[ The sale caught his eye, but it wasn't really what he was here for. Not originally, anyway. Ei has his wallet at the ready -- the intent had been to take advantage of the sales for the sake of getting some supplies for school or at home. Except now?

Now he's staring at a very detailed model kit of a motorbike.

... ]

They'll really sell anything, won't they? What a waste of money.

[ He's thinking about it. ]

[ There's no getting around it. Ei looks awkward here. He just doesn't really fit into the #aesthetic of the flower gardens. His ever-present frown isn't helping matters.

(He's actually having a good time. It's hard to tell.)

He keeps getting handed things, though. So here's one grumpy looking student in his dark uniform, pink petals stuck in his hair, a plethora of promotional items in his arms. No one's given him a promotional cherry blossom bag yet...

The newest item he's received is some cherry blossom tea, sitting at the very top of the pile. ]

I wonder if this helps with headaches.

[ When it comes to the Dream Sphere, Ei always makes sure to be extra careful. He travels the labyrinth in a manner that's maybe too slow for some, but he likes to be methodical here. His hand is moving across the wall of the labyrinth; it grounds him, reminds him where he is. It helps him keep track of where he's going.

And, most importantly, it removes the temptation of stopping and putting his head in his hands, to try to block out the noise. It wouldn't work, nor would it be a good use of his time.

He just pushes through, keeps walking. And then, there it is. The Nightmare, just starting to form. He's not stepping out into the cavern yet, keeping himself hidden for now. Watching.

Time to do some risk assessment here. ]