[ Ai doesn't say a word as she leads Hibiki along. She's not protesting, so there's no need to push any harder - and going by the tremble in Hibiki's voice and the one she can feel under her fingers, the last thing Ai thinks she should be doing right now is trying to push her.

They stop off at one of the stalls as promised, buy drinks, and then Ai leads her to a quiet part of the festival and sits her down before pressing a condensation-soaked bottle of water into her hands. It's icy cold, enough to sting and hopefully to bring Hibiki if not back down to earth at least a little closer in orbit. ]

Here. Take a big long drink of this then take some slow, deep breaths - all the way down into your belly. Hold onto them for a second before you let them out. Can you do that for me, Hibiki-chan?