[video]

[candyapplechild]

[ It's been a good while since Eri's used the network, but recent circumstances have made it... well... probably the best first course of action for her.

For anyone who recognizes her, you may notice that her hair is actually much shorter... a cute little bob haircut, albeit still with various objects just utterly stuck in it. Yeah, the Snorunts were a little mean this month. In any case, with her hair cut shorter, it's much less susceptible to getting stuck in practically everything... but still somehow she finds herself with twigs, leaves, and whatever else trapped in it.

Besides the point, though... her cheeks are a little stained with tears when the camera turns to face her, but it's mostly faded after some time before she turned the camera on. ]

Um... [ A-Ahh, what was she going to say again... ah, right! ] H-Has anyone seen Ura—ah, I mean... O-Ochako-san? [ They'd probably recognize her actual name rather than her Hero name, she thinks. ] I um... woke up today and they weren't here... I thought maybe they left for a bit, but they haven't been back all day... a-and I dont see their name on this anymore...

[ It probably can't get much more clear as to what's happened. ]

I-I'm still okay! B-But It's been a while... and if she sees this, um... where are you? Where did you go...?

Comments

video;

[machismost]

[ Here's one time he can feel less guilty about being on social media rather than out training. Kirishima's heart drops seeing the child's tear-stained face and further when he realizes she's pleading for Uraraka. After the initial shock passes, he's alerting Izuku and then trying to compose himself enough to respond. There are few better motivators to staying calm than knowing you can't risk accidentally yelling at a little girl.

So he'll put on the video, brow furrowed with concern, but voice in that softer sort of tone you might use to beckon a skittish animal. ]

Hey Eri, it's Kirishima... Where are you right now?

[candyapplechild]

[ Eri is, frankly, still sniffling... but she's doing her best to keep herself together. ]

A-Ah, um, I think it's called... C-Cianwood? [ A sniff. ] I-I'm in the room that Uravity-san got for us...

[ In which some of the things Ochako had is still here... but both herself and her Pokemon have completely vanished. ]

> private;

[machismost]

Got it. Me and Mi- Deku and Bakugou aren't too far away, but it's still gonna take a couple of days to get over there.

[ He's never been so unhesitant to start researching before. ]

You're doing really good, Eri. You were smart to reach out for help when you felt something was wrong. I'm gonna call the Jennies over in Cianwood so they can help you in the meantime, okay? You can trust them.

[ And now to swap over to private because he doesn't trust the network at large with what he's about to ask. ]

You should stay where you're at, but can you step outside the door for me and show me the number of the room where you're staying?

[video]

[captainash]

[Ash is 99,9% certain of the answer, between the tears and the missing name, but to confirm that theory-]

You cannot contact her through the Pokégear at all? ...Have you, by any chance, checked your PC since you last saw her?

[candyapplechild]

[ She shakes her head, still looking down. ]

N-No, I thought maybe she just went out for a bit... but then she didn't come back for a long time so I tried to call her... but I couldn't find her name anymore, and I asked but nobody around here saw her...

[ She sniffles a bit. ]

Mm, no I haven't... why...?

[captainash]

[He doesn't quite manage to hide a wince when she answers. Theory confirmed, then.]

Usually, when a name disappears from the Pokégear's directory, it means that the person in question has been sent home. ...I'm sorry.

[The sniffling makes it very clear that this was not a desired outcome. What comfort can he offer, in a world where nothing is certain?]

Occasionally, when that happens, some of their Pokémon are left behind with people they know. There's a... possibility, not a guarantee, that a few of hers are waiting in your PC.

[islandshore]

[Riku winces. That's... not a good sign. This is just a little kid.

He's grown numb to these kinds of depatures, but... sheesh.

He heaves a heavy sigh.]

Hey, look... It's gonna be okay. I'm sure your friend didn't mean to worry you. Sometimes this world just... has its own plans, I guess.

[candyapplechild]

[ Eri is wiping away the tears, having now been told that this just... happens. ]

B-But... w-what am I supposed to do now...!? U-Uravity-san always took care of e-everything...

