distracted by thoughts that the cat wouldn't thrive in the cattina. But in the end, after finally catching it with the help of (Captain) and crew, she makes the agonizing choice to return the cat.

---

Cat 1: Meow!

Sen: Please wait!

Cat 1: Meow!

Sen: Huh!

Cat 1: Meow!

Sen: Wait!

The cat jumps nimbly from alleyway to walltop, walltop to rooftop. Sen, no less nimbly, chases after her.

Townsperson 1: W-what's going on?

Townsperson 2: How come that girl's running up on the roofs?

The people express their surprise at seeing the girl dashing from roof to roof, but Sen is too occupied to notice.

Sen: Wait... Please wait!

Cat 1: ...!

Sen: Um! It's dangerous out here... Please turn back!

Sen: Kitty! Please!

Despite everything Sen says, the cat refuses to slow down.

Sen: Huff, huff... Now what?

Sen: Anyway though...

Cat 1: ...

Cat 1: Ssss!

Sen: (The cat really hated it back there, so she ran away...)

Sen: (She'd probably be better off if I didn't take her back...)

Sen: Mmph, but still...

Sen: It's my job to help out the cattina!

Tears begin to well up in the eyes of the conflicted Sen.

Sen: I...

Sen: Eek!

Blurry vision and a distracted mind mix poorly with Sen's pursuit of the cat, and she loses her footing at the edge of a roof.

Sen: I'm gonna fall!

Sen: ...!

Vyrn: Phew! That was a close call!

Sen's fall is broken when (Captain) catches her.

Sen: Ah...

Sen: Captain!

Lyria: I know you probably could've handled that yourself, Sen, but I'm glad that (Captain) got to you in time!

Sen: Thank you very much! Um, uh...

Lyria: We saw you and the kitty go out the door, so we ran after you.

Vyrn: It's not like you to fall off a roof, Sen.

Sen: Sorry... I was just thinking...

Vyrn: Thinking? About what?

Sen: Well, you see...

Sen: Ah! The cat comes first!

Sen leaps back onto the roof and looks around, but the cat is gone without a trace.

Sen: I lost sight of the cat. Now what...

Vyrn: Yeah, we can't just let it go.

Sen: That's right. She might've run away because she didn't like it back there...

Sen: But I'm worried that the outdoors is too much for her to handle on her own. We've got to find her!

Lyria: Yes! We'll help out too!

Sen, (Captain), and the others agree to split up and search for the cat.

Vyrn: Nope... No sign of her this way.

Lyria: And she isn't over here...

Sen: Ah! There she is!

From atop the roof Sen spots the cat.

Sen: The cat's up in a tree that way!

Cat 1: Meow... Meow...

Sen: Something's wrong. There's a chance she can't get back down..

Lyria: Oh no! We have to save her!

Cat 1: Meow...

The party follows Sen to the base of a tree on the town's edge.

Dog: Rrr... Ruff, ruff!

Vyrn: Oh! She couldn't come down because of this dog barking under the tree.

Sen: Yeah, that's what it looks like. Well, then...

1. Ruff!
2. I'll distract the dog.

Choose: Ruff!

Dog: Rrr...

Sen: (Captain)?

Vyrn: Uh... (Captain) and I'll do something about that little pupper.

Go to "Continue 1"

Choose: I'll distract the dog.

Vyrn: Sounds like a plan!

Continue 1

Sen: Sure thing! I'll go save the cat then.

Sen: Heeere goes!

Sen climbs up the tree to the branch where the cat is sitting.

Cat 1: Meow...

Sen: Everything's okay now.

Cat 1: Meow...

Sen: Wh-what is it?

Lyria: Sen? Is the kitty okay?

Sen: Uh, well, about that...

Sen hurries down the tree with the cat in one arm.

Sen: She seems exhausted...

Cat 1: ...

Lyria: Oh no! She really does...

Vyrn: All that running around must've worn her out.

Sen: Anyway, I've got to head back to the cattina.

Lyria: Are you sure that's okay?

(Captain) looks at Sen and the cat with a worried expression.

Sen: Yes. For now that's a part of my job.

Gently embracing the fatigued feline, Sen nods.

Shop Master: Oh, wonderful. You snatched her and brought her back!

Sen: Um, uh...

(Captain) and company depart to give their report to Sierokarte; Sen returns to the cattina.

Shop Master: I tell you, you really saved my skin. That couldn't've been easy. Thanks, kid.

Sen: No... I'm fine, but the cat...

Cat 1: ...

