Rena's eyes followed Peony's movements carefully, wondering if the man had an idea in mind. He must have found it as he suddenly indicated to a set of devices with a striking gesture. "Those?" repeated the girl, who immediately recognized them as cassette tape players. (Of the portable sort, it seemed.)

The chance any of those silver records fitting through, however, was slim. "Hmm." Rena mulled over the possibilities. "They look like players, Peony-san, but for cassette tapes," she explained sheepishly. "Cassette tapes are half the size of these--" She pointed to the CD case. "--and somewhat thicker. The players we're looking for would probably be bigger."

So the man was from another world? Although she had heard otherworldly folk were common in Landel's, Rena hadn't met many "foreigners" during her stay. At least, those who actually let their origins known. This would be a good time to learn about other places. "What is your home like?" Rena asked, blatant curiosity entering her tone. "Is it much different from Earth? Is it?"

"Rena is from here," she added. "Well, not here here, but the same planet. I think they might have pulled me from another country, though." Another time as well, but that probably wasn't important.