Carrot Pudding over Cosmic Order

Kintsugi Tachibana

This corridor… it’s every day I’ve laughed since I became Etsudo’s little sister.

The Gardener

Seventy-three laughs, twenty-one tears, two skinned knees. Quantified.

Kintsugi Tachibana

You kept count? I didn’t give up anything—I learned how to feel without tallying.

The Gardener

Feelings clutter the garden. Order needs pruning.

Kintsugi Tachibana

Then you’ll hate what comes next.

Kintsugi Tachibana

I’m planting chaos—right here. A wild seed called friendship. Try fixing that.

The Gardener

It… blooms?

Kintsugi Tachibana

Yeah. And you can’t stab it with that fork.

The Gardener

I-I've never seen anything grow without permission...

Kintsugi Tachibana

That's because you never let anyone show you how.

Kintsugi Tachibana

Hey. Remember when I chose homework over cosmic power? I'm choosing this too.

The Gardener

Choosing... what? Disintegration?

Kintsugi Tachibana

Choosing to not fix you. Just... be with you while everything gets messy.

The Gardener

But mess is... wrong.

Kintsugi Tachibana

Etsudo says sometimes the best gardens have dandelions. They're just... stubborn flowers.

The Gardener

Your sister is an agent of chaos.

Kintsugi Tachibana

When we wake up, I'm sharing my carrot pudding with you. Even if you hate it.

The Gardener

I... don't eat.

Kintsugi Tachibana

Then I'll eat yours too. We'll figure it out.

The Gardener

The chaos... it didn't swallow me. It just... held my hand.

Kintsugi Tachibana

Told you... dandelions are stubborn...