After practically running home, Riku is taken aback to enter and see everything in pitch darkness. Used to seeing Naminé sitting on the couch and drawing, or staring out the window, he calls out, worried, "Naminé...? Hello?"

"Riku...? Is it just you?" A quiet voice sounds out from somewhere, muffled behind something.

"Yeah? It's just me." He replies as he steps further inside.

The bathroom door opens, and Naminé steps out from within, cold and crying. Not knowing what to do, Riku steps towards her and holds his hand out. Instead of taking it, Naminé hugs him.

"Oh, thank goodness," she says.

"What happened? Why are you so cold?"

"I-I heard some knocking, so... I went to-to check it out. It was someone from the Castle, one of the apprentices... I-I don't know who. I d-didn't want them to know I was h-here so... I hid in the bathroom, because there were no windows. I don't know. I got scared." Naminé explains, crying and sniffling.

"Why-What-... Do you know what they wanted?" Riku asks as he pulls back from the hug, his hands settling on Naminé's shoulders.

"I... when I came here for the f-first time, I snuck out. I think they might need me for m-more tests. I don't want to go back..." Naminé sobs.

"You won't have to. We'll talk to them, you don't have to hide anymore."

"I..." Naminé looks up at Riku for the first time since he arrived.

"Is... Is this why you've been so hesitant to go outside?"

"Yeah..."

Riku sighs. "Naminé, you can't live like this."

"I... You're right. There's so much I want to experience... More things, like the snow."

"Next time they knock on the door, I'll answer, and we can talk to them, okay?"

Naminé nods with resolve, "Okay.”