>>10457873>"Oh, yes. If I'm staying in the Divine Mansion, they have much better training facilities there than the public ones, and it's just down the hall from where I sleep and get my food. So I save a lot of time, and get access to better opportunities to train."Colby freezes for a bit as the Empress emphasizes the importance of trust, but manages not to squirm in place. The desperate shouts of Hailey Brittania from the street outside the Divine Mansion ring in her ear for what must be the hundredth time.
>"A-Amy..... yes. Yes, she's wonderful."The Empress's invitation to drink is so welcome that Colby has to watch herself and not gulp it down at once. She raises a glass and smiles.
>"To friendship and trust. To your health and mine. And to complete victory and success at Onsen a Lifetime. *Youyi*."Colby's pronunciation of the toast is not the best, but she manages not to flinch too much as the baiju burns her harshly on the way down; again she wonders at how quickly she seems to be getting accustomed to this. The warmth floods her throat and belly at once, and the fumes rise in the back of her nose, and though it hasn't even hit her yet, it helps her find words.
>"Of course I trust Amy.">"After Miss USA attacked the peace rally with her paint bomb, I ran home. I was so sad and alone, and in pain. Then Amy sent me a message, out of nowhere, and came to my apartment, and she was friendly and warm and generous and wanted to help me with all my problems. She was there for me. I don't know how that night may have gone differently, if she hadn't gotten in touch. I'm glad I'll never know."Colby blinks, with just a hint of extra shine in her eyes, and looks across the table at the Yellow Empress.
>"I know you have people around you to help you, but..... I hope you were able to find comfort after what happened that day as well. It must have been worse for you, in so many ways." 