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Not far from the temple, a dark-furred figure sits on a grassy hill, lost in contemplation as she stares up at the sky. As Lolo exits the temple, she spots her sitting there and strolls over, offering a wave.
"Oh, Leorina! You must be feeling a lot better, if you can make it all the way out here..."
Leorina snaps out of her idle thoughts as Lolo approaches. "Ah, it's you. Are you really going to act so friendly toward such a fearsome sky pirate?" She smiles wryly for a moment, until she suddenly breaks into a coughing fit. Clad in the simple white robe reserved for those in the temple's care, she looks so much smaller than usual, as though her grand persona really was nothing more than an outfit.
"Well, everything that happened is behind us now, isn't it?" Lolo smiles. "And, it's a priestess's duty to heal... Whatever walk of life you've come from doesn't matter right now."
Leorina shakes her head, looking down at her robe with distaste. "I don't want that kind of pity."
"Ah...w-well, I hope you get better soon." Lolo turns to leave, a bit dejected.
"...Wait. I didn't say I couldn't use the company. Especially someone who isn't going to try and drag me back to bed."
"R-really? Alright..."
She sits down next to Leorina, and for a time, the two of them sit together in silence as a gentle breeze brushes over the hill. Lolo takes off her hat and fidgets with it, her thumb brushing over the side, where the feather marking her as a priestess had been affixed just a few days before. "...It's not pity, I think..."
"Hm?"
"Caring about someone and worrying about them when they're having a difficult time, I don't think it's pity. I hope not...some people just reach out a hand to others without even thinking about it. I want to be like that too...and I don't think you're really a bad person. So that's why..."
Leorina laughs, but she's smiling genuinely now. "I'm still just a wicked pirate. Just because we understand each other a little better now doesn't make me a good person."
Lolo suddenly takes Leorina's hand and looks her in the eye, and for a moment Leorina seems surprised at her boldness. "It's not too late to give up your evil ways, and come back to the temple! I'm sure the High Priestess would accept you, if you did. Please, just think it over..."
"What a kind heart you have." says Leorina softly. "Someone's going to take advantage of it one day. But no, I can't go back now. Perhaps someday, when your own heart is heavy with sorrow, you'll understand." She reaches out and gently cups Lolo's cheek. "Why don't you run away with me, instead? I could show you things you'll never find in this stuffy temple."
"I..." Leorina's face is so close, and something in the back of Lolo's mind is telling her she should pull away, but she can't make herself do it. "W-we shouldn't...aren't you and Tat..."
"Mm, and why shouldn't a pirate steal more than one heart?" Leorina presses a soft kiss to her lips. Lolo's first kiss...she'd never expected it would be like this, but...
"Leorina, I..."
Someone clears their throat loudly a short distance away, and Lolo jumps in surprise, having entirely forgotten that they were easily within eyeshot of the temple entrance.
"I've been looking all over for you, Leorina." says the High Priestess.
"Well, looks like I've been caught." Leorina flashes one last smile at Lolo, and the sparkle of joy in her eye is unmistakeable. She rises unsteadily to her feet. "I was suffocating in there. I just needed a little fresh air, that's all."
"Then, I hope you feel quite refreshed now. But you should really be resting." The High Priestess's gaze flicks towards Lolo for a moment. Lolo blushes and pretends to be very interested in a ladybug crawling on a blade of grass. She only looks up again once the High Priestess turns to leave, supporting Leorina as she walks with her.
"Ah...one more thing, Leorina." says the High Priestess. "I seem to remember quite a few of our priestesses becoming quite...distracted from their duties, back when you were training here. I do hope Lolo doesn't get too distracted as well..."
Leorina chuckles. "A good girl like her...I doubt it." Lolo's cheeks turns beet red, and she covers her face with her hands until the two of them disappear inside the temple.
A few weeks later, Leorina is recovered enough to prepare to leave.
"Tat, how's the ship?"
"Everything's in top shape! It's been waiting and ready for you, Leorina~"
"Very good. Let's be off, then." Leorina says as she hops into the passenger seat. Tat fires up the engine, but before they can take off, Lolo runs out towards them, calling out.
"Leorina! Leorina, wait!" She pauses for a moment once she reaches the ship, catching her breath. She carefully climbs up the edge of the ship, so she can be heard over the roar of the engine.
"What is it?" asks Leorina.
"I...I just wanted to say before you go...I've been thinking about what you said before. I, I have my own sorrows in my heart, too. And that's why, I won't give up on you! I don't believe that you could carry so much pain that you couldn't turn toward a different path."
Leorina holds out her hand. "Then come with us. You'll have all the time in the world to convince me."
Lolo looks at Leorina's outstretched hand. She wants to, so badly...the thought of watching Leorina fly away makes her heart ache. Her head spins with indecision, but she knows they won't wait forever...finally, she grabs Leorina's hand, pulls herself close, and kisses her hard. "I'm sorry, but my place is here." She lets go, and hops down off the ship. As it rises into the air, she can't really parse the expression on Leorina's face, growing smaller and smaller until it at last disappears from view. Lolo falls to her knees, and starts to cry. She feels a hand touch her shoulder, and looks up to see the High Priestess smiling gently down at her.
"High Priestess, is it...is it okay that my first love is a girl?"
The High Priestess nods. "It is, Lolo. And it's okay that it hurts right now. Such heartbreak comes to each of us, eventually..."
Lolo wipes her eyes and nods. "I won't push my sorrow away...because, it's proof that these feelings are important, isn't it? Otherwise, I wouldn't feel so sad..." She stands up, her expression growing resolute. "I'll finish my training, and find her again. I just know we'll cross paths again, someday."