The sky was still mostly clear as the sun hung low over the mountains far to the West, turning the sky a myriad of colours as Miranda stepped out of the crowded elevator. The rooftop restaurant, overlooking Celadon City wasn't crowded due to the rain earlier in the week, and Erika's group had no problem taking the largest of the round white tables near the edge of the roof. The restaurant known as "Sorera No Koitsu Harubaru No Akuro" was done in the usual Celadon style, with fancy wooden trellises affixed to the low plas-crete walls, forming a tall fence which was covered tangling leafy vines whose large petaled soft blue flowers filled the air with their subtly sweet scent. The legs of the round white tables and round seated metal chairs were made of twisting, twining metal rods made to resemble climbing vines, and each table had its own colourful centerpiece, made up of various small flowers and a few pleasantly shaped leaves of varying shades of green. The plas-crete floor was made from interlocking dark green bricks, forming circles in several places where tall, broadleaf deciduous trees sprouted up from the layer of soil concealed beneath the floor. Despite the height of the Celadon Department Store, the open-air rooftop restaurant wasn't uncomfortably cool, with a calm, pleasant breeze suffusing the area to distribute the scent of the flowing vines, as soft music played softly in the background, ensuring that all the customer's senses were to be appeased. The actual kitchen of the "Sorera No Koitsu Harubaru No Akuro" was only partially concealed within the low building where the elevators were located. Through a long, narrow window in the side of the building several people in kitchen-whites where visible hurriedly preparing meals amidst clouds of steam and the near constant sizzling of grills. "You know, it feels strange to be in one city for so long," Miranda mused as the waiter left their table after taking everyone's orders, receiving a concerned look from Erika, "Usually I'd be on my way somewhere else by now." "Well, you're not escaping our clutches just yet," Samantha chuckled with a sly grin, her chin resting upon her linked fingers. "So long as I don't outstay my welcome," the courier replied, glancing at Erika and her quiet, sagely smile. "Everyone needs a vacation now and then," the woman replied as the waiter returned with their drinks, "You more than most, it would seem." Miranda sighed heavily and nodded, blushing lightly. "I have been going non-stop for a while now," she admitted with a small shrug. "It's easier that way, isn't it?" Erika inquired quietly, leaning forward as she lowered her voice. Miranda looked up, catching the woman's gaze and flinching slightly as Erika all but looked into her soul. "You can't keep running forever, you know," the Gym Leader said softly, reaching over and taking Miranda's hand, "Your life doesn't change by ignoring it." The courier closed her eyes for a moment, cringing a bit at the woman's words. "Sometimes there's an awful lot to run away from," she muttered quietly. Erika's hand squeezed a little tighter as Miranda tensed. "You can always talk to me if you need to," the woman said softly, a small smile crossing her lips, "It's one of the reasons I chose to follow in my grandMother's footsteps." Miranda closed her eyes a moment, taking a slow breath and nodding slowly as he glanced back up at her hostess. "I guess I'm following in my Mother's then," she said with a chuckle, glancing out over the rainbow colours of the city's plethora of gardens and flowering trees, "She left home and never looked back too, you know." "I'm sure she had her reasons," Erika replied seriously. The courier nodded. "She did," Miranda said heavily, turning back to the Gym Leader, "And I have mine." Erika sighed heavily, her hand slipping away as she gave Miranda a happier smile, suddenly dispelling the dark edge from her tone. "We can discuss this another time, deary," she promised as the waiter returned, "Perhaps tomorrow I can show you around my city? It's really a lovely place, and I doubt a courier really has much time for sightseeing." "Seldom," the girl agreed, smiling inspite of herself, "And yes, I'd like that. Thanks..."
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