Sakiko is worried for Mutsumi. It's been a while since the advent of their life at Rhodes Island, but Mutsumi remains her silent self. She is there for missions and practice, but one hardly ever sees her mingling with the other operators. Sakiko knows how Mutsumi always struggles with putting her feelings into words. Hoping she isn't being stressed out, Sakiko decides to pay her a visit. Tending to the fruits and vegetables in the Convalescent Garden is one of Mutsumi's small little pleasures. Sakiko knows she enjoys spending time there. As Sakiko goes to the garden, she finds Mutsumi is right there in the garden. She isn't even sure why she's so nervous as she slips into a corner. From there, she catches Mutsumi's voice in conversation. 'Is Mutsumi talking to somebody...?' Sakiko's heart makes a light pirouette of joy. She catches little snatches of the discussion here and there—Terran plant cultivation and growth stages, the Garden's environmental regulator systems, what kinds of produce the operators like. 'As you say, Lancet-2, watering isn't a trade without its tricks.' 'Indeed. If you're in need of a hand, I will gladly help—save water, or have it be mineral-enriched, just tell me what you need and I'll make the adjustments.' 'Thank you...' 'However, I can't make any promises about the results. I'm only acting based on the knowledge I have available, after all...' 'Hey! What's with all that negativity? Take pride in yourself! We WILL do this!' 'Okay, THRM-EX. The lighting system's on you.' 'My passion goes out to you, Madam Wakaba! Leave it to me! I've never been assigned with such a delicate mission before, but have no fear, I'll show you a job done perfectly! You have it on my name that I won't be exploding!' '...Please don't.' 'I came under the assumption my knowledge was necessary to renovate the Convalescent Garden... Did you really call me here for this frivolity? No hard feelings, but I'm taking my leave.' 'Master Friston-3, we ask for your assistance too.' 'Don't push me, Castle-3! What? Stay here and make sure nobody thieves the vegetables?!' 'Now then, what do you seek from me? ...You wish to learn how these plants are nurtured and how the pests are kept at bay? I shan't mind. Tending to the young ones is one of life's many pleasant distractions.' 'By our powers combined, the sprouting of the largest cucumber on Rhodes Island is nigh! I'm sure Closure will be STUNNED by our efforts!' '...Hmph. What a waste of time.' Sakiko feels relief wash over her. Mutsumi has made <i>this many friends</i> at Rhodes Island! Not having caught the conversation in its entirety, Sakiko doesn't know what those new friends' names are. <i>I shall ask Mutsumi about them whenever the opportunity comes up,</i> she thinks to herself, exiting the Garden. As expected, Mutsumi succeeded in cultivating an enormous cucumber. The excessively maverick methods employed, however, had seen the cucumber's composition mutate, and any further cultivation ended up forbidden. For her part, Mutsumi kept her silence on the whole matter, and so Sakiko never found out who those friends of hers were.