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Zell munches on as the Library Girl gazes at him

"Each time...well even just sometimes when you read this book, please think of me. Even if it's just a little. "

—Library Girl with Pigtail

The Library Girl with a Pigtail, also known as the Girl with Pigtail or simply the Pigtail Girl, is a non-playable character in Final Fantasy VIII. She harbors a deep infatuation with Zell Dincht and is featured primarily in a side-quest to obtain the Combat King 003 magazine.

Story

Although it is unknown what happened before the game, in game Zell Dincht and the Pigtail Girl meet for the first time just after NORG's defeat. Zell, tagging along with Squall, enters the Balamb Garden Library and asks if the book Good-bye Pupurun had been returned yet. The Pigtailed Girl, as one of the three girls working as the Library Committee, stammers as she enters the search.

Later, after the defeat of Galbadia's BGH251F2 unit in Fisherman's Horizon, the girl's fellow committee members offer their support in helping her with her infatuation and, on the way back to Balamb, they interrogate Zell to find out what his likes and dislikes are. During all this another SeeD member is seen asking where the Pigtailed girl is, although her friends recognize that the guy may be interested in her they know the girl is only interested in Zell and ignore him.

Later Squall overhears the three girls in the back of the library using a fortune book to predict the pigtail girl's compatibility with Zell. The results were positive and the pigtail girl opts to find Zell and tell him her feelings. Eventually the pigtail girl and Zell meet in the Balamb Hotel where she reveals her feelings for him.

The two are then seen after Ultimecia's defeat, eating together during the celebration ball. Time can only tell where their relationship may lead.

Combat King 003 Side Quest

The two meet at last

The Pigtailed-girl is involved in a side-quest that results in the obtainment of the Combat King 003 magazine. In order for the side-quest to work Zell must be in Squall's party and the party must visit the library after the events listed below have occurred.

Visit the Balamb Garden Library after

• defeating NORG
• defeating BGH251F2 at FH
• FH Garden Festival/ after being asked to pilot Balamb Garden back to Balamb Town
  (walk in all the way to the back then leave)
• defeating Raijin/Fujin in Balamb Town
• after visiting Trabia Garden (go to the draw point area in the back)
• before searching for Edea's Orphanage/ Battle of the Gardens
• after visiting the White SeeD ship

After the last library visit go to Balamb Town gas station and then visit Ma Dincht. Then sleep over at the Balamb hotel and what will follow is a little scene between Zell and the Pigtailed-girl in the hotel's foyer during which she will give Zell the Combat King 003.

Etymology

The Pigtailed Girl is a popular Japanese fictional stereotype that quite commonly appears in 'school themed' romance stories in Japan. Usually the term is an adjective but it can also be used as a noun to refer to a girl a character is infatuated with but does not yet know her name.

Trivia

• At the very start of the game, in the "Suggestion Box" at Squall's study terminal, on the last page, a student whose initials are "Z.D." (presumably Zell Dincht) mentions he'll have his Seed exam, and that the "library personnel" (presumably the pigtailed girl) wishes him good luck.
• During the Balamb Garden evacuation and NORG's uprising the girl will give Squall a Mega-Phoenix potion if Zell is in the party (she will only give a Remedy otherwise).