[She doesn't answer immediately, her attention tucked away elsewhere - wrapped up in her own thoughts, her memories of days that seemed so much happier. -Ah, but Mami understands now that such a thing isn't the case. There were problems back then, too, there was more than enough misery to go around. It was never so idyllic as Mami's psyche so often tried to delude itself into believing.

...but she had still known happiness with Kyouko by her side, before that awful tragedy. There had been a lessening of her loneliness, a lack of hostility or awkwardness between them, and perhaps it is those two things Mami truly misses. Friendship - a reason to fight that wasn't so mired in despair as her atonement was. Or rather, had been.]

Mm, I'm hoping so. We're at least talking again, so that's a good start. [A small smile.] I think you're right, Utena-san, about this place being a second chance for others.....for those who need it, who couldn't have gotten it anywhere else.

[Her mood seems to lift at the thought, this optimism she revisits and once more accepts, and some of the earlier heaviness leaves her face. She even hums as she resumes skating forward, a quiet yet unburdened sound.]