[ Her Pokemon are with her, at least, and Riku will even see a Corviknight of all things slide into the camera and wrap a large metallic wing around her. It wasn't a Corviknight until very recently... as if having evolved just before she'd end up on her own. ]

[islandshore]

[Okay, deep breaths, Riku. Just... hang in there. It's just a kid. What would Sora do?

What would...

Man. He hesitates, averting his eyes momentarily.]

You got any other friends close by? It might not be the same, but they could at least try to help you out. Maybe they're hurting, too.

[nastyboy]

[Oh no... Even before he opens up the video on his end, Dimitri quickly goes to look through the contact list on the Gear. If he could just get a hold of Ochako... But no. There's nothing there.]

[His heart sinks, for more reasons than one.]

[If he could fall into a bit of grief, then he would. However, he knows there is no time for that. Not when there is a distressed child right there in front of him - on the screen, not necessarily in front of him right now.]

Eri... If Uchako doesn't come back - [And he unfortunately knows that she won't, not immediately.] - do you feel comfortable coming to stay with me and my own? I could come get you.

But, of course, if you have someone else that you know of and that you would want to stay with, that would be even better. I could go over to you, and help you get to them. Or I could send some of my Paliens there, like Dean and Elshot. They could help you to wherever you needed to go.

[candyapplechild]

Mm...

[ Of course she'd be comfortable staying with him... or anyone else from UA, but... she always noticed how hard Ochako would work to take care of them both... and kids here travel on their own, right...? ]

Would... would it really be okay...?

[nastyboy]

Of course it would be. [Dimitri does his best to offer up his most reassuring smile. For a child, for Eri especially, it's easy to put the expression on his face.] We have large homes, so there will be certainly enough room.

[And he plans on having their own home constructed to his specifications, which was going to be a lot of rooms anyway...]

Is there anyone else you would like to get in contact with? It will take me a short while to get to where you are, so you do not need to rush to make a decision. All right?

[Video]

[shiningkindness]

[ She hasn't met Eri before, but she does recognize Ochako's name. And she also recognizes an upset child when she sees one. ]

Ochako-chan...? Come to think of it, I haven't heard from her lately.

[ Although she hasn't really seen Ochako since giving her and Gyoza the knitted items they had asked for. ]

But, um...are you sure you'll be okay?

[candyapplechild]

S-She... she wasn't here when I woke up...

[ She's not outright crying, but her eyes are watering. ]

I-I think she... s-she was sent home...

[shiningkindness]

O-Oh gosh... [ Fluttershy had heard about that possibility - that people here could also just disappear, and likely be returned to their world - and while she was torn about being happy that Ochako was able to return home and missing her friend, she knew that it was much worse for this little girl who seems to have known Ochako much better. ]

Are you going to be all right? Do you have other people you can stay with?

[ Fluttershy isn't sure where she is, but she'll find a way to get to her location if she has to. She couldn't just leave a child all by themselves. ]

[Video]

[perfectteatime]

Hey there. I'll be coming with Dimitri to pick you up. My name is Byleth. Just hang in there for a little while longer, all right?

[candyapplechild]

[ Eri by this point has moved into Dimitri's villa, which is... less depressing than the room she'd been staying at with Ochako, which suddenly felt so much more... empty. ]

M-Mm, okay...

[ Still... someone she's never met... she answered because it's only polite but she's a bit reserved, especially knowing that he was going to be coming with Dimitri. Which, sure, being friends with Dimitri would mean trustworthy, right? Still... she can't help that nervousness. ]

[perfectteatime]

[ He's not surprised she's shy. Thankfully, he's quite used to this kind of thing, and he's just about as soft as Dimitri when it comes to kids. ]

What kinds of things do you like to eat? I think I might be able to bring you something tasty.

[ He winks. ]

Even if it's candy. Just don't tell Dimitri.

