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Nellie, your friend, is sick. <<linkreplace "She has been coughing a lot lately." t8n>>That's why she wore a black face mask to school. <<linkappend "Ida, her other friend, probably knows how it started." t8n>> <<linkappend "[[You, not so much.|Later1]]" t8n>><<audio "musicsong2" fadein loop>><<audio "song" play>> \<</linkappend>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

Class ended early today. Ida has somewhere to go to first. <<linkreplace "So you get to walk home with Nellie." t8n>>On the way, you see the frozen yoghurt place up ahead. You and Nellie would usually get frozen yoghurt on hot afternoons like this. <<linkappend "[[But now...|Later2]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

...things feel different, somehow. <<linkreplace "When you look over, Nellie has already joined the queue." t8n>> "Come on!" Nellie waves you over. "There's a limited one-for-one event right now!" Her voice is muffled behind her face mask. <<linkappend "[[You recall vividly what Ida told you before she left.|Later3]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

"Make sure that Nellie doesn't eat any cold foods, okay?!" Ida must have prophesised this moment. <<linkreplace "And you're not sure if you're prepared for it." t8n>> Nellie looks at you with expectant eyes. <<linkappend "[[> she's sick! stop her|Later4]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <<linkappend "[[> yoghurt!! join her|Later5]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

...you hesitate. "But Nellie," you tell her, "you have a cough." <<linkreplace "Nellie points to the sign." t8n>> "Don't you want to try the new flavours together?" she persists. "I heard that chai tea is really good!" <<linkappend "[[You admit, you are curious. Just a little.|Later5]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

“Okay,” you give in. “If you really want it, let’s get it.” Nellie cheers with glee. <<linkappend "[[Ten minutes later, the yoghurt in your hand is melting quicker than you can savour.|Later9]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>>

The next day in class, you are idly doodling when you overhear Nellie talking to Ida. “Yesterday was really fun,” Nellie says. She points towards you. “We even got frozen yoghurt!” <<linkappend "[[You freeze as you feel Ida’s sharp eyes on you.|Later10]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>>

Lunch break comes. You head to the cafeteria for a quick snack. <<linkreplace "Soon, you are ambling back, munching on a piping hot waffle." t8n>> Behind the classroom lies a staircase. Someone is sitting on the steps, sobbing. <<linkappend "[[As you get closer, you realise it’s Nellie.|Later8]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

Her head is buried in her arms for reasons you can’t figure out. Ida sits beside her, one hand on her shoulder, and the other hand holding tissues. <<linkreplace "You have never seen Nellie like this." t8n>> You don't know what to do. <<linkappend "[[> approach them|Later13]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <<linkappend "[[> don't approach them|Later14]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

Still, you both chat animatedly about movies and video games till the sunlight subsides. “You know, it’s nice that we can just walk around and chill,” Nellie says. She had removed her face mask to eat her yoghurt. “<<linkreplace "It feels kind of..." t8n>>It feels kind of...free." <<linkappend "[[You smile and reply that you enjoyed the time too.|Later6]]" t8n>> "You reply that you've enjoyed it too." t8n>>As you reach home after parting ways, you wonder if Nellie will still be wearing the face mask. \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

“Why did you let Nellie eat that?” Ida nags at you. “It could have made her cough worse!” <<linkreplace "While you try to defend yourself, you spot Nellie laughing in the corner of your eye." t8n>>You sigh at another one of her devious tricks. <<linkappend "[[At least Nellie isn’t wearing her face mask anymore, and you hear her coughing less.|Later7]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

You approach them. They both look up at you, but their grim expressions doesn't change. It strikes you that you have walked in with no plan at all. <<linkreplace "You take a closer look..." t8n>>...and notice that Ida is actually using toilet paper as makeshift tissues. <<linkappend "[[> a chance to help!|Later20]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

Even if you approach them, you don’t know what you can say. You don’t even know if you should. <<linkappend "[[So, without them noticing your presence, you slip into the classroom.|Later15]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>>

...Yet, you can’t stop wondering about it. <<linkreplace "About ways to show support as a friend, no matter how perplexing or difficult." t8n>>How does Ida do it so well? <<linkappend "[[This persistent feeling pulls you towards Nellie after class, who is packing her bag.|Later16]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>>

“I’m visiting my grandma tonight," Nellie tells you, back to her chirpy self. "I can’t wait to drink her red bean soup!” <<linkreplace "You can only nod as you listen." t8n>>“Alright,” Nellie carries her bag. “See you tomorrow!” <<linkreplace "The scene at the staircase runs through your mind." t8n>> You pause. <<linkappend "[[“Wait, Nellie.”|Later17]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>> <</linkreplace>> <</linkreplace>>

“Hmm?” She turns. <<linkreplace "Cheer up!" t8n>> <<linkreplace "Get well soon." t8n>> <<linkreplace "Take care!" t8n>> Such words uttered by everyone feel so easy to say that it ends up <<linkappend "[[empty|END]]" t8n>>\<</linkappend>> sometimes. <</linkreplace>> <</linkreplace>> <</linkreplace>>

"<<linkreplace "I..." t8n>>I...hope you feel better soon.” <<linkreplace "Whether it reaches her or not, you mean it with all your heart." t8n>>Nellie breaks into a soft smile. “Thank you,” she says. <<linkreplace "Somehow..." t8n>>Somehow, you know she means it too. <<fadein 10s 200ms>><<linkappend "[[> the end|Splashscreen]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>><</fadein>> <</linkreplace>> <</linkreplace>> <</linkreplace>>

...you know she means it too. END <<fadeout 10s>>Fade me out over the course of ten seconds.<</fadeout>> <<fadeout 4s 200ms>>Fade me out over four seconds, but give the passage transition a moment to finish.<</fadeout>> <<fadein 4s 200ms>>END.<</fadein>> <<fadein 1s 3s>>\ <<fadeout 1s 6s>>\ And this content uses both macros. Spooky!\ <</fadeout>>\ <</fadein>>

<<audio "musicsong2" loop>> <<audio "song" play>> <<linkappend "[[> red bean soup|Start]]" t8n>><<audio "musicsong2" fadein loop>><<audio "song" play>> \<</linkappend>>

"Um," you say. "Do you need more tissues? I can go to the toilet to get more..." "Thanks," Ida says. "But it's okay. We've got enough." Nellie remains silent. There is nothing you could do right now to squeeze in. <<linkappend "[[So, without saying another word, you slip into the classroom.|Later15]]" t8n>> \<</linkappend>>

<<cacheaudio "musicsong2" "music/Facile.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "song" "https://www.dropbox.com/s/rdqm6sdpao09tyh/Facile.mp3?dl=1&ext=">>

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