Sen: She doesn't seem to have any energy...

Shop Master: Sure...

The shop master looks at the cat and shakes his head.

Shop Master: Guess we'll just have to let it rest in the back.

Sen: Is it okay to just leave her alone like that? Maybe a vet could—

Shop Master: Don't worry, don't worry.

Shop Master: What matters now is the big rush we're about to get. I need you helping out in the front.

Sen: Okay then.

Sen nods and gently hugs the cat.

Happy in Their Own Ways: Scene 4

(Captain) and Sen's work pays off when the cattina in question is forced to close its doors. At the recommendation of Sierokarte the group goes to visit another more ethical establishment. Gazing at the cats there, Sen realizes that no matter where they live—or where she herself lives—there are ways to be happy.

---

Several days have passed since the cattina assignments.

Vyrn: You mean to say it ended up closing its doors?

Sierokarte: Yes! Sure enough, the investigation found problems with how the cafe was operated.

Sierokarte: As a result, it received an official order to close its doors.

Sen: Oh, really...

Sierokarte: On top of your report, many people from town saw Sen chasing the runaway cat.

Sierokarte: A good number of them spoke with the local government and chamber of commerce.

Lyria: Oh, I see. That's good to hear.

Vyrn: It's all thanks to you, Sen!

Sen: ...

Lyria: Sen?

Sen: What's going to happen to all the cats who were there?

Sierokarte: There's no need to worry.

Sierokarte: They've been taken in by a number of other cattinas and cat lovers.

Sen: Is that so? I'm glad to hear it.

Sierokarte: Thank you very much, Sen.

Sen: No... I didn't do anything...

Though Sen seems somewhat relieved, a hint of gloom remains on her face.

Lyria: Sen...

Sierokarte: Hm... This assignment seems to have taken quite a toll on you, Sen.

Sen: Huh! Uh, I, um...

Sierokarte: What would you say about going to have fun at another cattina?

Sen: Another one?

Sierokarte: Yes! I'd like to make sure that you can look back on this assignment fondly in the future.

Sen: Okay...

(Captain) and the other crew members have come to the cattina recommended by Sierokarte.

Cat 3: Yawn...

Lyria: Hehehe, this kitty looks so sleepy.

Employee: Please don't pet the cats or pick them up when they're sleeping. They'll appreciate it.

Lyria: Oh, all right!

Sen: Ah, that cat's coming this way.

Cat 4: ...

Lyria: Kitty, over here!

Cat 4: ...

The cat slowly makes its way over to sniff the treat that Lyria is holding out.

Lyria: Hehe, try some of this.

Cat 4: Meow...

When Lyria first attempts to pet the cat, it initially turns away but then lazily eats the treat.

Vyrn: Hahaha, looks like she's putting up with us to get the treat.

Vyrn: This cat's kinda like the ones on the ship—it only does what it feels like!

Sen: You might be right...

Letting out a little chuckle, Sen looks around at the cats spread throughout the room.

Sen: (But something feels different between these kitties and the ones onboard.)

Sensing flickers of calculation in the cats' seemingly free-spirited actions, Sen remembers Sierokarte's words.

Sierokarte: Does it seem cruel to move the cats that had such a hard time in one cattina to another?

Sen: Um... I don't really know.

Sierokarte: Most of those cats have been owned by people from the time they were born, so we can't really release them into the wild.

Sierokarte: To survive, they either have to be taken in by another cattina or individual.

Sen: For those cats to survive...

Sen: Ah! That cat is—

Cat 1: ...

Before Sen's eyes appears none other than the cat that escaped from the cattina the other day.

Cat 1: ...

Yawning lazily, the cat seems far more relaxed than before.

Vyrn: Huh? That's the cat from earlier, isn't it?

Sen: That's right. It's a relief to see she's doing well.

Lyria: It really is good. I hope that she can live in peace from now on.

Sen: I started asking myself lots of deep questions, like whether these cats are really happy in cafes.

Sen: But I guess this is just one of the ways cats in this town live.

Lyria: It's true that these cats aren't exactly the same as the ones on the ship.

Sen: Since I left my home in the mountains to travel with all of you on the ship...

Sen: I've changed a lot.

Sen: I still don't really like the city, but...

Sen shrugs her shoulders, and (Captain) responds with a smile.

Sen: It's hard to put into words, but...

Sen: I know that people and cats have their own ways of being happy wherever they are.

Sen: Me... I love my life traveling with (Captain) and everybody else.

Sen: Meow...

After gently mewing, Sen smiles softly.