[Video]

[bestswordmaster]

[After Dimitri told them he was going to be bringing a child back to the house, Felix scrolled around on the network trying to find the original message. He remembers Ochako - not that he'd ever spoken to her, but he watched her performance at the most recent contest and it struck a chord with him. He had no idea she was taking care of a child; she's not much more than a child, herself.]

Hi. I'm Felix. I'm...a friend of Dimitri's, I live in the house you'll be staying in. Do you know how to battle with your Pokemon, and how to defend yourself? If not, stay indoors. It will take time for Dimitri to get to you, and wild Pokemon are always wandering into the garden at the Olivine house where you're waiting now.

[candyapplechild]

[ Ochako had simply been the first to find her... as well as the best option, due to others from UA simply being further away. After that, Eri... well, she got attached to Ochako, she was like a reliable big sister...

So it hit her that much harder when she... disappeared... ]

M-Mm... I haven't battled a lot myself, but I've watched a lot of Ochako's and other battles! A-And my Pokemon are really strong too...

[ As if to punctuate this, a Galarian Rapidash walks past behind her. Her only insecurity though was that... she'd never really commanded them in battle herself. They usually trained alongside Ochako's Pokemon, Eri not being much of a battler herself. Heck, her Rapidash and Corviknight were still a Ponyta and Corvisquire until just recently, as if evolving in anticipation of what was about to happen... and after so much time as well. ]

[bestswordmaster]

[Felix is no stranger to getting hit hard by the disappearance of a loved one, which in truth is half the reason he's making this call to begin with. The other half has a lot to do with that contest entry of Ochako's he saw, actually...he can relate to abandoned children, too.

He nods.]

Good. Then you have a solid foundation to work with, at least. Keep your team with you. When you arrive, you should begin training.

video

[wrappedwarm]

[It's sad child month. Because Mikasa was just as downcast, covered in small scrapes and dirt from crawling around in her search.]

My friend went missing too. When we were sleeping... I can't find her.

[candyapplechild]

Ahh... you too...?

[ They're the same then... people close to them disappeared when they were sleeping, when they couldn't even say goodbye. Heck, Eri even has a bunch of leaves and twigs stuck in her hair... though that's purely because of the Snorunt. ]

Video

[feathersfly]

[Oh no.

Hawks' heart sinks when he sees Eri crying, and that would have been enough, but when she reveals what's upsetting her, it plummets right through the floorboards into a bucket of ice. It's not just upsetting because he'd found Ochako pretty fun and charming, and he'd liked the girl. He's still not sure he's fit to be a mentor, but he'd flexed what muscles he's got in that area and she'd seemed to respond well to it, and now that's just...gone. It's not even just upsetting because Eri's already been traumatized far too much in her young life, and having her caretaker vanish on her is an accidental abandonment she sorely doesn't need.

It's upsetting - horrifying, even - because Hawks has no idea what to do about it.

Just like before, when Ochako had chosen to take care of her, he knows that what should happen is that he, as the adult out of everyone here from their world, should be taking responsibility for Eri. Maybe he's not qualified to raise a kid, but he's at least more qualified than those who are themselves still kids. But, just as before...he knows that's a terrible idea. He's a Rocket - still tied up in organized crime. Eri needs to be kept as far away from that as possible. He's also constantly on the road, and even without Team Rocket being in the picture he doesn't know if that's the kind of life a little kid like Eri needs, or could even handle.

This is a situation that needs a solution and he doesn't have one. But he also can't just ignore it.]

Hey, Eri-chan, it's Hawks. Can you tell me who else you've been talking to? Has anyone offered to help you? [Honestly, he's sure people have. In fact, there's enough responses to her that he can't exactly sift through them all easily. So maybe it's best to ask Eri what help she's been offered. It'll also help her focus on the plans for the future, and not Ochako's disappearance.]

[candyapplechild]

[ Eri sniffs as she pulls up the camera to face her... notably sitting somewhere different from the room she'd been staying at with Ochako. ]

U-Um... a man named Dimitri, he was friends with us... he said he'd come get me...

[ Which was really genuinely her best option at this point. ]